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If you received a similar letter, please ignore it. Do not answer it. If you do, you will end up on more of the mailing lists used by the criminals behind this fraud. Read more.... To the best of my ability, here is the list, after the jump. Complete Listing of Italian DOCG Wines (as of May 2008): 41 Abruzzo (1) M... Haiti is a great people. We are not your backyard," Jean Charles Moiser said in front of the U.S. embassy. | Read More Congress conducts massive rally in Old City Hyderabad, Jan 10 (INN): The Congress party has alleged that the MIM has prevented the then Congress Government from developing the Old City of Hyderabad so as to continue the exploitation of local residents. Addressing different corner meetings at Etebar Chowk, Bada Bazar, SRT Colony and other areas in Yakutpura on Sunday evening. Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir said that the MIM, which was an ally of Congress since 2004, always objected to the development plans for Old City. Apologising for the lack of development, he appealed to the people to weed out MIM from the Old City and vote for Congress in the GHMC elections. Questioning MIM's commitment towards the Muslim community, he said that the MIM leaders have made big fortunes by selling away seats of educational institutions run by Darulsalaam Education Society. He challenged MIM President Asaduddin Owaisi to release the list of candidates who were given free seats in engineering or medical colleges run by his party. Shabbir Ali also slammed MIM leaders for compromising with the TRS Government on the issue of Alair encounter. He said that the MIM, which held over 40 protest meetings after Akbaruddin Owaisi was attacked, did not hold a single demonstration against the Alair encounter. He said that the Special Investigation Team, which was constituted to probe into the encounter, has proved to be an eye wash. Similarly, MIM remained silent on Kishanbagh firing incident, murder of 12-year-old boy Mustafa Shaik in military garrison and other atrocities on Muslims. MIM leaders silence on KCR's promise of 12% Muslim reservation too was highly questionable, he said. He said former MIM President late Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi was more committed towards the community while his successors have deviated from the original policy. The Congress leader sought a clarification from Asaduddin Owaisi over the controversial hoarding which depicted Chief Minister's K. Chandrashekar Rao's feet over the Namaz cap. He said that the placement of hoarding has hurt the sentiments of entire Muslim community. KCR must apologise for this act as he, through the hoarding, tried to convey that entire Muslim community was beneath his feet. Shabbir Ali ridiculed MIM's slogan 'Shaher Hamara, Mayor Hamara'. "MIM had 6 Mayors in the city since 1986. What those Mayors did for the development of Old City? The last GHMC Mayor too belonged to MIM, but the party could not waive off building fee for new building of Haj House," he said. He also alleged that the MIM leaders have accumulated huge wealth and could not survive without aligning with the ruling party. Apparently for the same reason, MIM leaders have made friendship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah. Greater Hyderabad Congress Committee (Minorities Dept) Chairman Shaik Abdullah Sohail, who organised the rally, said that the Congress party's entry into the Old City has sent shockwaves among MIM leaders. He said that the Congress party wanted to have an open electoral battle with the MIM in the entire Old City. However, MIM leaders are trying to use women as a shield and got most of the wards reserved for women, he said. Abdullah Sohail said so far hundreds of MIM workers and many prominent leaders have joined the Congress party and many more will join in the next few days. He said that the Congress party would expose MIM's failures during the GHMC election campaign. He said that the Congress workers would knock at every household in the Old City to appeal to them to join the revolution against the discrimination and backwardness of their areas. CLP Secretary and Pargi MLA C. Ram Mohan Reddy listed out various schemes implemented by the previous Congress regime for the welfare of Muslims. He said 4% Muslim reservation has revolutionised the lives of lakhs of poor Muslim families. He slammed KCR for not implementing the promise of 12% Muslim reservation. TPCC Minorities Department Chairman Mohammed Fakhruddin assured that the Congress party would fight for the rights of people of Old City and ensure the development of their areas. GHCC Secretary Syed Nizamuddin announced that the Congress party would intensify its campaign in the Old City and the entire schedule would be announced soon. He said padayatra, street corner meetings and public meetings would be organised in all the municipal divisions of Old City. News Posted: 10 January, 2016 Talasani praises Chandrababu Naidu Hyderabad, Jan 10 (INN): Making a sudden change in his approach, Commercial Taxes Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav on Sunday praised Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu. Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan here, Talsani said just like Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, Naidu too was seriously working for the development of Andhra Pradesh. He said both the Chief Ministers are cooperating with each other in the larger interest of Telugu States. He also announced that he would celebrate Sankranti festival in Bheemavaram village of West Godavari. Talasani also claimed that the TRS would win 100 seats in GHMC elections. He said people were not willing to trust the Congress, TDP and BJP. He said that the TRS has implemented several schemes for the development of Hyderabad during the last 18 months. He said the traffic problem in the city would be resolved completely in the next three years. News Posted: 10 January, 2016 Jagadish Reddy, Jupally launches TRS campaign Hyderabad, Jan 10 (INN): Energy Minister Jagadishwar Reddy and Industries Minister Jupally Krishna Rao on Sunday toured different wards and campaigned for Telangana Rashtra Samithi in connection with GHMC elections. Addressing a meeting organised by B.N. Reddy Welfare Association in Vanasthalipuram, Jagadish Reddy said that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has launched several projects for the development of Hyderabad. He said that KCR wants to develop Hyderabad as a global city and the dream could be realised only if people vote for TRS in GHMC elections. Meanwhile, Jupally inaugurated TRS party office in Attapur division. Addressing the workers later, he claimed that the TRS was all set to win the GHMC elections. However, he asked the party cadre to intensify their campaign and approach each and every voter. He said leaders and workers of different political parties have been joining the TRS as they were impressed with the performance of TRS Government. News Posted: 10 January, 2016 Afzal Guru's Son Lauded On Social Media His father was a terrorist and hanged to death for sketching attack on Indian Parliament. But the son of the same terrorist was praised by several people today. Ghalib Guru, son of Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru who was hanged three years back stole the show on social media with an impressive 95 per cent score in the 10th board examinations conducted by the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School. Examination. Ghalib scored a whopping 474 total out of 500 in the exams and also secured A1 grade in all five subjects in the 10th standard examinations conducted by the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Examination. Ghalib's performance in the examinations became a talking point on the social media with many lauding the boy 'for excelling despite hardships'. Afzal Guru Son has set an example that to drop guns & hold pen Ghalib's father father, Afzal Guru, was hanged on February 9th, 2013 following his conviction in the December 2001, Parliament attack. News Posted: 11 January, 2016 KTR vowed To resign Telangana Minister for IT and Panchayati raj, K. Taraka Rama rao (KTR) today throws an open challenge the opposition parites in the state. KT Rama Rao has vowed to resign if Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) won't win the upcoming GHMC elections. KTR stated that the TRS party will win 100 seats in the upcoming GHMC Elections and if the party fails to win the 100 seats he will resign his post. KTR said that MIM will be in the second position and BJP in third. Congress won't get even 10 seats, he added.He said the TRS would have no alliance with any political and it would go it alone in the Polls. According to Ramarao, Congress would end up with not more than 10 seats, while MIM and BJP will be second and third positions respectively. KTR said the party is confident of winning the mayor post as they have done a lot of development in the city in the past 18 months. Responding about oppositions bringing film stars to campaign KTR said ''KCR is the most glamorous hero in Telangana and we don't need any film stars to campaign for the party''. The State Election Commission is set to release the notification for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections on Tuesday News Posted: 11 January, 2016 Delhi man arrested for molesting co-passenger In flight A male passenger on a Delhi-bound Indigo flight was arrested at the Kolkata airport for allegedly molesting a woman co-passenger. The accused was identified as Sanjay Kando, a businessman hailing from Gurgaon. As per reports he allegedly misbehaved and molested a woman passenger, seated beside him. The incident was happened when Passengers were still boarding the flight. The woman who already seated began shouting saying that the man seated next to her had molested her. Both passengers were made to leave the plane, which took off on schedule. The woman complained to the airlines and both of them were deplaned by the flight staff and taken to the Airport police station.The man was then arrested by airport authoroities. A case has been registered based on her complaint and the man arrested. News Posted: 11 January, 2016 About 25 million tonnes of rice will be produced during 2016-17 crop years instead of the normal production output of between 31-32 million tonnes to correspond with anticipated consumption demand. Commerce permanent secretary Chutima Boonyaprapat said that the private and farming sectors had been invited to join the government sector in working out an integrated rice production and market plan for the 2016-17 croup years. The plan is divided into short-term or six-month, medium-term or 12-month and long-term or 18-month programmes. Ms Chutima said it was agreed by the three parties that the yield for the 2016-17 croup years would be capped at 25 million tonnes instead of 31-32 million tonnes as the government wanted to reduce rice-farming areas due to drought and also to correspond with market demand. The plan is expected to be completed within a month, she added. Regarding production, Ms Chutima said the Commerce Ministry would see to it that production costs are to reduce such as the costs of fertilizer, pesticides and harvesting as well as upgrading the standard of rice mills. As for domestic marketing, the ministry will try to secure more rice markets and to ensure fairness in rice trading which may include inspection of rice weighing and humidity measurement, price tagging and setting the standard of rice trade. The Agriculture Ministry has been tasked with rice cultivation zoning to set different zones for different types of rice and water management as well as choosing the right rice types for different zones. Total rice exports this year are expected to be slashed from 10 million tonnes to 9 million tonnes due to prolonged drought which curtailed second crop production and postponed main croup cultivation. The 9.5 million tonnes of rice expected to be exported include 4.8 million tonnes of white rice, 2.2 million tonnes of Hom Malee fragrant rice, 2.2 million tonnes of parboiled rice, 200,000 tonnes of sticky rice and 100,000 tonnes Hom Pathum Thani rice. Pointing out that there are signs that the ongoing drought day drag on for another year, Mr Charoen said that global economic slowdown might bite into Thai rice exports. Southeast Asia is among the top climate-vulnerable regions in the world, and the Philippines is all too familiar with this reality, having experienced the wrath of super typhoon Yolanda two years ago. The region faces an increased risk of river flooding, coastal inundation, and sea level rise, threatening about 436 million people who live within 100 kilometers of its coasts. Salinity intrusion may lead to the loss of hundreds of thousands of hectares of productive paddy and other agricultural land, the study says. There will also be increasing competition for water resources for different uses, with 185 million people from Southeast Asia likely to experience water stress by 2050. Due to increased evaporation, drinking water and water used for agriculture will be reduced, too. Another risk is associated with more intense cyclones and storms. Extreme precipitation may rise west of the Philippines, among other locations. In the DA5, increases in temperature may cause crop sterility, as well as reduce yield. Declines in rice yield potential have already been observed as a result of warming nighttime temperatures in the Philippines under otherwise controlled conditions, the study says. Some 190 million people who work in agriculture in these five countries are threatened. But aviation industry expert Hans Mitterlechner believes if one airline were to break the ice, others might be keen to test the waters. "There's a 'me-too' effect in aviation. If someone does it and the service is maintained for some time then the assumption would be for the others that this airline makes money. If that's the case, it's easy to prove the business case to a second and third airline to do this," he said. "On a small scale it happened in Toowoomba Airport. One airline put in services to Sydney about 13 months ago and now they're flying to Cairns and Melbourne. It proves the market to a certain degree. If Singapore Airlines were to fly to Canberra it would make a business case [for others]." And as an international carrier already operating five flights to Sydney a day, Mr Mitterlechner said Singapore Airline was the "most logical" one to dip a toe in. "For the local airlines one thing you'd have to remember is [Sydney] a very high yielding market and they don't want to destroy that, they want to keep it as it is and will not interfere with their own money making," he said. Except why do American colleges now report that nearly 30 per cent of female college seniors experience unwanted sexual contact? Why, across the 28 member states of the European Union, do one-third of women encounter physical and/or sexual violence from the age of 15? We tell ourselves it is worse elsewhere that female genital mutilation in Africa, sex trafficking in Asia, acid burning in Pakistan, widow burning in India, mob attacks in Algeria, female infanticide in China, honour killings throughout South Asia and Middle East, that all these atrocities constitute far worse depredations against women than anything we see in so-called "civilised" society. But how else to understand male violence against women and children, a crime that former US President Jimmy Carter describes as "the most pervasive and unaddressed human rights violation on earth". I was leaping forward a generation to Germaine Greer's The Female Eunuch, where she wrote that "most men hate women at least some of the time." I'd rejected that notion at the time because there were too many good men I knew who didn't feel that way. Why is domestic violence the leading cause of death for women under the age of 45 in Australia, one woman killed on average every week? How is it that one in four children are exposed to domestic violence and that "familicide", the murder-suicide of children and a parent in the context of custody or access disputes, is so common? Is it because and here's something to chew over guys a brutal misogyny actually permeates every culture and society in the world? That burning witches during medieval time and ditching witches (or calling a female journalist a "mad witch") in modern times, are simply opposite points on the same spectrum? A form of misogyny as old as Genesis: Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you. Many years ago I spoke to Peter O'Connor, a Jungian therapist and best-selling author about the rage and sorrow of men. He talked about men being at the mercy of their logic and reason; how they operated almost always in the external world where occupation remained the cornerstone of their identity. Men were compelled to know, to be right, to be in control, especially of their emotions. Women, on the other hand, were generally more at home with their intuitive, feeling sides; with life's ambiguities and uncertainties. That's why so many men felt threatened by women. Women symbolised a world over which men had little control, so that in a crisis, they couldn't rely upon their powers of reasoning and logic to provide answers. The enemy, as they say, was within. Crossbench senators key to the success of the Turnbull government's industrial relations reforms are increasing the pressure to release a secret report produced by the trade union royal commission. Senators Glenn Lazarus, Jacqui Lambie and Ricky Muir last year voted against bills to reinstate a Howard-era building watchdog and to impose stricter penalties on union officials who breach their duties, with Labor and the Greens. The Senate twice rejected the latter bill, leaving open a potential trigger for a double-dissolution election. The Coalition will try again this year to pass both bills, following the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption hearings. The commission released a five-volume final report last month. Commissioner Dyson Heydon found that union misconduct was "widespread" and "deep-seated". The death of an Asian man with a distinctive tattoo remains a mystery, after a coroner determined she could not identify him or how he died. The man's decomposing body was discovered on a vacant block in North Valley Road, Park Orchards on January 2, 2009 when a couple walking their dog noticed a strong smell and found the body wrapped in plastic and blankets and concealed by tree branches. Despite several clues, including a large and distinctive tattoo, police have yet to identify a man found dead in 2009. Credit:Scott Barbour Forensic investigators later discovered signs of trauma to the man's head and limbs. London: More residents in the besieged Syrian town of Madaya starved to death during the weekend as food taunts were spread online in a display of cruelty. UN officials said they hoped the first shipment of food aid would reach Madaya's 40,000 residents on Monday. Aid will be sent simultaneously to two other villages blockaded by rebels. Madaya is controlled by rebels and encircled by pro-government forces with barbed wire, land mines and snipers. The people in the town make soups of grass, spices and olive leaves. They eat donkeys and cats. They arrive, collapsing, at a clinic that offers little but rehydration salts. Neighbors fail to recognize neighbors in the streets because their faces are so sunken. Syria, once classified as a middle-income country, now reports periodic malnutrition deaths. At least 28 people, including six babies, have died from hunger-related causes at a clinic in Madaya aided by Doctors Without Borders, medics there say. And the 42,000 people that the United Nations counts as trapped in Madaya are about a tenth of those stranded in besieged or hard-to-reach areas as conditions grow steadily worse. Attacks on women in Cologne and other German cities on New Year's Eve have prompted more than 600 criminal complaints, with police suspicion resting on asylum seekers, putting pressure on Chancellor Angela Merkel and her open-door migrant policy. The attacks, mostly targeting women and ranging from theft to sexual molestation, have prompted a highly charged debate in Germany about its welcoming stance for refugees and migrants, more than 1 million of whom arrived in 2015. The sudden nature of the violent attacks and the fact they stretched from Hamburg to Frankfurt prompted German Justice Minister Heiko Maas to speculate they had been planned or co-ordinated. French President Francois Hollande shakes hands to police officers at the Paris' police headquarters, one year after the attack targeting the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo that left 12 dead. Credit:AP "I think we can nevertheless be proud of what we've done. We kept the paper coming out every week, on top of trying to manage the post-traumatic stress and allowing ourselves to grieve. "I think we can be proud of what we've done. In any case, I'm happy." The cover of Charlie Hebdo, the French satirical publication, to mark the first anniversary of the attacks on 7 January 2015 at its offices in which 12 people were killed. Photograph: Charlie Hebdo Credit:Charlie Hebdo She and her colleagues had to deal with the loss of their friends and co-workers, with incredible new security arrangements, and putting out a magazine that had not only lost its core talent but had suddenly had become a cultural symbol, rather than just a lefty rag with more sentimental support than actual readers. And they also had to deal with a backlash. A woman picks up the issue of Charlie Hebdo that marks one year after the attacks on the French satirical newspaper. Credit:AP "Very quickly we started hearing people say 'Charlie provoked this' or 'it's Charlie's fault'." The Charlie Hebdo attacks have changed Paris. They were a deliberate attack on free speech, and beyond their targets they have silenced some voices and changed the tone of others. After an initial "Je suis Charlie" act of bravado, beyond the defiance, the solidarite and the singing, came the fear. "The fear started with Charlie," says Lolita Sechan. "I think before that we were unconscious." Sechan, 35, an illustrator and writer of graphic novels, won't catch the Metro any more. "The fear never stops everybody says 'no fear, no fear' but I think that is naive. You have to live with fear. There is no day goes by we don't hear about a terrorist attack." (Her words are prophetic. Almost as she says them, in the next suburb, a man walks up to a police station with a fake explosive device and a printed ISIS flag, waving a knife. He is shot dead.) Looking back a year to the Charlie Hebdo atrocity, Sechan remembers her parents in tears over the loss of their friends at the magazine, she remembers trying to explain it all to her three year-old daughter. And then a few days later she remembers standing in the midst of a million people marching through Paris, singing the Marseillaise for the first time in her life an anthem she had previously avoided as a bloody, politically incorrect historical relic. And, even more remarkably, her father, French folk rock icon Renaud, the anti-authoritarian left-wing pacifist, kissed a cop. In a cafe in the city's north, sipping an orange juice, Sechan thinks back a year to when she was on her way to work at a studio she shared with other illustrators just a few hundred metres from Charlie Hebdo. She heard the news on the radio, arrived at work and asked her colleagues if it was true. They were just silent, she says. "We lost [Charlie Hebdo's] Honore, we lost Charb, Wolinski. They were a little bit older than us, the people we admired when we grew up," she says. "It felt like it was [an attack on] us. Just because we were doing drawings." Charlie had been part of her life, growing up. "Charlie was a friend in my house, near the bed, in the living room and toilet there was Charlie everywhere. "I cried so much, and now I have forbidden myself to cry again." Instead, she wants to turn her fear and sadness into something new. "I feel useless now," says Sechan. "I am not satisfied with just drawing any more. I have spent the year thinking about how I can do different things, perhaps give lessons in schools for disadvantaged children, perhaps convince people to vote. "I think everything changed and we need to change I cannot accept to live with fear and not to change everything in my life. So I will try to find something" Her father, Renaud, had invested in Charlie Hebdo in 1992 to bring it back from the brink of closing, and wrote a column for a few years. He counted some of its people his close friends. Just two weeks before the attack he had had lunch with Charlie cartoonist Charb. But, says Sechan, he found new strength through his loss. "[At the big rally after Charlie Hebdo] my dad who was a big anarchist he kissed a cop. It's famous to hate cops. [The attacks] changed us. It doesn't mean we love all the policemen but it means it's less Manichean, less black and white. We changed. And that's perhaps a good thing." Her father has been shocked out of a long melancholy and is even making a new record. "He is living again, he rediscovers life. I think he feels the same as I do, you cannot stay useless." One song is about Charlie Hebdo, another about the Hypercacher supermarket, another is called "I kissed a cop". But some on Paris' old left feel betrayed by the reaction to the Charlie Hebdo, Hypercacher and the November 13 attacks. They argue that France, the intellectual birthplace of modern human rights, is rejecting a proud heritage through constitutional changes, proposed by President Francois Hollande, that erode civil liberties in exchange for national security and through cultural change as well. Bruno Blum, 65, is a musician and writer (and self-described "free thinker") who used to contribute cartoons to Hara Kiri, the raunchy, counter-culture predecessor to Charlie Hebdo. Part of the legacy of Charlie Hebdo was opening minds and pushing progress, Blum says. Its gonzo, free, funny style pricked egos and infuriated the establishment. But he fears that legacy is being trashed in the wake of the terror attacks, as well as a spreading political correctness. "I did a drawing [in response to the November attacks], white on black, I wrote 'Allah does not exist, freedom of expression does'. Which is probably to some Muslims a provocation, fine. But I don't care what they think. This is freedom of expression. "So I posted it on my Facebook. Maybe 10 minutes later [a friend] told me 'it's dangerous'. An hour later maybe five or 10 people told me I was doing something wrong. So I came under pressure, I took it down." Klaus Stuttman, a cartoonist for Germany's Tagesspiegel, also says he feels increased pressure on social media not to offend he finds the virulent feedback makes him less likely to place his work there. Stuttman points out that the new focus on cartooning can be traced back not to Charlie Hebdo but, to Denmark's Jyllands-Posten publishing in 2005 a series of cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad. "Cartoons became dangerous," he says. But he believes jihadism is not the biggest threat to freedom of speech. "The extreme right movements are getting stronger and they have no sense of humour," he says. "They are physically violent and you have to be afraid of this. And there are authoritarian governments in Hungary and Poland, where censorship has already started." Guillaume Doizy is a writer and publisher who specialises in the history of political caricatures he knew Charlie Hebdo's Charb and Honore personally, and publicly defended them in 2011 when caricatures of the prophet Muhammad made the news. Political cartooning has long been seen as central to France's political life, Doizy says. In the early 19th century caricaturists were imprisoned at the command of King Louis-Phillipe. But he says even before the 2015 attacks, political cartoons were an "out-dated form" any publication that put an illustration on its cover rather than a photo would see an instant dip in sales. Doizy says that before January 7, 2015, Charlie Hebdo was "pretty much forgotten about". "It didn't reflect any social or collective demand," he said indeed, all satirical newspapers were struggling. "It was about provocation, and provocation belongs to another era we are [now] in a society that doesn't debate, where there is very little discussion. There is a kind of political disaffection." Modern multiculturalism added a new edge to such provocation, he says it was more likely to come across as aggressive, to create offence. Despite a brief focus of attention after the attacks, cartoons are still on the way out. "We would have expected that there would be a renaissance, that editors would all start printing political cartoons as a way of defending liberty of expression," Doizy says. "But they haven't." "I feel like it's a loss, but does anyone else?" Doizy asks. "Obviously not, because readers don't miss them." In the wake of the attacks people took to the streets to defend freedom of expression but "very quickly this disappeared", Doizy says. "Sure there's a culture in France that allows us to talk freely however this freedom is changing, there's a feeling things are really going backwards." He points to the angry reaction to the anniversary edition of Charlie, whose cover features a bloody-robed God with an AK-47 slung over his shoulder, and the caption "the assassin is still on the run". "There has been a long tradition of secularism [in France], but that cartoon didn't go down well, even less so than before," Doizy says. "People are sick of the tension, the attacks and the tension surrounding these images. People want it to stop, they want to forget. "People realised they actually don't want to defend people who express themselves differently." The ''je suis Charlie'' movement has lost its determination to defend free speech if it ever had any Doizy says. And then the November 13 attacks, he says, "completely swept away the notion of freedom of expression, replacing it with a discourse about war, security and fear." Sechan says she felt the Charlie attack was more than just on the magazine it was an attack on a way of life, a life she now realises is "precious, and fragile". Coco says the same. "[After the attack] there was a lot of debate about free sp eech but after November 13 we realised that this wasn't only about these things, it was about our freedom just to have a drink, to go and see a band, our freedom to be atheist, the freedom to be secular: that's what was attacked. "We have to stay on guard all the time and try to learn to live as normally as possible within that." Over the year, she found that her love of drawing gave her the strength to keep going. Beirut: Aid convoys headed for a besieged Syrian town where thousands are trapped and the United Nations says people are reported to have died of starvation. Trucks headed for Madaya, near the Lebanese border, and two villages in the northwest of the country on Monday, the Red Cross said, as part of an agreement between warring sides. Trucks were to simultaneously enter rebel-held Madaya, which has been blockaded for months by pro-government forces and where aid agencies have warned of widespread starvation, and al Foua and Kefraya in Idlib province, which are encircled by insurgents. The blockade of Madaya has become a focal issue for Syrian opposition leaders who told a UN envoy last week they will not take part in talks with the government until it and other sieges are lifted. Vehicles from the International Committee of the Red Cross were on their way to Madaya from Damascus, and to al Foua and Kefraya, the International Committee of the Red Cross's Syria Twitter account said. With no outcome in sight in the police investigation into government minister Joy Burch's office, Chief Minister Andrew Barr will push ahead with a reshuffle of his frontbench this month. A police spokesman said this week the "assessment of information is still not complete and may take several more weeks", a delay that leaves Ms Burch and her office in limbo. Expressions of interest: ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr. Credit:Jeffrey Chan Ms Burch resigned as police minister and took leave from the Assembly in mid-December after police launched their investigation. Her chief of staff resigned also. While it remains unclear precisely what the police are alleging or investigating, attention has centred around a conversation chief of staff Maria Hawthorne had with union boss Dean Hall earlier this year, where she relayed details of a meeting between Ms Burch and Chief Police Officer Rudi Lammers Mr Barr has stressed that no allegation has been made against Ms Burch herself, who resigned because she was responsible for the actions of her staff. But the ongoing stumbles in her portfolios have left a question mark over her ministerial future. Mr Barr has foreshadowed a reshuffle of his cabinet team before the parliament sits again on February 9 to set in place the team he will lead into the October election. With only three backbenchers in the small parliament and one of them, Mary Porter, leaving the Assembly at a still-unspecified date before the election, Mr Barr is limited to finding ministers among his existing ministerial team plus Meegan Fitzharris and Chris Bourke. He also faces the departure of deputy, Simon Corbell, at the election and will be wanting others to take on some of Mr Corbell's senior portfolios which include health and Capital Metro. Mr Corbell is acting Chief Minister till Mr Barr returns from leave on Monday, January 11. Ms Burch returns from leave the following week, January 18. Mr Barr's spokesman said he was "using the summer break to consider the allocation of portfolios". It was not appropriate to make any comment on the police evaluation, but he had not received any updates, he said. Visitors to the Australian War Memorial will have the chance to commemorate Australia's war dead after dark throughout January. While the galleries still close at 5pm, the Commemorative Area will reopen from 7.30pm until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Late night openings on Fridays and Saturdays will be held during January at the Australian War Memorial. Credit:Graham Tidy Volunteer guides will tell stories about those listed on the Roll of Honour who died during, or as a result of, war service. People can also listen to recordings of these names being recited by Australian children. From humble beginnings on an island in the Tweed River in northern NSW and time spent living on an Aboriginal reserve on Palm Island, Neville Bonner rose to become Australia's first Indigenous Member of Parliament, despite limited formal education. A bark painting depicting his remarkable life journey has now joined a collection of Mr Bonner's possessions in the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House thanks to a donation from Mr Bonner's son Alfred. Neville Bonner's son, Alfred Bonner, at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House. Credit:Jay Cronan Palm Island artist Bill Congoo, a relative of Neville Bonner's, painted the work in the 1970s and gave it to him on one of his many visits after he entered the Senate in 1971. After receiving the treasured painting from his father shortly before his death, Alfred Bonner gave it to his great-niece Narelle Anderson as he feared it would be lost in the family. Mr Lopez said the result, which ACT government figures have predicted could deliver a $20 million boost to the territory's economy, put the event in a great position for next year's 30th anniversary horsepower extravaganza. The morning after: Andy Lopez, Summernats co-owner, left, says good bye to Canberra's Brad Sullivan who brought his supercharged outlaw LX Torana SS to the event for the first time. Credit:David Ellery But he expected total attendance to be on a par with 2015's record breaking 108,000 crowd. Summernats 2016 fell short of meeting the 2000 car target organisers had hoped for, event co-owner Andy Lopez says. "I'm confident we will smash the 2000 car mark in 2017," he said. "[This year] we had beautiful weather, fantastic crowd behaviour, and most importantly, a record breaking number of cars." ACT Policing's Superintendent traffic operations Ben Cartwright said the event had been largely incident free with no arrests inside EPIC. "ACT Policing conducted over 2300 random breath tests, 100 random drug tests and issued 41 traffic infringement notices [in Canberra] between Friday and Sunday," Superintendent Cartwright said. "Out of 2300 random breath tests, five people showed readings over the prescribed legal limit. Whilst drink driving is never acceptable, this shows that the majority of people were doing the right thing." Event organisers are working with ACT Fire and Rescue and Worksafe ACT in the wake of a "methanol flash" at the refuelling depot on Thursday night. A worker was taken to hospital with minor burns. Retailers would place money from gift cards sales in escrow to protect customers in an event of a corporate collapse - like that of Dick Smith - under changes to the law demanded by Independent Senator Nick Xenophon. In the wake of electronics retailer Dick Smith's collapse last week, Senator Xenophon has called for legislative changes so that customers with gift cards and who have paid deposits are not left in the lurch. This is in addition to calls for a senate inquiry. He has proposed a three-pronged approach. Firstly, there should be an obligation on external administrators to honour gift cards and to give customers greater priority. At present, receiver Ferrier Hodgson considers gift card holders - some holding ones worth $1200 - as unsecured creditors of the group. Airbnb has enabled the writer to get glorious apartments at great prices. It turns out that the annexed bedroom is quite a feature in some European homes: two bedrooms linked by a doorway, with access through only one of those rooms. Which is perfectly fine if you are the parents of small children and they can't escape unless they pass through your room (and your sex life is temporarily on hold) but not so great if you are all adults who expect to be able to leave your bedroom without having to pass go (or snoring friends). Of the four places we rented in Italy, three had set-ups just like that. In contrast, the only hotel we stayed at during our time away had real trouble even dealing with minor issues. It had our money for about a month beforehand (so could blithely ignore our queries on arrival) whereas airbnb holds the payment until you've checked in and made sure everything is OK. The rental service is definitely not perfect there were serious concerns over the way in which it handled early complaints. Homes were trashed by renters and the service handled the issues poorly. At least two women were sexually assaulted by their Spanish host and the Barcelona man was jailed for 12 years as a result of the attacks. One man was held hostage and since that time, airbnb has changed the way it deals with emergency calls. And it's true that this kind of accommodation carries with it more risks particularly if you travel alone. But in all the time I've used airbnb, I've found the response to be reasonable and responsible. One host tried to increase the fee for our rental after we'd signed up and threatened to reject our booking unless we paid up it was a stressful few days while we waited to see how it unfolded but the accommodation service ended up paying it. "Happy birthday!" greets Dave Horsfall, of North Gosford, "For, ahem, 1947. A lady never reveals her age, but a gentleman always will." It's true Column 8 is 69 today. We may finally be getting close to an age whereby readers can realistically address us once more as "Granny". "I notice that you edited my 'spelt' to the US English 'spelled'," huffs Brian Burbage, of Inverleigh, asserting that said spelling is an American affectation. "If you're following UK writing conventions, use spelt. We are part of the British Commonwealth of Nations so we should use the Queen's English, in which the past participle of the verb 'spell' is 'spelt'." Not around here it isn't, unless we're talking about wheat. We promise to soon consign our discussion of stamps (a currency that must be added to when prices rise, or a contract for a service to be provided), to our Dead Letter Office. Meanwhile Barry Filshie, of Port Macquarie, is one of several who tell us that "I buy pre-paid envelopes, that can survive multiple rises in postage. They have 'postage paid' printed on them, which indicates to me that a contract has been entered into at the time of purchase. So my advice is to stock up if you think a stamp price-rise is imminent." As for using old stamps and insisting on service, Gerard English, of Waverton, raises the question of face vs market value. "The mind boggles as to what the result would be of someone affixing an 1840 Penny Black to their correspondence, given that the Stanley Gibbons company has an unused set of four, offered at A$321,551.21. I suppose, as Australia Post would not be the recipient of the massive windfall, such a letter might not ever be delivered, bearing what could be adjudged insufficient postage." "We were informed on page five of Saturday's paper that '51.58 per cent of all NSW jobs are at risk of computerisation'," notes Norm Pilbeam, of North Rocks. "That is remarkable accuracy for what are simply wild guesses and/or research consisting of nothing but arbitrary assumptions." This is not like the Cold War, where individual spies smuggled small pieces of information to their Soviet handlers in London clubs or Viennese cafes. Nowadays we have the unimaginably vast theft of electronic material by Edward Snowden, who immediately jumped on a plane to Hong Kong and Moscow. A small problem one disloyal junior employee can thus become a very large one. The problem is a creeping one. As we have become more dependent on technology to lubricate the wheels of everyday activities, we have become more vulnerable to both the failures of the technologies themselves and our ability to access them. We are being drawn inexorably into the era of the war of the invisible enemy. It would be foolish, therefore, to ignore some of the new threats we face as a result of such huge changes. On a security and defence level, it is clear to me that one of the greatest of these new threats is cyber crime including cyber terrorism and cyber warfare. Whether or not we think about it every day, we live in a rapidly changing world. Nowhere is this more true than in the field of technology. In 1993, there was a total of 130 websites in existence. Only a handful of experts had heard of the world wide web. By the end of last year, however, this had risen to more than 700 million sites; and for billions of people around the world, internet access had become a cornerstone of modern life. In the information age, cyber terrorism is one of our greatest threats. Credit:iStock Likewise, when the Chinese shot down one of their satellites in space, it was not to show themselves that they were capable of doing so but to demonstrate it to the rest of us. The naval fleets of the West may be advanced and powerful but they are useless if we cannot link up to them via satellites. Small flaws in our systems can lead to massive problems. We must be clear about who exactly our new enemies are. Contrary to the image portrayed in the media and popular culture, cyber criminals are not typically geeky teenagers. They tend to be veritable armies of terrorists, agents of hostile states or drug cartels. They use fraud and extortion to fund their activities and do so on an industrial scale. Those who leave themselves vulnerable to these activities make themselves part of a national security threat, usually as a result of lack of diligence or understanding. Cyber crime that targets the state can often find an entry point further down the food chain. A disturbing example of this was a hack known as "Titan Rain", believed to have been the work of Chinese groups. It started in 2003-04 as an attempt at corporate espionage, lifting sensitive information from the computer networks of major US defence contractors. But it spread in 2005-06 to attack the networks of the US Department of Defence, and the British Ministry of Defence. The MOD declined to say whether its systems were compromised. It is believed, however, that the same attack managed to shut down the House of Commons computer system for almost a day in 2006. One of the major challenges is the need to persuade both the public and the military that we must spend more on the invisible technology that will protect us from these new threats. In a time of continuing austerity, this may mean spending less on the things that we can see our traditional military capabilities so that we can invest in things that we cannot see our cyber capabilities. We also need to develop a proper cyber doctrine in the way that we did at the start of the nuclear era. We need to determine how we would respond to potential existential threats and how we can deter and, if necessary, deal with cyber aggression. Anyone who has spent an hour or two idling by the quiet waters of the upper reaches of the Yarra River knows how precious the area is. Above the sepia-toned waters, red box and manna gums shelter warbling magpies, parrots and kookaburras and the occasional koala. Insects flit off the river's surface and, if you look carefully, you might spy a platypus near the banks. The bends and falls of the Yarra around Warrandyte beckon in summer. They are a sanctuary and playground for all. No wonder, then, that the local residents are horrified by revelations that this lovely environment has been spoiled by none other than the guardians entrusted to protect the area, Parks Victoria. In a 154-page catalogue of health and safety incidents recorded state-wide by Parks Victoria between January and early October (and which the Coalition obtained via freedom of information) there is a curiously brief report about contamination of the Yarra at its Warrandyte operations centre, above Pound Bend. That nine-sentence report, filed in April, raises alarms about what appears to have been a long-standing practice at Warrandyte of pressure-washing Parks Victoria's vehicles and containers to rinse away hazardous and toxic chemicals, including herbicides, dyes, fire-retardant foams, degreasers and detergents, poison baits and paint. Residues and water from the wash-downs drained into three pits on the site, none of which was designed to store contaminated or toxic substances. Worse, the pits apparently did not have any filtration systems, so the untreated contaminated water eventually found its way into the Yarra River. "I knew for a year this was the way it would be. I wasn't, however, prepared for it. He was an extraordinary man, full of love and life. He will always be with us. For now, it is appropriate to cry." Another close friend and collaborator, Iggy Pop, wrote on social media that Bowie's friendship was the light of his life. Reports David Bowie has died aged 69. Born in London on 8 January 1947, the music icon with the dazzling, multi-coloured eyes released his last album Blackstar on his 69th birthday, just three days before his death was made public. His first hit song Space Oddity made the Top 5 UK singles chart in 1969. David Bowie in Nicolas Roeg's 1976 film 'The Man Who Fell To Earth' Credit:Courtesy Rialto Pictures/Studio But his international breakthrough came in 1972 with the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, in which the innovative musician imagined the archetypal rock star as a space alien, his androgynous stage persona Ziggy Stardust. He experimented with rock, pop, soul, dance, punk and electronica throughout his decades long career, nabbing his first US No.1 single in 1975 with Fame from the Top 10 album Young Americans. Illustration: Rocco Fazzari The chameleon entertainer made his mark on the big screen with memorable performances on film, including The Man Who Fell to Earth in 1976, The Hunger in 1983 and Labyrinth in 1986. In 1980 Bowie played the title role in the Broadway hit The Elephant Man. His last live performance was at a New York charity concert in 2006, according to Reuters. The musical maestro was due to be honoured at Carnegie Hall in March. A true pop superstar, Bowie released 26 studio albums, 9 live albums, 111 singles, and 51 music videos. Australian rock band The Angels toured with Bowie on his first tour down under in 1978. Former band member Graham 'Buzz' Bidstrup said he was lost for words when he met him for the first time backstage in Adelaide. "Bowie sat himself down right opposite me for dinner, and I couldn't think of anything to say," Bidstrup recalls. "I just said, 'Good food, eh?' "And from then on we watched every bloody show, and learned heaps." Bowie later joined The Angels for post-show drinks in Brisbane, dinner at The Sebel in Sydney, and at a party in London. Bidstrup said Bowie was humble and quietly spoken at those events, but he would always remember him as he was on stage a stunning showman. "The way he ran his shows was just amazing. Doc [Neeson] and I would sit there each night on tour, starting off on the side of the show, but we would always end up having to go out there, out in front." Former Icehouse drummer John Lloyd, toured with Bowie through Europe several years later, which he says was the "pinnacle of my music career". Icehouse was approached by Bowie at a music festival in Germany, where he asked them to join him on his Serious Moonlight tour. "We were in the middle of playing, and someone pointed side-stage and there he was, Bowie, watching us ... It was like God had just walked in to the room," Lloyd said. London: Sales of David Bowie's last album - released two days before his death from cancer - have soared, along with downloads of the greatest hits of his storied career. Blackstar was the top-selling album on Apple's iTunes platform in Australia, with Bowie albums taking out seven of the top 10 slots as of Tuesday morning. Blackstar also occupied the top slots in the US and UK. In the UK, the Official Charts Company said Blackstar had already been headed to the top spot on the charts, with sales of 43,000 since its release on Friday. The measure of any awards show host is revealed in the opening volley. It's a love affair with the audience which is won or lost in a moment. That's why Billy Crystal, and the pairing of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, are remembered with reverence. And why Seth McFarlane doesn't get asked back any more. Ricky Gervais was returning to the Golden Globes this year after three winning turns as host, having set the bar impossibly high, and a three year absence during which the awards were hosted by the brilliant pairing of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. He recovered in the end, just, but for one perilous moment it nearly skidded off the rails. Gervais' first outings as host of film and television's bridesmaid of awards shows were sharp, and took aim at Hollywood's most exalted stars and most taboo subjects. This year, after much pre-hype, his opening monologue was filled with easy targets and crude humour which seemed to fall flat with the star-studded audience. Severe thunderstorms bringing the potential for large hailstones, heavy rainfall and damaging wind continue to pose a threat to the Newcastle region although a similar warning for Sydney has now been cancelled. Areas that may be affected include Newcastle, Cessnock, Maitland, Glen Innes, Dorrigo and Walcha, the Bureau of Meteorology said in a statement. A warning for severe thunderstorms remains in place for the Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast, Hunter and Northern Tablelands forecast districts, the bureau said. Severe thunderstorms are no longer occurring in the metropolitan Sydney, Illawarra and Central Tablelands districts and the alert for those regions has been withdrawn. Australia stands to gain almost nothing from the mega trade deal sealed with 11 other nations including United States, Japan, and Singapore, the first comprehensive economic analysis finds. Prepared by staff from the World Bank, the study says the so-called Trans-Pacific Partnership would boost Australia's economy by just 0.7 per cent by the year 2030. The annual boost to growth would be less than one half of one 10th of 1 per cent. Other members of the TPP stand to benefit much more, according to the analysis. Vietnam's economy would be 10 per cent bigger by 2030, Malaysia's 8 per cent bigger, New Zealand's 3 per cent bigger, and Singapore's 3 per cent bigger. Five members of an Australian family, including two children, have died in a horrific accident on a freeway in India on Sunday. Anamika Dutta, 45, her daughters Pipasa, 15, Neetika, 12, her son Tirvijai, 20, and her sister Sonia, 25, were killed when the wheel of their SUV burst as they were travelling along the Yamuna Expressway in Uttar Pradesh on their way to a picnic, according to local police. Five members of an Australian family have been killed after their SUV crashed on Yamuna Expressway in Uttar Pradesh. Credit:yamunaexpresswayauthority.com The SUV was sent careening out of control into a safety barrier, then a road divider, flipping upside down and landing on the opposite side of the expressway. Residents of a nearby village tried to help the family, but the two women and two girls died at the scene. Tirvijai was taken to Mathura Hospital where he died a short time later, police said. Reading a story about women that's generally believed to appeal to women, Carolyn Burns found herself drawn to its male characters. "Frank is my absolute favourite a standard-issue bastard", she says of one of the relatively few chaps in Madeleine St John's The Women in Black. The ladies of the fictional Goodes department store in full-flight for Carolyn Burns' Ladies in Black. Being a thoughtless bastard was almost a given in the 1950s, St John implies. The inarticulate, heavy-drinking Australian male of the time could not express his feelings. He shadows the daughters, wives, sweethearts and mothers who people this endearing story. And Burns tries to understand him. Burns has adapted the novel for a stage musical now titled Ladies in Black. Written in 1993, it is set in 1950s Sydney where a group of women outfitted in black work in a fictional department store called Goode's. More NSW households are struggling with growing gas costs, with the number of residential gas disconnections and those on payment plans jumping in the past financial year. The latest figures from the Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW show residential gas disconnection increased by 54 per cent to 7555 in 2014-15. Gas-related disconnections and complaints are rising, according to the Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW. The rise in disconnections comes in the wake of a decision by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal in 2014 to raise regulated gas prices by between 14.4 per cent and 19.4 per cent over two years. It said one of the main drivers was the increased exposure to the international gas market. The figures also show the number of gas customers on payment plans increased by 63 per cent to 17,885. By contrast, the number of electricity customers on payments plans grew by 23 per cent. An international bikie gang known for its extreme violence has tried to get a foothold in Australia by recruiting members for its Sydney chapter via Facebook, NSW Police say. But the head of the NSW Gangs Squad, Detective Superintendent Deb Wallace, said the arrest of four senior members of the Satudarah outlaw motorcycle club had stopped the club before it could establish a true presence in Australia. Satudarah outlaw motorcycle club members riding in their colours in Sydney. Credit:Facebook Police became aware of attempts by the club, which originated in the Netherlands in 1990, to set up in NSW and South Australia last February. The club is known in Europe for its extreme violence, drugs, extortion and weapons trafficking and has since spread to other parts of Europe and south-east Asia. A young Queensland man has been jailed for having a violent and degrading sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl which has shocked a judge. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was aged 19 to 20 when he subjected the teen to humiliating, painful sex acts and denigrating language and asked her to have sex with a dog. Two men have been charged with torture and other offences. Now 21, he pleaded guilty to 13 charges in the Brisbane District Court on Monday, including three counts of unlawful sodomy of a person under 18 and four counts of carnal knowledge of a child. He was sentenced to three-and-a-half years' imprisonment, with Judge David Reid labelling the behaviour "appalling", "unbelievably vile" and "some of the worst conduct you can imagine". A register of radiologists able to more accurately read chest X-rays for the potentially fatal black lung disease is being urgently prepared by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists. This comes as the Queensland government confirms five cases in seven months of patients with lung inflammation from coal dust, with further cases awaiting confirmation. Radiologists offer to form specialist panel to review miners chest X-rays as Qld black lung disease cases rise to five. Credit:Robert Rough About 100,000 X-rays of miners' chests - which have been checked by GPs - are now under scrutiny. Black lung disease, or "coal miner's" pneumoconiosis, had not been seen in Queensland for 20 years. A Melbourne man accused of helping smuggle 15 people into Australia by boat was arrested while trying to leave the country, federal police allege. Adin Armin, 40, appeared before Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday, charged with four counts of people smuggling, related to one group of 12 and three instances of organising or facilitating for one person to illegally travel to Australia. Australian Federal Police allege Mr Armin organised the people smuggling in Australia and Indonesia between June 2010 and August 2013. The AFP said the accused organised for people to travel illegally by boat, and that most of the people he smuggled arrived in 2013. Federal police arrested him on Sunday night at Melbourne Airport as he was preparing to leave the country, the AFP said. He was charged on Monday. A woman from the Philippines who got into trouble in a rip at Phillip Island on Sunday has died. The 34-year-old woman had been taken to The Alfred in a critical condition after being treated for cardiac arrest at the beach at Cape Woolamai. On Monday afternoon, a police spokewoman confirmed the Filipino national had died. Seven swimmers had to be rescued from Cape Woolamai and five were hospitalised on Sunday night after they got in trouble in the rip. A swimming pool in Ballarat is at the centre of an investigation into allegations of historic sexual abuse against boys as young as eight. Police have made a public appeal for information about sexual crimes at the Eureka Stockade Pool in Ballarat East committed in the late 1970s. The victims were boys aged eight years old at the time of the alleged incidents, which occurred from 1977 to 1980. Police want to speak to victims who have not yet to come forward or anybody with any information relating to sexual assaults at the pool between those years. "Victoria Police encourages all victims of sexual assault and child abuse, and anyone who has knowledge of such a crime, to make a report," police spokeswoman Kelly Grindley said in a statement. "Victoria Police is committed to investigating and bringing to justice those people who prey on children no matter how many years have passed." Anyone with information about sexual assaults of children at the Eureka Stockade Pool during this time period is urged to contact police on 1800 110 007. A search for the owners of millions of dollars worth of luxury watches, handbags, alcohol and jewellery has turned up more than 50 new potential victims of an alleged high-end cat burglar. The Oakleigh Police Station opened its doors over the weekend to display about 500 items out of 2000 allegedly discovered beneath the Doncaster home of Chinese national Di Miao, 53, in early 2015. Some of the items allegedly found at the home of Di Miao. Credit:Jason South Mr Miao's home was searched in February as part of an 18-month investigation into burglaries that dated back nearly a decade and had targeted homes in some of Melbourne's wealthiest suburbs. He has not entered pleas to dozens of charges over burglaries in Toorak, Balwyn, Glen Waverly and Kew but police last week moved to find the owners of 500 items that have yet to be claimed. Bad dad jokester Josh "Slosh" Soutar hopes to take his cringe-worthy jests to the world. "I arrest you in the name of the law". A dreadlocked, Perth father-of-three has started a crowd-funding campaign to deliver cringe-worthy jokes to your co-worker, your dad, a loved one or your worst enemy - anywhere in the world. Josh "Slosh" Soutar, a self-described "author, librarian and Youtuber", said on kickstarter he "plays games, reviews beer and really, really hot chilli sauces", and also admits to being a lover of puns and a teller of awful jokes. He said a dad joke global mailing service was a "silly idea" he came up with on a bus. At least 143 properties are believed to have been destroyed by the ferocious blaze that claimed tow lives and razed through 71,000 hectares of land south-west of Perth. A large section of the Forrest Highway from Pinjarra Road to Myalup Beach Road had been shut off to traffic since Thursday after the fire tore through a number of towns in the South West. The main highway leading to the South West, closed after a firestorm swept through the region, has reopened on Tuesday morning. Forrest Highway from Mandurah to Bunbury has been reopened to all traffic, but a reduced speed limit of 80 km/hr is in place in a section of the road from Old Coast and Ludlow Roads which was directly affected by the fire. The intense heat of the bushfire has caused the Samson Brook bridge asphalt to buckle and collapse. Photo: Nine News Perth via WA Today 7th January 2016 Credit:Nine News Main Road has urged drivers to be on the lookout for straying livestock and the presence of emergency services vehicles on the highway. Old Coast Road from Old Bunbury Road to Forrest Highway is still closed to traffic as well as South Western Highway from Greenlands Road to Uduc Road. The section of the South Western Highway from Waroona and Yarloop could be closed for weeks after the Samson Brook Bridge collapsed on Thursday because of the intensity of the fire. A Main Roads spokesperson said on Monday the department was looking at options to replace and repair state-owned bridges damaged by the fires. "A Main Roads owned bridge [Samson Brook] located south of Waroona was destroyed in the bushfire and we are currently undertaking works to complete a temporary access," the spokesperson said. Exhausted firefighters kip on the lawn outside Harvey fire station. Credit:Michael Reynolds "The fire was moving like there was no tomorrow ... but with the help of the farmers we didn't lose a house in Waroona that day and that lifted our spirits." They were not so lucky in Yarloop on Thursday, with seven of them, including Mr Britza, in town when the fire arrived. Also outside Harvey Fire Station on Sunday. Credit:Michael Reynolds He said it was like nothing he had ever seen. "We were trying to protect the school, but the fire had burnt across the highway so you couldn't get in," he said. Some firefighters only got 6 hours sleep in as many days. Credit:Michael Reynolds "There was no water, we were up there with 2000 litres of water when this inferno hit, like a wave of fire that just crashed through the school. "Half the side of our fire engine just melted. At that stage our crew's safety was paramount. We couldn't do anything. We tried to drive out of the fire but we couldn't see in front of us and couldn't find the road. Eventually we drove through some trees and found a road and found a house and thought we found one house that looked defensible. "We had hoses out and set up there and used 1500 litres of water to defend that house ... but at that stage our fire chief told us to get the f*** out of there. "We drove down the main street and we heard the call that the town site had been isolated and we were trapped in Yarloop with 500 litres of water to protect ourselves." They were looking for a safe place to park when they saw about 30 cars parked on the main street. The cars belonged to residents who had planned to stay and defend their houses, but decided to get out when they saw how lethal the fire was. But for them, like the crew, it was too late. The crew decided the most sensible thing to do was to stay and protect the residents with their remaining water, so they took their two tankers and the 70 or so people to the local oval and shared out what masks they had. Mr Britza was hoping the turf would provide a firebreak but the scenes in Waroona of green turf going up in flames left him anything but confident. As group leader, he feared for them all. "They are a good lot of boys and I grew up with them. I have never seen that situation before. We were all thinking [we might die]. It was hard to breathe, wearing so much gear we were smothered, with embers under our shirts." Relief arrived at midnight and they were able to leave the fire-ravaged town after a ten-hour life-threatening ordeal. But Mr Britza said that didn't mean the men could rest. The longest anyone had been at the fire front was 12 hours, but those back at the station did not stop working, he said. The country station had become a major operating base and volunteers were manning radios, monitoring what trucks were entering and exiting, organising food and water for the crews and sometimes catching a few hours of sleep. Nobody went home. But the community's help, galvanised by photographs circulating through social media of them sleeping on the ground outside the station on Sunday, buoyed their spirits. Evacuees leaving town detoured by the station to drop off containers of water that, for some, were all they had. "We have had to tell them to stop bringing food," Mr Britza said. "People were falling asleep where they stand ... they started bringing mattresses. Eventually we couldn't get the fire engine in because of all the mattresses. "That's why I love living in Harvey. "I am just thankful the training the boys have been putting in has come through in pivotal moments like this to help people who need it." It is hoped cooler weather forecast for the next few days will give on-ground personnel the opportunity to consolidate their gains before hot weather returns on Friday. On February 28, the last day of summer, not-for-profit National Red Balloon Day will encourage all Australians to support its annual Thank You Fireys fundraiser. Islamabad: Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the US will begin talks aimed at reviving the Afghan peace process and eventually ending 14 years of bloodshed in the fight against Taliban insurgents. Senior officials from the four countries will meet in Islamabad on Monday, Pakistan's foreign office said on Sunday, in what they hope will be a first step towards resuming stalled negotiations. The Taliban are not expected to attend the talks, but there are expectations that an agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the eradication of Taliban boltholes in Pakistan, will go a long way toward hampering Taliban attacks in Afghanistan. An Afghan shopkeeper watches from the broken window of his shop near the site of suicide car bomb attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, last month. Credit:AP The Islamist militants have stepped up their violent campaign in the last year to oust the government in Kabul, which has struggled since most foreign troops left at the end of 2014. Mr Trump used his inflammatory speech to say the US should potentially sanction China unless it reined in the North Korean regime. China had also perpetrated "one of the great thefts in the history of the world" on the US economy, he claimed. The billionaire businessman, who is seeking the Republican nomination for President of the US, praised the despotic dictator for his ruthlessness in dispatching with political opponents. If Donald Trump harbours perhaps a modicum of admiration for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, he came close to acknowledging it at a rally in Iowa at the weekend. "If you look at North Korea, this guy - I mean, he's like a maniac, ok, and you gotta give him credit," Mr Trump said. "How many young guys - he was like 26 or 25 when his father died - take over these tough generals? You know, it's pretty amazing when you think about it. How does he do that?" Donald Trump said "We're gonna get Apple to start building their damn computers and things in this country instead of in other countries." Credit:AP The 69-year-old, who has for many months led the densely-populated field of rivals for the GOP nod, said Mr Kim's rise to power had been "incredible" and that he should not be taken lightly. "He goes in, he takes over and he's the boss. It's incredible. He wiped out the uncle, he wiped out this one, that one - I mean, this guy doesn't play games. and we can't play games with him. Because he really does have missiles and he really does have nukes." The speech came days after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) claimed to have detonated a hydrogen bomb at an underground test site in the country's far north-east. The explosion was first detected as a magnitude 5.1 earthquake by the US Geological Survey. There is almost over. And it's been a good year! After starting up in late June, we have now surpassed the 14,000 hit mark! So what arti... Another Word for Beauty is unique among shows created by New York-based investigative musical theater company the Civilians: It's premiering at Chicago's Goodman Theatre rather than their usual downtown NYC locations, it's the organization's first show based on an international topic, and playwright Jose Rivera's script is more fictionalized than the company's typical docudrama-style pieces. But then, the beauty pageant that serves as the basis for this new play isn't your average competition either: Its participants are inmates at El Buen Pastor women's prison in Bogota, Colombia, and its dedicated to the Virgin Mary. "The patron saint of the prison is the Virgin of Mercy," Oscar nominee Jose Rivera (The Motorcycle Diaries) told TheaterMania. "Legend has it that the Virgin Mary once appeared in the prison with her arms chained and her legs chained and she said, 'I'm here to give solace to all women who are prisoners.' And so in the month of September, the prison celebrates the Virgin of Mercy. And the climax of the celebration is the beauty pageant." If the average pageant is rife with dissonance regarding representations of women, this one, which is designed to stress virtues like "solidarity, community-building, and responsibility," takes the contradictions of the Madonna-whore dichotomy even further. Playwright Rivera and director Steve Cosson (the Civilians' founding artistic director) traveled to Colombia to witness the contest and hear the inmates' stories firsthand. Director Steve Cosson and playwright Jose Rivera in rehearsal for Another Word for Beauty. ( Liz Lauren) Why did you choose this particular project? Steve Cosson: There is a very strong relationship between the U.S. and Colombia. There were many women that we met who were in jail for small drug crimes directly...because of the United States. Because of the war on drugs, the U.S. compelled Colombia to adopt laws that are similar to our drug laws that, in our country, are responsible for the mass incarceration that happens in America. Jose Rivera: It has all the things that I'm attracted to. It's about Latin America. It's about people who don't have any voice or power to get their voice out there. It's a real human story of suffering and tragedy and redemption. Tell me about the pageant and your experiences attending. Jose: [Steve] stayed a month and I was there for two weeks and we both were there at the time of the pageant, [which is] a long event with dancing and different contests. For instance all the cell blocks create their own floats and it's a contest [for] who has the best float. That's a day. And they have a contest for the older women, they call them the madres, the mothers, so they compete and that's the second day. And the final day, the younger women compete for the beauty pageant. The way it's set up, there are like nine cell blocks and by the end, three of them will have won something. Steve: It's a very diverse culture, the different regions of Colombia are very distinct and every region has its own sort of folkloric tradition and its dance tradition and then you have the national women's prison and you've got women from all over the country. So you have, in a sense, all these wonderful different cultural traditions represented there in the population of the prison. What structure does your play take? Jose: I invented more than the typical Civilians play. I think the most important thing for me is to give flesh and blood reality to people who are far away and distant from most American concerns. It's very easy to stick to the one-dimensional labels, and my hope is to completely explode the labels and reveal the flesh and blood and soul of each of the women in the play and to really make it impossible to walk away from the play with your prejudices still intact. And it is more of a play with music as opposed to a traditional musical. One of the first persons that Steve reached out to was a man named Hector Buitrago, [who] is a big musical presence in Colombia. So he brings his knowledge of traditional Colombian musical forms like cumbia and salsa and brings his own aesthetic. The songs really set the mood and give us a sense of place. They're all in Spanish; there'll be supertitles. But they don't do the normal work of a musical number. They go deeper into the characters and deeper into the community of women. Musicians Diego Salcedo, Mike Przygoda, Javier Saume and Ruben Gonzalez in the rehearsal room. ( Liz Lauren) How do you deal with this being an event that ascribes value to women based on the way they look? Jose: We deal with it pretty head on. There are some women for whom their bodies are the most important thing they have. They don't have anything else. They have no property. They have no power. Their power comes from their beauty and their bodies. Some women revel in that in the play, which I think is accurate, and some women question it. There's a line where someone says, "All this pageant does is reduce women to their cleavage and ass cracks." So there's pushback against what the pageant even means. But, ultimately the strength of the pageant isn't necessarily winning and losing. It's the unifying effect it has on women who have to work together for a common goal. Some women in their interviews express the fact that they feel free for the first time during the pageant. They don't feel like prisoners. And they're valued. There's one woman who said, like, "I was never at the center of attention, not even when I was sentenced. My family didn't care." And she was one of the winners. She said she felt the love of a thousand women in the prison the day she was crowned. Jersey Boys Tony winner John Lloyd Young will return to Cafe Carlyle from February 9-20 with a new concert titled Yours Truly. Yours Truly will feature a set of romantic 1960s-era R&B ballads, with several new songwriting collaborations. A full band will be announced soon. It's Young's second show at the Carlyle, after his 2013 engagement in My Turn, where he performed selections from his debut album. Young originated the role of Frankie Valli in Broadway's Jersey Boys, and later reprised his performance in Clint Eastwood's screen adaptation. Onstage, he has also appeared in Les Miserables at the Hollywood Bowl. His screen credits include TV's Glee and the film Oy Vey! My Son Is Gay!! Most recently, Young has performed his solo act around the country, up and down the California coast, and in a sold-out engagement at Washington, D.C.'s Kennedy Center. For tickets and more information, click here. DETROIT SLEEK PEEK: MITSUBISHI KEEPS A LOW PROFILE BUT HAS HIGH HOPES By: Michael Bernstein Editor, Michigan Bureau The Auto Channel The North American International Auto Show press preview days dont officially begin until Monday January 11 and while many of the worlds automakers will have exhibits, some are sitting this event out. One of them is Japans Mitsubishi and while they will not have a stand at this years show, they still made their presence known by inviting a select few journalists to preview their plans, goals and new products for the US market here in Motown. VP of sales operation for MMNA, Ken Konieczka, admitted to the mistakes of the past that saw the automaker loose 80% of their sales volume that reached its peak in 2002, but more importantly, Mr. Konieczka layed out their vision for the future that will see the venerable Asian brand increase sales and to surpass 100,000 units for the first time in several years. Chief among them is the new plug in version of the Outlander. In fact Mitsubishi flew in the only prototype version of the 2017 Outlander PHEV for this event and announced that it will be available in showrooms in late August 2016, while making its official debut at this years New York auto show. In addition to laying out the companys future, Mr. Konieczka also touted some of Mitsubishis accomplishments in 2015 including the fact that the company made a profit for the first time in seven years and was the fastest growing Asia brand for the third consecutive year. On the vehicle front he also announced that the company will be introducing a smaller EX concept that will complete the mix of new products slated for the US market. Mitsubishi has been able to attract younger, more affluent buyers and has high hopes for the hybrid version as this segment is looking to plug-in hybrid vehicles as an option that suits their needs both consciously and financially. Only time will tell if their goals are achieved but as you can see from the attached photos the future looks pretty good. Check back to The Auto Channel for the most complete coverage of the NAIAS. DETROIT -- January 11, 2016: The all-new 2016 Honda Civic has earned the prestigious 2016 North American Car of the Year Award. This win for the Civic is the second for the model in the award's history, following a win for the 2006 Civic a decade ago when it shared the stage with the 2006 Ridgeline, winner of that year's Truck of the Year award. In total, eleven Honda models have been named "finalists" for NACOTY awards since their inception in 1994, the most of any brand outside of the Detroit Big 3 automakers. MORE INFO Honda Research and Buyer's Guide Guide "The all-new Civic was developed and is built in North America, making this North American Car of the Year win even sweeter," said Jeff Conrad, Honda Division senior vice president and general manager. "Civic is a cornerstone of the Honda lineup, and we're delighted that the automotive press has recognized the new levels of styling, performance, advanced technology, safety and value that characterize the new Civic." The North American Car of the Year Award is given by a group of 53 international automotive journalists. The award is unique because instead of being given by a single publication, radio or television station, it is given by automotive journalists from the United States and Canada. Presented each year at the opening of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, it recognizes the most outstanding car of the year based on factors including innovation, design, safety performance, handling, driver satisfaction and value. Truly all-new, the 2016 Civic features a new vehicle architecture; sporty and sophisticated new interior and exterior styling; a more spacious and high-quality cabin; two advanced new engines; and a host of new available premium features and technologies, including the first application of both Apple CarPlay1 and Android Auto2 in a compact car sold anywhere in the world. Further, with the addition of Honda Sensing safety and driver-assistive technologies and the first application of Honda turbo engine technology to Civic, the 2016 Civic offers buyers a wider range of options than ever before. With vehicle development led by Honda R&D Americas, Inc. and Civic Sedan and Coupe production in Indiana and Ontario, Canada, the new 10th-generation Civic firmly has its roots in North America. The majority of Civics sold in the United States will be produced and assembled using domestic and globally sourced parts in the United States and Canada. The Civic 5-door, set to debut in the near future, will be produced at Honda's Swindon Plant in the United Kingdom. 