9 Jul, 2014
EC smartphone app upgraded to uphold passenger rights during summer holidays
Brussels, 8 July 2014, European Commission Press release – The Commission’s free smartphone application for passenger rights has been upgraded just before the summer holidays to make it easy for all travellers to be informed about their rights in case something unexpected happens during their journey. Featuring existing EU rules on passenger rights, the app […]
more…9 Jul, 2014
Britain’s Largest Trade Union Slams Israel as Apartheid State
LIVERPOOL, July 8, 2014 – (WAFA) – Britain’s largest trade union, Unite, condemned Tuesday Israeli crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory and joined the international campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel. At the three-day annual meeting held in Liverpool, Unite adopted several motions in regard to the Palestinian cause. The first motion, […]
more…9 Jul, 2014
Beijing to invest 50 billion yuan to tackle air pollution
Beijing (chinadaily.com.cn) 2014-07-08 – The Chinese capital plans to invest 47.858 billion yuan ($7.662 billion) to combat air pollution in the next five years, with a special focus on coal-fired pollution, vehicle emissions, industrial pollution and dust, authorities have said. The funds were allocated by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Finance to support the city’s […]
more…9 Jul, 2014
UN report calls for urgent “decarbonisation”, says “Time is not on our side”
United Nations, UN News Centre, 8 July 2014 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, introducing a new United Nations-backed report outlining pathways major industrial economies can use to cut their carbon emissions by mid-century, called today for broad cooperation and “bold” action or the world will face dangerous and irreversible climate disruption. “We know that we are […]
more…9 Jul, 2014
Thai Tourism Expenditure Stats Show Europeans are Cheapest Charlies
BANGKOK – With the Thai tourism industry set to shift its KPI targets to expenditure over arrivals, an analysis of the newly released visitor expenditure figures for 2013 shows that Europeans are by far the lowest spenders per person per day. The figures will come as a shock to the system, especially because they show […]
more…8 Jul, 2014
Chinese Commentary: Japan set to send younger generation back into battle
Beijing, (People’s Daily Online) July 07, 2014 – Despite strong resistance from many Japanese and the Kōmeitō party, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took a historic step away from Japan’s postwar pacifism on Tuesday afternoon by ending a ban that has kept the military from fighting abroad since 1945. On the surface this appears to be a […]
more…8 Jul, 2014
Wulong Scenic Area to sue “Transformers” producers for damaging tourism
Beijing, (chinadaily.com.cn) 2014-07-07 – Chongqing Wulong Scenic Area announced on July 7 that it will sue producers of the Hollywood blockbuster Transformers: Age of Extinction for failing to show its logo in the movie. Wulong Scenic Area said it signed a deal with producers of the movie in October. The movie’s producers promised to show […]
more…8 Jul, 2014
Philippines: Bangsamoro Peace Pact to remain bright spot amidst global conflict
Statement of GPH Panel Chair Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer on the Proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law MANILA, July 7 (PNA) — “The implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro is in the critical stage of processing a draft Bangsamoro Basic Law that the President can confidently submit to Congress and certify as urgent upon its adoption […]
more…8 Jul, 2014
UN Millennium Goals ‘scorecard’ spotlights successes, gaps and path towards ‘The Future We Want’
United Nations, UN News Centre, 7 July 2014 – With the 2015 deadline for achieving the landmark Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) less that 550 days away, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today launched the final push towards the United Nations targets – many of which have been met or are within reach – and urged a strong, […]
more…8 Jul, 2014
Thailand unveils post-crisis tourism marketing agenda
Bangkok – In what could be a global first, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has veered away from fixing tourism targets in terms of arrival numbers and shifted to expenditure stats. It has also dropped the short-lived marketing campaign slogan “It Begins with the People” and replaced it with “Amazing Thailand – Happiness Within.” And […]
more…8 Jul, 2014
Newswire Editor’s Lectures Strive to Help Bangladesh Boost Image, Grow Arrivals
Dhaka – Travel Impact Newswire Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil delivered two lectures on June 19-20 to senior executives of the travel industry and travel media in Bangladesh, a rapidly-emerging destination on the Asia-Pacific travel & tourism stage. The topics, ‘Presenting Bangladesh in the Positive Way’ and ‘Stakeholders Role in Destination Marketing’, allowed a powerful interchange […]
more…6 Jul, 2014
New UN forum seeks to chart post-2015 global development agenda
United Nations, UN News Centre, 30 June 2014 – As countries ramp up their efforts to achieve the set of anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) ahead of the 2015 deadline, a new United Nations forum seeks to spur them on as well as to help them create the foundation for new […]
more…6 Jul, 2014
UN unveils roadmap to boost small-scale, family forest producers
UN News Centre, 30 June 2014 – If small-scale forest and farm producers joined to form producer organizations, they could increase forest productivity and improve livelihoods of local communities, the United Nations agricultural agency and its partners today reported. In two separate co-publications, the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) wrote that indigenous peoples, local […]
more…6 Jul, 2014
Israel wants occupation, not peace – Full text of brilliant speech by Gideon Levy
