📌 TOPINDIATOURS Update ai: FCC bans new foreign-made routers over rising US cybers

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has moved to block the import of new foreign-made consumer routers, escalating Washington’s push to secure domestic networks from potential cyber threats.

The decision targets devices that connect homes and businesses to the internet, a critical layer of modern infrastructure.

Officials say the move follows a security review coordinated by the White House.

That review flagged imported routers as a high-risk entry point for cyberattacks.

The new order stops future imports but does not affect devices already in use across the country.

Regulators say this approach avoids disruption for current users while tightening controls on future network equipment entering the U.S. market.

Security risks highlighted

The FCC says foreign-made routers pose a direct threat to U.S. systems.

The agency warned that such devices could act as weak points in national infrastructure.

It said imported routers present “a severe cybersecurity risk ⁠that could be leveraged to immediately and severely disrupt U.S. critical infrastructure.”

Officials added that attackers have already used these vulnerabilities in real-world operations.

They linked the concerns to major cyber campaigns, including Volt and Salt Typhoon.

The agency said malicious actors had exploited security gaps in foreign-made routers “to attack households, disrupt networks, enable espionage, and facilitate intellectual property theft.”

Experts have long warned that routers sit at the edge of every connected environment.

That position makes them an attractive target for persistent access and large-scale disruption.

China plays a major role in the U.S. router market.

Estimates suggest Chinese-linked manufacturers supply at least 60% of consumer routers used in American homes.

Lawmakers have raised concerns about this dependency for years.

They argue that reliance on foreign hardware creates systemic risks and limits domestic control over critical digital infrastructure.

Representative John Moolenaar welcomed the FCC’s decision.

He framed it as a national security measure tied to broader geopolitical tensions.

“Today’s tremendous decision by the FCC and the Trump ‌administration protects ⁠our country against China’s relentless cyberattacks and makes it clear that these devices should be excluded from our critical infrastructure,” Moolenaar said, as quoted by Reuters.

He added, “Routers are key to keeping us all connected and we cannot allow Chinese technology to be at the center of that.”

Exemptions and legal battle

The order includes a narrow exemption.

The Pentagon can approve certain routers if it determines they do not pose unacceptable risks.

At the same time, legal pressure is building against major manufacturers.

Last month, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against TP-Link Systems.

The lawsuit accuses the company of deceptive marketing practices.

It also alleges that its devices allowed unauthorized access tied to Beijing.

TP-Link rejected those claims and said it would “vigorously defend” its reputation.

The company stated that the Chinese government has no ownership or control over its operations, products, or user data.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington has not issued a response.

The FCC’s decision signals a sharper turn in U.S. tech policy.

It reflects growing concern over supply chain security, data integrity, and foreign influence in critical technologies.

🔗 Sumber: interestingengineering.com

📌 TOPINDIATOURS Update ai: World’s first beer made with CO2 captured from thin air

A California craft brewery has launched what it claims is the world’s first beer carbonated with carbon dioxide captured directly from the air, marking a shift in how a critical industrial input can be sourced.

Aircapture, a company focused on direct air capture (DAC), partnered with Almanac Beer Co. to debut Flow – Clean Air Edition (Flow – CAE).

The system sits inside Almanac’s brewery in Alameda, California. It pulls CO₂ from ambient air and refines it to beverage-grade quality before feeding it into the brewing process.

The launch follows a turbulent period for U.S. manufacturers.

A nationwide CO₂ shortage in 2022 disrupted operations and raised costs across food and beverage sectors, with breweries among the hardest hit.

The shortage exposed a structural weakness. Most commercial CO₂ comes from fossil-fuel-linked processes such as ammonia and ethanol production.

When those slow or divert supply, downstream users feel the shock.

Breaking CO₂ supply chains

Aircapture’s system bypasses that dependency. It captures CO₂ onsite, eliminating reliance on external industrial supply chains.

The unit produces liquid CO₂ at 99.999% purity, exceeding standard beverage requirements.

This approach reframes carbon dioxide as a localized input rather than a volatile byproduct.

For brewers, it reduces exposure to supply disruptions and price swings. It also offers a more predictable production environment.

“Until now, CO2 has been a volatile byproduct of fuel and chemical production,” said Matt Atwood, CEO and Founder of Aircapture.

“With Flow – Clean Air Edition, we’re making high-purity CO2 from the air right where it’s needed, and delivering it at a cost that works for business owners,” said Matt Atwood, CEO and Founder of Aircapture.

He described the system as an early signal of a broader shift in how industries source carbon dioxide.

Instead of relying on fossil-fuel-linked production, companies can generate CO₂ onsite from ambient air.

He pointed to its potential across sectors, including food, refrigeration, concrete, and agriculture, and said the approach is now commercially viable rather than experimental.

Large DAC projects often require years of construction and significant capital.

Aircapture took a different route. Its modular system integrates with existing brewery infrastructure and can go live within weeks.

Almanac installed the unit without building a new facility or disrupting production.

The system now feeds captured atmospheric CO₂ directly into its brewing line.

That creates a closed-loop process where carbon becomes a reusable resource.

“Brewing is both science and craft,” said Damian Fagan, CEO of Almanac Beer Co.

He said the brewery no longer depends on distant industrial CO₂ supply.

Instead, it now sources carbon dioxide directly from ambient air at its Alameda facility, creating a more localized and circular production process.

Policy push and market test

The launch also ties into broader U.S. carbon removal efforts.

A portion of proceeds from Flow – CAE will support Carbon180, a nonprofit advancing carbon removal policy.

Almanac introduced the beer during a public event at its Alameda brewery on March 21.

Visitors toured the DAC system and saw how captured CO₂ enters the brewing process.

Flow – Clean Air Edition is now available at the brewery and across more than 800 retail accounts statewide.

Distribution includes major chains such as Safeway, Whole Foods, Total Wine, and BevMo.

The project serves as a real-world test case for decentralized carbon sourcing. If scalable, it could reshape how industries secure one of their most overlooked inputs.

🔗 Sumber: interestingengineering.com