Lebanon summit reveals Arab divisions over Syria, Iran

Beirut, Lebanon – As Lebanon prepares to host a regional economic summit this weekend, the meeting has been overshadowed by divisions over Syria’s future and efforts to contain Iran.

Having previously confirmed their attendance at the Arab Economic and Social Development summit in Beirut, many heads of state are now set to stay away.

The emirs of Qatar and Bahrain will not attend, Egypt is planning to send the prime minister rather than the president, while the Palestinian Authority president has said he will be in New York.

The snubs seem to be a message to Iran, whose allies, including Hezbollah, hold power in Lebanon and support the Syrian government.

Iran’s allies saw the talks as an opportunity to bring Syrian President Bashar al Assad back into the Arab fold, eyeing an Arab League foreign minister level meeting before the summit as a chance to hold a vote on Syria’s reinstatement to the regional body.

However, the future of Syria is not due to be on the agenda.

“The league has no plans to discuss an invitation to the body’s summit in Tunisia during the upcoming meeting in Lebanon to which Damascus is not invited either,” Arab League Assistant Secretary General Hossam Zaki said.

“We aren’t there yet,” Rami Khoury, a political analyst told Al Jazeera. “Not all Arab countries want to immediately normalise relations with Syria.”

No consensus

The Arab League suspended Syria’s membership in 2011 and imposed economic sanctions over its violent crackdown on anti-government protesters before the country descended into civil war. Some countries withdrew their ambassadors.

Late last year, Sudanese President Omar Bashir became the first Arab League leader to visit Syria since the crisis began. In the following weeks, the UAE and Bahrain reopened their embassies in the country, but a consensus among the bloc remains elusive.

Days before the Beirut talks a number of Arab states made their positions clear. Iraq, which did not cut its ties with Damascus, said it supports efforts to restore Syria’s membership of the Arab League. Qatar, a supporter of Syria’s opposition, stressed that the reasons for Damascus’s suspension have not been addressed and that there are no encouraging signs to push for normalising ties. Saudi Arabia has denied it plans to do what its allies – the UAE and Bahrain – did a few weeks ago.

“There was a momentum but it has slowed,” Sami Nader, political analyst, told Al Jazeera. “US Secretary of State Pompeo told them it is too early to normalize relations and talk about reconstruction before agreeing on the general elements of a political settlement.”

Obstacles

Assad, who has survived the seven year rebellion against his rule, is looking to consolidate his power, end his isolation and attract much needed funds to rebuild the destroyed country.

But what is believed to be a Russian-led diplomatic push to legitimise the Syrian government is now facing obstacles.

When the Arab League was expected to discuss readmitting Damascus earlier this month, the meeting was postponed.

Egypt, which was leading the diplomatic drive to re-embrace Assad’s Syria, now says it cannot be readmitted to the Arab League if it doesn’t solve the political crisis in line with the UN-led political process.

There are also those who warn against prematurely normalising ties saying that would only strengthen Assad’s position when it comes to negotiations.

The US is particularly eager to curtail Iranian influence in the region, and sees any move that strengthens Assad as strengthening Iran.

Assad’s opponents want him to comply with UN resolutions that would require relinquishing some powers.

It’s not clear if supporters of Assad’s return will intensify their efforts ahead of the next Arab League meeting in Tunis in March.

For its part, Iran has publicly welcomed the shift in policy of some Arab countries.

“Arab countries returning to Syria was a positive change that signaled the international community recognised Syria’s territorial integrity and legitimate government,” the foreign ministry said.

However, if the Arab League were to normalise ties with Damascus, it would likely create a new regional order which would not serve Iranian interests. While Gulf Arab financial support could provide a huge boost to Syria’s economy, the leaders of those countries would also likely seek more influence in the country.

“The return of Arab enemies of Iran to Damascus is seen in this context as some sort of a drawback on the Iranian sacrifices in Syria,” Mohanad Hage Ali, Carnegie Middle East Center analyst told Al Jazeera. “The Syrian regime return to the Arab fold means there has to be some sort of policy impact regarding the relationship with Iranians and its alliance with Iran.”

Iran has been a staunch ally of the Syrian government throughout the war and there is no indication Assad will break that alliance.

