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10 Sep, 2012

Australia Warns Asian Travellers About Food Import Rules for Upcoming “Autumn Moon Festival”

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7 September 2012, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry – A gift of mooncakes to mark the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is a practice celebrated by Asian communities around the world. However, the tradition poses a biosecurity threat if it brings unwanted pests and diseases into Australia. Each year the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry […]

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10 Sep, 2012

Why India’s Small Towns Are Not Benefitting from Economic Progress

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India’s economic progress is not trickling down to its far-flung rural areas, exacerbating the rich-poor income gap and forcing rural-urban migration. Indian economic journalist Paromita Shastri addresses these questions in her book How India’s Small Towns Live (or Die), an extensive study of 30 small towns spread over the states of Rajasthan, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, […]

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10 Sep, 2012

Toyota’s Three NextGen Products Impacting the “Future of Mobility”

Emerging from a series of financial and quality-control problems, as well as the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Toyota Motors Corp has published its Sustainability Report 2011 identifying trends that will change the “future of mobility” and the kind of products and services that will be needed to match those trends. It projects demand for three key […]

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9 Sep, 2012

New Visa Pact Signed as India, Pakistan Move to Facilitate Travel, Rebuild Bridges

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 8 (APP): Pakistan and India on Saturday signed new liberalized visa regime giving more concessions and simplifying the procedure to grant visa with a view to promote people to people contacts and enhance trade and business activities between two neighbours. The new visa regime agreement was signed here by Indian External Affairs Minister […]

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9 Sep, 2012

Future Mass Transit Rail Plans May Threaten Bangkok’s Heritage

Bangkok – A group of Thailand’s leading culture and heritage institutions has sent an open letter to the Bangkok Governor urging him to ensure that the Thai capital’s future development plans preserve the city’s historic, archaeological, artistic and architectural monuments, buildings and districts. The letter says that many of the city’s older areas, especially around […]

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8 Sep, 2012

Indian PM Tells Police Chiefs Of Concern Over “Deteriorating” Communal Relations

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New Delhi, 08-September, 2012 (PM’s Office) – Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, has sounded a warning about a deterioration of communal relations in India, and rued the role of SMS text messages in exacerbating the situation. In an address to the Annual Conference of National Police Chiefs, Dr Singh noted that communal tensions would only […]

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7 Sep, 2012

Australia Identity Theft Survey Reveals Extent of Threat, Suggests Protective Measures

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4 September 2012 (Australian Attorney-General’s Department, Minister for Emergency Management) – Almost 90 per cent of Australians surveyed are concerned about identity theft and 61 per cent think identity theft will increase over the next 12 months according to new research released today. Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said that while Australians are concerned about identity theft, […]

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7 Sep, 2012

PATA CEO, Travel Impact Newswire Editor Team Up for “Thrilla in Manila” Debate

Joint PATA-Travel Impact Newswire Announcement

September 6, 2012, Bangkok: The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is to break new ground in the conduct and content of industry forums globally by holding the first-ever debate on the future of travel and tourism between the PATA CEO and a leading regional travel journalist. To focus on the topic, “The Future of Travel […]

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6 Sep, 2012

Five Resolutions to Keep Your Family Healthy

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Albany, NY (PRWEB) September 04, 2012 – As the kids head back to school and the cooler weather settles in, now is the time to mark new beginnings. Forget Jan. 1 – here are some “fall resolutions” that are easy to make and stick to. 1. REVAMP YOUR DIET AND EXERCISE PLANS Breakfast: Don’t skip […]

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5 Sep, 2012

Sec-Gen Surin: ASEAN Identity, Cultural Integration As Important As Economics To Avoid Conflict

Exclusive Report by Imtiaz Muqbil, Executive Editor, Travel Impact Newswire

BANGKOK – In a frank and forthright SWOT analysis of the future of regional integration, ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Surin Pitsuwan has warned that the birth of the ASEAN Community will create both “winners and losers”, and the management of ethnic, religious and identity differences in one of the world’s most culturally diverse regions will be […]

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4 Sep, 2012

Chinese Companies Expanding Abroad Urged to be Wary of Investment Risks

China Daily Commentary

September 03, 2012 – The Ministry of Commerce’s latest estimates show that China’s outbound direct investment reached 74.65 billion yuan ($11.8 billion) in 2011, a historical high. At the same time, it noted more than 27 percent of the enterprises that State-owned companies have set up overseas reported losses for that year. That loss percentage […]

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4 Sep, 2012

US, China Corporate Profit Gap Growing

By Chen Yang (Global Times)

Beijing, September 03, 2012 – The profit gap between China’s 500 largest enterprises and their US counterparts is growing wider, with the economic slowdown seriously affecting profits at domestic manufacturing companies, the China Enterprise Confederation (CEC) said over the weekend. China’s top 500 enterprises, ranked by annual revenue, made a combined profit of 2.1 trillion […]

