11 Jun, 2012
OECD’s First Pensions Report: Those Who Live Longer, Will Have To Work Longer
Paris, 11 June 2012 – In a move that could impact on travel trends from the industrialised countries, especially by the growing numbers of senior citizens, the OECD report has issued a report calling for a revamp of pension schemes in order to keep ageing citizens at work for several years beyond present retirement age. […]
more…11 Jun, 2012
New Service Strives to Help More Americans Get Passports – Fast
(PRWEB) June 10, 2012 – Based on a study published by Data.gov, states such as New Jersey and Alaska have the highest passport ownership rates above 60% of the population. However, inland states such as Mississippi have passport ownership rates as low as 20% of the population. Such a figure is good news for expedited […]
more…8 Jun, 2012
Myanmar, Bhutan Tourism Market Briefs — Free Download
BANGKOK, 7 June 2012 – Country presentations by Myanmar and Bhutan were among the highlights of briefing sessions organised at the Thailand Travel Mart Plus Amazing Gateway to The Greater Mekong Subregion (TTM+2012) during 06-08 June 2012. Other countries that made presentations are Vietnam, Cambodia as well as Thailand itself. A sixth presentation was on […]
more…8 Jun, 2012
In Parting Shot, Ousted Thai Airways Chief Blows Whistle on Festering “Poor Governance”
BANGKOK – Making an unscheduled departure well before the official end of his four-year contract, the President of Thai Airways International has blown the whistle on a several instances of alleged poor governance, corruption and nepotism. Addressing the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT) on June 1, Mr. Piyasvasti Amranand admitted having failed to adequately […]
more…7 Jun, 2012
Planned Israeli Settlements In West Bank Violate International Law, Says UN Envoy
United Nations, 7 June 2012 (UN News Centre) – A top United Nations envoy today reiterated that all settlement construction in the occupied Palestinian territory represents a breach of international law, after the Israeli Government announced it will build 300 new units in the Beit El settlement. “All settlement construction – whether on private Palestinian […]
more…7 Jun, 2012
Muslim Advocates Files First Lawsuit By Victims of NYPD Spying Program
(Newark, NJ) – June 6, 2012 – Today, Muslim Advocates filed an unprecedented lawsuit against the New York Police Department challenging its policy of targeting innocent American Muslims for surveillance based on their faith. It is the first lawsuit by victims of the NYPD’s discriminatory spying program. The lawsuit, Hassan, et al. v. City of New York, […]
more…6 Jun, 2012
Travel Agents Head List of Occupations Most Likely to Gain Weight – CareerBuilder Survey
CHICAGO, June 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Workplace treats have your pants feeling a little tighter than usual? A new CareerBuilder survey found two-in-five workers (44 percent) said they have gained weight at their current job, on par with previous studies. Twenty-six percent of workers gained over 10 pounds, and 14 percent gained over 20 pounds. […]
more…6 Jun, 2012
Telecoms Union Calls for Reduced e-Waste By Stretching Life of Device
Geneva, 5 June 2012 (International Telecommunications Union) – Participants at the 7th ITU Symposium on ICTs, the Environment and Climate Change have issued a Declaration that encourages ICT manufacturers to make their products more easily upgradable without need for replacing the entire device. The call to promote a life cycle approach in the design of […]
more…6 Jun, 2012
Economic Slump, Geopolitical Change Affecting Workers Worldwide, Survey Shows
6 June 2012 (International Trades Union Congress): 2011 was a difficult and often dangerous year for workers throughout world, with those who dared stand up for their trade union rights facing dismissal, arrest, imprisonment and even death. That in essence is the picture that emerges from the annual survey of trade union rights violations published […]
more…6 Jun, 2012
Asia’s “Green Challenge”: Changing Consumption Patterns, Emission Cuts & Management of Water & Chemicals
6 June 2012 – On the eve of the landmark Rio+20 conference in Brazil, the UN Environment Programme has issued the following Global Environment Outlook 5 (GEO 5) summary for Asia and the Pacific Region:
more…5 Jun, 2012
China-Bashing U.S. Politicians “Playing A Foolish Game”
Beijing (1 June 2012) – People in China get upset by the China-bashing rhetoric of people like Mitt Romney, who won the Republican presidential nomination on Tuesday, or the celebrity businessman, Donald Trump. But is it worth getting angry at their crowd-pleasing antics? I think it is better just to ignore them. Even the conservative […]
more…5 Jun, 2012
Chinese Commentator Urges Efforts to Counterbalance U.S. Domination of Global Opinion Market
Beijing (2 June 2012) – China urgently needs to carry out more effective public diplomacy if it is to overcome the misunderstandings, prejudice and suspicions that people in other countries have toward it. Public diplomacy is an indispensable part of a country’s approach to foreign relations as well as an important supplement to its traditional […]
more…5 Jun, 2012
China Continues to Prop Up Growth in Arrivals to Australia
Canberra, 04 June 2012 (Australian government media release) — New figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show visitors to Australia grew by a slow 1% April 2012, compared to April 2011. China provided most of this growth with a 34% increase in April 2012. It helped offset a 28% decline in arrivals […]
more…5 Jun, 2012
Spending Boost To Help Make More Australian Students “Asia Literate”
Canberra, 4 June 2012 (Australian government media release) — More students will be encouraged to learn Asian languages and cultures with the Gillard Government providing another $87, 000 funding to support the work of the Asia Education Foundation (AEF), School Education Minister Peter Garrett said today. The funding will go towards three projects which will […]
more…5 Jun, 2012
New Branding Slogan Sealed: “All That Glitters is Not Gold, But Myanmar Is”
Bangkok, (1 June 2012) – With the tourism gold rush in full swing, Burmese Vice Minister for Hotels & Tourism U Htay Aung says the industry will “learn from the mistakes” of other countries in ASEAN. However, he is realistic enough to recognise that that may be easier said than done.
