17 Dec, 2015
Palestinian Woman, 19, Succumbs to Wounds Sustained in Nablus Shooting
NABLUS, December 16, 2015 (WAFA) – A 19-year-old young Palestinian woman Wednesday succumbed to wounds she sustained during an Israeli shooting at a major Nablus checkpoint in November, said security sources. On Wednesday afternoon, Samah ‘Abdul-Mu’men from ‘Ammuriya village, south of Nablus, succumbed to critical wounds she sustained after Israeli troops shot and seriously injured […]
more…17 Dec, 2015
Danish Fund Divests From German Company Operating in West Bank Settlements
TEL AVIV, December 15, 2015 (WAFA) – Denmark’s largest private pension fund, FPA Pension, with assets close to $50 billion, is withdrawing its investments from the international construction materials corporation Heidelberg Cement, due to its indirect involvement in exploiting the natural resources of the occupied West Bank, the Israeli daily Haaretz said. FPA said it […]
more…17 Dec, 2015
U.N. Civil Society Forum on Palestine Mulls Innovative Ways to End Israeli Occupation
JAKARTA, 16 December, UN Information Service — After the two-day International Conference on the Question of Jerusalem concluded on 15 December, the United Nations Civil Society Forum on the Question of Palestine met this morning to hear from experts and engage in discussions on the theme of “Civil society action in support of justice in Palestine […]
more…17 Dec, 2015
Israeli Troops Kills 2 Palestinians near Jerusalem, Death Toll Hits 124
JERUSALEM, December 16, 2015 (WAFA) – Two Palestinians Wednesday were fatally shot and four others injured by Israeli troops during a predawn military raid on Qalandia refugee camp, north of Jerusalem, according to medical sources. Local sources said hundreds of Israeli troops and undercover forces broke into the camp at about 1:00 am, provoking clashes […]
more…17 Dec, 2015
Amid Violence in Holy City, International Conference on Future of Jerusalem Convenes in Jakarta
JAKARTA, 14 December 2015, United Nations Information Service — The two-day International Conference on the Question of Jerusalem opened in Jakarta, Indonesia, this morning under the theme “Addressing the present and shaping the future” of the city also known as Al-Quds Al-Sharif. Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, said it was no […]
more…17 Dec, 2015
Indonesia to open consulate in Ramallah, Palestine, in early 2016
Selasa, 15 December 2015 (Antara News) – Indonesia will officially open an honorary consulate in Ramallah in early 2016 and will be led by a Palestinian, a foreign ministry official stated here on Tuesday. “Our honorary consul will indeed be a Palestinian citizen and will be posted in Ramallah,” the foreign ministry’s director general for […]
more…17 Dec, 2015
No Festive Season in the Holy Land as unrelenting violence causes nearly one death a day
United Nations, (UN News Centre) 15 December 2015 – Although international attention has waned regarding the crisis in Israel and the Occupied Palestine Territory, the United Nations human rights office today warned that the region is still rife with violence and the recent escalation in the fighting has claimed 117 Palestinian lives, along with two […]
more…16 Dec, 2015
China to launch 10 pilot reforms for state enterprises in 2016
(Xinhua), 12-12- 2015, BEIJING – China is to launch pilot reforms for state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in 10 areas in 2016, including ownership and executive hiring policy, a senior official said Friday. Peng Huagang, deputy secretary general of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) of the State Council, made the remarks at a press briefing in […]
more…16 Dec, 2015
Holiday Grinches: New Study Shows How to Deal With Argumentative People
Montreal, Canada (PRWEB) December 12, 2015 – It’s inevitable: Most people will agree that there is always one family member who can’t help but start an argument at nearly every family get-together. The question is, why? Research from Queendom.com indicates that although “Holiday Grinches” tend to have difficulty controlling their temper, the source of their […]
more…16 Dec, 2015
China announces 10 major programs to boost links with Africa over three years
Xinhua, 04-12-2015, JOHANNESBURG — Chinese President Xi Jinping announced here Friday that his country will roll out 10 major plans to boost cooperation with Africa in the coming three years. Proposing to lift the China-Africa relationship to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the second summit of the […]
more…16 Dec, 2015
Which U.S. Presidential candidate would you like as a holiday season seatmate: GroundLink Surveys Business Travelers
NEW YORK, NY (PRWEB) DECEMBER 10, 2015 – With the holidays around the corner and the 2016 presidential candidates continuing to make headlines, GroundLink®, a leading tech-enabled black car service, surveyed more than 500 frequent business travelers on their opinions on holiday travel. When it comes to mixing holiday travel and politics, nearly 40 percent […]
more…16 Dec, 2015
Uber Legal Challenge Squashes Public Records Request on Eve of Seattle City Council Vote
SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–December 11, 2015 – On the eve of a Seattle City Council vote that could grant collective bargaining rights to Uber drivers, Uber has sued King County and Seattle law firm Keller Rohrback L.L.P. to try to block a public records request for the number of licensed Uber drivers in Seattle. The Seattle City […]
more…16 Dec, 2015
Vormetric Survey: Data Breaches Would Threaten Americans’ Loyalty to Their Favorite Retailer
SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Vormetric, a specialist in enterprise data security for physical, virtual, big data and cloud environments, today announced in conjunction with Wakefield the results of its survey on how Americans’ would change their shopping behaviors if their favorite retailer was hit by a data breach. The survey revealed that […]
more…16 Dec, 2015
America’s Health Rankings Report: Rising Drug Deaths, Obesity, Children in Poverty Pose Challenges
MINNETONKA, Minn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Americans are making meaningful progress on key health metrics including smoking less and leading less sedentary lifestyles, but rising rates of drug deaths, obesity, diabetes and children in poverty signal serious challenges, according to United Health Foundation’s 26th America’s Health Rankings® Annual Report: A Call to Action for Individuals & Their Communities. United […]
more…16 Dec, 2015
Brookhaven Retreat Offers Tips to Manage Stress During This Festive/Hectic Season
(PRWEB) DECEMBER 10, 2015 – As late-fall and winter tend to be busy to the point of hectic, Brookhaven Retreat offers tips for self-care to manage stress. “Creating a life worth living is something that happens slowly, one step at a time,” says Jacqueline Dawes, founder and owner of Brookhaven Retreat. “It’s about being realistic, […]
more…16 Dec, 2015
For the first time, all countries empowered to nominate candidates for next UN Secretary-General
United Nations, (UN News Centre) 15 December 2015 – The 193 Member States of the United Nations will for the first time be included “totally” in the selection of the next UN Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly said today, pledging to make the process as transparent and inclusive as possible. Speaking to reporters […]
more…13 Dec, 2015
World’s richest 10% produce half of global carbon emissions – Oxfam report
London, 2 December 2015, (Oxfam media release) – The poorest half of the world’s population – 3.5 billion people – is responsible for just 10 percent of carbon emissions, despite being the most threatened by the catastrophic storms, droughts, and other severe weather shocks linked to climate change. These are the findings of a new […]
more…13 Dec, 2015
Leading U.S. anthropologists group passes Israel boycott resolution with 88% yes-vote
By an overwhelming vote of 1,040 in favor and 136 against (88 percent), the American Anthropological Association (AAA) overwhelmingly approved a historic resolution to boycott Israeli academic institutions to honor the call of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign (BDS). The association voted at its annual business conference in Denver, Colorado, becoming the largest scholarly institution in the […]
more…13 Dec, 2015
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to open in mid-January 2016
Beijing, (Xinhua), December 03, 2015 – The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will open in mid-January next year, said Chen Huan, who is in charge of preparations for the bank’s launch. It will meet the requirements for opening at the end of December, Chen said. According to an agreement, the AIIB will be eligible […]
more…13 Dec, 2015
China needs $293 billion to met 2017 air pollution reduction target
Beijing (China Daily.com.cn) November 20, 2015 – An estimated investment of at least 1.87 trillion yuan ($ 293 billion) is needed to meet the target of the national plan to control air pollution, and current funds are inadequate, said a report on Thursday. A report, titled Investment Requirements and Potential Effects of Implementing China’s Air […]
more…13 Dec, 2015
The Forbes 400: Wealthiest 20 people own more wealth than half the U.S. population
WASHINGTON DC, Institute for Policy Studies, December 1, 2015 – This report exposes the extreme wealth concentrated within the fortunes of the 400 wealthiest Americans and compares this wealth to the much more meager assets of several different segments of American society. The report proposes several solutions to close the growing gap between the ultra […]
more…13 Dec, 2015
Indonesia to host international conference on Jerusalem
Nusa Dua, Bali (ANTARA News) 12 December 2015 – Indonesia will host a two-day international conference on Jerusalem held by the United Nation Committee on Palestine (CEIRPP) to start on Monday in Jakarta. The delegates will discuss the status of Jerusalem and cooperation to resolve the Palestinian conflicts, Multilateral Director General at the Foreign Ministry […]
more…13 Dec, 2015
UN General Assembly passes resolution to curb illegal, unregulated fisheries
