Latest news with #Tra
Borneo Post
12-07-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Festival serving as a unifying factor
The Gawai Dayak parade is now a feature of this celebration in Sarawak. I HAVE often been asked by a number of young people in the Iban community about the origin of the Gawai Dayak. Most of the time, I oblige them – relating as best I can by repeating what I have heard from verbal or read from written sources, or from my own memory. It is quite possible that there is more than one version. Today's column is based partly on information obtained during conversation, some 30 years ago, with the late Dato Sri Tra Zehnder, the first Iban woman to be appointed as a state legislator. Another source was Michael Buma, once a teacher at the Anglican Mission School in Quop. Tra expressed her inner thoughts to me thus: 'Maya Hari Raya kitai ngabang ngagai kaban kitai Melayu; maya Taun Baru China kitai ngabang ngagai kaban kitai China. Tang sida tu enda ngabang ngagai kitai, laban kitai Dayak nadai Ari Besai (We visit our Malay friends during the Hari Raya, and our Chinese friends during their New Year, but they do not visit us because we, the Dayaks, have no special day to celebrate during which the Malays and the Chinese can visit us in return).' Tra was referring to the situation in the context of the Dayaks who were residing and working in Kuching. Daughter of Sarawak Constabulary Sub-Insp Inting Jemat, she had been brought up in a cross- cultural setting in Kuching for most of her life that her world view was broad and pragmatic. In fact, for some time during the colonial period (1958-1960), the Dayak (settlers and/or residents of Kuching, mostly government servants and Christians), had been toying with the idea of another festivity that would be more traditional or cultural than religious and pious. This group, consisting of teachers and those whom we would call social activists, were more articulate and vocal in their views. Among them were Michael Buma, Ah Guan, Barbara Bay Mendu, Robert Jitam, Edward Jerah and Austin Jaga. Although Tra belonged to the community dominated by the police personnel and families, she managed to reach out to and maintain a good rapport with the ordinary members of the Dayak community in Kuching. She established a close contact with people like Malacca- trained nurse Barbara Bay (Mendu Bayang), Mrs Ang, Madam Tuyah and her daughter Susie Kitto. They formed the Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak (SIDS), the women's wing of the Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU), for the purpose of providing educational advice to Dayak women in Kuching. She also established a good relationship with Michael Buma and the political activists. However, these 'radicals' had a vision of their own as to how Dayaks of various groups could coalesce and constitute a force in society in Sarawak. Michael Buma, leading the group, moved one step further by proposing that the government of Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan (1963) should declare a day in each year as 'The Dayak Day'. While Tra endorsed Michael Buma's proposal, she had a problem with other members of the Council Negri who thought that she was being too political. Michael Buma, watching on the sidelines, made a bold move in defiance of the attitude of those legislators. He organised a tea party at his house in Siol Kandis, Kuching, and invited people of the same mind, 'Segulai Sejalai'. They were launching the celebration called the 'Dayak Day'. Yes, that day – June 1, 1964! I was not there. I was told by Daniel Ragam, who was present, that the atmosphere was politically electrified. Apparently, the Police Special Branch had sent a couple of boys to Michael Buma's house 'just for a drink' and, obviously, to keep an official eye on things. The significance of this Special Branch intrusion intrigued me as I was listening to Tra. Peter Ratcliffe, the director of Radio Sarawak, hinted to me that the government was going to declare June 1 as a public holiday to dilute the influence of the Dayak activists, using the radio to promote the concept of celebrating a successful harvest instead of something radical. The choice of the name 'Gawai Dayak' was deliberate, a strategy to pre-empt the influence of the activists. Kalong's government, fearing that the Dayak sentiment would develop into a political issue, used Radio Sarawak to promote the 'Harvest Festival' as the Gawai Dayak. That was it! The programme producers at Radio Sarawak even took the initiative to introduce a format for the celebration. For instance, on May 31, the eve of Gawai Dayak, each Dayak family should celebrate the occasion with a dinner at home – similar to the customary dinner among the Chinese on the eve of their New Year. A new festival was thus created for the Dayak community because the 'townies' wanted to have their own version of festival. The Christians among the townies were not in favour