more…5 Jun, 2012
ILO Report Outlines Dire Situation Of Workers In Israeli-Occupied Territories
GENEVA (ILO News), 04 June 2012 – The situation of workers in the occupied Arab territories is extremely worrying and remains precarious according to the annual report of the International Labour Organization (ILO) submitted to the 101st Session of the International Labour Conference. This is above all due to the realities of the occupation on […]
more…2 Jun, 2012
India Mulling Mandalay-Imphal Bus Service To Boost Travel to Myanmar
In an address to business leaders and academics in Myanmar on May 29, 2012, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said India is considering the launch of a bus service from Mandalay to Imphal, capital of the Northeast Indian state of Manipur. He also met with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and announced that she had been […]
more…2 Jun, 2012
Blaming the Victim in Palestine is Like Saying Colonialism was Good for the Natives
Jun 1, 2012 — In the wake of the commemoration of the Nakba last month, several Zionist commentaries appearing in both several Israeli publications and American publications have highlighted a similar and disturbing trend; they blame the victims of the Nakba for their fate. So what does it take to describe the depopulation of 500 […]
more…2 Jun, 2012
Careers & Dreams Delayed as 12% of US Young Adults Remain Jobless
WASHINGTON, June 01, 2012, (BUSINESS WIRE)–Generation Opportunity, one of America’s largest organizations connecting with young adults through a strategy of social media outreach coupled with on-the-ground grassroots organizing, is today releasing the non-seasonally adjusted (NSA) 18-29 unemployment rate data for May: The youth unemployment rate for 18-29 year olds specifically (NSA) for May 2012 is […]
more…2 Jun, 2012
Facebook Hit By Class Action Lawsuit for Alleged U.S. Securities Act Violations
SAN FRANCISCO, June 1, 2012 –(BUSINESS WIRE) — The U.S. law firm, Pearson, Simon, Warshaw & Penny, LLP filed on May 31, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, a securities class action against Facebook, Inc., its officers and directors who signed Facebook’s registration statement, and the lead underwriters […]
more…31 May, 2012
Economic Sentiment Indicator Falls Sharply in Both EU and Eurozone
Brussels, 30 May 2012 (Europa Press Release) – The Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) decreased sharply in May, falling by 2.7 points in the EU and by 2.3 points in the euro area, to 90.5 and 90.6, respectively. In both zones the decline was driven by falling confidence in all business sectors, especially in industry and […]
more…31 May, 2012
92% of Beaches at EU Holiday Destinations Meet Water Quality Standards
Brussels, 23 May (Europa Press Release) – Good news if you’re planning a beach holiday in Europe this summer. 92.1 % of bathing waters in the European Union now meet the minimum water quality standards set by the Bathing Water Directive. This includes the Serpentine Lake in London, which will host several Olympics events, including the […]
more…31 May, 2012
Dell Funds Report Encouraging Corporate Whistleblowers to Speak Up
ARLINGTON, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–New findings by the Ethics Resource Center (ERC) will shatter long-held perceptions of what constitutes a “whistleblower.” For years, the term has been used to describe those employees who go outside their company to report wrongdoing. They may do so because they do not trust their company to handle the issue appropriately or […]
more…31 May, 2012
Global Labour Organisation Chief Gives Myanmar Same Importance as Palestine
Address to the Plenary, 101st International Labour Conference, Geneva, 30 May 2012. We know that it’s time for a policy rethink. The financial crash of 2008 signalled the beginning of the end of the current growth and globalization model as I described last year in my report on “A new era of social justice”. Four […]
more…31 May, 2012
China to Arab World: “Historical Opportunity” For New Era of Bilateral Relations
An Article Written in the Run-up to the Fifth Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, May 30, 2012 On 31 May, the Fifth Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF) will be held in Tunisia. At the beginning of 2004, President Hu Jintao paid a historic visit to the headquarters of […]
more…30 May, 2012
ADB Sees Asia Needing US$8 Trillion to Fund Infrastructure; Australia Tops PPP Schemes
MANILA, Philippines (ADB Media Release) – Asia and the Pacific has seen a boom in public private partnerships (PPPs) in the past decade but it needs more effective public sector oversight agencies, and in some instances more political will, to advance the process even further, says a new study commissioned by the Asian Development Bank […]
more…30 May, 2012
Road Union Makes Proposals to Double Bus & Coach Users in EU
Brussels, 30 May 2012 – The International Road Transport Union (IRU), in cooperation with the European Commission, launched the Public-Private Smart Move High Level Group (HLG) yesterday, with the objective to elaborate, concrete policy and business recommendations on how to double the number of users of passenger transport by bus, coach and taxis in the […]
more…30 May, 2012
