Category: Life & Style

Indonesia has signed a substantial agreement with Qatar to build one million affordable homes, a huge step forward in President Prabowo Subianto’s ambitious three-million-housing program. Housing Minister Maruarar Sirait and Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, head of Qilaa International Group, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the presidential palace on Wednesday, with President Prabowo present.

Housing Minister Sirait noted that the project focuses on lower-middle-class individuals in metropolitan areas, meeting the growing demand for affordable housing in cities. The Indonesian government would supply land for the project, with Qatari investors financing and building the dwellings. Fahri Hamzah, Deputy Minister of Housing, confirmed the Qatari investment funded by the royal family but did not specify the amount of funding.

Hamzah stated that subsequent conversations would centre on land distribution, permissions, and technical issues. The scheme will include state-owned firms and private sector partners, with housing locations based on locally approved property.

Sirait indicated that overseas investors are becoming more interested in the scheme, with intentions to use confiscated assets from corruption trials for housing developments. To encourage growth, these assets will be legalized as state property.

The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced that the Sheikh Zayed Air Navigation Centre surpassed one million air traffic movements in 2024, reinforcing the country’s status as a global aviation leader. This milestone was reached on December 22 with the arrival of Emirates Flight 305 from Shanghai, signalling a historic event in the country’s aviation industry.

The GCAA believes that this success represents the UAE’s strategic location, cutting-edge infrastructure, and commitment to innovation.

Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and also the chairman of the GCAA, noted that it represented evidence of the UAE’s national initiatives to enhance the competitiveness of civil aviation. He stated that the sector had proved a significant foundation of the national economy, complemented by innovative technologies and the existence of a skilled workforce.

Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of GCAA, lauded the Centre’s efforts, citing a 10.3% increase in 2024 air traffic over 2023. Innovations in airspace management and efficiency have enabled the UAE to handle higher volumes while maintaining high safety and sustainability requirements and eliminating delays.

Thailand has launched the “Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism & Sports Year 2025” campaign, led by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Tourism Authority of Thailand. The campaign’s ambitious goal is to attract 40 million foreign visitors and generate 2.8 trillion baht in tourism earnings this year.

Thailand’s tourism revenue in 2024 was 2.6 trillion baht, somewhat less than its objective of 3 trillion baht. Despite this, the country continues to rank in the top 14 worldwide tourism markets in terms of foreign visitor income, demonstrating its status as a top destination.

Global economic uncertainty, a stronger baht, and competition from nations with favourable visa regulations, such as Japan and China, complicate Thailand’s growth goals.

“The 2025 target of 40 million visitors is a bold step forward,” stated Sarawong Thianthong, Minister of Tourism and Sports. “We are determined to propel the sector to new heights.”

To accomplish this, TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool outlined important initiatives, such as focusing on high-value tourism to attract luxury passengers, expanding markets by targeting Europe and the Americas, and improving the travel experience with easy payment methods and special offers.

Dubai has secured the eighth spot globally and the top position in the Middle East in the 2024 Global Power City Index (GPCI). This marks the second consecutive year Dubai has maintained this ranking.

Released annually by Japan’s Mori Memorial Foundation, the GPCI highlights Dubai’s leadership in innovation, economic growth, and global connectivity. It is the only city in the Middle East in the top 10, reinforcing its status as a global hub for business, talent, and investment.

Sheikh Hamdan, Crown Prince of Dubai, attributed this success to the city’s modern infrastructure, progressive laws that encourage innovation, and strong public-private partnerships. He emphasized, “Dubai is not just keeping pace with global trends but setting new standards for excellence.”

The GPCI assesses cities based on their ability to attract people, investments, and businesses. It evaluates six key areas: Economy, Research and Development, Cultural Interaction, Livability, Environment, and Accessibility. This ranking reflects Dubai’s growing global influence and appeal, solidifying its position on the world stage.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a 13-km section of the Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor on Sunday morning. This section, stretching from Sahibabad in Uttar Pradesh to New Ashok Nagar in east Delhi, marks the first entry of Namo Bharat trains into the capital. It connects Delhi to Meerut via high-speed trains.

Modi also took a ride on a Namo Bharat train from Sahibabad to New Ashok Nagar. The journey lasted less than 10 minutes. The section, built at a cost of ₹4,600 crore, opened to the public at 5 pm with trains running every 15 minutes.

HT traveled on the train from New Ashok Nagar to Anand Vihar, reaching a top speed of 118 km/h. Passengers can now travel from New Ashok Nagar to Meerut South in just 40 minutes. The Sahibabad to Meerut South route has been operational since last year. Officials confirmed that Namo Bharat trains can reach a top speed of 160 km/h on this route.

“Delhi-NCR has received a significant gift from the Indian government,” Modi said. He added that once complete, the Namo Bharat project will positively impact road traffic on the Delhi-Meerut route.

