Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong led the People's Action Party (PAP) to an overwhelming win in the 14th general election since independence. The incumbent party won 87 out of 97 parliamentary seats and 65.6% of the total vote share, a significant improvement on its 2020 showing. This is Wong's first election test since taking over as Prime Minister in May 2024. India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, was among the first to congratulate Wong. PM Modi posted on social networking site X, "Heartiest congratulations @LawrenceWongST on your resounding victory in the general elections." He
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a USD 200 million defence credit line for Angola to help modernise its armed forces. This crucial step was announced on Saturday, following intensive consultations with Angolan President João Manuel Goncalves Laurenco. PM Modi's declaration comes amid India's increased commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with African countries, particularly in the military, digital infrastructure, and space technology. During the meeting, the two leaders addressed several projects aimed at strengthening cooperation, including the repair, overhaul, and supp
India has inked a defence deal with France to purchase 26 Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Navy, with an estimated cost of ₹63,000 crore. The two nations reached an agreement on Monday, marking another step forward in their strengthening strategic ties. Dassault Aviation, a leading French aerospace company, will supply the aircraft. The Rafale fighters, particularly the naval variants, would be stationed on India's aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, greatly increasing its operational capabilities. Out of the 26 aircraft, 22 will be single-seat Rafale M fighters, with four serving as twin-s
Sri Lanka aims to begin working on a new energy hub next month in collaboration with India and the UAE. Sri Lanka's Energy Minister announced on Friday, outlining a deliberate approach to boost the country's post-crisis economic recovery. An initial agreement for the energy hub was reached earlier this month during Indian Prime Minister Modi's visit to Sri Lanka. Modi's visit was the first by a world leader since Anura Kumara Dissanayake became president in September 2024. President Dissanayake was elected on a promise of stability following the island's severe financial crisis, and is
On National Panchayati Raj Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched projects worth ₹13,480 crore in Madhubani, Bihar, including power, railroads, housing, healthcare, and infrastructure. He emphasised that these actions will increase jobs and empower rural communities. Paying respect to poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, Modi stated that Panchayati Raj enhances democracy and women's representation. He lauded Bihar for being the first to implement 50% reservation for women in Panchayats, as well as the 33% reservation law in Parliament and State Assemblies. Over the past decade, ₹2 lakh c
Saudi Arabia and India have agreed to enhance their collaboration in the energy and defence sectors, a significant step forward in their bilateral relationship. This agreement follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia, during which the two countries discussed expanding the supply of crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas. Saudi Arabia is already one of India's leading petroleum exporters, and both countries are looking to expand their collaboration even further. PM Modi met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss these advancements before cutting short his visit
The UAE and South Korea have taken a significant step towards defence cooperation by signing a letter of intent centred on the KF-21 Boramae fighter aircraft. The agreement was formally signed by the Republic of Korea Air Force Chief of Staff Lee Young-su and UAE Air Force Major General Rashid Mohammed al-Shamsi. It is a significant step forward in bilateral military cooperation, allowing UAE Air Force troops to participate in joint drills and training missions employing South Korea's indigenously manufactured KF-21 fighters. During their visit, the UAE delegation saw Korea Aerospace Indus
According to White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, President Donald Trump will go to the Middle East for a high-profile diplomatic tour from May 13 to 16. The official itinerary includes visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, his second international trip since taking office. This journey comes after his planned presence at Pope Francis' burial in Vatican City on Saturday. The Saudi foreign minister visited Washington earlier this month to prepare for Trump's arrival. The decision highlights efforts to strengthen ties, similar to Trump's 2017 visit, when Saudi Ar
The Philippines and the United Arab Emirates have inked a significant security agreement to combat the growing danger of transnational and organised crime. The pact, signed by Philippine Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla and UAE Interior Minister Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, emphasises combating cybercrime, drug trafficking, and human trafficking. Alfonso Ver, Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, emphasised the importance of international alliances in combating criminal syndicates that take advantage of current technologies and smooth cross-border mobility. He described the accord
The UAE participated in the most recent Council of Arab Ministers on Meteorology and Climate conference, which was held at the League of Arab States' General Secretariat headquarters. The session was attended by senior members from Arab meteorological organisations, demonstrating a shared commitment to improving regional climate monitoring and mitigation. The UAE delegation was led by Abdulla Ahmed Al Mandous, Director-General of the National Centre of Meteorology and current President of the World Meteorological Organisation. In his speech, Al Mandous emphasised the serious environmental