Governments attribute the delay to President Robert Mugabe’s seizure of white-owned farms, including hundreds which belonged to South Africans… From VOA. Full story

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Whilst I was having ECT I never really wrote about it. I was in hospital with only mobile access to the Internet. I was exhausted, often in pain and not really in the mood for writing. Recently though I’ve been inspired by this blog and Seaneen’s appeal for ECT info to document my experience. I’m worried that if I don’t do it now, I’ll forget what happened all together.

Ultimately my experience with ECT was a failure. I had 11 treatments, some unilateral and some bilateral. I barely responded at all and in the end we gave up.

ECT was seen as the last resort. I was about as severely depressed as you can get and no one knew what else to do. I wasn’t sure about having it, but at the time I wrote that anything was worth a try. I think I was so depressed I didn’t really care what happened to me. I know I secretly wished it would go horribly wrong, so overwhelming were the thoughts about death.

I went into the treatment with a smidgen of hope. I felt little, but I knew my family wanted it to work. We had to believe it would work, as the alternative was too horrible to comprehend. Other patients at The Priory had been through ECT and come out the other end much improved. ECT had been lifesaving and I hoped it would be the same for me.

The proceedure was a lot less scary than I had feared. We were woken early by the nurses, our blood pressure and temperature taken, then we were bundled into a taxi with the nurses over to Cheadle Royal. The Priory doesn’t have an ECT suite anymore, so treatments were taken there.

There was a waiting room, where we’d sit waiting our turn. There was usually three or four of us being treated at the same time. Three from The Priory and a day patient from elsewhere. Eventually we’d be called into a prep room, where a girl would wash our forehead and neck and attach EEG stickers. Next we entered the treatment room. We’d climb onto a bed and Dr Shock would ask us how we felt. We would be attached to the monitors and then the anaesthetist would take my hand and try to insert a cannula.  This was where it got difficult to me. My veins are small and deep and finding one proved near impossible at times. Multiple attempts, hands like colanders and a number of bent needles later and we would be ready to go. After a few treatments like this, the anaesthetist ordered some microwave lavender bags, which I’d be given to warm my hands. ECT quickly became associated with the smell of lavender.

I’d never had a general anaesthetic before my first treatment and I didn’t know how I’d feel. I soon got used to the feeling. Twice a week for nearly 6 weeks, you have little choice. The liquid would ooze into my veins and I’d drift off. Next thing I knew I was in the recovery area, oblivious to what went on whilst I was asleep.

Throughout my treatment and since, I’ve always been curious to see what happens in between those moments. I often wondered about asking if I could watch someone else go first, but was certain I’d be turned down. I know they apply a current to my brain and I have a fit, but what does it actually look like? Who does what?

A few times I awoke covered in blood. The cannula would slip out during the fit and I’d be left with a red tshirt.

As we woke up our vitals were taken regularly. Each of us would have a nurse, who would keep a close eye on us, administering pain relief if required. It was always required. An hour after our treatment we would be allowed up and given tea and toast, or water and toast in my case. Then we were bundled back into the taxi and taken back to the ward, where we usually went straight to bed.

At the time, the side effects weren’t so bad. I usually had a thumping headache, more so after the bilateral treatments. Sometimes I would ache all over. My jaw was often painful. My appetite was normally dodgy and I felt queasy from the anaesthetic. My memory seemed to be pretty much in tact. I’d written all my passwords and things down before I went, but I don’t think I ever needed to refer back.

I didn’t really mind the treatments, but I was frustrated at the lack of response. The night before each treatment we’d be given the BDI and would tick the boxes and I couldn’t see any improvement. I know my scores did improve a little, but one or two points is nothing and the miracle I was hoping for never materialised.

One of the girls having ECT with me improved rapidly. She was discharged before I’d even finished the treatment. The other improved gradually, but she did improve. I seemed to stay the same.

Dr Shock would ask me each time how I felt and I never knew what to say. She would tell me I looked brighter, but it felt like she was only saying that to convince herself it was doing some good, not because she really believed it.

Towards the end, I knew we were running out of steam. I could see the medics were giving up. When the decision was finally made I wasn’t surprised but I was disappointed. I felt like a failure and I felt annoyed that it hadn’t worked. It was meant to be the cure and it failed. I felt like I should have tried harder. I worried it was my fault and that everyone thought it was my fault and that I just didn’t want to get better.

