India and Thailand have elevated their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, which strengthens diplomatic and security cooperation. PM Modi met with his Thai counterpart, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, to discuss important regional and global concerns. During the meeting, Modi highlighted India's commitment to ASEAN unity and centrality, emphasising the importance of a free, open, and rule-based Indo-Pacific order. Modi emphasised the need for regional peace, security, and prosperity, citing common marine interests. Without mentioning any countries, he emphasised India's opposition to e
Kazakhstan and the UAE are stepping up their collaboration in digital assets, blockchain technology, and fintech. A high-level team from Kazakhstan's financial industry recently visited the UAE on March 26-27, meeting with significant financial institutions and regulators. The team included representatives from the National Bank of Kazakhstan and the Agency for Regulation and Development of Financial Markets. During the visit, conversations centred on the regulatory landscape of digital assets and the practical applications of blockchain. The National Bank of Kazakhstan confirmed that a Mo
Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for Thailand on Thursday to attend the 6th BIMSTEC Summit. His visit is an important step towards boosting India's regional ties and promoting collaboration within the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). In the farewell speech, PM Modi emphasised BIMSTEC's expanding relevance, adding that the forum has played an important role in driving economic progress, connectivity, and regional development over the last decade. He emphasised India's North Eastern region as a critical link in BIMSTEC due to its
According to an OECD analysis released Wednesday, Israel's economy is expected to improve well over the next two years if geopolitical tensions lessen. The analysis predicted a GDP growth of 3.4% in 2025 and 5.5% in 2026, following a slow 0.9% increase in 2024 due to conflicts with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Meanwhile, the Bank of Israel predicts that the economy will increase by 4% in 2025 and 4.5% in 2026. OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann presented the biennial survey to Israel's Social-Economic Cabinet, chaired by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Smotrich appreciate
Greece plans to invest €25 billion over the next decade to upgrade its military and adapt to emerging high-tech warfare capabilities. Defence Minister Nikos Dendias presented the ambitious makeover to parliament, underlining the necessity for a technologically advanced defence strategy. The "Achilles Shield" air defence system is at the centre of this development, meant to improve security in the face of ongoing tensions with Turkey. Greece and Turkey, both NATO members, have a history of territorial disputes in the Aegean Sea and the eastern Mediterranean, which have brought them close
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to Thailand, which begins Thursday, is aimed at improving economic and investment ties between the two countries. India's rapidly developing market continues to draw Thai investors, and Indian investments in Thailand have steadily increased in recent years. Thailand has made investments in India's infrastructure, real estate, agro-processing, electronics, automotive, food processing, hospitality, and renewable energy sectors. One of the most significant investments occurred in 2021, when Global Renewable Synergy Co., Ltd invested $453.29 million
India and the United States are making substantial progress towards finalising a Bilateral Trade Agreement as the deadline for US reciprocal tariffs approaches on April 2. Following an intervention by the Prime Minister's Office, India has agreed to the Terms of Reference (ToR) for negotiations, paving the way for future discussions. The ToR establishes the foundation for the trade agreement and requires approval from the highest political authority before actual negotiations may commence. After four days of deliberations, US officials left India without finalising the Terms of Reference.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to officially launch the "NITI NCAER States Economic Forum" portal on April 1. The platform is intended to provide a comprehensive database of economic, social, and fiscal statistics for Indian states during the past three decades, up to the fiscal year 2022-23. The platform, created in collaboration between NITI Aayog and the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), divides data into five core verticals: demography, economic structure, fiscal health, education, and healthcare. Its goal is to provide researchers, policymakers, and analysts
The US Department of Energy (DoE) has given Holtec International a regulatory license to design and build nuclear reactors in India. This is a huge step forward in the nearly two-decade-old nuclear pact between India and the United States. According to reports, the DoE approved Holtec on March 26, allowing nuclear cooperation between the two countries. The license authorises Holtec to exchange 'unclassified small modular reactor (SMR) technology' with three Indian firms—Holtec Asia, Larsen & Toubro Ltd, and Tata Consulting Engineers Ltd—under US rule '10CFR810'. The authorisation i
The United Arab Emirates participated in the Global Conference on AI, Security, and Ethics in Geneva, confirming its commitment to responsible technological development. Omran Sharaf, Assistant Foreign Minister for Advanced Science and Technology, met with foreign experts, including Robin Geiss, Director of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), to address AI's expanding role in global security and its ethical implications. During the conversations, Sharaf emphasised the importance of international collaboration in regulating artificial intelligence. He stated that