Sri Lankan energy crisis, primarily caused by the severe foreign exchange shortage, has reached a dangerous level this week as the country struggles to manage multiple interlinked crises, forcing authorities to ration both electricity and fuel
Closing South Asia’s Mental Health Gap With AI: It can Improve Access, Reduce Delay and Connect More People
For people with mild to moderate distress, an AI-assisted system could provide brief, structured support based on evidence-based psychological techniques. For high-risk cases such as suicidal thoughts, psychotic symptoms, or acute trauma, the system should immediately refer the person to a human professional or a trained community health worker.
AI for Every Nepali: Jobs, Prosperity and Nepal’s Next Development Leap
Nepal does not need to become Silicon Valley. It does not need to copy India, China, Singapore or Canada. Nepal needs an AI strategy rooted in its own realities: young talent, hydropower potential, local problems, growing IT services, tourism, agriculture, small businesses and a global diaspora.
The Hidden Tax: Road Accidents Drain Over 3% of GDP From India and Sri Lanka Every Year; Generative AI Could Win it Back
The core data architecture — a national road safety data lake, AI-powered enforcement, multilingual public awareness — is replicable at any scale, in any South Asian language, in any South Asian urban or rural road environment. The technology does not need to be reinvented for Dhaka, Kathmandu or Karachi. It needs to be validated in Colombo and Delhi first.
Why the Global South Must Become AI Creators: Need to Take a More Leading Role in AI Governance and Economy
However, 118 countries, mostly developing ones, do not participate in international discussions on AI governance, according to UNCTAD. This means that billions of people may live within rules they were not involved in making.
More on AI and Innovation
Ukraine war to significantly impact tourism, says Maldives tourism minister; pins hopes on China to offset potential loss
The ongoing war in Ukraine will significantly impact the tourism industry, said Maldives’ Tourism Minister Abdullah Mausoom, as tourists from Russia and Ukraine, the two countries at war now, comprise almost 20 percent of the country’s total tourists
Crisis-gripped Sri Lanka to hold talks with IMF and World Bank for assistance
Sri Lankan officials are expected to hold talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank for support as Colombo faces a severe economic crisis, including a shortage of fuel and essentials
Bangladesh to get $300 million from the World Bank to strengthen local governance
The World Bank has approved a proposal to provide $300 million to Bangladesh to help strengthen its local governance against the pandemic shock and make them resilient to future shocks
Iran to Afghanistan's rescue? Has assured help to rebuild Afghan economy, claims Taliban
Iran has assured its assistance to help rebuild the Afghan economy, the Taliban’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said
Nepal, India discuss energy and power trade cooperation
Nepal and India on Thursday discussed enhancing bilateral energy cooperation, development of energy resources, and power trade among other related issues during the meeting of the Joint Steering Committee in Kathmandu
Bill Gates praises Indian vaccine makers for supplying affordable Covid vaccines to the world
Billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has praised India for its vaccine-manufacturing prowess and applauded the efforts of the country's manufacturers for supplying affordable vaccines across the world
Maldives welcomes Air India flight with a water cannon salute marking 46 years of air service
Tourism-dependent Maldives welcomed Air India flight AI-267 with a water cannon salute at Male airport on Monday, commemorating 46 years of air service between the two countries
Maldives to get Reliance Jio’s Multi Terabit India-Asia-Xpress undersea cable system; vision to make it South Asia's communications hub
Reliance Jio Infocomm, India's largest mobile operator, will land the multi-terabit India-Asia-Xpress (IAX) undersea cable system in the Maldives’ Hulhumale, a reclaimed island south of North Male, the company confirmed in a statement on Monday
India, US in talks to boost economic ties beyond FTA
India and the US are in dialogue to look at ways beyond a free trade agreement to promote economic ties by providing better market access and enhanced engagement on investments, India's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Sunday
No cash, severe fuel shortage inevitable, says Sri Lankan energy minister
Sri Lanka's state-owned petroleum company has run out of cash, the country’s Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila said, warning a severe fuel shortage is inevitable if tariffs aren’t increased or the government doesn’t provide another bailout
Sri Lanka’s energy crisis threatens revival of its prized tourism industry
What began as a forex crisis, primarily because of the collapse of the tourism industry, blew up into an energy crisis, and now seems to jeopardise the revival of the same tourism industry.
Hit by MCC row, time running out for Nepal’s energy-export ambitions
Despite being a net energy surplus country, Nepal still imports electricity from India to supply to some regions which remain off the national grid
Growing Bangladesh-India trade and economic ties creating new opportunities in both countries
Bangladesh’s holistic development is viewed positively by New Delhi, with new opportunities arising along India’s northeastern region
Maiden voyage of Tata Steel shipment from eastern to northeastern India - via Bangaldesh; logistic chain for feedstock movement also established
In a move to demonstrate the effectiveness of multi-modal cargo movement in eastern South Asia, the maiden voyage of a steel cargo-laden barge from Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Bengal's Haldia to Pandu Port in Guwahati was flagged off by India's Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal through what is being called in official jargon the Indo Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR)
