The Indian PM is likely to visit Jordan, Ethiopia and Oman on December 15-18 India and Oman hope to finalise the long-negotiated bilateral free trade agreement later this month during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit on December 17-18, sources said.....

Closed-ended fund offers Russian investors direct exposure to Nifty50 as rupee balances surge In a move that could reshape how sanction-hit Russia deploys billions of stranded Indian rupees, state-owned Sberbank is launching a closed-ended mutual fund linked to the Nifty50, effectively opening a direct route for Russian investors to put their rupee surpluses into Indian equities....

·       Sberbank’s India fund creates rupee-to-Nifty corridor for Russian investors https://bit.ly/4oFJeEI ·       IDBI Bank stake sale expected to bridge part of tax shortfall https://bit.ly/4q09o6j ·       Kaynes Tech denies accounting inconsistencies; says only a single disclosure error was corrected https://bit.ly/48ISBh0 ·       India, Oman hope to finalise long-negotiated FTA during Modi’s visit https://bit.ly/3XE0IGB ·       Tata Advanced Systems tie…

While there are positives working in its favour, premium valuation is hard to justify Nine-year-old direct-to-consumer mattress and furnishings company Wakefit Innovations is hitting the IPO market with a ₹1,289-crore issue. The company will raise about ₹377 crore via a fresh issue, while promoters and a few early investors will realise about ₹912 crore via OFS at the upper end of the ₹185 to 195 price band. Post IPO, promoter holding will fall to about 37 per cent from 43 per cent.....

·       Wakefit Innovations IPO: High-growth Sheela Foam rival, should you subscribe? https://bit.ly/4iJ3MKZ ·       No one will go scot free in IndiGo crisis, says civil aviation minister https://bit.ly/4oDD2gg ·       IndiGo board sets up crisis management group, airlines eyes full restoration by December 10 https://bit.ly/3Kufvkb ·       No big-bang divestment: Govt strategy is to do dribs and drabs of ‘minority stake sales’ in CPSEs https://bit.ly/44zZfoH ·�…

Biocon Limited (which holds around 78 per cent) will acquire the remaining stake in Biocon Biologics through a share swap of 70.28 Biocon shares for every 100 Biocon Biologics shares, at a share price of INR 405.78 per Biocon share; valuing Biocon Biologics Limited at USD 5.5 billion. Bengaluru-headquartered biopharmaceutical major Biocon has announced that it is to fully integrate Biocon Biologics Limited (BBL) as a wholly owned subsidiary into Biocon Limited.....

The RPG Group firm garners around 20 per cent of its revenues from exports and expects the contribution to grow over the next few years Tyre maker Ceat is developing tyres for various global markets as it aims to expand its exports to regions like Europe and US with plans to establish itself as a global brand, according to RPG Group Vice Chairman Anant Goenka.... More https://bit.ly/3KMCsz0 Via business-standard.com

US has to respond to some tentative offers made by India in the meeting in Washington in October, say sources US trade negotiating team led by Deputy US Trade Representative Rick Switzer is scheduled to be in India next week for a three-day discussion with Indian counterparts on the first phase of the bilateral trade deal which hasn’t progressed substantially since pre-Diwali talks in Washington DC, sources said....

Agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a discussion with Oxana Lut, agriculture minister of Russian Federation on Thursday to increase trade in agricultural commodities between both the countries. To ensure long term supply of fertilizers and curb volatility in prices, India and Russian companies on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for forming a joint venture for building a large urea manufacturing facility in Russia.....

By contrast, oil cargoes arriving in India from Russia next month could fall as far as 600,000 barrels a day, the weakest level since early 2022 India’s imports of Russian crude are expected to plunge to a near four-year low early next year, after months of US pressure. As workarounds emerge and the Kremlin cranks up its own charm offensive, however, the question is how long that drop will last... More https://bit.ly/48VytJC Via business-standard.com

Reaffirming its leadership in asset management and investment banking in the region, Kuwait Financial Centre “Markaz” held its annual seminar titled “Markaz 2026 Outlook: Navigating Trends and Investment Opportunities.” The event took place on December 8, at the St. Regis Hotel Kuwait, bringing together Markaz experts alongside distinguished international speakers from the financial sector to examine global and regional market developments and the forces shaping investment opportunitie…

