21 Sep, 2013
HRW Warning to Governments: Unchecked Mass Surveillance Threatens Human Rights
Geneva, (Human Rights Watch media release), September 20, 2013 – Governments around the world should aggressively protect online privacy through stronger laws and policies as pervasive electronic surveillance increases. There is an urgent need to overhaul national surveillance practices to protect everyone’s privacy, or risk severely limiting the potential of the Internet. Global growth in […]
more…20 Sep, 2013
Cut Water Usage, Waste Disposal: Key Messages of World Tourism Day, Sept 27
With one week left until World Tourism Day (WTD) on 27 September, preparations are on the final stretch in the Maldives, the host of this year’s official celebrations, and in many countries around the world around the 2013 theme, “Tourism and Water: Protecting our Common Future”. As the most important international observance day for tourism, […]
more…20 Sep, 2013
FREE Download: ADB, ESCAP report can help travel & tourism meet MDGs by 2015 deadline
With less than 1,000 days to go before the 2015 deadline for meeting the UN Millennium Development Goals, two of the Asia-Pacific region’s leading development organisations have issued a report assessing the “state of the union” and the work that still lies ahead in the limited time left. The report is relevant to the Asia-Pacific […]
more…20 Sep, 2013
Know Your Net: Internet Safety Education Campaign Launched
Washington, DC (PRWEB) September 19, 2013 – The Coalition Against Domain Name Abuse (CADNA) and the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) Wednesday announced a public awareness campaign to educate businesses and consumers about Internet safety, particularly with the expected addition of more than one thousand top-level domains – the text to the right of […]
more…20 Sep, 2013
World Migration Report: Immigrants work hard, create new businesses, remain optimistic
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 19, 2013, (Gallup Polls) — Some migrants may be born entrepreneurs. Migrants living in high-income economies are more likely than the native-born to have three characteristics that differentiate entrepreneurs from the rest: they feel optimistic even when things go wrong, they never give up, and they are willing to take risks. There are […]
more…19 Sep, 2013
Eco Trailblazers Awarded Top UN Prize for Inspirational Environmental Action
New York, 18 September 2013 (UNEP media releases) – Pioneers and trailblazers whose work has had a significant and positive impact on the environment were given the United Nation’s highest environmental accolade, the Champions of the Earth Award, at a ceremony hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) at the Museum of Natural History in […]
more…19 Sep, 2013
China’s female billionaires on the rise
Shanghai (China Daily), 2013-09-18 – Yang Huiyan, 32, has become China’s richest woman of 2013 with a fortune of 51 billion yuan ($8.33 billion), according to Hurun China’s Women Rich List 2013, released by the Hurun Research Institute in Shanghai on Tuesday. More than half of the world’s richest self-made female entrepreneurs are from China, […]
more…19 Sep, 2013
UNESCO DG deplores looting of museums, damage to cultural heritage in Egypt
Paris, UNESCOPRESS- The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, has expressed grave concern for Egypt’s cultural heritage following the reported looting of the Malawi National Museum in the Upper Egypt city of Minya, and the destruction of several monuments of religious importance, including churches and mosques, in Upper Egypt, Fayoum and Cairo. “I firmly condemn the […]
more…19 Sep, 2013
Australian hotel group’s ex-CEO convicted of submitting false info to Securities Commission
Canberra, 18 September 2013 (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) – The former Chief Executive of West Australian hotel chain Compass Hotel Group Ltd (CHGL), Bryan Raymond Northcote, has been convicted of breaching directors’ duties and submitting false and misleading documents to ASIC. Mr Northcote was the chief executive and executive director of CHGL which floated […]
more…18 Sep, 2013
First conference to promote Buddhist-Muslim understanding as key to ASEAN integration
BANGKOK – Although the travel & tourism industry is preoccupied with the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community, it is being alerted to the fact that the creation of “an economically dynamic, politically plural and peaceful ASEAN community will depend on the future of Buddhism-Islam relations.” Precisely in order to promote such relations, the first […]
more…18 Sep, 2013
FBI’s No-Fly List cited as one of “Ten Most Disturbing Things You Should Know Since 9/11”
Washington DC, 18 Sept 2013 – The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has issued another blistering report attacking the 12-year “radical transformation” of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation “into a domestic intelligence and law enforcement agency of unprecedented power and international reach” which is now chalking up “a record of extraordinary abuse—particularly targeting racial […]
more…17 Sep, 2013
China Focus: Halal food helps Ningxia explore int’l market
(Xinhua), September 15, 2013 – Northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is showing its ambition ahead of Sunday’s China-Arab States Expo, to build itself into a global halal food center. The government of Wuzhong City, the home of Islamic Hui ethnic group, is building a halal industrial park to integrate research, design, manufacture, processing and […]
more…17 Sep, 2013
Chinese President’s trip boosts economic ties with Silk Road states
