Albania had a historic election, with Prime Minister Edi Rama seeking a fourth term and promising the country's integration into the European Union. Rama, Albania's longest-serving democratic leader, gained a substantial majority with the Socialist Party, putting the country on track to join the European Union by 2030. With nearly 85% of votes counted, the Socialist Party is expected to win over 82 seats in Albania's 140-seat parliament, much exceeding the 71 required for a majority. Rama's pro-EU stance was crucial to his campaign, and he remains optimistic about Albania's future in th
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Israel's Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa'ar, in Abu Dhabi for a diplomatic discussion aimed at strengthening cooperation and tackling important regional issues. Sheikh Abdullah welcomed Minister Sa'ar and expressed happiness with the UAE's expanding bilateral partnership with Israel. The conversation focused on current regional developments, including the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Both ministers discussed the urgent need for a ceasefire and the resumption of an interim ag
Kazakhstan and the UAE inked more than 20 commercial agreements worth more than $5 billion during Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's official visit to Kazakhstan on May 12. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev hailed the agreement, citing the UAE as one of Kazakhstan's most important strategic allies. During the meeting, both presidents reaffirmed their commitment to promoting economic cooperation. In 2023, a Joint Declaration was made to encourage strategic investment initiatives. In just the first few months of 2024, direct investments from the UAE into Kaz
India has reaffirmed its support for the Maldives by providing critical financial help amidst the island nation's ongoing debt crisis. On Monday, the Indian government confirmed the extension of its $50 million subscription to a treasury bill issued by the Maldives' Ministry of Finance for another year. The decision was taken at the Maldivian government's formal request and enabled by the State Bank of India, according to a statement released by the Indian High Commission in Male on X. The Maldives' Foreign Minister, Abdulla Khaleel, officially expressed gratitude to India, calling the ass
The UAE and Egypt have formed a strategic cooperation through the Industrial Transition Accelerator (ITA) to promote clean industrial development in the MENA region. This collaboration, established under a memorandum of understanding between the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and Egypt's Industrial Modernisation Centre, aims to expedite decarbonisation in high-emission sectors such as cement, aluminium, steel, chemicals, aviation, and shipping. The agreement was signed in the presence of key officials, including UAE Minister Dr. Sultan Al Jaber and Egyptian Minister Kamel
The UAE and France have signed a strategic agreement to create a 1-gigawatt artificial intelligence data centre, which is expected to be the largest of its kind in Europe. The venture was announced during an international AI conference in Paris and is supported by a multibillion-euro investment from the UAE. The project represents a big step forward in the two countries' technological collaboration. The concept arose from discussions in February between French President Emmanuel Macron and senior Emirati officials. Leaders from both countries emphasised the need to promote innovation throu
Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam highlighted India’s Aspirational Districts Programme as a strong example of grassroots empowerment during his address at the Philanthropy Asia Summit (PAS) 2025. The conference, titled 'Priming Asia for Good', will be held from May 5 to 7 and will focus on collaborative innovations to address global concerns in health, climate, and education. President Shanmugaratnam lauded India's program as a unique approach that blends local agency with central support. He stated that the plan, introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018, aims to accel
During a meeting in Hà Nội, Party General Secretary Tô Lâm expressed Vietnam's willingness to support and collaborate with Sri Lanka in accomplishing socio-economic development goals. He welcomed Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is visiting Vietnam until Tuesday, to attend the 20th United Nations Day of Vesak Celebrations. This visit commemorates the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. General Secretary Tô Lâm praised President Dissanayake's involvement in the Vesak ceremonies and his letter commemorating Vietnam's 50th reunification
Angola's President, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, has publicly encouraged Indian corporations to explore strategic trade and investment opportunities in Angola, positioning the country as a significant export centre for Indian companies looking to join African markets. President Lourenco, speaking at the India-Angola Business Forum on his official visit to India, emphasised Angola's growing importance in global trade and identified possibilities for bilateral cooperation. He emphasised Angola's geographic advantage, citing its close ties to the Southern African Development Community a
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