United Nations, UN Media release, 8 December 2015 — With more than two dozen speakers and the heads of two of the world’s ocean and sea authorities proclaiming the crucial importance of healthy oceans and seas to coastal and landlocked States alike, the General Assembly today adopted a resolution on sustainable fisheries without a vote […]
more…9 Dec, 2015
Travel & Tourism in the New World Order: A Forecast for 2016
Decision-making is a major challenge today. Too much change is taking place too fast across too many sectors, with too little time to think and respond. Like airline pilots and ship captains, with the safety and security of their passengers at stake, all decision-makers need to be forewarned about the “weather conditions” that lie ahead […]
more…7 Dec, 2015
UN General Assembly Resolutions Urge Concerted Global Efforts to Advance Culture of Peace, Non-Violence
United Nations, UN media release, Dec 3, 2015 – Confronting an increasingly polarized world where religious intolerance, discrimination, xenophobia, conflict and the emergence of new extremist ideologies abounded, the General Assembly today adopted, without a vote, two resolutions that stressed the advancement of a culture of peace and non-violence based on education, tolerance, dialogue and […]
more…7 Dec, 2015
In global first, Newswire Editor unveils simplified format of UN Sustainable Development Goals
In a global first, Travel Impact Newswire Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil has crafted a simplified version of the 17-point Sustainable Development Goals to make it easier for the SDGs to be implemented by the rapidly-growing travel & tourism industry. Two presentations given in Bangkok and Vientiane respectively on Dec 2 and 4 to explain the […]
more…2 Dec, 2015
FREE Download: Presentations from UNWTO Seminar on Islamic Culture and its Impact on Asian Tourism
Brunei Darussalam (UNWTO media release) – The 1st Regional Seminar on the Contribution of Islamic Culture and its Impact on the Asian Tourism Market was held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam from 16 – 17 November 2015. The seminar was organized jointly by UNWTO and Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism of Brunei Darussalam. The […]
more…2 Dec, 2015
Chinese ‘maternity tourism’ to US sees change
San Francisco (China Daily USA), 2015-12-01 – A Los Angeles-based “birthing center” has seen less demand from couples since China changed its one-child policy but more demand from wealthy clients for high-end service. To evade the fine for violating China’s since-changed one-child policy (about 100,000 yuan to 200,000 yuan or $15,632 to $31,264), having their […]
more…1 Dec, 2015
India Needs to Beef Up its Tolerance Levels
By Punam Mohandas It seems I’m picking up right where I left off; I thought the Aamir Khan outrageously intolerant statement would have been debated to death by now but no, apparently we’re still picking the carcass clean! And so, much like the movie Don, here is the sequel to my previous article too. Gyaarah […]
more…30 Nov, 2015
Shanghai plans to offer free HIV intervention therapy to MSM group
Shanghai, (People’s Daily Online), November 23, 2015 – Men who have sex with men (MSM) are responsible for a growing share of AIDS transmissions, according to the latest report released by Shanghai City Disease Prevention and Control Center on Saturday. Medical experts said Shanghai plans to give free intervention therapy to MSM group, but few […]
more…30 Nov, 2015
Chinese gay men hit hard by HIV/AIDS epidemic
hanghai (China Daily) Updated: 2015-11-20 – China has reported nearly 110,000 HIV/AIDS cases so far this year, a slight increase over last year, said the nation’s top AIDS specialist.The gay male population has been hit particularly hard, accounting for more than 25 percent of the total. Wu Zunyou, head of the National Center for AIDS/STD […]
more…30 Nov, 2015
Gay sex blamed for rise in young Chinese students with HIV/AIDS
Bejing, (chinadaily.com.cn) 2015-11-25 20:11 – The HIV/AIDS epidemic is hitting young Chinese students, particularly males, hard with annually reported cases surging more than four times in the past seven years, said the nation’s top AIDS specialist. China has reported more than 3,400 student cases of HIV/AIDS this year, compared with 779 in 2008, said Wu […]
more…30 Nov, 2015
US caused $4 trillion in damage over 23 years of carbon emissions: Bangladesh human rights groups
DHAKA, Nov 29, 2015 (BSS) – Rights organizations today renewed their call to the rich nations to pay compensation to the affected countries for climate change as they said only the United States has incurred a damage of debt of $4 trillion during the period 1990-2013. At a human chain titled “Rich Countries, You don’t […]
more…30 Nov, 2015
Rich world urged to pay climate bill
MENAFN – Gulf Times – 29/11/2015- Latin America will demand that the richest and most polluting countries foot the bill for reducing harmful emissions at the world climate summit starting tomorrow. Countries in one of the world’s poorest and most environmentally diverse regions have failed to agree on many things and do not have a […]
more…30 Nov, 2015
Is promoting gay travel contributing to the spread of HIV/AIDS?