Xinhua, September 15, 2013 – Chinese President Xi Jinping’s just-concluded trip to four Central Asian nations has contributed to upgrading relations between China and these countries on a full scale, said analysts and media organizations in various countries. Xi paid state visits to Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan from Sept. 3 to 13, and attended […]
more…17 Sep, 2013
Time to rethink development advice, create more stable global economies – new UNCTAD chief
Geneva, 16 September 2013 – The development advice that in the past was given to developing countries about the benefits of liberalised financial markets will now have to be rethought, and UNCTAD plans to be a key resource in this process, the organization’s new Secretary-General said this morning. Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi spoke at the opening […]
more…16 Sep, 2013
First China-Arab States Expo opens in Ningxia
YINCHUAN, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) — The first China-Arab States Expo, a key platform to promote the relationship between China and the Arab states, kicked off on Sunday morning in northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, attended the exposition, which runs until […]
more…16 Sep, 2013
Global Unions launch website to mark Oct 7, World Day for Decent Work
12 September 2013: The International Trades Union Congress has today launched a special website for this year’s October 7 World Day for Decent Work (WDDW). Click here: http://www.wddw.org/ Trade unions and other groups holding events on the day can use the site to download WDDW materials, get updates and upload information about their October 7 […]
more…16 Sep, 2013
Americans express record-low trust in Govt’s ability to solve int’l or domestic problems
PRINCETON, NJ, September 13, 2013 (Gallup Polls) — Americans’ trust and confidence in the federal government’s ability to handle international problems has reached an all-time low, with 49% saying they have a great deal or a fair amount of confidence, two percentage points below the previous low of 51% recorded in 2007. These new data come […]
more…16 Sep, 2013
Hispanic Heritage Month 2013 Launched in U.S.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — In September 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week, observed during the week that included Sept. 15 and Sept. 16. The observance was expanded in 1989 by Congress to a month long celebration (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15), America celebrates the culture and […]
more…15 Sep, 2013
How PATA’s slick CEO “salesman” missed a chance to become a visionary “statesman”
Nearly two years after becoming CEO of the Pacific Asia Travel Association, Mr. Martin Craigs has proved to be a formidable “salesman” but has a long way to go to attain “statesman” status. With his contract up for renewal, Mr. Craigs will have to work a lot harder to put the “Asia” back into the […]
more…14 Sep, 2013
India’s Tourist Visa on Arrival issuance +29.4% in Jan-Aug
Ministry of Tourism, 13-September, 2013 – A growth of 29.4 percent has been recorded in the number of tourists availing of the tourist Visa on Arrival (VoA) Scheme during the period January to August, 2013. A total number of 12,176 VoAs have been issued in this period as compared to 9,412 VoAs during the corresponding […]
more…14 Sep, 2013
On Yom Kippur, Rabbi Michael Lerner Pens a Prayer for Jews to Atone for their Sins
Many people report feeling that the sins listed in traditional prayer books don’t really confront what people need to confront, and that even many of the alternative religious communities end up avoiding the most controversial and provocative issues (which are often where the issues about which we are in denial often reside). So we invite […]
more…14 Sep, 2013
US Retail Federation raps swipe-fee ruling which “rewards perpetrators and traps victims”
WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–September 12, 2013 – The National Retail Federation today asked a federal judge to “right or reject” a proposed settlement of an antitrust lawsuit over credit card swipe fees, saying the measure needs to be rewritten to do more to bring the soaring fees under control and that retailers who don’t support it should […]
more…14 Sep, 2013
Headhunters Association Protests Impact of US Immigration Bill on Executive Hiring
New York, 09/11/2013 – The Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC), the worldwide trade association representing the retained executive recruitment industry, responded in a letter to United States Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), highlighting the impact of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, also known as or S. 744, […]
more…14 Sep, 2013
India Releases ‘Economic Outlook 2013-14’ Report
Dr. C. Rangarajan, Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister released the document ‘Economic Outlook 2013-14’ at a Press Conference in New Delhi on 13 Sept. Following are the highlights of the document: Ø Economy to grow at 5.3% in 2013-14 Agriculture projected to grow at 4.8% in 2013-14 as against 1.9% in 2012-13. […]
more…14 Sep, 2013
FAO report: 1.3 billion tonnes of food, worth $750 billion, wasted annually
Rome, 11 September 2013 – The waste of a staggering 1.3 billion tonnes of food per year is not only causing major economic losses but also wreaking significant harm on the natural resources that humanity relies upon to feed itself, says a new FAO report released today. Food Wastage Footprint: Impacts on Natural Resources is […]
more…13 Sep, 2013
Largest Post-9/11 Veterans Study shows U.S. Ill-Prepared for Rising Tide of Long-Term Care
