21 Jan, 2016

2015 City Brands Index released: Paris, London, NYC take top spots

======

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–January 20, 2016 – New York City and Los Angeles have claimed third and fifth place, in the 2015 Anholt-GfK Roper City Brands IndexSM report, with NYC and LA improving on their 2013 rankings and DC slipping four places despite improving its score. Paris edged past London, 2013’s best city, for the top […]

20 Jan, 2016

Jewish Voice for Peace: Airbnb is profiting from Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine

======

Full text of message from  Visit StolenHomes.org, and tell Airbnb to stop listing stolen homes. Dear Friend, Imagine a gorgeous home for your next getaway: a well-stocked kitchen, pool out the patio doors, nice linens, flowers on the bedside table. Sounds great, right?  Here’s the problem: That house: stolen.  That land: stolen.  The roads on […]

20 Jan, 2016

Rising Geopolitical Threats Affecting CEOs’ Global Growth Confidence – PWC Survey released at World Economic Forum

======

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 20 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Two-thirds of CEOs (66%) see more threats facing their businesses today than three years ago.  Just over a quarter (27%) believe global growth will improve over the next 12 months, a decline of 10 points on last year. Infographics accompanying this announcement are available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/29e79b45-a0d1-4646-844f-4e6e549f96cb http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0e5e1e9a-0e0d-4bdc-85c8-abe0e96d5596 http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0217f4b5-733a-4297-8b28-476c398afabc http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/48f24355-97fa-4d6d-93cb-70efb94dd0c2 http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/aaa42e76-cb4f-415d-bfb3-40d1968cfef0 […]

18 Jan, 2016

Australia Calls for Applications to Support Artists with Disability 2016

======

Canberra, 15 January 2016- The Australia Council for the Arts is again providing dedicated funding for artists with disability and is calling for applications before the 2 February closing date. Australia Council Chief Executive Officer Tony Grybowski said this was the second year dedicated funding had been offered as part of a three-year initiative announced […]

15 Jan, 2016

Buddhism, Islam have many shared values & tenets, says head of Muslim research and history unit

======

The following is the full text of an address by Dr Halit Eren, Director-General, OIC Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) at the Symposium on “Interfaith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence in Multicultural Societies” 11-12 January 2016, Bangkok, Thailand I am pleased to greet you on behalf of the OIC Research Centre for […]

14 Jan, 2016

Princess Cruises Sleep Study Reveals Americans Prefer Getting More Sleep than Getting Fit

======

Santa Clarita, Calif., Jan. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Americans are tired of feeling tired and willing to sacrifice almost anything for more sleep in the new year, according to a new sleep-inspired survey commissioned by Princess Cruises. The Princess Cruises Sleep Survey results suggest that 2016 may be the year Americans wake up and acknowledge […]

14 Jan, 2016

South Korea, Thailand overtake Hong Kong as most popular 2015 destinations for Chinese

======

Nuremberg, Germany, January 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — GfK’s latest analyses of the Chinese market show that China produced 109 million outbound tourists in 2015 – with retail spend of US$229 billion. This is a key milestone in China’s outbound tourism history. These statistics consolidate China’s position as one of the top global sources of tourists, […]

13 Jan, 2016

Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai named citizen and Ambassador of Bethlehem

======

London, 13 Jan 2016, (OpenBethlehem.org media release) – Malala Yousafszi, the youngest ever Nobel Prize Laureate, and her father Ziauddin Yousafzai, the United Nations Special Advisor on Global Education, are our newest citizens and ambassadors of Bethlehem! “I feel very happy that I got the opportunity to see Open Bethlehem and also met the producer and director […]

13 Jan, 2016

JobStreet.com unveils “Company Reviews”, allowing employees to comment on their workplace

======

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 (Bernama) — JobStreet.com, one of Asia’s leading online employment marketplaces launched its newest product, ‘Company Reviews’, at the 18th JobStreet.com Malaysia Career and Training Fair 2016 (MCTF’16). The renowned career fair is jointly organized with long-standing partner, AIC Exhibitions Sdn Bhd and includes over 120 of Malaysia’s top employers. Company Reviews […]

13 Jan, 2016

Recognition More Important Than Pay – Chartered Accountants Association Survey

======

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 12 (Bernama) — A new report, Culture and channelling corporate behaviour: ACCA member survey, published by ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) has found that recognition at work is the highest motivator, regardless of age, industry or location – even outstripping monetary reward. The survey harnessed the views of almost 2,000 […]

13 Jan, 2016

Wanda acquires U.S. entertainment giant Legendary for $3.5b in biggest Chinese overseas deal

By Hu Yuanyuan and Yan Dongjie

Beijing, (chinadaily.com.cn)  2016-01-12 – Dalian Wanda Group Co Ltd (Wanda Group) today announced that it has acquired US Legendary Entertainment for no more than $3.5 billion in cash, marking China’s largest cross-border cultural acquisition to date.Thomas Tull will remain as Chairman and CEO of Legendary and will continue to be responsible for its day-to-day operations. […]