Afterwards came the assessment from Dr P and the diagnosis of Bipolar II Disorder. It was suggested that my lack of response to “traditional methods of treating depression”, showed that I wasn’t suffering from “straight” depression. I had suspected that for a long while before, but I don’t know why it took ECT to decide this. I am grateful for the ECT for accelerating this diagnosis, but it seems an awful lot to go through just to get another assessment.

The long term effects of ECT have only been showing themselves over the last few months. I didn’t think the memory loss was significant, but as you go through life there are reminders of what is missing. People mention things that happened and I have no recollection of them at all. Silly things like ordering a meal in a restaurant commenting that “I’ve not had this before”, only to be told that I did back in April when I went there with my parents. Not only had I forgotten my order, but I’d forgotten I’d even been there with my parents.

It’s not just from the treatment period either, but before too. A lot of last year has disappeared and I only have my blog and my family’s memories to remind me. Distant memories that were once clear are now fuzzy or gone completely. I have lost a lot more than I’d realised at first. They say that the memories will come back with time, but I seem to be forgetting more, not less. I don’t know if it’s just because as time goes on I find out about more of what is missing.

I don’t think my short term memory is that bad. I am forgetful, but I’ve always been a little. For most people it is the short term memory that is worst, but I seem to have got off fairly lightly on that front. I guess this is something.

I’ve alluded to this at other times, but I think ECT has had an effect on my thinking ability too. It’s hard to know for certain, as depression can stunt your cognitive abilities too, but I am not as sharp as I used to be. My partner often says that I’m slow. I am not very quick on the uptake at times. I find it harder to think and harder to solve problems. My arithmetic seems worse than before.My concentration is poor. Even when I’ve been a little high, I don’t feel as capable as I did before. Things I used to find easy can be a challenge. I feel like I’m a little blunted. I pride myself on my intelligence, yet I don’t feel as bright. I wonder if I’ll ever regain what I used to have and if this will improve.

Along with the memory and cognitive effects, there is a physical side effect. The right-hand side of my jaw has been problematic ever since. It locks and it grinds. Sometimes I can’t open my mouth at all. Other times I get shooting pain right through the side of my head, where my jaw is stuck or out of place. I don’t know if there is a solution, but I suspect I will be stuck with this for ever now. It may not be anything major, but it can hurt and is annoying.

I don’t think I’d mind these effects at all if ECT had worked. If I was now stable and free of depression these issues would be worth it. It’s just that for it all to be in vain, it seems a lot to go through for no gain.

I am still disappointed. ECT had been that final resort and was something I could hold in my mind as a possibility for change. For me, I always need to know that there is another option and this was just another one that we have exhausted. When I have run out of options then I will really give up. I don’t think I’d go through it again, even though for some it can work a second time when it had not the first.

All that said, even though ECT didn’t work for me, I still wouldn’t discourage people from trying it. You have to weigh up the potential benefit with the possible effects, but if it works, I think it is worth it. It is usually only used when all else has failed and in that case what else do you have to lose? I have seen it work for others, I am just jealous it didn’t for me.

Taiwan and the UK on 12NOV09 has finalized the revision of bilateral air service deal. The last deal was signed in 1992. Highlights are:

• Passenger air service increase from 6 to 10 weekly
• 7 of 10 weekly flights permits 5th freedom traffic (which EVA Air is using all 7)
• Cargo service is included, 3 weekly flights each to London (designated to EVA) and Manchester (designated to China Airlines), with 5th freedom rights (current cargo traffic rights is granted temporary)
• Codeshare operation permitted
• EVA Air receives 7th weekly frequency (See above)
• China Airlines designated as 2nd carrier operating this route, and can operate up to 3 weekly service to London on non-stop basis

So, it wasn’t my patient, but another student had a patient tonight who was quite … ornery.  Understandable, given her condition (lung cancer spread to the brain).  But this patient had quite a time with the many folks who came into her room to help her:

• Trying to bite the instructor.
• Kicking the student when she came near.

And my personal favorite:

• Using her oxygen nasal cannula as a whip on the people coming near her bed.