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. & WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–September 10, 2013 – Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) today released the findings of their 2013 Annual Alumni Survey based on responses from nearly 14,000 Iraq and Afghanistan service members – a resounding 52 percent response rate. Working in conjunction with RAND and Westat research organizations for this multi-year study, WWP’s data […]
more…13 Sep, 2013
First Sree Narayan Guru Global Secular & Peace Award Conferred on Dr. Shashi Tharoor
Vice President’s Secretariat, 10-September, 2013 – The Vice President of India Prof M. Hamid Ansari has said that Secularism and Democracy are the fundamental principles on which the Indian republic is founded. They are enshrined in the preamble of our Constitution. So are the principles of justice social, economic and political; liberty of thought, expression, […]
more…13 Sep, 2013
U.N. Forum Cites Role of Credit Rating Agencies as Arbiters of Global Risk
United Nations, 10 September 2013, Department of Public Information – Reform of the international financial system should include reducing its overreliance on credit rating agencies and increasing competition among them, speakers said today, as the General Assembly held its first ever thematic debate on the role of those institutions as arbiters of creditworthiness. “Over the […]
more…13 Sep, 2013
Film-maker Abigail Disney: U.S. responsible for an almost eroticized “mythology of violence”
United Nations, Department of Public Information, 6 September 2013 – Education was a primary tool for building a culture of peace, and the United Nations had rightly placed it at the forefront to that end, speakers said today as the General Assembly held a high-level forum on that topic. Assembly President Vuk Jeremić (Serbia) recalled […]
more…13 Sep, 2013
Abercrombie hijab firing highlights Muslim concern about discrimination
(Pew Research Centre), September 11, 2013 – A federal judge ruled this week that the clothing company Abercrombie & Fitch wrongly fired a Muslim employee in San Mateo, Calif., for wearing a headscarf. The retailer said the look of its employees is part of its marketing strategy, but, according to the Associated Press, the judge found […]
more…13 Sep, 2013
World Heritage status sought for Silk Road corridor
Beijing, (China Daily) 2013-09-11, In August, a team of 20 cyclists from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan departed from Xi’an, Shaanxi province, to traverse the ancient Silk Road. The journey took them to many Chinese cities before they arrived at their destination, Kazakhstan’s Masanchi, where the Dungan people – a branch of China’s Hui ethnic group […]
more…13 Sep, 2013
Hurun wealthy list 2013 shows China’s rich getting richer
Shanghai, 2013-09-12, China Daily – Wang Jianlin, chairman and president of Dalian Wanda Group Corp Ltd, overtook Zong Qinghou to become the richest man in China, according to the Hurun Rich List 2013, which was released on Wednesday. This is the first time that Wang, 59, tops the list. His personal wealth has doubled to […]
more…13 Sep, 2013
Dalian Economic Forum hears: “Uncertainty, volatility remain the norm for global economy”
Dalian, People’s Republic of China, 13 September 2013 – Emerging markets will still lead global economic growth, said Min Zhu, Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but there will continue to be challenges. As the world pulls itself out of the financial crisis, uncertainty and volatility remain the norm for the global […]
more…13 Sep, 2013
‘Free’ May Not Mean Free: Global sweep for apps targeting children
Canberra, 10 September 2013, (ACCC media release) – The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission news release) The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is joining a concerted international effort to identify smartphone and tablet apps that may mislead young children into making unauthorised in-app purchases. Over 50 consumer protection agencies around the world are searching through […]
more…11 Sep, 2013
UN survey of 10,000 men in Asia-Pacific reveals psyche that triggers violence against women
Bangkok, 10 September 2013 — A UN study of 10,000 men in Asia and the Pacific, released today, found that overall nearly half of those men interviewed reported using physical and/or sexual violence against a female partner, ranging from 26 percent to 80 percent across the sites studied. Nearly a quarter of men interviewed reported perpetrating […]
more…10 Sep, 2013
Best Times to Post on Social Media – Free Tips in New Infographic
Seattle, WA (PRWEB) September 10, 2013 Countless internet users have asked at one time or another what the best times are to post on various social media websites. The question is a valid one, as posting at particular times of day allows one to reach a far more extensive online audience than otherwise possible. Fannit.com […]
more…10 Sep, 2013
In U.S., Opponents Say Action in Syria Not America’s Concern – Gallup Poll
PRINCETON, NJ (Gallup Organization) 09 September 2013 — Americans who oppose U.S. military action in Syria are most likely to explain their position by saying that the events in Syria are none of the United States’ business, that the U.S. does not need to be involved in another war, or that the action is not […]
more…8 Sep, 2013
Students Think They Have Clean Facebook Page, but Recruiters Aren’t Impressed
SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–September 05, 2013 – Recruiters and college students have conflicting opinions on what is appropriate to post on Facebook, according to a recently released survey of 500 U.S. college juniors and seniors conducted by Persona, Inc., a social media utility designed to help users protect professional reputations online. Fifty-seven percent of college students do […]