Countdown Begins for World Environment Day, 5 June
Nairobi/Rio de Janeiro, 30 May 2012 – From the floor of the National Senate, to the streets of Rio de Janeiro, the countdown to World Environment Day (WED) on 5 June 2012 is well underway in Brazil. This year’s host country is preparing to lead what promises to be the largest WED celebrations in the […]
more…29 May, 2012
India, Myanmar Agree To Upgrade Road Link With Thailand by 2016
India and Myanmar have pledged to complete the road link from Moreh in India to Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar by 2016. The agreement was reached during the visit by Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to Myanmar which ended on May 29. The road will complete one of the most important missing links […]
more…29 May, 2012
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games a Model of Corruption Prevention
Beijing, 2012-05-28 – China’s top anti-corruption officials have vowed to share their experience of running “corruption-free” Beijing Olympic Games as a model to others in the country’s battle against official greed. Huang Shuxian, deputy chief of the Communist Party of China’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, spoke highly of China’s experience of holding clean Olympic […]
more…29 May, 2012
Much-Needed Cooling Awaits China As West Slows Growth
Beijing, May 25, 2012 – Developing countries are now drastically out-competing the developed world. Capital is flowing away from “rich” countries to emerging ones via the huge trade deficits of developed nations. The US, with its ever-widening gap reaching $51.8 billion this March, serves as the prime example. Trade surpluses of the developing world, meanwhile, […]
more…29 May, 2012
Weak Euro Strengthens Attraction for Chinese Tourists
Beijing, 2012-05-29 – Wang Yalan is traveling to Europe again this year as the falling euro is prompting a rise in Chinese tourists. “The expenses for local transportation and accommodation in European countries are high, especially when I prefer to travel by myself rather than join tour groups,” said Wang, who has a budget of […]
more…28 May, 2012
Yen – Yuan Direct Trading Likely to Start in June
BEIJING May 27, 2012 — Japan and China are expected to start directly trading their currencies in June as part of efforts to boost bilateral trade and investment, financial sources in Beijing said Saturday. With the new step, exchange rates between the yen and the yuan will be determined solely by transactions of the two […]
more…28 May, 2012
Preparing for “Asian Century,” Australia Eases Visas to Draw Rich & Talented
Canberra, 25 May 2012 — The Australian Government has announced the launch of a new visa program, the Significant Investor visa, targeting migrants who could make an investment of at least $5 million in the Australian economy. It has also approved its first Enterprise Migration Agreement (EMA), granted to help a new iron ore mining […]
more…25 May, 2012
UN Declares 2013-2022 as “Asia-Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities”
BANGKOK – In what could prove to be a golden opportunity for the global travel & tourism industry to enhance its contribution to society, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) has officially declared 2013-2022 as the “Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities” and invited all stakeholders to […]
more…24 May, 2012
Ultra High Definition Television: Threshold Of a New Age
Geneva, 24 May 2012 (ITU Media Release) – The International Telecommunications Union has announced a new Recommendation that represents a major advance in television broadcasting that will create an entirely new television broadcast environment with the advent of ‘Ultra High Definition Television’ or UHDTV. ITU’s Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) has developed the standard – or Recommendation […]
more…24 May, 2012
Not All Israeli Citizens Are Equal
Published: May 23, 2012 in the International Herald Tribune and distributed by the Jerusalem Fund and the Palestine Centre. I’M a Palestinian who was born in the Israeli town of Lod, and thus I am an Israeli citizen. My wife is not; she is a Palestinian from Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Despite our […]
more…22 May, 2012
Travel & Tourism Will Feel The Heat of India’s “White Paper on Black Money”
In a move that is set to have a significant impact on the way India, Indian companies and Indian people do business, the Manmohan Singh administration has published a unique battle plan outlining its “crusade” against tax avoidance and evasion. The “White Paper on Black Money”, published on May 21 goes into copious detail about […]
more…18 May, 2012
Zionist Jews Continuing Efforts to Wipe Palestine Off the Map
The following is a briefing report on the 342nd meeting of the Committee on the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People which took place at the UN headquarters in New York on May 16 May 2012. This committee has met 342 times and effectively achieved nothing. In fact, the relentless Zionist effort to wipe Palestine […]
more…18 May, 2012
Job-rich Growth Essential for G20 Recovery, say OECD & ILO
