26 Sep, 2014

ADB issues Asian Development Outlook 2014 Update

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Manila, ADB media release, Sept 25, 2014 — Developing Asia is continuing along a stable growth path. Although US policy could still surprise markets the effect on developing Asia would be modest compared to the shock caused in 2013 by anticipated tightening. Demand does not threaten to reignite inflation, as regional economies continue to produce […]

26 Sep, 2014

Gallup Polls: World Faces Shortage in Purpose Well-Being

by Melanie Standish and Dan Witters

WASHINGTON, D.C. – September 23, 2014 – Gallup Polls – Fewer than one in five adults worldwide can be considered thriving — or strong and consistent — in levels of purpose well-being, as measured by the inaugural Gallup-Healthways Global Well-Being Index in 2013. Residents living in the Americas are the most likely to be thriving […]

26 Sep, 2014

$800 Million ADB Facility to Help Sri Lanka Upgrade 2,200 kms of Poor Rural Roads

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Colombo, 25 September 2014 (ADB Media release) – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved an $800 million loan facility to fund rural and national road upgrades in six provinces in Sri Lanka that will significantly improve access of remote communities to markets, services, and jobs. “Providing all-weather road access to towns and villages in […]

22 Sep, 2014

Challenges Facing Financial Officers in the Airline Business

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ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates–(BUSINESS WIRE)–September 17, 2014  — What makes the difference between success and failure in the airline industry? During his keynote address at the first World Financial Symposium in Abu Dhabi, John E. Luth, the founding partner, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Seabury Group, a global advisory and professional services firm, […]

21 Sep, 2014

Largest Survey of This Generation of Veterans Reveals Devastating Toll of America’s Global Wars

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–September 16, 2014 — Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) today released the results of their 2014 Annual Alumni Survey. Based on the responses of more than 21,000 wounded veterans, it includes the largest sample size of service members injured since 9/11 and is the most statistically relevant survey response of that population to date. […]

21 Sep, 2014

Appeal to Pro-Palestinian Christians to Visit Palestine as Gesture of Solidarity

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RAMALLAH, September 16, 2014 – (WAFA) – Premier Rami Hamdallah called on Tuesday pro-Palestinian Christians, especially US Christians, to visit the occupied Palestinian Territory as a gesture of solidarity. The Premier made his call during a meeting with a delegation from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops at his office in Ramallah. The meeting […]

21 Sep, 2014

US Campaign to End Israeli Occupation Holds Annual Conference in San Diego

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SAN DIEGO, September 17, 2014 – (WAFA) – Seventy five pro-Palestinian US organizations churches among other member groups of the US Campaign to End Israeli Occupation will hold their annual conference in San Diego, California. The conference, which will start on Friday, September 19 and end on Sunday, September 21, is titled the Mainstreaming of […]

21 Sep, 2014

Over 800 million world’s population hungry, says UN report

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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) — One in nine people in the world — or more than 800 million — suffer from hunger, a UN spokesman said here Tuesday, adding that the number of hungry people has dropped by more than 100 million in the past ten years and by more than 200 million in […]

21 Sep, 2014

Survey lists 10 problems Chinese feel plague their society

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Beijing, (chinadaily.com.cn) 2014-09-17 – Twenty-four percent has cited the credibility deficit of the government as a main reason behind the lack of trust in Chinese society, according to a survey conducted by People’s Tribune, a magazine of People’s Daily. The survey finds more than 80 percent of respondents think of Chinese society as “sub-healthy” and 40.4 percent  believe that a crisis of […]

21 Sep, 2014

China outlines six-point proposal for future relations with ASEAN

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NANNING, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) — Following is the translated version of the full text of a speech by Zhang Gaoli, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China at the 11th China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business […]

21 Sep, 2014

Wealth-X and UBS Launch 2014 Report on the World’s Billionaires

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The second edition of the Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census 2014 has been released. The only comprehensive, global study on the composition and dynamics of this top-tier segment of the world’s ultra affluent population, the 2014 edition identifies key trends and statistics on the world’s ultra high net worth (UHNW) population. Writing in the foreword, […]

21 Sep, 2014

A4A Applauds House Action to Protect Travelers from More Security Tax Hikes

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WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–September 17, 2014 – Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, applauded unanimous House passage of bipartisan legislation authored by Reps. Richard Hudson (R-NC) and Cedric Richmond (D-LA), along with House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (D-MS), to protect airline customers […]

21 Sep, 2014

Sept 21 Int’l Day of Peace Message: Give New Meaning to www – World Without Wars

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United Nations, UN News Centre, 19 September 2014 – With John Lennon’s iconic song “Imagine” as the backdrop, the United Nations today marked the International Day of Peace underscoring that all people have the right to peace. “We must douse the fires of extremism and tackle the root causes of conflict,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said […]