Speech delivered by Haaretz Columnist Gideon Levy at the Israel Conference on Peace, Tel Aviv, 06 July 2014 Israel does not want peace. There is nothing I have ever written that I would be happier to be proved wrong about. But the evidence is piling up. In fact, it can be said that Israel has […]
more…6 Jul, 2014
Hakuhodo Survey: People of ASEAN Share Four Holistic Lifestyle Attitudes
BANGKOK, July 2 (ANTARA/Kyodo JBN-AsiaNet/Travel Impact Newswire) — In preparation for the integrated ASEAN Community in 2015, Japan’s second largest advertising agency Hakuhodo Inc has set up the Hakuhodo Institute of Life and Living ASEAN (HILL ASEAN), in Bangkok to get deeper, more holistic insights into the minds of ASEAN consumers. Preliminary results of the […]
more…6 Jul, 2014
India Pursues Improved Livelihoods for Persons with Disabilities
New Delhi, Press Information Bureau, 05-July-2014 – The Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Mr Thaawar Chand Gehlot inaugurated the 13th National Meeting of the State Commissioners for Persons with Disabilities to review implementation of PWD Act here today. The Minister said in his address to the State Commissioners from 32 States/UTs that the […]
more…6 Jul, 2014
Gallup Polls: Americans Sense Diminishing Freedoms, Growing Corruption
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 1, 2014 (Gallup Polls) — Fewer Americans are satisfied with the freedom to choose what they do with their lives compared with seven years ago — dropping 12 percentage points from 91% in 2006 to 79% in 2013. In that same period, the percentage of Americans dissatisfied with the freedom to choose […]
more…5 Jul, 2014
Kobe to give visitors free Wi-Fi access
KOBE, Kyodo, Jul 4, 2014 – Officials in Kobe said Friday the city will launch a free wireless Internet service for foreign tourists from the end of this month. The service is aimed at improving services for tourists visiting the city while encouraging them to share their experiences instantly on social networking services. From July […]
more…5 Jul, 2014
Brazilians doubt impact of World Cup on economy, but see big tourism dividend
WASHINGTON, D.C. July 4, 2014, (Gallup Polls) — Brazilians’ hopes are likely high Friday as their national team faces Colombia in the quarterfinals of the World Cup. Shortly before the tournament began, however, the Brazilian public was rather skeptical about the economic benefits of hosting the most expensive World Cup in history. In May, 55% […]
more…4 Jul, 2014
Flawed research on APD “success story” does PATA a disservice
Bangkok – The Pacific Asia Travel Association has produced a special edition of Issues & Trends to discuss the subject of travel taxes, with a particular focus on the UK Air Passenger Duty. Drawing upon a number of studies by PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the International Air Transport Association, the World Travel & Tourism Council, the Tourism & […]
more…3 Jul, 2014
Exclusive: 2013 Thai Visitor Profile Stats Show 22.7% Surge in Female Arrivals
BANGKOK – Female visitors to Thailand surged by 22.7% to a record high of 11,426,411 in 2013, according to a full profile of the arrivals for last year released by Tourism Authority of Thailand this week. While the total number of arrivals are released every month, a detailed analysis of the profile and expenditure usually […]
more…3 Jul, 2014
McDonald’s Burgers Named Worst in America in Consumer Reports’ New Fast-Food Survey
YONKERS, NY (PRWEB) July 02, 2014 – The burgers that made McDonald’s famous have been deemed the worst-tasting of all the major U.S burger chains by Consumer Reports’ readers. And when it comes to the most satisfying fast-food dining experience, biggest isn’t always best ― KFC and Sbarro earned some of the lowest scores in […]
more…3 Jul, 2014
Gallup Polls: Americans Losing Confidence in All Branches of U.S. Gov’t
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 30, 2014 (Gallup Polls) — Americans’ confidence in all three branches of the U.S. government has fallen, reaching record lows for the Supreme Court (30%) and Congress (7%), and a six-year low for the presidency (29%). The presidency had the largest drop of the three branches this year, down seven percentage points […]
more…3 Jul, 2014
Beijing vows tax refunds to lure foreign visitors
Beijing (chinadaily.com.cn), 2014-07-01 – Beijing has vowed to institute a tax refund program this year to attract more overseas travelers. “Beijing will introduce the tax refund program within this year, to attract more visitors from abroad,” said Song Yu, head of the Beijing Tourism Development Commission. The program would allow foreign travelers to claim tax […]
more…3 Jul, 2014
Sri Lanka must do more to curb hate speech, faith-based violence – UN rights experts
United Nations, UN News Centre, 2 July 2014 – Aiming to stem the tide of violent attacks and recrimination against Sri Lanka’s Muslim and Christian communities, a group of United Nations human rights experts called today on the Government to adopt urgent measures to stop the promotion of racial and faith-based hatred and end “the […]
more…3 Jul, 2014
European countries fight for Chinese tourists
Beijing, (People’s Daily Online), July 02, 2014 – Many European countries have relaxed or simplified visa application procedures for China this year. This is mainly due to increasingly close political relations between China and the EU. Eager to put the financial crisis behind them, EU countries also hope that opening the door to more Chinese […]
more…2 Jul, 2014
Georgetown Institute Research: How Americans Will Celebrate July 4
WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–July 01, 2014 – The Georgetown Institute for Consumer Research recently polled consumers about their plans for this July 4 holiday – ranging from activities, to food choices, to the average amount of money people are willing to spend, finding preferences for barbecues, burgers, sparklers, and a bipartisan sentiment for governments hosting fireworks displays. […]