1 Apple CarPlay is a registered trademark of Apple Inc. 2 Android and Android Auto are trademarks of Google Inc. WASHINGTON -- January 11, 2016: Washington's favorite reality show returns! The Hands-On Contest at The Washington Auto Show will put a handful of lucky Washingtonians in touch with the chance to win a brand new Hyundai Tucson! MORE INFO Hyundai Research and Buyer's Guide Guide The legendary Hands-On Contest, in which show guests must stay in nearly constant physical contact with the prized vehicle for a period of several days, first wowed Washingtonians in 1999 when the match came down to a test of wills between an officer from the army and navy. This year's contest, which will run from Tuesday, Jan. 26 through noon on Sunday, Jan. 31, will feature a host of locals who will compete for the chance to drive home in the all-new, completely redesigned 2016 Tucson SE. "The Hands-On Contest is a hallmark of The Washington Auto Show that puts the thrill of a new car within arm's reach of Washington," said Kevin Reilly, president of Alexandria Hyundai and board member of the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association, producer of The Washington Auto Show. "We are grateful to the Washington Area Hyundai Dealers for sponsoring this contest and giving away this vehicle, allowing us to showcase Hyundai's cutting-edge technology and innovative new models such as the 2016 Tucson SE." For a chance at competing in the Hands-On Contest, area residents must register through the www.washingtonautoshow.com, no later than January 21, 2016. They will be asked to provide a short explanation of why they want to win the car. Thirty applicants will be chosen from that pool of registrants to qualify for the next round, from which a final group of 8 to 10 will be screened and selected by The Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association (WANADA) to participate in the final stage of the competition. Last year's prize a brand-new Hyundai Sonata went to 23-year-old Paul Vaughn of Chantilly, Va., who drew the lucky key that unlocked the grand prize after remaining on the car with seven other contestants. Vaughn endured five nights of sleeping with his hand wedged into the spokes of a wheel and survived off of carefully rationed portions of food namely, his stash of beef jerky. Up for grabs this year is the 2016 Hyundai Tucson SE, boasting a 164-hp, 2L GDI 4-cylinder engine. With an MSRP of $24,070, the wired vehicle offers a Bluetooth hands-free phone system, a 5-inch color touchscreen audio display with rearview camera and keyless entry. Safety features such as electronic stability control, downhill brake control and hillstart assist control have earned the vehicle its top overall vehicle safety score of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminitration (NHTSA). Contest rules require that all participants keep their "hands on" the Hyundai for the duration of the contest. Finalists will be positioned around the prize vehicle at random by the judges and must be continuously in physical contact with the vehicle at all times (excluding sanctioned breaks). If a participating contestant does not maintain continuous contact with the vehicle for any reason, including reward challenges, that contestant will be disqualified. The last person remaining in physical contact with the prize vehicle will win it. In the event that the end of the live contest leaves more than one finalist, a random drawing will be conducted by the sponsors to determine the winner. Each participating contestant will be responsible for acquiring his or her own food and beverages. Each contestant may bring no other personal property to the contest except for the following: one blanket, one change of clothes and one set of toiletries. Once the contest has begun, no additional personal property will be permitted. A regular break of exactly 15 minutes is scheduled every three hours. (Participants returning late from these breaks will be disqualified.) No electronic devices, reading, writing or drawing materials are allowed, and smoking, alcoholic beverages, offensive language and physical contact between contestants are prohibited. Family, friends and onlookers are encouraged and welcomed, but only contestants are allowed within the confines of the contest space. The Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association (WANADA), producer of The Washington Auto Show, will have complete judging and management authorization on behalf of all sponsors. The contest is open to all legal United States citizens 18 years of age or older. Contestants must be at least 18 years of age by December 31, 2015 to participate. All entrants must have a valid driver's license and proof of insurance. No Purchase necessary to win. Void where prohibited. All federal, state, local laws and regulations apply. For complete contest rules or more information about The Washington Auto Show, visit www.washingtonautoshow.com. The 2016 Washington Auto Show opens to the public from Jan.22 - Jan. 31 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and is advanced by two Public Policy Preview Days. Produced by WANADA, the Washington Auto Show offers a showcase of more than 700 new vehicles from over 42 domestic and import manufacturers. New Ford Lab Integrates Wearables and Vehicles; Ford Looks at Linking Health Data to Driver-Assist Technology As more consumers embrace wearable devices such as smart watches, glasses and fitness trackers, Ford is opening the Automotive Wearables Experience lab at its Research and Innovation Center in Dearborn, Michigan Potential smart watch applications include linking health data to active vehicle driver-assist features to enable these technologies to be more aware of the driver behind the wheel particularly when that person is stressed or sleepy; new app challenge seeks innovative ways to measure in-vehicle health metrics Wearable innovations are part of Ford Smart Mobility, the plan to take the company to the next level in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience, and data and analytics MORE INFO Ford Research and Buyer's Guide Guide DETROIT -- January 11, 2015: The connection between what you wear and what you drive is getting stronger with help from Fords new wearables research laboratory. Here, scientists and engineers are working to integrate wearable devices and vehicles to enable driver-assist technologies to be more aware of the driver behind the wheel particularly when that driver is stressed or sleepy. As more consumers embrace smart watches, glasses and fitness bands, we hope to develop future applications that work with those devices to enhance in-car functionality and driver awareness, said Gary Strumolo, global manager for vehicle design and infotronics, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering. Researchers at the new Automotive Wearables Experience laboratory housed in the Ford Research and Innovation Center in Dearborn, Michigan, are examining the potential to link vital health information to in-vehicle technologies, including lane-keeping assist and Blind Spot Information System. Lane-keeping assist, for instance, could become more sensitive if a smart watch sends data to the vehicle that infers the driver didnt get enough sleep the previous night. Or, if a drivers heart rate increases as traffic intensifies, the vehicles adaptive cruise control or Blind Spot Information System could increase the distance between vehicles giving the driver some breathing room. Wearable technology integrated with the vehicle allows for more accurate biometric data to stream continuously and alert active driver-assist systems to become more sensitive if the driver shows signs of compromised health or awareness, said Strumolo. App challenge This winter, an app developer challenge co-sponsored by Ford and Henry Ford Health System seeks innovative technology to measure in-vehicle health metrics. The challenge invites Ford and Henry Ford Health System employees to submit app concepts that use vehicles and wearable devices as components providing an effective health and wellness program for customers and patients of all ages and conditions. Submissions open Jan. 20, and finalists for the first phase of the competition will be announced in March. Winners will earn a total of $10,000 in prizes. Wearable innovations are part of Ford Smart Mobility the plan to take Ford to the next level in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience, and data and analytics. Semi-autonomous driving applications The ability to measure wakefulness and health data including blood pressure, blood glucose and heart rate via wearable technology also could benefit semi-autonomous driving features. The wearables lab is examining ways to signal a driver using semi-autonomous features of the potential need to take driving control back from the vehicle. If there were road construction or an accident ahead, a situation requiring a human at the wheel, the technology could send a wrist vibration or chimes, or even activate flashing lights on the dash. Voice control, customer experience Researchers are testing voice control for the smart watch version of MyFord Mobile, which allows Ford drivers to remotely start, lock, unlock and locate their vehicle via their watch app. The lab is integrating voice commands to the app to allow for smart watch owners to use these features without touching their watch or phone. Another customer-focused experiment the lab is working on involves augmented reality optics, or smart glasses, and the dealership experience. Customers would wear smart glasses as they guide themselves through a showroom, seeing additional information about vehicles theyre interested in. Looking through glasses could offer a wide range of features from technical specifications to a virtual test drive. The potential in this space is endless, said Strumolo. Were evaluating many different wearable devices and applications everything from helping to keep Ford drivers healthier and more aware behind the wheel to offering an enhanced customer experience at our dealerships. By Lauren Carroll and Louis Jacobson With less than a month to go to the Iowa caucuses, the presidential frontrunners took to the Sunday news shows to present their cases and argue against their opponents. Democrat Hillary Clinton appeared on Face the Nation to respond to criticism about how she handled her email as well as her husband Bill Clintons sexual history. Hillary Clinton said Republican attacks on Bill Clinton didnt work before, wont work again. I cant run anybody elses campaign. They can say whatever they want, more power to them, she said. I think its a dead end, blind alley for them, but let em go. Republican Donald Trump appeared on Fox News Sunday and Meet the Press and spent part of his time hammering President Barack Obama and urging a change of course on foreign policy. Obama is a poor negotiator, Trump argued on Meet the Press, especially for his decision to exchange five Guantanamo detainees for Taliban prisoner Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl in May 2014. You look at these deals, Trump said to NBC Meet The Press host Chuck Todd. I always bring up Bergdahl. We get a traitor, they get five people that theyve wanted for nine years, and theyre back on the battlefield, trying to kill everybody, including us. And we get a dirty, rotten traitor. Trumps statement about the detainees being back on the battlefield rates False. The five detainees were released to the supervision of the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar in 2014. Qatar is understood to be a neutral state, as opposed to a battlefield for insurgent activity. Under the agreement, the five released detainees are not allowed to leave the country. This travel ban was initially supposed to last one year, ending June 1, 2015, but it has been extended. Multiple administration officials told us the detainees havent left Qatar. We found no evidence to contradict that. In fact, in December 2015, the Republican-controlled House Armed Services Committee produced a report in which it expressed concern that the Taliban Five pose a security risk. But the report noted that the security arrangements first made in 2015 had been extended so that the five would remain in Qatar. The State Department confirmed to PolitiFact that the men are still in Qatar. None of the five individuals has returned to the battlefield, said State Department spokeswoman Liz Trudeau. All five men are subject to a travel ban, and none have left Qatar. Theyre still in Qatar, added Myles Caggins, a spokesman for the National Security Council. Of course, this doesnt necessarily mean the former detainees arent trying to reconnect with the Taliban or other insurgent groups. At least one of the Taliban Five is suspected by the United States of having attempted to contact Taliban associates. And Afghan intelligence officers arrested two suspected insurgents who tried to visit former detainee Mohammad Nabi Omari in Qatar, according to The New York Times. But mere communications, or even giving orders from a distance, is not the same thing as literally being back on the battlefield. Even if the Taliban Five has re-engaged in insurgent activities electronicallya contention that we reiterate is not confirmed by publicly available informationit would be a stretch to conclude that this counts as returning to the battlefield. On South Korea troop presence Trump also criticized the Obama administration for continuing a more long-standing policy: keeping troops in South Korea. North Korea recently purported to test a hydrogen bomb, bringing more attention to the region and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. Trump said it was time for South Korea to pick up more of the costs of having United States military forces in South Korea. We have 28,000 soldiers on the line in South Korea between the madman and them, Trump said, referring to Kim. We get practically nothing compared to the cost of this. Trumps statement rates Mostly False. South Korea does pay a significant amount to support the U.S. presence in South Korea. In the most recent agreement, announced in early 2014, South Korea said it would pay $866.6 million that year to support the U.S. presence. That was 5.8 percent higher than the 2013 amount, and that could grow by as much as 4 percent annually through 2018. That presence includes roughly 28,500 military personnelfar smaller than the roughly 500,000 South Korean service members on active duty, plus many more South Korean reserve troops. Calculating the South Korean financial burden on a percentage basis is tricky, because its difficult to determine how much it costs the United States to station military personnel in South Korea. If you look at the most straightforward amountsalary and benefits for 28,500 troops, which according to experts is roughly $100,000 a headthen South Koreas payments account for slightly more than 30 percent of U.S. costs in 2014. Its hard to argue that more than $800 million annually is peanuts or next to nothing, said Lance Janda, a military historian at Cameron University. Also, the United States benefits from its presence in South Korea, stabilizing the region and giving the United States a base from which it can project military power throughout the western Pacific, Janda said. The military presence also helps protect countries that buy U.S. products. Reasonable people can disagree, Janda said, about whether South Korea is paying enough for the U.S. presence, and whether the United States might be better off protecting South Korea with air and naval power rather than a sizable ground presence. Still, he said, I don't hear Trump making nuanced arguments like that. While the media negotiates the ethics of Rolling Stone allowing the worlds most notorious drug lord final copy approvalor a glowing profile, for that matterand prose connoisseurs break down phrases like Espinoza is the owl who flies among falcons, or really, the fact that an Oscar-winning actor took it upon himself to write about his penis in a positive magazine feature on a mass-murderer, one of the biggest question marks arising from Sean Penns surreal interview with Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, the leader of the Sinoloa Cartel, is whos the actress who brokered the meeting? Her name is Kate del Castillo, 43, and shes one of the most famous actresses in Mexico. Back in January 2012, del Castillo attracted the ire of many when she tweeted out a lengthy letter praising El Chapo to her millions of Twitter followers. Today I believe more in El Chapo Guzman than in the Governments that hide painful truths: Those who hide the cure for AIDS and cancer for their own benefit and to become richer, she wrote, also outing herself as an AIDS and cancer truther. She continued: Mr. Chapo, wouldnt it be cool that you started trafficking with love? With cures for diseases, with food for the homeless children, with ALCOHOL for the retirement homes that dont let the elderly spend the rest of the days doing whatever the f..k they want. Imagine trafficking with corrupt politicians instead of women and children who end up as slaves. Why dont you burn all those whore houses where women are worth less than a pack of cigarettes? Without offer theres no demand. COME ON Don! You would be the HEROES of HEROES! Lets traffic with love. YOU KNOW HOW TO. Life is a business, and the only thing that changes is the merchandise. Dont you agree? Dont drink and tweet, folks. The letter eventually made its way to El Chapo, who, according to Penns piece, offered to send her flowers in appreciation. This was, apparently, the beginning of a not-so-beautiful friendship, as the two corresponded back and forth via BBM, with the opportunistic actress keen to shepherd a movie biopic of the drug lord. He was interested in seeing the story of his life told on film, but would entrust its telling only to Kate, wrote Penn. Perhaps it wasnt so odd a coupling after all. When she tweeted that Ode to Chapo, del Castillo had just wrapped La Reina del Sur, a 2011 telenovela for Telemundo. She starred as Teresa Mendoza, a 23-year-old who is forced to flee Mexico when her boyfriend, a rising star in El Chapos Sinaloa Cartel, is murdered. She finds refuge in Spain, where she becomes a big-time drug trafficker in her own right. With a price tag of $10 million, La Reina del Sur was both the most expensive telenovela in Telemundo history as well as the highest-rated, attracting 4.2 million total viewers. Del Castillo also appeared in the 2006 film Bordertown opposite Jennifer Lopez, which centered on the many female homicides committed by the cartels in Ciudad Juarez, and played Pilar Zuazo, a shady Mexican politician and antagonist of the fifth season of Showtimes Weeds. More recently, she appeared in three episodes of the CWs critically-acclaimed series Jane the Virgin and starred in The 33, a recent movie starring Antonio Banderas that dramatized the 2010 Chilean mining disasterthis, in addition to hawking her own line of tequila, Tequila Honor del Castillo, which Penn mentions her bringing along to their meeting with El Chapo. American audiences will become more familiar with the Mexico City-born del Castillos acting work later this year, when shell star as Irene Urzua, Mexicos First Lady, in the Netflix series Ingobernable. The 20-episode series, directed by Jose Luis Garcia Agraz and Pedro Pablo Pitipol Ibarra, is scheduled to shoot early this year in Mexico, and will air in late 2016. Del Castillo aligning herself with the 61-year-old drug lord, who was recently captured by Mexican authorities following his second prison escape, is more than a little bizarre given that in 2009, she was appointed Ambassador for the Mexican Commission on Human Rights, and later helped launch the Blue Heart Campaign that sought to fight human trafficking across the globe. In addition to trafficking drugs, El Chapos Sinoloa Cartel is an elaborate organized crime syndicate responsible for regular kidnappings and mass-murder. How many more weeks can the Downton Abbey faithful stand the endless back-and-forth between Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson about their wedding day? Seriously, Sunday nights episodethe second in the sixth and final seasonhad me shouting variations of, Oh, just have it in the bloody drawing room, FFS, Mrs. Hughes, get a nicer frock, and Will you two cheer up for goodnesss sake? Only in Downton Abbey could wedding arrangements become a plot device necessitating a full orchestral accompaniment. I dont want to be a servant on my wedding day, said Mrs. Hughes of her resistance to the wedding being held at the Abbey. Lord Grantham was all about having the servants hall decorated for the occasion, until Lady Mary, with eye roll and sneering inflection on triple, told him they should have it upstairs in the posh bit of the houseand, as Lord Grantham rightly said to Mr. Carson, both men had learned never to argue with Lady Mary. Mrs. Hughes wants to marry more simply. Its all so dreary: Her supposed wedding dress looked like a threadbare curtain, which no amount of brightening up by Mrs. Bates could savewell, maybe, optimistically, it could become a tablecloth, I suppose. Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carsons very politesse and stubbornness could well derail the nuptials at this point. They both want things done properly. They also wont give an inch. They will probably make each other so grumpy theyll end up canceling. It wont be discord that kills this relationship, it will be pride. This is a familiar seam to mine for Downtons creator, Julian Fellowes. As most of the characters are basically good, what undoes them is pride. What tests them is retaining their pride in the face of villainy and ill fortune. Often this makes Downton hilarious when it really shouldnt be. Lady Mary herself noted that Anna (Mrs.) Bates had been one of the unluckiest people she had ever known, and one of the longest-suffering, whether this was being wrongfully charged with murder or her husbandthe equally luckless Mr. Batesbeing wrongfully charged with murder. And now, just when finally neither was wrongfully charged with murder, Mrs. Bates revealed she cannot carry a child to full term. Lady Mary, grateful to Mrs. Bates for all her help with transporting the bodies of dead Turks she had been illicitly shagging, said not to worry: She had found this simply whiz-bang gynecologist in Harley Street (a famous London street full of private doctors) who helped her get up the duff when she couldnt. She and Anna expressed their own devotion to each other, Anna telling Mary that no one in her life had ever been as kind to her as Mary has. Damn Fellowes for these little piercing interludes to Downtons plot gymnastics that can make anyone a little weepy on a Sunday night. Lets pull ourselves together. Sure enough, Harley Street doc told Mrs. Bates she has cervical incompetence, whichbefore a medical description followedsounded like a pretty extreme insult. Anyway, she found out she can have an operation to make the neck of her womb tickety-boo so she can carry a bubba to full term. She did not tell Mr. Bates this. This is probably all for the good, becausein the manner of a Spice Girl lyriches all about them being the two become one, and it doesnt matter if she cant have a baby, because theyre together themselves. Like Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes, at some point these two will out-depress each other in their marriage. The other big knot of the episode was Lady Edith and her secret daughter, Marigold, who wasin times gone bylooked after by sexy pig farmer Mr. Drew and his slightly mad wife. Somehow this storyline had to be (hog)tied up, and so it was that Lady Mary, in all her Joan Crawford glory, was totally, Im running Downton, just like any man can, dont fuck with me, fellas. And the way to show that this week was to preside over the entry of some pigs to some country show. Lady Mary, her son, George, Ediths secret daughter, Marigold, and the perennially spliffed-out Cora went to see the pigs of Mr. Drew. Enter Mrs. Drew with a mad glint in her eye, and sure enough she spirited off Marigold when no one was looking at Lady Marys ultimately prize-winning pigs. It was left to Mr. Drew, with his strong, hunched shoulders and grimly determined gait, to return Marigold to Edithand, with his promise to vacate the farm, this presumably meant poor Mr. Mason, who was about to lose his tenancy, could take this tenancy on. Fellowes does like to tie his narrative shoelaces neatly. The destiny of no-longer-that-evil Barrow is still a mystery. He went for a job interview at another manor house and got a kind of homophobic short shrift from the head butler, who made snide remarks about his not-mentioned homosexuality. Despite all Barrows efforts to flirt and spend time with him, the other new young butler wanted nothing to do with him. Fellowes seems to enjoy putting him through a special hell, especially as Mr. Carson keeps being a total wanker to Barrow. His comfort, althoughas she noted Sunday nighthe refuses it, comes from Baxter, whose kindness to him is an anathema to Barrow. Baxters own quiet, steely goodness is its own pleasure to watch, alongside Mr. Molesley, who Sunday night nudged the bloody annoying Daisy to take some exams. We should be rooting for Daisy, but her squawking class warfarethis time visited upon Cora, who just smiled through her hash-brownie cloudis like an electric saw. She wants her dead husbands father to be all right, we get it. But this desire has come mixed with half-baked Marxism. There is also the odd, discordant madness of the hospital saga, and whether Downton should stay local or be swallowed up by the bigger health authority. This is obviously just an excuse for Dame Maggie Smith, as Violet, and Penelope Wilton, as Isobel, to be waspishly bitchy to each other. But hells bells, its listlessly progressing like the wedding plot, and with no end in sight. Likewise, Edith and her London life, which either needs to take off or not. And surely she has to fire the editor of the magazine she inherited from dear Michael Gregson, who is jolly rude to her. The episode ended on a madly gentlemanly, surreally polite exchange between Lord Grantham and Mr. Drew, which shows Fellowess belief that decency trumps everything, even aristocratic privilege and wealth. God bless you, Drew, to you and your family, said Lord G. The same to you, mLord, said Drew, forelock tugged almost to the groundand this, despite the Granthams having all the money in the world, and all that they desire, and the Drews having nothing, but Mr. Drew knowing, Yeah, you know, things have gone a bit too far. Byeeee. See ya. And so Lady Edith now has Marigold all to herself again, thanks to her father and Mr. Drews polite face-off. This self-ejection on Mr. Drews part was another manifestation of one of the biggest guiding plot principles of the showit was the right thing to do. And that is what the righteous strive to do in Downton Abbey, no matter if they are have or have not. Goodness is, and has, its own reward. When Rose Hamid and longtime friend Jibril Hough set out Friday for Rock Hill, S.C., in a 2013 red Camaro, they had a clear mission: to stand up to Donald Trump and his rhetoric on Muslims and immigrants. They could hardly have predicted how well the night would go. First security at Trumps rally removed Hough, a convert to Islam and a Charlotte mosque spokesman, when he chanted, Islam is not the problem! Then Hamid, 56, was escorted out after she rose to her feet in silent protestwearing a T-shirt with the message Salam I come in peace and a yellow star bearing the word Muslim affixed to her chest. The evening ended with Hamid, a Charlotte flight attendant, on CNN fielding questions from host Don Lemon, a chyron under her image telling the story of her dramatic previous hours: Muslim woman kicked out of Trump rally. Mission accomplished. But while individual passion and good intentions drive just about any activism and advocacy, the flight attendants journey from anonymity to Internet meme wasnt just the spontaneous protest of a lone Muslim woman, as the media are portraying it. It is paint-by-number provocation, said Nancy Snow, author of Information War, propaganda scholar, and professor of public diplomacy at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies. The headline Silently protesting Muslim woman is completely misleading. This is clearly orchestrated and designed to serve as counterpropaganda to what is seen as Trumps anti-Muslim propaganda. The way you get headlines today is to do stunts like this. Its theater, she said. Indeed, the activists behind the protest told The Daily Beast the CNN moment was carefully orchestrated, down to the detail of the flight attendant matching her turquoise-colored headscarf with her T-shirt. The activists are connected by years of local activism post-9/11 on issues including civil liberties, war, Palestine, Black Lives Matter, and immigration, and have been working for months on their anti-Trump organizing campaign. We can call the Rock Hill protesters, who numbered eight activists in total, the Anti-Trump Eight. Weve been working toward this moment for months, one of the activists, Marty Rosenbluth, 57, an immigration lawyer in Hillsborough, S.C., told The Daily Beast the day after the rally. Keep in mind that Rosa Parks was not a seamstress on her way home from work who just got tired one day. Her protest was also planned out and well choreographed. On Saturday night, as Hamid was waiting for a flight, she told The Daily Beast that she planned out her role in the protest for days in detail, first designing a T-shirt at her sons clothing business, picking the color blue partly because she had a matching head covering. I knew, as a woman wearing hijab, that would have impact, she said. Did we go there to cause trouble and get attention? Hough told The Daily Beast. There may be some truth to that. Dr. Martin Luther King had to strategize to get media attention. These things are orchestrated. After hearing Trumps inflammatory rhetoric on immigrants and Muslims, the activists decided to launch their first action last month, on Dec. 4, when Trump hosted a rally at Dorton Arena in Raleigh, N.C. Rosenbluth had worked for years with Hough and Edith Garwood of Amnesty International. They shouted, they screamed, and they got thrown out, but they didnt get much media attention. An NBCNews.com article, Trump Interrupted Ten Times at North Carolina Rally, failed to mention their protest. The activists regrouped for a second shot: a town hall on Dec. 12 at the University of South Carolina campus in Aiken, S.C. Noticing that their shouts were being used as grounds for removal, they decided to turn (mostly) to silent protest. Rosenbluth told the team about an image from Europe that he thought they could use to illustrate their cause: an eight-pointed yellow star that was reminiscent of the six-pointed Star of David that Jews were forced to wear during the Holocaust. Swiss Muslims had used the yellow star with Muslim written across it in protests in 2011, an action that Jewish leaders had protested as offensive appropriation of Holocaust imagery. Rosenbluth started a Facebook page, Go Yellow Against Hate, and the team created its own stars, with No Racism and Stop Islamophobia written on some. For the anarchist types, Rosenbluth uploaded Go F@*% Yourself, Racist, with the swear word spelled out. In Aiken, with the team spread across the venue, turning their backs on the GOP frontrunner in protest, some Trump fans swarmed Hough when he shouted, Islam is not the enemy! Close Guantanamo! The yellow star came out. As Hough was being escorted out, he held up a geometric symbol with the word Muslim inscribed on it, the Charlotte Observer reported. He said Trumps recent remarks about banning Muslims from the United States are reminiscent of Adolf Hitlers actions toward Jews. On New Years Day, Hough took the battle to Trump Tower in Manhattan, where he stood, in yellow-tinted sunglasses, a leather jacket, and a handwritten sign, Islam is not the enemy. That protest passed without much media notice. But then the activists learned they had another shot: a Jan. 8 rally in Rock Hill, S.C. At a Jan. 3 meeting near Amelies French Bakery & Cafe in Charlotte, they cut, laminated, and labeled stars. Hamid wrote in: Please make me one. I plan to be there. The flight attendant, the daughter of a Colombian mother and a Palestinian father, got into her friends red Camaro late in the afternoon on Friday. Hough, who converted to Islam in 1991 and rose in the community ranks to become spokesman for the Islamic Center of Charlotte, had come to Islam through hip-hop and was also a former chairman of a controversial organization, the now defunct Islamic Political Party of America. In line for the Rock Hill rally, Hamid stepped away from her friend so Trump security officials would not spot the two of them together. I planned to stay as long as possible to create as many connections with people as long as possible, she told The Daily Beast. About 5 p.m., Hough posted a photo of himself on Facebook, telling friends, Already been spotted by the Trump Storm Troopers As the candidate talked about Islamic extremism and said, Weve got a problem, the mosque spokesman shouted out, Islam isnt the problem! Soon enough, security pulled him out of the rally. Meanwhile, stage left a bit, Rosenbluth took to Facebook to post a photo of himself with the caption Guess where I am! He had just met Hamid for the first time, though he had known of her for years, and they moved down further than the other five activists. As Hough shouted, Hamid stood up in protest, with Rosenbluth beside her. In response, security pulled him out and then the flight attendant, finally expelling the row of five remaining activists. Outside the venue, Rosenbluth updated his Facebook friends: Once again we got them to disrupt their own rally. Later on Facebook, he told Hough: It was an honor and a pleasure to protest with you sir. I just shut down the Trump rally for the second time, the mosque spokesman wrote. A friend from Charlotte joked: Sorry Jibril, you didnt make CNN yet. The Anti-Trump Eight regrouped at a restaurant, where the flight attendant got a call from CNN. Hamid and her friend piled back into the Camaro to return to the rally, where media trucks were lined up. She did the interview, with her friend off camera. Within an hour of her CNN appearance, Muslim activists and others started spreading the message of the protest, and the flight attendant had become the movements own meme: #RoseHamid #Respect your courage & bravery. The Democratic Women of Union County, N.C., proudly announced her as its Monday morning breakfast speaker. After midnight, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a controversial Washington, D.C.-based Muslim organization, issued a press release with the subject line CAIR Asks Donald Trump to Apologize to Muslim Woman Abused by Crowd, Kicked Out of Rally. But Hamid told The Daily Beast: Its not about me. Trump doesnt need to apologize. Id like him to reframe his thinking. Hough also said an apology wasnt necessary, though he did call for a new Trump security strategy for dealing respectfully with protesters. Meanwhile, from Australia to India, the image of the flight attendants silent protest shot around the world. Unfortunately, as the weekend ended, this round of agitprop ended as political theater usually does: with more polarization, partisanship, and trash talk, including the hashtags #PaidSpokeswomanforIslam and #Hack for the flight attendantand #HeilTrump for the aspiring president. What did Ricky Gervais say to Mel Gibson that got bleeped during the Golden Globes? The better question, maybe, is what the hell was Mel Gibson doing at the Golden Globes in the first place? The disgraced celebrity is these days less known for his filmography than for his (un)holy trinity of homophobic, racist, and anti-Semitic comments. That's not to mention pleading no contest to a domestic violence charge. Oh, and the voicemail to his ex wishing that she be raped by a pack of black men. Oh, and the DUI. He's been persona non grata for many things, the least of which was his calling a female police officer sugar tits during a 2006 drunk-driving arrest. It's that latter remark that was at the climax of the unheard Globes moment, a joke from Ricky Gervais that was bleeped on live TV. For all those curious, the line uttered by Ricky Gervais during a cringe-worthy, uncomfortable exchange between the host and his frequent comedy target was a question Gervais said has been on all of our minds these last 10 years: What the fuck does sugar tits even mean? The ballroom gasped. Cate Blanchetts razor-sharp cheeks blushed. Alan Cumming covered his mouth in disbelief. And the most despicable, trolling moment of the Globes recent history was finally over. Leave it to Hollywoods most notorious star fucking organization to invite one of the industrys most terrible humans to the Champagne-soaked ceremony as if he is being welcomed back. They give him the honor of introducing the latest film in the franchise that helped launch his career, Best Picture nominee Mad Max: Fury Road. It's the kind of duty given to actors we have warm, nostalgic feelings for. Mel Gibson is an actor who once told his girlfriend, You look like a fucking pig in heat. When it was announced that Gibson would be presenting, Gervais, a self-proclaimed vicious roaster, was practically giddy with excitement. Too easy, he tweeted. You see, the first time Gervais hosted the Golden Globes, he joked, I like a drink as much as the next manunless the next man is Mel Gibson. A year later, when Gibson was back in the headlines for being a horrible person, Gervais joked, Our first presenter is beautiful, talentedand Jewish, apparently. Mel Gibson told me that. Hes obsessed. Those barbs resurfaced on lists of Gervaiss most vicious jokes that websites reminisced with in advance of his return to hosting this year. With his omnipresent beer in hand, Gervais reminded the audience of those jokes when introducing Gibson this year, feigning that he felt sorry about it now that he was about to awkwardly share the stage with the subject of his skewering. I blame NBC for this terrible situation, he said. Mel blameswe know who Mel blames. That was a good joke about Gibsons anti-Semitism. It became a bad joke considering that Gibson was about to come out onstage, play the good sport, and maybe even have us feel sympathy for him. Listen, I feel a bit bad for it, Gervais continued. Mels forgotten all about it, apparently. Thats what drinking does And then his final punchline before bringing Gibson out: Id rather get a drink with him in his hotel room tonight instead of Bill Cosby. (That one was a bit lazy, Ricky.) Then Gibson, thanks to the HFPA and NBC, had the chance to seem like hes in on the joke. Like hes a cool guy who likes to have fun. Who got to do his own redemptive comedy. I love seeing Ricky once every three years because it reminds me to get a colonoscopy. Why, folks, does Mel Gibson get a chance at redemptive comedy? Gervais ended the whole ordeal with his sugar tits line. Gibson did look amused. The entire audience was squirming through the whole thing. Gervais handled it humorously, but how disgusting that we were all being encouraged to laugh at this. Dont give Mel Gibson a platform. Dont let him make jokes. This is peak Hollywood Foreign Press. Even Mel Gibson gets forgiven, because hes a celebrity whos going to make some headlines. NBC bleeped Gervaiss last joke. They should have silenced the entire bit. Bernie Sanders loves to talk about the fact that he doesnt have a super-PAC backing his campaign. But the true state of his fundraising strategy is even more astonishing than that: The Sanders campaign doesnt have a finance team. And thats a big deal. Every competitive presidential campaign in recent election cycles has had team of people exclusively dedicated to finances: figuring out how much money the campaign needs, putting together a plan to get that money, and then making it all come together. Its considered a fundamental part of a modern presidential campaign, right up there with having a team to deal with the press. But Sanders may be changing that. Call it a reinvention of campaign funding, but the Vermont senator has shown so far that a campaign can operate just fine without a fleet of green-visors counting the cash. Ive never heard of a presidential campaign, even a minor party presidential campaign, that didnt have a fundraising team, said one campaign finance attorney. But, OK if its working. And, judging by Sanderss latest fundraising numbers, it is. In the past there was always the digital team and the finance team and they hated each other, said Craig Engle, a campaign finance attorney. But now youve got a situationat least with Bernie Sanderswhere now the digital team and the finance team is the same team. Symone Sanders, a spokesperson for the campaign, confirmed to The Daily Beast that the campaign doesnt have anyone on staff focused full-time on raising money. Instead, she said, the campaign relies on its digital and data teams to bring home the small-dollar bacon. We do the bulk of our fundraising through the digital grassroots media, said Symone Sanders. We dont have an official fundraising team. We dont have quote-unquote fundraisers, she added. Sen. Sanders doesnt go to the fancy dinners where people pay upwards of $5,000 to attend. We have mini-rallies, if you will, fundraiser rallies, if you will. Weve only done a few of those. She estimated that the campaign has had fewer than a dozen in-person fundraising events. Instead, its raked in massive amounts of cash$33 million in the last three months of 2015, and about $73 million over the course of the yearthrough online fundraising. Politico reported that Revolution Messaging, a firm in D.C., manages the campaigns online fundraising. In the second and third quarters of 2015, his campaign paid the firm a total of $3.8 million. So: not a terrible ROI. Larry Sabato, who heads the University of Virginias Center for Politics, said Sanderss decision to opt out of having a finance team is remarkable. Who isnt impressed with Sanderss fundraising? he said. He has more or less kept pace with Clinton, and in a key waysmall gifts, which have a lot more punch in politicsSanders has exceeded her by a mile. In those last three months, Sanders raised just 4 million dollars less than Hillary Clinton, despite having zero staff dedicated to fundraising. And according to the site p2016, which tracks campaign staff hires, Clinton has upwards of 30 finance team staffers. Its a factoid that seems to be giving Team Clinton a little agita. In a fundraising email sent Jan. 6 with the subject line nervous, campaign manager Robby Mook solicited $1 donations. Last month, we told you about how much money Bernie Sanders campaign was raising, Mook wrote. Now, the other shoe has dropped: I just found out that hes outspending us on TV advertising in Iowa and New Hampshire. Fundraising-email hysterics are usually worth little more than an eye roll. In this case, though, Mook makes a pretty decent argument: The success of Sanderss unorthodox fundraising strategy has caught everyone off guard. Sanders can skate by without a fundraising team because of the kind of donors he attracts. His staff told The Washington Post that 99.9 percent of the people who have given to his campaign have contributed less than the legal limitin other words, the people backing him arent shelling out $1,000 or $2,000 at cocktail party events. And they can give again. Those small-dollar donors, by the way, take a qualitatively different approach to giving than donors who give up to the legal $2,700 limit. Engle said donors who shell out four figures tend to prefer giving it to a fundraiser they know or at a social event where they feel like theyre part of a group. Thats why campaign fundraising emailsfrom any campaignrarely ask for more than $100. Theres no point, Engle said; people dont give that much money to the Internet. Thats why candidates like Clinton (and Bush, and Rubio, and Cruz) pony up big bucks to hire fundraising professionals who have connections to open-handed would-be contributors. And getting that money costs a lot of money. But getting people on the Internet to click a link on Facebook and chip in $25? Doesnt cost much. And if you have the right candidatesay, for instance, a perpetually disheveled old guy from Vermont with a distinctive message and even more distinctive accentplus the right digital marketing firm, you can make it work. It may seem odd to a generation nowfor whom gay pride comes with its own multi-letter acronym, LGBTthat a pop star could so radically collide and shatter traditional norms around sexuality and gender. But David Bowie did just that in the early 1970s and the challenge that he set, in terms of confronting definitions of sexuality and images of masculinity, prove as fresh today as they did then. Coming out as I did in Britain of the late 1980s, gay men in their 30s and 40s would talk about what a revolutionary marker, a personal lightning strike, Bowie had been for them as boys and teenagers in the 1970s. Lou Reed walking on the wild side had also had his effect, but Bowie, as Ziggy Stardust, had quite literally beamed in from another planet. According to author and cultural critic Mark Simpson, Bowies appearance on UK primetime institution Top of the Pops in 1972 singing Starman and his calculated draping of his fey arm around his gorgeous guitarist Mick Ronson was probably the most important Gay Parade that ever happened in the UK. Simpson told The Daily Beast on Monday that the first actual one had only occurred in London a few days earlier (on July 1, 1972) and was barely noticed. But Bowies had paraded through the living rooms of the nation. Everyone watched that showand a generation of kids loved the apoplectic reaction Bowie provoked from their 1970s dads. Bowie had plenty to say about his sexualityplenty mysterious enough to keep us all guessing and wondering to now, the end. He was post-gay and polysexual before most celebrities were brave enough to declare themselves anything but absolutely straight. In Melody Maker in 1972, Bowie said he was gay. In 1976, he told Playboy he was bisexual, saying he had used that fact very well. I suppose its the best thing that ever happened to me. Bowie later told Rolling Stone that I didnt ever feel I was a real bisexual. Ziggy Stardust was an image conferred upon him, he said, a lieand not some radical outer manifestation of something personal. Coming out as bisexual was the biggest mistake I ever made. The irony of Ziggy Stardust, Bowie said, was that I was not gay. I was physical about it, but frankly it wasnt enjoyable. In a book about Bowies sex life published in 2014, Tony Zanetta, Bowies ex-assistant, said: When we were in bed together, he was more sensual and narcissistic. To him, it was about being adored I dont think sex mattered to him. That same book sketched the orgies that Bowie and his first wife Angie had at their London homeshe once claimed she had found Mick Jagger and Bowie in bed together. In his straight life, Bowie and Angiewho had a son Duncan (Zowie Bowie) who was born in 1971divorced in 1980. Bowie met the model Iman in 1990, marrying her in 1992, and with whom he had a daughter, Alexandria (Lexi"), born in 2000. Bowie also had relationships with Susan Sarandon and Oona Chaplin, widow of Charlie. When I interviewed Tony Visconti, Bowies longtime friend and producer of many of his most memorable albums, in 2013 for The Times of London, Visconti told me that Bowie and Iggy Pop had not had a relationship when they lived together in Berlin in 1977, while Bowie was breaking up with Angie. We got drunk a lot. But he lived a very spartan life. Iggy had his bedroom, David had his. Iggy Pop tweeted his own tribute to Bowie this morning. As for Bowies sexuality, Visconti told me, I never witnessed him with a boyfriend. I certainly think he wanted people to think that, but his main squeezes were always women. VIDEO: A Tribute to David Bowie There was such homophobia back then. He said the best tactic was to go the other way and shock people. He said Ziggy Stardust was a persona, but it confused people. I hear people even now saying, You work with that queer. Its never been dropped completely. On Monday, Visconti released a statement in tribute to Bowie. David always did it his way and his way was the least obvious way. He was a true genius who proved it over and over again through groundbreaking albums. I co-produced his new album Blackstar. He sang with powerful energy and determination, his performances were brilliant. He will live forever in our hearts, mine especially. Bowies influence, culturally, persists today in every male pop star who doesnt present a cookie-cutter heterosexual image and whose images blur boundaries. Theres a visible cultural and aesthetic lineage linking the Bowie influence to musicians as diverse as Boy George and Adam Lambert. On the BBC chat show Friday Night with Jonathan Ross in 2002, Bowie was asked by the fearlessly nosy Ross about his sexual orientation. What was the deal? Ross asked. Was Bowie gay, bisexual, trisexual? I was just very, you know I just got my leg over a lot, Bowie said, clearly wanting to be discussing anything else. Ross persisted. Had Bowie had relationships with men? Not if I could help it. I was incredibly promiscuous, and I think well leave it at that. Why should he tell Ross anything else, Bowie joked, when he could make a fortune writing it up as a book himself. Ross wasnt done: he said hed never tried man-on-man, man-in-man, although he had been tempted recently by David Beckham. Should he give gay sex a try, Ross asked Bowie. Such a serious and a life-challenging and changing question, Bowie said slowly and grandly. The answer that I have for you would probably create such turmoil in your soul. Im not sure that you could actually withstand it or in fact last the rest of the show. Im afraid I will have have to politely and reluctantly not answer that question. That veil of mystery and intrigue, thirty years after he had mesmerizingly first cast it as Ziggy Stardust, spoke realms for Bowie, and the inspirational public duty he performed in muddying our sexual waters. In our modern era of classification and categories, Bowie always refused an easy label. There wasnt one that suited him. In his refusal to label himself, there didnt appear to be a cowardice, but rather an honesty and maturity around how unfixed, at least for him, the notion of sexuality was. That proved to be its own liberation, or at least freeing, moment for so many of every kind of sexual orientation and gender identity. Bowie didnt of course turn out to be the Gay Elvis that many gay people hoped for, Mark Simpson told the Daily Beast. But by flagrantly refusing to be restrained by masculine and feminine expectations and becoming a study in male beauty and glamour, he offered an inspiration to millions, whatever their gender or sexuality. Bowie was a prototype of metrosexualitywhich is in many ways the 21st Century High Street, off-the-peg version of his 1970s experimentalism. Whatever the truth of Bowies sexuality, he outed male bisensuality, big time. A priceless, liberating legacywhatever your gender or sexuality. BEIRUT Lebanese Hezbollah field commanders with troops fighting in Syria tell The Daily Beast they are receiving heavy weapons directly from Russia with no strings attached. The commanders say there is a relationship of complete coordination between the Assad regime in Damascus, Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia. At the same time they say the direct interdependence between Russia and Hezbollah is increasing. The United States and the European Union have both listed Hezbollah as a terrorist organization with global reach and accuse it of serving Tehrans interests. But there is more to it than that. Organized, trained, funded, and armed by Iran with Syrian help after the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, it initially gained fame for suicide bombings hitting Israeli, French, and American targets there, including the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut where 241 American servicemen were killed in 1983. Over the years Hezbollah grew to be a parallel army in Lebanon, stronger than the national military, and for years it was regarded in much of the Arab world as the avant-garde of the fight against Israeli occupation of Lebanese territory. It also developed into the most powerful political party in the fractured Lebanese parliamentary system. But its reputation as a nationalist force has been tarnished since it began fighting in Syria to defend the Assad regime, and as The Daily Beast reported in December, some of its soldiers have refused to go back. The Daily Beast met the commanders on separate occasions at the end of December and the beginning of this year in Dahiya, a majority Shia working-class southern suburb of Beirut. They declined to use their real names because they are not authorized to speak to the media, but both say Hezbollah is directly receiving long-range tactical missiles, laser guided rockets, and anti-tank weapons from Russia. We are strategic allies in the Middle East right nowthe Russians are our allies and give us weapons, said one of the Hezbollah officers who chose to call himself Commander Bakr. He is in charge of five units in Syria, around 200 troops. (He chuckled when he said his nom de guerre, mocking Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the self-appointed caliph of the so-called Islamic State.) As someone who has led units fighting from Latakia to Idlib province, around Damascus, and in the Qalamon Mountains that border Lebanon, Commander Bakr says that the Russian airstrikes have changed the course of the ground war, where Hezbollah, supported by Iran, has taken the lead. Around Latakia was very difficult for us, he said, but when Moscows bombing campaign started in September, the intervention of the Russians made it much easier. Bakr said that the Russians rely on Hezbollah for intelligence and target selection. Without their air force we cant advance and they couldnt give us air support without our information from the ground, he said with evident pride. The Russians had also put Special Forces on the ground in the Latakia district, he said, especially around the airport used by Russian planes. Russian officials did not respond to The Daily Beasts requests for comment about having troops on the ground in Syria or their relationship with Hezbollah. The organizations main office refused to comment. Bakr said that Russia has been increasing its support for his armed movement since 2012. Russias deputy foreign minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, met with Hezbollahs leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut in 2014 to discuss regional developments. Last November, Bogdanov issued a statement making clear that Russia does not consider the organization a terrorist group. We maintain contacts and relations with them because we do not consider them a terrorist organization, Bogdanov said at the time, according to the Interfax news agency. Assir, a Hezbollah recruiter and trainer in Lebanon who also commands a Special Forces unit that fights across Syria, says the Russians are increasingly impressed with Hezbollah and rely on it, rather than the Syrian military, to guard Russian arms depots inside Syria. And to hear Assir tell the story, Hezbollah has extensive access to whats inside those depots. Hezbollah is teaching the Syrian army how to use many of these new weapons, says Assir. He maintains that Moscow hasnt placed any restriction on how Hezbollah can use the Russian arms in its possession, including against Israel if the organization deems it necessary. When it comes to Israel, Hezbollah doesnt take directions from anyone, he says emphatically. But it is not clear that he is in a senior enough position to know what secret agreements have been made. Both commanders joined Hezbollah during Israels occupation of southern Lebanon, which lasted until 2000, and rose through the ranks as the armed wing of the Party of God transformed from a local resistance force to a regional military actor. Now they say that the group born in the chaos of Lebanons civil war has become the most effective force helping Assad cling to power. They say the organization, whose original raison detre was to represent the Shia community in Lebanon, is using its heavy support from Iran to expand its involvement into sectarian conflicts across the region, from Yemen to Iraq. Bakr says he was personally involved in a Hezbollah training mission in Iraq with one of the local Shia militias, Kataib Hezbollah, in 2014, and with the Houthis in Yemen in 2015. Assir says there have been Hezbollah training programs in Lebanon for elite Syrian forces, the Houthis, and Iraqi Shia forces. Despite this expansion of involvement in regional conflicts and the flow of high-powered Russian weapons, Bakr and Assir insist that Hezbollah doesnt actually need to use Russian weapons if conflict breaks out with Israel. They say they are fully prepared to withstand an invasion on the southern border with the Iranian arms in their arsenal. Still, tensions are increasing as Israeli assassinations of Hezbollah commanders in Syria are met with retaliatory attacks on Israeli soldiers stationed on the border with Lebanon. In January 2015 Hezbollah responded to an Israeli strike that killed six of its fighters in Syria with a rocket attack that killed two Israeli soldiers in the Shebaa Farms area, a sliver of disputed territory between Syria, Israel, and Lebanon which Hezbollah claims is Lebanese. Last Tuesday the same pattern was repeated as Hezbollah detonated an IED in response to Israels evident assassination of its high-profile recovered prisoner turned commander, Samir Kuntar. Both retaliatory attacks were met with a day of localized shelling and although Israel and Hezbollah currently maintain a practice of what happens in Shebaa stays in Shebaa, the situation can easily spin out of control. That was seen during Israels 2014 war in Gaza, where a cycle of rapid escalation with Palestinian fighters led by Hamas quickly turned into a drawn-out war. It also happened in Lebanon in 2006. And if such a war began again? The Russian alliance might well be put to the test. Back in March, I argued in The Daily Beast that Republican politicians were finally coming around on climate change. At that time, at least some in the GOP had pivoted from a position of outright denial toward one that at least accepted that the world was warming, even if most stopped short of acknowledging that humans were to blame. As evidence, I pointed to a transformation in talking pointsfrom calling global warming a hoax or a fraud to the ubiquitous Im not a scientist cop-outand a resolution signed by almost every Republican senator in January acknowledging the reality of warming. Some Republicans, including Rand Paul, even signed a separate resolution stating human activity contributed to climate change. While I saw this as a positive trend, a potential step toward a bipartisan deal to address greenhouse gas emissions, I cautioned that any progress could be obliterated during primary season. After all, how would this position survive the pandering to the far right that comes with the Republican primaries? During Novembers debate, we got our answer. Maria Bartiromo of the Fox Business Network pressed Paul on the resolution. She noted that he was one of only 15 Republicans to agree that humans played a role in warming. Was it possible, Bartiromo asked, to continue Americas booming energy production while simultaneously pursuing a meaningful climate change program? Paul said that as president he would repeal regulations on energy companies. (Yes, thats really how he began.) He continued: While I think man ha and then stopped. While I think man may, he corrected, have a role in our climate, I know nature does. Paul then observed that the Earth is 4.5 billion years old and has seen hotter and colder periods. What was needed now, he insisted, was to free up the energy sector, let em drill, let em explore. While none of the candidates denied the Earth was warming, none seemed to think it was much to worry about, either. Joseph Romm presents a significantly more dire situation in his new book, Climate Change: What Everyone Needs to Know. A physicist and former acting assistant secretary in Clintons Energy Department, Romm runs the blog ClimateProgress.org, and is the author of several books on energy and climate. His new book is essentially a reference guide in which he poses common questionsHow do scientists know that recent climate change is primarily caused by human activity? How does climate change affect droughts? What will the impacts of sea level rise be?and answers them concisely and conversationally. While he is mostly successful avoiding wonkiness, he cites such a huge number of studies that its almost unimaginable that anyone could walk away unconvinced of the matters urgency. The problem, of course, is that those who most need to read Romms book, wont. As I write, in fact, a video is circulating showing New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie saying its his feeling that climate change is not a crisisirrespective of what scientists think. And hes one of the more progressive Republicans on the issue. The reluctance of the American right to take action against climate change in the face of such overwhelming evidence over so many years will be questioned frequently by historians. The data hasnt always been as voluminous as it is now, of course, but its existed for decades. Romm cites studies from as far back as the mid-70s warning of the dangers of carbon emissions and global warming. ExxonMobil, as we learned recently, became aware of the hazards of carbon emissions in 1977, yet they funded climate denial until just a few years ago. Charles and David Koch, of Koch Industries, meanwhile, continue to spread misinformation, and they have pledged almost $1 billion to influence the 2016 presidential contest. When I interviewed Romm in 2010, he asserted that the key figures pushing climate denial will be judged very harshly by history, in the category of Neville Chamberlain or people who were shills for the tobacco industry. The basic facts of climate change, as Romm makes clear, are not particularly complicated. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the Earth has warmed about 1.5F (.8C). Most of that warming has come since 1970. This warming trend tracks almost perfectly the increase in human-generated greenhouse gas emissions (mostly carbon but also methane and others) over the same period. There is now more carbon in the Earths atmosphere (400 parts per million) than there has been in more than 1 million years. While its certainly true that the Earths climate has changed over the ages, the reasonssolar variability, volcanoes, etc.have been analyzed and discarded as the forcings driving current trends. In fact, Romm concludes, In the absence of human activity the planet would likely have cooled in recent decades. In other words, the forcing that is changing our climate now is us. Most scientists agree that a warming of 4C (7.2 F) over pre-industrial levels would be near catastrophic for humans, and we are on course to exceed that by centurys end. Scientists are seeking to keep the temperature rise below 1.5C (2.7F), which would avoid many of the worst impacts. But that would mean taking significant action to reduce emissions. Already 90 percent of our glaciers are shrinking, the seas are rising and acidifying (they are acidifying faster than they have in 300 million years), storms are getting worse, droughts are lasting longer (Californias drought is the worst in 1,200 years), and forest fires are more frequent (the wildfire season is two months longer than it used to be). Romm even presents new evidence suggesting that high levels of carbon in the air reduce cognitive ability. Given the pressing need for action, Climate Change is the right book at the right time: accessible, comprehensive, unflinching, humane. This is all pretty alarming (though not alarmist), but the good news is that popular support for action is high. In a recent poll, two-thirds of Americans favored the deal made at the COP21 conference, in which nearly 200 nations agreed to limit emissions so that the global temperature rise stays well below 2C (3.6F). Moreover, the Chinese have agreed to an emissions cap for the first time ever. Helping nudge global leaders along were the three-quarters of a billion people around the world who marched in support of an agreement. Significant obstacles remain, some right here at home. Along with Republican presidential candidates, congressional Republicans dont exactly seem moved to action. On Dec. 1, in fact, the Republican-led House voted to block emissions rules on power plants. Explaining why, Rep. Jeff Duncan of South Carolina blasted President Obama for taking the pseudoscientific threat of climate change more seriously than radical jihadists. What Rep. Duncan may not realize is that strong evidence exists to support a link between climate change and terrorism. Syrias four-year drought, for example, destroyed the livelihood of 800,000 people, contributing to a civil war that has fueled the rise of ISIS. Climate change made that drought two to three times more likely. If only Rep. Duncan had read Joe Romms new book, hed know that. And you thought your mandatory physical education class was bad. Oral Roberts University (ORU) in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is requiring all incoming students to wear Fitbit fitness tracking devices, according to a press release that the small Christian liberal arts school proudly broadcast last week. In olden and less dystopian times, ORU students simply had to keep a fitness journal and manually log [their] aerobics points, the release notes. Now, ORU freshman will have to buy a Fitbit watch to track their fitness. The wearable device retails online for about $140, which is substantially higher than the average cost of a new textbook. In addition to being cheaper, a textbook also cant count your steps and upload the number to your schools online student information database. The Fitbit trackers will feed into the D2L gradebook, automatically logging aerobics points, the press release notes. ORU uses an online learning management platform called Brightspace by D2L. On Brightspaces website, the school currently serves as a success story for the way in which it has implemented student-related data to help instructors spot students who are experiencing problems.Focusing on education that benefits the whole person, ORU takes great care to nurture the mind, body, and spirit of its students, the company notes. Staying true to this goal, the institution has leveraged Brightspace to not only visualize a students academic performance, but their social interactions as well. Academic performance? Social interactions? Why not add the number of steps students take in a day to that list? But the school isnt going full-on Big Brotherat least, not yet. Students who are already attending ORU will, mercifully, be allowed to choose whether or not they want to participate in the program, although the school promises that, if they do, they will reap the benefits of a more convenient fitness tracking system.According to local news station KOTV and the Tulsa World, ORU has set a goal of 10,000 steps per day for participants in the freshman program. For most new freshmen walkers, that will come out to around 5 miles a day.None of those steps, mind you, should be used to walk hand-in-hand with someone of the same sex, as the schools honor code requires complete abstinence from any homosexual activity. Nor should they be taken after 1:30 a.m., which is the curfew for all students living on ORU campus, or while wearing clothing that violates the schools extensive dress code.The school seems to see its new mandatory Fitbit program as a selling point, rather than a warning sign for prospective students who might want to maintain some small degree of bodily autonomy.ORU offers one of the most unique educational approaches in the world by focusing on the Whole Personmind, body and spirit, said ORU President William M. Wilson in the press release. The marriage of new technology with our physical fitness requirements is something that sets ORU apart. In fact, when we began this innovative program in the fall of 2015, we were the first university in the world to offer this unique approach to a fitness program.ORU is dedicated to creating innovative academic solutions for our global student population, added ORU Provost Kathaleen Reid-Martinez. We are excited to offer this cutting-edge technology that will enhance our on-campus students experience and increase the convenience of our fitness programs.And at least one school official is already dreaming big about new ways to use this data. Mike Matthews, who manages the schools data systems, told the Tulsa World that he hopes to test for a correlation between academic achievement and the Fitbit data.No other school is doing what were doing, he said. No other school is capable of bringing the data into their system. Once more Saudi Arabia is executing prisoners en masse; once more Iranians are storming foreign embassies. Both countries are regressing to their basest selves. The question is: why, and perhaps more importantly, why now? Timing is everything here. Saudi Arabias Jan. 2 execution of the Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr, a Saudi national and vociferous critic of the regime, was a calculated, provocative move. Iran, the worlds premier Shia state, had repeatedly made it clear to Riyadh that al-Nimrs death would result in grave consequences. And so it proved. On the evening of Jan. 2, Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran and set it alight. Police looked on (clearly the storming had tacit approval from the Iranian government) before they eventually drove the protesters back. But the damage had been done. A short while later Saudi Arabia officially broke off diplomatic relations with Iran. Since them, Sunni-Shia tensions have been intensifying to even more dangerous levels. Received wisdom says these events are merely the latest blows in a continuing Sunni-Shia sectarian battle that is cleaving the Middle East. To a degree this is correct. Ten years ago Jordans ruler, King Abdullah II, warned of the dangers of what he termed the Shia Crescentthe arc of majority or large-minority Shia communities stretching from Lebanon to Bahrain. The center of Shia power, Jordans Abdullah argued, was Iran, which has since seen its influence grow dramatically following the 2003 Iraq War. Iran now pursues an unashamedly aggressive foreign policy across the Middle East, whether it is fighting wars in Syria and Yemen or trying to control the politics of Iraq and Lebanon. Saudi Arabia, the Sunni Lion, which is both the richest and (with Egypt destabilized) the most powerful Sunni state in the region, has sought to counterbalance Iran in all these areas. The Saudis are terrified of Iranian hegemony, and a few years back even urged the U.S. to "cut off the head of the snake by striking Irans nuclear program. Saudi Arabia and Iran are now effectively fighting proxy wars in several theaters across the Middle East. Since the July 14 nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 (the Five UN Security Council powers and Germany), which will end the international sanctions on Iran, Saudi fears of increased Iranian power have only deepened while relations with Washington have deteriorated. In Saudi eyes, President Barack Obama has chosen attempts at detente with Iran over Washingtons longstanding ties with Riyadh. The country now views itself as largely alone in the fight against Iran. So the animosity is very real on both sides. But in truth it is often more political than religious. Both countries see themselves as natural leaders of the Islamic Middle East and geostrategic competition between the two sees each use the tropes and language of religion to cloak what are in truth political ends. Iran is especially good at this, calling on Shia jihadis to go to Syria, ostensibly to protect the Sayyidah Zaynab shrine near Damascus, but in reality to help safeguard Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and in so doing secure Irans land bridge through Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Set in this context, these latest developments become more easily understandable. That they are political is undoubted. What makes them so interesting is that this time it is domestic factors that have pushed each side to ratchet up hostilities. Since the Iran deal, which saw Washington seemingly willing to ignore Saudi concerns regarding Irans nuclear program, the Saudis are feeling more isolated than they have in a long time. And the timing could not be worse. At $34 a barrel, oil prices are at their lowest since the 1990sa serious blow to the countrys economy. Riyadh is now facing an unprecedented $98 billion budget deficit and was recently forced to raise gas prices by 50 percent. This is dangerous for a state that keeps its population (largely) quiet by extensive state subsidies and high-paying jobs. If its ability to bribe its population effectively into quiescence is threatened, then the stability of the state itself is at risk. Added to this, the recent ascension of King Salman to the throne has seen the kingdom introduce a new, more aggressive foreign policy, notably through military action in Yemen that has so far proved costly with little result. With tensions at home and foreign policy failures abroad, the regime needs to make sure that its people do not become restless and do the unthinkable: start to question their leaders. What the regime needs is a distraction, and there is no better distraction that the Shia enemythe bogeyman that is almost guaranteed to unite Sunnis both domestically and across the Middle East. In this sense, when the Iranians allowed their people to violate all norms of diplomatic protocol by storming the Saudi embassy in Tehran, they played right into Saudi hands. But they did so willingly. supreme leader Ali Khamenei has his own point to prove to his people, and to the watching world. And just like the Saudis, he has used al-Nimrs execution to make it. Khamenei had needed the nuclear deal to lift sanctions on Iran, but this need brought with it significant danger: namely, that he risked compromising the Islamic Republics core principle of defiance in the face of the Great Satan, the U.S. Khamenei has to prove to the hardliners that back him that while Iran may be opening up to the global economy it will remain true to its roots. And there is no better way to show the world that the Islamic Republic remains a foe of imperialism than storming an embassy. The symbolism is inescapable, recalling as it does the 1979-80 Hostage Crisis when Iranian protesters stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and held those inside captive for 444 days. Allowing the Saudi embassy to be stormed has enabled Khamenei to achieve two things. One, he has increased anti-Saudi feeling in Iranthe low oil prices also drastically affect the Iranian economy, and the Mullahs can do with a distracting bogeyman of their own. Two, he has reassured his base that the Islamic Republic is not going soft after compromising over its nuclear program. But while both powers are concerned with shoring up their domestic base, the latest crisis between them could not have come at a worse time for the Middle East. Last October, the Saudis and Iranians finally came together in Vienna for peace talks designed to try to end the Syrian civil war. With both countries so heavily invested in the warIran backs Assad and the Saudis back Sunni opposition groups determined to oust himthere is little chance of a sustainable peace without their input. Talks are supposed to continue on Jan. 25, but since al-Nimrs execution sectarian rhetoric from both sides has increased, and fellow Sunni Gulf states have also broken off relations with Iran. On Jan. 4, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir was uncharacteristically confrontational. We will not allow Iran to destabilize our region, he told Reuters. We will not allow Iran to do harm to our citizens or those of our allies, and so we will react. Iran-Saudi relations are at their lowest point since the late 1980s, and this enmity now threatens to derail the upcoming talks. Officials are worried. Steffan de Mistura, the UN envoy to Syria, was clear on the gravity of the situation: We cannot afford to lose this momentum despite what is going on in the region, he said. Given that the two countries are already backing different horses in Syria, the latest crisis is likely to make the, admittedly distant, prospect of a solution in Syria even more remote. Scott Walker may be yesterdays news, but his brand of union-busting Republicanism is about to have its day in courtSupreme Court. And it will probably win. The Court will hear oral arguments in the case of Friedrichs v. California Teacher Association, which addresses an obscure but essential element of public employee unions: whether non-union members can be required, as a condition of employment, to pay fees to the union for negotiating their contracts. On the face of it, it seems absurd that non-members should have to pay union fees. But it isnt, really. While non-union-members lose some of the benefits of union membership in exchange for not paying dues, they still enjoy the central one: having the union do collective bargaining for them. So even if they choose not to pay dues and not to join, they are still required to pay a fee to cover those costs. If non-members didnt pay the fee, they would be what economists call free riderspeople who get all the benefit but pay none of the cost. What would be the point of joining the union if you get its central benefit for free? By way of comparison, suppose I dont like U.S. policy, so I want to opt out of paying taxes. Thats not fair, because I still benefit from the countrys military, infrastructure, and so on. Im a free rider. So while there are many things I can legally do to protest those policies, refusing to pay taxes is not one of them. Likewise in the case of unions, which is why union fee provisions are often known informally as fair share provisions. Such fees, even if they were equal in size to union dues themselves, were held to be constitutional in the case of Abood v. Detroit Board of Education, in 1977. That all makes economic sense, but this is politics, and public unions are a hot political issue. In 2011, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker defined his national reputation by stripping public-employee unions of their rights to collective bargaining and mandatory payment of dues effectively killing the unions entirely. (He also made Wisconsin the 25th right to work state, crippling private-sector unions as well.) And in the presidential election, Walker went even further, proposing to abolish federal workers unions outright. And its not just Scott Walker. In addition to Republican presidential candidates, all of who seek to curb the power of unions, the Koch-funded American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, has advanced legislation for restricting collective bargaining, prohibiting dues deductions from paychecks and opting out of the kind of dues-paying requirements now at issue in Friedrichs. In fact, Friedrichs would make the Kochs work unnecessary, since it would ban mandatory dues and mandatory fees nationwide. When the Court last took up this issue two years ago, it ruled against the unions, though in a case where context limited the reach of the opinion. The 5-4 opinion in that case, Harris v. Quinn, held that public health workers who were contracted by the state of Illinois could not be required to pay union fees. This, the Court said, was actually an expansion of Abood, and struck it down for that reason. But the Court also cast doubt on Abood itself which is why, two years later, it looks like the precedent may be overturned, and public-sector unions busted nationwide. After a lengthy history of the cases leading up to Abood, Justice Alito, writing for the Court, called that case questionable on several grounds and troubling, and spent several pages tearing apart its core reasoning. Ultimately, Abood was left standing, and so these statements are not quite settled law (Justice Kagans dissent called them potshots) but they certainly suggest that the clock is ticking. The reason is the First Amendment. In Abood, the teachers who wanted to opt out of the teachers union said that their dues were promoting the unions political speech, included on the issue of collective bargaining itself. Factually