News related to
near

By T Neelakantan Aiyers Despite the tariff shocks unleashed by Donald Trump, Indian exports to the United States have proved remarkably resilient. New trade agreements with Britain, the EU, Oman and New Zealand are giving India more options—but not yet replacing America as its most important export market. There was a moment when Donald Trump’s […]

The article Why America still cannot shake India’s export machine appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

The exchange spread quickly on Chinese social media. For visitors, the character has become more than a photo opportunity: people stop to trade lines, ask questions and play along. Some have traveled specifically to meet the performer.

The small scene reflects a larger change underway in Tonglu, a county in Zhejiang province in eastern China. Long known for its scenery along the Fuchun River, Tonglu is adding performers, interactive storylines, water activities and even unexpected roadside attractions to encourage visitors to take part rather than simply look on.

A cave tour with characters

The “Turtle Immortal” is played by Zhang Yunbin, a 26-year-old opera performer who studied in Russia and speaks English and Russian. His setting is not a conventional theater but a river route winding through limestone caves.

At Chuiyun Tongtian River, Zhang is one of a rotating cast inspired by Journey to the West, the classic Chinese novel. Visitors may encounter Zhu Bajie, also known as Pigsy, as well as the Bull Demon King and Taishang Laojun, a Taoist deity.

More than 120 performers take part in the program. Rather than delivering a fixed show from a stage, they improvise with visitors, pose for photos and pull travelers into short scenes along the route.

The approach is part of what tourism marketers call immersive travel, though the experience is fairly straightforward: visitors are invited to respond, joke back and become part of the moment.

Similar experiments are appearing elsewhere in the county. At Yaolin Wonderland and Yan Ziling Fishing Platform in Tonglu, performers appear among caves, riverbanks and mountain paths as characters drawn from folklore, history and local life. A visit might include a brief role-playing exchange, a story about the site or an encounter that changes the pace of an otherwise standard tour.

The goal is to give visitors a reason to linger.

An aquarium at a highway rest stop

Tonglu’s most unusual tourism experiment may not be in a scenic area at all.

During China’s May Day holiday this year, travelers stopping at the Tonglu service area on the G25 Changchun–Shenzhen Expressway found more than fuel, snacks and restrooms. The rest area featured a large aquarium, mermaid performances and crowds pausing to take photos.

The attraction turned a routine highway break into a destination in its own right. According to figures released by local authorities, the service area received more than 80,000 visitors a day during the holiday.

The idea is to capture some of the spending that would otherwise pass through the county without stopping. A traveler who pulls over for coffee may stay for a show, buy a meal or decide to explore nearby attractions.

County data show that Tonglu received 1.61 million visits during the May Day holiday, up 13.2% from a year earlier.

Tourism revenue reached 958 million yuan, or roughly $132 million, a 12.4% increase, according to authorities.

Those numbers do not prove that a single aquarium or character program drove the growth. But they point to the value Tonglu sees in making travel stops more memorable — and in turning short visits into longer ones.

More ways to spend a summer day

In late July, Tonglu launched a summer tourism campaign “Water Play Kingdom: Tonglu Is Wild.” The branding is aimed at visitors looking for a mix of rafting, family activities, village stays and outdoor recreation.

The county’s tourism offerings now range from river rafting and mountain-stream activities to the family resort, rural walks and evening events. The strategy is less about promoting a single landmark than about creating enough options for visitors to spend a full weekend — or return in another season.

That broader approach matters in a destination with no shortage of natural scenery. Tonglu’s rivers, caves and hills remain the foundation of its appeal. But local planners are increasingly treating those landscapes as settings for activities, stories and encounters rather than as backdrops for a quick stop and a photo.

Making travel easier for overseas visitors

Tonglu is also preparing for more international travelers.

The multilingual “Turtle Immortal” has become a lighthearted symbol of that effort. When the performer chats with overseas visitors in English, Chinese social-media users joke that “the Heavenly Palace has opened an international branch.”