Bangkok – The announcement of an “organizational partnership” between the Pacific Asia Travel Association and the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association has raised some serious fundamental questions about the appropriateness of promoting gay travel in a cultural context as well as its linkage with the spread of HIV/AIDS. On the one hand, the IGLTA […]
more…29 Nov, 2015
Chinese Billionaire Aims to Build World’s Most Profitable Sports Company
Beijing, (Xinhua) November 28, 2015 – Chinese billionaire Wang Jianlin never conceals his ambition to build a world leading sports company. Wang’s Wanda Group has set up Wanda Sports company, an integration of sports marketing company Infront Sports & Media and World Triathlon Corporation (WTC). Wanda Group, a real estate giant in China, announced on […]
more…29 Nov, 2015
Schengen: Border-control agency Frontex seeks access to security databases
THE HAGUE, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) — Without access to security database tools necessary for detecting terrorist threats, Frontex is forced to limit its controls of irregular immigrants at Schengen zone external borders to a minimum check with identity registering, said Fabrice Leggeri, executive director of the European external border agency, in an interview with Xinhua. […]
more…29 Nov, 2015
Chinese play growing part in online shopping
New York (China Daily USA) 2015-11-26 — Foreign brands and retailers are ready for another Chinese “Duo Shou Day”, which translates into one’s hands being chopped because of an inability to refrain from online shopping. Rewarded with good revenue on Singles Day on Nov 11, many international merchants are hoping to attract more Chinese online […]
more…29 Nov, 2015
Asia’s Largest Underground Railway Station to Open in Shenzhen
Shenzhen, (People’s Daily Online) November 26, 2015 – The construction of Asia’s largest underground high-speed railway station has been completed in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, and is expected to put into operation by the end of this year, announced the Guangzhou Railway Group on November 15, 2015. The Futian Railway Station, the Hong Kong-Shenzhen-Guangzhou […]
more…29 Nov, 2015
Xinhua Insight: China changes tactics in financial fight against poverty
BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) — Zhang Xiangyin still remembers the day his daughter-in-law left home three years ago, leaving her 33-day-old son. She could no longer bear living entrenched in poverty in their mountain village. Zhang, a 58-year-old farmer in Bijie City of southwest China’s Guizhou Province, knows exactly what poverty means. With two daughters, […]
more…29 Nov, 2015
Acclaimed Palestinian theatre in Jerusalem faces closure
Jerusalem (IINA) 28 Nov 2015– The Palestinian National Theater, which for three decades has been the leading performing arts and cultural centre for Arabs in occupied Jerusalem, is facing closure after running up large municipal debts, its director said on Friday. Known as “Al Hakawati” (The Storyteller), the theater has amassed unpaid bills of $150,000 […]
more…28 Nov, 2015
Hong Kong Airlines’ “Fly with Faith – Taipei Tour for Seniors” Creates Memorable Journey for the Elderly
HONG KONG, Nov. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Senior citizens contribute to the society with their wealth of experience and knowledge. To show our gratitude and respect for them, Hong Kong Airlines co-organized “Fly with Faith-Taipei Tour for Seniors” with Pok Oi Hospital yesterday, sponsoring return air tickets to Taipei, afternoon tea buffet and coach service […]
more…27 Nov, 2015
Victims of war, apostles of peace – The Hindu
By Shiv Visvanathan Yet the message of these women needs to be listened to. They are suggesting that the official answer to genocide, the security discourse, is inadequate. It leaves nations, corporations, warlords and even the security discourse untainted. It is ordinary people, NGOs, women’s groups, spiritual leaders, trade unions like SEWA, ecology forums dreaming […]
more…26 Nov, 2015
Israel loses UN General Assembly vote on Palestine by overwhelming 153-7 margin, ignores result
United Nations, UN media release, 24 November 2015 – The General Assembly today adopted six resolutions on Palestinian and Middle East issues, as diverse as the Syrian Golan and the United Nations special information programme on the question of Palestine, all by recorded votes, exposing divisions in the world body. A resolution on Jerusalem called for […]
more…26 Nov, 2015
Aamir Khan and the Incredibly Intolerant Indian
by Punam Mohandas Shoot the messenger (for f***s sake, that’s a figurative statement; don’t get your knickers in a twist!) by all means, but the message still remains. One refers of course, to the latest controversy rocking India, which doesn’t seem to have much on its plate at the moment (poverty? Fiddlesticks. Female foeticide? Pah. […]
more…26 Nov, 2015
Lockdown Impact: Paris, Brussels Suffer Mass Cancellations
London, Forwardkeys News Release, 25 November 2015 – Flight bookings to Brussels have collapsed in the wake of the recent attacks in Paris and the lockdown in Brussels, as police search for more suspects. According to the latest figures from travel data analyst, ForwardKeys, net bookings, which take into account both daily bookings and cancellations, […]
more…25 Nov, 2015
Unprecedented Backlash Against American Muslims After Paris Attacks
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/24/15) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today released an initial report on the unprecedented backlash and discrimination targeting the nation’s Muslim community since the November 13 terror attacks in Paris. [A more comprehensive report on the backlash is to be issued at a later date.] […]
more…24 Nov, 2015
Prevention Better Than Cure, UN Chief Says in First Open Debate on Root Causes of Conflict
United Nations, UN media release, 17 November 2015 – Today’s violent conflicts, most recently marked by terrorist attacks in Paris, Beirut and Baghdad, were often rooted in a mix of exclusion, inequality and governance failures, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the Security Council today, urging a greater focus on prevention, human rights and coherence among all […]
more…24 Nov, 2015
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Cannot Be Separated from Global Terrorism Threat, UN Security Council told
United Nations, UN media release, 19 November 2015 – The abhorrent terrorist attacks in Paris, Beirut and Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula reinforced the reality that the extremism and terrorism infecting many parts of the Middle East was not constrained by borders, and that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could not be separated from the global threat of terrorism, […]
