text
stringlengths 2.57k
160k
| hyperpartisan
bool 2
classes | bias
int64 0
4
| cleaned_text
stringlengths 1.79k
91.8k
| word_count
int64 512
12.5k
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
<p>ROME (Reuters) - The anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, leading opinion polls ahead of a March 4 election, has presented a 20-point program which makes no mention of a referendum on Italy’s membership of the euro zone.</p> FILE PHOTO: 5-Star Movement leader Luigi Di Maio holds the symbol of his party, that will run in Italy's March 4 election, in Rome, January 19, 2018. REUTERS/Tony Gentile/File Photo
<p>5-Star has steadily scaled back its commitment to the referendum that used to be one of its main policies. The plan frightened financial markets which saw it as a threat to the whole single currency project.</p>
<p>5-Star’s moderate new leader, Luigi Di Maio, who was elected in September, presented the program at a party gathering in Pescara on the Adriatic coast, saying it would be the basis for negotiations with other parties after the election.</p>
<p>“The political forces will have to tell us why they don’t want to converge around this program, and we will ask them on the evening of March 4,” 31-year-old Di Maio told reporters.</p>
<p>5-Star leads opinion polls with some 28 percent of the vote, about 5 points ahead of the ruling Democratic Party.</p>
<p>However a center-right alliance of smaller parties, led by Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia (Go Italy!) totals about 37 percent and is seen winning most parliamentary seats, though not enough for a working majority.</p>
<p>As well as dropping the euro referendum, 5-Star has also shifted away from a previous refusal to consider governing with other parties.</p>
<p>Di Maio says that if the center-right bloc is unable to form a government and 5-Star is the largest party, President Sergio Mattarella must give him a mandate to try to win cross-party support for his program.</p>
<p>5-Star, founded in 2009 by comedian Beppe Grillo, started out as a protest movement that appealed to voters sickened by corruption and cronyism among Italy’s political and business elite.</p> FILE PHOTO: 5-Star Movement leader Luigi Di Maio holds the symbol of his party, that will run in the country's March 4 election, in Rome, Italy January 19, 2018. REUTERS/Tony Gentile TAX CUTS
<p>Since his election Di Maio has tried to give it a less revolutionary image to win over moderate voters, stressing the party’s pro-business agenda as well as the fight against graft.</p>
<p>Top of 5-Star’s 20-point plan is a promise to cut red-tape by abolishing 400 “useless” laws. It also promises a “drastic” reduction in business taxes as well as its flagship policy to fight poverty by offering an income of up to 780 euros per month for all those willing to look for work.</p>
<p>Di Maio also presented some of 5-Star’s high-profile candidates at the election, including prominent television journalists and the head of a consumer rights group, countering critics’ charge that the party lacks experience and competence.</p>
<p>The candidates also included a coastguard officer, Gregorio De Falco, who became a national hero in 2012 when the Costa Concordia cruise ship capsized, killing 32 people.</p>
<p>De Falco, who will run for a seat in the Senate, famously told the fleeing captain of the ship to “Get back on board, damn it!” during a furious telephone exchange broadcast to millions of Italians on television.</p>
<p>The election program also promises to soften a 2012 pension reform that raised the retirement age. Under 5-Star’s plan people will be eligible for a pension after paying 41 years of contributions or if the sum of their age and their years of contributions adds up to 100.</p>
<p>It pledges 50 billion euros of extra public investment in new technologies, offset by 50 billion euros of cuts in “unproductive” spending. Overall, the plan is short on detail about how the measures will be funded.</p>
<p>It promises to increase borrowing to finance investments, but still targets Italy’s huge public debt, which currently stands at 132 percent of output, to fall by 40 percentage points over the next decade.</p>
<p>Editing by Catherine Evans</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland signed the largest arms procurement deal in its history on Wednesday, agreeing with the United States to buy Raytheon Co’s ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=RTN.N" type="external">RTN.N</a>) Patriot missile defense system for $4.75 billion in a major step to modernize its forces against a bolder Russia.</p> Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak attends the signing ceremony for a deal to buy Raytheon Co's&#160;Patriot&#160;missile&#160;defence&#160;system in Warsaw, Poland, March 28, 2018. Agencja Gazeta/Slawomir Kaminski/ via REUTERS
<p>“It is an extraordinary, historic moment; it is Poland’s introduction into a whole new world of state-of-the-art technology, modern weaponry, and defensive means,” President Andrzej Duda said during the signing ceremony.</p>
<p>NATO member Poland has accelerated efforts to overhaul its ageing weaponry following Moscow’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula in 2014. Two-thirds of Poland’s weaponry dates from the Cold War era when it was in the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact.</p>
<p>Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov told state-run Sputnik news website in November that Patriot deployments were part of a U.S. plot to surround Russia with missile defense systems “under the pretext of mythical threats to security”.</p>
<p>The Patriot deal follows Monday’s expulsion of more than 100 Russian diplomats by the United States and a score of other Western countries including Poland in response to a the poisoning of a Russian former spy in Britain.</p>
<p>This month, Russian President Vladimir Putin unveiled an array of new nuclear weapons, saying they could hit almost any point in the world and evade a U.S.-built missile shield.</p>
<p>The Patriot deal came as a relief for Poland amid tension with Washington over a law Warsaw introduced in January imposing jail terms for suggesting Poland was complicit in the Holocaust.</p>
<p>The United States says the bill subverts freedom of speech and Israeli officials say it amounts to Holocaust denial, an accusation that Poland’s nationalist government rejects.</p>
<p>Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said the Patriot agreement showed “solidarity and cooperation” with the United States and other NATO countries.</p> Slideshow (4 Images) “STRONGER THAN OTHERS”
<p>Wednesday’s deal is for the delivery in 2022 of two Patriot batteries manufactured by Raytheon, each with two fire units.</p>
<p>Warsaw is negotiating with Washington to buy more Patriots, a new 360-degree radar and a low-cost interceptor missile as part of a second phase of modernization.</p>
<p>“We do expect that Poland will move pretty quickly with Phase II. They have a stated desire to complete that by the end of the year,” Wes Kremer, president of Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, told Reuters by telephone.</p>
<p>Air defenses are particularly important for Poland and neighboring Baltic states Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=RTN.N" type="external">Raytheon Co</a> 211.06 RTN.N New York Stock Exchange -4.05 (-1.88%) RTN.N LMT.N
<p>NATO planners say Russia is using its Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad as well as Crimea to pursue the capability to block off NATO’s air access to the Baltic states, about a third of Poland and to the Black Sea.</p>
<p>Warsaw’s decision may raise pressure on Washington to meet Baltic requests for stronger air defenses. While the Baltics are seeking their own missile defenses, the high cost for their small economies makes any quick purchases difficult.</p>
<p>Raytheon’s Kremer said the current threat environment had increased demand for missile defense systems and the Donald Trump administration was working to accelerate sales to allies.</p>
<p>“In general, they’re more open to expediting and getting these deals worked,” Kremer said.</p>
<p>Fourteen other countries, including six NATO members, have the Patriot missile. Romania agreed in November to buy Patriots and the U.S. government has also approved sales to Sweden. Switzerland last week announced it was also looking at the Patriot among other systems in a competition expected to kick off later this year.</p>
<p>Raytheon hopes the Polish purchase could provide fresh momentum for its bid to supply a more modern Patriot system to Germany, which has not yet signed a contract for the rival MEADS system built by Lockheed Martin ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=LMT.N" type="external">LMT.N</a>) and European missile maker MBDA, three years after it picked MEADS over Patriot.</p>
<p>Kremer said changing course and expanding its existing Patriot systems would make it easier for Germany to work jointly with other Patriot users in NATO, although MEADS supporters say the system is intended to be able to integrate other components.</p>
<p>Poland’s deal, approved in November by the U.S. State Department, envisaged a sale worth up to $10.5 billion. But Warsaw brought the price down by opting for a less ambitious command system and procuring some elements locally.</p>
<p>“We are getting to the front row of countries which will be able not only to cooperate and jointly carry out tasks with the United States and NATO, but will be also perceived on (NATO’s) eastern flank as ... stronger than others,” General Leszek Surawski, the Polish military’s chief of staff, said after the signing ceremony.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Andrea Shalal in Berlin and Robin Emmott in Brussels; writing by Lidia Kelly; editing by Mark Heinrich</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas rejected on Wednesday criticism of Berlin’s decision to compete against Israel for a seat on the U.N. Security Council in 2019 and 2020, saying it was normal for a number of countries to seek representation.</p> German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas listens during a news conference with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al Maliki in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank March 26, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman
<p>Maas told reporters before his first United Nations visit as foreign minister that Germany’s candidacy had been announced long ago, and did not diminish its strong support for Israel.</p>
<p>“We are not running against anyone; we are running for a seat,” he said, following the criticism from Washington’s nominee as U.S. ambassador to Berlin and others. “That is a topic that one can deal with very normally.”</p>
<p>The Council comprises five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members elected by the U.N. General Assembly for two-year terms. Germany last held a non-permanent seat in 2011-12 and is vying with Israel and Belgium for one of the two seats to be filled in 2019-20.</p>
<p>Richard Grenell, whose nomination is held up in the Senate, said earlier this month that the United States had brokered a deal in the 1990s with countries in the U.N.’s Western European and Others Group to allow Israel to run uncontested for a seat.</p>
<p>Grenell, the U.S. spokesman at the U.N. from 2001 to 2009, tweeted about the issue on March 14, saying, “Israel has waited 19 years! The US must demand that Europe keep its word.”</p>
<p>German diplomats deny any such agreement was made. The Israeli mission to the U.N. declined to comment on Grenell’s tweet.</p>
<p>Conservative and pro-Israeli groups in the United States have also criticized Germany’s decision to run for the seat at the same time as Israel.</p>
<p>Maas said Germany was well-placed to serve on the Council since it was the second largest provider of both funds and troops for the U.N. and played a big role in humanitarian and stabilization missions, as well as on climate change.</p>
<p>Security Council candidates must win more than two-thirds of the overall vote by the 193-member General Assembly to be elected. The election for the term beginning on Jan. 1, 2019 is due to be held in June.</p>
<p>The Council, on which the five permanent members - the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia - hold veto powers, is the only U.N. body that can make legally binding decisions, as well as imposing sanctions and authorizing the use of force.</p>
<p>To ensure geographical representation on the Council, there are five seats for African and Asian states; one for Eastern European states; two for the Latin American and Caribbean states and two for Western European and other states.</p>
<p>Regional groups generally agree upon the candidates to put forward and competitive races for seats are increasingly rare.</p>
<p>Reporting by Andrea Shalal, Michelle Nichols and Sabine Siebold; editing by David Stamp</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SEOUL (Reuters) - North and South Korea will hold their first summit in more than a decade on April 27, South Korean officials said on Thursday, after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged his commitment to denuclearization as tensions ease between the old foes.</p>
<p>South Korean officials, who announced the summit date after high-level talks with North Korean counterparts, said the summit agenda would largely be the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and an improvement of inter-Korean relations.</p>
<p>The two Koreas had agreed to hold the summit at the border truce village of Panmunjom when South Korean President Moon Jae-in sent a delegation to Pyongyang this month to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.</p>
<p>Thursday’s meeting was the first high-level dialogue between the two Koreas since the delegation returned from the North.</p>
<p>The two sides said in a joint statement they would hold a working-level meeting on April 4 to discuss details of the summit, such as staffing support, security and news releases.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-northkorea-missiles-china-southkorea/beijing-envoy-says-kim-jong-uns-china-visit-will-help-toward-denuclearization-idUSKBN1H50YM" type="external">Beijing envoy says Kim Jong Un's China visit will help toward denuclearization</a>
<a href="/article/us-northkorea-missiles-ioc/ioc-chief-bach-heads-to-north-korea-yonhap-idUSKBN1H50VC" type="external">IOC chief Bach heads to North Korea: Yonhap</a>
<p>“We still have a fair number of issues to resolve on a working-level for preparations over the next month,” said Ri Son Gwon, the chairman of North Korea’s committee for the peaceful reunification of the country in closing remarks to the South Korean delegation.</p>
<p>“But if the two sides deeply understand the historic significance and meaning of this summit and give their all, we will be able to solve all problems swiftly and amicably,” Ri added.</p>
<p>Tension over North Korea’s tests of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile surged last year and raised fears of U.S. military action in response to North Korean threat to develop a nuclear weapon capable of hitting the United States.</p>
<p>But tension has eased significantly since North Korea decided to send athletes to the Winter Olympics in South Korea in February. The neighbors are technically still at war after the 1950-53 conflict ended with a ceasefire, not a truce.</p>
<p>China commended the two sides for their efforts to improve ties.</p>
<p>“We hope the momentum of dialogue can continue and that the peaceful situation also can last,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a briefing.</p> ‘RESOLVE PROBLEMS’
<p>Kim is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump some time in May to discuss denuclearization, although a time and place have not been set for that summit.</p>
<p>Kim met Chinese President Xi Jinping in a surprise visit to Beijing this week, his first trip outside the isolated North since he came to power in 2011.</p>
<p>Even more surprising was Kim’s pledge to denuclearize the Korean peninsula. That commitment was reported by Chinese state media, although North Korea’s official media made no mention of it, or Kim’s anticipated meeting with Trump.</p>
<p>A senior Chinese official visiting Seoul on Thursday to brief South Korea on Kim’s visit to Beijing, said it should help ease tension and lead to the denuclearization of the peninsula.</p>
<p>“We believe his visit will help the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, ensure peace and security of the Korean peninsula and resolve problems regarding the peninsula through political negotiations and discussions,” Yang Jiechi said in opening remarks during a meeting with South Korea’s National Security Office head, Chung Eui-yong.</p>
<p>Yang, a top Chinese diplomat, is scheduled to meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday.</p> South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon and his North Korean counterpart Ri Son Gwon pose for photographs before their meeting at the truce village of Panmunjom, North Korea, March 29, 2018. Korea Pool/Yonhap via REUTERS
<p>South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myong-gyon told reporters Kim’s visit to China was not discussed with North Korean officials in their Thursday talks.</p>
<p>Trump and Kim had exchanged insults and veiled threats of war in recent months but the U.S. leader made the surprising announcement this month that he was prepared to meet Kim to discuss the crisis over the North’s development of weapons.</p>
<p>The North Korean leader’s engagement with the international community has sparked speculation that he may try to meet other leaders. Japan’s Asahi newspaper said Japan had sounded out the North Korean government about a summit.</p>
<p>Japan’s Foreign Minister Taro Kono left open the possibility that Shinzo Abe might meet Kim at some point. Kono said in an interview with Reuters on Tuesday that Japan was closely watching preparations for the North-South Korean summit and the Trump-Kim meeting.</p>
<p>Chinese President Xi Jinping promised Beijing would uphold its friendship with North Korea after his meeting with Kim.</p> Slideshow (3 Images)
<p>Trump wrote on Twitter he had received a message from Xi late on Tuesday that his meeting with Kim “went very well” and that Kim looked forward to meeting the U.S. president.</p>
<p>Reporting by Christine Kim; Additional reporting by Michael Martina in BEIJING; Editing by Paul Tait, Robert Birsel</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
rome reuters antiestablishment 5star movement leading opinion polls ahead march 4 election presented 20point program makes mention referendum italys membership euro zone file photo 5star movement leader luigi di maio holds symbol party run italys march 4 election rome january 19 2018 reuterstony gentilefile photo 5star steadily scaled back commitment referendum used one main policies plan frightened financial markets saw threat whole single currency project 5stars moderate new leader luigi di maio elected september presented program party gathering pescara adriatic coast saying would basis negotiations parties election political forces tell us dont want converge around program ask evening march 4 31yearold di maio told reporters 5star leads opinion polls 28 percent vote 5 points ahead ruling democratic party however centerright alliance smaller parties led silvio berlusconis forza italia go italy totals 37 percent seen winning parliamentary seats though enough working majority well dropping euro referendum 5star also shifted away previous refusal consider governing parties di maio says centerright bloc unable form government 5star largest party president sergio mattarella must give mandate try win crossparty support program 5star founded 2009 comedian beppe grillo started protest movement appealed voters sickened corruption cronyism among italys political business elite file photo 5star movement leader luigi di maio holds symbol party run countrys march 4 election rome italy january 19 2018 reuterstony gentile tax cuts since election di maio tried give less revolutionary image win moderate voters stressing partys probusiness agenda well fight graft top 5stars 20point plan promise cut redtape abolishing 400 useless laws also promises drastic reduction business taxes well flagship policy fight poverty offering income 780 euros per month willing look work di maio also presented 5stars highprofile candidates election including prominent television journalists head consumer rights group countering critics charge party lacks experience competence candidates also included coastguard officer gregorio de falco became national hero 2012 costa concordia cruise ship capsized killing 32 people de falco run seat senate famously told fleeing captain ship get back board damn furious telephone exchange broadcast millions italians television election program also promises soften 2012 pension reform raised retirement age 5stars plan people eligible pension paying 41 years contributions sum age years contributions adds 100 pledges 50 billion euros extra public investment new technologies offset 50 billion euros cuts unproductive spending overall plan short detail measures funded promises increase borrowing finance investments still targets italys huge public debt currently stands 132 percent output fall 40 percentage points next decade editing catherine evans standards thomson reuters trust principles warsaw reuters poland signed largest arms procurement deal history wednesday agreeing united states buy raytheon cos rtnn patriot missile defense system 475 billion major step modernize forces bolder russia polish defence minister mariusz blaszczak attends signing ceremony deal buy raytheon cos160patriot160missile160defence160system warsaw poland march 28 2018 agencja gazetaslawomir kaminski via reuters extraordinary historic moment polands introduction whole new world stateoftheart technology modern weaponry defensive means president andrzej duda said signing ceremony nato member poland accelerated efforts overhaul ageing weaponry following moscows annexation ukraines crimea peninsula 2014 twothirds polands weaponry dates cold war era sovietled warsaw pact russian deputy foreign minister vladimir titov told staterun sputnik news website november patriot deployments part us plot surround russia missile defense systems pretext mythical threats security patriot deal follows mondays expulsion 100 russian diplomats united states score western countries including poland response poisoning russian former spy britain month russian president vladimir putin unveiled array new nuclear weapons saying could hit almost point world evade usbuilt missile shield patriot deal came relief poland amid tension washington law warsaw introduced january imposing jail terms suggesting poland complicit holocaust united states says bill subverts freedom speech israeli officials say amounts holocaust denial accusation polands nationalist government rejects polish prime minister mateusz morawiecki said patriot agreement showed solidarity cooperation united states nato countries slideshow 4 images stronger others wednesdays deal delivery 2022 two patriot batteries manufactured raytheon two fire units warsaw negotiating washington buy patriots new 360degree radar lowcost interceptor missile part second phase modernization expect poland move pretty quickly phase ii stated desire complete end year wes kremer president raytheon integrated defense systems told reuters telephone air defenses particularly important poland neighboring baltic states lithuania latvia estonia raytheon co 21106 rtnn new york stock exchange 405 188 rtnn lmtn nato planners say russia using baltic enclave kaliningrad well crimea pursue capability block natos air access baltic states third poland black sea warsaws decision may raise pressure washington meet baltic requests stronger air defenses baltics seeking missile defenses high cost small economies makes quick purchases difficult raytheons kremer said current threat environment increased demand missile defense systems donald trump administration working accelerate sales allies general theyre open expediting getting deals worked kremer said fourteen countries including six nato members patriot missile romania agreed november buy patriots us government also approved sales sweden switzerland last week announced also looking patriot among systems competition expected kick later year raytheon hopes polish purchase could provide fresh momentum bid supply modern patriot system germany yet signed contract rival meads system built lockheed martin lmtn european missile maker mbda three years picked meads patriot kremer said changing course expanding existing patriot systems would make easier germany work jointly patriot users nato although meads supporters say system intended able integrate components polands deal approved november us state department envisaged sale worth 105 billion warsaw brought price opting less ambitious command system procuring elements locally getting front row countries able cooperate jointly carry tasks united states nato also perceived natos eastern flank stronger others general leszek surawski polish militarys chief staff said signing ceremony additional reporting andrea shalal berlin robin emmott brussels writing lidia kelly editing mark heinrich standards thomson reuters trust principles new york reuters german foreign minister heiko maas rejected wednesday criticism berlins decision compete israel seat un security council 2019 2020 saying normal number countries seek representation german foreign minister heiko maas listens news conference palestinian foreign minister riyad al maliki ramallah occupied west bank march 26 2018 reutersmohamad torokman maas told reporters first united nations visit foreign minister germanys candidacy announced long ago diminish strong support israel running anyone running seat said following criticism washingtons nominee us ambassador berlin others topic one deal normally council comprises five permanent members 10 nonpermanent members elected un general assembly twoyear terms germany last held nonpermanent seat 201112 vying israel belgium one two seats filled 201920 richard grenell whose nomination held senate said earlier month united states brokered deal 1990s countries uns western european others group allow israel run uncontested seat grenell us spokesman un 2001 2009 tweeted issue march 14 saying israel waited 19 years us must demand europe keep word german diplomats deny agreement made israeli mission un declined comment grenells tweet conservative proisraeli groups united states also criticized germanys decision run seat time israel maas said germany wellplaced serve council since second largest provider funds troops un played big role humanitarian stabilization missions well climate change security council candidates must win twothirds overall vote 193member general assembly elected election term beginning jan 1 2019 due held june council five permanent members united states britain france china russia hold veto powers un body make legally binding decisions well imposing sanctions authorizing use force ensure geographical representation council five seats african asian states one eastern european states two latin american caribbean states two western european states regional groups generally agree upon candidates put forward competitive races seats increasingly rare reporting andrea shalal michelle nichols sabine siebold editing david stamp standards thomson reuters trust principles seoul reuters north south korea hold first summit decade april 27 south korean officials said thursday north korean leader kim jong un pledged commitment denuclearization tensions ease old foes south korean officials announced summit date highlevel talks north korean counterparts said summit agenda would largely denuclearization korean peninsula improvement interkorean relations two koreas agreed hold summit border truce village panmunjom south korean president moon jaein sent delegation pyongyang month meet north korean leader kim jong un thursdays meeting first highlevel dialogue two koreas since delegation returned north two sides said joint statement would hold workinglevel meeting april 4 discuss details summit staffing support security news releases related coverage beijing envoy says kim jong uns china visit help toward denuclearization ioc chief bach heads north korea yonhap still fair number issues resolve workinglevel preparations next month said ri son gwon chairman north koreas committee peaceful reunification country closing remarks south korean delegation two sides deeply understand historic significance meaning summit give able solve problems swiftly amicably ri added tension north koreas tests nuclear weapons ballistic missile surged last year raised fears us military action response north korean threat develop nuclear weapon capable hitting united states tension eased significantly since north korea decided send athletes winter olympics south korea february neighbors technically still war 195053 conflict ended ceasefire truce china commended two sides efforts improve ties hope momentum dialogue continue peaceful situation also last chinese foreign ministry spokesman lu kang told briefing resolve problems kim scheduled meet us president donald trump time may discuss denuclearization although time place set summit kim met chinese president xi jinping surprise visit beijing week first trip outside isolated north since came power 2011 even surprising kims pledge denuclearize korean peninsula commitment reported chinese state media although north koreas official media made mention kims anticipated meeting trump senior chinese official visiting seoul thursday brief south korea kims visit beijing said help ease tension lead denuclearization peninsula believe visit help denuclearization korean peninsula ensure peace security korean peninsula resolve problems regarding peninsula political negotiations discussions yang jiechi said opening remarks meeting south koreas national security office head chung euiyong yang top chinese diplomat scheduled meet south korean president moon jaein friday south korean unification minister cho myounggyon north korean counterpart ri son gwon pose photographs meeting truce village panmunjom north korea march 29 2018 korea poolyonhap via reuters south korean unification minister cho myonggyon told reporters kims visit china discussed north korean officials thursday talks trump kim exchanged insults veiled threats war recent months us leader made surprising announcement month prepared meet kim discuss crisis norths development weapons north korean leaders engagement international community sparked speculation may try meet leaders japans asahi newspaper said japan sounded north korean government summit japans foreign minister taro kono left open possibility shinzo abe might meet kim point kono said interview reuters tuesday japan closely watching preparations northsouth korean summit trumpkim meeting chinese president xi jinping promised beijing would uphold friendship north korea meeting kim slideshow 3 images trump wrote twitter received message xi late tuesday meeting kim went well kim looked forward meeting us president reporting christine kim additional reporting michael martina beijing editing paul tait robert birsel standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 1,774 |
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — When Celeste Kidd was a graduate student of neuroscience at the University of Rochester she says a professor supervising her made her life unbearable by stalking her, making demeaning comments about her weight and talking about sex.</p>
<p>Ten years on and now a professor of neuroscience at the university, Kidd is taking legal action. She has filed a federal lawsuit against the school alleging that it mishandled its sexual harassment investigation into the professor’s actions and then retaliated against her and her colleagues for reporting the misconduct.</p>
<p>“We are trying to bring transparency to a system that is corrupt,” Kidd told The Associated Press.</p>
<p>Academia — like Hollywood, the media and Congress — is facing its own #MeToo movement over allegations of sexual misconduct. Brett Sokolow, who heads an association of sexual harassment investigators on campuses, estimates that the number of reported complaints has risen by about 10 percent since the accusations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein surfaced in early October, spurring more women to speak out against harassment in various fields. The increase is mostly from women complaining of harassment by faculty members who are their superiors.</p>
<p>But the Trump administration has viewed the issue of sexual harassment on campus in a different light. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has scrapped Obama-era regulations on investigating sexual assault, arguing that they were skewed in favor of the accuser. New instructions allow universities to require higher standards of evidence when handling such complaints.</p>
<p>A forthcoming <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2971447" type="external">study</a> of nearly 300 such cases in the Utah Law Review found that one in 10 female graduate students at major research universities reports being sexually harassed by a faculty member. And in more than half of those cases, the alleged perpetrator is a repeat offender, according to the study.</p>
<p>“Often schools might turn a blind eye toward sexual harassment that they know about or have heard about because a professor is bringing in a big grant or is adding to the stature of the university,” said Neena Chaudhry, senior counsel at the National Women’s Law Center.</p>
<p>The Education Department did not respond to a request for comment.</p>
<p>Activists say young women pursuing graduate studies are especially vulnerable to sexual misconduct because they depend heavily on their academic adviser to complete their degrees, pursue research in their field of study and get recommendations for future jobs. Reporting misconduct could endanger an academic career. And besides damaging the women’s mental health and well-being, sexual harassment can chase some of them out of academia altogether.</p>
<p>“Often professors who are advising graduate students are the students’ gateway to their degree attainment and their career prospects,” said Anne Hedgepeth with the American Association of University Women. “That’s an immense amount of power that professors hold. It’s also an immense amount of risk that students take when coming forward when future prospects are on the line.”</p>
<p>That sums up what happened to Kidd, according to the lawsuit.</p>
<p>Kidd says Florian Jaeger, a distinguished linguistics professor at the New York university’s cognitive sciences department who was one of her academic advisers in 2007, pressured her to rent a room in his apartment for a year. She says he then constantly intruded in her private life, demoralized her and talked to her about oral sex and other sexually explicit topics.</p>
<p>“I begged him to stop and to just advise me professionally and he said that was impossible, that wasn’t his mentorship style,” Kidd said in a phone interview. “There were many moments where I went to sleep in the lab and I wondered what I had done to deserve the hell I was living in every day.”</p>
<p>When Kidd protested, Jaeger made it understood that he could derail her career.</p>
<p>“He had a lot of control over my work life, he had the ears of everybody in the field,” she recalled. “He reminded me constantly that they know him, that he was a big shot and that I was no one.”</p>
<p>In the end, Kidd moved out of Jaeger’s apartment and abandoned language research so that she wouldn’t have to be supervised by Jaeger. She now studies attention and general learning.</p>
<p>Last year, two professors at the department, in whom Kidd eventually confided, filed a sexual harassment complaint. The university investigated but found the allegations unsubstantiated. The professors say the university then began a retaliation campaign against them. In August, Kidd together with group of faculty members filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a federal agency in charge of workplace discrimination issues. In December, Kidd and her colleagues filed a federal lawsuit.</p>
<p>The university responded by placing Jaeger, now a tenured professor, on administrative leave and commissioning an independent investigation. Results are expected in early January.</p>
<p>University President Joel Seligman said in a statement that the school is committed to creating a safe and respectful environment, but vowed to “vigorously defend” himself and the university provost against some personal claims made against them in the suit.</p>
<p>Jaeger did not respond to an email seeking comment. But shortly after the case was made public this fall, he emailed his students to say that while some of the online comments about him were painful to read, “I am glad that there is now generally so much support for people who speak up against discrimination.” Jaeger added that he has always tried to make his lab “an exciting, sa(f)e and supportive place to pursue science” and that he has received letters of support from former students.</p>
<p>As universities face pressure to rethink their sexual misconduct policies, activists suggest various possible remedies: spelling out what interaction is appropriate between faculty and students; more transparency in reporting and investigating complaints; more women in senior leadership positions in academia; and making a student’s career less dependent on just one professor.</p>
<p>“There is really no excuse for not addressing this,” Chaudhry at the National Women’s Law Center said.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Maria Danilova on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/m_education_ap" type="external">https://twitter.com/m_education_ap</a></p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — When Celeste Kidd was a graduate student of neuroscience at the University of Rochester she says a professor supervising her made her life unbearable by stalking her, making demeaning comments about her weight and talking about sex.</p>
<p>Ten years on and now a professor of neuroscience at the university, Kidd is taking legal action. She has filed a federal lawsuit against the school alleging that it mishandled its sexual harassment investigation into the professor’s actions and then retaliated against her and her colleagues for reporting the misconduct.</p>
<p>“We are trying to bring transparency to a system that is corrupt,” Kidd told The Associated Press.</p>
<p>Academia — like Hollywood, the media and Congress — is facing its own #MeToo movement over allegations of sexual misconduct. Brett Sokolow, who heads an association of sexual harassment investigators on campuses, estimates that the number of reported complaints has risen by about 10 percent since the accusations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein surfaced in early October, spurring more women to speak out against harassment in various fields. The increase is mostly from women complaining of harassment by faculty members who are their superiors.</p>
<p>But the Trump administration has viewed the issue of sexual harassment on campus in a different light. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has scrapped Obama-era regulations on investigating sexual assault, arguing that they were skewed in favor of the accuser. New instructions allow universities to require higher standards of evidence when handling such complaints.</p>
<p>A forthcoming <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2971447" type="external">study</a> of nearly 300 such cases in the Utah Law Review found that one in 10 female graduate students at major research universities reports being sexually harassed by a faculty member. And in more than half of those cases, the alleged perpetrator is a repeat offender, according to the study.</p>
<p>“Often schools might turn a blind eye toward sexual harassment that they know about or have heard about because a professor is bringing in a big grant or is adding to the stature of the university,” said Neena Chaudhry, senior counsel at the National Women’s Law Center.</p>
<p>The Education Department did not respond to a request for comment.</p>
<p>Activists say young women pursuing graduate studies are especially vulnerable to sexual misconduct because they depend heavily on their academic adviser to complete their degrees, pursue research in their field of study and get recommendations for future jobs. Reporting misconduct could endanger an academic career. And besides damaging the women’s mental health and well-being, sexual harassment can chase some of them out of academia altogether.</p>
<p>“Often professors who are advising graduate students are the students’ gateway to their degree attainment and their career prospects,” said Anne Hedgepeth with the American Association of University Women. “That’s an immense amount of power that professors hold. It’s also an immense amount of risk that students take when coming forward when future prospects are on the line.”</p>
<p>That sums up what happened to Kidd, according to the lawsuit.</p>
<p>Kidd says Florian Jaeger, a distinguished linguistics professor at the New York university’s cognitive sciences department who was one of her academic advisers in 2007, pressured her to rent a room in his apartment for a year. She says he then constantly intruded in her private life, demoralized her and talked to her about oral sex and other sexually explicit topics.</p>
<p>“I begged him to stop and to just advise me professionally and he said that was impossible, that wasn’t his mentorship style,” Kidd said in a phone interview. “There were many moments where I went to sleep in the lab and I wondered what I had done to deserve the hell I was living in every day.”</p>
<p>When Kidd protested, Jaeger made it understood that he could derail her career.</p>
<p>“He had a lot of control over my work life, he had the ears of everybody in the field,” she recalled. “He reminded me constantly that they know him, that he was a big shot and that I was no one.”</p>
<p>In the end, Kidd moved out of Jaeger’s apartment and abandoned language research so that she wouldn’t have to be supervised by Jaeger. She now studies attention and general learning.</p>
<p>Last year, two professors at the department, in whom Kidd eventually confided, filed a sexual harassment complaint. The university investigated but found the allegations unsubstantiated. The professors say the university then began a retaliation campaign against them. In August, Kidd together with group of faculty members filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a federal agency in charge of workplace discrimination issues. In December, Kidd and her colleagues filed a federal lawsuit.</p>
<p>The university responded by placing Jaeger, now a tenured professor, on administrative leave and commissioning an independent investigation. Results are expected in early January.</p>
<p>University President Joel Seligman said in a statement that the school is committed to creating a safe and respectful environment, but vowed to “vigorously defend” himself and the university provost against some personal claims made against them in the suit.</p>
<p>Jaeger did not respond to an email seeking comment. But shortly after the case was made public this fall, he emailed his students to say that while some of the online comments about him were painful to read, “I am glad that there is now generally so much support for people who speak up against discrimination.” Jaeger added that he has always tried to make his lab “an exciting, sa(f)e and supportive place to pursue science” and that he has received letters of support from former students.</p>
<p>As universities face pressure to rethink their sexual misconduct policies, activists suggest various possible remedies: spelling out what interaction is appropriate between faculty and students; more transparency in reporting and investigating complaints; more women in senior leadership positions in academia; and making a student’s career less dependent on just one professor.</p>
<p>“There is really no excuse for not addressing this,” Chaudhry at the National Women’s Law Center said.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Maria Danilova on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/m_education_ap" type="external">https://twitter.com/m_education_ap</a></p>
| false | 2 |
