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Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen on Israel's Election
Thursday, November 17, 2022 / By: Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen
Publication Type: Podcast
A coalition involving several extreme right-wing parties has Benjamin Netanyahu poised to return as Israel's prime minister. "In some sense he owes them a debt," says USIP's Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen. "What is the cost being extracted by these right-wing parties" as the government formation process begins?
U.S. Institute of Peace experts discuss the latest foreign policy issues from around the world in On Peace, a brief weekly collaboration with SiriusXM's POTUS Channel 124.
Julie Mason: I'm Julie Mason. Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen is director for Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the U.S. Institute of Peace, here to talk about Israel's recent elections and attempts to form a government. Lucy, welcome back.
Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen: Thank you, Julie. Good to be on the show.
Julie Mason: I think we are not sufficiently alarmed by what's happening in Israel.
Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen: Well, the outcome of the recent elections has certainly given many within Israel, frankly, and those watchers of Israel from outside among Israel's allies, pause for concern. You know, this is the first time in, it's been a little over three and a half years and five elections and on the plus side, after that amount of time, there's finally some numeric stability. It looks like there will be a coalition that can hold that goes substantially over the number needed for a majority. But I think the concern that you're talking about, is the fact that that stability has been bought at the cost of that coalition being strengthened by ultra nationalist, racist, very extreme parties.
Julie Mason: Yes, basically, as I understand Netanyahu threw his lot in with that group as a means to power and now, he's got to be with them.
Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen: Yeah, that's correct. I mean what's interesting is when you look at the numeric breakdown of the vote – and this is not an unfamiliar story to many of us watching democratic elections around the world in recent years – the numeric breakdown of those who supported the pro-Netanyahu camp and the anti-Netanyahu camp, and that's essentially how this election broke down, and how, in fact, the elections have broken down over the last three and a half years. But those numbers aren't so far different. But you are right that Netanyahu was very strong in being able to unite those who would enter into a coalition with him. And he did that by cobbling together, bringing together basically three small parties on the extreme right, getting them to run in one single party, which enabled that party to cross the threshold. And now in some sense, he owes them a debt because they are what will enable him to hold on to a government.
Julie Mason: What is going on in Israel that this particular group, not only aspires to power, but is being given power?
Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen: Well, you know, as I said, in many ways, this is more a story of the mechanics of the Israeli political system, not solely. I mean, I think what you have seen over many years, there's been a really strong shift to right-wing identification in Israeli politics among the Jewish-Israeli electorate over many years. Now, I should note here that right and left-wing in Israel tends to break down essentially as a proxy on how hawkish or dovish are you when it comes to relations, Israeli-Palestinian relations, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the occupation. There has been a shift though right now that can be explained by many phenomena. You've seen it certainly at the height of the peace process in the early 90s. You really had the heyday of the left-wing and the peace camp, the Second Intifada, and all the violence that ensued really decimated the left-wing peace camp, and you've seen a shift to the right ever since then.
But again, the last few elections, as I mentioned, has really ended up being a proxy. Therefore, you've got this sort of strong solid core of right-wing voters, but Netanyahu himself has been a very polarizing figure. And so, these last few elections have been about those who don't want to see Netanyahu remain in power. And so, you saw in this last, the immediately preceding government, you saw that camp win by bringing together really an ideologically and politically disparate group of parties, everything from left-wing peace camp, to right-wing to Islamist party that held together quite remarkably, actually for about a year. But now what you're seeing is really a function of right-wing inclination but essentially, Netanyahu has mastery of the political system where he was really able to unite his camp in a way that the anti-Netanyahu camp just wasn't able to get itself together. Such that, while he united these three small, ultra-right, ultra-nationalist parties to bring them into his coalition, there are a couple of parties on the anti-Netanyahu camp that refused to enter into vote sharing or even coalition agreements with other left-wing parties and didn't pass the threshold. So, it became a numbers game to some extent as well.
Julie Mason: So, what does this mean going forward for Netanyahu's relationship with the U.S. and what kind of public postures he's going to be taking?
Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen: Well, I think this is the big question, you know, people who have watched Netanyahu for years and we have had plenty of years to watch what Netanyahu looks like when he's in power. You know, he was prime minister from '96 to '99 and had his comeback in 2009 where he remained at the helm of government until 2021. But people who watch him, he typically for all his hawkish bluster, if I may say, has typically ruled with an eye to as much stability and frankly, military even caution, as possible. The question I think, will be, will he be able to get away with that with the current coalition makeup?
Now there are two things here to look at. One is relationship with the Palestinians and the rest of the Arab world, and those two things itself are different and we can get into that, but the other is, so much of what happened here needs to be read through the lens of Netanyahu's legal plight. He is on trial for charges of bribery, breach of trust, and one of the things Netanyahu wants most of all is for his trial, which is ongoing and can take a really long time in Israel, just the normal course of the legal process, he really wants that trial and the prospect of prison to go away. And he may be able to get that with these ultra-right-wing parties who are willing to push forward legislation to really change the justice system such that that might be a possibility.
Julie Mason: Wow.
Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen: Yeah. So, the question is, as we go into these next few weeks of sort of the negotiations and bargaining for what this government's going to look like, who's going to get ministerships, what is the cost being extracted by these right-wing parties to give Netanyahu what he wants, which is on the legal front?
Julie Mason: Wow. So interesting, such a maneuvering business.
Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen: Yes, indeed.
Julie Mason: Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen, director for Israeli-Palestinian conflict program in the U.S. Institute of Peace. Thank you so much for joining me this morning.
Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen: Thank you.
Julie Mason: Really great to talk.
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Israel and the Palestinian Territories
Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen
Director, Israel, The Palestinian Territories, and the Region Program
What Does Israel's New Government Mean for the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?
By: Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen
As 2022 came to a close, Benjamin Netanyahu once again took the helm of Israel's government just 18 months after losing power in the wake of a series of stalemated elections. Already Israel's longest-serving prime minister, Netanyahu's approach to foreign policy, and to the conflict with and occupation of the Palestinians, is to some extent a known quantity. However, with his comeback and governing coalition dependent on the support and partnership of once-fringe extremist parties and politicians, 2023 holds the potential for conflict-driving disruption. USIP's Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen discusses the possible implications of Israel's new government for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and for Israel's regional and foreign relations.
Water Can Be a Rare Win-Win for Israelis, Palestinians and the Region
By: Adam Gallagher
From Israel's turbulent electoral politics and Palestinian political dysfunction to the cycle of intercommunal violence in the West Bank and the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, it's rare for much good news to come out of the Israeli-Palestinian context these days. But this June, a hopeful story emerged from the impoverished Gaza Strip when its Mediterranean beaches were deemed safe for swimming for the first time in decades.
Environment; Peace Processes
Could the Israel-Lebanon Maritime Border Deal be a Game-Changer?
By: Robert Barron; Mona Yacoubian; Ambassador Hesham Youssef
Israel, Lebanon and the United States announced this week that a deal has been reached between Israel and Lebanon on each country's maritime border. Negotiations between the parties over the 330-square-miles of the Mediterranean Sea have proceeded with stops and starts since 2020, but over the past few months edged toward a mutually acceptable outcome. Under the agreement, the contested waters will be divided by a line straddling the "Qana" natural gas field. Both parties would be able to produce gas on their side of the line, in addition to royalty arrangements agreed upon. A buoy line will remain between the two countries.
Economics; Peace Processes
Israel-Gaza Conflict: A Short Confrontation with Disproportionate Implications
By: Ambassador Hesham Youssef
No one was ever in doubt about the damage that the Israeli army can inflict on Gaza, or in the occupied territories in general, in any military confrontation. The gap in the balance of power is one of the widest in the region. This has been the case in the wars that took place in 2008, 2012, 2014, and 2021, and in the latest military attack that ended on August 7, 2022. The duration of the conflict, the extent of the destruction in Gaza, the regional and international response and other factors varied widely. However, unsurprisingly, like in previous confrontations, each side claims that to some extent it was able to achieve its objectives.


Impact Oil & Gas, the oil and gas exploration company focused on emerging hydrocarbon plays around the African continent, announces the acquisition, under an existing option agreement with Singapore based Silver Wave Energy [Limited] ("Silver Wave"), of an 80% working interest in, and operatorship of, Exploration Licences covering four blocks in the Tugela Area offshore the south east coast of the Republic of South Africa. The blocks are 2931C, 2931D, 2932C and 2932A and cover a total of 11,325 square kilometres.
