After decades of peace and growing prosperity, the strategic environment in Asia is increasingly marked by tension and rivalry. China's rise as an economic and military power has forced its neighbors to reassess their relative standing.

The festival, which was co-sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) along with the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), was marked by extremely poor attendance and below par organisation by the hosts.

In a broadening of the Obama administration’s initiative to establish ties with Muslim nations, three more prominent scientists have been appointed as "science envoys" to countries in central and southeast Asia and to Africa.

Apart from a menu of 50 films from various South Asian countries, chairperson of the Pakistan Film Censor Board (PFCB) Nilofar Bakhtiar will be one of the main highlights of the South Asian Film Festival (SAFF) that begins in Goa Sep 17.

The South Asian University (SAU), which is a first of its kind joint venture for the eight member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), began its first academic session on August 26 this year, with an initial batch of 50 students.

In short, they are hanging out, much like many teenagers around the world. That may not be listed on the Franklin Institute’s formal agenda, but these moments may well be the most memorable and enduring part of their exchange program.