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The move is a likely precursor to sticking steep tariffs on imported chips: The Trump administration has been applying similar levies to foreign goods ostensibly to, among other things, encourage more manufacturing on American soil.

Public notice of the investigation will be published in Wednesday’s edition of the Federal Register. In a pre-publication copy of the notice available for review now, the US Department of Commerce explained it was seeking public comment on the matter as it seeks to “determine the effects on national security of imports of semiconductors, semiconductor manufacturing equipment (SME) and their derivative products.”

Per the notice, derivative products include things “that contain semiconductors,” so if any tariffs do result from the investigation, expect electronics that include foreign-made chips (yes, iPhones) to be affected, too.

The Trump regime lifted tariffs on a number of imports – including computer equipment – last week, but with the added caveat that it fully intended to bring the tariffs back within a couple of months. The President also warned tariffs were coming for chips specifically. This investigation seems to be the beginning of that effort, with the White House using a familiar measure to legitimize potential tariffs on the semiconductor sector.

Like it did with steel, aluminum and automotive tariffs, the federal government is using the Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which allows the President to enact tariffs for national security reasons.

The shift from using a declaration of national emergency to the more specific concerns about national security “reveals the administration’s desire for a more durable justification,” Consumer Technology Association CEO Gary Shapiro said of the news. “But claiming that downstream consumer tech products qualify as ‘semiconductors’ is a stretch.”

As for particularities, the notice said it’s looking for public feedback not only on the security risks of importing semiconductors, but the country’s potential to handle domestic production of affected chips as well, which ties in with Trump’s previous justification of tariffs as a way to bulk up, or in a lot of cases jumpstart, US manufacturing.

US semiconductor manufacturing has seen a boost in recent years with the Biden-era CHIPS Act and commitments from multinationals like TSMC and Samsung to build chip plants in the US. As we’ve noted before, however, those plants can take years to come online, and both super-corps have been hesitant to bring leading-edge chip manufacturing to the US.

In other words – and forgive us for sounding a bit like a broken record – buyers will feel the pinch if the Trump administration uses this investigation to enact semiconductor tariffs; the extra levies will be passed onto them. Amazon expects this to happen. Meanwhile, the randomness of the tariff strategy thus far will forestall any big US reindustrialization, according to Shapiro.

“Unpredictability is undermining long-term investment and growth,” Shapiro said.

“More, high production costs and a limited skilled workforce make domestic manufacturing of consumer tech challenging,” the CTA CEO added. “To support US innovation and competitiveness, we need a smarter, targeted trade strategy where we team up with allies to compete with China.”

The public comment period for the investigation will last for 21 days from publication of the order, which is scheduled for Wednesday. Section 232 investigations are designed to take no longer than 270 days. The Trump administration also released an advance copy of another Section 232 investigation that could preempt tariffs yesterday targeting the pharmaceutical industry. The Register

In a major move to modernise governance and boost digital efficiency, the Odisha government has made it mandatory for all officers to acquire foundational knowledge in Artificial Intelligence (AI). A notification issued by Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja on April 15 directed all departments to ensure their officers enroll in at least one basic online AI course.

“AI has the potential to bring transformative changes in how government functions from making it easy for citizens to interface with Government to predictive analysis, intelligent grievance redressal systems, planning, and monitoring service delivery outcomes,” the letter stated.

Notably, this initiative is part of the state’s broader plan to build a digitally competent and future-ready administrative workforce.

According to the directive, officers must complete a foundational AI course within three months. These online courses are available for free on reputed platforms and cover essential AI concepts, tools, and applications.

The courses aim to offer both theoretical understanding and practical insights. Further, departments have been asked to designate a nodal officer to oversee implementation, facilitate enrollment, and monitor progress.

Consolidated reports on course completion must be submitted to the Chief Secretary’s office within the deadline.

Why it matters
The move comes as AI becomes increasingly relevant in public administration. From predictive analysis and grievance redressal systems to improved planning and real-time service monitoring, AI can significantly enhance how the government serves its citizens.

The Chief Secretary stressed that understanding AI is crucial for effective governance. Officers need to use these tools to make informed decisions, manage large data systems, and design citizen-centric policies. Odisha TV

Shares of Bharti Hexacom Ltd. will be in the spotlight, April 11, after the company announced it has temporarily paused its plan to sell 3,400 telecom towers to Indus Towers for ₹1,134 crore.

The move comes after an intervention by Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL) — a Government of India entity that holds a 15% stake in Bharti Hexacom. Following TCIL’s involvement, Bharti Hexacom stated in a stock exchange filing that the proposal has been put “in abeyance” and a fresh evaluation will be carried out in consultation with TCIL.

This transaction was originally part of a larger deal announced in February, under which Indus Towers was to acquire a total of 16,100 towers from Bharti Airtel and Bharti Hexacom for ₹3,308.7 crore in cash. The deal was expected to close by March 31. As of now, Indus Towers has completed the acquisition of Airtel’s passive infrastructure business, which involved 12,700 towers. The remaining 3,400 towers from Bharti Hexacom are pending.

Indus Towers had previously said the acquisition was aligned with its core business and would enhance its market share while supporting long-term growth. On the investment front, brokerage firm Motilal Oswal has reiterated its bullish stance on Bharti Hexacom. In a recent note, it stated that it prefers Bharti Hexacom shares over its parent company Bharti Airtel Ltd., citing lower risks of capital misallocation.