In other news, my patient the last 2 days was a real sweetheart.  Older woman with quite a history, and who was in the hospital because of a stubborn little wound that wouldn’t heal.  She was in the hyperbaric chamber to promote wound healing, but had to have tubes put in her ears (bilateral myringotomy) because of the pressure of the hyperbaric chamber.  She didn’t have a whole lot going on, but was mostly blind, so I got to assist her with a lot of daily activities, such as helping her figure out where things were on her dinner tray, or helping her to the commode, or just generally sitting with her and getting her what she needed.

I really enjoyed these 2 days of helping her, because I felt like I was really aiding someone who needed it.  She was mostly self-sufficient, but it was nice to help her out whenever I could.  I also got to give her meds twice today, and didn’t even mess up once (unlike last time, where I forgot to ask the patient his name and birthday before I gave him his meds).  I’m becoming awfully familiar with doing the Accu-Chek as well (checking the patient’s blood sugar).

It’s also time to start thinking about a summer externship for 2010.  I’m asking my instructor for a letter of recommendation.  Not sure what I want to do yet — whether it’s just a general med/surg floor position or something more specific.  We shall see.

3400681    กฎหมายการค้าในภูมิภาคและพหุภาคี    Regional and Bilatera Trade Laws

พัฒนาการของกิจกรรมเกี่ยวกับเศรษฐกิจระหว่างประเทศ ทิศทางและลักษณะของข้อตกลงทงการค้าในภูมิภาค (อาร์ทีเอ) และข้อตกลงทางการค้าเสรีที่เป็นทวิภาคี (เอฟทีเอ) ประเด้นโต้แย้งด้านประวัติศาสตร์ เศรษฐกิจ การเมือง และกฎหมายที่เกี่ยวกับข้อตกลงดังกล่าว ความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างอาร์ทีเอกับเอฟทีเอภายใต้เขตการค้าโลก โดยเน้นนโยบายและกฎหมายที่เกี่ยวกับการค้าในภูมิภาคอาเซียน รวมถึงความสัมพันธ์กับเอเปก ดับเบิลยูทีโอ และองค์กรอื่นๆ

(Recent and important development of international economic activities; trends and characteristics of Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) and bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTAs); historical, economic, political, and legal issues related to RTAs and FTAs; relationships of RTAs and FTAs under the global trading regime, with emphasis on ASEAN trade policies and law, including its relationship with APEC, WTO, and other agencies.)

(3400681 จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย)

Singapore and Malaysia has agreed for further liberalization of air traffic service between the 2 countries. 6 New Routes between Singapore and following Malaysian cities are: Alor Setar, Bintulu, Labuan, Kerteh, Kota Bahru and Sibu.

Carriers from each side will have rights to operate 28 weekly passenger service to each of the cities mentioned above.

Singaporean carriers also gains further access to 42 weekly flights each to Ipoh, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Langkawi, plus up to 28 weekly each to Kuantan, Luala Terrengganu, Malacca, Miri, Sandakan and Tawau. Malaysian carriers also receives same entitlements.

Sebulan ini, Beijing sibuk menyiapkan perayaan 60 tahun Republik Rakyat Cina.

Tak hanya itu. Media penuh program patriotik. Parade disiapkan, memamemrkan kekuatan militer dan bidaya Cina. Film epik Berdirinya Sebuah Republik yang melibatkan artis-artis besar seperti Jackie Chan, Jet Li, dan Andy Lau memecahkan rekor  penjualan tiket terbesar. Hajatan sepekan itu ditutup pergelaran opera Turandot karya Puccini di megastadim Sarang Burung oleh sutradara Zhang Yimou, sebagai simbol “ Cina yang baru “, perpaduan budaya tradisional Kerajaan Tengah dan republik yang mendunia.

Namun, di sela-sela kemeriahan pesta, keamanan ibu kota dan wilayah rentan, seperti Tibet  dan Xinjiang, diperketat. Warga lokal, sejumlah diplomat, dan wartawan asing yang tinggal di sekitar Tiananmen mengeluhkan peringatan untuk tidak membuka jendela saat parade berlangsung. Akses internet kian dibatasi, bahwa Facebook dan Twitter diblok. Apa yang sebenarnya terjadi dalam merefleksikan enam dekade kehadiran Cina di dunia ?

