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19 Apr, 2018

WTTC’s Mission Still Not Accomplished

In September 2003, exactly 15 years ago, the World Travel & Tourism Council issued a Blueprint for New Tourism. It was yet another assertion of the WTTC mantras flagged since the formation of the rich mans’ club in 1991 — make T&T a priority, liberalise travel, open markets and remove impediments. These mantras have produced […]

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16 Apr, 2018

ICON-IC India and her Feat of Clay – By Mark Deane

AKA: Our national fascination with busts and grand erections  “Now stiff on a pillar with a phallic air, Nelson stylites in Trafalgar Square. Reminds the British what once they were, Aboard the Victory, Victory O.” (Borrowed from “A Ballad of the Good Lord Nelson” by Lawrence Durrell) Ours is an ancient land, steeped in history, […]

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16 Apr, 2018

49 retired senior civil servants pen Open Letter to PM Modi: India facing an “existential crisis”

April 16, 2018 — This is the text of open letter to the Prime Minister that 49 retired civil servants are releasing to the media/public. Honourable Prime Minister, We are a group of retired civil servants who came together last year to express our concern at the decline in the secular, democratic, and liberal values […]

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16 Apr, 2018

Open Letter to the U.S. travel industry: Is state terrorism serving your interests?

Bangkok – Shootings in U.S. offices, schools, universities and other public places are always followed by an enormous outpouring of outrage, anguish, hand-wringing and soul-searching. Much time and attention is devoted to understanding the shooter’s motivation. If it’s a Muslim, the violence is automatically assigned the “T” word. The others are somehow disturbed, loners, etc. […]

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12 Apr, 2018

Confronting Islamophobia requires” a nuanced understanding of the forms repression can take” – Dr Nazia Kazi

Dr. Nazia Kazi is Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Stockton University. She delivered these remarks at a recent conference on Islamophobia at Istanbul Zaim University. Salaam-alaikum. My comments today will be very brief. The title of this conference is “Contextualizing Islamophobia”. The title of this weekend’s event itself reminds us that our scholarship on Islamophobia […]

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12 Apr, 2018

Hard questions for travel & tourism millennials: Does global war & conflict matter to you?

Bangkok — Here we go again. Fifteen years after the United States-led “Coalition of the Willing” attacked Iraq in pursuit of “weapons of mass destruction” that were never found, killing and maiming hundreds of thousands of people and devastating an entire country, war-drums are again reverberating in the Levant, this time in Syria. And as […]

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12 Apr, 2018

Indonesia to hold Creative Product Festival 2018 in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 (Bernama) — The National Publishing & News Corporation (NPNC),  set up jointly by the state-owned companies PT Balai Pustaka, Antara News Agency and Percetakan Negara Republik Indonesia (PNRI) is to organize the “Indonesia Creative Product Festival (ICPF) 2018” on April 13th – 15th at Dewan Tun Razak 4, Putra World Trade […]

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11 Apr, 2018

China chides developed countries for overseas garbage dumping

By Zhang Ming The author is ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary and head of mission of the People’s Republic of China to the European Union. Geneva, 4 April 2018, (chinadaily.com.cn) – During a recent meeting of the WTO Council for Trade in Goods, some representatives raised concerns about China’s ban on “foreign garbage” import. Some even […]

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11 Apr, 2018

ADC launches campaign to end U.S. taxpayer-funded military aid to Israel

Washington, DC, 5 April 2018, (www.adc.org) – In the recently passed $1.3 trillion federal spending bill, Congress increased military aid to Israel. All military aid to Israel is in violation of U.S. law prohibiting the transfer of arms to human rights violators. All of which is made worse by the fact that Congress refuses to enforce […]

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11 Apr, 2018

FREE DOWNLOAD: The Next Big Thing – Thailand Outbound Travel Report 2018

Bangkok — Travel Impact Newswire Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil has made travel journalism history yet again by publishing the first report on the surging Thai outbound travel industry. The report is being made available FREE, thanks to support from Minister of Tourism and Sports Weerasak Kowsurat and Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Yuthasak Supasorn. Both […]

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8 Apr, 2018

ASLA Survey: Demand High for Residential Landscapes with Sustainability and Active Living Elements

WASHINGTON, 3 April 2018, (BUSINESS WIRE)–The 2018 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends Survey was conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). Landscape architects were asked to rate the expected popularity of a variety of residential outdoor design elements in 2018. The survey was fielded February 22 through March 8, 2018, with 808 responding. Many […]

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8 Apr, 2018

YPO Announces Signature Events for Innovation Week, 7-11 May

DALLAS, (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) –For the third consecutive year, YPO will host Innovation Week, a series of more than 50 events around the world designed to bring together the most dynamic innovators for a chance to network, overturn conventional thinking and come away inspired with actionable, applicable insight. YPO, the world’s premier leadership organization of chief […]

