Istanbul • On Sunday, Turkey will hold a
national election, less than six months after voters delivered the
country's first hung parliament since 2002.
The vote takes place in a climate of real
tension and polarization. Months of concerted campaigning by Turkey's
main political parties have exacerbated the sense of division within the
country. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has ruled for 13 years as either
prime minister or president, is a man either loved or reviled by his
people.
After more than a decade firmly in power,
Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party, known by the Turkish
abbreviation AKP, lost its clear majority in parliament in June
elections. The vote was a real blow to Erdogan's aspirations: He had
hoped for a super-majority in parliament that would give his party
enough of a mandate to rewrite the Turkish constitution and grant the
presidency -- a ceremonial and apolitical post that Erdogan has occupied
since 2014 -- more executive powers.
Instead, the past few months have seen a
worrying unraveling within Turkey, with the economy slumping, the
decades-old conflict with Kurdish separatists flaring up, and suspected
Islamist militants striking targets within the nation.
Amid this upheaval, opinion polls suggest a
similarly inconclusive outcome to the Nov. 1 election. What comes next
will have a huge impact not only for Turkey's political future, but a
wider region already wracked with instability.
Violence and civil war
On Oct. 10, two bomb blasts ripped through a
leftist peace rally in Ankara, the Turkish capital, killing 102 people.
It was the worst terror attack in Turkey's modern history. This week,
the prosecutor's office in Ankara pinned the blame on Islamic State
militants, linking thee explosions to a deadly July bombing of a similar
rally in the Turkish border town of Suruc.
But that followed weeks of divisive
finger-pointing in the aftermath of the attack. Leftist critics of the
government, including members of organizations that participated in the
ill-fated gathering, accuse authorities of enabling such terrorism,
either through sheer incompetence or tacit support for Islamist forces
within the country.
Erdogan, meanwhile, declared that the Ankara
bombing was possibly the work of a combined plot of jihadists, Syrian
intelligence and the PKK, an outlawed Kurdish militant group that's
deemed a terrorist organization by both Turkey and the United States.
It's an outlandish theory that holds little water for most analysts, but
it reflects Turkey's own political divisions.
The main obstacle to Erdogan's party winning a
decisive majority of seats is the Peoples' Democratic Party, or HDP, a
left-wing, pro-Kurdish party that surged into parliament in June with
the support of a wide spectrum of Turkish secularists, leftists, Kurds
and other ethnic minorities. The party's electoral success came at the
expense of the AKP, which had earlier relied upon the votes of
conservative Kurds.
In recent months, government officials have
painted the HDP as a proxy for the PKK -- a charge that carries a
certain degree of truth. The HDP emerged from the Kurdish nationalist
struggle and some of its members still have relatives "in the
mountains," the euphemism often deployed for those in the PKK's ranks.
But the HDP, which espouses peace and a more
decentralized Turkish political system, clearly did not want to see the
resumption of hostilities between the Turkish state and Kurdish
guerrillas in the wake of the June election. According to government
figures, more than 150 Turkish security personnel have died in clashes
with the PKK; the Turkish military has launched a concerted
counter-insurgency campaign, including airstrikes on PKK camps in
northern Iraq.
The violence has fanned nationalist flames and
spiked anti-Kurdish sentiment in certain parts of Turkey. Erdogan's
critics say his rhetoric feeds these tensions.
"⅛Erdogan's⅜ bitterly divisive rhetoric, which
frequently employs religious narrative and the demonization of
opponents, has cleaved the country in two: those who love him, and those
who hate him," writes columnist Sevgi Akarcesme. "Both parties are
equally passionate in their convictions, which makes the divide all the
more volatile."
The terror attack in Ankara only exposed the
widening rift between these two camps. Some leftist activists reported
seeing fireworks being set off in parts of the capital on the day of the
bombings.
"The official line is that it's a tragedy,"
says Nihat Ali Ozcan, an analyst at the Economic Policy Research
Foundation of Turkey, an Ankara-based think tank. "But behind the door,
people will interpret it according to their own ideological positions."
Norfolk, Virginia (CNN)Donald
Trump on Saturday knocked President Barack Obama's decision to deploy
fewer than 50 Special Operations forces on the ground in Syria,
suggesting the strategy is a half-measure.
"I
think we have a president who just doesn't know what he's doing," Trump
told CNN. "You either do it or you don't do it. Fifty people. He puts
50 people."
Trump did not say whether
he would deploy more troops to Syria as president, but simply said, "You
either do it or you don't do it."
The
remarks are the first time Trump has reacted to Obama's decision to
deploy fewer than 50 Special Operations forces to Syria, which the White
House announced Friday. The announcement came two years after Obama
addressed the American public and said emphatically: "I will not put
American boots on the ground in Syria."
Obama reluctantly redefines his legacy on Syria
"The fact is, our strategy in Syria hasn't
changed," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters
Friday. "The core of our military strategy inside of Syria is to build
up the capacity of local forces. To take the fight to ISIL on the ground
in their own country ... This is an intensification of a strategy that
the President announced more than a year ago."
Trump
spoke briefly with CNN on Saturday as he arrived at a campaign rally in
Norfolk, Virginia, where his podium is stationed in front of the USS
Wisconsin.
Trump, along with other 2016 GOP contenders, has been highly critical of Obama's handling of the war against ISIS.
Trump
has said that he would deploy American troops back to Iraq to combat
ISIS but has argued against deepening U.S. involvement in Syria.
Instead,
Trump has said that he would be in favor of allowing Russian President
Vladimir Putin to continue his bombing campaign in the country, which
has been met with objection by Washington, which believes Putin is
trying to bolster the Syrian regime rather than attacking ISIS.
Trump also told CNN he would end super PACs if he became president.
"Super
PACs should not be allowed. Super PACs should not be allowed," he said.
"It is absolutely a disgrace what's happening with super PACs and they
should not be allowed. They're a disgrace and they're horrible for this
country and it should be ended."
BUCHAREST, Romania — Survivors of a deadly nightclub fire and
stampede in Romania say the lead singer of the heavy metal band on stage
first made a joke about the fire before it engulfed the basement club
in downtown Bucharest.
Hundreds of young people had gone clubbing at
the hip Colectiv nightclub on Friday to enjoy a free concert by the
Goodbye to Gravity metal band. The evening ended in horror, as the inferno caused a panic that killed 27 people and injured 180 others.
