India has started testing a barrier-free toll collection system on its highways. A Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) toll plaza has been launched on the Mundka–Bakkarwala stretch of Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) in the National Capital Region as part of this initiative by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

The system removes physical toll barriers and allows vehicles to pass through without stopping. It works using a combination of technologies including RFID (FASTag), Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, and LiDAR sensors, which together identify, track, and classify vehicles in real time.

MLFF is an electronic tolling framework designed to enable seamless toll collection while vehicles continue moving at highway speeds. Instead of traditional toll booths, overhead gantries are installed with smart sensors and cameras that detect vehicles and process tolls automatically. RFID readers scan FASTag information, ANPR cameras capture number plates for verification, and LiDAR or radar systems determine the size and type of vehicle. All this information is processed instantly through backend computing systems to calculate and deduct toll charges.

In some future versions, this system may also integrate GNSS-based tolling, where vehicles are tracked using satellite signals and charged based on the actual distance travelled instead of fixed toll points. This would shift tolling from location-based charging to usage-based billing. On Indian highways, the MLFF system uses multiple layers of detection. RFID is the primary method for identifying vehicles at high speed without requiring them to slow down. ANPR serves as a backup system to ensure that vehicles without valid FASTags can still be identified and billed through their license plates. LiDAR technology helps classify vehicles by measuring their physical dimensions, which is important for applying correct toll rates. All data is processed in real time using edge computing systems, enabling instant transactions without stopping traffic. If a FASTag is invalid or has insufficient balance, the system generates an electronic notice and allows a limited time for payment before penalties are applied.

Compared to traditional toll systems, MLFF offers major improvements in efficiency. Even with FASTag, vehicles today often need to slow down or stop, causing congestion, fuel wastage, and delays. By eliminating barriers completely, MLFF ensures continuous traffic flow. Early estimates suggest that toll plazas using this system can handle more than double the traffic, with over 500 vehicles per hour compared to around 250 in conventional setups. The government also expects significant fuel savings and a reduction in carbon emissions, especially on busy corridors like those in Delhi-NCR.

Globally, similar barrier-free tolling systems are already in use. Countries in Europe use GNSS-based systems for commercial vehicles to calculate tolls based on distance travelled. The United States uses open-road tolling systems with RFID and camera-based gantries. Vietnam has also implemented RFID-based free-flow tolling similar to India’s approach. However, India is adopting a gradual hybrid model, moving step by step toward more advanced systems.

This technology also fits into India’s broader plan for Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication. MLFF acts as an early form of Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) system where vehicles and road infrastructure exchange data in real time. It relies on continuous communication between roadside sensors, backend servers, and vehicle FASTag systems. In the future, with advancements like Cellular V2X and GNSS-based tracking, tolling systems could become even more automated and connected.

However, scaling this system across the country comes with challenges. These include handling vehicles with faulty or missing FASTags, avoiding incorrect identification, managing high-speed traffic discipline, and ensuring stable network connectivity for real-time processing. Strong enforcement mechanisms such as electronic notices and penalties will also be needed to prevent revenue loss and ensure smooth operation.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Magnific.

Anthropic has raised usage limits for paid Claude users as it scales up its computing infrastructure through a partnership with SpaceX. The company said this expanded capacity will benefit subscribers on Claude Pro and Claude Max plans, while free users will not receive any changes. As part of the deal, Anthropic stated it will gain access to the full computing power of SpaceX’s Colossus 1 data center, adding over 300 megawatts of capacity and more than 220,000 NVIDIA GPUs within a month.

The company introduced three key updates to usage limits for paid customers. It has doubled Claude Code’s five-hour rate limits across Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise seat-based plans, removed peak-hour restrictions for Pro and Max users, and significantly increased API rate limits for Claude Opus models.

Under the new API structure, Tier-I users now receive up to 500,000 input tokens per minute (previously 30,000) and 80,000 output tokens per minute (up from 8,000). Tier-II limits have risen to 2 million input and 200,000 output tokens per minute, while Tier-III users get up to 5 million input and 400,000 output tokens. Tier-IV users now have limits of 10 million input tokens and 800,000 output tokens per minute. Rate limits control how much data users can process in a given time, while tokens represent chunks of text used by AI systems to interpret inputs and generate responses. Higher limits allow more complex and larger workloads.

Anthropic also outlined broader infrastructure expansion plans, including large-scale compute partnerships with Amazon, Google, Broadcom, Microsoft, and NVIDIA. These efforts include multi-gigawatt capacity expansions and billions of dollars in investments across global AI infrastructure. The company said future growth will also focus on international deployment, especially in regulated sectors like healthcare, finance, and government, with an emphasis on compliance and data residency requirements.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Business Standard.

South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI index soared past the 7,000 mark for the first time on Wednesday, powered by a strong rally in artificial intelligence-linked semiconductor stocks that also lifted Samsung Electronics into the $1 trillion market-cap club. The index closed 6.45% higher at 7,384.56 after briefly hitting an intraday record of 7,426.60, while also triggering a rare “sidecar” trading curb during volatile trade. The surge followed gains in U.S. chip stocks overnight, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index rising 4.2%, boosting investor sentiment across global markets.

