Latest news with #Development
New Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Around 15,000 register for Gruha Lakshmi every month, says Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar
BENGALURU: Around 15,000 new beneficiaries are being added to the Gruha Lakshmi scheme every month, said Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar on Thursday. Under the scheme, the state government gives Rs 2,000 to the women heads of beneficiary households a month. Adding around 15,000 new beneficiaries every month is likely to be a big burden on the government as that would require additional funding for the scheme. Of the five guarantees, Gruha Lakshmi gets more fund allocation as there are over 1.25 crore registered beneficiaries. According to sources from the department, Rs 2,540 crore is spent monthly on an average under the scheme. Sources, however, said even through there are additional registrations every month, all of them might not get the benefit as verification will have to be conducted. The minister said around 10,000 to 15,000 new beneficiaries are being registered under the guarantee. The government has not revised the scheme and there have been no issues with disbursement of the amount, Hebbalkar clarified. The minister said they have released money till April. Earlier, the department used to disburse money directly, but now it is done through zilla and taluk panchayats, she said. Hebbalkar noted that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is concerned about the scheme. 'As per guidelines from the Union government, money has to be disbursed through zilla and taluk panchayats. This might be causing delay in disbursement,'' she said.
Express Tribune
12 hours ago
- Science
- Express Tribune
AI and the environment
The writer is an academic and researcher. He is also the author of Development, Poverty, and Power in Pakistan, available from Routledge Listen to article For Gen X people like me, who are trying to get used to the new world of AI, like we learnt using the computer, and then the Internet many years ago, it is intriguing to see how AI is becoming integrated into our lives. For researchers like me, AI is making it easier to navigate Internet searches, and to synthesise relevant literature. Besides such novice applications of AI, however, this evolving technology is going to start playing an increasingly prominent role in more salient aspects of our lives ranging from healthcare, education, manufacturing, agriculture, and even warfare. There are also legitimate reasons to be wary of AI's power. AI is making it much easier to spread disinformation, enable fraud, and cause conflicts to become deadlier. Moreover, AI, like many other technologies that we have become so dependent on in our consumerist world, ranging from cars to cell phone, has significant environmental impacts. This heavy ecological footprint of AI is more concerning to me than speculations about AI dominating or replacing humans. AI has a much larger environmental impact than many of the other innovations we now depend on, due to the exorbitant amount of energy needed to operate and train AI systems, and because of the e-waste produced by the hardware used to run AI. Training and operationalising large language models such as ChatGPT depend on energy still being generated via fossil fuels, which is leading to more carbon emissions, and increased global warming. Each ChatGPT question is estimated to use around 10 times more electricity than a traditional Google search. Producing and disposing of AI hardware also generates a lot of e-waste comprised of harmful chemicals. Running AI models need a lot of water too, to cool the data centres which house massive servers, and to cool thermoelectric or hydroelectric plants which supply electricity for these data centers. The race to produce AI is also compelling major tech giants to walk back on their earlier environmental pledges. Consider, for instance, the case of Google. A few years ago, Google set an ambitious target to address climate change by becoming 'net zero' emissions, but now the company's emissions are growing due to Goggle's bid to become a leader in AI. As the AI industry continues to grow, its environmental impact will grow too. However, as is the case of ecological destruction caused by over consumption of other products, the environmental impacts of AI will not be evenly distributed across different regions or socio-economic classes. The benefits of AI will not be evenly spread either. Higher income countries are better poised to capture economic value from AI because they already have better digital infrastructure, more AI development resources, and advanced data systems. Better off households will be able to enjoy the benefits of AI, while having more resilience in terms of shielding themselves from its adverse impacts. Conversely, the quest to produce more AI may cause exploitation in poorer countries that provide the critical resources needed for AI. This is not a speculative statement, but one based on ground realities. Consider, for instance, the dismal condition of miners, including children, in poor African countries like Congo, who are toiling away to produce cobalt to power batteries used to run electric cars, and our phones. Al will require many more of these critical resources, potentially leading to even more exploitation of people and natural environments in resource-rich but poor countries. It is important to improve the energy efficiency of AI models and data centers, and to use renewable energy sources to power AI data centres. Moreover, it is also vital to promote more sustainable mining and manufacturing practices and improve e-waste management to reduce the amount of harmful chemicals entering the environment. However, whether these efforts will be paid more attention than maximising profits within this highly unregulated new domain of human innovation remains to be seen.