Joint statement by ILO Director-General Juan Somavia and OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría on the occasion of the G20 Labour and Employment Ministers Meeting, Guadalajara, Mexico, 17 May 2012 17/05/2012 – We, the Heads of the International Labour Organization and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, call upon the Ministers of Labour and Employment of […]
more…18 May, 2012
Xinhua Insight: Global Regulators Seek Solution to Regulatory, Financial Challenges
BEIJING, May 16 (Xinhua) — As the world’s equity markets jitter over the fallout of JP Morgan Chase & Co.’s two-billion-U.S.-dollar trading loss and fret about a likely Greek default, global securities regulators are trying to find a solution to minimize the impact. More than 500 representatives from securities regulatory agencies from 203 countries and […]
more…18 May, 2012
Yuan Full Convertibility “Just Around the Corner”
2012-05-17 – China’s currency is just around the corner from being fully convertible and the economy’s capital account is already far more convertible than outside institutions give it credit for, said China’s top securities regulator on Wednesday. “At present, we have a very good chance to carry out the strategy of realizing convertibility of (the) […]
more…18 May, 2012
China Pressing Ahead With Diversification of Reserves
Originally published on 2012-05-17 – China remains the largest foreign holder of US Treasury securities, a “safe haven” amid the eurozone crisis, but an ongoing decline in these holdings reflects the country’s determination to diversify its foreign reserves, experts said. China boosted its stockpile of the securities by $14.7 billion to $1.17 trillion in March, […]
more…17 May, 2012
World Health Statistics 2012 Report Out, Shows Diabetes, Hypertension On The Rise
16 May 2012, Geneva (World Health Organisation) – The World Health Statistics 2012 report, released today, puts the spotlight on the growing problem of the noncommunicable diseases burden. One in three adults worldwide, according to the report, has raised blood pressure – a condition that causes around half of all deaths from stroke and heart […]
more…16 May, 2012
Palestinians Mark Nakba, Seek Freedom from Israeli Occupation
On this 64th anniversary of the Nakba we mourn the ethnic cleansing that began in 1948 and that continues today with silent transfer, home demolitions, land confiscation and more. But we also celebrate an amazing resilience and success of the Palestinian endogenous people against incredible odds: – We just celebrated the success of a hunger […]
more…16 May, 2012
Young People Jobs Crisis Shows How This Generation Has Failed the Next
Two reports and fact-sheets produced respectively by the International Trades Union Congress (ITUC) and the Organisation of Economic Cooperation Development (OECD) on May 15 and 16 have highlighted the catastrophic impact of the economic slowdown on the young people, especially in the OECD area. Released in advance of the G20 Labour Ministers Meeting in Mexico […]
more…15 May, 2012
UK Becoming Victim of Its Own Visitor Visa Hassles: ETOA
London, 15 May 2012, (ETOA Media Release) – On Tuesday May 15th at 11.00 am the UK’s Immigration Minister, Damian Green, appeared before the British parliament’s Home Affairs Committee to answer questions about queues at passport control in Heathrow Airport. Simultaneously, the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) released a statement pointing out that the problems […]
more…15 May, 2012
Anti-Arab/Muslim Image Will Impact Summer Travel to Europe: UNWTO-ETC study
Cultural and religious issues, including a perception of anti-Muslim bias or association with terrorism, is one of numerous factors affecting travel from the Middle East to the Europe. Another key factor, directly related to the same “perception” problem, is the time it takes to get a visa, according to a study on the Middle East […]
more…15 May, 2012
Thai King’s Reforestation Project Wows UNWTO Delegates
CHIANG MAI – The sufficiency economy concept of Thailand’s King Bhumibhol Adulyadej gained further prominence on the global tourism development agenda last week with a visit to the Huai Hong Khrai Royal Development Centre being included on the technical-tour programme of a regional UN World Tourism Organisation conference. The May 4 visit was an eye-opening […]
more…15 May, 2012
G-8 / EU: “Global Financial Transaction Tax, A Human Rights Imperative”
Geneva, UNHCR, (14 May 2012) – As European Union Finance Ministers meet on 15 May to coincide with the G-8 Summit in Camp David, a group of United Nations independent experts urged the EU to take the lead in promoting the adoption of a global financial transaction tax to offset the costs of the enduring […]
more…15 May, 2012
PATA Pushes Pugnacious New Policy Posture
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is pushing a table-thumping public advocacy posture designed to speak out more forcefully on issues affecting the regional travel & tourism industry. The policy posture was adopted almost immediately after the CEO Martin Craigs assumed office in November 2011 and stepped up at the UN World Tourism Organisation’s regional […]
more…14 May, 2012
Tourism Could Benefit From Historic Pact To Prevent Land-Grabs
