How Dubai introduced reduced summer working hoursIn summer 2024, DGHR launched a pilot called Our Summer is Flexible across 15 government entities. Workers were divided into two groups: one compressed their hours into four days and took Fridays off; the other worked shorter days across the week.The results from the pilot phase were positive:The pilot recorded an 87 per cent improvement in employees’ ability to complete tasks on timeA 96 per cent improvement in customer service with zero complaints filedA 98 per cent improvement in employee happiness.These were assessed under the Dubai Government Excellence Programme.In 2025, DGHR expanded the scheme,…
Author: Isla
Funds raised for a Hong Kong hairstylist who died from nasopharyngeal cancer in April will be donated to NGO Cancer Information, as per his wishes. Pitt Cheung. Photo: gogetfunding.com. A fundraising initiative for Pitt Cheung raised over HK$555,000 for his specialist treatment, leaving a balance of over HK$140,000 after his passing in April. The fundraiser said that Cheung had exhausted radiotherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments at public hospitals, so he switched to a recommended chemotherapy drug called Nab-paclitaxel, costing HK$72,000 per month. Cheung died peacefully in hospital on April 26. A funeral for the 44-year-old was held on May 9.…
New Brand Finance data reveals LIC among the world’s strongest insurance brands, while HDFC Life delivers standout growth Three Indian insurance brands are featured in the Insurance 100 2026 ranking LIC ranks 13th worldwide by brand value and second globally by Brand Strength Index, scoring 90.4/100 HDFC Life records 73% brand value growth year on year, among the strongest growth in the ranking The world’s top 100 insurance brands grow 14% to a collective $606.7 billion, marking the sector’s largest brand value increase in five years MUMBAI, 9 June 2026 – Three Indian insurance brands collectively hold USD18 billion in value, according to the latest latest Insurance 100 2026…
SAS and Garuda Indonesia have announced a new codeshare partnership aimed at improving connectivity between Scandinavia and Indonesia. This collaboration will enable seamless travel options to and from Jakarta and Bali, as well as Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Oslo, with convenient connections via Amsterdam, Tokyo Haneda, and Bangkok starting Winter 2026/2027. The agreement was formalised during the IATA Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, signed by Garuda Indonesia’s Director of Transformation, Neil Raymond Mills, and SAS President and CEO, Anko van der Werff. Van der Werff highlighted the significance of the partnership, stating, “Garuda Indonesia is a key partner for…
Japan’s hotel room rates reached a record high in April. Despite the impact of the Chinese government’s travel advisory against visiting Japan, strong demand from inbound travelers continued, with Western tourists—who are more likely to stay at upscale hotels—playing a key role in lifting rates. Their growing presence has also reshaped Japan’s peak hotel demand season. According to STR, a hospitality data and analytics company owned by U.S.-based CoStar Group, the average daily room rate (ADR) at hotels in Japan rose to JPY 23,397 (about USD 160) in April. The figure was 4.6% higher than the previous record of JPY…
June 9, 2026PETALING JAYA – Malaysia is losing billions in invisible labour as families shoulder unpaid caregiving duties, says Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri (pic).The Women, Family and Community Development Minister highlighted the need to expand the care ecosystem, saying it is now an economic imperative and not just a social need.“While unpaid care and domestic work has historically remained under-recognised within conventional economic measurements, its implications for labour participation, productivity and economic resilience are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore,” she said.Nancy cited a 2024 research by the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (Isis) Malaysia which showed that unpaid care…
Brighton College Bangkok Vibhavadi is proud to announce that it has been awarded the Public Choice Award for Innovative Facilities at the prestigious ASEAN School Awards 2026, recognising the College’s outstanding commitment to creating future-ready educational environments that inspire curiosity, confidence, and kindness. Officially announced in May 2026, the ASEAN School Awards celebrate schools across the region that demonstrate excellence, innovation, and meaningful impact in education. Brighton College Bangkok Vibhavadi was selected through public voting, reflecting strong support and confidence from families, educators, and the wider community across Southeast Asia. Designed in partnership with Brighton College UK, the Vibhavadi campus…
China and North Korea have pledged to strengthen strategic cooperation and defend each other’s sovereignty, according to a North Korean state media report covering Chinese President Xi Jinping’s two-day visit to Pyongyang.The two leaders vowed to “open a new chapter” in bilateral ties and expand exchanges and cooperation in political, economic, cultural and other fields, the official Korean Central News Agency reported on Tuesday.It quoted North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as saying that strengthening ties with China was the country’s “most important strategic mission”.The Chinese leader on Monday said his country’s relationship with North Korea “stands at a new historical…
Amid concerns among residents over the installation of fresh signboards marking Delhi’s environmentally sensitive Zone O areas along the Yamuna floodplains, chief minister Rekha Gupta will chair a meeting on Tuesday with MPs, MLAs and officials to review the issue and address fears of possible action against unauthorised constructions, officials said.Last week, South Delhi MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri met Gupta and urged the government to facilitate the removal of 92 colonies from the category. (HT Archive)The meeting will be attended by Members of Parliament and legislators from constituencies affected by the move. The installation of the signboards in several floodplain…
GEODNET is expanding network coverage in Japan and Iceland , and StableHex locations are now open, ahead of GIP-13.Deploy early, hit the uptime requirements, and your rewards are locked in once GIP-13 goes live. First station in each hex takes it. Based in either country… pic.twitter.com/zhBv9t3f0O Source link