The Arab diplomatic snub of the Beirut meeting is just the beginning of US-led efforts to contain Iran’s influence in the region.

They are expected to gain momentum in the lead up to the anti-Tehran meeting in Warsaw in February.

WATCH: Inside Story – Can Arabs solve their problems? (25:00)

from Daily Trends Hunter http://bit.ly/2DhScEJ
via IFTTT

Matt Hasselbeck Says Contending NFL Team Called Him About Readiness to Play

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) looks to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

NFL teams were so desperate for quarterbacks with a track record of success they were calling Matt Hasselbeck three years after he retired.

Per The Ringer’s Kevin Clark, Hasselbeck said he received a phone call from a playoff-contending team at some point in 2018 asking if he was “in shape and available to sign.”

Hasselbeck brought up the call he received from an NFL team after discussing why he retired from the league. One of the contributing factors was a hit to the jaw from Houston Texans linebacker Whitney Mercilus while playing for the Indianapolis Colts.

“I wasn’t eating solid food for a couple of weeks,” he said. “They tested me for a concussion. It wasn’t, but I couldn’t hear out of my right ear. I hurt a joint near my ear. So you get rid of those crown-of-the-helmet hits. You get rid of the full body weight falling on a player.”

There are a number of active NFL quarterbacks still playing at a high level well past what would normally be thought of as their prime. Including Tom Brady and Drew Brees this year, there have been four quarterbacks to start in a conference championship game who were at least 40 years old.

Brady did it last year for the New England Patriots against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Brett Favre was the first to do it in January 2010 for the Minnesota Vikings against Brees and the New Orleans Saints.

Hasselbeck started eight games for the Colts in 2015 at the age of 40. He fared well with 1,690 yards, nine touchdowns and a 60.9 completion percentage.

Now 43 years old, Hasselbeck has worked as an analyst for ESPN since March 2016.

from Daily Trends Hunter http://bit.ly/2ANAXte
via IFTTT

DOJ hiring attorneys to handle property seizures for border wall

The Justice Department placed an online job posting for a pair of attorneys to tackle border wall litigation in South Texas — a sign of coming property seizures and other legal controversies that President Donald Trump anticipates if he plows ahead with his signature project.

Trump has demanded that Congress provide $5.7 billion to build more than 200 miles of new and replacement barriers along the border. But those efforts will likely run into opposition from local landowners, environmentalists and Native American tribes.

Story Continued Below

The federal government has been partially shut down for 27 days over Trump’s $5.7 billion border wall request, but the administration already faces thorny lawsuits from border residents who have resisted wall construction. High-profile cases in South Texas involve a butterfly sanctuary and the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville, which owns property with a small chapel in the path of planned wall construction.

That’s where the lawyers come into play.

The two advertised jobs, based in McAllen and Brownsville, will pay between $53,062 and $138,790, according to a posting to a federal jobs website.

The ideal candidates for the positions “will have at least four years of civil litigation experience [dealing with] land condemnation cases, oil and gas disputes, and real estate matters,” the posting reads. “Spanish language proficiency is helpful,” the ad says, “but not required.”

The attorneys likely will deal with eminent domain property seizures and quarrels with landowners over what their land is worth, according to Chris Rickerd, the American Civil Liberties Union’s senior policy counsel on border and immigration issues.

“I think there’s a vision that people are seeking injunctions against bulldozers, but that’s not really the legal landscape here,” he said. “The core of it is taking land from private property owners and litigating the compensation.”

If property owners fight back, cases can last more than a decade, but the law tilts heavily in favor of the government, according to Rickerd.

“[People] assume that it’s a big process for the federal government to come and take someone’s land,” he said. “In fact, legally, the government has a lot of power in this area. And the recourse is very limited.”

The Justice Department, which is short-staffed because of the shutdown, did not respond to a request for comment. The jobs were first posted online in December and applications close on March 5.

While Trump hasn’t procured major wall funding, Congress passed a spending bill last year that gave $1.4 billion to construct an estimated 84 miles of new and replacement barriers, according to the Homeland Security Department. In fiscal year 2017, the administration received $341 million for 40 miles of replacement fence. The president’s budget proposals have requested millions for civil litigation positions that deal with immigration issues, such as land seizure.

