Asian Lite News Archive

Category: News

  • Al-Ahsa festival expects 1.4m visitors

    —

    in , ,

    The third Al-Ahsa shopping and entertainment festival opened with organizers estimating that it would attract 1.4 million visitors. Al-Ahsa Gov. Prince Badr bin Muhammad Al-Jalawi, chairman of the region’s Tourism Development Council, opened the event. The organizing committee has estimated that the event would make SR480 million. The festival will take place over 22 days…

  • 10 yr Indian graduates US High School

    —

    in , ,

    A home-schooled 10-year-old Indian-origin genius has surprised one and all by becoming one of the youngest ever in the US to graduate high school. Tanishq Abraham, a native of Sacramento, California, received his high school diploma at a private ceremony at California Auto Museum , reports PTI. Home-schooled since the age of 7, Abraham passed…

  • India’s apparel exports rise

    —

    in , ,

    Apparel exports from India jumped by 24.96 percent to $1.49 billion in May, helped by strong demands in non-traditional markets like Latin America, West Asia, Southern Africa and East Asia, even though shipments to the US and Europe remained sluggish. Labour and regulatory problems in major competitors Bangladesh, China and Myanmar also helped Indian exports,…

  • Save the Children unveils Rs.50 cr plan

    —

    in , ,

    International NGO Save the Children  announced a Rs.50 crore plan to protect nearly 790,000 children living in communities in the cotton growing belt of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. “The long-term project will target children, who are engaged in cotton plucking, to keep them out of cotton fields and take them to classrooms where they can…

  • Toyota recalls 650,000 vehicles

    —

    in , ,

    Toyota Motor Corp has announced a recall for around 650,000 vehicles in Japan because of potentially defective airbags, expanding a costly recall it announced in 2013 because the supplier, Takata Corp, had not fully identified the problematic parts, Reuters has reported. Toyota vehicles covered by the recall include the Corolla and Camry sedans, and Tundra…

  • Oman to build 5 hospitals

    —

    in , ,

    Oman’s health ministry has signed agreements with a consultancy firm for designing and construction of five new hospitals across the sultanate, Muscat Daily has reported. The planned hospitals will be built in the wilayat of Suwaiq in North Batinah, Khasab in Musandam, Al Najat in North Batinah, Samail in Dakhliyah and Al Falah in the…

  • Google buys Skybox

    —

    in ,

    Google Inc. has announced its acquisition of satellite company, Skybox Imaging Inc. for $500m, as it works to bolster its mapping services, Bloomberg has reported. Skybox has designed satellites to capture images and deliver them to customers with details down to less than a metre. The all-cash deal is subject to adjustments, Google said. “Skybox’s…

  • Etihad may invest EUR1.25bn in Alitalia

    —

    in , , , ,

    Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is prepared to invest up to 1.25 billion euros ($1.7 billion) in Alitalia over the next four years under a possible tie-up between the two carriers, says Italian Transport Minister Maurizio Lupi  , according to a Reuters report. Of that, 560 million euros would be used to buy new shares in…

  • Singapore hotel group to enter Gulf

    —

    in , ,

    Singapore-based Banyan Tree Group, which operates luxury hotels and resorts in Southeast Asia, the Seychelles and Maldives, has plans to enter the GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) market with its recently revealed special serviced apartment brand Cassia. Cassia lies in a niche sector between hotels and serviced apartments, Ho Kwon Ping, executive chairman of Banyan Tree…

  • Emirates introduces world’s first ”Pele-ane”

    —

    in , , , ,

    Emirates, an Official FIFA Worldwide Partner, has unveiled the first Boeing 777-300ER to feature the distinguishable signature of Emirates Global Ambassador and three times World Cup winner, Pele, just hours before the first World Cup match kicks off in Brazil. The first Emirates ”Pele-ane” will be connecting football fans with the action this summer on…

  • Dubai Airports reduces screening time

    —

    in , ,

    Dubai Airports has launched new measures to cut security screening time, while urging passengers to save time by packing smartly, as its terminals brace for the summer rush. Lorne Riley, head of corporate communications, Dubai Airports, told XPRESS that over 100 automatic tray return machines have been installed at security check-in areas to cut transaction…

  • Recession leads to ‘suicides’

    —

    in ,

    The economic crisis in Europe and North America led to more than 10,000 extra suicides, according to figures from UK researchers. A study, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, showed “suicides have risen markedly,” points out a BBC report. Campaign groups said the findings showed how important good mental health services were. The study…

