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, […]

12 Apr, 2014

Starwood Hotels Pledges Shark Fin Ban in All Hotels Worldwide by Year-end

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STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–April 07, 2014 – Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced that, beginning July 2014, it will no longer procure shark fin in any of its nearly 1,200 hotels or 1,300 restaurants around the world. The company has committed to completely eliminating the consumption of shark fin, without exception, in all […]

12 Apr, 2014

Travel Insurance First offers “Green Travel” Tips for Earth Day

East Hartford, CT (PRWEB) April 11, 2014 – Earth Day, which is on April 22, 2014, was founded in 1970 by Sen. Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, whose ultimate goal was to mobilize the globe and bring together environmental activists to promote education and awareness. Over the years, Earth Day has become a global phenomenon, from […]

12 Apr, 2014

Now Everyone can Skip Flying: Enhanced Business Class on VIA Rail Canada

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MONTRÉAL–(BUSINESS WIRE)–April 08, 2014 – Business class travelers on VIA Rail’s Corridor routes can now experience many of the upgrades recently made to its Business class service – refurbished lounges, a more spacious environment on-board, a greener and more comfortable trip, new meals and more personalized service. The improvements to Business class, have been rolling […]

12 Apr, 2014

Stressful Life Increases Risk of Delivering Low Birth Weight Baby

ANN ARBOR, Mich.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–April 10, 2014 – Stressful life events prior to conception can result in an increased risk of giving birth to a very low birth weight baby, a new nationwide U.S. study reveals. A research team, lead by Whitney Witt, PhD, MPH of Truven Health Analytics, is the first to study the relationship […]

12 Apr, 2014

Malaysia: Air Passenger Traffic Up In March Despite MH370

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia April 11 (NNN-Bernama) — Despite a decline in the growth rate for air passenger traffic towards the last 10 days of March due to the recent Flight MH370 incident, the overall growth momentum remains positive, said Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB). Passenger traffic grew by 13 per cent in March, bringing the […]

11 Apr, 2014

Jewish Voice for Peace: What They Don’t Want You to Know (Academics Take Note)

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The following Call to Action was issued by the activist group Jewish Voice for Peace on April 10. It is being circulated verbatim by Travel Impact Newswire in solidarity with the message. Action Update The right to criticize Israel is at stake on campuses across the country. Boston-JVP rallies hundreds to defend SJP. © Pat […]

11 Apr, 2014

Alcohol a major cause in nearly half a million murders in 2012: UN study on global crime

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Vienna, 10 April 2013 (UNODC media release) – Almost half a million people (437,000) across the world lost their lives in 2012 as a result of intentional homicide, according to a new study by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Launching the Global Study on Homicide 2013 in London today, Jean-Luc Lemahieu, […]

10 Apr, 2014

“Way of St James” heritage city in Spain to host 1st UNWTO Congress on Tourism & Pilgrimages

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The First International Congress on Tourism and Pilgrimages is to be held between 18 – 20 September 2014 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. It is co-organised by the UN World Tourism Organisation, the Spanish Secretariat for Tourism and the Regional Government of Galicia. The capital of the autonomous community of Galicia in northwestern Spain, Santiago […]

9 Apr, 2014

Huge turnout for International Halal Food Expo in Malaysia

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KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 (BERNAMA) — 43 companies from Saudi Arabia are participating in the 11th Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS 2014), being held here from 9 -12 April 2014 at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), making it the largest foreign participation so far. MIHAS is organised by Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) under the […]

9 Apr, 2014

Easter Services: Jerusalem Christians Complain of Israel Denying Access to Religious Sites

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JERUSALEM, April 6, 2014 (WAFA) – The Christian institutions and denominations in occupied East Jerusalem Sunday complained about denial of access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and its vicinity during Easter Holidays. The Christians described the harassment as discriminatory, racist, and targets the Holy season, said the Christians of East Jerusalem in a […]

9 Apr, 2014

New global coalition emerges to keep surveillance technologies in check

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Brussels, 4 April 2014, – World leaders must commit to keeping invasive surveillance systems and technologies out of the hands of dictators and oppressive regimes, said a new global coalition of human rights organizations as it launched today in Brussels. The Coalition Against Unlawful Surveillance Exports (CAUSE) – which includes Amnesty International, Digitale Gesellschaft, FIDH, […]

9 Apr, 2014

Xi’an becomes 8th Chinese city to allow 72-hr visa exemptions

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XI’AN, (Xinhua) 2014-04-05 – A city in northwest China’s Shaanxi province will allow 72-hour transit visa exemptions for foreign nationals to make it more accessible to the outside world, local authorities said on Friday. Foreigners from 51 countries in Europe, America, Oceania and Asia will be able to visit Xi’an, Shaanxi’s capital city, and Xianyang […]

