Indonesia has launched a "Golden Visa" programme to attract foreign investors with long-term visas lasting up to ten years. Individual investors can receive a five-year visa by founding a $2.5 million firm, or a ten-year visa by investing $5 million. Additionally, they can also invest $350,000 for a five-year permit or $700,000 for a ten-year permit in government bonds, publicly traded equities, or savings. Corporate investors must contribute $25 million to obtain five-year visas for directors and commissioners or $50 million for ten-year visas. Investment restrictions are reduced if the f
According to a National Gas trial, the UK's natural gas network is ready to support hydrogen as a fuel for families and enterprises. Natural gas is currently the UK's greatest energy source, accounting for one-third of electricity generation and a significant portion of home heating. National Gas has established a "Hydrogen Focus Area" to investigate the integration of hydrogen into the UK's energy mix, which will help the country achieve its objective of reaching net zero emissions and a cleaner power grid. A prior Conservative government proposal advocated incorporating up to 20% hydr
Researchers discovered a surprising source of oxygen production 13,000 feet below the Pacific Ocean's surface. Andrew Sweetman and his colleagues discovered oxygen on the ocean floor, challenging the belief that oxygen is primarily produced by photosynthetic organisms such as plants and algae. Initially sceptical of their findings, the researchers spent ten years tuning its sensors, expecting a malfunction. However, constant oxygen readings prompted them to examine deeper. Sweetman's team, which was doing research in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone between Hawaii and Mexico, utilised optica
According to Nityanand Rai, Minister of State for Home, more than 1 crore tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir by June 2024, representing unprecedented growth in the region's tourism sector since the removal of Article 370. In 2020, J&K welcomed 34,70,834 tourists, with numbers steadily increasing to 1,13,14,884 in 2021, 1,88,64,332 in 2022, and 2,11,24,874 in 2023. Until June 2024, 1,08,41,009 tourists had visited the Union Territory. The government credits many initiatives, including the Tourism Policy 2020 and the Jammu and Kashmir Industrial Policy 2021, which designate tourism as
Thailand saw 19.6 million foreign arrivals in the first half of 2024, confirming its standing as one of the world's top tourism destinations. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) published this excellent result, reflecting the tourism sector's strong comeback following the global disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. These arrivals generated 795 billion baht (US $22.26 billion) in revenue. The influx of international visitors has been attributed to several key factors. The Thai government's proactive initiatives, such as extending visa-free stays for travellers from specific c
On Tuesday, India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the establishment of a ₹10 billion ($119 million) venture capital fund to support its space industry. This program is part of India's ambition to gain a greater share of the global space market. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government permitted 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in satellite system manufacture without previous government clearance and loosened limitations on launch vehicles. "In our ongoing efforts to expand the space economy by five times over the next decade, a venture capital f
The Biden-Harris Administration has allocated more than $4.3 billion in Climate Pollution Reduction Grants, administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to fund local climate action initiatives in 30 states, including one tribal town. This project, part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda, seeks to address the climate problem, reduce air pollution, promote environmental justice, and expedite the transition to renewable energy. The grants aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in six sectors: transportation, electric power, buildings, industry, agriculture, and wa
NASA's Curiosity rover discovered pure yellow sulphur on Mars. On May 30, while investigating Gediz Vallis, the rover discovered a rock with sulphur crystals. This is the first identification of pure sulphur on the Martian surface, as prior observations contained sulphur mixed with other components. Following this finding, the rover discovered an additional pure sulphur crystal nearby. Ashwin Vasavada, a scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said, "It shouldn't be there, so now we have to explain it," emphasising the thrill of discovering unexpected finds in planetary research.
PSG Hospital in Coimbatore has set a new record by completing 10 robotic surgeries in a single 24-hour period, making it the first Indian hospital to accomplish this feat. The surgeries, performed with the da Vinci robotic surgical equipment, included three hernia repairs, six gall bladder removals, and one minimally invasive surgery for uterine cancer. Surprisingly, all patients healed fully and were discharged within four days, demonstrating the effectiveness of this device. Dr. Bhuvaneswaran JS, Director of PSG Hospitals, lauded the outcome as the result of outstanding collaboration
Japan plans to increase jet fuel output and imports to satisfy increased flight demand during a tourism boom, according to a draft government plan released on Tuesday. This strategy solves a jet fuel constraint that is preventing commercial planes from expanding to new international routes. Tourism to Japan increased after visa-free travel resumed in late 2022, following tight COVID-19 border controls, with the yen falling to a 38-year low, adding to the country's attraction. The proposal, published by the industry and transportation ministries, calls for analysing fuel demand growth at ea