Fine Art Painters and Illustrators, Francesca Benevento, Nancy Ann Crowley and Carol Ann Nulk will be available to visit and show their artworks for purchase at Gioia in Los Gatos, CA on January 15th noon to 6pm with 15% discount.

Los Gatos, California (PRWEB) January 05, 2017

Keep Italy Alive at home with Fine Artworks from Local, Award Winning, Recognized, Fine Art Painters at Gioia Italian Art and Products Open House Event January 15th, noon to 6 pm. Let us show them a very warm welcome and un grande abbraccio for bringing Italy to life in home decor. Gioia Company is created to bring joy through the arts of Made in Italy and Made in the US. Italian ceramics, linens, flatware, glassware, Venetian Masks, Italian Jewelry, Italian Fine Art, Italian Wedding Registry. https://gioiacompany.com/home

Francesca Benevento is an artist contributor to Gioia Italian Art and Products painting Pinocchio on children’s chairs, creating original illustrations of Venetian Masks and cards of her photographs of Italy. Her mother was born in Rome, Italy. Francesca recently created custom artworks for the Italian American Heritage Children’s Theater and the Little Italy Language School. “When I was 10 years old, I took a trip to Italy with my Italian family. We traveled to Rome where I visited the most beautiful works of art. The city influenced my dreams of becoming an artist. Since then, I’ve had a love affair with art…Now, I work as a Creative Director & Illustrator. My experience includes conceptual strategy, design and production for domestic and international products (ranging from packaging to print), catalogs and web. My paintings have been displayed in fine art galleries in Washington DC, San Francisco, and Japan..” Artist, Illustrator, Francesca Benevento, Zia Franny, http://www.ziafranny.com

Nancy Ann Crowley has shown artworks all over the globe and recently at the Italian American Heritage Foundation in San Jose where she displayed her large original Sunflowers in Tuscany. “There is a certain organic, beauty and simplicity of living in Italy that can’t be found elsewhere, a love of food, fashion, and the way they live their life……you always think of love, and romance, sun burnished landscapes, colorful fishing villages along the Mediterranean and Adriatic seas, ancient ruins and hilltop castles…..artworks of Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Tintoretto and Caravaggio…..I am proud to present a collection of originals and limited editions reflecting my on-going travels and love for this special country.” Nancy Ann Crowley, Crowley Fine Arts, http://crowleyart.com/index.htm

Carol Ann Nulk is Italian whose family roots are in the Prato and Lucca areas. She visits Italy frequently for inspirations and scenes to both photograph and to paint. She has painted with the ceramic artists of Tuscany. Carol Ann has provided greeting cards at Gioia for many years, she says “…we have traveled many times to Italy savoring all the major cities, charming hill towns, aquamarine coasts, enticing wine country and many out of the way places….my favorites (to paint) are stucco and brick walls, vineyards, 250-year-old olive pots…flowers…painting puts me in my happy zone…” Carol Ann Bocci Nulk, The Artists Palette, http://artistatavola.com/

Welcome to these fine artists, Francesca Benevento, Nancy Ann Crowley, and Carol Ann Nulk to Festa Gioia January 15th. This is an opportunity for you to enjoy some terrific creators, learn of their travel recommendations and experiences, possible commissions, purchase their artworks, and meet face to face for lunch and shopping Italian style at Festa Gioia, January 15th noon to 6pm. In Los Gatos. RSVP for reservations and directions. No entry fee, come over for lunch! 408-640-6628 http://www.gioiacompany.com, info@gioiacompany.com, https://www.facebook.com/gioiaitalianartandproducts/?fref=ts Kathy Winkelman, https://vimeo.com/162764971 Reported by PRWeb 39 minutes ago.

The United States says, it will transfer four detainees to Saudi Arabia from the Guantanamo Bay military prison of Cuba.The Obama administration is making a final push to transfer at least 19 prisoners to four countries, including Italy, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, before Donald Trump is sworn in on 20th January. Reported by All India Radio 42 minutes ago.

FanWide is a sports technology startup that organizes viewing parties for sports fans that are looking to meet up with other local fans to watch their favorite team. FanWide has promoted viewing parties for thousands of college and pro teams, and has now added the top European soccer leagues.

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) January 07, 2017

FanWide Technologies Inc. (http://www.FanWide.com) is a Seattle-based technology startup that organizes viewing parties for sports fans of hundreds of pro and college sports teams nationwide. In just a few months of operation, FanWide has promoted almost ten thousand NCAA Football and Basketball, NFL, NHL, and NBA viewing events for alumni groups and fan clubs nationwide. This past week FanWide began hosting events and watch parties for European soccer clubs throughout the country, representing teams from England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France.

“2016 was a banner year for soccer in the US, from the Seattle Sounders winning MLS Cup, to a new American superstar emerging in Christian Pulisic, the sport has grown in leaps and bounds,” said Symon Perriman, President and Founder of FanWide. “FanWide loves the passion of soccer fans and recognizes the current popularity and the long-term potential of the sport in the US. We are proud to help soccer fans nationwide connect with each other to support their favorite club.”

FanWide launched its website and mobile app this September for the tens of millions of sports fans in the US that are traveling, or live out-of-market, from their favorite team. Using the FanWide app or website, any soccer fan can find the closest viewing party in a sports bar that is guaranteed to be featuring their game with sound. Every week bars and restaurants nationwide use FanWide to choose which teams they want to host from a list of upcoming games.

FanWide Technologies Inc. was founded in 2016, and has grown to over twenty staff members. To support its demand, FanWide has just launched its Series A investment round. Accredited investors are encouraged to contact FanWide at http://www.FanWide.com/Contact. Sports fans and venues can join FanWide for free online at http://www.FanWide.com or by downloading the FanWide app. Reported by PRWeb 1 day ago.

New York City, N.Y., Jan 7, 2017 / 03:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- “Reality has never betrayed me.”

Those were among the words of Monsignor Luigi Giussani on his deathbed.

The priest, who as a theologian and the founder of the international Catholic movement Communion and Liberation, was convinced that God and his Catholic faith could be found within the realities of everyday life.

The question of whether happiness, and God, can truly be found in reality is the theme of the upcoming New York Encounter event, the movement’s 9th annual cultural event in the United States.

Communion and Liberation (CL) is a movement in the Church which has “the purpose of forming its members in Christianity in order to make them coworkers in the Church’s mission in all areas of society,” according to the movement’s website. It was founded in Italy in 1954 by Fr. Giussani.

“We all have the intuition that life, even with all its hardships, is fundamentally good,” the event’s website reads. “And yet, we have a hard time relating to many aspects of life: family, work, politics, society, even our own bodies and the very food we eat.”

“What are we missing? Why do we often perceive reality as disappointing? What can help us reconcile with reality and engage life as it is?”

Those are the questions the Encounter will explore said Maurizio Maniscalco, the event’s president.

“Is there anything ‘more real than reality’? And yet the very word ‘reality’ sounds empty, or even abstract...Life will always be a mystery with its joy and pain, hopes and shattered dreams. Is there a path, a destination, a destiny that keeps it all together?” he told CNA.

The Encounter is set to take place Jan. 13-15 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City, is free, requires no registration, and is open to people from all walks of life.

“New York Encounter is just a human encounter that hopes to break the walls we’ve built between us, in ourselves, and between us and what surrounds us, between us and reality as it happens if it doesn’t coincide with what we had in mind,” Maniscalco said.

The Encounter will explore these question about reality with speakers and performances from people of various fields and walks of life – artists, actors, medical professionals, priests, astronauts and businessmen. Some of this year’s presenters include Cardinal Timothy Dolan, New York Times editorialist David Brooks, and *Matt Malone, S.J.*, President & Editor in Chief of America Media. It will also feature photography exhibits as well as exhibits on the life of founder Msgr. Giussani.

Also new this year is the New York Encounter app, which is available for download both through the Apple App Store and Google Play store.

It’s one thing to try to explain Encounter, but it’s really best to “come and see,” Maniscalco told CNA.

“The Encounter is one of those things that is a little hard to explain. You have to experience it, you have to ‘Come and See,’” he said.

“Three days of dialogue, challenge, beauty to launch us back into our daily life with curiosity and desire. Come and see!”

More information about the event can be found at: *http://www.newyorkencounter.org/what-is-new/* Reported by CNA 1 day ago.

MARIBOR, Slovenia (AP) — American skier Mikaela Shiffrin held a slim lead over Sofia Goggia of Italy after the first run of a women’s World Cup giant slalom on Saturday. Shiffrin timed 1 minute, 8.13 seconds on the Pohorje course to beat Goggia by 0.07. Tessa Worley of France was 0.20 back in third, and […] Reported by Seattle Times 23 hours ago.

Chef Donatella Arpaia's passion for food began as a child on visits to her grandfather's olive farm in Italy. She grew up in a family of restaurateurs in New York, but her parents persuaded her to attend law school. Arpaia joins "CBS This Morning: Saturday" to share how she ended up in the restaurant business, opening her first restaurant at age 25. Reported by CBS News 19 hours ago.

Submitted by Raul Ilargi Meijer via The Automatic Earth blog,

Since the new year will bring yuuge and bigly changes to us all (I truly hope both the year and the changes will leave you happy), I thought I’d start off by ‘reduxing’ two articles that contain further ‘reduxes’, Russian doll style. I do this because the man the articles are about is set to play a large role in those changes, certainly where Europe is concerned. And since the changes in Europe will be weally weally bigly, they will impact the entire world.

*That is to say, we must seriously doubt if the EU -or rather, what’s left of it post-Brexit-, will live to see January 1 2018 in one piece. T*his is hardly an exaggeration, as you may be inclined to think. As I said recently, *in Europe it’s not and-and, it’s if-or: with elections in Germany, France, Holland and probably Italy coming up, they don’t all have to turn out ‘badly’ for the pro-EU camp, if just one of them goes against the EU, it may well be game over.*

*Therefore Beppe Grillo, leader of the Five Star movement, is a man to keep an eye on. *And not just for that. The first item below, a 1998 video, is an addition to my original article from November 14 2014, and it makes clear, once more, that Beppe is no fool. Nor is he a right wing nut, or anything remotely like that. Beppe actually understands what money is, much much better than any of the politicians and economists that rule the old continent. That makes him a threat to them.

Below that video from 1998, my November 14 2014 article, which in turn cites a 2013 article. I know some things will look dated, but you’ll get it, I’m sure. I hope you also get why I repost it all: 2017 has begun.