Behind the joke is a more practical effort to improve the visitor experience. Yaolin township in Tonglu has been selected as a provincial pilot area for inbound-tourism innovation, with work underway on multilingual signs, international payment options and other services for overseas guests.

For international visitors, those details can matter as much as the attractions themselves. A cave performance or rafting trip may be memorable, but clear directions, workable payment systems and accessible information determine whether a trip feels easy or frustrating.

The county’s tourism push is still rooted in the things that first drew people there: water, mountains and caves. What is changing is the role of the visitor.

In Tonglu, tourists may still come for the view. But they may also find themselves joking with a cave character, watching mermaids at a highway rest stop or joining an activity that asks them to do more than pose for a photo.

Hashtag: #Tonglu

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Mr Munafò joined Allianz Trade in 2015 as part of the Multinationals team and has spent over a decade shaping the company’s commercial strategy across four regions. Rising through key account management roles spanning MMEA, APAC, and Northern Europe – including his appointment as Regional Account Director for Northern Europe in 2021 – he was named Group Head of Broker Management and Partnerships in 2025, where he was responsible for defining and executing Allianz Trade’s global commercial and distribution strategy and strengthening broker partnerships across multiple regions. Mr Munafò holds an MBA from POLIMI Graduate School of Management (Politecnico di Milano) and a degree in Law from Università Bocconi with a major in Public Sector and Law.

On this appointment, Rodrigo Jimenez, Regional CEO at Allianz Trade in Asia Pacific, says: “Over the past decade, Scott has built extensive experience across various regions, demonstrating a strong track record in growing commercial portfolios, building strategic partnerships, and maintaining exceptional customer retention. His international experience, commercial leadership, and deep understanding of our business make him exceptionally well positioned to lead our China operations. I am confident that, together with the local management team, Scott will successfully drive our growth ambitions and deliver continued success in this important and fast-growing market.”

Mr Munafò remarks: “Allianz Trade has been part of China’s trade story for nearly two decades – built on the strength of our team, our partners, and our customers who have trusted us through every cycle. I am honoured to be entrusted with what so many have built together. My commitment is simple: to keep listening, to keep creating lasting value and to ensure the next chapter sets a new standard.”
Hashtag: #allianztrade #tradecreditinsurance

https://www.allianz-trade.com/en_HK.html
https://www.linkedin.com/company/allianz-trade-apac/

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Allianz Trade

Allianz Trade is the global leader in trade credit insurance and a recognized specialist in the areas of surety, collections, structured trade credit and political risk. Our proprietary intelligence network is based on instant access to data of 289 million corporates. We give companies the confidence to trade by securing their payments. We compensate your company in the event of a bad debt, but more importantly, we help you avoid bad debt in the first place. Whenever we provide trade credit insurance or other finance solutions, our priority is predictive protection. But, when the unexpected arrives, our AA credit rating means we have the resources, backed by Allianz to provide compensation to maintain your business. Headquartered in Paris, Allianz Trade is present in over 40 countries with 5,900 employees. In 2025, our consolidated turnover was EUR4 billion and insured global business transactions represented EUR1,400 billion in exposure. For more information, please visit allianz-trade.com.

Azad Mirza Nearly six months into the US-Israel war on Iran, the Strait of Hormuz has become less a shipping lane than a rhetorical battlefield. This week that theatre reached a new pitch: Donald Trump posted an AI-generated map on Truth Social labelling the waterway “NEW US Territory,” insisting the strait is “open and operating” […]

The article Hormuz: Trump’s territorial bravado and Iran defiance appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 August 2026 – Adding travel insurance when booking a flight is a common practice among many Hong Kong travellers. However, the latest test by 10Life’s Research and Data Analytics team found that the same coverage may not always come at the same price.