more…8 Sep, 2013
US investment guru warns of economic slowdown as “printing of artificial money” ends
XIAMEN, Fujian 2013-09-07, (Xinhua) – Another economic slowdown will impact the world including China in the next two years as the United States and other major economies halt the printing of artificial money, according to investment guru Jim Rogers Saturday. Even though the turmoil will affect China, the long term future of the RMB is […]
more…8 Sep, 2013
People of Power and Authority Must Reject Violence, Promote Dialogue, UN meeting on Culture of Peace hears
United Nations, Sep 6 2013 (UN News Centre) – People in positions of power and authority have a moral and political responsibility to improve understanding across borders and cultures, top United Nations official said opening a day-long General Assembly forum on the promotion of a ‘culture of peace.’ At UN Headquarters in New York, Deputy […]
more…7 Sep, 2013
It’s Official: India, China, Indonesia, Russia, S. Africa, Brazil, all oppose attack on Syria
Leaders of the world’s most populous countries, India, China, Indonesia, S. Africa, Brazil, plus Russia, all oppose an attack on Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin made clear at his post G20-summit conference. He also went out of his way to specifically note that Indonesia was the world’s largest Muslim-majority country. The following is the full […]
more…7 Sep, 2013
Zubin Mehta conferred India’s Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony 2013
Ministry of Culture, 06-September, 2013 – President of India Mr Pranab Mukherjee here today conferred the Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony, 2013 on Maestro Zubin Mehta. The award ceremony was held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. The award carries an amount of Rs. 1 Crore, a citation in a scroll, a plaque as well as an […]
more…7 Sep, 2013
Shanghai’s visa-free policy lifts tourism
Shanghai, (China Daily) 2013-09-06 – Shanghai authorities said the city’s policy allowing citizens from 45 nations to stay up to 72 hours in the city without a visa has noticeably boosted tourism. But business insiders said a lot more can be done to bring more transit passengers to the city amid an overall drop in […]
more…7 Sep, 2013
No Country Allowed To Take Law Into Its Own Hands: UN-Arab League Envoy
United Nations, Sep 6 2013, (UN News Centre) – The Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the League of Arab States today stressed that he and other senior diplomats were working “extremely hard” bring Syrian and other concerned parties together for a conference to find a political path out of the crisis in […]
more…7 Sep, 2013
UN Chief Warns Of ‘Tragic Consequences’ Of Military Action in Syria
United Nations, Sep 6 2013 (UN News Centre) – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged leaders at the Group of 20 (G20) summit in St. Petersburg to explore ways to avoid further militarization of the conflict in Syria and to revitalize the search for a political settlement, warning that “tragic consequences” could follow military action. Mr. […]
more…6 Sep, 2013
It’s Official: Israeli Lobby in U.S. Backs Attack on Syria to Protect Israel
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the lobby group that is often cited as the power which controls the U.S. Congress, has issued a statement calling on America’s elected representatives to approve an attack on Syria. In a statement on September 3, AIPAC claimed that it is in order to protect American national security interests […]
more…6 Sep, 2013
Economic Cost of U.S. Military Strike on Syria: More Than US$36,000 an Hour
5 September 2013 (National Priorities Project) – As federal lawmakers and the American people grapple with the possibility of U.S. military intervention in Syria, National Priorities Project (NPP) announces the release of a new interactive tool tracking the Cost of National Security. The site features counters displaying the real-time running cost of U.S. military programs, […]
more…6 Sep, 2013
Pew Survey: U.S. Public, Especially Women, Overwhelmingly Against Strike on Syria
Washington DC, (Pew Research Centre), 3 September 2013 – President Obama faces an uphill battle in making the case for U.S. military action in Syria. By a 48% to 29% margin, more Americans oppose than support conducting military airstrikes against Syria in response to reports that the Syrian government used chemical weapons. The new national […]
more…5 Sep, 2013
No decent human being can ignore conflict that will shape the future of humanity
31 August, 2013 – It is not difficult to understand the power-game being played in Syria and no decent human being should stand on the sideline in a conflict that will shape the future of our humanity. The global intifada (uprising) is spreading and it is rejecting war and hegemony and now even President Obama […]
more…5 Sep, 2013
Kairos Palestine statement condemns Syria warmongering: Remember the tragedy of Iraq
Once again, the drums of war are sounding in our region. Once again, the US is leading the campaign for this war, this time on Syria. And once again, the US and some European and Arab countries are justifying it in the name of democracy, human rights, and humanity itself. We have heard all this […]
more…5 Sep, 2013
China: US planned military action against Syria runs grave risks
BEIJING, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) — The U.S. military action against Syria loomed larger as President Barack Obama on Tuesday secured the key backing of House leaders in his push for military action in Syria. Though the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has, in a draft authorization for the use of military force in Syria, set a […]
