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Humanity’s future lies in some of the most vulnerable spots on the planet. We’ve seen that in stark relief of late. A United Nations report last month concluded that the world’s population is increasingly crowded into a group of often low-lying, middle-income megacities in Asia and Africa.Jakarta and Dhaka dethroned Tokyo’s long-held status as the world’s biggest city, with 42 million, 37 million and 33 million people respectively.

Indian toy industry is ready to take advantage of the high tariffs imposed by the US on competitors such as China and Vietnam, and the domestic players have already begun work on expanding capacity and forming joint ventures with global firms, exporters said on Sunday. They added that India has emerged as a winner in the recent US tariff hikes, as the exporters are better positioned to absorb the impact compared to competitor countries that are facing higher import duties in America. While the US has imposed an additional 26 per cent import duty on India, its competitor Vietnam is facing 46 per cent tariff, Bangladesh 37 per cent, China 54 per cent, Indonesia 32 per cent, and Thailand 36 per cent. «Huge opportunities are there for our exporters now. Vietnam's exports are about USD 6 billion and China's are USD 80 billion. Now their items will face higher duties in the US than that of Indian toys. All big toy firms are exploring opportunities to set up plants in India,» the CEO of Playgro Toys India, Manu Gupta, said. India's toy exports are hovering in the range of USD 326 million to USD 348 million for the last three years, according to the industry. He said that early conclusion of a bilateral trade agreement with the US will also help Indian toy players to increase shipments.

reciprocal tariffs by the US on other competing nations raises the possibility of increased dumping by those nations in India, as well as in other export markets, which could negatively impact certain sectors, CareEdge Ratings said in a report. According to the report ' Sectoral Impact of US Reciprocal Tariff: Neutral to Negative, ' the expected direct impact of US reciprocal tariffs would vary, with no impact expected on pharmaceuticals since they are exempt from reciprocal tariffs for now. According to the rating agency, the impact is expected to be largely neutral for electronics, textiles, agricultural products, chemicals, and automobiles and parts. At the same time, it would be negative for gems and jewellery. During 2023-24, India's aggregate merchandise exports to the US stood at USD 77.5 billion compared to its imports from the US at USD 42.2 billion. Out of India's total exports to the US, the sectors in descending order of value are electronics, textiles, pharmaceuticals, gems and jewellery, agricultural products, chemicals and automobiles and parts.

Vietnam’s Tourism Advisory Board (TAB) has proposed a long-term visa program to the government to maintain its lead in Southeast Asia’s fast-evolving travel market. The recommendations, submitted to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, include a “golden visa” valid for five to ten years to compete with Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia—countries that already offer such schemes to long-stay travellers, Báo Văn Hóa reported. The proposal comes at a time when Vietnam has regained 98% of its pre-pandemic tourism levels, making it the fastest-recovering destination in the region. In 2024, the country welcomed 17.5 million international visitors, overtaking Singapore and trailing only Malaysia and Thailand. The advisory board also suggested introducing a 10-year investor visa with the possibility of permanent residency after five years, and a five-year talent visa with a simplified renewal process, as reported by Thanh Nien newspaper. These programs could be piloted in key tourism hubs like Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: India will refrain from taking retaliatory action against the US’ reciprocal tariffs or making sharp public responses against Washington, keeping trade diplomacy at the centre of its strategy, a senior government official said. As a global tariff war unfolds in response to US President Donald Trump’s additional tariffs on more than 60 nations, India is taking a calm and measured approach, positioning itself as a balanced negotiator, the official said.

Indian seafood exports will face significant pressure following the imposition of the US reciprocal tariffs, according to a study by the industry body FICCI. India's exports of fish, meat, and processed seafood are valued at US USD 2.58 billion with six product categories--Frozen Shrimp, Frozen Fish, Fish Meal and Fish Feed, Frozen Squid, Surimi & Analogue Products, and Frozen Cuttlefish--accounting for 94 per cent of total export value. US is India's largest seafood export market, holding a 34.5 per cent share of total export value. Frozen shrimp dominates, contributing 91.9 per cent of the export value (USD 2.34 billion) and 90.4 per cent of the volume (2.97 lakh tonnes). «Indian seafood exports will face significant pressure following the imposition of the US reciprocal tariffs,» the study said. India competes with countries like Canada, Ecuador, Indonesia and Vietnam in these categories. Other Latin American countries also compete in the market.