9 Apr, 2014

Israeli Embassy Sending Home Diplomats Who Assaulted Indian Immigration Officer

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Three Israeli diplomats accused of assaulting an immigration official at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here are being sent back home by their embassy. The decision to send back the diplomats, who have been slapped with criminal charges by the police, was taken by the embassy on “its own”, sources said. The police are also […]

9 Apr, 2014

MH370: ICAO to hold Special Meeting May 12-14 on Global Airline Flight Tracking

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MONTRÉAL, 7 April 2014 (ICAO media release) – As the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH 370 continues, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has announced that it is convening a special meeting of State and industry experts on the global tracking of airline flights. The Council President of ICAO, Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, noted […]

7 Apr, 2014

Thailand Claims Title as ‘Top Tippers’ in Asia Pacific: MasterCard Survey

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April 7, 2014 – Thai consumers have proven to be the most generous when it comes to tipping, overtaking Bangladesh and claiming the top spot, according to research conducted across 16 Asia/Pacific markets by MasterCard. The research is based on a survey conducted between October and November 2013 with 7932 respondents aged 18 – 64 […]

7 Apr, 2014

New York Times exposes Narendra Modi’s “controversial past”

Narendra Modi from the Bharatiya Janata Party could possibly be India’s next prime minister. An explainer on his controversial past and economic promises. Click here: http://www.nytimes.com/video/world/asia/100000002805547/narendra-modis-past.html?emc=edit_th_20140407&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=21651183

7 Apr, 2014

Palestinian Olympian has to seek an Israeli court’s OK to compete in a marathon

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GAZA CITY, Palestine, Apr 4 (NNN-WAFA) – A Palestinian Olympian from the Gaza Strip said, he had asked Israel’s Supreme Court to overturn a ban on him passing through Israel, to join a marathon in the occupied West Bank. Nader al-Masri, who was prevented from participating in the first Bethlehem marathon in 2013, again sought […]

6 Apr, 2014

MH370: Malaysians United In Warding Off Unkind Remarks

By S. Kisho Kumari and Nur Aimidiyana Zuher

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) -6 April 2014 – The Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH370 episode has put to test the patience of Malaysians and the country’s administration. No thanks to the irresponsible reporting of some media on how the Malaysian government handled the crisis and the unkind remarks from the next of kin of the Chinese […]

6 Apr, 2014

April 7 World Health Day: “No-one in the 21st Century Should Die from a Mosquito or Tick Bite”

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2 April 2014 | Geneva – (World Health Organization) – More than half the world’s population is at risk from diseases such as malaria, dengue, leishmaniasis, Lyme disease, schistosomiasis, and yellow fever, carried by mosquitoes, flies, ticks, water snails and other vectors. Every year, more than one billion people are infected and more than one […]

6 Apr, 2014

World Bank Report: South Asia Has World’s Highest Rate of Open Defecation

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Washington, April 2, 2014 – World Bank media release —South Asia needs to spend as much as $2.5 trillion on infrastructure by 2020 to bring its power grids, roads and water supplies up to the standard needed to serve its growing population, a World Bank report says. The report, “Reducing Poverty by Closing South Asia’s […]

6 Apr, 2014

New Report Highlights Looming Public Pensions Crisis in U.S.

GENEVA-April 02, 2014-(BUSINESS WIRE)–International insurance economics think tank The Geneva Association today issued an analysis of the growing crisis facing state and municipal pension systems in the U.S. The report suggests that the non-payment of annual required contributions and excessive reliance on one pillar of funding in pension planning are among the most significant challenges […]

6 Apr, 2014

New Index Finds Youth Worldwide Face Challenges to Health, Happiness & Prosperity

April 03, 2014, MCLEAN, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and International Youth Foundation (IYF), with support from Hilton Worldwide, has released a groundbreaking tool, The Global Youth Wellbeing Index, that examines the quality of life for youth in 30 countries. The Index assesses youth wellbeing across six interconnected areas: citizen […]

6 Apr, 2014

China puts brakes on testy taxis

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Beijing, (chinadaily.com.cn), 2014-04-04 – New state regulations for China’s taxi drivers were put in place this week to boost efficiency and raise standards, but some cabbies feel the rules are misdirected. Some of the new directives, which went into effect on Tuesday by the Standardization Administration of the People’s Republic of China, reinforce guidelines from […]

3 Apr, 2014

Statement by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu on US Efforts to Curb Freedom of Speech

