Kuala Lumpur, March 24 (IANS) Economists have trimmed ASEAN-6 gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast to 4.5 per cent in 2026 from 4.8 per cent, and to 4.7 per cent in 2027 from 4.8 per cent, due to the fallout of the conflict in West Asia. The ASEAN-6 nations refer to Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia.Maybank Investment Bank said in a recent note that the downgrades are larger for the Philippines (-0.4 percentage points), Vietnam (-0.4 percentage points…
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New Delhi, March 22 (IANS) The Bharat Electricity Summit’s (BES) maiden edition concluded successfully on Sunday with India reaffirming its commitment to building a future-ready, technology-driven, and investment-friendly energy ecosystem, while supporting the energy needs of both the nation and the Global South.The Indian Carbon Market Portal was also launched, with trading expected to begin shortly, marking a major step in climate finance.The outcomes of the summit will contribute significantl…
New Delhi, March 21 (IANS) India and Africa, representing nearly one-third of the global population, share common aspirations for inclusive, equitable, and future-ready development, Power Minister Manohar Lal said on Saturday, adding that renewable energy, grid modernisation, energy storage and flexibility, and institutional capacity are the key areas for India-Africa cooperation.Addressing the ‘India-Africa Strategic Partnership Meet’ on the third day of the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 h…
Washington, March 20 (IANS) The United States is pressing Europe to take greater responsibility for its own defence even as it maintains a strong military presence on the continent, a shift with direct implications for India as Washington sharpens its focus on China and the Indo-Pacific.At a House Armed Services Committee hearing, US lawmakers and defence officials made clear that NATO remains central to American strategy, even as Washington pushes allies to increase defence spending and assume …
New Delhi, March 17 (IANS) India’s electronics hardware exports recorded a substantial growth in 2024-25, increasing by 32.47 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to reach $38.58 billion, according to the report released on Wednesday.The report from the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC) said that the exports stood at $29.12 billion in 2023-24, reflecting a sharp increase driven largely by telecom equipment, particularly smartphones.Smartphone exports alone rose to an esti…
New Delhi, March 13 (IANS) India’s largest airline IndiGo on Friday announced that it will introduce a fuel surcharge on both domestic and international flight tickets starting March 14, following a sharp rise in aviation turbine fuel prices linked to tensions in the Middle East.In a statement, the airline said the surcharge will range between Rs 425 and Rs 2,300 depending on the route.The move comes as airlines face increasing operating costs due to the surge in jet fuel prices amid the ongoi…
New Delhi, March 12 (IANS) Air India has approached the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) seeking temporary relaxation in Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms as escalating tensions in the Middle East force airlines to take longer diversionary routes, a report said on Thursday.The Tata Group-owned airline has requested permission to operate certain long-haul flights with a two-pilot crew instead of the standard three, along with an extension in maximum flying time, according to ND…
Antananarivo, March 11 (IANS) India dispatched humanitarian assistance comprising 12 tonnes of medical aid and 18 tonnes of disaster relief material to Madagascar on Wednesday, following the widespread destruction caused by Tropical Cyclones Fytia and Gezani earlier this year, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.Sharing the information in a post on X, the MEA said India stood firmly with the people of Madagascar during the difficult period.”India stands in solidarity with the people of M…
New Delhi, March 10 (IANS) Air India group on Tuesday announced a phased expansion of fuel surcharge on its domestic and international routes, saying the move is “necessitated by the steep rise in jet fuel prices” arising from the geopolitical situation in the Gulf region.The new fuel surcharges are being implemented in three phases, covering travel on all flights, including those operated by Air India Express.In Phase 1 (for all new bookings made from 0001 hours India Standard Time on March…
New Delhi, March 10 (IANS) India on Tuesday dispatched 500 metric tonnes of rice, 10 metric tonnes of essential relief supplies such as tents, hygiene kits and rehabilitation support items and three tonnes of critical medicines to Mozambique following the floods that have impacted the African nation’s central and southern provinces. Furthermore, India has also delivered 86 metric tonnes of life-saving medicines through the sea route. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswa…