science and technology

The future of CDOs: Agenda 2025 & Beyond

The evolving roles of Chief Data Officers and Chief Digital Officers amid digital transformation were examined. Industry leaders addressed critical themes such as data governance, innovation, and strategic partnerships, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, customer-centric strategies, and a robust data culture in achieving organizational success




science and technology

AI skilling: Intersection of leadership vision and operational strategy

AI is a strategic tool that can provide a competitive edge and foster R&D and innovation through the specific use of the technology. But is it increasingly becoming a mere marketing spiel? Do companies and key stakeholders understand the power of AI and its implied use cases for their domain or business? If yes, who should push AI implementation and skilling objectives in an organization?




science and technology

Democratizing health insurance: The transformative role of technology

Expanding access to insurance is crucial for strengthening our country’s social safety net, addressing inequality, and building a more resilient society.




science and technology

Harnessing technology for fraud detection

With the rise in cybercrime, India is today ranked 10th on the World Cybercrime Index. Indians lost more than Rs 1,750 crore to cyber criminals in the first four months of this year itself. In fact, according to the RBI's annual report, the number of online fraud cases has increased by 708% in the last two years.




science and technology

Digi Yatra operates on principle of privacy by design, brings convenience & security: CEO Digi Yatra Foundation

“We have already crossed 7 million users on the Digi Yatra app. Every day, around 30,000 new users are enrolling in the system. In terms of usage, Digi Yatra has been used more than 30 lakh times across airports in India, and this number continues to grow rapidly.”




science and technology

Navigating safer roads in the new era of smart solutions

​Government policies and regulations play a crucial role in fostering technological adoption. Initiatives like the National Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) policy and collaborations with technology companies are steps in the right direction




science and technology

CPI inflation is likely to breach 6% in October: UBI report

The continued spurt in food prices and fading of the high base effect likely led to a spike in October retail inflation figures. According to a report by the Union Bank of India, retail inflation based on the Consumer Price Index is seen jumping to 6.15 per cent, breaching RBI's 6 per cent tolerance band.




science and technology

Fog lifts: IT spending revives on AI, BFSI gets growth and hiring surges

India-centric IT firms saw signs of recovery in the first half of the fiscal year, driven by growing tech spends in North America's BFSI sector, increased hiring, and improved revenue guidance. Experts foresee further tech spending bolstered by Donald Trump's US election win, which may lead to lower business taxes and favor skilled immigration, setting the stage for Indian IT firms to expand and innovate.




science and technology

New laser provides ultra-precise tool for scientists probing the secrets of the universe

Researchers have developed a new laser that makes it possible to measure electron transition energies in small atoms and molecules with unprecedented precision. The instrument will help scientists test one of the bedrock theories of modern physics to new limits, and may help resolve an unexplained discrepancy in measurements of the size of the proton.

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  • Physics & Chemistry

science and technology

NASA sees Tropical Storm 18W moving into Philippine sea

Tropical Depression 18W formed west of Guam and strengthened into a tropical storm. NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite saw the storm heading into the Philippine Sea early on Sept. 12.

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  • Earth & Climate

science and technology

NASA follows Hurricane Orlene in the Eastern Pacific

The sixteenth tropical depression of the Eastern Pacific Ocean Hurricane Season formed on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 11 p.m. EDT and became a hurricane named Orlene early on Sept. 12. NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite captured an image of the strengthening storm.

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  • Earth & Climate

science and technology

NASA catches the short life of Tropical Depression 17W

The newest tropical depression in the northwestern Pacific Ocean formed Sunday, Sept. 11 far to the east of the big island of Japan. Tropical Depression 17W didn't have a long life, however, as the final warning on the system was issued 12 hours later. By Sept. 12 the storm lost its tropical characteristics.

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  • Earth & Climate

science and technology

NASA sees Super Typhoon Meranti's extreme rainfall

Satellite data from NASA revealed that powerful storms in Super Typhoon Meranti were generating almost a foot or almost 300 millimeters of rainfall per hour. The Global Precipitation Measurement mission or GPM core satellite measured the heavy rainfall on one side of the Category 5 super typhoon.

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  • Earth & Climate

science and technology

NASA catches Tropical Depression 19W nearing Vietnam after formation

Early on Sept. 12 Tropical Depression 19W formed east of Vietnam. NASA's Aqua satellite passed over the South China Sea and captured a visible image of the storm that had quickly started moving over Vietnam.

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  • Earth & Climate

science and technology

Chemists offer enhanced 3-D look inside batteries

A team of chemists has developed a method to yield highly detailed, three-dimensional images of the insides of batteries. The technique, based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), offers an enhanced approach to monitor the condition of these power sources in real time.