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4 Sep, 2012

India Details Projects to Clean Up Polluted Rivers

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03-September, 2012 (Ministry of Environment & Foests) – The following information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests, Mrs Jayanthi Natarajan to the Parliament. The Ganga Action Plan (GAP) was launched by the Government in 1985, for pollution abatement activities in identified polluted stretches of river Ganga and later […]

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4 Sep, 2012

Secrets of the Chinese Travelers

(China Daily)

New couples celebrating their weddings in Sanya, in South China’s Hainan province. Sanya is one of the most popular tourist packages bought by online shoppers in China, according to a survey by Taobao, China’s largest online marketplace. (Photo/China Daily September 03, 2012 – Hong Kong, Beijing and Hainan province’s Sanya remain the most popular tourist […]

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4 Sep, 2012

How World Opinion is Kidnapped by West’s “Int’l Community” Rhetoric

People's Daily Online

September 01, 2012  – Since the Industrial Revolution in Britain, the self-centered way of thinking that long formed in Western powers has been swelling with the constantly consolidated powers. One of the performances is that some Western politicians often make improper comments in the name of “international community” when they talk about the international affairs […]

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3 Sep, 2012

Europe to Foster Wireless Innovation Through Sharing of Radio Spectrum

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Brussels, 3 September 2012, European Commission Press release – The European Commission today unveiled plans to deal with the exponential growth in mobile and wireless data traffic by enabling wireless technologies, including broadband, to share the use of the radio spectrum. With new technologies it is possible to share radio spectrum amongst several users – […]

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3 Sep, 2012

Students at S. African university boycott Israel – Yahoo! News

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JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Students at South Africa‘s University of the Witwatersrand say they are adopting an academic and cultural boycott of Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian people. A statement Monday says the school’s student representative council is calling for an immediate investigation into any academic, financial and cultural relations with Israeli institutions. Read more: […]

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3 Sep, 2012

European Heritage Days: 50 Countries Open Rarely Seen Sites

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Brussels, 03 September 2012, European Commission Press release – Over the coming month, more than 20 million people are expected to take advantage of free access to thousands of rarely opened sites and special events as part of the European Heritage Days, which take place every September in 50 countries across Europe. “The European Heritage […]

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1 Sep, 2012

Exhibition Association Warns Members About “Misleading” Directory Scams

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31 Aug 2012 – UFI, the global association of the exhibition industry, has warned members to beware of scams purporting to provide “misleading directory services.” Published in the September 2012 edition of its newsletter, the full text of the warning reads thus: In the past we have provided you with information concerning a scam perpetrated […]

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1 Sep, 2012

Travel Managers Survey: Risk Management Remains Top Issue

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30 Aug 2012 (AirPlus International) – Risk management remains top of mind amid ongoing worldwide economic, political and ecological uncertainty. As worldwide economic and political situations remain volatile, the issue of traveler safety and security continues to be an ongoing challenge for travel managers. Add in the increasing frequency and rising strength of natural disasters […]

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31 Aug, 2012

India-Asean Pledge To Finalise Services Agreement by December

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Ministry of Commerce & Industry, 31-August, 2012 – At the 10th ASEAN-India Economic Ministers Consultations in Siem Reap, Cambodia today, Union Minister for Commerce, Industry & Textiles, Mr Anand Sharma, and the ASEAN Economic Ministers reviewed the impressive growth in total trade since the signing of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement. Since 2011, bilateral […]

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31 Aug, 2012

India Imposes Stringent Mobile Radiation Standards

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Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, 31-August, 2012 – Effective 1st September 2012, India will be among the select few countries in the world to have stringent EMF (Electromagnetic Frequency) Radiation Standards, established in the interest of public health, for mobile towers and mobile handsets. Indian standards would now be 10 times more stringent than […]

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31 Aug, 2012

China, Egypt Back Palestine Statehood

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BEIJING, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) — China and Egypt have reaffirmed their support for an independent State of Palestine, according to a joint press communique issued here on Thursday. The independent state should have full sovereignty established on the basis of the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, said the communique, which also backed […]

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31 Aug, 2012

“Marginal Drop” in Indian Forest Cover

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Ministry of Environment and Forests, 29-August, 2012 – The details of the India State of Forest Report, 2011 (ISFR) published by Dehradun –based Forest Survey of India is as follows:- • India State of Forest Report 2011 is the twelfth such report. The first report was published in 1987. • Forest and tree cover of […]

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31 Aug, 2012

India Sets Up New Department of Disability Affairs

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Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, 30-August, 2012 – A new Department of Disability Affairs has been set up as per the  Cabinet Secretariat’s notification dated 12.05.2012 to ensure greater focus on policy matters regarding disability issues. Having a separate budget will help strengthen existing schemes, formulation of new schemes, promotion of technological innovation and […]

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31 Aug, 2012

India To Spend Billions on Upgrading Railways

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New Delhi, 30-August, 2012 (Ministry of Railways) – India is projecting private investment of more than IRs 79.83 crores in a range of railway projects to be developed under the upcoming 12th and 13th Five-Year Plans, Minister of State for Railways Shri K. H. Muniyappa said in a reply to a question in Lok Sabha […]