16 Sep, 2014

New Gallup-Healthways Global Well-Being Index Upgrades Ways to Measure What Makes Life Worth Living

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WASHINGTON & NASHVILLE, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–September 16, 2014 – As part of their ongoing partnership in innovation, global well-being improvement company Healthways (NASDAQ: HWAY) and management consulting firm Gallup have released their inaugural analysis of the state of global well-being. More than 133,000 surveys in 135 countries or other areas led to the new report, entitled, […]

16 Sep, 2014

5,000 overseas students trained for master’s degree in teaching Chinese

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BEIJING, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) — China has trained more than 5,000 overseas students pursuing Master of Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (MTCSOL) degrees. Since the MTCSOL was set up in 2007, 5,052 students from more than 100 countries have studied in China. About 3,500 have graduated, most of whom have returned to their […]

16 Sep, 2014

In major milestone, 150 states ratify UN disability convention

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United Nations, UN News Centre, 15 September 2014 – Guyana became the latest country to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is widely regarded as the first international human rights treaty of the twenty-first century and one of the fastest to be ratified. “The 150th ratification is evidence […]

15 Sep, 2014

Chinese Commentary: Snowden nails US lie on its economic spying

By Chen Weihua

(China Daily) 2014-09-13 – The US government is an expert at taking the moral high ground when it comes to justice. But instead of being apologetic after the devastating revelations made by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden in June last year, its top US officials, President Barack Obama included, have been claiming that […]

15 Sep, 2014

Israel Denies Palestinian Education Minister Travel Permit to Gaza

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RAMALLAH, September 14, 2014 (WAFA) – The Israeli authorities on Sunday prevented Minister of Education Khawla Shakhshir access to the Gaza Strip for the opening of the new school year, which was delayed by almost three weeks due to the recent Israeli aggression on the coastal enclave. A press release by the Ministry of Education […]

15 Sep, 2014

Israeli Professor blasts Europeans for looking the other way as Israel unleashed “holocaust” in Gaza

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BRUSSELS, Belgium, Sept 14 (NNN-KUNA) – A well-known Israeli academic and human rights activist, lambasted the Israeli atrocities being committed against the Palestinians in Gaza, but also condemned the West’s double-faced policy on the Palestine question. “I am a linguist and therefore very conscious of the power of words. What has been happening in Gaza […]

14 Sep, 2014

Mumbai to host Cultural Hub Along the Lines of NY Times Square

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New Delhi, Ministry of Tourism, 12-September-2014 – The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism and Culture, Mr Mrpad Naik today announced that the Ministry of Tourism would help the Department of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra to create a cultural hub, most of it open air, in Mumbai. Mr Naik announced that Ministry of […]

14 Sep, 2014

Myanmar: UN officials urge greater humanitarian, development support for Rakhine

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United Nations, UN News Centre, 11 September 2014 – Two senior United Nations officials have called for increased humanitarian assistance and development efforts to meet the needs of all communities in Myanmar’s Rakhine state following a visit there this week. “Stability and sustainable peace can be achieved in Rakhine state when the needs of all […]

14 Sep, 2014

Activist pinpoints the four main factors destroying Indonesian forests

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Jakarta (ANTARA News), 12 September 2014 – The non-governmental environmental organization Wahana Lingkungan Hidup (WALHI) stated that four factors cause destruction to forests in Indonesia. “The four factors are industrial plantations, oil palm plantations, mining, and forest concessions,” manager of WALHI’s Forests and Plantations, Zenzi Suhadi, stated here on Friday. He noted that the four […]

13 Sep, 2014

Taxi service for the disabled launched in Jakarta

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The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, September 11 2014 –  Indonesia’s largest taxi operator, Blue Bird Group, launched on Wednesday its new line of taxis designed for the disabled, Blue Bird Lifecare Taxi, the first of its kind in the country. The first five custom-made Nissan Serena Blue Bird taxis have power slide-up seats to ease access […]

13 Sep, 2014

World Bank Report: How the Israeli Blockade is Destroying the Palestinian Economy

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JERUSALEM, September 11, 2014 (World Bank media release) – Private sector is a key driver for economic growth and job creation but Palestinian enterprises have remained hostage to political instability, unresolved conflict, and continued restrictions on movement, access, and trade. “An active private sector is much needed to fuel economic and social progress in the […]

13 Sep, 2014

Malaysian PM: MH17 Tragedy Shows Lack of Standards on Flight Path Safety

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KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has said the tragedy of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH17 has exposed an “uncomfortable truth”, that there are no clear standards to determine whether a flight path is safe. The prime minister pointed out that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) – the […]

13 Sep, 2014

UK to further relax visa rules for Chinese

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Beijing, (chinadaily.com.cn) 2014-09-12 – The United Kingdom is to relax its tough rules on visas for Chinese travelers, in a bid to appease UK businesses and China’s leaders, the Telegraph reported. Visitors from China can use the European Schengen visa when changing planes at UK airports, instead of being forced by current rules to obtain […]

13 Sep, 2014

Chinese commentary: Is the US part of the problem, or part of the solution?

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(People’s Daily Online), September 10, 2014 – Libyan militias recently took control of Tripoli, the capital of Libya, while Libya’s government has lost control over most of its state offices. The Middle East is unstable. The conflicts in Iraq and Syria have lasted for years; the Bashar al-Assad government is still fighting against anti-government activists; […]

13 Sep, 2014

Ten years after 2004 Tsunami, Indian Ocean Warning System Exercise Passes the Test

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12.09.2014 – UNESCOPRESS – The Tsunami Warning System established under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO in the Indian Ocean following the December 2004 disaster is functioning effectively. This was demonstrated in a simulation exercise conducted on 9 and 10 September 2014, with the participation of 24 countries of the Indian […]

11 Sep, 2014

Ensuring privacy will build both trust and business, survey of mobile apps developers shows

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Canbera, Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, 10 September 2014 – Clear, concise information about privacy practices builds customer trust and is good for business, according to privacy authorities that took part in this year’s global sweep of more than 1200 mobile apps. As mobile apps increase in popularity, many of them are seeking access […]

11 Sep, 2014

Australia Most Expensive Place for Foreign Study – HSBC Report

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HSBC media release, 10 Sept 2014 – Australia is the most expensive destination for overseas students, according to research from HSBC. The average international student would need USD42,000 a year to meet university fees and living costs in the country. The research was carried out by Ipsos MORI on behalf of HSBC’s Retail Banking and […]

10 Sep, 2014

Brits spend a year of their life being hungover – The Independent

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The average Briton spends over a year of their life nursing a hangover – and it takes women two hours longer than men to recover. People will spend on average 315 days of their lives battling with inevitable headaches and nausea caused by a hard night’s drinking, Macmillan Cancer Support estimates. People in the north […]

7 Sep, 2014

ITU, UNICEF Release Industry Guidelines on Child Online Protection

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Geneva, 5 September 2014, (ITU/UNICEF media release) – The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and partners of the Child Online Protection Initiative, today released updated Guidelines to strengthen online protection for children. “The revolution in online communications have created tremendous opportunities for young people today, but at the same time they have […]

4 Sep, 2014

Exposed: How Pro-Israel Groups Conceal Their Right-wing Links from Hollywood Celebs, Media

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NEW YORK, September 3, 2014 – (WAFA) – The Los Angeles group Creative Community for Peace (CCFP) conceals its right-wing identity from Hollywood celebs and media, said the New York Campaign for the Boycott of Israel (Adalah-NY) in a press release issued Tuesday. In a press release titled Did LA pro-Israel group conceal right-wing identity from Hollywood celebs and […]

4 Sep, 2014

China plans railway network across Silk Road countries

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(China Daily), September 03, 2014 – China is negotiating with the governments of Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan to build three connective railroads to improve regional trade on the Silk Road economic belt. Huang Shengqiang, head of the China Port Management Office, said China has already opened 25 international airports and land ports as well […]

4 Sep, 2014

Beijing govt officials face tighter outbound travel curbs

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Beijing, (chinadaily.com.cn) 2014-08-29  — Beijing government officials intending to go abroad for personal reasons face greater restrictions amid the nation’s crackdown on corrupt officials trying to flee overseas, Beijing Youth Daily reported. According to a circular issued in May by the capital city’s authority supervising civil servants, those taking a leading role in a division […]

4 Sep, 2014

Bilingual babies are smarter, Singapore University research shows

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Singapore, Sept 2, 2014 – (ACN Newswire) – A team of investigators and clinician-scientists in Singapore and internationally have found that there are advantages associated with exposure to two languages in infancy. As part of a long-term birth cohort study of Singaporean mothers and their offspring called GUSTO – seminally a tripartite project between A*STAR’s […]

4 Sep, 2014

UN conference ponders ways to curb decline in fish population

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United Nations, UN News Centre, 3 September 2014 – Fishermen in coastal Samoan villages say there are less fish than there used to be and worry that the fish populations will soon disappear altogether, but participants at a United Nations conference on forming partnerships with small island developing states are vowing to prevent that from […]

4 Sep, 2014

Erosion of Gaza’s economy worsens amid Israeli military operations, blockade – UN

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United Nations, UN News Centre, 3 September 2014 – Even before the latest crisis in the Gaza Strip, the tiny enclave’s local economy was in a state of total collapse, chiefly due to the accumulated impact of a crushing seven-year blockade and two devastating Israeli military operations in November 2012 and December 2008, according to […]

4 Sep, 2014

Toyota Long-distance Driving Challenge to Train Personnel, Encourage Sustainability and Make Better Cars

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Tokyo, Sept 3, 2014 – (JCN Newswire) – To inspire plans for future models and provide valuable training opportunities, Toyota Motor Corporation today began a project in which Toyota employees put themselves and vehicles to the test over vast distances in Australia, a country with a famously wide variety of roads. Many consider Australia to […]

4 Sep, 2014

Palestinian buyer braves it through Gaza tunnels to China’s Canton Fair

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GUANGZHO, China, Sept. 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — China has long maintained that the dispute between Palestine and Israel should be resolved through negotiations and communication, not violence. In that spirit, Canton Fair, China’s biggest trade event, has always welcomed both Palestinian and Israeli businessmen. For Palestinian businessmen, especially those in Gaza strip, a visit to […]

3 Sep, 2014

Nepal puts temporary ban on domestic helpers going to Gulf countries

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KATHMANDU, Sept 2 (NNN-Bernama) — Nepal has temporarily stopped issuing work permits to women seeking to go abroad as domestic helpers in the Gulf countries. The government has decided not to issue housemaid work permits and conveyed it to labour receiving countries in the Gulf region requesting them not to employ Nepali women in the […]

3 Sep, 2014

With nearly 3 billion now online, UN-backed forum opens to debate key Internet issues

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Istanbul, UN News Centre, 2 September 2014 – The ninth annual meeting of the United Nations-backed Internet Governance Forum (IGF) has opened in Istanbul, Turkey with more than 2,500 participants who will debate over the next four days key issues “that could affect every Internet user today and tomorrow.” The first day heard discussions on […]

2 Sep, 2014

Transparency Int’l blitz to unmask crooks, cronies and the corrupt in Switzerland

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2 September 2014 (Media release)  Transparency International Switzerland – Switzerland must make it much harder for the corrupt to hide behind secret companies if the country wants to keep criminal activity out of its financial system, Transparency International Switzerland said today as it launched the “Unmask the Corrupt” campaign in Switzerland. Currently, Switzerland does not […]

2 Sep, 2014

2014 UNESCO Asia‐Pacific Heritage Award Winners Announced

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BANGKOK, 2 September 2014, (UNESCO media release) — A total of 14 projects from 10 countries, including Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, New Zealand and Thailand, have been recognized in this year’s UNESCO Asia‐ Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. A panel of international conservation experts met in June to review 46 entries from […]

2 Sep, 2014

Global Unions Call to Action on Gaza / Thousands of postcards for peace to be delivered to UN Chief

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Geneva (ITUC media release) – The International Trades Union Confederation is horrified by the appalling death toll of civilians in Gaza. Schools, hospitals and the only power station have been bombed, drawing heavy condemnation from the United Nations, several of whose personnel have also lost their lives. The targeting of civilians is against international law […]

2 Sep, 2014

Iran Enjoying Tourism Boom

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Tehran, Sept 1, IRNA — Experts believe Iranˈs main treasure is hidden in its tourism sector. Investment in this sector could help disseminate Iranian culture and customs to other nations. This investment is necessitated by the fact that Iran is a four-season nation with numerous historical and natural attractions. Recently, President Hassan Rouhani addressed high-ranking […]

31 Aug, 2014

Urumqi Air makes maiden flight

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BEIJING, Aug. 29, (Xinhua) — Urumqi Air, the first airline based in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, made its maiden flight on Friday, from the region’s capital Urumqi to the western city of Yining which borders Kazakhstan. Starting on Saturday, there will be two round-trip flights every day between Urumqi and Yining. The carrier […]

29 Aug, 2014

RM6 billion recovery plan unveiled for Malaysian Airlines

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KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 (NNN-Bernama) – The Malaysian government investment arm Khazanah Nasional has unveil a RM6 billion recovery plan for ailing Malaysia Airlines (MAS). Khazanah Nasional, which has a majority share in the airline has outlined a 12-point enabling plan for returning MAS to sustain profitability and revive Malaysia’s national flag carrier. The 12-point […]

29 Aug, 2014

Chinese govt spending on trips, vehicles, receptions stabilizes

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Beijing, (Xinhua), 2014-08-27 – The Chinese government has kept its January-July budget on overseas trips, vehicles and receptions level with last year’s figure amid the country’s frugality campaign, according to an official report issued on Wednesday. China has long been bedeviled by officials tapping expenses accounts to sightsee abroad in the name of official visits, […]

29 Aug, 2014

UN Alliance of Civilizations Facing Funding Shortfall, Seeks “Meaningful Partnerships”

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Opening Remarks by Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, the United Nations High Representative For The Alliance Of Civilizations Before The Sixth UNAOC Global Forum, Bali, 29 Aug 2014 Your Excellency Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhiyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia Your Exellency Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, United Nations Secretary-General, Your Excellency Mr. John Ashe, President of the UNGA, […]

29 Aug, 2014

UN Secretary-General: “Man-made Crises Driven by Those Who Exploit Fear for Power”

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Full Text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon’s remarks to the Sixth Global Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations, Bali, 29 August 2014 Thank you for your strong commitment and participation in this very important initiative of the United Nations. I am honoured to address this Sixth Global Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations under the […]

28 Aug, 2014

Time For Parents To Discuss The Risks Of College Drinking

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BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — As college students arrive on campus this fall, it’s a time of new experiences, new friendships, and making memories that will last a lifetime. Unfortunately for many, it is also a time of excessive drinking and dealing with its aftermath—vandalism, violence, sexual aggression, and even death. According to research […]

28 Aug, 2014

London, 24 Sept: Invitation to Exclusive Screening of “Open Bethlehem”

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28 Aug, 2014

NGOs meet at UN to help shape new global development, prosperity agenda

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United Nations, (UN News Centre), 27 August 2014 – Civil society converged on United Nations Headquarters in New York today to make their voices heard regarding the future global development agenda that will point the way forward on a range of issues such as eradicating poverty, eliminating hunger and combating disease. The 65th Annual UN […]

28 Aug, 2014

Judicial Watch Sues TSA over Cover-Up: Passenger Complaints “Assaults Relating to Sexual Misconduct”

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AUGUST 21, 2014, (Washington D.C.) – Judicial Watch announced today that it filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) seeking “Incident Reports” of alleged sexual misconduct throughout 2013 by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Dulles, Chicago, Denver, Miami, and Los Angeles airports (Judicial Watch […]

28 Aug, 2014

Survey: U.S. Travelers Want Full Airfare Prices Listed in Ads

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CHICAGO, Aug. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — The majority of air travelers prefer to see fares, fees and taxes listed as one total cost, according to surveys conducted by The GO Group, LLC, an international  ground transportation service provider and GO Airport Express, a GO member and Chicago-based ground transportation company serving O’Hare International and Midway airports. The […]

27 Aug, 2014

ITU Telecom World seeks technological, social, design innovations that change lives

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Geneva, (International Telecommunications Union) – The ITU has announced a call for innovations, a global hunt for the innovators, makers or entrepreneurs who are using technologies such as 3D printing or advanced robotics, or working within fields such as bio-mimicry, which uses technological innovations to imitate nature in order to solve problems – those who can […]

25 Aug, 2014

“Pedal Powered” Smoothies to Help Tackle Youth Obesity, Encourage Healthy Lifestyles

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SYRACUSE, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–August 21, 2014 – UnitedHealthcare and New York State 4-H Youth Development are expanding a successful partnership called Eat4-Health that helps tackle obesity by promoting healthy eating and active lifestyles among youth and families. UnitedHealthcare is providing Cornell University Cooperative Extension, which administers 4-H programs in New York, a $40,000 grant to support […]

25 Aug, 2014

China teams up with APEC members in anti-graft fight

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Beijing, (chinadaily.com.cn), 2014-08-25 – Anti-graft issue has gained more attention at this year’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings than the previous sessions as China strengthens cooperation with APEC members, including the US, in the fight against corruption, reported Beijing Youth Daily. International cooperation on anti-graft was upgraded when the APEC Network of Anti-Corruption Authorities […]

25 Aug, 2014

India steps up projects to help growing number of People with Disabilities

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New Delhi, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, 23-August-2014 – An interactive daylong Conference with Ministers of Social Welfare in States/UTs dealing with issues related to disability was held under the Chairmanship of Mr Thaawar Chand Gehlot, Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment here today. Welcoming all the State Social Welfare Ministers, the Minister said […]

25 Aug, 2014

China moves to strengthen corporate transparency regulations

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BEIJING, Aug. 23, (Xinhua)  — An interim regulation on disclosure of corporate information, to take effect on Oct. 1, 2014, has been approved by the State Council, China’s cabinet, and endorsed by Premier Li Keqiang. Companies will be obliged to deliver annual reports to industrial and commercial authorities between Jan. 1 and June 30 each year. […]

25 Aug, 2014

China UnionPay International card to be launched in Myanmar

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Xinhua, August 22, 2014 YANGON, — China UnionPay International (UPI), in cooperation with Myanmar’s Cooperative Bank (CB), will introduce EASi Travel UnionPay card for the first time in Myanmar starting on Sept. 1 to facilitate Myanmar citizens in domestic and international payment, a bank official said here Friday. The EASi TRAVEL UnionPay Card issued in […]

24 Aug, 2014

Jewish Holocaust survivors from around the world call for justice in Gaza

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[8/22/14 San Francisco, CA] 40 Jewish survivors the Nazi Holocaust and 287 descendants of survivors and victims issued a letter this weekend condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza. “As Jewish survivors and descendants of survivors and victims of the Nazi genocide we unequivocally condemn the massacre of Palestinians in Gaza and the ongoing occupation and colonization […]

