Technology

Washington, Jan 13 (IANS) The Biden administration on Monday announced new restrictions on Artificial Intelligence (AI) chip exports in its last move to block the flow of advanced technologies into China, Russia and other "countries of concern" on national security grounds.

Just a week before its term ends, the administration released an interim final rule, under which no chip sale restrictions will apply to 20 key US allies and partners, including South Korea, while for many other countries, it sets up a cap for the amount of computational power they can purchase.

"This policy will help build a trusted technology ecosystem around the world and allow us to protect against the national security risks associated with AI, while ensuring controls do not stifle innovation or US technological leadership," Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said.

The 20 allies and partners include Japan, Australia, Canada, Germany, France and New Zealand. Entities that meet high security and trust standards, and are headquartered in those countries can obtain "universal verified end user (UVEU)" status, according to the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).

With the UVEU status, the entities can place up to 7 per cent of their global AI computational capacity -- likely amounting to hundreds of thousands of chips -- in countries around the world.

Entities without the verified end user status, which are located outside of close US allies, can still purchase large amounts of computational power -- up to the equivalent of 50,000 advanced graphics processing units (GPUs). The chip cap can double to 100,000 GPUs if an arrangement is signed to align with US export and other standards, Yonhap news agency reported.

Entities that meet security requirements and are headquartered in any place that is not a country of concern can apply for the "national verified end user" status, which will allow them to buy computational power equivalent to up to 320,000 GPUs over the next two years.

Chip orders with collective computational power up to about 1,700 advanced GPUs do not require a licence and do not count against national chip caps. The overwhelming majority of chip orders are in this category, including those placed by universities and medical institutions, according to the BIS.

The rule continues to ensure that advanced semiconductors sold abroad are not used by China, Russia and other countries of concern, while still permitting access for general-purpose applications from telecommunications to banking, it said.

"The rule both provides greater clarity to our international partners and to industry, and counters the serious circumvention and related national security risks posed by countries of concern and malicious actors who may seek to use the advanced American technologies against us," National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said.

AI chipmakers in the US reportedly remain opposed to the rule as it could get in the way of their efforts to sell their products overseas at a time of growing demand for AI applications worldwide.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Jan 13 (IANS) Global technology company HCLTech on Monday posted 5.5 per cent growth (year-on-year) in net income at Rs 4,591 crore for Q3 FY25, as revenue grew 5.1 per cent at Rs 29,890 crore on an annual basis.

The EBIT margin was 19.5 per cent in Q3, up from 18.58 in Q2 FY25. EBIT margin was up 90 bps (on-quarter), beating analysts’ estimates of 19.3 per cent.

The company added 2,134 employees in Q3 and now has a workforce of 220,755. The attrition rate was at 13.2 per cent, up from 12.8 per cent in Q3 of last year.

“HCLTech delivers another quarter of solid growth at 3.8 per cent QoQ in constant currency and EBIT at 19.5 per cent. I am pleased that this growth is powered by broad-based performance across business lines as our clients across verticals and geos reaffirm their confidence in our digital and AI offerings,” said C Vijayakumar, CEO and Managing Director, HCLTech.

The new deal bookings were healthy during the quarter at $2.1 billion with wins across services and software.

The company also announced dividend of Rs 18 per share, including special dividend of Rs 6 per share.

“We are positioning ourselves for a future that is transformative, with AI empowering businesses and employees. We continue to see growing demand for our AI led propositions across services and software offerings,” said Vijayakumar.

The topline growth with healthy margins is reflected in highest ever EBIT of Rs 5,821 crore and net profit of Rs 4,591 crore this quarter.

“Cash conversion (on LTM basis) continues to outpace our 5-year FCF/NI average of 126 per cent with FCF/NI of 134 per cent this quarter. This has further strengthened our balance sheet, helping us end the quarter with our highest ever cash balance of Rs 27,707 crore,” said Shiv Walia, Chief Financial Officer, HCLTech.