more…2 Jul, 2014
US$225 million ADB loan to help Bangladesh tackle river erosion
Dhaka, 1 July 2014, (ADB media release) – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will fund state-of-the-art riverbank protection measures in Bangladesh to prevent land erosion, which is destroying livelihoods and costing the economy an estimated $250 million a year. An ADB multitranche loan financing facility of $255 million will help put in place riverbank protection […]
more…2 Jul, 2014
12 reasons why Bangladesh will be bigger than Myanmar
Dhaka – Although much of the buzz today is about Myanmar coming in from the cold, a country with even bigger future potential is Bangladesh. This editor visited the country between June 18-22 on invitation of the Bangladesh Tourism Board to deliver two lectures on strategies to balance negative media coverage and involve stakeholders in […]
more…1 Jul, 2014
U.S. Consumers League Study: Consumers Losing Trust in Businesses
Washington, DC, June 30, 2014, National Consumers League – Today, the National Consumers League #DataInsecurity Project released a new survey of identity fraud victims which finds that Americans are urgently calling out for government action on the growing threat posed by data breach and identity theft. The study, conducted in partnership with Javelin Strategy & […]
more…30 Jun, 2014
Thai private sector’s wish-list of tourism recovery strategies and actions
Hua Hin — Senior executives of the Tourism Authority of Thailand from head office and worldwide are to start their 2014-15 marketing planning meetings here today with a clear focus on campaigns to recover from the 8-month political unrest. The recovery campaign is likely to draw upon the recommendations of the Tourism Council of Thailand, […]
more…30 Jun, 2014
World Cup literally killing people in China
(China Daily) 2014-06-28 – World Cup soccer matches screened live on TV in China throughout the night are taking their toll on fans. Doctors have been treating them for a range of conditions, including coronary spasms, high blood pressure and kidney disease. For example, early on Friday morning, a weary middle-aged woman visited Wei Ming, […]
more…29 Jun, 2014
New Caledonia, Tokelau, French Polynesia seek “self-determination” from France
United Nations, 27 June 2014, Department of Public Information – The Special Committee on Decolonization today concluded its 2014 substantive session with the approval, without a vote, of three draft resolutions, including one calling on France, New Caledonia’s administering Power, to consider developing an education programme to inform the people in the Territory about the […]
more…29 Jun, 2014
New report reveals detailed demographic profile of Australia
Canberra, 26 June 2014, (Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) – A new report compiling data from the 2011 Census provides a key statistical picture of the Australian population and the make-up of migrant communities, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Mr Scott Morrison said today. The People of Australia report, based on Australian Bureau […]
more…28 Jun, 2014
ITU pursues global standards to promote adoption of mobile money
Geneva, 25 June 2014 (ITU media release) – The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has established a new Focus Group on Digital Financial Services to promote financial inclusion using information and communication technologies (ICT) in response to a proposal from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which is a member of ITU’s Standardization Sector (ITU-T). Over 2.5 […]
more…28 Jun, 2014
Business course offers certification in responsible alcohol service
BLACKSBURG, Va., – A Pamplin College of Business course this semester offers students the opportunity to gain a highly sought certification in responsible alcohol service. “Alcohol is an integral part of the hospitality industry, and having our students trained and certified in safe and ethical alcohol policies is critical,” said Rick Perdue, head of Pamplin’s […]
more…28 Jun, 2014
Report: U.S. drone attacks may lead to perpetual war
[JURIST], University of Pittsburgh Law School, June 27, 2014 – The use of lethal Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones poses a risk of putting the US on a “slippery slope” to perpetual war, according to a report published Thursday by the Stimson Center. From a one-year extensive study, the report offers eight recommendations for […]
more…28 Jun, 2014
4th Silk Road tourism festival held in Zhangye
Zhangye (chinadaily.com.cn), 2014-06-23 – The fourth Dunhuang Tour Silk Road International Tourism Festival opened in Zhangye city, Northwest China’s Gansu province, on June 15. The event attracted two international tourism organizations, envoys to China from 25 different countries and regions, about 100 overseas travel agencies, and over 40 members of the media from home and […]
more…28 Jun, 2014
Xinjiang Uygur writers pen open letter to combat terrorism
URUMQI, (Xinhua) June 26 — More than 200 Uygur writers, poets and translators in northwest China’s Xinjiang region have published an open letter to denounce terrorism. The publication, entitled “Our responsibility and mission is to never keep silent — a letter to fellow Uygurs,” says, “We cannot keep silent anymore at a moment when the […]
more…28 Jun, 2014
Xinhua News Analysis: Globalized RMB will help stabilise world economy
BEIJING, June 27, (Xinhua) — The globalization of the yuan, or renminbi (RMB), will not only benefit the Chinese economy, but generate global economic stability, a senior banker has said. The yuan did not depreciate during the 1997 Asian financial crisis or the 2008 global financial crisis, helping stabilize the global economy, Tian Guoli, chairman […]
more…28 Jun, 2014
After cleaning up rivers, Chinese officials must take a dip to prove it
Hangzhou, (Xinhua) 2014-06-27 – Local officials in East China’s Zhejiang province will be required to swim in rivers in their administrative areas to prove to the citizens that the quality of the rivers has been improved. The province’s CPC standing committee has stated that, by July 12, local governments in the province must nominate rivers […]