Dubai’s Tourism Sector 2024 Performance Report, covering January to November, highlights the emirate’s impressive tourist numbers. In November, Dubai welcomed 1.83 million international tourists, following 1.77 million in January, 1.9 million in February, 1.51 million in March, 1.5 million in April, 1.44 million in May, 1.19 million in June, 1.31 million in both July and August, 1.36 million in September, and 1.67 million in October.

Western Europe emerged as the top source of tourists, contributing 20% of the total with 3.298 million visitors. South Asia followed with 2.858 million tourists, making up 17% of the total. The GCC countries ranked third, with over 2.5 million visitors, accounting for 15%.

CIS and Eastern Europe provided 2.353 million tourists, representing 14% of the total. The Middle East and North Africa sent 1.933 million visitors, contributing 12%, while North East and South East Asia accounted for 10%, with 1.622 million tourists.

These numbers reflect Dubai’s strong global appeal, showcasing its diverse tourist base across various regions.

Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister, MK Stalin, has offered a $1 million prize for deciphering the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) script. Despite 100 years of effort, the ancient script remains a mystery. “We still can’t fully understand the writing of this once-flourishing civilisation,” Stalin said at a conference in Chennai marking the IVC’s centenary.

Sir John Marshall, an English archaeologist, announced the IVC’s discovery on September 20, 1924. Stalin acknowledged the ongoing challenge. “For a century, experts have tried to solve this riddle. I’m offering $1 million to anyone who can successfully decode the script to the satisfaction of archaeological experts,” he said.

Stalin emphasized Tamil Nadu’s significance in Indian history. “The history of the subcontinent can’t be written without Tamil Nadu or the Tamil language,” he reiterated, echoing statements made when the DMK took office in 2021. The state’s archaeological efforts aim to secure Tamil Nadu’s rightful place in history.

He also linked the IVC to Tamil culture. “Bulls, a Dravidian symbol, appear in the Indus Valley and Tamil literature. One IVC seal even shows a man taming a bull, reflecting our ancient bull-taming traditions,” Stalin noted.

The Defence Ministry has declared 2025 as the “Year of Reforms” to modernize India’s armed forces.

This initiative aims to establish integrated theatre commands, enhancing joint operations among the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

The reforms will focus on adopting advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, hypersonics, and robotics.

Emphasis will also be placed on cyber and space domains to prepare for multi-domain operations.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that these reforms will strengthen India’s defense capabilities, ensuring national security in the 21st century.

The decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by Singh.

The Defence Ministry will implement these measures throughout 2025 to transform the armed forces into a technologically advanced, combat-ready force.

This initiative reflects India’s commitment to enhancing its military capabilities amid evolving global security challenges.

The Ministry pledged to prioritize veterans’ welfare by optimizing welfare measures and leveraging their expertise effectively.

It also emphasized promoting pride in Indian culture, fostering confidence in achieving global standards with Indigenous capabilities and adopting suitable best practices from modern militaries.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced a major update for UPI transactions. It now allows interoperability of prepaid payment instruments (PPIs) through third-party application providers (TPAPs).

Previously, UPI payments were interoperable only through TPAPs for fund transfers. However, PPI-based transactions, like those involving digital wallets, worked only within the issuer’s system.

In a statement, the RBI said, “UPI payments from/to full-KYC PPIs will now be enabled through third-party UPI applications.” This means PPI holders can send or receive UPI payments using apps that didn’t issue their wallets.

Earlier, transactions between two wallets required both parties to use the same TPAP. With this change, users can transfer or receive funds across wallets, enhancing flexibility.

The RBI’s revised guidelines mandate PPI issuers to link full-KYC wallets with UPI handles for seamless payments. However, PPI issuers acting as payment service providers (PSPs) cannot onboard customers of other banks or PPI issuers.

This move aims to make digital payments more accessible and interoperable, benefiting users and promoting smoother transactions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the crucial role of youth in driving the nation’s progress on Thursday. Speaking at a Veer Bal Diwas event, he called for a futuristic approach to equip young people with skills in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).

“This era has advanced from machines to machine learning,” Modi stated. He highlighted AI’s growing dominance, replacing conventional software, and stressed the importance of preparing youth to tackle these challenges. The government, he added, is committed to nurturing young talent and boosting their self-confidence through youth-centric policies.

On the occasion, Modi honored the extraordinary sacrifice of Guru Gobind Singh’s sons, the Sahibzadas. “Over 300 years ago, on December 26, the Sahibzadas, despite their tender age, displayed unmatched bravery. They endured unimaginable torture and rejected every temptation, prioritizing the nation’s cause over submission to Mughal oppression,” he said.

He urged young people to draw inspiration from their legacy, noting that Veer Bal Diwas offers an enduring lesson: “No matter how adverse the circumstances, nothing surpasses the nation’s cause.” Modi reaffirmed the need for youth to embrace courage and innovation while contributing to India’s journey toward a brighter future.