23 Aug, 2014

Value of data on European consumers could hit Euro1 trillion by 2020 – Justice Commissioner

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European Commission, Lyon, France 18 August 2014 – The value of data on EU citizens held by search engines and other companies was worth EUR 315 billion in 2011 and could grow to nearly EUR 1 trillion by 2020, according to Martine Reicherts, EU Justice Commissioner. Speaking at the IFLA World Library and Information Congress […]

23 Aug, 2014

India cuts myriad of licenses for hotel classification

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Ministry of Tourism , 22-August-2014 (Press Information Bureau) – In a significant move, the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India has decided to simplify the hotel classification and re-classification procedure by not seeking the licenses and clearances which are issued by various Local, State and Central Government authorities for operation of hotels. These include the […]

23 Aug, 2014

Hospitality Asset Managers Study: Growing Revenue Acquisition Costs Outpacing Hotel Revenue Growth

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August 20, 2014, BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Officials of the Hospitality Asset Managers Association (“HAMA”) today announced the results of a multi-year study that demonstrates that revenue acquisition costs outpaced hotel revenue growth from 2009 through 2012. The results were presented in “The Rising Costs of Customer Acquisition,” a white paper commissioned in late 2013. The white paper […]

20 Aug, 2014

People’s Daily Online launches int’l media coverage of the ‘New Silk Road’

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(People’s Daily Online), August 18, 2014 – The opening ceremony of international media coverage of the “New Silk Road” by People’s Daily Online was held in Beijing, Xi’an, and Quanzhou at the same time today. Two reporting teams consisting of more than 60 journalists, celebrities, opinion leaders will work along the Silk Road economic belt […]

20 Aug, 2014

China to rein in executive pay

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BEIJINGm (Agencies) 2014-08-19  – China’s president has promised to rein in “unreasonably high” pay for executives at government-owned companies in an apparent effort to mollify public frustration at the wealth of state industry. President Xi Jinping’s announcement, carried by the official Xinhua News Agency, comes as the Communist Party is pressing government officials to cut […]

20 Aug, 2014

6,017 Chinese officials punished for violating rules in July

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(Xinhua), August 18, 2014 – A total of 6,017 people were punished for breaches of anti-bureaucracy rules in July, the Communist Party of China (CPC)’s discipline agency said Sunday. The violators were found to have been involved in 4,480 cases, the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said in a monthly release on this […]

20 Aug, 2014

Asia’s reform trinity, shift gear now – by Kishore Mahbubani

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(China Daily), August 18, 2014 – Asia is poised to enter a historical sweet spot, with three of its most populous countries – China, India and Indonesia – led by strong, dynamic and reform-minded leaders. In fact, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesia’s President-elect Joko “Jokowi” Widodo could end up […]

20 Aug, 2014

Probe into MH17 lost in US-created chaos – By O.P.Rana

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(China Daily) 2014-08-19 – The sordid drama continues. The investigation into the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crash hasn’t reached anywhere, at least officially, even a month after it blew up into pieces. The Western powers, led by the United States, have intensified their diatribe against Russia. The G7 has imposed fresh sanctions on Moscow, condemning […]

20 Aug, 2014

China to build influential new-type media groups

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BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) — President Xi Jinping said Monday that China will build several new-type media groups that are strong, influential and credible. Xi made the remarks when presiding over the fourth meeting of the Leading Group for Overall Reform. He called on the nation to integrate traditional and new media to diversify its […]

20 Aug, 2014

Growing rage over U.S. Govt Inaction to Curb Systemic Anti-Muslim Conduct

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WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/14/14 — A coalition of 75 civil rights, ethnic, gender-rights and religious groups has sent a joint letter to the Obama administration urging it to take “immediate action to end the use of anti-Muslim training materials and address anti-Muslim conduct exhibited by agencies throughout the federal government.” In a letter to Assistant to […]

20 Aug, 2014

US$22 trillion needed to finance new phase of sustainable development – UN report

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United Nations, 19 August 2014, UN News Centre – The General Assembly formally received today an expert report setting out options that can be weighed by Member States on ways to finance the United Nations-driven sustainable development agenda, which will aim to improve people’s lives and protect the planet for future generations. The report, Forwarded […]

19 Aug, 2014

MDG Momentum: UN launches 500 days of action to build a better world

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United Nations, UN News Centre, 18 August 2014 – With Malala Yousafzai by his side, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today marked 500 days of action until the deadline to reach the Millennium Development Goals, known worldwide as the “MDGs.” “Action now will save lives, build a solid foundation for sustainable development far beyond 2015 and help […]