more…28 Jun, 2014
World Cup Popularity Upsetting U.S. Workplace Productivity and Wireless Network Management
LEXINGTON, Mass. June 26, 2014 –(BUSINESS WIRE)–A survey commissioned by Ipswitch revealed that U.S. workers streaming media to watch the World Cup is a serious wireless network bandwidth drain and network management challenge that can have negative implications for critical business applications and overall productivity. Ipswitch polled more than 200 IT professionals in the U.S. […]
more…28 Jun, 2014
For young winners of UN essay contest, multilingualism makes the world go ‘round
United Nations, UN News Centre, 27 June 2014 – An Arabic-speaking Chinese woman? A Mandarin-speaking Malagasy lady? A Spanish-speaking Portuguese gentleman from France? At first glance – or “listen”– all this might seem a bit strange, since the subjects come from cultures that are quite different from the languages they have chosen to speak and […]
more…26 Jun, 2014
Crackdown on China drunk driving during World Cup
Beijing, (chinadaily.com.cn) 2014-06-24 – In a span of 11 days since the FIFA World Cup began, traffic police have dealt with more than 11,000 cases involving people driving under the influence of alcohol in the country, the traffic authority said on June 24. There have been around 210 cases of drunken driving and more than […]
more…26 Jun, 2014
Muslims welcomes ruling that U.S. No-Fly List appeals process is unconstitutional
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/24/14) — The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed a ruling by a federal judge in Oregon that those placed on the government’s so-called “no-fly list” are being denied their constitutional right to due process. U.S. District Judge Anna Brown, ruling in a […]
more…26 Jun, 2014
Alcohol “greatest cause of brain damage in Australian newborns”
Canberra, 25 June 2014 – The Australian Government will provide $9.2 million to the National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Action Plan to address the harmful impact of FASD on children and families, the Assistant Minister for Health Fiona Nash announced today. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and FASD describes a range of cognitive, learning, behavioural […]
more…26 Jun, 2014
Privacy breach: 254,000 Australian online dating profiles hacked
Canberra, 25 June 2014 (Office of the Australian Information Commissioner) – The Australian Privacy Commissioner, Timothy Pilgrim, has found that Cupid Media Pty Ltd (Cupid) breached the Privacy Act 1988 by failing to take reasonable steps to secure the personal information held on its dating websites. Cupid operates over 35 niche dating websites based on […]
more…26 Jun, 2014
New generation of Australian passports released
Canberra, 25 June 2014 (Minister of Foreign Affairs media release) – A new series of Australian passport has been released with innovative security features that make it even more difficult to forge. The P series of passport incorporates technology that assists in combating fraud, terrorism and organised crime, and will assist Australia’s efforts to bolster […]
more…26 Jun, 2014
FREE Download: The State of Australia’s Health
Canberra, 25 June 2014 (AIHW media release) – Australia has much to be proud of in many areas of health, but lifestyle-related chronic diseases are taking an increasing toll-and so is the bill, according to the latest 2-yearly national health report card from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). The Institute’s report, Australia’s […]
more…26 Jun, 2014
Arab-Americans denounce FX’s “Tyrant” for “bigoted, stereotypical caricature”
Washington, DC | www.adc.org | June 25, 2014- The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) denounces FX’s new television series “Tyrant” for its deeply entrenched racism against Arabs and the Middle East. The series premiered on Tuesday evening and portrayed Arabs in a bigoted and stereotypical caricature that is not only offensive to millions of Arabs, but also […]
more…26 Jun, 2014
U.S. Congressmen launch Twitter hashtag to combat racial profiling
6/25/14, WASHINGTON— Co-Chairs of the Progressive Caucus (CPC) Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ.) and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN.), Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH), Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX) and Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA.) joined Senator […]
more…25 Jun, 2014
Indonesian bushfires flare again, haze threatens to envelop ASEAN neighbours
JAKARTA, Indonesia June 25 (NNN-Xinhua) — Bush fires in Riau province of Sumatra Island, Indonesia, has widened, with haze likely to spread to Singapore and Malaysia, an official revealed here on Wednesday. The number of hot spots reached 386 in the island on Wednesday morning, compared with 236 on Monday, according to satellite Tera observation, […]
more…25 Jun, 2014
Asian credit rating firm planned to break U.S. monopoly
Beijing, (People’s Daily Online) June 25, 2014 – A Summit Forum on the Construction of an Asian Credit System was held in Beijing on June 23 2014. To push forward reform of the international credit rating system, an advisory council of Universal Credit Rating Group, or UCRG, was established during the Summit Forum. On September […]
more…25 Jun, 2014
NGO report blasts Indonesian land grabs in the name of “development”
Paris-Jakarta, 19 June 2014 – Land conflicts between farmers and plantation owners, mining companies, and developers are raging across Indonesia. In the absence of a clear and strong legal framework to regulate land rights, these conflicts have become a major source of lethal violence and criminalisation targeting in particular community leaders and those who defend […]
more…25 Jun, 2014
Chinese commentary: Is the U.S. really “building a better future for Asia”?