of anything pagan like, for instance, a 'miring' (traditional ritual to seek blessings). In the 1980s, the Gawai Dayak was organised as a state function. As a political device, it suits the politicians in power. They take advantage of the big gathering during which to be seen together with the 'common people' – 'Segulai Sejalai', you see! The 'Ngiling Tikai / Ngiling Bidai' (symbolic rolling-up of the mat, to mark the end of festivities) was not part of the Gawai as far as I could remember. However, it has become an accepted part of the proceedings by now. Anyway, who would pick up a quarrel over something that brings people together, even for a few hours, under one roof in the name of the slogan 'Segulai Sejalai'? * The opinions expressed in this article are the columnist's own and do not reflect the view of the newspaper. culture Dayak Gawai Iban sarawak
Hypebeast
26-06-2025
- Business
- Hypebeast
Amazon Is Helping Create an Authentic Shopping Experience for Fashion Purchases—Here's How
In the age of streetwear drops, limited-edition collabs, and high-fashion goods, authenticity is everything. For those who understand the cultural and financial value of genuine pieces—whether it's a grailed archive jacket or an event exclusive hoodie—counterfeits are not just an issue of consumer trust. They threaten entire retail ecosystems. Amazon's Counterfeit Crimes Unit (CCU), now marking five years of global enforcement, is worth paying attention to. Built to crack down on counterfeit operations globally, the CCU is part ofAmazon's mission to protect shoppers, brands, and selling partners alike—and the impact is setting a new bar for accountability across the retail landscape. The CCU has scaled up fast since launching in 2020 and in just five years, the team has initiated 200+ civil actions. Their efforts in fighting counterfeits and fraud have led to more than $180 million USD in court-ordered restitution and judgments for brands and victims. Backed by over $1 billion USD in investment toward fraud prevention, as well as AI-powered detection tools, Amazon prevents more than 99% of suspected counterfeit listings from its store before they can even reach customers. Today, the CCU operates in 12 countries, from just 2 in 2020, and partners with more than 50 government agencies, including EUROPOL, Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, and law enforcement specializing in intellectual property crime globally. For shoppers, this means less risk and more confidence when they click 'buy.' And this goes beyond the numbers—it's also about cultural integrity. For fashion enthusiasts navigating Amazon's diverse selection of brands, the reassurance that what they're buying is legit makes all the difference. From everyday fitness staples to luxury selections through experiences likeSaks on Amazon—a new, curated experience in Luxury Stores at Amazon featuring sought-after luxury brands, including Dolce&Gabbana, Balmain, Etro, Stella McCartney, and Giambattista Valli—Amazon's retail team is focused on empowering customers to shop with confidence and access a mix of emerging and established brands that reflect real style diversity. With new drops likeGAME 7by Mark Messier orPRO STANDARD's officially licensed sportswear, this level of protection matters more than ever in a hype-driven market. But what truly sets Amazon apart is how it's leveragingpartnerships and innovation to future-proof authenticity. Amazon'sapproachto private and public sector partnerships has only grown more critical as industry interest and adoption of brand protection technology accelerate. Recently, Amazon collaborated with global jewelry brand Pandora to identify counterfeiters selling thousands of fake Pandora items to customers across nine European countries, using Amazon fulfillment center records to provide crucial evidence that helped secure convictions, with the main offender receiving a prison sentence exceeding three years plus significant fines. Amazon tools like Transparency support tens of thousands of brands worldwide, helping verify billions of product units as genuine before they could ever be shipped. Relatively, Amazon is building systems that discourage counterfeiters from entering its store in the first place. For a generation raised on resale culture, grail hunting, and the prestige of the 'real thing,' this kind of vigilance matters. Amazon's goal of driving counterfeits to zero is a necessary evolution in retail. Whether you're copping a playoff jersey or investing in timeless fits, knowing your purchase is protected adds value beyond the price tag. In an industry where every detail counts, trust is style's most underrated flex. To learn more, read through Amazon's most recentBrand Protection Reportand the CCU's progress over the last five years.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
This Southern California Beach Has the Highest Bacteria Rates in the State—and It's One of the Dirtiest in the U.S.
