Wheeling its way between dining booths at a neon-lit restaurant in Pakistan’s Karachi megacity, a robot waitress drops off a fresh pizza to an awaiting family.

While global buzz is growing around agile humanoids made in the United States, China and elsewhere, robotic staff are a rare sight in the South Asian country.

“Welcome to Sicilian. My name is Robia,” the waitress says in an electronic voice, looking down at diners through blinking red LED eyes.

Robia and her colleague...

Marking further progress in the city-state’s efforts to develop as a key Asia-Pacific gold trading hub, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) on Tuesday (Nov 10) announced two fresh initiatives.

It launched a central bank gold vaulting service and announced an enhanced Goods and Services (GST) framework for wholesale investment precious metal (IPM) gold market activities with the Ministry of Finance (MOF).

Explaining the initiatives, Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Gan Kim Yong said “Singapore does not aim to replace other...

In the final disbursement under the enhanced Assurance Package (AP), about three million adult Singaporeans aged 21 and above in 2027 will receive $100 to $250 from Dec 8.

In a statement on Nov 10, the Ministry of Finance said the enhanced Assurance Package, which was announced at Budget 2023, helps “defray living expenses for Singaporean households, and provide more support for lower- to middle-income families”. Over five years, between 2022 and 2026, those eligible for the payments would have...

Reflecting the transformation that has made India the largest market for battery-powered auto rickshaws, an electric three-wheeler rolls off the production line at a domestic factory every ninety seconds.

At a bustling plant run by Mahindra Last Mile Mobility, workers and robots fit cells into battery packs, attach body panels to metal frames and fix wheels into place, racing to meet demand for vehicles known for navigating the chaotic streets of the world’s most populous country.

In September, more than...

Toxic air in parts of India’s capital New Delhi soared to more than 58 times the World Health Organization’s recommended daily limit Monday, after fireworks for the Hindu festival of Diwali (Deepavali), air monitor data showed.

Millions celebrate the annual festival of lights with fireworks in one of the world’s most polluted capitals, worsening winter smog fuelled by vehicle emissions, farm fires and industry.

The Supreme Court this month allowed the limited use of so-called “green” firecrackers, designed to produce...