24 May, 2014

Public concerned Lao forests will be left with no big trees

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Vientiane, Vientiane Times, 22 May 2014 — People are seeing scores of wood trucks on the roads every day in some parts of the country, prompting concerns that Lao’s forests may soon be stripped of all big trees. Most of the trucks look overloaded and some do not display number plates, leading to suspicions of […]

24 May, 2014

China injects US$2 bln into new Africa fund

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KIGALI, May 22 (Xinhua) — The People’s Bank of China and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have signed a new financing agreement worth 2 billion U.S. dollars setting up an Africa-wide investment vehicle dubbed “Africa Growing Together Fund” (AGTF). The resources from the AGTF are expected to be provided over a 10-year period and will […]

24 May, 2014

No Bail For Chinese Arrested With Rhino Horns At Windhoek Airport

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WINDHOEK, May 23 (NNN-NAMPA) — Three Chinese nationals arrested with 14 rhino horns at the Hosea Kutako International Airport here in March this year, have been refused bail. Windhoek Magistrate George Mbundu on Thursday refused to grant bail to the three Chinese nationals on the grounds that they are facing a very serious charge of […]

24 May, 2014

FREE Download: Transparency Int’l Report on Corruption in South Asia

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21 May 2014, Transparency International Secretariat – Governments in corruption-stricken South Asia must allow anti-corruption agencies to investigate and prosecute corruption independently, Transparency International said today in the first comprehensive study on transparency and corruption prevention in the region. The report from the anti-corruption group, Fighting Corruption in South Asia: Building Accountability, analysed how well […]

22 May, 2014

FREE Download: “Online Advertising and Hidden Hazards to Consumer Security and Data Privacy”

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Wednesday, May 14, 2014, Washington, D.C – The Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) today released a report titled “Online Advertising and Hidden Hazards to Consumer Security and Data Privacy” and held a hearing on the topic on Thursday, May 15, 2014. U.S. Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and John McCain (R-AZ), the Chairman and Ranking Member […]

22 May, 2014

WEF East Asia: Young Global Leaders’ TABLE FOR TWO Launches Calorie Offset Programme

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Metro Manila, Philippines, 22 May 2014 (WEF media release) – TABLE FOR TWO, a global non-profit committed to tackling hunger, malnutrition and obesity, launched today its Calorie Offset programme at the World Economic Forum on East Asia, taking place in Manila on 21-23 May. The new programme works by taking “excess” calories from the developed world […]

20 May, 2014

Junk-food greater threat to health than tobacco: UN expert

GENEVA (19 May 2014) -The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Olivier De Schutter, called today for a new global agreement to regulate unhealthy diets. “Unhealthy diets are now a greater threat to global health than tobacco. Just as the world came together to regulate the risks of tobacco, a bold framework convention […]

20 May, 2014

Diplomatic risks grow with China’s rise and U.S. meddling

Beijing (Global Times), May 16, 2014 – Tensions are rising in the South China Sea as the US has intensified its intervention, and Vietnam and the Philippines are acting more ruthlessly. It’s a similar case with Japan. Challenges from both areas constitute China’s new diplomatic state. China is at a delicate point in its rising […]

19 May, 2014

European airport charges report: More transparency but less evenly applied

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European Commission Press release, Brussels, 19 May 2014 – The European Commission has released today a report on Member States’ application of EU rules on airport charges — the fees airlines pay to airports for the use of runways and terminals. Airport charges are estimated to account for up to 10% of airlines’ operating costs, […]

19 May, 2014

China’s forex reserve to hit $4t: report

Beijing, China Daily, 2014-05-19 – China, the world’s second-largest economy, will have more than $4 trillion in foreign exchange reserve by the end of 2014, said a People’s Daily report on Monday. China used to be short of foreign exchange before the nation adopted the reform and opening-up policy in 1978, while the country’s foreign […]

19 May, 2014

Farewell speech of Underprivileged Child of Partition who became a PM

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New Delhi, Prime Minister’s Office, 17-May-2014 – Following is the text of Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh’s farewell address to the Nation. My Fellow Citizens, I address you today for the last time as Prime Minister of India. Ten years ago, when I was entrusted with this responsibility, I entered upon it with diligence as […]

18 May, 2014

UN Indigenous Peoples Forum Day 5: Indigenous Children Caught in Bitter Land Disputes

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The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is holding its 13th session at UN Headquarters in New York between May 12-23, 2014. The UN Department of Public Information published daily reports on key points of the proceedings. In view of the importance of indigenous peoples to the culture and heritage of the global travel & tourism […]

18 May, 2014

UN Indigenous Peoples Forum Day 4: Govts Put Economic Interests over Respect for Traditional Cultures