People’s Daily Online – June 24, 2014 – The Asia-Pacific strategy, a heated topic in Washington, is a key focus of U.S. diplomacy. As doubts grow about the “U.S. Asia-Pacific Re-balance Strategy”, we ponder the problem of the strategy and the way in which Washington will choose to expand its influence in Asia. We believe that […]
more…25 Jun, 2014
US$200 billion in illegal wildlife, timber trade funding criminals, armed groups – UN report
United Nations, 24 June 2014 (UN News Centre) – Global environmental crime, possibly worth more than $200 billion annually, is helping finance criminal, militia and terrorist groups and threatening the security and sustainable development of many nations, notably in sub-Saharan Africa, according to a new joint United Nations-INTERPOL report. The report was compiled by the […]
more…25 Jun, 2014
Survey: Most Americans Underestimate Cost of Nursing-Home Care
Foster City, Calif. (PRWEB) June 24, 2014 – Although the real cost averages more than $81,000, 57 percent of Americans believe that nursing home care costs less than $75,000 annually, according to a new survey conducted for MoneyRates.com. The survey also finds that 67 percent of respondents have less than $75,000 saved for elder-care expenses […]
more…25 Jun, 2014
Four Universities to highlight North African spa culture at Global Wellness Summit
New York, NY (PRWEB) June 24, 2014 – The Global Spa & Wellness Summit (GSWS) today announced the unique focus, and participating universities, for its 2014 Student Challenge. While the parameters for each Student Challenge vary each year, the competition always involves students from major academic institutions from the region where the GSWS is being […]
more…25 Jun, 2014
Report Analyses New HRD Question: Does your job make the world a better place?
Seattle, Washington (PRWEB) June 24, 2014 – PayScale, Inc. today announced its report “Most & Least Meaningful Jobs” (based on how workers answer the question “Does your job make the world a better place?). The report includes data on how Job Meaning and Median Pay compare for 453 jobs from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) […]
more…25 Jun, 2014
China’s wealth management products total $2.1 trillion
QINGDAO – (Xinhua) 2014-06-23- Wealth management products (WMPs) have been booming in China in the past few years, totalling 12.8 trillion yuan ($2.1 trillion) by the end of May, a senior official of China’s central bank said Saturday. The growth of China’s WMPs market had been at a rate of between 60 and 80 percent […]
more…25 Jun, 2014
Lost national treasure returns from Christie’s auction house to China
(CRIENGLISH.com) 2014-06-23 – Chinese art collectors from the Chinese mainland, Taiwan and overseas have worked together to bring an ancient ritualistic bronze ware item, lost overseas for nearly a century, back to China on Saturday June 21, 2014, from New York-based fine arts auction house Christie’s, according to CCTV news. A combination photo shows China’s […]
more…25 Jun, 2014
Greater role for Chinese lawyers emerging in transnational affairs
(China Daily) 2014-06-23 – More Chinese lawyers will be promoted as legal advisers in State-owned companies for transnational business, amid concerns over national and economic security, a senior officer of the All-China Lawyers Association said. Most State-owned companies have been hiring foreign lawyers and accountants for cross-border lawsuits or transnational transactions, which can potentially compromise […]
more…25 Jun, 2014
Xinhua commentary: Gaza enters eighth year of crippling Israeli blockade
GAZA, June 24 (Xinhua) — Tuesday marks the eighth year of a rigid Israeli blockade against the Gaza Strip that led to a sharp economic decline, as well as high levels of poverty and unemployment, and many observers have been calling for an end of the “collective punishment.” The blockade is the longest ever imposed […]
more…24 Jun, 2014
Chinese commentator: How the U.S. could have better spent its Iraq War money
Washington DC, (China Daily) 2014-06-20 – The Iraq War, which has come back to haunt Americans, Iraqis and the world these days, cost people in the United States some $2 trillion. It has been the worst reflection of US might. Yet a journalism fellowship that has won enormous hearts and minds for the US has […]
more…24 Jun, 2014
Phuket to get its first hospitality HRD Academy
Phuket – The concept of hotel HRD academies is gaining steam in Thailand with plans to set up what is claimed to be the first hospitality training and education Academy in Phuket, the kingdom’s second most important tourism destination after Bangkok. Former Citibank executive Mr. Narong Pattamasaevi, owner of Thailand’s Montara Hospitality Group, has teamed […]
more…24 Jun, 2014
Bali to host global forum of UN Alliance of Civilizations in August
Jakarta (ANTARA News) June 22 2014 – Bali will host the Sixth Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) which will take place at the Nusa Dua Convention Center, from August 29 to 30, 2014. The Global Forum is aimed fostering cross-cultural dialogue and understanding, according to a statement posted on the […]