*  *  *



Beppe Grillo: Whom does the money belong to? *Who does its ownership belong to? To the State, fine, so to us, we are the State*.

 

You know that the State doesn’t exist, it is only a legal entity. *WE are the state, the money is ours*.

 

Then *tell me one thing: if the money belongs to us, why do they lend it to us?*



From November 14 2014: That says quite something, that title. And it’s probably not entirely true, it’s just that I can’t think of any others. And also, I’m in Europe myself right now, and I still have a European passport too. So there’s two of us at least. Moreover, I visited Beppe Grillo three years ago, before his 5-Star Movement (M5S) became a solid force in Italian politics. So we have a connection too.

Just now, I noticed via the BBC and Zero Hedge that Beppe not only expects to gather far more signatures than he said he would recently (1 million before vs 4 million today) for his plan to hold a referendum on the euro, he also claims to have a 2/3 majority in the Italian parliament. Well done. But he can’t do it alone.

Martin Armstrong thinks the EU may have him murdered for this before they allow it to take place. Which is a very good reason for everyone, certainly Europeans, to come out in support for the only man in Europe who makes any sense. I know many Italians find Beppe too coarse, but they need to understand he’s their only way out of this mess.

The smear campaigns against him are endless. The easier ones put him at the same level as Nigel Farage and Marine Le Pen, the more insidious ones paint him off as a George Soros patsy. There’ll be a lot more of that. And given the success of this year’s anti-Putin campaign in Europe, and the ongoing pro-Euro one, it’s going to take a lot not to have people believe whatever they are told to.

Just take this to heart: since Italy joined the euro, its industrial production has fallen by 25%. How is that not a disaster? Meanwhile, the eurozone economy is in awful shape, and the longer that lasts, the more countries like Italy will be disproportionally affected and dragged down further. There’s a reason for that numbers such as that: it’s not like Germany and Holland lost 25% of their production.

The eurozone must end before it starts to do irreversible damage, and before it turns Europe into a warzone, a far more real and imminent risk than anyone dares suggest.

The first bit here is from Zero Hedge, and then after that I will repost a lengthy piece about Beppe that I first published on February 12, 2013.

Italy’s Grillo Rages “We Are Not At War With ISIS Or Russia, We Are At War With The ECB”



Next week, Italy’s Beppe Grillo – the leader of the Italian Five Star Movement – will start collecting signatures with the aim of getting a referendum in Italy on leaving the euro “as soon as possible,” just as was done in 1989. As Grillo tells The BBC in this brief but stunning clip, “we will leave the Euro and bring down this system of bankers, of scum.” With two-thirds of Parliament apparently behind the plan, Grillo exclaims “we are dying, we need a Plan B to this Europe that has become a nightmare – and we are implementing it,” raging that “we are not at war with ISIS or Russia! We are at war with the European Central Bank,” that has stripped us of our sovereignty.

 

 

Beppe Grillo also said today:







It is high time for me and for the Italian people, to do something that should have been done a long time ago: to put an end to your sitting in this place, you who have dishonoured and substituted the governments and the democracies without any right. Ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money. Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? A crumb of humanity? Is there one vice you do not possess? *Gold and the “spread” are your gods. GDP is you golden calf.*

 

We’ll send you packing at the same time as Italy leaves the Euro. It can be done! You well know that the M5S will collect the signatures for the popular initiative law – and then – thanks to our presence in parliament, we will set up an advisory referendum as happened for the entry into the Euro in 1989. It can be done! I know that you are terrified about this. You will collapse like a house of cards. You will smash into tiny fragments like a crystal vase.

 

Without Italy in the Euro, there’ll be an end to this expropriation of national sovereignty all over Europe. Sovereignty belongs to the people not to the ECB and nor does it belong to the Troika or the Bundesbank. *National budgets and currencies have to be returned to State control. They should not be controlled by commercial banks.* We will not allow our economy to be strangled and Italian workers to become slaves to pay exorbitant interest rates to European banks.

 

The Euro is destroying the Italian economy. Since 1997, when Italy adjusted the value of the lira to connect it to the ECU (a condition imposed on us so that we could come into the euro), Italian industrial production has gone down by 25%. *Hundreds of Italian companies have been sold abroad. These are the companies that have made our history and the image of “Made in Italy”.*



As Martin Armstrong asks rather pointedly…



Since the introduction of the euro, all economic parameters have deteriorated, the founder of the five-star movement in Italy is absolutely correct. The design or the Euro was a disaster. There is no fixing this any more. We have crossed the line of no return. Beppe is now calling for referendum on leaving euro. Will he be assassinated by Brussels? It is unlikely that the EU Commission will allow such a vote.





And then here’s my February 2013 article; it seems silly to try and rewrite it. There is nobody in Europe other than him who understands what is going on, and is willing to fight for it. Grillo is a very smart man, a trained accountant and an avid reader of anything he can get his hands on. The image of him as a populist loud mouthed good for little comedian is just plain false. It was Grillo who exposed the Parmalat scandal, and the Monte Dei Paschi one.

Never forget what political and behind the veil powers he’s up against in his country, and how they seek to define the image the world has of him. What Beppe Grillo does takes a lot of courage. Not a lot of people volunteer to be smeared and insulted this way, let alone run the risk of being murdered. Those who do deserve our support.

* Beppe Grillo Wants To Give Italy Democracy *

In the fall of 2011, The Automatic Earth was on another European lecture tour. Nicole Foss had done a series of talks in Italy the previous year, and there was demand for more. This was remarkable, really, since a knowledge of the English language sufficient to understand Nicole’s lectures is not obvious in Italy, so we had to work with translators. Certainly none of this would have happened if not for the limitless drive and energy of Transition Italy’s Ellen Bermann.

In the run-up to the tour I had asked if Ellen could perhaps set up a meeting with an Italian I found very intriguing ever since I read he had organized meetings which drew as many as a million people at a time for a new – political – movement. Other than that, I didn’t know much about him. We were to find out, however, that every single Italian did, and was in awe of the man. A few weeks before arriving, we got word that he was gracious enough to agree to a meeting; gracious, because he’d never heard of us either and his agenda was overloaded as it was.

So in late October we drove the crazy 100+ tunnel road from the French border to Genoa to meet with Beppe Grillo in what turned out to be his unbelievable villa in Genoa Nervi, high on the mountain ridge, overlooking – with a stunning view – the Mediterranean, and set in a lovely and comfortable sunny afternoon. I think the first thing we noticed was that Beppe is a wealthy man; it had been a long time since I had been in a home where the maids wear uniforms. The grand piano was stacked with piles of books on all sorts of weighty topics, politics, environment, energy, finance. The house said: I’m a man of wealth and taste.

I don’t speak Italian, and Beppe doesn’t speak much English (or French, German, Dutch), so it was at times a bit difficult to communicate. Not that it mattered much, though; Beppe Grillo has been a super charged Duracell bunny of an entertainer and performer all his life, and he will be the center of any conversation and any gathering he’s a part of no matter what the setting. Moreover, our Italian friends who were with us – and couldn’t believe they were there – could do a bit of translating. And so we spent a wonderful afternoon in Genoa, and managed to find out a lot about our very entertaining host and his ideas and activities.

Beppe had set up his Five Star movement (MoVimento Cinque Stelle, M5S) a few years prior. He had been organizing V-day “happenings” since 2007, and they drew those huge crowds. The V stands for “Vaffanculo”, which can really only be translated as “F**k off” or “Go f**k yourself”: the driving idea was to get rid of the corruption so rampant in Italian politics, and for all sitting politicians to go “Vaffanculo”.

At the time we met, the movement was focusing on local elections – they have since won many seats, have become the biggest party on Sicily (after Beppe swam there across the Straits of Messina from the mainland) and got one of their own installed as mayor of the city of Parma.

Grillo explained that M5S is not a political party, and he himself doesn’t run for office. He wants young people to step forward, and he’s already in his sixties. Anyone can become a candidate for M5S, provided they have no ties to other parties, no criminal record (Beppe does have one through a 1980 traffic accident); they can’t serve more than two terms (no career politicians) and they have to give back 75% of what they get paid for a public function (you can’t get rich off of politics).

I found it surprising that our friends at Transition Italy and the general left were reluctant to endorse Grillo politically; many even wanted nothing to do with him, they seemed to find him too coarse, too loud and too angry. At the same time, they were in absolute awe of him, openly or not, since he had always been such a big star, a hugely popular comedian when they grew up. Grillo offered to appear through a video link at Nicole’s next talk near Milan, but the organizers refused. It was only the first sign of a lot of mistrust among Italians even if they all share the same discontent with corrupt politics. Which have made trust a major issue in Italy.

*This may have to do with the fact that Grillo is a comedian in the vein of perhaps people like George Carlin or Richard Pryor in the US. On steroids, and with a much wider appeal. Rough language, no holds barred comedy turns a lot of people off. Still, I was thinking that they could all use the visibility and popularity of the man to get their ideas across; they preferred anonymity, however.*

By the way, the Five Stars, perhaps somewhat loosely translated, stand for energy, information, economy, transport and health. What we found during our conversation is that Beppe Grillo’s views on several topics were a little naive and unrealistic. For instance, like so many others, he saw a transition to alternative energy sources as much easier than it would realistically be. That said, energy and environment issues are important for him and the movement, and in that regard his focus on decentralization could carry real benefits.

Still, I don’t see the present naive ideas as being all that bad. After all, there are limits to what people can do and learn in a given amount of time. And Beppe certainly has a lot to do, he’s leading a revolution, so it’s fine if the learning process takes some time. Ideally, he would take a crash Automatic Earth primer course, but language will be a barrier there. I hope he finds a way, he’s certainly smart and curious enough.

 

*When his career took off in the late 70’s, early 80’s, Beppe Grillo was just a funny man, who even appeared on Silvio Berlusconi’s TV channels. Only later did he become more political; but then he did it with a vengeance.*

Grillo was first banned from Italian TV as early as 1987, when he quipped about then Prime Minister Bettino Craxi and his Socialist Party that if all Chinese are indeed socialists, who do they steal from? The ban was later made permanent. In the early 90’s, Operation Clean Hands was supposed to have cleaned up corruption in politics. Just 15 years later, Beppe Grillo started the Five Star movement. That’s how deeply engrained corruption is in Italy, stretching across politics, business and media.

