A vintage streetcar beside a driverless car on the Embarcadero, San Francisco / Photo by Surbhi Guha.

South Asian Talent Almost Everywhere; Missing is an AI Invention from the Region the World Depends on

The ambition exists across the region. Young Indian companies are building rocket engines and computer chips, products India has long bought from abroad. Pakistan sent a delegation to Silicon Valley to show what its technology industry can do

Where Is India's Apple? A Nation's Strategic Independence is Directly Proportional to its Economic Independence

A country can only be as independent in its diplomacy as it is in its economy. A nation that imports its phones, its chips and much of its energy, will always have less room to manoeuvre than one that makes what the world needs.

China's Open-Source AI Initiative and the Limits of BRICS Consensus

The difference between Xi's New Delhi proposal and the language of the declaration illustrates the distinction between China's ambitions for AI cooperation and the level of agreement achieved among BRICS members. The declaration did not reject China's AI diplomacy; it simply did not explicitly endorse the proposed open-source community.

AI on the Battlefield: The Mirage of Unlimited Capability

The AI revolution may indeed change warfare. But the laws of physics, engineering and economics have not been repealed. AI may be extraordinarily powerful in the data centre. The real challenge is carrying that capability to the battlefield.

More on AI, Tech and Innovation

Pakistan industrialists oppose further rise in power tariff

Pakistan industrialists have opposed the anticipated increase of Rs 5.36 per unit in base electricity tariff citing that it would strike a blow to the industry, media reports said

Sri Lanka bans palm oil import; bakery industry hit hard

Sri Lanka has banned the import of palm oil with immediate effect, and also asked the producers in Sri Lanka to uproot palm oil plantations in a phased manner, reported Daily Times

With $15 million daily losses, Nepal’s hotel industry far from recovery

It has been over a year now since the pandemic devastated the hospitality industry last year. Some hotels in Nepal have seized operating, and others resumed partially

Pakistan’s textile industry unhappy over import order reversal from India

The hopes of revival of Pakistan’s ailing  textile sector was short-lived when the Pakistan cabinet on Thursday reversed a decision allowing the import of cotton and cotton yarn from India, leaving the industry players in the lurch

Guyanese crude on its way to India

A one-million barrel cargo of Guyana’s Liza light crude is currently on its way to India, according to Stabroek News

Brazil denies permission to import Bharat Biotech-developed Covaxin

Brazil's health regulator has denied permission to import Covaxin, the coronavirus vaccine developed indigenously by Indian pharma firm Bharat Biotech

Agro2o's Smart Garden: Technology-assisted hydroponics to grow plants in urban homes

The importance of plants in our lives cannot be overemphasized but with limited space, can we grow plants or build a small garden at home?

Ooh Lala: Pakistani star cricketer Shahid Afridi launches skincare line

Launching one’s own beauty products have become the latest trend for Pakistani celebrities

India to challenge Hague tribunal's ruling in favour of Cairn Energy

India is believed to have challenged the decision of a three-member tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague dismissing its Rs 10, 247 crore tax claim on Cairn Energy Plc, said media reports

India's startup success story

The total number of start-ups in India recognised by the commerce and industry ministry under its flagship initiative for fostering entrepreneurship and promoting innovation has gone up to an impressive 44,766 as of March 14 this year, according to official figures tabled in Parliament on Friday

India may buy excess natural gas from Guyana

India may buy natural gas from Guyana, if it produces it in excess, said Indian High Commissioner to Guyana K J Srinivasa

Lulu Group imports 400 tons of Kashmiri apples into UAE

The Lulu Group International, owned by multi-billionaire Keralite businessman M.A. Yusuf Ali has, heeding the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to support the Kashmiri apple farmers, imported around 400 tons of Kashmiri apples to the Middle East

Sri Lankan Ports Authority says 'unaware' of Adani’s claim on WCT

A day after India’s Adani Group claimed that it would acquire a 51 percent stake in West Container Terminal of Colombo port, Sri Lankan Ports Authority (SLPA) has now said they are "unaware" of such claims

KRAS, Indian-Israeli joint venture, rolls out missile kits for Indian forces

Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems Pvt Ltd. (KRAS), a joint venture between India's Kalyani Group, and Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, on Tuesday rolled out its first batch of Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) for the Indian Army and the Air Force

India’s Adani group set to acquire 51 % stakes in Sri Lanka’s West Container Terminal

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ), a subsidiary of India’s Adani group that operates more than a dozen ports in India, is set to acquire 51 percent stakes in the West Container Terminal (WCT) port of the Colombo Port