18 Aug, 2014

US$300m Trans-Pacific Cable System to boost Internet traffic

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Tokyo, Aug 11, 2014 – (JCN Newswire) – A consortium of six global companies announced that they have signed commercial agreements to build and operate a new Trans-Pacific cable system to be called “FASTER” with NEC Corporation as the system supplier. The FASTER cable network will connect the United States to two landing locations in […]

18 Aug, 2014

Tips on How Dancing Can Help Ward Off Life-Altering Diseases

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St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) August 15, 2014 – Dance Pizazz, the St. Louis area funnest, friendliest dance studio (http://www.dance-pizazz.com), keeps a close eye on the latest developments in health and fitness in order to better serve all dancers. That’s why Dance Pizazz is sharing its top three ways that dancing as a form of exercise […]

18 Aug, 2014

Non-aeronautical revenue up North American airports

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Boca Raton, FL (PRWEB) August 15, 2014 – Airport Revenue News (ARN) has released the sales performance results for the top 50 performing North American airports in the 2014 edition of the Fact Book, the more than 500-page resource book containing the most comprehensive information on North American airport concessions. In its 18th year of […]

18 Aug, 2014

Omni Hotels Boosts “Thought Leadership” sessions for meeting planners

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August 11, 2014, DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Omni Hotels & Resorts announced today details for the fourth annual Be Collaborative road-show, a professional development series offered to meeting planners across the nation. Each year the program offers new insights on how clients and suppliers can collaborate by embracing each other’s points of views and achieving mutual success. The […]

18 Aug, 2014

US$4.1 million funding boost to raise job skills of Persons with Disabilities

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August 13, 2014, LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Accenture and Leonard Cheshire Disability today announced that Accenture and the Accenture Foundations have awarded the charity an additional US$4.1 million to build on and expand their Access to Livelihoods program, which increases the economic participation of persons with disabilities around the world. The grant, which will provide job and entrepreneurial […]

18 Aug, 2014

More Than 575 Million U.S. Payment Cards to Feature Chip Security in 2015

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August 13, 2014, NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Payments Security Task Force (PST) today provided an update on its discussions and activities since its inception. The task force, which represents a diverse group of U.S. electronic payment industry players, has initially focused on continuing the momentum of EMV chip implementation in the United States. In a recent […]

18 Aug, 2014

Ricoh Europe Research: Offices Should Prepare for Augmented Reality, Robots and Drones

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August 14, 2014, LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Europe’s public sector workforce predicts that within the next 20 years their offices will be dominated by highly sophisticated technologies that will drastically change the way they work. The future gazing research commissioned by Ricoh Europe and conducted by Coleman Parkes reveals how public sector employees anticipate the arrival of a […]

18 Aug, 2014

Indian Railways to get Smart Cards, Wi-fi access, e-ticketing

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New Delhi, Ministry of Railways, 13-August-2014 – In a move to provide more hassle-free services to railway users, the Minister of Railways, Mr. S.D.Sadananda Gowda launched new IT initiatives/applications at a function here today. These initiatives have been  developed by Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Railways. Mr. […]

18 Aug, 2014

Tourist-Targeting Scams and How to Avoid Them

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico (PRWEB) August 15, 2014 – When it comes to travel-related scams, they are almost always geared towards distracting tourists. More often than not, these scams also occur in places where there are lots of activities going on, such as a town square, marketplace or busy sidewalk. In order to help travelers […]

16 Aug, 2014

New Trade Show to Tap Myanmar’s Oil & Gas Bonanza

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Singapore, Aug 11, 2014 – (ACN Newswire) – The inaugural edition of Oil & Gas Myanmar 2014, a dedicated industry trade event focusing on Oil & Gas Exploration and Production & Refining, will be unveiled at the Myanmar Convention Centre (MCC) from 15 to 17 October 2014 amidst an exciting and promising era in the […]

16 Aug, 2014

“Senses” Theme: Lexus Calls for Entries to 2015 Design Award Competition

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Tokyo, Aug 11, 2014 – (JCN Newswire) – Lexus International today announces its call for entries to the third Lexus Design Award competition. First launched in 2013, the Lexus Design Award is an international competition that aims to foster young creators that use design to solve problems. The award has received worldwide attention for its […]

16 Aug, 2014

Thailand tops new Global Beachfront Awards with 1,250 beachfront hotels

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Bangkok – Thailand is riding a crest in humanity’s age-old love affair with the beach that has helped it overtake traditional beach countries like Spain, Mexico and Greece in the new Global Beachfront Awards. Thailand has beaten traditional beach destinations such as Spain, Mexico, USA, Greece and Turkey to take the number one position in […]

12 Aug, 2014

Afghanistan: No justice for thousands of civilians killed in US/NATO operations

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11 August 2014, Amnesty International media release – The families of thousands of Afghan civilians killed by US/NATO forces in Afghanistan have been left without justice, Amnesty International said in a new report released today. Focusing primarily on air strikes and night raids carried out by US forces, including Special Operations Forces, Left in the […]