Diriyah Company has today announced that Apple has executed a lease to open an iconic flagship store in the heart of Diriyah Square, marking a major milestone in the development of the premier retail district. The announcement follows Apple’s recent confirmation that it will introduce the first of several flagship Apple Store locations across Saudi Arabia starting in 2026, including the iconic store at the stunning site of Diriyah, home to the UNESCO World Heritage site At-Turaif, coming late…

ExxonMobil, Aramco and Samref have signed a Venture Framework Agreement (VFA) to evaluate a significant upgrade of the Samref refinery, in Yanbu, and an expansion of the facility into an integrated petrochemical complex.  The companies will explore capital investments to upgrade and diversify production, including high-quality distillates that result in lower emissions and high-performance chemicals, as well as opportunities to improve the refinery’s  and reduce emissions from operations th…

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is set to expand the scope of the taxi ride-sharing service for a six-month trial period, with the pilot scheduled to begin during the coming period. The decision follows the strong success the initiative has achieved since its launch last year, providing shared taxi trips from Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai to Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi. The service has witnessed significant uptake from diverse segments of the community, who regard it as a convenient, fa…

Unifeeder, P&O Maritime Logistics, and P&O Ferrymasters to operate as Shipping Solutions, Multimodal Solutions and Maritime Solutions DP World today announced the unification of its Marine Services brands, Unifeeder, P&O Ferrymasters and P&O Maritime Logistics, under a single DP World brand, strengthening its position as a fully integrated global logistics provider.  The businesses will now operate as: Shipping Solutions (formerly Unifeeder) Multimodal Solutions (formerly P&O Ferrymasters)   M…

The Indian PM is likely to visit Jordan, Ethiopia and Oman on December 15-18 India and Oman hope to finalise the long-negotiated bilateral free trade agreement later this month during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit on December 17-18, sources said.....

UAE ·        UAE businesses show strongest global confidence now despite trade, tariff uncertainty https://bit.ly/48H3gZE ·        UAE NRIs may soon find it easier to carry gold home as India plans customs overhaul https://bit.ly/48tmDXf ·        Sharjah Airport adds Caspian Airlines, opening routes to five Iranian cities https://bit.ly/48Mi8WE ·        UAE tax alert: Businesses face fines up to Dh5,000 for failing to comply with e-invoicing rules https://bit.ly/4…

The Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha’at) organized a visit to Google in Silicon Valley, California, as part of a tour for six rapidly growing Saudi companies aiming to stimulate potential billion-dollar companies and enable their international expansion. The tour included various visits, panel discussions, and workshops covering key topics such as scaling products, Google’s innovation culture, user experience, and e-commerce infrastructure. Experts from Google DeepMind …

Hydroponics is gaining importance in the Kingdom as a sustainable solution to boost crop productivity in small areas while reducing water consumption by up to 90% compared to traditional agriculture. This modern method addresses critical challenges such as food security, water scarcity, and soil degradation, supporting development and ensuring food self-sufficiency. Farmers in Qassim Region are using advanced hydroponic systems to grow crops in nutrient-rich water solutions, enabling precise con…

The Research and Development (R&D) Centre of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) received a high-level German delegation headed by Marco Loritz, First Secretary for Economy and Culture at the German Consulate in Dubai. The visiting delegation included Karin Zangerl, Director of the Abu Dhabi Office of the German Emirati Joint Council for Industry & Commerce, along with representatives of a number of leading German companies specialising in hydrogen and renewable energy. DEWA officials b…

Singapore ·       Singapore Prestige Brand Award crowns 20 local brands https://bit.ly/3XH2pD9 ·       It’s staggering how Singapore is always thinking ahead: JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon https://bit.ly/3KBvn4o ·       JTC’s next-gen estate signals Singapore’s push to lead in advanced manufacturing https://bit.ly/48qF3I4 ·       Private credit, core-plus infrastructure could offer ‘good risk-reward’ in 2026: Temasek CEO https://bit.ly/3KMALSh ·       Safr…