Using the profile of one Hong Kong adult traveller, 10Life compared airline embedded travel insurance for a 14-day Hong Kong to New York trip across two departure dates and three economy fare classes, covering six scenarios in total. Each scenario involved the same travel insurance plan, coverage level, coverage details and benefit limits. Despite this, premiums ranged from HK$859 to HK$1,153, with the highest quote 34% higher than the lowest.

Table 1: Six quotes for the same travel insurance plan for a 14-day Hong Kong to New York trip, ranked by premium

Note: The premium difference is calculated against the lowest premium among the six tested scenarios, at HK$859. Test conditions: one adult traveller, single return trip, destination New York (John F. Kennedy International Airport), 14-day trip. Test and data update date: 6 August 2026. All amounts are in Hong Kong dollars. Premium amounts and percentages are calculated based on the relevant premiums and rounded to the nearest whole number. Premiums and quotes may change from time to time. Actual prices should be based on the relevant page shown at the time of purchase or booking.

1. Premiums appear to move with airfare, rather than being priced solely by coverage
Across the six tested scenarios, higher airfares were consistently associated with higher add-on travel insurance premiums. 10Life’s analysis found an almost linear relationship between airfare and premium: for every HK$1,000 increase in airfare, the add-on travel insurance premium rose by around HK$22.

Travel insurance premiums should generally be priced according to factors such as trip duration, destination, traveller age and coverage details, as these are the factors that typically determine risk. For the same departure date, destination and trip duration, the likelihood of an accident or medical claim should not increase simply because the airfare is higher.

It is also worth noting that higher fare classes usually offer more flexible change, cancellation or refund arrangements, which could theoretically reduce part of the trip cancellation risk. However, in the test, premiums for higher fare classes increased instead of decreasing. During the booking process, consumers may not easily notice these fluctuations in the travel insurance premium.

2. Other purchase channels did not show similar price fluctuations, with premiums up to 77% lower
10Life also reviewed two travel insurance products in the market offering similar coverage, referred to here as Product A and Product B. The findings showed that, whether purchased directly through an insurer’s website or via an insurance comparison platform, premiums were generally calculated based on trip details, such as destination, trip duration and traveller age. They did not appear to vary according to airfare.

Table 2: Premium comparison across different purchase channels for a 14-day Hong Kong to New York trip

Note: Quotes for products purchased directly through insurer websites and insurance comparison platforms were based on travel insurance products with similar coverage. Product names, quote sources and key benefit limits are set out in the appendix. Test conditions are the same as Table 1. All amounts are in Hong Kong dollars and rounded to the nearest whole number. Coverage scope, benefit limits, claim conditions and exclusions may vary between products. Consumers should read the policy terms carefully before purchasing. Product A refers to MSIG iTravel Go Plan B; Product B refers to HSBC TravelSurance Worldwide Basic Plan. Quotes from the insurance comparison platform were obtained from the 10Life platform.

The airline booking page’s highest quote was HK$1,153, while Product A, which offers similar coverage, was quoted at HK$287 on the insurer’s website and HK$262 through an insurance comparison platform — approximately 75% and 77% lower respectively. Even compared with the airline booking page’s lowest quote of HK$859, Product A was still approximately 67% and 70% lower through the two channels.

Product B showed a similar trend. It was quoted at HK$553 on the insurer’s website and HK$442 through an insurance comparison platform, which were approximately 52% and 62% lower than the airline booking page’s highest quote, and approximately 36% and 49% lower than its lowest quote. Unlike the airline booking page, quotes from insurer websites and comparison platforms did not appear to vary according to airfare, suggesting that the convenience of one-click add-on may come at a higher cost.

3. 10Life view: Convenience should not come at the expense of pricing transparency
Airlines have increasingly separated flight-related charges, with services such as seat selection, baggage and ticket changes priced individually. Consumers can usually understand these differences because the service itself varies.