Motilal Oswal has given Bharti Hexacom a ‘Buy’ rating with a target price of ₹1,625 — a level that would surpass the stock’s post-listing high of ₹1,609. The brokerage noted that Bharti Hexacom is currently trading at a 15% premium to the implied valuation of Bharti Airtel’s India business, a premium it believes could be sustained. BharatnNet

Chinese authorities have accused the US National Security Agency (NSA) of carrying out sophisticated cyberattacks targeting critical Chinese infrastructure during the Asian Winter Games in February. The allegations, announced by police in Harbin and reported Tuesday by the state-run Xinhua News Agency, signal a heightened escalation in cybersecurity tensions between the two nations.

According to the Harbin Public Security Bureau, the NSA allegedly launched a series of “advanced cyberattacks” on essential sectors, including energy, transportation, water resources, telecommunications, and national defence research institutions in China’s northeastern Heilongjiang province, the host region for the Games.

Authorities identified three individuals accused of orchestrating the attacks: Katheryn A Wilson, Robert J Snelling, and Stephen W Johnson. The trio has been placed on a wanted list, with Chinese officials claiming they were involved in repeated cyberattacks not only against government infrastructure but also against major Chinese enterprises, including Huawei.

The report also named two US academic institutions — the University of California and Virginia Tech — as being involved in the alleged cyber operations, though specific details on their roles were not provided.

Xinhua’s report also claims the NSA carried out the cyberattacks during the Asian Winter Games, with a particular focus on disrupting key information systems and stealing sensitive data.

“The US National Security Agency (NSA) launched cyberattacks against important industries such as energy, transportation, water conservancy, communications, and national defence research institutions in Heilongjiang province,” Xinhua quoted the Harbin police as saying.

The operations reportedly peaked during the first ice hockey match on February 3, with the attackers targeting the Games’ registration system, which contained personal data of participating athletes and officials.

According to investigators, the NSA allegedly activated “pre-installed backdoors” in Microsoft Windows systems on devices in the region. To avoid detection, the agency is said to have used anonymised IP addresses and rented servers across Europe and Asia.

This development adds to the growing cyber and trade tensions between the US and China. Washington has frequently accused Chinese state-backed hackers of targeting American infrastructure, government agencies, and private firms.

Just last month, the US indicted several alleged Chinese hackers believed to have attacked the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Department of Commerce, and foreign ministries in Taiwan, South Korea, India, and Indonesia.

Beijing has consistently denied involvement in any overseas cyber espionage. In recent years, however, China has begun publicly accusing the US of conducting similar operations. In December, Chinese officials said they had uncovered and dealt with two American cyberattacks on domestic tech firms intended to “steal trade secrets” since May 2023, though they did not name the specific agency responsible. Business Standard

Following a string of alleged Russian attacks on undersea cables, a group of Europe’s largest telecom companies are urging NATO and other military leaders to do more to protect the region’s undersea infrastructure.

“With the rise in hybrid threats, including incidents affecting subsea cables in the Baltic and North Sea, we emphasize the importance of enhanced, coordinated action to safeguard Europe’s cross-border networks,” the companies wrote in an open letter to EU, UK, and NATO decision makers.

The companies—which include Spain’s Telefónica, Vodafone, and O2 owner Orange—argue that the “repercussions of damage to subsea cables extend far beyond Europe,” claiming future attacks could impact “global internet and power infrastructure, international communications, financial transactions, and critical services worldwide.”

The letter calls on leaders to engage in the “robust exchange of knowledge and intelligence,” including “shared monitoring and surveillance initiatives,” and calls for “investment in advanced technologies to detect and mitigate damage to subsea cables.”

Though the document doesn’t explicitly name any foreign powers, Russia is suspected to be behind several high-profile incidents over the past year.

In November 2024, a Chinese ship was surrounded by European vessels due to suspicions that it attempted to sabotage fiber-optic undersea cables in the Baltic Sea. The Yi Peng 3, a commercial ship filled with Russian goods, dragged an anchor over 100 miles across Northern Europe’s Baltic seabed, and the investigation reportedly focused on whether the ship’s crew was directed to drag the anchor to intentionally damage the cables.

That came after cables connecting Lithuania and Sweden, as well as Finland and Germany, were slashed the month prior. In January, Sweden also began investigating a cargo ship for deliberately damaging an undersea fiber-optic cable in the Baltic Sea, which connected Sweden and Latvia, after detecting connectivity issues.

Russia and China have denied intentionally damaging any undersea infrastructure. In January, however, UK Defense Secretary John Healey said in a statement directed at Russian President Vladimir Putin that, “We know what you are doing, and we will not shy away from robust action to protect this country.”

NATO is already looking at ways to protect subsea cables, including aquatic drones that can monitor the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas for threats and potentially be equipped with weapons.

In January, NATO announced “Baltic Sentry,” a military activity intended “to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure [and] improve Allies’ ability to respond to destabilizing acts.” The organization confirmed that naval drones are part of the effort, as are frigates (warships) and maritime patrol aircraft.

“NATO will work within the Critical Undersea Infrastructure Network, which includes industry, to explore further ways to protect infrastructure and improve resilience of underwater assets,” it says. Yahoo Tech