Report: Obama adviser to join Clinton campaign - Report: Rand Paul hires campaign manager for possible 2016 bid - Romney phones party allies in prep for 2016 decision

Oct. 29, 2011: John Podesta, president and chief executive officer of the Center for American Progress, attends the National Italian American Foundation Gala in Washington. (Reuters)

Counselor to the President John Podesta will take on a senior role in Hillary Clinton’s as yet undeclared Presidential campaign when he departs the White House next month, according to a published report. 

The Wall Street Journal, citing three people with the matter, reported that Podesta has sat in on informal meetings of Clinton aides that have have discussed a potential presidential campaign in 2016. The former Secretary of State and Senator from New York has not yet formally announced her candidacy. However, the Journal reports that Podesta’s planned move is seen as the clearest sign yet that she will run. 

It remains unclear what role Podesta would play in a presumptive Clinton campaign, the Journal reported that he would likely become campaign chairman. 

Podesta served as White House chief of staff for the final 27 months of former President Bill Clinton’s second term in office. He became Counselor to President Barack Obama at the beginning of 2014, and has played a key role in advising the president on energy policy. 

Podesta initially told Reuters last week that he would depart the White House “in early February,” a few weeks after Obama delivers the State of the Union address Jan. 20. When discussing a possible role in a Clinton campaign, he said, “If she decides to run, I told her I’d do anything I can to help her.”

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Report: Obama adviser to join Clinton campaign - Report: Rand Paul hires campaign manager for possible 2016 bid - Romney phones party allies in prep for 2016 decision

Digicel launches Phone Recycling Programme for special-needs schools - Unused phones in exchange for tablets

Representatives and students of the Windsor School of Special Education and Digicel representatives, including Judine Hunter (left), programme manager, for special needs at Digicel Foundation, are all smiles at the handover of the educational pack at the recently held phone recycling launch. – Contributed

On Thursday, scores of persons gathered for the launch of an exciting Phone Recycling Programme that will see special-needs schools collecting unused mobile phones in exchange for brand-new tablets and accessories worth over US$700 each.

The recycling programme, an initiative of the Digicel Foundation, one of Jamaica’s leading supporters of the special-needs sector, was launched in partnership with Autism Ireland to improve the learning experiences of children with autism to help them reach their full potential.

At the launch, held at the Portmore Learning Centre, the foundation handed over educational packs that included an iPad, mini speakers, stylus, protective cover and screen overlay to the Jamaica Association on Intellectual Disabilities (JAID).

JAID, the oldest and largest organisation in the country providing services to persons with intellectual and other developmental disabilities, will be using these tablets to teach children social skills.

“Each school will be given a recycle bin for students, parents, teachers, visitors and other persons in their community to use to collect unused phones beginning June 23, 2014,” Judine Hunter, the programme manager for special needs at the Foundation, said.

“What is important about this programme is that students with special needs will not only have an opportunity to benefit from the latest technology, but they will learn about how important it is to recycle.”

The recycling programme will end on September 30. The foundation will hand over educational packs to its special-needs partners during the school year. The Digicel Foundation will also donate $100,000 to the school that collects the most phones.

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Digicel launches Phone Recycling Programme for special-needs schools - Unused phones in exchange for tablets