tariff rate of 10% on countries across the globe, big and small. From the imposed reciprocal tariff rates, Asia and Europe on the higher end of the tariff scale. In Asia, the highest rate of reciprocal tariff is on Cambodia and Vietnam. India faces reciprocal tariffs of 27% while China faces reciprocal tariffs of 34%. Indonesia and Taiwan are facing higher tariffs than India at 32%. Mexico and Canada are exempted from new tariffs, while the previously announced 25% tariff on autos is to take effect from April 3, 2025. Reciprocal tariffs to the equivalent of ~50% of combined estimated rate of tariff and non-tariff barriers faced by US exports in the respective countries have been announced. A retaliation might put the global economy in a trade war. The efforts to reach a bilateral agreement between India-USA provides hope and scope to limit the impact of these reciprocal tariffs levied on India.

Act East Policy is the reflection of PM Narendra Modi’s foreign policy marked by dynamism and action. With the changing dynamics of the world, PM Modi in 2014, introduced a new vigour in India’s foreign policy. He transformed the Look East Policywith a more dynamic Act East Policy (AEP). Introduced in 1992, the Look East policy focused largely on economic ties with the Southeast Asia region. This shift was not just symbolic but marked a significant strategic approach that emphasized deeper diplomatic engagement, stronger trade partnerships, enhanced security cooperation, and cultural exchanges with Southeast Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific region. The Act East Policy placed India as an active stakeholder in regional affairs. Over the past 10 years, the Act East Policy has positioned India as an active and influential player in Southeast Asia. The Indian PM’s frequent engagements, high-profile summits, and strategic partnerships have strengthened India's presence in the Indo-Pacific, making India not just a participant but a leader in regional affairs. Modi has himself visited SE Asia multiple times. This include trips to Singapore (2015, 2018, 2024), which have strengthened economic and fintech collaboration, and visits to Indonesia (2018, 2022, 2023), where India expanded its maritime security cooperation.

Indian equities were swamped by a wave of selling that swept riskier assets globally on Friday, tracking Wall Street's overnight slump-the worst since 2020-in response to US President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariff regime that has led to fears about a global downturn. NSE Nifty fell 1.5%, or 345.65 points, to finish at 22,904.45. BSE Sensex dropped 1.2%, or 930.67 points, to 75,364.69. The slump wiped out ₹10 lakh crore in market value Friday.

April 2, 2025, was declared Liberation Day by President Donald Trump—a momentous occasion where he unveiled sweeping tariffs aimed at foreign nations. In his dramatic announcement from the White House, Trump proclaimed, “April 2, 2025, will forever be remembered as the day American industry was reborn, the day America's destiny was reclaimed, and the day that we began to 'Make America Wealthy Again.’”

Trump's 26 per cent tariff on Indian goods would have a limited impact on key agricultural exports like seafood and rice when compared to higher duties imposed on regional competitors, Gulati said. «We should not look at the tariff increase in absolute terms, but see relative tariff increases with our competitors,» Gulati told PTI. The former chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) noted that while India faces 26 per cent tariffs, China faces 34 per cent, creating an 8 per cent differential advantage for Indian exporters. Other competitors face even steeper barriers, with Vietnam at 46 per cent, Bangladesh at 37 per cent, Thailand at 36 per cent, and Indonesia at 32 per cent, Gulati said.

As per India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), India has emerged favourably placed in the first round of reciprocal tariff announcements, especially compared to key electronics export competitors like China, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia following the extraordinary and relentless efforts by our negotiators and leaders. Read More:Trump's 26% tariffs put pressure on India. Is New Delhi ready for the impact?

global trade tensions and sparking uncertainty in markets worldwide. These tariffs, designed to counter what Trump calls unfair trade practices, are expected to reshape global commerce in a significant way.

