India has emerged as Asia-Pacific's strongest office real estate market, owing to a dramatic increase in lease sentiment across all categories. According to CBRE's most recent Asia-Pacific Market Sentiment Survey, India is one of the few APAC countries with sentiment indexes for office, retail, and industrial & logistics all crossing neutral 50%, showing broad-based market strength. The office sector has demonstrated extraordinary growth. Between September 2024 and June 2025, sentiment in India rose beyond 70%, indicating increased confidence in leasing activities. The country has now
Sania Mirza, a former Indian tennis star, joined thousands of participants in Abu Dhabi as the United Arab Emirates celebrated International Yoga Day with large-scale events throughout the country. The primary event in the capital was hosted at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), which was organised by the Indian Embassy in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council. Beginning at 10 a.m., the session drew yoga practitioners of different ages, backgrounds, and levels of expertise. Sania Mirza's presence fuelled the enthusiasm, emphasising the day's message of wellness and c
Singapore has officially launched its first seagrass restoration project, aiming to conserve coastal habitats and enhance marine biodiversity. On May 29, a team of researchers began transplanting seagrass at East Coast Park, and the plants were later moved to Sisters' Islands. This marks the start of a national effort to better understand seagrass reproduction and develop sustainable restoration strategies. The project, which began in September 2024, is funded by OCBC Bank and co-led by Dr Samantha Lai of the National Parks Board and Dr Ow Yan Xiang of the National University of Singapore.
Gulf News has launched a statewide Summer Road Safety Campaign in response to the UAE's current high temperatures. While the astronomical start of summer is still a few days away, temperatures have already risen to the mid-40s Celsius, posing new issues for motorists. This promotion will run until the end of July in collaboration with Yango, SHIFT Car Rental, and Autotrust. The project aims to educate the public about the vital safety precautions that must be taken during the peak summer months. It provides instructive articles and videos about vehicle maintenance, driver fatigue, and traf
Blaise Metreweli has been named as the new chief of the UK's Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, making her the first woman to lead the organisation in its 116-year history. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the action, describing it as historic and significant. Metreweli, 47, has been with MI6 since 1999 and was most recently Director General for Technology and Innovation, a position known internally as 'Q'. She formerly served as a director at MI5, the UK's domestic security organisation. She will officially succeed Sir Richard Moore in the autumn. The MI6 leader, also known as 'C',
India seeks to strengthen defence ties with Japan by transferring superior technology in fighter jets, submarines, and radar systems. The recent meeting between Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani in New Delhi was a significant step forward in bilateral military cooperation. Both sides emphasised maintaining sea lines of communication, citing regional security concerns, particularly China's expanding military posture. A proposed framework called "Japan-India Defence Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region" (JIDIP) seeks to improve strategic colla
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