The Impact management team became aware of the potential and the opportunity in early 2009 and concluded an agreement with Silver Wave to apply for the blocks and to work exclusively with the management team. Silver Wave was awarded the blocks in the Fourth Offshore Licensing Round of the Petroleum Agency of South Africa ("PASA") in December 2009. In March 2010, Impact Oil & Gas was formed and the option agreement with Silver Wave referred to above was signed. Exploration Licences covering the four blocks were awarded to Silver Wave in May 2011, following which Impact completed a £9.6 million fundraising with institutional and other investors in the UK and Canada and the acquisition of 2D seismic on the blocks commenced.


Every arena season, Yeh! for Games, Inc. offers its customers the option to purchase the best PvP weapons and armors, which are the rewards from the Arena system. This service allows you to buy Wow Season 9 Arena gear for your character on World of Warcraft US or EU servers. Choose your class above and order S9 Arena Gear, and you will find the Arena gear on your character in a few weeks. You will still be able to play normally everyday without any interruption to your personal gameplay time because we will only login to do Arena games while you are offline. We will raise your Arena Team Rating so that each week, you will gain Arena points for the specific WoW PvP Arena weapon or armor that you bought here.
We here at www.mmorpgpowerlevel.com. are just as excited about Season 8 as our customers. In preparation for Season 8 we have searched high and low for some of the top arena players throughout the country to reach the new painful rating requirements.
With the new personal rating requirements for almost every S8 arena gear, including the Furious and Relentless Gladiator's gear, this season will be the most difficult and competitive of them all. Our elite arena players have been studying around the clock, dueling, watching videos, and training to give you the best possible WOW Arena service, and with that, we are now ready to offer our customers the WOW PvP Arena Personal Rating service!
It is always individually tailored and we can implement all kinds of operations and services.
Account information is managed by secure software to ensure the highest level of security.
We sell items at the lowest price and with the highest quality.
The newest season's items are always available.
New orders are started within one hour of the order being placed. 100% of goals are accomplished on schedule.
Note: If you are ordering gear with a 2350 rating requirement (Tier 2 Relentless) Weapons, you would have to have Full Furious or better (or 350+ resil furious+ gear with equivalent PvE gear for rogues/ret pallies/feral druids/ele shamans/dks) and you would also have to possibly transfer your character to another server where our professional gamers play. This kind of rating cannot be achieved with partners randomly found on the server, it has to be played on two well-geared characters by two of our pro gamers.
We understand this is a service you are paying for but before any expectations are made on your order please make sure everything in the above requirements is checked off.
We will NOT remove your pre-existing items and gold except the usage of bandages which are useful for certain classes during the arena match. If you are not the captain of an arena team, we will need to create a new arena team, thereby spending some gold.
We will NOT use bots or any type of automated programs to play your character. A professional arena gamer will be playing your toon to its highest potential in WoW Arena.
We may respond to incoming tells by fellow arena team members to achieve better coordination in arena matches unless directed otherwise by you.
Time table for an arena order is not something we can give until the gamers have done games and felt out the waters. Every toon, server, and battlegroup is different.
Team rating and personal rating are separate and it is not unlikely to have the personal below the team rating, it all depends on the opponents faced, if this happens to not be alerted it only means that the team rating will need to go up in order to get you your item.
This arena service is to help you reach the personal rating you order once. Once achieved, the service is complete and we will take a screenshot and email it to you. If you continue playing that same arena week and drop your personal rating, we are not liable to push your personal rating back up a second time.
If you do not have enough arena points or honor points to buy the PvP gear which requires personal rating, we are not required to keep playing your toon every week to maintain your ordered personal rating until you have enough points to buy the PvP item. We are only responsible to get you to your desired personal rating once.
Upon completion of the Personal Arena Rating service, please change your password as we are no longer responsible for it.


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San Jose International Airport celebrates opening of additional boarding gates
Chief Assignment EditorJune 14, 2019 23:20
Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) reached an important milestone yesterday in commissioning a $58 million Interim Gates Facility, which was designed and constructed to support current and near-term passenger growth. More than 200 City, Airport, business, and design and construction trade partners joined the grand opening of the new Gates 31-36 concourse, which is attached to the south end of Terminal B.
The event, which included a ribbon cutting, sparkling-cider toast, sounds of summer musical entertainment, and tours of the new gates and tarmac, was led by SJC Director of Aviation John Aitken. Joining Aitken in commissioning the newly-constructed gates were San José Vice Mayor Charles "Chappie" Jones, Hensel Phelps District Manager and Vice President Jim Pappas, San José Director of Public Works Matt Cano, and Southwest Airlines' Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer Andrew Watterson.
"With the opening of gates 31-36, Silicon Valley's airport will continue to provide the world-class service and amenities that have helped drive its unprecedented growth over the last two years," said Mayor Sam Liccardo. "We're grateful to Airport Director John Aitken and his team for completing this project within a year, and for continuing to make Mineta San José International Airport the first choice for travelers to Silicon Valley."
The new Interim Gates Facility was conceived, designed and constructed within a compressed 18-month period as the Airport team determined in early-2018 that the combined 30 gates in Terminals A and B weren't enough to accommodate projected flight and passenger growth.
"In the first quarter of 2018, SJC's passenger traffic increased by 18.5% as compared to the same three-month period in the previous year. The rapid growth in projected customers over 2018-2019 highlighted the need for an interim facility to meet the increased demand," said Aitken. "Thank you to our Mayor, Council, City Public Works and Airport staff, our airlines and concessionaires, and our design and construction teams for supporting the Airport in delivering this project in such a short timeframe. This success/focus allows SJC to continue to be the easy and efficient choice for Bay Area travelers."
Once the San Jose City Council approved the project in June 2018, construction partners Hensel Phelps and Fentress Architects ensured the rapid design and completion of the facility in time for anticipated record summer passenger traffic.
"Hensel Phelps is proud to be part of the solution in helping Mineta San José International Airport meet its goals," said Hensel Phelps' Pappas. "Both SJC and the City of San José were true partners on this project, and together we have delivered the Interim Facility in record time to continue transforming the way Silicon Valley travels."
In his remarks at the event, Pappas said a majority of work on the facility was built by local labor as 75 percent of South Bay construction trade partners were assigned to the project.
"The new Interim Gates Facility offers a flexible and efficient terminal for the rapidly growing airport," said Curtis Fentress, FAIA, RIBA, principal in charge of design at Fentress Architects. "By optimizing daylighting opportunities and implementing materials complementary to SJC's existing architecture, our design creates a warm and relaxing passenger experience for travelers to and from Silicon Valley."
Gates 31-35 were turned over to Southwest Airlines, while gate 36 remains under construction and will be open by Nov 1, 2019.
"Like so much at Southwest, an enormous amount of forethought and background work has gone into creating simplicity for our Customers and efficiency for our Employees here in San Jose," said Andrew Watterson, Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer. "This new facility paves the way for future growth and supports our ongoing work to serve the Silicon Valley in the way we aim to serve all of California, valuing your time and investment in Southwest by fostering easy and enjoyable journeys."
Travelers arriving and departing from Gates 31-36 will enjoy new concessions. HMSHost-operated Island Brews serves grab n go salads, wraps and sandwiches, coffee, and alcoholic beverages that passengers can take "to go" and enjoy at their boarding gate. Hudson's kiosk offers a range of travel essentials, along with grab and go packaged snacks. Additional concessions will be available with the opening of Gate 36 in fall 2019.
Other facility features include power chairs at each boarding gate, water-bottle filling stations, and automatic hand washers, soap dispensers and dryers in the bathroom.
While Southwest will operate out of the six new gates, the facility addition benefits all 13 airlines at SJC. It allows them flexibility to add more flight frequency and destinations to meet Silicon Valley traveler demand and will reduce flight delays created by over-scheduled gates.
The facility is expected to remain operational for five-to-seven years and allows City and Airport leadership time to continue its planning work for the future Phase 2 Expansion of Terminal B. The Interim Gates Facility was designed to remain 100 percent operational during the construction of this future project.
FAA issues Tropical Storm Barry update
Reopening of early pyramids is good news for Egypt Tourism

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Posted on March 24, 2020 | Updated on September 30, 2022
UK Demographic data shows who is less likely to adhere to social distancing
Purple has a dataset uniquely placed to measure the impact of self-isolation and social distancing across a range of demographics.
Using WiFi Analytics, it is possible to capture the age and gender of visitors and measure how the behavior of these demographics differs from the average amidst the social restrictions and government advice during the Coronavirus outbreak.
Regionally within the UK, we have measured the impact on major cities such as London, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Liverpool, and Bristol.
Demographic Analysis
The table above highlights the difference from the average across age ranges, for venues across the UK.
The data shows that under 18's have been less likely to be in public over the past 8 days before stricter self-isolation measures were introduced by the UK government.
In that time, a smaller proportion than the usual of Over 65's were captured, down by around 1%.