11 May 2012, Rome (Food and Agriculture Organisation) – In a landmark decision designed to help prevent land-grabs, especially in developing countries, the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) endorsed a set of far-reaching global guidelines aimed at helping governments safeguard the rights of people to own or access land, forests and fisheries. The new […]
more…13 May, 2012
Gallup Poll: Southeast Asian Leaders Earn Highest Job Approval in Asia
WASHINGTON, D.C. May 11, 2012 — Majorities in more than half of the 21 Asian countries and regions Gallup surveyed in 2011 approved of their chief executives, with leaders in Southeast and South Asia earning some of the highest marks in the region. Laotians, Cambodians, and Sri Lankans were the most likely to express support […]
more…11 May, 2012
Myanmar Set To Rejoin UNWTO
Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, 7 May 2012 (UNWTO Press Release) – The President of Myanmar, U Thein Sein, has announced the country will initiate the process of restoring its membership of UNWTO. The decision was confirmed during an official visit of UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. On the occasion, highlighting the role of tourism in the […]
more…11 May, 2012
EIU Survey Shows 47% Of Respondents Expect At Least One Country to Exit Eurozone
LONDON, May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — The second annual BNY Mellon-sponsored survey conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has found that almost half (47%) of respondents believe that we will see the exit from the euro zone of one or more peripheral countries in the next 12 months, and only 17% of survey respondents consider […]
more…11 May, 2012
Gallup Poll: Majority Worldwide Sees Widespread Corruption in Businesses
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 10, 2012, — About two in three adults worldwide believe corruption is widespread in the businesses in their countries. This belief is relatively commonplace everywhere in the world — ranging from 60% in the U.S. and Canada to a high of 76% in sub-Saharan Africa — but it tends to be higher […]
more…11 May, 2012
Bird-Watching Can Help Eco-Tourism Fly High in a Green Economy – UNEP Report
Bonn/Nairobi, 10 May 2012 – Migratory birds undertake some of the most daring journeys in the animal kingdom, often covering thousands of kilometers to migrate. And the growing fan base of these winged adventurers is now presenting economic opportunities through sustainable tourism. . On 12-13 May 2012, the economic benefits of supporting the world’s migratory […]
more…10 May, 2012
How Colonialism Crushed The World’s Indigenous Peoples (Part 2)
Part 2 of the transcript outlining discussions in the open United Nations debate at The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on the special theme for the year: “The Doctrine of Discovery: its enduring impact on indigenous peoples and the right to redress for past conquests (articles 28 and 37 of the United Nations Declaration on […]
more…10 May, 2012
How Colonialism Crushed The World’s Indigenous Peoples (Part 3)
Part 3 of the transcript outlining discussions in the open United Nations debate at The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on the special theme for the year: “The Doctrine of Discovery: its enduring impact on indigenous peoples and the right to redress for past conquests (articles 28 and 37 of the United Nations Declaration on […]
more…8 May, 2012
How Colonialism Crushed The World’s Indigenous Peoples (Part 1)
Indigenous Tourism is becoming a widely-discussed issue on the global travel agenda. But the wider historical context of problems facing the world’s indigenous peoples is glossed over. This three-part transcript of the 11th session of a United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues fills that gap. Held between May 7-9, the open debate featured the […]
more…8 May, 2012
Curtain Falls On Year-long Indo-Bangladesh Tribute to Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore
New Delhi, 07-May, 2012 (Press Information Bureau) – The year-long joint Indo-Bangladesh celebrations to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore concluded here today with the closing ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan. The ceremony was attended by the Vice-President of India Mr. M. Hamid Ansari, the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr. Dipu Moni, Finance […]
more…8 May, 2012
U.S. Lawyer Urges Legal Action Against “Medical Tourism” Malpractice
A Jewish American lawyer whose young son died at a major hospital in Bangkok has launched what he describes as a “new consulting service to trial lawyers and patients regarding the legal issues stemming from the rise of medical tourism.” Long known to have been only a matter of time, the move could prove to […]
more…8 May, 2012
Japan Airlines Joins Global Campaign Against Cervical Cancer
New York, (PRWEB) May 07, 2012 – The Hellosmile Project, a joint campaign initiated and led by TOKYO FM Broadcasting, which includes UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, and other partners to prevent cervical cancer, will be officially launched this week. The project is initiated by TOKYO FM, one of Japan’s most prominent FM radio […]
more…8 May, 2012
European Campaign to Fight Depression in the Workplace
