SUVA -- Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama stressed here on Thursday women's important role in advancing the Pacific development in the future.
Speaking at the first Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Women Leaders meeting in Suva, capital of Fiji, Bainimarama said that Fiji and the Pacific are ready for further regional development that includes women more fully in trade, agriculture and industrial policies. (Fiji-Women Leaders Meeting)
- - - -
MUMBAI -- A two-storey building collapsed in India's financial capital Mumbai at Wednesday midnight, killing one person and injuring 18 others.
Of the injured, 17 have been discharged after preliminary treatment at the hospital, while one is still undergoing treatment and is in stable condition. (India-Building Collapse-Mumbai)
- - - -
KABUL -- A total of 5,159 Afghan refugees have returned from neighboring Pakistan and Iran, the country's Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation Affairs confirmed on Thursday.
Up to 4,986 Afghans returned via border crossing points in the western Nimroz and neighboring Herat provinces from Iran, and 173 undocumented refugees arrived in the southern Kandahar province from Pakistan, the ministry said in a statement. (Afghanistan-Refugees)
- - - -
KUALA LUMPUR -- The number of foreign tourist arrivals to Malaysia is expected to hit 5 million by the end of this year, according to the country's largest association for travel and tour.
The easing of restrictions since April 1 and the renewed surge in international travel put the industry in a good position to recover, Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) President Tan Kok Liang told Xinhua in a phone interview. (Malaysia-Tourism-Rebound)
