Author: Swati Pandey

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to Ethiopia — the first by an Indian premier in 34 years — is no mere photo-opportunity. It is a defining decision for Indian foreign policy, which places New Delhi strategically at the intersection of African geopolitics, its own agenda for Global South and the long road ahead for economic expansion. With its natural advantage of being the headquarters of African Union and a major actor in the Horn region, Ethiopia offers India an anchor to grow its continental and global dreams. This visit is loaded with significant diplomatic heft, especially post Ethiopia’s recent accession to the BRICS club…

A recent meeting in Amman between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein was a strong reminder of a relationship that is not only old but increasingly strategic. Occurring amid celebration of 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the all-encompassing bilateral visit — first by an Indian head of government in 37 long years – was a momentous one as it took the relationship from just goodwill to concrete and comprehensive cooperation. Meeting at the Husseiniya Palace, the talks were multi-dimensional and encompassed enhancing economic and technological ties, but placed it in a bedrock…

Though headlines frequently exalt the latest mobile check-in app and buzz about a lobby robot – the root causes of technological advancement in our business are much deeper and more complicated than simply tossing some new software at the front desk. The point is that the hospitality industry isn’t slopping up on tech for kicks and giggles; it’s doing so to align with an operational imperative: one of how to tackle business problems at their core, deliver against guest expectations accelerating faster than we can keep pace with them, and secure our tenure in a rapidly evolving future. The gadget is not…

The City of Light, Paris is internationally famed for extravagant public parties, and particularly the spontaneous street fêtes that bring in a New Year. For decades, the Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe area has attracted hundreds of thousands of revellers for a festive public countdown celebration. But this year the French capital has made the grim but firm decision to cancel its formal New Year’s Eve celebration, replacing festive fireworks and throngs on the street with a thick layer of security. This is not a logistical bowing-out; this is a physical and deliberate reaction to an urgent and growing threat. With the world still…

Japan has a long-established reputation around the world for being at the forefront of telecommunications and its path to 5G is no different. With intense competition between four national operators and strict regulatory obligation, the country has somehow managed to reach nearly universal 5G coverage among its population—a tremendous engineering accomplishment that comes at remarkable cost. The activist approach of the government, with manmade initiatives such as Digital Garden City Nation Initiative to boot, has pushed the operators into investment-spending mode in order keep relevant and make these theoretically available to just about anyone. But a deeper look at the experience of real…

The adoption and integration of AI in the workplace is no longer “if”, it’s a matter of changing how work gets done in business. Recent surveys have only confirmed that this adoption is far from uniform. Rather, the current environment consists of a clear “AI Divide,” with some roles and industries adopting AI as fast as it’s available while others falling hopelessly behind. The pattern is clear in the data: knowledge workers, white-collar professionals are currently leading in AI use cases. This stratification in AI use is not just a question of who has access to the technology but reflects the nature of work we…

Mass production and broad reach was the goal for technology for decades. We took the standardization of software, user interfaces and one-size-fits-all algorithms to heart. Today, that era is coming to a close. And we’re at a tipping point: the most valuable asset is not unprocessed data, and it’s not even processed, but the power to translate it into experiences that feel wonderful for us as slickest human beings as on-the-air breathable organisms. This transformation — from mass convenience to hyper-personalization — is at the heart of the next great tech revolution. What is fueling this revolution is the convergence of two technological giants: Artificial Intelligence…

In a textbook example of strategic depth, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a four-day three-nation trip that will take him first to Jordan and then to Palestine, Iran and Oman. It’s more than a feel-good exercise; it is a calculated, plotted course towards a diplomatic mission to that cement India’s place along the strategic nodes of West Asia and Africa. Stitching together countries that India has “age-old civilizational ties” with, the visit is designed to translate historical connections into strong 21st-century relationships based on trade, security and a united vision of the Global South. The itinerary itself is a message, connecting an…

Apple has released iOS 26.2, the second major update to its current mobile operating system — though this one may not shake headlines with any particularly ambitious visual overhauls, it sets itself apart with a cast of thoughtfully crafted quality-of-life changes that significantly improve the iPhone’s daily experience. This isn’t a bug-fix release; it’s an improvement that’s rooted in personalization, security and productivity — reminding us that some changes are so important they come with hardly any visible changes at all. The mid-December 2025 update is a sign of Apple actually listening to users, in particular regarding the controversial visual changes that arrived…

In Mysuru this Christmas season, the air was filled not just with traditional carols but laughter that flowed free and expressions as pure as one can get because it came from ‘special’ children. The Mysore Diocesan Commission for Health organised a soul-stirring Christmas, making the season of joy an event that testified to inclusion, dignity and unending hope. It was more than just an annual tradition, but a living display of the conviction that each child is a unique and loved part of God’s tapestry. The celebration which was conducted on Dec 14, 2025 also conveyed a central message expressed by Bishop Francis Serrao…