Leading the rally were Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which jumped 14.4% and 10.6% respectively to record highs. Together, the two companies now account for nearly 44% of the KOSPI’s total market capitalization. Samsung’s valuation crossing $1 trillion makes it only the second Asian firm after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company to reach the milestone.

The market rally reflects growing global demand for AI infrastructure and semiconductor chips, which has driven South Korea’s tech-heavy index to become one of the world’s best-performing major markets this year. The gains also followed strong manufacturing data and continued optimism around semiconductor exports.

So far in 2026, the KOSPI has surged 75%, following a 76% rise in the previous year, marking its strongest performance since 1999. Analysts attribute the rally to sustained foreign investment inflows and government-led market reforms aimed at boosting investor confidence. The South Korean won also strengthened sharply, reaching its highest level since February, reflecting increased capital inflows.

Market sentiment was further supported by upbeat earnings forecasts from global technology firms such as Advanced Micro Devices, which reported strong demand for AI-driven data center chips. Despite broad gains, most stocks in the index declined, highlighting the concentrated nature of the rally. However, financial and securities sectors also posted solid gains on expectations that a booming equity market will lift earnings.

Analysts remain divided on the outlook, with some suggesting the index could continue rising if AI chip demand remains strong, while others warn of potential volatility if global economic conditions weaken. Foreign investors played a key role in the rally, recording their largest-ever single-day net purchases of South Korean equities, further fueling the historic market surge.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

A trial beginning Monday in New Mexico will examine allegations that Meta’s platforms—Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—have negatively affected the mental health of young users. The case also seeks a court order that could require significant changes to how the company operates its services.

The hearing, taking place in Santa Fe, follows a lawsuit brought by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez. The complaint argues that Meta intentionally designed its platforms to keep young people engaged in an addictive way and failed to adequately protect minors from risks such as sexual exploitation online.

This trial represents the second stage of the legal action. Earlier in March, a jury ruled that Meta violated the state’s consumer protection laws by misleading users about the safety of Facebook and Instagram for children and teenagers. That ruling also resulted in $375 million in damages against the company.

Now, the court will consider whether Meta’s platforms qualify as a “public nuisance” under state law. If the judge agrees, it could open the door to sweeping remedies aimed at reducing potential harm to young users. State officials are reportedly seeking additional damages in the billions, along with platform-level reforms. Proposed changes include stronger age verification systems, adjustments to recommendation algorithms to reduce harmful content exposure for minors, and disabling features such as autoplay and infinite scrolling for younger users.

Meta, however, maintains that it has already implemented strong safeguards for teens. The company disputes the claims and argues there is no conclusive scientific proof linking social media use directly to mental health disorders. It also suggests that some of the proposed restrictions may be impractical and could even lead to service disruptions in the state. The case is part of a broader wave of lawsuits across the United States accusing Meta and other tech companies of intentionally designing platforms that encourage excessive use among teenagers, contributing to concerns about youth mental health.

Meta has also cautioned investors that increasing legal pressure in both the U.S. and Europe could have a significant impact on its business performance and financial outlook. Attorney General Torrez has stated that the goal of the case is not only to hold the company accountable in New Mexico but also to establish broader standards for how social media platforms should protect young users in the future. Meta argues that focusing on a single platform overlooks the wider ecosystem of apps used by teenagers today and has warned that the requested changes could be difficult to implement at scale.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

In Singapore, bots account for about 58 percent of total internet traffic, with over half classified as malicious. As AI-powered bots become more advanced and harder to distinguish from real users, organizations now face the challenge of not just detecting bots but also interpreting their intent. With AI increasingly blurring the boundary between human and automated activity, businesses are under pressure to adapt. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman discuss the implications for online security, trust, and the internet’s future with Garen Ling, Area Vice President of Sales, ASEAN, App Security and Data Security at Thales.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

In 1998, tobacco companies in the United States were made responsible for the damage caused by the products they produced and sold through the Tobacco Settlement. Today, a similar question arises for Big Tech: it is not only about the content on their platforms but also whether these platforms were intentionally created to keep users addicted. Daniel Martin explores this issue with Rajesh Sreenivasan, Head of Technology, Media, and Telecommunications at Rajah and Tann Singapore.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

In Singapore, mental health professionals are noticing a small but increasing number of patients showing delusions, paranoia, or emotional dependence seemingly connected to frequent AI chatbot use. Although “AI psychosis” is not an official medical diagnosis, clinicians acknowledge that the issue is genuine. How does extensive interaction with AI blur the boundaries between reality and reinforcement? Who is most vulnerable, and what signs should families be aware of? Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman discuss these questions with Dr. Amelia Sim, Senior Consultant at the Department of Psychosis, Institute of Mental Health.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

With decisions delegated, chatbots replacing friends, and nature sidelined, Silicon Valley is shaping a life stripped of real connection. Escape is possible—but it will require a united effort.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.