News
ABU DHABI: UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met European Council President António Costa in Abu Dhabi on April 14, with the two leaders focusing on regional developments and their effect on regional and international peace and security. The talks addressed the impact of the crisis on maritime security, energy supplies and the global…
Business
Japan set fiscal 2026 defense spending near 2% of GDP as the Ministry of Defense expanded funding for missiles, drones and air defense.
ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates entered 2026 with a strong run of official economic data showing broad-based expansion across non-oil activity, trade, banking and investment, reinforcing its position as one of the region’s fastest-growing economies. Releases published in the first quarter and early second quarter pointed to solid momentum…
Malaysia recorded RM68.52 billion in halal exports in 2025, as food and beverage products remained the sector’s largest contributor.
South Korea approved its first paid self-driving freight service, clearing RideFlux to launch autonomous parcel deliveries in June.
Travel
SHARJAH: Air Arabia said it will expand its European network with a new daily, non-stop route between Sharjah International Airport and Rome Fiumicino Airport, with flights scheduled to begin on July 1, 2026. The carrier said the service will provide direct connections between Sharjah, its main hub,…
ABU DHABI: Etihad Airways carried 2.2 million passengers in January 2026, the Abu Dhabi based airline said in its monthly traffic update, reporting a 29% increase from 1.7 million passengers in January 2025. The carrier also reported a passenger load factor of 89.9% for the month, compared…
HANOI: Vietnam recorded its strongest ever month for inbound tourism in January 2026, welcoming nearly 2.5 million foreign visitors, according to official statistics. The total was the highest monthly figure on record and marked a sharp rise from the end of 2025, underscoring the pace of recovery…
WASHINGTON: The U.S. State Department will begin an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries on Jan. 21, applying revised screening standards under the public charge provision of U.S. immigration law. The measure pauses the issuance of new immigrant visas while the department conducts…