In The News

Microsoft to Share Windows Code with India

Pragati Verma December 13, 2002
Fear of losing a huge market and a software development market may be pushing Microsoft to do what it hates doing – share with select customers its closely guarded software secrets. The fact that the Indian government is seriously considering the wide use of networked computers for administration could open up a huge market. In Asia, Microsoft has shared the Windows source code with only select...

After the Serial Blasts

December 10, 2002
The recent surge of terrorist attacks in Southeast Asia, like in Indonesia and Bangladesh, is putting pressure on politicians and local authorities to crack down on terrorism. Unlike the US, however, poor countries with internal political divisions are having a harder time fighting battles in the war on terrorism. An internal government feud in Bangladesh erupted after a series of bombs exploded...

Dhaka Arrests Activists After Cinema Deaths

Alastair Lawson-Tancred December 9, 2002
At the end of Ramadan, terrorists bombed four Bangladeshi cinemas, killing 17 people. In response to the bombing, government officials have vigourously denied that the terrorist network Al Qaeda is to blame, even arresting several opposition activists as if to prove the point. The Indian government, however, has long claimed that Al Qaeda cells may be operating out of neighboring Bangladesh....

Immigrants Stoke Fears in New Delhi

Nirmal Ghosh December 9, 2002
Porous borders allow useful goods and new ideas to travel the world, but when they're carried by migrants with destructive intent, locals become worried. According to this article in Singapore's Straits Times, Maoist rebels from Nepal are crossing the border into India and causing great concern for Indian authorities. "There is an imminent danger that the Maoist insurgency in...

India Opposes Zero Tariff Plan Proposed by US

December 3, 2002
The World Trade Organization is considering a US proposal to eliminate non-agricultural tariffs. India and many of its neighbors have heavy criticism for the plan, which they say will decrease governmental revenues and adversely impact developing economies. – YaleGlobal

Thaksin Dismisses 'Time' Terror Report

November 22, 2002
Governments understand the influence of international publications. A Time magazine article disclosing terrorist training bases in Thailand has riled Thai officials. "It is not acceptable that a world-standard magazine like Time would run a report that quoted only a single source. The magazine's report… is close to fiction," said Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. A Royal Thai...

Gates Urges IT, Education, Telecom Funds

November 13, 2002
On his four-day tour of India, Bill Gates encouraged investment in India’s information technology sector. Though Americans and Europeans tend to emphasize the recent slowdown in the information technology industry, Gates expressed faith in India’s potential for growth in that area. He dismissed concerns that the Linux operating system would pose a threat to his own company, Microsoft. Gates...