washington ap celeste kidd graduate student neuroscience university rochester says professor supervising made life unbearable stalking making demeaning comments weight talking sex ten years professor neuroscience university kidd taking legal action filed federal lawsuit school alleging mishandled sexual harassment investigation professors actions retaliated colleagues reporting misconduct trying bring transparency system corrupt kidd told associated press academia like hollywood media congress facing metoo movement allegations sexual misconduct brett sokolow heads association sexual harassment investigators campuses estimates number reported complaints risen 10 percent since accusations hollywood mogul harvey weinstein surfaced early october spurring women speak harassment various fields increase mostly women complaining harassment faculty members superiors trump administration viewed issue sexual harassment campus different light education secretary betsy devos scrapped obamaera regulations investigating sexual assault arguing skewed favor accuser new instructions allow universities require higher standards evidence handling complaints forthcoming study nearly 300 cases utah law review found one 10 female graduate students major research universities reports sexually harassed faculty member half cases alleged perpetrator repeat offender according study often schools might turn blind eye toward sexual harassment know heard professor bringing big grant adding stature university said neena chaudhry senior counsel national womens law center education department respond request comment activists say young women pursuing graduate studies especially vulnerable sexual misconduct depend heavily academic adviser complete degrees pursue research field study get recommendations future jobs reporting misconduct could endanger academic career besides damaging womens mental health wellbeing sexual harassment chase academia altogether often professors advising graduate students students gateway degree attainment career prospects said anne hedgepeth american association university women thats immense amount power professors hold also immense amount risk students take coming forward future prospects line sums happened kidd according lawsuit kidd says florian jaeger distinguished linguistics professor new york universitys cognitive sciences department one academic advisers 2007 pressured rent room apartment year says constantly intruded private life demoralized talked oral sex sexually explicit topics begged stop advise professionally said impossible wasnt mentorship style kidd said phone interview many moments went sleep lab wondered done deserve hell living every day kidd protested jaeger made understood could derail career lot control work life ears everybody field recalled reminded constantly know big shot one end kidd moved jaegers apartment abandoned language research wouldnt supervised jaeger studies attention general learning last year two professors department kidd eventually confided filed sexual harassment complaint university investigated found allegations unsubstantiated professors say university began retaliation campaign august kidd together group faculty members filed complaint equal employment opportunity commission federal agency charge workplace discrimination issues december kidd colleagues filed federal lawsuit university responded placing jaeger tenured professor administrative leave commissioning independent investigation results expected early january university president joel seligman said statement school committed creating safe respectful environment vowed vigorously defend university provost personal claims made suit jaeger respond email seeking comment shortly case made public fall emailed students say online comments painful read glad generally much support people speak discrimination jaeger added always tried make lab exciting safe supportive place pursue science received letters support former students universities face pressure rethink sexual misconduct policies activists suggest various possible remedies spelling interaction appropriate faculty students transparency reporting investigating complaints women senior leadership positions academia making students career less dependent one professor really excuse addressing chaudhry national womens law center said ___ follow maria danilova twitter httpstwittercomm_education_ap washington ap celeste kidd graduate student neuroscience university rochester says professor supervising made life unbearable stalking making demeaning comments weight talking sex ten years professor neuroscience university kidd taking legal action filed federal lawsuit school alleging mishandled sexual harassment investigation professors actions retaliated colleagues reporting misconduct trying bring transparency system corrupt kidd told associated press academia like hollywood media congress facing metoo movement allegations sexual misconduct brett sokolow heads association sexual harassment investigators campuses estimates number reported complaints risen 10 percent since accusations hollywood mogul harvey weinstein surfaced early october spurring women speak harassment various fields increase mostly women complaining harassment faculty members superiors trump administration viewed issue sexual harassment campus different light education secretary betsy devos scrapped obamaera regulations investigating sexual assault arguing skewed favor accuser new instructions allow universities require higher standards evidence handling complaints forthcoming study nearly 300 cases utah law review found one 10 female graduate students major research universities reports sexually harassed faculty member half cases alleged perpetrator repeat offender according study often schools might turn blind eye toward sexual harassment know heard professor bringing big grant adding stature university said neena chaudhry senior counsel national womens law center education department respond request comment activists say young women pursuing graduate studies especially vulnerable sexual misconduct depend heavily academic adviser complete degrees pursue research field study get recommendations future jobs reporting misconduct could endanger academic career besides damaging womens mental health wellbeing sexual harassment chase academia altogether often professors advising graduate students students gateway degree attainment career prospects said anne hedgepeth american association university women thats immense amount power professors hold also immense amount risk students take coming forward future prospects line sums happened kidd according lawsuit kidd says florian jaeger distinguished linguistics professor new york universitys cognitive sciences department one academic advisers 2007 pressured rent room apartment year says constantly intruded private life demoralized talked oral sex sexually explicit topics begged stop advise professionally said impossible wasnt mentorship style kidd said phone interview many moments went sleep lab wondered done deserve hell living every day kidd protested jaeger made understood could derail career lot control work life ears everybody field recalled reminded constantly know big shot one end kidd moved jaegers apartment abandoned language research wouldnt supervised jaeger studies attention general learning last year two professors department kidd eventually confided filed sexual harassment complaint university investigated found allegations unsubstantiated professors say university began retaliation campaign august kidd together group faculty members filed complaint equal employment opportunity commission federal agency charge workplace discrimination issues december kidd colleagues filed federal lawsuit university responded placing jaeger tenured professor administrative leave commissioning independent investigation results expected early january university president joel seligman said statement school committed creating safe respectful environment vowed vigorously defend university provost personal claims made suit jaeger respond email seeking comment shortly case made public fall emailed students say online comments painful read glad generally much support people speak discrimination jaeger added always tried make lab exciting safe supportive place pursue science received letters support former students universities face pressure rethink sexual misconduct policies activists suggest various possible remedies spelling interaction appropriate faculty students transparency reporting investigating complaints women senior leadership positions academia making students career less dependent one professor really excuse addressing chaudhry national womens law center said ___ follow maria danilova twitter httpstwittercomm_education_ap
| 1,098 |
<p>LOS ANGELES (AP) - Points came easily for Steph Curry on Saturday. Eleven in his first five minutes, 17 before the game was 8 1/2 minutes old.</p>
<p>"I just wanted to start off the game right," Curry said. "It's obviously weird starting a game at 12:30 (p.m.). You've got to find that energy and something to build momentum, especially early."</p>
<p>He finished with a season-high 45 points without playing the fourth quarter and the Golden State Warriors ran away from the Los Angeles Clippers 121-105 for their fourth straight victory.</p>
<p>"I knew right away, when I got free for a couple of threes in the first quarter and they went down, I got in a rhythm," Curry said. "Beyond that, you just keep your head down and keep shooting and stay aggressive."</p>
<p>Curry took advantage of the guard-depleted Clippers, making 11 of 21 shots, including 8 of 16 3-pointers, going against rookie Juwan Evans and G-League call-up Tyrone Wallace.</p>
<p>In the four games since missing 11 with an ankle injury, Curry has averaged 36 points on 58 percent shooting, 54 percent beyond the arc.</p>
<p>"He's been on fire. Maybe the break was good for him," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "He's been amazing."</p>
<p>Said Curry: "Coming off the injury, obviously I've got fresh legs, a nice rhythm. I was able to put some good work in the week and a half before I got back on the floor."</p>
<p>The Clippers' Blake Griffin suffered a concussion late in the first quarter when he stumbled driving into the lane from the right wing and hit his head on JaVale McGee's right elbow. Griffin fell to the floor immediately, and remained down for several minutes as team physicians tended to him. He walked off under his own power and went to the locker room.</p>
<p>"Blake's a pretty tough guy, he should be OK," teammate DeAndre Jordan said. "But we definitely want him to be cautious and do whatever he needs to do to be OK."</p>
<p>Nick Young and JaVale McGee each scored 11 points, and Klay Thompson and David West added 10 apiece for Golden State, playing with Kevin Durant sidelined by a right calf strain. The Warriors improved to 17-2 since Nov. 27.</p>
<p>Lou Williams scored 23 points, and Jordan added 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers. They lost their 12th straight to the Warriors, dating to Dec. 25, 2014.</p>
<p>Tyrone Wallace, signed Friday, added 13 points in his first game for Los Angeles.</p>
<p>Tied at 50 with 3:30 left in the second quarter, the Warriors went on a 23-9 run, capping the stretch with Curry hitting a 3-pointer with 8:41 left in a third quarter.</p>
<p>Golden State went up 103-73 on McGee's dunk with 55 seconds in a quarter that would see the Warriors outscore on the Clippers 39-22 for a 103-76 lead with 12 minutes to play.</p>
<p>"We had a big third quarter, which is what we wanted," Kerr said. "At halftime we talked about it. Let's break free and make sure everybody gets out there and plays. That third quarter was important for us, but this was mainly about Steph tonight."</p>
<p>TIP-INS:</p>
<p>Warriors: The Warriors won their 10th straight road game, improving their road record to 17-3. Thompson hit a 3-pointer with 1:06 left in the second quarter, extending his streak of games with a made 3-pointer to 94, the longest active run. F Andre Iguodala started for the third time this season.</p>
<p>Clippers: F Sam Dekker made his first start of the season. In the first two starts, rookie Juwan Evans has drawn the assignment of guarding Russell Westbrook two nights ago and Steff Curry this afternoon.</p>
<p>CHANGING OF THE GUARDS</p>
<p>With guards Austin Rivers (right ankle) and MilosTeodosic (sore plantar fasciitis) out with injuries, the Clippers were forced to waive F Jamil Wilson, who had started 10 games and averaged 7.0 points on 46 percent shooting, on Friday. In Wilson's place, G Tyrone Wallace was singed a two-way contract.</p>
<p>"We don't have enough guards," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. "When Milos went out the other night, we didn't have enough players to playa the game. I don't know if I've ever had to cut a guy because we don't have enough guys at a position. That's what we had to do. It's a tough one."</p>
<p>AFTERNOON APPREHENSION</p>
<p>After dramatic victories in back-to-back games over Dallas and Houston, Warriors coach Steve Kerr worried about how the Warriors would react to the game's 12:30 p.m. starting time.</p>
<p>"It's a genuine concern," Kerr said. "Particularly because it was a unique back-to-back in Dallas, with travel back from Houston. We had a lot of flying, a couple of late nights in a row, and then an early start. This has a very different feel for a game."</p>
<p>UP NEXT:</p>
<p>Warriors: At Milwaukee on Monday night.</p>
<p>Clippers: Host Atlanta on Monday night.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For more NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball</p>
<p>LOS ANGELES (AP) - Points came easily for Steph Curry on Saturday. Eleven in his first five minutes, 17 before the game was 8 1/2 minutes old.</p>
<p>"I just wanted to start off the game right," Curry said. "It's obviously weird starting a game at 12:30 (p.m.). You've got to find that energy and something to build momentum, especially early."</p>
<p>He finished with a season-high 45 points without playing the fourth quarter and the Golden State Warriors ran away from the Los Angeles Clippers 121-105 for their fourth straight victory.</p>
<p>"I knew right away, when I got free for a couple of threes in the first quarter and they went down, I got in a rhythm," Curry said. "Beyond that, you just keep your head down and keep shooting and stay aggressive."</p>
<p>Curry took advantage of the guard-depleted Clippers, making 11 of 21 shots, including 8 of 16 3-pointers, going against rookie Juwan Evans and G-League call-up Tyrone Wallace.</p>
<p>In the four games since missing 11 with an ankle injury, Curry has averaged 36 points on 58 percent shooting, 54 percent beyond the arc.</p>
<p>"He's been on fire. Maybe the break was good for him," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "He's been amazing."</p>
<p>Said Curry: "Coming off the injury, obviously I've got fresh legs, a nice rhythm. I was able to put some good work in the week and a half before I got back on the floor."</p>
<p>The Clippers' Blake Griffin suffered a concussion late in the first quarter when he stumbled driving into the lane from the right wing and hit his head on JaVale McGee's right elbow. Griffin fell to the floor immediately, and remained down for several minutes as team physicians tended to him. He walked off under his own power and went to the locker room.</p>
<p>"Blake's a pretty tough guy, he should be OK," teammate DeAndre Jordan said. "But we definitely want him to be cautious and do whatever he needs to do to be OK."</p>
<p>Nick Young and JaVale McGee each scored 11 points, and Klay Thompson and David West added 10 apiece for Golden State, playing with Kevin Durant sidelined by a right calf strain. The Warriors improved to 17-2 since Nov. 27.</p>
<p>Lou Williams scored 23 points, and Jordan added 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers. They lost their 12th straight to the Warriors, dating to Dec. 25, 2014.</p>
<p>Tyrone Wallace, signed Friday, added 13 points in his first game for Los Angeles.</p>
<p>Tied at 50 with 3:30 left in the second quarter, the Warriors went on a 23-9 run, capping the stretch with Curry hitting a 3-pointer with 8:41 left in a third quarter.</p>
<p>Golden State went up 103-73 on McGee's dunk with 55 seconds in a quarter that would see the Warriors outscore on the Clippers 39-22 for a 103-76 lead with 12 minutes to play.</p>
<p>"We had a big third quarter, which is what we wanted," Kerr said. "At halftime we talked about it. Let's break free and make sure everybody gets out there and plays. That third quarter was important for us, but this was mainly about Steph tonight."</p>
<p>TIP-INS:</p>
<p>Warriors: The Warriors won their 10th straight road game, improving their road record to 17-3. Thompson hit a 3-pointer with 1:06 left in the second quarter, extending his streak of games with a made 3-pointer to 94, the longest active run. F Andre Iguodala started for the third time this season.</p>
<p>Clippers: F Sam Dekker made his first start of the season. In the first two starts, rookie Juwan Evans has drawn the assignment of guarding Russell Westbrook two nights ago and Steff Curry this afternoon.</p>
<p>CHANGING OF THE GUARDS</p>
<p>With guards Austin Rivers (right ankle) and MilosTeodosic (sore plantar fasciitis) out with injuries, the Clippers were forced to waive F Jamil Wilson, who had started 10 games and averaged 7.0 points on 46 percent shooting, on Friday. In Wilson's place, G Tyrone Wallace was singed a two-way contract.</p>
<p>"We don't have enough guards," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. "When Milos went out the other night, we didn't have enough players to playa the game. I don't know if I've ever had to cut a guy because we don't have enough guys at a position. That's what we had to do. It's a tough one."</p>
<p>AFTERNOON APPREHENSION</p>
<p>After dramatic victories in back-to-back games over Dallas and Houston, Warriors coach Steve Kerr worried about how the Warriors would react to the game's 12:30 p.m. starting time.</p>
<p>"It's a genuine concern," Kerr said. "Particularly because it was a unique back-to-back in Dallas, with travel back from Houston. We had a lot of flying, a couple of late nights in a row, and then an early start. This has a very different feel for a game."</p>
<p>UP NEXT:</p>
<p>Warriors: At Milwaukee on Monday night.</p>
<p>Clippers: Host Atlanta on Monday night.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For more NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball</p>
| false | 2 |
los angeles ap points came easily steph curry saturday eleven first five minutes 17 game 8 12 minutes old wanted start game right curry said obviously weird starting game 1230 pm youve got find energy something build momentum especially early finished seasonhigh 45 points without playing fourth quarter golden state warriors ran away los angeles clippers 121105 fourth straight victory knew right away got free couple threes first quarter went got rhythm curry said beyond keep head keep shooting stay aggressive curry took advantage guarddepleted clippers making 11 21 shots including 8 16 3pointers going rookie juwan evans gleague callup tyrone wallace four games since missing 11 ankle injury curry averaged 36 points 58 percent shooting 54 percent beyond arc hes fire maybe break good warriors coach steve kerr said hes amazing said curry coming injury obviously ive got fresh legs nice rhythm able put good work week half got back floor clippers blake griffin suffered concussion late first quarter stumbled driving lane right wing hit head javale mcgees right elbow griffin fell floor immediately remained several minutes team physicians tended walked power went locker room blakes pretty tough guy ok teammate deandre jordan said definitely want cautious whatever needs ok nick young javale mcgee scored 11 points klay thompson david west added 10 apiece golden state playing kevin durant sidelined right calf strain warriors improved 172 since nov 27 lou williams scored 23 points jordan added 15 points 11 rebounds clippers lost 12th straight warriors dating dec 25 2014 tyrone wallace signed friday added 13 points first game los angeles tied 50 330 left second quarter warriors went 239 run capping stretch curry hitting 3pointer 841 left third quarter golden state went 10373 mcgees dunk 55 seconds quarter would see warriors outscore clippers 3922 10376 lead 12 minutes play big third quarter wanted kerr said halftime talked lets break free make sure everybody gets plays third quarter important us mainly steph tonight tipins warriors warriors 10th straight road game improving road record 173 thompson hit 3pointer 106 left second quarter extending streak games made 3pointer 94 longest active run f andre iguodala started third time season clippers f sam dekker made first start season first two starts rookie juwan evans drawn assignment guarding russell westbrook two nights ago steff curry afternoon changing guards guards austin rivers right ankle milosteodosic sore plantar fasciitis injuries clippers forced waive f jamil wilson started 10 games averaged 70 points 46 percent shooting friday wilsons place g tyrone wallace singed twoway contract dont enough guards clippers coach doc rivers said milos went night didnt enough players playa game dont know ive ever cut guy dont enough guys position thats tough one afternoon apprehension dramatic victories backtoback games dallas houston warriors coach steve kerr worried warriors would react games 1230 pm starting time genuine concern kerr said particularly unique backtoback dallas travel back houston lot flying couple late nights row early start different feel game next warriors milwaukee monday night clippers host atlanta monday night ___ nba coverage httpsapnewscomtagnbabasketball los angeles ap points came easily steph curry saturday eleven first five minutes 17 game 8 12 minutes old wanted start game right curry said obviously weird starting game 1230 pm youve got find energy something build momentum especially early finished seasonhigh 45 points without playing fourth quarter golden state warriors ran away los angeles clippers 121105 fourth straight victory knew right away got free couple threes first quarter went got rhythm curry said beyond keep head keep shooting stay aggressive curry took advantage guarddepleted clippers making 11 21 shots including 8 16 3pointers going rookie juwan evans gleague callup tyrone wallace four games since missing 11 ankle injury curry averaged 36 points 58 percent shooting 54 percent beyond arc hes fire maybe break good warriors coach steve kerr said hes amazing said curry coming injury obviously ive got fresh legs nice rhythm able put good work week half got back floor clippers blake griffin suffered concussion late first quarter stumbled driving lane right wing hit head javale mcgees right elbow griffin fell floor immediately remained several minutes team physicians tended walked power went locker room blakes pretty tough guy ok teammate deandre jordan said definitely want cautious whatever needs ok nick young javale mcgee scored 11 points klay thompson david west added 10 apiece golden state playing kevin durant sidelined right calf strain warriors improved 172 since nov 27 lou williams scored 23 points jordan added 15 points 11 rebounds clippers lost 12th straight warriors dating dec 25 2014 tyrone wallace signed friday added 13 points first game los angeles tied 50 330 left second quarter warriors went 239 run capping stretch curry hitting 3pointer 841 left third quarter golden state went 10373 mcgees dunk 55 seconds quarter would see warriors outscore clippers 3922 10376 lead 12 minutes play big third quarter wanted kerr said halftime talked lets break free make sure everybody gets plays third quarter important us mainly steph tonight tipins warriors warriors 10th straight road game improving road record 173 thompson hit 3pointer 106 left second quarter extending streak games made 3pointer 94 longest active run f andre iguodala started third time season clippers f sam dekker made first start season first two starts rookie juwan evans drawn assignment guarding russell westbrook two nights ago steff curry afternoon changing guards guards austin rivers right ankle milosteodosic sore plantar fasciitis injuries clippers forced waive f jamil wilson started 10 games averaged 70 points 46 percent shooting friday wilsons place g tyrone wallace singed twoway contract dont enough guards clippers coach doc rivers said milos went night didnt enough players playa game dont know ive ever cut guy dont enough guys position thats tough one afternoon apprehension dramatic victories backtoback games dallas houston warriors coach steve kerr worried warriors would react games 1230 pm starting time genuine concern kerr said particularly unique backtoback dallas travel back houston lot flying couple late nights row early start different feel game next warriors milwaukee monday night clippers host atlanta monday night ___ nba coverage httpsapnewscomtagnbabasketball
| 1,008 |
<p>MONTECITO, Calif. (AP) — Most residents of mudslide-ravaged Montecito were under orders to clear out Friday as the search for victims dragged on and crews labored to clean up massive debris and repair power, water and gas lines.</p>
<p>Even those who didn’t lose their homes in the disaster that left at least 18 people dead were told to leave for up to two weeks so they wouldn’t interfere with the rescue and recovery operation.</p>
<p>It was another frustrating turn for those living in the Southern California town that has been subject to repeated evacuation orders in recent weeks, first because of a monster wildfire last month, then because of downpours and mudslides.</p>
<p>Cia Monroe said her family was lucky their home wasn’t ruined and they were all healthy and safe, though her daughter lost one of her best friends.</p>
<p>But Monroe said it was stressful after evacuating three times during the wildfire to be packing up a fourth time. A family had offered them a room to stay overnight, but then they were looking at spending up to $3,000 a week for a hotel.</p>
<p>“Where do you go when you’re a family of four and you don’t have a second house?” Monroe asked, noting that some residents of town have third and fourth homes. “Financially that’s a burden.”</p>
<p>More than 1,200 workers taking part in the search and cleanup effort flooded into the town with a population of about 9,000.</p>
<p>Curious and concerned citizens who had trudged through the mud Thursday to view the devastation were nowhere to be seen as more firefighters in bright yellow rain gear searched methodically and utility crews in orange safety vests worked with chain saws and jackhammers.</p>
<p>A backhoe scooped up mud and rocks around buckled and flattened homes, while bulldozers cleared roads of tangled trees, muck and boulders. Tanker trucks were being used to haul off floodwaters sucked up from U.S. Highway 101, the crippled coastal route connecting Santa Barbara to Ventura.</p>
<p>Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said residents who had stayed behind or tried to check on damage in neighborhoods where homes were leveled and car-size boulders blocked roads and littered properties had hindered the recovery effort.</p>
<p>On Thursday, Brown expanded what was known as the public safety exclusion zone to incorporate most of the town. That meant even those who had stayed behind would have to leave and those who entered the zone would be subject to arrest.</p>
<p>Residents who remained in town Friday were either seen packing their cars with clothing and other belongings for their latest evacuation or staying out of sight.</p>
<p>“It is a little frustrating,” said Sarah Ettman. “It’s martial law here, basically. You know there are looters being caught and there are so many gawkers and people that just have no business being in here.”</p>
<p>Rescuers were busy probing thick muck, swollen creeks and tangled trees with poles in search of seven missing people while dogs sniffed for bodies.</p>
<p>A crew found the body of the 18th victim, Joseph Bleckel, 87, before noon in his home near Romero Canyon, Brown said.</p>
<p>The cause of Bleckel’s death wasn’t announced, but all other victims died from multiple traumatic injuries due to a flash flood and mudslides.</p>
<p>The seven missing people included Fabiola Benitez, the mother of Jonathan Benitez, a 10-year-old killed in the flooding.</p>
<p>Benitez lived with her sister-in-law, Marilyn Ramos, 27, who was asleep with her daughter, Kaelly, 3, when mud crashed through their Montecito rental home, carrying both to their deaths.</p>
<p>“My sister was such a good person, she only thought of others to the point that she would cry with you when you were hurt or sick,” said Ramos’ sister, Jennifer Ramos, pausing to sob for several seconds.</p>
<p>The husbands of both women and the 2-year-old son of Fabiola Benitez, were hospitalized with injuries, Ramos said.</p>
<p>Drenching rains that unleashed the deadly torrents managed to finally contain the largest wildfire in state history, which burned for weeks above Montecito and stripped the steep hills of vegetation, making it prone to mudslides. The U.S. Forest Service announced Friday that the fire that burned 440 square miles (1,140 square kilometers) was fully contained.</p>
<p>While Montecito is best known as a getaway for the rich and famous — the median home price among current listings is more than $4 million — there are also working families living in modest houses and apartments.</p>
<p>With most utilities out of commission or about to be cut off, staying behind was not an option for many.</p>
<p>Ettman’s home was undamaged, and her section of town still had gas and electricity, even though nearby Romero Creek was choked with cars, trees and rocks.</p>
<p>But with gas and power expected to be shut off Saturday and sewage running into the nearby creek, she decided to heed the order to leave.</p>
<p>“I mean you’re losing all your basic health and sanitation services,” she said. “When those go down, you have to leave.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Melley contributed from Los Angeles. Associated Press writers Amanda Lee Myers, John Antczak, Michael Balsamo and Andrew Dalton in Los Angeles and Aron Ranen in Montecito contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Weber at <a href="https://twitter.com/WeberCM." type="external">https://twitter.com/WeberCM.</a></p>
<p>MONTECITO, Calif. (AP) — Most residents of mudslide-ravaged Montecito were under orders to clear out Friday as the search for victims dragged on and crews labored to clean up massive debris and repair power, water and gas lines.</p>
<p>Even those who didn’t lose their homes in the disaster that left at least 18 people dead were told to leave for up to two weeks so they wouldn’t interfere with the rescue and recovery operation.</p>
<p>It was another frustrating turn for those living in the Southern California town that has been subject to repeated evacuation orders in recent weeks, first because of a monster wildfire last month, then because of downpours and mudslides.</p>
<p>Cia Monroe said her family was lucky their home wasn’t ruined and they were all healthy and safe, though her daughter lost one of her best friends.</p>
<p>But Monroe said it was stressful after evacuating three times during the wildfire to be packing up a fourth time. A family had offered them a room to stay overnight, but then they were looking at spending up to $3,000 a week for a hotel.</p>
<p>“Where do you go when you’re a family of four and you don’t have a second house?” Monroe asked, noting that some residents of town have third and fourth homes. “Financially that’s a burden.”</p>
<p>More than 1,200 workers taking part in the search and cleanup effort flooded into the town with a population of about 9,000.</p>
<p>Curious and concerned citizens who had trudged through the mud Thursday to view the devastation were nowhere to be seen as more firefighters in bright yellow rain gear searched methodically and utility crews in orange safety vests worked with chain saws and jackhammers.</p>
<p>A backhoe scooped up mud and rocks around buckled and flattened homes, while bulldozers cleared roads of tangled trees, muck and boulders. Tanker trucks were being used to haul off floodwaters sucked up from U.S. Highway 101, the crippled coastal route connecting Santa Barbara to Ventura.</p>
<p>Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said residents who had stayed behind or tried to check on damage in neighborhoods where homes were leveled and car-size boulders blocked roads and littered properties had hindered the recovery effort.</p>
<p>On Thursday, Brown expanded what was known as the public safety exclusion zone to incorporate most of the town. That meant even those who had stayed behind would have to leave and those who entered the zone would be subject to arrest.</p>
<p>Residents who remained in town Friday were either seen packing their cars with clothing and other belongings for their latest evacuation or staying out of sight.</p>
<p>“It is a little frustrating,” said Sarah Ettman. “It’s martial law here, basically. You know there are looters being caught and there are so many gawkers and people that just have no business being in here.”</p>
<p>Rescuers were busy probing thick muck, swollen creeks and tangled trees with poles in search of seven missing people while dogs sniffed for bodies.</p>
<p>A crew found the body of the 18th victim, Joseph Bleckel, 87, before noon in his home near Romero Canyon, Brown said.</p>
<p>The cause of Bleckel’s death wasn’t announced, but all other victims died from multiple traumatic injuries due to a flash flood and mudslides.</p>
<p>The seven missing people included Fabiola Benitez, the mother of Jonathan Benitez, a 10-year-old killed in the flooding.</p>
<p>Benitez lived with her sister-in-law, Marilyn Ramos, 27, who was asleep with her daughter, Kaelly, 3, when mud crashed through their Montecito rental home, carrying both to their deaths.</p>
<p>“My sister was such a good person, she only thought of others to the point that she would cry with you when you were hurt or sick,” said Ramos’ sister, Jennifer Ramos, pausing to sob for several seconds.</p>
<p>The husbands of both women and the 2-year-old son of Fabiola Benitez, were hospitalized with injuries, Ramos said.</p>
<p>Drenching rains that unleashed the deadly torrents managed to finally contain the largest wildfire in state history, which burned for weeks above Montecito and stripped the steep hills of vegetation, making it prone to mudslides. The U.S. Forest Service announced Friday that the fire that burned 440 square miles (1,140 square kilometers) was fully contained.</p>
<p>While Montecito is best known as a getaway for the rich and famous — the median home price among current listings is more than $4 million — there are also working families living in modest houses and apartments.</p>
<p>With most utilities out of commission or about to be cut off, staying behind was not an option for many.</p>
<p>Ettman’s home was undamaged, and her section of town still had gas and electricity, even though nearby Romero Creek was choked with cars, trees and rocks.</p>
<p>But with gas and power expected to be shut off Saturday and sewage running into the nearby creek, she decided to heed the order to leave.</p>
<p>“I mean you’re losing all your basic health and sanitation services,” she said. “When those go down, you have to leave.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Melley contributed from Los Angeles. Associated Press writers Amanda Lee Myers, John Antczak, Michael Balsamo and Andrew Dalton in Los Angeles and Aron Ranen in Montecito contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Weber at <a href="https://twitter.com/WeberCM." type="external">https://twitter.com/WeberCM.</a></p>
| false | 2 |
montecito calif ap residents mudslideravaged montecito orders clear friday search victims dragged crews labored clean massive debris repair power water gas lines even didnt lose homes disaster left least 18 people dead told leave two weeks wouldnt interfere rescue recovery operation another frustrating turn living southern california town subject repeated evacuation orders recent weeks first monster wildfire last month downpours mudslides cia monroe said family lucky home wasnt ruined healthy safe though daughter lost one best friends monroe said stressful evacuating three times wildfire packing fourth time family offered room stay overnight looking spending 3000 week hotel go youre family four dont second house monroe asked noting residents town third fourth homes financially thats burden 1200 workers taking part search cleanup effort flooded town population 9000 curious concerned citizens trudged mud thursday view devastation nowhere seen firefighters bright yellow rain gear searched methodically utility crews orange safety vests worked chain saws jackhammers backhoe scooped mud rocks around buckled flattened homes bulldozers cleared roads tangled trees muck boulders tanker trucks used haul floodwaters sucked us highway 101 crippled coastal route connecting santa barbara ventura santa barbara county sheriff bill brown said residents stayed behind tried check damage neighborhoods homes leveled carsize boulders blocked roads littered properties hindered recovery effort thursday brown expanded known public safety exclusion zone incorporate town meant even stayed behind would leave entered zone would subject arrest residents remained town friday either seen packing cars clothing belongings latest evacuation staying sight little frustrating said sarah ettman martial law basically know looters caught many gawkers people business rescuers busy probing thick muck swollen creeks tangled trees poles search seven missing people dogs sniffed bodies crew found body 18th victim joseph bleckel 87 noon home near romero canyon brown said cause bleckels death wasnt announced victims died multiple traumatic injuries due flash flood mudslides seven missing people included fabiola benitez mother jonathan benitez 10yearold killed flooding benitez lived sisterinlaw marilyn ramos 27 asleep daughter kaelly 3 mud crashed montecito rental home carrying deaths sister good person thought others point would cry hurt sick said ramos sister jennifer ramos pausing sob several seconds husbands women 2yearold son fabiola benitez hospitalized injuries ramos said drenching rains unleashed deadly torrents managed finally contain largest wildfire state history burned weeks montecito stripped steep hills vegetation making prone mudslides us forest service announced friday fire burned 440 square miles 1140 square kilometers fully contained montecito best known getaway rich famous median home price among current listings 4 million also working families living modest houses apartments utilities commission cut staying behind option many ettmans home undamaged section town still gas electricity even though nearby romero creek choked cars trees rocks gas power expected shut saturday sewage running nearby creek decided heed order leave mean youre losing basic health sanitation services said go leave ___ melley contributed los angeles associated press writers amanda lee myers john antczak michael balsamo andrew dalton los angeles aron ranen montecito contributed report ___ follow weber httpstwittercomwebercm montecito calif ap residents mudslideravaged montecito orders clear friday search victims dragged crews labored clean massive debris repair power water gas lines even didnt lose homes disaster left least 18 people dead told leave two weeks wouldnt interfere rescue recovery operation another frustrating turn living southern california town subject repeated evacuation orders recent weeks first monster wildfire last month downpours mudslides cia monroe said family lucky home wasnt ruined healthy safe though daughter lost one best friends monroe said stressful evacuating three times wildfire packing fourth time family offered room stay overnight looking spending 3000 week hotel go youre family four dont second house monroe asked noting residents town third fourth homes financially thats burden 1200 workers taking part search cleanup effort flooded town population 9000 curious concerned citizens trudged mud thursday view devastation nowhere seen firefighters bright yellow rain gear searched methodically utility crews orange safety vests worked chain saws jackhammers backhoe scooped mud rocks around buckled flattened homes bulldozers cleared roads tangled trees muck boulders tanker trucks used haul floodwaters sucked us highway 101 crippled coastal route connecting santa barbara ventura santa barbara county sheriff bill brown said residents stayed behind tried check damage neighborhoods homes leveled carsize boulders blocked roads littered properties hindered recovery effort thursday brown expanded known public safety exclusion zone incorporate town meant even stayed behind would leave entered zone would subject arrest residents remained town friday either seen packing cars clothing belongings latest evacuation staying sight little frustrating said sarah ettman martial law basically know looters caught many gawkers people business rescuers busy probing thick muck swollen creeks tangled trees poles search seven missing people dogs sniffed bodies crew found body 18th victim joseph bleckel 87 noon home near romero canyon brown said cause bleckels death wasnt announced victims died multiple traumatic injuries due flash flood mudslides seven missing people included fabiola benitez mother jonathan benitez 10yearold killed flooding benitez lived sisterinlaw marilyn ramos 27 asleep daughter kaelly 3 mud crashed montecito rental home carrying deaths sister good person thought others point would cry hurt sick said ramos sister jennifer ramos pausing sob several seconds husbands women 2yearold son fabiola benitez hospitalized injuries ramos said drenching rains unleashed deadly torrents managed finally contain largest wildfire state history burned weeks montecito stripped steep hills vegetation making prone mudslides us forest service announced friday fire burned 440 square miles 1140 square kilometers fully contained montecito best known getaway rich famous median home price among current listings 4 million also working families living modest houses apartments utilities commission cut staying behind option many ettmans home undamaged section town still gas electricity even though nearby romero creek choked cars trees rocks gas power expected shut saturday sewage running nearby creek decided heed order leave mean youre losing basic health sanitation services said go leave ___ melley contributed los angeles associated press writers amanda lee myers john antczak michael balsamo andrew dalton los angeles aron ranen montecito contributed report ___ follow weber httpstwittercomwebercm
| 990 |
<p>Jan 18 (Reuters) - Beijing Watertek Information Technology Co Ltd</p>
<p>* Says it will inject capital of 30 million yuan into Beijing-based IT firm and raise stake to 15 percent from 0 percent</p>
<p>* Says it will inject capital of 20 million yuan into Beijing-based big data firm and raise stake to 64 percent from 60 percent</p>
<p>Source text in Chinese: <a href="https://goo.gl/XfE4Sb" type="external">goo.gl/XfE4Sb</a>; <a href="https://goo.gl/VzG18D" type="external">goo.gl/VzG18D</a></p>
<p>Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - Starbucks Chief Executive Kevin Johnson apologized late on Saturday for the arrests of two black men at a Philadelphia coffee shop last week, which sparked accusations of racial profiling.</p>
<p>Promising to make everything right, Johnson promised a thorough investigation of the incident caught on video by a patron Thursday and shared widely online.</p>
<p>The men were accused of trespassing but have said they were waiting for a friend before ordering.</p>
<p>“The video shot by customers is very hard to watch and the actions in it are not representative of our Starbucks mission and values,” Johnson said in a statement.</p>
<p>He added, “The basis for the call to the Philadelphia police department was wrong.”</p>
<p>Philadelphia’s police commissioner on Saturday defended the arrest, saying his officers had to act after Starbucks employees told them the pair were trespassing.</p>
<p>Video of Thursday’s incident showed other patrons telling officers the pair were doing nothing wrong and appeared to have been targeted merely because of their race.</p>
<p>Police Commissioner Richard Ross said he knew the incident had prompted a lot of concern, but said his officers “did absolutely nothing wrong.”</p>
<p>In a video statement, Ross said store employees called 911 to report a disturbance and trespassing.</p>
<p>When officers arrived, Ross said, staff told them the two men had wanted to use the restroom but were informed it was only for paying customers. The pair repeatedly refused to leave when politely asked to do so by the employees and officers, he said.</p> Slideshow (8 Images)
<p>“If you think about it logically, that if a business calls and they say that someone is here that I no longer wish to be in my business, they (the officers) now have a legal obligation to carry out their duties. And they did just that,” Ross said.</p>
<p>“They were professional in all their dealings with these gentlemen, and instead they got the opposite back.”</p>
<p>Ross said that as an African-American man he was acutely aware of implicit bias. “We are committed to fair and unbiased policing and anything less than that will not be tolerated in this department,” he said.</p>
<p>The two men were released, Ross said, after officers learned Starbucks was “no longer interested” in prosecuting them.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=SBUX.O" type="external">Starbucks Corp</a> 59.24 SBUX.O Nasdaq -0.19 (-0.32%) SBUX.O
<p>In a post on Twitter earlier on Saturday, Starbucks Corp ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=SBUX.O" type="external">SBUX.O</a>) said it was sorry for what took place.</p>
<p>Johnson added his apology, saying the company would review its policies and “further train our partners to better know when police assistance is warranted.”</p>
<p>Melissa DePino, an author who posted video of the arrest, said staff called police because the two men had not ordered anything while waiting for a friend. She said white customers were “wondering why it’s never happened to us when we do the same thing.”</p>
<p>Police departments across the United States have come under criticism for repeated instances of killing unarmed black men in recent years, which activists blame on racial biases in the criminal justice system.</p>
<p>Reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York; Additional reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by David Gregorio and Clarence Fernandez</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Barbara Bush, the wife of former U.S. President George H.W. Bush, is in “failing health” and has decided to no longer seek medical treatment, the office of the ex-president said in a statement from Houston on Sunday.</p>
<p>The former first lady, who is also the mother of former President George W. Bush, “will instead focus on comfort care,” the statement said. She is 92 years old.</p>
<p>The brief statement did not indicate the nature of Bush’s illness but said that she had had a series of recent hospitalizations.</p>
<p>CNN reported that Bush was suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and congestive heart failure. A Bush family spokesman said she was being cared for at her home. He did not provide information on the nature of her illness.</p>