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8 Apr, 2018

Biodiversity and Nature’s Contributions in Dangerous Decline, Scientists Warn

Medellin, Colombia, 23 March 2018, (IPBES News) –Biodiversity – the essential variety of life forms on Earth – continues to decline in every region of the world, significantly reducing nature’s capacity to contribute to people’s well-being. This alarming trend endangers economies, livelihoods, food security and the quality of life of people everywhere, according to four […]

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6 Apr, 2018

Jewish billionaire’s role in fomenting Islamophobia coming to light

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/5/18) — The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for Federal Election Commission (FEC) and IRS investigations of virulently anti-Muslim advertisements that used Facebook and Google to target voters in swing states prior just before the 2016 election. Robert Mercer, a top supporter of […]

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6 Apr, 2018

Jewish Rabbi seeks support for media campaign: Tell Israeli soldiers to disobey orders to shoot Palestinians

Editor’s Note: The following statement was released on 05 April by Tikkun, which refers to itself as a grouping of Spiritual Progressives headed by Rabbi Michael Lerner. I am reproducing it in full here in anticipation that the travel & tourism industry, which claims to be an “industry of peace”, will read it and let […]

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6 Apr, 2018

ADB President Highlights Inequality, Climate Change, and Aging as Three Key Challenges for China’s New Era

Beijing, 25 March 2018, (ADB News) — Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Takehiko Nakao addressed the China Development Forum (CDF), which opened today in Beijing. Mr. Nakao will meet Premier Li Keqiang along with other participants of the CDF. He also participated in a roundtable with Vice Premier Liu He. During his visit to Beijing, […]

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6 Apr, 2018

First Indonesia-Africa Forum to be held in Jakarta, April 10-11

Jakarta (ANTARA News) 6 April 2018 – Fifty-three African countries have been invited to attend the first Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) to be held in Bali on Apr 10-11. “As of today, 40 countries have confirmed their participation in the Indonesia-Africa Forum,” Director of Africa of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Daniel Tumpal Simanjuntak noted in […]

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5 Apr, 2018

Alibaba offers Malaysian merchants access into China

KUALA LUMPUR, 29 March 2018, (Bernama) — As part of its commitment to lower trade barriers and provide SMEs with more equitable access to global markets, Alibaba Group hosted its first “Access to China Consumers” Seminar, with the aim to enable Malaysian exporter to tap into the demand among Chinese consumers for Malaysian and foreign […]

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5 Apr, 2018

Hollywood advances racist depiction of Arabs in new film “Beirut”

Washington, DC., 3 April 2018,  (www.adc.org)  – The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), the nation’s largest Arab-American civil rights organizations, is deeply offended by the racist and simplistic portrayal of Arabs, and misrepresentation of regional politics, in the upcoming film Beirut. The film is filled with the stereotypical anti-Arab sentiment which Hollywood has been notorious for […]

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5 Apr, 2018

In cost-cutting mode, U.N. downgrades staff travel, eliminates First Class entirely

UNITED NATIONS, 04 April 2018, (UN media information service) — The General Assembly today adopted five texts on matters with financial implications, ranging from the downgrading of standards of accommodation for staff air travel to the modalities of a special meeting on the global fight against tuberculosis, in line with the recommendations of its Fifth […]

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5 Apr, 2018

Islamophobia rampant in Europe, report shows

Ankara, (04 April 2018), Foundation for Political and Economic Research) — This is the third issue of the annual European Islamophobia Report (EIR) consisting of an overall evaluation of Islamophobia in Europe in the year 2017, as well as 33 country reports which include almost all EU member states and additional countries such as Russia […]

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26 Mar, 2018

Why the Facebook scandal makes travel technobabblers look like idiots

Travel technology forums, aka technobabblers, have experienced a shock-and-awe reality check in the wake of the Facebook scandal. I stopped attending technobabble forums many years ago. I just got bored of the starry-eyed delegates listening with open mouths to the usual gang of suspects spewing out the latest techno-toy wizardry and how it was going […]

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24 Mar, 2018

Making the Caribbean’s airports and seaports more resistant to stronger hurricanes

23 March 2018, UNCTAD media release — This year’s World Meteorological Day on 23 March highlights the importance of being “weather-ready, climate-smart” – a timely theme with hurricane season right around the corner. Experts predict the 2018 season will be as busy as the last, when three major storms – Harvey, Irma and Maria – […]

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24 Mar, 2018

ADB, China Water Affairs Sign Deal to Improve Urban Water Management in PRC

BEIJING, 2 March 2018, (ADB News) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) today signed a loan equivalent of up to $200 million to help China Water Affairs Group Limited (CWA) improve wastewater management and increase people’s access to clean and reliable water supply in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The agreement was signed by […]

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24 Mar, 2018

Japan Hosts 30 Influencers from 20 Countries/Regions to Receive 40m Tourists by 2020