Setelah enam dekade

Dari era Mao Zedong, modernisasi Deng Xiaoping, dan globalisasi saat ini, kompleksitas dari realitas Cina kian nyata. Pertumbuhan ekonomi yang menghasilkan devisa dua triliun dollar AS mengangkat 200 juta lebih penduduk Cina dari kemiskinan dan melahirkan kota-kota megapolitan. Namun, masih ada ratusanjuta warga yang miskin dan menganggur. Melebarnya kesenjangan ekonomi sosial dan degradasi lengkungan meningkatkan potensi instabilitas.

Kecepatan pembangunan fisik tak sepenuhnya diimbangi pembangunan nonfisik. Problem terkikisnya komunisme sebagai ideologi negara belum nyaman terjawab oleh kehadiran nasionalisme. Felora nasionalisme mendapat tantangan konflik sosial dimana faktor kesenjangan, politik identitas, dan hak asasi manusia bersilangan.

Dari kasus obor olimpiade di Paris, konflik Tibet dan Xinjiang, gempa Wanchuan, hingga astronot Cina pertama menampilkan ekspresi nasionalisme yang berwarna. Pemerintah sering kelimpungan saat harus menangani gelombang pasang nasionalisme.

Sebuah arena interaksi narasi nasionalisme adalah dunia maya. Birokrasi ruang maya menjadi fenomena sosial yang hangat. Lebih dari 380 juta pengguna dari kelas menengah/atas berkelit dari polisi internet serta mencari gelanggang berekspresi secara kritis dan kreatif di dunia maya sebagai alternatif kekakuan dunia nyata. Banyak kebijakan direvisi/dihapus karena tekanan opini publik bertebaran di blog.

Seputar sistem politik, sekilas tidak tampak perubahan dari esensi struktur multipartai yang didominasi Partai Komunis (tertutup dan tanpa oposisi riil), tetapi internal partai ternyata lebih dinamis. Era pemimpin karismatik diganti kepemimpinan kolektif, diwarnai persaingan kubu “populis” (Liga Pemuda Komunis) dan kubu “pangeran” (penerus pemimpin era lalu).

PKC menunjukkan peningkatan kemampuan beradaptasi, terutama dalam pemanfaatan media dan pemberdayaan kaum intelektual. Desentralisasi dan “konsultasi publik” dengan proses kebijakan kian mendapat angin.

Cina bersiap menjalani transisi, dari generasi ke-4 (Hu jintao) ke generasi ke-5 (Xi Jinping?). Pengamat menerka-nerka, bagaimana transisi pada 2012 akan berlangsung setelah dalam rapat ke-17 PKC lalu, Xi tidak ditunjuk sebagai Wakil Ketua Komisi Militer Pusat, posisi yang dulu memuluskan jalan Hu.

Cina dan dunia

Cina tidak berpretensi ingin mengubah dunia, kata beberapa pemikir strategis Cina. Hanya dengan mengubah diri Cina sendiri, seluruh dunia akan ikut berubah. Apa pun motivasinya, meningkatnya kepercayaan diri atau keinginan untuk menenangkan dunia sulit dimungkiri.

Meski masih jauh bagi Cina untuk menggantikan hegemoni Amerika Serikat, kehadirannya mendorong kita untuk mau tidak mau menggunakan lensa berbeda dalam meretas perjalanan dan pemikiran baru komunitas global. Kehadiran konsep “Konsensus Beijing” telah mengundang perdebatan kritis seputar sebaran kapitalisme dan demokrasi liberal yang terpatri dalam “Konsensus Washington”.

Selama krisis keuangan dunia, ekonomi terbesar ketiga dunia ini muncul sebagai salah satu penyangga dunia. Bahkan, dalam pertemuan G-20 lalu, Cina tampak kian lugas menuntut rekayasa ulang sistem keuangan global dan tatanan ekonomi baru. Perdebatan perlunya G-20, meski dikatakan prematur, mengindikasikan nilai strategis Cina untuk bersanding dengan AS. Yang helas, Cina kian piawai memanfaatkan mekanisme multilateral.