Around 146 people remained hospitalized
Saturday, some in critical condition suffering from burns and smoke
inhalation. Officials expect the death toll to rise in what is the worst
disaster of its kind ever in Romania.
Vlad
Telea and Alex Pascu of the Romanian metal band 'Goodbye to Gravity'
perform before a fire broke out inside a nightclub on Friday, in
Bucharest, Romania on Oct. 30, 2015
Premier Victor Ponta cut short a visit to Mexico to return to
Bucharest and declared three days of mourning for the victims starting
immediately.
By Saturday afternoon, four of the dead had
still not been identified, media reported. TV stations posted a number
for families to call to find out information.
An Italian woman, two Spanish citizens and a German man were among the injured, the Romanian Intelligence Agency said.
Witnesses told Antena 3 TV that between 300 and
400 mostly young people had been at the club, housed in a former
factory, when a pyrotechnical show went awry. They said there was only
one exit.
Club-goers told Digi 24 television that a spark
on stage ignited some polystyrene decor. Photos posted on social media
appeared to show a flame emanating from a pillar covered in foam
insulation as those in the audience applauded the band.
Shooting candles and indoor fireworks are common in bars and restaurants in Romania and fire regulations can be lax.
Delia Tugui, a Spanish teacher at the American
International School of Bucharest who was at the concert with her
husband and son, said club-goers were surprised by how fast the fire
spread and panicked.
"The lead singer made a quick joke: 'This wasn't
part of the program.' The next second, he realized it wasn't a joke and
asked for a fire extinguisher," she wrote on her Facebook page. "In 30
seconds... the fire spread all over the ceiling. People rushed to the
entrance but it was too narrow, and people panicked."
"Friends were looking for each other under the
pile of people. Asking 'Is it you? Where are you? I can't see you. Is
that your arm?' It was a nightmare."
She said she knew some would not escape.
"I realized that those on the other side of the bar would not get out alive."
Goodbye to Gravity's bass guitarist Vlad Telea
and another guitarist, Mihai Alexandru, were among the 27 dead, Mediafax
news agency reported, citing the band's record label Universal Music
Romania. Lead singer Alex Pascu and two other band members were
hospitalized with serious injuries.
General Prosecutor Tiberiu Nitu said prosecutors
are probing what happened. Police spent all night in the club
investigating the incident and questioning the club's owners.
MOSCOW: All
passengers on the Russian flight from Egypt were killed when the
passenger plane carrying 224 on-board crashed in the Sinai peninsula
Saturday, the Russian embassy said in a statement.
According
to Al-Jazeera, the Islamic State has claimed they shot down the
passenger plane as a response to the ongoing Russian air raids in Syria
"Unfortunately,
all passengers of Kogalymavia flight 9268 Sharm el-Sheikh - Saint
Petersburg have died. We issue condolences to family and friends," said a
message on the embassy´s Facebook page, referring to the flight
carrying 217 passengers and seven crew.
The Russian plane
with 224 people on board crashed in a mountainous part of Egypt´s Sinai
Peninsula, leaving "many" dead including 17 children, officials said.
The
chartered passenger plane had taken off from the south Sinai resort of
Sharm el-Sheikh bound for Saint Petersburg and lost contact with air
traffic control 23 minutes later.
Ambulances reached the
site of the crash, in a remote mountainous area in the middle of the
peninsula, and began evacuating "casualties," officials and state media
reported.
The head of the Egyptian civil aviation authority Mahmud al-Zinati told AFP there were "many dead", including 17 children.
The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Moscow´s emergency ministry to dispatch rescue teams to Egypt.
The wreckage was found roughly 100 kilometres (60 miles) south of the North Sinai town of El-Arish, Egyptian officials said.
"Military
planes have discovered the wreckage of the plane... in a mountainous
area, and 45 ambulances have been directed to the site to evacuate dead
and wounded," a cabinet statement said.
Officials and the state MENA news agency later said the "casualties" were being transferred to a Cairo morgue and hospitals.
There was no official word on the cause of the crash.
A
senior Egyptian aviation official said the plane was a charter flight
operated by a Russian company carrying 217 passengers and seven crew
members, which was flying at an altitude of 30,000 feet when
communication was lost.
At Saint Petersburg´s Pulkovo airport, anxious family members awaited news of their loved ones.
"I
am meeting my parents," said 25-year-old Ella Smirnova, a tall woman
seemingly in shock. "I spoke to them last on the phone when they were
already on the plane, and then I heard the news."
"I will keep hoping until the end that they are alive, but perhaps I will never see them again."
A
senior official in Egypt air traffic control said that the pilot told
him in their last communication that he was having trouble with the
plane´s radio system.
Russian aviation official Sergei
Izvolsky told Interfax news agency that the plane operated by Russian
carrier Kogalymavia had departed Sharm el-Sheikh at 5:51 am local time
(0351 GMT).
He said the Airbus 321 did not make contact as expected with air traffic controllers in Cyprus.
An Oregon family is allowing their terminally ill five-year-old
daughter to make the decision of whether she wants to go to the hospital
next time she is sick or stay at home and potentially die.
Julianna
Snow, who has a neurodegenerative disease called Charcot-Marie-Tooth
disease, which has caused her to become so weak that even a minor cold
could become pneumonia, told her mother that she would rather go to
"heaven," according to CNN.
It's unlikely that Julianna's doctors
could save her life if she becomes ill again, and if they can, she would
likely be sedated and on a respirator for the rest of her life, the
news organization reported.
In May, Julianna's mother, Michelle Moon, shared the family's story on The Mighty, a digital platform for people facing disease and disability.
With the grim knowledge of what Julianna's future could look like, her parents decided to offer her a choice.
"Julianna
made it clear to us that she does not want to go to the hospital
again," Moon wrote of her then 4-year-old daughter. "Like so many kids
who have had to face life-threatening illness, she is wise beyond her
years — but she is still only four years old." In the post, Moon
recounts a conversation she had with her daughter about whether she
wanted to go to the hospital for treatment next time she was sick or
stay home and face the possibility of death:
Moon: You don't want to go to the hospital, right, J? Julianna: I don't like NT [naso-tracheal suction, the thing she hated the most from the hospital]. Moon: I know. So if you get sick again, you want to stay home? Julianna: I hate NT. I hate the hospital. Moon: Right. So if you get sick again, you want to stay home. But you know that probably means you will go to heaven, right? Julianna: (nods) Moon: And it probably means that you will go to heaven by yourself, and Mommy will join you later. Julianna: But I won't be alone. Moon: That's right. You will not be alone.