In one of the ongoing legal fights, the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville has contested an attempt by the federal government to survey its property. The diocese argues the land survey — the first step in an eminent domain seizure — will impinge on religious freedom. The chapel on the property, called La Lomita, was first built in 1865 and still draws worshipers for religious holidays and special events.

In a declaration to the court, the diocese argued that a border wall would run counter to Catholic teachings of universality and openness. In addition, the diocese asserts that border militarization threatens human life.

The Homeland Security Department under Trump has waived dozens of environmental, endangered species and historic preservation laws to forge ahead with construction of barriers. In the case of the La Lomita construction, however, it hasn’t yet waived the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which states the government “shall not substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion.” The diocese has made the law a central part of its argument.

The proposed border wall also would leave the chapel trapped between the wall and the U.S.-Mexico border in an enforcement zone, according to Mary McCord, a visiting law professor at the Georgetown University Law Center who represents the diocese.

“So you would then have this chapel, which is supposed to be a place for prayer and contemplation and religions retreats, sitting there essentially under the spotlights, clear-cut of vegetation, heavily surveilled, right within this enforcement zone,” she said.

from Daily Trends Hunter http://bit.ly/2SX5UlK
via IFTTT

NBA Refs to Talk to Fans on Twitter During Warriors vs. Lakers, Spurs vs. 76ers

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, right, argues with a referee during the second half of the NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019, in New York. The 76ers defeated the Knicks 108-105. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Seth Wenig/Associated Press

NBA referees are going to break down calls and discuss them with fans on Twitter during select games throughout the remainder of the NBA season, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.

Per that report: “During Monday’s Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers game on TNT and Wednesday’s San Antonio Spurs at Philadelphia 76ers game on ESPN, fans can tweet @OfficialNBARefs or use the hashtag #RefWatchParty to get responses from officials who are watching the game.”

The National Basketball Referees Association first tried out the concept during Game 3 of last year’s NBA Finals between the Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers. This year, the NBRA will be working with the NBA league office on the endeavor and will have access to the replay center in Secaucus, New Jersey, allowing them to review replays and view different angles on potentially controversial or questionable calls.

According to Windhorst, the NBA will also try the experiment during certain postseason games this year.

While the NBA Referees Twitter account generally tweets the referee assignments for games, it also answers fan questions online at times:

NBA Referees @OfficialNBARefs

Hey Matthew, thanks for the question. Rule 10 section XIII says “the first step occurs when a foot, or both feet, touch the floor after gaining control of the ball.” In other words, after “gaining control” (or the “gather”) a player is THEN allowed two full steps. https://t.co/U9IZT9CaAp

For fans confounded during games as to why James Harden‘s step-back threes aren’t called traveling, or for those wondering if Ersan Ilyasova really is drawing charges and isn’t committing blocking fouls, the chance to interact with referees could be instructive.

from Daily Trends Hunter http://bit.ly/2MgyxrF
via IFTTT

#10YearChallenge: Hashtag used to highlight war and suffering

Women walk past the rubble of damaged buildings in Raqqa, Syria [Aboud Hamam/Reuters]

The #10YearChallenge and #GlowUpChallenge have gone viral on social media this week.

Millions of social media users shared current photos next to what they looked like a decade ago.

While most of the craze has been for fun, thousands of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram users have seized the opportunity to address issues they say are far more important than selfies.

The hashtags have also been used to highlight the destruction carried out by Arab governments and foreign powers across several Middle East countries since the Arab Spring in 2011.

Societies across Arab nations revolted with mixed results following protests that erupted against autocratic regimes in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria and Yemen.

Tunisia avoided descending into conflict but the revolts in Libya, Syria and Yemen turned violent and into civil wars with European and Western powers becoming primary actors.

Thousands of images have been shared highlighting the devastation caused by the wars, with several users showing the destruction in Syria since an offensive was launched against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group.

ANTICONQUISTA, the Communist Party of the Latin American and Caribbean Diaspora, shared a composite image of Libya with the captions before and after the “Imperalist invasion”, a reference to the NATO-led military intervention that led to the toppling of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The #10YearChallenge pic ameriKKKa doesn’t want you to see.