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The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is holding its 13th session at UN Headquarters in New York between May 12-23, 2014. The UN Department of Public Information published daily reports on key points of the proceedings. In view of the importance of indigenous peoples to the culture and heritage of the global travel & tourism […]

18 May, 2014

UN Indigenous Peoples Forum Day 3: Resolution of Land Claims ‘Dysfunctionalities’ Dominates Discussion

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The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues held its 13th session at UN Headquarters in New York between May 12-23, 2014. The UN Department of Public Information published daily reports on key points of the proceedings. In view of the importance of indigenous peoples to the culture and heritage of the global travel & tourism industry, […]

18 May, 2014

UN Indigenous Peoples Forum Day 2: More needs to be done to ‘Right the Wrongs’

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The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is holding its 13th session at UN Headquarters in New York between May 12-23, 2014. The UN Department of Public Information published daily reports on key points of the proceedings. In view of the importance of indigenous peoples to the culture and heritage of the global travel & tourism […]

18 May, 2014

UN Indigenous Peoples Forum Day 1: Still Face Discrimination, Exploitation

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The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is holding its 13th session at UN Headquarters in New York between May 12-23, 2014. The UN Department of Public Information published daily reports on key points of the proceedings. In view of the importance of indigenous peoples to the culture and heritage of the global travel & tourism […]

16 May, 2014

First India Film Guide released at Cannes

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Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, 15-May-2014 – The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting which is participating in the 67th Annual Cannes Film Festival today released the  India Film Guide at the India Pavilion. Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, I&B, Mr Bimal Julka said the Resource guide endeavours to promote Indian cinema across linguistic, cultural and […]

16 May, 2014

China’s luxury market set for good times – EIU report

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Beijing, (chinadaily.com.cn) 2014-05-15 – Despite the current slowdown, China’s luxury market is expected to grow in the long run, as the market matures in the next two decades and the country’s household income increases, according to a report released by Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).  Coach profits drive up in China Chinese market offers better times […]

16 May, 2014

EU adopts new strategy to boost film competitiveness

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Brussels, 15 May 2014, European Commission Press release – European films represent nearly two thirds of releases in the EU but account for only one third of ticket sales. While the number of films produced in Europe increased from around 1100 in 2008 to 1300 in 2012, most European films are shown only in the […]

16 May, 2014

U.S. airline travel forecast to hit six-year high this summer

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WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)-May 15, 2014-Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, today delivered its Summer Air Travel Forecast and first-quarter 2014 results for U.S. passenger airlines, which achieved strong operational performance and modest profitability in the face of one of the harshest winters in memory. A4A projects summer 2014 air […]

16 May, 2014

Govts should use procurement to ‘buy justice’ in food systems – UN right to food expert

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GENEVA (15 May 2014) Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights) – Governments must exploit the full potential of public food purchasing in order to make food systems fairer and more sustainable, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Olivier De Schutter, urged Thursday. “Governments have few sources of leverage over […]

16 May, 2014

FREE Download: World Health Statistics report 2014

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Geneva, World Health Organisation, 15 May 2014 – People everywhere are living longer, the United Nations health agency today reported, mostly because fewer children are dying, certain diseases are in check, and tobacco use is down, but conditions in low-income countries continue to plague life quality there. According to the UN World Health Organization’s (WHO) […]

14 May, 2014

Survey: How Women plan, book and spend for summer vacation

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PHOENIX (PRWEB) May 13, 2014 – Women may be the primary decision-makers when it comes to purchasing, but their needs and wants often take a back seat when planning their summer vacation according to a new survey from Best Western International and Wakefield Research. The Best Western Female Travel Summer Survey found that 90 percent […]

13 May, 2014

FREE Download: WHO report charts the devastation caused by global alcohol consumption

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Geneva, World Health Organisation, 12 May 2014 – More than three million deaths in 2012 were linked to alcohol with a steady increase in alcohol use among women, the United Nations health agency today reported calling on Governments to do more to prevent alcohol-related deaths and diseases. The “Global status report on alcohol and health […]

13 May, 2014

At int’l meeting on Jerusalem, Ban reiterates Israeli settlements are “illegal”

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) 12 May 2014 – Continued inaction in the Middle East peace process could lead to further instability in the region, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned today at an international meeting in Turkey, reiterating his calls on Israelis and Palestinians to avoid unilateral steps that would aggravate the situation and […]

13 May, 2014

China, Turkmenistan vow to develop Silk Road strategic partnership

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BEIJING, May 12 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov signed a number of deals in Beijing on Monday to develop a stronger strategic partnership. The documents include an agreement of China-Turkmenistan friendly cooperation, a joint declaration on developing and deepening the bilateral strategic partnership, and development plans for 2014-2018. […]

13 May, 2014

Experts: Swiss decision to disclose foreign accounts will help China fight corruption

