tirunelveli l thursday l february 20, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l city EDITION Microsoft announces quantum computing leap with new chip Powerful quantum computers coming soon The US tech giant on Wednesday unveiled Majorana 1, the world’s first quantum chip that uses a new type of material called topoconductor Majorana 1 powered by ‘Topoconductor’ The new chip, Majorana 1, will help build quantum computers capable of solving industrial-scale problems in years, not decades, Microsoft said. “Imagine a chip that can fit in the palm of your hand yet is capable of solving problems that even all the computers on Earth today combined could not!” Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella wrote on X ■ ■ To build the new chip, Microsoft developed topoconductor, a breakthrough material. The topoconductor can create an entirely new state of matter – not a solid, liquid or gas but a topological state. This will produce qubits that fast and small, the company said Qubit is the basic unit of information in quantum computing 20 years the time it took microsoft to develop topoconductors CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI 64% routed via USAID; $20.1 mn allocated to spur democratic participation Bulk of aid went to US health initiatives U.S. foreign assistance by country between 2021-24 200 110 250 550 410 2021 2022 2023 2024 Total 61 190 130 81 462 5.5 8.7 11 17 42.2 8 6.3 9 10 33.3 Education 1.9 5.6 6.3 7.5 21.3 Social protection 3.4 6.1 7.3 9.5 26.3 Health & population Environmental policy and administrative management Energy generation, renewable sources —technologies, policy express read Periyar dam: Panel to look into issues New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the newlyconstituted panel overseeing the safety of Mullaiperiyar Dam to convene a meeting of officials from Tamil Nadu and Kerala in a week and try to settle the issues raised by Tamil Nadu amicably. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh said if the issues, including clearance for felling trees, repair of the dam, construction of approach road, etc., are not settled amicably between the states, the court would adjudicate | P7 New alarm system to improve rly safety Chennai: In response to recent incidents of crime against women on trains and railway stations, new safety measures, including an alarm system, are likely to be implemented across TN. The decision was taken at a review meeting chaired by DGP Shankar Jiwal in which officials of southern railway, GRP and RPF took part. An alarm system with two-way communication between passengers and loco pilot, currently in place in a few women’s compartments, may be installed in all coaches | P4 210 230 Major sector-wise U.S. assistance to India from 2021-24 (in million USD) Sector 280 160 250 390 240 2024 2023 11 9.17 15 2022 14 2021 USAID “a criminal organization” and claimed that Trump had agreed to shut it down. Under the Joe Biden adminisSanjeev Sanyal, the governtration, the US provided $720 ment’s economic advisor, had million in assistance to India accused USAID of playing a seover the past four years, with cret role in influencing policy 64% allocated to health initia- in the health and social sector. tives, mostly managed by the “Those concerned about USnow-defunct USAID, and $20.1 AID’s interference in Indian million for democratic partici- elections should be equally pation and civil society — a sec- concerned about USAID’s tentor that is currently sparking tacles in India’s medical syspolitical controversy in India tem and social policies. USAID over spending on voter effectively ran India’s turnout, according to National Family Health an analysis of US govSurvey from the 1990s ernment data by this analysis till it was stopped two newspaper. years ago,” he said. Ranked between 4th Musk’s figure of $21 and 5th among 15 South million spent on the Inand Central Asian dian elections aligns countries, India’s share with the US data on of US assistance over money earmarked for the past four years was democratic participa35% less than Pakition and civil society stan’s $970 million, and efforts in India. significantly higher In the 2024 election Why are we than China’s $49.7 milyear, the US allocated giving USD 21 lion during the same $5.5 million toward votperiod. However, in million to India? er turnout initiatives, South Asia, Bangla- They got a lot of with an additional $6.1 money there desh received $1.89 bilmillion spent in 2023 lion, nearly 162% more under the same categoDonald Trump than India. However, in ry. Over the past four 2022, India received $20 million years, the total commitment for more than Pakistan, totalling democratic participation was $250 million in aid, primarily $20.1 million, of which $13.25 due to post-COVID initiatives. million was disbursed. HowevThe health sector received a er, the data does not specify the total of $462 million in the past end beneficiaries. four years for various pro“Why are we giving $21 milgrammes, including fighting lion to India? They have a lot H I V- A I D S a d m i n i s t e r e d more money. They are one of through USAID. the highest taxing countries in Elon Musk, involved in the the world in terms of us; we White House’s efforts to reduce can hardly get