speaking, this is certainly true. Unions take political positions all the time, and mandatory union dues or fees are supporting them. Thus, in Abood, the Court tried to distinguish between chargeable expenses (i.e., those connected with contract negotiations) and nonchargeable (i.e., political ones). But as Justice Alito noted in Harris v. Quinn, that distinction has proven very hard to maintain. What expenses are really germane to collective bargaining? Whose salaries count? Must courts audit the unions budgets to ensure no constitutional violation is taking place? Its easy to argue both sides of these questions, but that may not matter because of the makeup of the Court. Arguably, even some leaching of union dues into political speech may be justified by the public policy reasons for having public-sector unions. Arguably, the state may restrict (or compel) speech more when it is an employer than when it is a government. But ultimately, with five justices having already signed onto a condemnation of Abood, the unions days seem numbered. The best/last argument available to the unions is stare decisis, the precedential value of Supreme Court opinions. Stare Decisis (literally, the decision stands) is a powerful doctrine; it raises the bar for overturning precedents, and it saved Roe v. Wade at a time when many thought it was about to be overturned. And here, even if Abood is deemed to be questionable, stare decisis might save that holding too. No doubt, thats why Justice Kagans dissent two years ago spent five long paragraphs applying stare decisis to Abood. It seems unlikely that Justice Kennedy or Chief Justice Roberts would offer a ringing endorsement of public-sector unions, but as judicial conservatives, one of them might sign on to stare decisis. Its easy to be cynical about these cases. Is it the least bit suspicious that the courts five conservatives oppose unions, while the courts four liberals support them? Is it just a coincidence that the conservative members were appointed by Republicans, who are now engaged in a nationwide campaign of union-busting, while the liberals were appointed by Democrats, whose base includes the unions? And its in the political realm, far more than the constitutional one, that Friedrichs will be relevant. In constitutional terms, this is yet another case balancing free-speech rights with government policy. Its full of three-pronged tests and obscure legal standards. But in political terms, if the unions lose in this case, they will be crippled around the country as their financial stability will be threatened. The entire dynamic of public sector employment will change dramatically, likely resulting in lower wages and fewer benefits. It will be a huge win for the Republican Party, brought about by five Republicans in Washington, and Koch-funded activists who brought this litigation in the first place. But there is one final irony. As workers are weakened, employers are strengthened. Thus, the Republican Party, which theoretically opposes the power of government, will in fact have greatly increased it. Harrison Fords Han Solo may havespoiler alert for Episode VII: The Force Awakensbeen lightsabered to death by his son, Kylo Ren, but the character will live to see another day in Disney/Lucasfilms highly-anticipated, still untitled young Han Solo project, set to premiere on a far, far away date: May 2018. On Monday, Variety published eight names from an alleged shortlist of actors still in the running to play the iconic character as a young man in the film, which will be directed by The LEGO Movies Phil Lord and Chris Miller: Miles Teller, Ansel Elgort, Dave Franco, Jack Reynor, Scott Eastwood, Logan Lerman, Emory Cohen, and Blake Jenner. The film is still a year away from shooting, but the stakes have been raised now that young Han Solo will reportedly make a cameo in this winters stand-alone Star Wars film Rogue One. From that shortlist, Teller and Elgort are probably our best bets. Despite his bizarre antics in last summers sit down with Esquires Anna Peele, 28-year-old Teller remains a highly respected actor who can deliver both an awards-worthy performance in Whiplash and help prop up a young adult franchise like the Divergent series. But his participation in this past years Fantastic Four disaster isnt doing his career any favors. At 21, Elgort is an even fresher face and does bear at least a passing resemblance to a young Ford. He joined Teller in the Divergent films and has seen some success in weepy teen dramas like The Fault in Our Stars, but he has yet to carry a film on his shoulders, and the Solo role will be a lot to carry. Perhaps the most intriguing name on Disneys list is Emory Cohen, who put in a sweet and affecting performance as Saoirse Ronans love interest in last years Brooklyn, demonstrating a combination of humor and heart the role will no doubt need. The ability to pull off Han Solos combination of wry wit and action star charisma is the major challenge any actor who steps into the role will face. It was that type of natural charm that led Ford on his trajectory to become the highest-grossing movie star of all time, a feat he just achieved this past yearsurpassing Samuel L. Jacksonthanks to The Force Awakens. James Francos younger brother Dave may be funny, but nobody is going to put their money on him in a fight. If Oscar Isaac hadnt played what was essentially a young Han Solo as Poe Dameron in The Force Awakens, he might make an obvious choice. Same goes for Chris Pratt, who proved he can do funny sci-fi action in Guardians of the Galaxy, but is already reportedly being tapped to play a younger version of Ford in the rumored Indiana Jones prequels. Of course, both of those actors are over 35, Fords age when the first Star Wars film was released. Disney has obviously put a lot of stock in youtheach of the actors on that shortlist are under 30but the studio may be prematurely eliminating some more bankable options, just because they happen to have been born in the early 80s. Here are five other actors (including two over age 30) the studio should consider before its too late. Jack OConnell 25-year-old Jack OConnell got burned by Unbroken. He put in an excellent performance as Olympic runner Louis Zamperini, but there was nothing he could do to save Angelina Jolies bloated, surprisingly boring movie from itself. He did, however, earn himself a BAFTA Rising Star Award. And hes even got that coveted teen girl market on lock due to his heartthrob performance in the short-lived, but much-obsessed over series Skins. Nicholas Hoult And what about OConnells Skins co-star Nicholas Hoult? With his transformative performance as the pale, deranged Nux in Mad Max: Fury Road, Hoult almost made audiences forget his earlier work as the cute kid from About a Boy. He has also made his name in the superhero circuit, playing Beast in the X-Men films. For a more human Hoult performance, see his work as a young, gay college student opposite Colin Firth in A Single Man. Michael B. Jordan The big question on everyones minds: Does young Han Solo have to look like young Harrison Ford? The reality is, no matter who Disney casts, youll have to suspend disbelief because no one looks exactly like young Harrison Ford. If Michael B. Jordan can essentially play a young Rocky Balboa, then why cant be play young Han Solo? Rami Malek Again, the Egyptian-American 34-year-old Rami Malek looks nothing like Harrison Ford. But how fun would it be to see him shed the nervous, awkward, uncomfortable character he plays on the Golden Globe-winning Mr. Robot and show a different side of himself in the Star Wars universe? Anyone who has seen or heard interviews with him knows he is nothing like his character Elliot Alderson in real life. Joseph Gordon-Levitt Finally, heres an idea that seems outside the box at first but might actually be the most obvious choice of all. JGL turns 35 this year, making him the same age as Ford when the first Star Wars film was released. He is a huge star with a solid track record of both comedy (50/50, Don Jon) and action (The Dark Knight Rises, Looper). Hes charming as hell and really needs a win after that whole debacle with The Walk. Plus, as he demonstrated in (500) Days of Summer, he already sees himself as Han Solo. The Obama administration attributes much of ISISs success at communicating to its technological savvy, which has elevated the group to a global media and terrorist phenomenon. The president has gone so far as to say that the Paris attackers were a bunch of killers with good social media. Despite the praise heaped on the so-called Islamic State for its cutting-edge propaganda online, one of its most effective products is decidedly low tech. Dabiq, ISISs online news magazine, has a small but devoted readership that spans the globe. News of advances on the battlefield excite themmore evidence that Gods kingdom on Earth has returned and grows. Stories of fighters inspire themmore models to emulate as they contemplate what role they can play in the divine drama unfolding. Journalists and analysts read it with almost the same intensity as ISIS fans; the contents of each volume fill newspapers and think-tank reports soon after its released. And no wonder: The magazine clearly states the organizations goals; provides news of its activities that advance those goals; showcases personal stories of the people engaged in the activities; and announces major developments in the organizations fight against its enemies. Its a wealth of information presented between two covers every few months. Can you name a single U.S. government publication or online platform devoted to the anti-ISIS fight that is as informative or as widely-read as Dabiq? Is there anything that tells us what all these air sorties are for? Whos fighting this fight on the ground? What advances the coalition has made and why we should we care? We couldnt come up with one either. That got us to thinking: Why cant the U.S. government publish something like Dabiq online? Lack of imagination isnt the reason. A news magazine isnt a very creative ideaAmericans perfected the form, which ISIS copied. And if anything, folks inside the government have too many overly imaginative ideas, most of them involving whiz-bang technology. If youve thought it, theyve thought it. A social media campaign for youth to come up with ways to counter violent extremism? Check. Sock-puppetry? Check. The only real obstacle impeding the U.S. government is itself. The executive branchs complicated bureaucracy, legal strictures, and sensitivity to criticism from media and Congress make it tough to publish a Dabiq-style magazine. To see what we mean, lets look at two of Dabiqs regular features and see what would happen if the U.S. government tried to mimic them: Attack Reports: Each issue of Dabiq details its attacks on its enemies. One entry in Issue 12 chronicled ISISs efforts to capture an airbase in Dayr al-Zawr, Syria. Another described four suicide attacks on the Saudi-led coalition fighting southern Yemen. Pictures accompany most entries, some quite gruesome. The U.S. government routinely writes these types of reports for internal consumption. But when theyre publicand thus under the scrutiny of Congress that holds the pursestrings and the media that holds the careerstringsroutine gives way to caution and quarreling. If the president asks his government to write attack reports for the public, the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Defense will quarrel about who will take the lead in writing and publishing them. Then they and the intelligence agencies will quarrel over which reports should be included. Will this report counter the presidents insistence that we have no boots on the ground? Will that report make it look like our Iraqi partners arent carrying their weight? Does this one tell the enemy too much about our game plan? Does that picture make U.S. soldiers look too menacing? Will this report later be discredited by the media? Will these battlefield successes be reversed in the future? Does anyone know if another agency has said this or its opposite? Will anyone trust what were saying? Shouldnt someone else be saying this? When something finally slides off the serpentine conveyor belt months later, it will be a bland blob devoid of detail and relevance. Meanwhile, ISIS will have added 12 more volumes to its shelves. Biographies of Fighters: Dabiq sometimes profiles its fighters, including the young men on the front lines dying for ISISs cause. The fighters tell their stories and explain their reasons for fighting. In Issue 8, for example, there is a Q&A with the man who murdered a prominent politician in Tunisia. He explains why he did it and how it advances the greater goals of the Islamic State. The United States military used to feature these sorts of stories, tooback when the American war in Iraq was a massive, overt affair. Now, thats not the case. The identities of the Americans fighting in Syria and Iraq are a well-guarded secret because the government does not want them or their families to become targets. The government would also frown on them for nonchalantly talking about killing lest the American public get upset. And then theres that boots-on-the-ground thing. Without personal stories, were left with drones buzzing in the sky, and buzz-cut officers droning through stale Pentagon briefings. The human cost on both sides is reduced to numbers on slides, which means Americans cant appreciate the true costs of war and foreigners cant appreciate the sacrifices Americans are making on their behalf. Some readers might feel that the U.S. government should be constrained in these ways. They want the government to be sensitive to public opinion and exceedingly cautious when talking about war and violence. If so, they shouldnt complain when the U.S. government explains its anti-ISIS fight in the vaguest possible termsthats the outcome of extreme caution compounded by bureaucratic bargaining on a mind-boggling scale. Others might feel we need to reform the way government does messaging. If so, dont propose to change the system first. Rather, ask the system to perform a simple task like the one weve described and see where it breaks down. Then youll know what to fix. Making a news magazine probably isnt the high-tech solution the government is looking for, at least judging by Fridays pilgrimage of senior security officials to Silicon Valley and the revamping of State Departments online counter-messaging campaign, But if our byzantine, poll-sensitive government cant do something so basic, it wont perform better when its tasked with something more complicated no matter how much technology it uses. Phi Kappa Phi, the nations oldest collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines, recently presented two Texas A&M University graduate students with the Love of Learning Award. Payman Dehganian, a doctoral student in electrical engineering and Erin Mattson, a masters student in marine biology will receive $500 to be used in support of their graduate studies. Dehghanian will apply funds from the award toward dissertation research as he pursues his degree and Mattson will use the money for a short externship at the Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory in St. Petersburg, Florida. Implemented in 2007, the Love of Learning program grants 160 awards annually in support of graduate and professional studies, doctoral dissertations, continuing education, career development and travel related to teaching and studies. Phi Kappa Phi also gives more than $1 million each biennium to qualifying students and members through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study abroad grants, member and chapter awards and grants for local and national literacy initiatives. BOGOTA, Colombia The tip leading to last weeks capture of fugitive drug lord Joaquin Guzman came from a neighbor reporting suspicious activity at the house where he was hiding in Mexico, a former senior U.S. drug official said Sunday. While questions have been raised about whether electronic contacts between Guzman and actors Sean Penn and Kate del Castillo could have led police to his hideout, it was a simple tip-off that led to Fridays arrest, according to Mike Vigil, a high-level Drug Enforcement Administration official in Mexico for 13 years who has been in contact with Mexican authorities conducting the investigation. Neighbors had noticed the movement of high-caliber, military-style weapons and people they described as suspicious traveling in two armored cars in a lower-middle-class neighborhood in the town of Los Mochis, said Vigil, who was the DEAs chief of international operations before retiring. Mexican Attorney General Arely Gomez confirmed Saturday that it was Penn and del Castillo to whom she was referring when she said earlier that Guzmans communications with actors and producers had formed a new line of investigation before Guzmans capture. She said authorities were able to track the drug lords meetings with lawyers and other associates and identify his whereabouts in October apparently close to the time he met with Penn and del Castillo in a mountainous jungle redoubt. Mexican armed forces launched a series of raids deep in the Sierra Madre in mid-October, firing into villages, swooping in with helicopters and moving in troops to at least 12 villages in the remote borderlands of Sinaloa and Durango, hoping to catch the kingpin, widely known as El Chapo, who had been on the run since his escape from a maximum-security prison last summer. Gomez said the raid nearly resulted in Guzmans arrest, but troops, seeing him accompanied by two women and a child, decided not to engage. Neither Mexican nor U.S. authorities has discussed further detail of how Guzman was captured, and neither would confirm Vigils account, which he said was based on conversations with those closely tied to the investigation. According to his sources, electronic surveillance of Penn at Guzmans hideaway, at least after he arrived in Mexico, was not what led Mexican authorities to discover the kingpins whereabouts. The meeting with Penn in October occurred in the mountainous region of Sinaloa state where there was no cellphone coverage, so they werent tracking him there, Vigil said, citing information from sources in the Mexican government. But the Mexican marines knew he was up there and put a saturation operation in effect which restricted his room to maneuver and hide. The increased presence of Mexican armed forces in the mountainous area that also included parts of Chihuahua and Durango was a result of pressure on Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to recapture the drug lord. Pena Nieto was desperate to regain credibility that he had lost not only because (Guzman) escaped, but the disappearance of the 43 students kidnapped and probably killed in Guerrero state had gone unsolved, Vigil said. After the Penn meeting, and after the armed forces commandeered many mountain roads and checkpoints and started conducting searches of houses throughout the region, Guzmans habit of moving every couple of days became much riskier, Vigil said Mexican officials told him. Guzman apparently decided then to take the risky step of relocating to Los Mochis, despite the higher risk of being recognized and being reported to the government. In the end, Vigil said, Guzman was outed by neighbors who reported the movements of his security detail in the otherwise-ordinary neighborhood. The actual capture occurred after Guzman escaped the house and authorities pursued him along a highway, he said. The fugitive was captured after an eight-minute gunfight that left five of his bodyguards dead. According to Vigil, Guzmans partner in the Sinaloa cartel, Ismael Zambada, is capable of running the multibillion-dollar business in the senior drug lords absence. Mexican officials discount the possibility that Guzmans sons could take over. All they are good for is spending their dads money, Vigil said, repeating what Mexican officials have told him. They even show the uninspiring vision of what's in the GMO commercialization pipeline: GM crops that tolerate being sprayed with even more herbicides - and potentially more toxic ones at that. They can talk about all these things. But it will be a one-sided conversation. Because in spite of the ubiquity of these GM crops in those countries that have adopted GMOs, GMO promoters don't want to talk about them. At all. 3. Talk a lot about golden rice and gene editing What GMO promoters do want to talk about is: GMO golden rice, which they say will save poor people from vitamin A deficiency, and Gene editing, which they say will save GM technology from its old problems of imprecision and unpredictability - problems that until now they have always sought to deny! What do these two hopes for the GMO future have in common? Mostly that they are about future promise, not actual delivery. GMO golden rice has been beset by basic R&D problems and disappointing yields in field trials. And gene editing has not so far proved the revolution in precision that has been claimed. The limited research that has been carried out shows numerous off-target effects. In fact, public interest scientists say new GM techniques like gene editing give rise to GMOs that must be labeled under European law. But GMO promoters insist that the products of gene editing must not be classified as GMOs. Their reasoning is not scientific. It is geared to ensuring that these products will dodge regulation and avoid being stigmatized in the marketplace. The take-home lesson is that this technology is too fragile to survive the transparency that's increasingly being demanded by consumers. 4. Don't ask too many questions about golden rice or gene editing When it's pointed out that GM golden rice still isn't ready to use despite swallowing tens of millions in research funding, and that experiments show gene editing isn't yet precise or predictable, GMO promoters have no answers. They don't reply with contradictory evidence. Neither do they admit they're wrong. They merely say, "Research must continue." Meanwhile, the Philippines has gone a long way towards solving its vitamin A deficiency problem without GMOs. Undoubtedly the problem would be completely solved if a fraction of the funding wasted on trying to genetically engineer beta-carotene (vitamin A precursor) into rice had been spent on techniques that are already proving effective at combatting malnutrition. And non-GM breeding continues to outstrip GM in supplying safe, nutritious, and high-performing crops that thrive in a wide variety of conditions. That's despite the fact that GM keeps being pushed at the expense of approaches that we already know work! 5. Don't mention two of the most prominent GMO lobbyists GMO lobbyist and climate science denier Patrick Moore made history last year by getting caught on camera telling a journalist he'd be happy to drink a glass of Monsanto's Roundup herbicide - and then running away when the journalist offered him a glass. If you're not impressed, you're not alone. Since his refusal to walk the pro-GMO talk and his irresponsible promotion of a toxic herbicide as a beverage, other GMO promoters have started to view Moore as an embarrassment and a no-go topic for discussion. Likewise with Kevin Folta, a pro-GMO scientist with a massive social media presence who made the fatal error of not telling the truth about his links to the industry. Folta retains a circle of vicious online defenders. But people who have attended public meetings where he has appeared tell us that he has lost credibility even among GMO supporters. It looks as if these formerly high-profile pro-GMO spokespeople are now being airbrushed from history. 'Forward-looking statements' and broken promises Our conclusion about the state of the GMO debate from studying the best arguments that the GMO lobby can muster is this. Insofar as reason and science are concerned, they've lost. All they have is golden rice and gene editing. But they don't even have those. Both have thus far failed to live up to their promises and are kept afloat largely by wishful thinking and 'forward-looking statements', as Monsanto likes to call them. In countries like the UK that have pro-GMO governments, forward-looking whimsy, fuelled by the promise of profits from intellectual property rights on GMOs, may be enough to keep the research funding pipeline flowing for a few years. But that pipeline is running counter to the mainstream. The global rejection of GM foods is growing. The US government was the first to embrace GMOs - but American consumers are rejecting them in droves. In 2014, non-GMO foods and beverages generated $200 billion in sales and the total global market for non-GMO products is predicted to almost double by 2019. And Campbell's, the world's largest soup company, has just announced that it will label GMO ingredients in its products in the interests of transparency. The two countries other than the US that grow the most GMOs are facing a public health crisis. In Argentina, 30,000 doctors and health professionals have demanded a ban on glyphosate, the herbicide that over 80% of GM crops are grown with. In Brazil, after the WHO's classification of glyphosate as a 'probable carcinogen', the national cancer institute blamed GM crops for placing the country in the top ranking globally for pesticide consumption and called for a massive shift to agroecological farming. Meanwhile, two-thirds of European countries, including all parts of the UK other than England, have rejected those GM crops already in the approvals pipeline. GM Bt cotton in India and Pakistan is increasingly in meltdown. In the Philippines, a Supreme Court ruling has put a stop to GMO field trials and approvals. Since the Philippines is the country targeted for GM golden rice, one of the GMO lobby's great hopes for the future now faces an extra obstacle. The GMO food venture appears to be at death's door - unless gene edited foods are exempted from labelling. If they are, these 'hidden GMOs' could lead to a collapse of consumer confidence in the food market as a whole. Is the food industry willing to take a bullet for the GMO industry? Probably not - but citizens will have to make a lot of noise to ensure that this attempted deception doesn't succeed. So when it comes to Vivian Moses's claim today that "Supermarket opposition has softened in the UK" and that "much of the European public has become bored with the issue", it's up to us to prove him wrong. Claire Robinson is an editor at GMWatch. Support: We at GMWatch are proud to have played a part in this debate, which - against massive odds - we and our allies across the world may be winning. If you like what we do, please support us with a donation. We appreciate your support. Faster loading time (lower bounce rates from) A faster loading ensures that your site visitors don't leave your site when it starts to load for too long. Guaranteed dedicated resources Bandwidth, memory, CPU power, storage of up to 200 GB SSD Storage, NVMe. 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Another reason might be a lack of technical knowledge, making VPS servers harder to set up, manage, and secure. But thats why managed VPS hosting is such a good choice. PARIS -- French President Francois Hollande and other dignitaries held a special ceremony Sunday to honor all those killed in Islamic extremist violence around Paris in 2015 -- a year when the European way of life was targeted time and again with deadly consequences. At least one attacker is at large, and France's top security official acknowledged Sunday that authorities don't know his whereabouts. The country is under a state of emergency after attacks in Paris on Nov. 13. Paris was again jolted Thursday when a man wearing a fake explosives vest and wielding a butcher's knife ran up to a police station and was shot to death by officers standing guard. Hollande and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo unveiled a plaque Sunday in memory of victims targeted at satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, a kosher market, a rock concert, cafes, a stadium and elsewhere. The violence left some 150 victims dead, and several attackers were also killed. The ceremony took place at Place de la Republique, a plaza that has become a symbol of Parisians' solidarity since the attacks, which began Jan. 7, 2015 with the Charlie Hebdo attack. French rocker and national icon Johnny Hallyday joined the army choir in a special, somber musical performance. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve called for national unity and insisted the government is doing all it can to protect France. Many questions remain about the Nov. 13 attacks, including how many people were involved and may still be at large. Cazeneuve said on i-Tele television Sunday that "We don't know where Salah Abdeslam is," referring to a fugitive gunman. Abdeslam crossed into Belgium Nov. 14 and Belgian authorities believe he hid out in a Brussels area apartment used to make bombs for the Paris attacks before moving on. Meanwhile, acting on "concrete evidence" from French security authorities, German police on Saturday raided an apartment at a shelter for asylum-seekers in the western German city of Recklinghausen that they say had been occupied by the man who was killed by French police in Thursday's incident outside a Paris police station. North Rhine-Westphalia state police chief Uwe Jacob described the suspect as a small time criminal known to authorities by several aliases, who had a record that included weapons charges, drug trafficking and causing bodily harm and had spent at least a month in jail. He said there are no indications the man was part of an extremist network, but that a self-drawn Islamic State flag was found in his room, the dpa news agency reported. At a news conference in Duesseldorf, Jacob told reporters that the man had first entered Germany in 2013 after living for five years illegally in France, and had gone by at least seven names, identifying himself as a Tunisian, Moroccan and Georgian. He lived in several German cities and moved to Recklinghausen at the beginning of last August. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said in remarks Sunday that the man was also believed to have lived in Luxembourg and Switzerland. French investigators were still trying to determine the man's identity. The incident occurred on the anniversary of the attack by two Islamic extremists on Charlie Hebdo in which 12 people were killed at the satirical newspaper's office. ___ David Rising in Berlin contributed to this story. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SENEKAL, South Africa -- The main street of this dusty South African town is lined with empty buckets, marking each residents' place in line as they wait for their daily water ration to be brought in by unreliable trucks. Keeping watch over her buckets, Pulaleng Chakela sleeps in a wheelbarrow on the side of the road to save her spot in the line. The 30-year-old wraps herself in a little blanket as temperatures drop overnight, and asks a male friend to sit nearby for safety. "If I don't wait here all night, the water will be finished," she said. A flatbed truck carrying three 5,000-liter tanks arrived midmorning when temperatures had already reached 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Murmurs of relief are soon replaced by angry shouts as residents learn they have been further rationed from filling four buckets to just two. In the chaos, Chakela slips two extra buckets in the line. The situation is so unfair that she feels no guilt, she said. Chakela is joined by dozens more residents of Senekal, a small town in South Africa's rural Free State province, one of four regions declared disaster areas as a drought dries up South Africa's heartland -- along with much of eastern and southern Africa -- bringing with it failed crops and acute water shortages. Weather officials said Sunday that just in the past week there have been 11 fatalities from heatstroke in the North West province after a week of record high temperatures. The drought is a sign of a changing climate the whole region must prepare for, say experts. The El Nino weather phenomenon has returned to southern Africa, marked by delayed rainfall and unusually high temperatures, according to the World Food Program. The environmental effects of El Nino are expected to last until at least 2017, affecting the food security of 29 million people due to poor harvests, said the WFP report. The conditions in Senekal should serve as a warning to the rest of region to prepare themselves for the dry years ahead, said Tshepiso Ramakarane, manager of the Setsoto municipality, where Senekal is located. "For the next 10 to 15 years, the situation is likely to get worse," he warned, adding that only days of sustained rainfall can solve the town's woes, despite the occasional scattered shower. "We are in the middle of a crisis." Other towns in the district have even less water, but Senekal is in worse shape because of its poor infrastructure and distance from the nearest dam, pointing up the vulnerability of many places in the country to drought due to poor sanitation and running water systems. The local municipality has now been forced to buy well water from surrounding farms at 1 cent a liter, distributing about 50 liters of water to each of Senekal's 8,000 households at no cost. Those who can't wait up to ten hours in a line, however, have been forced to buy water directly from the farmers at premium prices. Makhantsi Khantsi, a single mother of four who works as a security guard, said the farmers are charging her nearly seven times as much as they make the municipality pay and that's on top of the $10 she has to shell out for the 6 mile cab ride. For laundry, the options are even more grim, and Khantsi and a dozen others use the stagnant, algae-ridden water collected in an abandoned sewage treatment tank to wash their clothes. "When you are desperate, what must you do?" asks Refiloe Mangati, as she washes her children's school shirts by hand, scrubbing with too much detergent and rinsing quickly in the hope the algae -- and the tadpoles -- won't stain them. On the farms surrounding the town, hot gusts of wind pick up dust on empty fields where there should be crops. "We have not planted a single seed," said Borrie Erasmus, who grew up on the Biddulphsberg farm, about 12 miles outside Senekal. This is the first time in the five decades he has worked his family farm that he has missed the spring planting season. If it rains for a few days before autumn, he may still plant sunflowers, but that won't offset the more than $60,000 Erasmus has already lost this season. "One bad crop can put you back three or four years and now we have no crops," said Erasmus. Even if the weather returns to normal, it will still take at least five years for farmers to pay off the loans they've had to take out to survive. South Africans, already facing a weak currency, will soon feel the effect of rising food prices as the country may have to import corn, Agricultural Minister Senzeni Zokwana warned on Monday. Over the Free State, the few clouds gathering in the distance may bring some temporary relief, but farmers here say they need more certain intervention. "We're hardy farmers, we're used to getting by without much, but these are such extraordinary circumstances that there is a need for government to help," said Erasmus. WESTPORT -- For a performance by legendary blues pianist Mark Naftalin, it was standing-room-only in Westport Library's 250-capacity McManus Room Sunday. For the hourlong performance, spectators lined the walls and additional chairs were carried onto the stage itself to accommodate a crush of people. "Thanks for coming. There are 200 more waiting outside," Naftalin, a Westport resident, joked during the performance. Naftalin -- who last year was inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for his work with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band -- was joined by local percussionist Barry Urich, a drummer who has backed Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy, Dr. John and many other star musicians. Introducing the duo, Westport Library programming coordinator Jennifer Keller noted that Sunday's rainy weather set a suitable mood for an afternoon of instrumental blues. "Obviously, rain and blues mix," Keller said. Despite the rain, a lively atmosphere prevailed in the McManus Room during Naftalin and Urich's performance. "Loosen your tie!" called a spectator after Naftalin asked Keller to lower the heat in the room. "Which way is loose?" Naftalin countered, sticking out his tongue and pretending to use the tie to strangle himself. Naftalin began the performance unaccompanied, dedicating a twinkling, melancholy blues solo in a major key to the memory of his friend Katie Chase, a Westporter who passed away last year. Urich joined on the second number, using brushes to establish mellow, subtle percussion on a snare drum and hi hat. The duo's repertoire included instrumental renditions of blues standards like "Frankie and Johnny" and "Married Life Blues". "This song is full of ambiguity and ambivalence," Naftalin said of the latter number. Naftalin -- who has decades of radio experience, he told The Hour after his performance -- paused between some songs to share anecdotes. He recalled once losing a pocket watch inside a piano at Fairfield Theater Company. "The University of Chicago is expanding territorially. I visited there recently. It's growing like a fungus," Naftalin said, prefacing a song named after an intersection in the Windy City, where the Butterfield Blues Band got its start. "Back when I used to dance in the gym, I used to like the slow songs for dancing. ... They sounded like this," Naftalin quipped before starting a downtempo doo-wop inflected number. Naftalin also spoke about his friend Percy Mayfield, an R&B legend who wrote "Hit the Road Jack" and whose piano style greatly influenced Naftalin's. "He was the coolest person I ever knew," Naftalin said before launching into a slow blues, which he said was Mayfield's favorite style to sing. Naftalin's performance was part of Westport Library's monthly concert series, programmed by the library's volunteer music curator Lynn Jeffrey. "The series usually is (standing room only)," said Kelle Ruden, Westport Library's director of programming. "Lynn does a great job of curating world class performers." "(Jeffrey) really tries to select a diverse array of musical styles and performers that make this a great series," Ruden added. The current series began in September with a performance by the Dueling Guitar Duo of Frank Vignola and Vinnie Raniolo, who Ruden said are local musicians like Naftalin and Urich. "I think we're so fortunate, with our proximity to New York City, that there are a lot of musicians in the tri-state area that are available to us," Ruden told The Hour. Next month's concert in the series will be a special Valentine's Day performance by the Marcus Simeone Trio. "(Simeone) has been praised as a combination of Johnny Mathis, Luther Vandross and Michael Jackson," Ruden said, adding that Simeone will be joined by vocalist Maria Ottavia, as well as pianist Tracy Stark, an 8-time Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs (MAC) Award winner. NORWALK -- Two Saturday car burglaries near the Norwalk-Wilton town line have prompted Norwalk Police to remind citizens not to leave purses, wallets and other valuables in their cars. At 8:19 p.m. Saturday, Norwalk Police dispatchers received a phone call from a homeowner on Weatherbell Drive stating that he had seen three or four "kids" break into his car, according to police reports. NORWALK -- A drunk and belligerent man thought to be from Indiana turned out to be from Westport once in police custody, according to reports from Norwalk Police officers. Harry Birch, 20, of 37 Crescent Road, Westport, was charged with breach of peace, interfering with an officer and criminal impersonation. Birch was issued $1,000 bond and given a court date of Jan. 15. Responding to a report of harassing behavior in South Norwalk, a Norwalk Police officer was flagged down on Washington Street by an unidentified male who appeared to be involved in an altercation with two white males, the officer reported. As the officer approached the scene, the two males fled on foot toward the intersection of Washington and South Main Streets. The complainant told the responding officer that he did not know the two men who had accosted him, adding that the men began arguing with him and pushed him, according to police reports. The officer asked the complainant to stand by as he set off to pursue the two men; police reports indicate that when the officer encountered them on South Main Street, they were embracing and staggering into the road. When asked to provide identification, one of the men produced a Connecticut driver's license and the other produced a license from Indiana bearing the surname Van Osdol, Norwalk Police said. As the officer checked the IDs for warrants, a backup officer arrived and informed the first officer that Van Osdol had been ejected from Johnny Utah's earlier that night for fighting and had attempted to re-enter the restaurant four or five times, each time being denied entry by security. When the two men were told to sit on the ground, the man with a Connecticut identification complied but the man carrying the Indiana license became argumentative and began flailing his arms, police said. A scuffle ensued during which the Indiana man sustained a laceration to his upper nose, police said; he was then handcuffed and made to sit in a squad car. As officers at Norwalk Police headquarters made an inventory of his possessions, they found a Connecticut license that identified the man supposed to be Van Osdol from Indiana as one Harry Birch of Westport. Besides the identification card, two credit cards with the Van Osdol name were found in Birch's possession and tagged as evidence, police said. Birch admitted to using the Van Osdol identity "for whatever he needed," according to Norwalk Police reports. HARTFORD A legislative task force is grappling with the best way to protect children from secondhand smoke, especially those riding in a vehicle with a smoker. The study panel was created after a bill that would have banned smoking in cars with young passengers raised many questions among members of the General Assembly. But it's unclear what, if any, retooled version of the proposed ban will ultimately be recommended for lawmakers to reconsider when they return in February. "I don't know exactly what is going to come out," said Rep. Noreen Kokoruda, R-Madison, the task force's co-chairperson. The proposed ban has been met with opposition from lawmakers concerned about the potential for invasion of privacy and whether it could lead to profiling by police looking for a reason to pull over particular drivers. Other legislators have questioned whether such a law would even be enforceable. Considering the controversy, the task force has expanded its scope. It intends to draw attention in its final report to the legislature's Public Health Committee to the need for more education about the health risks associated with smoking with young children inside a car, as well as the fact that Connecticut has spent the bulk of the money it receives from state tobacco taxes and a settlement with big tobacco companies on programs other than tobacco-control efforts. "We're looking at the bigger question," said Rep. Henry Genga, D-East Hartford, the other task force committee co-chairperson and the original proponent of the ban on smoking in cars. "What we're really trying to do is find out how we can protect minor children from secondhand smoke, because we don't do enough of a good job in Connecticut," he said. Bryte Johnson, director of government relations and advocacy at the New England division of the American Cancer Society, acknowledged at last week's committee meeting that the issue of smoking in cars with children is important, adding how seven states have such laws on the books. But he said it is "fairly down in the pecking order in terms of tobacco-related needs." Johnson is pushing for the group to recommend the state spend more money on tobacco control efforts, such as ad campaigns and smoking cessation programs. Connecticut's tobacco settlement fund was created in 2002 and has been raided 67 times since by the General Assembly to help balance the budget, he said. During that time, Connecticut has received a total of about $1.9 billion from the tobacco settlement but spent only $28.5 million on tobacco-related programs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended Connecticut spend $32 million annually on such efforts. "We do need to keep our eye on the larger problem," Johnson said, adding how tobacco is estimated to kill 4,700 people in Connecticut annually Johnson has suggested the task force recommend the state spend at least 50 percent of the CDC's recommended level, given the reality of Connecticut's budget problems. The legislature set aside $1.2 million for tobacco-related programs this fiscal year. "We could put a very nice dent in the tobacco problem we have in this state," he said. "But I'm not blind to the reality of the fiscal problem this state finds itself in." The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Connecticut wholeheartedly thanks God and the honorable U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, 2nd District, for graciously inviting Dr. Mohammed Qureshi, our statewide president, as his guest at State of the Union 2016. We are honored to join the Congressman representing patriotic Muslims for peace who believe in the Messiah Ahmad at President Barack Obama's historic and final State of the Union address. To the Editor: Sexual violence is a layered and complex issue. No two cases are exactly alike, and no community is immune. While sexual violence is an issue that has been with us since the dawn of man, we still have not figured out how to appropriately respond to this epidemic collectively. So when we ask ourselves where we stand as a nation on combating sexual assault, we must take stock of the social, cultural and political factors involved. I still remember the reasons why I took this job with The Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education. These reasons sit in a folder on my desk, housing three stories that would come to change the way I view my country. After working on a film about the systematic gang rape of women and girls by village panchayat's in India, I never thought that I would see such blatant oppression and abuse again. While the actual crime in and of itself was always brutal and horrific, it was the aftermath of rape that the councilmembers were relying on as the true punishment. Sexual assault doesn't just rip one life apart in India. It stigmatizes and knocks out an entire family in one motion. Survivors of sexual violence often have to leave their homes, disowned for what happened to them, or cast away by their own community. Her marriage ability destroyed, a survivor might be sold into a brothel, if she is of a profitable age. Violent harassment, victim blaming and deep shame reverberate in the wake of the assault. So much so, that the victim's suicide is tragically the most common result. There would be some mourning amongst the villagers, but it would be a small faction who would grieve in private. Mostly, life would just go on. Why grieve the loss of a stupid girl? She brought it on herself, anyway. She went out after dark. Turning on the news at home brought me back to the dirt roads of Rajasthan. The stories of Rehtaeh Parsons, Audrie Pott, and the infamous case in Steubenville grabbed my attention. The similarities were astounding. Three separate incidences of gang rape of young girls at a party. From Nova Scotia, to California, to Ohio, all assaults occurred in public view, with dozens bearing witness. Smartphones came out, with photos and videos taken of the crimes. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube provided a new avenue for victimization. The comments on these platforms revealed a blanket sentiment of slut shaming and victim blaming. In the thousands of tweets that emanated from these cases, not a single one asked "Why didn't anyone stop it?" That is an excellent question. Why didn't anyone do anything? Surely, there had to be an individual at the Steubenville party who witnessed an unconscious girl being urinated on who thought to themselves, "This isn't right." Yet, here was the common response when that very question was raised on Twitter: "I wouldn't of intervened, if she wants to be a drunk slut that on her, why would someone help her?" The Center aims to challenge the social landscape that gives birth to a culture of apathy and victim blaming. Through a program called Where Do You Stand, (WDYS) The Center strives to empower college aged young men to step in and be a vehicle for change in the fight against sexual violence. Where Do You Stand approaches the concept of bystander intervention from a place of cultural understanding and analytics. Acknowledging that we are all products of our environment, WDYS challenges the behaviors and attitudes that lend to silence and inaction in response to sexual assault. This program deconstructs the mask of hegemonic masculinity, pointing out the damage it does to both men and women, and empowers participants with strategies that safely challenge these norms. WDYS carries with it the hope that we can change the way we discuss sexual assault in this country, and invariably, the way we respond. Audrie Pott and Rehteah Parsons came to take their own lives, as is so often seen in India. The harassment that they endured from their community and peers, and the weak if not laughable response of the authorities made me question everything. I thought I had left a vehement rape culture behind. It took these tragic cases to show me, that this issue knows no borders. Where Do You Stand carries with it the hope that we can change the way we discuss sexual assault in this country, and invariably, the way we respond. Come stand with us, and let's facilitate a cultural shift together. If you would like to hold a Where Do You Stand training, or for more information on The Center's prevention programs, please call 203-348-9346. Charlotte B. Poth The Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education ORD Mary Lou Weverka, 89, of Ord, died Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016, at the Valley View Senior Village at Ord. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016, at the Ord Memorial Chapel. The Rev. Mark Maresh will officiate. Burial will be in the Cottonwood Cemetery at Burwell. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday with a rosary at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Ord Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Mary Lou Weverka was born June 22, 1926, 10 miles south of Burwell, to Carl and Rose (Quinn) Treptow. She was one of three children. She grew up and received her education at District No. 56 through the 8th grade. Mary Lou moved to Burwell where she stayed with her grandmother and she attended Burwell High School, graduating in 1946. While in Burwell, she worked for McMullen Grocery and Clothing for two years. She took summer school so she could get her teaching certificate. Following her graduation, she moved home where she taught at a small country school three miles from home. Mary Lou married William Bill Weverka June 25, 1951. They started their married life near Sargent on Bills farm. They raised hogs and corn. The couple never had any children of their own. Mary Lou was active in helping with the farm. Due to Bills health, they sold the farm and bought a home in Ord in 1982, at which time they started to winter at their summer home in Arizona. Each spring they returned to Ord. Following Bills death in 1991, Mary Lou no longer went to Arizona. She continued to live in her home until entering the Valley View Nursing Home in 2008, where she remained until her death. Mary Lou was very social, loved to scrap book and cut out articles on her relatives and friends. She was a great one for family history. She would converse with people about who was who and who their relatives were. She was strong in her Catholic faith, attending church regularly while able to drive. She continued to attend services at the nursing home on Sunday mornings. Mary Lou had two cousins, Don and Harold Treptow, who would visit her in the summers. Survivors include a sister-in-law, Emily Kelly of Sargent; a nephew, Lannie and Jane Weverka of Sargent; a good friend, Eileen and Gary Bruha of Ord; and lots of Quinn and Treptow cousins. Mary Lou was preceded in death by her husband; and two brothers, Jack and Bob. Memorials may be given to the Valley County Hospice or the Valley View Senior Village. Payton Muth stars on the field now, but plans to be on the sidelines later The strongest argument one can make regarding a complicated issue is to integrate both a set of statistics and some specific examples that validate the point you are trying to prove. In the last few years we have seen the transformation of the figure of the college president. Originally it was a person exemplifying the best of higher education, with a solid record as a scholar and as a teacher. Those credentials allowed him or her to have the respect and support of both the internal and external constituencies. However, in the last decade or so the number of college leaders that are coming from outside academia has been steadily increasing. According to the American Council on Education, 20 percent of U.S. college presidents selected in 2012 came from fields outside academia, up from 13 percent six years earlier. And if you follow the announcements of new campus leaders you will probably see that that proportion will continue to increase in the coming years. We are also seeing an increased number of college leaders failing. According to the book Presidencies Derailed: Why University Leaders Fail and How to Prevent It, those failures have become more and more common, up to 50 per year. Among the most recently publicized instances of these failures has been the case of Timothy M. Wolfe, who was forced to resign as president of the University of Missouri after racial issues on campus made the national news. Mr. Wolfe had no academic experience, coming from the business world as a former executive at IBM and Novell Americas. From the beginning he started to behave in ways that ran contrary to the philosophy of an academic institution, a culture that places great value on the concept of shared governance. According to some faculty, he was autocratic, failed to consult different constituencies and appeared indifferent to student concerns. Because of cases like this, campus communities - particularly the faculty - are becoming more and more resistant to accepting non-academics as their leaders. Take, for example, the University of Iowa. This year and under pressure from several sectors outside the institution, the board of trustees chose Bruce Harreld, former president of the restaurant chain Boston Market, as the new university leader. The decision was criticized as soon as it happened. A survey showed that only three percent of the participating faculty considered him qualified for the job. Subsequent events confirmed those suspicions. Within weeks of his appointment, Harreld suggested in a meeting that professors unprepared to teach be shot, comments that generated a public uproar, particularly in these times of campus shootings. He later apologized for those remarks. Although boards of trustees may have their reasons to choose people from outside academia as campus presidents, they do so at their own risk and that of the institution as a whole. These governing bodies claim they need people with business acumen who can navigate the financial challenges faced by higher education today caused by an erosion of their traditional sources of funding. This need seems particularly relevant at public institutions that have faced significant cuts from state governments. For this reason, boards of trustees look for people with more fundraising experience or political connections. The problem is that universities are not corporations and their main activity, education, is not a commodity. The culture of colleges and universities is deeply rooted in traditions that date back to medieval Europe. Campuses are highly unique environments that unless you have had a long experience with them you will have a hard time understanding. For one thing, consultation is key to getting things done. Orders from the top will not do, particularly with faculty who are very well versed in the tactics of passive resistance and because tenure provides them with a much higher sense of job security than your average employee. Dealing with issues such as student protests, race, inequality and bigotry require levels of sensitivity and finesse not always common in the corporate world. Yet, we need to recognize that most people in academia are not trained to be effective leaders. We see that from department chairs and program directors all the way to presidents/chancellors. A number of institutions have been providing some training opportunities but that has happened in very few places and only sporadically, which means that most people in positions of leadership do not go through any training specific to the needs of the academic institution. Until very recently the only option for would-be presidents/chancellors to get some training was provided by Harvard Universitys Graduate School of Education, which has an enrollment of about 50 per year. In the summer of 2012, the American Council on Education launched the Institute for New Presidents. In 2014 the presidents of Arizona State University and Georgetown University announced a joint program aimed at creating the Institute for Innovation in Higher Education Leadership. Others provide more specific training for new presidents, such as The Council of Independent Colleges and the American Association of Community Colleges through its Presidents Academy Summer Institute, as well as one by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. Although all these represent positive developments, they address only part of the problem. It does not matter how prepared a person is for a position of campus leader when the people who hire him or her (boards of trustees or system leaders) do not really know what is needed for that position. Those boards of trustees, composed mainly of people who also have no academic experience, many times hire someone who has an expertise in a narrow issue of concern, because of personal chemistry, or just because that person does not seem to threaten the status quo. What that means is that they are hiring someone they think they want, which is not at all the same as hiring who they need. Dr. Aldemaro Romero Jr. is a writer and college professor with leadership experience in higher education. He can be contacted through his website at: http://www.aromerojr.net. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 11, 2016 If a motif on a piece of batik cloth can tell a story about its place of origin, each piece of batik Kudus shows centuries of history of acculturation. The only region in Java with an Arabic name (derived from al-Quds, meaning 'the holy one', as well as the Arabic name for Jerusalem), Kudus is an important city in the history of Islam in Indonesia, dating back to the 16th century. 'Batik culture was a tool in spreading Islam in the past,' said collector Miranti Serad Ginanjar. 'There are motifs of Javanese writing interpreting Arabic calligraphy and the stories of Islamic teaching.' For centuries, batik artisans in Kudus, Central Java, upheld the legacy of the followers of Sunan Kudus, or Syekh Ja'far Shodiq, the founder of Kudus, in Langgar Dalem village located near the iconic Kudus Tower. The characteristic batik produced in the village uses shades of terracotta colors. As batik-making spread to other villages, a more diverse color palette of purple, green, blue and brown was added. Besides that, another characteristic of batik Kudus is the use of dot motifs, which were inspired by rice grains, the major agricultural product on the island. Although batik Kudus at first glance looks similar to other batik produced along the coastline of Java such as Pekalongan, Semarang and Lasem, influences from Arabic, Chinese and even Dutch cultures contribute to the rich details of batik Kudus. The detailed and descriptive motifs of batik Kudus and the artistic choice of colors had made it a sought-after sartorial and collectible item. 'I met German curator Rudolf G. Smend years ago and at his museum he kept batik Kudus, for which bidders asked for US$20,000 at the time,' said Miranti, adding that the most sought-after fabric was produced between 1930 and 1940. The acquaintance triggered a quest to find batik Kudus in many museums in different countries and collections in Indonesia. As of the early 2000s, the batik had become a rare item even in Kudus, Miranti's birth town. 'I found batik Kudus at the British Museum which was brought by traders selling batik from Semarang and Kudus at the night market in London in the 1870s.' Her findings and research on the classical batik were documented in a coffee table book titled Batik Kudus The Heritage. In the book she revealed stories behind the popular motifs of different eras. Circa 1930, batik Kudus was enriched with a touch of Chinese-influenced motifs and colors with artisan Lien Boen In on the frontline. Later in its development, batik Kudus also adopted clove flowers as motifs to represent Kudus as the birthplace of kretek (clove cigarettes). In more modern days, the motifs have represented the machines used in kretek factories and the logo of kretek producers. The more affordable batik cap, made using printing blocks, and batik print, which is machine-produced, that emerged in the 1980s slowed down production using the hand-written wax-resist dying technique of batik Kudus. In 2005, 75-year-old Ni'amah was the only batik Kudus artisan left. In her efforts to revive the heyday of batik Kudus by establishing Galeri Batik Kudus together with the Djarum Foundation, Miranti met with Yuli Astuti, a self-trained batik Kudus artisan who shared her obsession. 'Ibu Yuli gives batik lessons to young women and creates new motifs,' she said, adding that it was her dream to establish a community of batik artisans similar to the likes of Pekalongan and Solo, and become a major tourist destination. Some of the new motifs created by Yuli were also included in the book. 'I also reintroduced the old motif of the flipped boat, which actually came from a story of a Chinese trading boat that rested on Mount Muria in Kudus. There were artifacts from China found on the mountain,' she said at the book launch. 'Each and every motif in batik Kudus has its story and contains a life philosophy, so mine is also derived from local wisdom,' said Yuli, who has registered her creations with the intellectual and property rights directorate. Another speaker at the discussion that followed the book launch, Nita Kenzo, who is the founder of Galeri Batik Jawa, said that the gallery had similarly reasserted the use of natural dyes in batik to keep local wisdom alive. 'We are trying to produce batik in its old fashion colors, made of natural dyes in our efforts to protect the environment while sustaining national culture,' she said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tama Salim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 11, 2016 The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has confirmed its absense from Monday's plenary session at the House of Representatives, where Golkar Party faction leader Ade Komarudin is scheduled to be sworn in as new House speaker. PDI-P deputy secretary-general Ahmad Basarah said on Sunday that the move had nothing to do with Ade's planned inauguration, even though the ruling party's non-attandence may foil Golkar's plans to consolidate its power in the House. Ahmad said that all of the party's cadres at the House were required to attend the national working meeting (Rakernas), which opened on Sunday and runs through Tuesday. 'The plan to host the Rakernas has been in the pipeline for three months, longer than the plan to name a new House speaker. We had absolutely no intention to boycott the inauguration ceremony,' the PDI-P politician told reporters on the sidelines of the national meeting in Central Jakarta. Ahmad said his party would leave the decision to nominate a new House leader up to the binding legal mechanisms applicable at the House. According to him, the nomination would automatically become void if the plenary meeting fails to meet a quorum, which has to be more than a half of House members. 'If the nomination process violates any rule or code of conduct, the decision will become void, even without the need for PDI-P to boycott the event,' he added. The PDI-P's move comes amid wrangling over the House speaker post, a strategic position the ruling party had been coy to take up ever since opposition parties had wrestled it away from the election winner. Despite victory in the 2014 legislative elections, the PDI-P was denied leadership posts because of its fiery rivalry with House opposition parties. The opposition passed an amendment to the law awarding House speakership to the largest coalition of parties, rather than the individual party with the most votes. PDI-P lawmaker Hendrawan Supratikno recently suggested deferring the inauguration ceremony, arguing that Golkar was currently in no position to appoint a replacement for former House speaker Setya Novanto due to its leadership vacuum. A recent Supreme Court verdict has returned the party leadership to Aburizal Bakrie, whose tenure had expired in 2014. Another PDI-P lawmaker, Masinton Pasaribu, said the ruling party had also been seeking to return to a proportional system that had been abandoned under the Legislative Institution (MD3) Law, whereby the winner of the legislative election had the authority to lead the House and form the House leadership based on the number of votes garnered by each party. He also said that the party intended to endorse Ade to replace Setya, who resigned due to alleged ethical breaches, in exchange for Golkar's support for the law revision. Ahmad played down the trade, saying that the PDI-P would only agree to a revision of the law should all party factions at the House reach a consensus. 'We have learned from experience how political noise at the House is detrimental to national interests, because it exposes the folly of political elites to the masses, thus diminishing any ounce of credibility the legislative body once held,' Ahmad explained. The revision would open a chance for the largest House faction and the leader of the pro-government caucus to secure a seat in the House leadership. The United Development Party (PPP), a member of PDI-P's pro-government caucus at the House, may follow the manuever. PPP politician Muhammad 'Romy' Romahurmuziy, who was also present at the PDI-P event, threw his support behind a House leadership reshuffle, suggesting that the House should open up more speaker positions to accommodate more parties. 'The leadership shake-up is to suppress any brouhaha. So if it really is implemented, I am honestly thinking about proposing more House speaker positions. In 1999, there were nine speakers; there's no harm in doing that again if it is to bring about peace at the House,' Romy told The Jakarta Post on Sunday. Another PPP lawmaker and current House faction head Dimyati Natakusumah previously also called for a reshuffle, suggesting that PPP take over a number of leadership positions in the House's internal bodies. _____________________________________ To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Erika Anindita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 11, 2016 The House of Representatives (DPR) installed on Monday Ade Komarudin as the new House speaker, replacing Setya Novanto who stepped down on Dec.16 over an alleged ethics breach. 'We, House executives, congratulate the new House speaker. Hopefully, his inauguration will strengthen our institution,' House Deputy Speaker Fahri Hamzah said after Ade's inauguration on Monday afternoon. He was inaugurated during a House plenary meeting that marked the first plenary meeting in the House's new hearing session this year, at the House complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Monday afternoon. The House's consultative body (Bamus) chose Ade as House speaker to replace Setya in a meeting on Monday morning. The meeting, which was led by House leaders, faction leaders and the House secretary-general, reportedly did not discuss a letter from the Golkar Party's splinter faction led by Agung Laksono that nominated Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmitas as House speaker. 'The letter was not discussed because the leadership meeting result included as a consideration a letter submitted by the Golkar Party with chairman Aburizal Bakrie and secretary-general Idrus Marham,' said the House's NasDem Party faction deputy chairman, Johnny G.Platte, as quoted by kompas.com after the Bamus meeting at the House complex on Monday. Prior to his appointment as House speaker, Ade served as deputy chairman of the Golkar Party's central executive board (DPP), which was elected at the party's national meeting (Munas) in Bali in November 2014 and led by Aburizal. Johnny said the House's decision to appoint Ade was in line with Article 87 (4) of the 2014 Legislative Institutions (MD3) Law. The article stipulates that if a House speaker steps down, he or she shall be replaced by a successor from the same political party. Johnny further explained that shortly after Setya resigned from his position over the alleged misuse of the names of President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla in an attempt to renegotiate Freeport Indonesia's mining contract extension, the Aburizal camp proposed Ade as his successor. Johnny explained that when the Setya case occurred, the DPP Golkar formed at the Riau Munas in 2009, which was led by Aburizal, was still legally valid and Ade's nomination was therefore valid. 'No faction rejected [Ade]. We agreed that this process could continue, including considering formal and procedural principles on the need to fill House leader positions, so that the House's work could run well and meet public expectations,' said Johnny. (ebf)(+) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Haeril Halim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 11, 2016 The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has said that it would grill former House of Representatives speaker Setya Novanto on Wednesday in its investigation into the alleged abuse of power and conspiracy to demand shares in gold and copper mining firm PT Freeport Indonesia. AGO junior attorney for special crimes Arminsyah said the AGO had sent Setya a summons letter on Friday requesting his attendance at a questioning on Wednesday. 'So far, we haven't heard back from him regarding his confirmation of attendance. We will most likely hear from him tomorrow,' Arminsyah told The Jakarta Post on Sunday. Arminsyah said that the AGO decided to summon the Golkar Party politician after being told by House secretary-general Winantuningtyastiti Swasanani that Setya's meeting with Freeport president director Maroef Sjamsoeddin, at which he allegedly demanded the shares, was unrelated with his official duties as House speaker. Setya allegedly offered to help the company secure a work contract extension from the government in exchange for the shares. 'We don't need approval from President [Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo] [to question Setya]. Because the secretary general has said that he did not attend the meeting in an official capacity as a member of the House, ' Arminsyah added. Setya's lawyer Rudy Alfonso lambasted the AGO for issuing the summons letter before receiving approval from Jokowi. 'It was the AGO that previously asked the President to approve summoning my client, but why did the AGO change its mind while still waiting for that approval. This is clearly disrespectful toward the President,' Rudy told the Post on Sunday. The Legislative Institutions (MD3) Law stipulates that law enforcement organizations must obtain permission from the President before questioning lawmakers in general crime cases. However, the law does not require investigators to obtain permission in cases related to corruption, which is considered an extraordinary crime. The AGO has already been investigating Setya for two months but it has yet to declare him a suspect. Setya allegedly claimed to have won the approval of Jokowi and Vice President Jusuf Kalla to secure shares and projects from Freeport Indonesia in exchange for helping the firm extend its contract and continue operating its gold mine, one of the world's largest, in Papua. Even if it cannot be proved that Setya benefited in any way, if the alleged violation is proved to have occurred, he could be charged with corruption under Article 15 of the corruption law, which mandates punishment for individuals who attempt, help or plan a corruption scheme. In addition, if found guilty the AGO could also charge Setya under Article 2 and 3 of the same law for state officials who abuse their power to benefit themselves, other people and corporations, as part of corrupt practices that cause state losses. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Grace D. Amianti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 11, 2016 The banking industry is feeling more optimistic about 2016, as the economy is predicted to improve despite the lingering effects of the global and domestic slowdown last year. That optimism reflects in an average loan growth target of 14.1 percent stated in banks' business plans submitted to the Financial Services Authority (OJK) by the end of November last year. The 2016 target is higher than the average credit growth last year, which likely failed to reach the targeted range of 11 to 13 percent, with bank loans growing only 9.8 percent year-on-year (yoy) as of November 2015. 'The optimism remains in line with the OJK's outlook for this year, which is for bank loans to grow within a range of 12 to 14 percent,' OJK chairman Muliaman D. Hadad said in Jakarta recently. Muliaman added that the OJK expected progress in the banking and financial services industry this year to be supported mainly by the domestic economy, rather than external factors, as low global commodity prices and currency volatility lingered on. Global and domestic challenges put strain on the banking industry in Southeast Asia's largest economy last year, as loans grew by around 10 to 11 percent, and even in single digits in several months, after much faster growth in previous years. The sluggish credit growth was mainly ascribed to the country's weak economy, which grew at less than 5 percent in the first nine months of last year as government spending was delayed and domestic consumption, the country's largest growth engine, was weak. Slow GDP growth was coupled with the lingering effects of a global commodity price slump as well as currency volatility due to the US's Federal Reserve's plan to hike its fund rate. The worsening environment also took its toll on domestic banks. Rising risks from bad loans in the domestic banking industry for nearly a year forced lenders to raise their loan-loss provisions, sending costs up and profits down. OJK data show that gross non-performing loans (NPL) in banks stood at 2.66 percent of total gross loans as of November 2015, up from 2.46 percent in May. Bank Mandiri economist Dendi Ramdani said the rising NPL trend was predicted to remain in 2016, even though the speed of increase had started to slow in the final months of last year. 'With improvements in the economy, the NPL will probably decrease; we predict that signals of economic recovery will probably emerge after the first half of 2016,' he said. Dendi said the consumer confidence index had started to improve in November 2015, but actual consumption had yet to show any rebound, indicating that the government's recent economic stimulus packages lacked in effect on the consumption side. CIMB Niaga strategy and finance director Wan Razly Abdullah said economic recovery would only start in the second half of this year, adding that 'the recovery will depend on government incentives for industries'. 'This year will be better than 2015, but we expect our loans will grow below 10 percent, as economic growth is still slow. However, we will see higher growth if the economic recovery is accelerated,' he said. Bank Mandiri finance and strategy director Kartika 'Tiko' Wirjoatmodjo said the lender expected to grow its loans by 13 percent this year, which was within the banking industry's range of growth. 'We actually see a spike in loan demand in December, especially for infrastructure projects, such as oil and gas in addition to smelters,' Tiko said. On the funding side, Muliaman said banks had also predicted in their business plans that third-party funds would grow by 12.7 percent yoy this year, which was within the OJK's projected range of around 13 to 15 percent. Third-party funds in banks grew 7.7 percent yoy as of November 2015, OJK data shows. According to the OJK's latest assessment, banks have ample liquidity as their liquid assets are sufficient to anticipate higher disbursement of third-party funds into loans or other investments. OJK data shows that the ratios of liquid asset to non-core deposits as well as liquid assets to third-party funds stood at 76.01 percent and 15.99 percent respectively as of Dec. 21, 2015, which was higher than the minimum 50 percent and 10 percent. 'We also see room for policy easing in certain aspects,' Muliaman said. Both the OJK and Bank Indonesia (BI) already relaxed their policies to help lenders manage their liquidity better amid the economic squeeze. For instance, BI last year lowered the reserve requirement ratio to 7.5 percent from 8 percent, which was expected to provide the banking system with additional liquidity of around Rp 18 trillion (US$1.29 billion) that could be used to boost lending. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Grace D. Amianti (The Jakarta Post) Mon, January 11, 2016 State-owned lender Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) expects that a larger role in a government-backed loan program this year will help boost growth in its small and medium enterprise (SME) segment, an executive has said. BNI business banking II director Sutanto said the government had allocated temporary loan targets for banks participating in the micro credit program (KUR) for 2016, in which BNI was expected to disburse loans worth Rp 11.5 trillion (US$825.8 million) from a nationwide target of Rp 100 trillion. BNI's target in 2016 was three times higher than the Rp 3 trillion of KUR loans allocated for the bank last year, prompting optimism on its growth in the SME segment, he said. 'Last year, the KUR contribution to our SME portfolio stood at only 0.5 percent. However, with our KUR target increased to Rp 11.5 trillion this year, it will boost growth in our SME loans,' Sutanto said in Batam, Riau Islands, during a video conference at BNI's headquarters on Friday. The bank has put its SME portfolio, along with corporate and state-owned enterprise loans, in a division called 'business banking', which differs from retail and consumer lending. As of September 2015, BNI had booked Rp 46.3 trillion in medium-segment loans, increased by 21.1 percent year-on-year (yoy) from Rp 38.3 trillion in the same period a year earlier. Meanwhile, the bank's small-segment loans decreased slightly by 0.2 percent yoy to Rp 38.9 trillion during the first nine months of 2015, from 39.03 trillion in the same period of 2014. Small and medium loans contributed 15.1 percent and 12.7 percent, respectively, to BNI's overall lending of Rp 307.1 trillion by the end of September 2015. With the current target, Sutanto said KUR loans in 2016 would contribute almost 20 percent to BNI's SME portfolio, in which small and medium loans were expected to grow by 20 percent and 12 percent, respectively, this year. In 2015, BNI disbursed Rp 3.04 trillion of KUR loans to more than 12,200 debtors concentrated in Java, Bali and Sumatra, with about 20 percent located in eastern Indonesia, such as East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku and Papua. 'We are planning to increase by 10 percent the portion of our KUR disbursement to eastern Indonesia, to make it 30 percent this year,' Sutanto said, adding that BNI was expecting to disburse KUR loans to 46,000 to 50,000 debtors this year. In order to achieve the target, Sutanto said BNI was establishing 75 to 100 new outlets nationwide, so that it would have a total of 250 outlets to disburse its KUR loans this year. Sutanto said the bank would also add 300 to 400 account officers with specific expertise in KUR loans, as it employed 1,200 people last year, most of whom specialized in higher segments of lending. As BNI has minimal expertise in micro lending, Sutanto said the bank was considering partnering with rural banks (BPR) on a linkage program to disburse the micro segment of KUR loans. 