<p>“She is surrounded by a family she adores and appreciates the many kind messages and especially the prayers she is receiving,” the statement added.</p>
<p>As first lady from 1989 until the start of 1993, Bush was a popular national figure known for her sometimes blunt talk and self-deprecating wit.</p>
<p>Her husband, the 41st U.S. president, is 93 years old. Her son, the 43 U.S. president, is 71.</p> FILE PHOTO: Former first lady Barbara Bush listens to remarks during the christening ceremony of the USS George H.W. Bush at Northrop-Grumman's shipyard in Newport News, Virginia, U.S., October 7, 2006. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo
<p>Another son, Jeb, is a former governor of Florida who ran unsuccessfully for president in 2015 and early 2016, quitting after a series of lackluster performances highlighted by tough skirmishes with then-candidate Donald Trump.</p>
<p>White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said: “The president’s and first lady’s prayers are with all of the Bush family during this time.”</p>
<p>With hair that had turned white prematurely, Bush was known by family members as the “Silver Fox.”</p> FILE PHOTO - Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush participates in the coin toss ahead of the start of Super Bowl LI between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons as former first lady Barbara Bush looks on in Houston , Texas, U.S., February 5, 2017. REUTERS/Adrees Latif
<p>Her work as first lady focused on promoting literacy and reading. At the time, she said she was more interested in running a household than in helping her husband run the country.</p>
<p>“Barbara Bush has a character that is as big, inspiring and iconic as Texas,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott said in a statement on Sunday. The Bushes moved to Texas in the mid-1940s.</p>
<p>Bush holds a unique place in U.S. history.</p>
<p>She is the only woman to see her husband and son sworn in as U.S. president. Abigail Adams, first lady from 1797 to 1801, was a major influence on husband John Adams, the nation’s second president, but died before her son, John Quincy Adams, was elected president in 1824.</p>
<p>Reporting by Richard Cowan and Will Dunham; Additional reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Sandra Maler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - Public figures across the U.S. political spectrum paid tribute on Sunday to former first lady Barbara Bush, who is in “failing health” and will no longer seek medical treatment. She is the wife of former Republican U.S. President George H.W. Bush and the mother of former President George W. Bush.</p> FILE PHOTO - Former U.S. first lady Barbara Bush listens to her son, President George W. Bush, as he speaks at an event on social security reform in Orlando, Florida, March 18, 2005. REUTERS/Jason Reed
<p>White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders:</p>
<p>“The President’s and First Lady’s prayers are with all of the Bush Family during this time.”</p>
<p>House of Representatives Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi:</p>
<p>“As always, Barbara Bush is a comfort to her friends &amp; family teaching us all how to live full of faith, love &amp; humor. Praying that she is comfortable &amp; send love to President Bush &amp; their family.”</p>
<p>Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott:</p>
<p>“Here’s to Barbara Bush—an American icon and Texas legend. Our prayers are with you.”</p>
<p>Nikki Haley, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations:</p>
<p>“Prayers going up for a woman of great faith, great strength, and an unwavering love of country.”</p>
<p>Democratic U.S. Representative for New York Sean Patrick Maloney:</p>
<p>“Barbara Bush was a graceful First Lady who has dedicated her life to improving education and promoting literacy. Our family wishes Barbara and the rest of the Bush family the best during this difficult time.”</p>
<p>Ohio Republican Governor John Kasich:</p>
<p>“Barbara Bush is a woman of grace, humility and great compassion. She and her family are in our prayers.”</p>
<p>Reporting by Andrew Hay; Editing by Peter Cooney</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>MOSCOW/DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Sunday that further Western attacks on Syria would bring chaos to world affairs, as Washington prepared to increase pressure on Russia with new economic sanctions.</p>
<p>In a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, Putin and Rouhani agreed that the Western strikes had damaged the chances of achieving a political resolution in the seven-year Syria conflict, according to a Kremlin statement.</p>
<p>“Vladimir Putin, in particular, stressed that if such actions committed in violation of the U.N. Charter continue, then it will inevitably lead to chaos in international relations,” the Kremlin statement said.</p>
<p>The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, told CBS’ “Face the Nation” program that the United States would announce new economic sanctions on Monday aimed at companies “that were dealing with equipment” related to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s alleged chemical weapons use.</p>
<p>On Saturday, the United States, France and Britain launched 105 missiles targeting what the Pentagon said were three chemical weapons facilities in Syria in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack in Douma on April 7.</p>
<p>(For a graphic detailing air strikes on Syria <a href="https://tmsnrt.rs/2EKgAMN" type="external">tmsnrt.rs/2EKgAMN</a>)</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-trump-troops/white-house-trump-wants-u-s-forces-in-syria-to-come-home-as-quickly-as-possible-idUSKBN1HM116" type="external">White House: Trump wants U.S. forces in Syria to come home as quickly as possible</a>
<a href="/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-chemicals-factbo/factbox-what-is-known-about-suspected-chemical-weapons-attack-in-syria-idUSKBN1HM0Z0" type="external">Factbox: What is known about suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria</a>
<a href="/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-macron/frances-macron-says-he-persuaded-trump-to-keep-troops-in-syria-idUSKBN1HM0X4" type="external">France's Macron says he persuaded Trump to keep troops in Syria</a>
<p>The Western countries blame Assad for the Douma attack that killed dozens of people. The Syrian government and its ally Russia have denied involvement in any such attack.</p>
<p>The bombings marked the biggest intervention by Western countries against Assad and ally Russia.</p>
<p>French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday that he had convinced Trump, who previously said he wanted to take U.S. forces out of Syria, to stay for “the long term.”</p>
<p>The United States, France and Britain have said the missile strikes were limited to Syria’s chemical weapons capabilities and not aimed at toppling Assad or intervening in the civil war. Macron said in an interview broadcast by BFM TV, RMC radio and Mediapart online news that he had convinced Trump to focus on the chemical weapons sites.</p>
<p>The White House pushed back against Macron’s comments about Trump’s intentions for U.S. forces.</p>
<p>“The U.S. mission has not changed - the president has been clear that he wants U.S. forces to come home as quickly as possible,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.</p>
<p>“We are determined to completely crush ISIS and create the conditions that will prevent its return.” she said. “In addition we expect our regional allies and partners to take greater responsibility both militarily and financially for securing the region.”</p>
<p>‘HARD FOR US, BUT WILL DO MORE DAMAGE TO THE USA’</p>
<p>Responding to Haley’s remarks about the plans for new sanctions, Evgeny Serebrennikov, deputy head of the defense committee of Russia’s upper house of parliament, said Moscow was ready for the penalties, according to RIA news agency.</p>
<p>“They are hard for us, but will do more damage to the USA and Europe,” RIA quoted Serebrennikov as saying.</p>
<p>In Damascus, Syria’s deputy foreign minister, Faisal Mekdad, met inspectors from the global chemical weapons watchdog OPCW for about three hours in the presence of Russian officers and a senior Syrian security official.</p>
<p>The inspectors were due to attempt to visit the Douma site. Moscow condemned the Western states for refusing to wait for the OPCW’s findings before attacking.</p>
<p>Mekdad declined to comment to reporters waiting outside the hotel where the meeting took place.</p>
<p>Assad told a group of visiting Russian lawmakers that the Western missile strikes were an act of aggression, Russian news agencies reported.</p>
<p>Russian agencies quoted the lawmakers as saying that Assad was in a “good mood”, had praised the Soviet-era air defense systems Syria used to repel the Western attacks and had accepted an invitation to visit Russia at an unspecified time.</p>
<p>Trump had said: “Mission accomplished” on Twitter after the strikes, although U.S. Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie at the Pentagon acknowledged elements of the program remained and he could not guarantee that Syria would be unable to conduct a chemical attack in the future.</p> Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a ceremony to receive credentials from foreign ambassadors at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia April 11, 2018. Sergei Ilnitsky/Pool via REUTERS
<p>Russian and Iranian military help over the past three years has allowed Assad to crush the rebel threat to topple him.</p>
<p>Although Israel has at times urged stronger U.S. involvement against Assad and his Iranian and Lebanese Hezbollah reinforcements in Syria, it voiced backing for Saturday’s air strikes by Western powers.</p> RISK OF WIDER CONFRONTATION
<p>The leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah said on Sunday that Western strikes on Syria had failed to achieve anything, including terrorizing the army, helping insurgents or serving the interests of Israel.</p>
<p>Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said the U.S. military had kept its strikes limited because it knew a wider attack would spark retaliation from Damascus and its allies and inflame the region.</p>
<p>“The American (military) knows well that going towards a wide confrontation and a big operation against the regime and the army and the allied forces in Syria could not end, and any such confrontation would inflame the entire region,” Nasrallah said.</p> Slideshow (8 Images)
<p>The heavily armed, Iranian-backed Shi’ite Hezbollah movement, which fights alongside the Syrian army and is represented in the Beirut government, has been a vital ally of Damascus in Syria’s war.</p>
<p>France, the United States and Britain circulated a draft resolution to the U.N. Security Council late on Saturday that aims to establish an independent inquiry into who is responsible for chemical weapons attacks in Syria. The mechanism would look at cases where the OPCW fact-finding mission has established chemical weapons were used or likely used.</p>
<p>Diplomats said negotiations on the draft resolution would begin on Monday and it was not immediately clear when the United States, France and Britain wanted to put it to a vote.</p>
<p>Reporting by Jack Stubbs in Moscow and Laila Bassam in Beirut; Additional reporting by Jeff Mason, Susan Cornwell and Joel Schectman in Washington, Michelle Nichols in New York, Samia Nakhoul, Tom Perry, Laila Bassam, Ellen Francis and Angus McDowall in Beirut, Kinda Makieh in Barzeh, Syria, Elizabeth Piper, Michael Holden and Guy Faulconbridge in London, Laurence Frost, Michel Rose and Ingrid Melander in Paris, Andrey Ostroukh in Moscow, Alison Bevege in Sydney; Writing by Richard Cowan; Editing by Nick; Zieminski and Peter Cooney</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
jan 18 reuters beijing watertek information technology co ltd says inject capital 30 million yuan beijingbased firm raise stake 15 percent 0 percent says inject capital 20 million yuan beijingbased big data firm raise stake 64 percent 60 percent source text chinese googlxfe4sb googlvzg18d company coverage beijing headline news standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters starbucks chief executive kevin johnson apologized late saturday arrests two black men philadelphia coffee shop last week sparked accusations racial profiling promising make everything right johnson promised thorough investigation incident caught video patron thursday shared widely online men accused trespassing said waiting friend ordering video shot customers hard watch actions representative starbucks mission values johnson said statement added basis call philadelphia police department wrong philadelphias police commissioner saturday defended arrest saying officers act starbucks employees told pair trespassing video thursdays incident showed patrons telling officers pair nothing wrong appeared targeted merely race police commissioner richard ross said knew incident prompted lot concern said officers absolutely nothing wrong video statement ross said store employees called 911 report disturbance trespassing officers arrived ross said staff told two men wanted use restroom informed paying customers pair repeatedly refused leave politely asked employees officers said slideshow 8 images think logically business calls say someone longer wish business officers legal obligation carry duties ross said professional dealings gentlemen instead got opposite back ross said africanamerican man acutely aware implicit bias committed fair unbiased policing anything less tolerated department said two men released ross said officers learned starbucks longer interested prosecuting starbucks corp 5924 sbuxo nasdaq 019 032 sbuxo post twitter earlier saturday starbucks corp sbuxo said sorry took place johnson added apology saying company would review policies train partners better know police assistance warranted melissa depino author posted video arrest said staff called police two men ordered anything waiting friend said white customers wondering never happened us thing police departments across united states come criticism repeated instances killing unarmed black men recent years activists blame racial biases criminal justice system reporting jonathan allen new york additional reporting rich mckay atlanta editing david gregorio clarence fernandez standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters barbara bush wife former us president george hw bush failing health decided longer seek medical treatment office expresident said statement houston sunday former first lady also mother former president george w bush instead focus comfort care statement said 92 years old brief statement indicate nature bushs illness said series recent hospitalizations cnn reported bush suffering chronic obstructive pulmonary disease copd congestive heart failure bush family spokesman said cared home provide information nature illness surrounded family adores appreciates many kind messages especially prayers receiving statement added first lady 1989 start 1993 bush popular national figure known sometimes blunt talk selfdeprecating wit husband 41st us president 93 years old son 43 us president 71 file photo former first lady barbara bush listens remarks christening ceremony uss george hw bush northropgrummans shipyard newport news virginia us october 7 2006 reuterskevin lamarquefile photo another son jeb former governor florida ran unsuccessfully president 2015 early 2016 quitting series lackluster performances highlighted tough skirmishes thencandidate donald trump white house spokeswoman sarah sanders said presidents first ladys prayers bush family time hair turned white prematurely bush known family members silver fox file photo former us president george hw bush participates coin toss ahead start super bowl li new england patriots atlanta falcons former first lady barbara bush looks houston texas us february 5 2017 reutersadrees latif work first lady focused promoting literacy reading time said interested running household helping husband run country barbara bush character big inspiring iconic texas texas governor greg abbott said statement sunday bushes moved texas mid1940s bush holds unique place us history woman see husband son sworn us president abigail adams first lady 1797 1801 major influence husband john adams nations second president died son john quincy adams elected president 1824 reporting richard cowan dunham additional reporting jeff mason editing sandra maler standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters public figures across us political spectrum paid tribute sunday former first lady barbara bush failing health longer seek medical treatment wife former republican us president george hw bush mother former president george w bush file photo former us first lady barbara bush listens son president george w bush speaks event social security reform orlando florida march 18 2005 reutersjason reed white house press secretary sarah sanders presidents first ladys prayers bush family time house representatives democratic leader nancy pelosi always barbara bush comfort friends amp family teaching us live full faith love amp humor praying comfortable amp send love president bush amp family texas republican governor greg abbott heres barbara bushan american icon texas legend prayers nikki haley us ambassador united nations prayers going woman great faith great strength unwavering love country democratic us representative new york sean patrick maloney barbara bush graceful first lady dedicated life improving education promoting literacy family wishes barbara rest bush family best difficult time ohio republican governor john kasich barbara bush woman grace humility great compassion family prayers reporting andrew hay editing peter cooney standards thomson reuters trust principles moscowdamascus reuters russian president vladimir putin warned sunday western attacks syria would bring chaos world affairs washington prepared increase pressure russia new economic sanctions telephone conversation iranian counterpart hassan rouhani putin rouhani agreed western strikes damaged chances achieving political resolution sevenyear syria conflict according kremlin statement vladimir putin particular stressed actions committed violation un charter continue inevitably lead chaos international relations kremlin statement said us ambassador united nations nikki haley told cbs face nation program united states would announce new economic sanctions monday aimed companies dealing equipment related syrian president bashar alassads alleged chemical weapons use saturday united states france britain launched 105 missiles targeting pentagon said three chemical weapons facilities syria retaliation suspected poison gas attack douma april 7 graphic detailing air strikes syria tmsnrtrs2ekgamn related coverage white house trump wants us forces syria come home quickly possible factbox known suspected chemical weapons attack syria frances macron says persuaded trump keep troops syria western countries blame assad douma attack killed dozens people syrian government ally russia denied involvement attack bombings marked biggest intervention western countries assad ally russia french president emmanuel macron said sunday convinced trump previously said wanted take us forces syria stay long term united states france britain said missile strikes limited syrias chemical weapons capabilities aimed toppling assad intervening civil war macron said interview broadcast bfm tv rmc radio mediapart online news convinced trump focus chemical weapons sites white house pushed back macrons comments trumps intentions us forces us mission changed president clear wants us forces come home quickly possible white house spokeswoman sarah sanders said determined completely crush isis create conditions prevent return said addition expect regional allies partners take greater responsibility militarily financially securing region hard us damage usa responding haleys remarks plans new sanctions evgeny serebrennikov deputy head defense committee russias upper house parliament said moscow ready penalties according ria news agency hard us damage usa europe ria quoted serebrennikov saying damascus syrias deputy foreign minister faisal mekdad met inspectors global chemical weapons watchdog opcw three hours presence russian officers senior syrian security official inspectors due attempt visit douma site moscow condemned western states refusing wait opcws findings attacking mekdad declined comment reporters waiting outside hotel meeting took place assad told group visiting russian lawmakers western missile strikes act aggression russian news agencies reported russian agencies quoted lawmakers saying assad good mood praised sovietera air defense systems syria used repel western attacks accepted invitation visit russia unspecified time trump said mission accomplished twitter strikes although us lieutenant general kenneth mckenzie pentagon acknowledged elements program remained could guarantee syria would unable conduct chemical attack future russian president vladimir putin speaks ceremony receive credentials foreign ambassadors kremlin moscow russia april 11 2018 sergei ilnitskypool via reuters russian iranian military help past three years allowed assad crush rebel threat topple although israel times urged stronger us involvement assad iranian lebanese hezbollah reinforcements syria voiced backing saturdays air strikes western powers risk wider confrontation leader lebanons hezbollah said sunday western strikes syria failed achieve anything including terrorizing army helping insurgents serving interests israel sayyed hassan nasrallah said us military kept strikes limited knew wider attack would spark retaliation damascus allies inflame region american military knows well going towards wide confrontation big operation regime army allied forces syria could end confrontation would inflame entire region nasrallah said slideshow 8 images heavily armed iranianbacked shiite hezbollah movement fights alongside syrian army represented beirut government vital ally damascus syrias war france united states britain circulated draft resolution un security council late saturday aims establish independent inquiry responsible chemical weapons attacks syria mechanism would look cases opcw factfinding mission established chemical weapons used likely used diplomats said negotiations draft resolution would begin monday immediately clear united states france britain wanted put vote reporting jack stubbs moscow laila bassam beirut additional reporting jeff mason susan cornwell joel schectman washington michelle nichols new york samia nakhoul tom perry laila bassam ellen francis angus mcdowall beirut kinda makieh barzeh syria elizabeth piper michael holden guy faulconbridge london laurence frost michel rose ingrid melander paris andrey ostroukh moscow alison bevege sydney writing richard cowan editing nick zieminski peter cooney standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 1,531 |
<p>KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Security forces said Sunday they had killed the last of six Taliban militants to end an overnight siege at Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel that left at least 18 people dead, including 14 foreigners. Some of the 150 guests fled the gunbattle and fire sparked by the assault by shimmying down bedsheets from the upper floors.</p>
<p>The militants, who wore suicide vests, pinned down security forces for more than 13 hours after the attack began about 9 p.m. Saturday. The gunmen roamed the hallways and targeted foreigners and Afghan officials inside the luxury, hilltop hotel.</p>
<p>The more than 150 people who were rescued or managed to escape included 41 foreigners, said Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish. Of those, 10 people were injured, including six security forces, he said.</p>
<p>Eleven of the 14 foreigners killed were employees of KamAir, a private Afghan airline, Danish said. KamAir put out a statement saying some of its flights were disrupted because of the attack.</p>
<p>Six of those killed were Ukrainians, said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, who added that his office was working with Afghan law enforcement agencies "to clarify the circumstances of this terrorist act."</p>
<p>Two Venezuelan pilots for KamAir were among the dead, according to Luis Figuera. He told The Associated Press that his brother-in-law, Adelsis Ramos, was killed along with Pablo Chiossone, and that their bodies were identified by another Venezuelan pilot at a Kabul hospital.</p>
<p>A citizen from Kazakhstan also was among the dead at the hotel, according to Anuar Zhainakov, a spokesman for the Kazakh Foreign Ministry.</p>
<p>Afghan security officials confirmed that 34 provincial officials were at the hotel for a conference organized by the Telecommunication Ministry.</p>
<p>Afghan officials said that also among the dead was a telecommunications official from Farah province in western Afghanistan; Waheed Poyan, the newly appointed consul general to Karachi, Pakistan; and Ahmad Farzan, an employee of the High Peace Council, a commission created to facilitate peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban and other opposition groups.</p>
<p>The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack at the heavily guarded hotel that is popular among foreigners and Afghan officials.</p>
<p>Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the insurgents initially planned to strike the hotel Thursday night but postponed it because a wedding was underway there and they wanted to avoid civilian casualties.</p>
<p>The attack unfolded almost six years after Taliban insurgents launched a similar assault on the property.</p>
<p>Mumtaz Ahmad, a provincial telecommunication employee for Helmand province, said he was walking from his room to the reception for his group on Saturday night.</p>
<p>"When the elevator door opened, I saw two armed suicide bombers. People were escaping and the attackers were firing at them," he said.</p>
<p>Fire broke out in the six-story hotel as the fighting raged, filling some guest rooms with smoke. Explosions could be heard throughout the standoff. Live TV video showed people trying to escape through windows and from the upper stories as thick, black smoke poured from the building.</p>
<p>The Interior Ministry said it is investigating how the attackers managed to enter the building. It said a private company had taken over security about three weeks ago at the hotel, which is not part of the Intercontinental chain.</p>
<p>During a news conference, Danish said that an initial investigation showed that six insurgents entered the hotel from the northern side and stormed its kitchen. A person or persons inside the hotel might have helped the attackers gain entrance, Danish said, adding that the investigation is continuing.</p>
<p>Two of the attackers were killed by special forces on the 6th floor of the hotel.</p>
<p>Capt. Tom Gresback, spokesman for NATO-led forces, said in a statement that Afghan forces had led the response efforts and that no foreign troops were hurt in the attack, according to initial reports.</p>
<p>U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States strongly condemns the attack, adding that Washington "stands with the government and people of Afghanistan. We remain firmly committed to supporting Afghan efforts to achieve peace, security and prosperity for their country."</p>
<p>Neighboring Pakistan also condemned the "brutal terrorist attack" and called for greater cooperation against militants.</p>
<p>Afghanistan and Pakistan routinely accuse each other of failing to combat extremists on their long and porous border.</p>
<p>Afghan forces have struggled to fight the Taliban since the U.S. and NATO formally concluded their combat mission at the end of 2014.</p>
<p>They have also had to contend with a growing Islamic State affiliate that has carried out a number of big attacks in recent years.</p>
<p>In other violence in Afghanistan this weekend, insurgents burst into a home in Balkh province in the north where several members of a pro-government militia were gathered late Saturday, killing 18 of them, said Gen. Abdul Razeq Qaderi, the deputy provincial police chief. Among those killed was a tribal leader who served as the local police commander, he said.</p>
<p>In the western province of Farah, a roadside bomb early Sunday killed a deputy provincial police chief and wounded four other police, according to Gen. Mahruf Folad, the provincial police chief.</p>
<p>The Taliban claimed both attacks.</p>
<p>In the western province of Herat, a roadside bomb struck a vehicle carrying 13 civilians, killing all but one of them, said Abdul Ahad Walizada, a spokesman for the provincial police chief. No one immediately claimed the attack, but Walizada blamed Taliban insurgents, who often plant bombs to target Afghan security forces.</p>
<p>KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Security forces said Sunday they had killed the last of six Taliban militants to end an overnight siege at Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel that left at least 18 people dead, including 14 foreigners. Some of the 150 guests fled the gunbattle and fire sparked by the assault by shimmying down bedsheets from the upper floors.</p>
<p>The militants, who wore suicide vests, pinned down security forces for more than 13 hours after the attack began about 9 p.m. Saturday. The gunmen roamed the hallways and targeted foreigners and Afghan officials inside the luxury, hilltop hotel.</p>
<p>The more than 150 people who were rescued or managed to escape included 41 foreigners, said Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish. Of those, 10 people were injured, including six security forces, he said.</p>
<p>Eleven of the 14 foreigners killed were employees of KamAir, a private Afghan airline, Danish said. KamAir put out a statement saying some of its flights were disrupted because of the attack.</p>
<p>Six of those killed were Ukrainians, said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, who added that his office was working with Afghan law enforcement agencies "to clarify the circumstances of this terrorist act."</p>
<p>Two Venezuelan pilots for KamAir were among the dead, according to Luis Figuera. He told The Associated Press that his brother-in-law, Adelsis Ramos, was killed along with Pablo Chiossone, and that their bodies were identified by another Venezuelan pilot at a Kabul hospital.</p>
<p>A citizen from Kazakhstan also was among the dead at the hotel, according to Anuar Zhainakov, a spokesman for the Kazakh Foreign Ministry.</p>
<p>Afghan security officials confirmed that 34 provincial officials were at the hotel for a conference organized by the Telecommunication Ministry.</p>
<p>Afghan officials said that also among the dead was a telecommunications official from Farah province in western Afghanistan; Waheed Poyan, the newly appointed consul general to Karachi, Pakistan; and Ahmad Farzan, an employee of the High Peace Council, a commission created to facilitate peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban and other opposition groups.</p>
<p>The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack at the heavily guarded hotel that is popular among foreigners and Afghan officials.</p>
<p>Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the insurgents initially planned to strike the hotel Thursday night but postponed it because a wedding was underway there and they wanted to avoid civilian casualties.</p>
<p>The attack unfolded almost six years after Taliban insurgents launched a similar assault on the property.</p>
<p>Mumtaz Ahmad, a provincial telecommunication employee for Helmand province, said he was walking from his room to the reception for his group on Saturday night.</p>
<p>"When the elevator door opened, I saw two armed suicide bombers. People were escaping and the attackers were firing at them," he said.</p>
<p>Fire broke out in the six-story hotel as the fighting raged, filling some guest rooms with smoke. Explosions could be heard throughout the standoff. Live TV video showed people trying to escape through windows and from the upper stories as thick, black smoke poured from the building.</p>
<p>The Interior Ministry said it is investigating how the attackers managed to enter the building. It said a private company had taken over security about three weeks ago at the hotel, which is not part of the Intercontinental chain.</p>
<p>During a news conference, Danish said that an initial investigation showed that six insurgents entered the hotel from the northern side and stormed its kitchen. A person or persons inside the hotel might have helped the attackers gain entrance, Danish said, adding that the investigation is continuing.</p>
<p>Two of the attackers were killed by special forces on the 6th floor of the hotel.</p>
<p>Capt. Tom Gresback, spokesman for NATO-led forces, said in a statement that Afghan forces had led the response efforts and that no foreign troops were hurt in the attack, according to initial reports.</p>
<p>U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States strongly condemns the attack, adding that Washington "stands with the government and people of Afghanistan. We remain firmly committed to supporting Afghan efforts to achieve peace, security and prosperity for their country."</p>
<p>Neighboring Pakistan also condemned the "brutal terrorist attack" and called for greater cooperation against militants.</p>
<p>Afghanistan and Pakistan routinely accuse each other of failing to combat extremists on their long and porous border.</p>
<p>Afghan forces have struggled to fight the Taliban since the U.S. and NATO formally concluded their combat mission at the end of 2014.</p>
<p>They have also had to contend with a growing Islamic State affiliate that has carried out a number of big attacks in recent years.</p>
<p>In other violence in Afghanistan this weekend, insurgents burst into a home in Balkh province in the north where several members of a pro-government militia were gathered late Saturday, killing 18 of them, said Gen. Abdul Razeq Qaderi, the deputy provincial police chief. Among those killed was a tribal leader who served as the local police commander, he said.</p>
<p>In the western province of Farah, a roadside bomb early Sunday killed a deputy provincial police chief and wounded four other police, according to Gen. Mahruf Folad, the provincial police chief.</p>
<p>The Taliban claimed both attacks.</p>
<p>In the western province of Herat, a roadside bomb struck a vehicle carrying 13 civilians, killing all but one of them, said Abdul Ahad Walizada, a spokesman for the provincial police chief. No one immediately claimed the attack, but Walizada blamed Taliban insurgents, who often plant bombs to target Afghan security forces.</p>
| false | 2 |
kabul afghanistan ap security forces said sunday killed last six taliban militants end overnight siege kabuls intercontinental hotel left least 18 people dead including 14 foreigners 150 guests fled gunbattle fire sparked assault shimmying bedsheets upper floors militants wore suicide vests pinned security forces 13 hours attack began 9 pm saturday gunmen roamed hallways targeted foreigners afghan officials inside luxury hilltop hotel 150 people rescued managed escape included 41 foreigners said interior ministry spokesman najib danish 10 people injured including six security forces said eleven 14 foreigners killed employees kamair private afghan airline danish said kamair put statement saying flights disrupted attack six killed ukrainians said ukrainian foreign minister pavlo klimkin added office working afghan law enforcement agencies clarify circumstances terrorist act two venezuelan pilots kamair among dead according luis figuera told associated press brotherinlaw adelsis ramos killed along pablo chiossone bodies identified another venezuelan pilot kabul hospital citizen kazakhstan also among dead hotel according anuar zhainakov spokesman kazakh foreign ministry afghan security officials confirmed 34 provincial officials hotel conference organized telecommunication ministry afghan officials said also among dead telecommunications official farah province western afghanistan waheed poyan newly appointed consul general karachi pakistan ahmad farzan employee high peace council commission created facilitate peace talks afghan government taliban opposition groups taliban claimed responsibility attack heavily guarded hotel popular among foreigners afghan officials taliban spokesman zabihullah mujahid said insurgents initially planned strike hotel thursday night postponed wedding underway wanted avoid civilian casualties attack unfolded almost six years taliban insurgents launched similar assault property mumtaz ahmad provincial telecommunication employee helmand province said walking room reception group saturday night elevator door opened saw two armed suicide bombers people escaping attackers firing said fire broke sixstory hotel fighting raged filling guest rooms smoke explosions could heard throughout standoff live tv video showed people trying escape windows upper stories thick black smoke poured building interior ministry said investigating attackers managed enter building said private company taken security three weeks ago hotel part intercontinental chain news conference danish said initial investigation showed six insurgents entered hotel northern side stormed kitchen person persons inside hotel might helped attackers gain entrance danish said adding investigation continuing two attackers killed special forces 6th floor hotel capt tom gresback spokesman natoled forces said statement afghan forces led response efforts foreign troops hurt attack according initial reports us secretary state rex tillerson said united states strongly condemns attack adding washington stands government people afghanistan remain firmly committed supporting afghan efforts achieve peace security prosperity country neighboring pakistan also condemned brutal terrorist attack called greater cooperation militants afghanistan pakistan routinely accuse failing combat extremists long porous border afghan forces struggled fight taliban since us nato formally concluded combat mission end 2014 also contend growing islamic state affiliate carried number big attacks recent years violence afghanistan weekend insurgents burst home balkh province north several members progovernment militia gathered late saturday killing 18 said gen abdul razeq qaderi deputy provincial police chief among killed tribal leader served local police commander said western province farah roadside bomb early sunday killed deputy provincial police chief wounded four police according gen mahruf folad provincial police chief taliban claimed attacks western province herat roadside bomb struck vehicle carrying 13 civilians killing one said abdul ahad walizada spokesman provincial police chief one immediately claimed attack walizada blamed taliban insurgents often plant bombs target afghan security forces kabul afghanistan ap security forces said sunday killed last six taliban militants end overnight siege kabuls intercontinental hotel left least 18 people dead including 14 foreigners 150 guests fled gunbattle fire sparked assault shimmying bedsheets upper floors militants wore suicide vests pinned security forces 13 hours attack began 9 pm saturday gunmen roamed hallways targeted foreigners afghan officials inside luxury hilltop hotel 150 people rescued managed escape included 41 foreigners said interior ministry spokesman najib danish 10 people injured including six security forces said eleven 14 foreigners killed employees kamair private afghan airline danish said kamair put statement saying flights disrupted attack six killed ukrainians said ukrainian foreign minister pavlo klimkin added office working afghan law enforcement agencies clarify circumstances terrorist act two venezuelan pilots kamair among dead according luis figuera told associated press brotherinlaw adelsis ramos killed along pablo chiossone bodies identified another venezuelan pilot kabul hospital citizen kazakhstan also among dead hotel according anuar zhainakov spokesman kazakh foreign ministry afghan security officials confirmed 34 provincial officials hotel conference organized telecommunication ministry afghan officials said also among dead telecommunications official farah province western afghanistan waheed poyan newly appointed consul general karachi pakistan ahmad farzan employee high peace council commission created facilitate peace talks afghan government taliban opposition groups taliban claimed responsibility attack heavily guarded hotel popular among foreigners afghan officials taliban spokesman zabihullah mujahid said insurgents initially planned strike hotel thursday night postponed wedding underway wanted avoid civilian casualties attack unfolded almost six years taliban insurgents launched similar assault property mumtaz ahmad provincial telecommunication employee helmand province said walking room reception group saturday night elevator door opened saw two armed suicide bombers people escaping attackers firing said fire broke sixstory hotel fighting raged filling guest rooms smoke explosions could heard throughout standoff live tv video showed people trying escape windows upper stories thick black smoke poured building interior ministry said investigating attackers managed enter building said private company taken security three weeks ago hotel part intercontinental chain news conference danish said initial investigation showed six insurgents entered hotel northern side stormed kitchen person persons inside hotel might helped attackers gain entrance danish said adding investigation continuing two attackers killed special forces 6th floor hotel capt tom gresback spokesman natoled forces said statement afghan forces led response efforts foreign troops hurt attack according initial reports us secretary state rex tillerson said united states strongly condemns attack adding washington stands government people afghanistan remain firmly committed supporting afghan efforts achieve peace security prosperity country neighboring pakistan also condemned brutal terrorist attack called greater cooperation militants afghanistan pakistan routinely accuse failing combat extremists long porous border afghan forces struggled fight taliban since us nato formally concluded combat mission end 2014 also contend growing islamic state affiliate carried number big attacks recent years violence afghanistan weekend insurgents burst home balkh province north several members progovernment militia gathered late saturday killing 18 said gen abdul razeq qaderi deputy provincial police chief among killed tribal leader served local police commander said western province farah roadside bomb early sunday killed deputy provincial police chief wounded four police according gen mahruf folad provincial police chief taliban claimed attacks western province herat roadside bomb struck vehicle carrying 13 civilians killing one said abdul ahad walizada spokesman provincial police chief one immediately claimed attack walizada blamed taliban insurgents often plant bombs target afghan security forces
| 1,112 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>The joint study, published in the journal “Geophysical Research Letters” by scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory and the University of Michigan, recorded data between 2003 and 2009 — prior to the widespread use of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking.” It showed that the Four Corners region is a methane “hot spot” with the largest concentration of atmospheric methane in the United States.</p>
<p>Oil and gas industry officials say new technologies — so-called “green completions” designed to prevent leaks of methane gas — are slowly but surely taking hold in the San Juan Basin. These completion technologies like low- or no-bleed pneumatic devices, dry seal systems and vapor recovery units can significantly reduce pollution from well sites as well as saving money for the operators, industry officials say.</p>
<p>WPX Energy’s newest gas well pad in the Lybrook area, about 100 miles southeast of Farmington, is a test case for greener technology that can add up to cleaner operations at well sites with pipeline infrastructure in place. The technology is used to capture fugitive emissions of gases like methane and safely transport energy in the San Juan Basin.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Ken McQueen, vice president of San Juan Region operations for WPX Energy, said the Lybrook operation is an example of the industry meeting or exceeding current standards for air quality while laying the groundwork for potential profits at the same time. The pad design has green completion technology that includes a vapor recovery unit designed to capture gases from tanks at the well site and use it to power the electronic devices that keep the site running, which also offsets operation costs.</p>
<p>Captured gases that aren’t used on site are distributed through 80 miles of underground pipeline for sale to other operators in the region.</p>
<p>“Our VRU system pulls emissions off the tanks, compresses them and puts it in the pipeline, so we can sell those vapors instead of letting them vent into the atmosphere,” McQueen said. “It’s our way of going above and beyond what is required. The pipeline allows us to deliver oil 24 hours and day, 365 days a year. On the oil, that means an immediate pay-off that we don’t have to pay trucks to move our crude to market. It’s a safer way and it’s cleaner, too.”</p>
<p>Having pipeline infrastructure in place before production begins along with a system to capture fugitive gas from leaks allows the company to reduce the number of days spent flaring gas.</p>
<p>“We expect no more than four days of flaring per well compared to 150 days in the past,” McQueen said. “We use a foam that is 70 percent nitrogen by volume to reduce the amount of water used during stimulation. The only reason we’re flaring at all is to get the gas to a sellable level.”</p>