in there because the size of the federal govern- their tariffs are so high,” ment, had previously called the Trump told reporters. J ayan t h J a c o b & J i t e ndra Ch o u b e y @ New Delhi (in million USD) India Pakistan Bangladesh China 3,629.7 Total foreign assistance by country during the Biden govt Fresh 25% tariff may hit Indian pharma Cos A R S H A D K H A N @ New Delhi US President Donald Trump’s plan to introduce 25% tariff on imports of automobiles, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals could be bad news for India. While the impact on Indian semiconductor sector is expected to be negligible as the industry is still at a nascent stage, the proposed tariffs could inflict pain on Indian pharma firms for whom the US is the largest export market. As for India’s auto industry only 0.2% of , car exports go to the US. However, higher levies on auto parts could deal a blow as the auto components segment grew 7% to $11.1 billion in the first half of FY25, with North America accounting for 31% of exports. Pharma exports to the US reached $8.73 billion in FY24, accounting for 31% of the industry’s total exports, according to the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) data. Indian drugmakers expect some impact as the industry heavily relies on American demand for growth. Sun Pharma generated 32% of its total revenue from the US in fiscal 2024. Similarly , North America contributed 47% of Dr. Reddy’s total sales and 30% of Cipla’s revenue during the same period. Pharmexcil’s director-general Raja Bhanu said Indian pharma firms supply a substantial proportion of drugs to the US, with four out of 10 of all prescriptions filled in the US being supplied by domestic firms. According to Namit Joshi, chairman of Pharmexcil, no major threat to generics exports is expected. “The competitiveness of Indian exports will ensure the impact of any duty hikes will be low,” he said. At present, there is no import duty on Indian pharmaceuticals in the US. BJP crosses the gender Rekha on leading new govt First-time Delhi MLA was corporator for two terms; cut political teeth in student politics leader of the Delhi University before becoming councillor. “She was found suitable for In a loaded prediction, a senior the post of CM, as the right canBJP leader had on Monday told didate must have the respect of this journalist, “Delhi me vikas all MLAs. She is also a good liska ek naya ‘rekha’ kichna hai tener,” sources said. prime minister sahib ko” (The Gupta’s connect with the peoPM has to draw a new line of ple and her performance as gendevelopment in Delhi). The eral secretary of the party’s Mawordplay barely concealed the hila Morcha worked her favour. name of the eventual pick as Other contenders for the role, chief minister-desigsuch as Parvesh Verma, nate Rekha Gupta. Satish Upadhyay, Ash“How sure was he ish Sood, Pawan Sharabout it?” The senior ma, and Shikha Roy, leader was emphatic: have less legislative ex“Go, write it on a 100 perience than Gupta. rupee note.” Also, the Shalimar Bagh He recalled that MLA enjoys popularity Prime Minister Narenacross various commudra Modi had been urgnities, including Jats ing the party to set an Trust you’ll work (10% population), Vaishexample for Nari Shak- with dedication yas (8%) and others. to make Delhi ti by assigning a womSources said by givone of the top an to lead the national ing her the baton, the global capitals capital in order to make BJP also sought to send it the Viksit Rajdhani a message to Bihar, Amit Shah of Viksit Bharat. where elections are due Gupta’s name was in circula- later this year. Baniyas in Bition ever since exit polls pre- har comprise around 30.26 lakh dicted a stunning BJP victory or 2.3% of the state’s popula. On Wednesday, the BJP Legis- tion, which gives them clout. lative Party elected her as the “Our party will make a imnew chief minister of Delhi. pact among women voters in A first-time legislator, Gupta REKHA (Rajasthan Eastern Inhas a strong RSS background. dia, Kerala and Karnataka, She also earned the respect of Haryana, Assam, and other party MLAs and has experi- states, which have high women ence in governance. She cut voters,” a BJP functionary her political teeth as a student quipped. RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR @ New Delhi Tariffs a double-edged sword India exports generic drugs to the US, offering an affordable alternative to expensive drugs manufactured in the US. Indian pharma firms supply 47% of all generic prescriptions filed in the US. According to industry experts, the Trump administration may avoid high tariffs on Indian drugs as it can end up hurting US citizens in need of cheaper medicine. Overall, medicines supplied by Indian pharma companies provided $219 billion in savings to the US healthcare system in 2022 and a total of $1.3 trillion between 2013 and 2022 Odisha couple threatened at knifepoint; lady raped E x p r e ss N e w s S e r v i c e @ Tiruppur The Tiruppur city police on Tuesday night arrested three workers from Bihar on the charge of gang raping a 26-yearold woman from Odisha, who came to the city with her family in search of work, by threatening to kill her husband with a knife. The accused took turns to sexually assault her in front of their child, police