2 April 2014 – I am writing today to express grave concern about a wave of legislative measures in the United States aimed at punishing and intimidating those who speak their conscience and challenge the human rights violations endured by the Palestinian people. In legislatures in Maryland, New York, Illinois, Florida, and even the United […]

2 Apr, 2014

European Parliament Members Call for Boycott of Israeli settlements

BRUSSELS, March 27, 2014 (WAFA) – In a letter sent to EU Foreign Policy Chief, Catherine Ashton, 29 members of the European Parliament have called upon the European External Action Service (EEAS) to take action to discourage European businesses from trading with illegal Israeli settlements. “There are several examples of the many ways in which […]

2 Apr, 2014

Working Mother Generations Report Reveals Wide Disparity On Attitudes Towards Work-Life Balance

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NEW YORK, April 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — A new survey of 2,163 moms and dads about the impact their generational status has on their own work life choices and satisfaction was released today by the Working Mother Research Institute. The study, which examines attitudes of Millennials, Generation X and Baby Boomers, finds Millennials are the […]

2 Apr, 2014

Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem Hotel Opens on Site of Islamic Council Building

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JERUSALEM, April 2, 2014 – (WAFA) – The Israeli authorities announced Wednesday the opening of a Waldorf Astoria branch hotel, part of the Hilton chain of hotels, which manages the Waldorf brand, on the site of the Supreme Islamic Council building in West Jerusalem, said Al-Aqsa Foundation of Waqf and Heritage in a press release. […]

2 Apr, 2014

Palestine Foreign Ministry Files Applications to Join International Treaties

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RAMALLAH, April, 2, 2014 (WAFA) – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of President Mahmoud Abbas, have officially filed letters of accession to 15 multilateral treaties and convention before the relevant international parties. The ministry said in a statement on Wednesday: “On Tuesday 1st April, following a unanimous decision by the Palestinian leadership, including the PLO Executive Committee, President […]

2 Apr, 2014

Report shows what, where and why Russians are investing in property – Thailand tops list in Asia

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FARO, Portugal, April 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Algarve property website Meravista has conducted an extensive analysis of Russian buying trends. They have produced a report which exposes the truth about what, where and why Russians are investing in European property and highlights what Portugal and other countries could be doing to increase their market share. […]

2 Apr, 2014

Benefits of employing people with disabilities: One man’s story

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GENEVA (ILO News) 31 March 2014 – Yves Veulliet, who had an accident that deprived him of the use of his legs when he was 21, knows all about the barriers people with disabilities face in finding a job, which often result from misconceptions about what they can and cannot do. And when they do […]

2 Apr, 2014

MH370: ITU to build standards for future real-time ‘black box’ data recorders

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Dubai, 1 April, 2014 (International Telecommunications Union media release) – The Malaysian Minister for Communications and Multimedia called upon ITU to develop leading edge standards to facilitate the transmission of flight data in real time. He was speaking at the opening of the ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference taking place in Dubai. This follows the tragic […]

1 Apr, 2014

How to Prevent Songkran Fun from Becoming Songkran Funerals

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Editor’s Note: In a few days, Songkran New Year fun and frolic will begin big time. Yet, every year, the fun leads to hundreds of funerals right across Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, the main Buddhist-majority countries where Sonkgran is celebrated.  Most of the deaths are caused by road-accidents, primarily related to over-consumption of alcohol. […]

1 Apr, 2014

Peace to unleash agricultural, tourism potential of Mindanao

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Manila, March 28, 2014 (Manila Bulletin) – The signing of the comprehensive agreement on the Bangsamoro will unleash the vast potentials of Mindanao in the areas of agriculture, agribusiness investments, tourism and natural resource development and enable the region to catch up with the country’s economic momentum. This was stressed by both Trade and Industry […]

1 Apr, 2014

Study: Snowden’s Revelations Have Changed ICT Decision-Makers’ Behaviour Towards Cloud

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HONG KONG and TOKYO, Mar. 31 /Kyodo JBN/ — Almost nine tenths of ICT decision-makers are changing their cloud buying behaviour as a direct result of Edward Snowden’s allegations of large scale clandestine cyber-surveillance, a study published on March 31 by NTT Communications claims. NSA Aftershocks: How Snowden has Changed IT Decision-Makers’ Approach to the […]

1 Apr, 2014

Chinese Media Calls For Rationality Over Missing MH370

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia March 31 (NNN-Bernama) — The Chinese media has appealed to the families of passengers on board the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 aircraft “not to let their anger prevail over facts and rationality”, no matter how distressed they are. In an opinion column headlined, ‘Treat MH370 Tragedy Rationally’ published in the China Daily […]

1 Apr, 2014

MH 370: Malaysian Govt Urged To Rebuff Negative Reports By Foreign Media

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia March 31 (NNN-Bernama) — The Foreign Ministry and the Communications and Multimedia Ministry have been asked to act swiftly to rebuff adverse reports involving the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 by the foreign media. Azalina Othman Said (BN-Pengerang) said both the ministries must play a more proactive role in defending the image […]

1 Apr, 2014

Intelligence agencies behind MH370 “disappearance”?