Menuju “mitra strategis”

Bagaimana posisi hubungan Indonesia – Cina ? Meski lambat, posisu Cina bergeser, merefleksikan aspirasi mengangkat peran Indonesia ke tataran global. Kecanggungan kita sebagai aktor global masih terasa, dan ini diperburuk oleh institusionalisasi persepsi “ancaman Cina”  semasa Orde Baru. Ini akan memengaruhi kita dalam berinteraksi dengan Cina. Sejak penandatanganan kemitraan strategis 2006, pertanyaan “mana dagingnya?” masih belum terjawab.

Dalam pertemuan G-20, Hu menggarisbawahi skema pertukaran mata uang antarnegara sebesar 95 milliar dollar AS, termasuk Indonesia, yang menjanjikan perdagangan lebih dinamis. Pertukaran mata uang bilateral masih diwarnai kebingungan dan keraguan. Kajian mendalam diperlukan guna menimbang manfaat skema ini dan mengurangi ketergantungan terhadap dollar, terutama pada saat krisis.

Diplomasi kita harus didukung kajian kritis tentang dampak perubahan Cina. Jangan sampai kecanggungan kita, terefleksi dalam kebingungan menyebut nama Negara Tirai Bambu (China, Cina, atau Tiongkok), trauma sejarah, dan kesenjangan pengetahuan, menghilangkan kesempatan mengambil manfaat dari perkembangan Cina.
Sumber  :

C(h)ina | Christine Susanna Tjhin, Peneliti d CSIS ; Sedang Mengambil Doktor di Jurusan Diplomasi Universitas Peking, Cina
Kompas, 01.10.2009

Japan and Poland earlier this week concluded a revised bilateral air service deal. For the first time Polish carrier is able to serve Tokyo airport.

Details as follows:

I disagree with any suggestion that the “special relationship” between the United States and Britain is cooling.

Gordon Brown moved quicker than he does with most political events to say that “the special relationship has never been stronger.”

Obviously, the White House did not “snub” Gordon Brown. After all, as Lance Powell points out in his piece ‘Obama’s busy, get over it Gordon’ Mr Obama and Mr Brown already have a  good relationship, so what is the point in holding meetings just for photo opportunities.

Those who wish to think that Mr Obama is ignoring the Prime Minister’s office because of his unpopularity back home are mistaken. Both men are ideologically on the left and believe that their respective governments helped to pull the economy “back from the brink,” a term that has been used by many economists and advisers within the Obama administration. Also, both leaders seem to be singing from the same hymn sheet on issues like nuclear proliferation, climate change and that a diplomacy is the best way to deal with Iran and North Korea.

Not forgetting that Mr Obama has a wide range of domestic and international challenges ranging from selling health care reform at home to complex peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine.

If anyone wants to complain about not receiving an invite, it should be the White House.

Barack Obama has not visited Downing Street for a while.

There’s a website that’s been existing since 1999 which has been providing job posting in the fields of international development jobs and consultancies in NGOs, non-profits, United Nations, aid, charities, for-profits, bilaterals, multilaterals, governments, development banks and environmental agencies. As of this year, they have 202,000 jobseekers and 9,500+ recruiters with 1,044 positions filled in 2009.

Go to http://www.devnetjobs.org.

India and Saudi Arabia signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for expanded air service agreement.

The new agreement includes the following:

*Unlimited carriers to operate service between the two countries from each side

*Current 8500 seats per week with maximum 31 weekly flights, INCREASING to 20000 seats per week with maximum 75 weekly flights. However, Dammam is not included as there will be unlimited flights/capacity cap for Indian carrier

*Saudi carrier granted to fly to Bangalore, Calicut and Lucknow, which Saudi Arabian currently operates service under separate permission for Summer 09 season

*Indian carrier granted to fly to Medinah

*”Open Sky” agreement for Cargo service with full 3rd and 4th freedom traffic rights

Wow… I’m still here!

More than 4 long years after the neurons (picture on the left) in my brain formed the thought of getting a Cochlear Implant for the first time, I’m finally here. At the doorstep of a new reality. A new perception of the world of sounds promising improved social interaction and perhaps even music.

Back in 2005 my son had his first day at school, Microsoft’s Windows Vista was still to be officially launched, Pope John Paul II had just died and Pope Benedict XVI became his successor, the superjumbo Airbus A380 had it’s maiden flight from Toulouse, the Kuwaiti women were granted the right to vote (on my birthday), Lance Armstrong wins his 7th (and so far the last) Tour de France and the hurricane Katrina wreaks havoc in the US city of New Orleans and surrounding areas.