<p>Other green completion technology used at WPX’s well site includes two EPA-compliant capstone generators that utilize captured gas to fuel operations there.</p>
<p>“Our capstone generators, which are Tier 4, are a very efficient way to produce electricity on-site rather than purchase grid power,” said Jason Richardson, WPX automation supervisor. “We use our own produced natural gas to fire our micro turbines to produce the power we need for the site.”</p>
<p>Other operators in the San Juan Basin are utilizing methane-capture technology, but their implementation is primarily limited to new operations.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Doug Hock, spokesman for Encana Corporation, said the company utilizes vapor recovery units to mitigate leaks at its operations.</p>
<p>ConocoPhillips, a larger player in the region, has more than 10,000 wells in the San Juan Basin.</p>
<p>Spokesman Jim Lowry said the company is currently phasing out high-bleed pneumatic controllers at its well sites. Used widely in the industry, pneumatic controllers regulate pressure, gas flow and liquid levels and operate valves, but they are also designed to release methane into the atmosphere. Low- or no-bleed controllers reduce the amount of methane released into the atmosphere.</p>
<p>Lowry estimates that ConocoPhillips’ implementation of green completion technologies has reduced emissions by as much as 60 percent.</p>
<p>Thomas Singer, senior policy advisor at the Western Environmental Law Center, applauds WPX’s new Lybrook site, but says mandatory regulations industry-wide are the only way to ensure emissions are accurately controlled.</p>
<p>“It’s laudable that (WPX) is putting in controlled technology on new development. That’s a good thing,” Singer said. But, “if New Mexico is going to get a handle on the hot spot, voluntary measures are not adequate. We need federal and state rules on enforcement.”</p>
<p>Singer said a new EPA report on methane releases in the oil and gas industry expected later this month will shed some light on how regulations may impact the industry. Singer said the industry should not be deciding what controls are appropriate or how samples are selected for studies.</p>
<p>“It shouldn’t be up to oil and gas companies where and when they stop wasting gas. It should be required of all operators by regulators everywhere,” Singer said.</p>
<p>McQueen said his company’s innovations are costly but worth it, even in a climate where the price of a barrel of oil has dropped by more than half.</p>
<p>Using pipeline infrastructure instead of trucks to move energy saves transportation costs, which can run as much as $2 per barrel of oil, McQueen said.</p>
<p>“When the oil prices go down, it brings the best out of the company, even when it’s harder to make a buck,” McQueen said. “You turn to the talent of your engineers and geologists to find a way, to save costs, get production online sooner and do a better job completion. It gets tougher, but you find what’s possible.”</p>
<p>James Fenton covers Aztec and Bloomfield for The Daily Times. He can be reached at 505-564-4621 and [email protected]. Follow him @fentondt on Twitter.</p>
<p>——</p>
<p>©2015 The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.)</p>
<p>Visit The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.) at <a href="http://www.daily-times.com" type="external">www.daily-times.com</a></p>
<p>Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC</p>
<p>———-</p>
<p>Topics: t000002537,t000396078,t000003817,t000040348,t000003086,t000002574,t000037798,t000037818,t000002676,t000138311,t000002953,t000047682,t000138309,t000047680,t000002805,t000036956,g000362659,g000362661,g000215302,g000217873,g000066164</p>
| false | 2 |
joint study published journal geophysical research letters scientists nasas jet propulsion laboratory los alamos national laboratory university michigan recorded data 2003 2009 prior widespread use hydraulic fracturing fracking showed four corners region methane hot spot largest concentration atmospheric methane united states oil gas industry officials say new technologies socalled green completions designed prevent leaks methane gas slowly surely taking hold san juan basin completion technologies like low nobleed pneumatic devices dry seal systems vapor recovery units significantly reduce pollution well sites well saving money operators industry officials say wpx energys newest gas well pad lybrook area 100 miles southeast farmington test case greener technology add cleaner operations well sites pipeline infrastructure place technology used capture fugitive emissions gases like methane safely transport energy san juan basin advertisement ken mcqueen vice president san juan region operations wpx energy said lybrook operation example industry meeting exceeding current standards air quality laying groundwork potential profits time pad design green completion technology includes vapor recovery unit designed capture gases tanks well site use power electronic devices keep site running also offsets operation costs captured gases arent used site distributed 80 miles underground pipeline sale operators region vru system pulls emissions tanks compresses puts pipeline sell vapors instead letting vent atmosphere mcqueen said way going beyond required pipeline allows us deliver oil 24 hours day 365 days year oil means immediate payoff dont pay trucks move crude market safer way cleaner pipeline infrastructure place production begins along system capture fugitive gas leaks allows company reduce number days spent flaring gas expect four days flaring per well compared 150 days past mcqueen said use foam 70 percent nitrogen volume reduce amount water used stimulation reason flaring get gas sellable level green completion technology used wpxs well site includes two epacompliant capstone generators utilize captured gas fuel operations capstone generators tier 4 efficient way produce electricity onsite rather purchase grid power said jason richardson wpx automation supervisor use produced natural gas fire micro turbines produce power need site operators san juan basin utilizing methanecapture technology implementation primarily limited new operations advertisement doug hock spokesman encana corporation said company utilizes vapor recovery units mitigate leaks operations conocophillips larger player region 10000 wells san juan basin spokesman jim lowry said company currently phasing highbleed pneumatic controllers well sites used widely industry pneumatic controllers regulate pressure gas flow liquid levels operate valves also designed release methane atmosphere low nobleed controllers reduce amount methane released atmosphere lowry estimates conocophillips implementation green completion technologies reduced emissions much 60 percent thomas singer senior policy advisor western environmental law center applauds wpxs new lybrook site says mandatory regulations industrywide way ensure emissions accurately controlled laudable wpx putting controlled technology new development thats good thing singer said new mexico going get handle hot spot voluntary measures adequate need federal state rules enforcement singer said new epa report methane releases oil gas industry expected later month shed light regulations may impact industry singer said industry deciding controls appropriate samples selected studies shouldnt oil gas companies stop wasting gas required operators regulators everywhere singer said mcqueen said companys innovations costly worth even climate price barrel oil dropped half using pipeline infrastructure instead trucks move energy saves transportation costs run much 2 per barrel oil mcqueen said oil prices go brings best company even harder make buck mcqueen said turn talent engineers geologists find way save costs get production online sooner better job completion gets tougher find whats possible james fenton covers aztec bloomfield daily times reached 5055644621 jfentondailytimescom follow fentondt twitter 2015 daily times farmington nm visit daily times farmington nm wwwdailytimescom distributed tribune content agency llc topics t000002537t000396078t000003817t000040348t000003086t000002574t000037798t000037818t000002676t000138311t000002953t000047682t000138309t000047680t000002805t000036956g000362659g000362661g000215302g000217873g000066164
| 602 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>Frank Klotz, administrator of the Energy Department’s National Nuclear Security Administration, made the proposal to members of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board in an Oct. 13 meeting in his office overlooking the Smithsonian Castle on the National Mall, multiple U.S. officials said.</p>
<p>Klotz contended that recent media reports about safety lapses that relied partially on the board’s weekly disclosures were potentially counterproductive to the NNSA’s mission, the officials said. His solution was presented as the Trump administration considers an acceleration and expansion of nuclear warhead production at the federally owned sites inspected by the board in eight states, including California, New Mexico, South Carolina and Tennessee.</p>
<p>Four of the safety board’s five members heard Klotz’s appeal and one of them — Bruce Hamilton, a Republican — responded by drafting and briefly circulating a proposal among the members to stop releasing the board’s weekly and monthly accounts of safety concerns at nuclear weapons factories and laboratories.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Under Hamilton’s proposal, these accounts of accidents and problematic incidents — prepared by board staff that routinely visit or are stationed at these sites — would be replaced by oral reports by those staff members to their superiors in Washington. The reports would not be divulged to the public, according to multiple federal officials.</p>
<p>The proposal represented the second effort by federal officials in recent months to curtail public access to information about persistent safety problems in the nuclear production complex, which the Center for Public Integrity documented in articles published between June and August.</p>
<p>In June, the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board’s chairman, Sean Sullivan — Hamilton’s fellow Republican on the board — secretly urged the Trump administration to eliminate the safety board altogether. The White House has said it will address the idea early next year, but some lawmakers have already expressed opposition.</p>
<p>The Center’s articles detailed a series of alarming safety problems, including the mishandling of plutonium, a radioactive explosive, at Los Alamos and a federal laboratory in Idaho; the mis-shipment of hazardous materials, including nuclear explosive materials; and the repeated contamination of work areas and scientists by radioactive particles. The articles were based in part on the board’s reports.</p>
<p>The federal facilities where nuclear weapons are produced are run by corporations that have collectively earned more than $2 billion in profit from the work over the past decade. Many of the firms’ officials have expressed chagrin at occasional publicity about their mishaps and accidents.</p>
<p>Hamilton withdrew his proposal on Oct. 19 — the same date that CPI disclosed in an article copublished with USA Today Sullivan’s plan to eliminate the safety board. Reached by telephone, Hamilton declined comment on the proposal or its withdrawal.</p>
<p>Klotz’s proposal drew criticism from several independent observers of the board’s work. Greg Mello, director of the Los Alamos Study Group, a nonprofit organization that monitors the government’s activities at nuclear sites in New Mexico, said the reports at issue “provide almost the only window into the safety status of defense nuclear facilities.” Without them, he said, the public might never know if an accident occurs.</p>
<p>“It’s not (Klotz’s) job to tell the safety board how to do their work,” Mello said. “Shame on him.”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Bob Alvarez, a former senior policy adviser and deputy assistant secretary at the Energy Department, said “this is regressive behavior, rolling back to the old days of the Cold War. The logic behind this is that what the public doesn’t know can’t hurt us, and there’s nothing to be gained by the public knowing what we’re doing. The site reports make sure that the Department of Energy, which includes the NNSA does not … (rely only on) blind, undocumented faith in its contractors.”</p>
<p>Klotz, 67, is a retired Air Force lieutenant general and former commander of the Air Force’s Global Strike Command — which is responsible for nuclear bombers and missiles — who was appointed NNSA administrator and Energy Department undersecretary for nuclear security by President Obama in April 2014. He was retained in the role by President Trump. The NNSA finances and manages the production and maintenance of all U.S. nuclear warheads, a $10.8 billion-a-year effort that Trump has said he wants to fund more richly.</p>
<p>Asked about Klotz’s proposal, his spokesman Gregory Wolf declined any direct comment, but wrote in an email that “to ensure an open line of communication, NNSA and DNFSB leadership meet periodically. … The conversations traditionally have been casual and informal in nature and are not intended nor designed to arrive at any conclusions or decisions.”</p>
<p>September news report</p>
<p>During his meeting with safety board members, according to the officials, Klotz pointed in particular to a Sept. 22 article published in The Santa Fe New Mexican that described persistent safety shortcomings at the government’s laboratory in Los Alamos, the birthplace of the U.S. nuclear arsenal. The article was based on a Sept. 1 public report by the safety board that faulted workers for positioning plutonium so closely that it risked an uncontrolled nuclear reaction, which could be deadly to anyone nearby — a persistent lapse the lab has struggled to overcome. (Editor’s note: Journal North published an article on the same safety board report about a “criticality safety event” at the lab the same day as The New Mexican).</p>
<p>The report also disclosed that several workers at the lab’s Plutonium Facility had been accidentally contaminated by radiation.</p>
<p>The officials said Klotz told the safety board members that if safety lapses like those depicted in the article continued to attract public attention, nuclear workers will grow reluctant to expose their corporate employers to public embarrassment by telling the board about unsafe conditions.</p>
<p>His argument, in short, was that only secrecy could encourage accountability for the corporate managers of the nuclear weapons complex.</p>
<p>The Santa Fe newspaper report that irritated Klotz built on CPI’s recent reporting about unsafe handling of plutonium that has plagued Los Alamos for more than a decade, placing workers in danger and causing setbacks to the lab’s national security mission. Soon after those accounts were published, Los Alamos National Laboratory Director Charles McMillan and Kim Davis Lebak, the top NNSA official assigned to oversee work at Los Alamos, announced plans to retire.</p>
<p>The safety board was created by Congress in 1988 to foster public trust in nuclear weapons work by providing independent oversight of its workplace practices. It is authorized to recommend safety improvements to the Energy Department secretary, based on its inspections. The secretary is not obligated to accept the recommendations but must respond publicly. The public reports that form the basis of these recommendations do not divulge the names of workers who bring safety issues to the board’s attention.</p>
<p>Government officials familiar with the on-site inspectors’ weekly reports say they are one of the most effective ways of inspiring better behavior at the weapons facilities because the contractors intensely dislike public criticism. But the contractors have complained bitterly that the public nature of the discussion goads the NNSA into imposing more costly safety precautions than their managers feel are warranted.</p>
| false | 2 |
frank klotz administrator energy departments national nuclear security administration made proposal members defense nuclear facilities safety board oct 13 meeting office overlooking smithsonian castle national mall multiple us officials said klotz contended recent media reports safety lapses relied partially boards weekly disclosures potentially counterproductive nnsas mission officials said solution presented trump administration considers acceleration expansion nuclear warhead production federally owned sites inspected board eight states including california new mexico south carolina tennessee four safety boards five members heard klotzs appeal one bruce hamilton republican responded drafting briefly circulating proposal among members stop releasing boards weekly monthly accounts safety concerns nuclear weapons factories laboratories advertisement hamiltons proposal accounts accidents problematic incidents prepared board staff routinely visit stationed sites would replaced oral reports staff members superiors washington reports would divulged public according multiple federal officials proposal represented second effort federal officials recent months curtail public access information persistent safety problems nuclear production complex center public integrity documented articles published june august june defense nuclear facilities safety boards chairman sean sullivan hamiltons fellow republican board secretly urged trump administration eliminate safety board altogether white house said address idea early next year lawmakers already expressed opposition centers articles detailed series alarming safety problems including mishandling plutonium radioactive explosive los alamos federal laboratory idaho misshipment hazardous materials including nuclear explosive materials repeated contamination work areas scientists radioactive particles articles based part boards reports federal facilities nuclear weapons produced run corporations collectively earned 2 billion profit work past decade many firms officials expressed chagrin occasional publicity mishaps accidents hamilton withdrew proposal oct 19 date cpi disclosed article copublished usa today sullivans plan eliminate safety board reached telephone hamilton declined comment proposal withdrawal klotzs proposal drew criticism several independent observers boards work greg mello director los alamos study group nonprofit organization monitors governments activities nuclear sites new mexico said reports issue provide almost window safety status defense nuclear facilities without said public might never know accident occurs klotzs job tell safety board work mello said shame advertisement bob alvarez former senior policy adviser deputy assistant secretary energy department said regressive behavior rolling back old days cold war logic behind public doesnt know cant hurt us theres nothing gained public knowing site reports make sure department energy includes nnsa rely blind undocumented faith contractors klotz 67 retired air force lieutenant general former commander air forces global strike command responsible nuclear bombers missiles appointed nnsa administrator energy department undersecretary nuclear security president obama april 2014 retained role president trump nnsa finances manages production maintenance us nuclear warheads 108 billionayear effort trump said wants fund richly asked klotzs proposal spokesman gregory wolf declined direct comment wrote email ensure open line communication nnsa dnfsb leadership meet periodically conversations traditionally casual informal nature intended designed arrive conclusions decisions september news report meeting safety board members according officials klotz pointed particular sept 22 article published santa fe new mexican described persistent safety shortcomings governments laboratory los alamos birthplace us nuclear arsenal article based sept 1 public report safety board faulted workers positioning plutonium closely risked uncontrolled nuclear reaction could deadly anyone nearby persistent lapse lab struggled overcome editors note journal north published article safety board report criticality safety event lab day new mexican report also disclosed several workers labs plutonium facility accidentally contaminated radiation officials said klotz told safety board members safety lapses like depicted article continued attract public attention nuclear workers grow reluctant expose corporate employers public embarrassment telling board unsafe conditions argument short secrecy could encourage accountability corporate managers nuclear weapons complex santa fe newspaper report irritated klotz built cpis recent reporting unsafe handling plutonium plagued los alamos decade placing workers danger causing setbacks labs national security mission soon accounts published los alamos national laboratory director charles mcmillan kim davis lebak top nnsa official assigned oversee work los alamos announced plans retire safety board created congress 1988 foster public trust nuclear weapons work providing independent oversight workplace practices authorized recommend safety improvements energy department secretary based inspections secretary obligated accept recommendations must respond publicly public reports form basis recommendations divulge names workers bring safety issues boards attention government officials familiar onsite inspectors weekly reports say one effective ways inspiring better behavior weapons facilities contractors intensely dislike public criticism contractors complained bitterly public nature discussion goads nnsa imposing costly safety precautions managers feel warranted
| 712 |
<p>CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina kept hitting the glass hard — then pulled away after one of its most important players hit the floor hard.</p>
<p>Luke Maye had 17 points and 11 rebounds, and the 15th-ranked Tar Heels beat Georgia Tech 80-66 on Saturday.</p>
<p>Theo Pinson added 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Joel Berry II and Cameron Johnson finished with 16 points apiece to help the Tar Heels (16-4, 5-2 Atlantic Coast Conference).</p>
<p>They shot 42 percent and dominated the glass, building a 46-25 rebounding advantage and scoring 26 second-chance points to Georgia Tech’s four.</p>
<p>“We’re pushing our guys — as you’ve heard me say for 15 years how important I think rebounding the ball is,” coach Roy Williams said.</p>
<p>Jose Alvarado scored 17 points and hit four 3-pointers, including one that pulled the Yellow Jackets to 70-62 with about 3½ minutes left. But he fouled Berry on the Tar Heels’ ensuing possession, sending the point guard to the floor — and then stepped over him, earning a technical foul with 3:21 to play.</p>
<p>“I just felt like it was disrespectful to me,” Berry said. “I never want anybody to disrespect me like that. So I knew at the time he was going to do it. I just tried to get up fast, because I don’t like people stepping over me anyway. I just told him, ‘Watch where you’re stepping.’”</p>
<p>Berry hit three of the four free throws he was awarded to put North Carolina’s lead into double figures to stay. The Tar Heels were 19 of 24 from the line, while Georgia Tech was just 3 of 6.</p>
<p>Josh Okogie led Georgia Tech (10-9, 3-3) with 18 points, while Ben Lammers and Abdoulaye Gueye each had 12. The Yellow Jackets were just 5 of 18 from 3-point range and had 15 turnovers.</p>
<p>“The whole key is, you’ve got to make free throws and don’t turn the ball over,” Tech coach Josh Pastner said. “Those are two areas where we haven’t been as good as I would like to be, and that’s put us in some positions of some of our losses.”</p>
<p>BIG PICTURE</p>
<p>Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets had won four in a row before this two-game run against Top 15 opponents. After suffocating against No. 2 Virginia’s ACC-best defense, Georgia Tech couldn’t keep up with North Carolina’s fast-paced offense, which averages nearly 83 points — especially after one stretch in which it had two field goals in 10-plus minutes.</p>
<p>North Carolina: The Tar Heels’ winning streak remains intact, but Berry had a rough day until his free-throw bonanza all but iced it. The most outstanding player at the Final Four finished just 3 of 17 from the field and was just 1 of 8 from long range.</p>
<p>STAT LINES</p>
<p>Pinson scored in double figures for the third straight game — the first time he’s done that in his career. . Johnson’s two highest-scoring games as a Tar Heel came this week. He scored 21 in the victory over Clemson.</p>
<p>HE SAID IT</p>
<p>“I know Coach. If I tried to do something, Coach would get on me and yell at me, regardless of the situation.” — Berry, on keeping his cool after Alvarado stepped over him.</p>
<p>MEN IN STRIPES</p>
<p>Official Ted Valentine worked his first North Carolina game since he memorably turned his back on Berry as the guard protested the lack of a foul call during a loss at Florida State on Jan. 3. The first time Valentine blew his whistle was when Berry drew a charging call on Brandon Alston. Berry said Valentine apologized before the game.</p>
<p>HONORS</p>
<p>North Carolina placed former forward Justin Jackson’s jersey No. 44 in the rafters during a halftime ceremony. He qualified for the honor by winning the ACC player of the year award last season, while helping the Tar Heels win their third NCAA Tournament title since 2005.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Georgia Tech: Visits Florida State on Wednesday night.</p>
<p>North Carolina: Plays at Virginia Tech on Monday night.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP college basketball: <a href="http://collegebasketball.ap.org" type="external" /> <a href="http://collegebasketball.ap.org" type="external">http://collegebasketball.ap.org</a> and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/AP_Top25" type="external" /> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/AP_Top25" type="external">http://www.twitter.com/AP_Top25</a></p>
<p>CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina kept hitting the glass hard — then pulled away after one of its most important players hit the floor hard.</p>
<p>Luke Maye had 17 points and 11 rebounds, and the 15th-ranked Tar Heels beat Georgia Tech 80-66 on Saturday.</p>
<p>Theo Pinson added 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Joel Berry II and Cameron Johnson finished with 16 points apiece to help the Tar Heels (16-4, 5-2 Atlantic Coast Conference).</p>
<p>They shot 42 percent and dominated the glass, building a 46-25 rebounding advantage and scoring 26 second-chance points to Georgia Tech’s four.</p>
<p>“We’re pushing our guys — as you’ve heard me say for 15 years how important I think rebounding the ball is,” coach Roy Williams said.</p>
<p>Jose Alvarado scored 17 points and hit four 3-pointers, including one that pulled the Yellow Jackets to 70-62 with about 3½ minutes left. But he fouled Berry on the Tar Heels’ ensuing possession, sending the point guard to the floor — and then stepped over him, earning a technical foul with 3:21 to play.</p>
<p>“I just felt like it was disrespectful to me,” Berry said. “I never want anybody to disrespect me like that. So I knew at the time he was going to do it. I just tried to get up fast, because I don’t like people stepping over me anyway. I just told him, ‘Watch where you’re stepping.’”</p>
<p>Berry hit three of the four free throws he was awarded to put North Carolina’s lead into double figures to stay. The Tar Heels were 19 of 24 from the line, while Georgia Tech was just 3 of 6.</p>
<p>Josh Okogie led Georgia Tech (10-9, 3-3) with 18 points, while Ben Lammers and Abdoulaye Gueye each had 12. The Yellow Jackets were just 5 of 18 from 3-point range and had 15 turnovers.</p>
<p>“The whole key is, you’ve got to make free throws and don’t turn the ball over,” Tech coach Josh Pastner said. “Those are two areas where we haven’t been as good as I would like to be, and that’s put us in some positions of some of our losses.”</p>
<p>BIG PICTURE</p>
<p>Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets had won four in a row before this two-game run against Top 15 opponents. After suffocating against No. 2 Virginia’s ACC-best defense, Georgia Tech couldn’t keep up with North Carolina’s fast-paced offense, which averages nearly 83 points — especially after one stretch in which it had two field goals in 10-plus minutes.</p>
<p>North Carolina: The Tar Heels’ winning streak remains intact, but Berry had a rough day until his free-throw bonanza all but iced it. The most outstanding player at the Final Four finished just 3 of 17 from the field and was just 1 of 8 from long range.</p>
<p>STAT LINES</p>
<p>Pinson scored in double figures for the third straight game — the first time he’s done that in his career. . Johnson’s two highest-scoring games as a Tar Heel came this week. He scored 21 in the victory over Clemson.</p>
<p>HE SAID IT</p>
<p>“I know Coach. If I tried to do something, Coach would get on me and yell at me, regardless of the situation.” — Berry, on keeping his cool after Alvarado stepped over him.</p>
<p>MEN IN STRIPES</p>
<p>Official Ted Valentine worked his first North Carolina game since he memorably turned his back on Berry as the guard protested the lack of a foul call during a loss at Florida State on Jan. 3. The first time Valentine blew his whistle was when Berry drew a charging call on Brandon Alston. Berry said Valentine apologized before the game.</p>
<p>HONORS</p>
<p>North Carolina placed former forward Justin Jackson’s jersey No. 44 in the rafters during a halftime ceremony. He qualified for the honor by winning the ACC player of the year award last season, while helping the Tar Heels win their third NCAA Tournament title since 2005.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Georgia Tech: Visits Florida State on Wednesday night.</p>
<p>North Carolina: Plays at Virginia Tech on Monday night.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP college basketball: <a href="http://collegebasketball.ap.org" type="external" /> <a href="http://collegebasketball.ap.org" type="external">http://collegebasketball.ap.org</a> and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/AP_Top25" type="external" /> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/AP_Top25" type="external">http://www.twitter.com/AP_Top25</a></p>
| false | 2 |
chapel hill nc ap north carolina kept hitting glass hard pulled away one important players hit floor hard luke maye 17 points 11 rebounds 15thranked tar heels beat georgia tech 8066 saturday theo pinson added 11 points 10 rebounds joel berry ii cameron johnson finished 16 points apiece help tar heels 164 52 atlantic coast conference shot 42 percent dominated glass building 4625 rebounding advantage scoring 26 secondchance points georgia techs four pushing guys youve heard say 15 years important think rebounding ball coach roy williams said jose alvarado scored 17 points hit four 3pointers including one pulled yellow jackets 7062 3½ minutes left fouled berry tar heels ensuing possession sending point guard floor stepped earning technical foul 321 play felt like disrespectful berry said never want anybody disrespect like knew time going tried get fast dont like people stepping anyway told watch youre stepping berry hit three four free throws awarded put north carolinas lead double figures stay tar heels 19 24 line georgia tech 3 6 josh okogie led georgia tech 109 33 18 points ben lammers abdoulaye gueye 12 yellow jackets 5 18 3point range 15 turnovers whole key youve got make free throws dont turn ball tech coach josh pastner said two areas havent good would like thats put us positions losses big picture georgia tech yellow jackets four row twogame run top 15 opponents suffocating 2 virginias accbest defense georgia tech couldnt keep north carolinas fastpaced offense averages nearly 83 points especially one stretch two field goals 10plus minutes north carolina tar heels winning streak remains intact berry rough day freethrow bonanza iced outstanding player final four finished 3 17 field 1 8 long range stat lines pinson scored double figures third straight game first time hes done career johnsons two highestscoring games tar heel came week scored 21 victory clemson said know coach tried something coach would get yell regardless situation berry keeping cool alvarado stepped men stripes official ted valentine worked first north carolina game since memorably turned back berry guard protested lack foul call loss florida state jan 3 first time valentine blew whistle berry drew charging call brandon alston berry said valentine apologized game honors north carolina placed former forward justin jacksons jersey 44 rafters halftime ceremony qualified honor winning acc player year award last season helping tar heels win third ncaa tournament title since 2005 next georgia tech visits florida state wednesday night north carolina plays virginia tech monday night ___ ap college basketball httpcollegebasketballaporg httpwwwtwittercomap_top25 chapel hill nc ap north carolina kept hitting glass hard pulled away one important players hit floor hard luke maye 17 points 11 rebounds 15thranked tar heels beat georgia tech 8066 saturday theo pinson added 11 points 10 rebounds joel berry ii cameron johnson finished 16 points apiece help tar heels 164 52 atlantic coast conference shot 42 percent dominated glass building 4625 rebounding advantage scoring 26 secondchance points georgia techs four pushing guys youve heard say 15 years important think rebounding ball coach roy williams said jose alvarado scored 17 points hit four 3pointers including one pulled yellow jackets 7062 3½ minutes left fouled berry tar heels ensuing possession sending point guard floor stepped earning technical foul 321 play felt like disrespectful berry said never want anybody disrespect like knew time going tried get fast dont like people stepping anyway told watch youre stepping berry hit three four free throws awarded put north carolinas lead double figures stay tar heels 19 24 line georgia tech 3 6 josh okogie led georgia tech 109 33 18 points ben lammers abdoulaye gueye 12 yellow jackets 5 18 3point range 15 turnovers whole key youve got make free throws dont turn ball tech coach josh pastner said two areas havent good would like thats put us positions losses big picture georgia tech yellow jackets four row twogame run top 15 opponents suffocating 2 virginias accbest defense georgia tech couldnt keep north carolinas fastpaced offense averages nearly 83 points especially one stretch two field goals 10plus minutes north carolina tar heels winning streak remains intact berry rough day freethrow bonanza iced outstanding player final four finished 3 17 field 1 8 long range stat lines pinson scored double figures third straight game first time hes done career johnsons two highestscoring games tar heel came week scored 21 victory clemson said know coach tried something coach would get yell regardless situation berry keeping cool alvarado stepped men stripes official ted valentine worked first north carolina game since memorably turned back berry guard protested lack foul call loss florida state jan 3 first time valentine blew whistle berry drew charging call brandon alston berry said valentine apologized game honors north carolina placed former forward justin jacksons jersey 44 rafters halftime ceremony qualified honor winning acc player year award last season helping tar heels win third ncaa tournament title since 2005 next georgia tech visits florida state wednesday night north carolina plays virginia tech monday night ___ ap college basketball httpcollegebasketballaporg httpwwwtwittercomap_top25
| 832 |
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — For all his errant swings at the facts, President Donald Trump sometimes gets it just right.</p>
<p>"There's been no first year like this," he told a Florida rally last month.</p>
<p>Were truer words ever spoken?</p>
<p>This Department of Corrections has certainly never seen a first year like this. Falsehoods and exaggerations have tumbled relentlessly out of Trump's Twitter account, speeches and interviews, the vast majority in service of his ego.</p>
<p>Other presidents have skewered the truth — George W. Bush on the pretext for the Iraq war, Barack Obama on the benefits of "Obamacare" — but Trump is of a different order of magnitude.</p>
<p>The president routinely presents his intended actions as achievements ("Obamacare" is dead, money is "pouring" into NATO), and inflates the significance of what he's done (calling his tax cuts the biggest ever and his accomplishments unrivaled in history — neither true). He exaggerates the problems he inherited (roads and bridges are in "total disrepair and disarray," the border was "wide open"), lays out fanciful goals (6 percent economic growth), and doesn't learn from mistakes. Instead he repeats them.</p>
<p>Moreover, Trump often bypasses the vast information-gathering apparatus that reports to him in favor of getting his reality from TV, or just his gut.</p>
<p>Some trends and highlights in his misstatements since taking office:</p>
<p />
<p>THE ART OF THE BIGGEST BESTEST</p>
<p>Trump doesn't do big tax cuts. He does the biggest ever. He doesn't win an election. He scores a "landslide." He doesn't just make the Veterans Affairs Department run better. He drives out the "sadists."</p>
<p>In fact:</p>
<p>—The December tax overhaul ranks behind Ronald Reagan's in the early 1980s, post-World War II tax cuts and at least several more.</p>
<p>—His 2016 win ranks as the 13th closest of the 58 presidential elections in U.S. history, according to a tally by Claremont McKenna College political scientist John Pitney. It was no landslide. His winning percentage in the Electoral College was just under 57 percent, narrower than both of Obama's wins (61 percent in 2008 and 62 percent in 2012) and all but two of the last 10 presidential elections. Also, he lost the popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton.</p>
<p>—Despite his boasts that incompetent VA employees are being swiftly removed — and enactment of a mid-year law that expedites that process — more VA employees were fired in Obama's last budget year than in Trump's first.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>MISSIONS UNACCOMPLISHED</p>
<p>Trump sees things the way he wants them to be and presents them as if that's how they are.</p>
<p>"You know, we have factories pouring back into our country. Did you ever think you would hear that?" ''I urged our NATO allies to do more to strengthen our crucial alliance and set the stage for significant increases in member contributions. Billions and billions of dollars are pouring in because of that initiative." ''Jobs are pouring back into our country."</p>
<p>In fact:</p>
<p>—Factories are not pouring "back" into the country, nor are they sprouting up domestically in big numbers. When he made his claim, in December, spending on the construction of factories had dropped 14 percent over the past year, continuing a steady decline since the middle of 2015. As for jobs "pouring back into our country," Trump hopes his tax overhaul will make that happen, but it hasn't yet. The economy added about 170,000 new jobs a month during Trump's first year. That was slightly below the average of 185,000 in 2016.</p>
<p>Manufacturers stepped up hiring, adding 196,000 jobs in 2017, but they added more in 2011 and 2014.</p>
<p>—Money isn't pouring into the NATO organization and it won't be. What Trump really means is that he's pushing NATO members to increase their own military budgets so the U.S. won't carry such a heavy load. NATO members agreed during Obama's presidency to increase their military spending in the years ahead. Whether Trump has accelerated that remains to be seen.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>THE APOCALYPSE</p>
<p>Trump makes the state of the union look better under his watch by making the past look as dark as can be. Before him, the U.S. "left our own border wide open. Anybody can come in." The U.S. armed forces were all but in ruins. The health law he inherited and has tried to dismantle is a disaster that "covers very few people," and is essentially "dead." Previous presidents "put American energy under lock and key."</p>
<p>Actually:</p>
<p>—The U.S. border was far from porous before Trump took office. The number of arrests of illegal border crossers — the best measure of how many people are trying to cross illegally — was at a 40-year low before Trump's influence on border policy was felt. The government under presidents George W. Bush and Obama roughly doubled the ranks of the Border Patrol in the past decade or so. Obama was derided by pro-immigrant advocates as "deporter in chief" for the hefty numbers of people he sent home before easing deportations of certain groups later in his presidency.</p>
<p>—Obamacare was covering about 20 million people when Trump described the numbers as "very few." The majority is from the law's Medicaid expansion. The other driver of coverage, plans sold in the subsidized individual insurance market, drew roughly 9 million signups for 2018 despite a much shorter enrollment season, and cuts in the ad budget and federal payments to insurers. The new tax law ends the Obamacare fine for lacking insurance, starting in 2019. That repeals a major component of Obama's law, but other critical parts of the law remain in place.</p>
<p>—Energy production was not imprisoned under previous administrations. It was unleashed, particularly during Obama's presidency, largely because of advances in hydraulic fracturing that made it economical to tap vast reserves of natural gas. Oil production also greatly increased, reducing imports. Before the 2016 presidential election, the U.S. for the first time in decades was getting more energy domestically than it imports. Before Obama, Bush was no adversary of the energy industry.</p>
<p>Despite Trump's rhetoric about U.S. energy production, one of his most consequential actions as president has been to open the U.S. to another source of foreign oil, with his approval of the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>GOING WITH HIS GUT (AND TV)</p>
<p>Trump forms instant impressions about what he sees on TV or otherwise hears about and shares those views, just as the average person does on social media or over coffee. The difference is that a president stands at a bully pulpit and his visceral reactions can change the world.</p>
<p>—Trump strained relations with Britain by retweeting videos spread by a far-right British fringe group that purported to show Muslim extremism. "Muslim migrant beats up Dutch boy on crutches!" said the introduction to one video, which showed a young man attacking another who was on crutches. The attacker was not a Muslim migrant. He was a Dutch-born citizen who was arrested and sentenced for the crime. "Facts do matter," the Dutch Embassy in Washington said in a tweet directed at Trump.</p>
<p>—The president puzzled plenty of people in February when he told a rally that immigration is spreading violence and extremism in Sweden, pointing to "what's happening last night in Sweden." Nothing extraordinary happened in Sweden the previous night, Feb. 17. It happened to be when Trump saw an analyst talking about the subject on Fox News.</p>
<p>But he soon claimed vindication of his statement anyway, telling Time magazine the next month: "I make the statement, everyone goes crazy. The next day they have a massive riot, and death, and problems."</p>
<p>That wasn't right, either. Two days after his rally, a riot broke out in a largely immigrant neighborhood after police arrested a drug crime suspect. Cars were set on fire and shops looted, but no one was killed. Attacks in the country related to extremism remain rare; the biggest surprise for many Swedes was that a police officer found it necessary to fire his gun.</p>
<p>—When an Amtrak train hurtled off the tracks in Washington state in December, killing three people and injuring dozens, Trump's first impulse was to make a plug for his infrastructure plan. Only after that did he offer thoughts and prayers for the victims and thanks for rescuers. His opening tweet: "The train accident that just occurred in DuPont, WA shows more than ever why our soon to be submitted infrastructure plan must be approved quickly. Seven trillion dollars spent in the Middle East while our roads, bridges, tunnels, railways (and more) crumble! Not for long!"</p>
<p>Although he jumped to his conclusion within a few hours of the crash, it's taking investigators months to reach a conclusion that is informed by the facts. But this much was obvious right away: The train was making its inaugural run along a fast, new route, not a crumbling line of the type that would be a priority of a national infrastructure plan. And the train was going over twice the speed limit.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>IT'S WHO YOU KNOW, AND DON'T</p>
<p>Trump has claimed to know certain people well, only to circle back to say he hardly knew them all. His familiarity with them has varied according to political circumstance.</p>
<p>So it was when George Papadopoulos, a Trump campaign adviser, pleaded guilty in October to lying about his Russian interactions. "Few people knew the young, low level volunteer," Trump tweeted in response. After naming Papadopoulos to his campaign's foreign policy advisory council in March 2016, Trump called him an "excellent guy" and tweeted a photo of his council meeting with Papadopoulos among several advisers.</p>
<p>Steve Bannon got such treatment months before his ouster as White House strategist last year.</p>
<p>Trump said he had known him for "many years" when Bannon became his campaign chief in August 2016. When Bannon's tenure as White House strategist was getting dicey in April, Trump said "I didn't know him" when Bannon was named campaign CEO.</p>
<p>Trump and Bannon had known each other for five years when the Republican candidate, a month after accepting the nomination, made him campaign chief.</p>
