Singapore

Singapore eyes 1.2 mn Indian tourists by Dec 31; growth to continue in 2025

In an interview with Business Standard, Markus Tan and Renjie Wong of Singapore Tourism Board discussed the surge in Indian tourists, future attractions, sustainability efforts, and travel trends

Indian community in Singapore celebrates Gukesh's historic chess victory

Newly crowned chess world champion D Gukesh was felicitated by the Indian community here on Saturday, marking his historic achievement of becoming the youngest ever to win the title in the sport's history. The 18-year-old claimed the world title by beating China's Ding Liren in Singapore on Thursday. The two faced each other in a fourteen-game classical chess match. At a reception organised by the Indian High Commission here, he was felicitated by about 150 members of the Indian disapora, led by High Commissioner Dr Shilpak Ambule. Speaking on the occasion, the envoy said, "It was a Gukesh win no matter what others say." Wishing the young champion many wins in his endeavour, Ambule said, "We are proud of Gukesh and the win." During the event, the world champion obliged all diaspora members with personal photos. We are proud of his win. It was very magical moment his calm and focussed approach won him the championship, said Shiwani Khirwal, President of BiJhar Singapore, a societ

Singapore to Kazakhstan: Top destinations Indians can explore in 2025

By 2024-end, the outbound tourism market is projected to reach $18.8 billion, with growth expected to climb to $55.4 billion by 2034

'Living my dream,' says Gukesh after becoming youngest world chess champion

President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday congratulated D Gukesh for becoming the youngest player to win the world chess championship and said he has done India immensely proud

Nations should not take advantage of fissures in Syrian society: Singapore

Singapore's foreign ministry has said international powers should not take advantage of the fissures in Syrian society to pursue their own strategic objectives. "All parties must ensure the safety and well-being of Syrian civilians who have already suffered so much," the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that Singapore is closely monitoring developments in Syria. The complex situation in Syria can only be resolved definitively through an inclusive, Syrian-led political process as affirmed in the UN Security Council Resolution 2254. Any meaningful political solution must respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Syria, it said. Since the outbreak of the civil war in 2011, more than 3,00,000 Syrians have been killed and more than 13 million have been displaced with many seeking refuge in other countries. "We hope they can return safely to their homes when peace is restored," the ministry said. Given the current volatile situation, Singaporean

Singapore Disney Cruise 2025: Bookings open, prices start at Rs 65,000

The official Disney Cruise Line website lists pricing starting at $958 (Rs 80,877) for a three-night trip for two adults

Singapore High Commissioner Wong meets Odisha CM Majhi to discuss ties

Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam is expected to visit India in January, during which he will also visit Odisha

Chess Championship: Gukesh loses to Liren in 12th game; both tied at 6 pts

Indian challenger D Gukesh lost the 12th game against defending champion Ding Liren of China to allow his opponent bounce back and level the World Chess Championship match on six points each here on Monday. The 18-year-old Gukesh was ahead by one point after he notched his second win of the match on Sunday, which came after seven consecutive draws, but Liren's win on Monday brought the things on an even keel. The two players are now tied at 6 points each with just two games left in the 14-round classical format match, still shy of 1.5 points in order to win the title. If a tied result happens after 14 rounds, there will be games under faster time control to determine the winner. The remaining two games will be played on Wednesday and Thursday, after rest day on Tuesday. The 32-year-old Liren had won the opening game before Gukesh emerged victorious in the third game. The second, and the fourth to 10th games were drawn.

