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…
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
Etihad Airways has scheduled six new Africa services from Abu Dhabi, widening its direct Africa network from November 2026 to March 2027.
Health
KINSHASA: The Democratic Republic of the Congo has declared an end to the mpox outbreak that had remained under national emergency management for about two years, with Health Minister Roger Kamba saying the epidemic no longer met the threshold for that status. The announcement marks a major…
