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Business
Malaysia to enforce smoke, vape ban in eateries starting 2020
Kuala Lumpur: Smoking and vaping will be strictly prohibited in all eateries across Malaysia from 2020 onwards, the health ministry has announced. Health deputy minister Dr Lee Boon Chye has warned that offenders would be slapped with a fine of RM250 ($60.40). “If stubborn (and) not paying up, a fine…
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Business
Jeju Air to acquire Eastar Jet, portending overhaul in low-cost airline sector
Seoul: Jeju Air Co., South Korea’s biggest low-cost carrier, said Wednesday it has signed an initial pact to acquire smaller LCC Eastar Jet, heralding a shake-up in the country’s airline sector. Jeju Air will take over a 51.17-percent stake in Eastar Jet for 69.5 billion won ($60 million) and sign…
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Business
Chinese visitors to Gulf countries to increase 54% by 2023
Dubai: The number of Chinese tourists travelling to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is expected to increase by 54% from 1.4 million in 2018 to 2.2 million in 2023, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.8%, according to data published ahead of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2020.…
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Business
South Korea to grant smaller firms one-year grace period for 52-hour workweek implementation
Seoul: South Korea plans to give a one-year grace period to the country’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in adopting the 52-hour workweek system, the labor ministry said Wednesday, reflecting financial concerns for the smaller firms amid an economic slowdown. The 52-hour policy was initially devised to cap the…
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South Asia
Locust swarms destroy vegetation, crops in Sindh province of Pakistan
By Nasir Aijaz AsiaN Representative Karachi: Locust swarms’ attacks have caused serious damages to the standing crops in 11 districts of Sindh province including the suburban areas of Karachi, the provincial capital, during last seven months, the provincial government officials said. Locust, a short-horned grasshopper in the family of Acrididae,…
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Politics
Hong Kong clash with destiny
By Ivan Lim Contributor to AsiaN Singapore: Singapore: A divisive Hong Kong has settled into an uneasy calm following last Sunday’s district-level elections. The momentum from close to six months of street protests marked by clashes with riot-police helped the pro-democracy camp outpolled their pro-establishment rivals in a historic shift…
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Business
Bahrain, Saudi Arabia causeway marks 33 years of operations
By Habib Toumi Manama: King Fahad Causeway, a series of bridges and causeways that link the island of Bahrain and Saudi mainland, today marks 33 years. The causeway, Bahrain’s only terrestrial link with another country, is named after former king of Saudi Arabia Fahad bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud who…
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Business
Malaysia shows interest in South Korea’s advancement in aerospace
Sacheon: Malaysia is interested with the progress and development achieved by South Korea in the aerospace industry, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said. Speaking during his visit to Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) facility here, the prime minister said South Korea has made great strides in the highly-technological field since…
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Business
Kazakhstan to modernize over 3,000 villages by 2024
Nur-Sultan: Kazakhstan plans to modernize 3,477 villages by 2024 in accordance with new regional standards, First Deputy Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov has said. Under the plan, drinking water, repaired roads and basic social facilities will be made available in the most remote rural areas, Smailov said at a session by…
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Politics
Central Asian leaders to meet in Tashkent
Tashkent: The expansion of regional cooperation between the Central Asian states across several sectors will be high on the agenda of the second consultative meeting of heads of Central Asian states when they meet in Tashkent on on November 29, Uzbek state news agency UzA has reported. The summit agenda…
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