Within the last 10 years in #Libya, slavery, extreme poverty and femicide have plagued the nation. This, after the US & Europe overthrew leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 as part of a direct imperialist invasion. pic.twitter.com/CK4g1fvfLx

— ANTICONQUISTA (@ANTICONQUISTA) January 16, 2019

Muniba Mazari, a Goodwill Ambassador at UN Women Pakistan, shared an image of Syria, which has been devastated by eight years of war and led to an estimated 500,000 deaths.

Syria’s #10YearChallenge pic.twitter.com/8rK74DERaP

— Muniba Mazari (@muniba_mazari) January 16, 2019

The citizen journalist group, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, shared a collection of images showing the aftermath of the devastating assault on the place often referred to as the capital of ISIL.

#10yearchallenge

#ISIS #RBSS #Syria #SDF pic.twitter.com/kXHKZAFIA5

— الرقة تذبح بصمت (@Raqqa_SL) January 16, 2019

Nadwa Dawsari shared an image of the old city of Sanaa, which showed showing the UNESCO World Heritage site before and after a Saudi-UAE coalition air strike.

Sanaa #Yemen pic.twitter.com/WohjhXYuXO

— Nadwa Dawsari (@Ndawsari) January 17, 2019

SOURCE:
Al Jazeera News

from Daily Trends Hunter http://bit.ly/2szKe3H
via IFTTT

With WayV, All Eyes Are Finally On C-pop

Label V

By Tássia Assis

WayV, a boy group composed of members from Korean label SM Entertainment’s experimental collective NCT, debuted today (January 17) in China with their three-song digital EP, The Vision. The group benefits from the popularity of known faces WinWin, Lucas, and Ten, while properly introducing member Kun to a fixed unit and welcoming rookies Xiaojun, Hendery, and Yangyang to the ensemble. For SM, WayV represent the next step in the company’s plan to extend their reach across the globe with region-specific idol groups — but they’re also a gamble.

This is not the first time that SM Entertainment has tested the billion-dollar Chinese market, where the most popular acts have profits that average more than $17 million USD per month. In 2008, the company debuted Super Junior-M, a Mandarin subunit of popular boy group Super Junior, and promoted soloist Zhang Liyin’s first solo album, I WILL. In 2012, idol group EXO debuted with two subunits, EXO-K and EXO-M, with the intent of promoting in Korea and China simultaneously.

However, following the implementation of THAAD restrictions in 2017, which banned South Korean music and television content to be streamed in China, Hallyu’s (or Korean pop culture) world expansion took a blow that led to focusing in other markets, such as the West, Middle East, and Southeast Asia. The tensions also halted SM’s ambitious plan to debut WayV in 2018; in fact, removing the NCT label from the group’s name — they’re rumored to have been originally named NCT Vision — seemed to be a calculated decision.

In order to overcome any THAAD-related obstacles, SM’s strategy for WayV is to promote them under Label V, a Chinese company who will manage the group’s activities in China. (It’s unconfirmed whether SM will manage the group and its seven members outside of China.) Now, with the release of their new EP, curious eyes turn toward the burgeoning C-pop idol industry, making this a timely moment for a proper introduction to the genre.

C-pop is, first of all, a term much like K-pop, embracing various styles under Chinese popular music. It has three main subgenres: Cantopop (sung in Cantonese), Minnan Pop (sung in Taiwanese Hokkien), and the most popular, Mandopop (sung in Mandarin).

China tends to prefer soloists over groups, with popular solo artists Jay Chou, JJ Lin, and Jolin Tsai historically owning the market, but this hasn’t stopped K-pop idol groups from developing massive audiences in the country. Legendary boy band Big Bang has over 7 million followers on their Weibo page, while EXO’s Sehun has amassed more than 10 million fans on his profile. Many Chinese idols who work in the K-pop industry also tend to carve out successful solo careers in the country, such as EXO’s Lay Zhang and GOT7’s Jackson Wang.

