1 Oct, 2013
Recovering alcoholics welcome in Brunei, says Sultanate’s top tour operator
BANGKOK – Millions of recovering alcoholics around the world are being invited to take their next holiday or hold their next big event in one of the world’s few publicly ‘dry’ destinations – Brunei Darussalam. Michael Lee, Managing Director of Freme Tours & Travel, based in the Bruneian capital of Bandar Seri Begawan, says the […]
more…1 Oct, 2013
Australian releases guide for mobile app developers, urges them to put privacy first
30 September 2013 – The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has today released Mobile privacy: A better practice guide for mobile app developers. With 6 in 10 Australians choosing not to use a smartphone app because of concerns about the way personal information would be used [1], the Guide will assist mobile app developers […]
more…1 Oct, 2013
China honours 50 foreign experts with Friendship Awards
Beijing, 2013-09-29 (chinadaily.com.cn) – For Craig Joseph Heck, winning a Friendship Award is an once-in-a-lifetime experience, celebrated when he was one of 50 to receive China’s top award for foreign experts at the Great Hall of the People on Sunday afternoon. After winning an award from the local government in Wuhan last year, the 54-year-old […]
more…1 Oct, 2013
Chinese airlines hit by 80 false terror threats this year
Beijing, (Xinhua), September 29, 2013 – Chinese airlines and airports have suffered more than 80 cases of false terrorist threats so far this year causing panic among the public, a court official said Sunday. Those involved in fabricating and deliberately spreading false terrorist threats will receive harsh punishments ranging from detention to a jail term […]
more…1 Oct, 2013
Xinhua Insight: China’s new tourism law to upgrade industry
NANNING, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) – He Yuhan feels both happy and disappointed while visiting Detian Waterfall on the China-Vietnam border, eleven years after her first visit. Back in 2002, the then 15-year-old girl traveled from Beijing to admire the breath-taking waterfall. Located in Daxin County in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, it is the […]
more…1 Oct, 2013
China Focus: Tourism to be leading industry along Silk Road
XI’AN, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) — Tourism will become one of the leading industries along the Silk Road economic belt, which covers western China, central Asia and Europe, according to officials and experts. The road has great charm and tourism will be a leading industry for the Silk Road economic belt, said Pavlos Geroulanos, former Greek […]
more…1 Oct, 2013
PATA UK Chapter Chairman: APD issue has expired its shelf-life, time to move on
Bangkok – The chairman of the PATA UK chapter has signalled PATA CEO Martin Craigs to cease going on about the UK Air Passenger Duty, saying the issue has run out of shelf-life. In a wide-ranging interview, Mr. Chris Lee said the UK government has not responded to Mr. Craigs and other travel industry leaders […]
more…30 Sep, 2013
Are branding gurus driving confused cabbies crazy?
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” So spake my ole pal, Shakespeare. Ahh, but he didn’t have to do battle with cabbies in Bangkok or Mumbai now, did he?! Cab drivers know all the little back alleys and short cuts and are kings […]
more…30 Sep, 2013
Strong tourism season gives Europe an economic boost and much needed jobs
Brussels, 27 September 2013, European Commission Press release – Despite the economic crisis, Europe remains one of the favourite destinations. International tourist arrivals in Europe grew by 5 % during the first half of 2013, with best results recorded in Central and Eastern Europe (+ 9 %) and Southern and Mediterranean Europe (+ 6 %)1. […]
more…29 Sep, 2013
Smoking costing U.S. employers $278 billion annually in absenteeism, healthcare
WASHINGTON, D.C. -September 26, 2013 – Gallup Polls – Workers who smoke cost the U.S. economy an estimated $278 billion annually in lost productivity due to absenteeism and extra healthcare costs. This figure is based on an analysis of the cost of extra missed workdays due to poor health, partial absenteeism due to smoke breaks, […]
more…29 Sep, 2013
Schiphol Airport to relieve traveller hassles by ending security checks at individual gates
Brussels, 27 Sept 2013 (Europa media release) – The European Investment Bank (EIB), Europe’s long-term lending institution has agreed to provide a EUR 200 million loan to Schiphol Group to finance significant transformation of Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. This will improve passenger experience at the airport through construction of a central security screening facility, ending the […]
more…29 Sep, 2013
India Expands Inter-City AC Double Decker Train Services
Ministry of Railways, 27-September, 2013 – The AC Double Decker train between Habibganj and Indore, the first ever such train service in the state of Madhya Pradesh, was flagged off by the Minister of State for Railways Mr Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury at Habibganj railway station in Bhopal on 27 September 2013. This LHB AC Double […]
more…29 Sep, 2013
Chinese Golden Week Travel: Bangkok leads top 10 searched destinations
Beijing, 2013-09-26 (chinadaily.com.cn) – As the National Day week-long holiday period approaches, travel search site Tianxun.cn released findings about popular searches from Aug 1 to Sept 30 over the past three years. It shows that Bangkok remains at the top of searched destinations for the third year running, but Taipei, Los Angeles and Singapore have […]