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The following post, written by an unknown editor, was circulated by Mr Luzi Matzig, founder and investor in VIP Jets, to his list of friends with the following comment: “Below report written in poor English sounds crazy at first – but when you think about it – really posssible!  Well – if you have a […]

31 Mar, 2014

Russia Mulls Easing Visa Requirements for Tourists

MOSCOW, March 28 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s parliament is due to consider a draft law lengthening the validity of tourist visas and easing the requirements for obtaining them, a government website said Friday. The bill, initiated by the Russian government, proposes to reduce the complexity of the application process for tourist visas, as well as […]

31 Mar, 2014

Computer Graphic Simulation Shows What Happens When Texting While Walking

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TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–March 28, 2014 – NTT DOCOMO, INC, as part of its initiative to prevent accidents from Texting While Walking (staring at the smartphone screen while walking) and to improve manners, has released the video “What if everyone was Texting While Walking at Shibuya Crossing?,” which is a simulation using computer graphics, on the YouTube […]

29 Mar, 2014

U.S. airline, hotel websites better than their service delivery levels — Survey

ANN ARBOR, Mich.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–March 25, 2014 – A new measure from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) rates user website experience across 33 different consumer industries, offering a first-of-its-kind index of website satisfaction at national, sector and industry levels. Inaugural results show that aggregate website satisfaction is 78.2 on ACSI’s 100-point scale, which stands 2% […]

29 Mar, 2014

UN official “deeply concerned” as Israel takes more steps to wipe Palestine off the map

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28 March 2014 (UN News Centre) – A senior United Nations official expressed deep concern today about the ongoing displacement of Palestinians in East Jerusalem and the destruction of their private property following the Israeli authorities’ recent demolition of a two-story building there, which affected a family of refugees as well as some Palestinian 15 […]

29 Mar, 2014

Asia’s real estate investors to target hotels in secondary cities – Colliers report

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HONG KONG, March 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Asia’s real estate investors will spend more in a wider range of geographical locations and property sectors outside the region in 2014, according to a new report from Colliers International. “Besides increasing global liquidity, the volume of outbound investments from Asia is being driven by both ‘pull’ and […]

29 Mar, 2014

“We must close gap between Mindanao and rest of Filipino society” – Philippines President

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MANILA, March 29 (Philippines Information Agency) — President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday reiterated his appeal to Filipinos to help the Bangsamoro people overcome the challenges of peace and development, stressing the need to close the gap between Muslim Mindanao and the rest of the Philippines. “For generations, fellow Filipinos in the region were embroiled in a cycle […]

28 Mar, 2014

China’s Forbidden City to control visitor numbers

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BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) — The Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, on Wednesday unveiled plans to control the number of visitors for protection purposes. The plans, including not allowing annual ticket holders to visit during peak seasons, a seven-day promotion of ticket sales for afternoon visits from July to August, and online […]

27 Mar, 2014

UN Human Rights Experts Denounce Land-Grab for Viet Nam Eco-Resort

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) Mar 26 2014 – A group of United Nations independent human rights experts today called on the Vietnamese Government to “intervene urgently” in a case of forced eviction of the last remaining residents of Con Dau, a small village located on the outskirts of Da Nang city in the centre […]

26 Mar, 2014

FREE Download: World Media Freedom Report Warns of Growing “Privatization of Censorship”

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) Mar 25 2014 – While technological progress and innovative business models have expanded opportunities for freedom expression, they have also allowed for new threats to emerge in the form of Internet censorship, filtering, blocking, and surveillance, warns the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Freedom of expression is […]

26 Mar, 2014

Indian VP’s lecture on balancing culture and globalisation

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New Delhi, Vice President’s Secretariat, 24-March-2014 – The Vice President of Prof M. Hamid Ansari inaugurated an “International Conference on the Relevance of Traditional Cultures for the Present and the Future” by highlighting the role of historical travelogues in recording the rich and diverse culture of India. He said, “Human societies retain much of what […]