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30 Aug, 2012

India Pushes Reinvigorated Non-Aligned Movement, Reform of Global Governance

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Tehran, 30-August, 2012 (Indian Prime Minister’s Office) – Following is the text of the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh’s address delivered today at 16th NAM Summit in Tehran: “I congratulate His Excellency Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, on assuming the Chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement. Mr. Chairman, India will extend […]

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30 Aug, 2012

Burmese Trade Union Leader Cleared to Return from Exile

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29 August 2012 (ITUC Press Release): The International Trades Union Congress (ITUC) has welcomed the imminent return to Burma of the leader of the country’s trade union movement, Maung Maung, following a decision by the government to remove some 2,000 people from a black-list of over 6,000 banned from entering the country. Maung Maung is […]

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30 Aug, 2012

U.S. Office Workers Say Promotions Depend More On Politics Than Hard Work

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NEW YORK & SUNNYVALE, Calif.- 29 August 2012-(BUSINESS WIRE)–PARADE Magazine teamed up with Yahoo! Finance for the Job Happiness Survey to discover how Americans view their jobs, working cultures, career priorities, and prospects. Based on the findings, it is clear that Americans are putting more value on every penny earned. Below are some of the […]

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29 Aug, 2012

National Security? Or Job Security for the Security Apparatus?

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The following press release issued following an American Legion National Security Symposium makes clear that hyping up the threat to U.S. national security is all about creating job security for the defense and military apparatus which is becoming increasingly worried about the consequences of a reduced military budget. The transport, travel & tourism industry is […]

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29 Aug, 2012

NY Stock Exchange CEO Report Urges Less Regulation, Reduced Debt, Lower Taxes

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NEW YORK-August 28, 2012-(BUSINESS WIRE)–Global CEOs and U.S. small business owners are strongly urging political leaders and candidates for office to focus tax reform, regulation, the size of government and entitlements, and the national debt to stimulate the economy, growth and job creation, according to a newly released report from NYSE Euronext (NYX). Among those […]

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29 Aug, 2012

China’s Economic Transition Starts

By Liu Shijin (China Daily)

Beijing, August 28, 2012 – China’s economy grew by 7.6 percent in the second quarter of this year, continuing a downward trend that began two years ago. At such a time, it’s important that we make the economy stable for the present to ensure that long-term development occurs. The slowdown is the result of a […]

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29 Aug, 2012

U.S. State Dept to Spend $750 Million to Revamp Visa, Consular Services

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ARLINGTON, Va.-August 28, 2012-(BUSINESS WIRE)–The U.S. Department of State has selected Accenture Federal Services as one of nine prime contractors to provide technical support and consulting services under a $750 million Development, Modernization, Enhancement (DME) contracting vehicle. The DME has a one-year base, with four, one-year options. The State Department’s DME is an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) […]

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29 Aug, 2012

European Commission to Probe Proposed Buyout of Aer Lingus by Ryanair

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Brussels, 29 August 2012 – European Commission Press release – The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation (phase II) under the EU Merger Regulation into the proposed acquisition of Aer Lingus by the low cost carrier Ryanair, which was notified to the Commission on 24 July 2012. Both are major players in the Irish […]

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27 Aug, 2012

Droughts Flag Need to Better Manage Water Resources, Safeguard Food Security

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27 August 2012, Stockholm/Rome (FAO media release) –Drought in some parts of the world has hurt global grain production and contributed to food price spikes virtually every other year since 2007, highlighting the need to transform the way water is used – and wasted – throughout the entire food chain. This is one of the […]

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27 Aug, 2012

Indonesia’s Mbaru Niang Tops 2012 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards

UNESCO Media release

Bangkok, 27 August 2012 — Mbaru Niang, a village of traditional houses in Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia has been honoured with the Award of Excellence in the 2012 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. The two Awards of Distinction include the Sethna Buildings in Mumbai, India and the Water Systems in […]

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27 Aug, 2012

How Much Water Will 2 Billion Tourists Guzzle?

A major United Nations report being discussed at the World Water Week now underway in Stockholm provides ample food for thought for the travel & tourism industry: Can it cope with the pressures of managing the generation, consumption and disposal of water by more than two billion international and domestic tourists annually? From Kenya to […]

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25 Aug, 2012

EXCLUSIVE: Thai “Salesmonk” Urges Visits to Buddhist Sites in Pakistan

BANGKOK – A prominent Thai Buddhist monk has called on the world’s Buddhists to visit Pakistan if they wish to get a better idea of Buddhist history and the centres of learning that contributed to its spread. Describing himself as a “salesmonk” rather than a “salesman” for the Buddhist heritage sites of Pakistan, the Venerable […]