'We will also deploy our branchless banking agents and build partnerships with local communities, such as wholesale traders in regions,' he said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Agus Maryono (The Jakarta Post) Purbalingga, Central Java Mon, January 11, 2016 A lecturer at a state university in Central Java has been reported missing and is believed to have joined the Islamic State (IS) movement in Syria, adding to the number of Indonesians who have joined the group. Purbalingga Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Anom Setyadji said the lecturer, Iskandar Sobri, of the Jenderal Soedirman University (Unsoed) in Purwokerto, had been absent since July, 2014, and together with his wife and children, had joined IS. 'Based on investigations into Iskandar's disappearance, he and his family have left the country for Syria,' Anom told reporters on Sunday. He said Iskandar's wife and children had applied in October 2015 for passports at the Cilacap Immigration Office. Iskandar, of Padamara village, Purbalingga regency, was a pharmaceutical lecturer at Unsoed's Faculty of Public Health. Unsoed has confirmed Iskandar last taught at the university on June 20, 2014 and had left without notifying them. 'The concerned person has not been teaching since July, 2014. We've failed to locate him. We even searched for him at his house but it was already empty,' faculty dean Dhadang Wahyu told the media. 'As he has not come to campus for a long time, we've proposed his dismissal,' said Dhadang, acknowledging that he had received information from the police that Iskandar had left for Syria with his family. 'However, we cannot be sure whether or not he has joined IS,' said Dhadang, adding that Iskandar was a quiet person. As reported earlier, a number of civil servants in Central Java have gone missing from their homes together with their families and are strongly believed to have joined radical groups. Separately, three civil servants and their families in Banyumas and Purbalingga regencies, have been reported missing. Based on information from various parties, the three missing parties were linked to the Fajar Nusantara Movement (Gafatar), a local Islamic organization led by Ahmad Musadeq. One of the civil servants has been identified as Marfungah, 39, of Dawuhan village, Kedungbanteng district, an employee at the Banyumas General Hospital. She has been missing for the past month together with her husband Sugiantoro and five children. Previously, the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) confirmed that a civil servant in Batam, who was reported missing along with his family members last year, had left the country and had allegedly joined IS. The Batam Free Trade Zone Management Agency's (BPK FTZ) One-Stop Integrated Service Center (PTSP) director Dwi Djoko Wiwoho disappeared along with his wife and three daughters after leaving Riau Islands' largest city for Mecca to perform umrah (minor haj) in August, 2015. In December, National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti said that based on police data, 350 Indonesian citizens were currently in Syria but not all of them had joined IS, as some had joined IS opponents affiliated with al-Qaeda. However, Badrodin added that the figure was based on police records and the actual number of Indonesian migrants might be higher than 1,000. Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan has warned that the government is considering revoking the passports of Indonesians who join IS. The National Intelligence Agency (BIN) is currently monitoring at least 100 Indonesians said to have returned from the Middle East after joining IS. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tassia Sipahutar (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 11, 2016 The government says state revenue from export duties in 2016 will continue to be a challenge as commodity prices have remained low. According to Heru Pambudi, the director general of customs and excise, the government will not post stellar targets as in previous years because pressures on crude palm oil (CPO), the country's major export, still exist. 'We are very aware of the situation. We won't be able to collect export duty from CPO if the price keeps on sliding from its current position,' he said in a press conference on Friday. Last year, the government revised the calculation for CPO export duty to cope with the falling prices. The duty was lowered to US$3 per metric ton as long as the reference price ranged between $750 and $800 per ton, while previously the duty was set at 7.5 percent for the same reference price. 'We could not collect CPO export duty because the reference price never exceeded $750 per ton in 2015,' Heru added. The government eventually posted a poor performance, reaping only Rp 3.9 trillion ($281.1 million) in total export duties in 2015, as shown in the latest data from the directorate general of customs and excise. The outcome was far from the Rp 12.1 trillion target set within the state budget and well below the Rp 11.3 trillion obtained in 2014. 'We think that the situation will not improve much this year. That's why we only set the export duty target at Rp 2.88 trillion in the 2016 state budget,' he said. The government's conviction of another 'low price' year was backed by the Indonesian Palm Oil Board (DMSI). The board previously said that it would be difficult for the CPO price to climb higher than $650 per ton in 2016. Heru said the government would rely on exports of minerals and coal for revenue in 2016, in addition to palm oil derivative products and leather. Meanwhile, data from the directorate general showed that total revenues from both customs and excise stood at Rp 180.4 trillion in 2015, equal to 92.5 percent of the target. Similar to export duties, import duties also failed to meet their target, reaching Rp 31.9 trillion of an expected Rp 37.2 trillion. Excise became the only component that inched close to its target, standing at Rp 144.6 trillion of Rp 145.7 trillion, thanks to cigarette excise. 'Many companies produced a higher volume of cigarettes last year because they were anticipating higher excise in 2016. Approaching the end of 2015, we recorded an increase in demand for excise band by an average 26.7 percent compared to previous months,' Heru said. He added that the directorate general was still holding talks with related institutions, such as the Health Ministry, regarding the planned implementation of excise on carbonated and sugary drinks. 'We have not decided on anything. We don't want the implementation to negatively impact the national economy,' he said. _________________________________________ To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Mon, January 11, 2016 Jakarta Police performed an autopsy in the early hours of Sunday morning on the body of 27-year-old Wayan Mirna Salihin, not Salimin as previously reported, who died after drinking coffee at a restaurant in Grand Indonesia Mall. Initial findings indicate internal bleeding and organ damage, possibly caused by a corrosive substance. 'We performed an autopsy on her body last night. The damage [to abdominal organs] may have been caused by a strong acid,' Jakarta Police health department head Sr. Comr. Musyafak told The Jakarta Post on Sunday. He, however, declined to connect the suspected substance to the coffee she had been drinking at the restaurant. The police, according to Musyafak, removed her stomach and liver and sent them to the National Police laboratory in South Jakarta to ascertain the cause of her death. The organs are currently being examined at the laboratory. 'The liver is the center of the human metabolism. We removed her liver for investigation because [if she died of poisoning] we should be able to identify it there,' he explained. Musyafak said the police still needed to wait for the organ examination results, which would not be available until Monday, before they could confirm whether or not the woman had died of poisoning. 'It is not impossible [that she died of poisoning],' he said. The newly married woman died last Wednesday after drinking a cup of coffee at a restaurant in Grand Indonesia Mall in central Jakarta. She reportedly met with two of her friends at the restaurant, who each ordered different drinks. Mirna reportedly went into a seizure after taking several sips of her iced coffee. Her two friends became alarmed and took her to a clinic inside the mall. A short time later her husband arrived and rushed her to the nearby Abdi Waluyo Hospital where she passed away. The police took samples of her stomach contents and confiscated the mug from which she was drinking, in addition to questioning the two friends and three employees of the restaurant. Mirna's family had initially refused the police's request to perform an autopsy on the body. Jakarta Police detective chief Sr. Comr. Krishna Murti said the family had eventually allowed the police to perform the postmortem examination on the body after the police, who wished to investigate what appeared to be a suspicious death, convinced them on Saturday night. 'We told her family that we suspected criminal conduct in the woman's death. But, we would close the case if they did not allow us to conduct the autopsy. We eventually got their permission,' he said. On Sunday, the Jakarta Police public relations department announced on its Facebook page that the police would conduct a case reconstruction at the restaurant on Monday. The reconstruction will involve Mirna's friends, family members and employees at the restaurant. 'We will once more question Mirna's friends, her family members and employees at the restaurant. We will set up the surroundings just like when the incident took place,' Krishna said as quoted from the page, adding that the reconstruction would be conducted while awaiting the autopsy results. Krishna said the coffee Mirna drank was ordered by one of her two friends who had arrived at the restaurant prior to her. He said that the police had previously summoned the two friends but only one of them had shown up. Mirna was buried on Sunday afternoon in Gunung Gadung 1 Chinese cemetery complex in Bogor, West Java. Mirna's father, Edi Darmawan Salihin, said after the funeral that his family trusted the police would uncover the mystery behind his daughter's death. 'We entrust the case to the police. I believe in the power of God. I believe the police will be able to arrest the perpetrator so my daughter can rest in peace,' he said as quoted by tempo.co. (saf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Haeril Halim (The Jakarta Post) Mon, January 11, 2016 The South Jakarta District Court said on Sunday that it had approved a request filed by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to delay the pretrial hearing of graft suspect and former president director of state-owned port operator PT Pelindo II Richard Joost Lino. The court's spokesperson, Made Sutrisna, said that the court had received an official letter from the antigraft body notifying it of a schedule clash that would have prevented KPK representatives from attending the hearing on Monday. Sutrisna said judge Udjiati would lead the examination into the matter and announce the delay. 'If one of the two parties has filed an official letter [to postpone the hearing] then it will be approved by judges at the court,' Sutrisna told The Jakarta Post on Sunday. Lino, who is considered to have close ties with Vice President Jusuf Kalla, filed a pretrial motion at the South Jakarta District Court in December, seeking a court order to annul his status as a graft suspect in a current KPK case that is suspected to have caused billions in state losses. Sutrisna said that the KPK as the defendant had the right to request a delay if it needed more time to prepare its defense of Lino's pretrial plea. The politically-wired business executive has accused the KPK of violating standard procedures by naming him a suspect in the investigation into alleged graft in the procurement of fixed crane-type loading and unloading equipment worth US$20 million at Pelindo II in 2012. Sutrisna said that the court generally approved requests for two-week delays in pretrial cases, and that Udjiati would most likely follow the precedent in her decision on Monday. 'The judge will examine whether a two-week delay is necessary in this case, but I think that such a request is justified [based on previous experience],' Sutriasna said. In March, the South Jakarta District Court allowed a two-week postponement in the pretrial hearing of former Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) chief Hadi Poernomo after the KPK failed to attend the initial hearing due to the same reasons. Separately, KPK spokesperson Yuyuk Andriati confirmed that the KPK could not attend the first hearing on Monday, adding that antigraft body's legal team needed more time to prepare the documents it would need to counter Lino's accusations. Yuyuk said that the KPK investigation would continue as per usual despite the ongoing process at the South Jakarta District Court, adding that the KPK had also rejected a request made by Lino's lawyer Maqdir Ismail to not summon Lino until the court had issued a final verdict. Yuyuk said that the KPK could summon Lino during the delay-period to complete the case dossier. 'It is the KPK, which makes decisions about the questioning of suspects, not graft suspects' lawyers,' Yuyuk said, adding that the KPK would also make use of the delay period to consult with experts to prepare its defense statement. Maqdir has expressed concerns that the KPK was attempting to complete their case dossier on Lino so it could lodge the case at the Jakarta Corruption Court, a move that would automatically void Lino's pretrial motion. The lawyer lambasted the KPK for not attending the initial hearing on Monday, saying such a move could be interpreted as the KPK trying to justify its poor handling of Lino's case by seeking advice from experts to back up its pretrial defense. 'To me, involving experts to prepare a pretrial defense means that the KPK made a hasty decision to name my client a suspect. That's why it needs backup from experts in the pretrial contest,' Maqdir said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Mon, January 11, 2016 The population of Sumatran elephants in Aceh has been decreasing amid the increasing conversion of forest areas into plantations and illegal logging, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Indonesia has announced. The Sumatran elephant population in Aceh has shrank by almost 50 percent in the past 25 years, says Aceh-based WWF Indonesia communication staff member Chik Rini recently as quoted by Antara news agency. Chik said there were previously more than 1,000 of the animals in the region. Their numbers started to decrease in the 1990s and currently there are only some 500 elephants left. 'A great amount of forested area in Aceh has been converted into oil palm plantations, resulting in a smaller elephant population," said Chik, adding that the animal had been unable to survive due to the disappearance of migration trails. 'We have to conserve nature and not disturb the elephants' migration trails. If we are able to take care of each other, there won't be any conflict between elephants and humans," Chik stated. She also called on the government to restrict the issuance of forest-exploitation permits for plantations to maintain the wildlife population. (nov/kes)(+) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Mon, January 11, 2016 Becak (pedicab) drivers in North Jakarta have urged the city administration to help them with retraining as they have been unemployed for several years after being prohibited from operating becak in the capital. Rasdullah, who coordinates becak drivers in North Jakarta, said the drivers could not find other jobs because they lacked the required skills. 'Some of us have worked as unskilled laborers on construction projects. But jobs are not always available. If there is construction going on, we work. If there is none, we stay jobless,' he told The Jakarta Post recently. The drivers became unable to operate their becak when the city administration issued a bylaw prohibiting their operation and ownership in 2007. Since then, officers from the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) have regularly cracked down on becak seen driving in the capital. Rasdullah said that just last month, 84 becak had been confiscated by Satpol PP officers, making drivers afraid to operate. The administration argued that becak were prohibited because they caused traffic jams as they drove slowly and also made the city untidy. The administration has installed signs prohibiting becak in the capital, including in North Jakarta where some drivers have operated secretly to make ends meet. 'The city administration did not equip us with any skills prior to the issuance of the bylaw. We have never received any training,' he said. North Jakarta Mayor Rustam Effendi brushed off Rasdullah's claim, saying his office had offered training to anyone living in the municipality. 'We always provide training at the office. They are just too lazy to check the information [on available training]. We provide many types of training,' he told the Post. When asked what the city would do to prevent former becak drivers from remaining unemployed, Rustam said drivers could 'look for other jobs', as there were 'many [job vacancies] in the capital'. He said the crackdown on becak aimed to enforce the 2007 bylaw, and vowed to continue the raids. Rasdullah said that prohibiting becak drivers from operating violated the Constitution. 'Article 27, paragraph 2 of the Constitution stipulates that every Indonesian citizen has the right to a proper job,' he said. 'So why has the administration eliminated our jobs?' He added that the 2007 bylaw should not have been issued because it contradicted Article 27. 'Which one is higher, the Constitution or a bylaw? The Constitution, of course!' he said. According to Rasdullah, the administration had been unfair when drafting the bylaw because the drivers, as an affected party, were never involved in discussions. He added that if the administration considered becak to be the cause of traffic jams or of making roads look unattractive, it should have regulated the vehicles rather than banning them completely. (saf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Mon, January 11, 2016 The Golkar Party regional forum for Silaturahmi (friendly visit) has said that a national meeting (Munas) should be held to reconcile the two rival Golkar camps, led by Aburizal Bakrie, who was proclaimed the chairman during the Bali Munas in November 2014, and Agung Laksono, who was elected at the Ancol Munas in Jakarta in December 2014. The forum said Golkar no longer had a legal leadership. Even though Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H.Laoly had revoked a decree previously recognizing the leadership established at the Ancol Munas, the government had also not legalized the leadership of Aburizal, who was elected at the Bali Munas. Meanwhile, the term of office of the Golkar leadership elected at the Riau Munas in 2009 ended on Dec.31. 'The Golkar Party regional forum for Silaturahmi is calling for the organizing of a Golkar national meeting as an instrument to resolve problems thoroughly, completely, comprehensively and based on strong legality that is acceptable to all parties,' forum coordinator Taufiq Hidayat said as quoted by kompas.com in Jakarta on Sunday evening. Taufiq urged that the party's internal dispute committee take necessary steps based on its authority along with Law No.2/2011 on political parties to resolve the internal conflict. He further said the internal dispute committee could decide to bring forward the next Munas, which was scheduled for 2019, and to recommend veteran Golkar figures form an organizing committee for the party's 10th Munas. Taufiq further said the forum had proposed that Aburizal and Agung as well as BJ Habibie, Jusuf Kalla, Akbar Tandjung, Siswono Yudhohusodo and Abdul Gafur hold the Munas. 'The joint Munas could serve as a tool to resolve the dual leadership of the Golkar Party and be used as momentum in the revival of the party if the Munas is conducted democratically and free from transactional politics,' said Taufiq. Nurdin Halid, deputy chairman of Golkar's central executive board, which was elected at the Bali Munas, earlier said that all Golkar provincial branch chairs from the Aburizal camp had agreed to reject the organizing of a Munas before 2019. He said the agreement was reached during a consolidation meeting between members of the executive board from the Bali Munas and the party's regional branch chairs in Sanur, Bali, on Dec.4. 'None of the chairmen of all Golkar Party regional branches from provinces across Indonesia want a Munas or extraordinary Munas held before 2019,' said Nurdin. Separately, Akbar as the head of Golkar's advisory council called on all party officials to immediately formulate reconciliation so that the leadership conflict could be immediately resolved. He said Golkar would see further declines in votes if the internal conflict continued. 'There should be a solution because there will be a political event for Golkar to face in the near future,' said Akbar on Saturday. He said among major events that Golkar would face were regional elections in the beginning of 2017. He said Golkar should not waste time in preparing its campaigning efforts. Akbar said Golkar had suffered massive defeats during the Dec. 9 regional elections. In the 260 regional elections, Golkar nominated candidates in 116 regions and won in only 49 regions. 'Golkar suffered a steep decline in votes in the 2015 regional elections because it was not solid. Votes will decrease further if we don't consolidate,' said Akbar. (ebf)(+) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Khoirul Amin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 11, 2016 The government plans to impose a reference price for steel entering the Indonesian market in a bid to protect local steel products amid surging imports of cheap steel. The Industry Ministry's director general for metal, machinery, transportation equipment and electronic industries, I Gusti Putu Suryawirawan, said recently that his ministry was studying the possibility of determining a reference price for steel to protect the local industry. 'To prevent our steel industry from bankruptcy due to cheap imported steel, there has to be a reference price, a fair price,' he said. The local steel industry faces threats from low-priced overseas products, particularly from China, the world's largest steel producer. Suryawirawan said that this year alone, China was forecast to have excess steel output of around 100 million tons despite possible production cuts. China produced 738.38 million tons of crude steel in the January-November period of last year, according to World Steel Association data. The East Asian country's crude steel output is predicted to drop to about 783 million tons this year from an estimated 806 million in 2015, the China Iron and Steel Association has estimated. _________________________________ 'To prevent our steel industry from bankruptcy due to cheap imported steel, there has to be a reference price, a fair price.' Indonesian Iron and Steel Industry Association (IISIA) executive director Hidayat Triseputro welcomed the government's plan, saying it would help create fair competition between local and imported steel. 'However, it needs a thorough review on what the pricing mechanism will look like, as it will involve interests of both upstream and downstream industries,' he said. The government and the association had to further calculate and review the fair prices, he added. State-owned steelmaker PT Krakatau Steel previously stated that it had to bring its steel price in line with a low market price of between US$380 and $390 per ton, almost half of its production cost of $600 per ton. According to Putu, the price gap between imported billets and local steel was unreasonable at present, for example $300 per ton for billets and $350 per ton for steel. Putu said the steel reference price would also be aimed at helping state-owned electricity firm PLN decide on steel suppliers for its transmission projects. While PLN was required to use steel products with a certain amount of local content for its transmission projects, the company could be confused in making a decision, as a lot of imported steel was priced lower, he said. 'The reference price will help PLN firmly decide, without having to worry about future questioning on why it choose to buy more expensive [local] steel products, for example,' he went on. In a bid to support the government's 35,000-megawatts (MW) power plant projects, PLN needs to build a total of 46,000 kilometers of transmission lines. Some 13,000 km of transmission lines were reportedly under construction last year. PLN previously announced that 11 steel companies had been chosen for pre-qualification bidding for the transmission project. Progress on the bidding, however, has not been announced yet. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Bogor Mon, January 11, 2016 Bogor mayoralty administration, in West Java, has opened Graffiti Park on Jl. Pandu Raya in order to dissuade graffiti artists from defacing public or private properties. Mayor Bima Arya said during the opening ceremony on Sunday that the park was aimed at accommodating the aspirations of graffiti artists. 'If they still draw graffiti in public spaces, it will be a criminal offense and we will take action against them,' he said. Bima said the artists would be free to express their aspirations, including protests against the mayor. 'They can write criticism of our unfinished programs, for example,' he said. He said he hoped that the graffiti community using the park would encourage vandals to join them, so they would not spray paint public spaces anymore. Bogor Sanitation and Park Agency head Irwan Riyanto said the 430-square-meter park had 31 walls on which to draw. 'We will also plant flowers and trees among the walls,' he said. According to Irwan, six Bogor graffiti communities ' Mata Kiri, Taboo, Derau, RCS, Coffer Star and Skatching Sunda ' had registered with his agency to make use of the facility. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Depok Mon, January 11, 2016 Depok City Police arrested on Saturday a man, identified as Iksan, 32, suspected of distributing marijuana among students in Depok, West Java, and confiscated 55 packages of marijuana as evidence. Depok City Police head Sr. Comr. Dwiyono alleged that Iksan had run his drug business for some time. 'The drugs business in Depok is pretty lucrative if students are your market,' Dwiyono said as quoted by tempo.co. A satellite city of Jakarta, Depok is home to a number of universities. According to Dwiyono, Iksan had sold the marijuana to students in Rp 50,000 (US$3.61) and Rp 300,000 packages. However, he said the police had yet to locate Iksan's supplier. Depok City Police's drugs unit head Comr. Vivick Tjangkung said Iksan had admitted that he had distributed the marijuana to university students for months. Vivick added that he hoped universities could help the police to stop the distribution of narcotics among students. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anggi M. Lubis (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 11, 2016 State-run construction company Hutama Karya is expecting to see an increase of over 30 percent in new contracts this year as it hopes for better performance, particularly after a managerial transformation. Hutama Karya president director I Gusti Ngurah Putra said the company was looking to book Rp 12 trillion (US$861.96 million) of new contracts this year, a 33 percent increase compared to new contracts it secured last year. The 2016 growth target is significant given that the company's new contracts in 2015 remained flat from the previous year at Rp 9 trillion. 'When determining our work plan, we decided to prioritize the quality of contacts over quantity. This means we could not just take random contracts,' Putra said. Among the contracts Hutama Karya will work on this year are a joint operation for the Pulau Balang bridge ' which will stretch 1.7 kilometers from Balikpapan to Penajam Paser Utara in Kalimantan ' worth Rp 1.7 trillion. Other projects are a double-double track railway project in Manggarai, Jakarta, worth Rp 1.3 trillion, as well as a Soekarno-Hatta International Airport project in Tangerang, Banten, worth Rp 800 billion. 'I've only been with this company for a year, there has been a managerial change and our first task is to rescue and stabilize [the company] before aiming for growth. We hope the growth will not only be in new contracts but also in our revenue and profitability,' Putra added. With the expected growth in new contracts, he said that Hutama Karya hoped to pocket Rp 6.3 trillion in revenue this year, up by around 14.54 percent compared to Rp 5.5 trillion last year. As for net profits, the company seeks to book around a 25 percent increase in net profits to Rp 300 billion, from Rp 240 billion it generated in 2015. The company saw its revenue contract slightly last year by 3.8 percent from Rp 5.72 trillion in 2014, whereas its net profits in 2015 skyrocketed by around 67 percent from Rp 144 billion in the previous year. Putra said his company expected its new contracts to consist equally of government-funded projects and other projects. The company also expected to see more large infrastructure projects in its portfolio. Construction consultant BCI Asia projected the overall construction market would face a slight decline this year on the back of economic slowdown, but emphasized a significant increase in large infrastructure and civil works as a result of huge power plant projects. According to BCI Asia's data, the total value of Indonesia's construction work was expected to decline slightly by 2 percent, affected by a projected downturn in the building sector, which is predicted to fall by around 15 percent this year. Civil construction work, however, was expected to increase further by 14 percent to Rp 201.04 trillion, with the utilities sector the biggest contributor at 52 percent of the total figure. Hutama Karya, as previously reported, has been appointed to lead the construction of the trans-Sumatra mega project, which will connect cities on Sumatra's eastern shore via a 2,700-kilometer toll road. The company has been struggling to finance the first stage of the toll road, which comprises eight sections, spanning 644 kilometers, with investments estimated to reach Rp 82.9 trillion, according to Hutama Karya data. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Mon, January 11, 2016 The Jakarta city administration is set to renovate all museums under its management this year to make them more interesting and popular as tourist destinations, an official said on Monday. "In other countries, museums serve as important destinations due to their historical and educational significance. But museums in Jakarta aren't yet able to attract tourists as popular destinations," said the newly appointed Jakarta Tourism Agency head Catur Laswanto at the City Hall on Monday as quoted by kompas.com. According to Catur, the museums that were set to be renovated include the Fatahillah Museum of History in Kota Tua, West Jakarta; the Gedung Joang 45 (house of the struggle of 1945) in Menteng, Central Jakarta; and the Textile Museum in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta. "The Governor [Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama] has asked for a complete overhaul of the museums in Jakarta so that they'll become a tourist destination," said Catur, adding that the administration would collaborate with a number of history-related communities as well as business professionals to carry out the plan. "We will join forces with communities that especially care about museums to ensure the success of the development," added Catur. (liz/kes)(+) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Mon, January 11, 2016 'Where is the Jakarta Smart City lounge? I heard it has been opened to the public but I don't know where it is,' Bambang Sugiharto asked a security officer at City Hall in Central Jakarta on a recent Saturday. Pointing to an elevator, the officer politely answered that the lounge was on the third floor of City Hall's Block B building. Bambang, accompanied by family members, immediately made his way to the city's new integrated command center. At the front desk of the lounge, two officers greeted Bambang and his family, who were apparently the first guests of the day. Hoping to satisfy his curiosity, Bambang approached one of the officers and began asking various questions related to Qlue, a mobile application allowing residents to lodge complaints about city issues. The Jakarta administration kicked off the operation of Jakarta Smart City Lounge on Jan. 4. Since then, on weekends, the public has been welcome to visit the lounge, from which the administration monitors the city. Jakarta Smart City's working unit technical chief Setiaji told The Jakarta Post that the lounge was a facility to support the implementation of the Jakarta Smart City integrated online platform, which was launched last year. According to Setiaji, the administration set up the command center in accordance with the wishes of Jakarta Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama, who wanted to have one place to accommodate the needs of both the administration and the public. He added that the administration hoped the lounge could provide quicker and better responses to complaints and suggestions from Jakarta residents. He further said that the lounge was proof of the administration's commitment to making Jakarta a smart city, enabling residents to take part in monitoring either by visiting the lounge or using a city monitoring application, such as Qlue. Setiaji added that the lounge, which covers a 500-square-meter area, comprised not only a monitoring room, but also a meeting room for officials from the city administration. Moreover, according to Setiaji, the lounge provided a coworking space for young businesspeople and communities. 'These communities and people can use the space for free. Nonetheless, we require them to register first to anticipate fully occupied spaces,' Setiaji said on Sunday. In the lounge, Setiaji added, dozens of officers worked on compiling complaints or reports submitted from residents through 11 platforms, including social media, email or Qlue. According to Setiaji, the administration had equipped the lounge with instruments that were integrated with monitoring devices, like closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and global positioning systems (GPS), across the capital. Setiaji, however, admitted that the lounge had yet to be fully operational as officials had yet to provide it with the administration's database. The administration is currently using the lounge to respond to residents' complaints and reports sent via SMS, email and social media only. Setiaji said the lounge would be fully operational after its grand launch, slated to be held on Jakarta's anniversary, Jun. 22. Meanwhile, Nilam Mayasari Tarigan, who works in responding to complaints and reports from SMS and email channels, said that since Jan. 4, she and five colleagues had each received hundreds of complaints and reports daily. She added that she usually tried to address at least 20 complaints by responding directly to residents as well as forwarding the complaints to related agencies. (agn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Mon, January 11, 2016 Oil and gas exploration company Lapindo Brantas has suspended operations in East Java's Sidoarjo regency, where people are still traumatized by the mudflow disaster blamed on the company's previous exploration activities. 'All heavy equipment in the drilling location will be taken out today pending a decision from the central government,' Sidoarjo Police chief Anwar Nasir said on Monday, as quoted by news portal kompas.com. The government earlier decided to stop Lapindo's operations due to safety concerns, saying it would reevaluate the safety, geological and social aspects of the drilling. Nine years ago, a rice paddy in eastern Java suddenly cleaved open and began spewing steaming mud. Before long, it covered an area twice the size of Central Park; roads, factories and homes disappeared under a tide of reeking muck. Twenty lives were lost and nearly 40,000 people displaced, with damages topping $2.7 billion. The company, which is linked to Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie, recently announced plans to re-start drilling in March with a target of producing five million standard cubic feet of gas per day (MMSCFD). The new drilling area is located only two kilometers from areas of the mudflow. (cal/dan).(+) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Aries Joseph Hegina (The Jakarta Post) Mon, January 11, 2016 The family of Filipino drug convict Mary Jane Veloso has arrived in Indonesia to visit Veloso in prison and to celebrate her 31st birthday. The Veloso family were all smiles as they posed for photos after arriving in the Indonesian capital Jakarta Monday afternoon. Veloso's parents Cesar and Celia, her two sons Mark Darren and Mark Daniel, private counsel Atty. Edre Olalia and Migrante Rights and Welfare Program Coordinator Laorence Castillo will visit the Filipina drug convict in prison. Olalia, in a statement, said that they are expected to visit Veloso from January 12 to 14 in her Yogyakarta prison. On January 15, he and officials from Migrante will meet with Veloso's Indonesian lawyers to get updates on her case. Theater actress Monique Wilson is supposedly planning to join them in visiting Veloso in prison. Meanwhile, Veloso's supporters gathered in Nueva Ecija for her birthday last Sunday, wishing that justice and freedom be served for the drug convict. 'Mary Jane's birthday is reason to celebrate because it symbolizes a new chapter of her life after her temporary reprieve. But it is also reason for continued vigilance and renewed vigor to save her life. We wish for her justice and freedom. We wish for the reprieve to be permanent. All efforts now must be towards ensuring that the legal cases against her traffickers here in the Philippines are done without delay. It will be almost a year since her temporary reprieve and justice is yet to be served,' Migrante party-list's Connie Bragas-Regalado said. (kes)(+) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin E. Eduardo Castillo (The Jakarta Post) Mexico City Mon, January 11, 2016 Mexico began the process of extraditing drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman to the United States, two days after the famed fugitive was recaptured following a dramatic, months-long hunt featuring movie stars, sewer escapes and bloody shootouts. Officials warned that the process could take a long time as Guzman's lawyers file legal appeals and maneuver to keep their client in Mexico, where he has already escaped from maximum security prisons twice. On Sunday, agents formally notified Guzman that he was wanted in the United States. In a statement, the Attorney General's Office said Mexican agents assigned to the international police agency Interpol served two arrest warrants to the drug lord, who is being held at the Altiplano prison following his capture by Mexican marines on Friday. Guzman's defense now has three days to present arguments against extradition and 20 days to present supporting evidence, beyond the plethora of other appeals they have already started filing. Guzman's powerful Sinaloa cartel smuggles multi-ton shipments of cocaine and marijuana as well as manufacturing and transporting methamphetamines and heroin, mostly to the US He is wanted in various US states and his July escape deeply embarrassed the government of President Enrique Pena Nieto and strained ties between the countries. Guzman's attorney Juan Pablo Badillo has said the defense has already filed six motions to challenge extradition requests. Badillo said that his client shouldn't be extradited to the US because "our country must respect national sovereignty, the sovereignty of its institutions to impart justice." On Saturday, a Mexican federal law enforcement official said the quickest Guzman could be extradited would be six months, but even that is not likely because of the many appeals filed by his lawyers. He said that the appeals are usually turned down, but each one means a judge has to schedule a hearing. "That can take weeks or months, and that delays the extradition," he said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment. "We've had cases that take six years." Mexico's willingness to extradite Guzman is a sharp turnaround from the last time he was captured in 2014, when then-Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam said the extradition would happen only after he finished his sentence in Mexico in "300 or 400 years." Guzman was re-apprehended on Friday after a shootout between gunmen and Mexican marines at the home in Los Mochis, a seaside city in Guzman's home state of Sinaloa. Five suspects were killed and six others arrested. One marine was injured. Mexican authorities say actor Sean Penn's contacts with Guzman helped them track the fugitive down ' even if he slipped away from an initial raid on the hideout where the Hollywood actor apparently met him. Penn's article on Guzman was published late Saturday by Rolling Stone magazine, a day after the drug lord's recapture. In it, Penn wrote of elaborate security precautions, but also said that as he flew to Mexico on Oct 2 for the meeting, "I see no spying eyes, but I assume they are there." He was apparently right. A Mexican federal law enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to comment on the issue, told the Associated Press the Penn interview led authorities to Guzman in the area of Tamazula, a rural part of Durango state. They raided Guzman's remote hideout a few days after the interview and narrowly missed capturing Guzman following his July escape from Mexico's top security prison though a mile-long (1.5-kilometer) tunnel. Describing the capture, Attorney General Arely Gomez said that investigators had been aided in locating Guzman by documented contacts between his attorneys and "actors and producers" she said were interested in making a film about him, though she did not name them. Three months after that close call, marines finally caught him in a residential neighborhood of Los Mochis, where they'd been monitoring a suspected safe house. Guzman was able to escape via storm drains and exited a manhole in the street. But he was captured in a vehicle on the highway. In the interview in Rolling Stone, Guzman defends his work at the head of the world's biggest drug trafficking organization, one blamed for thousands of killings. When asked if he is to blame for high addiction rates, he responds: "No, that is false, because the day I don't exist, it's not going to decrease in any way at all. Drug trafficking? That's false." Penn wrote that Guzman was interested in having a movie filmed on his life and wanted Mexican actress Kate del Castillo, who had portrayed a drug trafficker in a television series, involved in the project. "He was interested in seeing the story of his life told on film, but would entrust its telling only to Kate," wrote Penn, who appears in a photo posted with the interview shaking hands with Guzman. Penn's representatives have not commented on the claims by Mexican officials. ___ Associated Press writer Christopher Sherman in Los Mochis, Mark Stevenson in Mexico City and Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin E. Eduardo Castillo and Katherine Corcoran (The Jakarta Post) Mexico City Mon, January 11, 2016 Mexican officials say Sean Penn's contacts with drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman helped them track the fugitive down ' even if he slipped away from an initial raid on the hideout where the Hollywood actor apparently met him. Penn's article on Guzman was published late Saturday by Rolling Stone magazine, a day after Mexican marines captured the world's most wanted kingpin in a raid on the city of Los Mochis near the Gulf of California. Penn wrote of elaborate security precautions, but also said that as he flew to Mexico on Oct 2 for the meeting, "I see no spying eyes, but I assume they are there." He was apparently right. A Mexican federal law enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to comment on the issue, told the Associated Press the Penn interview led authorities to Guzman in the area of Tamazula, a rural part of Durango state. They raided Guzman's remote hideout a few days after the interview and narrowly missed capturing Guzman, whose July escape from Mexico's top security prison ' though a mile-long (1.5-kilometer) tunnel ' had embarrassed President Enrique Pena Nieto and made his capture a national priority. Describing the capture, Attorney General Arely Gomez said that investigators had been aided in locating Guzman by documented contacts between his attorneys and "actors and producers" she said were interested in making a film about him, though she did not name them. Two months after that close call, marines finally caught him in a residential neighborhood of Los Mochis, where they'd been monitoring a suspected safe house. Five people died in a gun battle as troops moved in. In the interview, Guzman defends his work at the head of the world's biggest drug trafficking organization, one blamed for thousands of killings. When asked if he is to blame for high addiction rates, he responds: "No, that is false, because the day I don't exist, it's not going to decrease in any way at all. Drug trafficking? That's false." Penn wrote that Guzman was interested in having a movie filmed on his life and wanted Mexican actress Kate del Castillo, who had portrayed a drug trafficker in a television series, involved in the project. "He was interested in seeing the story of his life told on film, but would entrust its telling only to Kate," wrote Penn, who appears in a photo posted with the interview shaking hands with Guzman. There was no immediate response from representatives for either Penn or del Castillo to the Mexican official's comments. Earlier Saturday, a federal law enforcement official said that Mexico is willing to extradite Guzman to the United States ' a move authorities had ruled out before his July escape. "Mexico is ready. There are plans to cooperate with the U.S.," said the Mexican official, who spoke on condition anonymity because he wasn't authorized to comment. But he cautioned it could take at least six months to approve extradition through courts, where Guzman's attorneys can battle a move to the U.S., where he faces drug trafficking charges in several states. "That can take weeks or months, and that delays the extradition," he said. "We've had cases that take six years." Guzman's attorney Juan Pablo Badillo told the Milenio newspaper that the defense already has filed six motions to challenge extradition requests. "They can challenge the judge, challenge the probable cause, challenge the procedure," said Juan Masini, former U.S. Department of Justice attache at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico. "That's why it can take a long time. They won't challenge everything at once ... they can drip, drip, milk it that way." According to a statement from the Mexican Attorney General's office, the U.S. filed extradition requests June 25, while Guzman was in custody, and another Sep. 3, after he escaped. The Mexican government determined they were valid within the extradition treaty and sent them to a panel of federal judges, who gave orders for detention on July 29 and Sept. 8, after Guzman had escaped. Those orders were not for extradition but just for Guzman to begin the extradition hearing process. Now that he is recaptured, Mexico has to start processing the extradition requests anew, according to the law. (kes)(+) ___ Associated Press writer Christopher Sherman in Los Mochis, Maria Verza in Mexico City and Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dewanti A. Wardhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 11, 2016 The Jakarta administration has begun operating hundreds of its own garbage trucks and no longer relies on rental trucks in a move hoped to improve waste management in the city. Sanitation Agency head Isnawa Adji told The Jakarta Post over the phone that hundreds of new trucks had been distributed to five municipalities in the city since Jan. 1 and had started operating. 'We no longer use rental trucks. We now independently operate our own trucks,' Isnawa said on the weekend. Previously, the city administration largely relied on rental trucks to transport waste. In 2015, the city administration rented as many as 400 trucks, whose contracts expired on Jan. 1 this year. However, problems emerged when it was revealed that such a system was pricey yet ineffective, and prone to corruption. In 2014, the city spent around Rp 1.2 trillion (US$86.1 million) of its budget to pay private companies to transport waste from Jakarta to the Bantar Gebang landfill in Bekasi, West Java. The procurement of garbage trucks in Jakarta was previously hampered by conflicts within the city administration. In the 2014 budget year, the Sanitation Agency had initially allocated Rp 28 billion to procure hundreds of garbage trucks. However, the allocation was mysteriously slashed by Rp 11 billion. As a result, the city administration was forced to continue renting garbage trucks until the agency could procure enough vehicles. Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama had said that he specifically asked the Sanitation Agency to procure hundreds of trucks in 2015 in order to become independent from rental trucks. According to data from the Sanitation Agency, the agency in 2015 procured a total of 824 new trucks of various types, including dump trucks, arm roll trucks and heavy trucks, all of which were purchased from the National Procurement Agency's (LKPP) e-catalogue. Hundreds of the new garbage trucks were distributed to sanitation subagencies in municipalities to transport waste from neighborhoods and other areas to dump sites. In total, the Sanitation Agency currently owns 1,418 garbage trucks, including 126 of which are under repair. 'With these new trucks, I'm sure we can transport waste more effectively. Hopefully we can meet our target of zero waste in LPS [temporary piling sites] and depots,' Isnawa said. Isnawa added that the agency had further reaching plans for 2016. The city seeks to terminate its contract with Bantar Gebang operator PT Godang Tua Jaya this year to manage the landfill itself. In order to lessen dependency on the Bantar Gebang landfill, the Sanitation Agency also plans to build an intermediate treatment facility (ITF) in Sunter, North Jakarta, which would commence construction in March. City-owned property developer PT Jakarta Propertindo (Jakpro) will also build another ITF in Cakung Cilincing, North Jakarta. Furthermore, the city administration will recruit workers who collect trash in neighborhoods as contract cleaners paid by the city. Separately, South Jakarta sanitation subagency head Budi Mulyanto said his unit had received 78 new trucks last year, all of which were operational. In total, the South Jakarta sanitation subagency currently operated 125 trucks, he said. Budi explained that operating its own garbage trucks proved to be much more effective than renting from private firms. 'We can use the trucks more freely, because we own them. It makes my job easier as well,' Budi said over the phone. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kathy Gannon (The Jakarta Post) Islamabad Mon, January 11, 2016 A key gathering opened on Monday in Islamabad in which four major countries ' Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States ' hope to lay the roadmap to peace for the war-shattered Afghan nation. The meeting comes as battlefield losses in Afghanistan are mounting and entire swaths of the country that cost hundreds of US-led coalition and Afghan military lives to secure slip back into Taliban hands. Taliban representatives have not been invited to the talks, vowing to talk only to the US and not to the Afghan government. As the gathering got under way, host Pakistan ' seen as key to bringing the warring Taliban factions to the table ' cautioned of the difficulties ahead. Sartaj Aziz, adviser to the Pakistani prime minister on foreign affairs, warned against prematurely deciding which Taliban factions are ready to talk, urging instead "confidence building" measures to get even the recalcitrant Taliban to the negotiating table. But analysts and participants alike say that while there are four countries talking, much of the hope for progress toward peace rests with Pakistan ' which is accused of harboring some of the fiercest factions of the Taliban, including the Haqqani group, a US-declared terrorist organization. Pakistan says its influence over the Taliban is overrated. "Even at the best of times they [Taliban] didn't listen to us," Aziz told The Associated Press earlier. "Look at Bamiyan," he said, referring to the Taliban's destruction in the summer of 2001 of some of the world's most precious statues of Buddha. The Taliban blew up the statues, ignoring the roars of dissent, including from Pakistan. Aziz refused to say whether Pakistan has a list of Taliban representatives prepared to enter into peace negotiations. The existence of such a list was announced Sunday by Javid Faisal, deputy spokesman for Afghanistan's Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah. At the start of Monday's conference, Aziz urged that participants avoid the media and work toward finding ways to get even the most intransigent Taliban to talk peace. He said the gathering needs "to define the overall direction of the reconciliation process" and define goals "with a view to creating a conducive environment for holding direct talks between the Afghan government and Taliban groups." A breakaway Taliban group said Monday it was ready for talks. The faction, which emerged following the revelation last year that the Taliban leader and founder Mullah Mohammed Omar had died two years ago, is believed to be relatively small and its absence from the battlefield is unlikely to be a game changer. Imtiaz Gul, whose Center for Research and Security Studies has delved deeply into the Afghan conflict and Pakistan's decades-old involvement, says Pakistan has significant leverage with the Taliban, led by Omar's replacement Mullah Akhtar Mansoor. Militants in both countries are allied, and getting rid of the Haqqanis could unleash a violent backlash inside Pakistan where the army has been fighting for several years to defeat a coalition of militant groups largely based in its border areas with Afghanistan, Gul said. That battle has been brutal with thousands of Pakistani soldiers killed and wounded and thousands more Pakistani civilians killed in deadly retaliatory suicide attacks by the militants. But Gul said Pakistan's army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif, who last month went to Afghanistan, has given hints that the military is ready to move away from past support of militants, even those considered friendly to Pakistan. Travelling to Afghanistan unaccompanied by the country's powerful ISI intelligence agency, which has long been considered the force behind the Taliban, was a signal, said Gul, that Sharif was centering future policy decisions only at army headquarters. Changes won't come quickly, says Gul, "but important for us is to turn the page [from supporting militants] and I think Gen. Raheel Sharif has turned that page." Though the Taliban were not invited to Monday's talks, a senior Taliban official, who asked not to be identified fearing exposure and capture, told the AP that two Taliban delegates, currently headquartered in Qatar, will meet "soon" with China's representatives. The meeting, which will also include Pakistan, is to be held in Islamabad, said the official. Still, there seems little to no chance for early peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government. The Taliban, struggling to consolidate their leadership council following Omar's death, have drawn their line in the sand: no official talks with the Afghan government on a peaceful end to their protracted and bloody war until direct talks can be held with the United States. "We want talks with the Americans first because we consider them a direct party," the Taliban official said in a face-to-face interview with the AP. The Taliban want recognition of their Qatar office under the banner of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the name they used when they ruled Afghanistan until they were ousted by the US-led coalition in 2001. They also want the United Nations to remove the Taliban from its wanted list and they want their prisoners released from Afghan jails. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani wants no part in giving the Taliban official recognition. Maulvi Shazada Shaeid, a representative on Afghanistan's High Peace Council, tasked with seeking peace with the Taliban, said the distance between the two sides is vast, holding out little hope for peace. "In the current situation, it is not possible to bring peace," he said. ___ Kathy Gannon is special regional correspondent for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Associated Press writer Mirwais Khan in Kandahar, Afghanistan, contributed to this report. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Mon, January 11, 2016 A statement conveyed by a National Mandate Party (PAN) politician, claiming the party had obtained Cabinet positions, could be perceived as an indirect push on President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo to carry out a Cabinet reshuffle, an expert said on Monday. 'Proposing names of candidates for the Cabinet is a normal thing. But pushing for a Cabinet reshuffle, by claiming publicly that his party had obtained several Cabinet seats, could be considered improper,' said Nusantara Independent Survey Institution executive director Yasin Mohammad as quoted by kompas.com in Jakarta on Sunday. He made the statement in response to PAN politician Aziz Subekti's claim that he had received information from the Presidential Palace that the party had obtained two seats in President Jokowi's Cabinet. The two PAN ministers, he claimed, would be Taufik Kurniawan and Asman Abnur. Yasin was certain that the politician's move was just a strategy to corner Jokowi into appointing the two PAN members to his Cabinet. 'His statement has made a new tumult and created an impression that the party has a thirst for power ['],' said Yasin. With such pressuring repeatedly committed by PAN, he said, it was no surprise that President Jokowi had issued comments several times, saying that he did not want to be dictated to nor pushed about over a Cabinet reshuffle. Yasin further said that PAN should have been aware of its position as a new member in the Jokowi administration's coalition. Instead of pushing for a Cabinet reshuffle, the party should first contribute by helping Jokowi's administration win the House of Representatives' support for its development programs. Yasin said it was entirely President Jokowi's authority to appoint his Cabinet members. 'It's unethical for Jokowi to be pushed for a Cabinet reshuffle. [Parties] must accept whatever decision the President makes,' he said. Earlier, PAN chairman Zulkifli Hasan said he had reprimanded Aziz Subekti, who aired the speculation over Cabinet positions for PAN members. He said PAN had hundreds of party officials, thus, it was quite normal to have one or two officials act improperly, such as by speculating about ministerial seats for party members. Zulkifli asserted that the Cabinet reshuffle was President Jokowi's prerogative. He further said that PAN had never proposed to Jokowi that any of its members become ministers in his Cabinet. 'We have 7 million party members and thousands of officials. Who said that PAN was preparing its members to become ministers?' said Zulkifli as quoted by Antara in Sukabumi, West Java, on Saturday. He said that any statement that said PAN had proposed that its members become ministers was not true. The former minister further said he himself had never nominated any PAN members to become ministers. Zulkifli said he had long served in the government, in both executive and legislative institutions, and thus fully understood constitutional law, including the fact that a Cabinet reshuffle is the sole right of the President. 'I have long asserted that, as Cabinet reshuffle issues that have continued to develop, PAN has never proposed names of minister candidates, let alone asked the President to include [its] members in the Cabinet, although our party has officially joined with the government coalition,' said Zulkifli. He also denied speculation that he was interested in a Cabinet position, saying that he was more comfortable with his position as People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker, which constitutionally was at a same level as the President. (ebf)(+) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tama Salim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 11, 2016 During the 43rd anniversary celebration of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri openly criticized the government of President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo for not toeing the party line in terms of policy implementation, especially in managing state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Megawati launched a thinly veiled attack on SOE Minister Rini Soemarno criticizing Rini's focus on the business side of SOEs instead of providing dividends to the government, which in turn would allow for a fairer distribution of wealth. 'As one of the pillars of the national economy, people tend to forget that SOEs are actually owned by the state; state assets that are supposed to increase prosperity. In stark contrast, SOEs are being handled as private corporations that merely prioritize the business-to-business approach,' Megawati said during her speech at the PDI-P's national working meeting in Central Jakarta on Sunday. The former president went on to heap praise on the House of Representatives' special inquiry committee investigating the high-profile PT Pelindo II graft case, which she believed would 'pave the way for better governance of SOEs in accordance with the constitutional mandate'. House committee chairwoman and PDI-P lawmaker Rieke Diah Pitaloka had previously voiced demands that Rini be removed from her ministerial position on account of her role in mismanaging Pelindo II, despite being a party colleague. Officials of state port operator Pelindo II are currently embroiled in a graft case centering on alleged irregularities in the procurement of fixed crane-type loading and unloading equipment worth US$20 million. 'I believe that if [SOEs] are well managed, they will contribute greatly to the state. It is time that SOEs return to their original role of boosting the people's economy through [wealth] distribution and access to funding, as well as increasing productivity,' Megawati said. In addition to state-asset management, Megawati also criticized the government for falling short in implementing the Nawacita ' state programs authored jointly by the PDI-P chairwoman, Jokowi and a number of intellectuals. She took issue with the disconnect between development programs initiated by the central government and those carried out by regional administrations. 'Each regency or province has its own vision, and it is not uncommon for policy choices to conflict with those of the central government,' she explained. The problem was further complicated by the fact that the state's vision tended to change every time a new leader was elected, Mega added. She said it was a shame that 'the practice of democracy [...] is often reduced to a five-year cycle of mission statement changes'. To this end, the PDI-P matriarch suggested amending the 1945 Constitution to revive the idea of a long-term national development cycle based on a state policy outline, which she named the Planned Universal National Development. The idea was to have a policy guideline that could reach 100 years into the nation's future, Megawati said, adding that the policy outline would ensure synergy between the center and the regions. She also suggested strengthening the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas). Constitutional law expert Irmanputra Sidin welcomed Megawati's idea, calling on the PDI-P chairwoman to make good on her plan. Irman said she had enough political clout and experience in reforming the constitution. 'Megawati needs to show her intent and use her power to enact change. There's no other person with the authority and level of involvement that she has,' he said. 'Stop discussing [and start doing].' Jokowi also supported Megawati's proposal of revisiting the state policy development outline, saying that the state should seriously consider charting its long-term goals to keep ahead of rising competition from neighboring countries on account of globalization. The President said Indonesia should not fear competition from neighboring countries, especially after entering the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), while also urging continuous improvement in the center and in the regions. 'I have met a number of heads of state from neighboring countries ' they say they fear having their markets flooded with Indonesian products. So why should we still harbor fears about them?' Jokowi said in his speech following Megawati. 'We should be confident; we have to believe that we are able to compete with them. That's why we have to give our all to improving what needs improvement.' _____________________________________ To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kathleen Ronayne (The Jakarta Post) Hooksett, New Hampshire Mon, January 11, 2016 Women's health care provider Planned Parenthood is endorsing Hillary Clinton in the Democratic presidential race, but says that won't mean negative campaigning against her primary opponents. The endorsement by the group's political arm marks Planned Parenthood's first time wading into a presidential primary, and it comes as Clinton remains locked in a tight contest with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in Iowa and New Hampshire, home of the first two nominating contests. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley trails both rivals in the race. Accepting the endorsement Sunday in New Hampshire, Clinton sought to energize her Democratic base with a passionate pledge to always protect reproductive rights. And she painted a dark picture of what women's health care would look like under a Republican president, singling out two of the top Republican contenders by name. "Donald Trump and Ted Cruz and their powerful friends may be trying to drag us back to the Stone Age, but we've got our sights set on the future," Clinton said. Planned Parenthood is a large provider of abortion and reproductive health services and has become a lightning rod in the 2016 campaign. Most Republican presidential candidates object to continued federal financing of the organization and a measure has passed the Republican-led House to stop the flow of money. Richards said Planned Parenthood is making an early endorsement so that it can begin reminding voters about the Republican candidates' "extreme" positions on abortion rights and women's health. The group plans to spend at least $20 million in the 2016 campaign. "I don't know that it has been particularly clear in the Republican primary just exactly how extreme these candidates are," Richards said. Although Planned Parenthood doesn't plan to campaign negatively against Sanders and O'Malley, Richards highlighted Clinton's long record of supporting women's health care, from her time at the Children's Defense Fund to tenure as first lady and a US Senator from New York. "We don't need just a friend, a solid vote, a supporting statement ' we need a fighter," Richards said. Many Republicans stepped up their criticism of Planned Parenthood after anti-abortion-rights activists released underground video that showed an official from the group talking about the price of fetal parts. The video did not establish that the group was illegally profiting from the sale of fetal parts as some alleged. Clinton warned the crowd that electing a Republican president would eliminate Democrats' fire wall between a repeal of the president's health care overhaul law, Republican efforts to de-fund Planned Parenthood and the appointment of "right wing" justices to the Supreme Court. (rin) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Agus Maryono (The Jakarta Post) Cilacap Mon, January 11, 2016 Security has been stepped up in Cilacap, Central Java, in anticipation of the judicial review of notorious terrorist convict Abu Bakar Ba'asyir on Tuesday. Central Java Justice and Human Rights Agency spokesman Molyanto said on Sunday that his office had coordinated with the Cilacap Police, the Cilacap administration, the National Police's Densus 88 counterterrorism squad and the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) to help secure Cilacap for the duration of the trial. "Security has been good so far, especially at the Cilacap District Court," he said on Sunday. Security personnel are also guarding entry points to Cilacap, vital installations, city corners and the area around the Nusakambangan penal island where Ba'asyir is currently incarcerated. Cilacap Police chief Adj.Sr.Comr. Ulung Sampurna Jaya said his office had assigned all units, from traffic police, the Sabhara rapid response unit to the detective unit. "We have assigned all units to anticipate undesirable occurrences prior to, during and after the trial," he told thejakartapost.com on Sunday. The police had checked the identity of every person entering the Cilacap area since Friday, Ulung added. Moreover, people wanting to cross over to Nusakambangan Island had to go through a tight security check. Police have been guarding Wijaya Pura Pier as it is the entrance to the island. Police predict that hundreds of Ba'asyir supporters will attend the court hearing on Tuesday. Ba'asyir's judicial review is being held at the Cilacap District Court as requested by his team of attorneys, the Muslim Lawyers Team. The team lodged a request with the South Jakarta District Court in November to move the trial location from Jakarta to Cilacap, considering Ba'asyir's advanced age and poor health. The request was approved by the court in early December. Ba'asyir, the spiritual leader of Islamic organization Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT), filed for a judicial review against his 15-year prison sentence handed down in 2011. He was declared guilty of funding a military training camp for a terrorist group in Aceh. (rin)(+) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Mon, January 11, 2016 Police investigators found traces of cyanide, a deadly poison, in an iced coffee drank by a woman who died after experiencing seizures. Jakarta Police Criminal Investigation Department chief Sr. Comr. Krishna Murti said on Sunday that investigators suspected that Wayan Mirna Salimin, 27,died from cyanide poisoning. It was based on the fact that Mirna experienced seizures and foaming at the mouth. He said cyanide compounds were found in six samples of the iced coffee collected for testing by the police. Mirna died on Wednesday after drinking an iced coffee at a restaurant in Grand Indonesia, Central Jakarta. Krishna Murti said a friend ordered the drink for Mirna. Mirna was with two of friends, S and N, at the time. S reportedly ordered and paid for all the drinks. The police subsequently summoned the friends and restaurant employees for questioning as witnesses in the case. However, S refused to comply, Krishna Murti said. "We will send another summons on Monday. We asked her to come on Sunday night but she refused. We can't force her because her status is still a witness," he said as quoted by kompas.com on Sunday. The restaurant owner spilled the iced coffee on his hands and felt a numbing sensation, Krishna Murti said. Mirna's father, Dermawan Salihin, said on Sunday that he had approved an autopsy on his daughter's body after initially rejecting the proposal. He said he had approved it so that the police could thoroughly investigate the case. "Someone did a bad thing to my daughter. I think it is a crime and the police said they needed to conduct an autopsy," he said as quoted by kompas.com. (rin)(+) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin R.S.N. Murali (The Jakarta Post) Malacca Mon, January 11, 2016 The self-proclaimed 'Queen of the Malay Archipelago' has had her international passport confiscated as police begin investigations on the Indonesian woman's background. Jasin OCPD Deputy Supt Sampornak Ismail said the 37-year-old and her 45-year-old Malaysian husband had been remanded until Tuesday to facilitate a probe under Section 419 of the Penal Code for impersonation. The couple were arrested at their home in Sungai Rambai, Jasin, at about 2pm on Friday following a police report lodged by the Malacca Legal Adviser's office after an 'investiture ceremony' held at the duo's house. Police seized several weapons during a raid at the house. The woman, who is from Talang Banjar in Jambi, proclaims herself as 'YM Bonda Ratu Kuasa Alam Kesumo Dinigratd Tun Saripah Muraini'. She caused a stir in January 2014 for submitting a proposal to the Chief Minister's Office to revive her supposed bygone Sultanate. She denied allegations made by an official from the Chief Minister's Office who said the woman had claimed to have supernatural powers to create incessant rain and windstorms. During an interview with The Star at her home in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, in early 2014, the woman had said she was not keen on claiming the Malacca Sultanate throne. She said it was considered insignificant compared to her 'strength' in having 184 Sultans from the Malay Archipelago under her patronage. In the interview, the woman claimed to be of Turkish-Acehnese parentage and denied having tried to meet Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron. The woman, who married at the age of 14, claimed her 'supernatural' powers were inherited from a royal bloodline, and that these were not to do harm but to help those in need. She also claimed her mother 'Ratu Laut Selatan' was empowered with the ability to help people. An online check revealed a significant amount of folklore surrounds Ratu Laut Selatan, who was in control of the violent waves of the Indian Ocean from her dwelling in the heart of the ocean. During the interview, the woman also claimed that the 'skies' had bestowed her with a magical keris dagger, with a dragon's head and diamond studs embedded in its hilt. (kes)(+) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Mon, January 11, 2016 While tax revenues reached an all-time record of Rp 1.06 quadrillion (US$76.1 billion) in 2015, they fell 18 percent or Rp 234 trillion short of the target of Rp 1.29 quadrillion set by the government and lawmakers in the state budget, marking the worst shortfall in a decade. Based on budget reports that thejakartapost.com collected, 18 percent is the biggest shortfall in 2005-2015 taxation period. The second-biggest was a shortfall of 9 percent in 2014. 2008 was the only year when the tax office recorded a surplus in tax revenue over the targeted amount. Last year's tax revenue comprised of non-oil and gas tax income of Rp 1.01 quadrillion and oil-gas tax revenue of Rp 49.7 trillion, Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro explained in Jakarta, as reported by kompas.com. In 2015, the ministry recorded a 12.05 percent increase in non-oil and gas revenue, which compares to revenue growth of 7.8 percent in 2014. Despite failure to meet the tax revenue target set out in the state budget, Bambang stressed that the tax office in 2015 had collected more non-oil and gas tax revenues than ever before. "Amid the economic slowdown [...] it managed to grow. Non-oil and gas tax revenue of Rp 1,011 trillion is a new record in Indonesian history," he said, noting that this reflected the tax office's performance, as it was purely collected by tax officials. Meanwhile, oil and gas tax revenue slumped by 43.1 percent to Rp 49.7 trillion in 2015, from Rp 87.5 trillion in 2014. According to Bambang, the fall in crude oil prices and low crude oil production in the country are to blame. In the 2016 state budget, the total tax revenue target has been set at Rp 1.36 quadrillion, comprising non-oil and gas tax income of Rp 1.32 quadrillion, and oil-gas tax income of Rp 41.4 trillion. University of Indonesia taxation expert Darussalam urged the government to revise down the 2016 revenue target to a 'more realistic' level. The 2015 tax shortfall prompted then-head of the Tax Office, Sigit Priadi Pramudito, to step down from his position on Dec. 1. (ami/ags)(+) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fadli (The Jakarta Post) Batam Mon, January 11, 2016 Authorities in Batam, Riau Islands, have called on thousands of workers from a major local company to drop plans to begin a three-week strike on Monday, claiming the move could cost employees their jobs and hurt the local economy. Batam Free Trade Zone Management Agency (BPK FTZ) public relations and promotions director Purnomo Andiantono said the concerns emerged after some 2,000 workers from PT Amtek Engineering Batam last week announced a plan to stage a collective strike from Monday until the end of the month to demand clarity on their employment status following the company's recent decision to change its name. 'Amtek management is furious because the company won't be able to take upcoming orders from clients should the workers stage the strike,' Purnomo told The Jakarta Post over the weekend. Earlier on Friday, Purnomo, BPK FTZ goods traffic director Tri Novianta Putra and representatives from local labor unions held a closed-door meeting to discuss the latter's demands. The meeting, which was also attended by representatives from the Riau Islands Police and Batam's Manpower Agency, however, ended in a deadlock with the workers insisting that they would strike. After the meeting, Purnomo said Amtek, through its legal advisor, had informed the BPK FTZ that the company was considering closing its Batam factory should workers refuse to immediately return to work. 'The company said it would move its operations to Vietnam should the strike continue. We are also unhappy with this situation. Workers, meanwhile, should understand that they will lose their jobs if the company closes down its operations here,' he said. Amtek became a subcontractor of cell phone producer Apple when the latter bought US-based company Interplex. The Singaporean company has been in operation in Batam since 1996, carrying out metal stamping and forming. It has an investment value of US$60 million. Separately, the Indonesian Metal Workers Federation's (FSPMI) Batam chapter official, Suprapto, said workers were unsettled because the company's name change was made without informing them and they feared it could affect their positions. 'The company recently changed its name on its website, email [addresses] and other [documents]. This made workers question whether the change would put their service period back to zero. The company, however, could not explain this,' he said. In July last year, Amtek's parent company, Singapore-based Amtek Engineering Ltd., officially changed its name to Interplex Holdings Ltd. Tri, meanwhile, gave his assurances that the name change would not affect workers' employment status, saying the strategy was intended to increase the company's brand awareness in the international market. 'We will also investigate the possible involvement of any [third] parties in planning the strike,' he said. Last year, President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo instructed the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) to investigate alleged foreign involvement in labor rallies in Batam that led to investors leaving the industrial zone. Allegations of foreign support for workers have been made by the government since a large-scale and chaotic protest in 2011 that involved at least 10,000 workers on the island. At least six were injured, including one person who was shot, while three cars were severely damaged during the rally, which aimed at demanding a minimum-wage increase. Every year since, especially at year-end when the government sets the new minimum wage, workers have conducted large-scale rallies. Suprapto, meanwhile, said the strike was held purely to uphold workers' employment rights. 