LONDON, May 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — This Labour Day, the European Depression Association (EDA) launched an EU-wide campaign to make the fight against depression at work a European priority and urging the public to show their support for this important cause by visiting http://www.europeandepressionday.com. The EDA launched the campaign with an “Open letter” to MEPs and policy makers […]
more…8 May, 2012
“Canada is Israel’s Best Friend,” Foreign Minister Tells Jewish Global Forum
WASHINGTON, May 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — “Israel has no greater friend in the world today than Canada,” declared Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird at the AJC Global Forum. “Our strong support for Israel is not about politics at home, and certainly not about winning popularity contests at the United Nations. Canada certainly has the scars […]
more…4 May, 2012
All Indian Airlines Hit by Losses, Except One
New Delhi, Ministry of Civil Aviation 03-May, 2012 – Mr. Ajit Singh, the Minister of Civil Aviation informed Rajya Sabha (Upper House) today in a written reply that based on returns filed by airlines with Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), all scheduled airlines operating in the country except IndiGo are incurring losses. The total […]
more…4 May, 2012
Foreign Airlines Optimistic About Chinese Market
Beijing, May 03, 2012 – A number of foreign airlines including South African Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa German Airlines and Scandinavian Airlines have recently focused on the Chinese market and opened up many direct flights and charter lines to facilitate Chinese tourists。 It is expected that over one-fourth of passengers around the world will come […]
more…4 May, 2012
China’s Cruise Tourism Market Growing 30% Annually
Beijing, May 03, 2012 — Various commemorative activities and the 3-D re-release of the epic romantic movie “Titanic” has made the cruise ship that sank 100 years ago again a hot topic. Surprisingly, domestic travel agencies did not use the 100th anniversary of Titanic’s sinking as a gimmick to promote their products. “After years of […]
more…4 May, 2012
Chinese Passports To Get “Chipped”
BEIJING, May 3 (Xinhua) — China will start to issue a new type of passport, which contains an electronic chip recording the holder’s personal information, according to a Ministry of Public Security announcement on Thursday. The new passports will look similar to traditional ones but an electronic chip will be inserted inside containing elements including […]
more…4 May, 2012
Chinese Tourists Rank As Top Spenders In Japan
TOKYO, May 3 (Xinhua) — Chinese tourists have spent an estimated 196.4 billion yen (about 2.43 billion U.S. dollars) in Japan in 2011, accounting for almost a quarter of the total spending by foreign travelers, and rank as the largest spenders by country, according to data from the Japan Tourism Agency. Chinese travelers bought relatively […]
more…4 May, 2012
China Tourism Authority Warns Of Low-Cost Package Tours
Beijing, Edited and translated by People’s Daily Online, May 04, 2012 – Not long ago, Ms. Wang, who lives in Beijing and has retired, wanted to travel to Hong Kong and Macao with her husband. After comparing several tourism advertisements, they found that the prices of six-day travel to Hong Kong and Macao are very […]
more…4 May, 2012
European Tourism Trends & Prospects Q1/2012 Report Released
The European Travel Commission (ETC) has just published its first quarterly report on European Tourism in 2012 – Trends & Prospects. Executive Summary (+) European travel has exhibited resiliency in the early part of 2012. Most reporting destinations have experienced growth in foreign visits and nights through the first two months of the year. (+) […]
more…4 May, 2012
United Methodists Call for Boycott of “Products Made by Israeli Companies in Occupied Palestinian Territories”
Posted on May 3, 2012 by Palestinian BDS National Committee Adopting the “Kairos Palestine” document, Methodists Elevate Palestinian Rights and Israel Divestment to Mainstream Prominence “Every worthwhile accomplishment, big or little, has its stages of drudgery and triumph; a beginning, a struggle and a victory.” –Gandhi Occupied Palestine, 3 May 2012 – The General Conference […]
more…2 May, 2012
Australia Suspends Agency Handling Chinese Groups for Ethics Breach
Canberra, 01 May 2012 (Ministry of Tourism) – The Australian Government has suspended Auga Travel Service Pty Ltd (Auga) from participating in the China: Approved Destination Status (ADS) scheme for a three month period. The ADS scheme provides streamlined travel opportunities for Chinese tour groups to Australia whilst ensuring that the integrity of Australia’s visitor […]
more…2 May, 2012
Domestic Tourism a “Shock Absorber” To Cushion Against “External Shocks” – UNWTO Report
CHIANG MAI, Thailand (2 May 2012) – If foreign tourism has been hit by repeated “external shocks” over the last decade, domestic tourism has become a “shock absorber” to help cushion the impact, according to a landmark study to be released this week. The Study on Domestic Tourism Across the Asia-Pacific is to be one […]
more…2 May, 2012
Chinese Entrepreneurs May Soon Launch Their Own High-end Brands