Getty Images

Chinese idols Lay Zhang (left) and Jackson Wang (right)

However, the soloist trend might be starting to change. The aforementioned political tension between South Korea and China has posed obstacles for the Hallyu expansion, but also left enough space in Chinese entertainment to prompt a surge of their own productions. The country’s edition of Produce 101 drew more than 4.3 billion views in total, while Idol Producer, a similar survival show produced by Baidu’s iQiyi, garnered over 100 million votes to decide the top 20 trainees.

The enormous success of both shows has led to online commentary naming 2018 “the first year of the idols’ reign” in China. Meanwhile, several Chinese music shows, inspired by Korea’s popular weekly music broadcasts, also launched last year, including iQiyi’s Idol Hits and tech giant Tencent’s Yo! Bang, a streaming show that gives out awards based on chart results.

With so much excitement around C-pop in its home country — and deep-pocketed investors who believe idol groups might finally break out in China — the moment is certainly promising, even though the industry itself is still figuring things out. The government’s extensive internet censorship — which restricts access to most content for the rest of the world — is one of the biggest hurdles. Still, there are a slew of idol groups to look forward to in 2019. Take a look.

Nine Percent

The temporary boy band formed by Idol Producer released their first album To The Nines last November, accumulating almost a million digital sales and landing at No. 2 on the Billboard China V chart. After the survival show ended, the group was sent to Los Angeles for two weeks to further their training, where they worked with producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins and Emmy-nominated choreographer Christopher Scott. Another reality show, Nine Percent: Flower Road Journey, followed the group during their trip.

Cai Xukun, the first-place contestant, was already a popular figure due to his activities with group SWIN S and his own solo work, and K-pop fans might know members Zhu Zhengting (formerly known as JungJung) and Justin (Huang Minghao) from the Korean version of Produce 101, where both competed. The group also includes Fan Chengcheng (known as actress Fan BingBing’s younger brother), Chen Linong, Lin Yanjun, Wang Ziyi, Xiao Gui, and You Zhangjing.

Their latest release, “I Need a Doctor,” is a melodramatic pop song about heartache, echoing the best of *NSYNC’s lovesick anthem, “I Drive Myself Crazy.” It’s an addictive track that showcases why they’re the nation’s pick (and probably will become yours, too).
Rocket Girls 101

The winners of Produce 101 released their first EP, 撞 (Collide), in August, garnering over two million digital sales on QQ Music, China’s biggest streaming platform, as well as a double-diamond certification. Meng Meiqi and Wu Xuanyi, from K-pop group WJSN, finished in the top two spots on the show, and former The Rap of China contestant Yamy placed fifth. Completing the eleven-member set are Yang Chaoyue, Duan Aojuan, Lai Meiyun, Zhang Zining, Sunnee, Li Ziting, Fu Jing, and Xu Mengjie.

While their debut was nearly derailed because of management issues, the girls are known for their bubbly pop songs, such as “Calorie,” a top-charting single for the movie Xihong City’s Richest Man. However, it’s “Sailor Moon,” a b-side promoted on live shows, that reveals their true potential. The song features an exciting mix of futuristic sounds and 8-bit music, with addictive “oh oh oh la la la las” and Yamy’s rap elevating the track to another dimension. The only thing missing is an official music video, but for now, the live performances do a great job displaying the girls’ charisma and skill.
NEX7

Managed by Yuehua Entertainment, the same company that represents K-pop groups WJSN (in partnership with Korea’s Starship Entertainment) and UNIQ, septet NEX7 are yet another debut to ride on the popularity of Idol Producer. All members participated on the show, with Fan Chengcheng, Zhu Zhengting, and Justin (Huang Minghao) making it to the final line-up. The remaining members are Ding Zeren (who was a former SM Entertainment trainee), Bi Wenjun, Huang Xinchun, and Li Quanzhe, and the group recently released their second album, Next to You, selling over two million digital copies on NetEase Cloud Music, another prominent music streaming service in the country.