more…24 Jun, 2014
Australia to help students put training records online
20 June 2014, Canberra, Minister for Industry’s office – The Australian Government is delivering more improvements to the skills and training system to ensure students can move more easily from training into paid jobs that boost national productivity. From next year, millions of Australians will be able to build an online record of their vocational […]
more…24 Jun, 2014
FREE Download: 7th Annual Report on Islamophobia Charts Global Pandemic of anti-Muslim Prejudice
Jeddah, 18/06/2014 (OIC media release) – The OIC Observatory on Islamophobia has released its Seventh Annual Report covering the period from October 2013 to April 2014 today at the commencement of the 41st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Report illustrates that Islamophobia continues to manifest itself […]
more…24 Jun, 2014
Applications open for first summer school course on ‘Green Growth and Travelism’
Brussels – ‘Green Growth and Travelism (GG&T)’ is to be the subject of the first Summer School with specific focus on sustainable mobility and biodiversity to be organized by the Transportation Research Institute, Hasselt University, Belgium, between August 25th to 29th 2014. Today’s world is changing hyper-dynamically – economic, social & environmental challenges compounded by […]
more…24 Jun, 2014
Plastic Waste Inflicts US$13 Billion in Damage to Marine Ecosystems Each Year: UNEP Report
Nairobi, 23 June 2014 (UNEP media release) – Concern is growing over the threat that widespread plastic waste poses to marine life, with conservative estimates of the overall financial damage of plastics to marine ecosystems standing at US$13 billion each year, according to two reports released on the opening day of the first United Nations […]
more…23 Jun, 2014
Australia seeks to boost offshore market development of China’s currency
Canberra, 20 June 2014, (Ministry for Trade and Investment) – The Treasurer Joe Hockey and Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb will travel to China over the weekend for the inaugural Australia-China Strategic Economic Dialogue. The Dialogue provides an opportunity for Australia and China to explore opportunities for closer economic ties and to discuss […]
more…23 Jun, 2014
China’s Grand Canal, Silk Road Inscribed As World Heritage Sites
DOHA, June 23 (NNN-XINHUA) — The famous ancient Silk Road and China’s Grand Canal, the world’s longest artificial waterway, have been inscribed on the list of World Heritage Sites at a session of the Unesco World Heritage Committee here. Jointly submitted by China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, the application for adding part of the Silk Road […]
more…23 Jun, 2014
Report: Asia-Pacific hotel pipeline up by nearly 600,000 rooms in one year alone
23 June 2014, Lodging Econometrics – The Asia Pacific pipeline hit a new high in Q1 2014 with 2,610 projects/593,963 rooms, up 4% by projects and 2% by rooms Year-Over-Year (YOY). The total pipeline is up more than 40% compared to five years ago. Consequently, new hotel openings should also set record highs in 2014 […]
more…22 Jun, 2014
Almost A$90 million reported lost to Australian scams in 2013
Canberra, 16 June 2014 – The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Targeting Scams Report 2013 reveals that over 90,000 Australians reported scams to the ACCC last year, with $89,136,975 million reported lost. National Consumer Fraud Week starts today and the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce, led by the ACCC, will be urging consumers to ‘Know who […]
more…22 Jun, 2014
FREE Download: Leadership study reveals optimum time to spend with the boss
Washington, DC (PRWEB) June 18, 2014 – According to a new study “Optimal Hours with the Boss” from Leadership IQ, most people spend only half the time they should be spending with their boss. People who do spend an optimal number of hours interacting with their direct leader (six hours per week) are 29% more […]
more…22 Jun, 2014
Record paddlers for world’s longest non-stop canoe/kayak race along the Missouri in July
June 19, 2014, ST. LOUIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–On July 8, about 620 paddlers will launch their boats in the Missouri American Water Missouri River 340 (MR340) river race. From Kansas City, Ks. to St. Charles, Mo., the racers will travel 340 miles across the state – celebrating the importance of the longest river in the U.S. to […]
more…22 Jun, 2014
Visa Report: Int’l Visitors Spent $27M on Visa Card During World Cup Opening Weekend
SAO PAULO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–June 18, 2014 – Visa Inc. (NYSE:V), the leader in global payments, today released the Visa Everywhere Travel Report for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, which analyzes travel data and cross border spend on all Visa products, including credit, debit and prepaid payment cards. During the four-day opening period of the tournament […]
more…22 Jun, 2014
War’s Human Cost: 51 million displaced by conflict and violence, UN refugee agency reports