However, in the 18-24 age-group, you can see an increase of almost 2.5%, implying that they may be taking the government's advice less seriously than other age groups.
In terms of gender, there was also a notable difference across UK visitors, with Male visits around 3% higher than would be expected during a usual week.
In the above table, data from some of the major UK cities are included, highlighting differences in the way regions reacted to the increasing urge to self-isolate.
Birmingham shows a sharper decline earlier in March than across other regions, while both London and Manchester seem slightly slower to react to the advice of self-isolation and social distancing.
Purple will continue to provide a unique insight into the effect these restrictions have on by region, demographic, and geography.
Written by Sam Allen


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Home › Reviews ›
Review: HTC Droid DNA for Verizon Wireless
Form Performance Basics Extras Wrap-Up Comments 30
Nov 16, 2012, 2:20 PM by Eric M. Zeman @zeman_e
HTC's new superphone is the first to ship in the U.S. with a 1080p HD display. The Droid DNA for Verizon Wireless has more to offer than a good-looking screen, though. Phone Scoop's full review dives deep into all the DNA's features.
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Is It Your Type
The HTC Droid DNA is the logical phone for those who want the latest and greatest, with the bestest and mostest stuff. It shoots for the moon in terms of specs, design, and of course that dazzling 1080p HD display.
The HTC Droid DNA is aptly named. The design is the ultimate cross-breeding of all the devices HTC has released this year. It has HTC in its blood.
Unlike HTC's colorful Windows Phone designs, the DNA is an inky black slab. The all-glass front face is glossy pitch black. The back is a matte-black surface. In between are red metal bands that run down the side edges, sort of like the paint designs seen on sports cars from the 80s. Since the DNA is being sold by Verizon, it can't help but pick up some additional red accents here and there, including a circle around the camera lens, the screen lock button, and the earpiece grill. Yes, the Droid DNA even has some Verizon blood in it.
The most impressive feature of the Droid DNA is probably its size. For a device that packs a 5-inch display, it's deceptively small. HTC did a great job keeping the footprint as small as possible. In fact, it is about the same size as the HTC One X, which has a smaller display. If you're worried about it pushing Galaxy Note II dimensions, don't. It is significantly smaller than the Samsung's Note or Note II, and far more comfortable to hold and use.
The back surface has a soft-touch finish which gives it some grip in the hand. Rich didn't care for the feel of the side edges, and neither did I. When you try to grab the phone tightly, they feel hard and pointy, and are angled slightly. That said, the quality of the materials and fit-and-finish are solid. All the seams fit together snugly, and the weight (which is just right) gives the phone a solid feel that says "I'm not cheap."
Three capacitive buttons are positioned below the display, very close to the bottom edge of the phone. They are the now-familiar three buttons for Android 4.x: Back, Home, Multi-task. The buttons are easy to see even when they're not lit.
The rest of the controls are a bit fussy for my tastes. The lock screen button - which is on the top of the phone - is too flush with the surface. I didn't care for the travel and feedback very much. The same goes for the volume toggle, which is on the right edge. It is too flush with the surface and offers too little travel and feedback. There's a little hatch covering the microUSB port on the bottom edge. Why HTC bothered with a hatch at all is beyond me. Worse, it is an annoying and finicky hatch that I'd just as soon cut off the phone than deal with every single day. The tray for the SIM card is buried in the top edge of the phone and requires a tool to eject. There's no dedicated camera button.
Sadly, you cannot access nor remove the battery. It is buried inside the DNA. The DNA also doesn't offer expandable storage. You're stuck with the measly 16 GB built into the device, which may not be enough to fit a single 1080p HD movie.
Overall, the Droid DNA is just what I expect HTC to design for Verizon Wireless.
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Next page: Performance
Hands On with the HTC Droid DNA for Verizon
If the "phablet" category of super-phones blurs the line between phone and tablet, HTC is now blurring the lines even more with the Droid DNA for Verizon. With a 5-inch screen, the Droid DNA is notably larger than high-end phones with 4.7-inch screens.
Droid DNA Boasts 5-inch 1080p HP Display
HTC and Verizon Wireless today announced the Droid DNA, a new flagship Android phone with the first full 1080p HD display in a phone for the US. The 5-inch display has 440 ppi pixel density.
HTC Bolt, with 3-Channel CA, Is a Sprint Exclusive
HTC and Sprint today announced the Bolt, the first smartphone to ship with support for three-channel carrier aggregation (3xCA) for Sprint's LTE Plus network. The HTC Bolt can aggregate three 20MHz LTE channels to improve wireless performance.
Review: Motorola Z Droid, Z Force Droid for Verizon Wireless
Motorola's flagship smartphones for 2016 are the Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Force Droid for Verizon Wireless. These Android smartphone are unique thanks to their slim, metal designs and swappable modular back panels.
HTC Offers More Android Update Details for One
HTC recently indicated via its official Twitter account that it plans to update the Verizon version of the One to Android 4.3 by the end of the year and then to Android 4.4 by the end of January. All other versions of the One will receive Android 4.4 by the end of January, too.
5" display 1080 x 1920 pixels
Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 processor 2 GB RAM
Headphone Jack (3.5mm), NFC, Wireless Charging
bofis
Hi, The Verge does not agree at all with your battery life assessment. What sort of usage or tests did you run to decide that the battery would last 24 hours?
hotmonkas
i wouldn't worry so much about that one review. The Verge doesn't seem to be very consistent with their reviews. For example, they gave the DNA a rating of 4 on battery life for getting about 4.5 hours on their battery test, yet they gave the Galaxy S...
Eric M. Zeman
I used the phone a lot for three days. Constant email and RSS, both of which use the screen and radio intensively. Same with checking twitter, browsing their web, all while under LTE coverage.
I see the TuneIn radio to stream music over the network...
I carry a spare battery for my cell phone every where I go... it's saved me many times, since I am often out in the woods, walking around urban/suburban areas, etc. The DNA sounds like a great phone and HTC is my brand of choice, but the non-removab...
Mikey C
16 GB non-expandable storage
Kills it for me. I can give up a removable battery, but I personally dont want to give up my SD card.
Otherwise, looks pretty cool. I want to look up all the specs now.
stormsurvivor
It wouldn't be so bad if there was 32 GB...The 16 gigs are ridculous.
Wow the spec driven DNA! Its like getting a Cadillac with an AM radio......
tjobrien21
I'd be so there if it was "sense-less".
We gotta find a way to get great hardware like this, without the manufacturer customization. It's not even so much my hatred of Sense (though I do hate it), as my hatred of how it prevents updates.
I predict in the near future, phones will be as big a target for hackers as computers, if not more. When that happens, there will be a need for timely OS updates for ALL phones, whether new or old. Things like Sense get in the way and prevent fast updates, and it's going to be a big problem.
It's better for the hardware mfg's to differentiate themselves through cool hardware design, and leave the OS alone so the software folks can take care of that part.
Magnagarde
I seriously think we should get the phones stock, and have the option to change the firmware to something more sense later on if the consumer wants to. I personally have no problems with sense, but stock is best.
Wired4Fun
Scratching head...
Why, oh why, put so many impressive features into this phone, only to miss out on the most basic ones?? 1080p display with a fixed storage of 16gb?? What's the point of baking in the features if you can't truly take advantage of it? It's like getting a new Lamborghini with snow tires.
My excitement for this phone has been quelled by what I feel are 2 MAJOR flaws:
1 - Non-Removable Battery.
2 - No External Storage (c'mon, I have a 64gb in my Rezound.)
Must admit I'm tempted, but I think I'll wait for the next train...
Those two omissions place this device in Blackbury "innovation" land. Specifically, watch for the new BlackBury 10-10=0 to be released in 2016 with native email following 60 days after that.....
newfoneguy
Man....
I wish I had this screen on my phone. Can wait till a windows phone gets this screen hopefully with the same pure black led type screen... I love the dark black and great contrast on the 920...
Tofuchong
I wish I had this screen on *insert device name here*
Literally. Computer, TV, Phone, Tablet, any of them.


Tokyo & Amsterdam are both buzzing capitals with a bustling clubbing scene. Both cities have their secret spots, where the party never ends & the sun never sets. & Both cities are praised for their musical taste. Time to bring both record sectors together in a cocktail of funk, disco, house, techno & a dash of sake. Jama represents the local scene, together with Amsterdam-Italian DJ 1997 & Dutch-Japanese Tsubasu Masui. Tokyo by night is represented by none other than Alex Preda.


Valerie Plame Wilson was the CIA operative famously outed by the Bush White House in a fit of pique after her husband, former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson, accused the administration of manipulating intelligence in the days leading to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
The Plame Affair, as it came to be known, is the subject of "Fair Game," "Bourne Identity" director Doug Liman's latest film, starring Naomi Watts and Sean Penn as Plame and Wilson. But what intrigued the filmmaker when he first read Jez and John-Henry Butterworth's screenplay was not so much the scandal as the Wilsons' home life.
