23 Nov, 2015

ASEAN Confers First Peoples’ Award 2015

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KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 (Bernama) — In commemorating the establishment of the ASEAN Community end of this year, ASEAN will for the first time award and honour ASEAN Member States’ individuals or organisations who have made outstanding contributions toward the creation of a united, prosperous and caring ASEAN Community with the theme “Building A Vibrant […]

22 Nov, 2015

World Bank-PwC study: Electronic reforms have made it much easier for companies to pay taxes

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WARSAW, Poland, Nov 19 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Electronic tax filing and payments were the most common tax reforms undertaken by countries worldwide during the past year, according to the latest edition of the Paying Taxes report from the World Bank Group and PwC. As a result, paying taxes became easier for medium sized companies globally, but the […]

22 Nov, 2015

ASEAN Strategic Plan Launched for SME development

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia Nov 21 (NNN-Bernama) — The ASEAN Strategic Action Plan for SME Development (2016-2025) will place more focus on innovation, technology and productivity of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). In unveiling the plan today, International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed said the document was built on the achievements of the previous 2010-2015 […]

21 Nov, 2015

First Annual Drone World Expo a “success” – Global skies soon to be full of them

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SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–November 19, 2015 – JD Events hosted an extremely successful launch of Drone World Expo earlier this week at the San Jose Convention Center. The exhibit hall floor featured 75 exhibiting companies and the event attracted 2,120 commercial drone professionals. The exhibitors responded enthusiastically about their experience at the new trade show […]

16 Nov, 2015

Israeli Knesset Pushes Bill to Ban BDS Supporters Entry to Israel

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RAMALLAH, November 12, 2015 (WAFA) – The Israeli Knesset Thursday advanced a bill to ban the entry of individuals who support boycotting Israel. The Knesset announced in a press release that the preliminary reading of the bill was approved with a majority of 55 to 31 votes. The bill was pushed a day after the […]

14 Nov, 2015

Eight Iranian universities among world top universities

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Tehran, Nov 10, IRNA – Deputy minister of science, research and technology Hossein Salar-Amoli said on Tuesday that eight Iranian universities are among top 800 universities, as Iran advanced from 16th to 15th position on the survey conducted by the Information Science Institute Universities of Tehran, Shahid Beheshti, Sharif, Allameh Tabatabaei, Khajeh-Nasir, Elm-o San’at, Fredosi […]

14 Nov, 2015

China to become Australia’s biggest international tourism market: report

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MELBOURNE, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) — China is expected to overtake New Zealand as Australia’s largest tourism market by 2019-20, according to a report released on Tuesday. Tourism Research Australia said in its 10-year forecast for the nation’s tourism industry that tourism spending is likely to exceed 100 billion U.S. dollars by 2025. The independent research […]

14 Nov, 2015

China’s mobile Internet users hit 875 mln

BEIJING, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) — The number of people in China using mobile Internet has surpassed 875 million, according to an industry report released on Tuesday. China has the world’s largest population of mobile Internet users. The value of the market is expected to exceed 2.3 trillion yuan (362.2 billion U.S. dollars) by year end […]

14 Nov, 2015

Chinese leader vows faster economic structural reform

BEIJING, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) — China will accelerate economic structural reform on the supply front to lend more steam to sustainable growth, President Xi Jinping said Tuesday. Proactive fiscal policy and prudent monetary policy will be applied to offer a stable macro environment for economic restructuring, Xi told a meeting of the Central Leading Group […]

14 Nov, 2015

American Express, Airbnb Launch First Booking Experience and Loyalty Program Integration

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NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–November 03, 2015  – American Express (NYSE:AXP) and Airbnb announce a first-of-its-kind tech integration that enables U.S. Card Members to quickly and seamlessly sign up for Airbnb and book stays at close to 2 million listings around the globe. Starting today, Card Members can create an Airbnb account with their existing americanexpress.com User […]

14 Nov, 2015

Obesity on the rise among Filipinos

MANILA, Philippines Nov. 9 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Philippines National Nutrition Council (NNC) has expressed alarm over overweight and obesity which is becoming an “emerging problem” in the country, saying that this will result in a future generation of unhealthy Filipinos. “Unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle are now resulting in many Filipino children being overweight and […]

14 Nov, 2015

GCC States Able to Withstand Oil Price Decline – Minister

DOHA, Qatar, Nov 10 (NNN-KUNA) – Kuwait Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Acting Minister of Electricity and Water, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, said, the GCC States are able to withstand the ongoing decline in oil prices, through their cooperative consensus inside the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah […]

14 Nov, 2015

Energy Security “Pivotal” for Economic Development – Asian Ministers

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DOHA, Qatar, Nov 10 (NNN-QNA) – The sixth Asian Energy Ministerial Round-Table, concluded late Monday, with participants unanimously agreeing on significance of energy security, as pivotal for economic development. Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Acting Minister of Electricity and Water, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, headed Kuwait’s delegation to the one-day event. Qatari […]