United Nations, 20 June 2014, UN News Centre – World Refugee Day is being marked by yet another sombre milestone in a year that has seen crisis after crisis force desperate people to flee their homes ahead of bullets and bombs: a new UN report reveals that the number of refugees, asylum-seekers and internally displaced […]
more…20 Jun, 2014
Global violence in 2013 cost US$9.8 trillion in lost GDP or $1,350 per person – Global Peace Index
LONDON, June 18, 2014 Vision of Humanity media release – Terrorist activity, the number of conflicts fought, and the number of refugees and displaced persons were the key contributors to the continuing deterioration in global peacefulness last year. This confirms a seven year gradual, but significant downward slide, which overturns a 60-year trend of increasing […]
more…20 Jun, 2014
Myanmar in focus at OECD 2014 Global Forum on Responsible Business Conduct
OECD – Paris, 19 June 2014 – Responsible business conduct is crucial for open and stable international investment climates. OECD Secretary-General Ángel Gurría will open the 2014 OECD Global Forum on Responsible Business Conduct on 26-27 June 2014, together with Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Co-operation Lilianne Ploumen and French Minister for Finance […]
more…20 Jun, 2014
ADB’s US$225,000 funding to revamp Mekong Tourism Office
Mandalay – Alongside the appointment of a new executive director, the Mekong Tourism Coordianting Office (MTCO) is to undergo an operational and administrative revamp with the help of a US$225,000 Technical Assistance (TA) grant from the Asian Develoment Bank. Effective July 1, Social media Jens Thraenhart, a German-Canadian national who specialises in digital media, will […]
more…17 Jun, 2014
Commentary: Is a declining US good for China?
(China Daily) 2014-06-13 – When the Asia Society’s ChinaFile online magazine invited me to discuss whether a declining United States is good for China, my feeling was the question was loaded and confusing. Loaded because it seems to assume that Chinese will celebrate a declining US, given the sensational headlines of strategic rivalry between the […]
more…17 Jun, 2014
UNWTO to hold milestone conference on accessible tourism in November
Madrid, 16 June 2014 – The 1st UNWTO Conference on Accessible Tourism in Europe is scheduled to take place in San Marino on 19-20 November 2014. Even though this Conference has its primary focus placed on concrete achievements in terms of universal accessibility in travel & tourism in European countries, the UNWTO is encouraging tourism […]
more…17 Jun, 2014
FREE Download: Global Theme Park and Museum Attendance Numbers for 2013
Burbank, Calif. USA (PRWEB) June 17, 2014 – The annual TEA/AECOM Theme Index and Museum Index, the definitive annual attendance study for the themed entertainment and museum industries, has been published. Theme park numbers for calendar year 2013 show substantial growth internationally, with the top North American parks surpassing pre-recession days, water parks emerging in […]
more…17 Jun, 2014
Australian watchdog permanently bans veteran investment adviser for “dishonesty”
Canberra, Monday 16 June 2014, Australian Securities Investment Commission – ASIC has permanently banned Mr Nigel Keith Flowers, 49, of Coolangatta, Queensland, from providing financial services and engaging in credit activities. Mr Flowers was banned from providing financial services after ASIC found he had engaged in dishonest conduct and was not of good fame and […]
more…17 Jun, 2014
Chinese corruption crackdown reveals how the women operate
Beijing, (chinadaily.com.cn) 2014-06-16 – To date, a total of 12 female officials in key posts were announced as being under investigation for duty-related crimes by the central and provincial anti-graft watchdogs in 2014. Some of them are involved in trading sex for power, the Beijing News reported on Monday. A recent case is the investigation […]
more…17 Jun, 2014
Xinhua Insight: Businessmen claim heritage sites for protection
TAIYUAN, June 14 (Xinhua) 2014-06-14 — The Dragon King Taoist Temple in north China’s Shanxi Province is being restored. The temple dates back to the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and is not entitled to government protection. Local businessman Huang Wensheng claimed the right to manage the temple two years ago, invested more than 3 million yuan (483,000 […]
more…16 Jun, 2014
Young Myanmar female hotelier wows MTF with passionate, powerful presentation
MANDALAY – Young Myanmar business leader Yin Myo Su, owner and initiator of Thahara Inle Heritage hotel on the shores of Inle Lake, was one of the “next generation” leaders to speak at the Mekong Tourism Forum. It was a powerful, passionate speech, an expression of both fear at the pace of change but also […]
more…16 Jun, 2014
Yangon at risk of becoming “just another big Asian business city”
MANDALAY: Just three years after the reform process was initiated, the Myanmar commercial hub city of Yangon is hearing urgent appeals from conservationists to safeguard its historic heritage and prevent it from becoming “just another big Asian business city.” The call was heard a number of times in a talk by a representative of the […]