*We are- almost – all of us living in non-functioning democracies, but in Italy it’s all far more rampant and obvious.* There’s a long history of deep-seated corruption, through the mafia, through lodges like P5 and Opus Dei, through many successive governments, and through the collaboration between all of the above, so much so that many Italians just see it as a fact of life. And that’s what Beppe Grillo wants to fight.

*Ironically, he himself gets called a neo-nazi and a fascist these days.* To which he replies that perhaps he’s the only thing standing between Italy and a next bout of fascism. I’ve read a whole bunch of articles the past few days, the international press discovers the man in the wake of the general elections scheduled for February 24-25, and a lot of it is quite negative, starting with the all too obvious notion that a clown shouldn’t enter politics. I don’t know, but I think Berlusconi is much more of a clown in that regard than Grillo is. A whole lot more of a clown and a whole lot less funny.

Beppe is called a populist for rejecting both right and left wing parties, a neo-nazi for refusing to block members of a right wing group from M5S, a Jew hater in connection with the fact that his beautiful wife was born in Iran, and a dictator because he’s very strict in demanding potential M5S candidates adhere to the rules he has set. Oh, and there are the inevitable right wing people calling him a communist.

There are of course tons of details that I don’t know, backgrounds, I’m largely an outsider, willing to be informed and corrected. And this would always be much more about the ideas than about the man. Then again, I did talk to the man in his own home and I don’t have the impression that Grillo is a fraud, or part of the same system he purports to fight as some allege, that he is somehow just the existing system’s court jester. He strikes me as being too loud and too embarrassing for that. And too genuinely angry.

*Moreover, I think Italy is a perfect place for a nasty smear campaign, and since they can’t very well murder the man – he’s too popular – what better option than to make him look bad?! If anything, it would be strange if nobody did try to paint him off as a demagogue, a nazi or a sad old clown.*Photo: AFP: Marcello Paternostro

*After being banned from TV, Grillo went on the build one of the most visited blogs/websites in the world, and the number one in Europe.* Ironically, he is now in some media labeled something of a coward for not appearing in televised election debates. But Beppe doesn’t do TV, or – domestic – newspapers. For more than one reason.

Because he was banned from TV, because of the success of the internet campaign, and because Silvio Berlusconi incessantly used “lewd” talk shows on his own TV channels to conduct politics, Beppe Grillo insists his councilors and candidates stay off TV too, and he has his own unique way of making clear why and how: When a female Five Star member recently ignored this and appeared on a talk show anyway, Grillo said “the lure of television is like the G-spot, which gives you an orgasm in talk-show studios. It is Andy Warhol’s 15 minutes of fame. At home, your friends and relations applaud emotionally as they share the excitement of a brief moment of celebrity.”. Of course Beppe was labeled a sexist for saying this.

*The internet is central to Grillo’s ideas. *Not only as a tool to reach out to people, but even more as a way to conduct direct democracy. Because that is what he seeks to create: a system where people can participate directly. Grillo wants to bring (back) democracy, the real thing, and he’s long since understood that the internet is a brilliant tool with which to achieve that goal. One of his spear points is free internet access for all Italians. Which can then be used to let people vote on any issue that can be voted on. Not elections once every four years or so, but votes on any topic anytime people demand to vote on it. Because we can.

Since we had our chat in that garden in Genua, Beppe Grillo and M5S have moved on to bigger pastures: they are now set to be a major force in the general elections that will establish a new parliament. Polls differ, but they can hope to gain 15-20% of the vote (Grillo thinks it could be even much more). The leader in the polls is the Socialist Party, and then, depending on which poll you choose to believe, M5S comes in either second or third (behind Berlusconi). What seems certain is that the movement will be a formidable force, carrying 100 seats or more, in the new parliament, and that they could have a lot of say in the formation of any new coalition government.

In the run-up the elections, Beppe has now traded his home for a campaign bus, going from town to town and from one jam-packed campaign event to the next on what he has labeled the Tsunami Tour, in which he, in his own words, brings class action to the people.

As was the case in the local elections, Beppe Grillo says he wants “normal” people (“a mother of three, a 23-year-old college graduate, an engineer [..] those are the people I want to see in parliament”) to be elected, not career politicians who enrich themselves off their status and influence, and who he labels “the walking dead”, and though he acknowledges his candidates have no political experience, he says: “I’d rather take a shot in the dark with these guys than commit assisted suicide with those others.” In the same vein, another one of his lines is:“The average age of our politicians is 70. They’re planning a future they’re never going to see”.

*On his immensely popular website beppegrillo.it, which has quite a bit of English language content, Grillo has some nice stats and tools.* There is a list of Italian parlimentarians and Italian members of the EU Parliament who have been convicted of crimes. At this moment there are 24; their number has come down, but still. There is also a great little thing named “Map of Power of the Italian Stock Exchange” that graphically shows the links various politicians have with various corporations. I remember when Grillo proudly showed it to us, that after clicking just 2-3 politicians and 2-3 businesses, the screen was so full of lines depicting connections it had become an unreadable blur.

In between all the other activities, Beppe was instrumental 10 years ago in exposing the stunning $10 billion accounting fraud at dairy and food giant Parmalat before it went bankrupt, as well as the recent scandal at the world’s oldest bank, Monte Dei Paschi Di Siena, which will cost a reported $23 billion. Corruption is everywhere in Italy, which has a large political class that is all too eager to share in the spoils. Mr. Grillo was trained as an accountant, and he understands what he’s talking about when it comes to dodgy numbers. What he needs is the power to act.

 

*Apart from the strong stance that Grillo and M5S take against corruption and for direct representation, critics say they have few clear policy objectives, that they don’t even know what they want.* Being a movement instead of a party doesn’t help. But then, these critics think inside the very old system that M5S wants to replace with one that is far more transparent and direct. It’s more than obvious that existing powers have no interest in incorporating the possibilities for improvement offered by new technologies, but it should also be obvious that people, wherever they live, could potentially benefit from a better functioning political system.

There will be many who say that no such thing can be achieved, but perhaps it not only can, but is inevitable. All it could take is for an example to show that it can work. *One might argue that the only reason our current systems continue to exist in all their opaqueness is that those who stand to profit from them are the ones who get to vote on any changes that could be applied.* What Beppe Grillo envisions is a system in which every one can vote directly on all relevant issues, including changes to the system itself. It’s about class action, about taking back power from corrupt existing politics. Italy looks like a good testing ground for that, since its systemic rot is so obvious for all to see. But in other western countries, just like in Italy, it could return the power where it belongs: in the hands of the people.

Radical ideas? Not really, because when you think about it, perhaps it’s the technology itself that’s radical, not the use of it. And maybe it’s the fact that we’re so stuck in our existing systems that keeps us from using our new technologies to their full potential. Just like it keeps us from restructuring our financial systems and our energy systems for that matter.* We continue to have systems and institutions guide our lives long after they’ve ceased to be useful for our present day lives, as long as we’re snug and warm and well-fed.* And we do so until a real bad crisis of some sort comes along and makes it absolutely untenable, often with a lot of misery and blood thrown into the equation.

*Beppe Grillo wants to break that chain. And he’s got a recipe to do it. *It may not be perfect or foolproof, but who cares when it’s replacing something that no longer functions at all, that just drags us down and threatens our children’s lives? Who cares? Well, the Monti’s and Berlusconi’s and Merkel’s and Obama’s and Exxon’s and BP’s and Monsanto’s of the world do, because it is the old system that gave them what they have, and they don’t want a new one that might take it away. *Our so-called democracies exist to please our leaders and elites, not ourselves. And we’re unlikely to figure that one out until it’s way too late.*

Unless the Italians do our work for us and vote for the Cinque Stelle in huge numbers. Reported by Zero Hedge 16 hours ago.

There was a time when even the merest hint of a breakup of the Eurozone was considered a taboo topic in Europe. Who can forget Mario Draghi's response to a question from Zero Hedge readers who wondered if there is a "plan in place if a nation is forced to step out of the Eurozone"  to which Draghi's response was that "if the Euro breaks down, and if a country leaves the Euro, it's not like a sliding door. It's a very important thing. It's a project in the European Union. *That's why you have a very hard time asking people like me "what would happened if." No Plan B.*"

In short: to demonstrate just how "cohesive" Europe was, even the mere possibility of a break-up was unthinkable, i.e., "no plan B".

Fast forward three years later, when things in Europe have changed dramatically, and unfortunately for the worse as many warned, because as Reuters reports citing Germany's second in command, Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, *"a break up of the Eurozone is no longer unthinkable."*German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel.

In an interview with Der Spiegel, Gabriel said that "Germany's insistence on austerity in the euro zone has left Europe more divided than ever and a break-up of the European Union is no longer inconceivable." Gabriel, whose Social Democrats (SPD) are junior partner to Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives in her ruling grand coalition, said strenuous efforts by countries like France and Italy to reduce their fiscal deficits came with political risks.

In an attempt to once again politicize the touchy, for German, topic of excessive spending and debt-issuance, Gabriel said that "I once asked the chancellor, what would be more costly for Germany: for France to be allowed to have half a percentage point more deficit, or for Marine Le Pen to become president?" he said, referring to the leader of the far-right National Front.

"Until today, she still owes me an answer," added Gabriel, whose SPD favors a greater focus on investment while Merkel's conservatives put more emphasis on fiscal discipline as a foundation for economic prosperity.

The ideological divergence will lead to a political showdown in nine months: the SPD is expected to choose Gabriel, their long-standing chairman who is also economy minister, to run against Merkel for chancellor in September's federal election, according to Reuters.

On the other hand, he himself admits that running on a platform of excessive spending may not be the smartest thing in Germany  asked if he really believed he could win more votes by transferring more German money to other EU countries, Gabriel replied: "I know that this discussion is extremely unpopular."

"But I also know about the state of the EU. *It is no longer unthinkable that it breaks apart," *he said in the interview, published on Saturday. "Should that happen, our children and grandchildren would curse us," he added. "*Because Germany is the biggest beneficiary of the European community - economically and politically*."

His last comment is spot on, which then begs the question: why do other, non-German countries, and especially Greece which has gone through 7 years of depression hell just to stay in the Euro, demand so vociferously to remain in a "community" in which the biggest beneficiary is Germany, as its vice chancellor himself now admits. Reported by Zero Hedge 16 hours ago.

