Group of Seven (G7) advanced nations should adopt “risk-based” regulation on artificial intelligence, their digital ministers agreed on April 30. However, the ministers said that such regulation should also “preserve an open and enabling environment” for the development of AI technologies and be based on democratic values. The top tech officials from G7 – Britain, Canada, the EU, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States – met for G7 Digital and Tech Ministers' Meeting in Takasaki, a city about 100 km northwest of Tokyo, Japan, on April 29-30. In a joint statement iss
South Korea has restored Japan to its list of countries it gives preferential treatment in trade on April 24, three years after the Asian countries downgraded each other’s trade status in the midst of a diplomatic row led by historical grievances. South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy in a government gazette also said Seoul will further restrict technology and industrial exports to Russia and its ally Belarus over the war in Ukraine. Japan and South Korea are working to repair relations, as they boost three-way security cooperation with Washington to counter the threat p
The UK government has announced £100 million in funding for a taskforce that would develop artificial intelligence (AI) models similar to ChatGPT and Google’s Bard, to help the country build and adopt the next generation of safe AI. The Foundation Model Taskforce will be modelled on the success of the COVID-19 Vaccines Taskforce, and will work on safe and reliable use of this pivotal AI across the economy and ensure that the UK is globally competitive in this strategic technology. The expert taskforce will launch first pilots targeting public services in the next six months, said an off
A World Bank report has estimated a 120% rise in the incomes of Indians working abroad and a 40% increase in incomes of Indians who migrated internally. The World Development Report (WDR) 2023 said that low-skilled Indians who migrate to the US could see a 500% jump in their incomes, while those settling in the UAE could see nearly 300% income rise. People migrating to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations – Oman, Kuwait, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain are likely to see a lesser income gain. The report, Migrants, Refugees and Societies noted that apart from skills, o
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers meeting took place in New Delhi under the chairship of India, with ministers from Russia, China, the Central Asian nations and observer nations Iran and Belarus discussing critical issues related to regional security. The meeting was chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and included Russia’s Sergei Shoigu, Tajikistan’s Colonel General Sherali Mirzo, Iran’s Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Gharaei Ashtiyani, Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu, and Kazakhstan’s Colonel General Ruslan Zhaksylykov and other leaders. Malik A
Nineteen nations, including Algeria, Egypt and Indonesia have shown interest in joining the BRICS group of nations. The group has received membership requests from these nations ahead of its annual summit, said Anil Sooklal, South Africa’s ambassador to the group in an interview on April 24. The BRICS group of nations is preparing to hold the proposed annual summit in South Africa. The emerging markets bloc will meet in Cape Town on June 2-3 to discuss its expansion, added Anil Sooklal. Thirteen countries have formally asked to join the group and another six have asked informally. Conclu
For the third in a row, tech giant Google has ranked as Singapore’s best employer, led by work-from-home and flexible work arrangements when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Despite the challenging times, with mass layoffs and company closures, the company has stuck to its hybrid work arrangements, helping it maintain its top ranking in the Singapore’s Best Employers 2023 list attests. Consumer goods corporation Procter & Gamble (P&G) came in second, followed by financial services company Wells Fargo. Tech giant Apple and jet engine maker Rolls-Royce made the rest of the top five, ou
HCL Co-founder Ajai Chowdhry has said that India can replace China to become the product factory of the world. To him, in the next eight or 10 years, there is going to be a huge opportunity in hardware, presenting a huge opportunity for startups and to make India a product nation, he added. In an interview, Chowdhry — who is part of the IT ministry-constituted advisory panel of experts that will steer objectives and provide guidance on the semiconductor program — said India’s manufacturing push, supported by favourable policies, is timely and positions the country strongly to grab a
Companies in East Asia are facing more inspection on their environmental credentials and net-zero emissions pledges. In January, South Korea became the first nation in East Asia to draft a law that would fine firms for false or exaggerated green claims. South Korean oil company SK E&S was pressured by activists into withdrawing claims that it would produce carbon-free gas. Industry professionals are calling for tougher action against companies to target greenwashing in the Asia-Pacific region. SK E&S has said it would produce “CO2-free” liquefied natural gas (LNG). In March
Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri is confident that India will meet the target of supplying petrol mixed with 20 percent ethanol by 2025, five years ahead of the previously planned roll-out in 2030. Petrol blended with 20 percent ethanol was launched at select petrol pumps in 11 states and Union Territories in February 2023 under a programme to raise the use of biofuels to cut emissions and dependence on oil imports. Currently, 10 percent ethanol is blended in 90 percent petrol. The blending of 10 percent ethanol in petrol was accomplished in June 2022, five mo