14 Nov, 2015

Most Chinese couples want two children, top health official says

By WANG XIAODONG

Beijing, 10 Nov 2015, (chinadaily.com.cn) – Most couples in China want to have two children once the national policy allowing a second child is implemented next year, China’s top health authority said Tuesday. Surveys show that married couples between the ages of 20 and 44 want to have an average of 1.93 children, Wang Pei’an, […]

14 Nov, 2015

China to start direct trading between RMB, Swiss Franc

BEIJING, (Xinhua), 10 Nov 2015 – China announced Monday that it will allow direct trading between the Chinese yuan and Swiss Franc in the inter-bank foreign exchange market starting from Tuesday. The move will lower trading costs for China and Switzerland, facilitate use of the two currencies in bilateral trade and investment and boost economic and […]

14 Nov, 2015

China plans new regulations to protect taxis from app-based cars

HANGZHOU, 10 Nov 2015, (Xinhua) – China’s transport authorities have decided to step in to help the traditional taxi industry, under pressure from app-based car services. The Ministry of Transport has just concluded soliciting public opinion in preparation for drafting a plan to improve taxi drivers’ incomes while solving urban traffic problems. Most of taxi […]

14 Nov, 2015

Upcoming Asian Infrastructure Bank will include an ethics integrity department

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London (chinadaily.com.cn), Nov 10, 2015 – The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank will set up an ethics integrity department and encourage employees to report to stamp out corruption, said Jin Liqun, president-designate of the institution. The bank will launch its first projects in the second quarter of next year, Jin said, adding that projects will focus […]

14 Nov, 2015

China briefs foreign diplomats on its next five-year plan

Beijing, (People’s Daily Online), November 10, 2015 – The International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held a thematic briefing for foreign diplomats to explain the outcomes of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee in Beijing on Nov. 9, 2015, as a response to the […]

14 Nov, 2015

Spotlight: Saudi Arabia takes measures to cope with low oil prices

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RIYADH, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) — Saudi Arabia is feeling the heat of the dropping oil prices, and has been prepared to cut government spending to end decades of the nation’s dependency on oil-made wealth. Although the measures are still waiting to be implemented, the country, which is in the middle of a months-old air war […]

14 Nov, 2015

China’s Palace Museum sees a surge of tourists in off-season

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BNEIJING (chinadaily.com.cn) 10 Nov 2015 – The number of visitors to the Palace Museum in Beijing has increased by more than 200,000 people in less than a month after the National Day holidays, according to museum on Sunday. In previous years, the Palace Museum regularly saw a huge drop in the number of visitors after […]

10 Nov, 2015

ADB, India Sign $273 Million Loan to Improve Rural Roads in Five States

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NEW DELHI, INDIA, 9 November 201 – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India have signed a $273 million loan to continue improving rural roads in the states of Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal. The 20-year loan is the third and last tranche of an $800 million financing facility provided […]

10 Nov, 2015

Want to Understand Female Mood Swings? There Is An App For That

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(PRWEB) October 23, 2015 — FDThinking.com has released Twenty8Watch app for iPhone® and Apple Watch®. This daring new app gives men a witty and insightful day-to-day guide to better respond to the mysterious moods of women’s monthly cycles. Through its sleek and a smart countdown, Twenty8Watch notifies the user of the best approach to the […]

10 Nov, 2015

New Security Module Launched to Mitigate Risks to the Female Business Traveler

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TREVOSE, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–November 03, 2015 – International SOS and Control Risks launched the latest module in its travel preparedness suite for business travelers, risk managers and expatriates. Women’s Security eLearning provides practical tips and actionable advice for the female traveler. Fely Bowen, Regional Security Manager for International SOS and Control Risks, explained: “Female travelers have different risk […]

10 Nov, 2015

Environmental Investigation Agency does not support TPP due to overall threats to environment

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WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–November 05, 2015 – (Full text of EIA official statement) – The current model of free trade agreements, including the text released today of the recently concluded Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), creates enormous perils for the environment. The race to secure greater access to natural resources and more favorable terms for trade through the existing […]

10 Nov, 2015

More Data Doesn’t Always Mean Better Insights – Gallup

by Ilana Ron Levey and John Timmerman As technology advances, it’s tempting for companies to believe that gathering more data and crunching more numbers will consistently lead to better customer insights. But Gallup finds that’s not always the case, particularly in the business-to-business (B2B) arena. Here’s why: For B2B companies, success hinges narrowly on the […]

5 Nov, 2015

UN expert: Curbing civil society spacefor “national security” becoming global trend