  • China set to boost growth

    —

    in , , ,

    China has announced new measures aimed at bolstering its economic growth. These include plans to build railways, roads and airports along the Yangtze River – which connects China’s less developed inland provinces to Shanghai.China says development of a multi-tier transport system along Yangtze river will help integrate lesser developed region with developed ones, says a…

  • UK unemployment falls to 2.16m

    —

    in ,

    The Office of National Statistics revealed that the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance now stands at 1.1 million. The UK jobs market continued to improve in the three months to April, although the rate of wage increases slowed sharply, official figures show. The number of people out of work fell by 161,000 to 2.16…

  • Rowling’s £1m for pro-UK

    —

    in , ,

    Author JK Rowling has made a £1m donation to help fund the campaign against Scottish independence, reports BBC news. The writer of the Harry Potter books, who lives in Edinburgh, has publicly backed the Better Together campaign. Explaining her decision on her website, Ms Rowling said there was a “denial of risks” within the “Yes”…

  • China to scrap 6 mn vehicles

    —

    in , , ,

    China plans to take six million high-emission vehicles off the road this year to reduce pollution, say media reports. More than 2.4 million vehicles will be taken off roads in the municipalities of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province, along with another four municipalities and provinces along the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta, China…

  • Indian-origin woman wins service award

    —

    in , , , , , ,

    An Indian-origin woman in the US has been conferred an Indian diaspora organisation’s 2014 Service Award. Meena Kumari, associate professor of anatomy and physiology at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, has received the 2014 Service Award of the Association of Scientists of Indian Origin in America, a university statement said. “It is very…

  • Dubai house prices to spike

    —

    in , , , ,

    However, the 18 per cent surge in rents on two-bedroom apartments in the first quarter reported by Asteco on the back of lower than expected new property completions is a reason to think again. Asteco said that 14,000 new units were delivered compared with a forecast 40,000, and thought the situation might improve later in…

  • Al Ansari, Videocon sign pact

    —

    in , ,

    Al Ansari Exchange, the UAE-based foreign exchange and worldwide money transfer company, has entered into a strategic alliance with Videocon, India’s leading brand in consumer electronics, home appliances, mobiles and tablets. Under the terms of the agreement, Indian expatriates can buy a Videocon product in the UAE at prices upto 30% lower than India and…

  • Egyptian billionaire sets up firm

    —

    in , ,

    Egyptian billionaire Nassef Sawiris, whose family owns the Orascom group of companies spanning construction to telecoms, has set up an investment firm to tap into Egypt’s growth opportunities. Sawiris’s investment firm, Nile Holding Investments, has investors from the Arab Gulf, Europe and the United States. Egypt’s economy has stagnated since tourists and investors fled the…

  • Saudi to build largest desalination plant

    —

    in ,

    Saudi Arabia’s Saline Water Conversion Corporation announced plans for what would be the world’s largest desalination plant using a technique called reverse osmosis, in Rabigh on the country’s west coast.The plant would be able to produce up to 600,000 meters cubed of desalinated water per day. An international water summit closed in Singapore with agreements…

  • Abu Dhabi Science Centre in 2016

    —

    in , ,

    A centre for informal science education featuring a planetarium and a land, sea and sky gallery, among other interactive activities, is expected to open by the third quarter of 2016, the Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee (TDC) has announced. The 6,500 square-metre facility will be set up in Masdar City and will include over 200…

  • Saudi permits part-time govt jobs

    —

    in ,

    Public sector employees have been allowed to work in other government departments after normal working hours to improve coordination and service delivery. Civil Service Minister Abdul Rahman Al-Barrak, who is a member of the Civil Services Council that issued the decision, said in a statement on Monday that the workers would be covered by the…

  • Expo 2020 may create 277,000 jobs

    —

    in , , ,

    Expo 2020 is likely to create 277,000 jobs, said Mahmood Ahmed Al Bastaki, CEO of Dubai Trade, Dubai World, while delivering the keynote address at the first-ever industry ‘breakfast’ series hosted by the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD recently on the challenges for the future of human capital development in the U.A.E.. Future workforce…

  • Goa is Modi’s ‘good luck charm’

    —

    in , , ,

    Modi chooses ‘good luck charm’ Goa for his first official visit as Prime Minister on June 14 , says a report at www.targetgoa.com Goa is special to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is the first state he will visit as Prime Minister. There is much excitement in the state goverment today.  Modi will sail on…