more…29 Sep, 2013
Gallup Poll: Globally, Men Twice as Likely as Women to Have a Good Job
WASHINGTON, D.C. – September 27, 2013 — In every region of the world, men surpass women when it comes to having a “good job” — that is, full-time work for an employer, or what Gallup refers to as the Payroll to Population (P2P) employment rate. Worldwide, the P2P employment rate for men is 34%; it […]
more…27 Sep, 2013
Geopolitical instability tops the list of risks to growth: McKinsey Global Survey results
September 2013 (McKinsey & Company) – Global executives are increasingly positive about the direction of the world economy, though in our latest survey on economic conditions,1 the source of their optimism has shifted away from emerging markets and toward the developed world. For the first time since we posed the question 18 months ago, respondents […]
more…27 Sep, 2013
As support grows for internal overhaul, PATA comms manager exits
Bangkok – The communications manager of the Pacific Asia Travel Association, Ms Halona Padiachy, has resigned after only four months in the job. Her departure, effective immediately, comes just weeks after PATA CEO Martin Craigs publicly declared at the UN World Tourism Organisation General Assembly in Zambia that “the media must be confronted”. Ms Padiachy […]
more…27 Sep, 2013
Australia ends “nasty surprises” for its citizens using int’l mobile roaming
Canberra, (Australian Communications and Media Authority) – From Friday 27 September 2013 there will be fewer surprises for Australian consumers using international mobile roaming services. The Australian Communications and Media Authority’s International Mobile Roaming Standard takes effect from this date, although the implementation of the standard’s various components is staged. From tomorrow, all Australians travelling […]
more…26 Sep, 2013
Incheon Airport Breaks Ground on Terminal 2, will set global benchmark in traveller comfort
INCHEON, South Korea, Sept. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Incheon International Airport (ICN), the country’s busiest airport, and the only airport in the world to be voted best in the world by Airports Council International for eight consecutive years, breaks ground on Terminal 2. Gensler, as the collaborating design architect with the HMGY (Heerim-Mooyoung-Gensler-Yungdo) Consortium, designed […]
more…25 Sep, 2013
Create cinema which builds a tolerant, harmonious India, President tells Indian film industry
President’s Secretariat, 24-September, 2013 – The President of India Mr Pranab Mukherjee called upon the film industry to create Cinema which contributes to social transformation and moral upliftment. He was speaking on the occasion Centenary celebrations of Indian Cinema organized by Government of Tamil Nadu and South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce today (September 24, […]
more…25 Sep, 2013
UNCTAD Report Urges Harmonised Steps In ASEAN To Reap Potential Of E-Commerce
Geneva, 25 September 2013 – Countries belonging to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), already well advanced in using e-commerce, should boost the development payoff of these technologies by taking steps to build consumer trust (see table 1 below), address payment fraud, and overcome difficulties in assessing the quality of products offered online, a […]
more…25 Sep, 2013
New study of professional creatives finds stress is stagnating or killing creativity
NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Professional creatives are struggling to produce creative and effective campaigns in an increasingly stressful work environment, according to a new survey released today from iStock by Getty Images during Advertising Week 2013 in New York City. One in two (48 percent) creatives believes levels of creativity in their industry […]
more…25 Sep, 2013
U.S. TSA $6.8m Contract Just for Bottled Liquid Scanners at Airports
EDGEWOOD, Md.-September 23, 2013-(BUSINESS WIRE)-Smiths Detection has won a contract award for $6.8 million to supply RespondeR Bottled Liquid Scanner (BLS) units to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for use at U.S. airport passenger screening checkpoints. RespondeR BLS is a compact system that uses Raman spectroscopy technology to identify hazardous liquids in sealed bottles. The […]
more…24 Sep, 2013
Sinister Motive Behind Uptick in Communal Riots – Indian Home Minister
NEW DELHI, Sept 23 (NNN-PTI) — Voicing concern over rise in incidents of communal violence, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said frequency of riots has suggested that there is a sinister motive behind such clashes and attempts are being made to polarise the society. He said statistics on the communal violence show an increasing trend in […]
more…24 Sep, 2013
FREE Download: Report tracks how I.T. can transform lives of the disabled
Geneva/New York, 24 September, 2013 – A new report released today demonstrates how Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), have become a positive force of transformation and a crucial element of any personal development, empowerment and institutional framework for inclusive development. While the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) represent a concerted effort to address global poverty, there is […]
more…24 Sep, 2013
Thailand Chapter Chief Calls for PATA Overhaul to Put Chapters in Driving Seat
BANGKOK – The chairman of the PATA Thailand chapter, Mr. Bert van Walbeek, has called for an overhaul of the PATA management and administrative structures in order to better prepare the association for the challenges of rapidly changing times. “I don’t think that those who had the foresight to move the headquarters to Asia (in […]