TOKYO, 22 March 2018, (PRNewswire) — The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) carried out a project to showcase the charms of tourism resources in each region of Japan, inviting 30 powerful influencers (bloggers) from 20 foreign countries and regions to visit various parts of the country in March 2018 with the aim of introducing abroad […]

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24 Mar, 2018

Joaquín Roy: It’s the War, Stupid

MIAMI, 14 Mar 2018, (IPS) – It is revealing that a ruler who did not serve in the military, nor enjoys any experience in war affairs, has a special inclination to use a vocabulary more typical of bloody clashes between states than in diplomatic relations. Donald Trump, both in his electronic messages and in his […]

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24 Mar, 2018

Siam Society lecture on Preserving the Underwater Cultural Heritage

Bangkok — One of Thailand’s leading cultural institutions, the Siam Society, will host a lecture on “Preserving the Underwater Cultural Heritage” by Etienne Clément, former Deputy Director Regional Asia Pacific Bureau of UNESCO on Thursday, 5 April 2018 at 7:30 p.m. The underwater cultural heritage is represented by ancient shipwrecks, submerged archaeological sites and other […]

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24 Mar, 2018

Global labour unions accuse UN of violating its own rules on the “rule of law”

Brussels, 22 March 2018 (ITUC OnLine) – Staff at the International Labour Organisation are taking strike action today in the latest of a series of walkouts by United Nations employees in protest at the unilateral imposition of significant pay cuts by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), which sets terms and conditions for employees in […]

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20 Mar, 2018

Three millennials win first essay competition on tourism’s contribution to UN SDGs

Bangkok, 13 March 2018 – Three young people under 30, a Filipino, Mexican and Pakistani, have won top honours in the first global essay competition organised by a travel trade publication to underscore the contribution of Travel & Tourism to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The co-winners of The Olive Tree awards competition are: Michael […]

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16 Mar, 2018

UN spent US$4 billion on travel in 2012-15, to cutback on first-class trips

United Nations, March 15, (UN media release) – The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) took up the air travel policies of the United Nations on day two of its resumed seventy‑second session today, with delegates voicing support for the Secretary‑General’s proposal that high‑ranking officials fly business class — rather than first class — to help […]

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13 Mar, 2018

In spite of occupation, Palestine abounds with cultural centers, museums and theaters

RAMALLAH, March 13, 2018 (WAFA) – Cultural Centers, museums and theaters have flourished in Palestinian in 2017 in spite of the 50-year long Israeli occupation. A report by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) on the status of cultural institutions in Palestine on the occasion of Palestinian National Culture Day, which coincides on Tuesday, […]

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13 Mar, 2018

UN General Assembly Adopts Resolution to Combat Illicit Diamond Trade

United Nations, March 7, 2018, UN media release — The UN General Assembly, welcoming progress made by the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme to break links between the diamond trade and conflict, today adopted a consensus resolution aimed at intensifying that work and aligning it with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Julie Bishop, Minister for Foreign […]

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13 Mar, 2018

Millennials’ essays highlight need to disrupt the global tourism agenda

Bangkok – Perhaps the most important thing that struck me upon perusing the great essays sent in by young people for my competition was the yawning disconnect between their very perceptive views on the global status quo and the topics that figure on the agendas and programmes of global travel & tourism forums. Embedded within […]

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5 Mar, 2018

Investigative reports expose corruption risks of Golden Visa schemes in Europe

Berlin, 5 March 2018, Transparency International Secretariat – Today, a series of investigations published by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) have detailed how citizenship- and residence-by-investment schemes, commonly referred to as ‘Golden Visa’ programmes, are vulnerable to abuse and undermine the fight against corruption in the European Union and neighbouring countries.   […]

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3 Mar, 2018

“The Next Big Thing”: Outbound Travel from Thailand Set to Hit 10 million in 2018

Bangkok – Outbound travel from Thailand is set to hit 10 million this year, according to the first comprehensive market research report on what is expected to be the “The Next Big Thing” in Asia-Pacific tourism. Designed to help destinations worldwide better understand the dynamics and drivers of this promising source of business, the report […]

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16 Feb, 2018

Americas Tops the Global Gambling Market – Technavio report

LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–09 February 2018 – The latest market research report by Technavio on the global gambling market predicts a CAGR of more than 8% during the period 2018-2022. The report segments the global gambling market by type (lottery, betting, and casino) and by geography (the Americas, EMEA, and APAC). It provides a detailed illustration of […]

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16 Feb, 2018

World invited to visit Palestine, see the reality of life under occupation

RAMALLAH, February 15, 2018 (WAFA & Travel Impact Newswire) – Omani Foreign Minister Yousuf bin Alawi Thursday called on all countries to accept the invitation of President Mahmoud Abbas to visit Palestine and occupied Jerusalem to assert solidarity with the Palestinian people. Abbas Thursday met bin Alawi at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah, after which […]