Heavy snowfall and below-freezing temperatures continued to sweep the European continent Saturday, causing more than a dozen deaths, grounding airplanes and crippling ferries in Italy and Turkey. At least 10 people have died in the cold that has gripped Poland in recent days, included seven men ages 41 and 66 who died Friday, authorities said. A 51-year-old died of asphyxiation with carbon monoxide from a malfunctioning heater. Temperatures in Poland dropped below -20 degrees Celsius... Reported by VOA News 11 hours ago.

The Bombay High Court is likely to hear a petition tomorrow before the Humboldt Penguins are opened for public viewing.

Filed by advocate Advait Sethna and Ruju Thakker, it has challenged the bringing of the penguins to the country, saying they are an endangered species and out of their natural habitat, losing their "fundamental right to life and liberty".

The petition also states that the aquatic birds be sent back to South Korea. The BMC had brought in eight of the birds in July, a part for its Rs 433-crore makeover plan of Byculla Zoo. One of them died in November.

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Three months after mid-day first reported about BMC-run blood banks charging patients an extra Rs 200 for blood, the civic body has issued a letter to all banks in the city demanding an explanation for fleecing people.

In 2014, the state government had passed a government resolution (GR), reducing the cost of blood by Rs 200 - from Rs 1,050 to Rs 850 - at all government and civic hospitals. However, most civic hospitals are still following the old rate card.

Last week, the BMC sent a letter to all blood banks asking them to provide a written explanation for the violation of government directives. Speaking to mid-day, Dr Avinash Supe, director of major hospitals said, "We have taken steps to deal with the issue. We have asked the BMC-run blood banks the reason for not following the GR. We are awaiting their response."

Following the letter, Bhabha Hospital in Bandra corrected the error. In its reply to the BMC's letter, the hospital said, "We have rectified the rates and are charging R850."

In its October 2 edition, mid-day revealed that civic-run blood banks were following the old rate card, citing that they didn't get the official letter from the BMC. Following the story, the BMC commissioner's office had sent a letter to the director and chief medical superintendent to inquire into the matter.

An RTI application filed by a doctor had revealed that leading civic hospitals were charging extra from private hospital patients, who required blood urgently. At present, civic hospitals provide free blood to in-house patients. The doctor who filed the RTI application said, "All hospitals come under the purview of the state health department. So, they can't ignore the government directives by citing that the corporation hasn't instructed them to do so."

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In an act of rapprochement with his 'political alma mater', the Shiv Sena, former deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal has forgiven the Shiv Sainiks who had attacked his official bungalow in Mumbai 20 years ago. The Sena-BJP government was in power at the time and Bhujbal was serving as leader of Opposition in the legislative council.

Bhujbal, who is in judicial custody for corruption charges such as amassing assets disproportionate to known income, appeared before Mumbai's additional metropolitan magistrate RK Deshpande on Saturday. "This case is 20 years old. I had already patched up with the (late) Balasaheb Thackeray, and I have no complaint whatsoever against the Sainiks who are charge-sheeted in the matter," he told the court.

Ever since he parted ways with the Sena in 1991, Bhujbal has been their favourite target. He was the last witness to have appeared before the court in this case, which will go to the next stage in due course. According to him, the incident happened on a Sunday (date not confirmed by Bhujbal or his lawyers) after a statue of Dr Ambedkar in Ramabai Nagar was vandalised. "I had held the Sena-BJP government guilty because nearly a dozen were killed when the police opened fired on the mob that had gathered to protest against the vandalism. I had told the House that the government was a murderer," Bhujbal told the court.

He also said that someone had filed an affidavit alleging that the statue was vandalised on his orders. "A commission was appointed to probe the charges and the affidavit was proven wrong. In the meantime, I had filed a defamation case against Balasaheb and others for publishing baseless allegations against me in the Sena mouthpiece Saamana. But, I withdrew the charges in 2008 because of Balasaheb's deteriorating health. I went to his residence with my family to end the feud," he said.

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The BMC's rush to declare Mumbai Open Defecation Free (ODF) has fallen flat after a team, appointed by the central government to verify the civic body's claim, found that open defecation still exists at six wards across the city. The squad conducted the survey over Tuesday and Wednesday.

According to sources, members of the Quality Council of India (QCI) spotted people defecating in the open in six wards — F-North (Sion Matunga), G-North (Dadar, Mahim), H-West (Bandra, Khar Road), K-West (Andheri, Vile Parle), R-South (Kandivli) and T (Mulund) — during the survey. Following the results, a red-faced BMC has applied for a reassessment of those areas to the QCI team.

The sources also said that the officials from Solid Waste Management department and Swachh Bharat Mission team have been asked to remain tight-lipped about the visit of the QCI team. However, mid-day managed to obtain the names of some of the locations that included Mahim Creek, Wadala, Nargis Dutt Nagar in Bandra and Bunder Pakhadi in Kandivli.

The BMC had declared Mumbai Open Defecation Free (ODF) on December 29. On the same day, the civic body had written to the Union Ministry of Urban Development department to inform them about the success. Following which, a team from the central government visited the city to certify the civic body's claim. A source from the BMC, said, "The Central team had chosen spots from a list compiled by the BMC. Now we have requested the centre's team for a reassessment. They are expected to visit the city again."

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It was a day of chaos at the Thakur International School on Saturday. More than 300 parents of students from pre-primary and primary school entered the school and interrupted the admission process, and also boycotted the Sports Day practise by not sending their kids to school.

This followed an incident on Thursday in which five-year-old Jivika Mistri, a senior KG student, cut her little finger on the school premises but the school didn't bother to provide her with necessary medical treatment until her parents arrived. Five-year-old Jivika's finger had got stuck in a door.

Speaking to mid-day on Friday, Jivika's father Hemant Mistri had said, "When my wife reached the school, Jivika's hand was covered in a cloth and she was crying in pain. The school administration handed over the cut part of the finger in a polythene bag to my wife. After that they called an auto and asked her to take my daughter to a hospital. It was complete negligence on the part of the school authorities to have kept her waiting in pain."

The parents said they were disappointed with school principal Penelope Miranda, for backing out from her plan for a parent-teacher meet. "When we protested on Friday, the principal met a few parents, and assured us she would meet us on Saturday," said one of the parents.

Parents alleged that the management is not apologetic. "Their delay shows that they are not at all sorry for what happened. They are busy working on the admission process instead," another parent said. School chairman, VK Singh, called for an urgent meeting with the parents on Saturday. The parents asked for compensation to Jivika's father towards the expenses he incurred.

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It is not exactly a big surprise, but it’s worth taking note of. Days after her delivery, Kareena Kapoor was back on the social circuit, so planning a fitness regime could not be far off. Word is that Bebo already has a plan in place. She surprised us with the way she was up and about till the end of her pregnancy. So expect Bebo to be her svelte self soon. With yummy mummies Malaika Arora and Amrita Arora as her buddies, she needn’t look far for inspiration.

*First Photos! Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan with baby Taimur*

 

 

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Last Monday, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge, Mark A Borenstein, ordered Bikram Choudhury to hand over funds from his book sales and 700 yoga studios to Minakshi 'Micki' Jafa-Bodden, who filed a sexual harassment, sex discrimination, retaliation case in June 2013. The order, which also directed him to turn over his collection of 43 luxury cars, including 13 Rolls-Royces, eight Bentleys and three Ferraris to Jafa-Bodden has come a year since the trial began. Last year at this time, Jafa-Bodden's lawyers were calling witnesses and the jury was hearing evidence. The same month saw her ordeal come to an end, when the court finally ruled in her favour. But, the case is far from over, Jafa-Bodden tells us over email from Los Angeles. Excerpts from the interview:

*It has been a testing year for you. How does it feel to have finally won the case? Did you celebrate?*
This case is far from over, but I do feel that the recent orders have sent a clear message to Bikram Choudhury that he will be held accountable. He has not paid a penny of the judgement; hence various court orders have been obtained by my lawyers, which provide that all income streams to Bikram are to be cut off as Bikram Yoga studios are now prohibited from sending him any money. We are empowered now to seize and sell all the Bikram Yoga intellectual property, including his valuable trademarks and his copyright to the Bikram Yoga teacher training material. This means Bikram will no longer be able to hold his lucrative teacher trainings for Bikram Yoga or to issue licences and franchises to any yoga studios anywhere in the world.

*Tell us about the emotional trauma you went through during the trial?*
I went to hell and back. It has been extraordinarily traumatic and difficult for me both, financially and mentally. But, I do see closure ahead and I am thankful for that.

 *mid-day's reports from 2016 on Minakshi Jafa-Bodden's case *

*You have been granted Bikram's entire empire. Do you plan to run the empire?*
I am evaluating my options and am encouraged that justice is being served. My thoughts are with everyone who had to put up with Bikram's illegal, unacceptable and predatory conduct for all these years. I know it has come as a relief to many Bikram yoga studios around the world to no longer have him at the helm. I intend to work to repair the business and surround our community with the support, marketing, programming and expertise to help millions of yoga practitioners. As you know, there was significant concern about the impact of Bikram Choudhury's sexual assault lawsuits on the Bikram Yoga brand. Many in the community have called for a separation of the man from the yoga.

*Are you still a practioner of the hot yoga form?*
Yes. It is a fantastic and beneficial style of yoga. I intend to protect the series and do all I can to promote it for the benefit of the studios and the Bikram Yoga teachers who through no fault of their own have suffered as a result of his conduct.

*His fleet of 43 cars has gone missing. Are you taking help to retrieve them?*
For me, it really isn't about the cars. It is Bikram who derives his self-worth from material possessions. It is not at all surprising that Bikram and his cohorts have gone to such lengths to hide the luxury cars. He has always considered himself "above the law". The Los Angeles Police department have been notified as this is clear contempt of court as well as a violation of the California Penal Code. Should those vehicles be recovered, they will be sold to help with my legal bills and so on.

*Do you think justice has been done?*
I believe justice is being served and that ultimately Bikram will be held responsible and accountable for his behaviour.

*What support did you receive from the other students who faced similar harassment from Bikram Choudhury?*
The yoga community as a whole has been very supportive; there was still an element of fear and reluctance to come forward as Bikram ran his company like a cult. But, I would hope that people can see the light finally breaking through the darkness.

*It is a new beginning for you. What are you most looking forward to?*
It is premature to answer that question. There is still so much work to be done in enforcement of the jury's award.

