Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin When it comes to life expectancy, Okinawa prefecture and its semi-tropical islands off Japan’s south coast have long been referenced as the benchmark location for living a long life. According to the WHO , the global trend for how long we live increased by more than six years over the first 20 years of the 21st century, with the average global life expectancy increasing from 66.8 years in 2000 to 73.4 years in 2019. But in Okinawa that trend is in reverse. In 1980, it had the highest average life expectancy for both men and women, with men expected to live until at least 84 years and women averaging an amazing 90 years old. Yet in the 2020 census, it was discovered Okinawan men were living to an average age of 80.27 years and women 87.44 years. Gerontologists have long attributed those long lives to a combination of nutritious diet, regular exercise, a continued sense of purpose (known as the concept of ikigai in … [Read more...] about Live Long And Prosper: Five Countries Where People Live The Longest
Migrants for country
Siam Piwat welcomes world’s women leaders from over 51 countries
The Global Summit of Women 2022 in its 32nd year officially took place in Bangkok over 2 days from 23-25 June. The international forum put Thailand in the limelight with more than 600 participants from over 51 countries in attendance. It was also an excellent opportunity to showcase the kingdom’s capabilities in hosting an international-standard forum and reinforce the country as a ‘World Destination’ for international convention and tourism, following the nation’s reopening to tourists from across the globe. Image via Siam Piwat Siam Piwat Co., Ltd, a leading property and retail developer – the owner and operator of global retail destinations Siam Paragon, Siam Center, and Siam Discovery, and a joint venture partner of ICONSIAM and Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok, was honoured to co-host and serve as venues to those attending the Global Summit of Women 2022. ICONSIAM, a global landmark on the bank of Chao Phraya River, and Siam Paragon, a world-class shopping destination, … [Read more...] about Siam Piwat welcomes world’s women leaders from over 51 countries
Bursa ends broadly higher
- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (June 27): Bursa Malaysia closed broadly higher on Monday (June 27) on persistent buying interest mainly in technology and energy stocks, said an analyst. At 5pm, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 1.42 points to 1,438.12 from Friday's close of 1,436.7. The benchmark index, which opened 2.12 points higher at 1,438.82, fluctuated between 1,431.65 and 1,441.03 throughout the trading session. On the broader market, gainers beat losers 546 to 365, while 393 counters were unchanged, 1,004 untraded, and 55 others suspended. Total turnover expanded to 2.65 billion units worth RM1.43 billion from 2.46 billion units worth RM1.47 billion on Friday. Key regional markets also continued to trend higher following positive cues on Wall Street including the upbeat performance of the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite last Friday. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice president of equity research Thong Pak Leng said the FBM KLCI, which ended 0.1% … [Read more...] about Bursa ends broadly higher
Yuan edges up as Shanghai declares Covid-19 victory; outlook remains cautious
- A + A SHANGHAI (June 27): China's yuan edged up against the dollar on Monday (June 27) after Shanghai declared victory against Covid-19 over the weekend, but gains were limited ahead of more convincing signs of a recovery. Shanghai, the country's commercial hub, will gradually resume dining-in at restaurants from June 29 after the city's Communist Party chief declared victory in the battle against the latest wave of Covid-19 shocks that put the city under lockdown for two months. Shanghai lifted a two month citywide lockdown on June 1, but many establishments have remained unable to offer indoor dining since mid-March. Traders said the news lifted market sentiment, but investors remained cautious and looked to data to gauge the pace of the economic recovery before placing huge bets on the currency. June economic indicators, including official factory activity data, are due later this week. Prior to market opening, the People's Bank of China (PBOC) set the … [Read more...] about Yuan edges up as Shanghai declares Covid-19 victory; outlook remains cautious
Flood-hit Indian states brace for more monsoon rains, 532 killed
A flood-affected man carrying a luggage wades through a flooded road as he moves to a safer place after heavy rains in Nagaon district, Assam, India, June 21, 2022. - A + A (June 27): India’s flood-hit areas are forecast to receive heavy rains this week, with 532 people losing their lives so far across the nation during the monsoon season and hundreds of thousands staying in temporary relief camps. The northeastern state of Assam has been among the worst-hit regions, with rains affecting 2.5 million people, destroying homes and infrastructure, and delaying sowing of crops such as rice. Drowning and landslides have killed 121 people in the state alone since April 6, according to a home ministry bulletin. Monsoon rains cause the death of hundreds of people in India every year, but the rainy season has been particularly devastating for the hilly states of Assam and Himachal Pradesh this year. About 233,000 people are still in relief camps, with over two dozen teams … [Read more...] about Flood-hit Indian states brace for more monsoon rains, 532 killed