Now, in 2009, my son is in 4th grade (!), has a new set of front teeth and has grown almost 50 cm, Windows 7 is just around the corner, Barack Obama is the new US President, Lance Armstrong made a comeback to Tour de France and the world is desperately trying to shake off the effects of the worst global financial recession since 1930.

This time of waiting for CI has been hard and exhausting. I want to direct a very criticizing finger at Norwegian health authorities (forget about party-lines, this goes for all politicians and all policymakers!):

It is de-motivating, devastating and beyond understanding to have to wait 4 years for a life-improving sense enhancing procedure such as the Cochlear Implant! It is counter effective, both in terms of pure financials for the society and in human capital. Instead of returning quickly to a productive life and continuing as a healthy member of the taxpayers force, individuals such as myself are forced into years of life suspending professional and personal social life hibernation. It is such a place where the personal price is high, and the society’s costs are growing into grotesque proportions!

I have a 3 point petition:

1. Sense improving technology such as the Cochlear Implants is the future, embrace it! Build and strengthen national CI competence right now!

2. Stop being afraid it costs too much! In the end it costs much more to stall, let alone not doing it! It’s plain common sense! It is a CHEAP investment into human capital! Build for the future!

3. Grant all who might benefit from it, bilateral CI! In return I can promise you happier and much more productive deaf citizens of Norway!

I can’t say that the 4 years that has passed since my brain created the first thoughts about putting a Cochlear Implant into my head has been boring, far from it. They have been eventful!

Related to my condition; I went through 2 years of psychological therapy, countless visits at the hospital asking about when I could get the operation done (nagging), I said goodbye to my beloved music, I went through many life changing decisions, all in order to survive and maintain a life in order to be able to father my son the best I could and to remain sane, healthy and alive.

Yes, it’s been the fight of my lifetime so far! I had many small and big defeats, such as the day I admitted to myself that I was no longer fit for the A4 working life, or when I had to accept that I had to wait 4 years for that life-changing all-important cochlear implant…

But it’s a lot nicer to count my victories I remained on my feet, I did not succumb to self-pity, I have been a somewhat decent father to my beloved son, I actively worked my brain from a medium depression state into a better functioning state with a more realistic view of myself, the world around me and it’s expectations from me. I made my life better, in spite of the borderline progressive deafness and it’s challenges. I lived my life to the maximum of my capabilities. I started my own company (in order for me to be able to work as much as I could/can). I got closer to my family and I found a very promising life-partner! I did not waste my time   Sometimes challenges bring out the best in you.

At last, but not least; this blog has been my salvation, brainchild, hope and joy. I started ci4me2007 in the last weeks of 2006. I had such high hopes for it to become the year that I would finally get my CI. Now, 157 (counting this one) posts later, with 45.000 accumulated views (that means 45.000 opened pages), it’s almost nostalgic to look back. I wonder what will become of this blog now.

A new chapter in my life begins the day after tomorrow. I owe the ones that are next in line for CI, wherever they might be, to be able to access my experiences both good and bad, just as I have been able to read about Michael Chorost (read his book!), Jennifer, Abbie, Sam, Jeff, and many, many others, and more recently; Kate, Movale, CIborg.

It’s time to walk through that door of perception, and shape my new world, and my life along with it. Wish me luck!

See you on the other side!

Japan and Korea on Friday (04SEP09) agreed to expand service between Japan and Seoul Gimpo airport.

Nagoya Chubu – Seoul Gimpo NEW service is agreed, which will start as early as Oct 2009. Service to operate up to 4 Daily from each side.
Osaka Kansai – Seoul Gimpo Service Increase to 4 Daily from each side.

However, the increase comes into phases. From Oct 2009, each side can operate up to 3 Daily flights (currently 2 each side on KIX – GMP), then 4th Daily from March 2010

Japan and Egypt this week concluded revised bilateral air service deal, which sees major increase of frequencies.