'We are not a threat. We just want to see the core problems settled,' he said. ______________________________________ To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Bangkok Mon, January 11, 2016 Thailand's royal palace has released a vaguely worded health report on the country's 88-year-old king, the world's longest reigning monarch who has been ailing for years, describing what appears to be a new bout of lung infection and occasional fever with rapid breathing. The statement issued Sunday said King Bhumibol Adulyadej has battled a fever for the past two weeks and was being looked after by doctors. It said tests found "an infection in the lower part of the lungs" and a blood infection and inflammation in his right knee joint. The king was given oxygen, intravenous antibiotics and other medication, the statement said, adding that "currently, the king's fever has eased but his breathing is occasionally faster than normal, while his pulse and blood pressure are normal."(+) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Kuala Lumpur Mon, January 11, 2016 Two Malaysian suicide bombers blew themselves up in Syria and Iraq last week, killing more than 30 others, it was reported. The New Straits Times (NST) said Terengganu-born Mohd Amirul Ahmad Rahim set off the bombs that he had on him and in the car he was in during clashes in the Syrian city of Raqqa, the stronghold of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), on Dec. 29. The newspaper, citing sources, said the 26-year-old left his family in Malaysia for Syria in October 2014 to join the ISIS. Amirul, who went by the nom de guerre Abu Uqashah Malizi, died on the day the ISIS launched an offensive on the 44th Syrian Democratic Forces coalition near Ain Issa, which saw 21 Kurdish fighters killed. The newspaper said ISIS members from Malaysia serving in Syria and Iraq would usually have the word "Malizi" attached to their nom de guerre. Five days after Amirul's death, another Malaysian blew himself up in Tikrit, Iraq, according to NST. Mohamad Syazwan Mohd Salim, who carried out his mission on the night of Jan 3, was one of seven suicide bombers who had made their way to a police training centre at Speicher military base, some 160km north of Baghdad. They had targeted a large group of police forces from the northern province of Nineveh, who were undergoing training. A source said the 31-year-old was among those who detonated their suicide vests that killed 12 policemen, including three officers. Twenty others were wounded. Syazwan left his hometown in Selangor with his younger brother Muhamad Shazani Mohd Salim, 28, on Sept 23, 2014, via Istanbul, Turkey, to join ISIS. Shazani, also known as Abu Aydan among his comrades, first served as a cleaner before he was recruited as a sniper and suicide bomber, said the report. He died in a suicide mission on Sept 18 last year in Bayji, northern Iraq, during a skirmish with Iraqi forces. The source said both brothers were trained in the Khatibah Nusantara cell in Syria for their suicide operations. The death of Amirul and Syazwan brings the total number of Malaysian ISIS recruits killed to 17. Of the number, six had served as suicide bombers, while the rest died during battles. Until recently, Malaysians who joined the militant group rarely ended up as frontline fighters. It was reported that Malaysians, along with several other nationals including from India, would usually be given menial tasks, including cooking or cleaning. Over several months, however, the Malaysians had slowly moved up the ladder, NST reported. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Mon, January 11, 2016 The wives of three suspected terrorists are set to file a human-rights violation report against Central Sulawesi Police over difficulties in meeting their husbands in police custody. They plan to file the report with the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) on Tuesday. Akbar Panguriseng, an attorney of Muslim Lawyers Team, said on Monday that the women demanded to see their husbands. "They want to meet their husbands, as is their right guaranteed by the law," he said as quoted by kompas.com. Akbar provided no details on the three terrorism suspects, who were arrested in Poso, Tojo Una-Una and North Morowali Utara, all in Central Sulawesi on Dec. 31. The wives have apparently been unable to meet them since the day they were apprehended. They would report the Central Sulawesi Police to the provincial office of Komnas HAM, according to Akbar, who said he had accompanied the wives to meet their husbands at Central Sulawesi Police on Dec 8, to no avail. The police officers on the day apparently said all seven suspected terrorists were in custody with Sigi Police. However, when the wives and Akbar went to the Sigi Police station, they were told visiting hours had ended. "We went back to Sigi Police the following day, but we failed to meet the husbands," Akbar said. (afr/rin) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Mon, January 11, 2016 When people are educated, prosperous and satisfied, no political or religious influence can separate them from each other. When a nation is prosperous, people will not want to become 'volunteers' to fight abroad; a very embarrassing case indeed. Yet, Indonesia is not the only nation where there are still people who are not open to all religions/faiths. Yes, in spite of our adherence to the Pancasila and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, to which all our government officials swear by before occupying strategic positions, respect for other religions or sects thereof is not clearly observed. This, in fact, is reflected by the beliefs of the less educated portion of the population who hardly respect each other's faith. The Report on Terrorism in The Jakarta Post on Jan. 5, 2016, by Ruslan Sangadji, said 'IS-linked MIT recruits female fighters'. This is indeed the serious consequences of our neglect of the Pancasila. The presence of the Religious Affairs Ministry makes us think we are religious people, yet it is so difficult for Christians to get city permits to build churches. This prompts me think very negatively; that my application for promotion from Air Force colonel to air first marshal in 1978 kept on returned to my 'two-stars' boss (three times!) from the deputy chief of staff, just because I am a . . . catholic? My two-star boss has died and so it is the deputy chief of staff who failed to endorse my promotion for the chief of staff of the Air Force, who has also passed away. What was strange to me was the fact that the very same chief of staff had selected me to accompany him when he visited the chief of staff of the Royal Australian Air Force in Canberra; the chief of staff of the New Zealand Air Force in Wellington; and the chief of staff of The Royal Thai Air Force in Bangkok. The late deputy chief of staff was so neglectful that my colonel-ship had to be inaugurated by Col. Niklani in Washington when I was sent to take up training at the International Defense Management Course (IDMC) in Montery, California, the USA. These stupid shortcomings among our leaders are ingredients for extreme dissatisfaction, which can easily transform to disproportional anger for shortsighted officers. My one-star and two-star officer colleagues in our housing compound, who are mostly about 10 years younger than me, prefer to keep quite. My case, I believe, is but one cause of dissatisfaction, which uncontrolled, could easily flare up to 'destructive' activities. Let us not allow these unnecessary cases to be repeated, and risk having dissatisfied individuals block the progress of our nation unnecessarily. Moeljono Adikoesoemo Jakarta Nicht Ihr Computer? Dann konnen Sie fur die Anmeldung ein Fenster zum privaten Surfen offnen. Weitere Informationen How long will the Lower East Side and the rest of the 65th Assembly District be without representation in the New York State Assembly? That question is increasingly difficult to answer. But the uncertainty has not kept a growing field of candidates from maneuvering to replace Sheldon Silver in Albany. Silver was forced from office late last year after a jurys guilty verdict in the longtime lawmakers federal corruption trial. Last month, Governor Cuomo suggested he would call a special election April 19 to fill the seat, which Silver had held since 1976. Six candidates have already signaled their intention to compete for the position, with more announcements potentially on the way. The latest competitor, Community Board 3 Chairperson Gigi Li, confirmed over the weekend that she is very likely running. Cuomo has until early February to make a firm decision about a special election. If he sticks with the April 19 date, the Democratic nominee would not be chosen by voters in the 65th Assembly District, but by about 200 party insiders. The assembly districts Democratic County Committee would pick a candidate to run against a Republican in April (since the district is overwhelmingly democratic, the nominee would almost certainly win the general election). The winner would serve out the remainder of Silvers term. The seat would then be up for grabs as usual in the regular state primary election and general election next fall. But not so fast. The other day, City & State reported that the governor might be having second thoughts, in part, because April 19 is the same day that the New York Presidential Primary will be held: According to a source, the New York City Board of Elections simply cannot handle (a special election along with the Presidential Primary). Apparently, there are separate computer programs for local races and national races, and holding them simultaneously that day would be too much for the board. I mean, lets face it, competence was never their strong suit. Silvers seat is in lower Manhattan, so the NYC Board would be in charge of holding the election for the Silver seat that day. That leaves two other possibilities. 1) Cuomo could call the special to line up with that new, weird congressional primary day that takes place in June. June 28th is the day this year. 2) Cuomo could push it to Sept. 7th, which is the day of the state primaries If the election is held in June, it will also be a (county) committee selection, but if its pushed to September there would be an open primary. No matter how the Lower East Sides next assembly member is chosen, its clear theres high interest in the seat, which hasnt been vacant in four decades. Heres a quick look at the likely contenders: Paul Newell: A district leader who lives in the Masark Towers apartment complex on the Lower East Side. Newell unsuccessfully ran against Silver in 2008 and has been preparing for this campaign ever since. Jenifer Rajkumar: Also a district leader, she unsuccessfully challenged City Council member Margaret Chin in 2013. Rajkumar, however, collected almost 6,000 votes (amounting to about 42% of the ballots in the Democratic Primary that year). Yuh-Line Niou: Chief of Staff to Assemblyman Ron Kim (Flushing) and a fairly new resident of the Financial District. Niou is backed by the Uinted Democatic Organization (UDO), an influential political club in Chinatown. Her champion has been Virginia Kee, a founder of the Chinese American Planning Council. John Bal: A longtime resident of Little Italy who unsuccessfully challenged Sheldon Silver in 1986. Alice Cancel: A district leader and staffer in the office of City Comptroller Scott Stringer. Cancel and her husband, John Quinn, are the driving forces behind Lower East Democrats, another downtown political club. Gigi Li: The chairperson of Community Board 3, Li lives in Chinatown and briefly challenged Jenifer Rajkumar for district leader this past year. Amid accusations regarding her petitions, Li withdrew from that race, saying she had not gathered enough signatures to make it on the ballot. In a statement late last night, Li said, Im filing for the Assembly seat because I have the experience, work ethic and drive to deliver for the people of Lower Manhattan I have a plan to expand social services, invest in youth and education, and ensure smart development. Don B. Lee: A familiar player in Chinatown for several decades, Lee is the chief information officer of Coalition of Asian American IPA. He worked for various New York City agencies in the 1980s and 199os. While Lee has not made an announcement about his candidacy, political consultant George Arzt tells us a decision is forthcoming (Arzt is not necessarily going to represent Lee). Under normal circumstances, members of the county committee have little authority and few responsibilities. Theyre elected positions that receive almost no attention from voters. Vacancies are filled by district leaders, who are also elected representatives. Both district leaders and county committee members are loyal to political clubs, organizations that offer important logistical support for candidates running for city, state and federal office. If the governor calls a special election, the clubs and the committee members will all of a sudden wield a lot of influence. To lock up the nomination at the county committee, a candidate will need the support of their own club, plus a second political organization. At the moment, there is no consensus pick for the assembly seat. Jenifer Rajkumar and Paul Newell are rivals within the same club, Downtown Independent Democrats (DID). While they are doing their best to sway county committee votes, the club will not endorse any single candidate. Yuh-Line Niou has strong backing from UDO in Chinatown, but would require support from Lower East Side Democrats or the Truman Club, Sheldon Silvers Grand Street club. Lower East Side Democrats will obviously be supporting Alice Cancel, their own district leader. As for the Truman Club, no endorsements are expected until Governor Cuomo makes up his mind about a special election. Within the club, members are discussing whether to run their own candidate. While no names have been publicly floated, local district leader Karen Blatt is one potential contender. When contacted last week, however, Blatt said she is focused on her service to Community Board 3 rather than on a bid for public office (Blatt is chairperson of CB3s transportation committee). So for the moment, it looks like a stalemate. In the end, the clubs could very well make some deals and settle on one candidate. On the other hand, it could get messy. Sean Sweeney, a leader of Downtown Democratic Democrats, said last week, I predict its going to be a brawler at the county convention. Meanwhile, theres plenty of conversation about the fairness of holding a special election. Allowing 200 political insiders to pick Lower Manhattans next assembly member is obviously not very democratic. While some point out that the successful candidate would eventually be required to run in a regularly scheduled election, others believe the seat should remain open until party primaries can be held. For now, however, its all a theoretical conversation. Everyone is waiting on Andrew Cuomo. The Daily News argues that the citys deal with Blackstone Group for Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village is too generous. Local lawmakers Daniel Squadron and Brian Kavanagh are urging Governor Cuomo to use his clout to close the LLC Loophole. They believe its critical to instituting meaningful campaign finance reform. The Rite Aid on Avenue D has relocated to make way for a new 12-story development, notes EV Grieve. The Times checks in on some of Fridays solo performances at the American Realness Festival. The Times features Janet Delanceys photos of New York in the 1980s, including some from the Lower East Side. If you have ever rippled the surface of any of Maines truly Grand lakes, you would be hard pressed not to have encountered the large, gre... 2010 has already been a strong year for fiction lovers, with new novels by the likes of Joshua Ferris, Don DeLillo, Ian McEwan, Lionel Shriver, Jennifer Egan, and David Mitchell. Meanwhile, publishing houses offered up posthumous works by Ralph Ellison, Robert Walser, and Henry Roth, and the font of Roberto Bolano fiction continued to flow. The second half of 2010 will bring much anticipated work by Gary Shteyngart, Antonya Nelson, Salman Rushdie, and especially Jonathan Franzen. So that readers may set their literary calendars anew, weve selected a few dozen books were looking forward to. (The writer of each preview is noted in parenthesis.) July (or already available) The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman: I first took note of Allegra Goodmans off-kilter prose thanks to a New Yorker short story five years ago. As it turns out, that story, gently poking fun at the exuberance of the late 1990s, but also quietly weighty, touching on pain, religion and the whole idea of being centered, was a piece of Goodmans new novel, The Cookbook Collector. The book focuses on a pair of sisters at the turn of the millennium toiling on either end of the technology continuum, one the founder of a dot-com startup, the other an antiquarian book dealer. PW loves the book, calling it Goodmans most robust, fully realized and trenchantly meaningful work yet. (Max) The Four Fingers of Death by Rick Moody: The Four Fingers of Death is a 700 page supercollider. It brings together the various interests Rick Moody has explored in his eight previous books: metafiction, domestic drama, satire, the entertainment industry, and the Way We Live Nower, tomorrow. The framing tale, set in the year 2025 (yes, man is still alive), concerns Montese Crandall, a self-involved writer-type who will be familiar to readers of Moodys short stories. The longer, framed section is a Vonnegut-inspired sci-fi romp. Gradually, one imagines, the two converge. Mutual illumination ensues. (Garth) Memory Wall by Anthony Doerr: Doerr came to the attention of many readers with his debut collection of stories The Shell Collector. Now, after a novel and a travel memoir, hes back with another collection that includes two novellas and four short stories. As with The Shell Collector, Doerrs scope in Memory Wall is global. A recent profile with Boise Weekly Doerr is wrapping up his tenure as Idahos writer in residence places the action in China, South Africa, Germany, Korea, Lithuania, Wyoming and, of course, Idaho. (Max) Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart: The author of the critically acclaimed and deliriously off-kilter novels The Russian Debutantes Handbook and Absurdistan returns with a third novel set in an apocalyptic near-future. Books are all but extinct and America is functionally illiterate, there are riots in Central Park and National Guard tanks on every Manhattan street corner, and the narrator is, as the Random House publicity department puts it, the proud owner of what may well be the worlds last diary. Its difficult to resist the books opening lines: Today Ive made a major decision: I am never going to die. Others will die around me. They will be nullified. Nothing of their personality will remain. The light switch will be turned off. (Emily M.) Faithful Place by Tana French: Faithful Place is the #1 Indie Next Pick for the month of July. (This is a big dealit means that independent booksellers across the United States have picked Frenchs new novel as their favorite out of all the books being published in the US in July 2010.) This alone should be enough to make us sit up and take notice, but the plotline is particularly beguiling: when Frank Mackey was nineteen, he made plans with his girlfriend Rosie to leave the poverty and dysfunction of their lives in Dublins inner city and flee to London. But Rosie never appeared on the night they were supposed to meet, and Frank, assuming that shed changed her mind, went on to England without her. Twenty-two years later, a suitcase is found behind a fireplace in a run-down building on the street where Frank grew up; when it becomes clear that the suitcase belonged to Rosie, Frank returns home to try and unravel the mystery of what happened to her. French is also the author of two previous critically-acclaimed novels: In the Woods, which won the Edgar, Barry, Macavity, and Anthony awards, and The Likeness. (Emily M.) The Thieves of Manhattan by Adam Langer: Adam Langer, who is the author of the well-received Crossing California and two other books, will publish The Thieves of Manhattan this month. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly called it an uber-hip caper that pays homage to and skewers the state of publishing and flash-in-the-pan authors Part Bright Lights, Big City, part The Grifters, this delicious satire of the literary world is peppered with slang so trendy a glossary is included. (Edan) The Return and The Insufferable Gaucho by Roberto Bolano: The frenzy of posthumous Bolano publication continues. The Return (July) is a new volume of short stories. And The Insufferable Gaucho (August) more stories, plus two essays was apparently the last book Bolano delivered to a publisher. And we hear theres more new Bolano to come in 2011. (Max) August My Hollywood by Mona Simpson: Simpson, author of Anywhere but Here and Off Keck Road, among others, took ten years to write this new novel about Claire, who has recently moved to Los Angeles with her husband and young son, and Lola, their Filipina nanny. In Publishers Weekly, Simpson said, There are thousands of women who are here working, often with their own young children left behind. That leads to a whole different vision of what it is to raise a child, whats important. (Edan) Hollywood by Larry McMurtry: Although Texas epicist Larry McMurtry has written dozens of novels, hes best known for the films that have come from them: The Last Picture Show, Terms of Endearment, Hud, and the CBS colossus Lonesome Dove. Over the last five decades, hes turned others work into triumph (Brokeback Mountain), seen his own ground into pabulum (Texasville), and written a screenplay for The Cougar (John Mellencamps Falling From Grace). In short, hes a veteran of the L.A. movie wars, and in Hollywoodhis third memoir in as many yearshell share the stories behind them. Or, at least, he should: in a harsh review of his second memoir, 2009s Literary Life, The New York Times wrote, Too often Mr. McMurtry will sidle up to an interesting anecdote and then tell the reader to wait for his third and concluding memoir, Hollywood Hell explain then. (Jacob) I Curse the River of Time by Per Petterson: Petterson has been on the road to international literary stardom for a few years now and that means his new novels get translated into English with relative alacrity. The book won the Norwegian Brage prize and, according to a sample translation on Pettersons agents website, it begins: I did not realize that my mother had left. There was too much going on in my own life. We had not spoken for a month, or even longer, which I guess was not that unusual, in 1989, when you consider the things that went on around us back then, but it felt unusual. (Max) Encounter by Milan Kundera: Fans of Milan Kunderas previous essays on the power of art (particularly that of the novel), memory, mortality, and human nature can look forward to Encounter, his newest collection, which was released in France in 2009 and will land in the English-speaking world in August. Kunderas devotion to modernism is a particular focus here, with reflections both critical and personal on the work of established masters Francis Bacon, Leo Janacek, Garcia Marquez, Dostoevsky, and Fellini as well as homages to those he considers unsung, including Anatole France, Curzio, Malaparte, and Celine. (Both the Malaparte and Celine sections apparently hone in on episodes involving dogs the dignified way in which animals face death, in contrast to human posturing and vanity which I especially look forward to). In a review last year, Trevor Cribben Merrill described Encounter as a self-portrait of the artist as an old man []the most personal of Kunderas essays. (Sonya) You Lost Me There by Rosecrans Baldwin: In this debut novel by the co-founder of one of The Millions favorite sites, The Morning News, Alzheimers researcher Victor Aaron discovers his late wifes notes about the state of their marriage. Her version of their relationship differs greatly from his own, and Victor is forced to reexamine their life together. Wells Tower says the novel is a work of lucid literary art, roisterous wit, and close, wry knowledge of the vexed circuits of the human mind and heart. (Edan) Sympathy for the Devil, edited by Tim Pratt: This anthology will collect stories from an impressive roster of writers Neil Gaiman, Stephen King, Kelly Link, China Mieville, Michael Chabon, and others with the devil being the common thread. This being a reprint anthology, fans of the individual authors included may find nothing new, though they may appreciate the clever theme and may encounter work by writers they dont regularly read. (Max) The Thousand by Kevin Guilfoile: While many readers might associate Guilfoile with McSweeneys, where hes a frequent contributor, or The Morning News, where with John Warner he provides essential commentary for the Tournament of Books, his fiction occupies a space that some readers might not associate with these latter-day literary tastemakers. Case in point, the titular Thousand are a clandestine group of powerful individuals safeguarding and exploiting the secret teachings of Pythagoras. That may sound like Dan Brown fodder, but youll be getting something much, much smarter. (Max) September Freedom by Jonathan Franzen: Freedom, Jonathan Franzens first novel in nearly a decade, is a love story albeit one surrounded by more ideas and insights and plot-lines than many novelists manage in a career. As he anatomizes the marriage of Minnesotans Patty and Walter Berglund, Franzen also looks at environmentalism, politics, sex, gentrification, and the pains and pleasures of growing up. And though a youthful anger animates his writing on the Bush years, his patience with Patty, in particular, suggests a writer who has done some growing himself. Franzens longest book is also, for great swaths of pages, his best. (Garth) Bound by Antonya Nelson: If two women can bond by mutual disdain for a third, then reading Antonya Nelsons fiction is like being the second woman listening as Nelson dishes tales of family, friends, and small town life with precision, venom, and humor. Typical to Nelson is a swift and biting portrait thats as honest as it is unsentimentalconsider this line from her story Incognito for example: My mother the widow had revealed a boisterous yet needy personality, now that she was alone, and Eddie, least favorite sibling, oily since young, did nothing more superbly than prop her up. Nelsons latest novel, Bound, returns to her hometown of Wichita, Kansas, and depicts the turmoil of a couple on the rocksthe wife haunted by her past and the husband a serial adultererwhile a serial killer, the BTK (Bound Torture, and Kill), reappears after a long silence, taking vicious to a new level. (Anne) Zero History by William Gibson: Zero History will round out a trilogy that also includes Pattern Recognition and Spook Country. Gibson recently laid out how the three books fit into our 21st century milieu: If Pattern Recognition was about the immediate psychic aftermath of 9-11, and Spook Country about the deep end of the Bush administration and the invasion of Iraq, I could say that Zero History is about the global financial crisis as some sort of nodal event. (Max) Ape House by Sara Gruen: Following her surprise hit with Water for Elephants, Gruen earned a $5 million advance for Ape House and whatever she writes next. Whether or not Gruen earns back that hefty advance, the new book sounds like madness: super smart apes bonobos, specifically escape a lab in an explosion and not long after, a mega-hit reality TV show appears featuring the missing apes. This reminds me of that movie Project X. (Max) C by Tom McCarthy: One of Tom McCarthys many roles in addition to novelist includes acting as the General Secretary of the International Necronautical Society, who in their first manifesto declared: our very bodies are no more than vehicles carrying us ineluctably towards death and that the construction of mankinds sole chance of survival lies in its ability, as yet unsynthesised, to die in new, imaginative ways. In keeping with these moribund tendencies, McCarthy returns with his second third novel, C, which in general terms deals with technology and mourning. In McCarthys own words, C is about the age of the wireless: the roar of transmission, signals flung from towering masts, global reaches crackling out of earphones. And empire. And insects. And incest. Simultaneously a bildungsroman and an anti-realist period novel, C follows the life of Serge Carrefax, the son of a man who runs a school for the blind, who grows up to become a WWI radio operator for reconnaissance planes, is imprisoned by the Germans, and escapes. The book jacket designer, Peter Mendelsund, claims that if MacCarthys first novel, Remainder, recalls Beckett then C reads like Joyce. McCarthy says that if Remainder is his French novel, then C is his German. If one can judge a book by its cover and anticipatory buzz, C will be one to remember. (Anne) True Prep by Lisa Birnbach with Chip Kidd: The Official Preppy Handbook had that rare spark of wit that makes a good joke many things to many people. Actual preppy people were chuffed to find themselves the subject of a well-drawn lampoon (or earnestly concerned with inaccuracies), the great unwashed found an arsenal or an atlas, depending on their aspirations, and people somewhere in the middle could feel a sheepish pride in being kind of sort of related to a tribe important enough to have its own book. People with real problems, of course, didnt care either way. Now, True Prep is upon us, and if it fulfills the 1.3 million-print run promise of its precursor, Knopf Doubleday and authors Lisa Birnbach and Chip Kidd (original collaborator Jonathan Roberts did not participate, fearing the project wasnt true to the subversive intention of the Handbook) stand to rake it in. But the popularity of the original book, the shifting sands of American society and wealth, and the proliferation of lifestyle blogs by people with no sense of humor or irony have created a monster simulacrum of prepdom, one without easily defined parameters. Will the sequel be able to paint such a sharp and comic portrait as the first Handbook, or will it be yet another non-book littering the aisles of Borders? (Lydia) All is Forgotten, Nothing is Lost by Lan Samantha Chang: Chang, who is the author of one other novel, Inheritance, and a story collection, Hunger, is also the director of the Iowa Writers Workshop. Perhaps the Workshop inspired her new book, which is about poets at a renowned writing school. At just over 200 pages, this slim novel examines the age-old question, What are the personal costs of a life devoted to the pursuit of art? (Edan) By Nightfall by Michael Cunningham: Cunninghams last novel Specimen Days didnt quite replicate the critical and commercial success of The Hours. This new novel was initially called Olympia, and a long excerpt of it was published in the inaugural issue of Electric Literature. Discussing the novel, Cunningham told Entertainment Weekly, Peter is the central character. Hes an art dealer and he finds that he is increasingly drawn to his wifes very much younger brother, who evinces for him everything that was appealing about his wife when he first met her. Hes not gay. Well, hes probably a little gay because were all a little gay, right? But its certainly eroticized. Its not because he wants to f this boy. The boy is like the young wife. (Max) Salvation City by Sigrid Nunez: In early 2009 in these pages, Sana Krasikov considered the contention the women arent known for writing novels of ideas. Her rejoinder to this was Sigrid Nunezs The Last of Her Kind, a book that, in addition to being beautifully written, was as much about ideas as it was about characters. This new novel exploring a dystopia its set in the near future after a flu pandemic has ravaged the world and a sheltered, but cultish community has survived the carnage seems likely to extend Krasikovs thesis. (Max) The Elephants Journey by Jose Saramago: From the late Nobel laureate, this novel traces the travels of Solomon, an Indian elephant given by King John III to Archduke Maximilian II of Austria. (Max) October Nemesis by Philip Roth: This latest novel from Roth should prove to be more accessible than his last, The Humbling. The book is set during a war-time polio epidemic in Newark, New Jersey in 1944. At the center of the book is a 23-year-old playground director who sees polio ravage the children he looks after. The book has been in the works since at least early 2009, when it was first described by Roth. (Max) Travels in Siberia by Ian Frazier: If, like me, you were wowed when you read in The New Yorker Ian Fraziers expansive, two-part travelogue of a trip across Siberia at the turn of the millennium, then youll be thrilled to find out that this massive piece was likely just a small fraction of Fraziers forthcoming 544-page book. Fraziers entertaining guides Sergei and Volodya (they are a pair of lovable, though sometimes frightening, curmudgeons), his insistence on traveling by car (which lent Fraziers NYer piece many comic moments but also an unimpeachable authenticity), and the moment in history when his trip takes place (he arrives at the Pacific on September 11th, 2001), seem likely to make this book a classic. (Max) Listen to This by Alex Ross: If New Yorker music critic Alex Rosss second book Listen to This lives up to its title essay, then were in for a treat. I remember being floored and invigorated by that essay in 2004; Rosss depth of knowledge, passion, and youth just 36 then converted me to his cause in a blink. I hate classical music, he wrote, not the thing but the name. It traps a tenaciously living art in a theme park of the past Yes, the music can be great and serious It can also be stupid, vulgar, and insane. Music is too personal a medium to support an absolute hierarchy of values. In other words, no music, classical or otherwise, is categorically superior nor the moribund realm of rich ladies; all great music is by definition something worth loving. In Listen to This, Ross reaches beyond classical (his award-winning first book The Rest is Noise explored 20th century classical composers) into a more eclectic canvass in Rosss words, a panoramic view of music worth loving, including Verdi, Brahms, Marian Anderson, Chinese classical music, Kiki and Herb, Led Zeppelin, Bjork, Radiohead, Mitsuko Uchida, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and Bob Dylan. (Sonya) Picture This: The Near Sighted Monkey Book by Lynda Barry: For the visually patientthose who inspect collage, squint into details, and willingly sift through doodlesLynda Barrys work is a unique gift. The cartoonist/novelist/lecturers Picture This: The Near Sighted Monkey Book will continue the thread begun with 2008s What It Is, her bust-out graphic memoir-cum-instructional. As What It Is encouraged the act of writing, Picture This will push the reader to draw and remind us of the happiness it once could bring. Remember when you filled your looseleaf margins with rough Darth Vaders and ridiculous monsters? If anyone can get us to put down our phones, pick up our pencils, and get back to that pleasure, its Barrywhose boundless, cramming technique is evidence of both the work and reward of creation. (Jacob) The Masque of Africa by V.S. Naipaul: V.S. Naipaul, hoping to reach the beginning of things, traveled to six sub-Saharan African countries and examined the belief structures found therein for The Masque of Africa, a travelogue and treatise on the role of religion in culture. Apparently Naipaul learned much from this project, which complicated his sense of an old-new dichotomy and his notion that religious practices varied greatly between nations. Naipauls detractors have accused him of being a colonial apologist, so it will be interesting to see how this work of non-fiction will engage with complex ideas of faith and progress, neither of which can be separated from Africas colonial past, nor, as Naipaul concedes, from the present-day politics of the nations he explores. (Lydia) Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak (translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky): Pevear and Volokhonskys vigorous translations have turned new editions of the Russian greats into publishing events, and weve watched as their translations of classics like War and Peace and The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories climbed our otherwise contemporary-leaning top-ten lists. Last year, we interviewed the husband and wife team and got a sense of their unique process. In an interview around the same time with the Wall Street Journal, the couple called Zhivago the toughest of the 16 books theyve translated: The issue is the prose. Its not that rich or ornate, but its extremely difficult to translate. His language is very studied. Even when it looks simple, its not. The sentences arent long or complex, but its the quality of the words. Its never what you expect. (Max) The Great House by Nicole Krauss: Bestselling author of The History of Love, Nicole Krauss returns with The Great House, a novel about a desk that, according to the publishers description, contains the secrets, and becomes the obsession, of the lives it passes through a desk of enormous dimension and many drawers that exerts a power over those who possess it or give it away. Krauss was one of The New Yorkers 20 under 40 writers, and The Young Painters, published in the magazines June 28, 2010 issue, is an excerpt from her forthcoming novel. You can read a Q&A with her here. (Edan) Xed Out by Charles Burns: I once saw a comics panel discussion in which Charles Burns complained, fairly wryly, about the amount of effort he forces into his work: in one issue of Black Hole, he said, he spent hours applying his sharp black inks to an endpaper image of twigsa picture that each reader would spend maybe three seconds on, then move along. Such frustration is understandable, but I dont know that he was actually right. Each page, each panel, of Burns work claws you in; each line is unsettling in its perfection. He cannot be read casually. His newest, Xed Out, will touch on typically Burnisan themes: quiet distress, eerie isolation, a heavy apocalyptic oddness. But, as always, the look of the book is the thing: well be gripped by its feel as much as by its storyand, yes, take our time with its potent renderings of splintered boards, broken walls, and specimens shut in jars. (Jacob) False Friends by Myla Goldberg: We included Goldberg on our own 20 under 40 list and suggested that literary mandarins put off by her smash-hit debut Bee Season take a look. Another opportunity to do so will arrive in October with Goldbergs third novel. (Max) If Youre Not Yet Like Me by Edan Lepucki: In October, Millions contributor Edan Lepucki will publish her novella If Youre Not Yet Like Me under Flatmancrookeds New Novella imprint. The title will initially be available for limited edition presale under Flatmancrookeds LAUNCH program, designed for emerging authors. (Max) November: Luka and the Fire of Life by Salman Rushdie: In the wake of the fatwa and accompanying media frenzy that followed the publication of The Satanic Verses, Rushdie, apparently at the prodding of his then nine-year-old son, shifted gears to focus on something much less contentious, a childrens book called Haroun and the Sea of Stories. Now, twenty years later, Rushdie is returning with a sequel to the book he wrote for his son. Fatherhood has once again inspired Rushdie, who, according to bookseller.com, decided to write this new book for his youngest son, Milan, who was born in 1999. (Max) Autobiography of Mark Twain: On April 21, 1910, Mark Twain died of a heart attack. His death brought to a close maybe the greatest literary life America has ever known, and it started the countdown to the publication of Twains autobiography, which Twain instructed was not to be released until he had been good and gone for 100 years. Well, the waiting is finally over, and from early reports it appears as though it might have taken an entire century to wrestle the mass of writing Twain left behind into publishable form. This November, the University of California Press will release the first volume in a trilogy that Twain wrote according to the rambling dictate, talk only about the thing which interests you for the moment. (Kevin) The Box: Tales from the Darkroom by Gunter Grass: The publishers description of this one lays out its unique premise: In an audacious literary experiment, Gunter Grass writes in the voices of his eight children as they record memories of their childhoods, of growing up, of their father, who was always at work on a new book, always at the margins of their lives. Its another journey into autobiography for Grass, whose Peeling the Onion set off a furor in Germany and elsewhere with its revelation that Grass had been a member of the Waffen-SS during World War II. (Max) Life Times: Stories, 1952-2007 by Nadine Gordimer: FSG will collect the best short fiction from the South African Nobel laureate in this hefty volume. (Max) The Petting Zoo by Jim Carroll: Readers mourned the death of punk poet Jim Carroll last year. As Garth wrote in these pages, Before he was a screenwriter, Carroll was a diarist, a frontman, an addict, and a poet, and he left behind at least a couple of very good books. For Carroll fans, this posthumously published novel that takes the late-1980s art scene as its inspiration, will at the very least be another opportunity to experience his work and at best may be another one of those very good books. (Max) Selected Stories by William Trevor: This volume will collect nearly 600 pages worth of short stories from this verable master of the form. (Max) Foreign Bodies by Cynthia Ozick: This forthcoming novel from Ozick is framed as a nifty literary trick. Its a retelling of Henry James The Ambassadors, but, according to the publishers description, the plot is the same, [but] the meaning is reversed. (Max) December: Dead or Alive by Tom Clancy: Its actually been seven years since the last Tom Clancy book came out, the longest gap of his career. This fact plus the usual excitement from Jack Ryan fans could make this more of a publishing event than expected. (Max) My Prizes by Thomas Bernhard: This collection of essays was originally published in 1980 but never in the U.S. The book will be a balm to those worked up by literary prizes and the teapot tempests they tend to foment. Bernhards focus here is the myriad prizes he collected and his bemused, sardonic reaction to them. The book seems likely to stand as an irreverent footnote at the intersection of 20th century literary history and 20th century publishing culture. A review of the German edition of the book suggests: Although its a barrel of laughs, its also a serious book about what drove Bernhard to become the writer he eventually turned out to be. (Max) February 2011: Swamplandia! by Karen Russell: Karen Russell was just 23 when she had a story in The New Yorkers 2005 debut fiction issue. Since then, she has published an acclaimed collection of stories, St. Lucys Home for Girls Raised by Wolves, and been named to The New Yorkers 20 writers under 40 list. With the accolades already piled sky high, this will be one of the more anticipated debut novels in recent years. The publishers description suggests we should expect big, ambitious things: think Buddenbrooks set in the Florida Everglades. (Max) Townie: A Memoir by Andre Dubus III Dubus, already much feted for his short stories and novels, will be trying his hand at the memoir. In this case, the trajectory is from hard-bitten youth to redemption in writing. Fans can expect perhaps to gain some insights into the genesis of Dubus fiction. (Max) March 2011: You Think Thats Bad: Stories by Jim Shepard: You Think Thats Bad will be Shepards fourth collection of short stories, and from the Knopf catalogue description, it sounds like it wont disappoint; theres a story about a farm boy who becomes the manservant of a French nobleman whos as proud of having served with Joan of Arc as hes aroused by slaughtering childrenneed we say more? Shepards previous collection, Like Youd Understand, Anyway, was nominated for the National Book Award. (Edan) The Tigers Wife by Tea Obreht: Obreht secured a special place in the literary pantheon not just by being on The New Yorkers recent 20 under 40 list, but by being, at 25, the youngest one on it. With her debut novel, readers will get a larger sense of what the praise for Obreht is all about (an excerpt of the novel, in the form of a peculiar story of the same title, appeared in the magazine last year). (Max) Unknown: The Pale King by David Foster Wallace: When he died in September 2008, David Foster Wallace left behind more than 1,000 pages of notes and drafts of an unfinished novel that he had given the preliminary title The Pale King. The book had been in progress for more than a decade and one of the last things Wallace did before taking his own life was to tidy what he written so that it would be easier to sort after he was gone. Since then the manuscript has been in the hands of Michael Pietsch, Wallaces longtime editor at Little, Brown, and it is expected that a version of the book running about 400 pages will be published late this year or early next. Four confirmed excerpts from The Pale King have appeared in The New Yorker and Harpers. They suggest a story centered around IRS agents at a Midwestern processing office struggling to deal with the intense tediousness of their work. (Kevin) There are many other exciting books coming out in the coming months not mentioned here let us know what books you are most looking forward to in the comments section below. One year on, the Scottish National Party dominates the political landscape of the entire nation. Nicola Sturgeon is adored by so many north of the border despite her shocking record as First Minister. Nicola Sturgeon is adored by so many north of the border despite her shocking record as First Minister. Her MPs and MSPs are regularly embroiled in scandal after scandal; the NHS is in crisis, with nurses threatening to leave their jobs due to chronic mismanagement. Scotland could once boast that it had the best schools in the world - our children are now leaving primary school unable to read and write. Ministers are throwing money at vanity projects rather than protect council budgets. Flood defence budgets have been slashed. College places have been cut. University grants for the poorest have been scaled back dramatically. Food banks are on the rise whilst the SNP refuse to increase council tax. Our council estates remain plagued with crime and unemployment. Gaffe-prone Police Scotland are ignoring emergency calls and policing our thoughts on Twitter. I could go on, the list is extensive. Put simply, the SNP have failed Scotland. Yet, despite their complacency, they remain the most popular party by a mile. They lead Scottish Labour by 30% in the polls. The Scottish Conservatives remain the real alternative to the SNP, yet remain on only 14% in the polls; the Lib Dems have yet to recover from the tuition fee debacle. What about the Scottish Greens? Patrick Harvie remains slick and professional; he was regularly seen in the company of Ms Sturgeon during the referendum campaign: his reward for supporting independence was a rise in membership and a couple of extra seats at Holyrood in May thanks to SNP voters offering their second vote on the list. I should be celebrating after the No vote, should I not? Better Together ran a rather miserable campaign, it has to be said. Of course, Yes Scotland promised voters a future of milk and honey, all guaranteed on a high oil price. North Sea Oil now languishes at $38 a barrel, with no promise of it rising any time soon. Nicola Sturgeon knows her dream of a low-tax, high spending economy is, at best, a fantasy. Alex Salmond was always allergic to the detail during his tenure as First Minister. But Nicola is different, they say. Having spent 10 years in numerous cabinet positions, she is used to criticism and the dangers that come with the job. She witnessed Alex Salmond take the blame for the White Paper on independence whilst she took selfies with voters. She has had the top job for one year and I cannot think of one single difficult decision she has had to make. She bows to the unions as soon as a fuss is made about strikes and pay. She has made no attempt to reform our schools and free them from the dead-hand of council control. Voters, however, cannot forgive Labour for not backing independence and now the party faces a generation in the wilderness. That leaves us in a very peculiar position. What happens next? Will the SNP back a second referendum in May? Probably. Probably not. I dont know. What I do know is that Nicola Sturgeon will have a hard job convincing those that voted No to back separation in the future. And voters arent stupid. They will remove their support for the SNP, as they did with Labour, if Nicola doesnt come up good in the next five years. 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They will remain in custody and after their drug cases have been cleared they will further be charged with setting an illegal blockade and gathering 10 or more people together for violent acts and other charges regarding the incident. We have 86 arrest warrants out for suspects involved in the riots and I don't think more warrants will be issue because the evidence we have is clear, he said. The riots occurred when local residents reacted to the deaths of two suspected teen drug dealers who were being chased by police and resulted in millions of bahts worth of damage to government and public property. Culture: Thai Christian funerals in Phuket A majority of Thais in Phuket are either Buddhist or Muslim, but there is also a large Christian community, who, like the former two faiths, have their own unique cultural customs and traditions. By Tanyaluk Sakoot Monday 11 January 2016, 05:27PM High profile guests attended Paiboons funeral, including former Thai PM, Chuan Leekpai (in white) and Maitree Intusut (2nd right), Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. Thai Christian funerals are similar to Buddhist ones, but instead of chanting and cremation, there is music, burial. Flower wreaths are customary for both Buddhist and Christian funerals in Thailand. Friends, family and guests of the deceased buy and display the wreaths near the coffin in a show of mourning and support. Photos by Khonbaanrao The late politician Paiboon Upatising was a prominent member of the Christian community and following his death on August 10, 2015, a grand funeral was held for and attended by thousands of guests from near and far, who came to witness and participate in a unique ceremony which had elements of both Thai Buddhist and Christian rites. Prior to his Christian burial, his body was kept preserved for seven days to allow for Thai-style farewell rites giving friends and family a chance to pay their final respects. Though Thai Buddhists are very specific about setting the length for this final farewell period which can vary from a single day, to three, seven or more days, depending on the status of the deceased Thai Christians are not so particular about the length of time that they formally mourn, but will generally tend do so over several days. As a reflection of the underlying Thai culture, both Buddhist and Christian funerals in Thailand are very relationship and food oriented. For Thai Christian funerals, family and friends of the deceased tend to organise lunches and dinners at private homes and restaurants for people to gather together in warm company during the mourning period, while Thai Buddhists will usually sponsor communal meals at the temples, where most of the mourning is centered. At both types of funerals in Thailand, there is bathing or water-blessing ceremony, in which relatives and friends pour water over one hand of the deceased. The body is then placed in a coffin and surrounded with wreaths. If you are close to the family, it is customary to bring a wreath of flowers, or else give the family some money in an envelope to help supplement the cost of the funeral. The wreath of flowers in Thai, Puang Reed represents a show of deep sorrow, and support for the suffering family. But sometimes, the family may prefer monetary support instead. At the funeral of the late American expat Brad Kenny, for example, his Thai family requested that mourners donate money to the Rotary Club instead of buying flowers for the funeral. Prior to the final burial or cremation, the deceased is placed in a coffin and sometimes the coffin is left open so that relatives can say their final goodbyes. At a Thai Buddhist funeral, there will be chanting sessions performed by monks at least twice a day and you will also see candles, incense sticks and sometimes food offerings placed near the coffin. However, a Thai Christian coffin is not surrounded with candles and joss sticks, nor is there food offerings made in the name of the deceased as is a common Brahman-Buddhist practice. As Christians commonly express their faith through music, it is common for a band or chorus to play and sing hymns at a Christian funeral. Yossanun Kornkumpanart, Vice President of the Phuket Christian Committee explained that Thai Christian mourning beliefs are framed by the Bibles New Testament. Most Protestants believe that Jesus Christ is both the human and divine incarnation of God. By having faith in Jesus Christ, believers are able to reject the sin that was imposed upon humanity by the fall of man, and attain eternal life with God in Heaven. Indeed, like their Western counterparts, Thai Christians are faithful and hopeful that theyll one day be reunited with their lost loved ones in heavan, a belief which is reinforced by a favourite bible passage, John 14:1-3, which says, Let not your heart be troubled...In My Fathers house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. As believers in reincarnation, Thai Buddhists on the other hand dont necessarily believe they will be reunited with the same person in the afterlife, but believe that souls may cross paths again in the next life, or incarnation, if not one later down the road. Cultural Insights is a monthly column written by various contributors and in which we attempt to crack open the intricate and sometimes confusing cultural code of Phuket and Thailand, covering everything from religion to superstition, beliefs, folklore and customs. If you have a suggestion or would like to contribute to this space, please email editor@classactmedia.co.th Healthy 'A Negative' blood donors in Phuket can donate to British motorbike accident victim in need at Chiang Mai hospital PHUKET: Healthy A Negative blood donors are able to donate blood to a British woman in dire need of the relatively rare blood type at a Chiang Mai hospital, where she is in critical condition after suffering a motorbike accident. accidentshealth By Tanyaluk Sakoot Monday 11 January 2016, 06:07PM A post made last night by her friend Darren Burns on Facebook appealed for blood donors in Chiang Mai and nationwide. He wrote: Can't really come to grips that one of my best friends of nearly 7 years is in intensive care in Thailand...whenever she needed me I was always there and now I can't even do anything!! If there is anyone in Thailand now PLEASE READ and SHARE help anyway that you can!!!! Sending my love to the Hill's too!!! ****CALLING ALL TRAVELLERS IN CHIANG MAI OR COMING TO CHIANG MAI IN THAILAND***** Help is needed. Yesterday my friend and I were out for the day when Lucy suffered a an accident being hit by a car whilst on a moped. She is now in intensive care and has had emergency surgery but is needing blood transfusions. Negative blood is rare in Thailand and sourcing the blood is difficult. If anyone is around and is ****A NEGATIVE**** blood type please can you contact myself on Facebook, call me on +61 484346507 or head to Maharaja Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital and say it is to be donated to LUCY ANNE HILL at RAJAVEJ HOSPITAL. I understand it is your holiday but this is my friend. It doesn't take long and it will do a great thing. My friend wore a helmet and did nothing wrong. If you're around and unsure please get tested. Everybody please share. We need to get this everywhere. Social media can be so powerful. Potential blood donors on the island can contact the Phuket Red Cross, and tell them they would like to donate A negative blood for Lucy Ann Hill in Chiang Mai. The Phuket Red Cross is currently accepting healthy blood donations from all blood groups, citing an increased demand following the holiday period. Following are the benefits of donating blood: 1. Pride of giving 2. Eligible for a free physical check-up every 3 months 3. Receive information about your blood type-both ABO and RH 4. The fact that every unit of donated blood must be examined through laboratory processes means the donor is being examined for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, AIDS, etc, at the same time. Donor Prerequisites: 1. 17-70 years of age 2. Excellent health, with the weight over 45 kg 3. No history of hepatitis or jaundice 4. No history of malarial fever for the past 3 years and no sexually transmitted diseases, infectious diseases, persistent cough, coughing up blood, hemophilia, blood-related diseases, asthma, allergy, epilepsy, long-term skin diseases, kidney diseases, heart problems, diabetes, thyroid. 5. No considerable weight loss 6. No behaviors of sexual promiscuity. No record of drug use. 7. Blood donation is not recommended during the 6 months after a medical operation, child delivery, or abortion. In case of receiving donated blood, allow 1 year before giving blood. 8. Female donors are not menstruating or pregnant. Before blood donation: Get enough sleep-at least 6 hours Stay healthy free from colds and medications Prior to the donation, eat non-fat digestible food No alcoholic beverages 24 hours before the donation To enhance the blood-purifying capacity of the lungs, quit smoking 1 hour before and after the donation To purchase lucky draw tickets or for more information about the fair, contact the Phuket Red Cross at 076-211766 or 087-2767591. Ya bah worth over B7mn seized off Phuket PHUKET: A man and woman from Nakhorn Sri Thammarat were arrested by Region 8 police in Phang-nga on Friday (Jan 8) when they were found to be in possession of 70,000 methamphetamine pills (ya bah) worth more than seven million baht. drugscrimepolice By Eakkapop Thongtub Monday 11 January 2016, 03:06PM Ms Jiraporn Phromnoo, 42, and Somnieg Rammanee had in total 70,000 ya bah pills worth over 7 million baht. The arrest of the two was announced at a press conference held jointly by Region 8 Polices Lt General Tesa Siriwato and Deputy Superintendent of Phuket City Police Lt Col Prawit Engchuwn today (Jan 11) at the Region 8 Police Headquarters in Mai Khao. At the press conference, police presented Ms Jiraporn Phromnoo, 42, and Somnieg Rammanee together with their stash of 70,000 pills and other seized items including two mobile phones and Isuzu pick up truck with a Phattalung licence plate. Jiraporn and Somnieg were initially charged with illegal possession of a category 1 drug with intent to sell and attempting to sell a category 1 drug (10,000 meth pills). However, Jiraporn was later charged again with with illegal possession of a Category 1 drug with intent to sell after police discovered a further 60,000 pills at a rambutan fruit orchard in the Chauat district of Nakorn Sri Thammarat. The arrest of Jiraporn and Somnieg came after Phuket drug and crime suppression police arrested Patchanee Pantip with 10 ya bah pills in Srisoonthon on January 7. Patchanee was charged with Category 1 drug in possession, but to lessen her penalty, she told police that there would be a drug delivery made in Phang-nga on January 8 and provided officers with the time and location. On January 8, Phang-nga and Phuket drug and crime suppression police nabbed Jiraporn and Somnieg with 10,000 meth pills at the Rachaphurg PTT gasoline station in Phang-nga. The next day, police seized a further 60,000 pills in Chauat. They also searched a house in Phattalung where they seized bank account books and other documents related to drug transactions. Lt Col Prawit said officers followed the drug trail through four provinces to make the arrests and that the total value of the drugs seized amounted to over 7 million baht. Jiraporn and Somnieg said they have been selling ya bah in addition to farming mushrooms in Nakorn Sri Thammarat. They got paid B20,000 to transport the drugs from Krabi to Phuket, he added. Pol Lt General Tesa said that following the arrests of Jiraporn and Somnieg they have issue two more warrants drug suspects in the network. We know that drug smuggling and transporting are most common in Chumpon and Nakorn Sri Thamarat and we will have more officers sent to these areas, he said. 2011 The Martini Chronicles: Meaningful Ramblings of a Professional Diva. All Rights Reserved. Powered by Blogger Fee for repeat offenders who don't mow grass could be increased Those who fail to keep their lawns cut are charged a $100 fee per incident for the city to cut their lawns. The council looks to increase this fee. NEW YORKLululemon Athletica Inc. is at a turning point. Its been two years since the activewear company brought in Laurent Potdevin as chief executive officer. His task: cut the waste and expense of designing, making and distributing its garments, and rebuild customer trust after the 2013 recall of $98 yoga pants for becoming sheer when the wearer bent over. Now Potdevin is staking the companys future on innovation, including pants that make women feel naked when they wear them. The CEO is looking to improve profit margins while beating back growing competition in a niche market where clothing trends may be turning against Lululemon. Potdevins goal is to cement the retailers reputation as the top-quality athletic-apparel maker, justifying its higher prices, and change its perception to a brand worn by top athletes as well as wealthy women saluting the sun in metropolitan yoga studios. Everyones got a magic number for what theyre willing to pay for quality, said Bridget Weishaar, a Chicago-based analyst with Morningstar Inc. Its not like your option is Lululemon or Old Navy. You can trade down just a very little bit and still get a really good product. The growth of the athleisureworkout clothes worn on the streetexpanded the market for companies such as Lululemon, Weishaar said. When shoppers go back to wearing denim and blazers, Lululemon could be left with fewer customers willing to fill their closets with expensive workout gear. Potdevin doesnt seem worried. Sales at stores open at least a year and online have grown in the last five quarters. Athleisure may be a fad, but customers focus on health and mindfulness wont change, he said in an interview on Lululemons Vancouver campus, where conference rooms are named for ski ranges and yoga styles. Potdevin said he meditates twice a day. Lululemon argues that competition from heavy hitters such as Nike Inc. and Under Armour Inc., as well as athleisure upstarts Express Inc. and Urban Outfitters Inc., will drive consumers to seek better quality and lead them to Lululemon. But making clothes for serious athletes is challenging, said Camilo Lyon, a New York-based analyst for Canaccord Genuity Inc. Thats a tough game to play, he said. And its hard to tell how much more they can charge, Lyon said. Theyve already got premium pricing in the market. Potdevin said the company isnt trying to compete on price. Its about getting involved in more categories across men and women, he said. Its about solving problems for the athlete. Gross margins in the three months that ended Nov. 1 were down 6.9 per cent from the same period a year earlier, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. When Potdevin took over, Lululemons supply chain needed fixing. Quality checks made its process slow and expensive. New products resulted in wasted fabric. To get clothes to shelves faster, more than 40 per cent of its items were shipped to distribution centres by air, which is about four times as costly as shipping by sea. That had to stop, chief financial officer Stuart Haselden said. Now the focus is on innovation, Potdevin said. Whitespace, the companys research-and-development centre, has tested apparel in extreme environments in Alaska and has a lab on the Vancouver campus that can replicate different climates. The company invested in a team of 35 people who work as long as five years on new designs and measuring factors such as sweat and laundering. Whitespace helped conceive the new pants whose buttery soft fabric mimics the feeling of being naked. Customer response has been strongsame-store sales of womens bottoms grew 27 per cent last quarter from the same period a year earlier. Lululemon employs Noble Biomaterialss X-Static technology, which uses the natural antimicrobial properties of silver to stop garments from smelling bad after a workout. But the companys competitors can do that, too, and do it cheaper. An anti-stink tank top at Lululemon costs $48, while Athletas version of an unstinkable tank costs $44 and is often on sale for half that. Initiatives that are driving sales but have slimmer profit margins are being put on hold. The companys childrens brand, Ivivva, is a hit among middle-school girls in New York City, according to Haselden, who has daughters aged 10 and 8 and recently moved from the city to Vancouver. But kids clothing is made with the same technical fabrics as adult gear and is sold at lower prices, so the company will be slowing Ivivva store openings until its certain it has the model just right, he said. To avoid future abandonment by trendy adult customers migrating to the next big thing, the retailer has focused on athletes, mainly its brand ambassadors who work with the company to develop and design products and wear them to events. The company will outfit the Canadian mens and womens national beach-volleyball teams for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. Said Haselden: Im excited for us to play offence again. Read more about: SHARE: JOIN THE CONVERSATION Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be registered Torstar account holder. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free) Sign In Register OTTAWAOntario is scrambling to catch up to Quebec where doctors could soon legally aid terminally ill adult patients kill themselves after a stunning offer by federal lawyers to recognize for now the legality of Quebecs right-to-die regime. Federal lawyer Robert Frater made the surprise concession Monday at a Supreme Court of Canada hearing, where he sought a six-month extension for federal politicians to rewrite assisted suicide laws to provide more clarity to protect vulnerable people. Ontario supports the federal bid for more time and says it, too, is drafting new medical guidelines. Frater said only Quebec has come up with a comprehensive scheme to address concerns of physicians and patients after the high court ruled last year that people suffering a grievous and irremediable medical condition must be allowed to seek a doctors help to end their lives. The Supreme Court ruled last winter a federal criminal ban on assisted suicide was unconstitutional, struck it down and gave Ottawa a year to rewrite it. That ruling takes effect Feb. 6. On Monday, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said her government has asked the College of Physicians and Surgeons, which regulates the medical profession, to draft guidelines for doctors that could kick in right away if the court refuses to grant more time. We are acutely aware that if there is no extension that the province needs a protocol in place, Wynne said. If there is an extension, we will work with colleagues across the country and with the federal government to work on what that national protocol will be. But in the absence of that we will be prepared to bring that forward and obviously we make that public in due course. Ontario lawyer Malliha Wilson told the high court one issue under review is whether doctor-assisted suicide is a right only adults should have, or whether a mature minor should also have access. Quebecs law grants access only to terminally ill adult patients. Frater said Quebecs law or any other provincial right-to-die regime may not, in the end, conform to Parliaments ultimate approach. Not all provinces may even have a complete scheme by that time. But he said it is a reasonable period for legislators to deal with the difficult issues involved. Everyone is doing their level best, he said. The federal offer to exempt Quebec doctors from criminal liability during the six months was a surprising move for two reasons: Ottawa previously supported an injunction to delay the Quebec law from taking effect; and it means the criminal law would remain in effect outside Quebec only. It took several judges aback and prompted sharp questions. Justices Russell Brown and Michael Moldaver asked if Ottawa was ceding to Quebec its criminal-law making power. Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin questioned Frater whether Ottawas position was a matter of political acceptance or do you accept it from a legal point of view? . . . There still is this niggling problem, isnt there, of whether the federal government would ever have to legislate if everybody did the same thing as Quebec? Justice Andromache Karakatsanis asked if it meant whether any conduct that complied with Quebecs law would not be considered criminal. Justice Rosalie Abella challenged Frater why the same exemption shouldnt be extended to individuals anywhere in the country who could persuade a superior court judge they met the conditions set out by the high court in its landmark 2014 Carter decision. Brown, the last judge named by Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper, raised the possibility that Ottawa could grant itself an extension by simply exercising the constitutional override clause a rarely-used and controversial power that allows legislators to sidestep the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In theory at least if this court doesnt grant an extension, cant the minister ask parliament effectively for a suspension by way of exercising the override? asked Brown. Frater hesitated before saying the government has said nothing other than that it will respect this courts judgment about providing access in some form. He clarified that Ottawa has eyed an exemption only for doctors who act in Quebec under that law. He said a case-by-case personal exemption for individuals would not be a carefully designed and monitored scheme that the high courts 2014 ruling called for. Grace Pastine, litigation director for the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association, which led the legal challenge, said it simply makes no sense that individuals who are critically ill and suffering could be able to access physician-assisted dying in Quebec but nowhere else in the country. What were saying is there has to be consistency for the rule of law to mean anything here. She said personal exemptions are not an ideal way to proceed because so few Canadians would be able to afford to litigate their right to die. Lawyer Joseph Arvay, who represented the families of Gloria Taylor and Lee Carter the two women in whose name the case was brought called the federal position nonsense. He said there was no risk of harm to the public if the ruling took effect on Feb. 6 because it already set out limitations or conditions in which physician-assisted suicide would be lawful, and that there would be no vacuum. You already read down (narrowed) the legislation. Why did you suspend (the effect of the ruling)? I dont know that you needed to, said Arvay. He suggested the federal government appears to be getting cold feet, and is not looking at how to implement the court decision but whether to. Several judges disputed Arvays suggestion the ruling effectively drafted a new law. Moldaver said Parliament was given time to rewrite the law to ensure so far as possible that we are not killing people who ought not to be killed. But Arvay said legislative procedural delays should not trump the constitutional rights of people who need physician-assisted dying. Theres not going to be a rush to the doctors offices to die on Feb. 6, he said. Most people dont want to die . . . all physicians will be very reluctant to accede to the request unless a compelling case is made. The judges reserved their decision. With files from Robert Benzie Options for the Supreme Court of Canada: 1) NO. The judges could refuse Ottawa's request to extend the criminal ban for another six months. Until any new law is passed, last years Supreme Court ruling would prevail after Feb. 6. It said assisted suicide is constitutional when it occurs under a physicians care, for consenting adults who determine they cannot tolerate the physical or psychological suffering brought on by a severe, incurable illness, disease or disability. 2) YES. The judges could grant Ottawa's request for six more months and subject doctors who assist someone in committing suicide to criminal liability, except in the province of Quebec where physician-assisted dying would be legal under provincial health law once litigation over an injunction is resolved. 