Because of their company’s partnerships with Korea-based agencies, NEX7 trained in the country, and their debut song, “Wait a Minute,” was in part produced by Ryan S. Jhun, who’s worked on K-pop hits like SHINee’s “Lucifer,” EXO’s “Love Me Right,” and Red Velvet’s “Dumb Dumb.” The song is an explosion of hard-hitting sounds, plagued by the hook’s unfortunate “woo woos” and “skrrrt skrrrts,” but its melodic verses make up for it, as well as the trippy, colorful visual.
FANXYRED

Having first debuted under the name Acrush in 2017, FANXYRED are a group comprised of five androgynous young women who encourage fans to pursue their own identities. Inspired by singer Li Yuchun, who is considered the mother of unisex looks in China, Lu Keran, Peng Xichen, Linfan, An Junxi, and Peng Yiyang offer a fresh approach to girl groups.

While their re-debut under the new name is still to be announced, they currently upload dance covers of K-pop songs and other videos on their company’s YouTube channel.
ONER

Yet another fruit of Idol Producer, ONER are a quartet under Qin’s Entertainment. They debuted in August 2018 with the album 过敏 (Allergy) and were awarded Popular Group of the Year at the Tencent Star Awards in December.

Their debut single, “Dazzle,” is an atmospheric deep-house track with an alluringly mysterious vibe. The music video — an aesthetically pleasing mash-up of neon lights, plants, and geometric objects (a C-pop twist on the iconic “SM box“) — is an entrancing experience.

Other notable projects from Idol Producer are Awaken-F, MR-X, and Tangram. Produce 101 hasn’t produced as many debuts, but some existing groups from the contestants are worth checking out, including S.I.N.G (Sing Girls), MERA, and KOGIGIRLS.

Of course, it’s impossible to talk about idol groups in China and not mention the long-standing popularity of TFBoys. Karry Wang, Roy Wang, and Jackson Yee debuted in 2013 when they were only 12 and 13 years old, and their first hit, “青春少年手册 Manual of Youth,” propelled them to widespread fame thanks to their wholesome image and patriotic message. They’re still considered one of the most popular acts in China, with over 200 million followers combined on Weibo and staggering yearly profits.

On the soloist-dominated Chinese charts, TFBoys are still one of the few exceptions, but there’s room for change as the idol industry places its bets on China. The development of their own music shows and other events create exposure to idol groups and foster fan culture, in a model inspired by the Japanese and Korean markets. With loyal and engaged fandoms of their own, Chinese groups can finally find sustainability and profit beyond one-hit wonders.

We’re only halfway through January, but WayV’s anticipated debut — in addition to the second season of Idol Producer and Youku’s rookie idol survival show, All For One (where WayV are scheduled to guest), premiering on Friday (January 18) — prove that C-pop could be the next wave to take hold of global culture.

from Daily Trends Hunter http://bit.ly/2MhglOC
via IFTTT

‘John Wick: Chapter 3’ trailer dreams the impossible dream: Watch

What is John Wick’s impossible dream? Probably to finally find a way out of the life of violence he returned to in the very first John Wick movie.

Unfortunately for ol’ Baba Yaga, the events of John Wick: Chapter 2 have made that nearly impossible. John’s fight continues in the trailer for John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum, which shows the world’s deadliest assassin fighting his way through iconic New York landmarks alongside Halle Berry as the mysterious Sofia in an attempt to clear his name from the books and achieve his dream once and for all.

John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum hits theaters May 17, 2019.

from Daily Trends Hunter http://bit.ly/2QWoOaL
via IFTTT

Pornhub reports bump in traffic amid government shutdown

The federal government has been shut down for nearly a month. So how are furloughed workers spending their free time?

Many are, of course, dealing with the very serious consequences of going without pay for an extended period. But in terms of what they’re doing to unwind during these tense times, Pornhub offers one possible answer.

In data released Thursday, the adult video platform reports that traffic showed an average daily increase of 5.94% during the week of Jan. 7th (the shutdown’s third week) over traffic in the weeks before the shutdown, which started on Dec. 22.

Now, it’s important to note here that correlation doesn’t equal causation. After all, it’s winter and people are spending more times indoors instead of out and about and, well, people have to stay entertained somehow. No judgment here!

That said, Pornhub notes a shift with heavy increases in traffic late at night with lower traffic than usual during the morning followed by another traffic spike in the early afternoon. These patterns are similar to other events like winter storms, situations in which people might stay up later because they don’t have to go to work the next day.

Additionally, Pornhub traffic in the Washington, D.C. area showed a similar spike over the same time period with an average daily increase of 6.32 percent versus pre-shutdown traffic.