According to analysts, the Q3 performance and revised guidance reflects that the company is on track to deliver industry leading growth among tier 1 IT companies for FY25.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 13 (IANS) Prioritising the manufacturing sector and strengthening the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), among others, can not only ensure sustained economic development but also generate millions of employment opportunities, the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) said on Monday.

The industry chamber proposed a comprehensive five-pronged strategy aimed at creating employment and fostering economic growth and development in the country.

These pillars include boosting rural demand and agricultural reforms, enhancing export competitiveness and fostering university-industry linkages.

The industry body, in its 100-day agenda for the government, suggested to formulate a comprehensive National Employment Policy on a mission mode approach with targeted outcomes on a quarterly basis as increased employment would strengthen India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat by 2047.

PHDCCI suggests prioritising the manufacturing sector which contributes approximately 16 per cent to India’s GDP and “the target should be to increase this share to 25 per cent by 2030”.

Over the last few years, the government has made commendable strides by removing over 42,000 compliances, thus creating a more conducive environment for businesses.

Further, more needs to be done for the ease of doing business at the factories level so that entrepreneurs are able to deploy more and more workforce in their respective premises.

The second crucial strategy is to strengthen the MSMEs, backbone of India’s economy with over 60 million MSMEs that contribute approximately 30 per cent to the nation’s GDP and employ over 110 million people.

“Challenges such as easier availability of finances, robust technological infrastructure, and simplified regulatory environment should be strengthen for the futuristic growth of MSMEs,” said Hemant Jain, President, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Boosting rural demand and agricultural reforms has been highlighted as the third pronged of the strategy which emphasises the importance of boosting rural demand, which is intrinsically linked to enhancing agricultural incomes.

“Rural demand, a key driver of economic growth, can significantly impact India’s employment landscape. Strengthening rural economies will create new opportunities for growth, particularly in the manufacturing and services sectors,” said Jain.

Enhancing export Competitiveness is the fourth pronged strategy by the industry body.

India’s exports reached an all-time high of $778 billion, and the goal is to achieve $2 trillion in exports by 2030 — $1 trillion from merchandise exports and $1 trillion from services exports.

Key measures to boost export competitiveness include streamlining trade facilitation processes, improving customs procedures, and reducing logistical costs.

Fostering university-industry linkages has been placed at fifth strategy by PHDCCI as strong linkages between universities and industries will accelerate technological advancements, develop new products, and create high-tech jobs in sectors like biotechnology, robotics, and information technology.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 13 (IANS) Obesity at the time of cancer diagnosis in children may affect the survival rates, according to a study on Monday.

Over 390 million children and adolescents aged 5–19 years were overweight in 2022, including 160 million who were living with obesity, as per data from the World Health Organization (WHO). Obesity is a known precursor to many non-communicable diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and cancer.

“Our study highlights the negative impact of obesity among all types of childhood cancers. It provides the rationale to evaluate different strategies to mitigate the adverse risk of obesity on cancer outcomes in future trials,” said Thai Hoa Tran from the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine in Montreal, Canada.

The team conducted a retrospective study on 11,291 children newly diagnosed with cancer from 2001 to 2020, across Canada.

Of these children, aged 2 to 18 years, 10.5 per cent were obese at the time of diagnosis.

Compared with patients without obesity at the time of initial cancer diagnosis, those with obesity had lower rates of 5-year event-free survival (77.5 per cent versus 79.6 per cent) and overall survival (83.0 per cent versus 85.9 per cent).

After adjusting for factors including age, sex, ethnicity, neighborhood income quintile, treatment era, and cancer categories, the team found that obesity at diagnosis was linked with a 16 per cent increase in the risk of relapse. There was also a 29 per cent increase in the risk of death, revealed the study, published in the journal Cancer.

The negative impact of obesity on prognosis was especially pronounced in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and brain tumours, said the team.