3) YES, BUT. The judges could grant Ottawa's request to extend the criminal law for six more months, but allow individuals to go to court to get a judicial exemption to allow doctor-assisted suicide on a case-by-case basis in the meantime. Read more about: SHARE: Amanda Brennan is a librarian for the Internet. Brennans official job title is content and community associate at Tumblr, but everyone at the microblogging platform calls her their meme librarian. She spends her days on the front lines of an online memes creation, dissemination and, yes, inevitable death. As she explains it, My community is the Internet. At Tumblr, Brennan sifts through thousands of pieces of original content, from vines to videos to text posts and from there, she catalogs ongoing trends, identifies up-and-coming blogs and documents the latest news in the Tumblrverse. Brennans career in meme librarianism began in graduate school at Rutgers, where she received a masters in library science the degree required to become a librarian. But instead of heading to a brick-and-mortar library, Brennan continued documenting online phenomena at Know Your Meme and then at Tumblr, where she solidified her role as information desk for viral sensations such as doge, mmm whatcha say and others in need of classification, categorization and preservation. The weird spots, the big spots I want to make it my business to know everything that goes on and watch it and analyze it and break it down for everyone the Internet user who thinks the whole Internet is Facebook, or the Internet user who is really deep into the weird parts of the Internet, she says. So how does one become a meme librarian? And what does Brennan actually do every day? In an interview, Brennan talked Internet history, Antoine Dodson, the true meaning of meme life and more. Her answers have been edited for length and clarity. A day in the life of a meme librarian When I was at Know Your Meme, I was doing physical cataloguing. Like, OK, Advice Dog started on this blog, heres the first post if we could find it, heres the next six, heres the big influencers. Now, Im doing much more Tumblr-centric work, so when something is happening on Tumblr, I grab it. A lot of it happens on my personal blog I have a tag, #memeculture. A lot of it is meta-meme and people complaining, Oh, Im tired of memes but I cant stop loving them. I think of the Internet as its own community, and if you want to compare it to a local library, theyre going to catalog all the small things that happened. If you want to know what happened in a part of New York City in the 1700s, I know a library would have cool letters, or maps or something like that. Something like Star Wars Kid, you had to download the video and had to be involved in some weird Internet pocket to see it. But now a viral video gets posted six times and it becomes a vine, it becomes a GIF set, and you kind of cant escape it. I think its important to catalog these things because you know the history of the Internet. Falling in love with information (and the Internet) Ive always been really interested in information and how its sorted together. And it kind of started when I was a teenager with this website Audio Galaxy. It was kind of pre-Napster and it would show you a genre of music and all the bands associated with it and then it would connect them. I would spend hours just sitting on it, looking at this taxonomy. In college (at New Jerseys Drew University) I studied modern literature. I became obsessed with James Joyce and T.S. Eliot, and, again, it was all about the connections between literature and what sources people were using, where the quotes were coming from. So why catalog memes anyway? When you see something new and exciting or something thats breaking away from Internet culture and into mainstream culture, thats when were going to be like OK, lets sit down and talk about this. Some stuff just keeps coming back. A really good example of this is mmm whatcha say. It was so big in the beginning. You couldnt escape it. And even when it started, it was still a few years removed from the original OC content. If there wasnt a Know Your Meme page for mmm whatcha say, would people have found it? Would people know, This is what you do when someone dies in a ridiculous way? Sometimes it disappears within a day. Pursuing library science as a career path (In graduate school) immediately I knew I did not want to work in a traditional library. My spring semester in 2010 I took my first social media-heavy class. I studied under (a professor) who did amazing work with Flickr tagging. And the way people connect through tags. I was like this is the thing I want to study. I love metadata. I took so many metadata classes. I just love the idea of using tags to add more context. Yes, theres the traditional metadata of saying, Yes, this book is about Alexander Hamilton, and history, and World War Two. But when people start adding personal metadata to it we see that more online than in a traditional library setting. On Tumblr, people will add a tag like, #oh my God this is the coolest thing Ive ever seen. That kind of metadata is what excites me. This really impersonal thing of tagging to get found, and this next layer of tagging to add context for your future self, for your followers and just to express what you love in a space outside of the content. From Know Your Meme to Tumblr My first semester of school is when I found the website Know Your Meme. I was looking up some weird 4chan meme because I had been on 4chan that night and I was like What is this thing that everyone is talking about? I came across it and I spent like three hours poring through everything on there. I was like, This is it. This is the thing. I saw myself as a librarian being able to contribute to that. I sent this 2 a.m. email like Hi, my name is Amanda. I was wondering if you guys had internships because I think you guys could benefit from a librarian. I think we could work together really well. Heres my favourite meme of the time! I interned there in the summer of 2010, and that summer really changed my life. It was the summer of Antoine Dodson. I remember when it happened, we all gathered around a whiteboard and started tracing out. It was more than just Bed Intruder. More than just the auto-tune. We were trying to really break down the idea of why local news stories go viral and what is the draw of that, and why do people love these stories and changing them into something else. And sitting in that room is one of my most vivid memories from the summer and also the moment of OK, this is the kind of information I want to deal with. I want to be able to make these connections and show them to people so that theyre thinking about this funny thing their friend sent them in a more critical way. SHARE: MEXICO CITYLittle has gone right for Mexicos beleaguered president, Enrique Pena Nieto, since he tweeted to the world Friday that his top security forces had recaptured the worlds most-wanted drug lord. While the arrest has partly helped salvage the embarrassment of Julys humiliating escape, its raised new questions for a president whose popularity suffered from a succession of scandals and a sputtering economy. On Saturday, just hours after the shootout that led to the arrest of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, actor Sean Penn said he covertly interviewed the kingpin in a mountain jungle of northern Mexico three months ago, a revelation that raised concerns about the governments handling of the manhunt. Mexico on Sunday informed Guzman that its taking steps to extradite him to the United States, a move that, while reducing the risk that he escapes for a third time, would also go against their own previous pledges to hold him in Mexico as a matter of national sovereignty. Implicit in that decision is the doubt that they can successfully hold him, says Andrew Selee, executive vice president of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. This is not a mission accomplished, said Vanda Felbab- Brown, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, quoting the words that Pena Nieto had used when announcing the news on Friday. This is just a sliver of the massive problems of criminal violence in Mexico. More than 150,000 people have been killed in Mexico since the nation began its war on drug cartels in December 2006, and about 26,000 have gone missing, according to the United Nations. Felbab-Brown said Penns October meeting with Guzman represented a major problem if Mexico only found out about it after the actor flew in. Security officials have told the media the encounter helped lead them to a rural part of Durango state in October, where they attacked but failed to capture Guzman. Local media reports on Monday suggested Mexicos government at a minimum was aware of Penns meeting with Guzman. Newspaper El Universal published 10 photos taken from afar that appear to show Penn and actress Kate del Castillo, who arranged the actors meeting with Guzman, arriving at an airport, then a hotel, and later with men who took them to meet Guzman in a Durango jungle. The newspaper said the images were from a government intelligence file that it acquired. Penn is under investigation for the Rolling Stone magazine interview and Kate del Castillo, the Mexican actress whom Penn says helped arrange the meeting, is also being investigated. Penn spoke with Guzman for seven hours and had followup interviews by phone and video, according to his story published Saturday in Rolling Stone. Pena Nietos approval rating suffered after Guzman escaped from prison for a second time in July and now stands at 46 per cent, according to polling agency GEA-ISA. His image also took a hit in 2014 after the disappearance of 43 teaching students and the emergence of conflict-of-interest accusations regarding homes that his wife and his finance minister bought from a government contractor. In August, the president, his wife and finance minister were cleared of favouritism by the countrys public comptroller. Mexicos weak justice system will again be put to the test as the extradition process pledged by the government gets under way, according to Mike Vigil, a retired head of international operations for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Guzmans attorney now has three days to present appeals against extraditing him and 20 days to provide supporting arguments. The extradition process faces risks including drawn-out legal proceedings in which court injunctions lead to years of delays, Vigil said. Mexican courts may also be vulnerable to intimidation by either Guzman or federal authorities, he said. Penn wrote that Alfredo Guzman, the kingpins son, drove him to see Chapo. Their vehicle passed through a military checkpoint, where two uniformed soldiers appeared to recognize Alfredo and wave them through, after which they drove several more hours to reach the capos hideout. The drug lord told Penn that after escaping in July he saw his mother often, and bragged that he had a fleet of submarines, boats and airplanes that he that allowed him to supply more heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana than anyone else in the world. Penn also wrote that he felt the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mexican government were tracking his movements. Guzman was first caught in Guatemala in 1993 and extradited to Mexico. After his dramatic capture Friday, hes been returned to the same prison he escaped from last July his second escape from Mexican custody. Guzmans capture deserves praise, even as the government needs to do far more to improve rule of law, says Andrew Selee, executive vice president of the Woodrow Wilson Center. The Mexican government has gotten really good at going after leaders of criminal organizations, Selee said. The problem is the rest of the criminal justice system hasnt evolved in the same way. Read more about: SHARE: BEIJINGBarely more than a week into 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping is having a rough time of it, with challenges ranging from a plummeting stock market to new provocations from obstreperous ally North Korea. While none pose an existential threat to his administration, the world will be watching to see whether he has the sophisticated touch needed to find durable solutions and maintain stability. Here are eight key issues Xi is contending with: Stock market volatility China twice deployed its circuit breaker mechanism to halt trading as stock markets nosedived by 10 per cent in the first week of the year. Beijing finally abandoned the mechanism, and left the perception that regulators dont have a clue as they try to stabilize a market that more than doubled between late 2014 and June, then dived 30 per cent, causing deep pain among retail investors. Currency queasiness Meanwhile, Chinas currency, the yuan, has slid to a five-year low against the dollar, forcing the government to spend tens of millions of dollars from its foreign currency stockpile to defend it. The government last week guided the yuan 1.5 per cent lower to assist hard-pressed exporters, but the clumsy move sent shock waves through world markets, further weighing on Chinese share prices. Slowing economy Hiccups in the worlds second-largest economy are expected to continue in 2016, with growth falling to a six-year low of 6.9 per cent in the July-September quarter and forecast by the International Monetary Fund to decline further to 6.3 per cent this year. That bodes ill for the economys ability to generate enough new jobs for the more than 7.5 million students due to graduate from college this year, while also building momentum for a transition from an investment-based economy to one focused on services. North Korea Despite persistent calls for restraint, Chinas traditional ally North Korea staged what it claims was a hydrogen bomb test blast on Jan. 6 that sent actual tremors across the border into northeastern China and drew condemnation from Beijing. China now finds itself again under pressure to use any possible leverage with the North to tamp down tensions in northeast Asia, while facing the possibility of more robust security co-operation between South Korea and Chinas traditional rivals Japan and the United States. Taiwan Voters on the self-governing island democracy appear set to elect a new president whose party opposes Beijings goal of unification between the sides. Beijings economic inducements have failed to persuade the Taiwanese public of the benefits of political union. If opposition Democratic Progressive Party candidate Tsai Ing-wen wins Saturday, as she is widely expected to do, Beijing may feel compelled to embark on economic and diplomatic pressure that could send relations into reverse. Its unlikely that Beijing would go so far as to back up its long-standing threat to use force to bring the island under Chinese control. Politics While Xi faces no such electoral challenges under Chinas one-party system, he does face resistance from political rivals and the vast bureaucracy. Xi shows no sign of abandoning his signature anti-corruption campaign blamed for creating a sense of fear and paralysis among the rank and file. His growing cult of personality exudes an exterior confidence. But with the economy slowing and no sign of political reforms, he may come under pressure from critics and rivals to show results on jobs, growth, good governance and addressing the yawning income gap. South China Sea Since the year began, China has landed three aircraft on a new island it built in the South China Sea, drawing protests from Vietnam and the Philippines, which have competing territorial claims in the region. Chinas robust assertions of its claim to virtually the entire South China Sea have long drawn complaints and sparked the occasional maritime confrontations in the area through which $5 trillion in global trade passes each year. The test flights landed on one of seven new islands Beijing has built by piling sand atop reefs and atolls. The U.S. is adamant that the new features dont deserve the legal status of actual islands, and the U.S. navy has flown and sailed close to them, drawing a furious response from Beijing. Xi now has to defend Chinas actions while avoiding damage to its foreign relations. Hong Kong China faces continuing opposition from pro-democracy forces in Hong Kong, the former British colony that reverted to Chinese rule in 1997 while retaining its own legal and economic systems. Beijings hand-picked chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, is deeply unpopular, and planned electoral changes stalled after massive street protests in 2014, leaving deep rifts in hyperefficient Hong Kongs society and politicizing a generation of students. Now, the recent disappearances of people associated with a publishing company that specializes in titles critical of Chinas leadership have raised fears that Beijing is tightening its grip on Hong Kongs freedom of the press and other civil liberties. Read more about: SHARE: The week before Christmas every newly elected MP received an unsettling letter. It wasnt a threat or a warning. It was a polite reminder that they had inherited a festering injustice. A poster was attached to the note, emblazoned with the words Cultural Genocide. It referred to the Sixties Scoop, a modern-day echo of the residential schools nightmare. Between 1961 and 1985 child welfare authorities removed thousands of First Nations children from their homes, their families, their communities. They transplanted them in non-aboriginal families, guided by the belief they would be better off growing up white. A generation of indigenous Canadians, now in its 40s and 50s, was stripped of its culture, language, identity and traditions. The adoptees, unlike the survivors of Canadas notorious residential schools, never received any acknowledgement of their loss. No government took responsibility for uprooting them, apologized or tried to rectify the damage. After years of inaction, they launched a class action lawsuit in 2009. They identified a lead plaintiff, compiled evidence, retained a lawyer and cleared all the procedural hurdles to get the case to trial. Throughout the process federal officials used every legal tactic at their disposal to block the case and silence the claimants. They had 12 lawyers. They refused to sit down with us. Through five years of litigation, they kept appealing every ruling, said Jeffrey Wilson, legal counsel for class action. So were pushing ahead. That was the situation on October 19, 2015 when Justin Trudeau was elected Canadas 23rd prime minister. Although he promised a renewed relationship between the federal government and indigenous peoples built on trust, recognition and respect for rights, the Liberal leader said nothing and his agenda contained nothing about the Sixties Scoop or its painful legacy. Fearing they would have to start afresh, a group of survivors from Ontario sent parliamentarians a double-edged holiday greeting: We wish you the best of festivals and religious celebrations. Our case Brown v Canada now proceeding to trial, is about our children, our culture, our festivals, our celebrations and what it means to lose them. We are First Nations people. We believe the case may be a lesson for all peoples and their children. The Sixties Scoop is not century-old history. It happened within the lifetime of most Canadians. Yet most citizens know little about it. They were never told that public officials, acting in their name, continued to reprogram aboriginal children even as Canadas disgraced residential schools closed. Marcia Brown Martel, 52, who initiated the lawsuit, was taken from her home at the age of four. Her original name was Sally Susan Mathias. Her family belonged to the Temagami First Nation. Her home was in the Beaverhouse Community near Kirkland Lake. She and her six-year-old sister Doris Lynn were scooped in 1967. Child welfare authorities told their bereft mother they were mentally handicapped. The girls made a vow never to forget they were members of the Beaverhouse community. They spent five years in foster care. Then Sally was adopted by a non-aboriginal family in Trent River, 50 km east of Peterborough. Her new parents renamed her Marcia. At first they treated her relatively well but the relationship deteriorated when her adoptive mother moved to Texas. By the time the teenager reached the age of majority, it had broken down completely. Her estranged mother shipped her back to North Bay. The 17-year-old arrived with no proof of her identity, no legal papers, no memory of the Ojibway language and no link to her biological family. She applied for her birth record from the Registrar General of Canada, seeking to affirm her Indian status, only to be told Sally Susan Mathias was dead. This meant she could not claim benefits such as housing and post-secondary education to which she would have been entitled under the Indian Act. For five years she struggled, lost and lonely. But she never gave up. Today Brown Martel is chief of the Beaverhouse First Nation. Her mission is to ensure that no aboriginal child has to go through what she endured. The court case is scheduled for June 2016. There is still time for the Liberal government to avoid a costly, rancorous legal showdown. Although the members of the class action are seeking damages of $85,000 apiece, most are willing to accept a negotiated settlement much lower than that. Their primary motivation is to establish, once and for all, that the government of Canada breached its constitutional duty to protect aboriginal children, allowed provincial child welfare officials to extinguish their rights under the Indian Act, failed to provide services to which they were entitled and encouraged a policy of cultural assimilation. They want an ironclad assurance it will never happen again. Its not about money; its about systemic change, says Wilson. For Trudeau it is about reconciliation, fairness and respect. It is his first chance to right a wrong that has festered for too long. Carol Goars column appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday. SHARE: Here are 10 things you should know for Monday, Jan. 11: 1. -- U.S. stock futures were rising Monday despite a slide in China and a drop in oil prices. European stocks traded mixed early Monday. China's stock benchmark sank more than 5% amid doubts about Beijing's management of the world's second-largest economy. Crude oil in electronic trading Monday declined 1.8% to $32.55 a barrel. The commodity is trading close to the 12-year low it hit last week. 2. -- The economic calendar in the U.S. on Monday is empty. Must Read: The Top 10 Dividend Stocks You Should Buy to Prepare for 2016 3. -- U.S. stocks on Friday ended a dismal week with yet another big loss, overpowering a blockbuster jobs report --and a brief rally -- earlier in the day. The S&P 500 fell 5.5% for the week, it's worst start to a new year ever. 4. -- Alcoa (AA) said it would announce a $1.5 billion long-term supply contract Monday with General Electric's (GE) aviation unit, The Wall Street Journal reported. The announcement will come the same day as Alcoa is expected to report its worst quarterly results since early 2014, including a 17% drop in revenue from a year earlier, the Journal noted. Details of the GE deal were in a news release viewed by the Journal. Alcoa unofficially will kick off earnings season with its report after Monday's closing bell. 5. -- Kohl's (KSS) , which has been stumbling in recent years, is debating whether to take itself private or break up the department store company, the Journal reported, citing a person familiar with the situation. Kohl's shares have fallen 40% from their high of $79.07 on April 2. Concerned that its depressed share price could make it a target for activist investors, directors are considering whether to hire an investment bank to advise it on alternatives that could include a sale to a private-equity firm, the person familiar with the situation told the Journal. 6. -- Activist investor Starboard Value again urged Macy's (M) to find ways to unlock the value of its vast real-estate holdings, including its famous Herald Square store in New York. In a letter and presentation Starboard sent to Macy's management on Sunday, it said it supports the retailer's recently announced plans to cut costs and urged the company to follow through with real-estate deals that could help it as it struggles with lackluster sales. The real-estate strategy could "create meaningful and lasting value for shareholders" despite the challenging retail environment, Starboard said in the letter, the Journal reported. In an emailed statement, Macy's said it was reviewing Starboard's letter and materials. The company said Starboard's views are consistent with actions already under way at the retailer. 7. -- Apple (AAPL) has passed 10 million subscribers for its music streaming service, taking six months to hit a milestone that took rival Spotify six years to hit, people familiar with the matter told the Financial Times. 9. -- Electrolux (ELUXF) said CEO Keith McLoughlin is stepping down and will be replaced by Jonas Samuelson, who currently heads the home appliance maker's Europe, Middle East and Africa business area. The move comes a month after the Swedish company's bid to take over the appliance division of General Electric failed. The U.S. Justice Department opposed the $3.3 billion acquisition, saying it would harm competition. 10. -- David Bowie, the musician whose career lasted five decades with hits like "Fame," ''Heroes" and "Let's Dance," died Sunday after a battle with cancer. He was 69. Let's just say up front that it's hard to understand how a decline in the Shanghai stock market could contribute to investors' decisions to sell off shares of Alaska (ALK) , which is primarily a U.S. domestic airline, especially given the continuing decline in fuel costs. Nevertheless, at Friday's close, shares in Alaska were trading at $70.38, down nearly 13% year to date. Shares in all nine of the biggest publicly traded airlines are lower this year, but Alaska is down the most. The best performer is Southwest (LUV) , down just 2% year to date. Second best is Spirit (SAVE) , down 3%. The S&P 500 is down 6%. Cowen analyst Helane Becker called the decline in Alaska's share price a buying opportunity. She said Spirit is her top pick for 2016, followed by Alaska and Southwest. "We continue to believe investors should focus on the U.S. domestic airlines, given macro concerns in international markets as a result of a strong U.S. dollar," Becker wrote on Jan. 7. While Spirit is the top pick, "Alaska remains one of the more attractive investments in the group, given its strong balance sheet and commitment to capital returns," Becker said. To be sure, Alaska's decline isn't entirely due to China. Alaska hit a rough spot after it reported on Friday, Jan. 8, that its fourth-quarter passenger revenue per available seat mile would be down approximately 6.5%, that its December PRASM fell between 9.5% and 10%, and that its full-year 2015 PRASM decline would be between 9% and 9.5%. Alaska shares fell 5% on Friday. The other carriers lost between 1% and 4%, except for Southwest, which gained 0.62%. In a note on Friday, Becker said that Alaska's guidance "was mostly in line with expectations, with unit revenues slightly lower than expected, but offset by lower jet fuel costs." She reiterated an outperform rating on the stock and a $100 price target. "The decline in unit revenue is due to continued growth from Seattle to new markets with the obligatory low introductory fares," she wrote, adding that a lower share price should encourage the company's aggressive share repurchase program. Wolfe Research analyst Hunter Keay wrote on Friday that Alaska's December PRASM fell by slightly less than he thought it would. "We'd been nervous about Alaska near term of late, but we feel like bad news (and then some) has been largely priced into the stock and headwinds are well known," Keay said. The primary headwind, of course, is Delta's (DAL) capacity growth in Seattle. Keay wrote that "competitive capacity trends in Alaska's markets are cringe-worthy, but who doesn't know that already?" Keay said the carrier benefits from labor clarity, falling cost per available seat mile due to lower fuel prices, low expectations by investors, "deft expectation management by the company," no potential for fuel hedge losses and also from something he called "a defensive-y feel." "It's time to get involved down here," said Keay, who raised his target price to $100 from $98. Meanwhile, on Friday, Stifel analyst Joseph DeNardi reduced his fourth-quarter Alaska earnings estimate to $1.45 from $1.75 a share because he no longer assumes the carrier will include a one-time tax benefit in its EPS report. He has a hold on the shares. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters estimate earnings of $1.42 a share. Becker estimated $1.44 and Keay estimated $1.41. This article is commentary by an independent contributor. At the time of publication, the author held no positions in the stocks mentioned. NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Macy's (M) stock is up by 2.9% to $36.93 in pre-market trading on Monday, after activist investor Starboard Value encouraged the company to explore a new real estate strategy. The Cincinnati-based retailer should pursue separate joint ventures for its mall locations and for iconic properties, the firm said in a letter on Monday. Starboard estimates that the retailer's real estate assets are worth $21 billion, which means the operating business is trading for a negative value, the firm added. "We believe pursuing joint venture structures is the most prudent step for Macy's at this time to create significant value for shareholders given the wide discrepancy between the value of the real estate and the current enterprise value of the Company," Starboard said in a letter to Macy's CEO Terry Lundgren. "We believe that a joint venture, or series of joint ventures, can crystallize the value of Macy's real estate while bringing in a partner with substantial capital and real estate expertise that will enable the joint ventures to grow and diversify their real estate holdings." Starboard's operational improvement plan for the company was not publicly released. Separately, recently, TheStreet Ratings objectively rated this stock according to its "risk-adjusted" total return prospect over a 12-month investment horizon. Not based on the news in any given day, the rating may differ from Jim Cramer's view or that of this articles's author. TheStreet Ratings has this to say about the recommendation: We rate MACY'S INC as a Hold with a ratings score of C. The primary factors that have impacted our rating are mixed - some indicating strength, some showing weaknesses, with little evidence to justify the expectation of either a positive or negative performance for this stock relative to most other stocks. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its notable return on equity, reasonable valuation levels and expanding profit margins. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including deteriorating net income, generally higher debt management risk and weak operating cash flow. Highlights from the analysis by TheStreet Ratings Team goes as follows: The Place de la Republique in Paris is lighted Sunday after a commemoration ceremony to mark the one-year anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo and Hypercacher supermarket terror attacks. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Police tape surrounds the entrance of the home where marines engaged in a gun battle during the search for Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, in Los Mochis, Mexico, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016. Guzman apparently fled from the home Friday before authorities eventually caught him. A month or two of intensive renovations transformed the house into an architecturally unremarkable but completely enclosed structure. Windows and glass doors with horizontal grating were installed and the new walls that advanced right to the sidewalk. (AP Photo/Christian Palma) Caesar Goodson, right, one of six Baltimore city police officers charged in connection to the death of Freddie Gray, arrives at a courthouse Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, in Baltimore. A Maryland appeals court postponed the trial of the police van driver charged with second-degree murder, saying it needed to address whether another Baltimore officer should be compelled to testify against Goodson. (Bryan Woolston/Pool Photo via AP) But the tribe has a long way to go Health Minister Yaakov Litzman on Sunday morning 29 Teves spoke with Kol Chai Radio host Mordechai Lavi. When asked What is Instagram, Litzman, who is gaining popularity on social media platforms, admits he does not know what Instagram is. Nevertheless, Israeli social media carries its fair share of discussion regarding local politics and government ministers, including Litzman. The poll was commissioned by Channel 2 News, released on motzei Shabbos on the Meet the Press program. The poll was conducted by Dr. Mina Tzemachs Midgam Institute involving close to 705 respondents representing a cross section of the general Israeli public, not just the chareidi tzibur. The margin of error is +/- 4.5%. The heads of parties and a number of other prominent ministers were included, not all the cabinet ministers. Dr. Tzemach explains the poll reveals that among six of the ten ministers, the tzibur is dissatisfied as they scored under 50% and this is troublesome. Litzman admits he does not know why he ranks high, perhaps his marvelous team and the fact he remains silent on many items that are not in his realm but focuses on his responsibilities, the nations healthcare system. I do not speak about Obama and other things, just health but it is all Siyata Dishmaya. The poll shows that Litzman breaks the stigma, leading all cabinet ministers in the popularity poll. He explains that this puts even more pressure on him for that means he most work even harder to maintain this status to avoid a Chilul Hashem. Litzman concludes the interview saying In addition to all the praise, a few perakim of Tehillim would be most helpful. 56.1% Health Minister Litzman 50.5% Transportation Minister Katz 50.5% Defense Minister Yaalon 46.9% Justice Minister Shaked 45.5% Education Minister Bennett 38% Public Security Minister Erdan 37.8% Culture & Sport Minister Regev 37% Finance Minister Kahlon 32.1% Prime Minister 18.9% Last place, Negev & Galil Development Minister Deri Speaking to Lavi following Litzman was MK Shelly Yacimovich, who describes herself as secular and a feminist. She is a major fan of Litzman and is generous with words of praise on social media. She explained I have been an MK for ten years and during that period of time, he has never disappointed, not even once. Yacimovich explains Litzman is totally engulfed in concerns for the nations health system and When he speaks about the children requiring dental care of the nations poor children, he speaks about all of the children, not just the chareidim. She explains I do not have preconceived notions and therefore I can praise a chareidi minister for I do not have the bias many of the others have. She concluded explaining We must thank Yair Lapid for taking the case to the Supreme Court and compelling Litzman to become a minister instead of continuing to serve as a deputy minister. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) During the month of December 2015, chareidi soldiers of Netzach Yehuda have countered five terror attacks in the northern Binyamin area: Three vehicle attacks and two stabbing attacks. Also, the soldiers have neutralized five more terrorists, who were operating under the cover of demonstrations taking place in the area. In the last months, the chareidi soldiers of Netzach Yehuda (Nachal Chareidi) have been operating in the area of Northern Binyamin and the Gush Shilo area, an area in which several terror attacks have taken place during the current terror outburst, amongst them were the attacks in which Dani Gonen and Malachi Rosenfeld were murdered. The three vehicle attack attempts, which were foiled by the battalions soldiers, all took place at the same location, a week apart from one another. In the first attack, which took place earlier last month, a soldier of the battalion was injured. As a result, the safety procedures in the battalion were stressed, which, along with the soldiers vigilance, enabled the counter of the next two vehicle attacks, taking place at the same location on the consequent Fridays to follow. The soldiers, as mentioned, have also countered two knife attacks which took place in the Binyamin area and in Jerusalem during the last month. The first attack occurred when, under the cover of a demonstration in the area, a terrorist leaped from his car and stabbed one of the battalions soldiers. His fellow company men acted quickly and neutralized the terrorist. In the days to follow, a soldier of the battalion neutralized the terrorist who committed the vehicle and knife attack last month, at the Romeima neighborhood in Jerusalem, injuring 3 Israelis. The soldier, who happened to the scene while riding a bus in the area, quickly perused the terrorist and took him down. Rabbi Yaron David, among the Nachal Chareidi foundations rabbis, adds that In the last month, Bsiyata Dishmaya, the soldiers of the battalions have stood bravely against the challenges they were facing, with determination, vigilance and devotion to their mission. These actions of counterterrorism are proof of the importance of our mission in the area. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Police on motzei Shabbos the eve of 29 Teves announced the arrests of additional suspects in connection to the Dizengoff pub shooting attack. Earlier this weekend, authorities announced the terrorists, Nashat Melhem, was shot and killed by security forces. Police on Sunday announced the arrests of five persons who assisted Melhem. They were remand on motzei Shabbos in the Haifa Magistrate Court. However, his father and a brother were released by police on Sunday. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Yahadut Hatorah continues efforts to push through legislation to benefit the religious population. One proposal is for state-funded life insurance for bnei torah, which would cost the state NIS 36 million annually. Yahadut Hatorah feels the 120,000 lomdei torah should have life insurance as part of improving conditions for bnei torah and avrichei kollel. Deputy Finance Minister Yitzchak Cohen proposed removing funds for life insurance but Health Minister Yaakov Litzman and Knesset Finance Committee Chairman Moshe Gafne oppose Cohens intensions. As has been reported, the increase in monthly payments to bnei torah, or perhaps more accurately, return to the situation prior to the previous Knesset which cut payments, will leave bnei torah with about NIS 885 a month plus NIS 25 to cover insurance. This will leave benefactors with NIS 500,000 paid monthly over 15 years. The ministers still have to reach agreement as to which ministry will fund this. Needless to say the policies will be purchased in large numbers, permitting a far less expensive premium than one would receive if one purchased the same policy privately. Also on the list is a discount on car insurance for shomer shabbos drivers since the insurance company is assured they are not driving one day a week. This is being pushed by MK Nissim Slomiansky of the Bayit Yehudi party. The chareidi parties are backing Slomianskys initiative. Insurance companies estimate about 20% of the nations drivers are dati leumi or chareidi and there is an additional 10% of traditional Jews who refrain from driving on Shabbos as well. It is pointed out that today, some companies already offer a discount to frum drivers amid the realization that do not drive on Shabbos. These discounts vary from 7.5% to 15%. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) In an exclusive report released on Sunday, 29 Teves, Deputy Attorney General Roz Nezri is quoted by the dati leumi Kippa website saying If Jewish terror increases, we cannot rule out destroying the homes of Jewish terrorists. He adds that at present, 99% of terror attacks are carried out by Arabs, not Jews. Students in Bar Ilan University on Shabbos Parshas Vaeirah met with the Deputy Attorney General, who explained what he does as well as speaking of the recent investigation into the Duma arson attack and Jewish terrorism. Nezri explained regarding Amiram Ben-Uliel and the others who have been indicted in the case, they were not tortured and their statements and confessions will be admissible in court. I spoke with the Duma defendants. Needless to say there is quite a discrepancy with what their attorneys tell and what I heard when I met with them. They were not strapped to beds as described by many, as it is in the interest of their attorneys to exaggerate the evidence to draw attention to the work. Speaking about the rebellious ones, Nezri said most are not a danger to the state but as is the case with terror organizations, while most members do not pose an existential threat, Israel deals with them with a heavy hand to arrest them. Nezri surprised students when he accused those responsible for price tag attacks with having Jewish blood on their hands as well this results in an increased effort to carry out terror attacks against Jews. One who plans to murder an Arab spills Jewish blood too he added. Using this reasoning he feels Jewish terror encourages an increase in Arab terror. Nezri added that as a religious person there are many conflicts between his values and the legal system but when most people see a conflict, they view themselves as a soldier of the kingdom. I do not have a transparent kippa but I see myself more as a clerk in the civil service system and I follow the orders I receive. He continued explaining if there is an increase in acts of Jewish terror, they will have to evaluate possibly razing the homes of Jewish terrorists. Nezri explains 99% of the terror attacks are perpetrated by Arabs and he supports razing their homes as a deterrent. He adds if there is an increase in Jewish terror, this policy will have to be weighed against them as well. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will take a short break from campaigning for president to give his annual State of the State address Tuesday, highlighting what he says are successes while his opponents for the Republican nomination ramp up attacks against his record. The speech comes at a time when his public support at home is at an all-time low, and as he gains ground in New Hampshire. He won key endorsements in the state that holds the nations first primary on Feb. 9 and is rising in the polls. Christie spent all or part of 261 days in 2015 out of New Jersey, including frequent visits to New Hampshire and dozens of town-hall meetings with voters there. Rival camps, including Ohio Gov. John Kasich and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, have ramped up the attacks against Christie. A new ad from a super PAC funded by Rubio allies says New Jersey residents want to leave the state. It then ticks through the states high taxes and low job growth and turns to a scandal where top aides to Christie were charged with shutting down the nations busiest bridge as retribution for a mayor who didnt support his re-election. The mailing from a super PAC helping Kasich tells voters that Christie talks tough but has a weak record as an executive. Christie dismissed his competitors in an interview with MSNBC on Wednesday, describing the ads and stepped-up rhetoric as just another day at the ranch for me. Traditionally, the State of the State is an opportunity for governors to review key accomplishments and set a big-picture tone for the year ahead. But for Christie, it also presents a chance to reintroduce himself to a national audience and cast his record in a way to help his campaign, experts say. Christies office said the governor plans to propose new initiatives on education, health care and drug treatment which has been a focus of his time in office and the subject of an online video that went viral during his campaign. A spokesman for the governor declined to be more specific. Two issues not likely to come up in Tuesdays speech are New Jerseys broke fund for road and bridge work and its crisis over how to pay for public pensions. Perhaps theyll arise during a budget address later this year, when governors tend to offer more specific plans. Even so, Christies New Jersey Democratic rivals say his time spent out of the state shows how little attention hes paying to the biggest issues at home. Christie counters that he uses technology to keep in touch with government officials and Cabinet members. The reality is the state is in a holding pattern, said Montclair State University political science professor Brigid Harrison. Nothing is going to happen until the GOP nomination is decided. His attention is divided. Rider University assistant political science professor Ben Dworkin said Christies message in the speech will be new for many state residents because hes been out of the state so much. He says the message might take time to sink in but the governor wont likely be around to push his own agenda. He wont be here to force public officials, the media and the public to focus on what he wants to focus on, Dworkin said. (AP) A Maryland appeals court has postponed the trial of a police van driver charged with second-degree murder in death of Freddie Gray. Jury selection was delayed Monday so that the Maryland Court of Special Appeals can address whether another Baltimore officer can be compelled to testify against Caesar Goodson. Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry Williams said prosecutors asked for a delay in the trial and Goodsons lawyers objected. However, he said that request was moot because the appeals court the second-highest in the state had already ordered a delay. Williams ruled last week that William Porter, whose trial ended in mistrial last month, must testify against Goodson despite Porters claim that he has a right not to incriminate himself. The court of special appeals last week temporarily blocked the ruling while its judges consider whether to uphold that decision. Gray died in April from a broken neck he suffered during a van ride. Goodson was with Freddie Gray for every second of his 45-minute trip from the site of his arrest to the Western District police station, where Gray arrived critically injured and unresponsive. But Goodsons account of what happened on that day remains a mystery: He is the only one of six officers charged in Grays death not to speak to investigators. The trial was to offer the public its first chance to hear Goodsons side of the story. He faces the most serious charge of all second-degree murder, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. To be convicted, prosecutors must prove that Goodson was so callous in his disregard for Grays life that he deliberately allowed him to die. After Porters case ended in a mistrial, the stakes for Goodsons trial are even higher in a city still on edge from the rioting and unrest in April. Grays death in April exposed the deep divide between the public and the police in Baltimore, and became a national symbol of the Black Lives Matter movement. Prosecutors say the officers should be held accountable for Grays fatal injuries because they didnt buckle him into a seat belt, nor did they call an ambulance when he indicated he needed medical attention. Goodson, they say, bears the most responsibility because as the wagon driver, Gray was technically in his custody. Prosecutors have revealed little about the case they plan to present against Goodson, who is also black. But in a pretrial hearing last week they said they would call a witness who specializes in retaliatory prisoner transport practices, indicating they intend to bring up the possibility that Gray received a rough ride in the van. During the hearing, defense attorneys argued that prosecutors had introduced a new legal theory or area of testimony at the proverbial eleventh hour. The witness is Neill Franklin, a former Baltimore police officer and Maryland state trooper. During his own trial Porter told jurors that it was Goodsons responsibility to buckle Gray into a safety belt, and that Gray was unrestrained throughout the entire wagon ride. Porter also said he told Goodson that Gray wanted to go to a hospital, but Goodson ignored his suggestion. Defense attorneys and prosecutors cant comment on the case because they are under a gag order. (AP) A record number of passengers travelled through Heathrow last year as the UK's largest airport pushes for Government backed expansion ahead of rivals Gatwick and Stanstead. The west London hub announced that almost 75 million people used the airport during 2015, an increase of 2.2 per cent on 2014. Passengers heading to China and Latin America soared by 14 per cent and 8 per cent respectively, while there was a 6 per cent increase to the Middle East. But, domestic flights slumped 15 per cent and travel to Europe rose by just 0.9 per cent. Scroll down for video Growing: Almost 75 million passengers passed through Heathrow's terminals last year, a record annual figure and a 2.2 per cent rise on the year before Heathrow's chief executive John Holland-Kaye said the airport was prepared for action, if it receives the green light for a third runway. Holland-Kaye said: 'Our new expansion plan will make Heathrow the most sustainable hub airport, and Britain the best connected country in the world. We are ready to serve.' He added: '2015 has been a banner year for Heathrow, serving more passengers than ever and being recognised in a number of awards as the best major airport in Europe for both passenger service and eco-innovation.' Last month the Government put off a decision on whether to support expansion at Heathrow until at least the summer while Ministers carry out further examination of issues such as air quality and noise pollution. The British Chambers of Commerce labelled the Government's delay as 'gutless' and damaging for the UK economy. Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said at the time that the Government needed to 'undertake more work on environmental impacts, including air quality, noise and carbon' before deciding on how best to expand airport capacity in south-east England. A Commission headed by former CBI boss Sir Howard Davies concluded in July that a third runway at Heathrow was the best option - if a string of measures were put in place to deal with noise and pollution - but also left open the option of expanding capacity at Gatwick instead. Ready for take off: The Government is also considering a plan to extend the existing northern runway at Heathrow to form the equivalent of two runways Gatwick is still campaigning to add another landing strip despite failing to win the backing of the Airports Commission. The Government is also considering a plan to extend the existing northern runway at Heathrow to form the equivalent of two runways. The Sunday Times reported yesterday that Heathrow has distributed 2.1billion in dividends to its owners over the past four years but paid just 24million in corporation tax in almost a decade. An airport spokeswoman said the group had taken advantage of Government tax breaks offered to companies to encourage investment. She added that this approach has led to an 11billion upgrade of the airport and insisted that Heathrow 'contributes fairly to the UK public purse'. Drugmaker Shire has completed its six-month pursuit of US firm Baxalta International by agreeing a $32billion (21.9billion) deal that will make it one of the world's leading rare disease specialists. The FTSE 100-listed group, which first approached the US firm with an offer in July, won over the haemophilia specialist after adding a cash sweetener to its previous share offers. The deal is expected to close in mid-2016 and has been approved by the boards of both companies. Baxalta was initially scathing of Shire's original approach, stating that there would be few synergies due to the lack of overlap between the companies' portfolios. High end: The deal moves Shire into high-value treatments for rare diseases and away from its traditional dominance in pills for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Shares in Dublin-headquartered Shire were down 5 per cent in late afternoon trading, off 190.0p at 4,092.0p. The company initially gained 1 per cent when the deal was announced. The takeover is the first healthcare mega merger of 2016, after the sector saw its biggest deal-making streak in history last year, with record global deals totaling $673billion. It is Shire's biggest acquisition yet and places the combined group on the cusp of the world's top 20 drugmakers. It also moves Shire away from its traditional dominance in pills for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and into high-value treatments for rare diseases. Nevertheless the process was not smooth and Illinois-based Baxalta twice spurned Shire's previous advances. In August Baxalta rejected a $30billion all-stock offer, arguing it significantly undervalued the company. But Shire chief executive Flemming Ornskov never gave up and put significant pressure on major Baxalta shareholders over a period of months. The new offer sees shareholders in the US firm receive $18.00 in cash and 0.1482 Shire American depository shares per Baxalta share, implying a total value of $45.57 per share based on January 8 prices. It means almost 40 per cent of the sum will be paid in cash and the rest in Shire shares. Change: Chief executive Fleming Ornskov has been shifting the company's focus to rare disease drugs, which now account for more than 40 per cent of group sales Today's part-cash, part-stock agreement is thought to have been made after Shire received new advice that it could make a cash payment without incurring an large bill from US authorities. Baxalta split from Baxter, the US medical group, last year and Shire had initially offered only stock due to concerns a cash element might jeopardise the tax-free status of the spin-off. It follows a proposed $54billion takeover of Shire by US firm Abbvie in 2014, which was called off after a political backlash against American companies moving headquarters abroad for tax reasons. The deal fell through following the introduction of a US rule discouraging corporate mergers that would lower a US firm's tax rate, known as 'inversions'. The merged firms' base would have shifted to the UK isle of Jersey, where corporate taxes are lower. Together, Shire and Baxalta said they expected to deliver double-digit sales growth, with more than $20billion in annual revenues by 2020. Shire also expects to save more than $500milion of costs over the next three years. Shire chief executive Flemming Ornskov, said: 'This proposed combination allows us to realize our vision of building the leading biotechnology company focused on rare diseases. Together, we will have leadership positions in multiple, high-value franchises and become the clear partner of choice in rare diseases. 'Our expanded portfolio and presence in more than 100 countries will drive our growth to over $20billion in anticipated annual revenues by 2020. 'Our due diligence has reinforced our belief in the combination, and we look forward to welcoming Baxalta colleagues to a shared entrepreneurial, patient-driven culture.' Baxalta chief executive, Ludwig N. Hantson, added: 'Today's announcement marks a new path forward for our organisation and is a testament to the significant progress we have made in achieving our strategic business priorities. Few standing in the queue of the Sainsburys Local in North London last November would have realised who the man clutching a bag of croissants was. But even if they, or the staff on the tills, had twigged that this customer was David Tyler, chairman of Sainsburys, fewer still could have possibly realised the significance of his purchase. Tyler had popped down to the Sainsburys convenience store for provisions for a breakfast meeting with John Coombe, chairman of Argos owner Home Retail Group. These two old friends would sit down over coffee and pastries at Tylers North London flat to thrash out the details of a 1billion bid for from Sainsburys for HRG. But the trip to the Sainsburys Local wasnt just significant because of who was buying. It also highlights why this match could be the future of shopping. Households around the UK are making more frequent trips to smaller neighbourhood shops or buying their groceries online than heading out to giant out-of-town supermarkets Like Tyler, households around the UK are making more frequent trips to smaller neighbourhood shops or buying their groceries online than heading out to giant out-of-town supermarkets. The currency in the world of retail at the moment is convenience and speed, whether its deliveries to homes or the proximity of the closest store. These are behind two recent bold moves by Sainsburys. As well as having Argos on its radar it is almost doubling the size of its budget chain Netto in a fresh assault on High Street discounters Aldi and Lidl. It has put in ten planning applications for new Nettos in the North of England. This will take the number of Netto stores to 25 from the current 15. While not the full-scale push into discounting some had expected, the move is a step forward. This is about chief executive Mike Coupe making moves to prepare Sainsburys for the future. The Netto trial is as much to do with helping Sainsburys learn about the discount model as it attempts to defend its core business from Aldi and Lidl, as it is in growing a chain to rival them. The Argos move is equally insightful. It has 840 shops in the UK and with its fleet of trucks and state-of-the art technology is able to deliver items to customers within hours of taking an online order. This is quicker than most other retailers. Sainsburys thinks speed of delivery will become increasingly more important for shoppers as online rivals like Amazon launch one hour deliveries. If it is successful in its bid it is effectively buying this technology. Few grocers are able to offer same-day deliveries for online orders at the moment. If successful the takeover would see Sainsburys combine the power of its brand with the advanced delivery systems of Argos. It would also give the pair a bigger presence on the High Street and would also bring cost savings. The grocer plans to pull down the shutters on up to 200 Argos shops that are close to its supermarkets. Sainsburys would replace the shut shops with Argos counters inside its stores. The leases of as many as 40 per cent come up for renewal in the next four years which make closing them less financially painful. So the big question is why now? Insiders say Sainsburys has been working on these moves for the past two years as it prepares for the change in shopping habits. One source said: The consumer is changing and pretty fast. Once they have the experience of getting deliveries to their homes quickly and efficiently they gradually get to a state of mind where they expect everything to arrive now or in a few hours. Consumers want options whether it is delivered to their home, to click or collect or to browse in-store. Sainsburys is aware that unless it can offer that in every possible way the business will not be as attractive as it once was. One industry source said that the Argos deal was not about Sainsburys competing with Amazon but gaining an advantage by offering something different. The logic in bringing together two powerful brands selling food, clothing, electronics, and toys is that consumers will be able to get them delivered online within hours, said the source. While this is what Amazon can offer, a combination between Argos and Sainsburys would also mean those products would be available in shops, which Amazon cant match. It remains to be seen whether either Netto or an Argos/Sainsburys combo will succeed, but the scale of the problems facing the grocers will be laid bare this week. Today Morrisons is expected to report a 2 per cent fall in sales for the nine-week festive period compared to a year ago. Tesco is expected to show that it continues to battle falling sales. Analysts at broker Exane BNP Paribas expect the firm to post sales down by 2.5 per cent over its six-week festive period compared to a year ago. Lin Homer: A scathing report about HMRC by MPs last November accused the service of going from 'abysmal' to 'now even worse' HMRC boss Lin Homer is to step down in April following a barrage of criticism condemning her performance as head of the UK's tax office. Homer was awarded a damehood in the New Year honours list a couple of weeks ago, an accolade that sparked shock after the veteran civil servant presided over a catalogue of disasters at HMRC and before that the UK Border Agency. A scathing report about HMRC by MPs in November accused the service of going from 'abysmal' to 'now even worse'. HMRC's customer service is so bad it poses a 'genuine threat to tax collection', the Public Accounts Committee said. Homer's time as boss of the UKBA and its predecessor the Immigration and Nationality Directorate was marked by a series of scandals and similarly damning reports by MPs. HMRC announced today that Homer would depart in April after more than four years as chief executive and a public service career spanning 36 years. 'Lin Homer joined HMRC in January 2012 and led the organisation through a period of recovery and significant performance improvements,' it said. It listed her achievements, among others, as successive and record-breaking increases in total revenues and compliance revenues, reductions in tax credits error and fraud, and a recovery in customer service from a low-point of 48 per cent of calls answered in 2011 to almost 90 per cent in December 2015, with a queuing time of six minutes. The claim about customer service improvements is contradicted by the recent MPs' report, although its figures about the length of time taxpayers are left hanging on the phone covered different periods to those cited above. Chancellor George Osborne said today: 'Lin Homer has made a real contribution to public service modernisation and transformation. She has put the foundations in place that will see HMRC become one of the most digitally-advanced tax authorities in the world. 'It is to Lins great credit that the National Audit Office last year judged HMRC to be one of the strongest Departments in Government a legacy of which she can be rightly proud.' Homer said: 'After 10 years as a chief executive and permanent secretary in the civil service, the start of the next spending review period seemed to be a sensible time to move on. 'HMRC has secured ministerial support and funding for our ambitious transformation programme and it has the leadership team in place to deliver it. My successor will be able to put their full weight behind seeing the transformation through to 2020.' Andrew Tyrie MP, chairman of the Treasury committee, said: 'Lin has done a tough job in difficult circumstances. It is now very important that the government finds a high quality replacement. 'The taxpayer experience of HMRC is still well short of what they have the right to expect. The committee will want to hold a pre-appointment hearing with her successor.' Official visit: HMRC boss Lin Homer hosts Chancellor George Osborne at the UK tax office The announcement comes just days after a report warned that the taxman is treating people worse than some private debt collectors. HMRC ranked bottom in a list of private companies and government departments which chase debts for its shocking treatment of people who owe tax. A study by Citizens Advice found it even failed to meet standards set by government regulators for private collection agencies. Questioned: Lin Homer was quizzed by the Public Accounts Select Committee last year Poor practices by Her Majestys Revenue and Customs highlighted in the report included the taxman taking money directly from peoples bank accounts while the amount owed was still being disputed and staff being rarely or never available on the phone to discuss issues and being inflexible over repayment. Lin Homer's successor will have to oversee a major restructure of HMRC's offices, which was announced in November last year. The taxman is to close down 137 local offices and replace them with 13 regional centres in a move to cut costs, which is expected to lead to major job losses. The HM Revenue & Customs said the new regional offices will be opened in cities including Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Bristol within the next six years. Current offices in central London, which HMRC says has some of the most expensive office space in the world, will be moved to Stratford and Croydon to make substantial savings. Meanwhile, the closure of 137 offices will be phased out over the next 11 years in order to minimise redundancies. But HMRC will aim to have fewer staff in the future as it streamlines how it works and uses the best of modern technology to reduce costs, the taxman said. It appears Britons' love love for Cadbury Creme Eggs is starting to crack after the chocolate giant changed the recipe for the gooey treat exactly a year ago. Sales statistics show there was a 6million sales slump last year as shoppers shunned the small chocolate egg filled with fondant in the aftermath of the recipe change. Cadbury owned by Mondelez, a subsidiary of American firm Kraft since 2010 'reformulated' the Creme Egg recipe last year. It switched the shell from Dairy Milk chocolate to a cheaper standard cocoa mix, much to the horror of many Creme Egg fans. It also scrapped the six pack of Creme Eggs in favour of a five pack with some accusing the firm of 'shrinkflation' by charging the same price. Scroll down for video How do you eat yours? The Creme Egg has been a staple chocolate treat for Britons in the run-up to Easter - but have people been put off by 'cheaper' chocolate shell? At the time, angry Britons took to social media website Twitter in their droves to complain about the move. @GarryAgain said: Kraft Foods what have you done to Cadbury Creme Egg. I know American don't get chocolate but urgh it's horrid.' @HuskieWalleyes said: 'Creme Eggs now sold in boxes of 5 rather than 6. And no longer Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate. This is serious!' Now it appears the Bournville-based firm has been left with egg on its face as sales have dropped, according to retail analysts IRI. Overall sales of Cadbury-branded Easter eggs were down 10million, with Creme Eggs sales bearing the brunt. Its novelty Egg 'n' Spoon treats, which come with a chocolate or vanilla filling, fell by 1.2million. Poll Do Creme Eggs taste better or worse since the recipe change? Better Worse Don't eat them Do Creme Eggs taste better or worse since the recipe change? Better 42 votes Worse 832 votes Don't eat them 175 votes Now share your opinion It contributed to Cadbury seeing its market share drop from 42 per cent to 40 per cent in a year. Cadbury marketing manager Claire Low denied the recipe change has been responsible for a sales slide. She told magazine The Grocer: 'The fundamentals of Cadbury Creme Egg remain exactly the same.' She said the company was gearing up for 'egg war' with the launch of a new Easter range in a battle for a share of the 139million market. She added: 'We are aware shorter seasons can be challenging. 'To strengthen our positioning, we will continue to invest in power brands, launching new seasonal products and a brand new Easter pack design.' Cadbury adds: 'Cadbury remains the number one treat at Easter. The Easter 'season' changes every year depending on when Easter falls. 'It was two weeks shorter in 2015 than 2014 so its hard to compare like for like. 'This is why most of the big chocolate brands show a fall in revenue for 2015 against 2014.' The IRI study also found that Easter egg prices tumbled by a fifth last year as a supermarket price war and cheaper own-label brands bit into market share. The Easter market is lucrative to chocolate firms. Some have already launched Easter goods in supermarkets despite it being months away. Mars is launching 'Galaxy Golden Eggs' and a new family pack of its MaltEaster bunny range, while Italian firm Ferrero is bringing out a limited edition Kinder Joy egg. Five pack: Cadbury started selling them in a five pack instead of six pack - but keep the price broadly the same One piece of good news is the fact individual Creme Eggs haven't been hit by shrinkflation. According to research for This is Money by kitchen specialists Appliance City, the Creme Egg currently weight 35g, compared to 34g in 1977. It comes as other popular products such as Mars Bars have shrunk 28 per cent since the 1990s and Yorkies 20 per cent since 1970s launch. London is soon to house a Creme Egg pop-up cafe in Greek Street from January 22, although it's not clear how long it will be around. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Bill Parry Just days after Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order to clear homeless people from the streets as temperatures plummeted and interject himself further into city politics, Mayor de Blasio has countered with a key City Hall appointment. Herminia Palacio was named deputy mayor for Health and Human Services Tuesday after a four-month national search to replace Lilliam Barrios Paoli, who stepped down last fall. Palacio is a crisis management expert who garnered national acclaim coordinating health services for 27,000 people from the New Orleans area who sought shelter in Houston during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Her work during Katrina earned Palacio the Excellence in Health Administration Award by the American Public Health Association in 2007. With 25 years of experience in a range of health and social services professions, the Bronx-born Palacio will be tasked with addressing homelessness across the five boroughs, developing a citywide network for mental health support, coordinating the citys public health care system, improving access to social services for all New Yorkers, and ensuring agencies that oversee the citys most vulnerable populations, such as children and victims of domestic violence, are run compassionately and efficiently. Herminia is a born and bred New Yorker and a tried-and-true leader, de Blasio said. And when her hometown of New York City called on her to bring New Yorkers off the streets and into permanent housing, secure a bright future for our kids in foster care, and help us weave together fragmented mental health care providers into a comprehensive network, Herminia was ready to answer the call. In addition to running the mega-shelter operation in the Astrodome for over 27,000 Katrina evacuees, de Blasio said she also stood on the front lines of the HIV/AIDS crisis in San Francisco from 1998 to 2001. Her innovative approach to public health programming as a senior policy adviser for the San Francisco Department of Public Health was lauded across the country and archived in a national museum of science. New York City has my heart. It is my home, Palacio said. The opportunity to serve the people of New York City as a deputy mayor is a tremendous honor, particularly with this administration, which has built on a foundation of equity and social justice that speaks the values that have motivated my work my entire life. It is a responsibility and privilege I cherish, and I want to thank Mayor de Blasio for this incredible opportunity. Palacio will oversee eight agencies including the Department of Homeless Services, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and NYC Health + Hospitals. She begins Jan. 25 and will earn $227,737 per year. The Palacio appointment may counter Cuomos plunge into the citys homeless crisis, with nearly 58,000 people in shelters each night. Between 3,000 and 4,000 prefer to stay on the streets because of the deplorable conditions detailed in City Comptroller Scott Stingers scathing report last month. If shelters are not up to code, then we are going to be very diligent in our inspection and management of the existing shelter system, Cuomo said a day after his executive order. And Im going to lay out a program in the State of the State,a speech he will deliver Jan. 13. The de Blasio administration characterized Cuomos executive order as redundant, saying systems were in place for this weeks cold snap. Cold weather is finally here, but we are prepared to help anyone without shelter and other assistance, de Blasio said. The mayor cited his new HOME-STAT effort and the Code Blue program in which the city placed 97 people in shelters and hospitals Monday night into Tuesday morning as temperatures plummeted into the teens. I dont see that the governors executive order changes anything that we do that we havent already been doing, NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton said. 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Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe October Fun Calendar: Plenty to do this month in Beaver County Halloween in the Park has a new location this year Ghosts and goblins are packing their sheets and moving to new digs this Halloween. SHARE Lemons Duke By Christopher Collins of the Times Record News A North Texas sheriff says he won't enforce some provisions of new federal gun rules, particularly those included in White House executive orders handed down by the president last week. "I think their objective is to take the guns away from everybody," said Clay County Sheriff Kenny Lemons. "The right to bear arms is pretty simple, actually, if you read it." Last week President Barack Obama outlined executive action for new rules on some small firearms dealers, requiring them to subject potential customers to background checks before completing sales. When announcing the plan, Obama said, "This is not a plot to take away everybody's guns. You pass a background check, you purchase a firearm." The directives provide some guidance for enforcement of the new rules a person who "willfully" sells firearms without the property license is subject to imprisonment up to five years and a $250,000 fine, according to information posted on the White House website. Lemons said he's most concerned that the Obama administration is ordering his department to confiscate weapons from people who have obtained them legally, but it doesn't appear as if the executives action specifically addresses confiscation. "We're not obligated to enforce federal law. President Obama does not have the authority to ask sheriffs to confiscate guns," Lemons said. "It's not going to happen. I'm not seizing any gun from someone who legally owns a gun." Lemons said he and other sheriffs generally agree they'll enforce laws related to the U.S. Constitution and the Texas Penal Code, but not orders sent from Washington. "We're all on the same page," he said. "(The U.S. Constitution) is kind of like the Bible you either believe all of it or you believe none. It's a very simple document. And it's all those rights, not just one or two." Wichita County sheriff David Duke said the orders don't appear as if they would significantly change how his department operates, though they also do not appear to address the problem of people obtaining firearms illegally. "You can buy any firearm at any price (illegally). That's how the firearms get on the street," Duke said. "You can't stop things like that until you find somebody with a firearm and it's been used in a crime." Then, rather philosophically, Duke remarked that gun control measures were once put into place in the U.S. by Great Britain. "You know what happened. The rest is history," he said. If you're the kind of movie-goer who likes to walk into a theater having already read the book from which the film is based, then consider this a major heads up. We compiled many of the flicks that are headed to theaters this year that are based off of a novel, be it a true story or a fantastical (and obviously fictional) tale. Provided ALBANY Albany police have charged a city man in connection with a pair of robberies and a sexual assault that occurred within hours of each other on New Scotland Avenue on Saturday. Jose Marlett, 36, was charged with two counts of first-degree robbery and a count each of first-degree rape, first degree predatory sexual assault, second-degree kidnapping, first-degree unlawful imprisonment, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon following an investigation. Albany Gov. Andrew Cuomo again is proposing a college for prisoners plan. But unlike two years ago, he won't be asking the Legislature to use state money to fund it. Cuomo announced that Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance is putting up $7.5 million in settlement funds to help fund higher education for roughly 1,000 inmates in the state prison system. That proposal is part of a seven-point plan with a theme of racial equality and criminal justice and was announced by the governor at a Harlem church Sunday morning. Unlike most other parts of the seven-point plan, the higher education piece can be done outside of the state budget process. The "Right Priorities" initiative was part of a series of announcements Cuomo is making ahead of Wednesday's State of the State and executive budget address. "I'll tell you what they're going to say when we argue this in Albany: 'Oh, there he goes again. More money, more money, more money,'" the governor told the congregation before listing off parts of the plan including the creation of new community schools, increased funding for re-entry programs for former offenders, and the introduction of the new prison education programs and admitting that they will cost more money. "But at the end of the day, success is cheaper than failure. ... We are talking about relatively small investments early on to keep us from spending large amounts once the problem is manifested." Cuomo's Sunday remarks focused on issues he has been supporting in recent years, including the need to reduce recidivism. The college for inmates proposal was aimed at just that when the governor pitched it for 10 state prisons in 2014. But he ran into a buzz saw of opposition, particularly from the state Senate, and the proposal didn't win approval in the budget deal that April. For 2016, the plan is re-calculated to use the $7.5 million from Vance and matching private funds. The governor's office said 1,000 inmates over five years would be eligible for the college-level instruction. CUNY's Institute for State and Local Governance would oversee the grant process for the colleges interested in providing their services. SUNY and CUNY would develop the standards and would set up a transition process so those who are released from prison can continue their education, Cuomo's office said. Classes would begin in the fall. The broader seven-point plan includes pieces that Cuomo already has acted on, such as his move to offer conditional pardons to former youth offenders who haven't committed another crime in the past 10 years. The governor also continued to support legislation to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 18 years old. Cuomo took executive action last month to move toward getting minors out of adult prison and placing them in their own facilities. In a reprise of rhetoric he has been using since last year, Cuomo singled out "failing schools" in his proposal as well. He spoke to the need for community schools and pitched $100 million to transform underperforming schools. "The way you define the problem is the solution you seek," Cuomo said. "If you say the problem in that failing school is the teachers and the education system, you're missing the point. Because the kids who go to that school need a lot more than a teacher and a normal education. They need a lot more than a kid who's coming out of a rich school and in a rich community." "It's not just a school," he continued. "If you think of it as just a school and all you're providing is education, you're going to fail. You needed nutrition, you needed mentoring, you needed after-school, you needed counseling, you needed to put those services in that school in the beginning, understanding that you're in a poor community with challenges." Cuomo's office also released details on a plan to combat poverty upstate through $500,000 in planning and implementation grants and access to a $20 million grant pool to match private sector and foundation funding in 10 upstate cities. The eligible municipalities include Albany and Troy. mhamilton@timesunion.com 518-454-5449 @matt_hamilton10 Albany Democratic Palatine Town Supervisor Sara Niccoli, known in Albany for her advocacy work as director of the state Labor-Religion Coalition, has emerged as a challenger to Republican state Sen. George Amedore, who won the 46th Senate District seat less than two years ago. Niccoli was set to send out a fundraising appeal by email Monday morning as she is "exploring" a bid to unseat Amedore. In a Sunday afternoon interview, Niccoli painted herself as someone who can relate to residents of the largely rural district, which runs from Montgomery County eastward, cutting in at the Guilderland-Albany border and extending south to Ulster County. "Although the district is very much gerrymandered for George Amedore, it's also my kind of people," she said. "It's small cities, it's rural. ... In the true sense of democracy your representatives are supposed to represent people like you, and I feel very much like I am. The people of the 46th district live lives that I understand and that are also my life." Niccoli's fundraising appeal hits Albany's "pay-to-play culture" and punches at Amedore as exemplifying "everything that's wrong with Albany." "His campaigns are funded by the same wealthy downstate developers at the heart of recent corruption scandals," the appeal states, a nod to contributions Amedore has received in the past from Glenwood Management, the prominent real estate company at the heart of the cases against former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos. Senate GOP spokesman Scott Reif retorted that Amedore "has been a trusted and independent voice for his district who has worked in a bipartisan manner to move our state forward." "His focus right now is exactly where it should be securing another record increase for upstate schools, building on his successful record of protecting taxpayers, helping businesses create new jobs and assisting families devastated by the heroin epidemic," Reif said. Niccoli has served as Palatine supervisor since 2014, calling herself "a fighter" as a Democrat against five Republican Town Council members in her first year. She ran on a "responsible government slate" in the 2015 election with two Republicans and another Democrat, all of whom won the council seats they challenged for. Niccoli's statewide advocacy work prominently has included the push for a $15 minimum wage in the past year. She emerges as a candidate in an election year that will further define the 46th district's political identity. Drawn in 2012, it was thought to be perfect for a GOP representative, but Democrat Cecilia Tkaczyk bucked expectations with a razor-thin victory over Amedore. In 2014, a gubernatorial election year in which voter turnout statewide was anemic, Amedore unseated Tkaczyk in more convincing fashion. The elections of 2016 present a presidential year, during which Democrats, who outnumber Republicans 2-to-1 statewide, are expected to come out to vote in droves in November, potentially boosting the chances of Democratic candidates down the ballot. Democratic enrollment in the 46th district is about 8,600 active voters higher than Republican enrollment. The Niccoli-Amedore matchup emerges less than a week after Democrat Chad Putman, Schenectady's deputy city clerk, announced in the Daily Gazette his intention to challenge longtime Republican state Sen. Hugh Farley in the 49th district this year. Farley also faces challenges on the right from Christian Klueg and Nancy Nugent. mhamilton@timesunion.com 518-454-5449 @matt_hamilton10 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Troy A former Watervliet police officer was led off in handcuffs after he pleaded guilty and was sentenced Monday to two years in prison for buying cocaine while in his patrol car from a violent Troy drug gang. Rensselaer County Court Judge Debra Young said Nicholas Pontore, 30, showed no remorse for his actions in buying cocaine from the Young Gunnerz street gang. Pontore in County Court apologized to his family and thanked them for their support. Young also sentenced Pontore to two years post-release supervision and suspended his driver's license for six months as part of a deal in which he pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. If convicted at trial of that charge, he faced up to five years in prison. Pontore admitted he possessed cocaine when police raided his East Greenbush home in May. "The most egregious violation of public trust in that he was a sworn police officer in uniform," state Assistant Deputy Attorney General Michael Sharpe said describing Pontore's actions. Pontore provided information to the Watervliet Police Department that led to one officer pleading guilty in an unrelated sex case and ongoing dismissal actions against two others. Arthur Frost, Pontore's defense attorney, described his client, the father of two young girls, as an addict who purchased cocaine but never sold it others. "I'm not asking for him to be treated differently because he's a police officer. We're asking for him to be treated the same as other addicts," Frost said. Pontore's plea deal and sentence came just days after Daquan "Benji Got The Juice" Murray was sentenced by Young to 10 years in prison for his role as the gang's ringleader. Pontore first ran into trouble in 2014 when he had to undergo drug testing by Watervliet police as part of a disciplinary case. Police would later discover he was caught up with the Young Gunnerz, who were targeted by the state attorney general's Operation Trojan Horse. Pontore was among 21 people arrested in the investigation led by the attorney general's Organized Crime Task Force. "The Young Gunnerz were one of the biggest and most dangerous drug gangs in the Capital Region, and today another individual who supported their drug ring's illegal activities is being held accountable," Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman said Monday. The Young Gunnerz sold heroin, cocaine and prescription drugs throughout the Capital Region and used firearms to protect their turf, which was centered in Troy, authorities said. They maintained Pontore provided protection for the gang's drug dealing. Watervliet saw its police department's reputation damaged and a loss of public support. "Our focus is rebuilding the relationship with the community and reaching out to the community," Acting Police Chief Mark Spain said. Mayor Michael Manning said, "For the city it's a closure to what went on here." After quitting the force, Pontore turned over evidence to city police that led to former Officer Joshua Spratt's arrest. Spratt pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sex act and was sentenced to six months in jail. Sgt. John P. Brant and Officer Sam Razzone have been suspended without pay since December, city officials said. The city is seeking to dismiss them through internal disciplinary charges for not reporting allegations of sexual misconduct, officials said. kcrowe@timesunion.com 518-454-5084 @KennethCrowe This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Colonie Voters in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation Democratic primary face a difficult decision: Do they go with establishment favorite Hillary Clinton or firebrand Bernie Sanders? Well, I'm here to announce that the state's voters have an alternate option, and I don't mean Martin O'Malley. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Raymond Moroz, a 55-year-old presidential candidate from ... Colonie, New York! More Information Contact Chris Churchill at 518-454-5442 or email cchurchill@timesunion.com See More Collapse What, you haven't heard of him? It's fair to say that Moroz is running a low-key campaign. He doesn't have a Facebook page or Twitter account, and don't bother searching for his website. I couldn't even find his phone number. But I'm nothing if not a determined journalist, and I'm proud to say that I secured an exclusive telephone interview with Moroz after tracking him down at his father's home on Staten Island. "Is Raymond Moroz there?" I asked. "Senior or Junior?" a man said. "The one who's running for president." "That's Junior. I'll get him." Thirty seconds later, I had the candidate on the phone. He sounded wary. That's understandable. We've all seen promising presidential campaigns ruined by a reporter's gotcha questions, and Moroz may have feared being asked to name the leaders of Chechnya, Taiwan, India and Pakistan. So I started with an easier question. I asked what he does for a living. Moroz nailed the answer like a well-prepped candidate, telling me that he works in IT for the state comptroller's office. I also learned that he grew up in New York City, moved to the Albany area in the 1980s and lives now in a split-level off Central Avenue in Colonie. Safe to say, his neighborhood won't be confused for Chappaqua. Eagle-eyed voters will notice other differences with Hillary. For one, he hasn't been eyeing the presidency for years. Instead, the spark for his campaign came recently, when he learned it would take just $1,000 and a short application to get on the New Hampshire ballot. He just couldn't resist. Neither could many others. There are 28 candidates on the state's Democratic primary ballot, and 30 on the Republican side. Three issues motivate the Moroz campaign: Opposition to the so-called Obamacare Cadillac tax; support for the creation of a federal Bureau of Gun Statistics; and support for laws that would integrate union members into corporate decision making. On most other issues, the candidate's views align closely with one of his competitors. "I really love Bernie Sanders," Moroz said. "I'm just a regular guy, a union guy. And Bernie is the candidate for me." As it turns out, Moroz is also a candidate for the executive board of his union his second try at the position. (The only photo I could find of Moroz was a black-and-white shot from the Public Employees Federation's 2012 election guide.) Moroz described the union race as his "real campaign" but don't underestimate his commitment to the presidential campaign. In fact, he's even planning an upcoming trip to New Hampshire, where he'll campaign door-to-door for an entire weekend. Sadly, not everyone is supportive of his presidential ambitions. That includes his girlfriend, who called him "crazy" and vowed not to come on the New Hampshire trip unless there's good shopping in Manchester. Note to Moroz's girlfriend: There isn't. Moroz also mentioned that this column would probably lead to some teasing at work, which might be an alternate reason for his initial wariness. "They'll put it up on the dart board at the union hall," he said. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. Isn't that the humility we should want from a president? Moroz is the anti-Trump. I asked Moroz for his best-case campaign scenario. His ambition seems to stop a bit short of the White House. "I'd be ecstatic if I got 12 votes," he said. Finally, a candidate who will tell us the truth! OK, but what if those 12 votes end up costing Bernie the election? Moroz could become the Ralph Nader of the New Hampshire primary. He exhaled loudly at the prospect. Clearly, this was not a scenario he had considered, and he conceded it would force an immediate change to his campaign strategy. Moroz decided he will only ask Clinton voters to consider his candidacy. He'll tell Sanders supporters to stay the course. It'll make for a lengthy bumper sticker: "Vote Raymond, unless you're voting for Bernie!" Here's a quick follow-up to last month's column about the Jesse and Teresa Sandidge, who faced terrible discrimination in the early 1960s as they tried to buy a home. The African-American family ultimately settled on Loughlin Street in Albany. Last week, the Albany Common Council passed a resolution naming Loughlin Street in the couple's honor, and requests that the University at Albany preserve the name "Jesse and Teresa Sandidge Way" if the street is demolished for dorm construction. Meanwhile, one of the couple's daughters, Maureen Obie, discovered an old Times Union article detailing a proposal to rename Arbor Hill Elementary after Teresa Sandidge, who was the first black head of the city's PTA. That never happened, but it isn't too late. cchurchill@timesunion.com 518-454-5442 @chris_churchill This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Cohoes The Hiawatha Institute for Indigenous Knowledge's plans for a research center in Cohoes and a traditional longhouse across the Mohawk River in Waterford are snarled in a dispute over a land transfer. The dispute goes back to territorial disputes that pre-date the United States and continue in the 21st century. On one side are the Mohawks, one of the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, for whom the Cohoes Falls site is an important religious, historical and cultural site. On the other is the Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians who claim historic ties to the falls. Brookfield Renewable Power, which operates a hydropower plant at Cohoes Falls, donated the land overlooking the falls in 2011 to the Hiawatha Institute. Plans for the research center were made public in 2012. But the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission review of Brookfield's proposed transfer of a 3.28 acre parcel to the Hiawatha Institute has been challenged by the Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians, based in Wisconsin. "The Stockbridge-Munsee Community does not believe that its interests would be served by the transfer of the land to Hiawatha Institute of Indigenous Knowledge," Bridget Swanke, senior counsel for Stockbridge-Munsee, wrote FERC on Nov. 6. The Stockbridge-Munsee want the land transferred to them as a federally recognized tribe instead of the Hiawatha Institute, which is a non-profit organization. The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe of Akwesasne supports the Hiawatha Institute receiving the land. The three tribal chiefs of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, Beverly Cook, Ron LaFrance Jr. and Eric Thompson, in a Nov. 23 letter to FERC, support the transfer to the Hiawatha Institute. "Further, during the past few years, the Tribe and Erie each have made efforts to reach agreement with SMC regarding disposition of the land, but each time have encountered the same roadblock the SMC's insistence that it be the recipient," the chiefs wrote. They added that dialogue could resume with SMC about access to the location for any ceremonial needs. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. According to Iroquois tradition, the Peacemaker told unbelieving Mohawks to cut off the branch of a tree he was sitting upon. They did, and he disappeared into Cohoes Falls' mists. He was believed to have vanished until he was found sitting at a campfire the next morning. Doug George-Kanentiio, a Mohawk and vice president of the Hiawatha Institute, said the institute believes it will emerge with the land. "It was Mohawk territory. There's no question," George-Kanentiio said. The Hiawatha Institute plans to proceed with its plans once the dispute is settled, George-Kanentiio said. kcrowe@timesunion.com 518-454-5084 @KennethCrowe Albany Transgender activists responded with anger and dismay at the Empire State Pride Agenda's unexpected announcement in December of "mission accomplished" and that their work was complete and the group would cease lobbying operations in 2016. In a letter sent to Pride Agenda's Executive Director Nathan Schaefer last Monday and signed by 30 transgender people and trans organizations, the group demanded a retraction of the statement and asked for an apology for suggesting that the long struggle for equality for transgender people was successfully completed. "When the Pride Agenda said 'mission accomplished,' that got our hackles up," said Renate Hartman, of Delmar, a 78-year-old transgender woman and former Army paratrooper who retired as a pharmaceutical industry executive. "We have a lot of trans issues left to work on, especially GENDA (the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act)," said Hartman, an organizer of the action against the Pride Agenda and a co-author of the blog "Transgender Talk" on timesunion.com. "The Pride Agenda's closure forced the trans community to get organized and to go forward on its own." The fledgling group is being led by Juli Grey-Owens, executive director of the Long Island Advocacy Coalition, and has not yet come up with a name, although it includes transgender activists from the Capital Region and many regions across the state. "We're greatly disappointed," said Grey-Owens, a former Pride Agenda board member. "The Pride Agenda has done damage to our community as we continue to fight for passage of GENDA. The message they've sent is that nothing else needs to be done and that's not the reality." Officials with the Pride Agenda did not respond to the letter that denounced its actions and they have not made any statement in response on their website. The transgender activists plan to demonstrate at Gov. Andrew Cuomo's State of the State address at Empire State Plaza Convention Center on Wednesday and will mount a re-invigorated campaign to demand passage of GENDA. They praised the regulations proposed by Cuomo that offer some much-needed protections to many transgender and gender non-conforming individuals, but they do not feel the regulations go far enough. "It implies that transgender people don't need a law to protect us, only a regulation," Grey-Owens said. "We need GENDA, because it will make it clear that discrimination against transgender individuals is against the law and it includes enforcement and penalties. Also, it can't be rescinded when a new governor comes in." The GENDA bill would extend to transgender people the same legal protections and civil rights that other New Yorkers enjoy. It has passed the Assembly for the last eight years, while the Senate has not allowed a floor vote. Passage of GENDA has long been considered the top legislative priority of transgender activists, but it has not always been a leading cause for the Empire State Pride Agenda, a high-profile state group that advocates on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues in the state. The Pride Agenda's greatest victory in its 25 years of operation was passage of the Marriage Equality Act in New York in 2011. Meanwhile, trans people feel they have been left behind and the snub reinforces a common theme that concerns of the T, or transgender, people are neglected during lobbying on behalf of the LGBT community. "It's like a car without four tires," Grey-Owens said. "Gov. Cuomo made a good step in the right direction, but there's so much work to be done until it's law," said the Rev. Bobbi Place, of Albany, a mother of a transgender son in his 30s. She is continuing to press for passage of GENDA. To date, 17 states have passed GENDA legislation, along with six cities across New York, including Albany. "Pride Agenda's closure left trans people in the lurch and scrambling to build our own organization to fight for GENDA," said Place, a retired Unitarian Universalist clergy member and former chaplain at Albany Medical Center and Ellis Hospital. She is also a board member of Interfaith Impact of New York State. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. A group called the Transgender Advocates of the Capital Region formed in 2013 and has since disbanded. Since many trans people fear retaliation and discrimination in the workplace and housing, statistics are hard to come by. There are an estimated 700,000 transgender people in the U.S. and about 60,000 transgender New Yorkers, based on a study by the UCLA Law School's Williams Institute that estimated transgender people make up about 0.3 percent of the population, compared to about 3.5 percent of the population for lesbian, gay and bisexual people. It costs New York state up to $7 million a year as a result of employment and housing discrimination against transgender people. "In general, things have gotten a lot better for us in the past few years and we're more accepted," said Hartman, who is divorced and whose three grown children are supportive of her transition from male to female that began about 20 years ago. For instance, her church, St. Andrew's Episcopal in Albany, has been very accepting and Hartman has joined its vestry and become a junior warden. "It's all about education and awareness," Hartman said. "I speak to a lot of groups and I end every conversation by saying, 'Just tell me what's so scary about this grandma.' Most just look at me and we move on." pgrondahl@timesunion.com 518-454-5623 @PaulGrondahl Business / Companies by Staff Reporter Media, Information and Broadcasting Services minister Chris Mushowe has warned Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) to be careful on reporting on national security issues.The warning comes days after the arrest of AMH reporters last week over allegedly publishing falsehoods on a story alleging that Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operatives had been paid bonuses secretly."We should be careful when reporting on national security" said Mushowe on NewsDay updates monitored by Bulawayo24.com.He said this during his familiarisation tour on Monday Morning."I believe in freedom of the press. I do not believe in freedom to destroy our country and our national interest" he added."I have an open door policy. Take me as I am and see me as I am. I believe that we must work as a team."I would not be a minister of this industry if it did not exist."It is an industry that I think even the President takes seriously that is why he approved this ministry".However, AMH Managing Director, Vincent Kahiya told the minister that, "government has made it clear that it would like to arrest journalists as weapon of choice to silence them".Kahiya's comments then forced Mushowe to say, "If they're any government officials that have said that can I have the names so that I can flag it to them and seek an understanding."We must all look at freedom of association and expression as freedom for us all."Every Zimbabwean is entitled to Zimbabwe. It's not only for journalists but for us all."Any country that has no thriving journalism is undemocratic."We should be careful when reporting on national security."They protect everyone and it is in our interest that we do not take social play in the areas of national interest."Imagine what would happen all civil servants and government is told not to buy your paper?" asked Mushowe.He said the media house contributions to build the country are important saying "investors depend on what you tell them"."I think we need to share ideas, do not shut me out."If you're vibrant and we focus on national interest that will help us convince local and international investors to help us create employmentOf late Mushowe has been critical of the private press.Late December he issued a chilling warning on journalists against tampering "with sacred forests of security sector.He said, "If you enter a river infested with crocodiles what do you think will happen to you?" THE ISSUE: The governor's criminal justice agenda looks to reduce crime and offer second chances. THE STAKES: Adequate legal counsel remains a fundamental need.Gov. Andrew Cuomo has a lot of things he wants to do to improve criminal justice in New York. It's the one thing he must do that's conspicuously missing from his list. More Information To comment: tuletters@timesunion.com or at http://blog.timesunion.com/opinion See More Collapse Mr. Cuomo's proposals focus commendably on both ends of the criminal justice spectrum expanding opportunities to keep people from committing crimes in the first place, and giving people who deserve it a fair shot at a second chance if they do end up on the wrong side of the law. But in between is a glaring omission: protecting the right to adequate legal counsel for people accused of crimes. And by "right," we mean, as Mr. Cuomo well knows, a constitutional one. This isn't optional. It's not that the governor's agenda isn't worthy. Much of it qualifies as enlightened. Mr. Cuomo wants to put $100 million into failing schools and other high needs schools to transform them into community schools that would bring together educational, medical and social programs beyond basic education. It expands a similar $30 million initiative in 2013. He also wants to invest $55 million in the state's Urban Youth Jobs Program, which has already helped more than 31,000 young people get jobs and another $5 million in job training for at-risk youth. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. For those who do end up convicted of crimes, Mr. Cuomo wants to offer more alternative sentencing, such as substance abuse treatment and behavioral therapy, offer about 1,000 state prison inmates the opportunity to earn a college degree or industry-recognized certificate. This idea has in the past met with conservative opposition and enough resistance in the Republican-controlled Senate to scuttle it, but this time, he is doing it without taxpayer money. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., has agreed to provide $7.5 million in criminal forfeiture funds. The governor also wants to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 18, keep 16- and 17-year-olds out of the older prison population, and improve the re-entry of convicts into society once they've done their time with transitional housing, medical care and help getting work. These may be mostly positive actions, but without access to adequate legal counsel, the criminal justice system remains stacked against the very people the governor is looking to help. It's no secret that the assigned counsel system is seriously underfunded; the state acknowledged as much when it settled a lawsuit on this very issue in 2014. That settlement, however, affected only five counties. More than a year later there is no sign of Mr. Cuomo ensuring that there is enough money and enough lawyers with enough time to properly represent those who cannot afford an attorney. The result: an unequal system of justice. Mr. Cuomo calls his initiative "Right Priorities." These may be mostly positive actions, but none of them is mentioned in the U.S. Constitution. The right to counsel is. Fulfilling the state's obligation to ensure and protect it should be the priority. [January 11, 2016] Historic National Coalition Formed to Accelerate Next Generation Immunotherapy in Cancer Today, leaders from large pharma including Celgene and Amgen, biotech including NantWorks, NantKwest, Etubics, Altor Bioscience, and Precision Biologics, major academic cancer centers and community oncologists announced the launch of The National Immunotherapy Coalition (NIC), a historic alliance--in collaboration with Independence Blue Cross, one of the nation's largest payers and Bank of America, one of the largest self-insured companies in the U.S.--with a singular focus: accelerating the potential of combination immunotherapies as the next generation standard of care in patients with cancer. This unprecedented collaboration of multinational pharmaceutical, biotechnology companies, academic centers and community oncologists will make possible access to over 60 novel and approved agents under exploration in the war against cancer and will enable rapid testing of novel immunotherapy combination protocols, forming the basis of The Cancer MoonShot 2020 (http://www.CancerMoonShot2020.org). The NIC (News - Alert) will design, initiate and complete randomized clinical trials in cancer patients with cancer at all stages of disease in up to 20 tumor types in as many as 20,000 patients by the year 2020. The QUILT Program The QUILT (QUantitative Integrative Lifelong Trial) program is designed to harness and orchestrate all the elements of the immune system (including dendritic cell, T cell and NK cell therapies) by testing novel combinations of vaccines, cell-based immunotherapy, metronomic chemotherapy, low dose radiotherapy and immunomodulators -- including check point inhibitors-- in patients who have undergone next generation whole genome, transcriptome and quantitative proteomic analysis, with the goal of achieving durable, long-lasting remission for patients with cancer. The multiple Phase 1 and 2 protocol designs will be a collaboration between academia, pharma, and clinical scientific experts in immunotherapy in accordance with the recent published U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidance of "Co-development of Two or More New Investigational Drugs for Use in Combination." Multiple companies are currently exploring first-in-human clinical trials as part of agreements between government agencies, including Immunology Branches of NCI, academia and community oncologists. Multiple randomized Phase 2 trials testing genomically and proteomically informed novel combinations of immunotherapy agents, will pave the way to identifying cancer therapy combinations with the lowest toxicity and the highest quality of life. Both academic cancer centers and community oncologists will participate in the QUILT Program to enroll 20,000 patients by 2020. The QUILT Program will be stratified across multiple Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials, addressing up to 20 tumor types including breast, lung, prostate, ovarian, brain, head and neck, multiple myeloma, sarcoma, pancreatic cancer, among others. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners have made an unprecedented commitment to make more than 60 novel immunotherapy, targeted therapy and chemotherapeutic agents available to be combined across multiple tumor types. "There are unique times in history when events and advancements in technology converge to elicit a quantum leap in medical care. This is not only a unique time, but also a unique inflection point in the history of cancer," said Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, M.D., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of NantWorks and the Chan Soon-Shiong Institute of Molecular Medicine. "The era of immunotherapy has taken the oncology world by storm. For the first time in 40 years there is a glimmer that we may be able to win this war against cancer. Large pharma and biotech companies are developing dozens of agents to activate the immune system. The problem is that while these drugs are being developed individually in silos by each entity, they need to act together when it comes to activating the immune system. If we follow the current path of drug development, it may take 40 or 50 years before we have worked out the right cocktail combination and countless lives will be lost as a result of this inefficiency." Dr. Soon-Shiong continued, "Our knowledge in the science of genomics, proteomics, immunology and immunotherapy has advanced and converged at an unprecedented speed, making now the time for the rapid deployment and orchestration of immunotherapy for the benefit of millions of cancer patients. The Cancer MoonShot 2020 Program, the National Immunotherapy Coalition and the QUILT Program are designed to do just that, bring together a diverse group of visionary leaders and stakeholders to pool resources and bring to patients a dramatic improvement in cancer care." Nation's First Insurance Coverage by Independence Blue Cross for Next Generation Panomic Sequencing Immunotherapy Moves Precision Medicine in Oncology from Bench to Bedside "The insurance coverage of whole genome transcriptomic tests in patients receiving immunotherapy by Independence Blue Cross is a landmark milestone in moving precision medicine in oncology from the bench to the bedside" Dr. Soon-Shiong stated "Independence Blue Cross has taken the visionary lead to cover next generation sequencing. We are in discussions with the rest of the insurance industry, including Blue Cross on a national basis to encourage the industry to follow Independence's lead." "At Independence Blue Cross, we are proud to be the first major insurer offering reimbursement to our members for this next generation whole genome sequencing," said Daniel J. Hilferty, President and Chief Executive Officer of Independence of Health Group. "We are committed to bringing state-of-the-art advances in oncology care to our members and making care accessible and affordable." Mission of Cancer MoonShot 2020 Program The mission of the Cancer MoonShot 2020 Program is to rapidly enroll and complete randomized Phase 2 clinical trials to validate the potential of panomic (whole genome, transcriptome and proteomic) analyses and to evaluate novel combination immunotherapies as the next generation standard of care. This coalition combines the efforts not only of major academic centers but also the community oncologists, enabling accelerated recruitment of patients to multiple Phase II trials. Utilizing a secure cloud-based infrastructure to integrate and enable the participation of both major academic and community oncologists at a national scale, the goal is to complete randomized clinical trials in patients with cancer at all stages of disease, across up to 20 tumor types in 20,000 patients within the next 36 months. By comparing standards of care to the next paradigm of less toxic immunotherapy combination therapy, the findings of these in the randomized QUILT Program will inform the design of Phase 3 registration trials, with the goal of bringing transformative advances in combination immunotherapies to cancer patients by 2020. Col. Craig Shriver, M.D., FACS at the John P Murtha Cancer Center at Walter Reed Military Hospital and United States Army said, "We validate big science through our clinical trials network. There are 1.2 million active duty military members, 9.3 million beneficiaries that receive military health care. That's a huge network. Just in our active duty force, we get a thousand active duty members a year that come down with cancer. If a thousand active duty members were still getting injured in Afghanistan or Iraq, we would not accept this. So it's the same thing with how militaries respond to infectious diseases, illnesses that affect the readiness of our active force. Cancer is that threat." Large Pharma and Biotech Collaboration In this historic collaboration, large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies --NantWorks, NantKwest, Etubics, Precision Biologics, and Altor Bioscience-along with others, have agreed to contribute their novel immunotherapy molecules, including adenovirus vaccines, neoepitopes antibodies, and natural killer cells, to accelerate the development of next generation immunotherapy combination cancer therapies across all tumor types. "I am pleased that visionary leaders in the healthcare industry have agreed to participate in the early formation and launch of this colition. Several pharma companies, biotechnology companies and others are currently assessing the opportunity to join the coalition at this early stage. As the Cancer MoonShot 2020 program coalesces and demonstrates rapid enrollment of patients, I am hopeful that many more multinational pharma leaders in the immunotherapy space, as well as other leaders in biotech, will agree to join this collaboration to accelerate immunotherapy development for the benefit of cancer patients," said Dr. Soon-Shiong. Celgene has established a research center of excellence focused on immunotherapy approaches such as checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T therapies, NK cells, stem cells and others. Celgene has also advanced new approaches to chemotherapy, including the development of Abraxane, the first cancer nanotechnology therapy globally approved for the treatment of breast cancer, lung cancer and pancreatic cancer. Celgene will participate in the Cancer MoonShot 2020 Program by applying its deep and diverse library of important molecules, both approved and in the development pipeline, to the QUILT Program. Robert J. Hugin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Celgene Corporation said: "At Celgene, we are fully committed to the Cancer MoonShot 2020 Program as a part of our longstanding efforts to discover and develop new therapies for difficult to treat cancers. We have learned that the research and development of breakthrough treatments for patients requires novel approaches, bold science and strong vision. To realize this vision, we are excited to participate in the Cancer MoonShot 2020 Program by applying our deep and diverse library of important molecules, both approved and in the development pipeline, to the QUILT Trials, which we believe will play an important role in the rapid advancement of immuno-oncology for patients with life-threatening cancers." Paul Seligman, M.D., MPH, Amgen, Chief of R&D Policy: "At AMGEN, we are committed to using genomics and deep insights into biology to develop novel therapies for cancer. We are committed to the goals of collaborative research efforts in immuno-oncology and the development of innovative combination therapies. It is a time of unprecedented progress in our ability to understand how to harness the power of the immune system to treat tumors, and collaborative approaches represent a tremendous opportunity to combine the efforts of key stakeholders to accelerate progress." Luciano Rossetti, M.D., Executive Vice President and Head of Global R&D for the biopharmaceutical business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany: "In 2014, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and Pfizer formed a global strategic alliance to jointly develop immuno-oncology compounds. Forging strong partnerships between academia and the healthcare industry is of strategic importance in sharing knowledge and more effectively addressing existing challenges in cancer care. We look forward to learning more about this initiative, as we share a common goal of improving patient outcomes through the combination of highly innovative novel-novel therapies in the field of immuno-oncology." Frank R. Jones, Ph.D., Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Etubics Corporation: "At Etubics, we specialize in developing innovative immunotherapies and vaccines for a wide-range of resilient diseases including cancer, so it goes without saying that we are extremely excited about this new initiative. We recognize the value in an immune stimulation treatment approach and look forward to volunteering our agents for combination clinical trials that we anticipate will produce groundbreaking results." Hing C. Wong, Ph.D., CEO and Founder of Altor Bioscience Corporation said, "We have focused our technology pipeline on cytokine-based immunotherapies. We have discovered exciting results when combining our immunostimulant molecules with other elements of the immune system, such as natural killer and T cells. The opportunity to accelerate development of our molecules in combination with other technologies in the field of immuno-oncology is a major step to advancing their clinical development. We have enthusiastically joined this coalition and are honored to been given this opportunity to play a part in the Cancer MoonShot 2020 program." Academic NCI - Designated Cancer Centers and Community Oncologists The successful accrual of 20,000 patients by 2020 will require both community oncologists and major medical centers to collaborate for the common good. The partnership also anticipates the participation of the military health system. Tom Kurtz, CEO of Windber Medical Center and Windber Research Institute: "Walter Reed has had a long standing partnership with the Windber Research Institute and through our collaborative efforts, we were responsible for providing over 90% of the breast cancer tissue genetically analyzed by the NIH Cancer Genome Atlas study. This human tissue repository is the nation's foremost Platinum-rated, CLIA CAP certified bio-repository for cancer tissue housing over 90,000 tissue specimens, and will be utilized as the tissue repository resource to support the QUILT Program. We are proud to be involved in this historic national initiative and to expand the efforts to elucidate the biologic mysteries of cancer and build on our work in genomics over the last decade. Windber Medical Center is a small community hospital supporting a population of 4,000. Cancer is a major issue as our population ages. It is a major honor and opportunity for our community to participate and have access to cutting edge technology through this Cancer MoonShot 2020 program." Michael M. Crow, President of Arizona State University said, "American higher education cannot assume that its competitive position in the world is unassailable. Our research universities must innovate to survive, and this Cancer MoonShot 2020 Program is an opportunity to innovate in healthcare research and training for the benefit of humanity. This program will link scientists and technological advances across dozens of areas around a single goal: clinical treatments individualized to the disease in a particular person. ASU is proud to be partners with NantWorks and the Chan Soon-Shiong Institute of Molecular Medicine in the development of a campus in Phoenix where the next generation of scientists, clinical decision specialists, integrated precision medicine engineers and medical data analysts can be trained for both research and healthcare delivery." Ralph H. Hruban, M.D., Professor of Pathology & Oncology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Director of The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center: "We are at a crossroads, a time of discovery that's transforming the ways we manage cancer. Johns Hopkins researchers and clinicians are working tirelessly to understand cancer better and to move treatments from bench to bedside so that patients can have a better shot at beating the disease. It is my hope that the National Immunotherapy Coalition, and others like it, will advance the understanding of cancer, not by small steps, but instead by leaps and bounds." Mark C. Poznansky, M.D., Ph. D. Director - Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center, Physician - Massachusetts General Hospital, Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School: "The time is now to create an accelerated path, and advance medical science forward to save lives and improve health worldwide. The National Immunotherapy Coalition clearly unites and leverages the resources and expertise of a diverse network of medical and business professionals to safely and rigorously accelerate the pace of discovery, development and actualization of cancer treatment. By accelerating the development of new safe and cost effective therapies combating cancer, we can bring them to those that are most in need faster and more cost effectively than current approaches." Manuel Hidalgo, M.D., Ph. D. Chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology and Clinical Director, Cancer Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School. "We are now glimpsing the potential of modulating the immune system to treat cancer in an effective way. Integrating multiple treatment strategies in innovative clinical trial protocols is the path to make a real impact in cancer care. In the Cancer Center at BIDMC, we are constantly working to discover and implement new treatments for our patients. We are very excited to work with The National Immunotherapy Coalition and join efforts to advance cancer medicine." Azra Raza, M.D., Columbia University, Director of MDS Center, Professor of Medicine: "We are very pleased to have the opportunity to work with the National Immunotherapy Coalition and collaborate with a world-class team who share a commitment to reduce cancer incidence and to improve the quality of life of those affected by cancer. Being able to pool resources and agents, we will be able to make a significant leap in developing new immunotherapeutic and combinations that will most benefit patients with various cancer types and stages." Vivian S. Lee, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., University of Utah Senior Vice President for Health Sciences, Dean of the School of Medicine, CEO, University of Utah Health Care: "There really is a no more fascinating or promising time to be in medicine. The National Immunotherapy Coalition is an amazing opportunity to discuss obstacles that may impede the successful moonshot for cancer and reach the goal of establishing an effective vaccine for this disease in 5 years instead of 20. The University of Utah is deeply committed to solving these dilemmas and I, for one, am heartened that we will help lead the way." Andrew M. Evens, DO, MSc, FACP, Professor & Chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology, and Director of the Tufts Cancer Center at Tufts Medical Center: "Tufts Cancer Center is honored to join a group of world-renowned expert physicians, scientists and researchers who have a shared passion for fighting cancer. We understand that cancer can affect every aspect of a person's life and the lives of their loved ones. That's why we are dedicated to research focused on helping bring new and innovative treatments to patients in less time." Stephen D. Nimer, M.D., Director of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and a Professor of Medicine, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine: "Every day, the physicians and scientists within Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center's site disease groups and multidisciplinary research programs, are working to make exciting breakthroughs that can transform the way cancer patients are diagnosed and treated. We look forward to working for the National Immunotherapy Coalition and developing the most innovative strategies to fight the most deadly forms of cancer." Payers, Providers and Technology Solutions (News - Alert) Beneficiaries and patients will undergo next-generation molecular sequencing and gain access to over 60 novel and approved molecules to be tested as immunotherapy combinations in 20,000 cancer patients across all tumor types in a master protocol: The QUILT Program. Daniel J. Hilferty, President and Chief Executive Officer of Independence of Health Group said, "Independence Blue Cross is committed to bringing state-of-the-art advances in oncology care. Although the science is still evolving, experts agree that immunotherapy is a game-changing approach that is expected to revolutionize the way we treat cancer in the future. We are proud to participate in the National Immunotherapy Coalition. We look forward to continued collaboration among this incredible team to develop the most innovative cancer fighting strategy in our lifetime." Jim Huffman, Senior Vice President, Head of US Health and Wellness Benefits, Bank of America: "Bank of America provides coverage for about 500,000 employees and their families and for the past five years has worked closely with NantHealth to explore innovative methods for improving health & wellness for their associates. We are doing our part to address an issue that affects the lives of our employees, our customers and clients, and the people in the communities we serve around the world. We are committed to providing the most advanced cancer care to our employees and the National Immunotherapy Coalition with its national footprint of oncologists practicing cutting edge medicine is a valuable resource we will now be able to offer to our 500,000 beneficiaries. Bank of America has partnered with Dr. Soon-Shiong and his team over the past five years to bring advanced health and wellness to our associates and their families, and we are proud to be a part of this Cancer MoonShot 2020." Paul M. Black, Allscripts, Chief Executive Officer & Director: "The National Immunotherapy Coalition is an exciting step towards a more efficient future in cancer treatment, partnering research and health information technology in an entirely new way. As a leader in healthcare information technology solutions, the EHR solution for the NIH and the NCI, we will play the critical role of connecting this newfound medical insight to the communities of healthcare professionals at the frontlines of care delivery. Combining the cutting edge research being done by NantWorks with the power of their Allscripts clinical information solutions will better harness the enormous volume of newly available data, allowing the dissemination of new discoveries much more rapidly to connected communities than has been possible in the past. We have seen already that when new research is presented in the clinicians' workflow efficiently and in a way that feels natural to them, it allows them to focus first and foremost on the well-being of all those dealing with cancer." John Chen, Blackberry CEO: "At Blackberry, we understand the value that lies at the intersection of healthcare and technology, which is why we are constantly making advancements to reflect the ever-changing healthcare landscape. As we already power many of the tools that clinicians rely on heavily, we are confident that our involvement in the National Immunotherapy Coalition will be an asset to the future of Cancer treatment. This unique collaboration is pioneering extraordinary solutions to cancer care and we are truly honored to be a part of it." December 1st Meeting of the National Immunotherapy Coalition in Washington DC The ambitious goals of the Cancer MoonShot 2020 Program were presented at a meeting hosted by Vice President Joseph Biden at his Naval Observatory residence in Washington DC on December 1, 2015, where members of the coalition presented their shared vision for translating the promise of precision medicine through the delivery of combination immunotherapy to routine clinical cancer care, as well as their shared commitment to accelerate the development of immunotherapy and vaccine therapy as the next generation evolution of cancer care. Attendees of that meeting, convened and chaired by Dr. Soon-Shiong, included leadership from the pharmaceutical industry representing large pharma and biotech, leadership from national payers including Independence Blue Cross and Bank of America and healthcare leaders from security and interoperability organizations including Allscripts and Blackberry. Major academic cancer centers represented at this meeting included center directors from Massachusetts General Hospital, Johns Hopkins University, University of Miami, University of Utah, Tufts Cancer Center and the John P Murtha Cancer Center at Walter Reed as well as representatives from the oncologists in the community. About The National Immunotherapy Coalition The National Immunotherapy Coalition (NIC) is an historic alliance formed through the efforts of top leaders from large pharmaceutical, biotechnology, health insurance and technology companies. The coalition's singular focus is to accelerate the potential of combination immunotherapies as the next generation standard of care in patients with cancer. For more information, please visit http://www.CancerMoonShot2020.org About The Cancer MoonShot 2020 Program The Cancer MoonShot 2020 Program is the nation's most comprehensive cancer collaborative initiative seeking to accelerate the potential of combination immunotherapy as the next generation standard of care in cancer patients. This initiative aims to explore a new paradigm in cancer care by initiating randomized Phase II trials in patients at all stages of disease in 20 tumor types in 20,000 patients within the next 36 months. These findings will inform Phase III trials and the aspirational moonshot to develop an effective vaccine-based immunotherapy to combat cancer by 2020. For more information, please visit http://www.CancerMoonShot2020.org View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160111006094/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 11, 2016] Latest Version of Comodo Certificate Manager Adds Rapid Code Signing Service for Instant Analysis and Deployment Clifton, NJ, December 14, 2015 The Comodo organization, a global innovator and developer of cybersecurity solutions, today announced that the next version of its flagship digital certificate lifecycle management technology Comodo Certificate Manager (CCM) 5.3 is now generally available worldwide. CCM 5.3 helps companies keep track of all of their digital certificates from dozens to thousands. The lifecycle management of digital certificates is a challenge for some companies which includes the ability to issue new certificates instantly. CCM streamlines the lifecycle management of EV, SSL, UC, Wildcard, Multi-domain, and client certificates through a unified and secure web interface which allows for easier administration, fast certificate issuance, lower costs and improved security. CCM 5.3 sees the addition of the Code Signing On-The-Fly (CSF) service, offering customers a more intuitive and highly secure way to digitally sign their software. Software publishers sign their applications with a code signing certificate to prove to customers that the file they are downloading is genuine and not a version that has been modified or hacked. This is especially important for publishers who distribute their software through third-party download sites, which they may have no control over. Furthermore, major operating systems will show end users an error message if the software they are trying to install is not signed by a trusted CA. CCM's CSF service provides a fast and simple interface through which developers can upload, sign and quickly collect their signed software. The service also ensures certificate keys are securely stored and available only to authenticated users, helping to mitigate the risk of accidental loss or theft. CSF is available in both hosted and cloud deployment models and can sign .EXE, .DLL, .CAB, .MSI, .JS, .VBS, .PS1, .OCX, .SYS, .WSF, .CAT, .MSP, .CPL, and .EFI formats. "Our latest version of Comodo Certificate Manager adds the new element of Code Signing On-The-Fly, further supporting our already excellent features of streamlining the management of digital certificates overall," said Muratcan Tepencelik, CCM product manager. "Code Signing Services from Comodo solve the traditional code signing problems of private keys being shared locally subjecting them to possible theft or loss with instant feedback and approval processes, allowing the certificate management team to rest easy and know the lifecycle of its digital certificates are maintained, optimized and secure." Benefits of Comodo Certificate Manager CCM 5.3 is a flexible and reliable system for digital certificate issuance and lifecycle management CCM 5.3 streamlines lifecycle administration with rapid approval, issuance, revocation and renewal of SSL certificates The system allows for configurable email alerts, so system administrators can receive notifications about certificate requests and upcoming expiration notices CCM 5.3 offers same-day expiration reissuance A built-in auto discovery feature in CCM imports all existing and future SSL certificates (even for different vendors) on company websites and internal networks CCM 5.3 ensures no unexpected certificate expiration happens via detailed notification processes Unlike automated certificate vendors, CCM 5.3 is supported by live, expert technical assistance What do some of Comodo's great customers say about using Comodo Certificate Manager? "Comodo Certificate Manager gives our team a central repository and dashboard to manage and track all the digital certificates across our entire network. With CCM, we can get fast turnaround and renewal on any certificate and stay up-to-date on certificates that are nearing expiration or renewalensuring our web properties stay fully functional and secure every minute of every day for our customers." -- Mr. Dustin Lovell, systems administrator at America First Credit Union. "We needed to put a certificate management solution in place that would significantly streamline the process of ordering, managing, and understanding which digital certificates were expiring and Comodo Certificate Manager was the perfect security solution for us. CCM gives us proactive updates regarding any changes in the SSL landscape, including security issues and alerts, and ensures no unexpected certificate expiration. All of these features within CCM allow for our organization's dependence on IT to remain secure." -- Mr. Andrew Rust, technical authority at Aviva. "Comodo Certificate Manager is now our central, one-stop shop to view and manage all of our digital certificates and public key infrastructure needs. Comodo Certificate Manager's workflow makes it very easy to operate, allowing our systems administrators to have single visibility into all of the digital certificates we need to manage now and in the future. Comodo CCM is the perfect solution to manage the lifecycle of our certificates and grow with us, as we grow as a company." -- Mr. Christian Freund, technical authority, Systems and Software Development at Weseler Rechenzentrum. Get more information on CCM here: https://www.comodo.com/business-security/pki-management/certificate-manager.php. Follow @ComodoNews on Twitter for breaking news and information from Comodo. About Comodo The Comodo organization is a global innovator and developer of cybersecurity solutions, founded on the belief that every single digital transaction deserves and requires a unique layer of trust and security. Building on its deep history in SSL certificates, antivirus and endpoint security leadership, and true containment technology, individuals and enterprises rely on Comodo's proven solutions to authenticate, validate and secure their most critical information. With data protection covering endpoint, network and mobile security, plus identity and access management, Comodo's proprietary technologies help solve the malware and cyberattack challenges of today. Securing online transactions for thousands of businesses, and with more than 85 million desktop security software installations, Comodo is Creating Trust Online. With United States headquarters in Clifton, New Jersey, the Comodo organization has offices in China, India, the Philippines, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit comodo.com. Comodo and the Comodo brand are trademarks of the Comodo Group Inc. or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners. The current list of Comodo trademarks and patents is available at comodo.com/repository For more information, media and analysts may contact: Charles Zinkowski Director of Corporate Communications 973-859-4662 [email protected] As a community-building service, TMCnet allows user submitted content which is not always proofed by TMCnet editors. If you feel this entry is of inferior quality or wish to report it for some reason, please forward the URL to "webedit [AT] tmcnet [DOT] com" with your comments. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 11, 2016] Spinning motors just got simpler with TI's latest stepper technologies DALLAS, Jan. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Instruments (TI) (NASDAQ: TXN) today enhanced its high-performance stepper motor-driver family with three new devices for 24-V stepper motors. Two devices offer TI's patented AutoTune technology to eliminate stepper motor tuning and two integrate current sensing to support differentiated 3D printers, robotics, factory automation equipment, currency-counting machines and more. Learn more or order samples at www.ti.com/drv8880-pr. AutoTune technology on the DRV8880 and DRV8881 devices eliminates the time-consuming, iterative process of manual tuning, saving weeks or even months of design time. This on-chip intelligence dynamically monitors the motor's performance under varied conditions over its lifetime and adjusts decay settings appropriately. This functionality makes it possible to develop motors that run quietly and efficiently despite changes in motor properties, supply voltage, load and torque. For motor systems that do not require the stability and longevity benefits of AutoTune technology, designers can take advantage of the new DRV8885 bipolar stepper motor driver with integrated current sensing. TI incorporates a unique technology that eliminates two external sense resistors to accurately regulate the current to the motor, saving up to 20 percent board space and simplifying routing compared to competing devices. Learn more or order samples at www.ti.com/drv8885-pr. Other key features of the new stepper motor drivers are in the table below. Device Feature Control interface Current capacity On-chip microstepping DRV8880 AutoTune Step/Direction 2.0 A full scale (maximum drive current) Yes; up to 1/16. DRV8881 AutoTune Phase/enable 2.0 A full scale (maximum drive current) No; external control allows for higher microstepping levels. DRV8885 Integrated current sensing Step/Direction 1.5 A full scale (maximum drive current) Yes; up to 1/16. DRV8884 Integrated current sensing Step/Direction 1 A full scale (maximum drive current) Yes; up to 1/16. Tools and support Designers can speed evaluation and design with the new stepper-motor drivers using the DRV8880EVM, DRV8881EEVM (for phase/enable interface), DRV8881PEVM (for PWM interface) and DRV8885EVM evaluation modules (EVMs). Each EVM features an onboard MSP430TM microcontroller, giving designers a cost-effective platform that speeds development and time to market. Each is available for purchase at US$49 via the TI store and authorized distributors. To support stepper-motor challenges, designers can search for solutions, ask questions, and share knowledge with fellow engineers and TI experts on the TI E2E Community Motor Driver forum. Pricing and availability The DRV8880 and DRV8881 are available now in 28-pin very thin quad flat no-lead (WQFN) and heat-sink thin-shrink small-outline package (HTSSOP) types. Pricing in 1,000-unit quantities starts at US$1.92 for the DRV8880 and US$1.60 for the DRV8881. The DRV8885 is available now in a 24-pin HTSSOP package. Pricing in 1,000-unit quantities starts at US$1.50. The DRV8884 will be available soon in a 24-pin HTSSOP package. Pricing in 1,000 quantities starts at US$1.30. About Texas Instruments Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) is a global semiconductor design and manufacturing company that develops analog integrated circuits (ICs) and embedded processors. By employing the world's brightest minds, TI creates innovations that shape the future of technology. TI is helping more than 100,000 customers transform the future, today. Learn more at www.ti.com. Trademarks AutoTune, MSP430 and TI E2E are trademarks of Texas Instruments. All registered trademarks and other trademarks belong to their respective owners. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160108/320414 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spinning-motors-just-got-simpler-with-tis-latest-stepper-technologies-300201698.html SOURCE Texas Instruments (TI) [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 11, 2016] Abu Dhabi Hotel Boasts World's Fastest Internet Connection ABU DHABI, January 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Jannah Burj Al Sarab's newly upgraded Internet speed is faster than any other hotel in the world and is free to all guests A new hotel in Abu Dhabi is claiming it has the fastest Internet speed of any hotel in the world. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160110/320656 ) Managers of the Jannah Burj Al Sarab in Mina say they recently had their Wi-Fi upgraded to 1.2 Gigabytes per second (Gbps), putting them ahead of every other hotel to have tested their speed on the website http://www.hotelwifitest.com, which tests and rates Internet speeds available at hotels around the globe. According to the website, there is no hotel nationally or internationally that comes close to Jannah Burj Al Sarab's Internet capabilities. Prior to the upgrade, the hotel's Internet speed was 270 Megabytes per second (Mbps), which was still higher than the world's average Internet speed of 100-250 Mbps. The highest measured spee in Abu Dhabi is 240 Mbps, while in Dubai, it has been recorded to be 48 Mbps. The record-breaking Wi-Fi speed is great news for tourists and business travellers checking into the 318-room luxury hotel, which officially opens this month. This unique feature is offered to all guests staying at the hotel, enabling them to use the web at full speed - and completely free of charge. A public event will be held in the third week of November to formally launch the new Internet speed. For reservations, call 00 971 (2) 6526 777 or 800-JANNAH (800-526624), or email [email protected] For more information on the hotel, visit http://www.jannah.ae About Jannah Burj Al Sarab: The five-star hotel comprises 318 rooms and suites, as well as a restaurant, a spa, rooftop fitness and leisure facilities offering stunning panoramic views of the city. The hotel features 224 deluxe rooms, 66 junior suites, 22 executive suites, four three-bedroom penthouses, two two-bedroom penthouses, as well as royal suites in two- and three-bedroom configurations. All rooms come equipped with 48-inch TVs and in-room Wi-Fi service. Jannah Burj Al Sarab is a hub that offers business, shopping, cultural and beach experiences in the central business district of Abu Dhabi. WORK PLAY SLEEP SPA is the foundation behind the innovative design of each room and suite. About Jannah Hotels and Resorts: Jannah Hotels was born and raised in the Liwa Desert of the United Arab Emirates. Founded on the spirit of the Noble Bedouin Hospitality and pioneered with an infrastructure that is innovative, creative and dynamic, Jannah Hotels & Resorts has blossomed into the hotel management company of choice. Offering leading proprietary technology and evolutionary programs, the company offers intelligent and efficient hotel management services that are focused on ensuring properties managed under the Jannah Hotels & Resorts brand's reach their operating potential in every aspect. Properties in the portfolio also include Jannah Eastern Mangroves Suites, Jannah Place Abu Dhabi, Jannah Marina Bay Suites, Jannah Place Dubai Marina and Andalus Al Seef Resort & Spa (opening soon). SOURCE Seven Media [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 11, 2016] Viaspace CEO Visits Giant King Grass Power Plant Project Under Development In Nicaragua WALNUT, Calif., Jan. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- VIASPACE Inc. (OTC: VSPC) reported that CEO, Mr. Haris Basit, visited the Energia Reino Verde Giant King Grass power plant project under development in Nicaragua in December 2015. Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Carl Kukkonen, accompanied him during the visit. Energia Reino Verde (ERV) is a planned 12.3 MW biomass power plant co-located with a 2,100 acre Giant King Grass plantation that is part of a larger 10,000 acre rice plantation and rice mill that provides rice to Agri-Corp, a large diversified food company that has more than 50% of the rice market in Nicaragua. VIASPACE is co-developing this project with Agri-Corp executives and investors. VIASPACE and the Agri-Corp team are equal partners in ERV. The project has received a letter of intent from two international development banks which are working together to provide the debt financing, and the Nicaraguan partners will arrange the majority of the equity financing. The boiler technology has been selected and an engineering, procurement and construction contract has been signed. Giant King Grass has been growing in Nicaragua for more than two years. The project is ready to go, upon approval of the Nicaraguan government. Mr. Basit met with Mr. Amilcar Ybarra, CEO of Agri-Corp, in Managua to receive a briefing on the ERV project, and visited the rice plantation where the Giant King Grass is growing and met with the agriculture team. Mr. Basit stated, "I was very impressed with the overall capabilities of Agri-Corp and we are pleased to have them as a partner. I want to thank Mr. Ybarra for hosting my visit. It is clear that the project is very far along and that we will be able to proceed very quickly once we get government approval. The visit to the rice plantation was very informative. They plant and harvest about 6,000 acres of rice twice each year. They are extremely professional with top-quality equipment and trained agronomists. It is a large operatin that includes an on-site rice mill. Giant King Grass has been growing on the plantation for more than two years, and the power plant will also be co-located on the plantation so that the furthest field will only be 2 miles from the power plant. This makes logistics much simpler and financially efficient." The Giant King Grass project in Nicaragua will provide reliable 24/7 base electricity that is renewable with zero net carbon dioxide emissions. The project will replace imported oil which is the source of base electricity today, and provide more than 400 rural jobs in Nicaragua. Other renewable energy sources such as solar and wind are intermittent sources that cannot be relied upon continuously and require oil backup electricity to compensate for intermittency. Mr. Basit concluded, "The Energia Reino Verde project will be our showroom for customers for future projects throughout the world. VIASPACE has the capability to develop the entire project including the plantation and power plant, and is working with customers and development partners on similar projects around the globe. We and our partners can do everything from a prefeasibility study and financial model through Engineering Procurement and Construction and commissioning of the power plant." Pictures from the Nicaragua trip are available on the VIASPACE Facebook page www.facebook.com/viaspaceinc. About VIASPACE Inc. VIASPACE grows renewable Giant King Grass as a low-carbon fuel for clean electricity generation; for environmentally friendly energy pellets; and as a feedstock for bio-methane production and for green cellulosic biofuels, biochemicals and biomaterials. Giant King Grass is a proprietary, high yield, dedicated biomass energy crop. Giant King Grass when it is cut frequently at 4 to 5 feet tall is also excellent animal feed. The USDA granted approval for planting Giant King Grass throughout the US and cooperates in exporting by performing the required inspections and issuing the phytosanitary certificate needed for import into foreign countries. Giant King Grass is being grown in California, Hawaii, St. Croix Virgin Islands, Nicaragua, South Africa, China, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines and Guyana. For more information, please go to www.VIASPACE.com or contact Dr. Jan Vandersande, Director of Communications, at 800-517-8050 or [email protected]. Safe Harbor Statement Information in this news release includes forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation, risks outlined in our periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, and other factors over which VIASPACE has little or no control. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/viaspace-ceo-visits-giant-king-grass-power-plant-project-under-development-in-nicaragua-300202047.html SOURCE VIASPACE Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 11, 2016] TCL Corporation Showcases Complete line-up of Innovative Products at CES 2016 SHENZHEN, China, Jan. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- TCL, one of world's leading consumer electronics manufacturers, showcased the complete range of its innovative products at the International Consumer Electronics Show 2016 (CES 2016) held in Las Vegas, Nevada, from January 6 to 9, 2016. TCL's Quantum Ultra High Definition (QUHD) TV, a television set that is considered to be the definition of next-generation smart TVs, made its global debut at the show. TCL's QUHD TV, a highlight of the show, sets a new standard in the smart TV market At CES, the event where each year's technological innovations get a chance to be viewed and rated by the market, TCL has displayed its latest achievement in the TV industry, the new QUHD TV series enabled by the QUHD technology. As one product in the QUHD TV family, a high-end product line launched by TCL, the X1 QUHD TV, which the company unveiled prior to CES, comes equipped with a number of top line features, including industry-leading hardware, H/K audio and the smart TV+OS system, in addition to the QUHD technology. By making full use of the quantum properties inherent in the selected materials, combined with the support of the quantum image quality processing engine as well as several integrated technologies, including IDP (Intelligent display process) engine, full partition precise backlight control, the HDR display and signal processing integrated technology, the suite of technologies delivers excellence in image quality, including the widest color gamut coverage, a high luminance dynamic range, ultra-high contrast, accurate color matching and extraordinary backlight control. The QUHD TV series, built on the fundamental innovation of backlight technology, has set a higher standard for next-generation TVs, bringing an end to disputes over what is actually the next-generation TV technology. QUHD TVs, by taking full advantage of the unique quantum technology, far exceed LED TVs in terms of display effects and also surpasses OLED TVs in terms of several key metrics, including definition and color purity. Additionally, QUHD TVs are residual shadow-free and have a longer life expectancy and higher energy efficiency, among other advantages, over other types of television technologies, providing a more affordable and appropriate choice for potential buyers of smart TVs. TCL plans to expand its QUHD TV line, which currently consists of two differentiated models: the X1 and the C2, to include more high-end products, in a move to create the strongest high-end portfolio across the industry. TCL, one of China's earliest quantum TV manufacturers and one that has invested heavily and achieved the most in the field of quantum technology, has grown into a vertically-integrated TV maker with businesses covering the full spectrum of the industry, from LCD modules to LCD panels o complete TV sets. Based on its unique advantages in R&D and production of TVs, TCL has become the only TV manufacturer in China that has the ability to produce quantum TVs, fully demonstrating the company's competitive advantages in product innovation over other TV producers. TCL Communication releases its first Win10 tablet line, the PIXI TCL Communication Technology exhibited a number of its new smart mobile devices and innovative products at this year's CES, including two 8-inch tablets equipped with Windows 10 operating system: the PIXI 3 and PIXI 4, as well as the CareTime smart watch for children. The PIXI 3, the first Windows 10 tablet launched by TCL, came with Qualcomm's 4G chip, an 8-inch screen with front and rear cameras and a GPS system, and supports voice calls. The tablet can be connected to a TV and serve as a TV remote. In addition, with custom color shells and foldable protective covers, the tablet meets the individual needs of different consumers. In addition to its advantage in the technology for developing multiple operating systems-supported smart terminals, TCL Communication often provides one product line in various sizes to suit the individual preferences of consumers. The PIXI 4, on display at the show consists of four smartphones and tablets with sizes ranging from 3.5 inches to 7 inches, all of which feature stylish appearance design as well as high-quality audio and camera systems. TCL's Tonly Electronics showcases smarthome appliances at CES TCL's Tonly Electronics Holdings Limited exhibited the Tonenic series of IOT devices and audio equipment at this year's CES in Las Vegas including bluetooth speaker systems, smart speaker systems, in-ear earphones, wireless headsets and smart home systems. The noise cancelling headphone launched by Tonly this year, features a stylish exterior and an ergonomic structural design. Soft leather earmuffs and Tonly's own HD speaker units, advanced simulated noise reducing technology, bluetooth wireless transmission, touch buttons and voice control made the headphone an impressive highlight of Tonly's exhibit. This is not the first time that Tonly has unveiled an array of smart home devices. In addition, to address the increasing demand for smart products, Tonly has reintegrated and launched several product lines and solutions for security monitoring, health management as well as power and energy management. TCL, a leader in the globalization drive among China's manufacturers of consumer electronics TCL has been committed to innovation for years, said Li Dongsheng, chairman and CEO of TCL Corporation. In 2014, the group applied for 2,971 patents including more than 2,100 invention patents, placing TCL among the top five Chinese companies in terms of the number of patent applications. CSOT, one of the companies under TCL, was among the top four Chinese manufacturers in terms of the number of international patent applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty. In 2015, TCL made its presence felt in the international arena, where its mobile business performed particularly well. TCL Communication Technology now markets its products in more than 170 countries and regions, and has gained competitive advantages in North America, Latin America and Europe as well as in several emerging markets. TCL has established important partnerships with some of the largest operators in the US including AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint, since entering the North America market in 2010. With its advantages in operator channels, operating capacity and products, TCL Communication Technology has ranked number four in terms of market share in the US since 2014. During the first three quarters of 2015, TCL's mobile shipments ranked fifth globally, according to the latest data. TCL Communication Technology's total sales in North America reached 10.6 million units in the first three quarters, an increase of 30% year-on-year, according to statistics released by American market research firm IDC. Total sales in Latin America rose to 17.6 million units, while those in Europe amounted to 13.5 million units, of which sales of smart terminals increased 31% from a year earlier. Overall, TCL's sales for the first three quarters of 2015 exceeded 74 billion yuan, up 7.1% year-on-year. In addition to the communications business, the growth of TCL's multimedia businesses and of operations at CSOT were also impressive. The sales of the group's multimedia LCD TVs ranked third globally during the first three quarters, while those of CSOT's LCD TV panels rose to take fifth place. Li Dongsheng said "the new goal of TCL is to become a global smart product maker and an Internet app service provider. Going forward we will strive to realize the goal. With our own advantages, we will strengthen international expansion and establish a presence in local markets, build a more complete industry chain and seek to establish a win-win result for our company and for the local economies that we engage with." Contact: Marta Chen +86-755-3331-3868 [email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160111/320743 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160111/320742 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tcl-corporation-showcases-complete-line-up-of-innovative-products-at-ces-2016-300202100.html SOURCE TCL Corporation [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 11, 2016] Utility Announces Three More Police Departments That Will Be Using BodyWorn As Their Officer-Worn Video Camera Systems ATLANTA, Jan. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Utility, Inc. officially announced today that three more police departments throughout the United States have recently selected BodyWorn as their officer-worn camera system. The Bexar County Sheriff's Office in Texas, the Long Beach Police Department in California, and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) in Georgia will all deploy BodyWorn during 2016. BodyWorn is the only automatic, policy-based recording and video management software currently available to police departments. "This announcement is a market confirmation of our team's success in providing police departments with the best possible solution to meet the accountability, transparency and privacy needs of the 21st century," said Robert McKeeman, CEO of Utility. "Our policy-based recording and video management system eliminates the need for police officers to have to remember to manually start video recording. It also provides accountability that recording will continue until the end of a situation, based upon the department's video recording policy. Police officers can focus on serving the public and staying safe, and not get distracted by also having to be a videographer. Citizen and police officer privacy is protected. This is the first of many major announcements Utility has in store for 2016." The Bexar County Sheriff's Office in Bexar County, Texas, plans to deploy 300 BodyWorn systems in the second quarter of 2016. In addition to equipping its officers with BodyWorn cameras, the Bexar County Sheriff's Office will also be using tility's Rocket IoT in-vehicle camera system, which seamlessly connects to the Enterprise Software Back-End, AvailWeb. This partnership creates the first-ever "smart" patrol car by fully integrating video captured from dashboard and BodyWorn cameras through the Rocket IoT's communication and video triggering platformthereby unifying video feeds from multiple in-car and BodyWorn cameras into one incident report. Long Beach, California, is the seventh largest city in the State of California and the Long Beach Police Department is the second largest municipal police agency in Los Angeles County. The Department will initially deploy 100 BodyWorn cameras and Rocket vehicle communication systems in Q1 2016 as part of the first phase in its deployment of body camera technology. The MARTA Police Department, which provides safe and secure systems for the City of Atlanta's major transportation infrastructure, has deployed BodyWorn cameras and expects to have 200 in use before the close of 2016. They will be used by the Department's Narcotics K-9 Specialized Patrol Unit, which guards the city's transit cars and stations. "Our focus is to never ask a police officer to do something manually that technology could do for them automatically," said McKeeman. "Our BodyWorn video camera can automatically implement a City's video recording policy. Recording rule combinations such as the police car door being opened while the light bar is flashing, or an Officer entering a GeoFence zone, can be defined to automatically start video recording. If a Police Chief changes a recording policy, all body-worn cameras can be wirelessly updated immediately with the new recording rules. This avoids confusion and the need for extensive officer retraining classes and delays in implementing the new recording policy. Our smart camera is integrated into the uniform, which provides a stable and secure platform for recording video while an officer is running or is involved in a struggle. Our Generation 2 smart BodyWorn camera with real-time communications integrated into the uniform provides many officer-safety and operational benefits over simple Generation 1, manually-operated, clip-on cameras with no real-time communications." Utility's Generation 2 BodyWorn video camera captures high-definition video and provides real-time communications for the officer. "Officer Down" emergency alerts with the officer's exact location is immediately sent to central dispatch. "Be on the Lookout" (BOLO), Silver and Amber Alerts can be immediately transmitted from central dispatch to all officers. Video is immediately uploaded as it is being recorded to secure Amazon cloud storage instead of requiring officers to travel back to the police station at the end of the shift to manually upload video. Smart Redaction video redaction is a standard capability included as part Utility's AVaiLWeb Video Management system. Smart Redaction automatically identifies and blurs faces, body parts with identifiable tattoos, and other objects in a video to protect citizen and police officer privacy. This unique capability allows a police department to quickly and reliably redact video to respond to Press and Open Records requests. Manual labor cost and delay to redact videos is eliminated, which allows Law Enforcement agencies to maximize accountability and transparency. All BodyWorn video cameras and Rocket IoT in-car video recording systems are tightly integrated with Utility's AvailWeb enterprise mapping, tracking, and video evidence software management system. For more information about Generation 2 BodyWorn video cameras, visit Bodyworn.com . About Utility Utility is a venture-capital funded software developer headquartered in Decatur, Georgia in metropolitan Atlanta. The company provides real-time Situational Awareness and Police Video Management Software as a service and vehicle wireless communications hardware solutions for Police, Fire, EMS, Electric and Gas Utility, and Public Transit customers across the US. Utility owns US patents 6,831,566; 7,768,548; and 8,781,475; and has numerous patents pending with the US Patent Office, the Canadian Patent Office, and the European Union Patent Office. Contact: Jake Mendlinger Office: 516-829-8374 / Cell: 516-639-3373 Email: [email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160111/320734 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/utility-announces-three-more-police-departments-that-will-be-using-bodyworn-as-their-officer-worn-video-camera-systems-300202095.html SOURCE Utility [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] News / Africa by Staff Reporter Simon Segola has said the last time he got good sleep was in October 2006 before his 14-year-old daughter was held hostage and raped for two weeks.Daily Sun reported that the 56-year-old father of five from Kagisanong kasi in Mangaung told Daily Sun his daughter died soon after the suspect's arrest, leading to his release.And now Simon is being haunted by the spirit of his daughter, Masetshaba. Every night in his dreams, she asks him why he has abandoned her!Simon said his horror started 10 years ago when he and his father, Solomon, realised Masetshaba was missing.She eventually turned up at Solomon's house and told them she had been kept hostage by men in Namibia kasi, who used her as a sex slave for two weeks!"When she died, the doctors said it was because of blunt trauma to her privates," said the devastated father. "She now comes to my dreams every night asking why I have not clothed her."He said Masetshaba was denied food and water during her two-week rape ordeal."The suspect was arrested in the shack where my daughter was kept but he was released after her death," said Simon.Sangoma Mamoya Rakauoane said Simon's dream meant he needed to slaughter a cow for his daughter.National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Phaladi Shuping said a case could be closed if there was a lack of evidence."The state has to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt," he said. [January 11, 2016] Software Defined Wide Area Network Market Worth 5.57 Billion USD by 2020 PUNE, India, January 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report "Software Defined Wide Area Network Market by Components (Virtual Appliance, Physical Appliance & Hybrid), Deployment Type (On-Premises & On-Cloud), Service (Managed Services & Professional Services), Verticals, & by Regions - Global Forecast to 2020", published by MarketsandMarkets, is expected to reach USD 5.57 Billion by 2020. The SD-WAN market size is estimated to grow at an estimated CAGR of 3.64% from 2015 to 2020. Browse 82 market Tables and 31 Figures spread through 124 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Software Defined Wide Area Network Market" http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/software-defined-wan-market-53110642.