Singapore ·       The Clementi Mall sale: Property firm Elegant Group and the family behind it https://bit.ly/4a47mNQ ·       China’s ChemLex unveils in Singapore an AI-powered drug discovery lab run by robots https://bit.ly/4oIJPFQ ·       Sembcorp in talks to buy Australia’s Alinta Energy from HK billionaire Henry Cheng’s Chow Tai Fook https://bit.ly/44WNlFh ·       GIC, Brookfield agree to $3.4 billion purchase of Australia’s National Storage https://bit.ly…

  Singapore ·       Singapore retail sales rose 4.5% in October https://bit.ly/48zHJlu ·       Singapore’s 55 billionaires in 2025 have combined net worth of $335 billion: UBS https://bit.ly/4pM3kOo ·       Manulife Singapore launches AI hub to groom talent https://bit.ly/4rIVvuE ·       Temasek-backed Fullerton pares China hedge fund operations, workforce: Source https://bit.ly/4oFtSA6 ·       Singapore Paincare privatisation bid fails as offeror fails to m…

THE PHILIPPINES has sharply lowered its export targets for this year until 2028 amid geopolitical tensions, renewed trade barriers, and persistent disruptions in major shipping routes that continue to squeeze global supply chains and dampen demand. Under the revised Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP), exports are now expected to reach $110.8 billion to $113.4 billion this year, $116.1 billion to $120.2 billion in 2026, $123.3 billion to $127.4 billion in 2027, and $132.8 billion to $135.1…

The innovative packaging from Vietnam is made from cellulose extracted from orange peels, offering a green, safe, and sustainable alternative to traditional plastics while promoting a circular economy and reducing pollution. BioWraps, a Vietnamese eco-friendly bio-packaging solution, was named one of the Top 10 winners of the Start-up Express International 2025, organised by the Hong Kong (China) Trade Development Council (HKTDC)..... More https://bit.ly/4iHsFGU Via vietnamplus.vn

By adding rewards for logical reasoning steps, a new training framework aims to make large language models more robust and reliable. When asked to solve a tricky problem, some large language models (LLMs) today offer step-by-step explanations of their reasoning. However, these ‘thought processes’ can often be riddled with errors or pure fabrications. Cleaning up this messy logic usually calls for human help or the model itself to review each step, which can take more time and resources. S…

Singapore ·       Johor’s Ibrahim Technopolis shifts into high gear to tap Singapore’s data centre rush https://bit.ly/4pTCwvX ·       Exxon to permanently shut one steam cracker in Singapore from March: sources https://bit.ly/3XzQzup ·       Almost one-third of firms on regional list of top employers have Singapore presence https://bit.ly/4487zf2 ·       SingLand moves forward with plan to add condo tower, public park in Marina Square rejuvenation https://bit.ly/…

Singapore ·       Digital bank GXS cuts 82 jobs across the group, about 10% of its workforce https://bit.ly/4ostaWV ·       Budget 2026: SMEs need help with costs and competitiveness as outlook weakens, says SCCCI https://bit.ly/3XwQ700 ·       New programme arms SMEs with M&A and joint venture tools to help plug knowledge gaps https://bit.ly/3Xxer1L ·       UltraGreen.ai shares jump as much as 11.7% over IPO price in SGX trading debut https://bit.ly/44yCNMs ·   �…

Emirates has unveiled an exciting new way for travellers to explore Southeast Asia with the launch of the Emirates Asia Pass. Designed for travellers seeking cultural discovery and flexible itineraries, the pass simplifies multi-city travel across the region, offering convenience, value, and flexibility on one single booking. With the Emirates Asia Pass, customers can book and customise itineraries across Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore and Laos, all under one ticket…

Singapore ·       Nearly 3 in 5 employers plan to freeze headcount in 2026: SNEF survey https://bit.ly/48sTpXf ·       Singapore factory activity rises in November as demand for AI chips and servers picks up https://bit.ly/441D9ei ·       More global brands are betting on Singapore as a gateway to high-growth Asian markets https://bit.ly/48Md19W ·       Samsung debuts its first multi-folding phone; Galaxy Z TriFold will be available in Singapore from Dec 19 https://bi…