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NEW YORK (26 October 2015) – United Nations human rights expert Ben Emmerson today urged governments across the world to ensure that the NGO sector be allowed to continue to play an indispensable role in co-ordinated efforts to counter the spread of terrorism. “A functioning civil society is an essential cornerstone of an open society,” […]

5 Nov, 2015

European taxpayers fork out another €19m to pay Palestinian salaries, pensions for October

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JERUSALEM, November 4, 2015 (WAFA) – The European Union contributed approximately €19.1 million to the payment of October salaries and pensions of over 67,000 Palestinian civil servants and pensioners in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. This contribution, which is channelled through the PEGASE[1] mechanism, is being funded by the European Union (€19.0 million) […]

5 Nov, 2015

U.N. flags danger of anti-Muslim rhetoric during Myanmar election

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(New York, 4 November 2015) UNITED NATIONS PRESS RELEASE — The Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, and the Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect, Jennifer Welsh, called on the Government of Myanmar to take all possible measures to ensure that the upcoming elections of 8 November are held in a peaceful […]

4 Nov, 2015

Corruption feeds and sustains ‘spiralling’ wildlife and forest crime – UN anti-crime chief

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United Nations, (UN News Centre), 3 November 2015 – Expressing concern that spiralling wildlife and forest crime – fuelled by corrosive corruption – can impede vital progress of the new global sustainable development agenda, the top United Nations anti-crime official and the head of the global UN–backed treaty on protecting endangered species today urged nations […]

4 Nov, 2015

Climate change poses major threat to food security, warns UN expert

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GENEVA (3 November 2015) Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights) – “Climate change poses severe and distinct threats to food security, and could subject an additional 600 million people to malnutrition by 2080,” warned today the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Hilal Elver. “Increased frequency and intensity of […]

4 Nov, 2015

European Travel Commission: Visa reform will reap €114 billion in visitor earnings, create 615,000 jobs

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London, 3rd November 2015. The European Travel Commission (ETC), the organisation responsible for promoting Europe as a destination, today called for reform of the way visas are granted to leisure and business travellers and it said the benefit to Europe’s economy could be in excess of €114 billion in export revenue and 615,000 new jobs […]

1 Nov, 2015

Under RSS, India is becoming mirror image of Pakistan, says Irfan Habib – The Times of India

A day after more than 50 historians from across India, including eminent names like Romila Thapar, BD Chattopadhyaya, Upinder Singh, MGS Narayanan and DN Jha, issued a statement expressing concern about the “highly vitiated atmosphere prevailing in the country, characterized by various forms of intolerance”, eminent historian Irfan Habib, who was one of the signatories […]

1 Nov, 2015

Moody’s warns Modi: Rein in BJP members or risk losing credibility – Hindustan Times

International rating agency Moody’s Analytics on Friday cautioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi that India might lose domestic and global credibility if he did not rein in controversial members of his Bharatiya Janata Party. In a report titled India Outlook: Searching for Potential, Moody’s Analytics said for the country to reach its growth potential it has […]

1 Nov, 2015

Young Iranian scientists win top German Green talent award

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Berlin, Oct 30, IRNA — Two Iranians were among 27 leading young scientists from around the world to win Germany’s 2015 Green Talents Award, according to IRNA. Iranian PhD graduate Dr. Amirhosein Mosavi and PhD candidate Mohammad Moghimi Ardekani were both selected by a high-ranking German jury of experts as up-and-coming international scientists. Mosavi’s expertise […]

1 Nov, 2015

Heads of UN and Red Cross Issue Joint Warning: New Definition for “Sustainability” Needed

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GENEVA, 31st October, 2015 (WAM)–The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, and the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Peter Maurer, have issued an unprecedented joint warning about the impact of today’s conflicts on civilians and appealed for urgent and concrete action to address human suffering and insecurity. The two […]

31 Oct, 2015

Greatest Fear of Old Age: ‘Who Will Take Care of Me?’ — UBS Investor Watch Report

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NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–October 27, 2015  – UBS Wealth Management Americas (WMA) today released its quarterly UBS Investor Watch report, “Unassisted Living,” revealing that the greatest fear among wealthy investors as they age is being a burden to children (42%), trumping fears of surviving on life support (34%) or living in a nursing home (15%). Though […]

31 Oct, 2015

New Research Reveals Top 10 Things That Make Women Feel Good

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October 30, 2015 LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The average woman will spend up to £31,0001 in her lifetime to feel great, according to new research2. But in the same study2, which was commissioned by Feel Good Contact Lenses (http://feelgoodcontacts.com/information/eye-care.aspx), results prove that it’s the smallest things that make the world of difference to a woman’s confidence and that cost almost next to […]

30 Oct, 2015

‘Silence is too often the only safe option left’ – new UN report on sources and whistleblowers

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) – 22 October 2015 – Governments and international organizations are failing to ensure adequate protections to whistleblowers and sources of information, according to a new report by the UN special rapporteur on freedom of expression. “Countless sources and whistleblowers around the world are intimidated by officials, co-workers, and others, depriving […]