more…24 Sep, 2013
Gallup Poll: Americans’ Belief That Gov’t Is Too Powerful at Record Level
PRINCETON, NJ, (Gallup Polls) September 23, 2013 — Six in 10 Americans (60%) believe the federal government has too much power, one percentage point above the previous high recorded in September 2010. At least half of Americans since 2005 have said the government has too much power. Thirty-two percent now say the government has the […]
more…23 Sep, 2013
FREE Download: MasterCard Study Says Cash Heading for Extinction
PURCHASE, N.Y.-September 23, 2013, -(BUSINESS WIRE)–MasterCard (NYSE:MA) today unveiled a new global report, “The Cashless Journey,” that tracks how 33 major economies are progressing from cash-based to cashless societies. The report, produced by MasterCard Advisors, identifies new technologies, government programs and consumer preferences as key factors that are driving this shift, creating more productive and […]
more…23 Sep, 2013
China Promotes Golf as a Game of Peace
Beijing, 2013-09-19 (chinadaily.com.cn) – The consensus that sports can play an important role in promoting world peace was echoed by participators in a charity golf event on Wednesday in Beijing. The 14th “Peace Cup” International Golf Tournament, a non-professional event, attracted a lot of golf lovers from different circles and countries to promote world peace […]
more…23 Sep, 2013
FREE Download: Nielsen report on African-American consumer behavior, lifestyle trends
WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–African-American buying power continues to increase and is expected to rise from its current $1 trillion level1 to $1.3 trillion by 2017, according to Resilient, Receptive and Relevant: The African-American Consumer 2013 Report. The report was released today by Nielsen, a leading global provider of information and insights into what consumers watch and buy, […]
more…23 Sep, 2013
Sikh Professor Beaten in U.S., Called ‘Osama,’ ‘Terrorist’
(NEW YORK, N.Y., 9/22/13) — The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today called on state political and religious leaders to speak out against bias-motivated crimes after a Sikh professor was attacked Saturday night in Manhattan while being called “Osama” and “terrorist” by his alleged assailants. That same day, a Muslim […]
more…22 Sep, 2013
HSBC global survey: 63% of retired people fear not having enough money to live on
18 Sep 2013 (HSBC media release) – Nearly one in eight workers think they will never be able to afford to retire fully, according to HSBC’s latest report, The Future of Retirement: Life after work? Among those already retired, many have less money than they expected, and some feel they were too hasty in giving […]
more…22 Sep, 2013
American Express OPEN Launches CEO BootCamp for Women Entrepreneurs
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–September 20, 2013 – Today, American Express OPEN, the small business division of American Express, announced OPEN for Women: CEO BootCamp, a first-of-its-kind program that teaches women entrepreneurs some of the fundamental pillars for successful ventures – confidence, competence and connections as recognized by a number of renowned experts in entrepreneurship. According to […]
more…21 Sep, 2013
New rules to improve Chinese government transparency
Beijing, 2013-09-19 (China Daily) – The State Council, China’s Cabinet, on Wednesday announced that the procedures by which government information is disclosed will be improved. Government departments at all levels will be required to improve the quality of the spokesperson system, and to hold more media briefings to respond to public concerns, according to an […]
more…21 Sep, 2013
Americans Fault Mental Health System Most for Gun Violence – Gallup Polls
PRINCETON, NJ, September 20, 2013 (Gallup Polls) — Forty-eight percent of Americans blame the mental health system “a great deal” for mass shootings in the United States, unchanged from January 2011. At the same time, fewer blame easy access to guns now (40%) than two years ago (46%), making the mental health system the perceived top […]
more…21 Sep, 2013
Chinese MA60 aircraft set to fly Nepalese skies
KATHMANDU, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) — Chinese-made MA60 aircraft is all set to enter Nepali skies after the government of Nepal decided to issue the type certificate to it for the first time. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) last Tuesday formally decided to award the type certificate to Chinese MA60 aircraft. A type certificate […]
more…21 Sep, 2013
Tougher penalties to hit Chinese outbound travel agencies
Beijing, (China Daily), September 20, 2013 – Travel agencies organizing overseas trips and group guides who buy fake admission tickets face stricter penalties, according to the China National Tourism Administration. The moves follow an incident where a group of Chinese tourists tried to use fake tickets to visit the Louvre Museum in Paris. In a […]
more…21 Sep, 2013
Tri-cultural Indian leaders say development impossible without communal harmony
New Delhi, 20 Sept 2013 – India’s top leadership is a unique blend of cultures. Its President Pranab Mukherjee is a Hindu, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is a Sikh and Vice President Prof M. Hamid Ansari is a Muslim. This tri-colour of cultures is also reflected in the Indian flag. No wonders that all […]
more…21 Sep, 2013
HRW Warning to Governments: Unchecked Mass Surveillance Threatens Human Rights