13 Jan, 2016

Over 1 mln Chinese tourists arrive in Australia in 2015, setting new record

======

CANBERRA, Jan. 12, (Xinhua) — Australia’s tourism boom continued in 2015 on the back of a surge in Chinese visitors, according to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Tuesday. The ABS said more than one million Chinese tourists arrived in Australia during the year, setting a new record. China continues to […]

13 Jan, 2016

Hilton Launches News Parental Leave Policies to Enhance Work-Life Balance

======

MCLEAN, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–January 12, 2016 – Hilton Worldwide’s (NYSE: HLT) industry-leading parental leave policies took effect on January 1, 2016, and now cover both hourly and salaried Team Members at Hilton’s owned and managed properties, as well as the company’s corporate offices. The new policies represent the best parental leave benefits offered by any major […]

13 Jan, 2016

50 Most Beautiful Christian Colleges and Universities in the U.S.

======

DURHAM, N.C., Jan. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Leading Christian higher education resource, Christian Universities Online (http://www.christianuniversitiesonline.org/), has published a ranking of the 50 Most Beautiful Christian Colleges and Universities in the United States for 2016:  http://www.christianuniversitiesonline.org/most-beautiful-christian-colleges-2016/ Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, GA claimed the top spot on the list. Grove City College in Grove City, […]

11 Jan, 2016

Israel Committed 1,336 Violations against Muslim-Christian Holy Sites in 2015

======

RAMALLAH, January 10, 2016 (WAFA) – Israeli authorities and settlers committed over 1336 violations against Muslim and Christian holy sites in the occupied Palestinian Territory during the year 2015, Minister of Religious Affairs and Awqaf, Yousef Ide’es, said on Sunday. He said these violations included attacks on shrines, holy sites, worship places and Islamic cemeteries. […]

11 Jan, 2016

MasterCard and Coin Sign Agreement to Power Wearable Payments

======

LAS VEGAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)– January 06, 2016 – MasterCard today announced a partnership with Coin to bring MasterCard payments to a wide array of fitness bands, smart watches and other wearable devices. This collaboration builds upon the MasterCard announcement in October introducing the Commerce for Every Device program to enable any consumer gadget, accessory or wearable […]

11 Jan, 2016

Clean Toilets top list of 2015 tourism developments in China

======

Beijing, (China Daily): 2016-01-06 — The China National Tourism Administration recently released the country’s Top 10 Tourism News of last year. The industry played a positive role in driving investment, consumption and export, as well as economic development in 2015. And the top 10 covers major events and reflects the ongoing reform and upgrading of […]

10 Jan, 2016

Indian visitor arrivals +4.4% in 2015, but US$ tourism earnings -2.8%

======

New Delhi, 08-January-2016, Ministry of Tourism media release – Ministry of Tourism compiles monthly estimates of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) on the basis of Nationality-wise, Port-wise data received from Bureau of Immigration (BOI) and Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from tourism on the basis of data available from Reserve Bank of India. Following are the important […]

10 Jan, 2016

UK to launch 2-year visitor visas for Chinese nationals on Jan. 11

======

LONDON, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) — Britain’s new two-year visitor visas for Chinese nationals is to be launched on Monday, Jan. 11, the British Home Office announced Wednesday. The new visa will cost 85 pounds (125 U.S. dollars), the same as the existing six-month visitor visa, and will enable successful applicants to make multiple trips to […]

6 Jan, 2016

FREE DOWNLOAD: OAG report on world’s most punctual airlines and airports, 2015

======

CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–OAG, the global leader in air travel intelligence, has released the results of the OAG Punctuality League 2015, the industry’s most comprehensive annual ranking of on-time performance (OTP) for the world’s airlines and airports. For the first time, this year’s league table incorporates enhanced depth and coverage from the newly consolidated flight status and […]

6 Jan, 2016

Hilton Mobilises Hotels to Find Solutions to Global Issues

======

January 06, 2016, MCLEAN, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Four years after launching its corporate responsibility strategy, Travel with Purpose, Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) says its investments in global partnerships and programs to activate hotel and office teams is not only driving positive social impact, but also supporting long-term business success. “Travel with Purpose has played an important role […]

5 Jan, 2016

Thailand’s Buri Ram Province to use King’s Sufficiency Economy as Future Development Model

======

Bangkok, 4 January 2016, Thai government Public Relations Department – Buri Ram province, in lower northeastern Thailand, aims to develop itself as one of the most livable cities in the world, based on the concept of “Sufficiency Economy.” Buri Ram Governor Seri Srihatrai said that the issue was discussed at a workshop of local administrators […]

5 Jan, 2016

Call for Entries: 2016 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation

======

Bangkok – Submissions are now being accepted for the 2016 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. The Awards recognize the efforts of private individuals and organizations that have successfully restored or conserved structures, places and properties of heritage value in the region. The Awards emphasize the importance of the conservation process, including the technical […]

4 Jan, 2016

Indonesian human rights expert resigns U.N. role after Israel blocks him from occupied Palestine