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16 Feb, 2018

Northeast Asian destinations hammering ASEAN in pursuit of Thai outbound travel boom

Bangkok – With Japan at the forefront, Northeast Asian countries and Special Administrative Regions are clobbering the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in attracting the booming Thai outbound tourism market. A survey of the recent Thailand International Travel Fair, held between February 7-11 showed clearly how Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR […]

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9 Feb, 2018

“Jailing critics does not make society safer”: A speech that will NEVER be heard at a travel industry event

BANGKOK (5 February 2018) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein started today his official visits to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Fiji, urging all governments to employ the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – in its totality – as a guide to law and policy. “The way to ensure we […]

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9 Feb, 2018

20 years after moving to Asia, PATA’s pursuit of relevance remains elusive

The Pacific Asia Travel Association this week marks the 20th anniversary of its move from San Francisco to Bangkok. Travel Impact Newswire Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil, who has covered PATA since 1981, takes a look back and a look ahead. Bangkok – When PATA began pondering its move from San Francisco to Asia in the […]

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6 Feb, 2018

Malaysian Competition Commission signs the Corruption-Free Pledge

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 (Bernama) — The Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) is one of the government agencies that responded positively to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)’s call in signing the Corruption-Free Pledge (better known as IBR). The pledge signing ceremony held at Menara SSM, Kuala Lumpur was led by YBhg. Dato’ Abu Samah Shabudin, Chief […]

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21 Jan, 2018

Indonesia to develop border areas to boost social justice

Jakarta (ANTARA News) 18th January 2018 – Development in border areas promotes social justice for all people across Indonesia, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto stated. “All people of Indonesia should get justice. People of Indonesia not only live in cities but many of them also reside in rural areas, and they […]

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21 Jan, 2018

Number of Indian tourists to Bali up by 48.25 percent

Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA News), 16 January 2018 – The number of Indian tourists to Bali surged to 243,639 people during January-November 2017, up 79,283 people or 48.25 percent, from 164,345 people in the previous year`s same period. “Most of them arrived at the International Airport of Ngurah Rai by direct flights from their country, and […]

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21 Jan, 2018

UNESCO opens applications for 2018 Asia-Pacific Cultural Heritage Conservation Awards

BANGKOK, 15 January 2018, (UNESCO News) – Submissions are now being accepted for the 2018 Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. This year’s awards cycle will mark the launch of a three-year partnership with Think City, a Malaysian urban renewal body that will support the programme and host the annual Awards Jury meeting in Penang, […]

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21 Jan, 2018

18th Int’l Anti-Corruption Conf to focus on Development, Peace and Security

21 Jan 2018, Transparency International media release – In December 2016 at the 17th IACC in Panama City, Panama, more than 1,600 people from over 130 countries had one common call: The time for Justice, Equity, Security, and Trust is now. Today’s polarized politics fuels many evils: populism and extremism, violence, human rights violations, trafficking and illicit money, […]

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21 Jan, 2018

ASEAN Tourism Forum V.1 is dying, Time to Plan ATF V.2

The ASEAN Tourism Forum 2018 to be held between 22-26 January in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai will have the lowest turnout of buyers and sellers in the last 10 years. The figures reported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand of 240 buyers and 275 seller organisations continues a downtrend that began three […]

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19 Jan, 2018

Sikhism fastest growing religion in Australia

Canberra, Jan 18, 2018 – Australian Bureau of Statistics — World Religion Day (Jan 21) aims to foster interfaith understanding and harmony, and is an opportunity to recognise the diversity of religion present in modern day Australia. The 2016 Census of Population and Housing found that three-fifths of the Australian population (61 per cent, or […]

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8 Jan, 2018

UnionPay Cross-border B2B Payment Service Platform facilitates exports of SMEs in Yiwu

SHANGHAI, 8 January 2018, (PRNewswire) — UnionPay International announced today that the official website of Yiwu Market (www.yiwugou.com), the world’s largest commodity wholesale market, now connects to UnionPay Cross-border B2B Payment Service Platform. Purchasers outside China are able to pay safely and conveniently with UnionPay cards issued overseas to buy goods at www.yiwugou.com. This cooperation between UnionPay International […]

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8 Jan, 2018

Innovative Securities: Higher Risks May Come in 2018

BUDAPEST, Hungary, 29 December 2017, (PRNewswire) – We are living in the decade of bullish markets. Because of record returns (and low interest rates) retail money floods the market. What could 2018 hold for the investors after all this? Innovative Securities’ prognosis tries to answer. In 2017, the already expensive stocks (and other instruments) became […]

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8 Jan, 2018

Women Leaders Launch “TIME’S UP” Campaign

LOS ANGELES, 1 January 2018, (PRNewswire) – TIME’S UP, an unprecedented movement started by women in the entertainment industry, today announced the launch of TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund. The TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund is one of a series of TIME’S UP’s ongoing commitments to combat the systemic power imbalances that have prohibited many women, especially […]