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  • Physics & Chemistry

science and technology

Manipulation of liquid crystals could help control drug-delivery process

Liquid crystals are strange substances, both fish and fowl. They can flow like a liquid, but have the orderly molecular structure of a crystalline solid. And that internal structure can be changed by small cues from outside.

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  • Physics & Chemistry

science and technology

Light tames lethal heart disorders in mice and virtual humans

Using high-tech human heart models and mouse experiments, scientists at Johns Hopkins and Germany's University of Bonn have shown that beams of light could replace electric shocks in patients reeling from a deadly heart rhythm disorder.

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  • Health & Medicine

science and technology

Westerly winds have blown across central Asia for at least 42 million years

The gusting westerly winds that dominate the climate in central Asia, setting the pattern of dryness and location of central Asian deserts, have blown mostly unchanged for 42 million years. A University of Washington geologist led a team that has discovered a surprising resilience to one of the world's dominant weather systems. The finding could help long-term climate forecasts, since it suggests these winds are likely to persist through radical climate shifts.

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  • Earth & Climate

science and technology

Water helps assembly of biofibers that could capture sunlight

When it comes to water, some materials have a split personality - and some of these materials could hold the key to new ways of harnessing solar energy.

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  • Physics & Chemistry

science and technology

Experts anticipate significant continued reductions in wind energy costs

Technology advancements are expected to continue to drive down the cost of wind energy, according to a survey of the world's foremost wind power experts led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). Experts anticipate cost reductions of 24%-30% by 2030 and 35%-41% by 2050, under a median or 'best guess' scenario, driven by bigger and more efficient turbines, lower capital and operating costs, and other advancements (see Figure 1).

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  • Physics & Chemistry

science and technology

NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP finds powerful storms in Tropical Storm Malakas

NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite measured cloud top temperatures as it passed over Tropical Storm Malakas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean and found strong storms.

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  • Earth & Climate

science and technology

Land-based food not nutritionally sufficient for wild polar bears, according to new study

A study, by San Diego Zoo Global conservationists, released this week (Sept. 12, 2016) is shedding new light on how scientists evaluate polar bear diet and weight loss during their fasting season. On average, a polar bear loses up to 30 percent of its total body mass while fasting during the open-water season. Although some scientists previously believed land-based foods could supplement the bears' nutritional needs until the sea ice returns, a new study published in the scientific journal Physiological and Biochemical Zoology has revealed that access to terrestrial food is not sufficient to reduce the rate of body mass loss for fasting polar bears.

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  • Earth & Climate

science and technology

NASA sees formation of Central Atlantic Tropical Storm Ian

The low pressure area known as System 94L developed into Tropical Storm Ian on Sept. 14. NOAA's GOES-East satellite data was made into an animation that showed the development of the central Atlantic storm.

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  • Earth & Climate

science and technology

When vendor meetings become a dreadful affair

Like any other CIO I get several mails and calls and meeting requests from vendors – small and big, old companies and startups, current partners and potential partners. I must admit, I do not entertain most of the requests.




science and technology

The unsung hero of C suite

He works in the trenches, gets his hands dirty and is forever lending support to the business. Yet the CIOs contributions to business and his department's success are seldom celebrated. Why is the underrated star denied the glory he rightfully deserves?




science and technology

How my organization fell prey to transnational cyber fraud

Last year my organization fell victim to a trans- national export invoice fraud. Since 99 percent of our sales come from exports, the cyber fraud dealt a big blow to our organization. We have a customer in South East Asia and my organization had business dealings with this customer for over five years.




science and technology

Inheriting and cleaning my predecessor’s mess

I did not bad mouth my predecessor. However, I never attempted to defend him or any of his actions. I fixed them!




science and technology

To survive, CIOs need to act as a conduit between business and IT

It is crucial for CIOs to break free from set behaviors and relationships in order to establish IT as a full business partner. If CIOs complain that they feel ignored by the business, they are themselves to blame.




science and technology

What do CIOs want – The title or the relationship

Managing relationships is as important for a CIO as having operational and technical competence.




science and technology

CIOs, will you speak your mind?

It is better to put forward our views and deal with the multitude of possible outcomes than to ponder what if we had spoken.




science and technology

When CIO-CMO relationship goes sour

For a CIO-CMO association to deliver true business value there must be a true level of trust and respect built between these two leaders and their teams.




science and technology

All bad technology decisions are made in good times

A CIO talks about the need to make judicious technology spends in the good times.




science and technology

Subsidies from Big Tech should be last option for EU telcos: Meta Platforms

Companies such as Meta have said such a move would not solve the telcos' financial problems and ignores hefty investments by tech companies.




science and technology

India's digital lending market likely to grow $515 bn by 2030 : Report

Given the low base and huge demand, the digital lending industry remains in an expansive phase. According to a recent report by IIFL FinTech, the digital lending market is expected to grow to a whopping USD 515 billion by 2030.