The study “also reinforces the urgent need to reduce the epidemic of childhood obesity as it can result in significant health consequences,” Tran said.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 8 (IANS) Union Minister of Mines G. Kishan Reddy on Wednesday urged the private sector to invest in the critical minerals sectors to help the country achieve self-reliance in this crucial field.

Addressing a 'Chintan Shivir' on critical minerals at Vigyan Bhavan here, the minister highlighted the importance of collaboration between the government and private sector, describing them as one family working together to achieve annual targets and propel India towards becoming a developed nation.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of State for Mines Satish Chandra Dubey underscored the importance of integrating modern technologies and industry expertise into research initiatives. He highlighted how these efforts would enhance operational efficiency and promote environmental sustainability, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

A key session at the Shivir focused on encouraging private sector participation by expanding access to geo-scientific data. The dialogue highlighted the importance of democratising this data to facilitate exploration activities and foster innovation. The Ministry aims to attract private investment and enhance the efficiency of mineral exploration through this initiative.

The second session centred on adopting a circular economy within the mining sector. Industry leaders and experts deliberated on sustainable practices to minimise waste, optimise resource use, and reduce the environmental impact of mining. The discussions reinforced the necessity of transitioning to eco-friendly models for long-term ecological balance and economic growth.

The event also explored strategies to develop a robust local ecosystem for mining equipment manufacturing. Participants emphasized the importance of fostering innovation and strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities to reduce dependency on imports and boost the ‘Make in India’ initiative. These efforts are expected to generate jobs, enhance technological advancements, and promote self-reliance in the mining sector.

During the event, Union Ministers Kishan Reddy and Dubey launched the Annual Capacity Building Programme (ACBP) Training Calendar 2025, an initiative aimed at enhancing the skills and capabilities of Ministry of Mines officials and field offices. They also handed over administrative approval letters for 18 research and development projects under the Science and Technology Programme, highlighting the government’s commitment to fostering innovation and research in the mining sector.

As part of its commitment to boosting India’s mining sector, a session on how to increase mineral production and accelerate the operationalization of mineral blocks took place. During the discussions, special focus was placed on simplifying regulatory processes, enhancing exploration capabilities, and leveraging advanced technologies to unlock the full potential of India’s mineral resources.

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has increased the number of its exploration projects for critical and strategic minerals from 118 in 2021-22 to 196 in 2024-25 given their importance for crucial industries such as Lithium-Ion batteries, semiconductor technology, and computing.

Currently, the extraction of these minerals is dominated by a few countries such as China which makes the supply chain vulnerable to geopolitical uncertainties.

India is viewed as part of the alternative supply chain that needs to be developed to break China’s dominance in this crucial segment. India, at present, relies mainly on imports to meet its demand. It is also exploring opportunities for mining abroad.

--IANS

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Seoul, Jan 5 (IANS) South Korea's Hyundai Motor Group said on Sunday it has posted record sales in the United States in 2024, driven by the popularity of SUVs, minivans and eco-friendly models.

Hyundai Motor Co. and its sister company Kia Corp sold a combined 1.7 million units of automobiles in the U.S. market last year, up 3.4 per cent from a year earlier, the group said.

The figure exceeded the previous record of 1.65 million units posted in 2023, reports Yonhap news agency.

Hyundai Motor saw its sales jump 4.8 per cent to 911,805 units, while Kia's sales rose 1.8 per cent to 796,488 units, the data showed.

Sales of Genesis, Hyundai's premium line, soared 8.4 per cent on-year to reach 75,003 units, the group added.

Hyundai saw sales of the Palisade SUV rise 23 per cent to 110,055 units in 2024, while sales of the Ioniq 5 electric model jumped 31 per cent to 44,400 units in the U.S. market.

"Despite global uncertainties, along with regulations such as the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, the company was able to achieve solid performance thanks to the popularity of (SUVs, minivans) and eco-friendly models," an official from the company said.

