Fig: Dr Nalinda Somasiri

AI, Energy, Health, and Integrity: South Asia’s New Frontline Against Procurement Corruption

South Asia’s future depends on reliable infrastructure and trustworthy public services. Artificial intelligence—especially advanced technologies such as Graph Attention Networks—offers governments a powerful tool to reduce corruption in procurement, improve healthcare delivery, strengthen energy security and enhance public trust.

Technology and War: Shaping Future Wars, Battles, and Conflicts

The battlefield is no longer defined by geography alone. It extends into space, into networks, into supply chains, and into the human mind. Conflict today is as much about disruption as it is about destruction; as much about perception as it is about position. Lines are blurred, between soldier and system, between civilian and combatant, between war and peace.

From Crisis Management to Crisis Prevention: South Asian Research Collective Working on AI-Driven Solutions

Together, the team conducts collaborative research and policy development initiatives across four  South Asian countries - Sri Lanka, India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Their work aims to strengthen national preparedness, improve crisis response systems, and support governments in building resilient, technology-enabled public safety infrastructure. Together, these researchers represent a growing national capability in applying Artificial Intelligence to real-world challenges.

AI and Children: Proper Teaching of AI in Schools a Must to Fire Creativity

Recent evidence also suggests that AI chatbots are being used by teens to plan violence and other harmful activities. Like all technologies, AI is a double-edged sword. It can either be used for very creative work or destructive activities. Thus, there is a tremendous responsibility for teachers to teach the children and youngsters about the positive aspects of AI.

More on AI and Innovation

Modi meets top Japanese biz leaders, gets affirmations of support for India's self-reliance policy

Modi also invited Uniqlo's enhanced participation in India's journey to becoming a manufacturing hub for textiles, particularly through the use of technologies in textile manufacturing. Yanai said Uniqlo is exploring investments in the production and retail industry in India. 

India faces no energy shortage, thanks to strong leadership and farsighted thinking, says Petroleum Minister Puri

“Post pandemic, India has emerged much stronger in international trade and international exchanges. I believe that the target of a $5 trillion economy by 2030 is not only achievable but we can get there before that,” Puri said.

Pakistan bans import of non-essential and luxury items; trade deficit breaches $40 billion mark for first time

The import ban, though a necessary measure, will also impact the government’s revenue as luxury items are usually taxed heavily. The move was expected, especially when the government has failed to raise funds for its foreign exchange reserves. The talks with the IMF and other bilateral lenders in Gulf have yet to produce results.

India targeting rollout of 6G network by end of decade to boost economy, create jobs, says Modi

Teledensity and internet users are fast expanding, Modi said, adding that mobile manufacturing units in India have expanded from just 2 to over 200 and the country is now the world's biggest mobile manufacturing hub.

Sri Lankan PM lays bare ‘terrifying’ facts of economy: petrol stocks for a day, powercuts to last 15 hours; says will not hide truth

“Although these facts are unpleasant and terrifying, this is the true situation,” he said, mincing no words while describing the state of the economy, which has all but collapsed

Pakistan Stock Exchange plunges by 1000 points; rupee touches all-time low against US dollar

For months, the government has been in talks with the IMF not only for the revival of the $6 billion bailout package but also for extending the program's scope to $8 billion and period. After coming to power in April and promising to prioritize the economy, the new government led by Shehbaz Sharif now appears reluctant on tough measures, possibly due to the prevailing uncertain political environment

India halts wheat exports; could disrupt UN plans to source wheat from India for vulnerable countries

Last month, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said India hopes to become a permanent exporter of wheat, shipping as much as 15 million tons this year, compared with about 7.2 million in 2021-22. Officials are pushing the World Trade Organization to relax rules so that India can export from state reserves, Goyal said

India to supply 65,000 MT of fertilizer to crisis-hit Sri Lanka to boost agriculture production

The Indian government has decided to supply this quantity of urea immediately to Sri Lanka at the request of the Colombo despite a ban on the export of urea from India. Sri Lanka is the only country after Nepal to receive such assurance

India extends special exemption for Afghan agricultural exports; traders happy

The extension of exemption will help Afghan traders. Earlier, New Delhi also provided 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat to the country in the grip of a humanitarian crisis

Bangladesh lays the red carpet for US investment, as Dhaka's importance in South Asia grows

Overall, the ties between the two countries are growing in all important domains, including security cooperation, climate change, food security, and energy sectors. In September 2021, two countries launched the US-Bangladesh Energy Taskforce, an initiative to help advance energy cooperation among the stakeholders of both countries

No foreign tours, ban on luxury items: Bangladesh takes measures to save forex

The government on Thursday announced a temporary ban on foreign tours of its employees and deferred the implementations of large projects relying on heavy imports as part of measures to save dollars, reported The Daily Star

Pakistan says no change in its trade policy with India, despite appointment of trade officer for New Delhi

In recent months, several prominent people in Pakistan, including officials and businessmen, have been advocating the resumption of trade ties with India which, they said, could greatly help the country’s ailing economy

Bangladesh’s monthly merchandise exports over $4 billion for consecutive eight months

With the improvement of the Covid-19 situation worldwide, the global apparel supply chain is also recovering fast. As a result, exports from Bangladesh are growing at a faster clip

Nepal invites bids from Indian companies for sale of surplus electricity

With the commencement of the Upper Tamakoshi hydropower project (456MW) last year, Nepal is expected to have around 600MW-800MW of surplus electricity this year. And, this will grow in the coming years as many small hydro projects are nearing completion

Amid depleting forex, Pakistan seeks extension of Saudi Arabia’s assistance

The new government, which came to power only last month, has squarely blamed former prime minister, Imran Khan, for the mismanagement of the economy. Ismail said Khan had left the fastest growing inflation in the history of Pakistan, and took record loans during his tenure, reported The Express Tribune.