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Beijing, (People’s Daily Online), May 12, 2014 – The Swiss government announced its support on 7 May for an agreement signed with the Organization for Economic Cooperation on the implementation of standards of automatic exchange of information between banks. The signing of this agreement will mean the end of a Swiss tradition stretching back hundreds […]

13 May, 2014

Indigenous Peoples must help define global development agenda, UN Forum hears

United Nations, (UN News Centre), 12 May 2014 – Indigenous peoples must be a part of the ongoing process to define a global development agenda beyond 2015, United Nations officials said today, calling for explicit assertion of their collective rights as well as the promotion of traditional knowledge to tackle issues such as climate change, […]

12 May, 2014

China, Kenya sign co-financing deal on East African railway

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NAIROBI, May 11, (Xinhua) — China and Kenya signed a co-financing deal on Sunday to build a railway linking Nairobi to Mombasa, a critical infrastructure project to boost regional trade and deepen integration in East Africa. Visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, together with presidents of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan as well as representatives […]

12 May, 2014

Asian Universities on the Rise: New Findings on Strategies to Boost Rankings, Research

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BANGKOK, 12 MAY, 2014 (UNESCO media release) – As university enrolment continues to grow across Asia, a new report from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) analyses ways in which countries across the region can accommodate more students while strengthening the  quality of their university programmes and research. Entitled Higher Education in Asia: Expanding Out, […]

12 May, 2014

China’s online travel service provider Tuniu debuts at Nasdaq

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NEW YORK, May 9, (Xinhua) — Tuniu Corporation, a Chinese online leisure travel company, on Friday launched initial public offering (IPO) on the Nasdaq market and raised about 72 million U.S. dollars. The company priced its IPO at nine dollars a share and sold 8 million shares. The stock, trading under the ticker “TOUR,” closed at […]

12 May, 2014

Learning Chinese language helps Americans know different world

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LOS ANGELES, May 10 (Xinhua) — “The ancient China has a great saying which is there is nothing on heaven to fear, there is nothing on earth to fear, there is only one thing to fear that Kevin Rudd is still speaking Chinese,” the former Australian prime minister began his speech in such a humorous […]

10 May, 2014

More Jewish fanatic graffiti “Death to Arabs and Christians”

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JERUSALEM, May 7, 2014 (Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem media release) – The wave of fanaticism and intimidation against Christians continues. Another threat, “Death to Arabs, Christians and all those who hate Israel”, was tagged on Monday, May 5, 2014, on a column in front of the Office of the Assembly of Bishops, Notre Dame of Jerusalem. […]

10 May, 2014

Turkey gets Euro 200 Million loan to complete first Euro-Asia rail tunnel

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Ankara / Luxembourg, 8th May 2014 – The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing a further EUR 200 million loan to the Republic of Turkey for the Marmaray project, the first rail connection between the European and Asian networks across the Bosphorus Strait. The finance agreement was signed today in Ankara in a public ceremony […]

10 May, 2014

17 Human Rights groups urge Palestinians to take case to Int’l Criminal Court

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(Jerusalem) May 8, 2014 (Human Rights Watch media release) – Palestine should urgently seek access to the International Criminal Court (ICC), a group of 17 Palestinian and international human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, said today. In a letter to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the groups said that providing the ICC with jurisdiction could […]

10 May, 2014

19% More Commuters Join “Bike to Work Day” in ‘Frisco Bay Area

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OAKLAND, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)-May 08, 2014-Brisk temperatures throughout the region greeted morning commuters celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Bike to Work Day in the San Francisco Bay Area. Throughout the region, Energizer Stations located near bike lanes, trails and transit stations were crowded with bike commuters — an indication that commuters are increasingly choosing two wheels […]

10 May, 2014

Denied Entry at the US Border? Five Helpful Tips On What To Do

(PRWEB) May 07, 2014 – 1) Remain calm.  Aggressive behavior can result in the US border guard making a record of this behavior and this may have a detrimental effect on applying for re-entry to the United States at a later date. The good news is, once a US Entry Waiver is in place, future […]

10 May, 2014

EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards Announced

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Brussels, 5 May 2014, European Commission Press release – The winners of the 2014 European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards were honoured this evening during a ceremony in Vienna. Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, and Plácido Domingo, the opera singer and President of Europa Nostra, presented […]

10 May, 2014

Traditional Mongolian Medicine seeks its place in the sun

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Beijing, 2014-05-05, China Daily – The practitioners of traditional Mongolian medicine want more people to know about the heritage of their healers, which dates back to the time of Xiongnu, the probable predecessor of the Huns, and they now want to take it abroad. In February 2013, a six-member delegation traveled to the United Nations […]