*Any message you would like to give women/similar victims world over in voicing/reporting harassment cases?*
My message would be to stay strong, speak up and hopefully be inspired to fight back no matter the personal cost to you. There are good lawyers and HR professionals out there whose job is to help women who are experiencing harassment in the workplace. Use these resources. File police reports and inform the media wherever appropriate and continue to support other women particularly those who are vulnerable and lacking in resources to mount legal battles.

*Lastly, what has this phase in your life taught you?*
That help comes from the unlikeliest of places. Carla [Minnard] and I were once adversaries, lawyers on opposite sides of the Pandhora Williams litigation and yet she came forward and helped me raise an army to go back and fight Bikram. It almost sounds like a story from the Mahabharata!We will follow Bikram to the moon: LawyerCarla Minnard, Jafa-Bodden's legal backbone, says the celebrations will only begin when he is no longer in a position to continue his abuse

*

Carla Minnard
*

*What is the road ahead?*
One of the main goals of our justice system in awarding punitive damages is to punish and deter. If Bikram Choudhury is never held accountable for the jurors' verdict then there is no punishment, there is no deterrence and he will very likely do what he seems to be trying to do: flee the US and set up business as usual in some other country where he can continue to abuse women and young vulnerable trainees and prey on people. The celebration will have to wait till Bikram has finally been held accountable.

*As per the law, can Bikram ever enter the US? Is he allowed to retain his brand his practice in any other part of the world?*
He is attempting to do exactly this - but we will follow him until every penny of the judgement has been paid. If he goes to Pune, we will follow him there. If he goes to Singapore, we will follow him there. If he goes to Phuket or Mumbai or the moon, we will follow him there too.

*What does the current verdict achieve?*
We have achieved two very important things by taking Micki's case through verdict: Public airing of Bikram Choudhury's illegal, immoral and abusive conduct, and the unanimous findings of the 12 jurors who heard all the evidence and then based on that evidence found Bikram to have engaged in illegal sex discrimination and harassment and retaliation and despicable conduct. This serves as a public condemnation of his conduct. So we are gratified by the fact that Micki's case brought years of abuse to the light.

*It is not an easy case to fight. Discuss Minakshi's perseverance?*
Micki is one of my She-roes. She has a calm and gentle demeanor, but she is an iron fist in a velvet glove. She fought hard - not just for herself - but for her daughter and for all women and yogis who should be able to practice a wonderful discipline without being abused.

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The city police registered an 'Accidental Death Report' (ADR) in connection with the death of the acclaimed actor Om Puri.

Puri (66), known for his roles in several landmark films such as "Ardha Satya", "City of Joy" and "Aakrosh", died of a massive heart attack at his apartment in Lokandwala Complex in suburban Andheri.

He had also sustained an injury, caused apparently when he collapsed to the floor after the heart attack.

Since he was alone at his house at the time of death and sustained an injury, Oshiwara police registered an ADR as per routine procedure, a senior police officer said.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/jan/8Sunil-Gavaskar-s.jpg*Sunil Gavaskar*

Milind Rege, the current Mumbai chairman of selectors was quick to point out that Sunil Gavaskar scored a triple century for their club Dadar Union. The other day, cricket statistician Prakash Dahatonde came up with the Free Press Journal clipping of Gavaskar's unbeaten 301 which proved that Rege's memory did not let him down.

It was scored in the Purshottam Shield final at the PJ Hindu Gymkhana on March 29, 30 and 31, 1969 – a good two years before Gavaskar played for India. As per the report, Gavaskar batted for 515 minutes and his shots reached the boundary ropes 45 times.

On Day One he scored 161 and reached his double century in less than an hour on the second day. Forty-five minutes into the post lunch session on that Saturday, Gavaskar reached 301 and that's when Dadar Union declared. This season's Purshottam Shield final (Payyade Sports Club vs Fort Vijay CC) is being held at the Wankhede Stadium instead of the Hindu Gym. Wankhede's iconic status notwithstanding and this venue-related departure, for whatever reason, just doesn't seem right.

*Taking in his creation*
EN route to the sunny lands of Goa, British sculptural artist Andrew Logan is making the mandatory stop in Mumbai. When he touches down at Mumbai International Airport, it looks like Logan is going to swing by Jaya He, the airport's expansive gallery. After all, Logan's work — The Guardian Angels of India — is part of Jaya He's collection. We are pretty sure you must have seen it while heading to your international destinations; it's a large-scale parade of portraits of India's influential names.*Andrew Logan (above) and his work*

However, this is the first time that Logan will have a chance to see his completed installation. Rekha Nair, who has newly taken charge of art projects at Jaya He, says, "We are so glad to have Andrew visiting us. His installation celebrates Indian subjects in a new avatar and we're soon transported into a fantasy world. His work definitely adds a touch of humour to the Jaya He GVK New Museum."

*Lose it like Aamir*
NOW that all the brouhaha around actor Aamir Khan's drastic weight loss for Dangal has finally settled down, it's time we learnt of Dr Nikhil Dhurandhar, the man behind that success story. Known for propagating a scientific diet plan, Dr Dhurandhar, professor and chairman of the department of nutritional sciences at Texas Tech University, is now penning a book for HarperCollins India, out later this year.*Dr Nikhil Dhurandhar*

"There are too many myths about weight gain and loss that are intentionally or otherwise propagated. The book will address many such myths," he says. Weight loss, however, requires a lot of discipline, he maintains. Recalling his experience with Khan, Dr Dhurandhar said, "No amount of smart strategy would have helped without the extremely diligent and disciplined approach of Mr Khan in adhering to these instructions. He worked extremely hard at following my dietary advice as well as the instructions of his physical trainer. The result was terrific, but it was hard earned."

*A German Jungle Book ballet*
Ace choreographer Ashley Lobo is going international. Lobo, who is known for his work in films such as Cocktail, Guzaarish, and who is right now busy working on Imtiaz Ali's next with Shah Rukh Khan, has been asked by the German dance school Ballet Chemintz' to choreograph a full-length work based on Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. "A German theatre director who saw my work, recommended me as a guest choreographer to their resident ballet company."*Ashley Lobo*

Ask him how this is different from any other version of the iconic story, and he says, "To communicate the whole piece only through dance is going to be interesting. I will use a lot of Indian-sounding music to give it an Indian touch." Surely, that won't be a problem for a seasoned teacher such as Lobo. "It's challenging because it's a full-length piece with professional dancers I do not know. Their language is classical and not contemporary, so I will have to create something that is Neo classical." This should be fun!

*Itchy feet*
After curating travel experiences for individuals, who want to visit distilleries and wineries for sometime now, sommelier Nikhil Agarwal has plans to go big. From April onwards, the CEO of All Things Nice, will start curating international travel experiences for groups driven by wanderlust.*Nikhil Agarwal*

"We think the time is right. The people we reach out to love their drink, food, and there's a spike in interest levels when it comes to travel," he says. Agarwal hopes to tap into his network and allow his guests to hobnob with the world's best wine and spirit producers and chefs. "Someone from All Things Nice or myself will always accompany the group," he tells us. For now, he's chalking out an itinerary to Margaret River in Australia followed by Piedmont in Italy and then one to Bordeaux. "We're exploring a trip to Chile and Argentina as well."

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Before he left for home on Thursday night, Rampramod Mishra had been instructed by Om Puri to arrive by 7 am on Friday, as the veteran actor had to leave for a visa application appointment and then head to Khandala. That conversation turned out to be their last, as when Mishra arrived at Puri’s home the next day, he’d passed away. Mishra spoke to mid-day about their last conversation.

*Also Read: Driver found Om Puri lying on the floor, bleeding*

*Didn’t open the door*
“On Thursday night, while I was leaving for home sahab (Om Puri) told me to reach his residence by 7 am because he had an appointment for visa application at the American Consulate. He had told me that after the work at consulate is completed, we would leave for Khandala and spend two days at his bungalow which is being renovated,” said Mishra, who had been Puri’s driver for over 24 years.

“But when I reached in the morning, he did not open the door. I rang the bell several times. Then, I alerted the other residents and we managed to get a duplicate key. When I entered the house, I saw him lying on the floor, bleeding from his head. We rushed him to the hospital and were told he is no more.”

*Tribute: Om Puri will forever live in our hearts*

*Trip to Gorakhpur*
Mishra added, “It is very sad that sahab is no more. He was a very nice person and has always been helpful to everyone. He had been telling me that on January 14 he would come with me to my village in Gorakhpur. I told him he was always welcome. He also said that after returning from Gorakhpur, he’d start with his assignments. But before that could happen, this tragic incident did.” Reported by Mid-Day 6 hours ago.

Mad Vision Signs Exclusive Distribution with Marma London for January 2017 Launch.

Sunrise, Florida (PRWEB) January 08, 2017

Mad Vision is the first to distribute Aston Martin Eyewear Collection after signing an exclusive distribution agreement with Marma London. Set to launch in January 2017, this acquisition is part of Mad Vision’s development in the high-end men eyewear segment.

London-based eyewear brand Marma London and luxury British sports car manufacturer, Aston Martin, have collaborated on a beautiful and innovative collection of sunglasses.

The collection sees the expertise of both brands intertwined seamlessly, fusing exquisite craftsmanship with innovative technology and design to create beautiful, handcrafted, sunglasses. With a focus on timeless shapes, high quality materials and superior artistry this understated yet elegant collection is the definition of minimalistic luxury.     

The Aston Martin Eyewear Collection available through Mad Vision offers 13 optical models and 17 sunglass models. The selection of lenses are polarizing and polarizing gradient lenses, and 1.60 photochromic polarizing lenses. All lenses have back multi-anti reflective coating for the perfect comfort in vision. Each model is handcrafted and hand finished in Italy.

Mad Vision distributes eyewear brands that produce an incredibly diverse range of styles in both the non-optical and optical markets. For more information on Mad Vision, please visit http://www.madvision.com.

To request more information about Mad Vision or to arrange an interview, please contact Melissa Sweredoski at melissas(at)madstudios(dot)net or 410.610.6321.

Mad Vision distributes eyewear brands that produce an incredibly diverse range of styles in both the non-optical and optical markets. With luxury, designer, sport, and affordable eyewear, our portfolio provides an option for any taste and demographic. Brands include Red Bull SPECT, Aston Martin Eyewear, Von Arkel Switzerland, iHUMAN Adaptable Eyewear, and Vinyl Factory. Reported by PRWeb 2 hours ago.

Marina Piro, 25, who was born in Italy but currently lives in the UK, bought a five door 2001 Renault Kangoo and transformed it into a home so she can travel the world with her rescue dog. Reported by MailOnline 57 minutes ago.