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24 Aug, 2012

Global Experts Poll: Economic Confidence at Lowest Level in Five Quarters

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Geneva, Switzerland, 22 August 2012 (World Economic Forum media release) – Confidence in the state of the world economy is at its lowest ebb since the World Economic Forum started its Global Confidence Index five quarters ago. The relative optimism of the previous quarter evaporated against a backdrop of slowing growth in the US and […]

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23 Aug, 2012

MasterCard Survey: Parents of College Freshmen Worried About Children’s Ability to Manage Money

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PURCHASE, N.Y.- August 21, 2012 -(BUSINESS WIRE)–Almost 65 percent of parents of college-aged young adults worry most about their child’s ability to manage money and spend wisely, according to a recent MasterCard Student Transition survey. In fact, two in five parents believe their young adults will run out of money in the first month of […]

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23 Aug, 2012

Shoppers Leave Stores, Buy Online for Discounts as Low as 2.5%

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ST. LOUIS – August 20, 2012 – (BUSINESS WIRE)–Forty-five percent of customers shopping in-store at brick and mortar locations will walk out and complete their purchase online for a discount as low as 2.5%, new research from GroupM Next examining the showrooming trend reveals. This number jumps to 60% of shoppers who will leave and […]

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23 Aug, 2012

Hotel Chain Survey Reveals Mobile Device Habits of Business Travelers Worldwide

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STAMFORD, Conn.- August 20, 2012 -(BUSINESS WIRE)–When today’s road warriors hit the trail, they are armed with three or four mobile devices to help them stay connected to office and home. They are more inclined to carry a tablet than a laptop. And, when these business travelers communicate with the home front from their hotel […]

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22 Aug, 2012

U.N. Agencies Warn of Impact of Growing Droughts

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21 August 2012 (WMO/UNCCD) – The drought gripping the United States of America and the ripple effects on global food markets underline the vulnerability of our inter-connected world to a natural hazard that is expected to increase in future. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and other UN agencies […]

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22 Aug, 2012

NYPD Muslim Spying Admission Reveals: Millions Spent, No Leads Generated

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(NEW YORK, NY, 8/21/12, CAIR Press release) — The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today said that a recent admission by the New York Police Department (NYPD) that its program of spying on the Muslim community produced no criminal leads and did not result in a single terror-related case demonstrates […]

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22 Aug, 2012

Historic Pact Opens New Road Transport Route Between China, Viet Nam

22 August 2012  (ADB Press release) – For the first time, buses and trucks will be able to cross overland between the rugged southern regions of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the remote northern regions of Viet Nam using a 1,300 kilometer route spanning from Ha Noi to Shenzhen made possible through a […]

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22 Aug, 2012

New Deal for Shipworkers: UN Treaty To Take Effect in 12 Months

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21 August 2012 (ILO News Release) – A comprehensive range of labour standards for the world’s 1.2 million merchant sailors, covering decent working conditions and health and safety issues, is now set to go into effect following its final two required ratifications, the United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) announced today. The ratification of the […]

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21 Aug, 2012

China: U.S. Must Hand Over Internet Control To The World

Although the travel & tourism industry has moved rapidly to capitalise on the business-generating opportunities of the Communications and Information Revolution, it is lagging way behind in understanding how this same revolution is impacting on safety, security, privacy, health, society and fundamental democratic human rights. Actions being taken, or sometimes not taken, by governments, multinational […]

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21 Aug, 2012

Travelocity Reveals Top 10 Most Popular Destinations for U.S. Labor Day Weekend

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SOUTHLAKE, Texas–August 15, 2012–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Labor Day weekend is quickly approaching, and many travelers are looking to get away one final time before summer ends. Travelocity analyzed its Labor Day booking data to find the price to beat as well as the most popular Labor Day destinations, and some spots that are gaining in popularity this […]

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18 Aug, 2012

India Economic Outlook 2012-13: Free Download

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Dr. C. Rangarajan, Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister released the document ‘Economic Outlook 2012-13’ at a Press Conference in New Delhi on 17 August. Following are the highlights of the document: Economy to grow at 6.7 per cent in 2012/13 Farm sector GDP projected to grow at 0.5 per cent in 2012/13 […]

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17 Aug, 2012

China, India, Russia, Bangladesh New Targets of Tobacco Industry, Survey Shows

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The world’s largest tobacco use survey, published today in The Lancet, underscores the enormity of the global tobacco epidemic – especially in low- and middle-income countries that are being targeted by the tobacco industry – and the urgent need for countries to implement proven strategies that reduce tobacco use […]

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17 Aug, 2012

Pew Survey: Further Decline in Credibility Ratings for Most U.S. News Organizations

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Pew Research Centre, 16 August 2012 – For the second time in a decade, the believability ratings for major news organizations have suffered broad-based declines. In the new survey, positive believability ratings have fallen significantly for nine of 13 news organizations tested. This follows a similar downturn in positive believability ratings that occurred between 2002 […]