more…5 Sep, 2013
U.S. expected to launch cyber attacks against Syria: report
WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) — The United States is certain to launch cyber attacks on Syria if it goes ahead with its military action to punish Damascus for the alleged chemical weapons use, a report said Wednesday. U.S. cyber experts believe that the U.S. government could use computer viruses to destroy Syrian defenses and equipment […]
more…5 Sep, 2013
US ignoring logic as it beats war drums
September 04, 2013 – Once again, Washington has effortlessly beaten down Russian President Vladimir Putin in the arena of public opinion. In recent days, media from the US and Europe have chimed in with official accounts from the US and France, claiming that it was Syrian government troops who used chemical weapons. Some media even […]
more…5 Sep, 2013
Use Courts, Not Cruise Missiles to Settle Syria Crisis: Women Nobel Peace Laureates
(Ottawa) September 4, 2013 – One the eve of the G20 meeting in Russia, the six Nobel peace laureates of the Nobel Women’s Initiative today called upon the US and its allies to use the international legal system in place of military intervention to respond to any use of chemical weapons in Syria. In a […]
more…4 Sep, 2013
An Unprecedented Gathering Deep in the Amazon Jungle
PUERTO HUAMÁN, Peru (ILO News) – 06 August 2013 – “Palo Duro” (Hard stick) is an almost unbreakable tree that grows in north-eastern Peru, in the Amazon region close to the Colombian border. It is also the symbol of the Maijunas, a community that has struggled since the time of the Spanish conquest to reclaim […]
more…4 Sep, 2013
AmEx Survey Finds More Business Travelers Balancing Work and Play While On the Road
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE) — September 03, 2013 – Business travelers are taking to the skies just as much as in previous years, but they are increasingly taking time out for themselves, according to new research released today by American Express Global Business Travel.1 The survey, which analyzed the habits of business travelers in the United […]
more…4 Sep, 2013
Asia-Pacific on the road to middle-class employment
GENEVA, 30 August 2013 (ILO News) –Strong economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region over two decades has helped lift millions of people out of poverty, with middle class jobs now accounting for nearly two-fifths of all employment in the region. However, there’s also been an increase in inequality. According to a recently published ILO working […]
more…3 Sep, 2013
India Launches Gandhi Heritage Portal to Spread Message of Non-Violence
Ministry of Culture, 02-September, 2013 – Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh here today dedicated the Gandhi Heritage Portal to the nation. The Minister of Culture Mrs. Chandresh Kumari Katoch, Communications & IT Minister Mr Kapil Sibal, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations Dr. Sam Pitroda, Mr Narayan Desai, Mr Kartikeya […]
more…3 Sep, 2013
Peace Tourism CEO Urges Collective Industry Voice to Avert Wider Syrian Conflict
The Founder and President of the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT) has called on the travel & tourism industry to raise its collective voice in averting yet another conflict, this time in Syria. In a special message to the industry at the request of Travel Impact Newswire, Mr Louis d’Amore said it is […]
more…3 Sep, 2013
World Water Week Highlights Its Role as a Source of Life and Death
United Nations, Sep 2 2013 (UN News Centre) – Now is the time for accelerated, energized and concerted action on water and sanitation, Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson today urged, calling for renewed cooperation on water management and access to adequate sanitation for the more than 2.5 billion people around the world without it. In a […]
more…3 Sep, 2013
China: Unilateral military action will only make Syrian situation worse
Beijing, (Xinhua) September 02, 2013 – Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Monday that China was seriously concerned about any unilateral military action against Syria. At a regular press briefing, Hong said, “China is firmly opposed to the use of chemical weapons by any party in Syria and expresses serious concern about preparations by relevant […]
more…3 Sep, 2013
China Set to Bolster Ties with Central Asia
Beijing, 2013-09-02 – President Xi Jinping’s upcoming state visits to Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan from Sept 3 to 13 is another major diplomatic move by China’s new leadership that has great significance. First, the trip will help enhance mutual trust between China and the four Central Asian countries. Over the past 20-plus years since […]
more…3 Sep, 2013
Syria: A 12 Point Case Against Military Intervention
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 2 September 2013 – The House of Representatives and the Senate of the United States of America should reject any form of US military intervention in Syria. Rejection would be a clear statement against war. It would be a lucid message on behalf of peace. There are at least 12 reasons why […]
more…3 Sep, 2013
West pushing Syria toward total doom, by O.P. Rana, China Daily
2013-09-02 – The inevitable is about to happen. Well, it is almost certain to happen. Syrians face imminent bombing by Western forces led by the United States. They face more deaths and destruction, ironically, for suffering what many believe is a chemical weapon attack and seeing more than 100,000 of their compatriots perish and a […]
more…2 Sep, 2013
11-Volume Encyclopedia of Hinduism Launched in U.S.
