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
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 But the laws of physics, engineering and economics have not been repealed.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
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
ADB disbursed loans worth $4.6 bn to India in 2021; a third of it for pandemic response
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) disbursed loans worth a record $4.6 billion to India in 2021, including $1.8 billion towards coronavirus response
India’s budget envisions a technology-enabled economy for 25 years
The Indian Finance Minister announced the introduction of ‘digital rupee’, using blockchain and other technologies in 2022-23 to give a big boost to the digital economy