<p>David Bossie, who was deputy campaign manager, told AP he introduced them in 2011 at Trump Tower and they grew to know each well, as Trump appeared multiple times on Bannon's Breitbart radio show. Bannon interviewed Trump at least nine times in 2015 and 2016 and members of his family and campaign on many other occasions. "They believe in each other's agendas, which is why they have grown so close," Bossie said.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Jim Drinkard, Josh Boak, Christopher Rugaber, Hope Yen, Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Jill Colvin and Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Find AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — For all his errant swings at the facts, President Donald Trump sometimes gets it just right.</p>
<p>"There's been no first year like this," he told a Florida rally last month.</p>
<p>Were truer words ever spoken?</p>
<p>This Department of Corrections has certainly never seen a first year like this. Falsehoods and exaggerations have tumbled relentlessly out of Trump's Twitter account, speeches and interviews, the vast majority in service of his ego.</p>
<p>Other presidents have skewered the truth — George W. Bush on the pretext for the Iraq war, Barack Obama on the benefits of "Obamacare" — but Trump is of a different order of magnitude.</p>
<p>The president routinely presents his intended actions as achievements ("Obamacare" is dead, money is "pouring" into NATO), and inflates the significance of what he's done (calling his tax cuts the biggest ever and his accomplishments unrivaled in history — neither true). He exaggerates the problems he inherited (roads and bridges are in "total disrepair and disarray," the border was "wide open"), lays out fanciful goals (6 percent economic growth), and doesn't learn from mistakes. Instead he repeats them.</p>
<p>Moreover, Trump often bypasses the vast information-gathering apparatus that reports to him in favor of getting his reality from TV, or just his gut.</p>
<p>Some trends and highlights in his misstatements since taking office:</p>
<p />
<p>THE ART OF THE BIGGEST BESTEST</p>
<p>Trump doesn't do big tax cuts. He does the biggest ever. He doesn't win an election. He scores a "landslide." He doesn't just make the Veterans Affairs Department run better. He drives out the "sadists."</p>
<p>In fact:</p>
<p>—The December tax overhaul ranks behind Ronald Reagan's in the early 1980s, post-World War II tax cuts and at least several more.</p>
<p>—His 2016 win ranks as the 13th closest of the 58 presidential elections in U.S. history, according to a tally by Claremont McKenna College political scientist John Pitney. It was no landslide. His winning percentage in the Electoral College was just under 57 percent, narrower than both of Obama's wins (61 percent in 2008 and 62 percent in 2012) and all but two of the last 10 presidential elections. Also, he lost the popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton.</p>
<p>—Despite his boasts that incompetent VA employees are being swiftly removed — and enactment of a mid-year law that expedites that process — more VA employees were fired in Obama's last budget year than in Trump's first.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>MISSIONS UNACCOMPLISHED</p>
<p>Trump sees things the way he wants them to be and presents them as if that's how they are.</p>
<p>"You know, we have factories pouring back into our country. Did you ever think you would hear that?" ''I urged our NATO allies to do more to strengthen our crucial alliance and set the stage for significant increases in member contributions. Billions and billions of dollars are pouring in because of that initiative." ''Jobs are pouring back into our country."</p>
<p>In fact:</p>
<p>—Factories are not pouring "back" into the country, nor are they sprouting up domestically in big numbers. When he made his claim, in December, spending on the construction of factories had dropped 14 percent over the past year, continuing a steady decline since the middle of 2015. As for jobs "pouring back into our country," Trump hopes his tax overhaul will make that happen, but it hasn't yet. The economy added about 170,000 new jobs a month during Trump's first year. That was slightly below the average of 185,000 in 2016.</p>
<p>Manufacturers stepped up hiring, adding 196,000 jobs in 2017, but they added more in 2011 and 2014.</p>
<p>—Money isn't pouring into the NATO organization and it won't be. What Trump really means is that he's pushing NATO members to increase their own military budgets so the U.S. won't carry such a heavy load. NATO members agreed during Obama's presidency to increase their military spending in the years ahead. Whether Trump has accelerated that remains to be seen.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>THE APOCALYPSE</p>
<p>Trump makes the state of the union look better under his watch by making the past look as dark as can be. Before him, the U.S. "left our own border wide open. Anybody can come in." The U.S. armed forces were all but in ruins. The health law he inherited and has tried to dismantle is a disaster that "covers very few people," and is essentially "dead." Previous presidents "put American energy under lock and key."</p>
<p>Actually:</p>
<p>—The U.S. border was far from porous before Trump took office. The number of arrests of illegal border crossers — the best measure of how many people are trying to cross illegally — was at a 40-year low before Trump's influence on border policy was felt. The government under presidents George W. Bush and Obama roughly doubled the ranks of the Border Patrol in the past decade or so. Obama was derided by pro-immigrant advocates as "deporter in chief" for the hefty numbers of people he sent home before easing deportations of certain groups later in his presidency.</p>
<p>—Obamacare was covering about 20 million people when Trump described the numbers as "very few." The majority is from the law's Medicaid expansion. The other driver of coverage, plans sold in the subsidized individual insurance market, drew roughly 9 million signups for 2018 despite a much shorter enrollment season, and cuts in the ad budget and federal payments to insurers. The new tax law ends the Obamacare fine for lacking insurance, starting in 2019. That repeals a major component of Obama's law, but other critical parts of the law remain in place.</p>
<p>—Energy production was not imprisoned under previous administrations. It was unleashed, particularly during Obama's presidency, largely because of advances in hydraulic fracturing that made it economical to tap vast reserves of natural gas. Oil production also greatly increased, reducing imports. Before the 2016 presidential election, the U.S. for the first time in decades was getting more energy domestically than it imports. Before Obama, Bush was no adversary of the energy industry.</p>
<p>Despite Trump's rhetoric about U.S. energy production, one of his most consequential actions as president has been to open the U.S. to another source of foreign oil, with his approval of the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>GOING WITH HIS GUT (AND TV)</p>
<p>Trump forms instant impressions about what he sees on TV or otherwise hears about and shares those views, just as the average person does on social media or over coffee. The difference is that a president stands at a bully pulpit and his visceral reactions can change the world.</p>
<p>—Trump strained relations with Britain by retweeting videos spread by a far-right British fringe group that purported to show Muslim extremism. "Muslim migrant beats up Dutch boy on crutches!" said the introduction to one video, which showed a young man attacking another who was on crutches. The attacker was not a Muslim migrant. He was a Dutch-born citizen who was arrested and sentenced for the crime. "Facts do matter," the Dutch Embassy in Washington said in a tweet directed at Trump.</p>
<p>—The president puzzled plenty of people in February when he told a rally that immigration is spreading violence and extremism in Sweden, pointing to "what's happening last night in Sweden." Nothing extraordinary happened in Sweden the previous night, Feb. 17. It happened to be when Trump saw an analyst talking about the subject on Fox News.</p>
<p>But he soon claimed vindication of his statement anyway, telling Time magazine the next month: "I make the statement, everyone goes crazy. The next day they have a massive riot, and death, and problems."</p>
<p>That wasn't right, either. Two days after his rally, a riot broke out in a largely immigrant neighborhood after police arrested a drug crime suspect. Cars were set on fire and shops looted, but no one was killed. Attacks in the country related to extremism remain rare; the biggest surprise for many Swedes was that a police officer found it necessary to fire his gun.</p>
<p>—When an Amtrak train hurtled off the tracks in Washington state in December, killing three people and injuring dozens, Trump's first impulse was to make a plug for his infrastructure plan. Only after that did he offer thoughts and prayers for the victims and thanks for rescuers. His opening tweet: "The train accident that just occurred in DuPont, WA shows more than ever why our soon to be submitted infrastructure plan must be approved quickly. Seven trillion dollars spent in the Middle East while our roads, bridges, tunnels, railways (and more) crumble! Not for long!"</p>
<p>Although he jumped to his conclusion within a few hours of the crash, it's taking investigators months to reach a conclusion that is informed by the facts. But this much was obvious right away: The train was making its inaugural run along a fast, new route, not a crumbling line of the type that would be a priority of a national infrastructure plan. And the train was going over twice the speed limit.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>IT'S WHO YOU KNOW, AND DON'T</p>
<p>Trump has claimed to know certain people well, only to circle back to say he hardly knew them all. His familiarity with them has varied according to political circumstance.</p>
<p>So it was when George Papadopoulos, a Trump campaign adviser, pleaded guilty in October to lying about his Russian interactions. "Few people knew the young, low level volunteer," Trump tweeted in response. After naming Papadopoulos to his campaign's foreign policy advisory council in March 2016, Trump called him an "excellent guy" and tweeted a photo of his council meeting with Papadopoulos among several advisers.</p>
<p>Steve Bannon got such treatment months before his ouster as White House strategist last year.</p>
<p>Trump said he had known him for "many years" when Bannon became his campaign chief in August 2016. When Bannon's tenure as White House strategist was getting dicey in April, Trump said "I didn't know him" when Bannon was named campaign CEO.</p>
<p>Trump and Bannon had known each other for five years when the Republican candidate, a month after accepting the nomination, made him campaign chief.</p>
<p>David Bossie, who was deputy campaign manager, told AP he introduced them in 2011 at Trump Tower and they grew to know each well, as Trump appeared multiple times on Bannon's Breitbart radio show. Bannon interviewed Trump at least nine times in 2015 and 2016 and members of his family and campaign on many other occasions. "They believe in each other's agendas, which is why they have grown so close," Bossie said.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Jim Drinkard, Josh Boak, Christopher Rugaber, Hope Yen, Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Jill Colvin and Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Find AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd</p>
| false | 2 |
washington ap errant swings facts president donald trump sometimes gets right theres first year like told florida rally last month truer words ever spoken department corrections certainly never seen first year like falsehoods exaggerations tumbled relentlessly trumps twitter account speeches interviews vast majority service ego presidents skewered truth george w bush pretext iraq war barack obama benefits obamacare trump different order magnitude president routinely presents intended actions achievements obamacare dead money pouring nato inflates significance hes done calling tax cuts biggest ever accomplishments unrivaled history neither true exaggerates problems inherited roads bridges total disrepair disarray border wide open lays fanciful goals 6 percent economic growth doesnt learn mistakes instead repeats moreover trump often bypasses vast informationgathering apparatus reports favor getting reality tv gut trends highlights misstatements since taking office art biggest bestest trump doesnt big tax cuts biggest ever doesnt win election scores landslide doesnt make veterans affairs department run better drives sadists fact december tax overhaul ranks behind ronald reagans early 1980s postworld war ii tax cuts least several 2016 win ranks 13th closest 58 presidential elections us history according tally claremont mckenna college political scientist john pitney landslide winning percentage electoral college 57 percent narrower obamas wins 61 percent 2008 62 percent 2012 two last 10 presidential elections also lost popular vote democrat hillary clinton despite boasts incompetent va employees swiftly removed enactment midyear law expedites process va employees fired obamas last budget year trumps first ___ missions unaccomplished trump sees things way wants presents thats know factories pouring back country ever think would hear urged nato allies strengthen crucial alliance set stage significant increases member contributions billions billions dollars pouring initiative jobs pouring back country fact factories pouring back country sprouting domestically big numbers made claim december spending construction factories dropped 14 percent past year continuing steady decline since middle 2015 jobs pouring back country trump hopes tax overhaul make happen hasnt yet economy added 170000 new jobs month trumps first year slightly average 185000 2016 manufacturers stepped hiring adding 196000 jobs 2017 added 2011 2014 money isnt pouring nato organization wont trump really means hes pushing nato members increase military budgets us wont carry heavy load nato members agreed obamas presidency increase military spending years ahead whether trump accelerated remains seen ___ apocalypse trump makes state union look better watch making past look dark us left border wide open anybody come us armed forces ruins health law inherited tried dismantle disaster covers people essentially dead previous presidents put american energy lock key actually us border far porous trump took office number arrests illegal border crossers best measure many people trying cross illegally 40year low trumps influence border policy felt government presidents george w bush obama roughly doubled ranks border patrol past decade obama derided proimmigrant advocates deporter chief hefty numbers people sent home easing deportations certain groups later presidency obamacare covering 20 million people trump described numbers majority laws medicaid expansion driver coverage plans sold subsidized individual insurance market drew roughly 9 million signups 2018 despite much shorter enrollment season cuts ad budget federal payments insurers new tax law ends obamacare fine lacking insurance starting 2019 repeals major component obamas law critical parts law remain place energy production imprisoned previous administrations unleashed particularly obamas presidency largely advances hydraulic fracturing made economical tap vast reserves natural gas oil production also greatly increased reducing imports 2016 presidential election us first time decades getting energy domestically imports obama bush adversary energy industry despite trumps rhetoric us energy production one consequential actions president open us another source foreign oil approval keystone xl pipeline canada ___ going gut tv trump forms instant impressions sees tv otherwise hears shares views average person social media coffee difference president stands bully pulpit visceral reactions change world trump strained relations britain retweeting videos spread farright british fringe group purported show muslim extremism muslim migrant beats dutch boy crutches said introduction one video showed young man attacking another crutches attacker muslim migrant dutchborn citizen arrested sentenced crime facts matter dutch embassy washington said tweet directed trump president puzzled plenty people february told rally immigration spreading violence extremism sweden pointing whats happening last night sweden nothing extraordinary happened sweden previous night feb 17 happened trump saw analyst talking subject fox news soon claimed vindication statement anyway telling time magazine next month make statement everyone goes crazy next day massive riot death problems wasnt right either two days rally riot broke largely immigrant neighborhood police arrested drug crime suspect cars set fire shops looted one killed attacks country related extremism remain rare biggest surprise many swedes police officer found necessary fire gun amtrak train hurtled tracks washington state december killing three people injuring dozens trumps first impulse make plug infrastructure plan offer thoughts prayers victims thanks rescuers opening tweet train accident occurred dupont wa shows ever soon submitted infrastructure plan must approved quickly seven trillion dollars spent middle east roads bridges tunnels railways crumble long although jumped conclusion within hours crash taking investigators months reach conclusion informed facts much obvious right away train making inaugural run along fast new route crumbling line type would priority national infrastructure plan train going twice speed limit ___ know dont trump claimed know certain people well circle back say hardly knew familiarity varied according political circumstance george papadopoulos trump campaign adviser pleaded guilty october lying russian interactions people knew young low level volunteer trump tweeted response naming papadopoulos campaigns foreign policy advisory council march 2016 trump called excellent guy tweeted photo council meeting papadopoulos among several advisers steve bannon got treatment months ouster white house strategist last year trump said known many years bannon became campaign chief august 2016 bannons tenure white house strategist getting dicey april trump said didnt know bannon named campaign ceo trump bannon known five years republican candidate month accepting nomination made campaign chief david bossie deputy campaign manager told ap introduced 2011 trump tower grew know well trump appeared multiple times bannons breitbart radio show bannon interviewed trump least nine times 2015 2016 members family campaign many occasions believe others agendas grown close bossie said ___ associated press writers jim drinkard josh boak christopher rugaber hope yen ricardo alonsozaldivar jill colvin lolita c baldor contributed report ___ find ap fact checks httpapnews2kbx8bd washington ap errant swings facts president donald trump sometimes gets right theres first year like told florida rally last month truer words ever spoken department corrections certainly never seen first year like falsehoods exaggerations tumbled relentlessly trumps twitter account speeches interviews vast majority service ego presidents skewered truth george w bush pretext iraq war barack obama benefits obamacare trump different order magnitude president routinely presents intended actions achievements obamacare dead money pouring nato inflates significance hes done calling tax cuts biggest ever accomplishments unrivaled history neither true exaggerates problems inherited roads bridges total disrepair disarray border wide open lays fanciful goals 6 percent economic growth doesnt learn mistakes instead repeats moreover trump often bypasses vast informationgathering apparatus reports favor getting reality tv gut trends highlights misstatements since taking office art biggest bestest trump doesnt big tax cuts biggest ever doesnt win election scores landslide doesnt make veterans affairs department run better drives sadists fact december tax overhaul ranks behind ronald reagans early 1980s postworld war ii tax cuts least several 2016 win ranks 13th closest 58 presidential elections us history according tally claremont mckenna college political scientist john pitney landslide winning percentage electoral college 57 percent narrower obamas wins 61 percent 2008 62 percent 2012 two last 10 presidential elections also lost popular vote democrat hillary clinton despite boasts incompetent va employees swiftly removed enactment midyear law expedites process va employees fired obamas last budget year trumps first ___ missions unaccomplished trump sees things way wants presents thats know factories pouring back country ever think would hear urged nato allies strengthen crucial alliance set stage significant increases member contributions billions billions dollars pouring initiative jobs pouring back country fact factories pouring back country sprouting domestically big numbers made claim december spending construction factories dropped 14 percent past year continuing steady decline since middle 2015 jobs pouring back country trump hopes tax overhaul make happen hasnt yet economy added 170000 new jobs month trumps first year slightly average 185000 2016 manufacturers stepped hiring adding 196000 jobs 2017 added 2011 2014 money isnt pouring nato organization wont trump really means hes pushing nato members increase military budgets us wont carry heavy load nato members agreed obamas presidency increase military spending years ahead whether trump accelerated remains seen ___ apocalypse trump makes state union look better watch making past look dark us left border wide open anybody come us armed forces ruins health law inherited tried dismantle disaster covers people essentially dead previous presidents put american energy lock key actually us border far porous trump took office number arrests illegal border crossers best measure many people trying cross illegally 40year low trumps influence border policy felt government presidents george w bush obama roughly doubled ranks border patrol past decade obama derided proimmigrant advocates deporter chief hefty numbers people sent home easing deportations certain groups later presidency obamacare covering 20 million people trump described numbers majority laws medicaid expansion driver coverage plans sold subsidized individual insurance market drew roughly 9 million signups 2018 despite much shorter enrollment season cuts ad budget federal payments insurers new tax law ends obamacare fine lacking insurance starting 2019 repeals major component obamas law critical parts law remain place energy production imprisoned previous administrations unleashed particularly obamas presidency largely advances hydraulic fracturing made economical tap vast reserves natural gas oil production also greatly increased reducing imports 2016 presidential election us first time decades getting energy domestically imports obama bush adversary energy industry despite trumps rhetoric us energy production one consequential actions president open us another source foreign oil approval keystone xl pipeline canada ___ going gut tv trump forms instant impressions sees tv otherwise hears shares views average person social media coffee difference president stands bully pulpit visceral reactions change world trump strained relations britain retweeting videos spread farright british fringe group purported show muslim extremism muslim migrant beats dutch boy crutches said introduction one video showed young man attacking another crutches attacker muslim migrant dutchborn citizen arrested sentenced crime facts matter dutch embassy washington said tweet directed trump president puzzled plenty people february told rally immigration spreading violence extremism sweden pointing whats happening last night sweden nothing extraordinary happened sweden previous night feb 17 happened trump saw analyst talking subject fox news soon claimed vindication statement anyway telling time magazine next month make statement everyone goes crazy next day massive riot death problems wasnt right either two days rally riot broke largely immigrant neighborhood police arrested drug crime suspect cars set fire shops looted one killed attacks country related extremism remain rare biggest surprise many swedes police officer found necessary fire gun amtrak train hurtled tracks washington state december killing three people injuring dozens trumps first impulse make plug infrastructure plan offer thoughts prayers victims thanks rescuers opening tweet train accident occurred dupont wa shows ever soon submitted infrastructure plan must approved quickly seven trillion dollars spent middle east roads bridges tunnels railways crumble long although jumped conclusion within hours crash taking investigators months reach conclusion informed facts much obvious right away train making inaugural run along fast new route crumbling line type would priority national infrastructure plan train going twice speed limit ___ know dont trump claimed know certain people well circle back say hardly knew familiarity varied according political circumstance george papadopoulos trump campaign adviser pleaded guilty october lying russian interactions people knew young low level volunteer trump tweeted response naming papadopoulos campaigns foreign policy advisory council march 2016 trump called excellent guy tweeted photo council meeting papadopoulos among several advisers steve bannon got treatment months ouster white house strategist last year trump said known many years bannon became campaign chief august 2016 bannons tenure white house strategist getting dicey april trump said didnt know bannon named campaign ceo trump bannon known five years republican candidate month accepting nomination made campaign chief david bossie deputy campaign manager told ap introduced 2011 trump tower grew know well trump appeared multiple times bannons breitbart radio show bannon interviewed trump least nine times 2015 2016 members family campaign many occasions believe others agendas grown close bossie said ___ associated press writers jim drinkard josh boak christopher rugaber hope yen ricardo alonsozaldivar jill colvin lolita c baldor contributed report ___ find ap fact checks httpapnews2kbx8bd
| 2,070 |
<p>Jan 22 (Reuters) - Workspace Group Plc:</p>
<p>* ‍EXCHANGED CONTRACTS TO ACQUIRE FIVE OF CENTRO BUILDINGS IN CAMDEN, LONDON NW1, FOR £109M​ Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said on Sunday it was “unhappy” that electric car maker Tesla Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=TSLA.O" type="external">TSLA.O</a>) made public information about the crash of its Model X vehicle on Autopilot that killed the driver last month.</p> Rescue workers attend the scene where a Tesla electric SUV crashed into a barrier on U.S. Highway 101 in Mountain View, California, March 25, 2018. Picture taken March 25, 2018. KTVU FOX 2/via REUTERS
<p>The agency “needs the cooperation of Tesla to decode the data the vehicle recorded,” NTSB spokesman Chris O’Neil said in a statement. “In each of our investigations involving a Tesla vehicle, Tesla has been extremely cooperative on assisting with the vehicle data.”</p>
<p>“However, the NTSB is unhappy with the release of investigative information by Tesla,” he added.</p>
<p>A Tesla spokesperson declined to comment.</p>
<p>The board’s reaction to Tesla was first reported by the Washington Post Sunday evening.</p>
<p>O’Neil was responding to Tesla’s announcement on Friday that the Tesla Model X involved in the crash had activated its Autopilot system moments before the March 23 mishap.</p>
<p>The driver, 38, died at a nearby hospital shortly after the vehicle hit a concrete highway divider near Mountain View, California. The mishap involved two other vehicles.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=TSLA.O" type="external">Tesla Inc</a> 266.13 TSLA.O Nasdaq +8.35 (+3.24%) TSLA.O
<p>“The NTSB is looking into all aspects of this crash including the driver’s previous concerns about the autopilot,” said O’Neil. “We will work to determine the probable cause of the crash and our next update of information about our investigation will likely be when we publish a preliminary report, which generally occurs within a few weeks of completion of field work.”</p>
<p>Last week, the company said that a search of its service records did not “find anything suggesting that the customer ever complained to Tesla about the performance of Autopilot. There was a concern raised once about navigation not working correctly, but Autopilot’s performance is unrelated to navigation.”</p>
<p>In its announcement on Friday, the company said that shortly before the crash, the vehicle’s “Autopilot was engaged with the adaptive cruise control follow-distance set to minimum.”</p>
<p>Autopilot allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel for extended periods under certain conditions. Tesla requires users to agree to keep their hands on the wheel at all times before they can use Autopilot. Users, however, routinely brag they can use the system to drive hands-free.</p>
<p>In its Friday statement, Tesla also said vehicle logs from the accident showed no action had been taken by the driver right before the crash and that he had received earlier warnings to put his hands on the wheel.</p>
<p>The statement did not say why the Autopilot system apparently did not detect the concrete divider.</p>
<p>Reporting by Jonathan Landay. Editing by Damon Darlin and Richard Chang</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his wife, Ri Sol Ju, were among the hundreds in Pyongyang on Sunday watching South Korean K-pop singers perform in the North for the first time in more than a decade as tensions between the two countries thaw.</p> Members of South Korean art troupe led by Culture Minister Do Jong-hwan pose for photographs before leaving for Pyongyang, at the Gimpo International airport in Seoul, South Korea, March 31, 2018. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
<p>It was the first time a North Korean leader had attended a South Korean performance in the capital. Kim was seen clapping in tune to some of the songs and later took photographs with the performers after the show.</p>
<p>“Our dear leader comrade said his heart swelled and he was moved by the sight of his people deepen their understanding of South Korean popular culture and cheer with sincerity,” said the North’s state media.</p>
<p>The North Korean audience clapped, cheered, sang along to some of the songs and later presented the South Korean performers with flower bouquets.</p> South Korean K-pop idol singer Seohyun leaves for Pyongyang at the Gimpo International airport in Seoul, South Korea, March 31, 2018. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
<p>“(Kim Jong Un) showed much interest during the show and asked questions about the songs and lyrics,” Culture Minister Do Jong-whan told reporters after the show.</p>
<p>Sunday’s concert was held under the title “Spring is Coming” at the East Pyongyang Grand Theater, performed by an elite lineup of South Korean artists including veteran vocalists Cho Yong-pil, Lee Sun-hee, rock star Yoon Do-hyun, singer Baek Ji-young as well as K-pop girl band Red Velvet.</p>
<p>Like the concert title, the performance had brought a “spring of peace” to the two Koreas, Kim Jong Un was also cited as saying by the North’s central news agency, and expressed wishes for a “prosperous autumn”.</p>
<p>The North Korean leader’s face was slightly flushed in a group photograph with the performers distributed by North Korean state media, while in another, he was seen directly addressing members of Red Velvet, which commands more than 4.6 million followers on Instagram.</p> THAW
<p>Sunday’s two-hour concert in Pyongyang, along with a separate taekwondo performance earlier in the day, came as South Korea’s engagement with North Korea has continued to grow since Kim expressed his willingness for more contact between the two countries.</p> Slideshow (2 Images)
<p>Athletes from North and South Korea marched under a unified peninsula flag at the opening ceremony at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in February and the significant thaw in the inter-Korean relations has led them to set a date for their first summit in more than a decade on April 27.</p>
<p>The two Koreas are technically still at war after the 1950-1953 conflict ended with a ceasefire rather than a peace agreement.</p>
<p>The South Korean delegation included artists, concert staff, taekwondo demonstrators, reporters and government officials. They traveled to Pyongyang on Saturday in a reciprocal cultural visit after North Korea sent performers to the South in February, the South’s Culture Ministry said.</p> North Korea will take part in next two Olympics: IOC
<p>In addition to the concert, a team of South Korean taekwondo demonstrators performed on Sunday at the Pyongyang Taekwondo Hall, drawing more than 2,300 North Koreans, including Choe Hwi, chairman of the National Sports Guidance Committee.</p>
<p>Seohyun, a female vocalist and actress currently with South Korean girl group Girls’ Generation, sang a North Korean pop song called “Blue Willow Tree”. She had performed with the North’s Samjiyon Orchestra in Seoul in February.</p>
<p>Cho Yong-pil, a 68-year-old singer, sang a string of hits including “The Cafe in the Winter”, “Short Hair” and “Let’s Go on a Trip”. Cho held a solo concert in Pyongyang in 2005 - the last concert by a South Korean artist in the North before Sunday’s performance.</p>
<p>The same South Korean singers will hold a joint concert with North Korean performers on Tuesday at the Ryukyung Chung Ju Yung Gymnasium, a joint project between the North and South named after Hyundai Group [HYGR.UL] billionaire founder Chung Ju-yung who had long advocated inter-Korean cultural and economic exchange.</p>
<p>Kim Jong Un had been planning to attend the Tuesday performance but decided to watch Sunday’s show due to “political schedules”, KCNA and South Korean officials there said.</p>
<p>Reporting by Heekyong Yang and Christine Kim; Editing by Louise Heavens and Peter Cooney</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>AMMAN (Reuters) - The group in control of the last rebel bastion near Damascus appeared on Sunday to have agreed a deal for its fighters to make peace with the government or quit the eastern Ghouta enclave, Syrian state media said.</p>
<p>Jaish al Islam, most of whose members are drawn from the area, has been defending the city of Douma against a months-long onslaught by government forces.</p>
<p>If confirmed, its surrender or departure for rebel-held areas in northwest Syria would herald an end to large-scale conflict in the enclave.</p>
<p>State television and Syrian newspapers said information indicated that, under the deal, the group would hand over heavy and mid-sized weapons and acknowledge the restoration of state sovereignty over Douma.</p>
<p>A Hezbollah run-media unit said on Sunday an agreement had been reached after several days of negotiations to spare bloodshed in Douma.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-mideast-crisis-ghouta-evacuation/deal-sealed-to-evacuate-douma-rebels-to-northern-syria-hezbollah-media-unit-idUSKCN1H819H" type="external">Deal sealed to evacuate Douma rebels to northern Syria: Hezbollah media unit</a>
<p>The unit of the powerful Lebanese Shi’ite militia that has been fighting with the Syrian army said among the terms of the deal was setting up a Syrian government-approved local council to run the city’s affairs after rebels withdraw.</p>
<p>It also said a Russian-led committee with representatives from Turkey, Iran and Russia, the three guarantors of the Astana peace talks who set up “de-escalation” zones across Syria, would be responsible for handing over prisoners of war jailed by the rebels.</p>
<p>Jaish al Islam had no immediate comment on the reports but responded to earlier claims by the Syrian government that it was negotiating a deal to stay and not to pull out of the city.</p>
<p>The government lost control of Douma, the largest urban center in the eastern suburbs of Damascus in insurgent hands, in the early phase of Syria’s civil war, now in its eighth year.</p>
<p>If confirmed, the agreement with Jaish al Islam would mirror others reached by insurgents following heavy bombing of areas under their control by government forces and Russian jets that has killed hundreds of civilians.</p>
<p>Late on Saturday, negotiators reached a deal to evacuate wounded Jaish al Islam civilians and fighters to Idlib in the northwest.</p>
<p>A group of stranded fighters from another insurgent group, Failaq al Rahman, who had fled to Douma from advancing army troops at the start of the latest campaign, left the city on Sunday, state media said.</p>
<p>Syria’s state news agency SANA said 24 buses carrying around 1,200 fighters from Failaq al Rahman and their families left Douma on Sunday in the first such pullout of fighters.</p>
<p>On Saturday the rebel group concluded a week-long evacuation of thousands of its fighters from areas it had controlled in other parts of the enclave.</p> SEEKING A WAY OUT
<p>A political official in Jaish al Islam denied they had agreed to evacuate Douma and said the government-inspired reports were stepped up psychological warfare aimed at forcing them to capitulate.</p>
<p>“Jaish al Islam has taken the decision to remain steadfast and the idea of leaving is not on the table,” said the official.</p>
<p>Opposition sources say Jaish al Islam officials have been desperately trying to strike a deal that would bring Russian military police into Douma, and let the group keep a role in maintaining internal security but under the state’s overall jurisdiction.</p> Rebels are seen in a bus as they are evacuated from the town of Douma, eastern Ghouta, in Damascus, Syria April 1, 2018. REUTERS/Bassam Khabieh
<p>Russian military officers negotiating with Jaish al Islam told the group it accepted such an arrangement but the Syrian government remained against it, a senior opposition source familiar with the talks said.</p>
<p>Russia, a key ally of President Bashar al-Assad, was behind the main battle plan, directing elite forces and militias on the ground and calling in air strikes from Syrian and Russian warplanes, two Western intelligence sources based in the region told Reuters this week.</p>
<p>The Syrian army last week warned the insurgents to surrender or face a military assault to drive them out.</p>
<p>The Syrian army command said on Saturday it had regained most of the towns and villages in eastern Ghouta and was pressing its military operations in Douma.</p>
<p>The city’s fall would seal the rebels’ worst defeat since 2016.</p> Slideshow (5 Images)
<p>The once bustling commercial hub on the outskirts of the capital was the main center of street protests in the Damascus suburbs against Assad’s one party rule that ignited the conflict more than seven years ago.</p>
<p>A resident reached by phone described a sense of foreboding among those still in the besieged city.</p>
<p>“The fear is of the unknown and not bombardment or hunger ... what the coming days will bring we cannot predict,” said the resident, Bilal Bwaidani.</p>
<p>Defense analysts say a major goal of the government’s campaign was to complete a security belt around the capital, where for years rebels dug into a network of tunnels and well-fortified positions resisted countless offensives to seize the enclave.</p>
<p>Many of the predominantly Sunni Muslim inhabitants of eastern Ghouta say they fear their displacement was part of a deliberate attempt to bring demographic changes in strategic areas that dilutes their presence in favor of Assad’s Alawite sect and other minorities.</p>
<p>Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Editing by Robin Pomeroy and Daniel Wallis</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON/IXTEPEC, Mexico (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Sunday that there will be no deal to legalize the status of young adult immigrants called Dreamers and he said the U.S.-Mexico border is becoming more dangerous.</p>
<p>After tweeting a “Happy Easter” message on Twitter, he said: “Border Patrol Agents are not allowed to properly do their job at the Border because of ridiculous liberal (Democrat) laws like Catch &amp; Release. Getting more dangerous.</p>
<p>“‘Caravans’ coming. Republicans must go to Nuclear Option to pass tough laws NOW. NO MORE DACA DEAL!” he wrote, adding a threat to kill the North American Free Trade Agreement which is being renegotiated with Mexico and Canada.</p>
<p>DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is a program created in 2012 under Democratic former President Barack Obama that Trump sought to rescind last autumn.</p>
<p>Designed for people brought to the United States as children by parents who were undocumented immigrants, the program shielded them from deportation and gave them work permits.</p>
<p>Trump had said he was open to a deal with congressional Democrats who want to protect DACA in exchange for funding to build a U.S.-Mexico border wall, a campaign trail promise.</p>
<p>He insisted during his 2016 White House run that Mexico would pay for the wall, something the Mexican government has repeatedly rejected.</p>
<p>Mexico’s presidential front-runner, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, launched his campaign close to the border on Sunday demanding respect for Mexicans and signaling he may take a harder line toward Trump if he wins the July 1 election.</p>
<p>“Mexico and its people will not be the piñata of any foreign government,” Lopez Obrador said in a speech in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, which borders El Paso, Texas. “It’s not with walls or use of force that you resolve social problems.”</p>
<p>Whether Trump will stick to his guns on DACA is unclear. Trump last month threatened to veto a spending bill because it did not address the fate of Dreamers and did not fully fund his border wall but he ultimately signed the bill.</p>
<p>In the months after Trump took office, apprehensions of illegal crossers along the U.S.- Mexico border dropped from more than 42,400 arrests in January 2017 to a low of around 15,700 in April, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. Since then, the number of arrests has risen and in the first months of 2018 was above Obama administration levels.</p>
<p>“Mexico has got to help us at the border,” the president, who is spending Easter at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, told reporters on his way into an Easter church service. “A lot of people are coming in because they want to take advantage of DACA. They had a great chance. The Democrats blew it.”</p> MIGRANT CARAVAN
<p>Trump’s DACA tweets came after a report on the Fox New Channel’s Fox &amp; Friends program, one of his favorites, that a “caravan” of mostly Honduran migrants was crossing Mexico and headed to the United States, “either illegally or by asking for asylum.”</p>
<p>More than 1,000 would-be migrants have passed through Mexico’s southern states of Chiapas and Oaxaca in recent days in a so-called “refugee caravan” organized by U.S.-based immigrant advocacy group Pueblo Sin Fronteras.</p>
<p>In the town of Ixtepec, more than 1,500 men, women and children from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala waited in a sweltering warehouse on Saturday, mattresses rolled and bags packed, as local authorities and immigration officials from Mexico’s federal government organized 15 buses to take them to their next stop on the long journey north.</p>
<p>By traveling together, the immigrants hope to protect themselves from the crime and extortion that makes the route through Mexico dangerous. They say some but not all of them will seek asylum if they reach the United States.</p>
<p>Gina Garibo, a member of Pueblo Sin Fronteras traveling with the migrants, said the group would hold a meeting to discuss Trump’s statements on Sunday and stressed that the caravan’s aim was to protect vulnerable people.</p>
<p>“The main people here are fleeing criminal violence, political violence, in their country and this allows us to save lives,” she said in response to Trump’s comments.</p>
<p>A guest on Sunday’s Fox &amp; Friends show, Brandon Judd, head of the National Border Patrol Council union, said illegal immigrants benefit from the “catch and release” program that Trump referenced in his tweet. Under it, they can be freed while awaiting court hearings if detained in the United States.</p>
<p>If recent border crossers do not claim asylum, they can usually be deported quickly. But if they say they fear targeted violence or persecution in their home countries, they can begin the long process of petitioning for asylum in immigration court.</p>
<p>Trump said on Twitter on Sunday that Mexico is doing “very little, if not NOTHING,” to stop the flow of people across the southern border. “They must stop the big drug and people flows, or I will stop their cash cow, NAFTA. NEED WALL!”</p> U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at Palm Beach International Airport, Florida, U.S. for the Easter weekend at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach March 29, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas
<p>Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray said the United States and Mexico work together on migration every day.</p>
<p>“An inaccurate news report should not serve to question this strong cooperation. Upholding human dignity and rights is not at odds with the rule of law. Happy Easter,” he said in a tweet.</p>
<p>Mexico deported some 80,000 people in 2017, down from about 160,000 in 2016, official statistics show. The vast majority were from Central American nations. The drop reflects fewer Central Americans crossing the country last year.</p>
<p>Reporting by Valerie Volcovici in Washington and Delphine Schrank in Ixtepec, Mexico; Additional reporting by by Steve Holland in West Palm Beach, Mica Rosenberg in New York, David Lawder in Washington and Lizbeth Diaz in Ciudad Juarez; Editing by Steve Orlofsky and Daniel Wallis</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