Pornhub also notes the following categories showed the biggest increase in traffic during that measured time:

Outdoor +71%
Threesome +66%
Old/Young +60%

Make of that what you will.

As for methodology, the week of Jan. 7th was selected by Pornhub for measurement as it was likely to no longer be affected by holiday vacations while the pre-shutdown traffic averages were taken from the weeks of December 3rd through 7th and December 10th through 17th.

Whether the spike in traffic continues remains to be seen, but for now there’s no real end in sight for the shutdown.

from Daily Trends Hunter http://bit.ly/2VZvf0j
via IFTTT

Why is Kenya an al-Shabab target?

At least 300 people have been killed in more than 20 attacks that the al-Shabab group has carried out in Kenya in the past five years.

Based in the Horn of Africa, the al-Qaeda-linked group initially concentrated its attacks in Somalia, where it wants to impose a strict version of Islamic law and is fighting to overthrow the Western-backed government.

But since 2011, the armed group has increasingly targeted Kenya.

In 2013, it claimed responsibility for a deadly mall attack in Nairobi that killed more than 60 people. In April 2015, an attack on a university in the town of Garissa left at least 147 dead.

Why is Kenya a target?

In 2011, following a spate of kidnappings in its coastal region, Kenya sent its troops into neighbouring Somalia to target al-Shabab fighters, whom it blamed for the abductions. Al-Shabab denied involvement in the kidnappings.

Kenyan troops, backed by Somali soldiers, pushed al-Shabab out of several towns the group controlled in southern Somalia.

The armed group then started carrying out deadly attacks in Kenya, saying they were in retaliation to Kenyan troops crossing into Somalia.

“They invaded the Muslim land of Somalia … it’s our duty to take revenge,” al-Shabab’s spokesperson Sheikh Ali Dheere told Al Jazeera in 2014 after the group killed 28 people in an attack in Mandera.

The group has also claimed responsibility for attacks in Djibouti and Uganda – two countries whose troops are part of a UN-mandated African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia fighting al-Shabab.

A 2010 twin bombing by the group in Kampala left at least 70 dead. Four years later, a suicide attack at a restaurant in Djibouti killed three people.

Burundi and Ethiopia have also contributed troops to the AU mission in Somalia but have not suffered attacks by the armed group.

Kenya shares a long, porous land border with Somalia. Most of the armed group’s attacks happened near this 600-kilometre boundary that fighters are able to cross easily.

The communities living in this region – northern and coastal area – have long felt abandoned by the central government in Nairobi.

“I think the reason Kenya is hit more often is because it has greater vulnerabilities – more corruption and unaddressed history of marginalising populations particularly in the northeast and on the coast,” Patrick Gathara, a Nairobi-based writer and political cartoonist, told Al Jazeera.

After the collapse of the central government in Somalia, many of al-Shabab’s top leaders, including current chief Ahmad Omar, have lived in Kenya.

Several other senior figures, including the man suspected of masterminding the Garissa university attack, Mohamed “Kuno” Dulyadayn, who was killed in a joint raid by Somali and foreign troops, are Kenyan nationals.

And, like many Somalis in Kenya, they had unpleasant experiences at the hands of authorities in Kenya before they joined the armed group.

Kuno has repeatedly spoken of mistreatment family members have suffered in Garissa at the hands of Kenyan security forces. For him and many of the top leaders, it is personal revenge.

Nairobi’s significance

Until 2015, Kenya had the biggest economy in the region before it was overtaken by Ethiopia.

Two United Nations agencies – UN-Habitat and the UN Environment Programme – have their headquarters in the Kenyan capital. Several international companies like General Electric, Nestle, Heineken and Mastercard also have a strong presence in the country.

“Nairobi hosts international high-value targets that the group can target to send a signal to western countries. Countries like Burundi are less strategic but also you will have to cross multiple borders to reach and hence risky,” Abullahi Boru, a Horn of Africa security analyst, told Al Jazeera.

Nairobi is also the African city of choice for international media houses to base their operations. Last year, the BBC opened its largest office outside the UK in Nairobi. China’s CGTN also has its African headquarters in Nairobi.

