On February 18, Singapore's Minister for Development, Desmond Lee, officially opened the Gemilang Kampong Gelam Festival and Ramadan Bazaar. The occasion demonstrates the government's dedication to both tourism and cultural preservation. The government has taken steps to aid these efforts, such as creating an inter-agency task force and a limited liability business with a guarantee. These actions are intended to preserve Kampong Gelam's cultural heritage while increasing its economy. Kampong Gelam is one of Singapore's oldest districts and has a rich cultural past. It continues to be a
Asia's FinTech business is expanding at an unprecedented rate, with total transaction volumes expected to reach $18.9 trillion by the end of 2025. According to UnaFinancial's most recent data, there has been a 12.6% increase year-on-year, strengthening Asia's supremacy in the global FinTech market. In 2024, the region had FinTech transactions of $16.8 trillion, up $2.1 trillion from the previous year. Asia accounted for 48.2% of the worldwide FinTech sector, worth $34.8 trillion. Digital payments and transfers continued to drive the expansion, accounting for $834 billion of total growth. D
Thailand's tourism potential is being actively promoted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) at the South Asia Travel and Tourism Exchange (SATTE) 2025. The Yashobhoomi-India International Convention and Expo Centre will host the event from February 19–21. It is an important opportunity for Thailand to interact with Indian tourists. TAT celebrates its 16th year of involvement, taking advantage of the chance to highlight Thailand's diverse travel options and rich cultural legacy. Over 35,000 people are anticipated to attend SATTE 2025, India's largest travel and tourism show, includ
On Friday, leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jordan, and Egypt will gather in Saudi Arabia for a pivotal meeting. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will greet the leaders in Riyadh for what has been called "an informal brotherly meeting," according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The meeting is a continuation of a long-standing custom of frequent informal talks between these countries. According to officials, the gathering will offer a chance to discuss regional cooperation and developments. The agenda for the next Arab summit will be a major point of discussion. Egypt re
Thai visitors no longer need a visa to enter Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. Up to December 31st, the Indian government has instituted a 30-day visa-free entry policy. To balance the growing number of Indian tourists visiting Thailand, this effort seeks to draw in more Thai tourists. The Indian embassy in Thailand affirmed on February 7 that Thai visitors are not required to pay a visa fee to enter India. Single or multiple entry and a maximum stay of 30 days are permitted with the e-tourist visa. The application must be filled out beforehand via the official web
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched a new smartphone application, 'RBI Data,which aims to provide easy access to vital financial and economic information. With this software, users may effortlessly access over 11,000 different data series about India's economy. The program seeks to make it easier to retrieve financial information by reducing the need to recall multiple economic indicators. According to RBI, the app will provide financial and economic data in a user-friendly and visually appealing style. The software offers graphical representations and charts of time-series data,
The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and the United Arab Emirates celebrated its third anniversary on February 18, 2025. On February 18, 2022, India's Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, inked this historic trade agreement during a virtual summit. It becomes formally operative on May 1, 2022. Bilateral trade between the two countries has experienced an unprecedented increase since the agreement's adoption. Between FY 2020–21 and FY 2023–24, the total trade valu
India plans to attain a staggering 500 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity by 2030, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared during his virtual presentation at Indian Energy Week 2025. He emphasised that the next two decades will be critical to developing India into a 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India). "Our targets may seem ambitious, but the past decade's progress gives us confidence that we can achieve them," PM Modi said. He also emphasised India's commitment to sustainability, noting Indian Railways' goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. He says India's rapid eco
France and the UAE intend to invest between €30 billion and €50 billion to build a 1GW AI data centre and fund other AI-related projects. The declaration was made on Thursday, following a high-profile meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The AI campus will be located in France, while the particular location has yet to be chosen. The project will prioritise semiconductor development, AI talent cultivation, and virtual data embassies, which will contribute to the establishment of sovereign AI and cloud infrastructures in both
The UK government has pledged to create new nuclear energy project sites in England and Wales to accelerate the deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and attract private investment. This initiative is part of PM Keir Starmer's larger plan to decarbonise Britain's electricity sector while maintaining energy security. Starmer's office announced the increase of the list of potential nuclear development locations, as well as measures to streamline planning procedures. "For decades, this country has failed to build new nuclear power plants." "We've been let down and left behind," Starmer