On Thursday, Singapore disclosed its initial set of initiatives designed to improve the country's equity market. The proposed measures include the implementation of tax incentives that are intended to attract additional listings and investments, thereby solidifying Singapore's status as a significant financial centre. The Equities Market Review Group, which was responsible for assessing market development strategies, has verified that these proposals have been submitted to the Finance Ministry and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the nation's central
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has formally launched the Blue Residency scheme, a long-term visa initiative designed to recognise those who have made substantial contributions to sustainability, environmental protection, and renewable energy. The statement was made at the 2025 World Government Summit, which was held in Dubai from February 11 to 13. According to Emirates News Agency (WAM), the programme aims to attract top worldwide talent in the green industry. The Blue Residency program provides a 10-year visa to prominent specialists, researchers, innovators, and investors in sustainabil
Singapore has unveiled new AI governance measures designed to improve global AI safety. Recognising AI's cross-border impact, these projects aim to improve technical testing, ensure multilingual safety, and advance AI governance. The statement was made by Josephine Teo, Minister for Digital Development and Information, during the AI Action Summit (AIAS) in Paris, France, on February 10-11. The Global AI Assurance Pilot is a testbed for developing best practices for testing Generative AI applications; the Joint Testing Report with Japan evaluates the safety of Large Language Models (LLMs) a
The UAE is speeding its transition to sustainable transport, with plans to deploy over 500 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations by the end of 2025. This extension intends to accommodate increased EV use while dramatically reducing carbon emissions. The project is consistent with the country's long-term environmental plans. Sharif Al Olama, Under-Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, stated that more than 100 EV charging stations will be installed around the UAE by 2024. The government is working with private sector companies and municip
At the AI Action Summit in Paris, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the revolutionary promise of artificial intelligence (AI) and called for global collaboration to develop ethical and legal frameworks. Addressing politicians, researchers, and industry leaders, he said AI is "writing the code for humanity in this century." He emphasised the significance of international cooperation in mitigating AI-related dangers like cybersecurity threats, deepfakes, and misinformation. "AI is advancing at an unprecedented rate and expanding worldwide. Its challenges are also universal. We need col
Thailand had an impressive start to 2025, with 3.709 million foreign tourists in January. This represents a huge 22.2% increase over the same period last year, according to the Tourism and Sports Ministry. The spike demonstrates Thailand's growing popularity as a global tourism destination. China was the biggest source country, with 662,779 visitors, followed by Malaysia (443,015) and Russia (255,920). South Korea contributed 209,065 tourists, while India had 185,809 arrivals. Other notable contributors were the United Kingdom (121,529 visits) and the United States (118,038). Tourist ar
The latest Henley Passport Index rankings confirm Singapore's status as the world's most powerful passport. Singapore citizens can now travel visa-free to 195 of 227 global destinations. This is a comeback to the top rank, confirming its supremacy in international mobility. Japan is a close second, with visa-free entry to 193 places. The country's ranking improved after China eliminated post-pandemic restrictions, allowing Japanese nationals to travel without a visa. A group of European Union nations—France, Germany, Italy, and Spain—now share third place with South Korea and Finlan
Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan has approved Therme Dubai, the world's tallest wellness resort, which will be created in collaboration with Therme Group, a global pioneer in wellness innovation. This unique idea aspires to combine leisure, healthcare, and entertainment in one cutting-edge getaway. The resort will be located in Zabeel Park, one of Dubai's most prominent green spaces, and will span 45 football fields. The park already houses the Dubai Frame, a popular tourist attraction. Therme Dubai is expected to open in 2028, cementing Dubai's position as a worldwide wellness tourism des
The UAE has announced a 'Green Intellectual Property' agenda to boost its position in sustainable innovation and attract advances in green technology. The program intends to expedite patents in environmentally friendly areas, decreasing approval time to three months rather than the normal six months to a year. The measure is designed to increase the UAE's competitiveness by attracting professionals in renewable energy and environmental technology. Abdulla bin Touq, Minister of Economy, described it as a "new milestone" in promoting sustainable innovation. To put the roadmap into action, th
Malaysia has set ambitious targets for Indian tourist arrivals in 2024, hoping to welcome 1.6 million visitors from India. This follows a good performance in 2023, when more than a million Indian tourists visited Malaysia, considerably boosting the country's tourism growth. Southern India played an important role in this success, accounting for more than half of all arrivals. Recognising this potential, Tourism Malaysia has stepped up its efforts by establishing a dedicated sales mission in major Indian cities. From February 3 to 7, the campaign will span Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Kochi, i