"I knew this was going to be my next movie within 10 minutes of reading it, and all you have in these first 10 pages is you see Valerie Plame abroad on a mission and then you see her at home with her friends," Liman says on a recent visit to the Bay Area, where "Fair Game" screened at the Mill Valley Film Festival. "I fell in love with that take of a spy movie. I couldn't believe, after all the movies I've done in the spy arena, that it had never occurred to me to explore the domestic side of being a spy.
Liman comes from a family with a close association to politics. His late father was Arthur L. Liman, a lawyer who was counsel for New York state in its investigation of the 1971 Attica prison riot, but who is most famous for serving as chief counsel to the U.S. Senate during its investigation into the 1980s-era Iran-Contra affair after it was revealed that the Reagan administration sold weapons to Iran in violation of an arms embargo to finance covert activity in Central America.
"The last time the White House so abused power was Iran-Contra, so there's a huge emotional and political connection to my father in doing this film," the 45-year-old New York native says.


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Auckland Pride Parade immortalised in virtual reality
Jacques-Pierre (JP) Dumas
Auckland's fabulous 2018 Pride Parade has been immortalised in virtual reality.
The lights, colour and performances from this year's parade have been captured in a time-lapse VR video, filmed by a 360-degree camera mounted on top of the IAG New Zealand float.
IAG, whose brands include AMI, State and NZI, featured in the Pride Parade for the first time this year with more than 70 people proudly parading down Ponsonby Rd together.
The IAG float featured a State Roadside Rescue truck, which the VR camera was mounted on.
IAG spokesperson Martin Hunter says, "Celebrating the inclusion we show our people at work in this year's Pride Parade was an important step for us.
"Our float was put together by IAG volunteers and was a huge success on the night."
"We, as a company, are committed to continuing to make IAG a great and inclusive place for all of our people to work, I look forward to next year's Pride Parade."
IAG New Zealand is currently completing the Rainbow Tick accreditation process.
The VR footage was filmed by Basement One, part of the G2 Ventures family.
Basement One head of VR Bernadette Cave says, "We are strong supporters of the Rainbow community, so we're stoked we were able to be there on the night to help celebrate and document the parade's beauty and atmosphere."
You can check out the video here:
Spark 5G helps to bring art to live in Dunedin
Sony brings the noise with new high-power audio systems
Hands-on review: Sennheiser HD 350BT Wireless
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Love, Hate & The Vote- Brexit or Remain
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us…"
Nothing defines humanity like these words, they serve as a reminder that at the best and worst of times, we are human and as such our capacity to love is just as strong as that to hate. The hate that destroys us runs parallel to the love that unites us, and this year has seen its fair share of hate, some of the worst these past few weeks- 49 people were murdered because of who they loved and a few days after a young woman, a mother, was killed in cold blood doing what she loved- advocating for change.
These tragedies shatter our faith in humanity, it also doesn't help that the world is a mess right now, and all the adults are to blame. Between the EU referendum and the US presidential elections, we might as well be in Kindergarten with the adults throwing the tantrums, in need of a time out. We have sunk to levels of depravity that should make us ashamed; one's choice in life partner has become a political issue, religion, race, political affiliations, have become fodder for hate.
In a few hours we will head to the polls to decide on the nation's future, and that of generations to come. Hysteria has swept the nation, hate erodes common sense as we watch the drama unfold with both a sense of pride and shame. The world is digging in their heels awaiting the verdict, but we have already paid the price with our humanity. Thanks in no small part to the media I've never much cared much for politicians, they leave little to desire about them, but once a while one comes along and you are reminded that just like us, they are people too, they think and feel, and breathe and love, and lose and laugh and are good. Jo Cox was inherently good. Before she was a mother, before she was a wife, before she was a politician, before she was a woman, she was first and foremost a human being. One, by all accounts, who had done much good, yet had so much more to do. Wanted to do so much more. She was a fierce advocate for the disadvantaged and to hear the tributes lauded to her in the wake of her death, she was a rare breed amongst an ugly political landscape. On Thursday 16th of June her life was tragically cut short by a mad man with displaced values. She would've been forty-two years old today. Remember that.
"The immigrants are coming! The immigrants are coming!!" Politicians whip up a storm of fear that debases us even further. The media brands the refugee as scum with their propaganda, not a care in the world for the lives torn apart by wars waged in the West. Homes destroyed, they dare not go back or look forward, dare not hope for compassion so desperately needed. After this referendum, who knows what their fate will be. The arguments on both sides are steadfast- those in favour of remaining argue on the grounds of unity, and those against, argue for identity- but the substance is lost in the melee of the hate and hysteria. The world has become increasingly hostile to the disadvantaged, blaming them for actions that occur through no fault of theirs, the body of a child washed up on our shores fails to sway the powers that be to save the thousands of children stranded, afraid, and displaced. The hate is palpable.
As a generational immigrant, I know what it is like to live in a country with little freedom or choice, where the rich get richer and the poor, poorer. A military government that cared very little for the welfare of its country, ruled through fear and corruption. Not knowing where the next meal will come from or what the morning will bring. Life in Nigeria was uncertain- education, health, basic amenities became wealth commodities and the chasm between the rich and poor only widened. Gaining admission into university was on a, who to know basis and even when you gain entry it could take twice the time to complete your education and graduate because of lecturer strikes and social disruptions. Yet I count myself lucky, I have a family, parents, one recently late, who provided for me as best they could, siblings with whom I share much laughter and love. We survived. We found a home. Britain.
Britain, this diverse multicultural country- it is to its testament that the most popular takeout is Indian. To shop in Peckham is to make one feel like they are back in Lagos as you hear Yoruba and Igbo flowing. The weather is so shitty but it lends to its quintessence. The home of Shakespeare and Stephen Hawking, the place where a single mother on benefits can become a multibillionaire solely on her merit. A cup of tea is the national beverage and Football its religion on Sundays. What do we gain by staying? Who do we become by leaving?
Nothing is united when the core of it is in dissent. Whether you are for or against, we are bound together by our humanity, and it is this humanity that should inform our decision, more than anything else, as you stand in that ballot box on Thursday to make your voice heard. Whatever your opinion- despite the politicians and media's best effort to divide us with propaganda, without facts that should inform our decisions- vote. Even if it is on grounds of moral fibre, vote because your voice matters, now more than ever before. We hold in our hands our destiny and in our minds the power to affect change and shape the future. Our future. We ought to do better. Show that we are a society of better human beings than we have seen these past few weeks, and in so doing we honour those who died doing what they loved, being with who they loved. And maybe, just maybe, we get to see the change we hope to become because we sure as hell need it.
TagsBREXIT • EU • Jo Cox • politics • Referendum • Remain • UK


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Category: Citizenship by Investment
Why OCI may be the Next Best Thing to Citizenship for Indians
January 12, 2021 January 13, 2021 usimmigrationadvisor
India does not allow dual citizenship, but Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status offers a form of permanent residency with many of the benefits of Indian citizenship.
Second Citizenship and OCI
We have experienced a sharp rise in demand for second citizenship among our Indian clients over the past few years. While many wish to relocate to long-popular destinations like the UK, Canada & Australia, a new trend has been quietly emerging.
Indians have started to obtain citizenship of less well-known places like Grenada in the West Indies. Places they have never visited and sometimes never even heard of before.
Why are they doing this? Well Grenada has lots to offer in its own right – a stable economy, beautiful beaches, and cricket, to name just a few. But one of the primary motivating factors is the fact that it offers Indians access to the United States E-2 Treaty Investor Visa.
The E-2 Treaty Investor visa allows a person to move to the United States with their family for the purposes of investing in and running a business. Unlike the popular H-1B Visa, there are no limits or quotas, and it is not subjected to the same fast changing political whims.
The E-2 Treaty is governed by treaties with sovereign states, which outlast one particular president or another. But it is precisely because it is governed treaties that India is not eligible. India does not have a relevant treaty with the United States.
Therefore, to become eligible the E-2 visa, Indians need to first obtain citizenship of an E-2 Treaty country. The E-2 Treaty countries with the quickest and most cost-effective pathways to citizenship are Grenada and Turkey. Grenada has typically been more popular with our Indian clients.
What is OCI?
The only reticence we see with Indian clients pursuing the Grenada + E-2 route surrounds the issue of citizenship.
While Grenada allows dual citizenship, India does not. So, our clients are faced with the prospect of giving up their Indian citizenship for citizenship of a much smaller country a long way from home.