Dexter Ng, Head of Research and Data Analytics at 10Life, said: “Consumers generally understand why seat selection or baggage fees may differ, because the service itself is different. But if it is the same travel insurance plan, with the same coverage and the same benefit limits, the premium should not rise simply because the airfare is higher. In our test, the same coverage rose from HK$859 to HK$1,153 across different booking scenarios, a difference of nearly HK$300. From a consumer perspective, pricing the same insurance coverage based on airfare is difficult to justify.”

10Life believes that when the same insurance plan is priced differently across fares or booking scenarios without a clear explanation, consumers may find it difficult to judge whether the premium is reasonable. This lack of transparency is unfair to consumers. The key question is simple: should travel insurance premiums be based on the coverage provided, or on the price of the flight ticket?

4. Three travel insurance tips from 10Life

1. Compare other purchase channels before adding travel insurance
   Before confirming a one-click travel insurance add-on, consumers can take 30 seconds to open another tab and check similar products on insurer websites or insurance comparison platforms. Consumers may find plans with similar, or even better, coverage at a lower premium. In 10Life’s test, the premium difference could amount to several hundred Hong Kong dollars.
2. A higher premium does not necessarily mean better coverage
   When choosing a plan, consumers should compare key benefit limits, including medical expenses, trip cancellation, baggage and personal accident coverage. They should also read the claim conditions and exclusions carefully.
3. A higher airfare does not necessarily mean more expensive travel insurance is needed
   Trip cancellation cover is usually subject to a fixed benefit limit, meaning a higher airfare does not automatically result in a higher payout. Consumers should compare the actual benefit limit against their ticket cost, and review exclusions carefully, especially if the trip involves family travel, self-driving, diving, skiing, cruise holidays or other activities that may be subject to specific conditions.

Travellers who are unsure how to choose travel insurance may use the Travel Insurance Recommendation Tool for an initial comparison. By answering a few questions, the system can help match suitable travel insurance products based on destination, trip type and potential risks. Travellers may also use an insurance comparison platform to compare premiums, coverage scope, claim conditions and key terms across different products, helping them understand the coverage clearly before purchasing.

Travel insurance comparison: https://www.10life.com/en/products/travel
Travel insurance recommendation tool: https://www.10life.com/en/products/travel/recommend

About the Study
This test used the profile of one Hong Kong adult traveller and compared the same travel insurance plan recommended on the booking page of the same airline. Using a 14-day Hong Kong to New York trip as an example, the test covered two departure dates and three economy fare classes, resulting in six scenarios in total. All quotes were obtained based on one adult traveller taking a single return trip. 10Life did not test all airlines in the market. The results reflect only the airline, route and scenarios tested. Full data is available from 10Life upon request.

Reference Materials

Appendix 1: Comparison of key travel insurance benefit limits

Note: The above table sets out only the maximum benefit limits for selected key coverage items and does not represent the full coverage of each product. Coverage scope, claim conditions, exclusions, item sub-limits and compensation calculation methods may vary between products. Consumers should read the policy terms carefully before purchasing. Benefits such as travel delay and baggage delay may be subject to delay duration, per-incident limits or specific claim conditions, and may not be directly comparable based solely on the total benefit limit. All amounts are in Hong Kong dollars. The information was compiled based on publicly available product information and test results. Data update date: 6 August 2026. Actual coverage, premiums and final underwriting results should be subject to the information shown on the purchase page, the relevant policy terms and the insurer’s final approval.