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17 Aug, 2012

More Attrition in PATA Management

Bangkok – PATA management ranks are set to dwindle further with the upcoming departure of Mrs Ben (Benjakallayanee) Montgomery, Regional Director – Greater Mekong, at the end of September following the PATA Travel Mart in Manila. Mrs Ben, 38, will join Centara Hotels and Resorts as Director, Strategies Management as of 1 October 2012. Her […]

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15 Aug, 2012

Lessons Not Learnt: Arab Americans Report More Attacks on Places of Worship

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Washington, DC (www.adc.org) August 15, 2012 – The American-Arab Anti-Discriminaton Committee (ADC), reports a dramatic surge of violent activity and harassment directed at places of worship, less than two weeks after the tragedy that occured at the Sikh Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. In total there has been nearly a dozen cases of attacks and […]

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15 Aug, 2012

China’s Private Firms Plan Overseas Investments, the “Going Out” Strategy

People's Daily Overseas Edition, Author: Tian Li

August 15, 2012 – Recently, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), together with 12 government departments under the State Council including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, jointly issued “The Implementing Opinions on Encouraging and Guiding Private Enterprises to Actively Develop Overseas Investment (The Opinions),” the first comprehensive policy […]

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15 Aug, 2012

ASEAN Religious, Cultural Harmony As Critical As Economic Integration – Prof Yusuf

Bangkok – The religious and cultural heritage of ASEAN countries is one of its major tourism assets. Ways to safeguard it from becoming a social and geopolitical liability will be discussed at a seminar on religious pluralism in ASEAN to be organised for the first time at Assumption University in Bangkok between Aug 23-24. Funded […]

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15 Aug, 2012

Key British Airports report 4.1% fall in July traffic, partly due to Olympics

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London, 14 August 2012 (BAA media release) – 9.6m passengers passed through BAA’s five airports in July 2012, down 4.1% on July 2011. This included a drop of 4.4% at Heathrow to 6.6m passengers. The drop was more pronounced in the second half of the month and it is likely that the Olympics played a […]

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14 Aug, 2012

‘Muslim for a Month:’ Tourists take Islamic ‘pray-cations’ – CNN.com

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Muslim for a Month, run by Bowler’s NGO World Weavers, is part of a new breed of cultural immersion tourism being dubbed “pray-cations.” It promises travelers a rich, meaningful experience, by exposing them to religious beliefs and practices “in a country where spirituality is still very much alive,” he said. Bowler, a Thailand-based Australian, has […]

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14 Aug, 2012

Global Drought Conditions Raise Threat of Next Crises: Rising Food Prices & Water Wars

The long-forecast global water wars are about to become a reality. A 17% shortfall in India’s monsoon rains so far this year is only one indicator of a looming global drought that could trigger ripple-effect problems worldwide. These include increased prices of food crops, speculative activity, growing socio-economic and geopolitical tensions and environmental disasters as […]

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13 Aug, 2012

Sales & Marketing Jobs Top Salary Scales in Gulf, Survey Shows

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DUBAI, August 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Neither the international financial downturn, nor the economic impact of the Arab spring over the past year have taken the shine off salaries for gulf jobs in the past year. The 2012 Gulf Business salary survey of Middle East jobs was calculated by taking the average salary across the […]

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13 Aug, 2012

Int’l Day of Prayer for Peace – 21 Sept

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The World Council of Churches calls on the churches and congregations around the world to observe an International Day of Prayer for Peace on 21 September. The day coincides with the International Day of Peace initiated by the United Nations. The participants are especially invited to pray and act together for a just peace in […]

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12 Aug, 2012

Inaugural United States of Aging Survey Released, Free Download

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WASHINGTON & MINNETONKA, Minn. – August 08, 2012, (BUSINESS WIRE)–A new survey from the National Council on Aging (NCOA), UnitedHealthcare and USA TODAY finds that most older Americans feel their best years are still to come, but not all are prepared for the health and financial challenges of aging. As millions of these adults will […]

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12 Aug, 2012

CAIR: Shots Fired at Illinois Mosque

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(CHICAGO, IL, 11 August 2012) — The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) said today that two air rifle shots were fired last night at the outer wall of the Muslim Education Center (MEC) mosque in Morton Grove, Ill. The shots were heard by worshipers who were outside the mosque and were […]

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11 Aug, 2012

China Calls for Political Reform in U.S., Economic Reform in Europe

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In yet another sign of a new emerging world order and a rebalancing of the global poles of power, two commentaries published recently in the official Chinese media have told 1) the U.S. to start a serious process of political reform, and 2) the European Union to undertake some serious financial & economic reform. They […]

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11 Aug, 2012

Blessing for Trade Shows: Indian Customs To Be Open 24 Hours at Major Seaports, Airports

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New Delhi, Prime Minister’s Office, 07-August, 2012 – One of the major constraints for international trade has been the non-availability of customs clearance and other facilities at Indian airports and seaports round the clock, seven days a week. This means that import and export cargo, delivered at a time when clearance facilities are unavailable, have […]

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11 Aug, 2012

Press Release Makes Clear Who Will Profit From Increased Use of Drones in Civilian Space