======

United Nations, (UN News Centre) 4 January 2016 – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian territories is resigning due to Israel’s failure to grant him access to the areas he is tasked with monitoring. “Unfortunately, my efforts to help improve the lives of Palestinian victims of […]

4 Jan, 2016

Australia mandates full recovery of student loans from overseas residents

======

Canberra, 1 January 2016, Australian government Media Release – From today, people who have benefited from Australian student loans and now live overseas will pay for them the same way as they would if they lived in Australia. Minister for Education and Training Senator Simon Birmingham said it was estimated that up to $30 million […]

4 Jan, 2016

Australia sets stronger protections for vocational education and training students

======

Canberra,  1 January 2016, Australian government Media Release – Tough new rules to protect vocational education and training students from unscrupulous training providers commence today. Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, Luke Hartsuyker, said the new rules will help stamp out the predatory behaviours that have seen some training providers deliberately target vulnerable people in […]

4 Jan, 2016

Jewish Extremist Group Calls for Torching Jerusalem Churches

======

JERUSALEM, January 3, 2016 (WAFA) – The leader of the extremist anti-assimilation group Lehava recently renewed his calls to torch churches in occupied Jerusalem, Israeli media sources revealed. Lehava’s leader, Bentzi Gopstein, told the Israeli TV Channel II that Israeli Jews practically prevent Christians from entering Jerusalem, saying that Christian presence in Jerusalem was not […]

2 Jan, 2016

US Sued over Billions of Tax-Exempt Donations for Illegal Israeli Settlements

======

RAMALLAH, December 31, 2015 (WAFA) – A lawsuit has been filed in a US court seeking to stop US-based non-profit entities from sending billions of dollars of tax-exempt donations for illegal Israeli settlements and Israeli military. The lawsuit was filed by Martin McMahon and Associates on behalf of Arab—American plaintiffs, including Palestinian American writer Susan […]

2 Jan, 2016

Business Travel Survey: 15% Admit Having an Affair on the Road & Padding Expense Reports

======

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–December 30, 2015 – As airlines continue to struggle with effective ways to remain profitable, their biggest challenge remains how to maintain customer satisfaction from millions of passengers, including the business traveler who is the backbone of the airline industry. In a recent survey conducted among 1,500 business travelers, ExpertFlyer.com and View from […]

1 Jan, 2016

International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, 2017: Full text of UN General Assembly resolution

======

The following is the full text of the Resolution declaring 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, as adopted by the UN General Assembly on 22 December 2015: The General Assembly,Reaffirming its resolutions 53/199 of 15 December 1998 and 61/185 of 20 December 2006 on the proclamation of international years, Economic and […]

1 Jan, 2016

Formal Establishment of ASEAN Community Sees Both Opportunities, Challenges

======

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia Dec 31 (NNN-Bernama) — As another significant milestone in its history and the regional integration process, Dec 31 finally witnesses the formal establishment of the ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Community. Despite the euphoria and excitement, Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said in a statement on this special day that […]

31 Dec, 2015

European tourists staying away from Israel in droves | The Electronic Intifada

======

A deeper look at the official statistics reveals that Israel is actually experiencing a dramatic and sustained decline in tourism from European countries, its most important markets, that cannot be attributed just to recent events. In the 11 months from January to November 2013, 2.1 million European tourists visited Israel – accounting for about three […]

31 Dec, 2015

Travel Advisory for Muslims in America: Exercise caution and report discrimination

======

Washington, DC | www.adc.org | December 30, 2015 – The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) advises community members to exercise caution and vigilance while traveling over the holidays. Those flying on commercial airlines should excerise special caution. Please take your safety seriously when you receive threats of violence to yourself or your relatives and report any discrimination or […]

31 Dec, 2015

Sustainable Development Goals to kick in with start of New Year

======

United Nations, (UN News Centre) Dec 30, 2015 – As 2015 comes to an end, and with it the 15-year cycle of the anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the United Nations officially will usher in – on 1 January 2016 – an even more ambitious set of goals to banish a whole host of social […]

30 Dec, 2015

The Truth About Alcohol – Special Report to promote responsible drinking over the festive season

======

WebMD, a U.S. medical and health information website, has issued a special report about the good and bad side of alcohol consumption. As there is going to be a LOT of alcohol consumed in the next few days, this Travel Impact Newswire compilation of the weblinks is intended to help save a few livers and […]

30 Dec, 2015

Ford Trends Report 2016: Despite Challenges, Consumers Increasingly Driven To Make The World A Better Place

======

DEARBORN, Mich.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–December 28, 2015  – In a world of constant and dramatic change, new insights from Ford’s Looking Further with Ford 2016 trend report reveal a renewed sense of inspiration and ingenuity among consumers striving for a better quality of life in the New Year – motivated more than ever to make the world […]

27 Dec, 2015

More Than One Million People Will Celebrate New Year’s Eve in 150 Countries on Airbnb

======

SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–December 17, 2015 – Airbnb, the world’s leading community-driven hospitality company, today announced that on New Year’s Eve 2015, it is projected that over one million people will stay in an Airbnb, the company’s largest bookings to date for a single night. In true globetrotting fashion, travelers hailing from 170 countries will stay […]