more…24 Nov, 2015
Speakers in UN General Assembly Sound Alarm as Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Continues to Fester
United Nations, UN media release, 23 November 2015 – The world was just one major provocation in Jerusalem away from a descent into an unprecedented religious war, the General Assembly was told today as it took up the question of Palestine and heard the introduction of four draft resolutions on that matter. With conflicts in […]
more…24 Nov, 2015
UN Deputy Secretary-General Says Children in Gaza Do Not Feel Diplomatic Advances, Only Glaring Lack of Hope
United Nations, UN media release, 23 November 2015 – Following are Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson’s remarks at the meeting on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, in New York today: I present this statement on behalf of the Secretary-General, who today is travelling. One year ago, the General Assembly commemorated the International […]
more…24 Nov, 2015
Palestinians Call on International Powers to End Biased Policies in Applying Justice
United Nations, UN Information Service, 23 November 2015 – In a meeting commemorating the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, to be observed 29 November, the Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine called on the international community to stop selective and biased policies in applying justice, stressing that the lack of implementation of […]
more…24 Nov, 2015
Why Gen Y Should Avoid Seeking Jobs in Travel & Tourism
The surge in travel & tourism over the last few years has attracted many young people who see it as a promising job opportunity. They are enticed by the glamour of working in a nice environment, meeting people of different cultures, enjoying good food and, if they stay the course, being able to travel at […]
more…24 Nov, 2015
ASEAN Parliamentarians Blast Excessive Focus on “Economic” Integration, Minus Social Agenda
Full text of statement issued by 23 Nov 2015 by Charles Santiago, Malaysian Member of Parliament and Chairperson, ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) following the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur. It’s the 27th time that ASEAN heads of state and world leaders have met to discuss the initiative for ASEAN integration, which deals with gaps […]
more…24 Nov, 2015
Amid violence, ‘glaring lack of hope,’ UN deputy chief urges action to break Israeli-Palestinian impasse
United Nations, (UN News Centre) 23 November 2015 – Nearly 12 months after the launch of the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People with the aim of generating global engagement on ‘the Question of Palestine,’ security and hope in Gaza and in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, remain at a “very […]
more…23 Nov, 2015
Settling Israeli-Palestinian conflict would help curb terrorism, says UN Middle East envoy
United Nations, (UN News Centre) 19 November 2015 – Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would help counter the extremism behind the “abhorrent terrorist attacks” in Paris, Beirut and the Sinai, a senior United Nations official on the Middle East peace process said today, referring to last week’s bloody attacks and the downing of a Russian plane […]
more…23 Nov, 2015
New Green America Campaign Calls Out Hasbro And Disney For Sweatshop-made Toys
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — One week before the “Black Friday,” Green America, the DC-based consumer advocacy organization, is launching a campaign calling on Disney and Hasbro to improve conditions for the overseas workers that make their products. In particular, the Green America campaign calls for these companies to create a safe work environment […]
more…23 Nov, 2015
Nearly 1 million international students now in U.S. colleges: report
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) — Almost a million international students were currently studying at colleges and universities across the United States, a new report said on Monday. According to latest data from the 2015 Open Doors Report, an annual survey by the U.S. Institute of International Education, the number of international students at U.S. colleges […]
more…23 Nov, 2015
ASEAN Confers First Peoples’ Award 2015
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 (Bernama) — In commemorating the establishment of the ASEAN Community end of this year, ASEAN will for the first time award and honour ASEAN Member States’ individuals or organisations who have made outstanding contributions toward the creation of a united, prosperous and caring ASEAN Community with the theme “Building A Vibrant […]
more…22 Nov, 2015
World Bank-PwC study: Electronic reforms have made it much easier for companies to pay taxes
WARSAW, Poland, Nov 19 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Electronic tax filing and payments were the most common tax reforms undertaken by countries worldwide during the past year, according to the latest edition of the Paying Taxes report from the World Bank Group and PwC. As a result, paying taxes became easier for medium sized companies globally, but the […]
more…22 Nov, 2015
ASEAN Strategic Plan Launched for SME development
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia Nov 21 (NNN-Bernama) — The ASEAN Strategic Action Plan for SME Development (2016-2025) will place more focus on innovation, technology and productivity of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). In unveiling the plan today, International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed said the document was built on the achievements of the previous 2010-2015 […]
more…21 Nov, 2015
First Annual Drone World Expo a “success” – Global skies soon to be full of them
SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–November 19, 2015 – JD Events hosted an extremely successful launch of Drone World Expo earlier this week at the San Jose Convention Center. The exhibit hall floor featured 75 exhibiting companies and the event attracted 2,120 commercial drone professionals. The exhibitors responded enthusiastically about their experience at the new trade show […]
more…16 Nov, 2015
Israeli Knesset Pushes Bill to Ban BDS Supporters Entry to Israel
RAMALLAH, November 12, 2015 (WAFA) – The Israeli Knesset Thursday advanced a bill to ban the entry of individuals who support boycotting Israel. The Knesset announced in a press release that the preliminary reading of the bill was approved with a majority of 55 to 31 votes. The bill was pushed a day after the […]
more…15 Nov, 2015
Tourism Faces Terrorism: Attacks on the Russian Airliner and Paris and What They Will Mean to You!