While for some, this is entirely worthwhile. They see the strength of the Grenada passport worldwide (it is one of the few countries to have visa free access to China, as well as the European Schengen area, and the U.K. – not to mention its access to the E-2 Treaty Investor Visa).
But for others, the decision can be more daunting.
That is where OCI or Overseas Citizenship of India comes in. Anyone faced with the prospect of giving up their Indian citizenship can apply for OCI status and have many of the same rights as full citizens.
The principle differences between OCI and full citizenship are that Overseas Citizens of India are not eligible to vote, are not eligible to hold public office, and are not eligible to acquire agricultural land.
In most other aspects Overseas Citizens of India are treated much the same as Non Resident Indians (NRIs), Indian citizens who reside outside of India for at least 182 days per year.
The OCI is essentially a life-long, multiple-entry visa to visit or live in India for any purpose including work. It is essentially a form of permanent residency.
Some benefits of OCI
No need to report presence in India to the authorities
Same rights as Non Resident Indians except not able to acquire agricultural land
Additional permission required for work in fields of journalism, research, missionary and mountaineering
Same rights as Indian citizens to domestic air fares and to the admission price for national parks
Same rights as Non Resident Indians to work in registered progressions, e.g. doctors, dentists, nurses, advocates, architects, and chartered accountants.
And it is not only people who surrender their Indian nationality that are eligible for OCI status. Anyone with an Indian parent, grandparent or great grandparent is eligible. This makes the OCI program very popular in countries with large Indian diaspora communities like the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.
Restrictions on OCI
Cannot vote
Cannot run for political office
Cannot obtain government jobs
Cannot acquire agricultural land
Citizenship of Grenada can be obtained within an average of less than three months for an investment in real estate starting from $220,000 or a donation to a public fund from $150,000. The Turkish program requires an investment in real estate starting from $250,000 or deposits in a Turkish bank of $500,000 or more.
What is the E-2 Visa?
The E-2 visa allows a person to move to the U.S. with their family to actively invest in and run a business. The required investment should be suitable for the business, usually starting from $100,000, and this should be reflected in a credible business plan. Spouses can apply for work authorization outside the business and the family is free to travel to and from the United States.
It is possible to invest in a franchise business, or set up a business from scratch. It is important that the business is structured in a way that complies with all immigration regulations. We advise E-2 applicants to engage not just our immigration lawyers, but also our corporate lawyers. Both teams work closely together to maximize the chances of a successful application and subsequent renewals.
Reversing the Process: Becoming a Citizen Again
The decision to surrender Indian citizenship is rarely taken lightly. OCI offers many of the same benefits, and for people whose minds or circumstances have changed, there is a route to re-obtaining Indian citizenship.
A person who is registered as an OCI for 5 years is eligible to apply for Indian Citizenship if they have been living in India for one of those five years.
This is, nevertheless, an immensely important decision. We recommend that you speak with our attorneys so you are fully apprised of OCI, citizenship by investment, and where applicable, the E-2 Treaty Investor Visa. Please contact us to discuss your personal circumstances.
Citizenship by Investment, India	Citizenship by Investment, E2 Visa, Grenada Citizenship by Investment, oci, overseas citizenship of india, Turkey Citizenship by Investment	Leave a comment
Cyprus Ends Citizenship Program – What are the Alternatives?
October 14, 2020 November 29, 2021 usimmigrationadvisor
Cyprus has announced it is closing its popular citizenship by investment program from next month, so what alternative options are available?
Under the Cyprus program, dual citizenship could be obtained within just six months in exchange for a €2 million investment on the island. Since Cyprus is a European Union member, Cypriot citizenship offered the opportunity to live and work in any one of the 27 EU member states (28 until Brexit).
Maltese Citizenship by Investment
The closure of the Cyprus program leaves Malta as the fastest route to European Union citizenship. The Maltese citizenship program requires a €650,000 donation, a €150,000 investment, as well as a commitment to reside in Malta and meet a threshold cost for the rent or purchase of a home.
EU Residency to Citizenship
The alternative European Union programs are more focused on residency by investment with the opportunity to progress to citizenship after a period of residency has been maintained. Bulgaria offers a fast transition from residency to citizenship, while the UK differs depending upon how much you invest, and for Italy it takes ten years. (More on this below)
Montenegro Citizenship by Investment Program
There is a candidate for European Union membership that offers citizenship by investment for those willing to wait an undetermined period of time to become and EU citizen. Montenegro offers a time-limited citizenship by investment program that is running to the end of 2021. The Montenegro program requires a minimum €250,000 investment in Real Estate (more capital is required in economically developed parts of the country) as well as a €100,000 donation to the public coffers. Not only is Montenegro a candidate for EU membership, it is also a member of NATO.
Turkish Citizenship by Investment
Another nearby NATO member, Turkey, also offers an enticing citizenship by investment program. The Turkish program is cheaper than the Montenegro program in that it only requires a €250,000 investment in Real Estate to be maintained for three years or more. Alternatively, Turkish citizenship could be obtained by maintaining €500,000 in deposits with a Turkish bank for three years.
Access to the United States E-2 Treaty Investor Visa
One of the many advantages of Turkish citizenship is that it offers access to the sought-after United States E-2 Treaty Investor Visa. This visa allows a person to move to the US with their families for the purpose of running a business. While the primary applicant must run the business, the spouse can apply to work in the United States.
You must hold citizenship of an E-2 Treaty country. Check our list to see if your country is on there. Citizens of many countries, including India, China, Vietnam, South Africa, Russia, Nigeria are not eligible for the E-2 visa. Combining an E-2 application with citizenship by investment is relatively straightforward. Click here or contact us to learn more.
Another country that offers access to the US E-2 Treaty investor visa is Grenada in the Caribbean. Its citizenship program is even more cost effective than the Turkish program. Investors can choose between making a donation to the government of $150,000 or making an investment in Real Estate starting from $220,000. The Grenada program has fast processing times – it can take less than two months to obtain citizenship. Grenada has a strong passport with visa free access to the UK, the EU and the People's Republic of China.
Comparison of Citizenship by Investment Programs
United Kingdom Residency by Investment
Back to Europe, and the alternative options are to obtain residency by investment as a pathway to citizenship over the medium term. The United Kingdom, for example, offers residency in exchange for a minimum £2 million donation. Higher investment amounts reduce the amount of time before you can obtain settled status, termed indefinite leave to remain. For £2 million the time period is five years; for £5 million that is reduced to three years; and for anything upward of £10 million it requires just two years before you can apply for settled status. Twelve months after obtaining indefinitely leave to remain, a person can apply for UK citizenship.
UK Investor Visa Options
Italian Residency by Investment
Italy offers something similar to the United Kingdom. Recently, in response to Covid-19, the Italian government reduced the investment requirement for its investor visa. Italian residency by investment can be obtained in one of the four ways listed below. The investor must maintain ten years of residency before they can apply to naturalize as an Italian citizen.
at least 250.000 Euros in an innovative start-up company incorporated in Italy;
at least 500.000 Euros in equity instruments of companies incorporated and operating in Italy;
at least 2 million Euros in Government Bonds issued by the Italian Republic
philanthropic donations of at least 1 million Euros, in the field of culture, education, immigration, scientific research, recovery of cultural assets and landscapes
Portugal Residency Permit
Portugal offers a residency permit in exchange for an eligible investment. The permit is granted for a two year period, but can be renewed in two year instalments. After five years, the permit holder can apply for permanent residence or citizenship.
Investment options include, real estate, bank deposits, government bonds, setting up a company, and more. For real estate, the minimum requirement is €350,000 for old houses and €500,000 for newer builds. That amount is reduced in areas of low population density.
Greece Residency Permit
Greece offers residency permits for a cost-effective €250,000 investment in real estate. The permit is granted for five years and can be continuously renewed provided the underlying property ownership is maintained. Lease and timeshare options may also qualify.
United States Investor Visa
The United States EB-5 program offers a Green Card in exchange for a $900,000 investment. The applicant, a spouse, and any children under the age of 21 can be covered by a single investment. A Green Card offers permanent residency in the United States and can subsequently be converted to citizenship, provided residency conditions are met.
The investment must create and sustain ten American jobs and must be made in a Targeted Employment Area (outside of these areas the investment required doubles to $1.8 million.) While you can make and manage the investment yourself, most applicants opt invest with "Regional Centers".
These organizations aggregate investors into new commercial ventures usually involved in construction. These job-hungry projects help ensure compliance with the requirements of the EB-5 program. While the capital is at risk, careful due diligence of the project and Regional Center will mitigate that risk.