27 Dec, 2015

Project Launched to Help Children with Autism Fly Comfortably

======

LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE) – Dec 23, 2015 –A new initiative has been launched to offer parents the opportunity to take their child with autism on a short experience flight so they can assess how they cope with the whole process and develop strategies to overcome any issues. The lives of thousands of families are affected by […]

26 Dec, 2015

Jakarta’s Archbishop expresses gratitude for peaceful Christmas services

======

Jakarta (ANTARA News) 25 December 2015 – – Jakartas Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo expressed gratitude to all law enforcers and the government for their efforts to ensure that the Christmas services were held smoothly and peacefully. “Allow me to express gratitude to all government officials, the president, the vice president, the National Police chief, the commander […]

26 Dec, 2015

Dampened by Violence, Christmas Celebrations Held in Bethlehem

======

BETHLEHEM, December 24, 2014 (WAFA) – Overshadowed by the ongoing violence since early October 2015 and the death of over 135 Palestinians, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal arrived Thursday at Bethlehem’s Manger Square, marking the start of Christmas Eve celebrations in Palestine. Twal’s procession took off from the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem and made […]

22 Dec, 2015

U.S. Muslim Leaders Announce Campaigns to Enhance National Security, Address Rising Islamophobia

======

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 12/21/15) — The US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), a coalition of leading national and local Muslim organizations, today announced major educational, outreach and civic empowerment initiatives to address growing Islamophobia in America and to enhance national security through the promotion of freedom and justice. [The USCMO news conference was aired live on […]

21 Dec, 2015

Huge future for Iran’s railroad projects

======

TEHRAN, Dec 18, (NNN-IRNA) – Following the nuclear deal struck between Iran and world powers on July 14 this year, it is widely expected that sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council will be lifted sometime in January. Once this happens, Iran will be free to start doing business with the many national delegations that […]

19 Dec, 2015

‘Palestinian children live in trauma without end’ – Al Jazeera English

Rafah, Gaza Strip – Ismail Abu Shebab, a shy 11-year-old taking a break from school, opened his mouth to speak – but the overhead roar of Israeli warplanes made his words nearly inaudible. As the aircraft came closer, Abu Shebab grew silent. “I’m ready to talk,” he said after a few moments. Abu Shebab suffers […]

19 Dec, 2015

Global Defence Budgets to Hit US$1.68 Trillion in 2016 as Security Fears Grow – Jane’s Annual Report

======

LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Dec 16, 2015 — Security fears and threats to stability have driven many Western governments to end cuts to defence spending, according to a new report released today by IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS), the leading global source of critical information and insight. The IHS Jane’s Defence Budgets Annual Report examines and forecasts defence expenditure […]

18 Dec, 2015

2015 ends with inspiring journalistic win for Travel Impact Newswire editor

======

By Imtiaz Muqbil, Executive Editor The year 2015 has ended for me on a high note with an inspiring journalistic victory accentuating the 100% accuracy of my analysis and forecasts. Roger Cohen, a columnist of the International Herald Tribune and New York Times, has all but echoed my repeated references to the Jewish fanatic extremist […]

17 Dec, 2015

1,000 Black Activists, Artists, and Scholars Demand Justice for Palestine

======

Over 1,000 Black activists, artists, scholars, students, and organizations have launched a statement expressing their solidarity and commitment to ensuring justice for Palestinians. Signatories to the statement span a wide cross-section of Black activists and scholars, including Angela Davis, Boots Riley, Cornel West, dream hampton, Emory Douglas, Mumia Abu-Jamal, Pam Africa, Patrisse Cullors, Phil Hutchings, […]

17 Dec, 2015

Israel Closes Major Hebron Road with Barbed Wires

======

HEBRON, December 15, 2015 (WAFA) – Israeli troops Tuesday placed barbed wires and closed a major road in Hebron, according to local sources. WAFA correspondent said Israeli troops closed a number of entrances which lead to Tal Rumeideh neighborhood and al-Shuhadaa Street in Hebron, under the pretext of ongoing rehabilitation of a military checkpoint in […]

17 Dec, 2015

Israel to Demolish Three Palestinian-owned Homes near Bethlehem

======

BETHLEHEM, December 16, 2015 (WAFA) – Israeli authorities Wednesday notified to demolish three two-storey homes belonging to local Palestinians in the village of al-Khader, south of Bethlehem, according to local sources. Ibrahim Salem, one of the owners, told WAFA that an Israeli army force stormed the village and broke into his house after smashing the […]

17 Dec, 2015

Palestinian Woman, 19, Succumbs to Wounds Sustained in Nablus Shooting

======

NABLUS, December 16, 2015 (WAFA) – A 19-year-old young Palestinian woman Wednesday succumbed to wounds she sustained during an Israeli shooting at a major Nablus checkpoint in November, said security sources. On Wednesday afternoon, Samah ‘Abdul-Mu’men from ‘Ammuriya village, south of Nablus, succumbed to critical wounds she sustained after Israeli troops shot and seriously injured […]