Details are:
Tokyo Narita
Egyptian carrier able to increase from 3 weekly to Daily as early as March 2010

Osaka, Nagoya…etc
Nonstop service increase to 14 weekly from current 10

CODESHARING
Domestic Egypt and Japan codeshare service is available from International connecting flight

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Pemerintah Indonesia berharap publik Indonesia tidak terprovokasi dengan iklan tari Pendet asal Bali yang terdapat pada iklan kunjungan ke Malaysia.

“Kita harus lihat dulu seperti apa. Jangan mudah terprovokasi,” kata Juru Bicara Departemen Luar Negeri Teuku Faizasyah di Jakarta, Jumat.

Menurut dia, pihaknya belum mengetahui secara detil dari permasalahan itu sehingga menjanjikan akan menindaklanjutinya dengan menghubungi perwakilan Indonesia di Malaysia.

“Kalau itu sudah jadi isu publik akan kita tindak lanjuti,” katanya.

Sebelumnya beredar kabar bahwa Malaysia mengklaim tari Pendet sebagai tari tradisionalnya. Tari Pendet asal Pulau Dewata itu ditayangkan sebagai latar iklan kunjungan ke Malaysia.

Sejauh ini Malaysia memiliki rekam jejak negatif di kalangan publik Indonesia apabila terkait dengan kekayaan budaya Indonesia.

Sebelumnya publik Indonesia pernah beberapa kali dibuat terkejut dengan klaim-klaim budaya Malaysia antara lain lagu “Rasa Sayange” yang berasal dari Maluku dan kesenian Reog Ponorogo dari Jawa Timur.

Menteri Utama Malaka Seri Mohd Ali Rustam menyatakan jembatan RI-Malaysia akan menjadi jembatan terpanjang buatan manusia yang menghubungkan dua negara. Tidak hanya itu, proyek jembatan ini juga diyakini akan menguntungkan perekonomian kedua belah pihak.

“Jembatan ini merupakan proyek yang menguntungkan dan diprediksikan akan meningkatkan perekonomian kedua negara,” ujra Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, seperti dilansir Bussiness Times, Jumat (21/8/2009).

Ali Rustam menambahkan, Perdana Menteri Malaysia Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak telah mendukung proyek jembatan sepanjang 38 Km ini. “Kita mengetahui terlepas dari persetujuan pemerintah, terdapat isu lain seperti pendapatan lahan yang harus diurus tetapi itu tidak menjadi masalah,” ujarnya.

Pembangunan jembatan RI-Malaysia membutuhkan dana US$ 12.5 miliar atau Rp 125,5 triliun. 15 Persen pendanaan proyek berasal dari internal sementara sisanya berasal dari pinjaman bank. Bank Exim China telah menyatakan akan menyokong pembangunan jembatan tersebut.

Sebelumnya diberitakan, Proyek jembatan RI-Malaysia digarap oleh lembaga swasta asal Malaysia, Straits of Malacca Partners Sdn Bhd (SOMP). Izin proyek jembatan dari kedua negara ditargetkan lolos akhir 2009.

Japan and Papua New Guinea on Thursday 20AUG09 signed a revised bilateral air service deal. The deal appears to be more beneficial for the PNG side.

Details as follows:

Tokyo Narita
Carriers from PNG able to increase Port Moresby – Tokyo Narita service from current 1 weekly to 2, from March 2010 at the earliest

Osaka, Nagoya
In addition to Osaka, carriers from PNG is able to operate service to Nagoya. Frequencies to Osaka can also be increased as well

If PNG carriers exercising the new frequency, Japanese carriers should get equal treatment should they wish to start similar service.

Codeshare
Codeshare service is permitted on:
Between Japan and PNG nonstop
Between Japan and PNG via 3rd-country
Beyond Japan
Beyond PNG

Abstract
The objectives of this study were to estimate the rates of complications associated with paediatric cochlear implantation use: a) at one Canadian cochlear implant (CI) centre, and b) in the published literature. It comprised a retrospective hospital-based chart review and a concurrent review of complications in the published literature. There were 224 children who had undergone surgery from 1994 to June 2007. Results indicate that the rates of complications at the local Canadian paediatric CI centre are not significantly different from the literature rates for all examined complication types. This hospital-based retrospective chart review and review of the literature provide readers with an estimation of the risks to aid in evidence-based decision-making surrounding paediatric cochlear implantation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

from Cochlear Implants International