Geneva, (Human Rights Watch media release), September 20, 2013 – Governments around the world should aggressively protect online privacy through stronger laws and policies as pervasive electronic surveillance increases. There is an urgent need to overhaul national surveillance practices to protect everyone’s privacy, or risk severely limiting the potential of the Internet. Global growth in […]
more…20 Sep, 2013
Cut Water Usage, Waste Disposal: Key Messages of World Tourism Day, Sept 27
With one week left until World Tourism Day (WTD) on 27 September, preparations are on the final stretch in the Maldives, the host of this year’s official celebrations, and in many countries around the world around the 2013 theme, “Tourism and Water: Protecting our Common Future”. As the most important international observance day for tourism, […]
more…20 Sep, 2013
FREE Download: ADB, ESCAP report can help travel & tourism meet MDGs by 2015 deadline
With less than 1,000 days to go before the 2015 deadline for meeting the UN Millennium Development Goals, two of the Asia-Pacific region’s leading development organisations have issued a report assessing the “state of the union” and the work that still lies ahead in the limited time left. The report is relevant to the Asia-Pacific […]
more…20 Sep, 2013
Know Your Net: Internet Safety Education Campaign Launched
Washington, DC (PRWEB) September 19, 2013 – The Coalition Against Domain Name Abuse (CADNA) and the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) Wednesday announced a public awareness campaign to educate businesses and consumers about Internet safety, particularly with the expected addition of more than one thousand top-level domains – the text to the right of […]
more…20 Sep, 2013
World Migration Report: Immigrants work hard, create new businesses, remain optimistic
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 19, 2013, (Gallup Polls) — Some migrants may be born entrepreneurs. Migrants living in high-income economies are more likely than the native-born to have three characteristics that differentiate entrepreneurs from the rest: they feel optimistic even when things go wrong, they never give up, and they are willing to take risks. There are […]
more…19 Sep, 2013
Eco Trailblazers Awarded Top UN Prize for Inspirational Environmental Action
New York, 18 September 2013 (UNEP media releases) – Pioneers and trailblazers whose work has had a significant and positive impact on the environment were given the United Nation’s highest environmental accolade, the Champions of the Earth Award, at a ceremony hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) at the Museum of Natural History in […]
more…19 Sep, 2013
China’s female billionaires on the rise
Shanghai (China Daily), 2013-09-18 – Yang Huiyan, 32, has become China’s richest woman of 2013 with a fortune of 51 billion yuan ($8.33 billion), according to Hurun China’s Women Rich List 2013, released by the Hurun Research Institute in Shanghai on Tuesday. More than half of the world’s richest self-made female entrepreneurs are from China, […]
more…19 Sep, 2013
UNESCO DG deplores looting of museums, damage to cultural heritage in Egypt
Paris, UNESCOPRESS- The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, has expressed grave concern for Egypt’s cultural heritage following the reported looting of the Malawi National Museum in the Upper Egypt city of Minya, and the destruction of several monuments of religious importance, including churches and mosques, in Upper Egypt, Fayoum and Cairo. “I firmly condemn the […]
more…19 Sep, 2013
Australian hotel group’s ex-CEO convicted of submitting false info to Securities Commission
Canberra, 18 September 2013 (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) – The former Chief Executive of West Australian hotel chain Compass Hotel Group Ltd (CHGL), Bryan Raymond Northcote, has been convicted of breaching directors’ duties and submitting false and misleading documents to ASIC. Mr Northcote was the chief executive and executive director of CHGL which floated […]
more…18 Sep, 2013
First conference to promote Buddhist-Muslim understanding as key to ASEAN integration
BANGKOK – Although the travel & tourism industry is preoccupied with the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community, it is being alerted to the fact that the creation of “an economically dynamic, politically plural and peaceful ASEAN community will depend on the future of Buddhism-Islam relations.” Precisely in order to promote such relations, the first […]
more…18 Sep, 2013
FBI’s No-Fly List cited as one of “Ten Most Disturbing Things You Should Know Since 9/11”
Washington DC, 18 Sept 2013 – The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has issued another blistering report attacking the 12-year “radical transformation” of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation “into a domestic intelligence and law enforcement agency of unprecedented power and international reach” which is now chalking up “a record of extraordinary abuse—particularly targeting racial […]
more…17 Sep, 2013
China Focus: Halal food helps Ningxia explore int’l market
(Xinhua), September 15, 2013 – Northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is showing its ambition ahead of Sunday’s China-Arab States Expo, to build itself into a global halal food center. The government of Wuzhong City, the home of Islamic Hui ethnic group, is building a halal industrial park to integrate research, design, manufacture, processing and […]
more…17 Sep, 2013
Chinese President’s trip boosts economic ties with Silk Road states
