India

Indonesia News | English | News | April 21, 2025 | Terrorism

The 14th meeting of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts Working Group (EWG) on Counter-Terrorism will take place in New Delhi from March 19 to 20, 2025. India and Malaysia will co-chair this significant event, marking India's first time in this role. The meeting will be attended by delegations from ten ASEAN nations, eight dialogue partners, Timor Leste, and the ASEAN Secretariat.

Keynote address will be delivered by Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh at the opening ceremony on March 19. The discussions will aim to develop a comprehensive strategy to address the evolving threats of terrorism and extremism, while sharing on-ground experiences of the Defence Forces from participating countries. This meeting sets the groundwork for various planned activities for the EWG on Counter-Terrorism for the cycle spanning 2024 to 2027.

The ADMM-Plus, a collaboration platform for defence establishments of participating countries, focuses on seven practical cooperation areas, including counterterrorism and maritime security. Each EWG is co-chaired by an ASEAN member and a dialogue partner, with their responsibilities including establishing objectives and conducting regular meetings, culminating in exercises to evaluate progress at the end of the three-year cycle.

The Economic Times | English | News | April 18, 2025 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

Nvidia is facing significant financial challenges as the U.S. government imposes new restrictions on the sale of its H20 AI chips to China. In a recent stock market filing, the company revealed that these changes would result in a $5.5 billion write-off due to the need for special export licenses, which are expected to remain in place indefinitely. This move, part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to limit China's access to advanced technology, has caused Nvidia's stock to drop over 6% in after-hours trading.

The U.S. Commerce Department justified the restrictions on national security grounds, citing fears that advanced AI technologies could be used for military purposes in China. Previously, Nvidia had adjusted the H20 chip to comply with earlier regulations that prohibited the sale of its most advanced chips to China, hoping to maintain its market presence. However, the new licensing requirements effectively eliminate Nvidia's ability to sell the H20 in China, which had been crucial for the country's AI development, particularly for projects like the generative AI model R1 developed by DeepSeek.

Analysts have expressed concern over the strategic implications of these restrictions, as Nvidia had relied on China for 13% of its sales last year. While some argue that the financial impact may be manageable, industry experts warn that this could compound China's efforts to become technologically self-reliant. Companies such as Huawei and Cambroon are reportedly intensifying their development with the aim of closing the performance gap with Nvidia and other American chipmakers. The underlying concern is that escalating tech tensions could hinder global innovation and economic growth.

The restrictions have broader ramifications for global markets, as the World Trade Organization lowers its growth forecasts amid rising anxiety over the U.S.-China tech battle. Nvidia's stock drop has contributed to declines in major stock indexes like the Nasdaq and S&P 500. The ongoing conflict extends beyond chips, encompassing areas of AI, military capabilities, and geopolitical dominance, raising questions about the sustainability of innovation and cooperation in the global tech landscape.

Trilegal | English | AcademicThink | April 18, 2025 | UndeterminedBizdev-Partnering

Trilegal has provided legal assistance to Poppe + Potthoff, a leader in fuel injection tube technology, in forming a joint venture with Lal Baba Engineering, an Indian manufacturer of seamless pipes and tubes. This collaboration is focused on developing a modern manufacturing facility in India that will produce mother hollows and cold-drawn tubes, specifically targeting the automotive sector.

The Joint Venture Agreement includes a technological and knowledge-sharing component along with a complex tripartite supply arrangement between entities of Poppe + Potthoff and Lal Baba Engineering. This initiative is intended to contribute to the Make in India program, leveraging Poppe + Potthoff's expertise in cold-drawn seamless tubes and Lal Baba's capabilities in manufacturing mother hollows. The facility is expected to bolster both domestic and international markets, reinforcing India's position as a hub for automotive components.

The Trilegal Corporate Team handling this deal was led by Partners Delano Furtado, Kosturi Ghosh, and Adhunika Premkumar, with support from Senior Associates Rohit Beerapalli and Aakarsh Kumar, and Associates Pranika Correa, Anoushka Gahilot, and Punit Sanwal. Trilegal is recognized as one of India’s leading law firms, with accolades that include M&A Firm of the Year by IFLR Asia-Pacific 2024 and recognition for Client Service Excellence by Asia Law Awards 2021.