Analysts say the group knows targetting Kenya will bring big media coverage which it can in turn use to bolster its ranks.

“Al-Shabab, like many groups of their ilk, are very well attuned to the reality that a huge media attention generates more recruitment opportunities,” said Boru.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has promised to bring to justice all those who were behind the Nairobi hotel attack. The announcement might result in tit-for-tat attacks from the armed group.

from Daily Trends Hunter http://bit.ly/2QU35Ag
via IFTTT

Trump holding off Pelosi counter-punch

So far, President Donald Trump has been uncharacteristically quiet in response to Nancy Pelosi’s letter. | Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

Government Shutdown

The president is so far staying uncharacteristically silent after Pelosi’s State of the Union power play.

President Donald Trump and his aides like to say that when he is attacked, he punches back 10 times harder.

But more than 24 hours after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi delivered an explosive letter calling for the postponement of the State of the Union address, Trump and White House officials are staying largely silent — and that’s by design.

Story Continued Below

White House officials, who were caught completely off guard by the letter, have made a strategic decision to ignore it, and neither the president nor senior officials are expected to publicly respond, at least for now, according to two people familiar with the matter. A White House spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment.

Trump aides are still weighing next steps and trying to determine whether Pelosi is willing to force the cancellation of the speech. In the meantime, an angry outburst from the president would likely only give the matter more oxygen.

The only formal response from the administration came in a Wednesday tweet from Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, who insisted that her department and the U.S. Secret Service are “fully prepared to support and secure” the annual event, which brings together the highest-ranking officials from all three branches of government.

Privately, administration officials insist that Pelosi’s contention that the now-27-day-long partial government shutdown complicates efforts to secure the event is overblown. Officials noted that many Secret Service agents and senior DHS staffers are still on the job, working without pay.

They believe the House speaker overreached in calling for the speech to either be delayed or delivered in writing, and they are confident they have the support of Republicans in Congress to continue on with the State of the Union speech.

As of Thursday morning, it remained unclear how Trump and Pelosi might resolve the standoff. Although her letter technically framed the call for a delay as a request, not a demand, Pelosi has the final say on whether the speech can take place. Pelosi told reporters on Thursday that she had not heard anything from the White House, and added that Jan. 29 “is not a sacred date.”

“It’s not constitutionally required. It’s not a president’s birthday. It is a date we agreed to,” Pelosi said. “It could be a week later if government is opened. But it isn’t as if that date is sacred. It’s one that was negotiated.”

The California Democrat wouldn’t comment on what she’d do if Trump rejected her request to reschedule the address. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Pelosi said.

She then chided Trump for staying quiet on the issue, pointing out how unusual it is for a president who regularly lashes out at political opponents on Twitter.

“It’s very silent,” Pelosi said.

The State of the Union uncertainty comes amid a shutdown that shows no sign of ending. Trump has vacillated between worrying about the political fallout from the crisis, now the longest in history, and doubling down on his insistence for more than $5 billion in wall funding. Efforts to strike a bipartisan compromise have largely fizzled and there are no ongoing discussions between the White House and congressional Democratic leaders.

So far, Trump has been uncharacteristically quiet in response to Pelosi’s letter. He hasn’t said anything about it publicly, even on Twitter, where he often spouts off about everything from his frustrations with world leaders to his opinions about cable news.

During a speech at the Pentagon on Thursday, he glossed over the State of the Union showdown, instead reiterating his demand for money for his border wall. “We need strong borders. We need strong barriers and walls,” he said. “Nothing else is going to work. Everybody knows it.”

He also used the speech to criticize Pelosi by name for, in his view, preventing moderate Democrats from striking a deal. But he didn’t mention her State of the Union power play. “While many Democrats in the House and Senate would like to make a deal, Speaker Pelosi will not let them negotiate,” he said.

On Twitter earlier Thursday, Trump struck a similar tone, bashing Democrats while ignoring Pelosi’s letter.

“The Left has become totally unhinged. They no longer care what is Right for our Countrty!” he wrote on Twitter, misspelling the word “country.”

John Bresnahan contributed to this report.

from Daily Trends Hunter http://bit.ly/2W1wagE
via IFTTT