OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently credited Pune boy Prafulla Dhariwal for creation of ChatGPT 4o, a new AI model that has become talk of the town since its launch. He wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, “GPT-4o would not have happened without the vision, talent, conviction, and determination of Prafulla Dhariwal over a long period of time. That (along with the work of many others) led to what I hope will turn out to be a revolution in how we use computers”.....

TCI is looking to expand its overseas operations in the Middle East and add Sri Lanka to its operational map later this year or early next year Logistics and supply chain management company Transport Corporation of India (TCI) plans to acquire two cargo ships worth $35-40 million in the current fiscal to bolster its seaways business.....

Zoho’s co-founder Sridhar Vembu had hinted at creating a semiconductor venture in March Looks like Sridhar Vembu, co-founder and CEO of the Chennai/US based Zoho, is all set to enter the chip making business, with an investment plan of around $700 million (as quoted by Reuters). The company declined to comment on the development, but, an official said it could be a cue from what Vembu had mentioned in Marchx, about his interests in semiconductors.....

Country's 6 leading airports see near doubling of foreign transit traffic in a year Major Indian airports are increasingly becoming global connecting hubs, with international transit traffic for Indian carriers nearly doubling over the past year.  The number of international passengers on Indian carriers passing through six major Indian airports — Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad — to reach their final destinations increased by 97.09 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to…

The IPO of Awfis Space Solutions includes a fresh share sale of Rs 128 crore and an offer-for-sale of up to 1,22,95,699 equity shares amounting to Rs 490.72 crore. The initial public offering (IPO) of Awfis Space Solutions will open for bidding on Wednesday, May 22. Price band for the issue has been fixed at 364-383 apiece and bids can be made for a minimum of 39 equity shares and its multiples thereafter. The three-day bidding for the issue closes on Monday, May 27 as the Indian stock markets o…

Pichai said Google is committed to bringing AI tools to India in line with global markets, emphasizing that the future of AI will require more involvement from social scientists and philosophers India's potential to shape the future of artificial intelligence (AI) is significant, with the country “well positioned" to influence global AI development, said Sundar Pichai, chief executive of Google and Alphabet, at a roundtable during Google’s annual conference, Google I/O.....

With 13 inclusions and 3 exclusions, the net stock count post-rejig will be 146 for India in the MSCI Standard/EM Index India will see upwards of $2.5 billion in passive FPI flows after a rejig of MSCI indices this month, with the country’s representation in the MSCI EM Index set to inch closer to 19 per cent from 18.3 per cent currently....

“Western countries feel that they have influenced this world for the last 200 years. How do you expect someone, who has been in that position, to give up those old habits so easily?” said Jaishankar. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar slammed the western media for its ‘negative coverage’ of the Lok Sabha elections 2024. He said that they want to influence India because that’s their habit and that’s something they have been doing for years.....

Before the covid-19 pandemic, India’s real estate business was in a slump. Many developers defaulted and quit the market. Larger developers, meanwhile, gained share. Godrej Properties, whose shares shot up 239% in the last five years, was among them. Here’s the inside story. Sometime before the initial public offering (IPO) of Godrej Properties Ltd, in 2009, Pirojsha Godrej, who was then its executive director, met up with the executives of a prominent Mumbai-based investment banking firm. …

In April, India’s domestic passenger vehicle sales saw a marginal 1.3% year-on-year increase to 3,35,629 units, with the utility vehicle segment experiencing significant growth of over 21% y-o-y to 1,79,329 units Total passenger vehicles (PVs) sales in the domestic market grew marginally by 1.3 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) in April to 3,35,629 units as compared with 3,31,278 units in the corresponding month last year, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) reported on Tuesday..…

With this influx of funds, Keyper is set to further digitize the UAE's rental ecosystem, while also allocating some amount towards innovating its rent-now-pay-later solution. Keyper, a UAE-based rent-now-pay-later (RNPL) platform, has raised US$4 million in a pre-series A equity round led by BECO Capital, a UAE-headquartered early-stage venture capital (VC) firm, and Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP), a Middle East-focused VC firm that invests in early and growth stage tech startups....

Moody’s Ratings (Moody’s) has today affirmed the Government of Kuwait’s long-term local and foreign currency issuer ratings at A1. The outlook remains stable. The rating affirmation reflects Moody’s assessment that Kuwait’s balance sheet and fiscal buffers will remain extremely strong for the foreseeable future and preserve macroeconomic and external stability....

The Kingdom’s seaport activities and logistics sector are set to improve, with the Saudi Ports Authority issuing new licenses in multiple areas of operation.  In a press statement, the authority, also known as Mawani, said that issuing these permits aligns with its goal of developing port business in the Kingdom with high efficiency and quality.....