9 May, 2014

Australian competition watchdog seeks stronger penalties against Flight Centre

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8 May 2014 (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission media release) – The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has today lodged a cross-appeal in relation to a penalty judgment of the Federal Court on 28 March 2014 ordering Flight Centre Limited (Flight Centre) to pay penalties totaling $11M for repeatedly attempting to enter into anti-competitive arrangements […]

9 May, 2014

Call to Action Signed to Usher in Freer Travel & Talent Mobility in Africa

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Abuja, Nigeria, 8 May 2014 (World Economic Forum media release) – The Global Agenda Councils on New Models for Travel & Tourism and Africa have today agreed to collaborate on promoting a regional integration strategy through the facilitation of travel and talent mobility in the region using, among others, a common visa for regional blocs […]

9 May, 2014

Duryodhana, Stolen Cambodian Sculpture, To Be Returned from U.S.

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PHNOM PENH, Cambodia–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 08, 2014 – An ancient Cambodian sculpture, originally from the Koh Ker period (928-942AD), will return to Cambodia later this spring. The sculpture, known as the Duryodhana, was stolen from Cambodia sometime in the early 1970s. The 225-kilogram statue depicts a Hindu warrior and is valued at around US$2 million. It […]

8 May, 2014

Film Festival Director Seeks Expanded Support for Independent Filmmakers

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New York, NY (PRWEB) May 08, 2014 – The New York City Independent Film Festival has a new crowd funding campaign. The aim is to support more filmmakers than ever before. The festival started in 2009 and grew fast. “In the first few years, I kept the festival alive myself“, said Dennis Cieri, Executive director […]

8 May, 2014

Europe projects 1.5 million more jobs through digital entrepreneurship

Brussels, 29 April 2014, European Commission Press Memo – The main challenge entrepreneurs are facing in Europe is not the lack of great ideas but the fear of turning ideas into reality. Many people with great ideas refrain from entrepreneurship because of their doubts. There are as many people wanting to start a business in […]

6 May, 2014

India launches tour-planning website developed by IIT alumni

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New Delhi, Ministry of Tourism, 05-May-2014 – Tripigator.com, a travel planning engine, was launched today in Delhi in partnership with Incredible India of Ministry of Tourism. Tripigator.com instantly generates personalized travel itineraries on fewer inputs and significantly reduces users’ effort by replacing ten tabs with one tab. The website has been chosen as the official […]

6 May, 2014

Indian Railways starts pilgrimage tourist train from Chennai to Nepal

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KOLKATA, TNN, May 5, 2014 – After offering tour packages to popular destinations like Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia, IRCTC has launched a tourist train from Chennai to Nepal, primarily aimed at pilgrims from south India. Those opting for this tour will be taken around Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage destinations in north India and Nepal. “It […]

6 May, 2014

Captive elephants in Laos face extinction – Univ of Queensland study

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5 May 2014 (UQ News) – The captive elephant population in Laos will be extinct in just over a century if current management practices do not change, a University of Queensland study has found. It is estimated that only 480 captive elephants remain across Laos, and the study shows that changes to conservation management are […]

6 May, 2014

44% of world’s households will have Internet access by end 2014 – ITU report

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Geneva, 5 May 2014 (International Telecommunications Union) – New figures released by ITU today indicate that, by end 2014, there will be almost 3 billion Internet users, two-thirds of them coming from the developing world, and that the number of mobile-broadband subscriptions will reach 2.3 billion globally. Fifty-five per cent of these subscriptions are expected to […]

5 May, 2014

Applicants sought to head Mekong Tourism office

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The Bangkok-based Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office is inviting applications for Executive Director position to replace Mr Mason Florence who is moving on at the end of a successful six-year term. Citizens of the Greater Mekong Subregion countries and women are especially being encouraged to apply. The initial contract will be for two years. Salary will […]

4 May, 2014

Israel imposes 3-day closure on West Bank

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Occupied Jerusalem,May 4 (Petra)-Israeli occupation forces on Sunday imposed a general closure on the West Bank on the occasion of the so called Israel’s Independence Day. According to Israeli radio , the closure will start at 6 PM and will be lifted on Tuesday midnight. The announcement added that Palestinians will not be allowed to […]

4 May, 2014

Indian President Exhorts Film-makers to Reflect Deeply on their Key Messages

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New Delhi, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, 03-May-2014 – Indian President Mr Pranab Mukherjee today conferred the film awards for the year 2013 in various categories at the 61st National Film Awards Function held at the Vigyan Bhawan. In his address, the President said, “I take this opportunity to reflect upon an important aspect of […]