Paytm's Singapore unit to sell stake in Japan's PayPay for Rs 2,364 crore

The transaction is expected to close this month subject to approvals. The sale is expected to strengthen the parent company's cash reserves

Paytm arm to sell stock acquisition rights in Japan's PayPay for Rs 2.3K cr

Fintech firm and owner of Paytm brand One97 Communications' Singapore-based arm has approved the sale of its Stock Acquisition Rights in Japan's PayPay to Softbank Vision Fund 2 for Rs 2,364 crore, the company said in a regulatory filing on Saturday. Paytm and Paytm Singapore had signed an agreement with the Japanese digital wallet firm, Softbank Corp, Softbank Group Corp and Yahoo Japan Corporation to provide technology services to PayPay. In lieu of the services, Paytm Singapore had acquired Stock Acquisition Rights, convertible into 1,59,012 shares or a 7.2 per cent stake in PayPay on a fully diluted basis. "One97 Communications Singapore Private Limited has informed the company on December 06, 2024, at 12:49 pm (IST), that its Board of Directors at its meeting held on December 06, 2024, has approved the sale of all its Stock Acquisition Rights in PayPay Corporation, Japan, to SoftBank Vision Fund 2 entity for net proceeds of JPY 41.9 billion (equivalent to Rs 2,364 crore)," the

Paytm's wholly-owned Singapore unit approves stake sale in PayPay

The value of the deal is reportedly pegged at $250 million, although the company did not voluntarily disclose the deal size on the exchanges

Singapore's Temasek establishes $7.5 billion private credit entity

Institutional global investors in recent years have been ramping up activity in the booming private credit market

MAS fines JPMorgan $1.8 mn over misconduct by relationship managers

MAS said in a statement that JPMorgan Chase did not have adequate processes and controls to ensure that relationship managers adhered to pre-agreed spreads with clients

Temasek Holdings gets CCI nod to acquire stake in foodtech firm Rebel Foods

Temasek Holdings, through its arm Jongsong Investments Pte, is acquiring a stake in Rebel Foods -- which owns Faasos, Behrouz Biryani, Oven Story and other cloud kitchens

India aiming to finalise carbon deals with Japan, Singapore, and S Korea

Talks over prospective future deals also are taking place with Germany and Sweden

United States leads global Network Readiness Index 2024; India ranks 49th

Singapore has retained the second position, while South Korea has risen to fifth, making them the only Asian countries in the top 10

Tenants in Singapore may have upper hand in 2025 as leasing market cools

After jumping nearly 60 per cent in three years, the island-wide rental index has softened by 4 per cent over the last four quarters

Thailand aims to legalise casinos next year in win for global players

The government is working to get a so-called "entertainment complex" bill, which will allow casinos to be housed within large venues

Indian tourist arrivals in Singapore in October reach one million mark

Indian visitor arrivals to Singapore surged past the one million mark in October, two months earlier than in 2023, the city-state's tourism body said on Wednesday, marking a strong recovery in its tourism sector. This milestone was achieved when Singapore Airlines flight SQ-421 from Mumbai touched down at Changi Airport on October 31, bringing Singapore's millionth Indian visitor for 2024, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said. With a 12 per cent increase in Indian visitors from January to October 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, India is Singapore's third-largest source market for tourism, it said. Commenting on this significant milestone, Regional Director of STB for India, the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa, Markus Tan, said, "Welcoming our one-millionth Indian visitor two months earlier than in 2023 demonstrates Singapore's enduring appeal as a premier short-haul destination for Indian travellers." This milestone not only reflects our strong tourism recovery but

Tatas will choose Singapore as key partner for semiconductor play: Minister

Tata Sons will choose Singapore as a "key partner" for its semiconductor plans, a senior minister from the city-state said on Friday. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran earlier in the day, Singapore's minister for home affairs and law K Shanmugam said semiconductors was a "big discussion" point during the meeting. "'If they (Tatas) want to, they can do business with anybody in the world. It's not that they need to do it in Singapore, but they will, I think, choose Singapore as a key partner, not only partner, but as a key partner," Shanmugam said. Shanmugam, along with minister for manpower and second minister for trade and industry Tan See Leng, is on a day-long visit to the financial capital. The South East Asian country is a "serious and reliable player" in the international semiconductor industry, he said, adding that the Tata Group has been present in Singapore for over five decades. Singapore or entities based in the country comman