Japan's parliament elected Sanae Takaichi as the country's first female prime minister, a historic event in Japanese politics. The conservative leader promised to strengthen national defence and deepen the Japan-US alliance ahead of President Donald Trump's visit next week. Takaichi replaced outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba after the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) suffered major electoral losses. Her emergence followed a coalition agreement between the LDP and the right-wing Japan Innovation Party, which resulted in a weak governing alliance that lacked a majority in both parliamenta
Indonesia has been named the partner nation for this year's Bali Yatra, Odisha's largest maritime trade and cultural festival, which will be held in Cuttack from November 5 to 12. The Cuttack district administration announced that it would celebrate ancient Kalinga's long-standing maritime relations with the Indonesian islands of Bali, Java, and Sumatra. Officials stated that Indonesia was chosen as the first partner nation due to its long-standing historical and cultural ties to Odisha. The collaboration represents the revival of trade and cultural exchanges that formerly existed between
Singapore celebrated 60 years of diplomatic relations with India with a brilliant sunflower exhibition at Gardens by the Bay. The event, known as "Sunflower Surprise," was launched by India's High Commissioner to Singapore, Dr Shilpak Ambule, in the presence of Singaporean Minister Indranee Rajah and other dignitaries. The 105-hectare urban park was transformed into a sea of golden blooms, with over 3,000 sunflowers from 20 different types carefully nurtured and displayed for the public. According to Dr Ambule, the sunflower, recognised for its warmth and joy, represents India and Singapor
Dubai's real estate market set a record in the third quarter of 2025, with sales of AED170.7 billion ($46.5 billion). During this period, the Dubai Land Department and DXBinteract certified 59,228 property transactions, representing a 17.2% increase in volume and 19.9% increase in value over the previous year. From January to September 2025, Dubai had 158,200 transactions of AED498.8 billion ($136 billion), a more than 20% increase over the previous year. Apartments dominated Q3, selling 49,370 units for AED94.3 billion ($25.7 billion). Plot and commercial property transactions also increa
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulates Sanae Takaichi on becoming Japan's first female Prime Minister, expressing hope for more bilateral collaboration. He emphasised the importance of India-Japan relations, claiming that their growing partnership helps significantly to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi expressed his best wishes and reaffirmed India's commitment to building the Special Strategic and Global Partnership with Japan. Sanae Takaichi, the 64-year-old head of the Liberal Democratic Party, was chosen by
The fifth edition of the bilateral naval exercise Samudra Shakti between India and Indonesia began on October 14 in Visakhapatnam, hosted by the Indian Navy. The exercise, which is scheduled for four days, aims to strengthen maritime cooperation and operational interoperability between the two countries. The drills include both professional engagements onshore and operational exercises at sea. The participating vessels include INS Kavaratti, an Eastern Fleet anti-submarine warfare corvette, and KRI John Lie, an Indonesian corvette carrying a helicopter. The Indian Navy's Eastern Naval Comm
India and the EU completed their first joint counter-terrorism exercise, which focused on tackling threats posed by unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and improving the security of important infrastructure and soft targets. The three-day programme, which ended on Wednesday, involved senior officers, instructors, and technical experts from India's National Security Guard and the EU's High Risk Security Network. The exercise focused on advanced UAS operations, counter-drone tactics, and the development of procedures for integrated UAS and counter-UAS missions. The training, held at NSG's Manes
India emphasised its integrated model for sustainable urban growth at the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi. Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, stated that India regards growing urbanisation as a driver of innovation, resilience, and long-term progress. Addressing the ministerial dialogue on "Transforming Our Urban Environment: Pathways to Sustainability," Singh stated that with two-thirds of the world's population expected to live in cities by 2050, urban planning must strike a
In an effort to strengthen cultural ties between India and Vietnam, UNESCO-Vietnam has collaborated with the India Book of Records (IBR) to promote Indo-Vietnam cultural heritage through a variety of activities. The India Book of Records, a renowned organisation that has recognised Indian achievements for over two decades, has long been a forum for showcasing Indian talent around the world. On February 14, 2025, IBR issued Nguoi Bao Tonne Di San - The Guardian of Heritage, which celebrates India and Vietnam's shared traditions. The organisation also announced a cross-cultural film named Vu
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), a significant addition to India's aviation infrastructure. The Prime Minister announced that Mumbai's long wait for a second international airport has come to an end, describing NMIA as a project that reflects India's goal for development. The airport, designed to resemble a lotus flower, represents India's cultural identity as well as technological progress. He emphasised that the NMIA would benefit Maharashtra's economy by connecting farmers and small businesses directly to global ma