Xinhua, September 15, 2013 – Chinese President Xi Jinping’s just-concluded trip to four Central Asian nations has contributed to upgrading relations between China and these countries on a full scale, said analysts and media organizations in various countries. Xi paid state visits to Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan from Sept. 3 to 13, and attended […]
more…17 Sep, 2013
Time to rethink development advice, create more stable global economies – new UNCTAD chief
Geneva, 16 September 2013 – The development advice that in the past was given to developing countries about the benefits of liberalised financial markets will now have to be rethought, and UNCTAD plans to be a key resource in this process, the organization’s new Secretary-General said this morning. Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi spoke at the opening […]
more…16 Sep, 2013
First China-Arab States Expo opens in Ningxia
YINCHUAN, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) — The first China-Arab States Expo, a key platform to promote the relationship between China and the Arab states, kicked off on Sunday morning in northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, attended the exposition, which runs until […]
more…16 Sep, 2013
Global Unions launch website to mark Oct 7, World Day for Decent Work
12 September 2013: The International Trades Union Congress has today launched a special website for this year’s October 7 World Day for Decent Work (WDDW). Click here: http://www.wddw.org/ Trade unions and other groups holding events on the day can use the site to download WDDW materials, get updates and upload information about their October 7 […]
more…16 Sep, 2013
Americans express record-low trust in Govt’s ability to solve int’l or domestic problems
PRINCETON, NJ, September 13, 2013 (Gallup Polls) — Americans’ trust and confidence in the federal government’s ability to handle international problems has reached an all-time low, with 49% saying they have a great deal or a fair amount of confidence, two percentage points below the previous low of 51% recorded in 2007. These new data come […]
more…16 Sep, 2013
Hispanic Heritage Month 2013 Launched in U.S.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — In September 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week, observed during the week that included Sept. 15 and Sept. 16. The observance was expanded in 1989 by Congress to a month long celebration (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15), America celebrates the culture and […]
more…15 Sep, 2013
How PATA’s slick CEO “salesman” missed a chance to become a visionary “statesman”
Nearly two years after becoming CEO of the Pacific Asia Travel Association, Mr. Martin Craigs has proved to be a formidable “salesman” but has a long way to go to attain “statesman” status. With his contract up for renewal, Mr. Craigs will have to work a lot harder to put the “Asia” back into the […]
more…14 Sep, 2013
India’s Tourist Visa on Arrival issuance +29.4% in Jan-Aug
Ministry of Tourism, 13-September, 2013 – A growth of 29.4 percent has been recorded in the number of tourists availing of the tourist Visa on Arrival (VoA) Scheme during the period January to August, 2013. A total number of 12,176 VoAs have been issued in this period as compared to 9,412 VoAs during the corresponding […]
more…14 Sep, 2013
On Yom Kippur, Rabbi Michael Lerner Pens a Prayer for Jews to Atone for their Sins
Many people report feeling that the sins listed in traditional prayer books don’t really confront what people need to confront, and that even many of the alternative religious communities end up avoiding the most controversial and provocative issues (which are often where the issues about which we are in denial often reside). So we invite […]
more…14 Sep, 2013
US Retail Federation raps swipe-fee ruling which “rewards perpetrators and traps victims”
WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–September 12, 2013 – The National Retail Federation today asked a federal judge to “right or reject” a proposed settlement of an antitrust lawsuit over credit card swipe fees, saying the measure needs to be rewritten to do more to bring the soaring fees under control and that retailers who don’t support it should […]
more…14 Sep, 2013
Headhunters Association Protests Impact of US Immigration Bill on Executive Hiring
New York, 09/11/2013 – The Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC), the worldwide trade association representing the retained executive recruitment industry, responded in a letter to United States Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), highlighting the impact of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, also known as or S. 744, […]
more…14 Sep, 2013
India Releases ‘Economic Outlook 2013-14’ Report
Dr. C. Rangarajan, Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister released the document ‘Economic Outlook 2013-14’ at a Press Conference in New Delhi on 13 Sept. Following are the highlights of the document: Ø Economy to grow at 5.3% in 2013-14 Agriculture projected to grow at 4.8% in 2013-14 as against 1.9% in 2012-13. […]
more…14 Sep, 2013
FAO report: 1.3 billion tonnes of food, worth $750 billion, wasted annually
Rome, 11 September 2013 – The waste of a staggering 1.3 billion tonnes of food per year is not only causing major economic losses but also wreaking significant harm on the natural resources that humanity relies upon to feed itself, says a new FAO report released today. Food Wastage Footprint: Impacts on Natural Resources is […]
more…13 Sep, 2013
Largest Post-9/11 Veterans Study shows U.S. Ill-Prepared for Rising Tide of Long-Term Care