This month has not been easy for specialists in tourism security. We first witnessed the terrorist bombing of the Russian aircraft causing not only death and destruction to innocent civilians but also a major blow to Egypt’s tourism industry. Friday afternoon, Texas time, the first reports of November 13th terrible attacks in Paris began to come through the newswires. It is still too early to provide […]
more…15 Nov, 2015
Paris attacks: 15 Years of a “War on Terror,” And What Have We Got?
Fifteen years after the terrorist 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre, and the trillions, repeat trillions, of dollars spent on security, surveillance and weaponry, sanctions to curb terrorist financing, the regime-change attacks on countries, the biometric fingerprinting and iris-scanning, tighter visa restrictions, airport naked body-scanners, eavesdropping and monitoring of terrorist “chatter”, drone strikes, the […]
more…14 Nov, 2015
Eight Iranian universities among world top universities
Tehran, Nov 10, IRNA – Deputy minister of science, research and technology Hossein Salar-Amoli said on Tuesday that eight Iranian universities are among top 800 universities, as Iran advanced from 16th to 15th position on the survey conducted by the Information Science Institute Universities of Tehran, Shahid Beheshti, Sharif, Allameh Tabatabaei, Khajeh-Nasir, Elm-o San’at, Fredosi […]
more…14 Nov, 2015
China to become Australia’s biggest international tourism market: report
MELBOURNE, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) — China is expected to overtake New Zealand as Australia’s largest tourism market by 2019-20, according to a report released on Tuesday. Tourism Research Australia said in its 10-year forecast for the nation’s tourism industry that tourism spending is likely to exceed 100 billion U.S. dollars by 2025. The independent research […]
more…14 Nov, 2015
American Express, Airbnb Launch First Booking Experience and Loyalty Program Integration
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–November 03, 2015 – American Express (NYSE:AXP) and Airbnb announce a first-of-its-kind tech integration that enables U.S. Card Members to quickly and seamlessly sign up for Airbnb and book stays at close to 2 million listings around the globe. Starting today, Card Members can create an Airbnb account with their existing americanexpress.com User […]
more…14 Nov, 2015
Energy Security “Pivotal” for Economic Development – Asian Ministers
DOHA, Qatar, Nov 10 (NNN-QNA) – The sixth Asian Energy Ministerial Round-Table, concluded late Monday, with participants unanimously agreeing on significance of energy security, as pivotal for economic development. Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Acting Minister of Electricity and Water, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, headed Kuwait’s delegation to the one-day event. Qatari […]
more…14 Nov, 2015
Most Chinese couples want two children, top health official says
Beijing, 10 Nov 2015, (chinadaily.com.cn) – Most couples in China want to have two children once the national policy allowing a second child is implemented next year, China’s top health authority said Tuesday. Surveys show that married couples between the ages of 20 and 44 want to have an average of 1.93 children, Wang Pei’an, […]
more…14 Nov, 2015
Upcoming Asian Infrastructure Bank will include an ethics integrity department
London (chinadaily.com.cn), Nov 10, 2015 – The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank will set up an ethics integrity department and encourage employees to report to stamp out corruption, said Jin Liqun, president-designate of the institution. The bank will launch its first projects in the second quarter of next year, Jin said, adding that projects will focus […]
more…14 Nov, 2015
Spotlight: Saudi Arabia takes measures to cope with low oil prices
RIYADH, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) — Saudi Arabia is feeling the heat of the dropping oil prices, and has been prepared to cut government spending to end decades of the nation’s dependency on oil-made wealth. Although the measures are still waiting to be implemented, the country, which is in the middle of a months-old air war […]
more…14 Nov, 2015
China’s Palace Museum sees a surge of tourists in off-season
BNEIJING (chinadaily.com.cn) 10 Nov 2015 – The number of visitors to the Palace Museum in Beijing has increased by more than 200,000 people in less than a month after the National Day holidays, according to museum on Sunday. In previous years, the Palace Museum regularly saw a huge drop in the number of visitors after […]
more…10 Nov, 2015
ADB, India Sign $273 Million Loan to Improve Rural Roads in Five States
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 9 November 201 – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India have signed a $273 million loan to continue improving rural roads in the states of Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal. The 20-year loan is the third and last tranche of an $800 million financing facility provided […]
more…10 Nov, 2015
Environmental Investigation Agency does not support TPP due to overall threats to environment
WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–November 05, 2015 – (Full text of EIA official statement) – The current model of free trade agreements, including the text released today of the recently concluded Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), creates enormous perils for the environment. The race to secure greater access to natural resources and more favorable terms for trade through the existing […]
more…10 Nov, 2015
The World’s Most Successful Islamic Economic Forum, And Why It Works