Columbia, South Carolina – In an historic moment marking the spiritual and cultural history of India, the international edition of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism was launched on Aug 25, 2013 in a ceremony hosted by the University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA. A project of India Heritage Research Foundation, founded, guided, inspired and led by […]
more…2 Sep, 2013
UNWTO helps unlock millions in aid funds for developing countries, island states
Livingstone, Zambia – The UN World Tourism Organization is stepping up efforts to help its numerous developing-country members unlock millions of dollars worth of aid funds being disbursed annually by governments, international finance institutions and other donors via the UN system and other multilateral trade and economic groups. The move will deliver a valuable membership […]
more…1 Sep, 2013
Lawsuit alleges Boy Scouts of America in denial over “pedophiles in its ranks”
SEATTLE, Aug. 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Attorneys for sex-abuse victims on Thursday filed a civil lawsuit against the Boy Scouts of America, alleging that America’s largest youth-serving organization was negligent and failed to protect youth in its care, resulting in the sexual assaults of 12 boys from Washington state. Most of the alleged incidents took […]
more…1 Sep, 2013
Crisis shadows US amid imperial downturn
August 28, 2013, (Global Times) – The histories of empires are as different as the cultural, economic, material and political conditions they inherited, reshaped, and passed on. The US began in anti-imperial revolt and defined itself as a republic devoid of imperial ambitions. Since 1945 the US insisted that it was a great power of […]
more…1 Sep, 2013
China issues White Paper on economic, trade cooperation with Africa
BEIJING, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) — The Chinese government on Thursday issued a white paper on China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation, underlining latest achievements of the mutually-beneficial cooperation between China and African countries. The white paper, released by the Information Office of China’s State Council, introduces facts of trade development, investment expansion, agricultural cooperation, infrastructure construction […]
more…1 Sep, 2013
Arab-American Group Rejects U.S. Military Action Against Syria
Washington, DC | www.adc.org | August 30, 2012 — The following is the full text of a statement issued by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) about the potential U.S. attack on Syria. Open statement The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee calls on the Obama Administration to exercise restraint, and not use military action against Syria. As a […]
more…1 Sep, 2013
Int’l Food Workers Union: Martin Luther King’s Dream Still a Pipe-dream
WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The following is a statement issued by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) regarding the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington: “The UFCW is proud to stand with our brothers and sisters from across the country to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. […]
more…1 Sep, 2013
In First Meeting, Latin American, Asian NTOs Swap Ideas to Boost Inter-Regional Travel
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe – Travel & tourism linkages between Asia and Latin America are set to gain momentum as a result of the first high-level meeting between their senior tourism officials on the sidelines of the 20th UNWTO General Assembly on 27 August 2013. The meeting, jointly promoted by the UNWTO and the Ibero-American General […]
more…30 Aug, 2013
China Makes it Easier for Foreign Visitors to Extend Stay
Beijing, 2013-08-30 – Foreigners’ original visas will remain valid when they intend to extend their stay in China starting in September, Beijing’s exit-entry administration said on Thursday. Currently, if foreign nationals want to prolong their stays in the country, their original visas, whether expired or not, must be canceled, according to the administration under the […]
more…29 Aug, 2013
ASEAN’s loss: Cambodia fails to win 2015 UNWTO General Assembly
Livingstone, Zambia — A well-oiled and –financed lobbying campaign by Colombian tourism authorities saw the South American country edge out Cambodia in the bid to host the 2015 biennial General Assembly of the UN World Tourism Organisation. The outcome miffed the Cambodians who noted that Colombia had already hosted the General Assembly in 2007 and […]
more…29 Aug, 2013
Getting People Moving: EC launches initiative to promote physical activity in Europe
Brussels, 28 August 2013, European Commission Press release – The European Commission adopted today an initiative on health-enhancing physical activity which is the first ever proposal for a Council Recommendation on sport. Sport and physical activity help people to stay physically and mentally fit by combating excessive weight and obesity and preventing related health conditions. […]
more…29 Aug, 2013
Global hotels group chief blasts OTAs for raking in US$25 billion in commissions
Victoria Falls, Zambia/Zimbabwe – The International Hotels & Restaurants Association has blasted the US$25 billion in commissions that it says are being raked in by the Online Travel Agencies and called for closer action in cooperation with the global national tourism organisations to do something about it. The comment by IH&RA President Casimir Platzer at […]