17 Dec, 2015

Danish Fund Divests From German Company Operating in West Bank Settlements

======

TEL AVIV, December 15, 2015 (WAFA) – Denmark’s largest private pension fund, FPA Pension, with assets close to $50 billion, is withdrawing its investments from the international construction materials corporation Heidelberg Cement, due to its indirect involvement in exploiting the natural resources of the occupied West Bank, the Israeli daily Haaretz said. FPA said it […]

17 Dec, 2015

U.N. Civil Society Forum on Palestine Mulls Innovative Ways to End Israeli Occupation

======

JAKARTA, 16 December, UN Information Service — After the two-day International Conference on the Question of Jerusalem concluded on 15 December, the United Nations Civil Society Forum on the Question of Palestine met this morning to hear from experts and engage in discussions on the theme of “Civil society action in support of justice in Palestine […]

17 Dec, 2015

Israeli Troops Kills 2 Palestinians near Jerusalem, Death Toll Hits 124

======

JERUSALEM, December 16, 2015 (WAFA) – Two Palestinians Wednesday were fatally shot and four others injured by Israeli troops during a predawn military raid on Qalandia refugee camp, north of Jerusalem, according to medical sources. Local sources said hundreds of Israeli troops and undercover forces broke into the camp at about 1:00 am, provoking clashes […]

17 Dec, 2015

Amid Violence in Holy City, International Conference on Future of Jerusalem Convenes in Jakarta

======

JAKARTA, 14 December 2015, United Nations Information Service — The two-day International Conference on the Question of Jerusalem opened in Jakarta, Indonesia, this morning under the theme “Addressing the present and shaping the future” of the city also known as Al-Quds Al-Sharif. Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, said it was no […]

17 Dec, 2015

Indonesia to open consulate in Ramallah, Palestine, in early 2016

======

Selasa, 15 December 2015 (Antara News) – Indonesia will officially open an honorary consulate in Ramallah in early 2016 and will be led by a Palestinian, a foreign ministry official stated here on Tuesday. “Our honorary consul will indeed be a Palestinian citizen and will be posted in Ramallah,” the foreign ministry’s director general for […]

17 Dec, 2015

No Festive Season in the Holy Land as unrelenting violence causes nearly one death a day

======

United Nations, (UN News Centre) 15 December 2015 – Although international attention has waned regarding the crisis in Israel and the Occupied Palestine Territory, the United Nations human rights office today warned that the region is still rife with violence and the recent escalation in the fighting has claimed 117 Palestinian lives, along with two […]

16 Dec, 2015

China to launch 10 pilot reforms for state enterprises in 2016

======

(Xinhua), 12-12- 2015, BEIJING – China is to launch pilot reforms for state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in 10 areas in 2016, including ownership and executive hiring policy, a senior official said Friday. Peng Huagang, deputy secretary general of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) of the State Council, made the remarks at a press briefing in […]

16 Dec, 2015

Holiday Grinches: New Study Shows How to Deal With Argumentative People

======

Montreal, Canada (PRWEB) December 12, 2015 – It’s inevitable: Most people will agree that there is always one family member who can’t help but start an argument at nearly every family get-together. The question is, why? Research from Queendom.com indicates that although “Holiday Grinches” tend to have difficulty controlling their temper, the source of their […]

16 Dec, 2015

China announces 10 major programs to boost links with Africa over three years

======

Xinhua, 04-12-2015, JOHANNESBURG — Chinese President Xi Jinping announced here Friday that his country will roll out 10 major plans to boost cooperation with Africa in the coming three years. Proposing to lift the China-Africa relationship to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the second summit of the […]

16 Dec, 2015

Which U.S. Presidential candidate would you like as a holiday season seatmate: GroundLink Surveys Business Travelers

======

NEW YORK, NY (PRWEB) DECEMBER 10, 2015 – With the holidays around the corner and the 2016 presidential candidates continuing to make headlines, GroundLink®, a leading tech-enabled black car service, surveyed more than 500 frequent business travelers on their opinions on holiday travel. When it comes to mixing holiday travel and politics, nearly 40 percent […]

16 Dec, 2015

Uber Legal Challenge Squashes Public Records Request on Eve of Seattle City Council Vote

======

SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–December 11, 2015  – On the eve of a Seattle City Council vote that could grant collective bargaining rights to Uber drivers, Uber has sued King County and Seattle law firm Keller Rohrback L.L.P. to try to block a public records request for the number of licensed Uber drivers in Seattle. The Seattle City […]

16 Dec, 2015

Vormetric Survey: Data Breaches Would Threaten Americans’ Loyalty to Their Favorite Retailer

======

SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Vormetric, a specialist in enterprise data security for physical, virtual, big data and cloud environments, today announced in conjunction with Wakefield the results of its survey on how Americans’ would change their shopping behaviors if their favorite retailer was hit by a data breach. The survey revealed that […]

16 Dec, 2015

America’s Health Rankings Report: Rising Drug Deaths, Obesity, Children in Poverty Pose Challenges