Beijing, 2012-05-01 – As foreign luxury brands compete to carve out portions of China’s fast-growing market, experts are predicting that Chinese companies will soon develop luxury brands of their own. It is time for domestic enterprises to establish luxury brands, since China has already become the dominant driver of growth in the luxury sector, said […]
more…2 May, 2012
Renting Catches On As Most Chinese Want, But Cannot Afford, Branded Goods
Beijing, 2012-05-01 – Ren Jiansong puts paying his rent ahead of buying the pricey luxury goods he so adores – prompting the 26-year-old fashionmonger to frequently rent luxury goods from a Beijing-based boutique. His most recent rental was a Louis Vuitton Damier Naviglio. The brown and tan messenger bag retails for about $1,600, but Ren […]
more…2 May, 2012
China Explains Why Renminbi Has To Be Globalised
Beijing, 2012-04-28 – China’s currency has recently shown signs of accelerated steps toward internationalization, as indicated by HSBC’s recent launch of the first RMB-denominated bond in London, the first offshore RMB business beyond Hong Kong, and an agreement the World Bank signed with China’s central bank for entrusted investment in the country’s inter-bank bonds market. […]
more…2 May, 2012
Chinese Tourism Index Helps Spotlight Congestion During Holiday Peak
Beijing, 2012-05-01 – Beijing launched an hourly updated online index of crowds at major tourist sites on Sunday, the day that China’s railway broke its record for the amount of passengers carried on any single day of a May Day holiday. The index, launched at bjta.gov.cn on Sunday, the first day of the holiday, covers […]
more…1 May, 2012
Economies May Be Recovering, But Jobs Are Not, Warns ILO’s Labour Day Report
GENEVA (ILO News) 29 April 2012 –Despite signs that economic growth has resumed in some regions, the global employment situation is alarming and shows no sign of recovery in the near future, says the International Labour Organization (ILO). The ILO’s “World of Work Report 2012: Better Jobs for a Better Economy” says that around 50 […]
more…1 May, 2012
World’s First Mobile App Launched To Combat Racial Profiling By U.S. TSA
WASHINGTON DC (April 30, 2012) Source: Sikh Coalition Media Release – The Sikh Coalition and other prominent U.S. civil rights leaders have released a game-changing mobile application that enables users to report instances of airport profiling in real time. The app was released today at the offices of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human […]
more…28 Apr, 2012
UN Celebrates Legacy Of Jazz As A Force Of Social Transformation
UN Headquarters (UN News) 27 April 2012 – The United Nations today kicked off celebrations for the first annual International Jazz Day with a concert in Paris, which will be followed by another in New Orleans on Saturday, and another at UN Headquarters in New York on Monday. The International Jazz Day, which falls on […]
more…28 Apr, 2012
EU Opens “New Chapter” in Relations with Myanmar
Burma/Myanmar, 27 April 2012 (EU Press Release) – Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice President of the Commission, will travel to Burma/Myanmar from 28 to 30 April. She will inaugurate the Office of the European Union to Burma/Myanmar in Yangon on 28 April and hold meetings with President U Thein Sein as well […]
more…28 Apr, 2012
Chinese Lawmakers Call For Dual Nationality Check
Beijing, 2012-04-28 (China Daily) — Lawmakers have urged the government to address the trend of holding dual nationality, which is illegal in China. Jin Shuoren, a member of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, said on Thursday that although being a citizen of two or even more countries at the same time is not allowed […]
more…28 Apr, 2012
China Sets US$10 Billion Credit Line For Projects in Central, Eastern Europe
WARSAW, April 26 (Xinhua) — China will set up a 10 billion U.S. dollar line of credit to support cooperative projects with central and eastern Europe. Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao announced the plan at a China-Central and Eastern Europe business forum here, saying it would accelerate the two sides’ practical cooperation. Wen said the […]
more…28 Apr, 2012
Japan’s Golden Week Holiday Rush Sees Many Flocking to Support Crisis-Hit Areas
Tokyo, April 28, 2012, Kyodo – Major airports, highways and railway stations across the nation were crowded with vacationers Saturday as the annual Golden Week spring holiday season began, with departures for overseas destinations peaking at Narita airport. Areas in the northeast devastated by the March 2011 quake and tsunami also saw many tourists taking […]
more…27 Apr, 2012
World Leaders Draw Roadmap Attracting Young Women to Careers in Technology
New York, 26 April 2012 (International Telecommunications Union) – Global leaders from the US, Europe, Africa and Asia joined together today to debate and define a roadmap that will help break down barriers and overturn outmoded attitudes in a bid get more girls into technology-related studies and careers. A high-level dialogue held at New York’s […]
more…27 Apr, 2012
World Buddhist Forum Opens in HK, Panchen Lama Speaks on Dharma
HONG KONG, April 26 (Xinhua) — The Third World Buddhist Forum opened Thursday in Hong Kong with more than 1,000 monks and scholars from over 50 countries and regions discussing the role of Buddhism in the construction of a harmonious society and peaceful world. The 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, one of the two […]