In
the post, Julianna asks whether her brother will join her in heaven,
and Moon tells her that most of the time people have to go to heaven
alone and wait on their family to join them later.
The post
received a mixed response with some voicing their support for Julianna's
parent's choice and others questioning their decision.
"Unbelievable
that any parent would think a four-year-old is able to understand or
make a decision on life," Susan Timko wrote in the comments section.
"Clearly that mother asks her leading questions. This article sickens
me. I have a child with a chronic illness as well." Following the criticism, Moon posted a second piece
explaining her decision. She said it was heartbreaking for her and her
husband to contemplate life without their child. She said her first
instinct was to continue taking Julianna to the hospital, but they
decided to honor Julianna's decision instead.
"We have had more
conversations, mostly initiated by Julianna," Moon wrote. "She's scared
of dying, but has, to me, demonstrated adequate knowledge of what death
is. She hasn't changed her mind about going back to the hospital, and
she knows that this means she'll go to heaven by herself. If she gets
sick, we'll ask her again, and we'll honor her wishes."
And while
Julianna's doctors support her parent's decision to honor their child's
wish, not everyone thinks a child can make the call between life and
death, CNN reported.
"This doesn't sit well with me. It makes me
nervous," Art Caplan, the founding director of the Division of Medical
Ethics at New York University, told CNN. "I think a 4-year-old might be
capable of deciding what music to hear or what picture book they might
want to read. But I think there's zero chance a 4-year-old can
understand the concept of death. That kind of thinking doesn't really
develop until around age nine or 10."
Moon said it's been a year
since Julianna's had an infection, and for now she is just enjoying time
with her daughter. She told CNN they will make a decision on how to
proceed when Julianna becomes ill again.
The
day after actress Angelina Jolie revealed in 2013 that she had both of
her breasts removed to prevent cancer, Ottawa surgical oncologist Dr.
Angel Arnaout had a “swarm” of people at her clinic “asking, all of a
sudden, why they couldn’t get the other side taken off.”
Jolie had the surgery because she carries the BRCA1 gene mutation,
which puts her at a 60 to 80 per cent lifetime risk of cancer in both
breasts. But only 15 per cent of women with breast cancer carry such
mutations.
And yet, Arnaout was hearing from patients with cancer in one breast
and no greater risk than the average person of developing it in a second
breast. Suddenly, many women wanted both breasts removed.
“There is no reason to remove the opposite breast and yet they are
requesting it and it is happening at an increasing rate,” said Arnaout, a
surgical oncologist with The Ottawa Hospital.
Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteDr. Angel Arnaout (left) and Dr. Janet Squires (right), are studying the decision among breast cancer patients.
The “Jolie effect,” as it has been called, is real and Arnaout says
she has talked to many other physicians who have seen the same thing.
But it is just one factor in a worrying — and rising — trend in Ontario:
a growing number of women are opting to have a healthy breast removed
after a diagnosis of cancer in the other breast, a move that puts them
at greater risk of surgical and post-surgical complications that, in
some cases, can delay cancer treatment.
Arnaout, who is also affiliated with the University of Ottawa, and
Dr. Janet Squires, a behavioural scientist in the clinical epidemiology
program at The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and an assistant
professor of nursing at the University of Ottawa, are studying the trend
in Canada. They hope to better understand the phenomenon and to develop
interventions to reduce the number of unnecessary breast removals. They
have received a $100,000 Knowledge to Action Grant from the Canadian
Cancer Society, as well as a $99,000 grant from the Ontario Institute
for Cancer Research.
What we are trying to promote is
allowing our breast cancer patients to go through treatment with the
least amount of complications
The research is particularly crucial in Ontario, where the number of
women opting for a double mastectomy when one breast was healthy spiked
by 110 per cent between 2002 and 2010 — prior to the Angelina effect
coming into play — and anecdotal evidence suggests the trend may have
worsened since then.
The researchers will look at the factors leading to those unnecessary
surgeries by interviewing patients and doctors, including surgical
oncologists, plastic surgeons and medical and radiation oncologists. And
they will develop strategies including better education and information
about the risks and side effects of prophylactic mastectomies for
patients and changing behaviours of some health professionals.
“Our culture, the media and emotions after a breast cancer diagnosis
can all be factors in women’s choice to have their healthy breast
removed,” said Squires.
The researchers are working with patients, including one woman who
asked for a double mastectomy, but changed her mind after talking with
her doctor. “I lived in fear for so long not knowing just how low my
chances of recurrence were. I hope my experience will save women from
making any rash decisions without being properly informed,” said the
woman, identified only as Tammy.
“What we are trying to promote is allowing our breast cancer patients
to go through treatment with the least amount of complications and the
most amount of survival,” said Arnaout. “And we need to correct the
false perception that removing the opposite normal breast or having more
surgery is going to help them live longer. I don’t think people
understand that what they are worried about has nothing to do with
removing a normal breast.”
When marketing researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s
Wharton School rigged shopping carts at a major East Coast supermarket
with motion-tracking radio-frequency tags, they unwittingly stumbled on a
metaphor for our path through the aisles of life.
Route data from more than 1,000 shoppers, matched to their purchases
at checkout, revealed a clear pattern: Drop a bunch of kale into your
cart and you’re more likely to head next to the ice cream or drinks
section. The more “virtuous” products you have in your basket, the
stronger your temptation to succumb to vice.
Such hedonic balancing acts are neither unpredictable — who, after
all, hasn’t rewarded themselves with a piece of cake after a killer
workout? — nor inherently bad. But an emerging body of research into
what psychologists call the “licensing effect” suggests that this
tit-for-tat tendency is deeply wired in us, operating even when we’re
not aware of it. And in a world where we’re bombarded by pitches for an
endless array of health-boosting products of dubious efficacy, that can
be a problem. Top 5 heart-healthy foods
The key insight underlying the licensing effect, which was first
described in 2006 by Uzma Khan, then a professor of marketing at
Carnegie Mellon University, and Ravi Dhar of the Yale School of
Management, is that our choices are contingent: Since we each have a
fairly stable self-concept of how good/bad, healthy/unhealthy or
selfish/altruistic we are, when one decision swings too far from this
self-concept, we automatically take action to balance it out.