4 May, 2014

Lazy, dishonest workforce derails growth, says Ugandan President

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NTUNGAMO (UGANDA), May 3 (NNN-NEW VISION) — President Yoweri Museveni has warned that there can be no growth and economic development when you have a lazy and dishonest workforce, stressing that a workforce that steals from its employer scares off investors and derails development. The President singled out the theft of road fuel on the […]

4 May, 2014

Lower dependence on foreign consultants – Bangladesh PM tells nation

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DHAKA, May 4, 2014 (BSS)-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday sought support of the local engineers to lessen dependence on foreign consultants while preparing and executing development projects particularly big ones. In this regard, she urged Engineers Institute of Bangladesh (IEB) to constitute some teams with their members to provide consultancy services to the government in […]

4 May, 2014

U.A.E. citizens get travel safety tips, especially for UK

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ABU DHABI, 29th April, 2014 (WAM) — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called U.A.E. citizens wishing to travel abroad for tourism, study and medical treatment, mainly those heading to the UK, to take into consideration a set of important measures for their own safety. In a statement today, Rashid Ali Al Dhaheri, Director of […]

3 May, 2014

Chinese tourists urged to change “loud, rude, self-centered” behaviour

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Beijing, (Xinhua) May 02, 2014 – With China on holiday for International Workers Day, tourist agency managers and sociologists want Chinese tourists to learn to avoid embarrassing behavior. Li Zhongguang, of the China Tourism Academy, believes it is time for everyone to have a global vision and think about the effects of their behavior on […]

2 May, 2014

World Press Freedom Day May 3: Free Media Vital To Good Governance – UN

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) May 1 2014 – Free media, traditional and new, are indispensable for development, democracy and good governance, United Nations officials said today, spotlighting Press Freedom Day – observed annually on 3 May – to urge Governments, societies and individuals to actively defend this fundamental right as a critical factor in […]

2 May, 2014

Aviation industry to meet in KL to plan real-time flight data monitoring standards

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Geneva, 01 May 2014 – (ITU media release) Following a call from Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Malaysian Minister for Communications and Multimedia, ITU and the Government of Malaysia will organize an Expert Dialogue on Real-time Monitoring of Flight Data, including the Black Box – the need for international Standards in the Age of Cloud Computing and Big […]

1 May, 2014

China eyes “milestone” May 20-21 summit on security cooperation in Asia

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BEIJING, April 29 (Xinhua) — China hopes the upcoming Shanghai summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) will be a milestone for security cooperation in the region, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Tuesday. Spokesman Qin Gang said at a daily news briefing, “We will tell the world that […]

1 May, 2014

First “Made in China” regional jet completes overseas test flights

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SHANGHAI, April 28 (Xinhua) — A regional airliner built by Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) returned to Xi’an on Monday after completing test flights in natural icing conditions in Canada. It was the first time for the airliner, a twin-engined ARJ21-700, to carry out test flights abroad under special meteorological conditions, sources with […]

1 May, 2014

WHO’s first global report on antibiotic resistance reveals serious threat to public health

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30 April 2014, Geneva  (World Health Organization) – A new report by WHO — its first to look at antimicrobial resistance, including antibiotic resistance, globally — reveals that this serious threat is no longer a prediction for the future, it is happening right now in every region of the world and has the potential to […]

1 May, 2014

May Day Action Alert: Your chance to vote for the “World’s Worst Boss”

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Brussels, 1 May 2014 (International Trade Unions Confederation May Day statement): Building Workers’ Power is vital to drive economic, industrial and social transformation. The international system today is heavily stacked against workers and their families, and governments are increasingly cowered by big finance and big business.  A tiny proportion of the world’s population holds vast […]

30 Apr, 2014

Egyptian global image in free fall after “outrageous” mass death sentences

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GENEVA, 29 April 2014, (Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Tuesday strongly condemned the shocking imposition of the death penalty on 683 individuals in Egypt yesterday after mass trials that she said clearly breached international human rights law. “It is outrageous that […]

30 Apr, 2014

Extensive tax breaks have just made the rich richer: OECD report

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Paris, 30 April 2014 (OECD news release) – The share of the richest 1% in total pre-tax income have increased in most OECD countries over the past three decades. This rise is the result of the top 1% capturing a disproportionate share of overall income growth over that timeframe: up to 37% in Canada and […]

30 Apr, 2014

China gets on the medical tourism bandwagon

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Beijing, (People’s Daily Online) April 29, 2014 – Medical tourism is a new way of integrating leisure travel and medical services. Statistics show that worldwide number of medical tourists increased from 20 million in 2006 to 40 million in 2012. They may spend 10 times what the ordinary tourist will while traveling, or even more.In South […]

29 Apr, 2014

Simple Strategies To Raise Creative Children in the Face of School Social Pressures