more…29 Aug, 2013
Rifai Re-elected by Acclamation to Head UNWTO, Pledges Reform via Consensus
Victoria Falls, Zambia/Zimbabwe — UN World Tourism Organisation Secretary-General Dr Taleb Rifai, 64, was re-elected to serve another four-year term covering the period 2014-17. Nominated unanimously by the Executive Council and re-elected by acclamation, he received a standing ovation and a nearly one-minute round of applause at the General Assembly on August 28. In a […]
more…29 Aug, 2013
In Landmark Lecture, UN Chief Criticises Surveillance, Tells Global Leaders to “Listen to the People”
United Nations, Aug 28 2013 (UN News Centre) – Development, peace and security, and human rights are interdependent, mutually reinforcing dimensions of freedom, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said at the historic Leiden University in the Netherlands, lauding “the voices and the activism of ordinary people who stand up and speak out.” “Fear is often the […]
more…28 Aug, 2013
Ecosystem-Based Approaches Key to Tackling Challenge of African Food Security
Nairobi, 23 August 2013 (UNEP media release) – As Africa faces food security challenges worsening in the face of climate change, almost 800 delegates from across the continent backed Ecosystems-Based Adaptation Approaches as a key tool in ensuring adequate food for all at the end of a two-day meeting at the UN Environment Programme headquarters […]
more…28 Aug, 2013
China joins international efforts to end offshore tax evasion
OECD – Paris, 27 August 2013 – China signed the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters at a ceremony today at the OECD. All G20 countries have now fulfilled the commitment they made at the Cannes G20 Summit to sign the Convention and move towards automatic exchange of information as the new, […]
more…28 Aug, 2013
Zambia, Zimbabwe launch borderless two-nations, one-convention concept
Livingstone/Victoria Falls – In an unprecedented show of cooperation, two landlocked African countries divided by a border which runs through one of the world’s most spectacular natural heritage sites set aside their border formalities in order to facilitate what became arguably the world’s first borderless travel & tourism convention. Between 24-29 August, delegates attending the […]
more…26 Aug, 2013
4th Entrepreneurship Summit in KL Aimed at NextGen Builders, Creators, Dreamers
Kuala Lumpur – Registrations are open for the 4th Global Entrepreneurship Summit to be held in Kuala Lumpur between 11-12 October. More than 3,000 entrepreneurs, speakers, investors and policy-makers from over 50 countries are projected to attend the event, originally initiated by U.S. President Barack Obama to create “the next generation of dreamers, creators and […]
more…24 Aug, 2013
U.N. Declares 6 April Int’l Day Of Sport For Development, Peace
United Nations, (UN News Centre), Aug 23 2013 – The United Nations General Assembly today proclaimed 6 April as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, as the body’s President hailed the decision a “historic” step in recognizing the power of sport to erase cultural barriers and mobilize people around the world. “Sport […]
more…24 Aug, 2013
Summit in Sweden Unites Global War Veterans In Pursuit of Peace
STOCKHOLM, August 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Earlier this summer Sweden’s Veteran Federation, SVF, hosted the World Veterans Federation’s Peace and Security Summit. The outcome of the summit was The Stockholm Declaration, urging the world’s veteran associations and governments to work for the veterans’ experiences and skills to a higher degree should be utilized as a […]
more…23 Aug, 2013
India Sees Improved Male:Female Sex Ratio
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 21-August, 2013 – The Sex Ratio in the country has shown an improvement. As per the Census, sex ratio has increased from 933 females per thousand males in 2001 to 943 females per thousand males in 2011. State/UT-wise details of sex ratio are listed below. The Government has been […]
more…23 Aug, 2013
China plans major railway reforms to generate growth, create jobs
BEIJING, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) — The railway sector is high on China’s government agenda with detailed measures on its reforms and instructions from Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. China’s State Council published a plan earlier this week to innovate railway funding and speed up construction. Experts said this was “appropriate” in the backdrop of economic structuring […]
more…23 Aug, 2013
Myanmar gets another U.N. warning on incitement of ethic, religious hatred
YANGON / BANGKOK / GENEVA (22 August 2013) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana, said the country is moving forward in many areas “which has brought positive changes to the human rights situation, and has the potential to bring further improvements.” However, he warned about […]
more…23 Aug, 2013
Total Transparency Reigns as UNWTO Gets Set for 20th General Assembly
In yet another exemplary display of total transparency, the UNWTO has posted on its website the entire set of working papers and financial statements to be discussed at the upcoming General Assembly and Executive Council meetings in Zambia and Zimbabwe between August 24-29. The public has full access to the material which provide copious detail […]
more…22 Aug, 2013
American Museum of Agriculture Changes Name to Bayer Museum of Agriculture