Hyundai Motor Group, meanwhile, ranked as the fourth-largest player in the U.S. automobile market for the second consecutive year in 2024.

General Motors topped the list with 2.68 million units, followed by Japan's Toyota with 2.33 million units. Ford came in third with 2.06 million units.

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor's annual sales slipped 1.8 per cent from a year earlier in 2024 due mainly to a decline in domestic demand. Hyundai Motor sold 4,141,791 units last year, down from 4,216,898 units sold the previous year, the company said in a press release.

Domestic sales fell 7.5 per cent on-year to 705,010 units, while overseas sales edged down 0.5 per cent to 3,436,781 units.

—IANS

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Seoul, Dec 31 (IANS) South Korea has confirmed its 19th case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) at an egg farm in the country's central region of North Chungcheong Province, authorities said on Tuesday.

The latest case was detected at a layer hen farm in Eumseong county, about 90 kilometers southeast of Seoul, the authorities said.

The owner of the farm made the initial report on an increase in deaths among the livestock, reports Yonhap news agency.

This raises the number of such AI cases to 19 for the winter season this year.

Authorities have contained the area and decided to cull some 44,000 chickens raised at the farm.

They also plan to carry out inspections at eight other farms owned by the same agricultural company, and some 55 other poultry farms within the affected farm's quarantine zone.

Meanwhile, California's battle against avian influenza A (H5N1) intensified amid spreading infections across dairy farms and a growing number of human infection, including two newly confirmed cases in Stanislaus and Los Angeles counties.

The virus, commonly known as bird flu, has infected 659 of California's 984 dairy operations since August, with one-quarter of these cases emerging in the past month alone, according to California authorities.

The rapid spread through the state's dairy industry prompted Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency last week to protect agricultural workers and public health, Xinhua news agency reported.

"This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak," Newsom said in a statement.

The outbreak's human impact has grown increasingly severe, with California reporting at least 36 confirmed cases -- more than half of the nation's total of 65, according to the latest report by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), though the actual count is likely higher as recent local confirmations may not yet be reflected in federal data.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 31 (IANS) Since 2014, India has been leveraging technology in various innovative ways to expedite infrastructure projects, significantly enhancing efficiency and reducing delays.

A recent Oxford study highlighted that India’s PRAGATI platform has accelerated 340 stranded infrastructure projects worth $205 billion, cutting project delays from decades to mere months through monthly video conferences chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the use of digital dashboards for tracking progress.

With initiatives such as SWAMITVA, India is also digitising land records. Till now, 2.2 crore property rights have been conferred across 1.5 lakh villages.

In 2024, India made significant strides in transforming its transport infrastructure, embracing futuristic technologies.

A major milestone was the completion of India’s first Hyperloop test track at IIT Madras, advancing the nation’s vision for high-speed rail travel. Hyperloop trains are designed for speeds up to 1,100 kmph, with an operational speed of around 360 kmph. The trains will move in a frictionless, vacuum-sealed environment, enabling faster travel and energy efficiency.

India also took a major step in modernising road infrastructure by completing pilot studies for the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), which will enable a distance-based electronic tolling system.

A major initiative is also being undertaken in Quantum, AI and Blockchain Technologies. The National Quantum Mission is propelling India toward global leadership in quantum technology, while BharatGen showcases the nation's commitment to developing AI tailored for India. In 2024, India made significant strides in reinforcing its position in secure digital technologies and AI innovation.

A huge boost to Blockchain technology was also witnessed with the launch of 'Vishvasya: National Blockchain Technology Stack,' aimed at providing Blockchain-as-a-Service for secure applications, along with the initiation of the National Blockchain Framework to build trusted digital platforms.

BharatGen, the world's first government-funded Multimodal Large Language Model project, was initiated with a focus on creating efficient and inclusive AI in Indian languages.