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8 Jan, 2018

Christmas eve 2017: When Jewish Intellectual Noam Chomsky went to bat for Palestine

On Christmas eve, 24 December 2017, Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), one of the groups on the entry-ban list issued by the Israel government, issued a fund-raising appeal featuring a personal message by Prof Noam Chomsky, Professor Emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and laureate professor at the University of Arizona. I am […]

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8 Jan, 2018

Global publicity follows Israel entry ban on 20 pro-Palestine groups

Jewish Voice for Peace, a prominent U.S.-based group of Jews battling the Israeli occupation of Palestine, is among a list of 20 global civil society movements whose activists will be barred from entering Israel. It is the only Jewish group on the list released by the Strategic Affairs Ministry on 08 Jan and  published by […]

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7 Jan, 2018

UN readying training guidelines to help airline cabin crews identify, report human trafficking

United Nations, (UN News Centre) 4 January 2018 – The United Nations is taking the global combat against human trafficking into the skies as the Organization’s human rights office and its Montreal-based civil aviation agency begin putting the final touches on training guidelines that could help airline cabin crew spot possible victims. Human trafficking is […]

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3 Jan, 2018

Mandela Peace Summit, Sufficiency Economy amongst highlights of The Olive Tree Edition 5

Bangkok – The January-February 2018 edition of The Olive Tree has been published on the Travel Impact Newswire website. This Edition 5 of the first and only publication designed to help travel & tourism achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals is sponsored by Jetwing Hotels Sri Lanka, the Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa, Asian Overland […]

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3 Jan, 2018

World-Class Urban Greenway Slows Pace of Life in Central China’s Wuhan

WUHAN, China, Dec. 29, 2017 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/ — Featuring China’s most intensive relics of ancient Chu culture, most splendid display of classic Chinese poetry and calligraphy, as well as top-level modern art works and sculptures as well as graffiti and three-dimensional street paintings, the second phase of a green belt encircling China’s largest urban lake in […]

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3 Jan, 2018

Bravo Jakarta for reporting waste generated by New Year’s Eve celebrations

Bravo to the Jakarta Administration and the Antara News Agency. Instead of running the usual hackneyed Press release announcing what a wonderful time thousands of revellers had on New Year’s eve, the Indonesian national news agency Antara ran an interview with the head of the Environmental Affairs office of the Jakarta administration reporting that the […]

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3 Jan, 2018

Malaysia 2018 Social Media Campaign Continues With Photo And Short Video Contest

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 29 (Bernama) — The Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC) continues organising a photography and short video contest on social media with the sub-theme #MyCuisine starting from 1 January 2018 to 28 February 2018. To enter, participants need to submit a creative photo or short video related to the uniqueness and diversity […]

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3 Jan, 2018

Gallup Poll: Americans see more trouble ahead in 2018

As Americans look ahead to 2018, eight in 10 predict it will be a troubled year filled with international discord rather than peace, according to the results of a Gallup Poll released at the end of 2017. The public is more optimistic about the economy, with a slight majority anticipating a year of economic prosperity. […]

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3 Jan, 2018

U.S. travel industry off to a most Unhappy New Year

The people of the United States will awaken this morning, the first day of work after wishing each other a Happy New Year, to news that will make them most unhappy. Preliminary statistics published by the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) for July 2017 show visitor arrivals heading south big-time. While other countries are […]

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18 Dec, 2017

Aligarh: A Captivating Tale of Two Remarkable “Sities”

Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India – Between Nov 27-29, one of India’s best-known institutions of higher education, Aligarh Muslim University, held its first Tourism Research Conference. Made possible thanks to a grant of Rs 852,500 (about US$13,300) by the Ministry of Tourism, it was packed with world-class presentations by research students, academics and private sector on […]

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18 Dec, 2017

World-class research at Aligarh Muslim University tourism conference

Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India — Although this was the first tourism research conference held at Aligarh Muslim University, the subject matter and depth of the presentations were world-class. Of the nearly 140 presentations included in the abstracts, 36 were devoted to the impact of the situation in Kashmir. Numerous others focussed on issues such as […]

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18 Dec, 2017

Aligarh Muslim University – Much more than just a University

Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India — Aligarh Muslim University is more than just a University; it is a citadel of cultural, architectural and artistic heritage. In accordance with the principles of its founding fathers and the constitution of India, the campus, museum and library brim with fine works of Islamic, Buddhist and Hindu traditions, all meticulously […]

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18 Dec, 2017

In pictures: The amazing grace and rustic charm of Aligarh Old City

A motorcycle tour of Aligarh Old City, an experience beyond description. All pictures by Travel Impact Newswire Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil. One of a three-part compendium on the first Tourism Research conference held at Aligarh Muslim University between Nov 27-29, 2017 on the theme of “New Tourism Paradigms in a Changing World: Innovations, Dynamics and […]