science and technology

Germany's Scholz to meet Intel CEO amid intensive talks on chip plant

Germany is in intensive discussions with Intel, the economy ministry said on Friday, without commenting on how much state funding the company is set to receive for the project.




science and technology

SpaceX launches satellite to boost Indonesia internet coverage

Over a third of Indonesia's population do not have access to the web, especially in far-flung areas of the world's fourth most populous country.




science and technology

Internet companies mail dissent note against IAMAI’s stand on digital competition bill

Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) had submitted its views to the CDCL opposing the prescription of ex-ante regulations for digital companies, saying that ex-ante measures “may limit growth not only of the market in question but the digital economy altogether”.




science and technology

Banks move to cash in on QR code pay boom

HDFC bank, ICICI Bank and others are deploying their own QR code stickers at merchant outlets, competing with the likes of Paytm and others.




science and technology

Google’s ad tech in peril as EU joins US’s breakup bandwagon

The European Commission last week joined the Department of Justice in touting a breakup as a viable remedy for the California-based tech giant’s alleged monopoly abuses. A selloff order would strike at the heart of one of Google’s biggest money spinners, although it could still be years away due to the legal processes being played out.




science and technology

Australia plans huge fines if big tech fails to tackle disinformation

Under the proposed legislation, the owners of platforms like Facebook, Google, Twitter, TikTok and podcasting services would face penalties worth up to five percent of annual global turnover -- some of the highest proposed anywhere in the world.




science and technology

Upcoming aviation, tech ventures giving Noida new identity: UP Minister Nand Gopal

"With the development of Asia's largest airport at Jewar, the freight corridor, data centres, food park, toy park, medical device park, an Integrated Industrial Township in Greater Noida, multi-modal transportation hub, the region managed by the Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway authorities has got a new identity," Nand Gopal Gupta said.




science and technology

Digital India Bill draft likely within 15 days

The draft was due to be released earlier this month, but was held back for fresh consultation with legal and industry leaders. This follows feedback from experts during the government’s outreach on the proposed Act, which began in March across multiple cities, including Bengaluru and Mumbai. The proposed regulations may also include provisions requiring companies to inform consumers how their data is being processed, sources said.




science and technology

EU to take one giant leap towards digital euro

Digital euro enthusiasts say it will complement cash and ensure the ECB does not leave a gap that could be filled by private, usually non-European, players and other central banks. Critics question the need for a digital euro and banks warn of major risks, while the ECB's own study found the public was concerned over payment privacy.




science and technology

Russian court fines Google an additional $47 million

Google was fined 2 billion roubles in February 2022. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) at the time said Google's YouTube had a "non-transparent, biased and unpredictable" approach to "suspending and blocking users' accounts and content". The FAS said the previous fine it imposed on Google had been doubled due to non-payment.




science and technology

Internet shutdowns cost $1.9 billion to India in Jan-Jun 2023: Report

The shutdowns also led to a loss of nearly $118 million in foreign investment and triggered over 21,000 job losses, the global non-profit Internet Society said in its report 'Netloss'.




science and technology

Private banks bullish on branch expansion while PSU banks scale digital operations

Private banks including HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Axis have been spending a lot on expanding their operations into the hinterlands of the country, contrary to public sector banks which have been investing in building capabilities and enhancing their digital functions. What’s driving this change? Is phygital the new norm in banking? Find out more here.




science and technology

Ecommerce logs 24% Q2 growth as premium products click; slowdown hits low-priced items

The 24% quarterly growth follows a slower-than-expected 16% growth in the January to March quarter, as reported by ET in May. While certain segments like pharma and eye wear have grown at a faster clip, senior ecommerce industry executives said there is an emerging trend of slowdown in online sales of low-priced items across categories like fashion, appliances, etc.




science and technology

24 central banks will have digital currencies by 2030: BIS survey

The past 18 months have seen turmoil in the crytpo market, including the failure of TerraUSD, an unbacked stablecoin, in May 2022, the collapse of crytpo exchange FTX in November and the bankruptcy of banks such as Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, which serviced crypto providers.




science and technology

Meta may release a ‘commercial version’ of its language model for businesses: Report

Meta announced the LLaMA in February this year in several sizes (7B, 13B, 33B, and 65B parameters) so it can be used by a range of users and companies. At I/O 2023, Google also talked about multiple LLMs that are suited to companies of different sizes.




science and technology

Meta, Qualcomm partnership to bring AI-powered apps on phones

Both the companies are working to optimise the execution of Meta’s LLMs directly on-device without the need of cloud services. According to the chipmaker, the technology will enable applications, powered by Snapdragon, to work in areas with no connectivity or even in airplane mode. This will essentially bring generative AI capabilities from large companies using powerful processors to users’ hands.