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. & WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–September 10, 2013 – Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) today released the findings of their 2013 Annual Alumni Survey based on responses from nearly 14,000 Iraq and Afghanistan service members – a resounding 52 percent response rate. Working in conjunction with RAND and Westat research organizations for this multi-year study, WWP’s data […]
more…13 Sep, 2013
First Sree Narayan Guru Global Secular & Peace Award Conferred on Dr. Shashi Tharoor
Vice President’s Secretariat, 10-September, 2013 – The Vice President of India Prof M. Hamid Ansari has said that Secularism and Democracy are the fundamental principles on which the Indian republic is founded. They are enshrined in the preamble of our Constitution. So are the principles of justice social, economic and political; liberty of thought, expression, […]
more…13 Sep, 2013
U.N. Forum Cites Role of Credit Rating Agencies as Arbiters of Global Risk
United Nations, 10 September 2013, Department of Public Information – Reform of the international financial system should include reducing its overreliance on credit rating agencies and increasing competition among them, speakers said today, as the General Assembly held its first ever thematic debate on the role of those institutions as arbiters of creditworthiness. “Over the […]
more…13 Sep, 2013
Film-maker Abigail Disney: U.S. responsible for an almost eroticized “mythology of violence”
United Nations, Department of Public Information, 6 September 2013 – Education was a primary tool for building a culture of peace, and the United Nations had rightly placed it at the forefront to that end, speakers said today as the General Assembly held a high-level forum on that topic. Assembly President Vuk Jeremić (Serbia) recalled […]
more…13 Sep, 2013
Abercrombie hijab firing highlights Muslim concern about discrimination
(Pew Research Centre), September 11, 2013 – A federal judge ruled this week that the clothing company Abercrombie & Fitch wrongly fired a Muslim employee in San Mateo, Calif., for wearing a headscarf. The retailer said the look of its employees is part of its marketing strategy, but, according to the Associated Press, the judge found […]
more…13 Sep, 2013
World Heritage status sought for Silk Road corridor
Beijing, (China Daily) 2013-09-11, In August, a team of 20 cyclists from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan departed from Xi’an, Shaanxi province, to traverse the ancient Silk Road. The journey took them to many Chinese cities before they arrived at their destination, Kazakhstan’s Masanchi, where the Dungan people – a branch of China’s Hui ethnic group […]
more…13 Sep, 2013
Hurun wealthy list 2013 shows China’s rich getting richer
Shanghai, 2013-09-12, China Daily – Wang Jianlin, chairman and president of Dalian Wanda Group Corp Ltd, overtook Zong Qinghou to become the richest man in China, according to the Hurun Rich List 2013, which was released on Wednesday. This is the first time that Wang, 59, tops the list. His personal wealth has doubled to […]
more…13 Sep, 2013
Dalian Economic Forum hears: “Uncertainty, volatility remain the norm for global economy”
Dalian, People’s Republic of China, 13 September 2013 – Emerging markets will still lead global economic growth, said Min Zhu, Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but there will continue to be challenges. As the world pulls itself out of the financial crisis, uncertainty and volatility remain the norm for the global […]
more…13 Sep, 2013
‘Free’ May Not Mean Free: Global sweep for apps targeting children
Canberra, 10 September 2013, (ACCC media release) – The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission news release) The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is joining a concerted international effort to identify smartphone and tablet apps that may mislead young children into making unauthorised in-app purchases. Over 50 consumer protection agencies around the world are searching through […]
more…11 Sep, 2013
UN survey of 10,000 men in Asia-Pacific reveals psyche that triggers violence against women
Bangkok, 10 September 2013 — A UN study of 10,000 men in Asia and the Pacific, released today, found that overall nearly half of those men interviewed reported using physical and/or sexual violence against a female partner, ranging from 26 percent to 80 percent across the sites studied. Nearly a quarter of men interviewed reported perpetrating […]
more…10 Sep, 2013
Best Times to Post on Social Media – Free Tips in New Infographic
Seattle, WA (PRWEB) September 10, 2013 Countless internet users have asked at one time or another what the best times are to post on various social media websites. The question is a valid one, as posting at particular times of day allows one to reach a far more extensive online audience than otherwise possible. Fannit.com […]
more…10 Sep, 2013
In U.S., Opponents Say Action in Syria Not America’s Concern – Gallup Poll
PRINCETON, NJ (Gallup Organization) 09 September 2013 — Americans who oppose U.S. military action in Syria are most likely to explain their position by saying that the events in Syria are none of the United States’ business, that the U.S. does not need to be involved in another war, or that the action is not […]
more…8 Sep, 2013
Students Think They Have Clean Facebook Page, but Recruiters Aren’t Impressed
SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–September 05, 2013 – Recruiters and college students have conflicting opinions on what is appropriate to post on Facebook, according to a recently released survey of 500 U.S. college juniors and seniors conducted by Persona, Inc., a social media utility designed to help users protect professional reputations online. Fifty-seven percent of college students do […]
more…8 Sep, 2013
US investment guru warns of economic slowdown as “printing of artificial money” ends
XIAMEN, Fujian 2013-09-07, (Xinhua) – Another economic slowdown will impact the world including China in the next two years as the United States and other major economies halt the printing of artificial money, according to investment guru Jim Rogers Saturday. Even though the turmoil will affect China, the long term future of the RMB is […]
more…8 Sep, 2013
People of Power and Authority Must Reject Violence, Promote Dialogue, UN meeting on Culture of Peace hears
United Nations, Sep 6 2013 (UN News Centre) – People in positions of power and authority have a moral and political responsibility to improve understanding across borders and cultures, top United Nations official said opening a day-long General Assembly forum on the promotion of a ‘culture of peace.’ At UN Headquarters in New York, Deputy […]
more…7 Sep, 2013
It’s Official: India, China, Indonesia, Russia, S. Africa, Brazil, all oppose attack on Syria
Leaders of the world’s most populous countries, India, China, Indonesia, S. Africa, Brazil, plus Russia, all oppose an attack on Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin made clear at his post G20-summit conference. He also went out of his way to specifically note that Indonesia was the world’s largest Muslim-majority country. The following is the full […]
more…7 Sep, 2013
Zubin Mehta conferred India’s Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony 2013
Ministry of Culture, 06-September, 2013 – President of India Mr Pranab Mukherjee here today conferred the Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony, 2013 on Maestro Zubin Mehta. The award ceremony was held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. The award carries an amount of Rs. 1 Crore, a citation in a scroll, a plaque as well as an […]
more…7 Sep, 2013
Shanghai’s visa-free policy lifts tourism
Shanghai, (China Daily) 2013-09-06 – Shanghai authorities said the city’s policy allowing citizens from 45 nations to stay up to 72 hours in the city without a visa has noticeably boosted tourism. But business insiders said a lot more can be done to bring more transit passengers to the city amid an overall drop in […]
more…7 Sep, 2013
No Country Allowed To Take Law Into Its Own Hands: UN-Arab League Envoy
United Nations, Sep 6 2013, (UN News Centre) – The Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the League of Arab States today stressed that he and other senior diplomats were working “extremely hard” bring Syrian and other concerned parties together for a conference to find a political path out of the crisis in […]
more…7 Sep, 2013
UN Chief Warns Of ‘Tragic Consequences’ Of Military Action in Syria
United Nations, Sep 6 2013 (UN News Centre) – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged leaders at the Group of 20 (G20) summit in St. Petersburg to explore ways to avoid further militarization of the conflict in Syria and to revitalize the search for a political settlement, warning that “tragic consequences” could follow military action. Mr. […]
more…6 Sep, 2013
It’s Official: Israeli Lobby in U.S. Backs Attack on Syria to Protect Israel
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the lobby group that is often cited as the power which controls the U.S. Congress, has issued a statement calling on America’s elected representatives to approve an attack on Syria. In a statement on September 3, AIPAC claimed that it is in order to protect American national security interests […]
more…6 Sep, 2013
Economic Cost of U.S. Military Strike on Syria: More Than US$36,000 an Hour
5 September 2013 (National Priorities Project) – As federal lawmakers and the American people grapple with the possibility of U.S. military intervention in Syria, National Priorities Project (NPP) announces the release of a new interactive tool tracking the Cost of National Security. The site features counters displaying the real-time running cost of U.S. military programs, […]
more…6 Sep, 2013
Pew Survey: U.S. Public, Especially Women, Overwhelmingly Against Strike on Syria
Washington DC, (Pew Research Centre), 3 September 2013 – President Obama faces an uphill battle in making the case for U.S. military action in Syria. By a 48% to 29% margin, more Americans oppose than support conducting military airstrikes against Syria in response to reports that the Syrian government used chemical weapons. The new national […]
more…5 Sep, 2013
No decent human being can ignore conflict that will shape the future of humanity
31 August, 2013 – It is not difficult to understand the power-game being played in Syria and no decent human being should stand on the sideline in a conflict that will shape the future of our humanity. The global intifada (uprising) is spreading and it is rejecting war and hegemony and now even President Obama […]
more…5 Sep, 2013
Kairos Palestine statement condemns Syria warmongering: Remember the tragedy of Iraq
Once again, the drums of war are sounding in our region. Once again, the US is leading the campaign for this war, this time on Syria. And once again, the US and some European and Arab countries are justifying it in the name of democracy, human rights, and humanity itself. We have heard all this […]
more…5 Sep, 2013
China: US planned military action against Syria runs grave risks