There's never been a better time to be a woman in the startup world.

There's no denying we have a long way to go. After all, venture capital firms are made up of mostly men, and some continue to suggest women aren't cut out for the tech world at all. And way more VC money is offered to male founders than women.

But more and more women are building multimillion-dollar startups, and venture firms like Forerunner Ventures, BBG Ventures, and Female Founders Fund all focus on female-founded companies.

It's paying off. 2016 saw female founders launch innovative companies and raise millions to help them grow, while startups in their second or third year of life began gaining ground.

And 2017 is likely to be even bigger. Here are some of the most exciting women-run companies to keep an eye on in the coming year. 

*SEE ALSO: THE $10 BILLION CLUB: Meet the 8 most valuable startups in the US*

-Parachute wants to make a comfy night's sleep affordable.-

*What is it: *Parachute is changing how you buy one thing you use every day: your sheets. It produces the high-quality bedding from a factory in Italy and then sells it only through its website, and one store at its headquarters in Venice Beach, California. Parachute bedding has gained a bit of a cult following, and now co-living startups are even advertising that they have Parachute sheets with Casper mattresses. Every time a customer buys a set of its Venice line the company donates a mosquito net to help kids in Africa have a safe sleep.

*Founded: *2014 by Ariel Kaye

*Funding: *$10.28 million from Upfront Ventures, Joanne Wilson, QueensBridge Venture Partners, and Structure Partners, among others.-Laurel & Wolf connects interior designers with people who want to give their homes an affordable makeover.-

*What is it: *Laurel & Wolf wants to take advantage of a Pinterest-obsessed generation and make it easy and affordable to design your dream home. People searching for a new look can take a survey about their style, upload pictures and information about the space, and post their project. Typically, three to five designers respond with their ideas so you don't have to settle on one from the start.

*Founded: *2014 by Leura Fine and Brandon Kleinman

*Funding: *$26.63 from Benchmark, Charles River Ventures, Tim Draper, and others.-Maven lets you video chat with doctors.-

*What is it:* Maven is a women's health app that connects you with doctors via video chat, allowing you to ask questions, get advice, and receive prescriptions. Maven was founded by Kate Ryder, who came up with the idea for the app when she was working at a venture-capital fund in London. Ryder noticed that all of her friends were starting to get pregnant and were receiving a lot of misinformation or having trouble finding the right doctor.

Users can connect with doctors, nurse practitioners, and mental health experts through the app. 

*Founded:* 2014 by Kate Ryder

*Funding:* $6.67 million from Female Founders Fund, Grand Central Tech, BoxGroup, and others.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider Reported by Business Insider 20 hours ago.

In a stunning post on his blog published on Sunday, the founder of Italy's Five-Star Movement (M5S), Beppe Grillo, said his political movement should cut ties with Nigel Farage's anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP) in the European Parliament, and seek a hook up with the European liberals led by European Federalist Guy Verhofstadt.

Should this unexpected switch go ahead, it could, according to Reuters, see 5-Star "enter mainstream European politics and move away from the anti-system fringes", a shift that might reassure other EU capitals that have grown uneasy about its rising popularity.

In his blog post, Grillo said in a post on his blog that since Farage had led Ukip to Britain voting to leave the EU, the two parties no longer shared common goals and he recommended leaving the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD). *“Recent events in Europe, such as Brexit, have led us to reconsider the nature of the EFDD group*,” Grillo wrote. “With the extraordinary success of the leave campaign, Ukip achieved its political objective: to  leave the European Union.

In some ways the recommendation is forward-looking, and anticipates the departure of UK MEPs from the next legislature. As Grillo said “let’s discuss the concrete facts: Farage has already abandoned the leadership of his party and British MEPs will leave the European parliament in the next legislature. Until then, our British colleagues will be focused on developing the choices that will determine the UK’s political future.”

As The Guardian notes, Grillo and Farage forged an alliance over lunch in Brussels after 2014’s European elections, in which Ukip took the largest share of the vote in Britain and M5S came second in Italy after winning 17 seats. Both said at the time that the group was aimed at “restoring freedom and national democracy”, with Farage adding: “Expect us to fight the good fight to take back control of our countries’ destinies.”

However, since then Grillo said the two parties had only voted together around 20% of the time over the past 2-1/2 years. He added that UKIP had achieved its political goal when Britain voted last year to leave the European Union. "To stay in EFDD would mean we would face the next 2-1/2 years without a common policy objective," Grillo wrote.

Over two years later, the alliance appears to be over, and today Grillo wrote that his party was in talks with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) and asked 5-Star members to back the initiative in an online ballot. In a move that would shockingly see his party mesh with European liberals, Grillo's blog post called an online referendum, scheduled for Sunday and Monday, on breaking away and instead forming a new group with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE).

ALDE is led by former Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt, who is also the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator. *He is a keen European federalist and his strong, pro-EU views would seem diametrically opposed with the eurosceptic 5-Star, which has previously ridiculed the liberal leader*. Grillo also said he had also approached the Greens about a possible tie-up, but was rebuffed, adding ALDE was the only group willing to discuss an accord with his movement.

With ALDE’s 68 MEPs, the alliance could become the “third political force in the European parliament”, Grillo wrote. He said the two shared values linked to “direct democracy, transparency, freedom and honesty." They also seem to share a heretofore unannounced vision toward European unity, in contravention to what Grillo has professed during most of his political career.

A UKIP spokesman said not all 5-Star parliamentarians were happy. "While it's interesting that some 5-Star MEPs adamantly wish to stay in the EFDD group as adults, we wish them all the best whatever they do," the spokesman said.

* * *

Grillo's apparent change of ideology has already led to a swift political response: *5-Star MEP Marco Zanni urged party members to reject the switch, *while Grillo's opponents in Italy lambasted his strategic shift, with the anti-euro Northern League party calling ALDE the most pro-European party in parliament.

Northern League leader Matteo Salvini blasted the proposal saying "*What a pity. (5-Star) is moving from the barricades to the comfy seats." *

5-Star was founded in 2009 and had risen rapidly to become Italy's main opposition party. It does not fit into any clearly defined political ideology, focusing its energies primarily on denouncing corruption and political wrongdoing. It has repeatedly called for a referendum on Italy leaving the euro single currency, and has criticized EU policy making, but has said it does not seek Italy leaving the European Union.

Perhaps the proposal is merely a tactic to yield greater political leverage in Europe: Grillo said it was important for 5-Star to be part of an EU parliamentary group because that would give it greater visibility and influence. "*Refusing to belong to a political group would mean ... not being able to work*," he wrote.

He added that by forging an alliance with Verhofstadt, ALDE would become the third largest group in the EU parliament. "*This means that in many cases we would hold the balance of power*."

However, while the proposed move may lead to an expansion of Grillo's power in the European Parliament, it is unclear how this tactical ideological change would resonate among his voter base, and whether it will cost the M5S the loss of material support domestically. Reported by Zero Hedge 15 hours ago.

Vatican City, Jan 8, 2017 / 01:00 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- In a new interview published Sunday, Pope Francis said that though his many papal trips are often very tiring, both from a physical and mental standpoint, the people he encounters and the testimonies he hears make all of it worthwhile.

“I always carry with me the faces, testimonials, images, experiences...” he said. “An unimaginable wealth, which always makes me say, it was worth it.”

The Pope’s comments on traveling were made in an interview with Italian journalist Andrea Tornielli of the newspaper La Stampa and the online outlet “Vatican Insider.” The interview is part of his new book on the Pope’s trips, coming out Jan. 10.

In the interview, the Pope explains that he doesn’t really like to travel much, saying that when he was a bishop in Buenos Aires, he preferred to stay in the area of his archdiocese. “Honestly, no. I never liked to travel,” he said. “And I would never have imagined doing so many trips...”

His first trip as Pope was to Lampedusa, an Italian island, on July 8, 2013. This trip was not planned, nor were there any official invitations. But, being moved by the news of migrants dying at sea there, he felt he “had to go,” he said. 

“I saw pictures of the rescue of the survivors, I received testimonies on the generosity and hospitality of the inhabitants of Lampedusa. It was important to go there.”

Pope Francis’ next trip was to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil for World Youth Day at the end of July 2013 was, of course, “already on the agenda,” he said. But after that “came another invitation, and then another. I simply said yes,” Francis explained.

“And now I feel that I have to travel, to visit the churches, to encourage the seeds of hope we have.”

These trips are “heavy,” the Pope said, but for the moment he is able to manage. Even more than the physical exertion required when traveling, he said that the time needed to prepare for each trip is also taxing. Time is spent reading and preparing, in addition to the day’s regular activities, before he leaves.

And when he returns, he usually needs at least a day to rest and recover.

Asked what it is like to be received in the different places and to encounter the enthusiasm of the crowds of people, Francis recalled something a cardinal once said about the donkey Jesus rode during his triumphal entry into Jerusalem: did he “think that those cheers were for him?”

“Here the Pope must be conscious of the fact that he ‘brings’ Jesus,” Pope Francis emphasized. He “testifies to Jesus, to his proximity, closeness and tenderness to all creatures, especially those who suffer.”

For this reason, he said, when crowds shout, “long live the Pope,” he asks them to instead shout, “Long live Jesus!”

Pope Francis then referenced a quote from Pope Paul VI to explain why he thinks it is important to make these papal trips.

“I believe that of all the dignities of a Pope, the most enviable is paternity,” Pope Paul said. 

“Paternity is an emotion that invades the spirit and the heart, that stays every hour of the day, that can’t diminish, but that grows so the number of children grows. It’s a feeling that doesn’t tire one out or cause fatigue, but it gives rest from every cause of exhaustion.”

“Never, not for one minute, did I ever feel tired when I raised my hand to give a blessing,” Pope Paul said. “No, I’ll never get tired of blessing or forgiving.”

Francis said, “I believe those words explain why popes in the contemporary era have decided to travel.”

Despite his previous feelings about traveling, Pope Francis has several big trips planned for 2017, including to Fatima, Portugal May 12-13 for the 100th anniversary of the appearance of Our Lady of Fatima. He will also make a few smaller trips within Italy, such as to Milan in March.

Trips to India and Bangladesh are also being planned for later in the year, with Francis stating in his in-flight interview coming back from Sweden in November that going to Africa is also a possibility.
  Reported by CNA 11 hours ago.