The result plays out in surprisingly subtle ways. Ordering a side
salad to go with your cheeseburger is a deliberate and arguably rational
trade-off between pleasure and health; but consumer researchers have
found that the mere presence of a healthy option on a menu increases the
chances that you’ll order the least healthy choice. You’re more likely
to choose French fries if there’s a green salad available — a
realisation that fast food restaurants have profited from handsomely.
Curiously, it’s those with the greatest self-control who are most
vulnerable to this type of influence. They’re confident in their ability
to resist temptation, so knowing that a healthy option is available
licenses them to indulge this time and — in theory, at least — make up
for it next time.
This halo effect was even more obvious in a study where
weight-conscious people were asked to guess the calorie content of a
series of meals. When shown a burger, their average guess was 734
calories; when shown the same burger alongside three celery sticks, the
average guess dropped to 619. These are not rational calculations; they
betray the shortcuts your brain takes in its running tally of vice and
virtue. 7 days, 7 healthy dinners
All this helps to explain why many health researchers cringe when
promises of an “exercise pill” hit the headlines, as they did yet again
earlier this month following the publication of two new studies. “I want
to be clear that really there is no way to replace routine exercise
with an exercise pill,” one of the scientists insisted. But the
licensing research suggests that’s exactly what we would try to do,
wittingly or not.
Consider the almost surreal results of a series of studies by
researchers in Taiwan. In one test, half of the subjects were told a
pill was a placebo (which it was), while the other half were told that
it was a multivitamin. Those who thought they had consumed a vitamin
pill consistently chose less healthy options.
When testing out a pedometer on one of two routes, they were more
likely to take the shorter one. At lunch, they preferred the
all-you-can-eat buffet to the healthy organic option. In psychological
tests, they expressed a greater desire for “hedonic activities” like
casual sex, sunbathing and excessive drinking.
With a group of smokers, those who thought they’d been given a
vitamin C pill smoked nearly twice as many cigarettes, while filling out
the questionnaires, as those who were told the pill was a placebo. And
dieters given a purported weight-loss supplement ate more at the
subsequent buffet lunch.
‘Pakistani chefs have a deep hunger for learning’
This quasi-Newtonian problem of reactions canceling out actions isn’t
unique to health. Safety interventions like seatbelts, bike helmets and
football pads have been blamed for promoting riskier behavior. We have a
deep-seated urge to remain, as a “Seinfeld” episode once put it, “Even
Steven.”
But it’s a particular problem in health because we’re confronted with
so many decisions on a daily basis and yet the outcomes we’re most
concerned about — like disease, disability and, ultimately, death — are
difficult to measure, heavily influenced by chance or too far into the
future to be sure of cause and effect. That leaves us vulnerable,
because unlike Newton’s Third Law, the actions and reactions of the
licensing effect aren’t necessarily “equal and opposite.” Few of our
health decisions are clear-cut, so we’re left weighing uncertain
benefits against unknowable behavioral compensation.
So how can we maximise our chances of coming out ahead? Psychologists
have identified a few tactics. One is to focus on the process of living
healthfully rather than the goal of being healthy. A recent University
of Zurich study tracked the progress of 126 dieters and found that, as
predicted by licensing theory, the more weight the subjects lost in any
given week, the less weight they would lose (or the more they would
gain) the following week. But this rebound effect was weakest when the
subjects homed in on the process of changing their eating behavior
rather than on the outcome of losing weight or improving their
appearance.
Consultative seminar: ‘Health, nutrition vital for community development’
Another approach, proposed by Professors Khan and Dhar, is to narrow
your focus so that you weigh the pros and cons of each decision in
isolation. To illustrate this principle, they offered either a single
free movie rental or two rentals (once a week for two weeks) to a group
of undergrads. In the one-shot choice, just over half the subjects opted
for a “lowbrow” film like “Dumb and Dumber” rather than a weightier
selection like “Schindler’s List.” But when they knew they’d get another
chance to make a “good” choice, the number who went lowbrow shot up to
80 per cent.
The same pattern showed up when they offered volunteers a single-shot
or repeated choice of plain low-fat yogurt or a cookie. Crucially, a
further experiment showed that those who picked the indulgent option one
week didn’t make up for it by picking the virtuous option the next
week. So if you want to indulge, go for it — but don’t kid yourself that
you’ll balance it out later.
Ultimately, we all know how to live healthfully: Exercise regularly,
eat real food, get plenty of sleep and so on. But these simple precepts
can be inconvenient and time-consuming. So you can be excused for
wishing that the right super-juice or latest fitness gadget would get
the job done more easily.
But the only foolproof way to defeat the licensing effect is to hold
yourself to a higher standard when you’re making health decisions. Stick
to the well-proven basics and tune out the noise of the commercial
health-promotion industry, whose ever-optimistic mantra is “It might
help … and it can’t hurt.” That’s a nice thought, but it’s almost always
an illusion.
Global travel company Lonely Planet has announced - early Wednesday
morning - its Best in Travel list for 2016 featuring the top 10
countries to visit.
Singapore was listed as the No. 1 country to visit in its 2015 list
mainly due to its SG50 hook of "various new developments to elevate the
Singapore experience to a new level, from Marina Bay to a new crop of
swanky hotels".
It is no longer on the list for 2016. But Singapore did get a mention
on one of the few side lists compiled along various travel themes -
namely, New Openings in 2016 (for the new National Gallery of Singapore-
see bottom of story).
Otherwise, the top country to visit in 2016 as recommended by Lonely Planet now is Botswana.
1. BOTSWANA
Sightings of great predators on bespoke safaris at Mombo, in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. PHOTO: A2A SAFARIS
Lonely Planet says: "Botswana remains off the radar for most people.
The impression is: it's too difficult to get to, it doesn't cater for
families. But we're here to tell you that's all nonsense. The story of
its journey from poverty to become one of Africa's most stable, thriving
societies will be celebrated when it celebrates 50 years of
independence in 2016."