25 Mar, 2014

WHO report: 7 million premature deaths annually linked to air pollution

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Geneva, 25 March 2014, (World Health Organization news release )– In new estimates released today, WHO reports that in 2012 around 7 million people died – one in eight of total global deaths – as a result of air pollution exposure. This finding more than doubles previous estimates and confirms that air pollution is now […]

25 Mar, 2014

Survey Rates Restroom Cleanliness as a Factor in Determining Stops on a Road Trip

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CINCINNATI–(BUSINESS WIRE)–March 21, 2014–When you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go, but a recent poll from Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ: CTAS) suggests that the size of your bladder isn’t the only factor when it comes to where travelers stop while on the road. The survey, conducted online for Cintas by Harris Poll from March 13-17, […]

25 Mar, 2014

NCR Research Shows Who Buys What from Airports and Airlines

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DULUTH, Ga.-March 20, 2014-(BUSINESS WIRE)–NCR Corporation, which claims to be the global leader in consumer transaction technologies, announced today the results of its global 2014 Traveler Experience Survey, examining the gaps and regional tendencies for consumer expectations of shopping experiences while traveling versus what is currently available to them. Revenue from airline amenities and ancillary […]

25 Mar, 2014

China’s top universities to enroll more rural students

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BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) — China is eyeing a 10-percent increase in the number of students from impoverished rural areas attending the country’s top universities this year, according to a circular released by the Ministry of Education (MOE) on Monday. The MOE said the growth will be realized through expanding three existing programs. Under the […]

24 Mar, 2014

Chinese doctors list the top 10 professions with worst sleep quality

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Beijing, 2014-03-21 (chinadaily.com.cn) –  Everyone wants good quality sleep. However, some find it difficult to give their body clock a proper rest due to the nature of their occupation. Chinese Medical Doctor Association, which launched the 2014 China Sleep Quality Index research report on March 16, shows that, in general, the sleep quality of Chinese […]

24 Mar, 2014

Agoda.com Survey Reveals Things Travellers Can’t Live Without

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Singapore (PRWEB) March 24, 2014 – Agoda.com, one of Asia’s leading hotel booking sites and part of Nasdaq-listed Priceline Group (Nasdaq:PCLN), has announced the results of their latest global survey, which reveals that Asian don’t want to forget their mobile phones on vacation while Westerners don’t want to forget their credit cards. The survey, conducted […]

23 Mar, 2014

UN Rapporteur on Palestine, a Jew, blasts Israel for ‘colonialism’, ‘apartheid’ and ‘ethnic cleansing’

GENEVA, 21 March 2014, (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on occupied Palestine, Richard Falk, today called for an assessment by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legal status of the prolonged Israeli occupation of Palestine, and allegations that it has legally unacceptable characteristics of […]

22 Mar, 2014

The seven deadly sins of travel – Sydney Morning Herald

Travel broadens the mind – and possibly indulges some of our worst traits, as these writers reveal. Read the rest: The seven deadly sins of travel.

21 Mar, 2014

Int’l Day Of Happiness: Study Reveals 4 Ways To Boost Happiness On Vacation

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LITTLETON, Colo., March 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — On the second annual International Day of Happiness (the United Nations-inspired celebration dedicated to spreading happiness worldwide), Monograms and Shawn Achor, positive psychology researcher and author of The Happiness Advantage, unveil results from a NEW Road to Happiness Study.  This 34-item survey of 414 world travelers examines the […]

21 Mar, 2014

UK’s new immigration policy signals welcome for Mandarin-speaking teachers

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Beijing, (People’s Daily Online) March 20, 2014 – UK’s immigration policy creates a new visa category for overseas language teachers aiming to share knowledge and awareness of foreign culture in the UK. The first of these schemes will support a Mandarin teaching scheme designed to foster good cultural relations between the UK and China. A […]

20 Mar, 2014

On Int’l Day Of Happiness, UN Urges Action To End Poverty, Build Harmony

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United Nations, (UN News Centre), Mar 20 2014 – Marking the International Day of Happiness with calls to promote social inclusion and intercultural harmony, senior United Nations officials today urged the global community to make real the UN Charter’s pledge to end conflict and poverty and ensure the well-being of all. “Happiness is neither a […]

20 Mar, 2014

Four user-driven projects shaping tomorrow’s Internet

Brussels, 18 March 2014 (European Commission MEMO) – With some 2.5 billion users world-wide, today’s Internet is an established part of our lives. But new challenges are arising all the time and Europe needs to think ahead so that Internet can continue to offer new services, applications and business opportunities. From 18th to 20th March, […]