This is not an exhaustive list. Other countries like Spain, Ireland, St Kitts & Nevis, and Dominica all offer residency and citizenship by investment programs. The abrupt departure of the Cyprus from the industry does not end the dream of global mobility by investment. The best thing to do is to share your goals and budgets with an immigration attorney who can advise on the best option to suit you, your family, and your business.
Citizenship by Investment	EB5 regional center, EB5 Visa, European Immigration, European Union, Grenada Citizenship by Investment, italian residency, portugal residency permit, Turkey Citizenship by Investment, uk immigration, US Immigration	Leave a comment


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Lobbying the EU
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EU Watchdog Radio: Episode 11
Covid-19, vaccines, Big Pharma's lobby and the quest for transparency
In this new episode, after a long summer break we dive into the topic that is unfortunately still on everyone's mind each and every day: the raging pandemic. Our main question: when will there be a vaccine? The second question: who controls the development of those vaccines? And who protects the general interest or public health against the problematic, profit-maximising business-models rampant in Big Pharma?
First Olivier Hoedeman, researcher at Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO), talks about the recent research ("Power and profit during a pandemic: Why the pharmaceutical industry needs more scrutiny not less"), which revealed how the pharma industry is actively lobbying the European Commission and is putting profit before an effective pandemic response. Big Pharma's business model is partly based on huge amounts of public R&D money with no strings attached and excessive monopoly patent rules.
Pharmaceutical companies, for instance, lobbied against the joint procurement of treatments in Europe, a tool intended to prevent excessive prices. Pharma industry lobbyists also pushed arguments based on fear and scarcity to win lucrative advance purchase agreements (APAs) for potential new vaccines.
Our second expert, Yannis Natsis from the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), explains why in many ways more transparency is vital for an EU-policy on vaccines and access to medicine in general. As a member of the board of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) he is one of the rare independent experts that follow the ongoing negotiations between the EU and Big Pharma from the first row.
Our third guest is renowned Dutch international juridical expert, Ellen 't Hoen, who specialised in medicine policy. She explains how Big Pharma has been abusing the 'Orphan medicines regulation', which the EU adopted exactly twenty years ago, This legislation was meant to make the development of 'orphan medicines' for the treatment of very rare diseases more attractive. But pharmaceutical companies lobbied these regulations and subsequently benefitted for billions of euro of the 'market exclusivity', giving them a ten years monopoly. 't Hoen also makes the case for a review of the EU-regulation and thus for more transparency.
Both CEO and Counter Balance raise awareness on the importance of good governance in the European Union, by researching issues like lobbying of large and powerful industries, corporate capture of decision making, corruption, fraud, human rights violations in areas like agro-business, biotech & chemical companies, the financial sector & public investment banks, trade, energy & climate, scientific research and much more...
You can find us on iTunes, Spotify & Buzzsprout. Stay tuned for more independent and in-depth information that concerns every EU-citizen!
Help us stay independent
We are a small team that works fully independently of funding from EU
institutions and corporations.
Every single donation helps us fight the hold of Big Business over the EU.
Corporate Europe Observatory
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For media inquiries please contact
media(at)corporateeurope.org
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info(at)corporateeurope.org
Corporate Europe Observatory is recognised by the Dutch tax office as a charitable institution (ANBI) under fiscal number 806634558. Legal and fiscal information can be found here.
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Our funding policy rejects funding from EU institutions and corporations in order to maintain the independence of our research. See which grant-making foundations are supporting us.
Lobby transparency
Corporate Europe Observatory is registered in the EU lobby transparency register under identification number 5353162366-85.


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m SG 45/49. 1/2 d to 5 d Victoria 1894. (£ 36).
m SG 45/47 and 49 - 1/2, 1, 2 and 5 d Victoria 1894. (£ 36).
Y SG 52 and 54/56 - 1, 2 1/2, 5 d and 1 sh Victoria 1894. Gum quality varies. (£ 28).
Y SG 55/56. 5 d and 1 s Victoria 1894. (£ 50).
Y SG 73 b. 2 s 6 d Victoria 1897. (£ 22).


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The Road to the Thirteenth Doctor - The Eleventh Doctor (Titan Comics)
Tuesday, 2 October 2018 - Reviewed by Ken Scheck
"The Steampunk Conundrum"
Writer: James Peaty
Artist: Pasquale Qualano
Colorist: Dijjo Lima
"The Road To..."
Writer: Jody Houser
Artist: Rachel Stott
Colorist: Enrica Angiolini
Published by Titan Comics in August 2018
The Titan build up to the launch of the new Thirteenth Doctor continues with this one-off adventure of the Eleventh Doctor, the second in a so-called mini-series prelude to the Thirteenth Doctor. Much like the first entry starring the Tenth Doctor, the bulk of the issue has nothing to do with the Thirteenth Doctor and seemingly will have little story impact on her storyline in the comics. It's a standard robot invasion story, and then after that story is told, we get another brief short story told over a few pages, which actually feels like the hint of things to come in the Thirteenth Doctor story.
As a robot invasion story, fairly middling. It really feels like a shame for Titan to do this big promotional thing for the upcoming Doctor. A mini-series that leads to the new Doctor, and then they spend the bulk of the issue on a story that could easily fit into any standard issue of the respective Doctor's ongoing adventures.
The actual "Road To..." segment takes place in the middle of a previous adventure. Much like the Tenth Doctor's segment took place in the midst of the episode The Girl in the Fireplace, the Eleventh Doctor's segment is in the middle of the episode The Power of Three. Once again a hand reaches towards the Doctor from some glowing anomaly, only this time the Eleventh Doctor is so busy complaining about being bored while waiting on Earth, that he actually misses the whole thing. That's at least creative.
Mostly, this feels like another wasted opportunity from Titan. They could have had an actual build up to a storyline. Lay some seeds in each story that would pay off in a bigger way for the Thirteenth Doctor. Instead, the seed is just a glowing light and someone reach for the Doctor. The same seed in each volume, with much of the magazine telling a story that just feels like a random adventure. It makes the whole Road to... branding seem terribly misleading.
FILTER: - Eleventh Doctor - Thirteenth Doctor - Titan - Comics
The Day of the Doctor (BBC Books)
Monday, 11 June 2018 - Reviewed by Stephen Blenkinsop
Author: Steven Moffat
Publisher: BBC Books
The 11th Doctor's entry into the Target books range sees Steven Moffat novelise his 50th-anniversary celebration with two closely intertwined plots in a timey-wimey multi-Doctor tale. The first plot strand sees the Doctor joining forces with his previous incarnation and the recently introduced War Doctor to thwart the Zygons who, having found themselves in Elizabethan England, hatch a plot to take over the Earth in the future. However, the second plot strand which sees the Doctor confront his role in ending the Time War is more significant, addressing a major theme running throughout the series since its return in 2005. This is arguably given even more weight in this novelisation than in the televised version, exploring the pain arising from his actions in a more personal way. In revisiting the response of his Ninth incarnation at the end of The Parting of the Ways however, this book makes the point that the choice the Doctor faced here is the same impossible choice he has faced on many occasions.
This is the longest of this new batch of novelisations, perhaps understandably given the extended running length of the TV episode and the multiple plot lines, but also given that it covers the brief prequel, 'the Night of the Doctor'. Add to these the addition of new material and this feels a more substantial novel than the other recent releases in this range. It also has a very different feel to it, demonstrating the versatility of earlier entries into the Target range. Here, each chapter is written from the perspective of a different character, often in the first person, making each one feel fresh while challenging the reader to work out the identity of the author. This story-telling device is put to particularly good effect when recounting the Doctor's journey to the Tower from the perspective of each of his incarnations in turn – a journey his later incarnations have obviously experienced before. It also allows for the injection of some humour at the expense of the Doctor and other characters, the former being variously identified as Bow Tie, Daddy's Suit, Pinstripe, Grumpy, and Neckwear. (As a side point, reference to the Tenth Doctor's 'tight suit' would surely become a standard Target description of this Doctor should the range be extended, much like the Fifth Doctor's "pleasant, open face"). Each chapter is also preceded by a communication to readers from the narrator, an archivist who seems to be piecing together events in the story. For me, the style of these interludes seemed very similar to those of Moffat's DWM Production Notes. I anticipate that this may grate with some readers and might be expected to interrupt the flow of the story, but for me these did make for refreshing breaks and a lightening of the mood in some of the book's more serious moments.
Moffat also takes the chance to add to his original story, the most notable addition being that of a small but not insignificant role for River Song, perhaps understandable as one of his most significant character creations. There is also an extended description of the Doctor's integration in the Court of Queen Elizabeth and, of course, reference to Chapter 9 which claims to resolve so many of the show's big questions and controversies is a typical example of Moffat playfulness. He has further fun with the first two Doctors here being identified as colour blind and the Doctor also refers to the Peter Cushing Dr Who films and is even reported to be consulting with Cushing on a third film.
