Moscow is intensifying efforts to position itself as a top tourism destination for visitors from the United Arab Emirates. The city has set a bold goal of attracting 50 million visitors per year by 2030, with the UAE recognised as a key market. This cooperation seeks to strengthen cultural, economic, and tourism collaborations, ultimately improving Moscow's international standing. In the first nine months of last year, more than 40,000 Emirati travellers visited Moscow. This marks a significant increase from only 5,000 visitors in 2022. The increase in numbers demonstrates the effectivenes
The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation (MHESI), through the National Innovation Agency (NIA), is expanding international opportunities for Thai startups by inviting four promising ClimateTech and GreenTech companies to attend the Web Summit Qatar 2025 in Doha. This event will provide an invaluable opportunity for these startups to present their cutting-edge environmental solutions to investors, industry experts, and global partners. The environmental technology sector is predicted to increase at a 25% annual pace over the next decade, making it an important
Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam praised A.R. Rahman, a renowned Indian singer, for supporting local artists through partnerships and performances. On social media posts, President Tharman shared images from his meeting with Rahman, who was in Singapore for the premiere of his VR film, Le Musk, at Golden Village Suntec. Rahman, 58, directed the 37-minute multi-sensory film, which incorporates VR, haptics, music, and smell. The screening will run till August 12. President Tharman praised Rahman's efforts to collaborate with local artists, including rapper-songwriter duo Lady Kash
The Philippines officially announced a visa-free entry policy for Indian nationals to boost tourism and cultural connections between the two countries. Starting June 8, 2025, Indian passport holders will be able to enter the Philippines without a visa for stays of up to 14 days. This program intends to attract more Indian tourists and follows a notable 12% rise in Indian tourist visits in 2024, with approximately 80,000 tourists to the island last year. According to the Department of Tourism, Indian tourists with valid visas or permanent residency in nations such as the United States, the
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan reaffirmed the country’s unwavering commitment to protecting the environment and promoting sustainable development on World Environment Day. In a message posted on the social media site X, Sheikh Mohamed emphasised the necessity of collaborating with the international community to advance meaningful climate actions. He emphasised the UAE's continuous efforts to create a healthier, more resilient world for future generations. This year's World Environment Day theme is "Beat Plastic Pollution," bringing urgent attention to the g
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his heartfelt congratulations to Lee Jae-myung on his election as President of the Republic of Korea. Modi underlined his desire to work closely with the next leader to strengthen the India-ROK Special Strategic Partnership. In his greeting to X, Modi said, "Congratulations to Mr Lee Jae-myung on being elected President of the Republic of Korea. I look forward to working with you to expand and strengthen the India-ROK Special Strategic Partnership." Lee Jae-myung, of South Korea's centre-left Democratic Party, officially assumed office following a c
India has won the presidency of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS) for the 2025-2028 term, receiving 87 votes against Austria's 54 during the Extraordinary General Assembly Meeting in Brussels. This win marks the first time in the IIAS's 100-year existence that the President was elected via ballot. The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions stated that this is the first time India has been granted this historic mandate. Since 1998, the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances has represented India at IIAS. The IIAS is a federa
Indian passports are scheduled to undergo a significant transformation in 2025, with technical advancements and user-friendly features that promise to modernise travel for millions of Indians, particularly the over 3.5 million expats living in the UAE. The new e-passports will include RFID chips that store fingerprints, facial data, and digital signatures. These chips comply with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards and promise to speed up border control while increasing security. Applicants in the UAE will automatically get e-passports for new or renewed documents. The r
In a historic move, global IT titans have joined together to establish Stargate UAE, an advanced AI supercluster in Abu Dhabi. The effort, backed by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, brings together industry titans G42, OpenAI, Oracle, NVIDIA, SoftBank Group, and Cisco. The collaboration intends to build next-generation AI infrastructure at the newly established 5-gigawatt UAE-US AI Campus, demonstrating a worldwide commitment to AI advancement. Several dignitaries attended the launch event, including H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and H.H. Shei
Thailand has launched a new digital tourism campaign, "Tiew Tua Thai Suk Kan Yai Wai Jai Grab" ("Explore Thailand, Enjoy More, Trust Grab"), in collaboration with Grab. This plan intends to increase domestic and international tourism by encompassing 55 provinces across the country. The campaign leverages Grab's digital ecosystem, which encompasses ride-hailing, meal delivery, and personalised travel experiences, making travel more convenient and seamless. The promotion incentivises visits to both major sites and undiscovered treasures by offering discounts through promo codes such as "AMAZ