Full coverage: Asia and the Pacific

29.06.2007 A recent study by a consultancy firm in India notes a drop in English language online browsing to 41% among its 30 million net users. More than half the Indians who use the net live outside its metropolitan cities, in Tier II and Tier III cities. The use of Open Source Software has helped internet and telecom penetration into smaller towns.

28.06.2007 The Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) has provided recommendations to the Bangladesh government to make the budget of the Ministry of Science and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) more pro-poor.

28.06.2007 The Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) has provided recommendations to the Bangladesh government to make the budget of the Ministry of Science and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) more pro-poor.

24.06.2007 Kehittyvien maiden välinen Tieteen, Teknologian ja Innovaation keskus päätettiin perustaa YK:n johdolla Malesiaan. Malesian ministeriön hallinnoima keskus tukee Etelä-Etelä -välistä teknologian siirtoa, säännösten luomista sekä maiden välistä tutkimusta ja yhteistyötä.

19.06.2007 Intian Keralan osavaltio on tehnyt sopimuksen GNU/Linux käyttöjärjestelmiä kehittävän Red Hat -yrityksen kanssa. Red Hat on sitoutunut antamaan vapaisiin ja avoimen lähdekoodin ohjelmistoihin pohjautuvaa koulutusta tekniselle henkilökunnalle sekä viranomaisille ja opettajille. Keralaa suunnataan näin avoimen lähdekoodin kehittämisen mallikohteeksi.

18.06.2007 Sri Lanka’s Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), in partnership with the Colombo University medical faculty, will provide rural patients with remote medical consultation and treatment. A rural hospital in the island’s north-central region has been set up with computer facilities and a broadband link to particularly deal with people suffering genetic disorders.

18.06.2007 Sri Lanka’s Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), in partnership with the Colombo University medical faculty, will provide rural patients with remote medical consultation and treatment. A rural hospital in the island’s north-central region has been set up with computer facilities and a broadband link to particularly deal with people suffering genetic disorders.

18.06.2007 Norti Bai is the only woman in her village who can operate the computer. At the ripe age of 60, she manages the database and functioning of the internet café at Barefoot College, Tilonia, in Rajasthan, an Indian state where girls have always been ignored in favour of sons.

18.06.2007 Intian hallituksen aikeina on tilata miljoona 10 dollarin hintaista kannettavaa tietokonetta. Hanke on tarkoitus toteuttaa seuraavan kahden vuoden aikana, kunhan vain sopiva malli ja tavarantoimittaja ensin löytyvät.

16.06.2007 Intian HRD-ministeriö (Human Resources and Development) hylkäsi Negroponten "100 dollarin" tietokoneen ja on kehittämässä uutta superhalpaa kannettavaa. Kymmenen dollarin hintaan tähtäävän kannettavan tietokoneen hinnan arvellaan tällä hetkellä olevan alle 50 dollaria. Eräiden lähteiden mukaan tuote olisi saatavilla kahden vuoden sisällä.

15.06.2007 Panos South Asia (PSA) is hosting a regional workshop on networking, knowledge sharing and learning on ICT4D in South Asia on 29-31 July, 2007 at Kathmandu, Nepal.

15.06.2007 Panos South Asia (PSA) is hosting a regional workshop on networking, knowledge sharing and learning on ICT4D in South Asia on 29-31 July, 2007 at Kathmandu, Nepal.

15.06.2007 A million laptops at a cost of $10 each. The Indian government hopes to achieve this ambitious target in the next two years with two designs already in and a PSU showing interest.

15.06.2007 A Global Forum on Youth and ICT for Development will be held on 24-26 September at the Geneva International Conference Centre, Geneva. Young people, youth organizations and development practitioners can showcase, share and seek new partnerships at a ‘marketplace’. The call for applications ends on 30 June 2007.

15.06.2007 Norti Bai is the only woman in her village who can operate the computer. At the ripe age of 60, she manages the database and functioning of the internet café at Barefoot College, Tilonia, in Rajasthan, an Indian state where girls have always been ignored in favour of sons.

14.06.2007 Wipro has answered Greenpeace's call to check hazardous material present in its laptops and desktops. It has also introduced a take-back and recycling policy that will help in cutting down India's e-waste. Customers can now avail of its service across 15 locations country-wide.

14.06.2007 Villagers in the north Indian state of Bihar are now members of the National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme (NREGA) thanks to a Korean biometric device. These smart cards will also double as ATM/debit cards and help track the NREG programme.

14.06.2007 Villagers in the north Indian state of Bihar are now members of the National Rural Employment Guarantee (NREG) scheme thanks to a Korean biometric device. These smart cards will also double as ATM/debit cards and help track the NREG programme.

14.06.2007 Wipro has answered Greenpeace's call to check hazardous material present in its laptops and desktops. It has also introduced a take-back and recycling policy that will help in cutting down India's e-waste. Customers can now avail of its service across 15 locations country-wide.

12.06.2007 A web blog on the home page of Central Board of Direct Taxes is the latest online venture of the tax department of India. Users can open accounts and use it as a platform to discuss tax-related issues and give feedback on policies undertaken.