said. The survivor is undergoing treatment at the Tiruppur Government Medical College Hospital. The accused, identified as M Mohammad Danish (25), M Mohammad Murshid (20), and M Mohammad Nadim (23) of Supaul in Bihar, were residing at Lakshmi Nagar in Tiruppur. They were employees of a private knitwear manufacturing unit in the locality . According to the police, the survivor from Odisha got married four years ago.  continued on p7 Eight arrested for sex trafficking | P5 Rekha Gupta after being elected the BJP’s new chief minister of Delhi | Parveen Negi Dad hacks boy, girl to death in family feud; wife & younger daughter critical E x p r e ss N e w s S e r v i c e @ Coimbatore In a domestic dispute over an extramarital affair, a man went on a killing spree and allegedly hacked his son, two daughters, and 38-year-old wife with a sickle near Attur in Salem district early on Wednesday. While son Arulprakash (5) and daughter A Vidyadharani (13) died on the spot, wife Dhavamani (38), and second daughter A Arulkumari (10) are being treated for near-fatal injuries at the government medical college hospital in Salem. The accused, Ashok Kumar (42), is also undergoing treatment at the same hospital after he tried to end his life by injuring himself, police said. The family was residing at Krishnapuram village at Gangavalli taluk in Salem district. Ashok Kumar was working as a daily-wage labourer at Neyveli in Cuddalore district, and he used to quarrel with his wife whenever he returned home. On Tuesday evening, he returned home and star ted quar relling again, police said. In the early hours of Wednesday, Dhavamani’s neighbours heard screams from the house. When they rushed there, they found the three children, along with their mother, lying in a pool of blood. Ashok Kumar was also found outside the home with injuries.  P7 On Wednesday morning, Dhavamani’s neighbours heard screams from the house. When they rushed to the house, they found the children and their mother lying in a pool of blood — Police Lokayukta clean chit to Siddu, wife in MUDA case B K Lakshm i kan t ha @ Mysuru Lokayukta Police gave a clean chit to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, wife Parvathi and two others in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment scam, citing lack of evidence against them. In a notice sent to complainant Snehamayi Krishna, an RTI activist, Lokayukta police said it conducted an investigation under various Sections of IPC, Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988, and the Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition Act, 2011, against Siddaramaiah, Parvathi, Mallikarjuna Swamy (Parvathi’s brother) and land owner Devaraj, but found no evidence to substantiate the charges against them. The Lokayukta will submit its final report to the Karnataka HC. The notice said further probe will be conducted into allegations of MUDA providing compensatory plots in the ratio of 50:50 from 2016 to 2024 and an additional final report will be submitted to the High Court after completing the probe. Reacting to the notice, Krishna said, “The Lokayukta notice states there is no proof to substantiate my allegations. Then, did I give them garbage? The CM is accused No 1 in the case. Therefore, government officers under the CM naturally came to his rescue.” Krishna said he will approach the Supreme Court. The case pertains to the allotment of 14 sites to Parvathi, Siddaramaiah’s wife, by MUDA as compensation for acquiring her 3.16 acres of land to develop a residential layout. Pope has pneumonia in both lungs Pope Francis, who was hospitalised last week for bronchitis, has developed pneumonia in both of his lungs, the Vatican said late on Tuesday, adding the 88-year-old was in “good spirits” | P11 Japan answers tn’s call iPhone component maker Murata enters India with plant in Chennai E x p r e ss n e w s s e r v i c e @ Chennai A representational image of the proposed Murata unit in Chennai | Express Japanese electronics giant and key iPhone components manufacturer Murata Manufacturing is setting up a factory at OneHub Chennai Industrial Park to produce multilayer ceramic capacitors, marking its entry into Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu Industries Minis- ter TRB Rajaa, in a post on ‘X’, said, “We’ve been in discussions with Murata for about a year, and after multiple meetings, we are thrilled to see them kickstart production in Tamil Nadu! The company plans to fully scale up operations by the financial year 2026. With this, Murata aims to gain hands-on experience in factory operations in India, laying the groundwork for future manufacturing expansion in the country-there’s much more to come!” Addressing concerns that India’s part in manufacturing is being seen as limited to assembly operations, he added, “Watch how the supply chain shift is unfolding!” Murata’s entry into Tamil Nadu follows arrival of major global players like Corn- ing and Jabil, reinforcing the state’s growing status as a hub fo r a dva n c e d e l e c t ro n i c s manufacturing. “Over the last couple of years, CM M K Stalin has had us on our toes with the mission of bringing more of the electronics value chain to Tamil Nadu by attracting key component manufacturers,” Rajaa said.  P7