In a first for the country, India also established an end-to-end quantum communication link using both fibre and free-space technologies. Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) demonstrated the capability.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 31 (IANS) Indian mutual fund industry’s assets under management (AUM) saw significant growth over the last decade, as it increased by a whopping 524 per cent to 68.08 lakh crore in November 2024 from 10.9 lakh crore in November 2014.

Rural and semi-urban areas now account for 50 per cent of the total SIP accounts in the country. Meanwhile, AUM growth in B-30 (Beyond 30 cities) outpaced the top-30 cities during this period.

According to data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI), the AUM of all MF schemes increased by more than Rs 17 lakh crore this year.

The mutual fund industry's AUM has increased by more than Rs 37 lakh crore in the last four years.

AUM increased by Rs 11 lakh crore in 2023, Rs 2.65 lakh crore in 2022, and about Rs 7 lakh crore in 2021.

Apart from this, the number of folios at the end of November 2024 was 22.02 crore.

Apart from this, a number of demat accounts have also surged over the last 10 years.

As of August 2024, more than 17.10 crore demat accounts were opened. It was 2.3 core in FY14. Represent a jump of over 650 per cent during this period.

Since 2021, on average, 3 crore new demat accounts added every year.

According to SBI Research, "India is seeing at least 30 million new demat accounts being opened every year since 2021, and nearly every one in four is now a women investor, indicating an increasing prevalence of using capital market as a channel of financialisation of savings."

“This year, the number of new demat accounts may cross the 40 million mark,” said Dr Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Group Chief Economic Adviser, SBI, adding that apart from a few states, the participation of women increased more than national average in FY25 as compared to FY22.

In the last 10 years, funds mobilised by Indian companies from capital markets has increased more than 10-fold, from Rs 12,068 crore in FY14 to Rs 1.21 lakh crore in FY25 (till October).

In FY25 (till October), a total of Rs 1.21 lakh crore of capital was raised from equity markets from 302 issues.

“The NSE market capitalisation has increased by more than 6x to Rs 441 lakh crore in FY25 (so far) as compared to FY14.

“Owing to this, the average trade size in the equity cash segment has increased from Rs 19,460 in FY14 to Rs 30,742 in FY25 (so far),” the SBI Research report mentioned.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 31 (IANS) Digitalisation initiatives could provide long-term benefits to the oil and gas industry globally, a report showed on Tuesday.

Certain technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR), are now part of the oil and gas industry

The GlobalData’s report, titled ‘Digitalisation in Oil and Gas,’ highlights the role of major oil and gas companies, such as ADNOC, BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, and TotalEnergies, in the development and adoption of digital tools to solve business problems.

“Field personnel are extensively using handheld devices to gather data, make notes, and communicate with their team. These changes are aimed at cutting down inefficiencies in workflows for improved productivity and lower costs,” said Ravindra Puranik, oil and gas analyst at GlobalData.

Operational risks are also reduced due to a lesser need for human intervention in hazardous environments, which is a very important benefit of digitalisation.

The adoption of digital technologies is also expected to deliver intangible value in the form of emission reductions.

A recent poll from GlobalData indicated that companies were deploying digitalization to lower their operational emissions. With worries over climate change increasing every year, managing emissions has become critical for the industry.

Drones are being used to monitor methane emissions in the industry, and AI can be used to determine effective strategies to mitigate methane emissions from daily oil and gas operations.

“These efforts are in line with the ESG objectives set by international agreements such as the Paris Accord,” said Puranik.

As digital technologies are not a core area of expertise for oil and gas companies, the challenge of having a workforce with essential skills remains a key concern.

Some of these challenges can be overcome through collaboration with technology experts and regular training on cybersecurity awareness (among other measures).

“Industry participants are already doing this with oil majors, such as ExxonMobil and Chevron signing long-term partnerships with Microsoft. These would help companies navigate through the technology pitfalls and make further progress in digitalizing their entire operations,” the report mentioned.

--IANS

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