jan 22 reuters workspace group plc exchanged contracts acquire five centro buildings camden london nw1 109m source text eikon company coverage standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters us national transportation safety board said sunday unhappy electric car maker tesla inc tslao made public information crash model x vehicle autopilot killed driver last month rescue workers attend scene tesla electric suv crashed barrier us highway 101 mountain view california march 25 2018 picture taken march 25 2018 ktvu fox 2via reuters agency needs cooperation tesla decode data vehicle recorded ntsb spokesman chris oneil said statement investigations involving tesla vehicle tesla extremely cooperative assisting vehicle data however ntsb unhappy release investigative information tesla added tesla spokesperson declined comment boards reaction tesla first reported washington post sunday evening oneil responding teslas announcement friday tesla model x involved crash activated autopilot system moments march 23 mishap driver 38 died nearby hospital shortly vehicle hit concrete highway divider near mountain view california mishap involved two vehicles tesla inc 26613 tslao nasdaq 835 324 tslao ntsb looking aspects crash including drivers previous concerns autopilot said oneil work determine probable cause crash next update information investigation likely publish preliminary report generally occurs within weeks completion field work last week company said search service records find anything suggesting customer ever complained tesla performance autopilot concern raised navigation working correctly autopilots performance unrelated navigation announcement friday company said shortly crash vehicles autopilot engaged adaptive cruise control followdistance set minimum autopilot allows drivers take hands wheel extended periods certain conditions tesla requires users agree keep hands wheel times use autopilot users however routinely brag use system drive handsfree friday statement tesla also said vehicle logs accident showed action taken driver right crash received earlier warnings put hands wheel statement say autopilot system apparently detect concrete divider reporting jonathan landay editing damon darlin richard chang standards thomson reuters trust principles seoul reuters north korean leader kim jong un wife ri sol ju among hundreds pyongyang sunday watching south korean kpop singers perform north first time decade tensions two countries thaw members south korean art troupe led culture minister jonghwan pose photographs leaving pyongyang gimpo international airport seoul south korea march 31 2018 reuterskim hongji first time north korean leader attended south korean performance capital kim seen clapping tune songs later took photographs performers show dear leader comrade said heart swelled moved sight people deepen understanding south korean popular culture cheer sincerity said norths state media north korean audience clapped cheered sang along songs later presented south korean performers flower bouquets south korean kpop idol singer seohyun leaves pyongyang gimpo international airport seoul south korea march 31 2018 reuterskim hongji kim jong un showed much interest show asked questions songs lyrics culture minister jongwhan told reporters show sundays concert held title spring coming east pyongyang grand theater performed elite lineup south korean artists including veteran vocalists cho yongpil lee sunhee rock star yoon dohyun singer baek jiyoung well kpop girl band red velvet like concert title performance brought spring peace two koreas kim jong un also cited saying norths central news agency expressed wishes prosperous autumn north korean leaders face slightly flushed group photograph performers distributed north korean state media another seen directly addressing members red velvet commands 46 million followers instagram thaw sundays twohour concert pyongyang along separate taekwondo performance earlier day came south koreas engagement north korea continued grow since kim expressed willingness contact two countries slideshow 2 images athletes north south korea marched unified peninsula flag opening ceremony pyeongchang winter olympics february significant thaw interkorean relations led set date first summit decade april 27 two koreas technically still war 19501953 conflict ended ceasefire rather peace agreement south korean delegation included artists concert staff taekwondo demonstrators reporters government officials traveled pyongyang saturday reciprocal cultural visit north korea sent performers south february souths culture ministry said north korea take part next two olympics ioc addition concert team south korean taekwondo demonstrators performed sunday pyongyang taekwondo hall drawing 2300 north koreans including choe hwi chairman national sports guidance committee seohyun female vocalist actress currently south korean girl group girls generation sang north korean pop song called blue willow tree performed norths samjiyon orchestra seoul february cho yongpil 68yearold singer sang string hits including cafe winter short hair lets go trip cho held solo concert pyongyang 2005 last concert south korean artist north sundays performance south korean singers hold joint concert north korean performers tuesday ryukyung chung ju yung gymnasium joint project north south named hyundai group hygrul billionaire founder chung juyung long advocated interkorean cultural economic exchange kim jong un planning attend tuesday performance decided watch sundays show due political schedules kcna south korean officials said reporting heekyong yang christine kim editing louise heavens peter cooney standards thomson reuters trust principles amman reuters group control last rebel bastion near damascus appeared sunday agreed deal fighters make peace government quit eastern ghouta enclave syrian state media said jaish al islam whose members drawn area defending city douma monthslong onslaught government forces confirmed surrender departure rebelheld areas northwest syria would herald end largescale conflict enclave state television syrian newspapers said information indicated deal group would hand heavy midsized weapons acknowledge restoration state sovereignty douma hezbollah runmedia unit said sunday agreement reached several days negotiations spare bloodshed douma related coverage deal sealed evacuate douma rebels northern syria hezbollah media unit unit powerful lebanese shiite militia fighting syrian army said among terms deal setting syrian governmentapproved local council run citys affairs rebels withdraw also said russianled committee representatives turkey iran russia three guarantors astana peace talks set deescalation zones across syria would responsible handing prisoners war jailed rebels jaish al islam immediate comment reports responded earlier claims syrian government negotiating deal stay pull city government lost control douma largest urban center eastern suburbs damascus insurgent hands early phase syrias civil war eighth year confirmed agreement jaish al islam would mirror others reached insurgents following heavy bombing areas control government forces russian jets killed hundreds civilians late saturday negotiators reached deal evacuate wounded jaish al islam civilians fighters idlib northwest group stranded fighters another insurgent group failaq al rahman fled douma advancing army troops start latest campaign left city sunday state media said syrias state news agency sana said 24 buses carrying around 1200 fighters failaq al rahman families left douma sunday first pullout fighters saturday rebel group concluded weeklong evacuation thousands fighters areas controlled parts enclave seeking way political official jaish al islam denied agreed evacuate douma said governmentinspired reports stepped psychological warfare aimed forcing capitulate jaish al islam taken decision remain steadfast idea leaving table said official opposition sources say jaish al islam officials desperately trying strike deal would bring russian military police douma let group keep role maintaining internal security states overall jurisdiction rebels seen bus evacuated town douma eastern ghouta damascus syria april 1 2018 reutersbassam khabieh russian military officers negotiating jaish al islam told group accepted arrangement syrian government remained senior opposition source familiar talks said russia key ally president bashar alassad behind main battle plan directing elite forces militias ground calling air strikes syrian russian warplanes two western intelligence sources based region told reuters week syrian army last week warned insurgents surrender face military assault drive syrian army command said saturday regained towns villages eastern ghouta pressing military operations douma citys fall would seal rebels worst defeat since 2016 slideshow 5 images bustling commercial hub outskirts capital main center street protests damascus suburbs assads one party rule ignited conflict seven years ago resident reached phone described sense foreboding among still besieged city fear unknown bombardment hunger coming days bring predict said resident bilal bwaidani defense analysts say major goal governments campaign complete security belt around capital years rebels dug network tunnels wellfortified positions resisted countless offensives seize enclave many predominantly sunni muslim inhabitants eastern ghouta say fear displacement part deliberate attempt bring demographic changes strategic areas dilutes presence favor assads alawite sect minorities reporting suleiman alkhalidi editing robin pomeroy daniel wallis standards thomson reuters trust principles washingtonixtepec mexico reuters president donald trump said sunday deal legalize status young adult immigrants called dreamers said usmexico border becoming dangerous tweeting happy easter message twitter said border patrol agents allowed properly job border ridiculous liberal democrat laws like catch amp release getting dangerous caravans coming republicans must go nuclear option pass tough laws daca deal wrote adding threat kill north american free trade agreement renegotiated mexico canada daca deferred action childhood arrivals program created 2012 democratic former president barack obama trump sought rescind last autumn designed people brought united states children parents undocumented immigrants program shielded deportation gave work permits trump said open deal congressional democrats want protect daca exchange funding build usmexico border wall campaign trail promise insisted 2016 white house run mexico would pay wall something mexican government repeatedly rejected mexicos presidential frontrunner andres manuel lopez obrador launched campaign close border sunday demanding respect mexicans signaling may take harder line toward trump wins july 1 election mexico people piñata foreign government lopez obrador said speech ciudad juarez mexico borders el paso texas walls use force resolve social problems whether trump stick guns daca unclear trump last month threatened veto spending bill address fate dreamers fully fund border wall ultimately signed bill months trump took office apprehensions illegal crossers along us mexico border dropped 42400 arrests january 2017 low around 15700 april according us customs border protection data since number arrests risen first months 2018 obama administration levels mexico got help us border president spending easter maralago resort florida told reporters way easter church service lot people coming want take advantage daca great chance democrats blew migrant caravan trumps daca tweets came report fox new channels fox amp friends program one favorites caravan mostly honduran migrants crossing mexico headed united states either illegally asking asylum 1000 wouldbe migrants passed mexicos southern states chiapas oaxaca recent days socalled refugee caravan organized usbased immigrant advocacy group pueblo sin fronteras town ixtepec 1500 men women children honduras el salvador guatemala waited sweltering warehouse saturday mattresses rolled bags packed local authorities immigration officials mexicos federal government organized 15 buses take next stop long journey north traveling together immigrants hope protect crime extortion makes route mexico dangerous say seek asylum reach united states gina garibo member pueblo sin fronteras traveling migrants said group would hold meeting discuss trumps statements sunday stressed caravans aim protect vulnerable people main people fleeing criminal violence political violence country allows us save lives said response trumps comments guest sundays fox amp friends show brandon judd head national border patrol council union said illegal immigrants benefit catch release program trump referenced tweet freed awaiting court hearings detained united states recent border crossers claim asylum usually deported quickly say fear targeted violence persecution home countries begin long process petitioning asylum immigration court trump said twitter sunday mexico little nothing stop flow people across southern border must stop big drug people flows stop cash cow nafta need wall us president donald trump arrives palm beach international airport florida us easter weekend maralago palm beach march 29 2018 reutersyuri gripas mexican foreign minister luis videgaray said united states mexico work together migration every day inaccurate news report serve question strong cooperation upholding human dignity rights odds rule law happy easter said tweet mexico deported 80000 people 2017 160000 2016 official statistics show vast majority central american nations drop reflects fewer central americans crossing country last year reporting valerie volcovici washington delphine schrank ixtepec mexico additional reporting steve holland west palm beach mica rosenberg new york david lawder washington lizbeth diaz ciudad juarez editing steve orlofsky daniel wallis standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 1,926 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p>This is an image made from video showing burning items in underground train at the scene of an explosion in London Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. A reported explosion at a train station sent commuters stampeding in panic, injuring several people at the height of London’s morning rush hour, and police said they were investigating it as a terrorist attack. (Sylvain Pennec via AP)</p>
<p>LONDON (AP) — A homemade bomb planted in a rush-hour subway car exploded in London on Friday, injuring 29 people and prompting authorities to raise Britain's terrorism threat level to “critical,” meaning another attack may be imminent.</p>
<p>The early morning blast sparked a huge manhunt for the perpetrators of what police said was the fourth terrorist attack in the British capital this year.</p>
<p>Prime Minister Theresa May, acting on the recommendation of the Joint Terrorism Analysis Center, raised the country's threat level from “severe” to “critical” – its highest possible level. May said military troops would augment the police presence in a “proportionate and sensible step.”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Earlier, May said the device had been “intended to cause significant harm.”</p>
<p>Still, to the relief of authorities and Londoners, experts said the bomb – hidden in a plastic bucket inside a supermarket freezer bag – only partially exploded, sparing the city much worse carnage.</p>
<p>“I would say this was a failed high-explosive device,” Chris Hunter, a former British army bomb expert, said of the blast, which caused no serious injuries.</p>
<p>The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, which it said was carried out by an affiliated unit.</p>
<p>The bomb went off around 8:20 a.m. as the train, carrying commuters from the suburbs – including many school children – was at Parsons Green station in the southwest of the city.</p>
<p>Witness Chris Wildish told Sky News that he saw “out of the corner of my eye, a massive flash of flames that went up the side of the train,” followed by “an acrid chemical smell.”</p>
<p>Commuter Lauren Hubbard said she was on the train when she heard a loud bang.</p>
<p>“I looked around and this wall of fire was just coming toward us,” Hubbard said. She said her instinct was “just run,” and she fled the above-ground station with her boyfriend.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Chaos ensued as hundreds of people, some of them suffering burns, poured from the train, which can hold up to 800 people.</p>
<p>“I ended up squashed on the staircase. People were falling over, people fainting, crying. There were little kids clinging onto the back of me,” said another commuter, Ryan Barnett.</p>
<p>Passenger Luke Walmsley said it was “like every man for himself to get down the stairs.”</p>
<p>“People were just pushing,” he added. “There were nannies or mums asking where their children were.”</p>
<p>Police and health officials said 29 people were treated in London hospitals, most of them for flash burns. None of the injuries were serious or life-threatening, the emergency services said.</p>
<p>Trains were suspended along a stretch of the Underground's District Line, and several homes were evacuated as police set up a 50-meter (150-foot) cordon around the scene while they secured the device and launched a search for those who planted it.</p>
<p>The Metropolitan Police said hundreds of detectives, along with agents of the domestic spy agency MI5, were looking at surveillance camera footage, carrying out forensic work and speaking to witnesses.</p>
<p>Speaking to reporters late Friday, Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said police were making “good progress” and that the public should be reassured that more police and troops will be on the streets.</p>
<p>“We are only aware of one device,” he said. “We have remnants of that device. We are chasing down suspects.” He refused to provide further details, except to say the bomb involved the “detonation of an improvised explosive device.”</p>
<p>Among the questions authorities were seeking to answer: What was the device made from, and was it meant to go off when it did, in a leafy, affluent part of the city far from London's top tourist sites?</p>
<p>British media reported that the bomb included a timer. Lewis Herrington, a terrorism expert at Loughborough University, said that would set it apart from suicide attacks like those on the London subway in 2005 or at Manchester Arena in May, in which the attackers “all wanted to die.”</p>
<p>Photos taken inside the train showed a white plastic bucket inside a foil-lined shopping bag, with flames and what appeared to be wires emerging from the top.</p>
<p>Terrorism analyst Magnus Ranstorp of the Swedish Defense University said that from the photos it appeared the bomb did not fully detonate, as much of the device and its casing remained intact.</p>
<p>“They were really lucky with this one, it could have really become much worse,” he said.</p>
<p>Hunter, the explosives expert, said it appeared that “there was a bang, a bit of a flash, and that would suggest that, potentially, some of the explosive detonated, the detonator detonated, but much of the explosive was effectively inert.”</p>
<p>Police and ambulances were on the scene within minutes of the blast, a testament to their experience at responding to violent attacks in London. The city has been a target for decades: from Irish Republican Army bombers, right-wing extremists and, more recently, attackers inspired by al-Qaida or the Islamic State group.</p>
<p>Britain has seen four other terrorist attacks this year, which killed a total of 36 people. The other attacks in London – near Parliament, on London Bridge and near a mosque in Finsbury Park in north London – used vehicles and knives. Similar methods have been used in attacks across Europe, including in Nice, Stockholm, Berlin and Barcelona.</p>
<p>The last time the country's threat level was raised to critical, was after the May 22 suicide bombing at Manchester Arena that killed 22 people.</p>
<p>British authorities say they have foiled 19 plots since the middle of 2013, six of them since the van and knife attack on Westminster Bridge and Parliament in March, which killed five people. Police and MI5 say that at any given time they are running about 500 counterterrorism investigations involving 3,000 individuals.</p>
<p>London Mayor Sadiq Khan said there had been a “shift” in the terrorism threat, with attackers using a wide range of methods to try to inflict carnage. Khan, who belongs to the opposition Labour Party, said London police needed more resources to fight the threat. Police budgets have been cut since 2010 by Britain's Conservative government.</p>
<p>The London Underground, which handles 5 million journeys a day, has been targeted several times in the past. In July 2005, suicide bombers blew themselves up on three subway trains and a bus, killing 52 people and themselves. Four more bombers tried a similar attack two weeks later, but their devices failed to fully explode.</p>
<p>Last year Damon Smith, a student with an interest in weapons and Islamic extremism, left a knapsack filled with explosives and ball bearings on a London subway train. It failed to explode.</p>
<p>U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in on Friday's attack, tweeting that it was carried out “by a loser terrorist,” and adding that “these are sick and demented people who were in the sights of Scotland Yard.”</p>
<p>The British prime minister gently rebuked the president for his tweets. “I never think it's helpful for anybody to speculate on what is an ongoing investigation,” May said.</p>
<p>Lori Hinnant in Paris contributed to this report.</p>
<p><a href="#b5371906-e1ef-4ff5-8f41-e1e564f93049" type="external">© 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</a> Learn more about our <a href="http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/privacy" type="external">Privacy Policy</a> and <a href="http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/terms" type="external">Terms of Use</a>.</p>
| false | 2 |
image made video showing burning items underground train scene explosion london friday sept 15 2017 reported explosion train station sent commuters stampeding panic injuring several people height londons morning rush hour police said investigating terrorist attack sylvain pennec via ap london ap homemade bomb planted rushhour subway car exploded london friday injuring 29 people prompting authorities raise britains terrorism threat level critical meaning another attack may imminent early morning blast sparked huge manhunt perpetrators police said fourth terrorist attack british capital year prime minister theresa may acting recommendation joint terrorism analysis center raised countrys threat level severe critical highest possible level may said military troops would augment police presence proportionate sensible step advertisement earlier may said device intended cause significant harm still relief authorities londoners experts said bomb hidden plastic bucket inside supermarket freezer bag partially exploded sparing city much worse carnage would say failed highexplosive device chris hunter former british army bomb expert said blast caused serious injuries islamic state group claimed responsibility attack said carried affiliated unit bomb went around 820 train carrying commuters suburbs including many school children parsons green station southwest city witness chris wildish told sky news saw corner eye massive flash flames went side train followed acrid chemical smell commuter lauren hubbard said train heard loud bang looked around wall fire coming toward us hubbard said said instinct run fled aboveground station boyfriend advertisement chaos ensued hundreds people suffering burns poured train hold 800 people ended squashed staircase people falling people fainting crying little kids clinging onto back said another commuter ryan barnett passenger luke walmsley said like every man get stairs people pushing added nannies mums asking children police health officials said 29 people treated london hospitals flash burns none injuries serious lifethreatening emergency services said trains suspended along stretch undergrounds district line several homes evacuated police set 50meter 150foot cordon around scene secured device launched search planted metropolitan police said hundreds detectives along agents domestic spy agency mi5 looking surveillance camera footage carrying forensic work speaking witnesses speaking reporters late friday assistant commissioner mark rowley said police making good progress public reassured police troops streets aware one device said remnants device chasing suspects refused provide details except say bomb involved detonation improvised explosive device among questions authorities seeking answer device made meant go leafy affluent part city far londons top tourist sites british media reported bomb included timer lewis herrington terrorism expert loughborough university said would set apart suicide attacks like london subway 2005 manchester arena may attackers wanted die photos taken inside train showed white plastic bucket inside foillined shopping bag flames appeared wires emerging top terrorism analyst magnus ranstorp swedish defense university said photos appeared bomb fully detonate much device casing remained intact really lucky one could really become much worse said hunter explosives expert said appeared bang bit flash would suggest potentially explosive detonated detonator detonated much explosive effectively inert police ambulances scene within minutes blast testament experience responding violent attacks london city target decades irish republican army bombers rightwing extremists recently attackers inspired alqaida islamic state group britain seen four terrorist attacks year killed total 36 people attacks london near parliament london bridge near mosque finsbury park north london used vehicles knives similar methods used attacks across europe including nice stockholm berlin barcelona last time countrys threat level raised critical may 22 suicide bombing manchester arena killed 22 people british authorities say foiled 19 plots since middle 2013 six since van knife attack westminster bridge parliament march killed five people police mi5 say given time running 500 counterterrorism investigations involving 3000 individuals london mayor sadiq khan said shift terrorism threat attackers using wide range methods try inflict carnage khan belongs opposition labour party said london police needed resources fight threat police budgets cut since 2010 britains conservative government london underground handles 5 million journeys day targeted several times past july 2005 suicide bombers blew three subway trains bus killing 52 people four bombers tried similar attack two weeks later devices failed fully explode last year damon smith student interest weapons islamic extremism left knapsack filled explosives ball bearings london subway train failed explode us president donald trump weighed fridays attack tweeting carried loser terrorist adding sick demented people sights scotland yard british prime minister gently rebuked president tweets never think helpful anybody speculate ongoing investigation may said lori hinnant paris contributed report 2017 associated press rights reserved material may published broadcast rewritten redistributed learn privacy policy terms use
| 740 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p>WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is getting closer to fulfilling his bold promise to repeal the nation’s health care law. But Trump’s pledges of affordable care for all and curbs on drug costs are not reflected in the GOP legislation advancing in Congress.</p>
<p>Since his campaign days, Trump has bypassed the details on health care policy, laying out his ideas in broad, emphatic riffs. Yet he made some clear promises along the way.</p>
<p>On repealing the Affordable Care Act, better known as “Obamacare,” Trump seems to have a realistic chance to deliver. He’s nowhere close to enacting his own vision.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>A look at some of the major Trump health care promises, and how they line up with the Republican legislation that could come to a Senate vote this week:</p>
<p>REPEAL ‘OBAMACARE’</p>
<p>Repealing Obama’s signature domestic achievement has been a clear and consistent promise from Trump, a slogan of his campaign. Under the Obama law, some 20 million people gained coverage through a combination of subsidized private insurance and a state option to expand Medicaid for low-income people. Costs have been a problem, as are shaky insurance markets for people buying their own policies. But the nation’s uninsured rate is at a historic low, about 9 percent.</p>
<p>Both the House and Senate GOP bills would largely fulfill Trump’s promise to repeal Obama’s law.</p>
<p>Both measures end the unpopular requirement for individuals to carry health insurance or risk fines. The legislation also phases down the Medicaid expansion and repeals hundreds of billions of dollars in taxes on upper-income people and health care industries, used under the current law to finance coverage. And it opens the way for states to seek waivers of federal health insurance requirements.</p>
<p>Some Republican critics on the right say the congressional bills leave other major parts of the law in place, such as subsidies for people buying private insurance, and too many rules. But much less taxpayer money is invested in subsidies.</p>
<p>“INSURANCE FOR EVERYBODY”</p>
<p>In a Washington Post interview before his inauguration, Trump distilled his vision for health care into a few visionary goals.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>“We’re going to have insurance for everybody,” he said. “There was a philosophy in some circles that if you can’t pay for it, you don’t get it. That’s not going to happen with us.”</p>
<p>Trump said he was close to finishing a plan of his own that would have “lower numbers, much lower deductibles.”</p>
<p>The White House never delivered a health care plan from the president.</p>
<p>And the congressional plans are likely to increase the number of uninsured people, because even if all Americans have access to coverage, some may no longer be able to afford it.</p>
<p>Deductibles are likely to rise for many people with individual coverage for two reasons. First, insurance may cover a smaller share of medical expenses. Second, the congressional bills would end current subsidies that reduce out-of-pocket costs for those with modest incomes.</p>
<p>As far as premiums, the Congressional Budget Office has projected that in the long-run, they’d be lower on average for individual policies. But there would be winners and losers. Younger adults and those in good health are likely to find better deals. Older people and those requiring comprehensive coverage could well end up paying more.</p>
<p>TAKING AWAY THE LINES</p>
<p>During the presidential campaign, Trump called for a system in which insurance plans would compete nationally, offering Americans choice and lower premiums.</p>
<p>“What I’d like to see is a private system without the artificial lines around every state,” he said at one of the presidential debates.</p>
<p>Many experts say Trump’s vision of interstate competition is unrealistic because health insurance, like real estate, reflects local prices. In any case, it remains unfulfilled in the GOP legislation.</p>
<p>Some congressional leaders have promised that cross-state insurance will be addressed in follow-on legislation. Such a bill would likely have to clear a 60-vote hurdle in the Senate.</p>
<p>PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES</p>
<p>Trump has repeatedly called for government action to bring down the cost of prescription drugs. The GOP bills in Congress basically sidestep that.</p>
<p>At one point in the campaign, Trump called for giving Medicare the authority to directly negotiate prices with drugmakers, an approach favored to some extent by Obama and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.</p>
<p>Trump also proposed letting Americans import prescription drugs from other countries, where prices are usually lower because of government regulation.</p>
<p>But Medicare negotiations are a nonstarter for most congressional Republicans, and Trump’s call for allowing drug importation has faded.</p>
<p>MEDICAID</p>
<p>In a 2015 Daily Signal interview, Trump said: “I’m not going to cut Social Security like every other Republican and I’m not going to cut Medicare or Medicaid.”</p>
<p>But last year, his campaign started backtracking on Medicaid, endorsing the idea of limited federal financing for the federal-state program that covers some 70 million low-income people, from newborns to elderly nursing home residents, from special-needs kids to part-time workers lacking job-based health insurance.</p>
<p>The Republican bills in Congress would phase out Obama’s financing for Medicaid expansion and limit future federal payments for the entire program as well. The Congressional Budget Office said the House bill would reduce federal Medicaid spending by $834 billion over 10 years, and enrollment would shrink by about 17 percent by 2026.</p>
<p>Several Republican governors have joined their Democratic counterparts calling that a massive cost-shift to the states.</p>
<p>OPIOID CRISIS</p>
<p>The Trump White House says it’s serious about confronting the nation’s opioid epidemic, which shows no sign of letup.</p>
<p>“The president is all in,” health Secretary Tom Price said on a recent visit to New Hampshire. “He has such passion for this issue because he knows the misery and the suffering that has occurred across this land.”</p>
<p>But state officials say rolling back Obama’s Medicaid expansion would deal a heavy blow to treatment. Among the group of low-income adults made eligible for Medicaid under Obama are many younger people struggling with drug problems. They’ve been able to get treatment and support services through Medicaid.</p>
<p>The Senate bill would set up a $2 billion fund to help states fight the epidemic; some GOP senators had sought $45 billion. The House bill does not address it.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press researcher Jennifer Farrar contributed to this report.</p>
<p>An occasional look at the promises public officials make — and how well they keep them</p>
| false | 2 |
washington president donald trump getting closer fulfilling bold promise repeal nations health care law trumps pledges affordable care curbs drug costs reflected gop legislation advancing congress since campaign days trump bypassed details health care policy laying ideas broad emphatic riffs yet made clear promises along way repealing affordable care act better known obamacare trump seems realistic chance deliver hes nowhere close enacting vision advertisement look major trump health care promises line republican legislation could come senate vote week repeal obamacare repealing obamas signature domestic achievement clear consistent promise trump slogan campaign obama law 20 million people gained coverage combination subsidized private insurance state option expand medicaid lowincome people costs problem shaky insurance markets people buying policies nations uninsured rate historic low 9 percent house senate gop bills would largely fulfill trumps promise repeal obamas law measures end unpopular requirement individuals carry health insurance risk fines legislation also phases medicaid expansion repeals hundreds billions dollars taxes upperincome people health care industries used current law finance coverage opens way states seek waivers federal health insurance requirements republican critics right say congressional bills leave major parts law place subsidies people buying private insurance many rules much less taxpayer money invested subsidies insurance everybody washington post interview inauguration trump distilled vision health care visionary goals advertisement going insurance everybody said philosophy circles cant pay dont get thats going happen us trump said close finishing plan would lower numbers much lower deductibles white house never delivered health care plan president congressional plans likely increase number uninsured people even americans access coverage may longer able afford deductibles likely rise many people individual coverage two reasons first insurance may cover smaller share medical expenses second congressional bills would end current subsidies reduce outofpocket costs modest incomes far premiums congressional budget office projected longrun theyd lower average individual policies would winners losers younger adults good health likely find better deals older people requiring comprehensive coverage could well end paying taking away lines presidential campaign trump called system insurance plans would compete nationally offering americans choice lower premiums id like see private system without artificial lines around every state said one presidential debates many experts say trumps vision interstate competition unrealistic health insurance like real estate reflects local prices case remains unfulfilled gop legislation congressional leaders promised crossstate insurance addressed followon legislation bill would likely clear 60vote hurdle senate prescription drug prices trump repeatedly called government action bring cost prescription drugs gop bills congress basically sidestep one point campaign trump called giving medicare authority directly negotiate prices drugmakers approach favored extent obama democratic presidential candidate hillary clinton trump also proposed letting americans import prescription drugs countries prices usually lower government regulation medicare negotiations nonstarter congressional republicans trumps call allowing drug importation faded medicaid 2015 daily signal interview trump said im going cut social security like every republican im going cut medicare medicaid last year campaign started backtracking medicaid endorsing idea limited federal financing federalstate program covers 70 million lowincome people newborns elderly nursing home residents specialneeds kids parttime workers lacking jobbased health insurance republican bills congress would phase obamas financing medicaid expansion limit future federal payments entire program well congressional budget office said house bill would reduce federal medicaid spending 834 billion 10 years enrollment would shrink 17 percent 2026 several republican governors joined democratic counterparts calling massive costshift states opioid crisis trump white house says serious confronting nations opioid epidemic shows sign letup president health secretary tom price said recent visit new hampshire passion issue knows misery suffering occurred across land state officials say rolling back obamas medicaid expansion would deal heavy blow treatment among group lowincome adults made eligible medicaid obama many younger people struggling drug problems theyve able get treatment support services medicaid senate bill would set 2 billion fund help states fight epidemic gop senators sought 45 billion house bill address ___ associated press researcher jennifer farrar contributed report occasional look promises public officials make well keep
| 652 |
<p>SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — More than missing one of the game's most menacing pass rushers, the San Francisco 49ers care that Aldon Smith can carry on with a healthy life off the field over the long haul.</p>
<p>With or without football.</p>
<p>Smith received second chance after second chance with the Niners before they finally had enough following his fifth run-in with the law. The franchise parted ways with the troubled but talented linebacker Friday after Santa Clara police accused him of drunken driving, hit and run and vandalism.</p>
<p>It's a tough blow for a team that watched several other young stars depart and retire this offseason.</p>
<p>"I'm just more concerned about him as a person," receiver Anquan Boldin said. "Football doesn't come into play when it comes to a situation like that. My whole thought is just making sure he's OK as a person."</p>
<p>The move came only three days after general manager Trent Baalke expressed his desire to keep Smith beyond this season, which would have been a contract year.</p>
<p>Instead Friday, Baalke and coach Jim Tomsula met with Smith at team headquarters after he left jail to inform him he was no longer part of the team.</p>
<p>"It's a sad day," Tomsula said during an emotional news conference. "This is a day that doesn't have anything to do about football."</p>
<p>Smith was arrested Thursday night — on a day off from training camp for players — the fifth legal run-in since the team drafted him in 2011. Tomsula spoke to a couple of players, then the entire team in Friday afternoon.</p>
<p>"Guys care about him, we care about that guy, deeply," he said.</p>
<p>Smith had said when camp began he was healthy and in great shape, "ready to go." While he is free to sign with any team, not needing to go through waivers, he likely would first face another lengthy NFL suspension.</p>
<p>Police said Friday that at 8:46 p.m., Smith collided with a parked vehicle while parking his car, then caused further damage to the parked vehicle with his car door. The scene was only a couple of miles from team headquarters, at or on the street of Smith's luxury apartment complex.</p>
<p>Authorities said Smith left without reporting the collision or providing any identifying information. He later returned to and was contacted by officers. Smith displayed "objective symptoms of being under the influence of an alcoholic beverage" and officers conducted a field sobriety test, police said.</p>
<p>"Although he won't be playing football for the San Francisco 49ers, he will be supported and helped, and he will not have to walk this path alone," Tomsula said. "That comes from our ownership down. ... It has nothing to do with football."</p>
<p>Smith denied he was driving under the influence during a brief interview with a local television station before Tomsula's news conference.</p>
<p>"Justice will be served, the truth will come out," Smith told KTVU Fox 2 as he walked out of jail. "There's no DUI. ... I want everybody to understand the situation that happened could have been handled differently."</p>
<p>Tomsula declined to speak about specifics of Smith's arrest, but offered, "We're dealing with human beings, living breathing human beings."</p>
<p>"There are things that need to be addressed with 100 percent of what he has," the coach said.</p>
<p>San Francisco has had 12 arrests or charges filed involving seven players since January 2012, prompting owner Jed York to promise the team would "win with class." The Niners released defensive tackle Ray McDonald late last season for his off-field problems.</p>
<p>"If one person out there reads this and you're struggling, get help," an emotional Tomsula said emphatically. "Go get it. You're worth it. There's value in every human being. Get the help. You don't have to walk alone. Find it, it's there."</p>
<p>Smith was entering a contract year after he missed the first nine games of 2014 serving an NFL suspension for violations of the league's substance-abuse and personal-conduct policies.</p>
<p>In spring 2014, the 49ers exercised their 2015 option for Smith. In March, Smith restructured his contract into a more incentive-laden, team-friendly deal that gave the 49ers room if he were to get in legal trouble again.</p>
<p>The 25-year-old Smith missed time during the 2013 season to undergo treatment at an inpatient facility following his DUI arrest on Sept. 20 that year. Later in the year, he pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of illegal possession of an assault weapon, stemming from a June 2012 party at his home.</p>
<p>Smith was arrested on April 13, 2014, at Los Angeles International Airport. Police said Smith was randomly selected for a secondary screening and became uncooperative with the process, telling a TSA agent that he had a bomb. No charges were filed.</p>
<p>He emerged as one of the NFL's top defenders in 2012 with a franchise-record 19 1/2 sacks during the team's run to the Super Bowl. Smith finished with 8 1/2 sacks and 34 tackles in 11 games in 2013. In his shortened 2014 season, he had two sacks.</p>
<p>Tomsula hopes Smith will play football again one day.</p>
<p>"He has been turning his life around. He is in the process of turning his life around. People stumble," Tomsula said. "In terms of him playing football again, I sure hope so. I think he can. I want him to."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL" type="external">www.twitter.com/AP_NFL</a></p>
<p>SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — More than missing one of the game's most menacing pass rushers, the San Francisco 49ers care that Aldon Smith can carry on with a healthy life off the field over the long haul.</p>
<p>With or without football.</p>
<p>Smith received second chance after second chance with the Niners before they finally had enough following his fifth run-in with the law. The franchise parted ways with the troubled but talented linebacker Friday after Santa Clara police accused him of drunken driving, hit and run and vandalism.</p>
<p>It's a tough blow for a team that watched several other young stars depart and retire this offseason.</p>
<p>"I'm just more concerned about him as a person," receiver Anquan Boldin said. "Football doesn't come into play when it comes to a situation like that. My whole thought is just making sure he's OK as a person."</p>
<p>The move came only three days after general manager Trent Baalke expressed his desire to keep Smith beyond this season, which would have been a contract year.</p>
<p>Instead Friday, Baalke and coach Jim Tomsula met with Smith at team headquarters after he left jail to inform him he was no longer part of the team.</p>
<p>"It's a sad day," Tomsula said during an emotional news conference. "This is a day that doesn't have anything to do about football."</p>
<p>Smith was arrested Thursday night — on a day off from training camp for players — the fifth legal run-in since the team drafted him in 2011. Tomsula spoke to a couple of players, then the entire team in Friday afternoon.</p>
