Microsoft announces quantum computing leap The US tech giant on Wednesday unveiled Majorana 1, the world’s first quantum chip that uses a new type of material called topoconductor. The new chip, Majorana 1, will help build quantum computers capable of solving industrial-scale problems in years, not decades, Microsoft said. Topoconductor can create a new state of matter – not solid, liquid or gas but topological state KOCHI l thursday l February 20, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l LATE city EDITION 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 Bulk of aid went to US health initiatives J aya n t h J a c o b & J i t e n d r a C h o u b e y @ New Delhi Major sector-wise US foreign aid to India from 2021-24 (in $ mn) Sector Health & population  Environmental policy and  administrative management Energy generation, renewable  sources –technologies, policy 2021 2022 61 190 2023 2024 Total 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 26.3 110 280 160 250 250 210 230 550 410 240 2024 11 9.17 15 2023 14 (in million USD) India Pakistan Bangladesh China 3,629.7 First-time MLA was a corporator earlier; to take oath of office at Ramlila Maidan today In a loaded prediction, a senior BJP leader had on Monday told this journalist, “Delhi me vikas ka ek naya ‘rekha’ kichna hai prime minister sahib ko” (The PM has to draw a new line of development in Delhi). The wordplay barely concealed the name of the eventual pick as chief minister-designate Rekha Gupta. How sure was he about it? The senior leader was emphatic: “Go, write it on a 100 rupee note.” He recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been EXPRESS READ 390 2022 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. Pharma exports to the US reached $8.73 billion in FY24, accounting for 31% of the industry’s total exports. Indian drugmakers expect some impact as the sector heavily relies on US demand for growth. riod. However, in South Asia, Bangladesh received $1.89 billion, nearly 162% more Under the Joe Biden ad- than India. However, in 2022, ministration, the US provid- India received $20 million ed $720 million in assistance more than Pakistan, totalto India over the past four ling $250 million in aid, priyears, with 64% almarily due to postlocated to health iniCOVID initiatives. tiatives, mostly manThe health sector analysis received a total of aged by the now-defunct USAID, $462 million in the and $20.1 million for past four years for democratic particivarious propation and civil socigrammes, including ety — a sector that is fighting HIV-AIDS currently sparking administered political controversy through USAID. in India over spendElon Musk, ining on voter turnout, volved in the White according to an analHouse’s efforts to reWhy are we ysis of US governduce the size of the giving $21 million ment data by this federal government, to India? They newspaper. had previously called got a lot of Ranked between the USAID “a crimimoney there 4th and 5th among 15 nal organization” Donald Trump South and Central and claimed that Asian countries, InTrump had agreed to dia’s share of US assistance shut it down. Sanjeev Sanover the past four years was yal, the government’s eco35% less than Pakistan’s $970 nomic advisor, had accused million, and significantly USAID of playing a secret higher than China’s $49.7 role in influencing policy in million during the same pe- the health and social sector. Rekha Gupta to lead new Delhi govt RA J E S H K U M AR THA K UR @New Delhi 200 2021 Fresh 25% tariff may hit Indian pharma cos U.S. foreign assistance by country between 2021-24 Total foreign aid by country during the Biden govt Brewery: LDF rejects oppn from CPI, RJD T’Puram: Rejecting stiff opposition from allies CPI and RJD, the LDF on Wednesday decided to go ahead with the brewery project in Palakkad. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the government will not go back on its decision allowing a liquor firm to set up its brewery unit at Elappully | P5 3 TN students die after tourist bus overturns Idukki: Three students from Tamil Nadu died and several others were injured after a tourist bus carrying college students from Kanyakumari overturned at Mattupetty near Munnar on Wednesday | P4 16 pages, including 4 pages of KOCHI Express urging the party to set an example for Nari Shakti by assigning a woman to lead the national capital to make it the Viksit Rajdhani of Viksit Bharat. Gupta’s name was in circulation ever since exit polls predicted a stunning BJP victory. On Wednesday, the BJP Legislative Party elected her as the leader of the House. She will take her oath of office at Ramlila Maidan on Thursday . A first-time legislator, Gupta has a strong RSS background. She also earned the respect of party MLAs and has experience in governance. She cut her political teeth as a student leader of the Delhi University before becoming councillor. “She was found suitable for the post of CM, as the right candidate must have the respect of all MLAs. She is also a good listener,” sources said. Gupta’s connect with the people and her performance as general secretary of the party’s Mahila Morcha worked her favour. Other con- tenders for the role, such as Parvesh Verma, Satish Upadhyay Ashish Sood, Pawan Shar, ma, and Shikha Roy have less , legislative experience than Gupta. Also, the Shalimar Bagh MLA enjoys popularity across various communities, including Jats (10% population), Vaishyas (8%) and others. Sources said by giving her the baton, the BJP also sought to send a message to Bihar, where elections are due later this year. Baniyas in Bihar comprise 2.3% of the state’s population, which gives them clout. Guv nudges govt to amend directive on meet ‘against’ UGC draft norms E x p r e ss N e w s S e r v i c e @T’Puram The governor has conveyed to the chief minister his disagreement over a contentious directive issued by the higher education secretary to the vice-chancellors (VCs) on participation in Thursday’s statesponsored national convention against the UGC draft regulations. F0llowing the intervention of Rajendra Arlekar, the gover nment made a token amendment to the directive, besides altering the title of the event, dropping the word ‘against’. After a few VCs informed him of the “unprecedented” directive asking them not only to attend the convention, but also to ensure participation of teachers, non-teaching staff and students and meet the expenses from the varsity funds, Arlekar rang up Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and conveyed his disagreement. “The governor told the CM that the directive amounted to a transgression into the autonomy of universities. The impropriety in VCs attending the convention, that opposes a regulation of the UGC, was also pointed out to the CM,” said a source. Pinarayi directed the higher education secretary to look into the matter. The government issued an amended directive late on Wednesday night, only removing the number of attendees stipulated from each university and other higher educational institutions. The onus of funding continued to rest on the institutions. Interestingly while the old di, rective had mentioned the event as ‘National higher education convention against UGC draft regulations, 2025’, the new order removed the words ‘against UGC draft regulations’. The event was referred to as ‘UGC draft regulations, 2025-National Higher Education Convention’ in the amended communication to varsities and other institu● More on P4 tions.