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16 Dec, 2017

‘American Dream’ quickly becoming an ‘illusion,’ says UN human rights expert

United Nations, (UN News Centre) 15 December 2017 – The number of Americans living in poverty and the already high income inequality could worsen further in the days to come, making the United States the most unequal society in the world, the United Nations expert on extreme poverty and human rights warned Friday. “The American […]

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15 Dec, 2017

ADB clears $499 million loan to improve air quality in Greater Beijing

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (14 December 2017) — The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Board of Directors has approved a €428 million ($499 million) loan to set up a regional emission-reduction and pollution-control facility as part of a multiyear and multisector support program to improve air quality in the greater Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region, which suffers from heavy air […]

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15 Dec, 2017

136 civil society groups again target Myanmar over genocide in Rakhine State

Bangkok — Myanmar’s global image has sunk further with the issuance of a strongly worded statement by 136 civil society groups and individuals across multiple religious denominations, professions and nationalities calling on the Myanmar government to stop violence against the civilian population of Rakhine state and address the root causes of violence. The full statement, […]

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15 Dec, 2017

Beauty and Braille at the first “Tourism for All” Miss Thailand Friendly Design Expo

Bangkok – Thailand’s rapidly ageing society is expected to lead to a major redesign and restructuring of the way Thai people live, work and move around in the years ahead. As many other countries are undergoing the same demographic transition, the changes will open up opportunities to attract more silver-aged visitors, too. The business potential […]

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13 Dec, 2017

Frontiers 2017: UN Report flags Six Emerging Issues of Environmental Concern

UN Environment

How does our careless disposal of antimicrobial drugs produce bacteria that can resist them? Why are Marine Protected Areas vital to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals? Can off-grid solar plug the energy gap for cities in the developing world? UN Environment experts will address these and other emerging issues with the launch of Frontiers 2017, […]

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13 Dec, 2017

A message from the Thailand Halal Assembly 2017 to the Myanmar tourism industry

Bangkok – A tourism-promotion forum organised as part of this year’s Thailand Halal Assembly has sent a clear message to the Myanmar tourism industry about the Thai approach to building inclusive, Muslim-friendly tourism and what Myanmar can learn from it. Editor’s Comment This special report is dedicated to the memory of my good friend, the […]

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8 Dec, 2017

The TRiUMPh of Jewish extremist terrorism

U.S. President Donald Trump has just proved that terrorism works – Jewish terrorism, that is. It was on 4 November 1995 that the Jewish extremist fanatic terrorist Yigal Amir, then only 25 years old, shot and killed former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, a joint Nobel Peace prize winner with the late Palestinian leader Yasser […]

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6 Dec, 2017

Human Rights Watch Report documents devastating impact of Trump’s Immigration policy

Washington, DC, Human Rights Watch Media release, 05 December 2017 – A surge in immigration arrests of people living in the United States under the Trump administration is having a devastating impact on long-term immigrants with strong ties to the US. According to numbers released by the US Department of Homeland Security on December 5, […]

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6 Dec, 2017

Silence of the Lambs: Global travel industry associations remain mum on U.S. Muslim ban

Bangkok – The U.S. Supreme Court has produced a guilty-until-proven-innocent ruling that effectively allows the Trump Administration to “temporarily” implement a ban on arrivals from most or all nationals from six Muslim-majority countries. The ban effectively bypasses a number of legal and constitutional challenges currently being heard in the lower courts. According to the American […]

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6 Dec, 2017

Deloitte survey: Greater boardroom diversity boosts competitive advantage, improves business performance

NEW YORK, Dec. 5, 2017 (Deloitte media release) – The evidence is in. Business leaders clearly believe in the benefits of diversity on their boards of directors. Yet it’s equally clear that current methods of sourcing and selecting candidates tend to reinforce a lack of diversity. Three hundred board members and executives believe achieving greater […]

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5 Dec, 2017

America First backlash: U.S. visitor arrivals swimming in a sea of red ink

The United States’ tourism industry is swimming in a sea of red ink. On 29 November, the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office released preliminary data of visitor arrivals for the first half of 2017. It showed an overall decline of 3.9%, with significant drops in arrivals from key markets such as China, Europe, the […]

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5 Dec, 2017

Vistajet hits highest third quarter revenue earnings

LONDON,  30 Nov 2017,  (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — VistaJet, which claims to be the first and only global business aviation company, has announced record results in its third quarter trading update, driven by the continued demand for the company’s flagship Program Membership with a 38% increase in revenue. The Program segment achieved a record 32% increase […]

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5 Dec, 2017

Online Initiative to monitor transparency of Government assistance to Malaysian SMEs

KUALA LUMPUR, 29 Nov 2017, (Bernama) — In an effort to enhance the transparency of reporting and coordination of SME programmes, SME Corp. Malaysia developed an online initiative called the SME Central Incentives System (SCenIc). As a centralised database of beneficiaries of Government assistance, SCenIc served as an important referral to avoid duplication and optimize […]