Tampa, Florida (PRWEB) April 28, 2014 – It’s proven through government studies that creativity is a valuable asset best developed through the arts. Creativity is known as the fundamental driver of innovation. Art education develops the critical thinking skills and problem solving abilities necessary to create our future innovators. However, it can be quite difficult […]

29 Apr, 2014

Holocaust Remembrance: Israel requires “permits” to let sick Palestinians travel for treatment

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JERUSALEM, April 28, 2014 (WAFA) – While the world marked Holocaust Remembrance Day, the World Health Organization issued a report that highlighted another slow-motion holocaust under way in Palestine. The WHO monthly report cited the pain and suffering inflicted on Palestinian patients as a result of the Israeli blockade and their inability to freely seek […]

28 Apr, 2014

California Muslim, Sikh Groups to File Complaint Against Amusement Park

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(SANTA CLARA, CA, 4/28/14) (CAIR media release) – On April 29, the California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) and UNITED SIKHS will hold simultaneous news conferences in Anaheim and Santa Clara to announce the filing of multiple public accommodation complaints with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) against Boomers! […]

28 Apr, 2014

Festival of India launched in China

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24-April-2014, Ministry of Culture – The Secretary, Union Ministry of Culture Mr Ravindra Singh here today launched the logo, posters and webpage for the Festival of India in China which will be celebrated from May 2014 to March 2015. The same were simultaneously launched in Beijing by Mr Ashok K. Kantha Ambassador of India to […]

28 Apr, 2014

China warning: U.S. and Japan playing with fire in Asia

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(People’s Daily Online), April 28, 2014 – The U.S.-Japan alliance targeted at China has been strengthened during US President Barack Obama’s visit to Japan. In a written interview with the Yomiuri Shimbun, Obama stated that the so-called “Senkakus” have been historically administered by Japan and fall under Article 5 of the Japan-US Security Treaty. “I […]

28 Apr, 2014

Indigenous NGOs, Social Activists to meet in Manila to chart “Alternative Pathways for Asia”

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Manila, Focus on the Global South, 28 April 2014 – More than 50 representatives from indigenous communities and social organizations in the Philippines, India, and Thailand are meeting Manila and Cebu from April 29 to May 2nd with indigenous leader Blanca Chancosa from Ecuador to discuss the native Andean concept of vivir bien (“living well”) […]

28 Apr, 2014

Rohingya Muslims face humanitarian crisis in Myanmar

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Sittwe, Myanmar, 27 April 2014 (IINA) – Ruk and Kun Suma were born five minutes apart on March 27 in a camp for displaced Rohingya in Rakhine State, a northwestern province of Myanmar. Their mother, an emaciated 40-year-old woman named Noor Begun, suffers from tuberculosis and is unable to breastfeed them. The family cannot afford […]

25 Apr, 2014

China to further develop village tourism

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SANYA, Hainan, April 24 (Xinhua) — Local township and village tourism in China will receive a boost in investment this year, Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang said on Thursday. Ten thousand villages will become tourism spots and 200,000 households will be turned into farm stay accommodation, Wang said at the opening ceremony of the 2014 […]

24 Apr, 2014

Climate change’s potential impact must drive food production efforts – FAO chief

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23 April 2014, Meknès, Morocco/Rome (FAO media release) – Countries need to shift to more sustainable food systems, stepping up action to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva told participants at the seventh Forum on Agriculture in the Kingdom of Morocco. “Everything we do needs to […]

24 Apr, 2014

Food Security, Healthy Oceans Will be Critical for Growing Populations, Summit told

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22 April 2014, The Hague/Rome, (FAO media release) – Urgent coordinated action is needed to restore the health of the world’s oceans and secure the long-term well-being and food security of a growing global population. That is a key message of an international summit that opens today in The Hague, the Netherlands. Ministers and senior […]

24 Apr, 2014

China-Europe railway relaunches

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WUHAN, April 23 (Xinhua) — A freight train on Wednesday began a journey from central China’s key city of Wuhan to Poland’s Lodz, restarting the Wuhan-Xijiang-Europe rail route after it was suspended for technical reasons. Its 15-day journey will pass along the Silk Road economic belt through major cities in central and northwest China, Kazakhstan, […]

24 Apr, 2014

Sydney migration agent jailed for fraud

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Canberra, 23 April 2014 (Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection media release) – The Federal Government said that the jailing of a former migration agent for immigration fraud sent a strong message to the industry that fraudulent and illegal behaviour will not be tolerated. Ms Xiao Ying Wu (known as Amy Wu), was based […]

23 Apr, 2014

Free Download: ADB report Outlines Impact of Shifting Global, Asian Landscapes

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MANILA, PHILIPPINES, 22 April 2014 (ADB media release) – Shifting relations between Asian countries and the changing global economy mean that Asia needs to strengthen its economic cooperation, says the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Asian Economic Integration Monitor released today. “Asia needs stronger cooperation now more than ever,” said Iwan J. Azis, Head of ADB’s […]