The Net-Zero Producers Forum has concluded its second Ministerial Meeting in Riyadh, bringing together ministers from the six participating countries: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, the US, Norway, and Canada, representing three continents.The discussion centered on the crucial topic of net-zero and climate plans, aiming to accelerate just energy transitions and help achieve net-zero emissions while supporting sustainable development and energy security. Ministers welcomed the outcomes of the 28th UN…

Emirates has announced expanding its operations in Vietnam by adding a second daily flight between Dubai and Ho Chi Minh City starting from 15 January 2025. Originally planned for 1 February 2025, this additional flight is strategically timed to meet the surge in demand around the Lunar New Year festival, which falls on 29 January 2025. The new service demonstrates Emirates' commitment to the Vietnamese market as it gears up to serve the growing interest for international travel to/ from the ci…

“We are continuing to step up our efforts to attract international companies and investors to the emirate, while advancing the expansion of local companies into promising global markets.” “The chamber’s growing network of 31 international representative offices plays a central role in promoting Dubai as an ideal city for global talent, high-net-worth individuals, and companies of all sizes across diverse sectors.” Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem - Dubai International Chamber achieved 60% YoY …

Day 1: 20 May 2024Location: Emirates Towers Boulevard   Day 2: 21 May 2024Location: Museum of the future Auditorium and Emirates Towers Boulevard The largest competition of its kind in the world, set to take place in Dubai! Organised by the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence and the Dubai Future Foundation, this open competition invites generative AI enthusiasts from around the globe to showcase their skills and unleash their creativity. The Championship features three categories: Art,…

Airline to resume daily operations to Lagos offering unrivalled connectivity for Nigerian travellers Emirates will resume services to Nigeria from 1 October 2024, operating a daily service between Lagos and Dubai, and offering customers more choice and connectivity from Nigeria’s largest city to, and through, Dubai. The service will be operated using a Boeing 777-300ER. EK783 will depart Dubai at 0945hrs, arriving in Lagos at 1520hrs; the return flight EK784 will leave Lagos at 1730hrs and arr…

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has recently unveiled an initiative aimed at extending the lifespan of commercial vehicles owned by companies and entities registered in Dubai. The initial phase of this initiative will solely focus on light vehicles operating in the car rental business within the emirate. Abdulla Yousef Al Ali, CEO of Licensing Agency, RTA, commented: “This service would be optional, not mandatory, for companies operating in the car rental business in Dubai. It is…

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, and President of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), has officially approved the MBZ-SAT for launch no earlier than October 2024, marking a significant milestone in the UAE's space endeavours.Sheikh Hamdan was briefed on the latest updates and upcoming phases of MBZ-SAT, the most advanced satellite in the region, and the latest addition to the UAE Satellite …

Emirates has announced expanding its operations in Vietnam by adding a second daily flight between Dubai and Ho Chi Minh City starting from 15 January 2025. Originally planned for 1 February 2025, this additional flight is strategically timed to meet the surge in demand around the Lunar New Year festival, which falls on 29 January 2025. The new service demonstrates Emirates' commitment to the Vietnamese market as it gears up to serve the growing interest for international travel to/ from the ci…

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is looking to enter into a lease agreement with a European operator to boost its fleet in the heat of supply chain disruptions that are causing delays in aircraft deliveries. The STAR learned from industry sources that PAL is eyeing a wet lease arrangement with a reputable carrier from Europe to prepare its fleet for the expected demand bump starting July.....

GLOBAL leading provider of information and communication technology solutions ZTE Corporation announced the success of the "Unfolding the Intelligent Future 2024" event, which took place at the Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur on May 13. The event, which has been held annually over the last decade, was graced by the presence of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). It featured a comprehensive showcase of ZTE’s cutting-edge innovations in 5G technology.....

About 20 names have been touted as potential candidates for Jakarta governor in November’s local elections. The city will no longer be Indonesia’s capital, so why is the role still so prized? Heavyweights in the mix include former presidential candidate and Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan, former Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok, several current ministers including finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, and rising political star and former West Java governor Ridwan Kamil....…

An innovative idea to tackle the problem of toxic batteries has propelled entrepreneur Bryan Oh onto a coveted ranking of the region’s most promising young people – the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list for 2024. Mr Oh was working as a management consultant when he realised his problem-solving skills could be used for a bigger cause.....

Cambodia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have vowed to expedite the implementation of a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA), which will expand markets for goods and services, increase investment and create jobs in both nations. The commitment was made during a May 13 meeting between Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sok Chenda Sophea and Obaid Saeed Obaid Bintaresh Ald-haheri, UAE ambassador to Cambodia, who is resident in Bangkok, Thailand...…

A business roundtable between Ho Chi Minh City and New South Wales state was held in Sydney on May 14, attracting representatives of over 150 Australian enterprises and investors. Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee Phan Van Mai introduced the potential and advantages of the southern largest economic hub of Vietnam, along with cooperation opportunities for Australian enterprises.....

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) and the French Patent and Trademarks Office (INPI) have formalized their commitment to carry out their cooperation agreement after recently signing a joint work plan that outlines capacity-building and information exchange activities aimed for completion by 2025.  IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba and INPI Chief Executive Officer Pascal Faure signed the work plan last April 25 at the sidelines of the ASEAN Working Group on IP Coo…

The issue has been in the spotlight since last month when Bloomberg reported that Malaysia was in early discussions with tycoons on opening a casino in Johor’s Forest City. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has said no to a second casino in the country, his latest denial on the matter following recent reports that the government was allegedly mulling over one. "Affirmative no," Mr Anwar said at the Qatar Economic Forum on Tuesday (May 14), when asked if his administration would allow a se…

The Temasek-backed data centre operator has tied up with Vietnam’s tech unicorn VNG to expand data centre projects in the country Singapore-headquartered ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) has joined hands with Vietnam’s tech firm VNG Corp to develop, construct and operate data centre projects in Ho Chi Minh City.   Under the joint-venture partnership announced on Wednesday (May 15), a new facility named STT VNG Ho Chi Minh City 2 will be established in the southern metropolis of Ho…