20 Mar, 2014

Report: Israel’s Poverty Rate Highest Among OECD Nations

JERUSALEM, Mar 19 (NNN-XINHUA) – Israel has the highest poverty rate among developed countries, with one out of five Israelis living in poverty, said the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in its latest report. The ‘Society at a Glance 2014’ report says, Israel’s poverty rate is nearly twice the OECD average of 11.3 […]

20 Mar, 2014

Growing problem of untreated wastewater focus of World Water Day March 22

Bangkok (ESCAP News) March 19, 2014  — Even as global population grows steadily, an estimated 768 million people in the world do not have access to improved water sources, 2.5 billion people have no improved sanitation and 1.3 billion people cannot access electricity. The United Nations predicts that by 2030, we will need 35% more […]

20 Mar, 2014

Political unrest causes Bt50 billion monthly damage to Thai economy

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BANGKOK, March 19  (MCOT online news)– Thailand’s tourism sector has been hardest hit of all sectors by the political turmoil since November during which a monthly circulating fund of Bt40-50 billion has vanished, according to the Thai Chamber of Commerce. Mr Issara Wongkusolkit, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade […]

19 Mar, 2014

Emerging New World Order: UK students to get Chinese math teachers

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SHANGHAI, March 18 -(Xinhua)  – Shanghai’s education authority has begun drafting a program to recruit math teachers from the city’s schools to teach in the UK at the invitation of the UK Department of Education, according to sources with the city’s education committee on Tuesday. The invitation came earlier this month after British parliamentary under-secretary […]

18 Mar, 2014

China cannot tolerate Philippines’ occupation of reef: spokesman

BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) — China will not tolerate the Philippines’ occupation of the Ren’ai Reef in the South China Sea and will closely watch the next move in the area, a spokesman said on Monday. “The Chinese government is as resolved to safeguard our sovereignty as ever,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at […]

18 Mar, 2014

A Global First: A database that visualises planetary land cover

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17 March 2014, Rome (FAO Media release) – A new FAO database released today collects previously scattered and unharmonized land cover information from around the globe into one centralized database, marking a major improvement in information regarding the physical characteristics of the Earth’s surface. Up to now, one of the major challenges to getting a […]

16 Mar, 2014

Indian TV anchor sees future global channel that will outgun BBC, CNN

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Mumbai, 13 March, 2014 (FICCI media release): “From this country, in the next five to six years will emerge a channel so great, so technologically potent, so editorially confident, so slick in production and so wide in its appeal that it will give the BBC and the CNN a solid run for their money” declared […]

16 Mar, 2014

FAO survey detects steady rise in low levels of GM crops in traded food and feed

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13 March 2014, Rome (FAO media release) – The increased production of genetically modified crops around the globe has led to a higher number of incidents of low levels of GMOs being detected in traded food and feed, FAO said today. The incidents have led to trade disruptions between countries with shipments of grain, cereal […]

12 Mar, 2014

Watch Livestream: “Christ at the Checkpoint” Conference in Bethlehem

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BETHLEHEM, Palestine, Christian Newswire/ — The Bethlehem Bible College is currently holding the third Christ at the Checkpoint (CATC) conference, in Bethlehem from March 10-14, 2014. The conference theme, “Christ at the Checkpoint III: Your Kingdom Come,” draws from the Lord’s Prayer to ask how Jesus Christ would approach the Israeli-Palestinian conflict today. According to […]

12 Mar, 2014

Healthcare providers see risks and opportunities in speed of technology change

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LONDON-March 11, 2014-(BUSINESS WIRE)–European healthcare executives (51 per cent) predict that over the next three years technology platforms will have the biggest impact on their business models, however they are wary that in driving rapid change the biggest areas at risk are 1) technology itself and crucially 2) R&D. The majority (71 per cent) believe […]

12 Mar, 2014

FREE Download: ASTA reports strong growth in profitable travel agencies

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Alexandria, VA, March 11, 2014 (ASTA news release) – The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) released its 2014 ASTA Agency Profile, which revealed that two-thirds of ASTA member agencies reported a profitable year in 2013, which is a ten percentage point increase over 2011 and 2012. In addition, agencies reporting that they just “broke […]

12 Mar, 2014

Report discloses attempts to cheat, defraud Asian Development Bank

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Manila, 11 March 2014 – Submission of fraudulent documents, recommending spouses to work as consultants, misrepresenting work experience and accepting kickbacks from suppliers were among some of the 250 cases related to internal fraud and corruption reported to the Asian Development Bank in 2013. Other cases identified in the ADB’s Annual Report of the Office […]

11 Mar, 2014

Vodafone to set up free Wi-Fi hotspots in Indian mega-cities – The Times of India

