New Delhi / AFP India’s peaceful tourist hotspot Kerala has become the first state in the country to impose a “fat tax” on junk food in a bid to counter rising obesity. The state’s finance minister Thomas Isaac announced a 14.5 percent tax on food including burgers, pizzas and sandwiches sold at restaurants and fast-food chains, as part of …

  DUBLIN / WAM With salaries and job opportunities falling at home, dozens of Irish teachers are heading to the UAE next month to take up posts in primary and secondary schools, according to a report on Saturday in the Irish Independent newspaper. “A sense of adventure is the attraction for some, with others viewing the opportunity as a chance …

  Emirates Business As the Gulf region adopts high standards of energy efficiency, the Mideast market is promoting innovative solutions to encourage the usage of LED technology. As per reports, the UAE lighting industry alone is pegged to be at a billion dirhams. Due to the new regulations in conventional lighting, energy efficient lighting products is estimated to grow at …

  Sunaina Rana / Emirates Business As the UAE’s eCommerce market is riding on a high tide, Finland-based SaaS company, which provides easy-to-use software tools, LianaCommerce, has taken the initiative for a more advanced and innovative platform for eCommerce in the Middle East. Janne Kilpelainen, Managing Director of Liana Technologies in the Middle East, told Emirates Business regarding the platform, …

  Dubai / Emirates Business Furthering its commitment to make the internet a safe and positive space for its students, Academia Management Solutions International (AMSI) – which manages Al Mawakeb Schools and International School of Arts & Sciences (ISAS) – conducted a string of informative workshops, training programs, and expert talks at its premises. For instance, the ICT classes at …

  Sunaina Rana / Emirates Business More than a third of PR agencies are expected to cut down on their marketing budget due to the slowing economy in Gulf countries due to the fluctuating oil prices, according to a recent survey conducted by Middle East Public Relations Association (Mepra). Ray Eglington, Group managing director at Four Communications and the MEPRA …

  Dubai / Emirates Business Designed for residents and tourists to experience the best of summer, the 19th edition of Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS)— the region’s longest running summer extravaganza of its kind – kicks off on Saturday with its ‘Own The Summer’ theme encouraging everyone to make the most of the great events, family fun and unbeatable deals across …

  Abu Dhabi / WAM The UAE’s direct non-oil trade recorded AED 269.5 billion during the first quarter of 2016, maintaining almost the same figures achieved in Q1 last year, said the Federal Customs Authority (FCA). FCA said its preliminary statistics show that imports, AED 166.1 billion, accounted for more than half of the UAE non-oil foreign trade during Q1 this …

  Dubai / Emirates Business According to new research conducted by Frost & Sullivan in collaboration with GITEX Technology Week 2016, the next 10 years of augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technology development are set to redefine the future of both business and consumer processes and interactions in the region. GCC organisations are leveraging the new technology to …

  Abu Dhabi / Emirates Business The Zayed Future Energy Prize had exceeded 10,000 entries over its nine cycles when submissions for the ninth annual awards closed on Monday, June 27. A record 1,678 entries were received this year, an increase of 12 percent on 2015. Nominations, accepted in the Large Corporation and Lifetime Achievement categories, account for 555 entries, …