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AI: Aid to the Mind, Not a Substitute for the Mind

The frightening possibility is not that AI becomes more capable than humans. It is that humans stop exercising capabilities they already possess, or have not yet developed, because AI can perform those functions for them.

Months Ahead of the Monsoon: Can AI Give Us an Earlier Warning About El Niño?

AI may genuinely extend the horizon over which seasonal climate risk can be estimated.  For communities across South Asia living under the influence of the monsoon, a longer view could mean the difference between a farmer adjusting her planting in time and a family receiving a flood warning too late to act.

AI at the Crossroads: Who Is Driving Humanity?

The central danger is, therefore, not simply that AI will be monstrous if the accelerator is pressed hard on the speed of technology. It is that the accelerator on human institutions also needs to be pressed harder to govern increasingly powerful technology.

America Has the Brain, China Has the Body: The Next US–China Tech War Will Determine Who Wins the Race for Global Dominance

The fear of Chinese robots being the Trojan horse that can affect American and Western tech dominance and undermine cyber and military advantage will always be a strategic concern, despite attempts to view these fears as overblown.

More on AI, Tech and Innovation

After MCC, US to provide $659 million to Nepal under USAID amid growing rivalry with China

While the US’ renewed interest in Nepal, a traditional battlefield of influence between India and China, is evident from the MCC agreement and increased bilateral engagements and assistance offers, Nepal may struggle to satisfy the security concerns of a newly assertive China

Amid depleting forex, Nepal urges non-resident Nepalese to open dollar accounts

From the $800 million in surplus in February last year, the balance of payment recorded a deficit of $2.03 billion in the first seven months of this fiscal [Between July to February].

South Asia to see slower growth: Fallout of Ukraine war, pandemic

Another challenge the region faces is the disproportionate economic impact the pandemic has had on women. The report includes in-depth analysis of gender disparities in the region and their link with deeply rooted social norms

Sri Lanka: World Bank approves $10 mn emergency grant for essential drugs; $500 mn more in line

On Sunday the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) said that all hospitals in the country no longer had access to imported medical tools and vital drugs. In a letter sent to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the association said, “We are made to make very difficult choices. We have to decide who gets treatment and who will not.”

India, US discuss food security, bringing more wheat and sugar to global markets

Blinken said that Modi and Biden who met before their 2+2 meeting “had a very warm and productive conversation today in their virtual summit” and covered a lot of ground, including Covid-19, climate change, strengthening the global economy, the free and open Indo-Pacific

Women entrepreneurs push for revival of women-led businesses in Afghanistan

By 2019, a total of 17,369  businesses were owned by women—most of them were less than five years old then—and created around 129,000 jobs in the country, according to a study conducted by Afghanistan’s Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Can wheat be a new area of US-India cooperation to safeguard global food security?

Exports from the world’s largest wheat exporter Russia and the fifth-largest exporter Ukraine have been disrupted by the invasion. The two countries account for about 30 per cent of the world’s export of wheat

India to boost gaming and visual effects sectors; expects annual growth of 25-30 per cent

“The...sector in India has the potential to become the torchbearer of ‘Create in India’ & ‘Brand India’,” the statement by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said

Nepal restricts imports of luxury goods to check depleting foreign exchange reserves

From the $800 million in surplus, the balance of payment recorded a deficit of $2.03 billion in the same period this year

Sri Lanka may exhaust $500 million line of credit from India for fuel purchase this month; Colombo seeks further assistance

The crisis has also rocked the country’s political leadership as they face nationwide protests seeking the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa—a demand the government has refused to entertain

India permits Nepal to export 325MW power in its energy market; major energy cooperation in the offing

Once known as a power-starved country, Nepal became a power surplus state last year during the winter months, with its production capacity touching 2000 MW after the commencement of the Upper Tamakoshi hydropower project (456MW)

Pakistan’s trade deficit surges to $35 billion, set to break all records in FY22

Fueled by record import bills due to global high fuel and commodities prices, the trade deficit is expected to touch $45 billion this year by June, surpassing the earlier record of $37.7 billion in FY18

India’s Russian oil purchases minuscule; energy payments not under sanctions, clarifies US; no preaching to India, says Germany

Given India’s pivotal role in the Biden administration’s Indo-Pacific strategy and its attempts to curtail China’s influence, Washington has generally been supportive of India despite its neutrality on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its purchases from Russia

India, Australia sign trade pact; Modi calls it a 'watershed moment'

Terming the signing of the pact as another milestone in the growing relationship between India and Australia, Morrison said the agreement further develops on the promise of the burgeoning relationship between the two Indo-Pacific countries that are members of Quad

World Bank approves $250 million for Bangladesh to support post-pandemic growth

“Since 2020, the World Bank has provided over $3 billion to Bangladesh to support emergency response, vaccination, and other Covid-19 recovery efforts,” Mercy Tembon, World Bank country director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, was quoted as saying by Dhaka Tribune