It wrote: "Seventeen percent of the country is dedicated to national
parks and here is a real wilderness that puts you in touch with palpable
primitive thrills and fears, whether it's being poled by an African
gondolier in a mokoro past pods of sunbathing hippos in the Okavango
Delta; or feeling the spirit of the first men in the thousand-year-old
rock art in the Tsodilo Hills; or in the eerie beauty of Kubu Island's
ancient baobabs backlit by incandescent constellations in a vast night
sky." Current Craze:
'Car park pimping'. This is due to a 30% tax on alcohol and new
licensing hours enforcing club closures at 2am, Gaborone (capital of
Botswana) has seen its club scene move outdoors and hijack suburban car
parks. The party continues around makeshift DJ decks with experienced
clubbers equipped with personal cool boxes and camping chairs. Trend to Watch:
Direct flights. For years the government has been clamouring for
direct international flights. Gaborone's airport and runway have
recently been upgraded and similar upgrades are planned for Maun and
Kasane. With all the action, the long-awaited day may come within the
next 6 to 12 months.
2. JAPAN
The sakura blossom season at Osaka Castle Park in Japan. PHOTO:: OSAKA CONVENTION & TOURISM BUREAU
Lonely Planet says: "It might be number two but it's always number
one for travellers in search of an otherworldly experience. Nowhere else
on earth exemplifies that dog-eared 'modern yet ancient' cliche like
the land of the rising sun."
It wrote: "Most interesting is move of the much-venerated Tsukiji
fish market (which sees over US$20 million (S$28m) in seafood sales each
day) to a sparkling new facility that is set to swing open its doors at
the end of this year. As everyone's radioactive paranoia is finally put
to rest...since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, and with the
government's continued efforts to devalue the Japanese yen, there's no
better time to experience the country that pays such vivid tribute to
manic modernity and hallowed history." Current Craze
Animal cafes have reached new heights: People there can now hobnob
with goats, sip tea with a turtle, pose for selfies with owls, and do
whisky shots while watching penguins. Life-changing Experience:
One of the world's most famous pilgrimage routes after the Camino de
Santiago is Japan's Kumano Kodo near Osaka. For over a millennium,
devotees would walk between hidden Oji shrines and forests of haunting
trees to reach the three grand worshipping complexes of Kumano. There
are a handful of different paths but the preferred route - and also the
oldest - is Nakahechi, which starts in the west and travels 30km to the
shrines. Unesco officially recognised the network of trails in 2004, and
over the last 12 years the walk has seen a steady increase in foreign
tourists.
3. UNITED STATES
The Nevada Fall at the Yosemite National Park in east-central California. PHOTO: YONG SHU HOONG
Lonely Planet says: "The 'best idea' America ever had - the National
Park Service - turns 100 next year. It oversees the country's 59
national parks and hundreds of historic landmarks, and celebrates a
centenary of safeguarding Yosemite, Yellowstone, Badlands, Zion, and the
rest. So lace up your hiking boots and set foot in the miraculously
well-managed 340,000 sq km network of surreal and spectacular landscapes
it defends, from earth-rending canyons to alligator-infested swamplands
to belching geysers. It's a national triumph." Life-changing Experience:
The US is a road-trip paradise. As you take to highways travelled by
Thelma and Louise and Bonnie and Clyde, watch the landscape morph from
prairie to desert to breathtaking ocean road. On the way, are goofy
roadside attractions, small-town diners and curious locals. Trend To Watch:
The election. In 2016, America's first African-American president
will step down. As nationwide protests change the way Americans think
about politics, this election year promises raging debate.
4. PALAU
The Ulong Beach in Palau. PHOTO: ST FILE
Lonely Planet says: "Palau is unquestionably one of the most magical
diving and snorkelling destinations in the world - and it's fighting to
stay that way. This far-flung Pacific archipelago has turned 100% of its
marine territory into a sanctuary in a bid to protect what has been
dubbed a 'Serengeti' of the sea."
It wrote: "Palau is charting its own path through the uncertain
waters of national independence. While the US still plays Big Daddy,
Palau is its own master. Collected behind a 110km barrier reef, more
than 200 largely unspoilt limestone and volcanic islands - a mere eight
are inhabited - are blanketed in tropical and mangrove forest and
surrounded by waters teeming with marine life. Fairly constant
temperatures and rainfall mean any time of the year is good to visit,
although it becomes more typhoon-prone in the back half of the
calendar." Current Craze:
In 1944, the Japanese and Americans fought for three desperate months
for control of the island of Peleliu's important airfield. The tragic
result was over 10,000 Japanese and 2,000 American casualties, and an
island paradise littered with wreckage. Today, many of the rusted tanks,
planes, small arms and (highly dangerous) unexploded ordnance that
attest to the ferocity of the struggle remain. Tourists, carefully
shepherded by expert guides, are increasingly being drawn to this
fascinating site. Bizarre Sights:
Jellyfish Lake is an otherworldly lagoon on the uninhabited limestone
rock island of Eil Malk. Millions of an endemic sub-species of golden
jellyfish drift across the marine lake in an east-west migratory pattern
that's repeated every day. Such is the sensitivity of the lake that
visitors must obtain a permit, but snorkelling with these harmless,
highly photogenic jellyfish is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
5. LATVIA
The Great Kemeri Bog in Latvia, more than 8,000 years old and one of the largest dry moss swamps in the Baltics. PHOTO: REUTERS
Lonely Planet says: "It's taken Latvia 25 years to shrug off the
fetters of Communism, but this Baltic treasure looks ready to shine for
its silver anniversary. The country is resuscitating ancient traditions,
restoring crumbling castles and manor houses hidden in its pine
forests, and transforming its once stodgy cuisine into cutting-edge New
Nordic fare."
It wrote: "Hundreds of crumbling castles and manor houses - from
medieval to Rococo - hide in the nation's dense forests of pine, and
today many of these estates have been lavishly transformed into inns and
museums. Food, too, has come a long way from sweaty pork and potatoes. A
fleet of (new) New Nordic chefs are catapulting local flavours to such
artisanal heights that they would truly give Copenhagen a run for its
money if Michelin were paying them more attention." Life-changing Experience:
Cast modesty aside and indulge in Latvia's most Latvian tradition,
the pirts - a hot birch sauna. A traditional pirts is run by a sauna
master who cares for her naked attendees while performing choreographed
branch beatings that draw on ancient pagan traditions. Herbs and
wildflowers swish in the air to raise the humidity in the chamber for a
series of sweltering 15-minute sessions before you exit the sauna to
jump in a nearby body of water (lake, pond or sea). Bizarre Sights:
Gauja National Park may be known as a pine-studded preserve filled
with medieval ruins, but it also holds some of the most eccentric relics
from the Soviet era. Don't miss the cement bobsled track built near
Sigulda as the training course for the Soviet Olympic team, and check
out the top-secret nuclear fallout shelter buried under a convalescence
home in Ligatne. The bunker was of high strategic importance during the
Cold War and the rooms covered in untouched switchboards and Soviet
propaganda will undoubtedly perk the antenna of any Bond enthusiast.