30 Oct, 2015

Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil to deliver four talks on how travel & tourism will shape the rising Asian Century

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Travel Impact Newswire Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil will be delivering four talks in November and December 2015 that will highlight the multi-faceted role of travel & tourism in shaping the rise of the Asian Century. Covering the themes of religious tourism, Islamic travel and the newly-declared UN Sustainable Development Goals, all four will be at […]

29 Oct, 2015

At UN, every country votes for Cuba blockade to be lifted, except U.S. and Israel

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) 27 October 2015 – In a near-unanimous recorded vote, the General Assembly today adopted, for the twenty-fourth time, a resolution on the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba, despite resumptions of relations between the two countries. With all […]

29 Oct, 2015

RSS leading a systematic campaign to create Hindu rashtra, says ex-Indian Navy chief – DAWN.COM

India is being scorched by a brand of Hindutva that is “fanning the flames of division and fear across the country”, even as the people in power have failed to unequivocally condemn recent hate crimes in the name of religion, L Ramdas, who served as chief of the Indian Navy between 1990 and 1993, said […]

29 Oct, 2015

China blacklists 10 travel agencies

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BEIJING, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) — China has named and shamed 10 travel agencies as the country attempts to create a sound environment for tourists, the National Tourism Administration (NTA) said Sunday. The tourist companies, which are based in Yunnan Province, Hainan Province and Shandong Province, have been blacklisted, effective for two years, due to “irregularities.” […]

29 Oct, 2015

Accor amongst 11 global firms signing pact to promote inclusion of Persons with Disabilities – UN labour agency

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) 28 October 2015 – Eleven major international companies today agreed to promote and include persons with disabilities throughout their operations worldwide in a move the International Labour Organization (ILO) hailed as “not only just a good moral cause” but also “good for business.” In an announcement, ILO said that Accenture, […]

29 Oct, 2015

Nepal six months on: A race against winter

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(Kathmandu/Bangkok, 23 October 2015) Six months after the devastating earthquakes that shook Nepal in April, shelter and food remain top priorities as winter approaches. With the Government of Nepal, humanitarian partners provided emergency shelter to over 700,000 families, but the effect of the coming harsh cold weather is a concern with many people still without […]

29 Oct, 2015

UN rights expert warns of racial profiling of minorities and discrimination in criminal justice systems

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) 28 October 2015 – In criminal justice processes worldwide, minorities face discrimination ranging from excessive and sometimes lethal use of force, torture by police, to longer periods of stay in pre-trial detention, discrimination during judicial procedures and biases influencing sentencing, according to the UN human rights expert on minority issues. […]

29 Oct, 2015

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Releases 2014 Global Citizenship Report

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STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–October 27, 2015 – Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) released its 2014 Global Reporting Index (GRI G4), outlining the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship, community involvement, opportunities for associate development, and best practices in corporate governance. The Index follows previous publication of a full Global Citizenship report in 2014 […]

27 Oct, 2015

China opens up 30% of its low-altitude airspace

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Beijing, (Global Times) October 19, 2015 – China has opened over a third of its low-altitude airspace, which had been fully controlled, amid the country’s continuing efforts to maximize low-altitude airspace resources. Control over about 33 percent of the low-altitude airspace has been relaxed, said Cai Jun, a senior airspace regulator at the 4th China […]

27 Oct, 2015

China plans to raise retirement age

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Beijing, (People’s Daily Online), October 15, 2015 – The average retirement age in China is under 55, which demonstrates that Chinese people retire the earliest in the world, said a senior official when introducing achievements in employment and social security work during the 12th Five-Year Plan. There will be an average of 1.3 people of […]

27 Oct, 2015

Strong El Niño will ‘test’ disaster resilience in hazard-prone Pacific region, UN warns

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26 October 2015, SUVA (UNISDR media release) — The Head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), Margareta Wahlström, today opened the 2015 Pacific Regional Disaster Resilience Meeting amidst fears that El Niño will result in more extreme weather events across the hazard-prone region of small islands and atolls. Ms. Wahlström said: “These […]

26 Oct, 2015

Chinese tourist detained for taking naughty pics on Malaysian beach

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(People’s Daily Online) October 23, 2015 – Pictures of several overseas tourists posing nude on Sibuan Island off Semporna have gone viral. Interpol was contacted to help identify the tourists after the police received complaints from the public on Oct.15, 2015. According to Chinanews.com, a Chinese national involved in this incident was detained by the […]

26 Oct, 2015

Manila to host First ASEAN Corporate Governance Conference and Awards

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Manila, Philippines (PRWEB) October 24, 2015 – The Philippines has been named host of the first ASEAN Corporate Governance Conference and Awards by the ASEAN Capital Markets Forum (ACMF). Headed by capital market regulators from 10 ASEAN jurisdictions, the ACMF has partnered with the Philippines’ Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to organize this event promoting […]