Lubbock, Texas (PRWEB) August 20, 2013 – Today, Bayer CropScience and the American Museum of Agriculture announced a sponsorship agreement to rename the museum the “Bayer Museum of Agriculture,” helping to further preserve, promote and display its cotton industry collection dating back to the 1600’s. Editor’s Comment A sign of what’s to come. Should museums […]
more…22 Aug, 2013
UNEP Environmental Alert: Global Mangrove Forest Cover Fading Fast
Nairobi, Aug 2013 – The uniquely adapted mangrove forests on the marine-terrestrial interface preserve coastline integrity by buffering wave energy from marine processes. The ecosystem services they provide and their support for coastal livelihoods worldwide are worth at least US $1.6 billion a year. Despite their global importance, mangroves are being lost rapidly and action […]
more…21 Aug, 2013
Call to reduce violence against women by building better cities
OTTAWA, Aug. 20, 2013 /CNW/ – Can poor city planning aid and abet violence against women? Consider the fatal gang rape in Delhi last December of the young woman referred to in the press as “Nirbhaya” (“fearless”). As an angry public poured into the streets to protest Nirbhaya’s death, other brutal attacks captured international headlines. […]
more…21 Aug, 2013
Cruise Lines Association Welcomes New Global Pact to Boost Seafarers’ Working Conditions
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) today announced it welcomes the entry into force of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) 2006 Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). The MLC provides further worker protections and rights for crewmembers, providing them specific rights related to all facets of employment, including wages, hours, medical care, […]
more…21 Aug, 2013
Foreigners hit with bigger fines via strict enforcement of Chinese exit-entry law
2013-08-20 (China Daily) Shanghai fined and punished more than 500 foreigners for illegally staying in the country after China imposed its new exit-entry law in July, according to statistics provided by the city’s immigration inspection department. From 1 July 1 through 10 Aug, 534 foreigners had illegally entered or overstayed their visas. More than 380 […]
more…21 Aug, 2013
China plans development of Western regions as new engine for growth
2013-08-20, (China Daily) — China is betting on its western development program to lead a new round of economic growth as the government is mulling “differentiated” policies for the region that will feature huge spending on infrastructure, Premier Li Keqiang said on Monday. “We will roll out more preferential policies tailored for the western region […]
more…20 Aug, 2013
ASEAN, Japan, Bhutan Big Winners at Thailand Travel Fair 2013
BANGKOK – Thousands of Thai would-be travellers thronged this year’s second Thailand International Travel Fair between Aug 15-18 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok. The event was organised by the Thai Travel Agents Association, which includes the outbound and domestic agents and is separate from the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), […]
more…18 Aug, 2013
Exclusive: WikiLeaks Cable exposes U.S. bid to penetrate Brazil’s security apparatus
Former U.S. Department of Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff cited unspecified “threats” by “ill-intentioned individuals or groups” in attempting to persuade Brazilian security ministers and officials to give the U.S. a vital foothold in the Brazilian travel, transport, trade and sports events networks, according to a WikiLeaks cable. Using touchy-feely buzzwords such as “partnerships,” “cooperation” […]
more…17 Aug, 2013
Indian Railways to Provide Braille Signage in Passenger Coaches
Ministry of Railways, 16-August, 2013 – As a part of its social commitment to make Railways more friendly towards specially abled passengers, Indian Railways has decided to provide Braille stickers in coaches to facilitate visually impaired passengers. Presently coaches are provided with signage, instructions, seat numbers etc. which are mostly in the form of vinyl […]
more…17 Aug, 2013
Food Workers Union: Martin Luther King’s Dreams of Jobs, Economic Equality Still Unfulfilled
WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– August 16, 2013 – The following is a statement issued by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) regarding the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington: “The UFCW is proud to stand with our brothers and sisters from across the country to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on […]
more…17 Aug, 2013
Survey Shows Uneven Economic Picture for U.S. Landscape Architecture Firms
WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– August 13, 2013 – U.S. landscape architecture firms are experiencing sluggish but steady growth as they emerge from the recession, according to the American Society of Landscape Architects’ (ASLA) second quarter 2013 Business Quarterly survey. More firms reported stable or rising billable hours but have pared down their plans to hire. 82.8 percent […]
more…17 Aug, 2013
China set to overtake US as world’s No 1 consumer – S&P Report
Beijing, 2013-08-15 – Even with the ongoing slowdown of China’s economic growth, the world’s No 2 economy is expected to overtake the US to become the world’s largest consumer market in the next five years, according to a new report by Standard & Poor’s (S&P). The report – entitled Financial Risks Are Rising as Retail […]
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