Daily News Egypt
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
China's Sunrev to invest $200m in solar component industrial complex in Egypt's Sokhna
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly witnessed on Wednesday the signing of a contract to establish an integrated industrial complex for the production of solar energy components in Ain Sokhna's industrial zone, part of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE). The project will be developed by Chinese firm Sunrev Solar. The contract was signed by Cao Hui, Managing Director of TEDA, and Qi Fei, Managing Director of Sunrev Solar, in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel Al-Wazir, and Chairperson of SCZONE Walid Gamal El-Din. The project will involve the construction of two integrated factories in its first phase: one for producing solar cells and another for solar modules, each with a capacity of 2 gigawatts. The second phase will focus on localising the production of key raw materials—such as silicon ingots and wafers—completing the full solar component value chain. Prime Minister Madbouly highlighted the strategic advantages of SCZONE in attracting diverse investments, especially in renewable energy. He reiterated the government's commitment to localising new and renewable energy technologies and providing incentives to support their growth. SCZONE Chairperson Walid Gamal El-Din described the project as one of the zone's largest industrial investments in renewable energy components. Spanning 200,000 square metres, the project will see a total investment of $200m—$90m for the first phase and $110m for the second. It is expected to create over 1,800 direct jobs across both phases and generate annual export revenues of up to $300 million. The foundation stone will be laid on Thursday, with the first phase scheduled to begin operations in the first half of 2026. Gamal El-Din emphasised that the project reflects the confidence of major international investors in SCZONE's business climate and supports the authority's broader strategy to localise advanced industries and integrate solar energy production chains—from raw materials to finished products. He reaffirmed SCZONE's commitment to providing all necessary support to ensure the project's timely execution. Sunrev Solar is one of the world's leading manufacturers of solar energy components. This investment aligns with Egypt's national strategy to transition to a green economy, promote clean energy industries, and advance the goals of Egypt's Vision 2030 and Sustainable Development Strategy.
Barnama
3 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
FRIM Enhances Efforts To Commercialise Forest Resource-based Research Innovations
KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 (Bernama) -- The Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) continues to strengthen its role in the development of forest resource-based technology and innovation through the comprehensive execution of research, development, commercialisation, and application (RDCA) activities. FRIM said the initiative represents a strategic effort by the institute to support Malaysia's aspiration of becoming a high-tech nation by the year 2030. 'In line with the Forestry Research Institute Malaysia Act 2016 and the National Research, Development, Innovation, Commercialisation and Economic (RDICE) Roadmap, FRIM plays a key role within the national innovation ecosystem by fostering collaboration between the research sector, industry, and government. 'This effort is guided by the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (NSTIP) 2021-2030, which aims to achieve research and innovation investments totaling RM85.7 billion,' FRIM said in a statement. It added that it plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between research laboratories and the market by actively participating in national initiatives such as Malaysia Commercialisation Year and working closely with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI). According to FRIM, several approaches have been implemented to drive innovation, including the provision of technology packages, product certification, technical advisory services, and incubation activities through its Innovation and Commercialisation Division. 'FRIM's intellectual property is managed through the Technology Information Management System (TIMS), ensuring that innovation outputs are well-protected and ready for commercialisation. These efforts are further supported by its wholly owned subsidiary, FRIM Incorporated Sdn Bhd, which plays a pivotal role in facilitating technology licensing and translating research outcomes to meet market demands,' it said. 'Among FRIM's key achievements is the successful commercialisation of clones and extracts from local herbs such as Kacip Fatimah (Labisia pumila) and Cucur Atap (Baeckea frutescens) which are now incorporated into natural wellness products with strong potential to enter international markets. The institute also provides consultancy and technology transfer services to both government agencies and the private sector. These services encompass a wide range of areas, including biomass product development, plantation silviculture, eco-friendly product certification, and biodiversity mapping.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
FRIM enhances efforts to commercialise forest resource-based research innovations
KUALA LUMPUR: The Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) continues to strengthen its role in the development of forest resource-based technology and innovation through the comprehensive execution of research, development, commercialisation, and application (RDCA) activities. FRIM said the initiative represents a strategic effort by the institute to support Malaysia's aspiration of becoming a high-tech nation by the year 2030. 'In line with the Forestry Research Institute Malaysia Act 2016 and the National Research, Development, Innovation, Commercialisation and Economic (RDICE) Roadmap, FRIM plays a key role within the national innovation ecosystem by fostering collaboration between the research sector, industry, and government. 'This effort is guided by the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (NSTIP) 2021-2030, which aims to achieve research and innovation investments totaling RM85.7 billion,' FRIM said in a statement. It added that it plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between research laboratories and the market by actively participating in national initiatives such as Malaysia Commercialisation Year and working closely with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI). According to FRIM, several approaches have been implemented to drive innovation, including the provision of technology packages, product certification, technical advisory services, and incubation activities through its Innovation and Commercialisation Division. 'FRIM's intellectual property is managed through the Technology Information Management System (TIMS), ensuring that innovation outputs are well-protected and ready for commercialisation. These efforts are further supported by its wholly owned subsidiary, FRIM Incorporated Sdn Bhd, which plays a pivotal role in facilitating technology licensing and translating research outcomes to meet market demands,' it said. 'Among FRIM's key achievements is the successful commercialisation of clones and extracts from local herbs such as Kacip Fatimah (Labisia pumila) and Cucur Atap (Baeckea frutescens) which are now incorporated into natural wellness products with strong potential to enter international markets. The institute also provides consultancy and technology transfer services to both government agencies and the private sector. These services encompass a wide range of areas, including biomass product development, plantation silviculture, eco-friendly product certification, and biodiversity mapping. In addition, FRIM offers expertise in the development of nature trails and ecotourism projects, contributing to efforts in environmental sustainability. 'Through strategic collaborations with various local and international organisations, FRIM is also actively involved in implementing greening initiatives aimed at preserving biodiversity and raising public awareness on the importance of reforestation,' it added. FRIM stressed that the success in creating both commercial and social value from research outcomes underscores how forest resource-based scientific innovation can significantly contribute to national economic development. In line with this, FRIM remains committed to leading the development of an inclusive, innovative, and sustainable forest-based industry for the benefit of the nation.