Source: http://www.researchandmarkets.com/

DUBLIN–(Research & Markets) — TechNavio’s analysts forecast the Global Unmanned Aerial Vehicle market to grow at a CAGR of 4.28 percent over the period 2011-2015. One of the key factors contributing to this market growth is the increasing share of the defense budget. The Global Unmanned Aerial Vehicle market has also been witnessing an increase […]

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11 Aug, 2012

Protests Lead to Israeli Pullout from First Int’l Culture Summit in Edinburgh

Source: www.no2brandisrael.org

10 August 2012 – Human rights campaigners today welcomed the Scottish Government’s confirmation that Israel will not be represented at the first International Culture Summit hosted in the Scottish Parliament building next week. A coalition of campaign groups labelled “Don’t dance with Israeli apartheid”, which had planned to protest any official Israeli presence, said that […]

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11 Aug, 2012

Third mass shooting in a month leaves 3 dead at Alabama nightclub — RT

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According to an ongoing tally kept by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the United States is experiencing an average of 20 mass shootings each year. Read more: Third mass shooting in a month leaves 3 dead at Alabama nightclub — RT.

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11 Aug, 2012

On Int’l Youth Day Aug 12, UN Chief Warns Of Risk Of Creating A ‘Lost Generation’

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United Nations, Aug 10 2012 (UN News Centre) – Ahead of the International Youth Day, and amidst an economic crisis which has affected young people the most, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for greater and more meaningful inclusion of youth into decision-making processes around the world, while also warning of a possible “lost […]

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10 Aug, 2012

Wiping Palestine Off the Map: Israel to Demolish 8 West Bank Villages

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Ramallah, 19 Ramadan 07 August (IINA) – Israeli occupation forces carried out their latest barbaric acts of violence. The main road leading to eight Palestinian villages were closed indefinitely in preparation for the demolition of all the properties. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak issued a demolition order for the territory in South Hebron Hills saying […]

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10 Aug, 2012

Press Release Makes Clear Who Will Profit from Airport Body Scanners

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SAN DIEGO, August 09, 2012 – (BUSINESS WIRE) — Tek84 Engineering Group, LLC, announced today that its new body scanner, model AIT84, has been approved for use in Israeli airports. Following this approval a unit was installed at Ben-Gurion Airport (TLV) for operational pilot tests. “We have spent two years developing this next-generation product,” said […]

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10 Aug, 2012

“We Are All Sikhs”: Call for Summit To Tackle “Extreme Hate, Bigotry” in U.S.

A rainbow alliance of over U.S. 170 civic, faith-based, immigrant rights, and civil rights organizations has called on U.S. President Obama to host a summit to address the “hate-fueled sentiment and bigoted rhetoric that has become much too frequent in our public and political discourse.” Says the statement issued on Aug 9, “The level of […]

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9 Aug, 2012

Australia Wins “Gold” for Best Olympics Tourism Website Design

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San Diego, CA (PRWEB) August 09, 2012 – Australia has won a “Gold Medal” for the best-designed Olympics Tourism website. The USA won “silver” and Germany the “bronze.” The “Website Olympics” was launched in honor of the 2012 Summer Olympics, by Bop Design, a San Diego web design agency. It evaluated the tourism websites of […]

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9 Aug, 2012

Video-Conf Technology Upgrades, Sets Travel and Cost Cuts as Major Goal

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Buffalo, NY (PRWEB) August 09, 2012 — VoIP Supply LLC, a  supplier of VoIP equipment and complete solutions, has  announce the addition of certified Cisco TelePresence video collaboration tools that will facilitate holding of large conferences such as those in hotel meeting spaces. A major goal of this improved technology is to help global organisations […]

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9 Aug, 2012

U.S. Petitioners, Including Ex-American Airlines CEO, Win Court Order On Airport Body Scanners

Millions of dollars worth of body scanners are being deployed across airports in the United States without due process of public comment, and a U.S. Court has ordered this lapse to be rectified by August 30. The decision will be of interest to airports, airlines and consumer protection groups worldwide as security companies push for […]

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9 Aug, 2012

High-Level Asia Pacific Digital Travel Forum Set For Bangkok on Aug 30

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BANGKOK – Travel technology will be in the spotlight at the first Asia Pacific Digital Travel Forum to be held in Bangkok, Thailand on August 30, 2012 at The Landmark Hotel Bangkok. With the advent of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, growth in the travel and tourism industry will be increasingly driven by […]

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9 Aug, 2012

Cruise Survey Reveals Generational Divide Over Relaxation Habits

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Santa Clarita, Calif. (PRWEB) August 07, 2012 — The 2012 Princess Cruises Relaxation Report, commissioned in celebration of National Relaxation Day on Aug. 15, revealed that Boomers and their adult children’s generation of Millennials have very different vacation habits, from social media vices to work-life balance, with the latter finding it more difficult to, or […]