For the second year in a row, New York City's high-end restaurants are freaking out because a hot summer in Italy has resulted in a shortage of white truffles, driving up the price for the fungus and depriving New York City's upscale residents of a beloved food item. Hmm, maybe it's not so bad then? [ more › ] Reported by Gothamist 12 hours ago.

Rome, Italy, Jan 8, 2017 / 04:25 pm (CNA).- Archbishop Erio Castellucci has a response to those who think the devil is not real: “they’re mistaken.”

“All you have to do is witness an exorcism to understand that evil is a specific entity, as well as a reality,” he told the Italian daily Il Resto del Carlino.  

The Archbishop of Modena-Nonantola had seen possessed persons throughout his life, but he had never witnessed an exorcism. Then one of the two priest exorcists in his archdiocese called him. The priest had a “difficult case.”

The exorcist visited the archbishop and invited him to witness the rite.

“‘Come,’ he said to me, ‘because this man has been possessed for a long time, he comes to me once a week and your presence, as a bishop, may have an influence’,” the archbishop recounted.

Archbishop Castellucci said he understood the urgency of the case when he saw how the possessed person reacted to the exorcism.

On July 3, 2015, Archbishop Castellucci went to a parish church in Modena where exorcisms are performed. The exorcist and the possessed person, a middle aged man, were there. He had barely entered when the demon-possessed man started to shout, “Get out, get out of here, you will have a bad death.”

The man then fell into a trance.

“Then it seemed as if he had woken up and in an instant drove his fingernails into the back of my hands,” Archbishop Castellucci continued. “He had a diabolical look on his face and he uttered unrepeatable insults and curses.”

The possessed man “told me I would die in a traffic accident and while he was saying it he looked pleased.”

Archbishop Castellucci reflected on the claim, saying “My life is in the hands of the Lord Jesus and certainly not in that demon’s. I wasn’t worried at all. The word of God teaches that the curses are ineffective.”

After this experience, the archbishop said that he does not rule out the possibility of participating in other exorcisms. The Italian exorcists themselves lament that they are few in number.

Archbishop Castellucci said discernment was important regarding alleged cases of possession. Many cases belong more to “the competence of a psychiatrist than an exorcist.”

He also stressed the importance of prayers of deliverance to help disturbed persons heal.

  Reported by CNA 10 hours ago.

China's economy led its European counterpart by leaps and bounds at the start of the Renaissance.

China was so far ahead, in fact, that economic historian Eric L. Jones once argued that the Chinese empire "came within a hair's breadth of industrializing in the fourteenth century."

At the start of the 15th century, China already had the compass, movable type print, and excellent naval capacity. In fact, Chinese Admiral Zheng He commanded expeditions to Southeast Asia, South Asia, Western Asia, and East Africa from about 1405-1433 — about a century before the Portuguese reached India. He also had ships several times the length of Christopher Columbus' Santa Maria, the largest of Columbus' three ships that crossed the Atlantic.

But instead of progressing forward, China regressed slowly all the way through the 19th and 20th centuries. Only in the 1980s did China once again get back on its feet, and after a few decades came back to become one of the world's biggest economies.

Still, it's hard to understand the magnitude of the shift China's economic fortunes have seen just with historical anecdotes. And so, in a recent note to clients, Macquarie Research's Viktor Shvets included two fascinating charts showing the changes China saw over the last 800 years, which we included below.

The first chart shows the estimated percent share of a given country's economy as a part of the overall world economy.

In the 15th and 16th centuries, China was about 25-30% of the global economy, but come 1950-1970, after the destruction of World War II and under the rule of Mao Zedong, it was under 5%. Today, its economy is about 17% of the global economy — roughly the same as the US.

The second chart compares GDP per capita in China, Japan, and the US to the British GDP per capita measured in 1990 US dollars. In this case, the British GDP per capita in each year is 100, so if a number from China, Japan, or the US is above 100, then its GDP per capita is greater than in Britain, and if the number falls below 100, per capita output is lower than that in Britain.

As Shvets writes, on a per capita basis, China was the wealthiest part of the world in the 1200-1300s — aside from Italy. Even as late as the 1600s it was roughly on par with the Brits. However, after that, the GDP per capita relative to Britain declines all the way up to the 1970s, when it was below 10% of the British standard of living. Around 1990, it starts to pick up again, but it has yet to recover to levels seen in 1200-1600.

Interestingly, Japan also followed a downwards trajectory from 1200 to the 1950s — when its GDP per capita was around 28% of the UK's following its defeat in World War II. However, unlike China, GDP per capita in Japan bounced back quickly and its GDP per capita from 1970 to today is roughly comparable to Britain's.

One other thing that stands out is that although the size of China's economy overall currently rivals the United States', its GDP per capita is still much lower. Meanwhile, while Japan's share of the global economy is significantly smaller than those of both the US and China, its GDP per capita is roughly on par with the UK — far greater than China's.

In any case, putting the two charts together, Shvets notes that although China was on the verge of its industrial revolution in 1400, it instead regressed, which dramatically altered its economic position over the next few decades.

"As can be seen above, most of the relative and absolute decline occurred from the 18th century onwards, coinciding with the accelerating pace of industrial revolutions, which ushered the modern age of much faster productivity growth rates," he wrote.

 

*SEE ALSO: What 25 major world leaders and dictators looked like when they were young*

*SEE ALSO: Want to get ahead on Wall Street? Here's everything you need to know to land your dream job*

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watch Yellen explain why the Federal Reserve decides to raise rates Reported by Business Insider 9 hours ago.

*Business Wire India*The latest emerging innovation across every major industry takes center stage this week at CES® 2017, with product launches that propel global markets from automotive, sports and fitness, software, healthcare, entertainment and more. Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)^TM, CES 2017, the world’s largest innovation event, runs through tomorrow, January 8, in Las Vegas, Nevada.   *Keynotes and Headline Speakers*   During Friday morning’s keynote, Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf introduced the 5G future, a new kind of network with unprecedented scale, speed and complexity. "5G will be the tipping point that builds on LTE and finally enables IoT," said Mollenkopf. During the keynote, Qualcomm introduced the Snapdragon 835, the first 10 nanometer mobile processor that can deliver extended battery life, built-in security, eye-based authentication, secure audio, on-device machine learning and immersive experiences.   Under Armour Founder and CEO Kevin Plank took the keynote stage Friday afternoon and emphasized the importance of branding saying that “the key to any brand is to have personality and point of view.” Under Armour is innovating by putting technology front and center, investing $1 billion in health and fitness tech. Plank unveiled three new models of the company’s Record Equipped shoes, which give performance feedback based on workouts. Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all-time, joined Plank onstage to demo the shoes and talk about UA Healthbox, powered by UA Record, the world’s first connected fitness system. The keynote wrapped with the unveiling of a new line of sleep apparel, dubbed Rest Win Repeat, in collaboration with Patriot’s quarterback Tom Brady, designed to rebuild the body while it rests through infrared technology.   Top industry executives and influencers joined global government officials at the annual Leaders in Technology Dinner on Friday evening. Ford President and CEO Mark Fields shared the company's vision for how the future of mobility will be transformed by connectivity. "Imagine what could happen when the way you get around looks completely different. Cities will change. The way we work and play and socialize will transform. And it will all be enabled by connectivity," said Fields. He announced that Ford Sync is expanding to deliver cloud-based services and that soon all Ford vehicles will be controlled remotely with the FordPass app. He also recapped Ford's recent partnership with Toyota to form the SmartDeviceLink Consortium to establish industry-driven standards for in-vehicle apps.   *Conferences*   Day two and three of CES 2017 featured SuperSessions and conference tracks focused on technology trends and policy issues, as well as C Space Storytellers and the Sports Business Innovation Track.   Friday’s SuperSession *Powering the Sharing Economy to Transform Lives* featured panelists from Grab, the Prime Minister’s Office of Singapore and Lyft. Panelists discussed the potential of the sharing economy to democratize transportation and make travel an enjoyment, not a burden. Annabel Chang, director of public policy, Lyft, explained that among her company’s customer base, “Most people do not live within a quarter mile of a transit stop. A significant percentage of our riders take Lyft to a transportation hub, then take public transportation on their final leg.”   *The Self-Driving Cars: New Rules of the Road* SuperSession moderated by USA Today’s tech reporter, Mike Snider, discussed with top executives from Blackberry, Intel and Mobileye how a collaborative approach between automakers, hardware and software developers is driving the rapid pace of self-driving innovations. The panelists agreed that in order to reach the expected goal of having self-driving cars on the road by 2020, the industry needs to fully solve the convergence of IoT and artificial intelligence.   Friday’s SuperSession *The Power of Hidden Figures*, sponsored by IBM, focused on illuminating the story of women and minorities in traditionally non-cinematic roles: advancing the math and science fields. Moderated by journalist Soledad O'Brien, panelists included actress Octavia Spencer and representatives from IBM, New York City Department of Education, 20th Century Fox and Girls Who Code. IBM highlighted its organic commitment to diversity and inclusion over the past century.   The* Opportunities for the Global Innovation Economy* SuperSession, moderated by Time Inc.’s Alan Murray, examined with CEOs from Flex, Ford and Intel how consumer technology companies are leveraging their power to build global brands and advance innovation in a rapidly changing world. The panelists - Mark Fields, president and CEO, Ford Motor Company; Brian Krzanich, CEO, Intel Corp and Mike McNamara, CEO, Flex – discussed how globalization and digitalization have been the two great trends in innovation over the last 50 years and what we can expect moving forward.   *C Space Storytellers*   During the *Turner *session, Otto Bell, vice president and group creative director of Courageous, Turner’s first-ever brand studio, announced the beginning of the “Post-Text Era” where images and video do all the talking. Courageous is developing new ways to utilize technology to reach viewers from 360 cameras to VR.   At the *Facebook *session, Andrew “Boz” Bosworth, VP of ads & business platforms, Facebook sat down for a fireside chat with Sony’s Josh Greenstein, president of worldwide marketing & distribution. Bosworth and Greenstein discussed how mobile and social media platforms are shaping Sony’s marketing campaigns to reach targeted audiences. Bosworth noted Facebook provides a myriad of platforms for marketing customization and distribution to targeted audiences.   Executive producer of *BBC Earth Productions*, Charlotte Jones, provided a deep dive into the opportunities of storytelling through VR and AR during BBC’s Storytellers session on Friday. Collaborating with Oculus VR, BBC Earth Productions is creating interactive movies and games to be experienced by consumers using Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR.   *Twitter* CMO Leslie Berland opened the company’s Storytellers session Friday afternoon with a look back on 2016 using Tweets. Twitter has positioned itself as more than a social media platform. By changing the rules of storytelling, Twitter is able to capture news and real-time moments through its users.   *Sports Business Innovation*   Technology spans all industries including sports. The Sports Business Innovation track, presented by Turner Sports ran a series of jam-packed sessions that featured Gary Bettman, Commissioner NHL, Don Garber, Commissioner, Major League Soccer, Scott Blackmun, CEO, U.S. Olympic Committee, Brian France, Chairman and CEO, Nascar, Dan Gilbert, Majority Owner, Cleveland Cavaliers and Alejandro Agag, CEO, Formula E.   These big names from professional sports leagues and partners took a deep-dive into the future of sports tech. The series focused on topics including: how to extend the fan experience, what the future of arena technology looks like and how virtual and augmented reality can become part of the experience, generational differences in content consumption and viewing patterns, and how data analytics effect personnel management and player performance.   *Innovation Policy Track*   Friday’s panel *The Trolls and Tech: How to Fix Patents* was moderated by CTA’s Michael Patrick Hayes and featured Tyler Grimm, legislature director for Rep. Darrell Issa; Athenahealth’s Colin Anawaty; Tech:NYC’s Julie Samuels and InterDigital’s Rob Stein. The panelists discussed the harm and damage patent trolls can do to businesses, as well as how Congress can find a reasonable solution for patent reform. US Patent and Trade Office director Michelle Lee gave the panel's opening statement surrounding the agency's recent efforts, reform and projects to combat the problem. US Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA) made a surprise appearance, delivering closing comments and explaining how patent trolls can devastate small companies.   Saturday’s panel *New President, New Congress? What’s Next *included Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH); Rep. Eric Swalwell, (D-CA); Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX), with moderator Tiffany M. Moore, VP, congressional affairs, CTA. The session showed bipartisan agreement about many policies needed to promote innovation and support technological leadership, including high skilled immigration reform, endorsing strong encryption, flexibility for emerging sharing economy business models and making more spectrum available for commercial and public use. Attending his 35th CES, Rep. Issa emphasized that high skilled immigration reform would be one of his priorities, saying, “We need to make sure the companies who want to expand get the resources they need, including talent.”   Friday also featured the Stars of CES Awards, presented by What Hi-Fi recognizing the top 10 audio and video products launched at this year's show. The complete list of winners can be found at WhatHiFi.com.   Saturday’s always popular Last Gadget Standing, presented by Living in Digital Times, featured the top products unveiled at CES 2017. Hosted by David Pogue from Yahoo! Tech, the innovations showcased included cutting-edge wearables, smart home technologies and connected networks. The *Matrix Powerwatch, *which never needs charging or battery replacement and displays how much electric power your body is generating and accurately measures calories burned was crowned the winner.   Videos from the CES keynotes, SuperSessions, conference sessions and show floor, can be found at CES.tech/video.   CES 2017 runs through tomorrow, Sunday, January 8. Visit CES.tech for the latest breaking news and product announcements.   *Note to Editors:**The official name of the global technology event is “CES*^*®**.”**Please do not use “Consumer Electronics Show” or “International CES” to refer to the event.*   *High-definition video b-roll from CES is available for easy download on **CESbroll.com**.*   *About CES:*   CES is the world’s gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. It has served as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for 50 years—the global stage where next-generation innovations are introduced to the marketplace. As the largest hands-on event of its kind, CES features all aspects of the industry. Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)^TM, it attracts the world’s business leaders and pioneering thinkers. Check out CES video highlights. Follow CES online at CES.tech and on social.   *UPCOMING EVENTS*  