Notes

1. Test conditions: one adult traveller, single return journey, destination New York, John F. Kennedy International Airport, with a trip duration of 14 days. The test covered two departure dates and three economy fare classes, resulting in six scenarios in total.
2. Data from the airline booking page test was collected and updated on 6 August 2026. Comparison data for products purchased directly through insurer websites and insurance comparison platforms was also collected on 6 August 2026.
3. Airline travel insurance premiums and plan information were obtained from tests conducted on the airline booking page. The airfare referenced in this release includes fuel surcharges, taxes and other charges.
4. The comparison products purchased directly through insurer websites and insurance comparison platforms. Product A refers to MSIG iTravel Go Plan B; Product B refers to HSBC TravelSurance Worldwide Basic Plan. Quotes from the insurance comparison platform were obtained from the 10Life platform.
5. All amounts are in Hong Kong dollars. Premium amounts and percentages are calculated based on the relevant premiums and rounded to the nearest whole number.
6. The comparison was made based on products with similar coverage. However, coverage scope, benefit limits, claim conditions and exclusions may vary between products. Consumers should read the policy terms carefully before purchasing.
7. The premiums, discounts and quoted prices above may change from time to time and may vary depending on purchase time, purchase channel, trip details and policy terms. Actual prices and final coverage should be subject to the information shown on the purchase and booking pages, the relevant insurer’s published information and final approval.
8. This study was conducted by 10Life’s Research and Data Analytics team.

Hashtag: #10Life

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About 10Life

10Life is a one-stop insurance comparison platform committed to bringing fair insurance to life. Founded by insurance professionals, 10Life combines technology with a human-centered approach to bring fair products, fair sales and fair claims to Hong Kong.

10Life pioneered insurance product ratings, enabling consumers to compare premiums, coverage scope, key terms and actuarial ratings across different insurance products, and purchase selected plans online according to their needs. The 10Life team also includes insurance advisers who provide professional advice based on customer needs, while independent claims specialists focus on claims support, helping policyholders obtain fair compensation.

10Life’s services cover insurance comparison, purchase and claims support, with the goal of helping consumers “buy right insurance and get fair payout”.

For more information about 10Life, or to compare different types of insurance, please visit: 10life.com

By Suryamurthy Energy security often becomes a national priority only when a crisis erupts. The current conflict spreading across West Asia has once again reminded India how fragile global energy supply chains can be — and how deeply its own economy remains tied to them. The disruption of tanker routes through the Strait of Hormuz, […]

The article India pushes coal gasification to reduce import risks appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

Amaris B. Clinic’s first-half 2026 enquiry figures show arm-related concerns accounted for 41.4% of all body-sculpting enquiries from women, with nearly half of those enquiries coming from women in their 40s. Medical director, Dr Ivan Puah links the trend to perimenopause, slowing metabolism and lifestyle pressures specific to Singapore.

SINGAPORE– Media OutReach Newswire – 17 August 2026 – Arm fat has become the single most common concern driving women to seek body-sculpting consultations in Singapore this year, according to internal enquiry data from Amaris B. Clinic, whose medical director, Dr Ivan Puah, is an MOH-accredited liposuction doctor.

Between January and June 2026, the clinic logged 406 face- and body-sculpting enquiries from women, of which 168 (41.4%) cited arm concerns, more than any other body area. Thirty-one women enquired about more than one area, so individual counts do not sum to the total.

The pattern is one Dr Puah says he sees consistently in practice: Arm fat that resists diet and exercise and that many patients report noticing as they enter their 40s.

Nearly Half of Arm-Concern Enquiries Come From Women in Their 40s

Among women who wrote in specifically about arm concerns, enquiries were heavily concentrated in mid-adulthood, an age range that overlaps with perimenopause for many women:

Full Breakdown

Nearly half of all arm-related enquiries came from women aged 40 to 49, an age range that overlaps with perimenopause for many women.

Why Arm Fat Is Difficult to Shift

Women naturally carry 6 to 11 percentage points more body fat than men, a difference tied to reproductive physiology. Genetics also influence where fat is stored, and some women are predisposed to carrying it in the upper arms, a distribution pattern that responds poorly to exercise alone.

Patients describe the concern in different ways, including upper-arm fat, “bingo wings” or “bat wings” (a combination of loose skin and fat that moves with the arm), and chafing where the arm rubs against the body.