As one would expect from an anniversary story there is lots of fan-pleasing continuity with references to the great and the good from the show's past, including Ian and Barbara, The Brigadier, Sarah Jane Smith and Susan. The grand finale still sees all the Doctor's incarnations join forces though here it is in a somewhat different manner to the TV episode and a significant addition comes right at the end of the book with a brief postscript featuring the thirteenth Doctor. And as with many Target novelisations this one also takes the opportunity to extend the roles and significance of supporting characters - here Queen Elizabeth and McGillop are the main beneficiaries. The absence of the Daleks is though more apparent in this book. Although they are an important part of the backdrop to the story in terms of the Time War – without the impact of their on-screen cameos they are effectively absent here.
This novel then has more serious undertones than the first two additions to the Target range but is not without its moments of humour, which, as in past multi-Doctor stories are principally in the interactions between the various incarnations of the main character. It is a book written very much with fans of the series at its heart, but going beyond the continuity this is never clearer than the beautiful moment when the War Doctor promises that whoever hears the wheezing, groaning sound of the TARDIS will know that they are not alone. While this is of immediate significance to the Doctor in the context of the story, this is surely also speaking to the fans and their relationship with the Doctor. The Day of the Doctor immediately soared to the top of the DWM poll of TV stories and I'm sure this novelisation will be held in similarly high regard.
FILTER: - BBC Books - Tenth Doctor - Eleventh Doctor - Target
Free Comic Book Day 2018 - Doctor Who Special (Titan Comics)
Saturday, 5 May 2018 - Reviewed by Thomas Buxton
Writers: Nick Abadzis, John Freeman, George Mann and Jody Houser
Artists: Giorgia Sposito, Arianna Florean, Christopher Jones, Mariano Laclustra and Rachael Stott
Colorists: Marco Lesko and Carlos Cabrera
FC, 30pp, $0.00
On sale: May 5, 2018
With Titan Comics' regular Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Doctor strips each having reached the natural conclusions of their Year Three runs, and their recently-announced The Road to the Thirteenth Doctor mini-series still two months away from its launch, now seems as opportune a time as any for the publisher to take stock and prepare its readers for the adventures ahead. Enter their contribution to this year's Free Comic Book Day line-up, a 25-page one-off Special containing four bite-sized primers for the future of their regular Doctor Who strips, the Road saga and the Seventh Doctor's Titan debut alike.
There's every chance, of course, that the aforementioned annual event - held at comic-book retailers the world over to promote the industry and its physical purveyors - will be over by the time that you're reading this review, yet that doesn't mean you won't find some stores such as Forbidden Planet still housing the odd copy of this much-anticipated strip here and there. Should Titan's most dedicated followers and / or newcomers to the worlds of Who comics make the trip, however, or are they best off waiting for the Doctor's printed exploits to kick off again this Summer and beyond? Let's find out...
"Catch a Falling Star":
For any readers like this reviewer who've yet to finish reading the latest string of Titan storylines based in the David Tennant era, Special's opening tale might well prove rather disorientating at first, though that's rather the point; seemingly deceased companion Gabby Gonzalez seems just as perplexed as she's flung through outer space after the Year Three finale presumably detached her from the TARDIS with considerable force. How better to spend the time, then, than by taking a metaphorical trip down memory line, simultaneously bringing newcomers up to speed on her recent voyages across the Time Vortex?
From Sontarans to Sutekh in his reincarnated form, from Cybermen to Gabby's best friend Cindy Wu stepping aboard the Doctor's iconic Type 40 capsule, it's been one heck of an eventful ride for the despondent waitress-turned-pro artist over the last 36 months. True to form, Giorgia Sposito and Arianna Florean's dazzlingly whimsical artwork splendidly reminds us - alongside the awe-inspired sense of wonder and fantasy coming via the dialogue which writer Nick Abadzis affords Gabby - of the eclectic and unashamedly outrageous tone which made this particular TARDIS team's travels such an instant hit with fans of Titan's licensed Who output.
Naturally, though, few could blame Ms. Gonzalez for questioning her life decisions given her present near-fatal predicament, so that Abadzis briefly explores her justifiable doubts as well comes as a welcome surprise, in many ways enabling us to draw parallels between the character and past companions such as Martha Jones for whom the Doctor's entrance signalled virtually the destruction of their personal lives and family ties. Who wouldn't reconsider the same dilemma as that which was posed to Donna in "Turn Left", namely whether life would've turned out better had their path never crossed with "the man who keeps running, never looking back because he dare not out of shame"? As such, it would seem that Gabby needs affirmation that her story doesn't end on such a somber note, and while we'll refrain from revealing her just how "Catch a Falling Star" concludes, we can say that she might just get her wish and transform the Doctor's future in the process...
"The Armageddon Gambit":
The best way to summarize the second narrative barrage in Special's artillery is as an audition piece for Andrew Cartmel and Ben Aaronovitch's impending Seventh Doctor mini-series, "Operation Volcano". Unlike that five-part saga, John Freeman takes on writing duties for "The Armageddon Gambit", but if his remarkably authentic rendition of Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred's wit-laden, mentor-student-esque banter from their 1980s run as the Doctor and Ace serves as any indication of what to expect from "Volcano" upon its launch next month, then experiencing each issue over the coming weeks should seem remarkably akin to watching a McCoy serial on TV / home video / streaming platforms for the first time.
While Freeman's relatively standalone narrative – which sees the ever-courageous time travellers chirpily interrupt a band of galactic tyrants standing on the brink of galactic conquest, having bested the Draconians, Chimerions and Voord alike – probably won't win this year's Pulitzer Prize for literary ingenuity, his script does at least enable the mini-series' artistic / colour tag team of Christopher Jones and Marco Lesko to amply strut their stuff. Their bold style, in marked contrast to Sposito and Florean's tonally befitting impressionistic imagery, does a splendid job of bringing the tale's characters to vivid life, with Lesko's choice to embroid the chief Kla-shi-kel clansman with striking golden armour for example visibly setting him apart in military stature and greed-driven ambitions. Look out in particular for their pitch-perfect depiction of the Doctor and Ace's grand entrance, an instantly iconic raison d'etre for "Armageddon" which easily stands among Titan's most memorable panels to date.
"Midnight Feast":
Whereas Abadzis and Freeman both had their fair share of legwork in terms of painting a roadmap for the future flights of the Seventh and one other Doctor here, one can almost hear George Mann's relief at finding no such pressure exerted upon his Eleventh Doctor contribution by Titan's head honchos. "Midnight Feast" makes no apologies for its lighthearted tone or completely standalone storyline, then, with Mann instead affirming to newcomers his ability to capture Matt Smith's zany eccentricity and energetic zest for life, all while re-introducing his ex-librarian companion Alice Obiefune along the way. Yet it's fair to say that Alice rather laments her inclusion here, finding her travelling companion ransacking the TARDIS kitchen for edible delights before he zips off to the nearest alien restaurant to find alternative inspiration.
Laying many criticisms at the feet of a self-proclaimed "culinary adventure" such as "Feast" would seem rather harsh, especially with Mariano Laclaustra's diverse menagerie of stunningly-rendered alien patrons calling to mind Star Wars' Mos Eisley Cantina in its aesthetic inventiveness. The only warning that we'd give, however, is that those unfamiliar with Alice won't find the same level of introductory exposition here as that which Gabby provided regarding her past in "Falling Star", largely since the latter's existential plight gave Abadzis the ideal plot device to justify such nostalgic reminiscing. Since Alice only features for but a few panels here, this reviewer would instead advise anyone wanting to catch up on her entry into the Doctor's life – between Amy and Rory's turbulent honeymoon and reunion for the Time Lord's death in "The Impossible Astronaut" – to check out the first volume of Year One, After Life, ahead of Year Four's presumed launch later this year.
"And Introducing..."
What of Doctor Who's fast-approaching return to BBC One with a new face, though? Does Jodie Whittaker's absence from Special's multi-Doctor front cover mean that we shouldn't expect to see her incarnation feature in Titan's licensed roster for the time being? Not at all – browse past the insightful Reader's Guide at the end of the strip, which details the various regular strips, crossovers and classic Doctor mini-series currently available, and you'll find three panels featuring a strange new world, strange new fauna and feathered onlookers, a strange new TARDIS and its strange new occupant embarking on her first 'canon' journey, her face brimming with visible passion and already infectious joy at discovering the unknown.