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9 Aug, 2012

Gambling Group Targets Cambodia, Indochina As Next Growth Areas

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HONG KONG, August 07, 2012 – (BUSINESS WIRE) – Entertainment Gaming Asia Inc. (NYSE MKT: EGT) (“Entertainment Gaming Asia” or “the Company”), a gaming company focused on emerging gaming markets in Pan-Asia,  reported operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2012 and reviewed recent corporate progress. Highlights: Record quarterly total revenue from gaming […]

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8 Aug, 2012

European Plan to Get Bigger Piece of €100 Billion Global Security Industry Cake

Brussels  – The European Commission has adopted an Action Plan to boost the “competitiveness” of the EU Security Industry against that of the U.S. and help it expand market share, especially in emerging economies. According to an European Commission press release on July 30, over the last ten years the global security market has grown […]

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7 Aug, 2012

Rabbi Michael Lerner: Will Israel Start a War With Iran Before U.S. Elections?

By Rabbi Michael Lerner. www.tikkun.org

As you may know, Tikkun and the Network of Spiritual Progressives (www.spiritualprogressives.org) bought a full page ad in the New York Times signed by 3,000 Americans urging both Israel and the US to use the deterrence strategy we used against Stalin’s nuclear-armed Russia during the Cold War to head off nuclear war, namely to assure […]

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7 Aug, 2012

Serving On a Board Has Never Been so Risky, Insurance Broker Report Warns

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New York (PRWEB) August 06, 2012 – Against a backdrop of almost unparalleled financial instability, corporate crises, increasing regulation and public resentment over the perceived power of business executives, rarely have directors of large companies (especially in the financial services sector) been the subject of more scrutiny. With risk management now a key boardroom concern, […]

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6 Aug, 2012

1% Drop in European Travel Projected for 2012

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Brussels, 6 August 2012, (European Travel Commission media release) – Major changes are taking place in European travel trends, thanks to the impact of softening economies, a significant rise in Russian outbound and a shift towards the new destinations of Central and Eastern Europe, according to the latest report for the second quarter 2012 issued […]

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5 Aug, 2012

U.S. House Passage of Iran Sanctions Bill “Trumps Einstein’s Definition of Insanity”

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Washington, DC (1 August 2012) USA*Engage Media Release – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) and USA*Engage today released the following statement in response to the House of Representatives’ approval of a bill to impose additional U.S. unilateral sanctions against Iran. “Congress, impelled by election year politics, has voted overwhelmingly to impose additional economic sanctions […]

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5 Aug, 2012

Overseas Study Tours Gain Popularity in China, But Quality Is Inconsistent

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BEIJING, July 30 (Xinhua) — Although most Chinese parents don’t give a second thought about spending lavishly on their children, the mother of Xiang Miao, a high school sophomore who partook in a 16-day summer study tour abroad last year, regrets her careless spending. Xiang’s mother paid 30,000 yuan (4700 U.S. dollars) for the so-called […]

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5 Aug, 2012

Call For “Acts of Good” In Build-up To World Humanitarian Day, 19 August

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(New York, 2 August 2012) International star Beyoncé, the United Nations and humanitarian aid organizations are launching a global campaign today to shine a spotlight on humanitarian work and encourage people around the world to get involved by doing something good for others. World Humanitarian Day is a global day to celebrate humanity and the […]

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5 Aug, 2012

Israel Blocks Four Foreign Ministers from Entering Occupied West Bank

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RAMALLAH, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) — Israel on Sunday obstructed the Palestinians to gain more international support for their bid to the United Nations to be recognized as a state. The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) was scheduled to host a meeting for some states of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Ramallah, but the meeting was cancelled […]

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4 Aug, 2012

Study Blows Whistle On Business of Buying-Selling Fake Twitter Accounts

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Campbell, CA (PRWEB) August 03, 2012 – Barracuda Networks, a leading provider of security, networking and data protection solutions, today released findings from Barracuda Labs’ most recent study, “The Underground Economy of Buying Twitter Followers: Dealers, Abusers and Fake Accounts.” The study analyzes a random sampling of more than 70,000 fake Twitter accounts that are […]

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4 Aug, 2012

Infographic Pinpoints Top Five Tech Dangers for Children

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JACKSONVILLE, FL (PRWEB) August 03, 2012 — Retina-X Studios, a leading provider of child monitoring solutions, seeks to educate parents about the five dangers kids will most likely encounter while using an Internet-connected tech device. As a step towards this initiative, the company has released an easy-to-read infographic which describes the following dangers:     Cyberbullying     Sexting […]

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4 Aug, 2012

U.K. Survey Shows Small Businesses Need Help Evaluating Social Media Marketing Results

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LONDON, August 01, 2012 –(BUSINESS WIRE)–A new survey from online marketing tools provider Constant Contact®, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTCT) indicates a strong disconnect between British small businesses’ perception of social media marketing success and the reality. Among the one quarter (24 per cent) of British small business decision makers surveyed that report using Facebook™ to market […]