6. AUSTRALIA
Uluru in the Northern Territory, Australia. PHOTO: AFP
Lonely Planet says: "The strength of the Aussie dollar over recent
years has made a trip down under a tough proposition for travellers on a
budget. But with the currency faltering and petrol prices also on the
slide, 2016 could be the perfect time for a road trip."
It wrote: "More positively, increasing numbers of Aboriginal land
rights claims are being recognised here, including recent claims over
Queensland's Fraser Island and a huge tract of South Australia's Eyre
Peninsula. Indigenous tourism is booming, with new Aboriginal tour
companies such as Ngurrangga Tours in Karratha and Bungoolee Tours in
the Kimberley offering authentic cultural experiences. Contemporary
Aboriginal art remains an Australian cultural high-water mark, as
evidenced by the fab new Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts & Culture
Centre in Katherine. Current Craze:
Food vans and small bars. Battling innumerable fast food joints in
Australian cities, the current clog of takeaway food vans - serving
everything from burgers to barramundi curry - is constantly expanding.
Afterwards, sip a craft beer at the latest alleyway speakeasy around the
corner. Bizarre Sights:
Emerging from the haze in the far-flung Oodnadatta Track in the
central Australian desert is the Mutonia Sculpture Park - a kooky
roadside installation featuring several large aeroplanes welded together
with their tails buried in the ground to form 'Planehenge'.
7. POLAND
Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland. PHOTO: TEO CHENG WEE
Lonely Planet says: "Recession-defying Poland has superpowers - while
the rest of Europe descended into the doldrums, visitor numbers here
climbed and there's no end to the boom in sight as Wroc·aw prepares for a
stint as European Capital of Culture 2016. Krakow will have a turn in
the limelight too when the Pope arrives to celebrate World Youth Day,
and new air routes to Krakow, Szczecin, Katowice, and Gdansk means this
is a destination on the rise."
It wrote: "Wroc·aw, the historical capital of Silesia, already had
plenty of reasons to preen. Its Old Town Hall, with gothic turrets
firing off a custard-coloured exterior, is one of Poland's most
beautiful buildings. And among beer gardens and soaring bell towers,
Wroc·aw harbours a show-stopping 114m-long painting, the Panorama
Rac·awicka. Highlights of the city's stint as one of 2016's European
Capitals of Culture will be an artist-in-residence programme to promote
artists across borders and world music days that combine influences
across 50 different countries." Life-changing Experience:
Plummet 135m into the Wieliczka Salt Mine for an unforgettable
underground adventure. In this yawning Unesco-listed grotto, carvings
grace walls and chandeliers drip from ceilings - all of them made out of
salt. Beneath Krakow's Wawel Hill lies the rumoured lair of a slain
dragon, while in the chalk tunnels of Che·m you'll learn of a legendary
white bear, now the city's emblem. Bizarre Sights:
Wroc·aw's gnomes commemorate the 1980s thanks to Orange Alternative
movement, an anti-Communist group known for its absurdist style of
protest - including graffiti and gnome-hat demonstrations. Today more
than 300 gnome statues wave from street corners and twirl their beards
beneath window panes.
8. URUGUAY
The main avenue of Montevideo, Uruguay. PHOTO: AFP
Lonely Planet says: "Squished between South America's two titans,
Brazil and Argentina, this small country packs a big punch. What it
lacks in size, Uruguay makes up for in peacefulness, hospitality and
personality. An estimated three million foreign visitors will arrive in
Uruguay next year - but it's a wonder it isn't more when you grasp what
the 'Switzerland of America' has to offer."
It wrote: "Take Montevideo, which must be the safest capital in South
America. When it comes to quality of life, Montevideo is unrivalled on
the continent. It's small enough to get around, but big enough to have
some great architecture and a superb restaurant scene. The beach-lined
seafront is easily navigated by bike, as is the Old Town, with its array
of grand 19th-century neoclassical buildings.
An hour's drive away lies gaucho (cowboy) country. Here, undulating
pampas are dotted with working estancias (cattle ranches), many of which
serve as guesthouses." Life-changing Experience:
Uruguayans are the masters of the asado barbecue. One of the best
places to sample Uruguayan beef is the Mercado del Puerto in Montevideo.
This 19th-century wrought-iron market hall shelters a gaggle of
steakhouses. Pull up a stool at any of the parrillas (steakhouses) and
watch the weighty slabs of meat being cooked over hot coals on a grill,
sink your teeth into a tasty morcilla (blood sausage). Bizarre Sights:
In Punta del Este, you can't miss La Mano de Punta del Este (The
Hand). This quirky iron and cement sculpture by Chilean artist Mario
Irarrazabal was created for an art contest in 1982 and has been a
'Punta' fixture ever since. It's unsurprisingly selfie-friendly -
thousands of visitors pose in front of its large digits, with the beach
in the background.
9. GREENLAND
An Inuit village in Greenland. PHOTO: REUTERS
Lonely Planet says: "In March 2016, Greenland will host the Arctic
Winter Games, the largest event of its kind ever, along with a festival
of song, food and dance. What better time to visit this Arctic
wonderland?"