Much as every fan relishes jumping to far-fetched conclusions from even Who's most basic marketing materials, the rousing thrill that comes with turning the page and witnessing the Thirteenth Doctor in action for the first time can't possibly be denied. That her increasingly coveted costume and intriguing extraterrestrial surroundings are drawn in such a majestic light by Rachael Stott, the upcoming Thirteenth Doctor regular strip's resident artist, just goes to show that she's fully aware of the significance of this watershed moment for the show. The same can be said of Jody Houser's daringly dialogue-devoid script, aping Whittaker's reveal video last year in building its structure entirely around the new incarnation's gravitas-laden arrival.
A tremendous end, then, to a tremendous Free Comic Book Day special, one which accomplishes the remarkable joint feats of setting past Doctors on unexpected new trajectories for the coming months and making the Thirteenth's debut – both on-screen and the printed page – that much more of an exciting proposition.
Be sure to follow our reviews of Titan's The Thirteenth Doctor series as it kicks off in tandem with Season Eleven this Autumn…
FILTER: - COMIC - TENTH DOCTOR - TWELFTH DOCTOR - SEVENTH DOCTOR - ELEVENTH DOCTOR - THIRTEENTH DOCTOR
The Blood of Azrael (Panini Graphic Novel)
Sunday, 4 March 2018 - Reviewed by Ken Scheck
Written by Scott Gray
Artwork by Michael Collins, David A. Roach, & Adrian Salmon
Publisher: Panini UK LTD
The Eleventh Doctor's tenure in Doctor Who Magazine comes to a close in fine fashion, in The Blood of Azrael. Joining him in his final set of adventures is Clara, and together they meet Famous British Pilot Amy Johnson, battle Animated Characters in an evil Amusement park, take on a mental parasite, lose the TARDIS and save Cornucopia from an ancient Artist who kills for his art.
In the opening story featuring Amy Johnson, the Doctor and Clara take on an evil bug that uses telekinetic powers to make Sand Monsters, which is fun. They even save Johnson from her eventual young death at sea by saving her and placing her on Cornucopia (and not changing history because her body was never found). They then travel to Tickle Town, an Amusement Park where the walls are closed off and the visitors can never leave...and they are kept in line by Holograms of the Animated Characters the park is themed around. In a strip that was published in the 50th Anniversary Issue, they take on a mental parasite that makes the Doctor believe he is a boring bureaucrat afraid to change the rules, using a mental parasite as a good excuse to make a bunch of references to old friends and foes for the Anniversary.
The Doctor and Clara then end up in a corrupt auction world, where in order to save Clara from being auctioned off herself, the Doctor puts the TARDIS on the auction block, hoping to disrupt the systems of the Auction Planet. It does the trick, but while Clara is saved, the TARDIS is lost.
This final story ties into some previous arcs as well, the Lake family and their Project Wonderland from Hunters of the Burning Stone are heavily featured in the final story, and the concept of the Necrotist (the artists that kill for their art) were first introduced in the Eighth Doctor era, and made a brief return in the Eleventh Doctor's "Sticks & Stones" (which can be found in The Chains of Olympus). The final story is nice because it doesn't involve having to save Earth, but save Cornucopia and a wide variety of aliens from a Human...which makes a nice twist on the usual.
It's another great set of stories from writer Scott Gray and gives the Eleventh Doctor a nice exit from his pretty solid tenure in the strip (a tenure that was, in some ways, generally more consistent than his own TV run). The best part is that instead of breaking things up again, the whole arc is nicely packaged in this one volume. The Eleventh Doctor's time on the strip was an improvement over both the Ninth and Tenth Doctor strips, as they continued the trend of quality storytelling and solid arcs that returned to the strip during the Tenth Doctor's final year in the strip.
FILTER: - Eleventh Doctor - Comics - Panini
Doctor Who: The Lost Dimension Book One
Friday, 23 February 2018 - Reviewed by Dustin Pinney
Writers: George Mann, Cavan Scott & Nick Abadzis
Artists: Rachael Stott, Adriana Melo, Cris Bolson, Mariano Laclaustra, Carlos Cabrera, Leandro Casco, & I.N.J. Culbard
Colorists: Rod Fernandes, Marco Lesko, Dijjo Lima, Hernán Cabrera, & IHQ Studios
Letters: Richard Starkings, Comicraft
Hardcover, 128pp
On sale: February 20, 2018
Book One of Doctor Who: The Lost Dimension, released by Titan Comics is all about setup. If the image of seeing Doctors Nine, Ten, Eleven, and Twelve standing together, each reacting in their own characteristic way, to some unseen threat (as depicted on the cover) gets you excited...consider it a bit of a tease.
Stories in which more than one Doctor feature prominently can be structured a few different ways. The two most common ways feature each Doctor in their own story which relates to the other in some way, until the stories collide, or, something forces these Doctors together rightaway. The Lost Dimension takes advantage of the former option with mixed results.
While the draw to this crossover event is, undoubtedly, the chance to experience our modern Doctors bringing their vastly powerful minds together to solve some universe-shattering problem, the creative teams behind it make you wait. It can be equal parts thrilling and frustrating.
Seeing the return of the Doctor's "daughter" is fun, especially her interacting with Twelve, but the time spent explaining how she got their slows everything down to a crawl. Her arrival catapults an epic story into motion, Upon her reveal, the reader is ready to take off through time to find Nine, Ten, and Eleven.
Unfortunately, the story breaks to let us know what Nine's been up to, and as cool as it is to see he and Rose hanging around with Lady Vastra and her...companion?...the adventure leaves a lot to be desired.
Doubly for Ten taking on an armada of Cybermen. At any other time, the story would be heart-poundingly exciting. It's a station under siege by lots and lots of Cybermen! Given the impending menace that we certainly know will bring these Doctors together, and an overabundance of technobabble weighs this story down hard. It's simply too difficult to become invested in the base when you can't understand much of what's being said and you're waiting for more Doctors.
Perhaps the most interesting story in the book tells of Eleven, on ancient Gallifrey, assisting Rassilon and other Time Lord scientists in developing TARDIS technology. On its own the story is exceedingly well done, with all the hallmarks of a great Eleventh Doctor story. It's mind-bendy, funny, suspenseful and a little sad. That's Eleven through and through.
Beyond that, the story appeals to any fan of the ethereal "Cartmel Masterplan" and the concept of The Doctor going by another name in Gallifreyan lore. The inclusion of it here is immensely gratifying, making Eleven's story by far the most entertaining of the bunch.
After such a gargantuan, unbalanced setup, one can't help but hope that the rest of the story, or stories, does justice to that phenomenally promising cover.
FILTER: - Comics - Tenth Doctor - Eleventh Doctor - Twelfth Doctor
Hunters of the Burning Stone (Panini Graphic Novel)
Wednesday, 21 February 2018 - Reviewed by Ken Scheck
Artwork by Martin Geraghty & Michael Collins
The Eleventh Doctor's comic adventures from Doctor Who Magazine continue in his third volume, Hunters of the Burning Stone. Like the previous volume, it only features half of writer Scott Gray's story arc, but at least this volume features the conclusion to the whole thing. The two volumes should have been collected into one slightly larger volume, but as that did not happen, I suggest getting both and reading them back to back, because it is a pretty satisfying storyline.
This volume also collects together just three stories, the first two seeing the end of Amy and Rory's time on the strip. The opening story takes place in 1989 Prague, around the time the Soviet Union was falling apart. It continues some of the elements that began in The Chains of Olympus, and setting up some key elements for the storyline's major finale.
The second story "Imaginary Enemies" is a one-off that unrelated to the rest of the arc, and doesn't even feature the Doctor. Instead of showing us an adventure of Amy, Rory, and Mels as children, though the events are only remembered by Mels (AKA the eventual River Song). The ending of this story is a nice little tribute to Amy and Rory, giving us a glimpse into what their life was following their departure from the Doctor at the end of The Angels Take Manahattan.
The final story is a longer-than-usual adventure, which saw the return of First Doctor companions Ian and Barbara, concluded up the ongoing arc involving Psychic metal, was a bit of a sequel to the first serial in the show's history (An Uneathly Child), and served as the comic strip's 50th Anniversary Celebrations. This is not only the best story in the collection but probably the best story in the whole arc. Reading it only made me wish that both volumes were collected together more...as the stories featured in the last book were solid, but they rather need this conclusion to make them all the more satisfying. Breaking them up does a disservice to both. It's a well-told tale, with lots of nods to the show's history which add flavor to the proceedings, rather than feeling like the entire point.
I would definitely recommend reading both books (The Chains of Olympus and Hunters of the Burning Stone) back to back. Splitting them up is an odd choice, as these collections, Panini puts together usually make a lot of sense. Still, both volumes are good reprints of the stories, with the usual commentary. If getting both is not an issue than you get the whole story. But it does seem a shame to have to pay about the same for both books when they each feature only a half of the complete story.
FILTER: - Eleventh Doctor - Comics
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