12 Aug, 2014

Biggest Airline, Alliance, Fuel Efficiency and More Stats in IATA 2013 World Air Transport Stats Report

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Montreal, 12 August 2014 (IATA media release) – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) published the 58th edition of the World Air Transport Statistics (WATS), a leading yearbook of the airline industry’s annual performance containing extensive statistical information and analysis. “Commercial aviation began 100 years ago with a single airplane, a single passenger and a […]

12 Aug, 2014

EU Funds Research to Boost Safety of Cruise Ships

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Brussels, 8 August 2014, European Commission Press release – When choosing their summer holidays, many European opt for a cruise, or use a ferry to get where they are going. A very important aspect of passenger shipping is safety. Thanks to EU-funded research, evacuating large passenger ships could be even smoother and safer in future. […]

12 Aug, 2014

Aug 19 World Humanitarian Day: More people than ever need help

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) 11 August 2014 – Spotlighting humanitarians who often take great risks to help communities in need, World Humanitarian Day 2014 will feature events ranging from a 5K run/walk in Mogadishu, a wreath-laying ceremony at London’s Westminster Abbey, a radio talk show with disaster management experts in Papua New Guinea, and […]

12 Aug, 2014

Chinese discipline body seeks tipoffs to curb lavish spending by government officials

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Beijing, 2014-08-12 Xinhua (China Daily)  – As the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival nears, the Communist Party of China’s top discipline agency is calling on the public to report incidents of officials lavishly spending during the holiday. The CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection opened a column on its website to invite the public to submit tipoffs […]

8 Aug, 2014

U.S. F&B Survey: Changing Lifestyles Means More Meals Being Taken Alone

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Chicago (PRWEB) August 06, 2014 – Consumption behaviors in the U.S. have become less household-oriented and more individualized than previous generations, and now over 50 percent of eating and beverage occasions happen when consumers are alone, reports The NPD Group, a global information company. Also contributing to consumers dining alone is that 27 percent of […]

8 Aug, 2014

Western Interventionism To Blame for Deadly Chaos in Middle East

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CAIRO, Egypt, Aug 5 (NNN-XINHUA) – These days the Middle East situation is rather heart-wrenching, with rampant violence and destruction having torn peace and tranquility to tatters. Libya is quickly descending into a possible civil war while militia clashes are ramping up; Iraq is teetering on the edge of a split-up as Islamic State militants […]

8 Aug, 2014

Getting the Small Tasks Right: 10 Tips to Avoid Ineffective Restaurant Service

(PRWEB) August 06, 2014 – In the daily routine, it is easy to overlook small and seemingly mundane tasks in pursuit of big-picture goals. But according to Roger Beaudoin, a 20-year veteran restaurateur and industry service training developer, it’s consistently getting small tasks right that sets the best restaurants apart from the rest. Avoid these […]

8 Aug, 2014

India’s senior-citizens now total 8.6% of population

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New Delhi, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, 07-August-2014 – As per census 2011, the population of Senior citizens in the country has increased from 7.7 crore (7.5%) in 2001 to 10.38 crore in 2011, which is 8.6 percent of the total population. A statement showing size of elderly population (aged 60+) by residence in […]

8 Aug, 2014

Russia mulls sanctions on trans-Siberian flights by European airlines

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Agencies, MOSCOW, 2014-08-05 – Russia may impose restrictions or a ban on European airlines using trans-Siberian routes, raising the cost of their flights to Asia in response to the European Union’s sanctions over Ukraine, the business daily Vedomosti reported on Tuesday. Russian low-cost airline Dobrolyot, run by state-controlled Aeroflot, had to suspended all flights last […]

8 Aug, 2014

Global Human Rights Groups to UN Secretary General: Stand for Law and Justice or Resign!

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5 August 2014 For humanity and the little remained credibility of international law: Un Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, stand for law and Justice or resign! Mr. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, We, the under signed Palestinian human rights and community-based organizations are extremely disappointed by your performance, notably by your biased statements, your failure to act, and the […]

7 Aug, 2014

Tragic past of Hiroshima bombing must inspire future free of nuclear weapons – UN chief

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United Nations, 6 August 2014 (UN News Centre) – Remembering all those who died in the bombing of Hiroshima and, later, Nagasaki, some 69 years ago, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said that the atrocious memories of that tragedy must inspire new generations to work towards a world free of nuclear weapons. “This solemn […]

7 Aug, 2014

Muslim Travel Index 2014 Lists 15 Top European Countries “Most Likely to be Visited”

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LONDON, 6 August 2014 — The Muslim Travel Index 2014, released today, has revealed a list of European countries that Muslim tourists from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Malaysia will visit in the future. According to the research, France topped the list with 30% saying they would like to visit in the near future. […]