more…16 Jun, 2014
19 cities to develop Silk Road tourism
ZHANGYE, (Xinhua), 2014-06-15 – Nineteen Chinese and foreign cities along the Silk Road on Sunday issued a declaration that they will jointly develop tourism along the ancient trade route. The cities will promote tourist itineraries and explore tourism resources to rejuvenate the area and seek mutual benefit, according to the declaration, issued at the opening […]
more…15 Jun, 2014
UN agency concerned about reported abuse as thousands continue to flee Myanmar
United Nations, 10 June 2014, UN News Centre – The United Nations refugee agency said today it was receiving increasing reports of abuse and exploitation as people continue to seek safety overseas two years after inter-communal violence erupted in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. Several waves of clashes between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims, the first […]
more…15 Jun, 2014
CITES report finds ‘alarmingly high’ levels of elephant poaching across Africa
13 June 2014, UN News Centre – The level of elephant poaching across Africa remains alarmingly high, according to a new United Nations-backed report release today, which also found an increase in the number of large seizures of ivory. “Africa’s elephants continue to face an immediate threat to their survival from high-levels of poaching for […]
more…15 Jun, 2014
Thai-American hotel magnate blasts foreign envoys, media for “distorted and unrealistic” picture of Thailand
Bangkok – An American businessman with Thai nationality has published an open letter blasting “certain Western nations and elements of the international media” for “gross misinterpretations of the current situation in Thailand” and urging them to show more integrity and responsibility by “present(ing) the situation accurately and in proper context.” The letter by William E. […]
more…14 Jun, 2014
Global Internet Privacy Study Reveals Consumers’ Concerns Over Eroding Privacy, Lack of Ethics
HOPKINTON, MA, June 12, 2014 – EMC Corporation (NYSE: EMC) today released the findings of the EMC Privacy Index, a global study assessing consumer attitudes of online privacy. Spanning 15 countries and 15,000 consumers, the study reveals consumers hold viewpoints on privacy that vary widely by geography and the type of activity engaged in while […]
more…12 Jun, 2014
ASEAN Urged To Reap Benefit Of Demographic Dividend
KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 (NNN-Bernama) — Asean has great potential to reap the benefit of demographic dividend as half of its population comprised young people, said economist Dr Munir Majid. Munir said fifty per cent of the world’s population of over seven billion was young people under the age of 30, and of that, 90 […]
more…12 Jun, 2014
South Africa Supports Inclusion Of Rights Of Disabled In Post-2015 Development Agenda
PRETORIA, June 12 (NNN-SA NEWS) — South African Social Development Deputy Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu has expressed the country’s support for the inclusion of rights of persons with disabilities in the United Nations Post-2015 Development Agenda. Speaking at the 7th Session of the Conference of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with […]
more…12 Jun, 2014
Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam hit as Chinese tourists head for East Asia
Beijing, (China Daily) 2014-06-11 – More tourists from China have been heading to East Asia in recent months, deterred from traveling to traditionally popular destinations such as Malaysia and Vietnam. Travel agencies nationwide have reported a 50 percent year-on-year increase in visits to South Korea in the past few months. “While some tourists canceled trips […]
more…12 Jun, 2014
UN celestial committee stresses use of ‘space tools’ for sustainable development
United Nations, UN News Centre, 11 June 2014 – Space-based information technologies must be fully integrated into the international efforts to overcome such challenges to sustainable development as climate change and food insecurity, the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space was told as it opened its annual session today in Vienna. […]
more…12 Jun, 2014
Mainland individual tourists to Taiwan exceed 1 million
Beijing, (Xinhua) 2014-06-11 – The number of independent tourists from the Chinese mainland to Taiwan has exceeded one million since the island opened to mainland individual tourists in June 2011, said a mainland spokeswoman on Wednesday. More than 1.08 million mainland individual tourists (without contracts with travel agencies) traveled to Taiwan as of April this […]
more…12 Jun, 2014
PATA’s Myanmar drone stunt followed by crash
Mandalay: The Pacific Asia Travel Association laid claim to becoming the first industry grouping to demonstrate the aerial photography prowess of a remote controlled drone, only to see the flying machine come crashing down during another attempt the following day. Initiated with great fanfare by PATA CEO Martin Craigs, the drone powered by four helicopter-style […]
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