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report. SD-WAN is a transformational application installed in existing WAN connections used by enterprises users to simplify their branch networking performance over large geographies. Increasing need of mobility services, and requirement for simplified network architecture is driving the Software Defined Wide Area Network Market during the forecast period of 2015 to 2020. Banking Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) are spurring the demand for SD WAN market globally The Software Defined Wide Area Network Market is segmented on the basis of different verticals into BFSI, oil and gas, healthcare, government, manufacturing, and others. The demand for SD-WAN solutions is gaining traction across all the industries. Since improving operational efficiency has become one of the key elements of enterprise strategies, the demand for providing high-speed internet and strong network coverage is increasing rapidly. BFSI holds the largest share of the total market share of SD WAN market across the globe. Reduced Expenses and Rising Enterprise Mobility are the major drivers for SD WAN adoption. The major forces driving the Software Defined Wide Area Network Market is growing need for enterprise mobility which has given rise to usage of mobile personal devices such as smartphones, notebooks, and tablets to access corporate networks. Furthermore, with the deployment of SD-WAN enables the network operators to save huge capital and operational expenditure is one more major factor driving the SD-WAN market. SD-WAN are affordable in comprison to traditional networking connections as these assists easy up-gradation of traditional complex network into simplified network connections. The enterprises have realized the importance of SD-WAN solutions and are focusing to deploy these solutions in their premises. Request Sample [email protected] http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsample.asp?id=53110642 Increasing Bandwidth Demand and High Performance Networking requirements are the key driving factor for North America Market The report also covers the total Software Defined Wide Area Network Market by geography. North America is expected to have the largest market share; however, Latin America will grow with the highest CAGR from 2015 to 2020. On-going demand for the increasing bandwidth and increasing dependency in high performance networks are the reason for growth of SD WAN in North America. The major vendors in the SD-WAN market include Aryaka Networks, Cisco Systems, Talari Networks, FatPipe Networks, Mushroom Networks, and others. The scope of the report covers detailed information regarding major factors influencing the growth of Software Defined Wide Area Network Market, such as drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges. A detailed analysis of the key industry players has been done to provide insights into their business overview, products and services, key strategies, new product launches, partnerships, agreements, collaborations, and recent developments associated with the SD-WAN market. Browse Related Reports WAN Optimization Market by Solutions (Hybrid Network Optimization, WOC, Network Traffic Acceleration and Monitoring), by Services, by Deployment Type, by Verticals, by End Users (CSPs, Network Operators, Enterprises), by Regions - Global Trends and Forecast to 2014-2019 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/wan-optimization-market-123083555.html Software Defined Networking (SDN) Market & Network Function Virtualization by Solution (Security Technologies, Switches, SDN Application Platform & Controller, SDS Platform, and Routers), Service, End User - Global Forecasts to 2020 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/software-defined-networking-sdn-market-655.html About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is world's No. 2 firm in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical infographics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers. We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository. Contact: Mr. Rohan Markets and Markets UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ Magarpatta city, Hadapsar, Pune, Maharashtra 411013, India 1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit MarketsandMarkets Blog @ http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/telecom-it Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 11, 2016] General Dynamics Cloud Solution Platform Receives FedRAMP Authorization FAIRFAX, Va., Jan. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- General Dynamics Information Technology announced that its "GDIT Cloud" offering has received Federal Risk Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP?) authorization. FedRAMP is a government-wide program that provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services. This authorization provides U.S. federal, state and local governments, as well as non-government organizations, with the assurance that a cloud solution complies with rigorous security controls. "Federal agencies' adoption of cloud computing for mission applications is accelerating," said Marcus Collier, senior vice president of General Dynamics Information Technology's Health and Civilian Solutions division. "By meeting FedRAMP's extensive standards, we can help agencies make the move to a trusted cloud solution without sacrificing security. The GDIT Cloud is designed to specifically meet the requirements of government customers and to minimize cloud implementation and performance risks." General Dynaics is a leader in cloud computing and virtualization migration and support. For more than 10 years, the company has supported the defense, intelligence, federal civilian and commercial customers with developing cloud strategies, building virtualization and automation solutions, selecting appropriate cloud infrastructures, implementing solutions and managing cloud computing environments. GDIT Cloud provides security, visibility and enhanced performance through proactive monitoring, alerting and maintenance. GDIT Cloud implementation includes: Complete components and managed services for optimized performance Transparent cloud and managed service pricing Guaranteed performance and service quality Flexible deployment including public, private and hybrid models For more information about General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), please visit www.gdit.com. More information about General Dynamics is available at www.generaldynamics.com. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140428/81320 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/general-dynamics-cloud-solution-platform-receives-fedramp-authorization-300201938.html SOURCE General Dynamics Information Technology [January 11, 2016] Asia-Pacific B2C E-Commerce Market 2015 LONDON, Jan. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- "Asia-Pacific B2C E-Commerce Market 2015" is the title of the new report published by German secondary market research provider yStats.com, specialized in B2C E-Commerce and Online Payments. The publication highlights the significant growth witnessed by the market in the past years and reports on the differences and similarities between the countries. yStats.com's CEO and founder, Yucel Yelken notes that, "with its immense growth potential, Asia-Pacific is already at the forefront of international B2C E-Commerce and is projected to expand its share of global sales in the coming years." Asia-Pacific is the global leader in B2C E-Commerce's share of total retail sales, ahead of regions such as Western Europe and North America. Asia-Pacific is home to three of the top seven countries with the largest B2C E-Commerce sales worldwide, according to the research results of yStats.com. The largest of them, China, vies with the USA for global leadership as the biggest B2C E-Commerce market. In the next five years, the Asia-Pacific region is projected to account for a still more significant part of the global B2C E-Commerce market, with this growth attributed primarily to emerging markets, such as China and India, while the global share of advanced markets including Japan and Soth Korea is predicted to decline. Asia-Pacific B2C E-Commerce Market Report 2015 The yStats.com report further stresses that while countries such as Japan , New Zealand and Australia were ahead of others in Asia-Pacific in terms of Internet penetration, China , India and Thailand demonstrated significantly higher mobile shopper penetration rates than these advanced markets. Other important market trends are cross-border online shopping, led by Australia , and social commerce, especially pronounced in some Southeast Asian markets, such as Indonesia . Overall, B2C E-Commerce sales in Asia-Pacific are projected to increase at moderate double-digit rates through 2019, with India and countries in Southeast Asia especially standing out in terms of forecasted growth rates, as yStats.com's report explains. Investors have acknowledged this growth trend by funding various E-Commerce merchants in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2014, Indian companies, including Flipkart and Snapdeal, and Chinese platforms like Meituan and Dianping accounted for nine out of the top ten E-Commerce investment deals in the region. Alibaba Group and JD.com, both based in China , remain the leading E-Commerce companies in Asia , while international players such as Amazon, Wal-Mart and eBay also maintain significant presence. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/2312319/ About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers http://www.reportbuyer.com For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 208 816 85 48 Website: www.reportbuyer.com To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/asia-pacific-b2c-e-commerce-market-2015-300202403.html SOURCE ReportBuyer [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 11, 2016] Contact-Free Monitoring - Enabling Technologies & Emerging Opportunities (Technical Insights) NEW YORK, Jan. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Contact-Free Monitoring - Enabling Technologies & Emerging Opportunities (Technical Insights) : Monitoring every moment without physical presence Contact-free monitoring (CFM), an emerging technology domain is likely to impact applications related to automation, digitalization and smart devices. This technology aids in monitoring and detecting motion of a moving object or human activity. CFM employs advanced sensors to monitor properties such as temperature, vibration, speed, phase, velocity and direction of the object. CFM introduces new dimensions to healthcare market by effectively measuring patient movements, pulse rate, heartbeat, sleep timing and many other vital parameters. The report captures advanced sensor technologies used for contact-free monitoring such as Micro Doppler sensor, Thermography sensor, Micro Wave sensor and Fiber Bragg Grating. The main application of contact-free monitoring is automation; however the technology finds use in many new sectors such as Health Care, Industrial Process Control, Automotive & transportation and Aerospace & Defense. Smart cities, smart house, Internet of Things also enable faster adaption of contact-free monitoring. The research service focusses on covering emerging opportunities of contact-free monitoring. The modules of the report include: technology significance, current trends, applications landscape, enabling technology and emerging opportunity assessment. Key Findings Enabling Technology and Application Impact Sensors play a key role in facilitatng adoption Sensor technology has advanced to an extent that it now plays a vital role in many application segments such as Health care, Aerospace, defence, Automotive and transportation. Sensor technologies are used for monitoring, tracking and detecting purpose, thereby helping us analysing object and activities. -Contact-free monitoring is an enterprise system that embeds multiple applications to monitor and provide solutions without touching the object or humans. Contact-free monitoring finds potential use in health care applications where there is a need for continuous and real-time monitoring of patients. This improves the quality and accuracy of the treatment. Moreover, Contact-free monitoring is enabled by wireless communication, touch-free technology, advanced sensors, and smart devices. Application Impact The impact of contact free monitoring in applications areas such as healthcare and security industry is immense and is expected to delivers numerous benefits to the users. -Applications which are majorly impacted in the healthcare industry include monitoring patient activity in hospital beds, analysing their' physical conditions and their response to medical treatment. -Future applications of contact-free monitoring in this industry would include analyzing, monitoring, and recording details about the specific body functions such as, functioning of heart, blood profile, pulse, brain activity, kidney, and liver. -Contact-free monitoring is expected to have a high influence in the security industry for applications such as tracking of speeding vehicles, detecting driver information from vehicles, remote monitoring of vehicles, monitoring cargo movement, and remote tracking of illicit cargo activity Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p03551346-summary/view-report.html About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. http://www.reportlinker.com __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/contact-free-monitoring---enabling-technologies--emerging-opportunities-technical-insights-300202594.html SOURCE Reportlinker [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] In a rapidly changing world, where new discoveries and innovations are disrupting industries every now and then, TMR Blog connects you with a dynamic network of information and insights from around the world. Those pertain to finance, business, technology, healthcare, and others. News / Africa by Staff Reporter LEBO Sikwane said she wanted to please her ancestors when she followed her calling to become a sangoma.But life turned ugly for her when she didn't follow the correct procedure!Daily Sun reported that the 38-year-old from Chiawelo in Soweto told Daily Sun her gobela disappeared with her car last week and she believed she was having bad luck because she didn't listen to her ancestors."Other sangomas have since told me my parents and ancestors were angry with me for not involving them when I chose a gobela. Normally the ancestors choose. I made life difficult for myself by not letting my ancestors make the decision," she said.Lebo said she paid a heavy price as she was scammed by the sangoma from Protea Glen."The sangoma asked if he could buy my broken-down car, which was standing in my yard for over two years. He said he would buy the car and give me half the money and keep the other half for thwasa services," said Lebo. "But he disappeared with the car. I won't trust sangomas again!"Lebo said she was still being tormented by her ancestors who wanted her to become a sangoma.She said although her Renault Clio was not working she loved it and was planning to fix it one day.Lebo's uncle, Elias Masinyane (63) said Lebo disrespected her parents and ancestors."She'll have to start her sangoma training again so she can be healed," he said, adding that the family would report the gobela to the Traditional Healers Council and open theft charges against him. News / International by Staff reporter This is the first picture of a tragic Zimbabwean teenager stabbed to death in a London park after attending a friend's 16th birthday party. The victim has been named locally as 16-year-old Munashe Charles Kutyauripo by devastated friends.The business student is believed to have attended the party at a social club at Ashton Playing Fields in Woodford, east London, when a confrontation began outside between him and four male youths.The Metropolitan Police said: "One of the males then stabbed the victim before all four made off on foot towards Chigwell Road."Other guests at the party came to help the boy before police and paramedics arrived, but he was later pronounced dead at hospital, the Met said.The attack is believed to be the first knife death in the capital this year, taking place at at about 9.40pm on Saturday.The victim was taken by ambulance to Whipps Cross Hospital, but was pronounced dead at 10.45pm.Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command are investigating under Detective Chief Inspector Ken Hughes.DCI Hughes said: "There were around 100 young people at this party and we are appealing for anyone with information or any witnesses to come forward as soon as possible."The victim's family are naturally devastated and in shock by what has happened and we need the help of those at the party that night to progress our investigation."No arrests have been made. Anyone who has information that may assist the investigation should call police via 101. News / Local by Stephen Jakes The alleged unprofessional conduct by some Harare City Council officials have irked the council's finance Director Justin Mandizha who seem frustrated by the high levels of unprofessionalism by his colleagues.This was revealed by the harare Residents Trust which said some Councillors and treasury officials report that the new Finance Director for the City of Harare has experienced serious challenges in accessing basic files of the City Treasury Department due to alleged acts of sabotage by other senior treasury officials who feel that they deserved to have been appointed to the position."It is reported that the new Finance Director Justin Mandizha seem to be frustrated by the high levels of unprofessional conduct by his colleagues who have been with the City of Harare for a longer time," said the trust."Such are the hardships being experienced by the new Finance Director that even some councillors are reportedly angry at his professional conduct that they feel Mandizha is not fully submitting to them."The trust said in one of the incidents, a group of rowdy councillors, used to be worshiped and bullying council employees, barged into Mandizha's office without prior notice and found him busy doing something else, and he told them he was 'busy' which left the councillors furious and angry at such 'disrespect to the employer', a term they want all employees to acknowledge."The HRT urges councillors to desist from bullying council employees when they visit their offices seeking favours," said the trust. News / Local by Staff reporter Bulawayo's Cowdray Park's Garikai/ Hlalani Kuhle residents have been abandoned by donors who were drilling boreholes after they failed to yield adequate water volumes, council has said.Latest council minutes indicated some boreholes drilled in the area had dried up.Most houses which fall under the Hlalani Kuhle Phase Two scheme have had no running water since they were built in 2006.Recently, council urged the residents to embrace the prepaid water system and get connected to the city's main water pipes.Some residents, out of desperation, have dug shallow wells at their houses while others rely on water trapped in pits dug by sand poachers.Local councillor Collet Ndhlovu has since requested that Cowdray Park should be considered when funds for drilling boreholes became available."Donors abandoned this exercise when they failed to reach the water table. Only 30metres was drilled which did not yield any results," the council said in its report.Council engineering services director Simela Dube said the drilling of the boreholes was based on the surveyor's findings. News / National by Staff reporter Two suspected robbers appeared in court last week for fatally stoning a man before stealing his valuables and $120 in cash. Tatenda Gwanda (22) and Saymore Dzimaita (22) were charged with murder when they appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Elijah Makomo.Mr Makomo remanded the two in custody to January 29 for their trial. The prosecutor Mrs Idah Maromo alleged that on November 8 2014 along Hurst Road, Waterfalls in Harare, Gwanda and Dzamaita waylaid Mr Caleb Muzunze as he was coming from work.The court heard that the two suddenly started throwing stones at Mr Muzunze, hitting him on the head, until he fell to the ground.When Mr Muzunze fell down, it is alleged that Gwanda and Dzamaita searched him and stole a black grey satchel containing groceries, a Nokia Asha cellphone and a wallet containing $120.Mr Muzunze was rushed to hospital by people who found him in agony but he died on November 12 2014. The two were arrested on November 17. News / National by Stephen Jakes People's Democratic Party leader Tendai Biti has been urged to heed the calls by his former colleagues in the MDC-T to join hands with his former boss Morgan Tsvangirai and avoid connecting with the former Vice President Joice Mujuru who reportedly have taken most of the former MDC-T secretary general's members before her party People First is officially launched.MDC-T senior member Job Sikhala said, "My brother Tendai Biti said he was ready to work with Joyce Mujuru to demonstrate that Morgan Tsvangirai does not have monopoly over opposition politics. What surprises me is that his entire entourage of Executive members are in mass exodus to Mai Mujuru before any negotiations have taken place."He said others of his executive members have the temerity to urge him in public social networks to follow them before it is too late."How would then People First negotiate with Tendai Biti when it has successfully poached his entire executive members? What will be the behaviour of those who are not leaders? Won't they feel that Biti must play a subordinate role to them because as they were the first to arrive? Will he have weight in any envisaged marriage? My advice to my brother would be to consider seriously the call by his erstwhile colleagues in the MDC to accept working together once more and finish what we started together in 1999. Biti is a brilliant and courageous character whom Zimbabwe can not afford to ignore."He urged Biti to think without emotions and assess how great it will be to be together once more again. At an evening event at CES 2016 in Las Vegas, Lenovo showcased its Project Tango smartphone, but the whole presentation seemed familiar. Thats because weve already seen something strikingly similar to this tech at work on shipping devices, and also because Intel has a Project Tango phone, too. Backing up a bit: Project Tango was a Google ATAP project that eventually migrated from those secretive labs to public demos and now to actual products. Simply put, the technology uses a depth-sensing camera on a mobile device to map any space in (basically) real time. It can then superimpose images and such on top of the real world, which you can see by looking at the devices display. Project Tango and Intel RealSense were virtually made for each other, a happy marriage of hardware and software. Lenovos Enthusiasm And Nervousness At the event, in a crowded restaurant in the Venetian, a Lenovo rep took the stage to show off what the companys mobile device could do. However, some of the demos weve seen before. For example, in one demonstration, you can use the depth camera to measure physical objects in space. Weve already written about this RealSense capability, on the Dell Venue 8 7000 tablet. (We found issues with the accuracy consistency.) The rest of the demos worked just fine -- he placed a virtual couch in a physical space, played with a virtual kitten that could sense the physical furniture and clamber on it, and played two-person virtual Jenga -- but none were particularly compelling. Mostly, it seemed like fun and games. One key demo, though, showed how you can see a map overlaid onto the real world to give to give you walking directions through a building. You look at the phones display and use the rear camera to give you what amounts to a pass-through view of the real world. Then, through the display, you can see the directions superimposed on top (complete with arrows that point where to go) as you, for example, run frantically through a casino or hotel trying to find your next CES meeting. Given the sheer volume of new products that Lenovo announced at the show, its telling that the company held a special event to showcase this one device. However, the presenters themselves seemed less enthusiastic and more nervous. I presume this is because the Lenovo Project Tango phone either isnt completed yet, or the people working on the project arent certain its going to work as advertised. (Or, worse, maybe they arent convinced of its use case.) There was a lot of were going to language as opposed to we have language. Were going to create this ecosystem of apps. Were going to put a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor in it. Its going to cost under $500. That sort of thing. Or, perhaps Im just being overly skeptical and seeing things that arent there. However, there was a similar lack of enthusiasm from Intel about its own Project Tango smartphone. We received no press release mentioning that the dev kits were coming, and the booth (if you can call it that) showing off the new wares was all but hidden away under some stairs. I actually found it by accident. In any case, there are about to be at least two Project Tango smartphones hitting the market. Intels dev kit is shipping this quarter, and Lenovo promised to ship its finished product to consumers starting this summer. The Design, And A Fundamental Shift Lenovo has not yet shared full specifications for its Project Tango smartphone, but we believe this is because -- as Lenovo stated -- the design isnt quite complete yet. (The images shown on slides from the stage even looked like renders, not pictures.) Presumably, the development team needs to nail down some of the details of the whole design before deciding on exactly how much RAM and onboard storage there will be. If the design is not yet final, that also means that it hasnt gone through FCC certification, which means that Lenovo cant announce anything about carrier support, either. Lenovo did say that it reworked the PCB design for the smartphone form factor. For example, the team determined that users will most likely hold the phone in portrait mode, so they moved the camera to the upper third of the device. They also mentioned a mechanical solution to alleviate heat. Wed be surprised to see a fan in any smartphone, but regardless, its unclear what mechanical solution means. We know that the smartphone will have a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, that it will be under 6.5 inches, and that it will cost under $500. (Insert $499.99 joke here.) The price is key here, and it reflects Lenovos stated desire for the Project Tango phone to be a mainstream, not a niche, device. Five hundred bucks is by no means cheap, but its nowhere near the price tags of the current crop of flagship smartphones (which can reach as high as $1,000, depending on configuration.) Further down that line of thinking, Lenovo said that it sees the Project Tango technology as a harbinger of a fundamental shift in smartphones. An example they gave from the stage is GPS; time was, it was a special feature, but now you cant buy a smartphone without it. In the same way, Lenovo hopes that the features and capabilities Project Tango unlocks will become almost a given on smartphones, and thats good to hear. I cant say that I think Project Tango will be world-changing necessarily (from what Ive observed so far), but Id be lying if I said I dont want it on my next smartphone. Availability Although we dont have details on supported networks, we can safely assume that it will at least support GSM, because the device is launching globally. It is also coming to the U.S., which is a welcome surprise; earlier this year, Lenovo wasnt planning to release any smartphones into the U.S. market so as not to cannibalize sales of Motorola phones. (If you recall, Lenovo now owns Motorola.) Whatever the support, the Lenovo Project Tango smartphone will be out this summer. That App Ecosystem, Though Like so many hardware developments, Project Tango is nothing without accompanying software and experiences. Kittens and Jenga aren't going to cut it for any user. To that end Lenovo is taking matters into its own hands by partnering with Project Tango on an App Incubator Program. In partnership with Lenovo, were inviting developers and studios from around the world to submit their ideas for gaming and utility apps created using Project Tango. Well pick the best ideas, provide support to help bring them to life, then feature the finished apps on select launch devices, read the sites homepage. The call for proposals is open until February 15, 2016. We expect to hear about the winners at or just before Mobile World Congress, which takes place February 22-25 in Barcelona. At that time, we also expect more details about whats under this smartphones hood. Seth Colaner is the News Director for Tom's Hardware. Follow him on Twitter @SethColaner. Follow us on Facebook, Google+, RSS, Twitter and YouTube. Its pretty much general knowledge at this point that reality TV singing competitions arent really in the business of launching careers as they are generating ratings for the stations advertisers by any means necessary. The shows are heavily edited to manufacture a narrative arc and create drama and former contestants have even accused producers of manipulating them into behaviour that later results in their dismissal from the program. Whats not talked about as much are the prohibitive contracts that contestants must sign if they wish to appear on the show, which include provisions like having your voice dubbed into Swahili and basically handing over your soul. X Factor production company Fremantle Media are currently in the midst of litigation with a record label and had to file the contract they make participants sign with the Central District Court in California. Its since found its way into the hands of the Sydney Morning Heralds Business Day, who have now detailed some of the 66 clauses included in the contract given by the popular Seven Network program to contestants. Formatted in small print, the extensive and detailed contract is basically a straight jacket on anyone who decides to participate in the show both as they compete and after they leave the program, especially if they win. To start, X Factor contestants must hand over the rights to their performances in perpetuity to be used around the world, including in non-English speaking markets. Contestants must agree to allow producers to dub my voice in any language. X Factor contestants must hand over the rights to their performances in perpetuity to be used around the world, including in non-English speaking markets. The show can also use personal information about any contestant, including photographs, likenesses, and biographical information, and transmit the details throughout the universe, just in case this whole interstellar Netflix thing kicks off. I hereby licence to the company all rights in the composition(s) for the full period of copyright including any renewals, reversions, revivals or extensions throughout the universe in all media and formats throughout the Universe, the contract reportedly reads. You know how some bands are currently warring with labels because theyre receiving meagre royalties for digital formats and larger royalties from CDs, despite the fact that digital is booming and CDs are dying a slow, painful death? The X Factor contract takes care of any potential niggling lawsuits on the horizon by asking contestants to sign away rights to their performances in all media formats, whether now known or hereafter invented throughout the Universe. [include_post id=461790] Furthermore, contestants will appear on the show for free as well as agree to promote it without pay for one month after it finishes screening, i.e. arguably the most lucrative time for the contestant to be making promotional appearances. Of course, contestants are also barred from speaking to the media without permission. Should I be contacted by a member of the press I hereby undertake to refer them to the companys publicity office, the gag order states. They must also disclose any criminal offences they have committed, except driving infractions and sign recording and management agreements based on independent legal advice provided by one of three lawyers introduced by the company. Fremantle Media are currently looking to have the US lawsuit filed against the company dismissed. US record label Camp West Recorders allege last years X Factor winner, Samantha Jade, breached an exclusive recording and management agreement by signing to Sony Music. The label is claiming Fremantle conspired with Sony and Simco, a joint venture between Sony and the shows creator, Simon Cowell, to interfere with the existing contract. Fremantle Media argue the suit should be filed in an Australian court. News / National by Staff Reporter President Robert Mugabe has been advised to apologise for the Gukurahundi massacres of the early 1980s that left an estimated 20 000 people dead mainly in Matabeleland and the Midlands.Respected politician and former education minister in the government of national unity David Coltart told Daily News on Sunday that if the increasingly frail nonagenarian did not take this important step, he would never find peace.Coltart said it was not too late for Mugabe to deal with the emotive issue that had not been addressed for the past three decades, leaving many people angry and bitter."The wonderful fact about God's grace is that God is always prepared to forgive our transgressions if we admit them and ask for forgiveness. The same applies to (Robert) Mugabe and all the perpetrators of the Gukurahundi."In addition, I have found that the people of Zimbabwe are remarkably forgiving. The vast majority have forgiven whites for the transgressions of racial discrimination and the horrors of the 1970s war, and I have no doubt that a similar attitude will be demonstrated if Mugabe apologised," he said.However, for this to happen, Mugabe needed to ask for forgiveness in a genuine way, a move that Coltart said needed to be accompanied by an attempt to redress the wrongs of the past, in particular the marginalisation of some areas and regions."The government must acknowledge that what happened happened, namely that thousands of innocent Zimbabweans were killed unlawfully in cold blood."Those responsible for these atrocities should ask for forgiveness from the surviving victims of this sad chapter of our history," he said.The closest that Mugabe has come to apologising for the massacres was when he described Gukurahundi as "a moment of madness", something critics say was not adequate and lacked sincerity.Coltart said Mugabe and his ruling Zanu PF party should also announce programmes to "correct the injustices through communal reparations" that could be repaid "in the form of construction of roads, hospitals, clinics and schools in the affected areas".He said measures should also be introduced to ensure that the remains of those still lying in mass graves are exhumed, identified, returned to their families and reburied at government expense."The history of what happened should be included in the educational curriculum so that future generations learn about what happened and its lessons so that we never repeat these horrors again."Laws should be introduced to ensure that some people, who for example still can't get birth certificates, should have their rights respected," he sad.The former Cabinet minister said the only way for Zimbabwe to have meaningful and everlasting peace was through confronting the past."There remains thousands of victims of Gukurahundi whose rights are still denied. The failure to address this blot on our history continues to fester."We will never know real reconciliation and peace in our country until we confront our past, not just regarding the Gukurahundi but also the 1970s war."It is important that these sad chapters be closed so that the nation moves forward."This is not a case of reopening healed wounds, but a case of healing wounds which still rot and fester just below the surface," he added.Recently, Zanu PF elder Cephas Msipa penned a book that set the cat among the pigeons within the ruling party and government circles, as it raised questions around Gukurahundi and Mugabe's reluctance to ask for forgiveness. Every summer, the absolute legends at Melbournes PBS 106.7FM throw a week-long party to celebrate live music. This years Drive Live will feature five afternoons of live music played over the airwaves courtesy of The Drones, Batpiss, Sui Zhen, and more. Drive Live kicks off in the first week of February from 5pm till 7pm each day and youre invited to head over to PBS Collingwood studios to watch some of your favourite Melbourne artists perform in a unique and intimate setting. PBS members get a free Coopers (as if you needed anymore incentive to support one of Melbournes best community radio stations) and will get to see the inner workings of PBS, who are committed to providing great music for all Melburnians. To get your name on the door, send an email to [email protected] with the subject line: NIGHT (Monday, Tuesday etc) YOUR NAME, and MEMBER NUMBER (if applicable). Drive Live is free and open to everyone, but capacity is limited, so act fast. PBS Drive Live 2016 Monday, 1st February 2016 Zen Arcade Taipan Tiger Girls friendships Mollusc Tuesday, 2nd February 2016 Mixing Up The Medicine The Drones Deaf Wish Deep Heat Wednesday, 3rd February The Afterglow Terrible Truths Sui Zhen Jess Ribeiro Thursday, 4th February 2016 Fang It! Batpiss Wet Lips Grotto Friday, 5th February 2016 Stone Love Little Desert Waterfall Person Drug Sweat KC Biz Journal: "Ray Kowalik, executive vice president, succeeds Greg Graves who will retire at the end of the year. Kowalik has worked at the firm for 29 years and spent most of his career in Burns & McDonnell's Energy Group, where he served as general manager for 11 years." Kansas City elected officials might want to take a look at their new boss, the de facto head of Kansas City's water department and this town's engineering firm of record . . . Also, kinda a part of the corporate sponsorship for Cindy Ciro's shameless school for candidates not so long ago . . .Developing . . . IN OVERLAND PARK, MISSION, LENEXA, SHAWNEE AND ROELAND PARK TKC TIPSTERS TELL US THAT A SCOURGE OF RAMPANT CAR CRIME IS HITTING THESE SUBURBAN CITIES ON AN UNPRECEDENTED SCALE!!! Here's a term we learned from one of the many smart people who read TKC . . .is a term used for a variety of suburban communities that are generally located very close to the centre of a large city.Not so long ago . . . Moving across the State Line into Kansas was the start of better life, an escape from KCMO urbanism, corruption and homicide along with access to better schools. But those days are over.To wit . . .This isn't just the few cars that get stolen warning up during cold weather . . . We're talking about a massive number of car break-ins, robberies and even a few car-jackings that have suburban po-po confounded . . . Behind the scenes already the blame is being cast toward KC Proper crime spillover.Again, cold weather car crime has been well documented this year Winter but the current trend looks worse. Simply locking up cars and keeping valuables out of sight might not be good enough solutions amid this new crime spree.Developing . . . GIVEN RISING HOMICIDE TRENDS ACROSS THE NATION . . . MANY RESIDENTS FEAR KANSAS CITY IS RETURNING TO 1990s LEVELS OF KILLING ON LOCAL STREETS!!! "Fourth District Councilwoman Jolie Justus as chair of the committee. Councilwoman Justus is a former Missouri State Senator and State Senate Minority Leader. She was named Legislator of the Year by both the Missouri Association of Prosecutors and the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in recognition of her successful three-year effort to revise the Missouri Criminal Code." DOES COUNCIL LADY JUSTUS HAVE WHAT IT TAKE TO HELP CURB HOMICIDE IN KANSAS CITY??? One insider says: "I understand that people like her and that's great. But what does she bring to the table? What are her skills in addressing crime that put her as the leader of a commission that wants to stop KCMO homicides? Her legislative experience is mostly in record keeping and among politicians not residents. Are we saying that an ordinance or city regulation will help stop crime. Is that the plan?" Is this Mayor Sly's Administration dumping a serious problem into the lap of a rookie council member in order to escape responsibility??? So far in January 2016, Kansas City has seen more murder this year (8 homicides unofficially) than at any time in the past 5 years so early on the calendar.Moreover . . .So far,. . . Mayor Sly established a crime commission with Jolie Justus taking the leadership position.Touting her appointment . . . The Mayor's team mentioned . . .Remember that at the outset of this committee . . . Locals were curious as to why no former or current police officers or officials were named.Now here's the question . . .Kansas City Insiders remind us that most of her time in Jeff City was spent pushing LGBT legislation, she is beloved among the civic set but not widely known East of Troost where most local murders take place . . . Moreover . . . Experts have already pointed out that her commission is going to take a year to develop answers and within that time quite a few people are going to be murdered.But here's an even better way to look at it . . .During his short tenure Mayor Sly smiling support has not only wrecked the career ofbut also damaged the legacy. . . Killing their colleagues with kindness, Team Sly took these politicos and put them out in front of him to take fire for decisions that were coming from the Mayor's office. They deserve blame for their sad political fates because the carried out his orders enthusiasticallyit's worth nothing that Mayor Sly James has a reputation for letting other people take the fall for his political mistakes.And despite all of this City Hall intrigue . . . The body count on Kansas City streets continues to rise, earns national attention and thwarts so many fragile and sketchy economic development schemes.You decide . . . Thomson and First Choice expect a record number of digital bookings via tablet devices or mobile phones Cyprus and Santorini in Greece are expected to be among the most popular short-haul destinations in Thomson and First Choice's so-called Sunshine Saturday held the day before yesterday and aimed at a major bookings boost. More than one million people were expected to visit the sister Tui Group operators websites and high street agencies. Bookings were anticipated to peak in-store between 2pm and 3pm and 8pm online, which is half an hour earlier than last year. Record number of digital bookings Thomson and First Choice expect a record number of digital bookings via tablet devices or mobile phones. More than 42% of the online bookings made the day before yesterday are expected to be done using these devices. The most popular short-haul destinations are expected to be Croatia (pictured), Cyprus and Santorini in Greece, while Sri Lanka, Costa Rica, and Cuba are set to top the long haul list. Discovery and celebration Thomson Cruises newest addition to the fleet, Thomson Discovery, sets sail from June and is expected to be popular together with new departures by Thomson Celebration from Dubai. Thomson and First Choice commercial director, Andrew Flintham, said: "Many people like to book their holidays early to give them something to look forward to in the year ahead. Something for everybody January is one of the best times to book as there are some fantastic deals available as well as thousands of free child places to a broad range of hotels and destinations. Summer 2016 will see 24 new routes departing from regional airports across the UK, ensuring our customers have more choice than ever. We really do have something for everybody, whether you want to adventure in Sri Lanka or relax in the Dominican Republic. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Tourexpi, turizm haberleri, Reiseburos, tourism news, noticias de turismo, Tourismus Nachrichten, , travel tourism news, international tourism news, Urlaub, urlaub in der turkei, , holidays in Turkey, , global tourism news, dunya turizm, dunya turizm haberleri, Seyahat Acentas, This site is best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0+, at a minimum screen resolution of 1024 x 768. More than 150 specialists from various fields are discussing solutions for the UN Habitat's new Urban Strategy 2036 and the best practices of prominent cities in the world at a two-day seminar which opened today. The debut event is being hosted by Dubai Real Estate Institute (DREI) in a strategic relationship with FIABCI, the International Real Estate Federation, The first comprehensive Urban Thinkers Campus in the Middle East is being held at the Maydan Hotel. According to UN reports, the world is undergoing a large wave of urban growth. Global population will increase to 2.5 billion people within the next 30 years and many of these people will become urban dwellers. Cities throughout the world will face both opportunities and challenges in meeting the needs of this growing population requiring imperative economic, social and environmental transformations, it stated. The event will put spotlight on the best practices of prominent cities in the world which have applied UN international standards of sustainability, smart cities, economic vibrancy and inclusiveness. Danielle Grossenbacher, FIABCI world president stated: "We are so honoured to partner with DREI to co-ordinate this event in the city of Dubai which is an example of a great city that resembles all standards of sustainably, economic vibrancy and resilience." "The hosting of this event in Dubai is extremely important to the whole region as its final publication will be integrated in the UN New Urban Agenda 2036," he stated. Mahmoud El Burai, the chief executive of the DREI and head of the Organizing Committee said that the Urban Thinkers Campus provides an important forum to share and discuss the best practices focused on 'The City We Need.' "We are assembling leading stakeholders including governments, private sectors, academia, children and university students to share their views on the world that we will live in 20 years from today," he added. The DREI chief said the event will see experts discuss three themes - 'The City We Need is Smart and Sustainable,' 'The city We Need is Economically Vibrant' and 'The City We Need is Safe and Resilient." The Urban Thinkers Campus is an initiative of UN-Habitat conceived as an open space for critical exchange between urban leaders who believe that urbanization is an opportunity and can lead to positive urban transformations.-TradeArabia News Service News / National by Staff reporter A divorced gospel musician Felistas Murata (28) caused a stir by her sexually suggestive dances at her all white kitchen top up party held in Glen Norah last week.Murata 28 organised a kitchen top up dubbed "All white party and guests were asked to perform sexually suggestive moves while lying on a mattress.According to H-METRO, Felistas stole the show by her moves leading the guests to capture the moments and post the photographs on social networks."Felistas is always like that and that is why the white man wants to marry her," said one of the guests who attended the party."Everyone with a camera was tempted to capture the dance routines," she added .Contacted for comment Felistas expressed her joy in teaching her friends what she described as bedroom issues that saw her first marriage collapsing."It mustn't be a surprise to you H-metro guys since you have covered my story with my former husband after I caught him cheating," said Felistas."I have since discovered that women feel shy to share bedroom issues with their friends."It is at kitchen parties where we teach each other how to satisfy your husband sexually because if you shun it the next day we hear that your husband was caught with the ladies of the night ."Many of these ladies got lessons after they failed in their marriages and this is a thing for concern."On the day in question we took a mattress so as to teach each other and many thanked me for organising the event which I believe was private before those mischiefs recorded and posted on social networks," said Felistas.Felistas said she is writing songs and will release an album this year saying she is now running a boutique in the central business centre."I am taking my time so as to come up with a spirit filled message on my next project. I cannot afford to leave God who has brought me this far," said Felistas."I am running a boutique where I spend most of my time writing songs that changed my life and I believe it will change many lives as well."I am expecting a wedding in May this year and this time God blessed me with a foreign lover whom I want to believe is happy to marry a Zimbabwean like me." The state-run Saudi Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) has announced plans to invest about $80 billion by 2025 in a bid to boost desalinated water production to 8.5 million cu m per day. The SWCC now produces 3.6 million cu m per day of desalinated water a figure that will need to reach 8.5 million by the end of 2025 to keep up with growing demand, said an expert citing a report by construction research firm Ventures Onsite. As part of its unremitting efforts to work towards developing sustainable methods of potable water production, Saudi Arabia has announced a number of pioneering projects, including the worlds first solar-powered desalination plant at Al Khafji. Valued at $130 million and slated for completion in 2017, the photovoltaic plant - a joint venture between Advanced Water Techologies and Abengoa - will produce 60,000 cu m of water to supply Al Khafji City in north-eastern Saudi Arabia, ensuring a constant water supply throughout the year, he stated. However, a comprehensive, innovation-driven approach to water management is necessary to truly achieve sustainability in the country, remarked Dr Abdullah Al Al Shaikh, the chief executive of Advanced Water Technology, a subsidiary of the Saudi-based technology and investment company Taqnia. A rapidly growing population, on track to reach 39.1 million by 2030, and a staggeringly high consumption rate, at a total of nearly 1,600 litres per capita per day, has motivated Saudi Arabias efforts to boost sustainable water production and curb skyrocketing demand, said Dr Al Shaikh. As part of this ongoing effort, the kingdoms Ministry of Water and Energy recently announced a 50 per cent increase in water tariffs for government offices and commercial firms, he added. Dr Al Shaikh was speaking at the event ahead of the International Water Summit (IWS) to be hosted by Masdar in strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority from January 18 to 21 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. A landmark event for the international water community IWS will bring together world leaders, field experts, academia luminaries, and business innovators to accelerate the development of new sustainable strategies and technologies. It will also host a dedicated conference session on the kingdoms latest developments in the water sector. Technology plays a major role in solving the diminishing supply and increasing demand challenge in Saudi Arabia. But it is important to remember that it is the bulk gathering or the critical mass of technologies applied to the complete water value chain, upstream and downstream, that will ultimately provide solutions, remarked Dr Al Shaikh, who will be speaking at the IWS Country Spotlight on Saudi Arabia. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. We must be moving on all fronts, simultaneously, he added. The use of clean energy sources to drive desalination and waste water treatment plants is a case in point for such innovations, said Roberto De Diego Arozamena, the chief executive of Abdul Latif Jameel Energy and Environmental Services, one of the key sponsors of the World Future Energy Summit 2016 taking place in Abu Dhabi. Continuous improvement in how we produce or purify water and how we improve the use of power is key to sustainability, stated Arozamena. "New pre-treatment processes, nanotechnology filtering processes, and electrochemical desalination are either being explored or are already in use in various stages of deployments. Some of the new technologies are very promising in terms of their efficiency and energy requirements. However, commercial viability and scalability still need to be proven," he observed. The SWCC is also trying to double energy efficiency from the current level of about 26 to 27 per cent to 54 to 55 per cent, and is increasingly looking at renewables to achieve this target, he added.-TradeArabia News Service Saudi Arabia's Al-Afandi Group has announced plans to build the largest fully-integrated solar panels factory in the Middle East. The group has signed a property contract with the Royal Commission in Yanbu to build the state-of-the-art factory on a 55,000-sq-m area in the first phase of the project. Based on the multiphase plans, the factory in Phase One will be able to produce solar panels that generate 120 MW (or the equivalent of 450,000 solar panels) electricity per year. The contract was signed between Royal Commission in Yanbu CEO Dr A'laa bin Abdullah Naseef and Al-Afandi Group chairman Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Afandi. Majed Aldahawi, member of the board at Al-Afandi Group and commercial director, said the company has been a pioneer in renewable energies since 1994 when it successfully exported solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to markets in Europe. He also said the factory will help create a paradigm shift in the Saudi economy, as renewable sources of energy will support the national economy. The factory will have a fully integrated production line to build the solar panels from scratch, said Al-Rasheed Alkibsy, business development director at the Al-Afandi Group. The process involves smelting of crude polysilicon to produce polycrystalline silicon ingots and then slicing of these blocks into very thin wafers, which are the main building blocks to creating solar cells. Then they will be assembled into solar panels, which are framed and sealed with a protective glass cover. The entire production line is fully automated and produces state-of-the-art, repeatable quality products, designed especially for harsh weather and desert applications, he said. The performance, reliability and energy yield of the solar panels will match the highest international standards and will be certified by international auditors for use in markets like the US and Europe, the company said. - TradeArabia News Service Saudi Arabia and Iran said on Sunday that an escalating dispute between the two countries would not affect international efforts to end the war in Syria, even as a large Syrian rebel group cast doubt on the UN-led peace process. The UN envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said in a statement after meeting Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif in Tehran that Iran had assured him that the row would not upset talks set for later this month. De Mistura is shuttling around the region to shore up support for the negotiations, which are due to start in Geneva on Jan. 25. They are part of a plan endorsed by the Security Council last month to end the five-year-war that has killed 250,000 people and created millions of refugees. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, attending an Arab League meeting on Sunday to discuss the spat between the two Gulf rivals, also said he did not expect the diplomatic row to affect peace efforts. Tensions between the Sunni Muslim kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Shi'ite Muslim Iran have escalated since Saudi authorities executed a Muslim cleric on Jan. 2, triggering outrage among Shi'ites across the Middle East. Syrian opposition officials have expressed misgivings about the peace talks, citing the need to see goodwill measures from the government side including a ceasefire, a detainee release and the end of blockades on besieged areas before starting negotiations. Islam Army (Jaysh al-Islam), part of a newly formed council to oversee the negotiations on the opposition side, said in a statement that it was unacceptable to talk about a political solution to the war while people died of hunger and bombardment. The group said the "best way to force the regime to accept the (political) solution and stick by it" was to allow states that back the opposition to supply rebels with anti-aircraft missiles. The statement, sent by the Islam Army's spokesman overnight, said it would guarantee the missiles would not reach groups that would use them "illegally". Foreign governments including the United States and Saudi Arabia have provided rebels with military support, but have resisted demands for missiles for fear they would end up with hardline jihadist groups such as Islamic State. The Syrian government says Islam Army is a terrorist group, like all the groups that are fighting to topple Assad, who has received crucial support from Russia and Iran. Both states have sent forces to help him fight the insurgency. The Syrian government told de Mistura on Saturday it was ready to take part in Geneva talks but stressed the need to see the names of the Syrian opposition figures who will take part. Pointing to another potential complication, Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem also stressed the need for the government to obtain a list of groups that would be classified as terrorists as part of the peace process. Islam Army said the success of the political process "depended on the seriousness of the international community in putting pressure on the criminal regime to halt the killing". Reuters Jordans Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) welcomed the arrival of Fly Jordans first flight from Sharm El Sheikh on January 9. The reception took place in the presence of Airport International Group CEO, Kjeld Binger, Fly Jordan chairman, Amjad Maslamani, and the airlines director general, Captain Basil Obeidat, in addition to several Members of Parliament and guests of honour. We would like to extend our congratulations to Fly Jordan on the launch of its operations at QAIA. Were delighted to welcome the airline to the airports network, offering travellers more options for flights to and from Jordan and, as such, supporting the objectives of the National Tourism Strategy, as well as bolstering QAIAs standing as a transit hub. On that note, we wish Fly Jordan all the best in its future endeavors, Binger said. Captain Obeidat said: The airline began operating charter flights as of January 8, in order to meet the growing internal and external demands for these types of trips, especially from Dallas Travel & Tourism, a strategic partner of Fly Jordan. This step will not only serve the domestic tourism sector in terms of arriving and departing Jordanians, Arabs and foreign tourists alike, but it will also boost this vital sector, especially during the current period, he said. TradeArabia News Service News / National by Wilbert Mukori The pressure of the worsening economic meltdown is a reality and Mugabe and his Zanu PF regime are now finding it increasing difficult pretend they are not feeling the pressure. They are feeling it now more than ever.For the last two and half years, since the rigged July 2013 elections, the regime has done its best to convince everyone that its $27 billion ZimAsset recovery plan will revive the economy. The regime had no money to pay for the plan and was hoping to get donors to fund the plan. Not ever Mugabe's "all-weather friend", the Chinese, would bankroll the hare-brain plan. By the end 2015 with nothing in the ZimAsset begging bowl other than post-dated cheques from the Chinese and Russians, there was no hiding it ZimAsset is well and truly dead!The Zimbabwe economy is in serious trouble already with unemployment a nauseating 90% plus, government's revenue base has been depleted so much it failing to pay civil servant wages let alone pay for all the other things, etc. Worse still with ZimAsset dead and no other plan in place to revive the economy there is therefore only one way for the economy to go, to slid deeper and deeper into the abyss. The economic situation is intolerable already the prospect of it sinking even deeper is simply unthinkable; the situation is socially and politically unsustainable.The logical response for Mugabe and his Zanu PF regime to the increasing pressure from the worsening economic situation is to accept the regime has failed, implement the democratic reforms and hold free, fair and credible elections. Only a democratically elected government will have the mandate and political will to implement the tough economic policies to revive the economy. And such a government will also have the trust and respect of donors and investors; the country needs their help to kick start the economy.Instead of doing the logical and right thing Zanu PF, in its typical tyrannical tradition, is responding to the pressure of the worsening economic meltdown by going into overdrive with its brutal oppression. The arrests of the Newsday journalists is typical Zanu PF tactic of finding a scapegoat, what better scapegoat than the bearer of the unpalatable truths, and descend on him like a tonne of bricks."We should be careful when reporting on national security" said Information Minister Mushowe. "I believe in freedom of the press. I do not believe in freedom to destroy our country and our national interest."Nonsense, how does reporting that the CIOs were paid their Christmas bonus threaten national security?"Government has made it clear that it would like to arrest journalists as weapon of choice to silence them," AMH Managing Director Vincent Kahiya told the self-righteous minister.Zanu PF is like a scorpion overwhelmed by army ants, the economic meltdown, snapping its claws and stinging anyone and everyone except the ants!Minister Mushowe must remember that he will not always be a Minister; the economic meltdown is going to end with regime change. One should be careful of how the treat others whilst they are in high office because they are bound to meet those people again on the way down! In its third consecutive record year for tourism, Spain has once again set a record with nearly 64.6 million visitors registered in the first 11 months of 2015. December's figures are expected to top 3 million putting the full-year estimate at about 68 million tourists, said Tourism Minister Jose Manuel Soria in an article published in Yahoo Travel. The previous record is at 64.9 million in 2014. The 11-month figure was up 4.8 percent in the same period last year. In 2013, Spain received a then-record 60.6 million tourists. The Local reports that Brits lead the hoards of holidaymakers flocking to Spain. There are 1.6 million Brits visited in October alone, a quarter of all tourists. Next came the Germans, who made up 16 percent of all tourists who visited Spain, followed by the French at 15 percent. Tourism represents 11 percent of Spain's economy and has improved in recent years due to a weak euro and security issues in competing Mediterranean beach resort nations like Tunisia and Egypt. The instability caused by Greece's debt crisis and migrant influx into Italy have also added to many tourists choosing Spain as a safe sunny alternative. Located in Europe's Iberian Peninsula, Spain has 17 autonomous regions, each with its own geography and culture. The capital, Madrid, is home to the Royal Palace and singular Prado museum, housing works by European masters, and Segovia to the north has a fairy-tale medieval castle and Roman aqueduct. Catalonia's capital, Barcelona, is defined by Antoni Gaudi's quirky modernist architecture, including the Sagrada Familia basilica. From the capital to the costas, from the high Pyrenees to the Moorish cities of the south, there are genuinely surprising attractions at every turn, whether it's hip restaurants in the Basque country or the wild landscapes of the central plains or cutting-edge galleries in the industrial north. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 News / Press Release by Jacob Mafume, PDP National Spokesperson With schools opening for 2016 on Tuesday, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) is concerned by the deteriorating state in the education sector, which is grappling with serious challenges as a result of the government's ineptitude.The schools are opening at a time when morale among the teachers is low and falling over non-payment of their 2015 bonuses, poor remuneration and working conditions; and lack of adequate teaching facilities and resources for both teachers and learners.It is said that over one million pupils from poor families who are enrolled in public schools, will this year be forced to drop out of class as the government for the third consecutive year is unable to release funds under the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM). This is an increase from 750 000 pupils who dropped out in 2015 due to failure to pay fees.The plight of students from poor backgrounds is going to be made worse with the failure of the government in declaring 2016 a national disaster so that food assistance is made available to the vulnerable by the World Food Programme (WFP) and other international donor agencies.Thousands of hunger stricken pupils across the country will as a result be forced to drop from class as they will fail to cope to walk to school or concentrate in class because of hunger.The decision by school authorities to bar children from attending school is also in clear disregard of the Constitution of Zimbabwe section 75, which says; "every citizen and permanent resident of Zimbabwe has a right to (a) a basic State-funded education, including adult basic education and (b) further education, which the State, through reasonable legislative and other measures, must make progressively available and accessible".As such, no child should be out of school and the government has an obligation to ensure that all children are in school.It is therefore regrettable and worrying that the quality of education in the country continues to fall since the appointment of Lazarus Dokora as the minister of primary and secondary education in 2013.Dokora has issued baffling directives since his appointment in 2013 and making him the worst education minister that Zimbabwe has had since independence in 1980. He has shown that he is clueless and has no capacity to run anything let alone a critical government ministry like education. However, the sad part is that students have been seriously affected by Dokora's bungling as evidenced by the poor results coming out.His puzzling decision in 2014 to bar teachers from conducting extra lessons resulted in a 13,23% drop in the Ordinary Level results compared to the 2013 results.Despite Dokora publicly admitting that Zimbabwe faces a critical shortage of trained mathematics and science teachers, with over 1 500 vacant posts across the country, he has made a commitment to send an unspecified number of these teachers to South Sudan.As the PDP, we find it deplorable that all this is happening when we have a government that is splurging millions of dollars in buying top of the range vehicles for its ministers, a government that is dishing out millions for dollars for President Robert Mugabe for his endless overseas trips and his luxurious holidays in the Far East while hundreds of thousands dollars are paid for Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko's continued stay at a five star hotel.All this is taking place when the country is going through one of its worst economic, political and social crises. There is regression in the country compounded by violence and lawlessness on the part of state and non-state actors, evidenced by the last week's brutal assault of peaceful demonstrators in Harare and Chitungwiza.Under such frightening circumstances, it is clear that the people of Zimbabwe are better off without a government.The fact of the matter is that Mugabe and his Zanu PF government has failed. The Zanu PF government must resign as a matter of urgency and that a national transitional authority (NTA) is put in place.The NTA will implement an emergency economic recovery plan, harmonise the country's laws to the Constitution, restoration of the social contract, and ensures that there is peace in the country while conditions for holding free and fair elections are put in place.As the PDP, we urge the people of Zimbabwe to unite and rise against the dictatorship of Zanu PF. The time has come for the people to reclaim their rights and equality for all. Opinion / Columnist Zanu-PF is a party built on lies. Chris Dube is an ex-Zipra combatant and member of Zapu. One of the most-told lies by President Robert Mugabe's party is the constantly parroted claim that it (alone) liberated Zimbabwe, which is often sold to the gullible with no mention of the role played by the Mighty Zipra and Zapu.As the now-late former Vice President, Joseph Msika always argued, it is indisputable that Zapu - the mother of the country's liberation, and its all-conquering armed wing, Zipra, played an unequalled role in delivering the killer blow to the colonialists and bringing independence to this country.It is so unfortunate that Zanu-PF, due to its obsession with power and fame, will always lie itself to undeserved heroism through manipulation, alterations and unbelievable distortion of history at the beckoning of any opportunity, using its ill-gotten power to do that.Just as they hijacked Ndabaningi Sithole's party, Mugabe and his cabal hijacked the country and have continued to alter events that brought independence, but as fate would have it, their lies have been exposed in the manner they have run down what was one of the most promising African economies. Their failure to run the country is clear evidence that they did not have a vision for the country even during the struggle, other than grabbing power at all costs. Right now, they pre-occupied with their hunger to keep power at all costs.Even during the war, the Zanla slogan was to bring or have their leader take over power and rule through the barrel of a gun. While some of us fought for the freedom of all Zimbabweans, Zanu, which split from Zapu in 1964 in Tanzania, Morogoro after it had fanned some clashes at our camps, always stoked flames of division between freedom fighters as a way of feeding its demons of power.Clashes started in Zambia at Mboroma, yet we had remained one from the beginning, despite certain misunderstandings. While Zipra waged the war against the Smith regime, the only war that Zanu cared about was against Zipra forces as they still carried grudges from what happened in Zambia and Tanzania.Come 1979 Lancaster ceasefire, of which Zapu and Zanu were called to the negotiating table, and Zanu began to work underground with the British to sabotage Zapu and or try and completely destroy Zapu and kill Nkomo.According to agreements made at Lancaster House, Zanu and Zapu were to come home in 1980 under one umbrella the Patriotic Front and the two wings of the forces were also to be joined together under the supervision of Josiah Tongogara. All that was agreed by both parties, but before we knew it, Tongogara was killed and Zanu reneged from the original deal.Long before Independence came, Zanu - with assurances of support to manipulate election results by the British, had already formed the Fifth Brigade, a crack party army meant to annihilate Zapu by butchering the people of Matabeleland.Mugabe killed more than 20,000 people through Gukurahundi in order to feed his obsession with power, something he has continued to do today. While Zapu fought for and always spoke about land, Zanu only went to war in order to grab power. That is why the party's decision to redistribute land only came 20 years after independence. Even the violent and haphazard manner in which the land was "redistributed" speaks to an unplanned split-second decision to clutch at power, which was seemingly slipping away into the hands of the MDC. Zanu did not take land because people wanted it, but because whites, who "sponsored the MDC", had to be moved from it.That the land benefitted the Zanu-PF powerful also speaks to the party's deliberate ploy to ensure that the poor remain beggars susceptible to manipulation by the rich and powerful, especially during election time. The end result being that Zanu-PF remains in power.Zanu came home from exiled empowered by the British and the Koreans. As we came home, the first thing Zanu knew was that they would win the elections before we even went to the polls.Soon after that election, all Zipra commanders were put to jail, using a list of commanders that included the names of Lookout Masuku and Dumiso Dabengwa. Some of our comrades who could not speak Shona disappeared and some were covertly killed as the party implemented its divide and rule tactics to tribally rapture in a then-united Zimbabwe. Prior to that, Zanla commanders had tried to disarm their Zipra counterparts at our assembly points, something that what caused the Entumbane battle before we even integrated into the national army. Later on, before we knew it, Zapu was accused of hiding an arms catch, leading to the unleashing of the 5th Brigade in 1981 with strict command to butcher all the people of Matabeleland and all supporters of Zapu. Nkomo, the Father of the Struggle, was accused of being the Father of dissidents and attempts were directly made at his life. Ask yourself why Mugabe and Zanu did that to their own brothers and Sisters who went to the front together to fight the regime. Butchering our innocent parents and children and burning people alive. All that was done to feed Mugabe's power obsessed demon.Is it true that Zanu went to liberate the people of Zimbabwe?? Now, who were the dissidents and when did Zapu train them, when it was still fresh from the bundu? Can you see what Zanu was up to? With "degrees in violence" and "trained to kill", Zanu is only concerned with power, looting killing, stealing and destroying. It is no coincidence that the country is in shambles today.For how long will Zanu keep on killing people destroying the country? They are focused on the wrong things - to destroy Zapu. Zapu will never die. Nkomo was poisoned by Zanu because he was still a threat to them. That he had cancer that was all lies. Zanu thinks they have done away with Zapu, but sorry!Zanu played its dirty tricks all the way to try and destroy Zapu, but that will NEVER happen. Opinion / Columnist On behalf of the PEC, it is an honour and privilege for me to announce that the province will be holding an elective AGM on the 30th April 2016 to elect a new PEC to lead for another 4 years. The venue and other details will be communicated to the membership in due course, while the general information regarding the whole electoral exercise will continue to flow as the process unfolds.This is a decision made recently by the PEC as we approach the end of our term (24.03.2016). All necessary protocols have been undertaken. The presidency has been informed and they have responded by wishing us well in 2016 and a successful Provincial Election.A letter has been written and sent by the PEC to the Provincial Council of Elders inviting them to kick-start the process of conducting the election as per their constitutional mandate. The outgoing PEC is determined and will do all it can to facilitate a free, fair, transparent and democratic process that will guarantee credibility. I therefore wish to invite all concerned and the membership in general to join hands and work together to achieve this noble goal of our democracy in the party.The Council of Elders will then task its sub-committee (Elections Committee) to do the job under its guidance. Such committee is usually composed of members of the CoE and some individuals drawn from other structures according to their expertise. We have made this early announcementin order to allow ample time for proper organisation. The process will also include thorough involvement of party structures and the membership who will meet to nominate candidates for various PEC positions. The candidates will then draw up manifestos and begin their campaigns for votes while preparations for other electoral logistics are being made.We are doing this with all determination and commitment and with full knowledge and conviction that ours is the organisation which the answers to our people's problems as we did during the liberation struggle. We have remained convinced that ZAPU remains the vehicle to take the country and the nation to the rightful destination. There are some outside our party who ask why have we continued to maintain our membership of ZAPU and remained diligent to it. They allege that it is a tribal party representing a certain section of the population. This is a clear indication that our country has allowed its enemies to instil politics of division and hate among its citizens. ZAPU has never been tribal and shall never be.I was astounded when I met a young fellow Zimbabwean in his mid-thirties in East London who was happy to inform me to which party he belonged. He was very quick to suggest that we discuss the politics of our country especially tribalism. I never suspected that in his mind I belonged to a tribal party and he was not aware that I hated tribalism mainly as a result of being a product of my organisation.The young man went on to explain why he thought ZAPU is a tribal Party, he said that members come from a certain region and that we don't understand what he called the main element of democracy which is majority rule, and that the majority tribe must rule and that the head of state must always come from the majority tribe. I tried to explain to him that majority rule in democracy does not mean majority tribe. I gave him an example of Gordon Brown who was Prime Minister of UK but was Scottish.To my concern, this was not the first time I heard people interpret democracy in terms of tribal majority, one wonders where they got that nonsense from.I remembered another instance in 1981when we travelled to Masvingo and spent time at the Chevron Hotel with the late Professor Enos Malandu who had a short chat with a very senior govt minister who expressed the same understanding of majority rule as the young man I met in East London. Prof. Malandu was so dismayed to an extent of using the word 'empty' in reference to the minister's lack of understanding of mature politics.I will never forget Mr Svosve who chaired ZAPU Norton district in the early 80s when he equated our national tribes to family siblings saying that when the parents are gone the eldest brother has the biggest responsibility to uplift and secure his siblings especially the youngest and will lay his life for them. This is what happens in building a nation.It has always been clear to me why the late Joshua Nkomo always addressed the matter so seriously as part of his nation building attempts, he would always say that the MAJORITY RULE MEANS MAJORITY VOTES and NOT any tribes. Tribes are only groups of equal Zimbabweans, they are flowers that make Zimbabwe beautiful. Some of us feel so strongly that the spirit of Joshua Nkomo should be preserved jealously for the good of our country and future generations. It is in us and will always be preserved in its original and genuine form by his organisation ZAPU. We now have many who are using his name in vain. You will remember that only last week, the military and its hardware equipment was mobilised and put on standby to support the police in crashing a peaceful demonstration by the civil servants for merely asking for their dues, Joshua Nkomo could never have ordered the armed forces against defenceless citizens.The deliberate misinterpretation of the majority rule' concept builds serious divisions among population groups, creates nepotism and brings about domination of other groups by the other. It makes others feel rejected in their motherland. I know it is not easy to undo such indoctrination accumulated over 35 years but it remains a duty of every Zimbabwean to work towards undoing it.In conclusion I wish to express my concern in the revolutionary situation' created by the ruling elite in the country that is progressively turning citizens into revolutionaries in order to massacre them one more time. Let me explain what I mean about a revolutionary situation; it is a situation created by the government knowing that it is no longer popular among the population and that the people can no longer remove it through a democratic vote even if they wanted to. Keeping the population subjected to abject poverty and pain without employment or any hope for a living. It is a situation whereby the government has lost ideas and maintains the status quo only by the use of armed forces to protect itself against citizens, it is a situation where the citizens also have suffered and are in such pain that living and death are one and they can no longer pass it onto their children let alone stomach it, they have reached their tolerance and resilient levels.These are the reasons we will not forsake the golden ideals of genuine freedom that Zimbabweans set themselves to achieve on 12th September, 1957 when they formed the then SRANC.2016 is the year that ZAPU moves to the next level and I invite all Zimbabweans in the UK to start the year with us, call our structures for membership and join us for the AGM. Freedom is for all Zimbabweans and should not be abused.Thank You.Christopher Maphosa- ZAPU Europe Chairperson. Opinion / Columnist --------------- Nomusa Garikai