President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. returned to the Philippines on Wednesday after a two-day working visit to the United Arab Emirates, during which the two countries signed a landmark free trade agreement and a defence cooperation pact to strengthen bilateral ties. Mr. Marcos said the visit focused on building a “future-ready world” through cooperation in key areas such as energy, water, finance, food, and the environment, which he said directly affect Filipinos at home and abroad. He took part in high-level meetings at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, the world’s largest gathering focu
India and Germany will enhance defence trade with a focus on co-production and co-development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday, as the two countries signed an agreement to strengthen bilateral defence industrial cooperation. Welcoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to India, Mr Modi said the two sides will launch a consultation mechanism to boost cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. Chancellor Merz, on his first visit to Asia since taking office in May 2025, said that global politics faces uncertainty and a closer partnership is needed. Mr Modi said growing defence coop
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that India is the world’s fastest-growing economy and is moving steadily towards becoming the third-largest economy globally. He said this after inaugurating the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) for the Saurashtra and Kutch region in Rajkot. At a time of global uncertainty, the PM said India is experiencing stability and confidence. He highlighted political stability, controlled inflation, and strong economic growth as key factors driving the country forward. He also said that global expectations from India are rising steadily. PM Modi al
India is preparing to take a major step in energy cooperation by working with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a new cross-border electricity exchange project. The plan involves laying undersea power cables that will allow the three countries to trade electricity directly. A senior official from the Ministry of Power said India will soon invite tenders for the project and may also supply electricity to the Gulf nations when needed. The project comes as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are actively working to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and expand the use of renewable
Dubai International Airport became the world’s busiest airport by seat capacity in January 2026, overtaking Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, according to data from aviation analytics firm OAG. The ranking is based on total scheduled airline seat capacity across both international and domestic flights. OAG’s figures show that Dubai International Airport handled around 5.5 million seats in January 2026, placing it ahead of Atlanta, which recorded approximately 4.9 million seats during the same period. Tokyo Haneda Airport ranked third globally. This change marks a m
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday welcomed the First Advance Estimates of Gross Domestic Product for 2025– 26, stating that they demonstrated strong economic momentum under the NDA government. According to the National Statistics Office, India’s real GDP is projected to grow by 7.4 per cent in FY 2025–26, higher than the 6.5 per cent growth estimated for 2024–25. In a post on X, the Prime Minister said India’s “Reform Express” continues to gain speed, driven by the government’s investment push and demand-led policies. He said the growth numbers reflect the impact of s
An amendment to the UAE’s Commercial Companies Law aims to strengthen the identity of companies established in the country by recognising them as Emirati entities, including those operating in free zones and financial free zones. The move is intended to improve companies’ access to global markets and boost confidence in the UAE as a business hub. Speaking at a media briefing in Dubai on Tuesday, Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri clarified that the provision applies only to companies and not to their owners, shareholders, or investors. His remarks came after ques
Thailand’s central bank has estimated that the country’s economy grew by 2.2 per cent in 2025 but warned that growth is likely to slow in 2026 and 2027. This was stated in the minutes of the central bank’s latest policy meeting, released on Tuesday. The policy committee said economic momentum is expected to weaken, and added that monetary policy could be eased further if clearer signs of a slowdown emerge. It noted that risks to growth have increased amid both domestic and global uncertainties. The committee said headline inflation is expected to remain low, mainly due to supply-s
India has become the world’s largest producer of rice, overtaking China, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in New Delhi on Tuesday. He said India’s rice production has reached 150.18 million tonnes, while China’s production stands at 145.28 million tonnes. With this achievement, India is also expanding its presence in overseas rice markets, the minister added. Mr Chouhan was speaking at an event in the national capital where he unveiled 184 improved crop varieties developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. These new varieties cover 25 field crops an
The government on Friday announced a Rs 7,295-crore export support package to help exporters access cheaper and easier credit, with a focus on micro, small, and medium enterprises. The package includes a Rs 5,181-crore interest subsidy scheme and Rs 2,114 crore in collateral support, to be rolled out over six years from 2025 to 2031. Commerce Ministry Additional Secretary Ajay Bhadoo said the measures would address trade finance challenges faced by exporters. Under the interest subsidy scheme, exporters will receive support on pre- and post-shipment loans, reducing borrowing costs. The sch