26 Oct, 2015

Air China’s New Winter/Spring Schedule Makes it First Chinese Airline to Cover All Six Continents

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BEIJING, Oct. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Air China’s 2015/2016 Winter/Spring Schedule has come into effect on October 25, 2015. The new schedule features 660 flights per week on average, up about 20% compared with its 2014 counterpart, with 110 international/regional passenger routes to 69 international/regional cities. In particular, with the commencement of the Beijing–Johannesburg and Beijing […]

23 Oct, 2015

ARC Assists U.S. Government to Convict Rogue Travel Agent for Fraud and ID Theft

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ARLINGTON, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–October 20, 2015 – Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) announced that the company’s fraud prevention team provided essential information to the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Postal Inspection Service that resulted in the conviction and recent sentencing of Sandra M. White, a former Coloma, Michigan travel agent for fraud and […]

23 Oct, 2015

UNICEF hails Myanmar religious groups seeking religious tolerance for sake of country’s children

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) 21 October 2015 – In the light of upcoming elections in Myanmar and amid reports of rising religious intolerance, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) today welcomed a joint statement by the leaders of four main religious groups in the country calling for tolerance and respect of religious freedom as […]

23 Oct, 2015

China publishes new rules to boost clean governance amongst party cadres

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Beijing, (China Daily) Updated: 2015-10-22 – The Communist Party of China Central Committee has published new rules on clean governance and sanctions for those who violate the Party code of conduct, as the CPC improves the management of its 88 million members. The two new regulations, adopted at a meeting of the Political Bureau of […]

23 Oct, 2015

Chinese President pledges stronger support to eradicate poverty by 2020

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BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) — The Chinese government will enact more support policies to lift the country’s 70 million poor people above the poverty line by 2020, President Xi Jinping pledged on Friday ahead of the 23rd International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Addressing the Global Poverty Reduction and Development Forum in Beijing, Xi […]

23 Oct, 2015

Israeli Army Installs Concrete Roadblocks at Bethlehem Northern Entrance

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BETHLEHEM, October 22, 2015 (WAFA) – Israeli forces Thursday afternoon installed cement roadblocks at the northern entrance of Bethlehem, said security sources. Israeli forces reportedly installed concrete roadblocks at the sidewalks of Jerusalem-Bethlehem Main Road in the vicinity of Jacir Palace and Paradise hotels at the northern entrance of the city, obstructing Palestinian locals’ movement. […]

23 Oct, 2015

Sweeping changes in UK visa rules for Chinese visitors

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LONDON, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) — Tourism visas for visitors to Britain from China are to be valid for two years as from 2016, Prime Minister David Cameron announced Wednesday. The extension of the visa period from the current six months is aimed at bringing significant benefits to the British economy by making it easier for […]

23 Oct, 2015

Political failures, lack of hope, at root of latest Israeli-Palestinian violence – UN deputy chief

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United Nations, (UN News Centre)  – 22 October 2015 – The Israel-Palestine conflict has “once again entered a dangerous phase,” United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson told the Security Council today, warning that the latest eruption of violence, rising tensions at holy sites in Jerusalem and the alarmingly vitriolic nature of public discourse in the […]

19 Oct, 2015

Japan’s seniors staying fit, strong, for longer, poll finds

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Beijing, JIJI Press, Oct 12, 2015 – Physical strength and athletic ability of elderly people in Japan have continued to improve, an annual government survey found Sunday. In the survey, physical and athletic ability of people aged 65-79 was measured with six kinds of exercise, including six-minute walking distance, grip strength and sit-up. By age […]

19 Oct, 2015

Japan, Iran ministers agree on bilateral investment pact during Tehran talks

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TEHRAN, Kyodo, AFP-JIJI, Oct 13, 2015 – Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, on Monday struck an agreement on a bilateral investment pact. The two foreign ministers said in a joint news statement that they have agreed to set up a council for Japan-Iran cooperation to discuss a variety of […]

19 Oct, 2015

Beijing sees Iran as a strategic partner for global cooperation

Beijing, Oct 10, IRNA – Vice-President of the China-Iran Friendship Association (CIFA) Tai-fu Lin said on Saturday that Beijing regards Iran as strategic partner for international cooperation. Speaking to the Sixth Annual Seminar of Iran-China Relations, Lin underlined benefiting from chances available in light of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. She said her country […]

19 Oct, 2015

The Hindu temples of Rawalpindi: Old wisdom in a new world – DAWN.COM

In the kaleidoscopic streets of bustling Rawalpindi stand tall a few Hindu temples that are hitherto the centre of Hindu festivity. The temples tell stories of the city’s diverse religious past and the neglect that the city’s heritage has now fallen into. Since the partition of the subcontinent, these temples have somehow withstood the wear […]