NEW DELHI: If you are one of Vodafone India’s internet savvy smartphone users living in a metro, there’s good news for you. India’s second largest telco will soon be supporting uninterrupted browsing sessions at possibly higher speeds, a few months down the line, even in congested areas. The India arm of UK-based Vodafone Plc is […]

11 Mar, 2014

Following NACTA Survey, Travel Agents to be rebranded as Travel Consultants

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March 10, 2014, Alexandria, Va. (NACTA media release) – The National Association of Career Travel Agents (NACTA) reports that Travel Agents prefer to be called Travel Consultants through a recent member survey and the results are consistent with their parent company ASTAs findings. NACTA research conducted December 2013- January 2014 indicates nearly half of the […]

11 Mar, 2014

Growing economies, populations will strain Asia-Pacific food resources, FAO report warns

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10 March 2014, Ulaanbaatar (FAO media release) – Governments in Asia and the Pacific should take some major, fundamental decisions – and soon – about ways to increase their food production and address undernourishment, FAO has warned. The warning comes as nearly 40 FAO member countries gathered in the Mongolian capital for the 32nd FAO […]

9 Mar, 2014

Russia invading Ukraine illegal? What about 2003 U.S. attack on Iraq?

By Nesreen Melek

06 March, 2014, Countercurrents.org Dear President Obama: Hope you and your nation are enjoying being Americans who are living in a free and a democratic country. A country that has the status of liberty stands high reflecting your idealism and nationalism. The more I listen to the news covering your government’s stand about Ukraine, the […]

9 Mar, 2014

White House plans US$1 billion in new aviation taxes in FY 2015 budget

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WASHINGTON-March 05, 2014-(BUSINESS WIRE)–Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, today opposed the FY2015 White House budget proposal, which calls for an additional $4.2 billion in new and higher taxes on airlines and their customers, calling it an unprecedented cash grab that will hurt jobs, service to small communities […]

9 Mar, 2014

India Awards Five Illustrious Women, Recognises their Personal, Professional Achievements

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New Delhi, 08-March-2014, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Women and Child Development – The President of India Mr Pranab Mukherjee was the chief guest at the celebrations to mark the  International Women’s Day where he conferred Stree Shakti Puruskar to six illustrious women in recognition of their achievements, here today. The awardees for the Stree […]

9 Mar, 2014

City of Dalian Places Order for 1,200 BYD Electric Buses

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DALIAN, China–(BUSINESS WIRE)–1200 zero-emission, electric buses made by BYD Company Ltd will soon hit the streets of China’s “Bright Northern Pearl”, Dalian. Dalian’s municipal government has signed a cooperative agreement with global electric vehicle and battery leader, BYD. The agreement stipulates the purchase of 600 BYD electric buses in 2014 and another 600 in 2015, […]

9 Mar, 2014

World War I Centenary: Indian VP Recounts the Catastrophic Lessons for India and the World

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New Delhi, Press Information Bureau, Vice President’s Secretariat, 05-March-2014 – The Vice President of India Prof M. Hamid Ansari inaugurated the International Conference on “India and the Great War” organized by the United Service Institution of India (USI) here on 05 March 2014. He recounted the historic diplomatic, military and political lessons of that war, […]

9 Mar, 2014

China Exclusive: Wheels in motion for new US$50 billion Asian investment bank

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BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) — China has begun the practical work to establish an Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) that would offer financial support to boost regional infrastructure, said China’s Finance Minister on Friday. “China has just established the Working Group for the AIIB preparation in a bid to accelerate the process,” said Lou Jiwei […]

9 Mar, 2014

Xinhua Insight: End to GDP obsession frees Chinese officials to pursue environmental drive

BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Keqiang‘s first government work report has been welcomed as the latest in a series of high-level announcements placing the emphasis for officials’ assessments on broader criteria than just GDP. In steering such evaluations away from an obsession with economic growth, the series of decrees have given local […]

9 Mar, 2014

What Everyone Should Know About U.S. Mass Surveillance – By Edward Snowden

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07 March, 2014 CommonDreams.org — What follows is a statement addressed to an investigative panel of the European Parliament looking into the nature and scope of U.S. surveillance conducted by the National Security Agency and its partner agencies in Europe. Subsequent to the statement are specific answers to written questions posed by the panel to […]

8 Mar, 2014

Global Trade Union group urges higher safety levels for women at work

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In a statement marking International Women’s Day 2014, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has called for stronger legal measures to end to gender-based violence and sexual harassment at work. With women comprising a significant part of the labour force in travel & tourism, the statement has major relevance to this industry which, unfortunately, has […]