It wrote: "In March 2016, Greenland (technically a territory of
Denmark rather than an independent country, although one with a great
deal of autonomy) will host the Arctic Winter Games, the largest event
of its kind ever. Competitions range from snowshoeing to native games
like pole-pushing (think reverse tug-of-war with a tree trunk). It's a
quick four-hour flight from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland's
main airport. And now there are also seasonal and yearly flights from
ReykjavÃk in Iceland to Nuuk, Ilulissat, Kangerlussuaq, Kulusuk and
Narsarsuaq." Life-changing Experience:
Witness icebergs the size of the Empire State Building in the
Ilulissat Icefjord, home to the northern hemisphere's most productive
glacier. The town of Ilulissat, next to the glacier, is known as 'the
iceberg capital of the world', and offers a huge number of
iceberg-watching adventures. Kayak through the fjord's navy blue waters,
soar above the glacier in a fixed-wing plane, or hike along the icy
cliffs. Current Craze:
Eating local. A new generation of young chefs, some of whom have
trained abroad in Denmark or elsewhere, are making meals with the
delicious, albeit limited, local ingredients. Think juniper-poached
musk-ox fillets, razorbill with crowberries, kelp salad studded with
reindeer bacon, bellflower gelee atop local honey ice cream.
10. FIJI
Tthe Overwater villa at the Laucala Island resort in Fiji. PHOTO: LAUCALA ISLAND
Lonely Planet says: "Pleasure-loving Fiji has recovered its
equilibrium at last after a coup and constitutional crisis, and
travellers will soon benefit from an upgrade to the country's Nadi
International Airport."
It wrote: "After an uncertain decade, following the coup of Commodore
'Frank' Bainimarama in 2006, and the constitutional crisis of 2009,
Fiji has reverted to its peaceful and pleasure-loving self. In late
2014, Bainimarama finally made good on the promise to hold democratic
elections, winning the prime ministership and restoring something of
constitutional normality (albeit to a situation he had played an
important part in creating)." Life-changing Experience:
It's hard to visit Fiji without being serenaded by warm and welcoming
singers brandishing guitars or ukuleles. For a real peek into everyday
life, get to a village church on a Sunday. Dress modestly (ask locals
for advice on what's appropriate) and have spirits raised by the voices
of a community singing traditional songs in harmony. Current Craze:
Flyboarding. Essentially a jet-propelled, hand-controlled hoverboard,
the flyboard allows you to skim above the waves, shoot high into the
air, plunge into the swell, then do it all again. Try it at Bounty
Island. Bizarre Sights:
Vilavilairevo (fire walking) was originally performed only by the
Sawau tribe of Beqa, an island off Viti Levu's southern coast, but now
you'll probably catch a performance anywhere in Fiji. Traditionally,
strict taboos dictated men's behaviour leading up to the ceremony and it
was believed adherence to these protected them from burns.
ST's travel writer Lee Siew Hua picks her highlights from Lonely Planet's 2016 Top 10 list:
"The choice of the United States as a desirable destination for 2016
resonates fully with me. I lived in the US for a decade-plus and loved
my summer road trips, when I'd experience the immensity of the country
and linger in national parks, which celebrate their centennial next
year.
"Walking in the cindery, other-worldly volcanic landscape of Hawaii,
boating among the glaciers of Alaska where humpback whales can be spied,
standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon and realising that its wonder
does not diminish on a second visit - and also popping into other parks
defined by deserts, mountains or swamps - will stir the wandering gene
in us.
"I enjoy the parks as much as America's exciting cities - especially
Seattle, Chicago and New York. Parks and cities are worthy counterpoints
on an itinerary.
"Japan and Australia, also on the Lonely Planet list, are already
perennial favourites of Singaporeans. I have found that walking in
less-explored places in Japan, including its far north, is a perfect way
to enjoy the country, especially with an onsen and kaiseki feast at the
end of each day's journey. Japan's cities, cuisine and lifestyle always
have a fresh lustre on each visit as well.
"Australia has new aboriginal tours, apart from its abundance of
outdoorsy sites. From luscious lunches amid wineries in secluded valleys
to entering a steel cage to gaze at a Great White Shark, which I once
tried, with beating heart and pure amazement, Australia has activities
galore for the traveller."
For Lonely Planet's side list of "New Openings in 2016", Singapore got a mention:
It wrote: "Singapore boasts several world-class museums, but if you
only have time to see one in 2016, make it the National Gallery of
Singapore. Occupying two of central Singapore's most historical
buildings - the former City Hall and Supreme Court - the enormous
gallery space, unveiled during the city-state's 50th birthday
celebrations in November 2015, will showcase South-east Asian art from
the 19th century to the present day.
"After admiring the thousand-odd artworks in the painstakingly
restored colonial courtrooms and council chambers, don't miss the
fifth-floor rooftop garden with its superb views across the Padang
towards Marina Bay."
There's another major designer shakeup in the works.
After more than 14 years with Lanvin, Alber Elbaz is reportedly leaving his post as creative director. WWDfirst
broke news of the Elbaz's decision to part ways with the iconic French
fashion house, and reports that an official statement from the label is
expected later this week.
In his lengthy tenure with Lanvin, Elbaz
has been decorated with many of fashion's most prestigious honors, from
CFDA nods to the French Legion of Honour. Just last week, Mr. Elbaz
received the 2015 Superstar Award at the Fashion Group International's
Night of Stars, presented to him by his close friend, Meryl Streep.
Of course, what the designer may be most widely recognized (and revered) for are his exquisite red carpet gowns. From Emma Stone's elegant crystal jumpsuit to Nicole Kidman's raspberry sorbet-colored gown, there's no shortage of Elbaz-approved Lanvin creations. He's experimented with color, Ã la Claire Danes' vibrant highlight gown, and even taken his draping skills to the next level for Natalie Portman. More recently, he provided Allison Williams with a head-turning metallic gown. Still, one of his absolute most iconic looks has to be Kim Kardashian's black-and-teal confection from the 2014 Met Gala.
Getty Images;
Since taking over as Lanvin's creative director in 2001,
the Israeli designer has been credited with revitalizing the once
fizzling brand into one of the most respected couture design houses in
the world. The luxury label's gowns have become some of the most sought
after on the red carpet, and are instantly recognizable with Elbaz's
meticulous draping techniques and intensive attention to detail.
News of Elbaz's departure comes just six days after Raf Simonsannounced his departure
from fellow French fashion giant, Christian Dior, after a
three-and-a-half year stint as creative director. This year has proved a
major landmark for designers exiting their fashion houses, with Ralph Laurenstepping down as CEO of his namesake empire, and Donna Karanremoving herself as chief designer of her own line. And let's not forget about Alexander Wang either, who just showed his last collection for Balenciaga earlier this month.
Actors Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez called it quits after two years of marriage
========================================================================= Oscar-winning actor Halle Berry and her husband, French actor
Olivier Martinez, have filed for divorce after two years of marriage.