======

MINNETONKA, Minn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Americans are making meaningful progress on key health metrics including smoking less and leading less sedentary lifestyles, but rising rates of drug deaths, obesity, diabetes and children in poverty signal serious challenges, according to United Health Foundation’s 26th America’s Health Rankings® Annual Report: A Call to Action for Individuals & Their Communities. United […]

16 Dec, 2015

Brookhaven Retreat Offers Tips to Manage Stress During This Festive/Hectic Season

======

(PRWEB) DECEMBER 10, 2015 – As late-fall and winter tend to be busy to the point of hectic, Brookhaven Retreat offers tips for self-care to manage stress. “Creating a life worth living is something that happens slowly, one step at a time,” says Jacqueline Dawes, founder and owner of Brookhaven Retreat. “It’s about being realistic, […]

16 Dec, 2015

For the first time, all countries empowered to nominate candidates for next UN Secretary-General

======

United Nations, (UN News Centre) 15 December 2015 – The 193 Member States of the United Nations will for the first time be included “totally” in the selection of the next UN Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly said today, pledging to make the process as transparent and inclusive as possible. Speaking to reporters […]

13 Dec, 2015

World’s richest 10% produce half of global carbon emissions – Oxfam report

======

London, 2 December 2015, (Oxfam media release) – The poorest half of the world’s population – 3.5 billion people – is responsible for just 10 percent of carbon emissions, despite being the most threatened by the catastrophic storms, droughts, and other severe weather shocks linked to climate change.  These are the findings of a new […]

13 Dec, 2015

Leading U.S. anthropologists group passes Israel boycott resolution with 88% yes-vote

======

By an overwhelming vote of 1,040 in favor and 136 against (88 percent), the American Anthropological Association (AAA) overwhelmingly approved a historic resolution to boycott Israeli academic institutions to honor the call of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign (BDS). The association voted at its annual business conference in Denver, Colorado, becoming the largest scholarly institution in the […]

13 Dec, 2015

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to open in mid-January 2016

======

Beijing, (Xinhua), December 03, 2015 – The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will open in mid-January next year, said Chen Huan, who is in charge of preparations for the bank’s launch. It will meet the requirements for opening at the end of December, Chen said.   According to an agreement, the AIIB will be eligible […]

13 Dec, 2015

China needs $293 billion to met 2017 air pollution reduction target

======

Beijing (China Daily.com.cn)  November 20, 2015 – An estimated investment of at least 1.87 trillion yuan ($ 293 billion) is needed to meet the target of the national plan to control air pollution, and current funds are inadequate, said a report on Thursday. A report, titled Investment Requirements and Potential Effects of Implementing China’s Air […]

13 Dec, 2015

The Forbes 400: Wealthiest 20 people own more wealth than half the U.S. population

By Chuck Collins and Josh Hoxie

WASHINGTON DC, Institute for Policy Studies, December 1, 2015 – This report exposes the extreme wealth concentrated within the fortunes of the 400 wealthiest Americans and compares this wealth to the much more meager assets of several different segments of American society. The report proposes several solutions to close the growing gap between the ultra […]

13 Dec, 2015

Indonesia to host international conference on Jerusalem

======

Nusa Dua, Bali (ANTARA News) 12 December 2015 – Indonesia will host a two-day international conference on Jerusalem held by the United Nation Committee on Palestine (CEIRPP) to start on Monday in Jakarta. The delegates will discuss the status of Jerusalem and cooperation to resolve the Palestinian conflicts, Multilateral Director General at the Foreign Ministry […]

13 Dec, 2015

UN General Assembly passes resolution to curb illegal, unregulated fisheries

======

United Nations, UN Media release, 8 December 2015 — With more than two dozen speakers and the heads of two of the world’s ocean and sea authorities proclaiming the crucial importance of healthy oceans and seas to coastal and landlocked States alike, the General Assembly today adopted a resolution on sustainable fisheries without a vote […]

9 Dec, 2015

Travel & Tourism in the New World Order: A Forecast for 2016

======

Decision-making is a major challenge today. Too much change is taking place too fast across too many sectors, with too little time to think and respond. Like airline pilots and ship captains, with the safety and security of their passengers at stake, all decision-makers need to be forewarned about the “weather conditions” that lie ahead […]

7 Dec, 2015

UN General Assembly Resolutions Urge Concerted Global Efforts to Advance Culture of Peace, Non-Violence

======

United Nations, UN media release, Dec 3, 2015 – Confronting an increasingly polarized world where religious intolerance, discrimination, xenophobia, conflict and the emergence of new extremist ideologies abounded, the General Assembly today adopted, without a vote, two resolutions that stressed the advancement of a culture of peace and non-violence based on education, tolerance, dialogue and […]

7 Dec, 2015

In global first, Newswire Editor unveils simplified format of UN Sustainable Development Goals

======

In a global first, Travel Impact Newswire Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil has crafted a  simplified version of the 17-point Sustainable Development Goals to make it easier for the SDGs to be implemented by the rapidly-growing travel & tourism industry. Two presentations given in Bangkok and Vientiane respectively on Dec 2 and 4 to explain the […]