8 Mar, 2014

Record Number Of Women Winning Seats In World Parliaments, IPU reports

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Mar 7 2014, United Nations, (UN News Centre) – When the United Kingdom’s former Foreign Secretary, Sir Geoffrey Howe, was visiting Pakistan during Benazir Bhutto’s term as Prime Minister, his wife asked a little boy what he would like to be when he grew up. “A truck driver, maybe,” mused the child. Surprised at his […]

7 Mar, 2014

OECD survey charts how women spend their time

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Paris (OECD News release) New OECD data comparing how people use their time  highlights striking differences between countries and particularly between men and women. Women are slowly closing the gap with men as more have careers. But there is still a huge gender gap in unpaid work, clearly showing that men are still struggling to […]

7 Mar, 2014

FAO Food Price Index sees sharpest rise in months

6 March 2014, Rome (FAO media release) – Weather-related events and increased demand came into play as the FAO Food Price Index registered its sharpest increase since mid-2012, averaging 208.1 points in February 2014. The new level is 5.2 points, or 2.6 percent, above a slightly revised index for January, but is still 2.1 percent […]

7 Mar, 2014

Nielsen Research: Rising Women’s Income Changing Balance of Power in Purchasing Decisions

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New York, 03.March.2014 (Nielsen Research Report) – There’s something interesting happening with men and women and shopping. Women’s incomes are rising around the world, making them a force to be reckoned with. And they’re using their newfound clout to influence purchasing decisions in categories once dominated by men. So is the gender influence scale tipping […]

6 Mar, 2014

New Zealand Top, India at the Bottom of MasterCard Index of Women’s Advancement in Asia Pacific

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Singapore, 6 March 2014 (MasterCard Media release) – Women in Asia Pacific’s emerging markets tend to have more positive views of their own well-being when compared to their developed counterparts, according to the inaugural MasterCard Index of Well-Being being launched today. The Index, based on a survey of 16 Asia Pacific markets, aims to measure […]

6 Mar, 2014

Thai Airways slashes outbound fares, as price-led recovery strategy sets in across “Travel Trinity”

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Bangkok – Thai Airways International (THAI) is offering special “EARLY BIRD” promotion for customers to take advantage of roundtrip international fares on THAI and THAI Smile flights in Economy Class. The move indicates the start of a price-led strategy to get the outbound market moving following the winding down of the “Bangkok Shutdown” political protest. […]

6 Mar, 2014

U.S. Supreme Court extends whistleblower protection to private contractors

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JURIST, University of Pittsburgh Law School, 04 March 2014 – The US Supreme Court has ruled [Download the full text of the opinion here] Tuesday in Lawson v. FMR LLC that the whistleblower provision 18 USC § 1514A [Cornell LII backgrounder] of the Sarbones Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) protects employees of private contractors and […]

4 Mar, 2014

Muslim outreach programs reaching Hispanic converts – San Antonio Express-News

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SAN ANTONIO — PEARLAND — Carlos Lopez earns money in the U.S. and sends some of it home to his family in Mexico. He also sends pamphlets and testimonies about his new faith. Last December, Lopez took the “shahada” — the profession of the Islamic faith — joining the ranks of what the American Muslim […]

17 Dec, 2013

New Thai, Lao PDR Bridge Completes ‘Missing Link’ in Key Regional Corridor

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Vientiane, ADB Media release, 11 December 2013 – A new bridge straddling the Mekong River between Thailand and Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) is open for business, signaling completion of physical works along one of the Greater Mekong Subregion’s (GMS) most critical economic corridors. “The bridge is the ‘missing link’ along the North-South Economic Corridor, […]

30 Jun, 2013

Narendra Modi instigated Hindus post Godhra train burning, alleges lawyer – Indian Express

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Zakia Jafri’s lawyer today alleged before a court here that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had conspired to instigate Vishwa Hindu Parishad workers and other members of Hindu community after the Godhra train burning incident in 2002. Ehsan Jafri, Zakia’s husband and former Congress MP, was one of those who were slain during the riots […]

6 Jun, 2013

India’s visually impaired students shine in PSEB Class 10 results – Hindustan Times

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Chandigarh, (Punjab) – Hindustan Times – Although the Class 10 result of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) was not according to the expectations, but the students of Institute for Blind, Sector 26 has given a surprising result. The result was declared on Tuesday and the visually impaired students have outshined the normal students as […]

25 May, 2013

For Indian carriers, season of new hope | The Hindu

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Alliances with foreign carriers, a new revenue stream from “unbundling” services, and inducting newer and more efficient aircraft: the aviation industry in India is hoping for a turnaround after a few disastrous years. Survival was first on the agenda for the major carriers which posted a total debt of over $13 billion. Air India, the […]