22 Apr, 2014

Survey: ‘Overtime’ impacts on Chinese work-life balance

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Beijing, (People’s Daily Online)    April 21, 2014 – Pressures of work, too much overtime, and too many projects are three major factors influencing the work-life balance of Chinese people, according to a latest annual report published in Shanghai on April 17. The Randstad China’s 2014 Employer Branding Survey was conducted by Randstan Human Resource and […]

20 Apr, 2014

Israeli Forces Disrupt Easter Procession, Sparking UN Protest

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United Nations, UN News Centre, Apr 19 2014 – A top United Nations envoy on Saturday said he was dismayed that a peaceful Easter procession led by Palestinian Christians through Jerusalem’s Old City was disrupted by Israeli security forces. “Once again I call on all parties to respect the right of religious freedom, granting access […]

19 Apr, 2014

And they say Islam is a “violent religion”? – Check out horrifying toll of U.S. gun violence

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NEWARK, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–April 16, 2014 — SST, Inc., the maker of ShotSpotter and the global leader in gunfire detection, location, alerting and analysis, today released its 2013 National Gunfire Index™ which provides the most comprehensive, detailed and accurate data available on gunfire activity across the United States. SST collected and analyzed gunfire data from a […]

19 Apr, 2014

Worried about business impact, U.S. Retailers move to protect consumer data from cybercrime

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WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–April 16, 2014 – The National Retail Federation today told a congressional panel that the retail industry is committed to safeguarding and protecting consumer data and information from highly-motivated and sophisticated cybercriminals and hackers. “Retailers make significant investments every year in order to protect [consumer] data,” NRF Vice President for Retail Technologies Tom Litchford […]

19 Apr, 2014

India’s first “Election Tourism” programme for world’s biggest democratic poll

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New Delhi, 15-April-2014, Government of India Election Commission – Seven senior officials from the Electoral Commission of Namibia began their participation today in ECI’s 2014 Election Visitors Programme. A special briefing was organized for them, at the ECI Headquarters, on India’s electoral system and the General Elections, 2014, with particular reference to the electoral scene […]

19 Apr, 2014

Palestinian Christians Urge International Community to Ensure Access to Jerusalem during Easter

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JERUSALEM, April 17, 2014 (WAFA) – The Civic National Commission in Jerusalem, in an open letter, urged the international community to ensure that Palestinian Christians will have free access to places of worship in occupied East Jerusalem during this year’s Easter holidays. The Civic National Commission reiterated the call of Palestinian Christian institutions issued on […]

18 Apr, 2014

European Parliament Acts to Aid Cross-Border Debt Collection; SMEs seen as main beneficiaries

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Strasbourg, 15 April 2014, European Commission MEMO – Today, the European Parliament voted in plenary to back an initiative by the European Commission that will cut red tape for companies and contribute to growth in the EU. The European Account Preservation Order (IP/11/923) (backed by 597 votes for, 33 against and 37 abstentions) will help […]

18 Apr, 2014

Jewish Voice for Peace Issues Call to Action to Defeat Pro-War Israeli lobby

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Editor’s Note: This call to action was issued by Jewish Voice for Peace on 17 April 2014. It is being transmitted onwards by Travel Impact Newswire in solidarity with the message. Action Alert Help us defeat AIPAC in just eight days. AIPAC or JVP? It’s time to show the world who you “Like” more. Dear […]

18 Apr, 2014

UNESCO launches Specialist Guides Training for Historic Sukhothai and Heritage Cities

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BANGKOK, 16 April 2014, UNESCO Bangkok Press Release – The historic town of Sukhothai, one of Thailand’s most prominent UNESCO World Heritage Sites, will soon get its own training programme for specialist guides. The UNESCO Cultural Heritage Specialist Training Programme focuses on training local guides as a way of contributing to local livelihoods and involving […]

18 Apr, 2014

New UNWRA chief Pierre Krähenbühl Calls for End to Israeli Blockade of Gaza

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17 April 2014, Gaza, UNWRA media release – The first official visit to the Gaza Strip by UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl has received high-profile coverage in local, regional and international media. Mr. Krähenbühl vowed to advocate strenuously to end the blockade of Gaza, to improve the quality of UNRWA services to the refugees and to […]

16 Apr, 2014

Some Alternative Perspectives on the Future of US Diplomacy in a Changing World Order

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Beijing, (People’s Daily Online), April 09, 2014 – According to a Pew poll last November, 52 percent of Americans believe the US “should mind its own business internationally”. Some argue that the US is making strategic adjustments to its diplomacy, as manifested in the way it has dealt with issues of Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine. […]