2 Dec, 2015

FREE Download: Presentations from UNWTO Seminar on Islamic Culture and its Impact on Asian Tourism

======

Brunei Darussalam (UNWTO media release) – The 1st Regional Seminar on the Contribution of Islamic Culture and its Impact on the Asian Tourism Market was held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam from 16 – 17 November 2015. The seminar was organized jointly by UNWTO and Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism of Brunei Darussalam. The […]

1 Dec, 2015

India Needs to Beef Up its Tolerance Levels

======

By Punam Mohandas It seems I’m picking up right where I left off; I thought the Aamir Khan outrageously intolerant statement would have been debated to death by now but no, apparently we’re still picking the carcass clean! And so, much like the movie Don, here is the sequel to my previous article too. Gyaarah […]

30 Nov, 2015

Shanghai plans to offer free HIV intervention therapy to MSM group

======

Shanghai, (People’s Daily Online), November 23, 2015 – Men who have sex with men (MSM) are responsible for a growing share of AIDS transmissions, according to the latest report released by Shanghai City Disease Prevention and Control Center on Saturday. Medical experts said Shanghai plans to give free intervention therapy to MSM group, but few […]

30 Nov, 2015

Chinese gay men hit hard by HIV/AIDS epidemic

======

hanghai (China Daily) Updated: 2015-11-20  – China has reported nearly 110,000 HIV/AIDS cases so far this year, a slight increase over last year, said the nation’s top AIDS specialist.The gay male population has been hit particularly hard, accounting for more than 25 percent of the total. Wu Zunyou, head of the National Center for AIDS/STD […]

30 Nov, 2015

Gay sex blamed for rise in young Chinese students with HIV/AIDS

======

Bejing, (chinadaily.com.cn) 2015-11-25 20:11 – The HIV/AIDS epidemic is hitting young Chinese students, particularly males, hard with annually reported cases surging more than four times in the past seven years, said the nation’s top AIDS specialist. China has reported more than 3,400 student cases of HIV/AIDS this year, compared with 779 in 2008, said Wu […]

30 Nov, 2015

US caused $4 trillion in damage over 23 years of carbon emissions: Bangladesh human rights groups

======

DHAKA, Nov 29, 2015 (BSS) – Rights organizations today renewed their call to the rich nations to pay compensation to the affected countries for climate change as they said only the United States has incurred a damage of debt of $4 trillion during the period 1990-2013. At a human chain titled “Rich Countries, You don’t […]

30 Nov, 2015

Rich world urged to pay climate bill

======

MENAFN – Gulf Times – 29/11/2015- Latin America will demand that the richest and most polluting countries foot the bill for reducing harmful emissions at the world climate summit starting tomorrow. Countries in one of the world’s poorest and most environmentally diverse regions have failed to agree on many things and do not have a […]

29 Nov, 2015

Chinese Billionaire Aims to Build World’s Most Profitable Sports Company

======

Beijing, (Xinhua) November 28, 2015 – Chinese billionaire Wang Jianlin never conceals his ambition to build a world leading sports company. Wang’s Wanda Group has set up Wanda Sports company, an integration of sports marketing company Infront Sports & Media and World Triathlon Corporation (WTC). Wanda Group, a real estate giant in China, announced on […]

29 Nov, 2015

Asia’s Largest Underground Railway Station to Open in Shenzhen

By Zhu Xi

Shenzhen, (People’s Daily Online) November 26, 2015 – The construction of Asia’s largest underground high-speed railway station has been completed in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, and is expected to put into operation by the end of this year, announced the Guangzhou Railway Group on November 15, 2015. The Futian Railway Station, the Hong Kong-Shenzhen-Guangzhou […]

29 Nov, 2015

Acclaimed Palestinian theatre in Jerusalem faces closure

======

Jerusalem (IINA) 28 Nov 2015– The Palestinian National Theater, which for three decades has been the leading performing arts and cultural centre for Arabs in occupied Jerusalem, is facing closure after running up large municipal debts, its director said on Friday. Known as “Al Hakawati” (The Storyteller), the theater has amassed unpaid bills of $150,000 […]

28 Nov, 2015

Hong Kong Airlines’ “Fly with Faith – Taipei Tour for Seniors” Creates Memorable Journey for the Elderly

======

HONG KONG, Nov. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Senior citizens contribute to the society with their wealth of experience and knowledge. To show our gratitude and respect for them, Hong Kong Airlines co-organized “Fly with Faith-Taipei Tour for Seniors” with Pok Oi Hospital yesterday, sponsoring return air tickets to Taipei, afternoon tea buffet and coach service […]

27 Nov, 2015

Victims of war, apostles of peace – The Hindu

======

By Shiv Visvanathan Yet the message of these women needs to be listened to. They are suggesting that the official answer to genocide, the security discourse, is inadequate. It leaves nations, corporations, warlords and even the security discourse untainted. It is ordinary people, NGOs, women’s groups, spiritual leaders, trade unions like SEWA, ecology forums dreaming […]

26 Nov, 2015

Israel loses UN General Assembly vote on Palestine by overwhelming 153-7 margin, ignores result