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4 Aug, 2012

U.S. Consumers Are Overwhelmed by Social Media, Survey Reveals

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LOS ANGELES, August 01, 2012  (BUSINESS WIRE)–MyLife.com® (“MyLife”) today announced the results of a commissioned survey of social media behavior, conducted online by Harris Interactive®. According to the 2012 Connecting and Communicating Online: State of Social Media study consumers’—that is, online adults in the U.S. who are 18 and older–fear of missing out (FOMO) may […]

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3 Aug, 2012

Global Travel Industry Gears Up for Muslim Tourism Boom

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Singapore, 11 Ramadan 1433 or 30 July 2012 (IINA) – From Halal spas to prayer rooms at airport terminals, the global tourism industry is gearing up for a projected boom in Muslim travel over the next decade, experts say. Their growing number and affluence means Muslims — especially from the oil-rich Middle East — are […]

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3 Aug, 2012

Low Self-Confidence Hurting Managers – Australian Personal Branding Survey Shows

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(PRWEB) August 02, 2012 — As Australian business people face increased work pressures because of the softening economy, a survey has found many managers and leaders lack confidence in their personal brand. The survey by the Australian Institute of Management VT and Image Group International found that 38 percent of Australian business people rated their […]

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3 Aug, 2012

Multinationals Blamed For Illicitly Transferring Millions Out of Africa

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Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 27 July 2012 (ECA Press Release) – A report has chastised multinational corporations for the illicit transfer of most of the $ 1.5 trillion they make in Africa each year back to the developed countries, draining hard currency reserves from the continent, stimulating inflation, reducing tax collection and deepening income gaps. The […]

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2 Aug, 2012

Requiem For Lalit Sheth: Time For Us All To Take a Deeper Look Inwards

Lalit Sheth is the second tour operator whom I personally knew to have committed suicide. In October 1997, another friend, Mr. Piti Sukakul, President and Chairman of Bangkok-based President Travel & Tours, shot himself. Both were the victims in some shape or form of economic and doing-business problems that went out of control. Lalit was […]

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1 Aug, 2012

63,500 Super-Rich Millionaires in China, Up 5.8%

By Wang Zhuoqiong (chinadaily.com.cn)

Beijing, 2012-08-01 — One out of every 1,300 people in China has a million yuan or more, according to the Hurun Wealth Report 2012, which was released on Tuesday. And the number of Chinese people who have 10 million yuan ($1.6 million) or more reached a record of 1.02 million, an increase of 6.3 percent […]

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1 Aug, 2012

Lalit Sheth, Owner of India’s Raj Travels, ‘Commits Suicide’

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MUMBAI, Aug 1, 2012, (Press Trust of India): India’s leading leisure travel service provider Raj Travels’ owner Lalit Sheth on Wednesday allegedly committed suicide by jumping off the Bandra Worli Sea Link bridge in central Mumbai, police said. “56-year-old Sheth, who owns Raj Travels, jumped from the sea link bridge this afternoon, leaving a suicide […]

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1 Aug, 2012

Kids in U.S. Having Emotional Problems After Colorado Shooting

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Colorado Springs, CO (PRWEB) July 31, 2012 — What should parents and caregivers say to children who are worried about someone coming into their community and shooting people, just like the mass shooting at a Colorado movie theater? Kidpower, a non-profit leader in child safety education, offers tips for talking with kids and helping address […]

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31 Jul, 2012

Tourism vs National Security: Time For Budget Comparisons

The travel & tourism industry often complains about inadequate budgets. But how does one define “inadequate”? One way is by comparing the budgets allocated to travel & tourism, which claims to be a promoter of peace, against those allocated to the defense and national security sector, which claims responsibility for keeping the peace. Although the […]

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28 Jul, 2012

Gallup Poll: Worldwide, Greeks Most Pessimistic About Their Lives

by Anna Manchin, www.gallup.com

BRUSSELS, July 25, 2012 — The Greek government’s promise of no new austerity measures this year may offer some much-needed hope to its citizens, whom Gallup surveys show are the most pessimistic in the world about the direction of their lives. More than four in 10 Greeks (42%) in 2011 expected their lives in five […]

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27 Jul, 2012

South Africa Court Convicts White Supremacist Group Leader of High Treason

Source: JURIST, University of Pittsburgh School of Law

The North Gauteng High Court at Pretoria in South Africa on July 26 convicted of high treason the leader of an extremist group responsible for nine bombings in Johannesburg’s Soweto township in 2002. Mike du Toit, leader of the white supremacist group Boeremag has been on trial for nine years and is the first person […]

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27 Jul, 2012

American Mass Murder: A Toxic Cultural Brew

By Mark Levine

One of the recurring questions in Michael Moore’s 2002 documentary Bowling for Columbine is why Canada, America’s “friendly” neighbor to the north, has among the highest rates and ease of gun ownership in the world, yet has much lower rates of gun violence than the United States. Moore travels to several major southern Canadian cities asking random citizens […]

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