Bhutan is taking a significant step towards increasing its global connections by establishing a direct airline route to Dubai. This initiative, led by Drukair, the national carrier, is intended to offer up new opportunities for tourism, business, and cultural exchange. The decision reflects Bhutan's efforts to portray itself as a more accessible and appealing destination for international visitors. Recognising the importance of affordability in increasing tourism, Bhutan's government has implemented an airfare subsidy for the Dubai route. This effort attempts to make travel more affordable
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Mauritius on March 11 and 12 as the special guest for the country's National Day celebrations. The annual March 12 celebration commemorates Mauritius' independence from British sovereignty in 1968. Randhir Jaiswal, a spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, confirmed the visit, noting that an Indian Defence Forces detachment and an Indian Navy ship would attend the ceremonies. This is PM Modi's first visit to Mauritius in over a decade, having last been there in 2015. During his visit, he will meet with Mauritius' President and Prime Min
Dr. Abdulnasser Alshaali, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to India, met with Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today to discuss business potential in Himachal Pradesh. The Chief Minister extended an invitation to UAE investors, focussing on critical industries such as tourism, hospitality, renewable energy, dairy, food processing, and data storage. The Chief Minister emphasised the state's distinctive geography, saying that Himachal Pradesh has huge snow-covered areas, hills, and water bodies, making it a perfect tourist destination. To boost accessibility, the state gove
Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur (PHKL) and IMU University have signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support Malaysia's medical research ecosystem. This strategic relationship will focus on biomedical science research, training, and knowledge exchange, providing students with hands-on learning opportunities while furthering research priorities. According to this MoU, IMU University will send research students to PHKL for organised training programs. These short-term research projects, which last at least three months, will expose students to real-world medical research. Join
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Post-Budget Webinar on Employment, highlighting the government's emphasis on job creation, economic growth, and innovation. He described the budget as a blueprint for India's future, including significant investments in infrastructure, industry, human resources, and technology. PM Modi emphasised investment in people, citing education, skill development, and healthcare as pillars of national growth. He noted important reforms such as the National Education Policy, AI-driven learning, and textbook digitisation in 22 languages as efforts to align In
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Vantara, the world's largest wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility, in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The program, led by Anant Ambani, intends to offer a shelter for rescued animals while also encouraging conservation initiatives. PM Modi and Anant Ambani toured the facility, viewing and engaging with numerous rescued animals. He fed lion cubs, offered food to a giraffe, and watched crocodiles swim while Ambani explained the center's conservation programs. In a post on X, PM Modi praised Vantara as a noteworthy endeavour in animal conservation. He hig
An Indian defence committee has proposed integrating the private sector in military aircraft production to improve the capabilities of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The suggestion is made at a critical moment when the IAF is dealing with declining squadron numbers and delayed aircraft deliveries, both of which have top officers worried. If enacted, the measure would significantly enhance India's private defence industry while reducing the pressure on state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), which now makes the majority of the country's military aircraft. The committee, led by the defence
Dubai has launched the Blue Visa, a 10-year residency scheme for people who make a significant contribution to environmental conservation. On February 12, the World Governments Summit 2025 announced an initiative to encourage sustainability pioneers and advance green innovation. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, in partnership with the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Ports Security (ICP), has granted the first 20 Blue Visas to leaders who have made major contributions to environmental initiatives in the UAE and outside. This long-term visa is availab
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions exceeded 16.99 billion in January, the greatest volume ever recorded in a single month. The finance ministry reports that digital payments in India have grown rapidly, with total transaction value exceeding ₹23.48 lakh crore. The fiscal year 2023-24 saw an increase in digital transactions. UPI has stayed in the forefront, accounting for roughly 80% of all retail transactions in the country. In FY24, the total transaction volume exceeded 131 billion, with a total value of ₹200 lakh crore. UPI's extensive acceptance is driven by increased
India has successfully conducted flight tests of its first indigenous Naval Anti-Ship Missile (NASM-SR), a significant advancement in its defensive capabilities. The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy collaborated to conduct the trial at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha. The missile was launched from an Indian Naval Seaking helicopter, displaying its capacity to hit ocean targets with pinpoint accuracy. NASM-SR's innovative "Man-in-Loop" system enables in-flight retargeting based on real-time inputs. During the test, the missil