The European Union has allocated more than €600 million to 70 new projects aimed at accelerating the transition to zero-emission mobility across the trans-European transport network. These efforts involve 24 EU nations and are aimed at establishing large-scale alternative fuel infrastructure in road, maritime, inland waterway, and air transport systems. The funds will be used to install electric charging stations, hydrogen refuelling stations, electricity supply systems, and bunkering facilities for ammonia and methanol. A major part of the investment will go towards electrifying Europe'
India and Nepal have signed a Letter of Exchange to update the Protocol to the Treaty of Transit, a significant step towards strengthening cross-border trade. The agreement was reached after meetings between India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Nepal's Industry and Commerce Minister Anil Kumar Sinha. With this change, both countries hope to improve rail connectivity and facilitate the flow of products across their shared border. The updated arrangement enables direct rail transportation of goods, including bulk and containerised cargo, between Jogbani in India and Biratnagar in Nepal
Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a wide range of new initiatives for tribal communities during his visit to Dediapada, Gujarat. He attended the Grih Pravesh ceremony for one lakh houses built under the PM-JANMAN and DA-JAGUA initiatives, which aim to provide safer homes and better living circumstances in tribal areas. The event highlighted a significant drive to improve basic facilities in rural areas. The Prime Minister also inaugurated 42 Eklavya Model Residential Schools, which cost almost ₹1,900 crore. These institutions are expected to improve tribal children's access to school
The Union Cabinet has approved two significant support schemes worth ₹45,060 crore for exporters, particularly MSMEs, who are suffering pressure from the recent 50% tariff rise imposed by the US on a range of Indian products. The announcement follows several meetings with export promotion councils, which identified the challenges created by the new trade barrier. The approved package allocates ₹25,060 crore for the Export Promotion Mission and ₹20,000 crore for the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters. The Export Promotion Mission will operate from FY26 to FY31. It seeks to stren
Indonesia is aiming to secure significant carbon credit deals totalling around USD 1 billion at the COP30 climate conference in Belém, Brazil. The government aims to generate 16 trillion IDR through the sale of around 90 million tonnes of carbon credits derived from forest conservation, marine ecosystem protection, renewable energy work, and different industrial emission-reduction initiatives. Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq stated that the initiative is consistent with Presidential Regulation No. 110 of 2025, which guides Indonesia's carbon economic value framework. He stated t
Qatar and Japan have announced the launch of a $2.5 billion private equity fund to further their long-standing economic cooperation. The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Japan's ORIX Corporation have formed the OQCI Fund LP, which is Qatar's first domestic investment in Japan. According to the Qatar News Agency, QIA will donate $1 billion, or 40% of the total, with ORIX investing the remaining 60%. The fund will focus on Japanese companies undergoing corporate restructuring, privatisation, or spin-offs, with individual investments of up to $200 million. Approximately 30 Japanese cor
India emerged as a net exporter of finished steel in October, signalling a dramatic shift in trade dynamics. According to provisional government data, steel shipments totalled 0.6 million metric tonnes, a 44.7% increase over the same month last year. Imports, on the other hand, declined dramatically to 0.5 million metric tonnes, representing a 55.6% year-on-year decrease. The increase in exports coincided with a steady rise in domestic production. In October, India's finished steel output increased by 10% to 13.4 million metric tonnes, boosted by consistent manufacturing across major steel
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the grand Silver Jubilee celebrations of Uttarakhand at the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun, marking 25 years since the hill state's establishment in 2000. During the ceremony, he unveiled and laid the foundation stones for many projects totalling over ₹8,000 crore that aim to transform the state's infrastructure and economy. The projects address critical sectors such as drinking water, irrigation, urban development, and energy, with a special emphasis on skill training, technical education, and youth sports facilities. These projects are desig
India's Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will launch its Global Curriculum in April 2026, a significant step towards internationalising Indian education. It is intended for CBSE-affiliated schools in the UAE and other countries, with the goal of integrating global learning standards with India's strong academic framework. The announcement was made during the Sahodaya School Complexes Conference in Dubai, which brought together over 800 educators from India and the Gulf region to explore educational innovation. Dr Ram Shankar, Director of the CBSE Regional Office in Dubai, stated
The Executive Council of Dubai has approved an AED 18.3 billion development strategy to improve the city's green infrastructure, education, and employment sectors. The Public Parks and Greenery Strategy comprises more than 800 projects, including 310 new parks and 120 open spaces. Green areas would increase to 187 square kilometres, increasing the number of trees and aiming for 95 million annual park visits by 2040. The proposal aims to make parks accessible to 80% of residents within a five-minute walk, and watering will be done entirely with recycled water. The Council also approved Avia