  • Amjad Ali Khan due in UK

    —

    in , , , ,

    Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan is to play on 21 June at 8pm in the Great Hall as part of the 2014 Tagore Festival at Dartington – which brings Anglo-Asian performers together to celebrate peace-building past and present at the centenary of the start of World War One. Recognised as ‘one of the 20th century’s greatest masters…

  • Britain tops FDI destination

    —

    in ,

    Britain was the most attractive destination in Europe for foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2013, a survey reveals. In 2013, the number of FDI projects in Britain increased by 14.6 percent to 799, surpassing the previous high of 728 recorded in 2010 and Britain’s market share rose to one-fifth of all European projects, close to…

  • Saudi fest to generate 5,000 jobs

    —

    in ,

    There will be 45 summer festivals this year, opening up more than 5,000 temporary jobs for Saudis. The festivals are expected to attract more than 10 million visitors, with an estimated return of SR10 billion. Domestic tourism is expected to increase by 6 percent this summer in comparison with the same period last year. The…

  • Dubai Airport may be world’s largest

    —

    in , , ,

    Capa says upgrades will ensure Dubai Airport will not only become largest international airport by 2015, but also maintain that position. Dubai International will become world’s busiest airport for good next year, according to an aviation think-tank, reports Emirates 24/7. Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (Capa) said short-term effects will see Dubai Airport slip behind…

  • Alitalia , Etihad tie up may cut jobs

    —

    in ,

    The head of Alitalia expects around 2,200 jobs to go under a planned tie-up with Gulf carrier Etihad Airways , he was quoted as saying by La Repubblica newspaper. ” Etihad is inflexible on this (job cuts),” Gabriele Del Torchio was quoted as saying. Alitalia and Etihad have been in talks since December, but a…

  • Mobile app for ‘men in distress’

    —

    in

      Official data indicates that a married man commits suicide in India every eight minutes, but help is at hand for the distressed males facing domestic violence — they can now seek instant help courtesy a mobile phone app. Christened “SIF One”, the Android application available on Google Playstore for free, has been launched by…

  • Mass grave of 800 babies rocks Ireland

    —

    in , ,

    The Catholic church in Ireland was forced on to the defensive again yesterday after the discovery of a mass grave of 800 babies in a septic tank at a former church home, The Times reported. The Irish government was under growing pressure to set up an inquiry into the unmarked graveyard at the abandoned home…

  • Massive strike hits S Africa

    —

    in ,

    South Africa’s economy would be hit by another massive strike by thousands of metal workers, say various media reports. The strike now looks “inevitable” as no breakthrough has been achieved in the talks between workers and their employers, Xinhua quoted the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) as saying in a statement. NUMSA…

  • Nagaland is rich in gold

    —

    in , ,

    “There’s gold in them thar hills” was a promotional campaign that ran in Georgia in the US for almost a century from the 1830s and this could well apply to the Naga Hills straddling India and Myanmar, which are a promising place to prospect for the yellow metal, according to a geologist , reports K.S. Jayaraman…

  • AI direct flight to Italy

    —

    in , , ,

    National passenger carrier Air India started its maiden operations to Italy with direct flights on its fleet of newly-acquired Boeing 787 Dreamliner. According to the airline, its operations will include flights from Delhi to Rome and Milan on a triangular route with Dreamliner aircraft. The Delhi-Rome-Milan-Delhi flight will operate four days a week, while the…

  • SPECIAL REPORT – Bhutan Drug Abuse

    —

    in , ,

    Shilpa Raina reports from Thimphu on Bhutan’s dark underbelly  Every Monday evening, government official Dasho Paljor J. Dorji turns into a chatty radio presenter for a popular talk show and gets candid with guests. But before signing off, he delivers a social message that invariably revolves around “drinking, driving and drugs” – something that comes straight from…

  • Emirates ups India service

    —

    in , , , ,

    Emirates, a global connector of people and places will expand its A380 network to 28 destinations, when it launches a daily A380 service to Mumbai International Airport on 21st July. EK 500 and EK 501 between Dubai and Mumbai will be up-scaled to a three-class A380 aircraft, representing with a capacity increase of 2,127 seats…

  • Salalah tourism to grow exponentially

    —

    in , ,

    The travel and tourism sector of Salalah will experience exponential growth, says Omer Kaddouri, president and CEO of Rotana. According to Kaddouri, more than 3,000 hotel rooms in the region are due for completion by the end of 2014. In 2013, 435,000 visitors from the Gulf region explored the Omani city during the Khareef (monsoon)…

