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Documentary ‘Phantom of Winnipeg’ to explore city’s unique love interest

There’s no release date set for Phantom of Winnipeg, and there’s no telling if it crowdfunding campaign will reach its goal. But, who cares really. The news here is that Malcolm Ingram is making a documentary about Winnipeg’s bizarre fascination with the glam-horror-comedy movie Phantom of the Paradise, a 1974 film that bombed everywhere else but here. Winnipeg celebration Phantompalooza, which may only exist as a Facebook page – I don’t know – is I guess testament to the city’s love of the cult classic. The doc is sure to be interesting. [Source: AV Club]

Oil prices expected to stay low in 2016

Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), said oil prices are not set for recovery in 2016. Low, if not lower, prices will continue to mar the industry. “There is a lot of oil in the market now, and 2016 demand in the market will be weaker,” Birol told the Globe and Mail. “And at the same time we may well see Iran come to the market if sanctions are lifted, which is going to increase oil in the markets.” The IEA is expected to publish their forecast this Friday, taking into account Iran’s nascent return to the oil market after the lifting of long-standing sanctions. Oil prices dropped to below $40 per barrel last week. [Source: Globe and Mail]

Angela Merkel named ‘person of the year’

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been named Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year.” The magazine cited her involvement in Europe’s migration and Greek debt crisis as reasons for the appointment. Time editor Nancy Gibbs said Merkel provided “steadfast moral leadership in a world where it is in short supply.” Runner-up was Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and third place went to presidential candidate Donald Trump, who Tweeted following the announcement: “I told you @TIME Magazine would never pick me as person of the year despite being the big favorite They picked person who is ruining Germany.” [Source: BBC]

Frankenstein chicken approved by FDA

The FDA has approved a genetically-engineered chicken created to produce an egg with a drug called Kanuma in it. Kanuma is a drug that helps people with a faulty enzyme that prevents the body from breaking down fatty molecules in cells, according to Nature magazine. The chickens are themselves not for eating, but the FDA did make sure the DNA of the bird remained stable as it passed from one generation to the next. Transgenic animals are becoming more common, apparently, and the drugs they create are being called ‘farmaceuticals.’ Goats have been genetically modified to create an anticoagulant called ATryn (antithrombin) in their milk. And rabbits have been labified to create a drug for treating hereditary angioedema. “The floodgates are opening,” a geneticist at Purdue University told Nature. “And I can’t wait to see what comes next.” [Source: Nature]

Trudeau launches inquiry into murdered and missing aboriginal women

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come through on his campaign promise and launched a national inquiry into the murder and disappearance of aboriginal women. Trudeau hopes to restore Canada’s relationship with its aboriginal population. Over the past 30 years, nearly 1,200 aboriginal women have either been murdered or have gone missing in Canada. “The victims deserve justice, their families an opportunity to heal and to be heard,” said Trudeau. “We must work together to put an end to this ongoing tragedy.” [Source: Guardian]

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