He then went on to describe how each hotel is associated with a union and they charge tourists a bomb. He then reveals how one such cab driver had demanded Rs 1,600 to travel 10 km. “It would cost me Rs 3,500 to go to and from a restaurant just 10km away. Unbelievable!” he ranted.

The Huizhou 19-6 oilfield lies about 170 kilometres (100 miles) from Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province, Beijing's Xinhua news agency said. Test drilling has yielded a daily production of 413 barrels of crude oil and 68,000 cubic meters of natural gas, the CNOOC said. The state-owned oil giant's CEO, Zhou Xinhuai, hailed «successive breakthroughs in oil and gas exploration in the eastern waters of the South China Sea». CNOOC «has discovered 100-million-ton oilfields for two consecutive years, which creates a new growth pole for the continuous growth in offshore oil and gas production,» he added.

The inflow of low-cost imports, particularly from China and Vietnam, remains a concern for domestic manufacturers, ISSDA President Rajamani Krishnamurti said in reply to a query on the outlook for Q1 FY26. «The stainless steel sector is also likely to encounter challenges such as volatile raw material prices, especially for key inputs like nickel and ferroalloys,» he said.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. The powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on Friday was one of the most powerful in the region in years. While the full extent of the damage remains unclear, the United States Geological Survey says it is likely that more than 10,000 people died and that economic losses could exceed the gross domestic product of Myanmar, a poor country engulfed in a bloody civil war.

Due to the incredible diversity of Muslim communities in the subcontinent, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and multicultural Australia, households and cultures prepare and consume Eid al-Fitr foods in unique ways. Muslims prepare to celebrate Eid al-Fitr after observing Ramadan, the holy month of prayer and fasting, which is just a few days away. Families gather and celebrate with a feast of food, which is a staple of any celebration, while the day begins with prayer and customs. Eid ul-Fitr is celebrated differently in each Muslim culture. In Turkey, for example, children receive candy and sugar-coated almonds as part of the celebration. Sweets such as Ghoriba Bahla, Fekkas, and Kaab el Ghazal are essential to Moroccan holiday celebrations. In Indonesia, however, celebrations include the preparation of traditional foods such as Ketupat, which is considered a symbol of blessings and forgiveness.

Emerging economies such as India, Brazil and Vietnam, which impose tariff on American imports higher than what the US levies on them, face a high risk of reciprocal tariffs, global ratings agency Fitch said. “Brazil, India, Thailand, Malaysia, South Africa, Turkey and, on a simple average tariff basis, Vietnam and Indonesia, impose notably higher tariffs on exports from the US relative to tariffs imposed by the US on imports from these countries,” it said. US President Donald Trump has threatened with his reciprocal tariffs announcement on April 2 against trading partners he says have been “ripping off” the country by imposing high levies. As per the Fitch report, the tariffs in these economies were higher, both on a simple and trade-weighted average basis. “On a simple average basis, the highest differentials are in Brazil, India and Turkey,” Fitch said.

SUNDAY Hotels have opened in 10 countries across the globe including India, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam. SUNDAY Hotels, a premium brand of four-star and five-star hotels, was originally launched in May 2023 through a joint venture between the SoftBank Group and Oravel Stays. The initiative is part of Oravel's ongoing programme to spread its premium hotel footprint around the globe.

Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano in south-central Indonesia erupted three times into Friday, sending an ash column 8,000 meters (26,200 feet) high and prompting authorities to expand the danger zone around the volcano. The volcano on the remote island of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara province has had hundreds of earthquakes and visible volcanic activity has significantly increased in the last seven days. An eruption followed by an explosion was heard Thursday evening as far away as Larantuka and Maumere, two cities about 50 kilometers (31 miles) to 85 kilometers (53 miles) from the volcano. The eruption was recorded at several monitoring stations on Flores island, Muhammad Wafid, chief of Indonesia's Geology Agency, said in a statement. There were two other eruptions, and smaller activity occurred during the day Friday. Smoke blew around the crater with weak to moderate pressure, and firelight was seen at the peak, indicating the glowing volcanic material was at a shallow depth. Authorities raised the eruption alert to the highest level and expanded the danger zone from 7 kilometers (4.5 miles) to 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the crater. No new evacuations were ordered.