Dr Puah points to two overlapping life stages as the main physiological drivers:

“Perimenopause and menopause are the two life stages we most consistently see linked to arm fat in the clinic. As women approach these stages, metabolism slows, and that shift tends to show up first in areas like the arms and underarms. It’s most noticeable in women with an apple-shaped body distribution,” said Dr Puah.

Hormonal changes associated with ageing, often compounded by stress or poor sleep, can make the body more prone to storing fat and losing lean muscle mass. Skin also loses elasticity with age, which Dr Puah says contributes to the looser, softer contour some patients describe.

Climate, Fashion and Workplace Culture Add Visibility

Singapore’s climate means sleeveless and short-sleeved clothing is worn year-round, keeping arms visible for most of the year. Dr Puah says this, combined with grooming expectations in client-facing and corporate roles, contributes to why arm concerns generate more enquiries in Singapore than they might in cooler markets.

“In Singapore’s climate, women are more conscious of how their arms look in everyday clothing, and arm sculpting is consistently among the most common requests we receive for this concern,” said Dr Puah, who chairs Singapore’s Lipo Peer Review Committee.

Not All Arm Fullness Is the Same, Clinic Says

Dr Puah cautions that upper-arm fullness is not uniform from patient to patient. For some women it is predominantly fat. For others, it is a combination of fat and skin laxity, with genetics, hormonal changes and age all shaping the tissue involved.

“Many women are surprised to learn that arm fat is often genetically predetermined and resistant to exercise. A proper evaluation helps clarify what’s driving the concern and sets realistic expectations for what can be achieved. The rise in enquiries reflects growing awareness that stubborn arm fat is a physiological issue, not a failure of willpower or fitness,” said Dr Puah.

The clinic’s data points to a broader shift: arm concerns are no longer a secondary consideration for patients but a leading driver of body sculpting consultations among women in Singapore, particularly during the perimenopausal transition.

Note on methodology: Figures are drawn from self-reported enquiry records logged by Amaris B. Clinic between 1 January and 30 June 2026 and reflect enquiries at this clinic only; they are not a population-representative survey of Singapore women.
Hashtag: #MedicalAesthetics

https://www.amaris-b.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/amaris-b.-clinic/
https://www.facebook.com/AmarisBClinic/
https://www.instagram.com/amarisbclinic/
https://www.youtube.com/amarisbclinic
https://www.tiktok.com/@amarisbclinic

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

ABOUT AMARIS B. CLINIC

Founded in 2004 and led by Dr Ivan Puah, Amaris B. Clinic is a Singapore-based medical aesthetics and cosmetic surgery practice. Its services span facial and body sculpting, including liposuction, gynecomastia surgery, and fat grafting, alongside non-surgical treatments such as Ultherapy Prime, biostimulator injections, and hair loss therapy.

Amaris B. Clinic’s Signature Treatments

• Liposuction
• Lipedema Surgery
• Vaser Liposuction
• Gynecomastia Surgery
• Accessory Breast Removal
• Corrective Surgery
• Fat Grafting
• Sports Aesthetics

ABOUT DR IVAN PUAH

Dr Puah, an MOH-accredited liposuction doctor with extensive training in various cosmetic procedures, is committed to providing personalised care with an artful eye and proven medical techniques.

• Dedicated surgical training in gynecomastia surgery in San Francisco
• Chairman of the Lipo Peer Review Committee in Singapore
• Trained in Vaser liposuction (fundamental and hi-definition) in Colorado and Argentina
• Trained in syringe liposculpture, fat grafting, and thread lift from renowned French plastic surgeon, Dr Pierre Francois Fournier
• Appointed trainer by Allergan and Merz for fellow doctors on cosmetic injectables
• Designated trainer for PDO thread lift and Picolaser from Venusys Medical
• Graduate Diploma in Family Dermatology from NUS
• Graduate Diploma in Acupuncture from TCMB
• Graduate Diploma in Sports Medicine from LKCMedicine, NTU