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 Foreign investors have withdrawn a record $30 billion from Indian equities so far in 2026.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

PM Imran Khan’s growth delusion hides a painful reality for Pakistan

In a tweet on Friday, Pakistan Prime Minister Khan said the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth for the last three years was 5.37 percent and congratulated his own government for “substantial job creation” and “rise in per capita income.”

The China factor in Nepal’s power exports to India

India will not buy Nepal’s surplus electricity produced by hydropower projects having Chinese components or built by Chinese contractors, Indian authorities have reportedly conveyed to Nepal, days after the industry players from the two nations signed a landmark agreement for power trading

India seeks to boost trade with Bangladesh as Dhaka’s exports to New Delhi set to cross $2 billion

Bangladesh's economic success - from a "basket case" to a "bull case" - and hailed around the world, is being recognised by neighbour India as Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Vikram K Doraiswami met FBCCI President Mohammad Jashmin Uddin and sought the cooperation of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) to boost bilateral trade between the countries

India lends 'a helping hand'; extends $500 million line of credit to Sri Lanka as power plants run out of fuel

India on Tuesday extended a $500 million line of credit to Sri Lanka for the import of fuel as a couple of power plants in the island country ran out of fuel amid a severe foreign exchange crisis

Amid economic crisis, Sri Lanka seeking fuel from India to run power plants

Sri Lanka has been exploring the option of procuring fuel, required for the operations of power plants, from India as regular supplies are affected amid a severe foreign exchange crisis

India to extend $1.5 billion lines of credit to Sri Lanka; Jaishankar dials Finance Minister Basit

India will extend $1.5 billion in additional lines of credit to Sri Lanka, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar confirmed on Saturday, assuring the island country of its continuous “support in all possible ways for overcoming economic and other challenges”

IMF Board approves $395 million credit assistance for Nepal to mitigate Covid-19 impact

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Board has approved a $395.9 million extended credit facility (ECF) for Nepal to help it mitigate the pandemic’s impact on health and economic activity, supporting sustained growth and poverty reduction among others

India extends $900 million ‘facilities’ to ailing Sri Lankan economy

India has extended $900 million facilities to Sri Lanka, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said,  as the island country has been going through its worst economic crisis, with record low foreign exchange reserves and food shortages

Sri Lanka may see sovereign default, says S&P, downgrades rating to 'CCC' with negative outlook

After Fitch Ratings, Standard and Poor's has now downgraded Sri Lanka’s sovereign ratings to ‘CCC’ with a negative outlook from an earlier ‘CCC+’ as its currency continued to be under pressure, indicating the island country may see a sovereign default scenario this year, a prospect the country’s central bank denied

UK announces start of FTA negotiations with India; Johnson lists Scotch whisky on top of sectors to benefit

The UK government on Thursday announced the launch of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with India, describing it as a "golden opportunity" to put British businesses at the "front of the queue" of "India's booming economy" and its fast-growing segment of "250 million shoppers"

Nepal Telecom to begin delayed 5G trials in June

Nepal will begin its first 5G internet services trial in June, almost after a delay of over a year, which will cover both urban and rural areas, officials said

Rape, abduction derail tourism in Bangladesh’s beach town of Cox’s Bazar, local economy impacted

In any normal new year, hotels and guesthouses in the beach town Cox’s Bazar would be booming with tourists and visitors

Indians topped Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals in 2021

Tourists from India dominated Sri Lanka’s tourism market last year, contributing almost 23 percent of the total 194,000 tourists who visited the island country in 2021

PM Imran Khan launches Pak-China Business investment forum to fast-track investments

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday launched the Pakistan-China Business Investment Forum to fast-track project approvals and investment proposals from Chinese investors

Inflation wrecks havoc in Pakistan; touches 12 percent in December

The inflation rate in Pakistan reached a new level last month, recording 12.3 percent in December— the highest in the last two years, as experts warn of more trouble in the weeks ahead of the government’s mini-budget