Kyrgyzstan and China to Launch Direct Flight Between Osh and Kashgar

A new air route connecting Osh, Kyrgyzstan’s second-largest city, with Kashgar in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is expected to launch in April, according to a statement from Airports of Kyrgyzstan JSC. The announcement follows a meeting held on January 30 with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). The new flight is intended to […]

Read More

Singapore to launch national space agency to capture piece of US$1.8 trillion global market

By Jean Iau Singapore is set to establish a national space agency in April, a move that industry insiders believe will cement the city state’s role as a pre-eminent regional hub for extraterrestrial innovation. The launch of the National Space Agency of Singapore (NSAS) aims to capture a slice of a global space economy projected […]

Read More

China launches free-trade experiment at port Hainan

Chinese officials are promoting the launch of a free-trade port on the tropical island of Hainan as a major step in opening the economy to foreign investors, even as global trade tensions rise and protectionism increases elsewhere. Officials describe the transition to what they call the world’s largest free-trade port as a “substantial leap” in […]

Read More

India’s budget slashes aid to Bangladesh by 50%

India’s budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 presented in parliament today (1 February) slashed developmental aid to Bangladesh by 50%, amid a sharp downturn in bilateral ties post-Sheikh Hasina’s ouster from power. This marks the steepest reduction in regional aid, triggered by a diplomatic freeze, allegations of attacks on minorities, and Dhaka’s tilt toward Pakistan. […]

Read More

India’s new budget bets on AI, data centers to sustain growth

NEW DELHI: India’s latest budget has emerged as one of its most technology-focused, with new measures to utilize artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing, and expand digital infrastructure aimed at offsetting the impact of global tariff wars. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the 2026-27 budget in parliament on Sunday, saying it would “accelerate and sustain economic growth […]

Read More

IMF chief says global inflation to fall to 3.8% this year and to 3.4% in 2027

Global inflation is expected to fall to 3.8% this year and to 3.4% in 2027, helped by softer demand and lower energy prices, the IMF chief said on Monday. Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said in a speech in the Annual Arab Fiscal Forum in Dubai that global growth has held up ‘remarkably well’ amid profound […]

Read More

EBRD Bets Big on Central Asia, Mongolia With $2B Push

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has sharply expanded its footprint in Central Asia and Mongolia, committing nearly $2 billion in investment in 2025. In an article posted by Anton Usov, the scale of the funding is presented as a clear signal of the EBRD’s growing confidence in the region’s economic potential, as well […]

Read More

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia reaffirm push for joint energy and mining projects

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to enhance cooperation in energy and mineral sectors, the Pakistani information ministry said on Friday, as the two sides seek to deepen economic ties and promote joint investment. The development comes weeks after Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik met Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources […]

Read More

Filipinos worry about future as Manila posts worst economic growth in 15 years

MANILA: Over ten years ago, when Fatima Macud brought home roughly 30,000 pesos ($509) a month, the money was enough to cover her expenses and still leave room for savings. Though she now earns 45,000 pesos, Macud finds herself unable to save any money as she struggles with rising prices to cover daily spending. “Yes, […]

Read More

North Korea’s Kim Jong-un set to signal stronger nuclear deterrence posture at congress

By Park Chan-kyong North Korea is set to use its coming Workers’ Party congress to signal an escalation towards carrying out large-scale nuclear retaliation in the event of a conflict with the US, with analysts expecting Pyongyang to unveil plans centred on intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of striking American cities. The move was foreshadowed […]

Read More