Kuala Lumpur — The World Islamic Economic Forum, held here between Nov 3-5, has evolved into possibly the most unique and successful festival of business, economics, music, arts, ideas and inspiration in the Muslim world. Having just completed its 11th year, the WIEF has grown ten-fold from a paltry 400 delegates at the inaugural forum […]
more…5 Nov, 2015
UN expert: Curbing civil society spacefor “national security” becoming global trend
NEW YORK (26 October 2015) – United Nations human rights expert Ben Emmerson today urged governments across the world to ensure that the NGO sector be allowed to continue to play an indispensable role in co-ordinated efforts to counter the spread of terrorism. “A functioning civil society is an essential cornerstone of an open society,” […]
more…5 Nov, 2015
European taxpayers fork out another €19m to pay Palestinian salaries, pensions for October
JERUSALEM, November 4, 2015 (WAFA) – The European Union contributed approximately €19.1 million to the payment of October salaries and pensions of over 67,000 Palestinian civil servants and pensioners in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. This contribution, which is channelled through the PEGASE[1] mechanism, is being funded by the European Union (€19.0 million) […]
more…5 Nov, 2015
U.N. flags danger of anti-Muslim rhetoric during Myanmar election
(New York, 4 November 2015) UNITED NATIONS PRESS RELEASE — The Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, and the Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect, Jennifer Welsh, called on the Government of Myanmar to take all possible measures to ensure that the upcoming elections of 8 November are held in a peaceful […]
more…4 Nov, 2015
Corruption feeds and sustains ‘spiralling’ wildlife and forest crime – UN anti-crime chief
United Nations, (UN News Centre), 3 November 2015 – Expressing concern that spiralling wildlife and forest crime – fuelled by corrosive corruption – can impede vital progress of the new global sustainable development agenda, the top United Nations anti-crime official and the head of the global UN–backed treaty on protecting endangered species today urged nations […]
more…4 Nov, 2015
Climate change poses major threat to food security, warns UN expert
GENEVA (3 November 2015) Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights) – “Climate change poses severe and distinct threats to food security, and could subject an additional 600 million people to malnutrition by 2080,” warned today the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Hilal Elver. “Increased frequency and intensity of […]
more…4 Nov, 2015
European Travel Commission: Visa reform will reap €114 billion in visitor earnings, create 615,000 jobs
London, 3rd November 2015. The European Travel Commission (ETC), the organisation responsible for promoting Europe as a destination, today called for reform of the way visas are granted to leisure and business travellers and it said the benefit to Europe’s economy could be in excess of €114 billion in export revenue and 615,000 new jobs […]
more…3 Nov, 2015
Rabin’s Death Anniversary: Jews and Travel & Tourism Need Some Soul-Searching
November 4, 2015 – Today marks the 20th anniversary of the tragic day in 1995 when a Jewish fanatic extremist terrorist named Yigal Amir shot dead his fellow Jew, the Nobel Peace laureate Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Also today, at the World Travel Market in London, the International Institute of Peace through Tourism (IIPT) […]
more…1 Nov, 2015
Young Iranian scientists win top German Green talent award
Berlin, Oct 30, IRNA — Two Iranians were among 27 leading young scientists from around the world to win Germany’s 2015 Green Talents Award, according to IRNA. Iranian PhD graduate Dr. Amirhosein Mosavi and PhD candidate Mohammad Moghimi Ardekani were both selected by a high-ranking German jury of experts as up-and-coming international scientists. Mosavi’s expertise […]
more…1 Nov, 2015
Heads of UN and Red Cross Issue Joint Warning: New Definition for “Sustainability” Needed
GENEVA, 31st October, 2015 (WAM)–The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, and the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Peter Maurer, have issued an unprecedented joint warning about the impact of today’s conflicts on civilians and appealed for urgent and concrete action to address human suffering and insecurity. The two […]
more…31 Oct, 2015
Greatest Fear of Old Age: ‘Who Will Take Care of Me?’ — UBS Investor Watch Report
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–October 27, 2015 – UBS Wealth Management Americas (WMA) today released its quarterly UBS Investor Watch report, “Unassisted Living,” revealing that the greatest fear among wealthy investors as they age is being a burden to children (42%), trumping fears of surviving on life support (34%) or living in a nursing home (15%). Though […]
more…31 Oct, 2015
New Research Reveals Top 10 Things That Make Women Feel Good
October 30, 2015 LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The average woman will spend up to £31,0001 in her lifetime to feel great, according to new research2. But in the same study2, which was commissioned by Feel Good Contact Lenses (http://feelgoodcontacts.com/information/eye-care.aspx), results prove that it’s the smallest things that make the world of difference to a woman’s confidence and that cost almost next to […]
more…30 Oct, 2015
Americans Worldwide Must Break Silence on Islamophobia to Preserve Constitutional Freedoms
October 28, 2015 – One afternoon last week, while checking email during an Uber ride in Washington, D.C., a message caught my attention. Exclamation points dominated the subject line. I mentally braced myself before opening the message. The email began: “In case you missed it, I want to bring this article to your attention…” The article in question was […]