======

United Nations, UN media release, 24 November 2015 – The General Assembly today adopted six resolutions on Palestinian and Middle East issues, as diverse as the Syrian Golan and the United Nations special information programme on the question of Palestine, all by recorded votes, exposing divisions in the world body. A resolution on Jerusalem called for […]

26 Nov, 2015

Aamir Khan and the Incredibly Intolerant Indian

======

by Punam Mohandas Shoot the messenger (for f***s sake, that’s a figurative statement; don’t get your knickers in a twist!) by all means, but the message still remains. One refers of course, to the latest controversy rocking India, which doesn’t seem to have much on its plate at the moment (poverty? Fiddlesticks. Female foeticide? Pah. […]

26 Nov, 2015

Lockdown Impact: Paris, Brussels Suffer Mass Cancellations

======

London, Forwardkeys News Release, 25 November 2015 – Flight bookings to Brussels have collapsed in the wake of the recent attacks in Paris and the lockdown in Brussels, as police search for more suspects. According to the latest figures from travel data analyst, ForwardKeys, net bookings, which take into account both daily bookings and cancellations, […]

25 Nov, 2015

Unprecedented Backlash Against American Muslims After Paris Attacks

======

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/24/15) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today released an initial report on the unprecedented backlash and discrimination targeting the nation’s Muslim community since the November 13 terror attacks in Paris. [A more comprehensive report on the backlash is to be issued at a later date.] […]

24 Nov, 2015

Prevention Better Than Cure, UN Chief Says in First Open Debate on Root Causes of Conflict

======

United Nations, UN media release, 17 November 2015 – Today’s violent conflicts, most recently marked by terrorist attacks in Paris, Beirut and Baghdad, were often rooted in a mix of exclusion, inequality and governance failures, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the Security Council today, urging a greater focus on prevention, human rights and coherence among all […]

24 Nov, 2015

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Cannot Be Separated from Global Terrorism Threat, UN Security Council told

======

United Nations, UN media release, 19 November 2015 – The abhorrent terrorist attacks in Paris, Beirut and Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula reinforced the reality that the extremism and terrorism infecting many parts of the Middle East was not constrained by borders, and that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could not be separated from the global threat of terrorism, […]

24 Nov, 2015

Speakers in UN General Assembly Sound Alarm as Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Continues to Fester

======

United Nations, UN media release, 23 November 2015 – The world was just one major provocation in Jerusalem away from a descent into an unprecedented religious war, the General Assembly was told today as it took up the question of Palestine and heard the introduction of four draft resolutions on that matter. With conflicts in […]

24 Nov, 2015

UN Deputy Secretary-General Says Children in Gaza Do Not Feel Diplomatic Advances, Only Glaring Lack of Hope

======

United Nations, UN media release, 23 November 2015 – Following are Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson’s remarks at the meeting on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, in New York today: I present this statement on behalf of the Secretary-General, who today is travelling.  One year ago, the General Assembly commemorated the International […]

24 Nov, 2015

Palestinians Call on International Powers to End Biased Policies in Applying Justice

======

United Nations, UN Information Service, 23 November 2015 – In a meeting commemorating the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, to be observed 29 November, the Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine called on the international community to stop selective and biased policies in applying justice, stressing that the lack of implementation of […]

24 Nov, 2015

ASEAN Parliamentarians Blast Excessive Focus on “Economic” Integration, Minus Social Agenda

======

Full text of statement issued by 23 Nov 2015 by Charles Santiago, Malaysian Member of Parliament and Chairperson, ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) following the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur. It’s the 27th time that ASEAN heads of state and world leaders have met to discuss the initiative for ASEAN integration, which deals with gaps […]

24 Nov, 2015

Amid violence, ‘glaring lack of hope,’ UN deputy chief urges action to break Israeli-Palestinian impasse

======

United Nations, (UN News Centre) 23 November 2015 – Nearly 12 months after the launch of the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People with the aim of generating global engagement on ‘the Question of Palestine,’ security and hope in Gaza and in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, remain at a “very […]

23 Nov, 2015

Settling Israeli-Palestinian conflict would help curb terrorism, says UN Middle East envoy

======

United Nations, (UN News Centre) 19 November 2015 – Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would help counter the extremism behind the “abhorrent terrorist attacks” in Paris, Beirut and the Sinai, a senior United Nations official on the Middle East peace process said today, referring to last week’s bloody attacks and the downing of a Russian plane […]

23 Nov, 2015

New Green America Campaign Calls Out Hasbro And Disney For Sweatshop-made Toys

======

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — One week before the “Black Friday,” Green America, the DC-based consumer advocacy organization, is launching a campaign calling on Disney and Hasbro to improve conditions for the overseas workers that make their products. In particular, the Green America campaign calls for these companies to create a safe work environment […]

23 Nov, 2015

Nearly 1 million international students now in U.S. colleges: report

======

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) — Almost a million international students were currently studying at colleges and universities across the United States, a new report said on Monday. According to latest data from the 2015 Open Doors Report, an annual survey by the U.S. Institute of International Education, the number of international students at U.S. colleges […]