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5 Dec, 2017

Malaysia’s first Creative Arts Institute launched to promote fashion, film and beauty technology

KUALA LUMPUR, 29 Nov 2017, (Bernama) — Snips College of Creative Arts (SCCA) unveiled its all-new comprehensive creative arts college on 28 November at its grand launch event held at SCCA Sungei Wang Plaza. This is in line with the government’s initiatives to spur the growth of the arts and cultural development in Malaysia. According […]

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5 Dec, 2017

Malaysia and Industry 4.0: Executives Cite Need For Skilled Workers As Top Concern

KUALA LUMPUR, 30 Nov 2017, (Bernama) — Shortfalls in talent and direction, and a general lack of awareness about the profound industrial revolution underway worldwide are the top concerns of senior business and government executives assessing Malaysia’s readiness for “Industry 4.0” — the automation and digitization of industrial processes through robotics and other emerging technologies. […]

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5 Dec, 2017

Tourism Malaysia promoting Hat Yai to Penang Bike Tours for Thais

SADAO, 3 Dec 2017, (Bernama) — Tourism Malaysia held sending off ceremony for “Biker from Phuket” to promote Southern Thai Packages to Malaysia through bikers’ ride from Ban Dannok, Sadao, Songkhla to Bukit Kayu Hitam/Kedah with the aim to increase Thai arrivals to Malaysia especially from the Southern part of Thailand. Deputy Director General (Promotion), […]

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25 Nov, 2017

Lifestyle survey highlights factors that make up the Good Life, and travel ranks 5th

22 November 2017 (GfK media release) — When it comes to the factors that make up ‘the good life’, the top three most popular items selected by people internationally are good health, financial security and leisure time – followed by a happy marriage, travel for leisure, a home you own, and control over one’s life. […]

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25 Nov, 2017

‘Stand Against Hate’ Youth Essay Contest to combat white supremacy

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)– November 21, 2017 – As Thanksgiving approaches and people around the nation are gathering and reflecting on the meaning of family and community, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and the Heather Heyer Foundation continue their call for entries in a nationwide ‘Stand Against Hate’ youth essay contest through which three winning essayists (ages […]

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25 Nov, 2017

Ottawa Business Survey flags value of immigrants to local economic growth

OTTAWA, Ontario–(BUSINESS WIRE)–November 20, 2017  — Businesses in the Ottawa region expressed access to a skilled workforce as a top priority according to new survey data from the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce 2017 Ottawa Business Growth Survey. The survey reveals a key – yet overlooked – opportunity for Ottawa businesses to address skilled labour needs […]

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23 Nov, 2017

Wonderful Indonesia Festival in Thailand highlights weaknesses in intra-ASEAN travel

Bangkok – The Indonesian Tourism Ministry held its biggest ever tourism promotion festival in Thailand over the Nov 17-19 weekend. Located at one of Bangkok’s most popular shopping malls, attendance at the outdoor event was strong on the opening day but impacted by both hot weather and rain over Nov 18-19. It also raised questions […]

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20 Nov, 2017

Gastronomy Tourism on a roll: Cooking class at Thailand’s first fine-dining insect restaurant

Bangkok – The Thai tourism industry’s latest gastronomy marketing campaign is set to gain new impetus with the launch of cooking classes by the country’s first edible insect fine dining restaurant. The “workshop for the adventurous” was first held by Insects in the Backyard on 18 November and joined by Travel Impact Newswire’s Chief Information […]

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17 Nov, 2017

Leading global media groups launch indicators, brand logo to certify trust, quality & reliability

PARIS, 17 Nov 2017, World Editors Forum news release — In a bid to revive faith in journalism, leading media companies representing dozens of news sites have begun to display Trust Indicators, which provide clarity on the organizations’ ethics and other standards, the journalists’ backgrounds, and how they do their work.    The transparency indicators […]

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16 Nov, 2017

2018 International Toilet Tourism Awards to open in February

Sydney, 16 November 2017, mytravelresearch.com Press release – The 2018 International Toilet Tourism Awards will open to submissions in February 2018, with winners in six categories to be announced in June 2018. The opening of the awards will take place in the Southern Highlands Welcome Centre in Mittagong, NSW, Australia. The public loos at the […]

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16 Nov, 2017

World Economic Forum report calls for sweeping overhaul of “slow, top-down, backward-looking” ASEAN bureaucracy

Bangkok, 14 November 2017 – A joint report issued by the World Economic Forum and the Asian Development Bank has called for a sweeping administrative, operational and financial overhaul of the ASEAN secretariat to make it more functional and efficient in meeting its own over-arching goal of closer socio-cultural, economic and political-security integration. According to […]