BEIJING, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) — The U.S. military action against Syria loomed larger as President Barack Obama on Tuesday secured the key backing of House leaders in his push for military action in Syria. Though the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has, in a draft authorization for the use of military force in Syria, set a […]
more…5 Sep, 2013
U.S. expected to launch cyber attacks against Syria: report
WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) — The United States is certain to launch cyber attacks on Syria if it goes ahead with its military action to punish Damascus for the alleged chemical weapons use, a report said Wednesday. U.S. cyber experts believe that the U.S. government could use computer viruses to destroy Syrian defenses and equipment […]
more…5 Sep, 2013
US ignoring logic as it beats war drums
September 04, 2013 – Once again, Washington has effortlessly beaten down Russian President Vladimir Putin in the arena of public opinion. In recent days, media from the US and Europe have chimed in with official accounts from the US and France, claiming that it was Syrian government troops who used chemical weapons. Some media even […]
more…5 Sep, 2013
Use Courts, Not Cruise Missiles to Settle Syria Crisis: Women Nobel Peace Laureates
(Ottawa) September 4, 2013 – One the eve of the G20 meeting in Russia, the six Nobel peace laureates of the Nobel Women’s Initiative today called upon the US and its allies to use the international legal system in place of military intervention to respond to any use of chemical weapons in Syria. In a […]
more…4 Sep, 2013
An Unprecedented Gathering Deep in the Amazon Jungle
PUERTO HUAMÁN, Peru (ILO News) – 06 August 2013 – “Palo Duro” (Hard stick) is an almost unbreakable tree that grows in north-eastern Peru, in the Amazon region close to the Colombian border. It is also the symbol of the Maijunas, a community that has struggled since the time of the Spanish conquest to reclaim […]
more…4 Sep, 2013
AmEx Survey Finds More Business Travelers Balancing Work and Play While On the Road
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE) — September 03, 2013 – Business travelers are taking to the skies just as much as in previous years, but they are increasingly taking time out for themselves, according to new research released today by American Express Global Business Travel.1 The survey, which analyzed the habits of business travelers in the United […]
more…4 Sep, 2013
Asia-Pacific on the road to middle-class employment
GENEVA, 30 August 2013 (ILO News) –Strong economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region over two decades has helped lift millions of people out of poverty, with middle class jobs now accounting for nearly two-fifths of all employment in the region. However, there’s also been an increase in inequality. According to a recently published ILO working […]
more…3 Sep, 2013
India Launches Gandhi Heritage Portal to Spread Message of Non-Violence
Ministry of Culture, 02-September, 2013 – Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh here today dedicated the Gandhi Heritage Portal to the nation. The Minister of Culture Mrs. Chandresh Kumari Katoch, Communications & IT Minister Mr Kapil Sibal, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations Dr. Sam Pitroda, Mr Narayan Desai, Mr Kartikeya […]
more…3 Sep, 2013
Peace Tourism CEO Urges Collective Industry Voice to Avert Wider Syrian Conflict
The Founder and President of the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT) has called on the travel & tourism industry to raise its collective voice in averting yet another conflict, this time in Syria. In a special message to the industry at the request of Travel Impact Newswire, Mr Louis d’Amore said it is […]
more…3 Sep, 2013
World Water Week Highlights Its Role as a Source of Life and Death
United Nations, Sep 2 2013 (UN News Centre) – Now is the time for accelerated, energized and concerted action on water and sanitation, Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson today urged, calling for renewed cooperation on water management and access to adequate sanitation for the more than 2.5 billion people around the world without it. In a […]
more…3 Sep, 2013
China: Unilateral military action will only make Syrian situation worse
Beijing, (Xinhua) September 02, 2013 – Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Monday that China was seriously concerned about any unilateral military action against Syria. At a regular press briefing, Hong said, “China is firmly opposed to the use of chemical weapons by any party in Syria and expresses serious concern about preparations by relevant […]
more…3 Sep, 2013
China Set to Bolster Ties with Central Asia
Beijing, 2013-09-02 – President Xi Jinping’s upcoming state visits to Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan from Sept 3 to 13 is another major diplomatic move by China’s new leadership that has great significance. First, the trip will help enhance mutual trust between China and the four Central Asian countries. Over the past 20-plus years since […]
more…3 Sep, 2013
Syria: A 12 Point Case Against Military Intervention
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 2 September 2013 – The House of Representatives and the Senate of the United States of America should reject any form of US military intervention in Syria. Rejection would be a clear statement against war. It would be a lucid message on behalf of peace. There are at least 12 reasons why […]
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