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 Foreign investors have withdrawn a record $30 billion from Indian equities so far in 2026.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

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)

Bangladesh seeks India’s assistance in developing its railway and power infrastructure

India has agreed to supply locomotives, passenger carriages, and technology for railway signaling systems to Bangladesh as Dhaka sought New Delhi’s assistance in developing and modernizing its railway infrastructure

Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basit Rajapaksa to visit India to sign deal on economic assistance

Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa will visit India soon for the signing of important deals on economic assistance to the crisis-hit country, Foreign Minister G L Peiris confirmed

Sri Lanka to tap destination wedding segment to revive its tourism sector

Sri Lankan authorities are planning to promote the picturesque Indian Ocean island country as an option for global couples looking for a destination wedding on a reasonable budget

Doing business in India: Hyundai, KFC, Pizza Hut learn it doesn't pay to cause offence

Following a social media outcry in India, and calls for a boycott of Hyundai, which has a major presence in India's large consumer market, the South Korean government on Tuesday was forced to firefight and said it "regretted the offence caused to the people of India" after a Pakistan dealer of Seoul-headquartered automobile manufacturer Hyundai posted a social media message  - now deleted - indicating support for separatists in Kashmir

Nepal may lose a $500 US grant under the MCC compact

Nepal may lose the 500 million grant from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), an independent US foreign-policy aid agency, if it fails to ratify the MCC-Nepal Compact in the Nepali Parliament by 28 February, the MCC Headquarters has warned in a letter to the Nepali government, which has been delaying the process now for over four years