India's infrastructure output rises 0.7% year-on-year in May

NEW DELHI, June 20 (Reuters) - India's infrastructure output (ININFR=ECI), opens new tab grew 0.7% year-on-year in May, government data showed on Friday.
The index, which tracks activity across eight sectors and makes up 40% of the country's industrial production, grew at a revised 1% in April, compared to the initial estimate of 0.5%.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Sun

an hour ago

• The Sun

World's first AI minister to govern in Dubai and oversee ALL state companies in dystopian vision of the future

ARTIFICIAL intelligence is becoming more sophisticated every year, and many people are anxious about robots taking over their jobs. But one Middle Eastern country is taking this to a whole new level, bringing AI right into the heart of its government. 3 3 3 Numerous jobs from customer service to data entry are often seen as at risk to being lost to machines in the near future. Yet even government ministers may soon have to worry about losing their jobs to artificial intelligence. From next year, the United Arab Emirates will bring an AI system into its cabinet. This will mark the first time in world history that artificial intelligence has had a seat at a nation's top table. The National Artificial Intelligence System will serve as an advisory member of the UAE 's cabinet. This system is expected to help oversee all of the oil-rich nation's state companies. Dubai 's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid made the stunning announcement on Friday. He began a lengthy X post with some more routine government announcements. These included the establishment of a Ministry of Foreign Trade and a name change to the Ministry of Economy to the Ministry of Economy and Tourism. But then the Dubai ruled shared the jaw-dropping news than an AI system would be brought into the fold. He posted: "We also announce that the National Artificial Intelligence System will be adopted as an advisory member of the Cabinet, the Ministerial Development Council, and all boards of directors of federal entities and government companies, starting in January 2026. "The goal is to support decision-making in these councils, conduct immediate analyses of their decisions, provide technical advice, and enhance the efficiency of government policies adopted by these councils across all sectors. "The world is going through a comprehensive restructuring phase, scientifically, economically, and socially. "And our goal is to prepare today for the coming decades. "Our goal is to ensure continued prosperity and a decent life for future generations." It comes amid a big drive by the UAE to be a top player the field of AI. The country's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031 aims to make the country a global leader in the field by that year. The UAE is not the only country looking to further integrate AI into day-to-day life. A robotic futuristic city in Japan with driverless cars and AI-powered homes is preparing to receive its first residents. Toyota's £8billion 'Woven City' project will be found at the base of the Mount Fuji. "We are building a city where everything, people, buildings, vehicles, is connected through sensors and AI," Akio Toyoda, Chairman of Toyota's Board of Directors, has said previously.

Reuters

an hour ago

• Reuters

Yum China unveils AI tool in a bid to boost efficiency

June 20 (Reuters) - Yum China Holdings ( opens new tab, said on Friday it has launched a new AI-enabled hands-free assistant tool at certain KFC stores in a bid to boost efficiency. The company, which operates Yum Brands' (YUM.N), opens new tab franchises including Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, said the tool, named Q-Smart, is aimed at supporting restaurant managers in tasks such as staff scheduling, inventory management, and food quality inspection. The launch follows its former parent Yum's AI-driven initiatives, including the Byte by Yum! software it launched in February, aimed at reducing wait times at restaurants and improving delivery times. Yum China said the pilot phase will lead to a larger scale roll-out of Q-Smart in the future, following incorporation of user feedback.

Daily Mail​

an hour ago

• Daily Mail​

Amazon issues warning to Prime users over cyber scams

Amazon is alerting its 200 million Prime members to a sharp rise in cyber scams just weeks before its biggest-ever Prime Day event, set to begin July 8. The online retail giant says fraudsters are ramping up efforts to steal customer accounts and payment details. Amazon found that impersonation scams spiked by 80 percent during Prime Day in 2024, and similar schemes are already underway this year. The most common tactics involve fake emails and text messages designed to look like official Amazon communications, often containing malicious links or requests for personal information. Cybercriminals are seizing on the hype and urgency surrounding the four-day sales event to lure unsuspecting shoppers. With global sales expected to break records, shoppers are urged to be cautious, avoid clicking suspicious links, and report any suspicious messages to Amazon. 'Independent sellers sold more than 200 million items during Prime Day,' Amazon said in a statement. 'Prime members in the US chose to consolidate their deliveries on millions of orders, saving an estimated 10 million trips.' This year's Prime Day event will run in 26 countries, including the US, UK, India, and Canada. Ireland and Colombia are joining the list for the first time. To counter these attacks, Amazon said it removed more than 55,000 phishing websites and 12,000 fraudulent phone numbers last year. Scammers rely on urgency and fear, often warning users their account will be locked or charged unless they act immediately. Victims are frequently asked to verify account details or resolve fake issues by providing gift card numbers, passwords, or one-time passcodes, methods Amazon states it never uses. In November, the company found that 94 percent of global impersonation scams came through email, text messages, or phone calls. Two-thirds of those scams focused on fake account issues. To verify if a text message is truly from Amazon, go to the Message Center under 'Your Account.' Only legitimate communications from Amazon will appear there. Moreover, before clicking on email attachments, review the sender's address. Legitimate Amazon emails will come from an '@ address. Check the 'From' name in your email to see the full sender address and check for misspellings or suspicious characters. In March, the company tweeted on X that impersonation scams on social media have jumped 33 percent since December 2024. 'Scammers monitor customer complaints on comments, then respond using fake accounts,' Amazon said. The company emphasizes it never asks customers to click external links or move conversations to private messages. While earlier fraud attempts focused on account access, by May 2025, payment fraud had become the most reported scam, accounting for 38 percent of cases. Amazon reminds users: 'We will never call or email you requesting sensitive information like passwords.' The company has issued clear safety steps: Always access your account through the official app or website, never respond to suspicious messages, and report scam attempts through Amazon's help center or self-reporting tool. Additionally, Amazon encourages customers to enable two-factor authentication, avoid reusing passwords across websites, and turn on app notifications to confirm legitimate account activity. 'Count to ten before you act,' Amazon advises, stressing that any message pushing urgent action is a red flag. In March, Amazon also warned about 'Membership Renewal Scams,' messages prompting users to renew services by entering payment details on fake websites. To avoid delivery scams, Amazon recommends buying directly from the company instead of third-party sellers whenever possible. Items shipped and sold by Amazon are more likely to qualify for fast Prime shipping, arrive as advertised, and offer easier returns. Some customers report receiving refunds for defective items without needing to return them, due to Amazon's streamlined internal process.