New Delhi, June 5 (IANS) Bilateral trade between India and the Philippines reached $3.9 billion in 2025–26, demonstrating a strong upward trajectory, the government said on Friday.The 14th meeting of the India-Philippines Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment (JWGTI) was convened in Manila, which was co-chaired by Amit Verma, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, and Allan B. Gepty, Undersecretary, Department of Trade and Industry, International Trade Group.According to the Commerce M…
Latest Philippines News & Updates
United Nations, June 4 (IANS) In a contentious race to succeed Pakistan for a seat earmarked for the Asia Pacific region on the UN Security Council, Kyrgyzstan has defeated the Philippines after four rounds of voting. To be elected, countries have to get a two-thirds majority. In elections held in the General Assembly on Wednesday, Portugal and Austria defeated the European powerhouse, Germany, for the two Western European seats.With the combination of votes for the two seats, Portugal received …
United Nations, June 4 (IANS) Austria, Kyrgyzstan, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago, and Zimbabwe were elected non-permanent members of the UN Security Council on Wednesday for a two-year term.The election marked the first time Kyrgyzstan would serve on the Security Council.The newly elected members will replace the outgoing non-permanent members — Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama and Somalia — and assume their seats on January 1, 2027, and serve until December 31, 2028.A candidate must obtain t…
Washington, June 2 (IANS) Voicing concerns over China’s activities in the South China Sea, Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday reaffirmed U.S. support for the Philippines, describing Manila as a critical partner in the Indo-Pacific amid growing regional tensions. Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio said he had raised concerns about Chinese actions near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in multiple engagements with Chinese officials and warned against efforts to alt…
Washington, June 2 (IANS) A senior US congressional delegation travelled to the United Arab Emirates, Thailand and the Philippines to reinforce security ties and deliver a common message that Iran must stop threatening its neighbours, Congressman Josh Gottheimer said.Gottheimer, a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI), led the delegation and held talks with senior leaders in the UAE and Indo-Pacific partners on regional security, artificial intelligence, energy c…
Shillong, May 30 (IANS) The multilateral military exercise Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in IOR (PRAGATI) 2026 concluded with a reinforced collective commitment towards peace, stability, and security in the Indian Ocean Region, the Indian Army said on Saturday. Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS), along with Vice Chiefs and senior military leaders from participating nations, witnessed the final validation exercise and closing ceremo…
Singapore, May 30 (IANS) Highlighting India’s expanding expertise in missile manufacturing and increasing outreach, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh on Saturday announced that a BrahMos missile deal has already been signed with Vietnam with another similar agreement with Indonesia currently in the final stages. “My understanding is that with both Indonesia and with Vietnam, the deal is in the final stages. In fact, for Vietnam, I understand that it has already been signed, probably not publi…
Shillong, May 30 (IANS) The maiden edition of the multilateral military exercise PRAGATI 2026 concluded successfully on Saturday at the Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya with a comprehensive 72-hour validation exercise aimed at enhancing interoperability, mutual trust, and collective preparedness among participating nations, officials said. The exercise brought together more than 400 military personnel from 13 countries, India, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Ne…
Washington, May 28 (IANS) Amid growing tensions in the South China Sea and rising concerns over Beijing’s regional assertiveness, two bipartisan US senators have introduced legislation aimed at strengthening diplomatic coordination and crisis management with Indo-Pacific allies and partners. US Senators Tammy Duckworth and John Curtis introduced two bills designed to improve coordination between the Departments of State and War and enhance preparedness for potential flashpoints involving the P…
Seoul, May 28 (IANS) South Korea’s Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back will travel to Singapore later this week to attend an annual security forum, his ministry said on Thursday, amid an increasingly volatile security landscape, highlighted by the Middle East conflict. Ahn will attend the 23rd Asia Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, from Friday through Sunday, where he will be joined by his counterparts of key nations, including the United States, Japan and other European and Indo…