<p>"Guys care about him, we care about that guy, deeply," he said.</p>
<p>Smith had said when camp began he was healthy and in great shape, "ready to go." While he is free to sign with any team, not needing to go through waivers, he likely would first face another lengthy NFL suspension.</p>
<p>Police said Friday that at 8:46 p.m., Smith collided with a parked vehicle while parking his car, then caused further damage to the parked vehicle with his car door. The scene was only a couple of miles from team headquarters, at or on the street of Smith's luxury apartment complex.</p>
<p>Authorities said Smith left without reporting the collision or providing any identifying information. He later returned to and was contacted by officers. Smith displayed "objective symptoms of being under the influence of an alcoholic beverage" and officers conducted a field sobriety test, police said.</p>
<p>"Although he won't be playing football for the San Francisco 49ers, he will be supported and helped, and he will not have to walk this path alone," Tomsula said. "That comes from our ownership down. ... It has nothing to do with football."</p>
<p>Smith denied he was driving under the influence during a brief interview with a local television station before Tomsula's news conference.</p>
<p>"Justice will be served, the truth will come out," Smith told KTVU Fox 2 as he walked out of jail. "There's no DUI. ... I want everybody to understand the situation that happened could have been handled differently."</p>
<p>Tomsula declined to speak about specifics of Smith's arrest, but offered, "We're dealing with human beings, living breathing human beings."</p>
<p>"There are things that need to be addressed with 100 percent of what he has," the coach said.</p>
<p>San Francisco has had 12 arrests or charges filed involving seven players since January 2012, prompting owner Jed York to promise the team would "win with class." The Niners released defensive tackle Ray McDonald late last season for his off-field problems.</p>
<p>"If one person out there reads this and you're struggling, get help," an emotional Tomsula said emphatically. "Go get it. You're worth it. There's value in every human being. Get the help. You don't have to walk alone. Find it, it's there."</p>
<p>Smith was entering a contract year after he missed the first nine games of 2014 serving an NFL suspension for violations of the league's substance-abuse and personal-conduct policies.</p>
<p>In spring 2014, the 49ers exercised their 2015 option for Smith. In March, Smith restructured his contract into a more incentive-laden, team-friendly deal that gave the 49ers room if he were to get in legal trouble again.</p>
<p>The 25-year-old Smith missed time during the 2013 season to undergo treatment at an inpatient facility following his DUI arrest on Sept. 20 that year. Later in the year, he pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of illegal possession of an assault weapon, stemming from a June 2012 party at his home.</p>
<p>Smith was arrested on April 13, 2014, at Los Angeles International Airport. Police said Smith was randomly selected for a secondary screening and became uncooperative with the process, telling a TSA agent that he had a bomb. No charges were filed.</p>
<p>He emerged as one of the NFL's top defenders in 2012 with a franchise-record 19 1/2 sacks during the team's run to the Super Bowl. Smith finished with 8 1/2 sacks and 34 tackles in 11 games in 2013. In his shortened 2014 season, he had two sacks.</p>
<p>Tomsula hopes Smith will play football again one day.</p>
<p>"He has been turning his life around. He is in the process of turning his life around. People stumble," Tomsula said. "In terms of him playing football again, I sure hope so. I think he can. I want him to."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL" type="external">www.twitter.com/AP_NFL</a></p>
| false | 2 |
santa clara calif ap missing one games menacing pass rushers san francisco 49ers care aldon smith carry healthy life field long haul without football smith received second chance second chance niners finally enough following fifth runin law franchise parted ways troubled talented linebacker friday santa clara police accused drunken driving hit run vandalism tough blow team watched several young stars depart retire offseason im concerned person receiver anquan boldin said football doesnt come play comes situation like whole thought making sure hes ok person move came three days general manager trent baalke expressed desire keep smith beyond season would contract year instead friday baalke coach jim tomsula met smith team headquarters left jail inform longer part team sad day tomsula said emotional news conference day doesnt anything football smith arrested thursday night day training camp players fifth legal runin since team drafted 2011 tomsula spoke couple players entire team friday afternoon guys care care guy deeply said smith said camp began healthy great shape ready go free sign team needing go waivers likely would first face another lengthy nfl suspension police said friday 846 pm smith collided parked vehicle parking car caused damage parked vehicle car door scene couple miles team headquarters street smiths luxury apartment complex authorities said smith left without reporting collision providing identifying information later returned contacted officers smith displayed objective symptoms influence alcoholic beverage officers conducted field sobriety test police said although wont playing football san francisco 49ers supported helped walk path alone tomsula said comes ownership nothing football smith denied driving influence brief interview local television station tomsulas news conference justice served truth come smith told ktvu fox 2 walked jail theres dui want everybody understand situation happened could handled differently tomsula declined speak specifics smiths arrest offered dealing human beings living breathing human beings things need addressed 100 percent coach said san francisco 12 arrests charges filed involving seven players since january 2012 prompting owner jed york promise team would win class niners released defensive tackle ray mcdonald late last season offfield problems one person reads youre struggling get help emotional tomsula said emphatically go get youre worth theres value every human get help dont walk alone find smith entering contract year missed first nine games 2014 serving nfl suspension violations leagues substanceabuse personalconduct policies spring 2014 49ers exercised 2015 option smith march smith restructured contract incentiveladen teamfriendly deal gave 49ers room get legal trouble 25yearold smith missed time 2013 season undergo treatment inpatient facility following dui arrest sept 20 year later year pleaded guilty three felony counts illegal possession assault weapon stemming june 2012 party home smith arrested april 13 2014 los angeles international airport police said smith randomly selected secondary screening became uncooperative process telling tsa agent bomb charges filed emerged one nfls top defenders 2012 franchiserecord 19 12 sacks teams run super bowl smith finished 8 12 sacks 34 tackles 11 games 2013 shortened 2014 season two sacks tomsula hopes smith play football one day turning life around process turning life around people stumble tomsula said terms playing football sure hope think want ___ ap nfl website wwwpro32aporg wwwtwittercomap_nfl santa clara calif ap missing one games menacing pass rushers san francisco 49ers care aldon smith carry healthy life field long haul without football smith received second chance second chance niners finally enough following fifth runin law franchise parted ways troubled talented linebacker friday santa clara police accused drunken driving hit run vandalism tough blow team watched several young stars depart retire offseason im concerned person receiver anquan boldin said football doesnt come play comes situation like whole thought making sure hes ok person move came three days general manager trent baalke expressed desire keep smith beyond season would contract year instead friday baalke coach jim tomsula met smith team headquarters left jail inform longer part team sad day tomsula said emotional news conference day doesnt anything football smith arrested thursday night day training camp players fifth legal runin since team drafted 2011 tomsula spoke couple players entire team friday afternoon guys care care guy deeply said smith said camp began healthy great shape ready go free sign team needing go waivers likely would first face another lengthy nfl suspension police said friday 846 pm smith collided parked vehicle parking car caused damage parked vehicle car door scene couple miles team headquarters street smiths luxury apartment complex authorities said smith left without reporting collision providing identifying information later returned contacted officers smith displayed objective symptoms influence alcoholic beverage officers conducted field sobriety test police said although wont playing football san francisco 49ers supported helped walk path alone tomsula said comes ownership nothing football smith denied driving influence brief interview local television station tomsulas news conference justice served truth come smith told ktvu fox 2 walked jail theres dui want everybody understand situation happened could handled differently tomsula declined speak specifics smiths arrest offered dealing human beings living breathing human beings things need addressed 100 percent coach said san francisco 12 arrests charges filed involving seven players since january 2012 prompting owner jed york promise team would win class niners released defensive tackle ray mcdonald late last season offfield problems one person reads youre struggling get help emotional tomsula said emphatically go get youre worth theres value every human get help dont walk alone find smith entering contract year missed first nine games 2014 serving nfl suspension violations leagues substanceabuse personalconduct policies spring 2014 49ers exercised 2015 option smith march smith restructured contract incentiveladen teamfriendly deal gave 49ers room get legal trouble 25yearold smith missed time 2013 season undergo treatment inpatient facility following dui arrest sept 20 year later year pleaded guilty three felony counts illegal possession assault weapon stemming june 2012 party home smith arrested april 13 2014 los angeles international airport police said smith randomly selected secondary screening became uncooperative process telling tsa agent bomb charges filed emerged one nfls top defenders 2012 franchiserecord 19 12 sacks teams run super bowl smith finished 8 12 sacks 34 tackles 11 games 2013 shortened 2014 season two sacks tomsula hopes smith play football one day turning life around process turning life around people stumble tomsula said terms playing football sure hope think want ___ ap nfl website wwwpro32aporg wwwtwittercomap_nfl
| 1,036 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>Sainz favors a bill in the California Legislature that would lower the voting age to 17, which she thinks would give a voice to more people affected by the outcome of elections.</p>
<p>“Looking at all the protests throughout this year throughout all the high schools across the nation, we could see a lot of the minors were protesting because they felt as if they didn’t have a voice,” said Sainz, a senior at Inderkum High School in Sacramento.</p>
<p>Lawmakers in more than a dozen states are trying to increase voter participation by targeting young people. Their bills are among nearly 500 pieces of legislation introduced around the country this year to make voting easier, according to a March analysis by New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>While Republican-leaning states have moved to tighten voting rules — nearly 90 such bills have been introduced — those efforts have been outstripped by the number of bills seeking to expand access to the polls.</p>
<p>“A lot of young people last year wanted to make their voices heard but were unable to do so because the rules prohibited them,” said Jonathan Brater, counsel with the nonpartisan Brennan Center Democracy Program.</p>
<p>“That has certainly renewed interest in making the system more accessible,” Brater said.</p>
<p>Democrats and Republicans have supported efforts to expand access, particularly online registration. But it’s mostly Republicans who are pushing restrictions such as requiring photo identification at the polls.</p>
<p>Roughly 20 states are considering voter ID laws this year that supporters say prevent fraud and boost public confidence in elections. Critics say such laws target minorities and the poor, who might not have driver’s licenses and find it difficult to obtain them.</p>
<p>Recent voting expansion efforts include automatic registration and extending absentee voting opportunities.</p>
<p>Republicans control the governorship and legislature in 25 states and so far have been relatively successful in pushing through the more restrictive laws. Democrats control just a half-dozen states.</p>
<p>In California, where Democrats command a supermajority in the Legislature and control the governor’s mansion, lawmakers say they want to take the lead in expanding voting access as other states move to restrict it.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The bill to lower the voting age to 17 proposes an amendment to the state Constitution. Passage would require a two-thirds vote in the Legislature and approval by voters.</p>
<p>Assemblyman Evan Low, the bill’s author, believes now is a good time to lower the voting age. Britain’s vote to leave the European Union and the ouster of South Korea’s president have shown people the importance of voting and holding public servants accountable, Low said.</p>
<p>The Silicon Valley Democrat also pointed to the election of Trump, whom Low and his Democratic colleagues routinely criticize.</p>
<p>“We’ve realized that democracy is relatively fragile,” Low said.</p>
<p>Lowering the voting age could help foster a sense of civic duty before teens move away from home to attend college or start a job and become less motivated to vote, he added.</p>
<p>Tyler Christensen, one of Sainz’s classmates at Inderkum High School, said he’s torn on the issue.</p>
<p>“I liked the idea when I was 17,” said Christensen, who turned 18 in February. “But now that it doesn’t matter for me anymore, I feel like a lot of people are still too immature.”</p>
<p>Sen. Joel Anderson, a Republican from the San Diego area, said he supports encouraging young people to vote but opposes some approaches pushed by Democrats.</p>
<p>He voted against a 2014 bill that legalized preregistration of 16- and 17-year-olds because he worried it would make voter rolls less accurate and lead to voter fraud. He thinks Low’s proposed amendment to lower the voting age is simply an effort to get more Democratic votes.</p>
<p>“Every poll that I’ve seen says that young people tend toward voting for Democrats, so I believe that it’s self-serving,” he said. “It can’t just be about gaming elections for your own support.”</p>
<p>In Iowa, two Republicans introduced bills this year to expand teen voting. One bill would have allowed 17-year-olds to vote in primaries if they turned 18 by the general election. The other would have allowed Iowans to preregister to vote when they turn 16. Both bills stalled, but the primary voting provision has since been added to a voter ID bill advancing through the Legislature.</p>
<p>The same reforms were proposed by Democrats in Minnesota, but they have since stalled in the Republican-controlled state Senate. Jack Joa, a high school student who suggested letting 17-year-olds vote in primaries, said he was preregistered but was turned away at his polling place during Minnesota’s August primary because he was not yet 18.</p>
<p>Joa said he spent hours a day for months researching policies in other states and studies on teen voter participation before he took his proposal to lawmakers. Joa is a Democrat but has worked on multiple campaigns for Republicans and Democrats in the state Legislature, as well as the Democratic presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.</p>
<p>“I felt that the people that turned 18 by the general but weren’t able to vote in the primary would feel disenfranchised,” he said.</p>
<p>The Nevada Legislature is also considering letting 17-year-olds preregister to vote.</p>
<p>“Early pre-registration is one way of getting youth and teens more engaged in the civics process early on,” said state Senate Majority Leader Aaron Ford, a Las Vegas Democrat who proposed the bill.</p>
<p>Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, a Republican, declined to comment on the measure.</p>
<p>He has previously vetoed proposals to establish same-day voting registration and automatic registration through the Department of Motor Vehicles.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Christina A. Cassidy in Atlanta; Alison Noon in Carson City, Nevada; Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis; and Linley Sanders and Barbara Rodriguez in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Sophia Bollag at https://twitter.com/SophiaBollag</p>
| false | 2 |
sainz favors bill california legislature would lower voting age 17 thinks would give voice people affected outcome elections looking protests throughout year throughout high schools across nation could see lot minors protesting felt didnt voice said sainz senior inderkum high school sacramento lawmakers dozen states trying increase voter participation targeting young people bills among nearly 500 pieces legislation introduced around country year make voting easier according march analysis new york universitys brennan center justice advertisement republicanleaning states moved tighten voting rules nearly 90 bills introduced efforts outstripped number bills seeking expand access polls lot young people last year wanted make voices heard unable rules prohibited said jonathan brater counsel nonpartisan brennan center democracy program certainly renewed interest making system accessible brater said democrats republicans supported efforts expand access particularly online registration mostly republicans pushing restrictions requiring photo identification polls roughly 20 states considering voter id laws year supporters say prevent fraud boost public confidence elections critics say laws target minorities poor might drivers licenses find difficult obtain recent voting expansion efforts include automatic registration extending absentee voting opportunities republicans control governorship legislature 25 states far relatively successful pushing restrictive laws democrats control halfdozen states california democrats command supermajority legislature control governors mansion lawmakers say want take lead expanding voting access states move restrict advertisement bill lower voting age 17 proposes amendment state constitution passage would require twothirds vote legislature approval voters assemblyman evan low bills author believes good time lower voting age britains vote leave european union ouster south koreas president shown people importance voting holding public servants accountable low said silicon valley democrat also pointed election trump low democratic colleagues routinely criticize weve realized democracy relatively fragile low said lowering voting age could help foster sense civic duty teens move away home attend college start job become less motivated vote added tyler christensen one sainzs classmates inderkum high school said hes torn issue liked idea 17 said christensen turned 18 february doesnt matter anymore feel like lot people still immature sen joel anderson republican san diego area said supports encouraging young people vote opposes approaches pushed democrats voted 2014 bill legalized preregistration 16 17yearolds worried would make voter rolls less accurate lead voter fraud thinks lows proposed amendment lower voting age simply effort get democratic votes every poll ive seen says young people tend toward voting democrats believe selfserving said cant gaming elections support iowa two republicans introduced bills year expand teen voting one bill would allowed 17yearolds vote primaries turned 18 general election would allowed iowans preregister vote turn 16 bills stalled primary voting provision since added voter id bill advancing legislature reforms proposed democrats minnesota since stalled republicancontrolled state senate jack joa high school student suggested letting 17yearolds vote primaries said preregistered turned away polling place minnesotas august primary yet 18 joa said spent hours day months researching policies states studies teen voter participation took proposal lawmakers joa democrat worked multiple campaigns republicans democrats state legislature well democratic presidential campaigns hillary clinton bernie sanders felt people turned 18 general werent able vote primary would feel disenfranchised said nevada legislature also considering letting 17yearolds preregister vote early preregistration one way getting youth teens engaged civics process early said state senate majority leader aaron ford las vegas democrat proposed bill nevada gov brian sandoval republican declined comment measure previously vetoed proposals establish sameday voting registration automatic registration department motor vehicles ___ associated press writers christina cassidy atlanta alison noon carson city nevada steve karnowski minneapolis linley sanders barbara rodriguez des moines iowa contributed report ___ follow sophia bollag httpstwittercomsophiabollag
| 590 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>Myth No. 1</p>
<p>Black colleges were founded by black people.</p>
<p>DeVos had this to say about HBCU founders: “They saw that the system wasn’t working, that there was an absence of opportunity, so they took it upon themselves to provide the solution.” Presumably, “they” means African Americans.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>But some of today’s most well-known HBCUs were founded by white Americans. Washington’s Howard University, which celebrates its sesquicentennial this year, is named after one of its founders, Gen. Oliver O. Howard, a white Union officer who led the federal Freedmen’s Bureau after the Civil War. Spelman College was founded in 1881 as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary by Sophia B. Packard and Harriet E. Giles, two white teachers from Massachusetts. Later renamed, the all-female college had among its early benefactors John D. Rockefeller and the family of his wife, Laura Spelman Rockefeller. The Rockefellers and the Baptist organization that underwrote the teachers’ mission also provided major financial support to the nearby all-male HBCU, Morehouse College.</p>
<p>Myth No. 2</p>
<p>It’s racist to have black colleges.</p>
<p>In a 2012 story about public HBCUs in Maryland, World Net Daily’s Les Kinsolving asked, “Why is any Maryland college identifying itself as ‘historically black’ not an example of racism?” Last year, African American talk show host Wendy Williams eventually apologized after saying, “I would be really offended if there was a school that was known as a historically white college.” In 2008, Georgia state Sen. Seth Harp proposed merging two historically black colleges with two mostly white state schools, purportedly in the name of closing “the chapter of segregated schools.” (In 2015, one merger was approved.)</p>
<p>But these sentiments obscure a key distinction. As Morehouse graduate Martin Luther King Jr. put it in 1957, “Although Negro colleges are by and large segregated institutions, they are not segregating institutions.” There’s a reason “HBCU” stands for”historically black” and not simply “black” colleges and universities. Although they were originally founded to educate black students who were shut out of white schools, they have always enrolled non-black students.According to the Department of Education, “In 2014, non-Black students made up 21 percent of enrollment at HBCUs, compared with 15 percent in 1976.” White students account for most of the non-black HBCU student population, but schools such as Howard increasingly attract international interest. More than two dozen students from Nepal joined Howard’s freshman class in 2014, the largest delegation from any country that year.</p>
<p>Myth No. 3</p>
<p>HBCUs are inferior.</p>
<p>No HBCU is on U.S. News &amp; World Report’s list of top 100 national universities, and only one, Spelman, is ranked among its 100 best liberal arts colleges. HBCUs also have a relatively low graduation rate (30 percent) compared with all African American college students nationwide (42 percent), according to a 2015 New America report.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>But nearly 73 percent of HBCU students qualify for Pell grants, in many cases coming from low-income households where the high cost of college is an added barrier to completion. HBCUs see their mission as serving this population, many of them first-generation college students who otherwise might not attend. And these schools, which represent only 3 percent of post-secondary institutions, produce about 20 percent of all African American graduates – and 25 percent of those in the STEM fields, according to the United Negro College Fund.</p>
<p>A 2015 Gallup report measured five elements of well-being – social, purpose, financial, community and physical- and found that black HBCU grads were “thriving,” to a greater degree, in all categories, than their black counterparts who attended other institutions. The gap was largest in financial well-being. Black HBCU grads were also more likely to tell Gallup that they strongly agreed that their colleges prepared them for life after graduation (55 percent) than were black graduates of other institutions (29 percent).</p>
<p>A 2013 National Science Foundation report said that “of the top 50 baccalaureate-origin institutions” of black science and engineering Ph. D. recipients, “21 are HBCUs.” In 2015, the New York Times looked at New Orleans’s Xavier College, which “has some 3,000 students and consistently produces more black students who apply to and then graduate from medical school than any other institution in the country.”</p>
<p>Myth No. 4</p>
<p>Students are fleeing HBCUs are only for African American students.</p>
<p>In a 2015 feature, Newsweek’s Alexander Nazaryan wrote that “colleges without students do as well as airlines without passengers, and as black students snub HBCUs, HBCUs face the first true existential crisis in their collective history.” That same year, Forbes ran an article enumerating enrollment declines at several HBCUs and concluding that African American students were “voting with their feet to go to schools they think fit their needs better.”</p>
<p>Indeed, some HBCUs have seen declining enrollment. But writing for The Washington Post last year, Dillard University President Walter Kimbrough pointed to an uptick in enrollment at a number of HBCUs, which he called the “Missouri Effect” – social consciousness emblematic of renewed campus activism in the last couple of years. “Freshman enrollment is up 49 percent at Shaw University, 39 percent at South Carolina State, 32 percent at Tuskegee University, 30 percent at Virginia State University, 22 percent at Dillard University, 22 percent at Central State University, 20 percent at Florida Memorial University, and 19 percent at Delaware State University. Dillard, Philander Smith College (overall enrollment up 29 percent) and South Carolina State University all rely on overflow housing to accommodate the influx of students,” he wrote.</p>
<p>“Everything happening with police brutality and Black Lives Matter,” student Alversia Wade told “PBS NewsHour,” “pushed me to want an environment where I could talk to other students about all these things.”</p>
<p>Myth No. 5</p>
<p>Obama was anti-HBCU.</p>
<p>President Barack Obama’s first budget called for a $73 million cut in funding for HBCUs (the next year, that money was restored). In 2011, the administration tightened loan standards, resulting in a 36 percent reduction in federal PLUS loans available to HBCU parents and causing a number of students to unexpectedly interrupt their college educations. The new rules disproportionately affected schools that served a high share of disadvantaged students. A Post analysis found that the move translated to an annual cut of more than $150 million for HBCUs.</p>
<p>The Obama administration acknowledged the unintended impact and took steps to adjust the loan rules. But black observers were shocked. As economist Julianne Malveaux, former president of historically black Bennett College, put it last year, “You never thought that when a conservative white man put more money in for HBCUs that a progressive black man would take it out.” In a Post op-ed in 2016, Johnny C. Taylor Jr., president of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, asked, “Do black colleges matter to Obama?”</p>
<p>But Morehouse President John Silvanus Wilson Jr., a former director of Obama’s initiative on HBCUs, told Inside Higher Ed last year: “It is a fact that just before President Obama took office, total annual federal funding to HBCUs was under $4 billion. During his first term, that figure climbed to nearly $5.2 billion, largely based on a very intentional boost in federal grants and loans to HBCU students. To this day, HBCUs are getting nearly $1 billion more per year than they were getting when Obama took office. That is not the behavior of a leader who thinks these institutions do not matter.”</p>
<p>—</p>
<p>Carswell is a lecturer at the Howard University School of Communications and a former deputy managing editor of The Washington Post.</p>
| false | 2 |
myth 1 black colleges founded black people devos say hbcu founders saw system wasnt working absence opportunity took upon provide solution presumably means african americans advertisement todays wellknown hbcus founded white americans washingtons howard university celebrates sesquicentennial year named one founders gen oliver howard white union officer led federal freedmens bureau civil war spelman college founded 1881 atlanta baptist female seminary sophia b packard harriet e giles two white teachers massachusetts later renamed allfemale college among early benefactors john rockefeller family wife laura spelman rockefeller rockefellers baptist organization underwrote teachers mission also provided major financial support nearby allmale hbcu morehouse college myth 2 racist black colleges 2012 story public hbcus maryland world net dailys les kinsolving asked maryland college identifying historically black example racism last year african american talk show host wendy williams eventually apologized saying would really offended school known historically white college 2008 georgia state sen seth harp proposed merging two historically black colleges two mostly white state schools purportedly name closing chapter segregated schools 2015 one merger approved sentiments obscure key distinction morehouse graduate martin luther king jr put 1957 although negro colleges large segregated institutions segregating institutions theres reason hbcu stands forhistorically black simply black colleges universities although originally founded educate black students shut white schools always enrolled nonblack studentsaccording department education 2014 nonblack students made 21 percent enrollment hbcus compared 15 percent 1976 white students account nonblack hbcu student population schools howard increasingly attract international interest two dozen students nepal joined howards freshman class 2014 largest delegation country year myth 3 hbcus inferior hbcu us news amp world reports list top 100 national universities one spelman ranked among 100 best liberal arts colleges hbcus also relatively low graduation rate 30 percent compared african american college students nationwide 42 percent according 2015 new america report advertisement nearly 73 percent hbcu students qualify pell grants many cases coming lowincome households high cost college added barrier completion hbcus see mission serving population many firstgeneration college students otherwise might attend schools represent 3 percent postsecondary institutions produce 20 percent african american graduates 25 percent stem fields according united negro college fund 2015 gallup report measured five elements wellbeing social purpose financial community physical found black hbcu grads thriving greater degree categories black counterparts attended institutions gap largest financial wellbeing black hbcu grads also likely tell gallup strongly agreed colleges prepared life graduation 55 percent black graduates institutions 29 percent 2013 national science foundation report said top 50 baccalaureateorigin institutions black science engineering ph recipients 21 hbcus 2015 new york times looked new orleanss xavier college 3000 students consistently produces black students apply graduate medical school institution country myth 4 students fleeing hbcus african american students 2015 feature newsweeks alexander nazaryan wrote colleges without students well airlines without passengers black students snub hbcus hbcus face first true existential crisis collective history year forbes ran article enumerating enrollment declines several hbcus concluding african american students voting feet go schools think fit needs better indeed hbcus seen declining enrollment writing washington post last year dillard university president walter kimbrough pointed uptick enrollment number hbcus called missouri effect social consciousness emblematic renewed campus activism last couple years freshman enrollment 49 percent shaw university 39 percent south carolina state 32 percent tuskegee university 30 percent virginia state university 22 percent dillard university 22 percent central state university 20 percent florida memorial university 19 percent delaware state university dillard philander smith college overall enrollment 29 percent south carolina state university rely overflow housing accommodate influx students wrote everything happening police brutality black lives matter student alversia wade told pbs newshour pushed want environment could talk students things myth 5 obama antihbcu president barack obamas first budget called 73 million cut funding hbcus next year money restored 2011 administration tightened loan standards resulting 36 percent reduction federal plus loans available hbcu parents causing number students unexpectedly interrupt college educations new rules disproportionately affected schools served high share disadvantaged students post analysis found move translated annual cut 150 million hbcus obama administration acknowledged unintended impact took steps adjust loan rules black observers shocked economist julianne malveaux former president historically black bennett college put last year never thought conservative white man put money hbcus progressive black man would take post oped 2016 johnny c taylor jr president thurgood marshall college fund asked black colleges matter obama morehouse president john silvanus wilson jr former director obamas initiative hbcus told inside higher ed last year fact president obama took office total annual federal funding hbcus 4 billion first term figure climbed nearly 52 billion largely based intentional boost federal grants loans hbcu students day hbcus getting nearly 1 billion per year getting obama took office behavior leader thinks institutions matter carswell lecturer howard university school communications former deputy managing editor washington post
| 792 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p>Sinforiano Armenta, mayor of Tepetongo, Mexico, seen here on Nov. 21, says deportation relief for immigrants in the United States will help his town. (Joshua Partlow/Washington Post)</p>
<p>TEPETONGO, Mexico – To Sinforiano Armenta, the mayor of a disappearing Mexican town set on sweeping plains of cactus and brush, President Barack Obama’s immigration plan means paved roads.</p>
<p>It means drainage systems, covered basketball courts, clinics, and a welcome-arch to greet visitors to his town of 7,000 people, which has lost three-quarters of its population since the 1970s. Just this year, the diaspora from this town in the northern state of Zacatecas has sent home $80,000 to put toward such projects. And the way Armenta sees it, if those people have legal documents, better jobs and higher incomes, they will send back even more.</p>
<p>“This will help our families have a better quality of life,” he said.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Political leaders in Mexico and Central America, which account for most of the undocumented immigrants in the United States, have praised Obama’s unilateral push to defer the deportation of millions of people. Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto hailed the plan as the “most important measures taken in several decades.” Among undocumented immigrants, reactions are more mixed. The experience of tiny Tepetongo shows some of the reasons why.</p>
<p>Quiet desolation</p>
<p>The town has a quiet, desolate feeling – empty chairs in its restaurants, houses locked and abandoned. Armenta is a family doctor whose office is across the street from city hall. He was named mayor after his predecessor shot himself. Armenta tries to stay positive, but he knows it’s a losing battle to get residents to stay.</p>
<p>“People had to emigrate. They could not provide education or basic needs for their children here. There were no jobs,” he said.</p>
<p>Those who come back often do so against their will, as deportees or, as they call them here, the “repatriated.” Last year, Armenta welcomed back 35 of them. Each one is offered a government stipend of about $1,000 to ease their transition: to buy a cow, or open a tortilla shop, learn carpentry or rent farm tools.</p>
<p>The amount of money Zacatecans living in the United States have sent home reached $671.4 million last year, up from $402.4 million in 2003.</p>
<p>Armenta wants to use that cash to make Tepetongo a livable place.</p>
<p>“People need to have something here so they don’t have to return to the United States,” he said.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>“The streets are prettier now,” Arnulfo Rosales said, looking out at the paved main road from the lobby of the police station where he works as a receptionist. “When I left, it was just rocks.”</p>
<p>Rosales was 23 years old in 1996, when he took off for San Francisco.</p>
<p>“We were really poor. My mom didn’t have a house,” he said. “We went to improve our lives. Here, there aren’t jobs. The salaries don’t cover your needs.”</p>
<p>For more than 15 years, he worked at a Denny’s in Richmond, Calif., as a dishwasher, busboy and cook while his wife waited tables. He registered his Nissan Sentra in his brother-in-law’s name, and another relative signed for the loan for their house.</p>
<p>He envied his colleagues who were legal residents, who would get $7,000 or $8,000 back on their tax returns. He said he got only about $1,500 – because of the one American citizen in his family, his son Luis.</p>
<p>“I was reading about Obama’s law yesterday. It seems good to me,” Rosales said. “But it’s not like they’re going to give you a green card or benefits.”</p>
<p>He noted that the president’s plan would provide protection from deportation to illegal immigrants whose children were U.S. citizens. “That’s the only thing that’s going to change: You can walk around without fear. That’s good, at least.”</p>
<p>Juan Antonio Garcia, seen Nov. 21, 2014, has been living alone in his mother’s home in Tepetongo, Mexico and working occasionally as a cowboy since he was deported from the United States. His parents, wife and children remain in California. (Joshua Partlow/Washington Post)</p>
<p>Separated families</p>
<p>Rosales returned by bus to Tepetongo in June of his own accord, because he became depressed after his divorce. He had not been home in 18 years. “No visits,” he said. “It’s too many years not to see your parents. I didn’t want them to die before I could see them.”</p>
<p>Many Mexicans hope that immigration reforms will alleviate such separations. Residents in Tepetongo say their undocumented relatives in America pay as much as $10,000 to smugglers to enable them to come back for visits.</p>
<p>For Juan Antonio Garcia, it was 28 years. He left behind his whole life in Los Angeles. He owned two houses. He ran a car-repair shop in the backyard. His wife is an American citizen, as are his three children. His eldest son serves in the U.S. military.</p>
<p>But police found him raising fighting cocks in his yard and discovered a bag of cocaine in one of the cars in his shop. (He says it was not his). So after a $5,000 fine and 18 months in prison, he was deported back to Mexico in February.</p>
<p>“It’s been horrible,” he said. “I’m alone here.”</p>
<p>Garcia, one of the 4,257 Zacatecans deported this year, now lives in his mother’s one-story concrete home on a rise above a lake. There isn’t much furniture inside. His parents reside in Los Angeles.</p>
<p>To pass the time, he painted the walls of the house blue. To earn a few pesos, he does ranch work as a cowboy, riding horses in leather chaps and spurs. But his wife and son send him money because he can’t get by on the pay. “The money doesn’t last,” he said.</p>
<p>When Garcia heard Obama’s announcement, he was doubtful at first. He had been deported so many times that immigration officials had told him that he’d have to stay in Mexico for 20 years before he could apply to return.</p>
<p>“Twenty years is too much,” he said. “I have a family there. Here, there’s nothing.</p>
<p>“I feel like I’m a good father. My kids are not involved in gangs, drugs. They do well in school.”</p>
<p>He sat at the kitchen table in his mother’s silent house twisting his wedding ring.</p>
<p>If the Obama measure is what it claims, he said, he might have a good shot at residing again in the United States, with four American citizens in his family, including one U.S. soldier. He just needs to get back to Los Angeles.</p>
<p>“I really do hope it’s real.”</p>
<p>Washington Post correspondent Gabriela Martinez in Mexico City contributed to this report.</p>
<p />
| false | 2 |
sinforiano armenta mayor tepetongo mexico seen nov 21 says deportation relief immigrants united states help town joshua partlowwashington post tepetongo mexico sinforiano armenta mayor disappearing mexican town set sweeping plains cactus brush president barack obamas immigration plan means paved roads means drainage systems covered basketball courts clinics welcomearch greet visitors town 7000 people lost threequarters population since 1970s year diaspora town northern state zacatecas sent home 80000 put toward projects way armenta sees people legal documents better jobs higher incomes send back even help families better quality life said advertisement political leaders mexico central america account undocumented immigrants united states praised obamas unilateral push defer deportation millions people mexican president enrique peña nieto hailed plan important measures taken several decades among undocumented immigrants reactions mixed experience tiny tepetongo shows reasons quiet desolation town quiet desolate feeling empty chairs restaurants houses locked abandoned armenta family doctor whose office across street city hall named mayor predecessor shot armenta tries stay positive knows losing battle get residents stay people emigrate could provide education basic needs children jobs said come back often deportees call repatriated last year armenta welcomed back 35 one offered government stipend 1000 ease transition buy cow open tortilla shop learn carpentry rent farm tools amount money zacatecans living united states sent home reached 6714 million last year 4024 million 2003 armenta wants use cash make tepetongo livable place people need something dont return united states said advertisement streets prettier arnulfo rosales said looking paved main road lobby police station works receptionist left rocks rosales 23 years old 1996 took san francisco really poor mom didnt house said went improve lives arent jobs salaries dont cover needs 15 years worked dennys richmond calif dishwasher busboy cook wife waited tables registered nissan sentra brotherinlaws name another relative signed loan house envied colleagues legal residents would get 7000 8000 back tax returns said got 1500 one american citizen family son luis reading obamas law yesterday seems good rosales said like theyre going give green card benefits noted presidents plan would provide protection deportation illegal immigrants whose children us citizens thats thing thats going change walk around without fear thats good least juan antonio garcia seen nov 21 2014 living alone mothers home tepetongo mexico working occasionally cowboy since deported united states parents wife children remain california joshua partlowwashington post separated families rosales returned bus tepetongo june accord became depressed divorce home 18 years visits said many years see parents didnt want die could see many mexicans hope immigration reforms alleviate separations residents tepetongo say undocumented relatives america pay much 10000 smugglers enable come back visits juan antonio garcia 28 years left behind whole life los angeles owned two houses ran carrepair shop backyard wife american citizen three children eldest son serves us military police found raising fighting cocks yard discovered bag cocaine one cars shop says 5000 fine 18 months prison deported back mexico february horrible said im alone garcia one 4257 zacatecans deported year lives mothers onestory concrete home rise lake isnt much furniture inside parents reside los angeles pass time painted walls house blue earn pesos ranch work cowboy riding horses leather chaps spurs wife son send money cant get pay money doesnt last said garcia heard obamas announcement doubtful first deported many times immigration officials told hed stay mexico 20 years could apply return twenty years much said family theres nothing feel like im good father kids involved gangs drugs well school sat kitchen table mothers silent house twisting wedding ring obama measure claims said might good shot residing united states four american citizens family including one us soldier needs get back los angeles really hope real washington post correspondent gabriela martinez mexico city contributed report