16 Apr, 2014

China busts huge Shanghai healthcare scam touting fake clinics, overpriced drugs

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SHANGHAI, (Agencies) 2014-04-16- Authorities in China have detained 160 members of a criminal gang in the financial capital of Shanghai after the group lured patients to fake medical clinics and sold them overpriced drugs, Shanghai police said on Tuesday. The gang cheated more than 500 victims out of 1.7 million yuan ($273,400), using corrupt doctors […]

15 Apr, 2014

More home demolitions, land-grabs in Israeli drive to wipe Palestine off the map

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RAMALLAH, April 14, 2014 – (WAFA) – Center of Information concerning Israeli Settlement and Apartheid Wall Affairs highlighted Monday the escalating pace at which house demolitions  are carried out and demolition notices are served since the beginning of the current year of 2014. Since the beginning of the current year, Israeli authorities have handed 191 […]

15 Apr, 2014

Israel opens Jerusalem for foreign tourists, but not for local Palestinians

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RAMALLAH, April 14, 2014 – (WAFA) – Fatah Central Committee Member Nabeel Shaath joined Sunday the Palm Sunday procession in Jerusalem which marked the beginning of the Christian Holy Week of Easter. Shaath, along with Governor of Jerusalem Adnan Husseini, joined Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal and the bishop of Palestine William Shomali in the annual […]

15 Apr, 2014

European Commission Cites Growing Danger of Global Cartels — Market-sharing, Price-fixing, Bid-rigging

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Full Text of speech delivered by Joaquín ALMUNIA, Vice President of the European Commission responsible for Competition Policy, SV Kartellrecht, Brussels, 3 April 2014 Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to thank Frank Montag for inviting me to your conference again. When we met last year, we talked about cartel settlements and the relative merits […]

15 Apr, 2014

New Studies Show Growing Health Risks from Wireless Tech

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RENSSELAER, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–April 11, 2014 – The BioInitiative Working Group says evidence for health risk from wireless tech is growing stronger and warrants immediate action. The Group released a mid-year update covering new science studies from 2012 to 2014. New studies intensify medical concerns about malignant brain tumors from cell phone use. “There is a […]

15 Apr, 2014

Want to Make Ethical Decisions? A Santa Clara University App Offers a Guide

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SANTA CLARA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–April 08, 2014 – A new iPhone app released by the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University is helping people make difficult decisions. The app, called “Ethical Decision Making: A Practical Tool for Thinking Through Tough Choices,” is a free guide to help anyone struggling with a decision. Users […]

14 Apr, 2014

American Muslims Stand with Jewish Community After Kansas Shootings

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(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/13/12) –- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, said today that American Muslims stand in solidarity with the Jewish community after a man who reportedly shouted “Heil Hitler” opened fire at a Jewish community center and an old-age home in Overland Park, Kan. SEE: […]

14 Apr, 2014

Chinese bank credits benefit 46 ASEAN transport projects

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BEIJING, April 12, (Xinhua) — The Export-Import Bank of China (Eximbank) has provided credit support to 46 transport infrastructure projects in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries by early 2014, a senior executive of the bank told Xinhua Sunday. With preferential loans from the Eximbank, 24 highways, three railways, one port, three airports and […]

14 Apr, 2014

China’s online tourism sector set to see more integration, acquisitions

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BEIJING, April 13, (China Daily) – China’s online travel industry may see more integration and acquisitions this year, driven by the giant Internet companies. LY.com and eLong Inc announced their cooperation on Thursday. Tencent Holdings Ltd, a shareholder in both of the online travel agencies, was seen as the guiding hand behind the agreement under […]

13 Apr, 2014

European Commission publishes first EU Transport Scoreboard: Netherlands, Germany lead list

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Brussels, 10 April 2014, European Commission Press release – The European Commission has published today for the first time a scoreboard on transport in the EU. It compares Member State performance in 22 transport-related categories and highlights for most of these categories the five top and bottom performers. The Netherlands and Germany top the scoreboard […]

13 Apr, 2014

China moving ahead with plan for Asian infrastructure bank

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BOAO, Hainan, April 10 -(Xinhua)  – China is ready to step up talks on establishing the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Premier Li Keqiang told the opening ceremony of the 2014 annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia on Thursday. “China is ready to intensify consultations with relevant parties in and outside Asia on the preparations […]

12 Apr, 2014

Rabbi Yisrayl Hawkins Predicts Nuclear War, Offers Place of Safety

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Abilene, Texas (PRWEB) April 11, 2014 – Yisrayl Hawkins, Pastor of The House of Yahweh in Abilene, Texas, wrote a new article this week discussing where people can find protection from nuclear war, which he says is soon to come. “We see this generation in prophecy. I am surprised no one has noticed this before, […]