more…30 Oct, 2015
‘Silence is too often the only safe option left’ – new UN report on sources and whistleblowers
United Nations, (UN News Centre) – 22 October 2015 – Governments and international organizations are failing to ensure adequate protections to whistleblowers and sources of information, according to a new report by the UN special rapporteur on freedom of expression. “Countless sources and whistleblowers around the world are intimidated by officials, co-workers, and others, depriving […]
more…30 Oct, 2015
Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil to deliver four talks on how travel & tourism will shape the rising Asian Century
Travel Impact Newswire Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil will be delivering four talks in November and December 2015 that will highlight the multi-faceted role of travel & tourism in shaping the rise of the Asian Century. Covering the themes of religious tourism, Islamic travel and the newly-declared UN Sustainable Development Goals, all four will be at […]
more…29 Oct, 2015
At UN, every country votes for Cuba blockade to be lifted, except U.S. and Israel
United Nations, (UN News Centre) 27 October 2015 – In a near-unanimous recorded vote, the General Assembly today adopted, for the twenty-fourth time, a resolution on the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba, despite resumptions of relations between the two countries. With all […]
more…29 Oct, 2015
China blacklists 10 travel agencies
BEIJING, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) — China has named and shamed 10 travel agencies as the country attempts to create a sound environment for tourists, the National Tourism Administration (NTA) said Sunday. The tourist companies, which are based in Yunnan Province, Hainan Province and Shandong Province, have been blacklisted, effective for two years, due to “irregularities.” […]
more…29 Oct, 2015
Accor amongst 11 global firms signing pact to promote inclusion of Persons with Disabilities – UN labour agency
United Nations, (UN News Centre) 28 October 2015 – Eleven major international companies today agreed to promote and include persons with disabilities throughout their operations worldwide in a move the International Labour Organization (ILO) hailed as “not only just a good moral cause” but also “good for business.” In an announcement, ILO said that Accenture, […]
more…29 Oct, 2015
Nepal six months on: A race against winter
(Kathmandu/Bangkok, 23 October 2015) Six months after the devastating earthquakes that shook Nepal in April, shelter and food remain top priorities as winter approaches. With the Government of Nepal, humanitarian partners provided emergency shelter to over 700,000 families, but the effect of the coming harsh cold weather is a concern with many people still without […]
more…29 Oct, 2015
UN rights expert warns of racial profiling of minorities and discrimination in criminal justice systems
United Nations, (UN News Centre) 28 October 2015 – In criminal justice processes worldwide, minorities face discrimination ranging from excessive and sometimes lethal use of force, torture by police, to longer periods of stay in pre-trial detention, discrimination during judicial procedures and biases influencing sentencing, according to the UN human rights expert on minority issues. […]
more…29 Oct, 2015
Buddhists asked to avoid prayer beads and statues made of ivory
Beijing, (chinadaily.com.cn) 2015-10-26 – International Buddhists were called upon develop and coordinate ecological protection services as the Fourth World Buddhist Forum wrapped up on Sunday. In a declaration at the closing ceremony, the forum called upon Buddhists worldwide to develop and coordinate international Buddhist charitable services such as disaster relief, poverty alleviation and ecological protection, […]
more…27 Oct, 2015
China opens up 30% of its low-altitude airspace
Beijing, (Global Times) October 19, 2015 – China has opened over a third of its low-altitude airspace, which had been fully controlled, amid the country’s continuing efforts to maximize low-altitude airspace resources. Control over about 33 percent of the low-altitude airspace has been relaxed, said Cai Jun, a senior airspace regulator at the 4th China […]
more…27 Oct, 2015
China plans to raise retirement age
Beijing, (People’s Daily Online), October 15, 2015 – The average retirement age in China is under 55, which demonstrates that Chinese people retire the earliest in the world, said a senior official when introducing achievements in employment and social security work during the 12th Five-Year Plan. There will be an average of 1.3 people of […]
more…27 Oct, 2015
Strong El Niño will ‘test’ disaster resilience in hazard-prone Pacific region, UN warns
26 October 2015, SUVA (UNISDR media release) — The Head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), Margareta Wahlström, today opened the 2015 Pacific Regional Disaster Resilience Meeting amidst fears that El Niño will result in more extreme weather events across the hazard-prone region of small islands and atolls. Ms. Wahlström said: “These […]
more…27 Oct, 2015
Why does ITB Asia make such a big deal about promoting LGBT travel?
Singapore – ITB Asia has been promoting gay and lesbian travel for a number of years. This year, two sessions were devoted entirely to the subject. As there are far more important markets in the Asia-Pacific, such as senior-citizens and People with Disabilities, which do not get any attention at ITB Asia, a logical question […]
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