19 Oct, 2015

India holds “White Cane Day” to sensitize people on challenges faced by visually challenged people

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New Delhi, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, 14-October-2015 — Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is organizing White Cane Day on October 15 to sensitize the common man about the challenges being faced by visually challenged people. A week long activities already started on World Sight Day from October 8th 2015 will conclude tomorrow […]

19 Oct, 2015

Iran emerges as a new economic power, says head of Indian energy security group

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TEHRAN, Oct 18, (NNN-IRNA ) – With sanctions going away, Iran is emerging as a new economic power, Chairman of the Energy Security Group of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Narendra Taneja said in an exclusive interview with IRNA. Removal of Iran’s sanctions would lead to Iran emerging as a […]

19 Oct, 2015

200 Jewish terrorist settlers attack unarmed Palestinian village with fire bombs

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HEBRON, Palestine, Oct 18 (NNN-MA’AN) – More than 200 Jewish settlers attacked the Palestinian villages of Wad al-Haseen and Wad al-Nasara, near the illegal Israeli settlement of Kiryat Arba overnight, in the eastern Hebron district of the occupied southern West Bank, locals and medics said. During the attack, Israeli settlers threw stones and fire bombs […]

17 Oct, 2015

Black, Palestinian artists and activists affirm solidarity in new video

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Jadaliyya , Thursday 15 Oct 2015 — More than 60 leading Black and Palestinian artists and activists are featured in a new video highlighting challenges that both communities are confronting, including militarised policing and the prison industry. The video features Lauryn Hill, Danny Glover, Cornel West, Angela Davis, Alice Walker, Sapphire, Lisa Gay Hamilton, the […]

17 Oct, 2015

China approves US$15 bln in infrastructure projects

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BEIJING, (Xinhua) 2015-10-15 – China’s top economic planner approved the construction of eight infrastructure projects, with an estimated total investment of 95.3 billion yuan ($15 billion), it announced Thursday. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) authorized plans to build two railways, one in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the northwest and the other linking […]

16 Oct, 2015

Systematic discrimination against Rohingyas will trigger regional crisis, ASEAN MPs warn

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BANGKOK, 16 October 2015 – Increasingly marginalized and desperate, Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar’s Rakhine State are being forced to flee in ever-greater numbers, exacerbating a regional crisis that ASEAN leaders are woefully ill prepared to cope with, ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) warned today. “ASEAN met to discuss the refugee crisis in May, but […]

16 Oct, 2015

International Labour Organization tackles “uberization” of work

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IRU Press Release, 16 October 2015 – In an unprecedented move, the International Labour Organization (ILO) adopted a Resolution on Transport Network Companies that underlines their negative impact on job security and working conditions. The resolution was adopted today at an ILO Tripartite Sectoral meeting on Road Transport, attended by governments, workers and employers. Participants […]

16 Oct, 2015

White supremacist allegedly kills Iranian-American student falsely accused of being a “terrorist”

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–October 13, 2015 – A coalition of Iranian-American organizations, including Iranian Alliances Across Borders, Iranian American Bar Association, the National Iranian American Council, PARS Equality Center, and the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans, released the following statement calling for a full investigation into the brutal murder of 22-year-old Iranian-American student Shayan […]

14 Oct, 2015

30 Palestinians Killed by Israel since Start of October

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RAMALLAH, October 13, 2015 (WAFA) – Thirty Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli army and security forces since the beginning of October 2015, according to figures released by the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The ministry said over 1,400 Palestinians were injured by live ammunition and rubber-coated steel bullets used by the Israeli forces during […]

14 Oct, 2015

Israeli Settlers Burn Olive Fields, Attack British Activist near Nablus

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NABLUS, October 14, 2015 (WAFA) – Israeli settlers Wednesday set fire to large swaths of Palestinian-owned agricultural land near the village of Burin, to the south of Nablus in the West Bank, and injured an international activist while hurling stones at them, according to local sources. Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement activities in northern West […]

14 Oct, 2015

Polish tourists visiting Iran on rise

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Isfahan, Oct 12, IRNA – Polish Senate Speaker Bogdan Borusewicz said on Monday that number of Polish tourists visiting Iran will rise. Borusewicz told Governor General of Isfahan Province Rasul Zargarpur that the number of the tourists from Poland to Iran will enjoy multiple growth if a direct flight becomes operational. He said that Iran […]

14 Oct, 2015

Chinese leader stresses urgency of reforming global governance

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BEIJING, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) — President Xi Jinping stressed the urgency of strengthening global governance and reforming the global governance system against a backdrop of growing global challenges, according to a Tuesday press release. Reform is about “laying down rules for the international order and international mechanisms” and “deciding in which direction the world will […]

14 Oct, 2015

American Express Meetings & Events Forecasts Strong Growth in Global Meetings Activity in 2016