Ocean-focused environmental nonprofit the Surfrider Foundation recently released its annual Clean Water Report. It found that Imperial Beach, near San Diego, had the highest bacteria rate in California. A large part of the problem stems from an overflow of sewage from a treatment plant in long coastline might be known for its beautiful and dramatic beaches, but one of them is a bacteria hot spot—and a threat to public health. The nonprofit environmental organization, the Surfrider Foundation, recently released its annual Clean Water Report. For its report, the foundation collected 10,120 water samples from 604 sampling sites across the country. After analyzing all the samples, it found that Imperial Beach in San Diego County, California, was the dirtiest beach in the state—and one of the most contaminated in the U.S.—with a bacteria rate of 82 percent. However, this is a known problem to the city, and the high bacteria rate is largely due to an overflow of sewage pollution from the Tijuana River. The beach is currently closed. 'The failures in Tijuana's sewage treatment, conveyance, and pump station network have been responsible for the decades of transboundary sewage flows coming through the Tijuana River, which have significantly worsened since 2017,' the City of Imperial Beach said in a February statement on its website. 'The beach is closed because sewage flows in the Tijuana River are exceptionally high.' Imperial Beach is actively trying to address the issue, but the problem spans across the border into Mexico, and despite its best efforts, the high levels of pollution and unpleasant smells from the pollution continue on the beach. 'The City of Imperial Beach is engaged in continuous advocacy at every level of government, including requests to fund immediate solutions and petitions for declarations of emergency from the Governor of California and President of the United States,' the Imperial Beach said in its February statement. 'Unfortunately, all requests for a declaration of emergency have been denied.' A declaration of emergency would make it easier for Imperial Beach to access emergency funding and work on infrastructure projects that could ease the flow of pollution from Mexico into the San Diego area. The city encourages residents to file official complaints about the odor and air quality problems—the formal reports serve as an official record of the scope of the problem at Imperial Beach. 'Everyone deserves to enjoy a fun day at the beach without worrying about getting sick from exposure to pollution,' the SurfRider organization said in its Clean Water Report. Other hotspots that made the list this year include places like Windmill Beach in Sag Harbor, New York; Ballard Park in Melbourne, Florida; and Kahaluu on Oahu in Hawaii. Using the information they've gathered the Surfrider Foundation works to protect clean water for all by advocating at the local, state, and federal levels. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
Daily Mirror
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'Coronation Street star almost blinded me – ITV soap needs to make decision'
Coronation Street newcomer James Cartwright, who joined the soap as scaffolder Theo Silverton was found guilty of grievous bodily harm years before his role in the ITV soap Coronation Street's James Cartwright, who recently joined the ITV soap as scaffolder Theo Silverton, was found guilty of grievous bodily harm before landing his role on the soap. The star left a man with a fractured eye socket in a nightclub in June 2012 - and was given an 18-month jail term, suspended for a year. 'I don't know what possessed you to act in the way you did," the judge said while passing the sentence. 'You punched him very hard in the face for little or no reason.' James joined the ITV soap earlier this year, as he became close to Todd Grimshaw. However, things took a turn when it was revealed the scaffolder had a secret wife and two children. Phil Mason has now spoken out, telling The Sun: 'It's sickening that a man with a violent criminal past has a starring role in one of Britain's biggest soaps. ITV needs to explain why they've given this man a job." Continuing, he said: "ITV needs to decide whether having him on screen sends out the right message. I don't want to see him on the telly in my living room after what he did to me and what he put me through.' Phil continued by saying James is seen as "a charmer" by viewers, "when in reality he attacked me for no reason and could have blinded me, or worse." Recalling the night, the dad of one, who was on a night out with his football team at Applejax nightspot in Chorley, claimed he had "no interaction" with Cartwright, who was "standing at the bar by himself." "The next thing I knew, I was on the floor. I didn't actually see it coming. I must have been knocked out," he told the publication. Phil was then taken to A&E where he was told he had a fractured eye socket and his "left eye had sunk". He then expressed it was "only luck" that he escaped without a more serious injury. Investigating officers told Phil that the actor had initially claimed to be acting in self-defence due to feeling threatened. He later denied one count of grievous bodily harm at Preston Crown Court in 2013. Cartwright claimed to have acted in self-defence but was convicted by a jury. Alongside the suspended sentence, the actor was given a year's supervision and told to pay £2,000 in compensation to the victim and another £2,000 for legal costs. On top of this, the star was made to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. During the trial, the CCTV footage of the attack was played to the jury. Phil told the publication that the attack affected him "for a long time" afterwards. A spokesperson for the star told the publication: 'This is an incident which took place a long time ago. James has always regretted his reaction. Violence is never the answer.' An ITV source also told the Sun that "they were not aware of Cartwright's conviction as it was spent." Coronation Street isn't the actor's first big role. The actor played Nathan on CBBC's Tracy Beaker, taking on the role for 40 episodes from 2003 to 2004. He's also had roles on Downton Abbey as Tony Sellick and lent his voice to The Archers playing Harrison Burns. The Mirror has contacted ITV and a representative of James Cartwright for comment.