  • Mobile wallet in UAE soon

    —

    in , ,

    The UAE is expected to become the first country in the world that will have a fully integrated digital payment platform supported by all banks operating in the country. The UAE Banks Federation (UBF)  formally launched the implementation of its Mobile Wallet project that was announced in February this year. The project will be executed…

  • KSA’s first marine park

    —

    in , , ,

    Jeddah is building the first marine park at Dhahban on the shores of the Red Sea, 40 km from the city. The groundbreaking project, which was under study for the last four years, was announced by the Jeddah Municipality.Dhahban is a popular picnic spot frequented by Saudi citizens especially fish lovers who visit the area…

  • Seepaj wins Miss India US title

    —

    in , ,

    In a magical night, amongst Bollywood and Hollywood celebrities, Seepaj Dhaliwal was crowned Miss India North America. Spirit Of India’s 22nd annual sold-out pageant had Indian contestants from all over USA and Canada competing for the coveted titles. The pageant was presented by GillAutoGroup.com and L.A. Tan in association with co-presenters included Wells Fargo, South…

  • LuLu , FELDA Malaysia ink pact

    —

    in , , ,

    The LuLu Group has signed an MOU with Malaysia’s Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA), the world’s most successful land development and resettlement agency, for the establishment of LuLu Hypermarkets in Malaysia. The memorandum was signed by the Director General of FELDA, Y. Bhg. Datuk Faizoull Ahmad and Mr. Yusuff Ali M.A., Managing Director, LuLu Group…

  • Saudi to build $1.6 bn mall

    —

    in , ,

    Dubai-headquartered Al-Futtaim group, a leading diversified conglomerate operating across 30 markets, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Riyadh-based Kayannat Real Estate Company to create Saudi Arabia’s biggest shopping mall, Al Diriyah Festival City, in a landmark agreement designed to redefine the capital city’ retail landscape. Omar Al-Futtaim, Vice Chairman, Al-Futtaim group and Fahad…

  • Bahrain to build over 40,000 homes

    —

    in , ,

    Bahrain is planning to construct more than 40,000 houses to be funded by the government to face growth in its population, according to the Gulf country’s deputy prime minister.  Contractors told to ensure they comply with tenders for such projects.says a Emirates 24|7 2014 report. Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa said contractors wishing to…

  • India relaxes rupee remittance limit

    —

    in , ,

    The Reserve Bank of India has relaxed some of the foreign exchange regulations it had introduced last year following a sharp decline of Indian currency. Under the revised rules the RBI has raised the annual investment ceiling for individuals to $125,000 from $75,000. In last August the RBI had reduced the ceiling from $200,000 to $75,000 per…

  • KSA to excavate 500,000oz of gold

    —

    in , ,

    Saudi Arabian Mining Company ( Maaden ) is planning to excavate 500,000oz of gold across the Kingdom, including in Madinah region, announced its president and CEO Khalid Al-Mudaifer at the Mining Investment Opportunities Forum . According to a report in the Saudi Gazette 2014, he said Maaden is also considering introducing downstream operations to the…

  • Oman minister meets Modi, Sushma

    —

    in , , , ,

    Oman Foreign Minister Yousuf Bin Alawi Bin Abdullah, the first foreign dignitary to visit India since the Narendra Modi government came to power, met the prime minister Narendra Modi , as also External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, and discussed ways to boost trade and investment between the two countries, reports IANS. Abdullah, special envoy of…

  • Qatar Airways to fly Edinburgh-Doha direct

    —

    in , , ,

    Qatar Airways commences Edinburgh’s highly anticipated direct flight to Doha in the Middle East. Qatar Airways,  has commenced services between Edinburgh and Doha. The inaugural flight, which landed into Edinburgh International Airport  was welcomed with a traditional water cannon salute, the classic sound of Scottish bagpipes and a gathering crowd within the airport terminal. This…

  • London to host Arab Film, TV awards

    —

    in , , , ,

    The first Arab Film and TV Awards will take place in February 2015 in London. London based public relations and promotions company Medium Enterprises has announced that they will be staging the first ever Arab Film and TV Awards (AFTVA) on the 3rd February 2015 at the luxurious 5-star Langham Hotel in Central London. AFTVA…

  • Telangana erupts in celebrations

    —

    in , ,

    Celebrations broke out across Telangana as it came into being as the 29th state of India on Monday. ‘Jai Telangana’ rent the air as the region comprising 10 districts erupted in celebrations to mark the fulfilment of nearly 60-year-old dream of the people. Bursting of firecrackers, unfurling of the national flag, distribution of sweets and greetings…