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NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–October 13, 2015 — According to the American Express Meetings & Events 2016 Global Meetings Forecast (“the Forecast”), positive economic trends combined with the global expansion of companies will drive continued growth for the meetings industry in 2016. Across all regions, the number of training and internal meetings is expected to experience high […]

14 Oct, 2015

FREE Download: GPCI 2015 Report Unveils World’s Most Powerful Cities

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TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–October 14, 2015 — The Mori Memorial Foundation’s Institute for Urban Strategies, a research institute established by Mori Building, unveiled today the results of its Global Power City Index (GPCI) 2015 report, which ranks 40 global metropolises according to their “magnetism,” or power to attract creative individuals and enterprises from around the world and […]

13 Oct, 2015

RSS and BJP: Battling for India’s ‘soul’, state by state – Reuters

KOLKATA, Reuters – An ascendant Hindu nationalist group wants minority Muslims and Christians to accept that India is a nation of Hindus, and is pushing some of them to convert. An election in the volatile state of West Bengal has become a prime target in its game plan. The group’s strategy: To spread its Hindu-first […]

13 Oct, 2015

New beer behemoth a serious threat to global health and sustainable development – IOGT

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Stockholm, Swede, 13 Oct 2015 (IOGT media release)  — Anheuser-Busch InBev and SABMiller, the two biggest beer producers in the world, have agreed on terms for a gigantic deal to merge both companies. The merger is set to create a beer behemoth responsible for one in three beers sold worldwide. The final AB InBev offer is worth more […]

13 Oct, 2015

Remarkable study accidentally reveals what really happens when we help the poorest – The Independent

Twenty years ago, a group of researchers began tracking the personalities of 1,420 low income children in North Carolina. At the time, the goal was simple: to observe the mental conditions of kids living in rural America. But then a serendipitous thing happened. Four years into The Great Smoky Mountains Study of Youth, the families […]

13 Oct, 2015

Anti-TTIP campaigners mobilize to raise awareness of U.S. domination

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STRASBOURG, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) — Massive demonstrations against the Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP) being negotiated between the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) reveal deep concerns among European citizens about the economic, social, health, environmental and cultural implications of the proposed agreement. In Strasbourg, the seat of the European Parliament (EP), […]

13 Oct, 2015

India Supports Palestinian Authority Budget with $5M, Announces $17.79M Projects

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RAMALLAH, October 12, 2015 (WAFA) – India Monday announced a grant worth of $5 million to support the Palestinian Authority’s budget in addition to five projects worth $17.79 million, in the fields of capacity building and education and signed a MOU on cultural cooperation. According to a press release, President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee […]

12 Oct, 2015

Chinese tourists spend over $830 m in Japan during Golden Week

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Beijing (CRIENGLISH.com/chinadaily.com.cn), 2015-10-11 — Around 400,000 tourists from the Chinese mainland visited Japan and spent nearly 100 billion yen, or around $830 million in shopping during the National Day holiday week from Oct 1-7.Popularly known as the Golden Week, this marks a peak in travel for Chinese tourists. Chinese customers queued up at Japanese malls […]

12 Oct, 2015

Jewish Fanatics Resume Provocative Visits to Al-Aqsa Compound Amid Growing Tension

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JERUSALEM, October 11, 2015 (WAFA) – Jewish fanatics resumed their provocative visits to al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem on Sunday, despite of an apparently ongoing uprising in the West Bank and Jerusalem districts prompted by Jewish entry to the Islamic holy site. WAFA correspondent said small groups of Jewish settlers entered the compound from the […]

12 Oct, 2015

Chinese Commentary: West-led Color Revolution in Middle East backfires as refugee crisis worsens

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BEIJING, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) — The West-led “Color Revolution” in the Middle East has not only failed to bring peace and stability to the region, but has also eventually backfired as Europe is now struggling to deal with the worst refugee crisis since World War II. An increasing influx of refugees has poured into the […]

12 Oct, 2015

Finance Minister: China to implement plan for transparent global tax regime in 2016

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LIMA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) — Taking up the G20 presidency in 2016, China will advance the implementation of the newly approved Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Action plan, said Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei during the on-going World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings in Lima on Friday. The detailed final version […]

12 Oct, 2015

Australian art gallery to return 2,000-year-old Buddha idol to India

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New Delhi, October 11, 2015, Press Trust of India -Close on the heels of Germany returning an ancient Durga idol, an Australian art gallery has agreed to give a 2,000-year-old Buddha sculpture back to India. The Sitting Buddha sculpture, whose roots could be traced to Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, is currently with a national art […]

12 Oct, 2015

Indonesia to prioritise border area development

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Kendari, SE Sulawesi (ANTARA News) 11 Oktober 2015 – The government will give priority to the accelerated development of border areas in the next three years, Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said. “There are 187 sub-districts or points in border areas categorized as priority locations this year. They are located near the Indonesian borders with […]