Tencent backer Prosus to cut US$134 bil stake to buy stock
- A + A HONG KONG/JOHANNESBURG (June 27): Prosus NV is planning to sell more of its US$134 billion stake in Chinese internet giant Tencent Holdings Ltd to finance a buyback programme, reversing a pledge to hold onto the full shareholding. Tencent declined in Hong Kong on Monday as investors pondered the extent to which Prosus, the Chinese company’s biggest shareholder, will unload its stock. The shares fell as much as 2.5% and traded 1.6% lower at the close. “We will keep selling Tencent shares to buy back our own, it’s open-ended and an unlimited programme,” Prosus Chief Executive Officer Bob Van Dijk said in an interview. “It’s actually a small part of Tencent daily traded volumes — it should be maximum between 3% to 5%.” The move represents a change of heart by Dutch e-commerce giant Prosus — majority owned by South Africa’s Naspers Ltd — which said after its last sale in April 2021 it wouldn’t offload more shares for three years. The company, spun off from … [Read more...] about Tencent backer Prosus to cut US$134 bil stake to buy stock
Frontier-debt buyers look past default risk in hunger for yield
- A + A MUMBAI/MANILA (June 27): Signs of distress flashing in bond markets suggest the world's poorest nations are set to see a wave of debt restructurings. But a growing cohort of investors say that is a buying opportunity. Panic selling in the aftermath of Sri Lanka's economic collapse has sent the average yield in junk-rated emerging economies to almost 900 basis points above US Treasuries, the highest risk premium in 13 years except for the Covid-19-related rout in 2020, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co data. Yet, initial fears about a widespread default Armageddon across emerging markets is easing, and money managers are looking beyond the handful of countries that may reschedule their debt. This shift in perception means at least some smaller developing nations, called frontier markets, have been unduly punished in the recent sell-off and now offer highly attractive yields. Even in the event of debt restructuring, their bonds will offer greater recovery … [Read more...] about Frontier-debt buyers look past default risk in hunger for yield
Rafidah Aziz resigns as chairman of AirAsia X
Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz - A + A KUALA LUMPUR (June 24): AirAsia X Bhd (AAX) on Monday (June 24) announced the resignation of Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz as its chairman effective July 1. In a bourse filing, AAX said she was stepping down as she would soon have served the term allowed as an independent director. “[She] would then need to comply with the change of status, from independent board member, to non-independent director, and the other ensuing requirements,” the medium and long haul affiliate of AirAsia Aviation Group said. Rafidah, 78, was the country’s longest serving Minister of International Trade and Industry, having served in that capacity for 21 years, from 1987 to 2008. According to AAX’s 2021 annual report, Rafidah was appointed as independent non-executive director and chairman of the board on March 31, 2011, and redesignated as a senior independent non-executive chairman upon listing of the company on July 10, 2013. She is also the chairman of the … [Read more...] about Rafidah Aziz resigns as chairman of AirAsia X
DNeX signs MoU to explore business synergy with Saudi group
- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (June 27): Dagang NeXchange Bhd (DNeX) on Monday (June 27) signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Arabia-based Ajlan & Bros Holding Group (Abilitii) to explore business synergy between the two companies. DNeX said the companies will look into business collaboration in technology, software products and platforms for facilitating trade, oil and gas production and trade, software development, system integration and consultation services. They will leverage each other’s expertise to explore business opportunities and consider establishing a joint venture company in Saudi Arabia to achieve collaborative arrangements, besides including investment from Abilitii in specific ventures undertaken by DNeX. DNeX group managing director Tan Sri Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said in a statement that the partnership allows the group to expand its footprint in the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA) area. “Together with Abilitii, we … [Read more...] about DNeX signs MoU to explore business synergy with Saudi group
Govt continues giving subsidies to stabilise prices, avoid high inflation
- A + A PUTRAJAYA (June 27): The government is willing to bear the projected huge subsidy totalling RM77.3 billion for this year towards stabilising the prices of goods and avoiding high inflation rates of up to 11.4%, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed. He said the government had a choice of removing subsidies and strengthening the country’s finances to a better level, but it chose to bear the subsidies instead for the welfare and well-being of the people. Mustapa said the announcement on June 24 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob of no increase in the water and electricity tariffs, and the chicken price not being floated showed the government’s caring side and commitment to maintaining the subsidies. Referring to the projected consumer subsidy expenditure amounting to RM77.3 billion for 2022, he said RM51 billion of it made up the biggest component of fuel, cooking oil, electricity, water, chicken … [Read more...] about Govt continues giving subsidies to stabilise prices, avoid high inflation