Digital Sovereignty

Why Indo-Pacific Must Follow Europe’s Push for Digital Sovereignty and Open-Source Tech Independence

A common BIMSTEC policy statement on digital sovereignty would give the region a clearer collective voice and a stronger negotiating footing with foreign companies. Additionally, BIMSTEC can be used to initiate a shift from U.S. cloud storage companies to regional alternatives such as TATA Communications (India) and NIPA Cloud (Thailand).

The Silicon Buffer: Where Does India and South Asia Sit in the US-China Semiconductor Decoupling?

India is carving out a vital role in the global back-end chip infrastructure. Washington actively views India's rise in this sector as a strategic hedge, codifying tech cooperation through bilateral frameworks designed to shift critical supply lines away from East Asia.

India’s A.I. Future Requires a New Approach to Groundwater Governance

The implications of mismanagement extend far beyond groundwater depletion. Foreign investors have withdrawn a record $30 billion from Indian equities so far in 2026. Regional data suggests investors have relocated their withdrawals across Taiwan and South Korea’s AI and semiconductor ecosystems. 

AI and Us: Decision Making Should Not Be Outsourced to AI

AI literacy should become as important as digital literacy. An informed user is ultimately the first and most effective line of defence against blindly accepting what a machine tells us.  

More on AI, Tech and Innovation

Apricots from Kargil, once a battleground for India and Pakistan, go global

Fresh apricots from Kargil district in the union territory of Ladakh have for the first time in 35 years found their way to the international market

Moody’s downgrades Maldives rating to Caa1, changes outlook to stable

Despite the significant recovery in the country’s tourism industry, Moody’s downgraded the Maldives’ sovereign rating to Caa1 with a stable outlook from earlier B3, citing the drop in tax revenue collection and other factors

Pakistan asks World Bank to restructure $200 loan

Pakistan has asked the World Bank to finalize its restructuring plan for the $200 million loan which the lender had approved last year for the locust emergency and food security project

Airbnb to support 20,000 Afghan refugees with free accommodation

Airbnb, a San Francisco-based company that operates an online marketplace for lodging, primarily homestays for vacation rentals

Maldives signs deal with India's Afcons for India-funded mega infrastructure project

The Maldives has on Thursday signed a deal with an Indian company for the Greater Male Connectivity Project, the archipelago’s biggest infra project so far costing around $500 million, giving a major boost to connectivity around capital Male

India’s Adani Group to start work on Sri Lanka’s West Container Terminal port by yearend

India’s Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) will begin construction work on the West Container Terminal (WCT) at Sri Lanka’s Colombo port by yearend, media reports say

Undid a past mistake on corporate taxation, took bold decisions on reforms: PM Modi

The Indian government's move to end retrospective tax signified the undoing of a mistake in made in the past, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the annual meeting of the Confederation of Indian Industry or CII

Nepal’s flower industry withers amid pandemic

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the flower industry in Nepal was worth over $20 million

Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose Covid-19 vaccine gets India’s approval - a day after EUA

In a significant step towards boosting its vaccine arsenal, India has given emergency use authorization (EUA) to US pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson's single-dose Covid-19 vaccine in the country

realme to export Make in India smartphones to Nepal

Smartphone maker realme said it will export Make in India smartphones to Nepal from the ongoing third quarter

As China ties sour, ex-Australian PM Tony Abbott to visit India to advance trade relationship

Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott will visit India this month to progress the Indo-Australian economic and trade relationship under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

Bangladesh receives USD 20 bn investment proposals for its first planned industrial city

Bangladesh has received investment proposals worth around USD 20.13 billion from 153 investors, including those from China and Japan, for its first planned industrial city which it wants to develop as a world-class business and industrial center

Serum Institute of India to work with industry body CII to spread vaccination in small towns, rural areas

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has entered into an agreement with the Serum Institute of India (SII) to accelerate COVID-19 vaccination in small towns and rural areas in partnership with industry and healthcare providers

India and US to sponsor forum to boost Indo-Pacific business cooperation

As part of their growing Indo-Pacific strategic cooperation, India and the United States are sponsoring a virtual meeting of the Indo-Pacific Business Forum (IPBF) to promote government and business cooperation across the region where China is increasingly playing an assertive role

Etihad discontinues flights from India to UAE "till further notice"

Etihad Airways has discontinued flights from India to the UAE till further notice, a spokesperson of the airline said