· *Winter Break*

March 9-12, Snowmass, CO

· *Digital Patriots Dinner*

April 4, National Portrait Gallery, Washington, DC

· *CES on the Hill*

April 5, Washington, DC

· *CES Asia 2017*

June 7-9, Shanghai, China

· *CEO Summit*

June 21-24, Amalfi Coast, Italy

· *Innovate! and Celebrate*

October 9-11, San Francisco, CA

· *CES 2018*

January 9-12, Las Vegas, NV
 
 
  View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170107005058/en/ Reported by Business Wire India 6 hours ago.

First mobile operator to cover more than 100 destinations worldwide

Poised to become a leading global communications expert

HONG KONG, Jan. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --  China Mobile Hong Kong ("CMHK" or "the Company") today announced that the Company has ranked first* in the number of 4G data roaming coverage destinations among all the mobile network operators in Hong Kong, offering one-stop communication services in more than 100 destinations worldwide, allowing customers to stay in touch with business partners, friends and relatives via voice call, text message and data roaming services anytime.

Mr. Sean Lee, Director and Chief Executive Officer of CMHK, said: "CMHK is dedicated to continually expanding our international roaming services for enhanced customer experience. Through close collaboration with our roaming partners, we have been striving to provide customers with products and services of maximum advantages. We are extremely happy to become the first local mobile network operator having achieved the most extensive coverage of 4G data roaming with seamless connectivity. I strongly believe that with our ongoing 4.5G network development and optimization, we will be able to substantially enhance the overall mobile communication experience and services for our customers."

Leveraging its robust network advantages, CMHK has firmly established a leadership in the China-Hong Kong cross-border market earlier. In facing increasing customer demands and fierce competition in the industry, CMHK will continue to be motivated by improved customer recognition, as well as to seek for higher quality global network and overseas interconnected communication solutions. CMHK has been proactively promoting international roaming services, and allied with 480 roaming partners to offer roaming service that covers more than 250 countries worldwide. CMHK is well poised to become a leading global communications expert in the high-speed data era, bringing customers comprehensive, seamless connectivity and communication services of multiple regions around the globe.

*The 4G data roaming service coverage is measured against a designated list of destinations, please visit the China mobile Hong Kong website for details. The data was retrieved from the public information available at the official websites of local mobile operators as of 28^th December, 2016.

*China Mobile Hong Kong 4G **Data **Roaming Coverage List* *Americas*


*Europe*


*Asia Pacific*


*Middle East/Africa*

1.

USA

1.

Switzerland

1.

Philippines

1.

Saudi Arabia

2.

Hawaii

2.

Liechtenstein

2.

Singapore

2.

Canary Island

3.

Puerto Rico

3.

Russia

3.

South Korea

3.

Ceuta

4.

US Virgin Island

4.

Italy

4.

Mainland China

4.

Melilla

5.

Canada

5.

Sicily

5.

Japan

5.

Qatar

6.

Brazil

6.

Sardinia

6.

Taiwan

6.

South Africa

7.

Honduras

7.

San Marino

7.

Sri Lanka

7.

Mauritius

8.

Argentina

8.

Vatican City

8.

Thailand

8.

UAE

9.

Uruguay

9.

UK

9.

Macau

9.

Oman

10.

Paraguay

10.

Northern Ireland

10.

Australia

10.

Morocco

11.

Jamaica

11.

Orkney Islands

11.

New Zealand

11.

Gotland

12.

Antigua

12.

Shetland Islands

12.

Malaysia

12.

Oland

13.

Barbuda

13.

Germany

13.

Cambodia

13.

Kenya

14.

Turks & Caicos

14.

Spain

14.

Pakistan




15.

Barbados

15.

Balearic Islands

15.

Myanmar




16.

Bermuda

16.

Cabrera

16.

Mongolia




17.

British Virgin Islands

17.

Formentera

17.

Armenia




18.

Cayman Islands

18.

Ibiza






19.

Haiti

19.

Mallorca






20.

Guatemala

20.

Menorca






21.

Dominican Republic

21.

Ireland





22.

Netherlands





23.

West Frisian Islands





24.

Zeeland





25.

Moldova





26.

France





27.

Corsica





28.

Monaco





29.

Romania





30.

Czech Republic





31.

Hungary





32.

Poland





33.

Belgium





34.

Iceland





35.

Finland





36.

Alands





37.

Estonia





38.

Jersey





39.

Channel Islands





40.

Denmark





41.

Bornholm





42.

Langeland





43.

Tasinge





44.

Norway





45.

Lofoten Islands





46.

Vesteralen





47.

Sweden





48.

Kazakhstan





49.

Malta





50.

Bulgaria




*About China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited*

China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited ("CMHK") is the wholly-owned subsidiary of China Mobile Limited (HKEx: 941) (NYSE: CHL), which ranks 55 on the Fortune Global 500. CMHK was incepted in January 1997 and was the first mobile network operator to launch PCS services in Hong Kong.

CMHK's 4G LTE service covers two major standards LTE FDD and TD-LTE, and launched the world's first converged commercial LTE network in 2012 and in November 2016, CMHK has successfully launched 4.5G mobile network. The Company offers innovative and comprehensive communications services, including voice, data, IDD and international roaming through 4G LTE, 3GHSPA, GPRS, EDGE and other technologies. In 2016, CMHK became the first mobile operator* to provide 4G network coverage in 16 tunnels throughout Hong Kong.

CMHK is committed to extending its business in the multimedia value-added services market. In 2012, the Company launched UTV mobile TV service. In 2013, CMHK launched Mobius e-book service, innovative and simple mechanism 4G Pro tariff plan and 2cm (2nd exchange market), the first-ever data trading platform in the market, making data more valuable than ever.

With the strong support of its parent company China Mobile, CMHK has launched a series of cross-border mobile services for customers travelling between Hong Kong, China and around the world. Its '1-Card-Multi-Number' (1CMN), Multi-SIM data sharing, Data Roaming Zone and BlackBerry service plans are especially welcomed by frequent travelers. In May 2014, CMHK became the first service provider in Hong Kong to provide 4G data roaming service in Mainland China, creating a new era for cross-border mobile services.

To align with parent company's new brand launch, the Company launched a new corporate logo and commercial brand "and!" in December 2013. "and" not only means "connection and "communication", but also denotes the notion of pursuing "A New Dream" -- the first three letters form the acronym of the new brand slogan. China Mobile Hong Kong will continue to provide innovative and customized services in a hope to build "a new dream" with customers.

The Company has been named as a "Caring Company" since 2002, and a recognized merchant under the "Quality Tourism Service" scheme since 2004.

For more information, please visit: www.hk.chinamobile.com.

*According to the "Test Report on Mobile Networks in Hong Kong Tunnels Available for Customer Use" (as of 26^th May, 2016). Reported by PR Newswire Asia 5 hours ago.