12 Oct, 2015

Alibaba Group Launches Digital Experience to help Audiences Outside China to Better Understand the Company

HANGZHOU, China, Oct 9 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) — Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA), today launched Alibaba Defined, a comprehensive digital experience created to help audiences outside of China better understand the company’s business model, strategy, and products and services. Alibaba Defined includes letters from Executive Chairman Jack Ma and Chief Executive Officer Daniel Zhang and other traditional annual […]

12 Oct, 2015

Water Bombing Operations to put out forest fires start in Sumatra

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JAKARTA, Oct 11 (NNN-CNA) — The combined team from Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia has begun water bombing operations to put out the forest fires in south Sumatra. In a statement issued by Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) on Sunday (Oct 11), a total of seven helicopters and four fixed-wing aircraft are involved in the […]

11 Oct, 2015

Indian President: The Young Must Learn to Appreciate our Culture of Caring for the Aged

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New Delhi, President’s Secretariat, 01-October-2015 – Speech by the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee at the presentation of the National Awards for Senior Citizens – Vayoshreshtha Samman – 2015 1. It is indeed a happy occasion for me to be present amidst you on the International Day of Older Persons. It is my privilege […]

11 Oct, 2015

Home-sharing services on the rise in Japan as owners cash in on tourist boom – Japan Times

TOKYO – For foreign tourists to Japan, staying at traditional ryokan inns is a popular way to enjoy their trips, but home-sharing services are growing as an alternative form of accommodation. Legally speaking, some home-sharing services fall in a gray zone because existing accommodation rules were drafted before such services began on the Internet. Following […]

11 Oct, 2015

Global travel becoming the ‘normal’ for more Chinese families

By Wang Wen and Xue Chaohua in Lanzhou

Beijing, (China Daily) Updated: 2015-10-01 – Jiang Jing, a 30-year-old from Weinan, a fourth-tier city in Shaanxi province, went to her local city hall early in September to apply for a passport as she planned a trip to The Maldives with her husband the following month. She was surprised to see so many people doing […]

11 Oct, 2015

Documents of Nanjing Massacre inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of World Register

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PARIS – A total of 47 new nominations, including Documents of the Nanjing Massacre from China, are inscribed on the Memory of the World Register by the International Advisory Committee of UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme, announced Friday UNESCO in a press release. The decision was made during a three day meeting of UNESCO […]

11 Oct, 2015

China to open 10,000 Confucius Schools nationwide

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JINAN, (Xinhua) 2015-10-10 – The Confucius Foundation of China (CFC) plans to open 10,000 Confucius Schools across China to promote Confucius teachings, the CFC secretary-general Wang Daqian said on Saturday at a Confucianism forum. At the fourth Cross-Strait Academic Forum on Confucianism held in Jinan, capital city of East China’s Shandong province, Wang said over […]

11 Oct, 2015

Renminbi becomes world’s fourth-largest payment currency

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Beijing, (People’s Daily Online) October 09, 2015 — The Renminbi, or Chinese yuan, has surpassed Japanese yen to become the world’s fourth-largest payment currency, according to a report issued by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT). The rank of the Renminbi has increased by leaps and bounds— in 2012, it ranked 12th. According […]

11 Oct, 2015

China launches International Payment System

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Shanghai, (People’s Daily Online), October 09, 2015 – China launched the first phrase of the China International Payment System (CIPS) in Shanghai on Thursday, which will provide capital settlement and clearing services for cross-border RMB transactions for domestic and overseas financial institutions. At present, the RMB has become the second largest cross-border payment currency in […]

11 Oct, 2015

Israel’s Culture of Impunity Killed the Oslo Accords – Palestinian leader

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RAMALLAH, October 4, 2015 (WAFA) – Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Saeb Erekat, said, ‘Israel’s culture of impunity killed the Oslo concept by tripling the number of settlers, stripping the Palestinian government of its attributes, and implementing various other contravening policies in breach of the agreement.’ In a statement received by WAFA, Erekat […]

11 Oct, 2015

Nepal: Experts begin post-disaster work at quake-damaged UNESCO heritage sites

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United Nations, UN News Centre, 8 October 2015 – International and national experts from the Nepalese Department of Archaeology and an archaeological team from Durham University have begun post-disaster excavation surveys and rescue excavations at earthquake damaged UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. “Creation of risk maps and identification and characterization of […]

11 Oct, 2015

Indian President to Visit Palestine for First Time October 12

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RAMALLAH, October 7, 2015 (WAFA) – The President of India, Mr Pranab Mukherjee will pay the first ever State visit to Palestine in mid October at the invitation of president Mahmoud Abbas, President of State of Palestine, said a statement issued by the representative office of India to Palestine on Tuesday. During the visit, which […]