more…26 Apr, 2012
UNCTAD Warning to Global Aviation: Biofuels Will Worsen Food Price Pressures
In a clear early-warning to the global aviation and transportation industry, the UN Conference on Trade & Development (UNCTAD) has asserted that growing usage of biofuels is already contributing to higher food prices, and indicated that the problem could get worse in future. The Commodities and Development Report 2012 (UCDR), a new UNCTAD publication launched […]
more…25 Apr, 2012
PATA’s Whistleblowing Ex-Chairman Wins Recognition Award
Veteran Indian tour operator Ram Kohli, who chaired PATA between 2004-05 and later blew the whistle on what he now refers to as a “culture of corruption”, won the PATA Chairman’s Award at a ceremony during the annual conference in Kuala Lumpur, April 21. The award was conferred by PATA’s Immediate Past Chairman (2010-2012) Hiran […]
more…24 Apr, 2012
TAT Slags “Insulting” Remarks by AirAsia Commercial Marketing Exec
Bangkok, 24 April 2012 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand has taken a senior marketing official of AirAsia to task for “insulting” its personnel and making a number of inaccurate and “ignorant” remarks about TAT policies and activities. In a strongly-worded letter to the editor published in the Bangkok Post today, TAT Governor Suraphon Svetsreni […]
more…24 Apr, 2012
Israeli Ambassador Tries to Censor U.S. Media Report on Plight of Palestinian Christians
Washington DC, (23 April 2012) -The following statement was issued today by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), the largest grassroots Arab-American civil rights and civil liberties organization in the United States: Last night, 60 Minutes aired a segment entitled “Christians of the Holy Land” that offered American viewers an unprecedented look into the lives and circumstances […]
more…23 Apr, 2012
Indian Finance Minister: “Hard Decisions” Needed to Steer Economy in Asian Century
Press Information Bureau, 21 April 2012 – Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee provided a comprehensive analysis of the challenges facing the Indian economy in the context of the emergence of the new world order and an Asian Century. The following is the full text of his speech entitled, ‘India and the World – Short and […]
more…23 Apr, 2012
2.9 Billion Litres of Sewage Dumped Into Ganges Annually – Indian PM
New Delhi, (Press Information Bureau) 17 April 2012 – India’s increasing urbanisation, industrialisation and population are leading to 2.9 billion litres of sewage being discharged into the mainstream of the River Ganges every year, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh told the Third Meeting of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) in New Delhi. “We […]
more…23 Apr, 2012
UN Human Rights Official to Report on Status of Native Americans
GENEVA / NEW YORK (22 April 2012) – United Nations Special Rapporteur James Anaya will visit the United States of America from 23 April to 4 May 2012, to examine the situation of indigenous peoples in that country. This will be the first mission to the USA by an independent expert designated by the UN […]
more…23 Apr, 2012
New OECD Report: Lack of Finance Most Critical Problem Facing Global SMEs
Paris, (19 April 2012) – The importance of small and medium sized enterprises to the Thai tourism industry is cited in a report issued by the Paris-based Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development. Thailand and Korea are the only Asian countries covered by the report, and the reference is the only one to “tourism” in […]
more…23 Apr, 2012
Pacific Islands Face Severe Water Threat – UNEP Report
Bangkok, 23 April 2012 (UNEP Press Release) – The unique freshwater challenge facing many small islands in the Pacific is spotlighted in a new report released by the UN Environment Programme today. The report, “Freshwater under Threat – Pacific Islands”, found that the almost total reliance on rain-fed agriculture across all islands puts economies and […]
more…23 Apr, 2012
Law Firm Suggests Anti-Terrorism Style Measures to Curb U.S. School Shooting Rampages
Miami, FL (PRWEB) April 18, 2012 – Although the United States has been able to curb terrorist attacks on its soil by following draconian security measures in the aftermath of 9/11, it is ironic that it is still unable to curb shooting attacks in its schools, colleges, offices and other public places. Now a law […]
more…22 Apr, 2012
How China Plans to Internationalise the Renminbi
Beijing, April 21, 2012 – Just a few years ago, it would have been difficult to imagine that the global use of the renminbi would spread so fast. However, today we can see the situation has changed greatly. In 2011, China and its trade partners conducted cross-border renminbi trade settlements valued at 2.58 trillion yuan […]
more…22 Apr, 2012
Chinese Commentary: Arabs Should Reduce Dependence on the U.S.
Beijing, April 21, 2012 – It is a general impression of the world that the Arab people do not like the United States. At the country level, it could be said that Arab countries both “hate” and “like” the United States. Their interests are not completely in common. People usually believe that the United States […]
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