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13 Nov, 2017

European Commission awards Paris as most innovative European city in 2017

Lisbon, 7 November 2017, European Commission – Press release — Today, the European Commission awarded the 2017 European Capital of Innovation (iCapital) prize of €1,000,000 to Paris (France). The iCapital award, granted under the EU’s research and innovation programme Horizon 2020, recognises Paris for its inclusive innovation strategy. Tallinn (Estonia) and Tel Aviv (Israel) were […]

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13 Nov, 2017

Combatting fake news: European Commission sets up High-Level Expert Group, launches public consultation

Brussels, 13 November 2017, European Commission – Press release – The Commission launched today a public consultation on fake news and online disinformation and set up a High-Level Expert Group representing academics, online platforms, news media and civil society organisations. The work of the High-Level Expert Group as well as the results of the public […]

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13 Nov, 2017

Chula Univ conf on Asian diaspora gives new meaning to “Thainess”

Bangkok – The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s latest marketing campaign, “Open to the New Shades of Thailand”, positions the kingdom as being welcoming to people of all “shades” regardless of caste, creed, religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation. Packaged under the theme of “Thainess”, the campaign pitch presses all the normal tourism marketing buttons – culture, […]

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9 Nov, 2017

World Economic Forum Launches Platform to Map Global Transformation

Dubai, 9 November 2017 (WEF media release) – Today the World Economic Forum opens access to its Transformation Maps – a dynamic knowledge tool covering more than 100 industries, countries and issues shaping the modern world. The Forum’s Transformation Maps were first developed in 2015 as a tool for understanding and visualizing industries, countries and […]

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9 Nov, 2017

Governments mull new UN migration agenda for the Asia-Pacific

Bangkok, 6 November 2017, (ESCAP News) — The Asia-Pacific Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, opened in Bangkok this week with a call for governments in the region to take action through economic, social and environmental policies to safeguard the rights and interests of all migrants, high- and […]

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9 Nov, 2017

At Bonn conference, Global Trades Union demand Just Transition to a zero-carbon future

Brussels, 6 November 2017, (International Trade Union Confederation OnLine) – The UN climate talks in Bonn open this week to discuss how to deliver the promises of the historic 2015 Paris Agreement to stay below a 2°C increase in average temperatures, and ensure a Just Transition to a zero-carbon future for workers and their communities. […]

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9 Nov, 2017

Bonn: UN climate conference aims for greater ambition as 2017 set to be among top three hottest years

United Nations, 6 November 2017, UN News – The United Nations Climate Conference opened on Monday in Bonn, Germany, with the aim of a greater ambition for climate action, as the world body’s weather agency issued a stark warning that 2017 is set to be among the three hottest years on record. The Bonn Conference […]

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9 Nov, 2017

Corruption hits most vulnerable; obliterates faith in good governance, UN chief tells forum in Vienna

United Nations, 6 November 2017, UN News – Corruption can strike anywhere and deny people’s hope of a better future, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres told the world’s largest anti-corruption forum which opened Monday in Vienna, while urging global leaders to set positive examples and restore faith in good governance. “I have seen how corruption […]

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9 Nov, 2017

Journalism under fire amid rise of ‘fake news’ and social media-driven echo chambers – UNESCO report

United Nations, 6 November 2017, UN News Centre – The media industry, which remains the primary source of news and information in the digital age, faces both vast opportunities and steep challenges, the United Nations cultural agency said on Monday in its flagship analysis of new trends in media freedom, pluralism, independence and the safety […]

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9 Nov, 2017

Protect environment from wars and conflicts, UN urges on International Day

United Nations, 6 November 2017, UN News – Commemorating the international day for lessening the impact of armed conflicts and wars on the environment, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres underscored the need to recognize that environment is also a victim of fighting. “Whether caused by fighting or a breakdown in Government control, the damage to […]

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9 Nov, 2017

Bonn: UN climate conference to focus on ways of implementing Paris accord

United Nations,3 November 2017, UN News – One year after the entry into force of the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Bonn Conference, which opened on 6 November in Germany, is an opportunity for nations around the world to show their ambition for climate action and their determination to keep their promises. “While Paris […]

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9 Nov, 2017

People without nationality face ‘stark realities’ of discrimination and persecution – UN report

United Nations,3 November 2017, UN News – Discrimination, exclusion and persecution are stark realities for many of the world’s stateless minorities, the United Nations refugee agency warned in a new report, calling for immediate action to secure equal nationality rights for all. “Stateless people are just seeking the same basic rights that all citizens enjoy. […]

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9 Nov, 2017

UN backed-report highlights how business can help achieve Global Goal on Peace, Justice and Inclusive Societies

United Nations, 3 November 2017, UN News – Through anti-corruption measures, promoting diversity and supporting justice initiatives, companies play a crucial role in achieving targets in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development on building accountable and inclusive institutions, according to a report released Friday by a United Nations-backed global fund. “While the notion of peace […]

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