It’s the third divorce for Berry, 49, who has a 2-year-old son with
Martinez.
The couple cited irreconcilable differences as the cause of separation, celebrity website TMZ.com reported.
“They both have fiery personalities and don’t like to compromise. Halle
threatened to file for divorce several times after arguments broke out
between the two,” reported eonline.com. She and Olivier released a
joint statement confirming that they have indeed broken up after two
years of marriage. “It is with a heavy heart that we have come to the
decision to divorce. We move forward with love and respect for one
another and the shared focus for what is best for our son. We wish each
other nothing but happiness in life, said a statement.”
“Their relationship just ran its course. They [Halle and Olivier]
eventually realised they were more different than they first thought,”
added a source. In addition to disputes regarding their living
situation, Halle and Olivier “were also at different places in their
careers” and that caused some issues too.
Berry became the only black female actor to win an Academy Award in 2002 for her lead role in Monster’s Ball.
She met 49-year-old Olivier, who is best known for his role in the 2010 sexually-charged thriller Unfaithful,
after splitting with model Gabriel Aubry following a five-year romance.
Olivier and Berry married in 2013. Berry was previously married briefly
to baseball player David Justice and singer-songwriter Eric Benet.
NEW YORK Pharrell Williams on Monday dedicated his song “Freedom” to
refugees fleeing to Europe, hailing immigrants’ contributions around the
world. The US pop star, best known for his viral global hit “Happy,” on
Sunday performed his jazzy new track at the MTV Europe Music Awards in
Milan, interjecting the phrase, “Let them in!” Elaborating a day later
at a forum in New York, Williams said he did not consider himself an
activist but added: “We should use our platforms where we can.” “We have
to be open. And it’s a tough conversation, but America is built on
immigrants. We wouldn’t have a country” without them, he said. Asked if
the same held true for Europe, which is facing an unprecedented influx
of migrants from Syria and other troubled countries, Williams said,
“Absolutely.” The 42-year-old musician spoke at length on his
prolific career at an event of National Public Radio and New York
University, whose Tisch School of the Arts has named him
artist-in-residence. The video for “Freedom,” released in July, is
subtle in its political imagery, featuring footage from around the world
of places that range from an Asian sweatshop to a slum to India’s holy
Ganges River. “Happy” turned into a global ode to joy as fans around
the world recorded and shared their own homemade dance videos. Williams
- for two decades a songwriter and producer for other artists including
Madonna, Britney Spears and Snoop Dogg - said he remained surprised by
the massive success of “Happy.” Williams had only begun to sing
himself on a large scale with French electronic duo Daft Punk’s
Grammy-winning 2013 album “Random Access Memories.” “In 2012, did you
guys see me as an artist?” Williams asked the audience. “I never have,
this whole time.” “I still consider myself a producer,” said Williams,
who looked visibly uncomfortable as the moderator played his earlier
music. Williams said that he aspired not to become a bigger pop star
but to be a major producer in the model of Quincy Jones or Dr. Dre. Despite
his stated reluctance at activism, Williams earlier this year spoke at
the United Nations to encourage action against climate change. Williams
told the New York event that he was supporting Hillary Clinton in her
presidential bid, believing it was time for a woman to lead the United
States.
MUMBAI (Web Desk) – According to IBN Live report, the pair was
spotted outside a restaurant in Mumbai, when South African cricket team
was in the city for the fifth One Day International against India. The
bubbly actress posed for the shutterbugs flashing her million dollar
dimpled smile outside a restaurant in Mumbai with her cricketer friend,
Business Recorder reported.
Preity Zinta is the owner of IPL franchise Kings XI Punjab which is
the same team that David Miller plays for in Indian Premier League
(IPL).
The actress after parting her way from King XI Punjab co-owner, Ness
Wadia in 2014, recently said in an interview that she has met ‘someone
special’ but she doesn’t want to reveal the name for now.
One of Bollywood's most loved
actresses, Kajol, who will be back on the big screen with "Dilwale",
says she was in a "comfort zone" working with Shah Rukh Khan and
director Rohit Shetty, and that she chose the film for its
"unpredictable" element.
Asked
about what made her say 'yes' to the film, considering that she is
often quite "choosy" when it comes to selecting her movies, Kajol said:
"I wanted to do something which is unpredictable...and this film is
definitely not predictable. I wanted to do something that I have not
done before and I really liked the role and character in this film."
The
fact that it has Shah Rukh as a co-actor and Rohit Shetty as a director
made it her "comfort zone", she said. "I think that matters a lot. I
think that made a difference."
Kajol
spoke during an exclusive media interaction with select scribes at the
Ramoji Film City, where the last leg of Rohit Shetty's directorial is
being shot.
Bollywood
buffs are looking forward to the film, given Kajol and Shah Rukh's
roaring onscreen chemistry, a proof of which lies in films from
"Baazigar" to "Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge" to "My Name Is Khan".
Together, they have made people believe in the magic of love.
The
actress says working with Shah Rukh, who is also one of her closest
friends in the industry, is not only a joy, but also a learning process.
Kajol
was asked to describe how she and SRK have changed as individuals from
the time they worked together in 1993 released film "Baazigar" till now.
A lot, she said.
"I
think I have changed for better and we have become better people and
better actors today. As far as Shah Rukh is concerned, he is such a
technically superior actor. He is one of the best actors we have today.
"Every
time I work with him, I learn more and more from him. I learn more from
watching him, working with him -- whether it is technically or
emotionally. Working with him is pleasure, joy and a learning process,"
added Kajol, who promises to steal the thunder once again with her
onscreen chemistry with the actor in "Dilwale".
The
team's cast and crew was present here for a meet-and-greet with select
media persons, who were given a chance to witness the shooting of the
film at Ramoji Film City.
They
also gave a sneak peek into what's in store in "Dilwale", which is
produced by Red Chillies Entertainment, via a 20-minute video footage,
which suggested that there will be dollops of romance, comedy and action
in the upcoming entertainer. Also featuring Varun Dhawan and Kriti
Sanon, "Dilwale" is set to release on December 18.
An Oregon family is allowing their terminally ill five-year-old
daughter to make the decision of whether she wants to go to the hospital
next time she is sick or stay at home and potentially die.
Actors Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez called it quits after two years of marriage
NEW YORK