| 616 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>Tillerson’s remarks Tuesday came two weeks after North Korea conducted a test with a missile that could potentially carry a nuclear warhead to the U.S. Eastern Seaboard — a milestone in its decades-long drive to pose an atomic threat to its American adversary that Trump has vowed to prevent, using military force if necessary.</p>
<p>“We are ready to talk anytime North Korea would like to talk. And we are ready to have the first meeting without preconditions,” Tillerson said at the Atlantic Council think tank.</p>
<p>He said that the North would need to hold off on its weapons testing. This year, the North has conducted more than 20 ballistic missile launches and one nuclear test explosion, its most powerful yet.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>“Let’s just meet and we can talk about the weather if you want to. We can talk about whether it’s a square table or a round table if that’s what you are excited about,” Tillerson said. “But can we at least sit down and see each other face to face and then we can begin to lay out a map, a road map, of what we might be willing to work towards.”</p>
<p>Although Tillerson said the goal of U.S. policy remained denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, he added it was “not realistic to say we’re only going to talk if you come to the table ready to give up your program. They’ve too much invested in it. The president is very realistic about that as well.”</p>
<p>Baik Tae-hyun, spokesman of Seoul’s Unification Ministry, said of Tillerson’s comments that Seoul wishes for talks to “happen soon” if they contribute to the goal of finding a peaceful solution for the North Korean nuclear problem.</p>
<p>He said Washington and Seoul both maintain a firm stance that North Korea’s nuclear weapons cannot be tolerated and should be completely discarded in a peaceful way.</p>
<p>White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement later Tuesday that: “The President’s views on North Korea have not changed.”</p>
<p>“North Korea is acting in an unsafe way not only toward Japan, China, and South Korea, but the entire world. North Korea’s actions are not good for anyone and certainly not good for North Korea,” she said.</p>
<p>In public, Trump has been less sanguine about the possibilities of diplomacy with Kim Jong Un’s authoritarian government, which faces growing international isolation and sanctions as it pursues nuclear weapons in defiance of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions. In October, Trump appeared to undercut Tillerson when he said he was “wasting his time” trying to negotiate with North Korea, just as Tillerson said the U.S. had backchannel communications with the North.</p>
<p>Trump, who has traded insults with Kim, kept up his tough talk on Tuesday. As he signed a $700 billion defense authorization bill that includes additional spending on missile defense, he referred to North Korea as a “vile dictatorship.”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>“We’re working very diligently on that — building up forces. We’ll see how it all turns out. It’s a very bad situation — a situation that should have been handled long ago by other administrations,” Trump said.</p>
<p>Tillerson did not indicate that North Korea had signaled a new readiness to talk, but said that “they clearly understand that if we’re going to talk, we’ve got to have a period of quiet” in weapons tests.</p>
<p>Tillerson stressed that the U.S. would not accept a nuclear-armed North Korea, as it flouts international norms and might spread weapons technology to non-state groups in ways that other nuclear powers have not.</p>
<p>In a rare admission of discussion of a highly sensitive topic, Tillerson said Washington has discussed with Beijing how North Korea’s nuclear weapons might be secured in case of instability there.</p>
<p>“The most important thing to us would be securing those nuclear weapons that they have already developed and ensuring that nothing falls into the hands of people who we would not want to have it. We’ve had conversations with the Chinese about how that might be done,” Tillerson said.</p>
<p>It appeared to be the first public recognition from an administration official that the U.S. has discussed North Korean contingencies with China, which fought with the North against the U.S. in the 1950-53 Korean War. The Trump administration has held a series of high-level dialogues with Beijing this year, and U.S. and Chinese generals held rare talks in late November about how the two militaries might communicate in a crisis although U.S. officials said the dialogue wasn’t centered on North Korea.</p>
<p>Tillerson said that the U.S. has assured China that in the event that American troops had to cross northward of the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, it would retreat back south once stability returned.</p>
<p>“That is our commitment we made to them. Our only objective is to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, and that is all,” Tillerson said.</p>
<p>Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, said Tillerson’s proposal for direct talks with North Korea without preconditions was overdue and a welcome shift in position, but both sides needed to demonstrate restraint.</p>
<p>“For North Korea that means a halt to all nuclear and ballistic missile tests, and for the United States, refraining from military maneuvers and overflights that appear to be practice runs for an attack on the North,” Kimball said. “If such restraint is not forthcoming, we can expect a further escalation of tensions and a growing risk of a catastrophic war.”</p>
<p>Last week, the United States flew a B-1B supersonic bomber over South Korea as part of a massive combined aerial exercise involving more than 200 warplanes. North Korea says such drills are preparations for invasion.</p>
| false | 2 |
tillersons remarks tuesday came two weeks north korea conducted test missile could potentially carry nuclear warhead us eastern seaboard milestone decadeslong drive pose atomic threat american adversary trump vowed prevent using military force necessary ready talk anytime north korea would like talk ready first meeting without preconditions tillerson said atlantic council think tank said north would need hold weapons testing year north conducted 20 ballistic missile launches one nuclear test explosion powerful yet advertisement lets meet talk weather want talk whether square table round table thats excited tillerson said least sit see face face begin lay map road map might willing work towards although tillerson said goal us policy remained denuclearization korean peninsula added realistic say going talk come table ready give program theyve much invested president realistic well baik taehyun spokesman seouls unification ministry said tillersons comments seoul wishes talks happen soon contribute goal finding peaceful solution north korean nuclear problem said washington seoul maintain firm stance north koreas nuclear weapons tolerated completely discarded peaceful way white house spokeswoman sarah huckabee sanders said statement later tuesday presidents views north korea changed north korea acting unsafe way toward japan china south korea entire world north koreas actions good anyone certainly good north korea said public trump less sanguine possibilities diplomacy kim jong uns authoritarian government faces growing international isolation sanctions pursues nuclear weapons defiance multiple un security council resolutions october trump appeared undercut tillerson said wasting time trying negotiate north korea tillerson said us backchannel communications north trump traded insults kim kept tough talk tuesday signed 700 billion defense authorization bill includes additional spending missile defense referred north korea vile dictatorship advertisement working diligently building forces well see turns bad situation situation handled long ago administrations trump said tillerson indicate north korea signaled new readiness talk said clearly understand going talk weve got period quiet weapons tests tillerson stressed us would accept nucleararmed north korea flouts international norms might spread weapons technology nonstate groups ways nuclear powers rare admission discussion highly sensitive topic tillerson said washington discussed beijing north koreas nuclear weapons might secured case instability important thing us would securing nuclear weapons already developed ensuring nothing falls hands people would want weve conversations chinese might done tillerson said appeared first public recognition administration official us discussed north korean contingencies china fought north us 195053 korean war trump administration held series highlevel dialogues beijing year us chinese generals held rare talks late november two militaries might communicate crisis although us officials said dialogue wasnt centered north korea tillerson said us assured china event american troops cross northward demilitarized zone separating two koreas would retreat back south stability returned commitment made objective denuclearize korean peninsula tillerson said daryl kimball executive director arms control association said tillersons proposal direct talks north korea without preconditions overdue welcome shift position sides needed demonstrate restraint north korea means halt nuclear ballistic missile tests united states refraining military maneuvers overflights appear practice runs attack north kimball said restraint forthcoming expect escalation tensions growing risk catastrophic war last week united states flew b1b supersonic bomber south korea part massive combined aerial exercise involving 200 warplanes north korea says drills preparations invasion
| 524 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>The Roth TSP choice only became available in May 2012. TSP account balances so far average only $2,500 for all uniformed personnel. But the military participation rate in Roth TSP tells the tale. While uniformed personnel have 15 percent of all TSP accounts, they are 46 percent of Roth TSP participants. It’s a trend advocates for adding the Roth option forecast.</p>
<p>“When we were preparing to launch the Roth TSP option, we anticipated it would be particularly attractive to our military participants,” said Kim Weaver, spokesperson for the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, which administers TSP for federal civilian workers and the military.</p>
<p>Service members “generally are lower paid and so don’t benefit as greatly from a traditional pre-tax/tax-deferred option. But allowing them to contribute after-tax dollars that can grow for decades, and that can accept tax-exempt combat pay, is very attractive to military participants.”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Unlike a traditional TSP that builds on using pre-tax contributions, Roth TSP contributions come from post-tax earnings. Those savings and any gains generated across a variety of TSP investment options will not be taxed when withdrawn in retirement.</p>
<p>A Roth TSP is especially attractive “for more junior members because their tax liability is low in the first place,” said Jeri Busch, director of military compensation policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. “If they put it in post-tax, they get to take it out no-tax. The advantage is there if you expect your tax bracket will be higher when you retire than it is currently.”</p>
<p>About a third of regular military compensation is tax-exempt allowances. And when taxable pay become fully tax-exempt in a combat area “the tax benefit of the Roth is tremendous,” added Steve Galing, deputy director of military compensation. Busch agreed.</p>
<p>“If they are in a combat zone tax-relief area, sometimes referred to as a combat zone tax-exclusion area … they can contribute to a Roth, without tax, going in, and then later take it out, without tax, coming out,” she said.</p>
<p>The old adage that service members who leave short of 20 years do so with no retirement benefits remains technically true. But many of these same members depart today with retirement savings, thanks to TSP. In April, the average TSP account balance for military participants was $17,400.</p>
<p>Congress first established TSP for federal civilians so they would have the same type of retirement savings and tax benefits that many private corporations were offering to employees through 401(k) plans. TSP with matching government contributions became a critical leg of the retirement reform package designed for federal civilians hired after Jan. 1, 1984.</p>
<p>The uniformed services, including the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, were invited to open TSP accounts starting in January 2002. TSP doesn’t alter in any way a robust military retirement plan so service member participants get no government matching to incentivize their contributions.</p>
<p>Even so, military participation rates have climbed steadily for both active and reserve components. Last month, 583,000 active duty service members, or 41.5 percent of the force, made TSP contributions. About 134,000 active duty members were contributing to a Roth TSP.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The Navy has led all services in touting TSP to recruits and has the highest participation rate by far, at 61.4 percent. Air Force is second at 40.1 percent, followed by Coast Guard at 39.7, Marine Corps at 35.8 and Army at 31.8. About 70 percent of PHS and NOAA officers have TSP accounts.</p>
<p>Almost 16 percent of Reserve and Guard personnel also participate. Air Force leads with 22 percent of its reserve component members making contributions. The Marine Corps Reserve trails all branches at 7 percent.</p>
<p>Members who don’t open TSP accounts might not understand how it can be a valuable lifetime savings tool. After leaving service, veterans and military retirees can’t continue to make tax-deferred contributions unless they become federal civilian employees. However, they can roll private-sector 401(k) accounts into TSP, where fees are quite low, as they move between civilian jobs. Individual Retirement Accounts can be transferred into TSP at any time. TSP loans against account balances offer attractive rates.</p>
<p>TSP administrators, from time to time, have pointed out to Defense officials the disparity of participation across services.</p>
<p>“The rates do seem to reflect the emphasis that the various branches have put on educating their service members,” said Weaver.</p>
<p>In 2009 Congress changed the TSP law to automatically enroll federal civilians who fall under the Federal Employees’ Retirement System. The thrift investment board proposed auto-enrollment for military members too, but the Department of Defense opposed the move, Weaver said.</p>
<p>“The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board still strongly supports auto enrollment of members of the uniformed services,” Weaver said.</p>
<p>Busch said the Department of Defense is pleased with the level of military participation. It views TSP as a valuable, long-term savings vehicle for members but it is not part of their direct compensation, Busch said. Surveys of military personnel show that more than 90 percent know about traditional TSP and about half of all members know about the Roth option.</p>
<p>There are limits on TSP contributions. For 2014, it is $17,500 combined traditional and Roth. For the military, the limit applies to contributions of basic pay, incentive pays, special pays or bonuses. The limit for traditional TSP contributions in combat areas, however, is $52,000, though Roth contributions in combat areas remain capped at $17,500. (See <a href="http://www.tsp.gov" type="external">www.tsp.gov</a> for more details.)</p>
<p>Given the tax advantages and the convenience of saving and investing using payroll deductions, Busch said, “I would suggest to any individual they ought to consider” TSP. “It’s in their best interests no matter who they are.”</p>
<p>To comment, write Military Update, P.O. Box 231111, Centreville, VA, 20120-1111; email <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>; or Twitter to @Military_Update.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p />
| false | 2 |
roth tsp choice became available may 2012 tsp account balances far average 2500 uniformed personnel military participation rate roth tsp tells tale uniformed personnel 15 percent tsp accounts 46 percent roth tsp participants trend advocates adding roth option forecast preparing launch roth tsp option anticipated would particularly attractive military participants said kim weaver spokesperson federal retirement thrift investment board administers tsp federal civilian workers military service members generally lower paid dont benefit greatly traditional pretaxtaxdeferred option allowing contribute aftertax dollars grow decades accept taxexempt combat pay attractive military participants advertisement unlike traditional tsp builds using pretax contributions roth tsp contributions come posttax earnings savings gains generated across variety tsp investment options taxed withdrawn retirement roth tsp especially attractive junior members tax liability low first place said jeri busch director military compensation policy office secretary defense put posttax get take notax advantage expect tax bracket higher retire currently third regular military compensation taxexempt allowances taxable pay become fully taxexempt combat area tax benefit roth tremendous added steve galing deputy director military compensation busch agreed combat zone taxrelief area sometimes referred combat zone taxexclusion area contribute roth without tax going later take without tax coming said old adage service members leave short 20 years retirement benefits remains technically true many members depart today retirement savings thanks tsp april average tsp account balance military participants 17400 congress first established tsp federal civilians would type retirement savings tax benefits many private corporations offering employees 401k plans tsp matching government contributions became critical leg retirement reform package designed federal civilians hired jan 1 1984 uniformed services including public health service national oceanic atmospheric administration invited open tsp accounts starting january 2002 tsp doesnt alter way robust military retirement plan service member participants get government matching incentivize contributions even military participation rates climbed steadily active reserve components last month 583000 active duty service members 415 percent force made tsp contributions 134000 active duty members contributing roth tsp advertisement navy led services touting tsp recruits highest participation rate far 614 percent air force second 401 percent followed coast guard 397 marine corps 358 army 318 70 percent phs noaa officers tsp accounts almost 16 percent reserve guard personnel also participate air force leads 22 percent reserve component members making contributions marine corps reserve trails branches 7 percent members dont open tsp accounts might understand valuable lifetime savings tool leaving service veterans military retirees cant continue make taxdeferred contributions unless become federal civilian employees however roll privatesector 401k accounts tsp fees quite low move civilian jobs individual retirement accounts transferred tsp time tsp loans account balances offer attractive rates tsp administrators time time pointed defense officials disparity participation across services rates seem reflect emphasis various branches put educating service members said weaver 2009 congress changed tsp law automatically enroll federal civilians fall federal employees retirement system thrift investment board proposed autoenrollment military members department defense opposed move weaver said federal retirement thrift investment board still strongly supports auto enrollment members uniformed services weaver said busch said department defense pleased level military participation views tsp valuable longterm savings vehicle members part direct compensation busch said surveys military personnel show 90 percent know traditional tsp half members know roth option limits tsp contributions 2014 17500 combined traditional roth military limit applies contributions basic pay incentive pays special pays bonuses limit traditional tsp contributions combat areas however 52000 though roth contributions combat areas remain capped 17500 see wwwtspgov details given tax advantages convenience saving investing using payroll deductions busch said would suggest individual ought consider tsp best interests matter comment write military update po box 231111 centreville va 201201111 email milupdateaolcom twitter military_update 160
| 603 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>During more than an hour of oral arguments Monday, the high court's conservative justices seemed likely to side with a group of California teachers who say those mandatory fees violate the free-speech rights of workers who disagree with a union's positions.</p>
<p>Labor officials fear unions' very existence could be threatened if workers are allowed to get all the benefits of representation without at least paying fees to cover the costs of collective bargaining. The case affects more than 5 million workers in 23 states and Washington, D.C.</p>
<p>But Justice Anthony Kennedy rejected arguments by lawyers for the state of California and the California Teachers Association that the current fee system is needed to prevent non-members from becoming "free riders" - workers who reap the rewards of union bargaining and grievance procedures without paying for it.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>"The union basically is making these teachers compelled riders for issues on which they strongly disagree," Kennedy said, noting the political nature of bargaining issues like teacher salaries, merit promotions and class size.</p>
<p>Even Justice Antonin Scalia, who in the past has expressed some sympathy for the free-rider argument, said all the items negotiated in a collective bargaining agreement "are necessarily political questions."</p>
<p>Arguing in support of the union, California Solicitor General Edward DuMont said the state needs a reliable bargaining partner that is funded by all the workers it represents. He said the fees for collective bargaining typically apply to non-political issues such as mileage reimbursement, working hours and other mundane matters.</p>
<p>Chief Justice John Roberts dismissed that reasoning, saying even routine matters can become politically charged if they involve how the state spends money. "That's always a public policy issue," Roberts said.</p>
<p>The group of 10 teachers that filed the challenge wants the high court to overturn a 1977 case that allows public unions to collect money from members and non-members alike, as long as the funds aren't spent for political action. The court in that case, Abood v. Detroit Board of Education, said the arrangement was justified to prevent non-members from becoming free riders.</p>
<p>The challengers argue that public-sector unions have become more political over time. They say even a push for higher salaries and pension benefits raises political questions about the best use of tax dollars for cash-strapped localities.</p>
<p>A federal district court ruled against the teachers, saying the outcome was clear under Abood. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed.</p>
<p>Half the states already have right-to-work laws banning mandatory fees, but about 80 percent of workers represented by public-employee unions are in states that don't, including California, New York and Illinois.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Union advocates say the lawsuit is part of a conservative agenda to weaken unions, which are known for reliably supporting Democratic candidates and policies. The challengers are backed by the conservative Center for Individual Rights.</p>
<p>Arguing for the group of teachers, Michael Carvin said mandatory fees serve to "inflate the union's war chest by people who really have not made a voluntary decision to do so."</p>
<p>Some justices were more sympathetic to the unions. Elena Kagan warned that the challengers "come here with a heavy burden" to overturn a nearly 40-year-old case on which thousands of contracts and millions of employees rely.</p>
<p>Justice Stephen Breyer said overturning Abood would require the court to overrule several related cases in which the high court has approved mandatory payments by lawyers to bar associations and mandatory student fees at public universities, calling that "quite a big deal."</p>
<p>But Carvin said Abood's rationale is inconsistent with other free-speech cases, noting that the court twice in recent years has issued 5-4 opinions questioning the rationale of that earlier case, though it has stopped short of overruling it.</p>
<p>Arguing for the California Teachers Association, lawyer David Frederick said the First Amendment applies differently to public employees. He said the state has a strong interest in promoting efficiency and avoiding costly workplace disruptions by designating the union as workers' exclusive bargaining representative.</p>
<p>The Obama administration also weighed in to support the unions. Solicitor General Donald Verrilli told the justices that there has been no change in circumstances over the past 40 years to warrant overturning Abood.</p>
<p>For decades, the growth of union workers in government has helped compensate for steep losses in manufacturing, construction and other private industries where unions once thrived. About half of all members are now in the public sector, which has a membership rate of 36 percent. That's more than five times the private sector, at 6.6 percent.</p>
<p>Even if the court doesn't overturn settled precedent, it could still give the challengers a partial victory. The justices are also considering whether public employees should be required to "opt in" to paying the political portion of union dues. Currently, workers must "opt out" of the political fees by checking a box on a form.</p>
<p>The "opt in" requirement could lead to more workers declining to pay the political portion of union dues, though it typically is a much smaller part of the overall payment.</p>
<p>A decision in the case, Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, 14-915, is expected by late June.</p>
| false | 2 |
hour oral arguments monday high courts conservative justices seemed likely side group california teachers say mandatory fees violate freespeech rights workers disagree unions positions labor officials fear unions existence could threatened workers allowed get benefits representation without least paying fees cover costs collective bargaining case affects 5 million workers 23 states washington dc justice anthony kennedy rejected arguments lawyers state california california teachers association current fee system needed prevent nonmembers becoming free riders workers reap rewards union bargaining grievance procedures without paying advertisement union basically making teachers compelled riders issues strongly disagree kennedy said noting political nature bargaining issues like teacher salaries merit promotions class size even justice antonin scalia past expressed sympathy freerider argument said items negotiated collective bargaining agreement necessarily political questions arguing support union california solicitor general edward dumont said state needs reliable bargaining partner funded workers represents said fees collective bargaining typically apply nonpolitical issues mileage reimbursement working hours mundane matters chief justice john roberts dismissed reasoning saying even routine matters become politically charged involve state spends money thats always public policy issue roberts said group 10 teachers filed challenge wants high court overturn 1977 case allows public unions collect money members nonmembers alike long funds arent spent political action court case abood v detroit board education said arrangement justified prevent nonmembers becoming free riders challengers argue publicsector unions become political time say even push higher salaries pension benefits raises political questions best use tax dollars cashstrapped localities federal district court ruled teachers saying outcome clear abood 9th us circuit court appeals affirmed half states already righttowork laws banning mandatory fees 80 percent workers represented publicemployee unions states dont including california new york illinois advertisement union advocates say lawsuit part conservative agenda weaken unions known reliably supporting democratic candidates policies challengers backed conservative center individual rights arguing group teachers michael carvin said mandatory fees serve inflate unions war chest people really made voluntary decision justices sympathetic unions elena kagan warned challengers come heavy burden overturn nearly 40yearold case thousands contracts millions employees rely justice stephen breyer said overturning abood would require court overrule several related cases high court approved mandatory payments lawyers bar associations mandatory student fees public universities calling quite big deal carvin said aboods rationale inconsistent freespeech cases noting court twice recent years issued 54 opinions questioning rationale earlier case though stopped short overruling arguing california teachers association lawyer david frederick said first amendment applies differently public employees said state strong interest promoting efficiency avoiding costly workplace disruptions designating union workers exclusive bargaining representative obama administration also weighed support unions solicitor general donald verrilli told justices change circumstances past 40 years warrant overturning abood decades growth union workers government helped compensate steep losses manufacturing construction private industries unions thrived half members public sector membership rate 36 percent thats five times private sector 66 percent even court doesnt overturn settled precedent could still give challengers partial victory justices also considering whether public employees required opt paying political portion union dues currently workers must opt political fees checking box form opt requirement could lead workers declining pay political portion union dues though typically much smaller part overall payment decision case friedrichs v california teachers association 14915 expected late june
| 533 |
<p>Jan 22 (Reuters) - Liberty Media Corp:</p>
<p>* SAYS‍ NOW EXPECTING A MID- TO HIGH-SINGLE-DIGIT EFFECTIVE CASH TAX RATE ON U.K. EBITDA FOR ITS FORMULA 1 BUSINESS - SEC FILING​</p>
<p>* SAYS FORMULA 1 REVENUE FOR YEAR ENDED DEC 31, 2017 IS EXPECTED TO BE DOWN ABOUT 1% AS COMPARED TO THE PRIOR YEAR PERIOD.‍ Source text: ( <a href="http://bit.ly/2mZtYpn" type="external">bit.ly/2mZtYpn</a>) Further company coverage:</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal judge ruled that women accusing Goldman Sachs Group Inc of discriminating against them in pay, promotions and performance reviews may pursue their claims as a group in a class-action lawsuit.</p> FILE PHOTO: The logo of Goldman Sachs is displayed in their office located in Sydney, Australia, May 18, 2016. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo
<p>The decision late Friday afternoon by U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres in Manhattan covers female associates and vice presidents who have worked in Goldman’s investment banking, investment management and securities divisions since September 2004, and employees in New York City since July 2002.</p>
<p>Goldman was accused of systematically paying women less than men, and giving them weaker performance reviews that impeded their career growth.</p>
<p>Class certification can help plaintiffs achieve greater awards at lower costs than if they sued individually. Kelly Dermody, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, estimated that more than 2,000 people are in the certified class.</p>
<p>Goldman had no immediate comment.</p>
<p>The lawsuit is one of the highest-profile cases targeting Wall Street’s alleged unequal treatment of women, a claim raised in a variety of litigation against many banks for decades.</p>
<p>In her 49-page decision, Torres said the plaintiffs provided “significant proof of discriminatory disparate treatment” at Goldman.</p>
<p>She cited as an example an expert’s report that female vice presidents and associates were on average paid a respective 21 percent and 8 percent less than their male counterparts.</p>
<p>The judge also said the plaintiffs provided proof that Goldman was “aware of gender disparities and gender bias,” but did not adjust its policies.</p>
<p>“We obviously are very, very pleased,” Dermody said in a phone interview. “This case is eight years old, and sometimes it’s worth the wait.”</p>
<p>The plaintiffs were led by Cristina Chen-Oster, Mary De Luis and Allison Gamba, who were all vice presidents, and Shanna Orlich, who was an associate.</p>
<p>Torres said the class action will not include the claim that Goldman maintained a “boys’ club atmosphere” where women were allegedly subjected to unwanted stereotyping, harassment and retaliation.</p>
<p>She said this was because “individual” rather than “common” issues would predominate.</p>
<p>The lawsuit began in September 2010, and according to Torres was delayed largely by a dispute over the kind of relief that former employees could obtain.</p>
<p>The case is Chen-Oster et al v. Goldman Sachs &amp; Co et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 10-06950.</p>
<p>Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Susan Thomas</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>GAZA-ISRAEL BORDER (Reuters) - At least 16 Palestinians were killed and hundreds injured on Friday by Israeli security forces confronting one of the largest Palestinian demonstrations along the Israel-Gaza border in recent years, Gaza medical officials said.</p>
<p>Tens of thousands of Palestinians, pressing for a right of return for refugees to what is now Israel, gathered along the fenced 65-km (40-mile) frontier where tents were erected for a planned six-week protest, local officials said. The Israeli military estimate was 30,000.</p>
<p>The United Nations Security Council was briefed on the violence in Gaza on Friday at the request of Kuwait. Palestinian U.N. envoy Riyad Mansour told the council at least 17 Palestinian civilians were killed and more than 1,400 injured.</p>
<p>Families brought their children to the encampments just a few hundred meters (yards) from the Israeli security barrier with the Hamas Islamist-run enclave, and football fields were marked in the sand and scout bands played.</p>
<p>But as the day wore on, hundreds of Palestinian youths ignored calls from the organizers and the Israeli military to stay away from the frontier, where Israeli soldiers across the border kept watch from dirt mound embankments.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-israel-palestinians-un-guterres/u-n-chief-calls-for-independent-investigation-into-gaza-deaths-idUSKBN1H700W" type="external">U.N. chief calls for independent investigation into Gaza deaths</a>
<a href="/article/us-israel-palestinians-un/u-n-fears-gaza-situation-might-deteriorate-in-coming-days-idUSKBN1H61SX" type="external">U.N. fears Gaza situation might deteriorate in coming days</a>
<p>The military said its troops had used live fire only against people trying to sabotage the border security fence, some of them rolling burning tyres and throwing rocks, and that at least two of the dead were Hamas operatives.</p>
<p>Palestinian health officials said Israeli forces used mostly gunfire against the protesters, in addition to tear gas and rubber bullets. Witnesses said the military had deployed a drone over at least one location to drop tear gas.</p>
<p>One of the dead was aged 16 and at least 400 people were wounded by live gunfire, while others were struck by rubber bullets or treated for tear gas inhalation, Gaza health officials said.</p>
<p>Two Palestinians were killed by tank fire, the Gaza Health Ministry said. The Israeli military said the two were militants who had opened fire at troops across the border.</p>
<p>Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in a statement that Israel was responsible for the violence and declared Saturday a national day of mourning.</p>
<p>U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an independent, transparent investigation and appealed “to those concerned to refrain from any act that could lead to further casualties and in particular any measures that could place civilians in harm’s way,” his spokesman said in a statement.</p>
<p>A senior U.N. official told the U.N. Security Council there are fears the situation in Gaza “might deteriorate in the coming days.”</p>
<p>The United States, a close Israel ally, told the council it was “deeply saddened” by the loss of life.</p>
<p>“We urge those involved to take steps to lower tensions and reduce the risk of new clashes. Bad actors who use protests as a cover to incite violence endanger innocent lives,” U.S. diplomat Walter said.</p> RIGHT OF RETURN
<p>The protest presented a rare show of unity among rival Palestinian factions in the impoverished Gaza Strip, where pressure has been building on Hamas and Abbas’s Fatah movement to end a decade-old rift. Reconciliation efforts to end the feud have been faltering for months.</p>
<p>The demonstration was launched on “Land Day,” an annual commemoration of the deaths of six Arab citizens of Israel killed by Israeli security forces during demonstrations over government land confiscations in northern Israel in 1976.</p>
<p>But its main focus was a demand that Palestinian refugees be allowed the right of return to towns and villages which their families fled from, or were driven out of, when the state of Israel was created in 1948.</p> A Palestinian runs during clashes with Israeli troops, during a tent city protest along the Israel border with Gaza, demanding the right to return to their homeland, the southern Gaza Strip March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
<p>In a statement, the Israeli military accused Hamas of “cynically exploiting women and children, sending them to the security fence and endangering their lives”.</p>
<p>The military said that more than 100 army sharpshooters had been deployed in the area.</p>
<p>Hamas, which seeks Israel’s destruction, had earlier urged protesters to adhere to the “peaceful nature” of the protest.</p>
<p>Israel has long ruled out any right of return, fearing an influx of Arabs that would wipe out its Jewish majority. It argues that refugees should resettle in a future state the Palestinians seek in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza. Peace talks to that end collapsed in 2014.</p>
<p>There were also small protests in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and about 65 Palestinians were injured.</p> Slideshow (24 Images)
<p>In Gaza, the protest was dubbed “The March of Return” and some of the tents bore names of the refugees’ original villages in what is now Israel, written in Arabic and Hebrew alike.</p>
<p>Citing security concerns, Israel, which withdrew troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005, blockades the coastal territory, maintaining tight restrictions on the movement of Palestinians and goods across the frontier. Egypt, battling an Islamist insurgency in neighboring Sinai, keeps its border with Gaza largely closed.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem; Ali Sawafta in Ramallah; Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Writing by Ori Lewis and Stephen Farrell; Editing by Larry King and Sandra Maler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - A senior United Nations official told the Security Council on Friday that the situation in Gaza “might deteriorate in the coming days” and called for civilians, particularly children, to not be targeted.</p>
<p>At least 16 Palestinians were killed and hundreds injured on Friday by Israeli security forces confronting one of the largest Palestinian demonstrations in recent years along the Israel-Gaza border, Gaza medical officials said.</p>
<p>“Israel must uphold its responsibilities under international human rights and humanitarian law. Lethal force should only be used as a last resort with any resulting fatalities properly investigated by the authorities,” U.N. deputy political affairs chief Taye-Brook Zerihoun said.</p>
<p>The council had been due to meet behind closed doors at the request of Kuwait. But after it became clear the 15-member body would be unable to agree on a statement on the situation, diplomats said Kuwait requested the meeting be held publicly.</p>
<p>U.S. diplomat Walter Miller said it was unfortunate that Israel, a close U.S. ally, could not take part in Friday’s meeting due to the Passover holiday.</p>
<p>“We are deeply saddened by the loss of life today. We urge those involved to take steps to lower tensions and reduce the risk of new clashes. Bad actors who use protests as a cover to incite violence endanger innocent lives,” Miller told the council.</p>
<p>Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Susan Thomas and Sandra Maler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - A white Louisiana police officer was fired on Friday and a second suspended for the killing of Alton Sterling, a black man shot in a 2016 incident that inflamed the U.S. debate on racial bias in law enforcement, a police official said.</p>
<p>Baton Rouge officer Blane Salamoni, who shot Sterling in a confrontation outside a convenience store, was dismissed for violating department standards on use of force and for losing his temper, Police Chief Murphy Paul told a news conference.</p>
<p>The second officer, Howie Lake, was suspended for three days for failing to maintain his composure. The decisions followed an administrative review of the July 2016 shooting, and both officers plan to appeal, Paul said.</p>
<p>The steps are designed “to bring closure to a cloud that has been over our community for far too long,” he said.</p>
<p>Sterling was among black men slain by police whose deaths sparked U.S. protests and helped fuel the Black Lives Matter movement.</p>
<p>Police released four videos of the confrontation with Sterling outside a convenience store, where he was selling CDs.</p>
<p>Paul called the footage from a police dash camera, officers’ body cameras, and a store surveillance camera “graphic and shocking to the conscience.”</p>
<p>Salamoni’s camera shows him yelling at Sterling with expletives to put his hands on a car. He points a gun at his Sterling’s head and shouts he will shoot him if he moves.</p>
<p>While struggling with Sterling, both officers’ cameras came loose. Lake’s footage ends by showing Sterling on his back in the parking lot, blood draining from his body.</p>
<p>Sterling, 37, was shot after a resident reported he had been threatened by a black man selling CDs. Police said Sterling was trying to pull a loaded gun out of his pocket when Salamoni opened fire.</p>
<p>Lawyers representing Sterling’s five children applauded Salamoni’s firing, but expressed disappointment that the officers would not face charges.</p>
<p>“The person who was out of control was Blane Salamoni,” attorney Michael Adams said at a news conference. “The person who stood by and let him be out of control was Howie Lake. That’s a tragedy.”</p>
<p>Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry said this week that Lake and Salamoni would not face charges since they had reason to believe that Sterling was armed and was resisting arrest.</p> FILE PHOTO: A boy sits next to a makeshift memorial outside the Triple S Food Mart where Alton Sterling was fatally shot by police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S. July 7, 2016. REUTERS/Jonathan Bachman/File Photo
<p>The U.S. Department of Justice declined to prosecute the officers for civil rights violations in 2017, citing insufficient evidence.</p>
<p>Reporting by Ian Simpson in Washington; Editing by Sandra Maler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
jan 22 reuters liberty media corp says expecting mid highsingledigit effective cash tax rate uk ebitda formula 1 business sec filing says formula 1 revenue year ended dec 31 2017 expected 1 compared prior year period source text bitly2mztypn company coverage standards thomson reuters trust principles new york reuters federal judge ruled women accusing goldman sachs group inc discriminating pay promotions performance reviews may pursue claims group classaction lawsuit file photo logo goldman sachs displayed office located sydney australia may 18 2016 reutersdavid grayfile photo decision late friday afternoon us district judge analisa torres manhattan covers female associates vice presidents worked goldmans investment banking investment management securities divisions since september 2004 employees new york city since july 2002 goldman accused systematically paying women less men giving weaker performance reviews impeded career growth class certification help plaintiffs achieve greater awards lower costs sued individually kelly dermody lawyer plaintiffs estimated 2000 people certified class goldman immediate comment lawsuit one highestprofile cases targeting wall streets alleged unequal treatment women claim raised variety litigation many banks decades 49page decision torres said plaintiffs provided significant proof discriminatory disparate treatment goldman cited example experts report female vice presidents associates average paid respective 21 percent 8 percent less male counterparts judge also said plaintiffs provided proof goldman aware gender disparities gender bias adjust policies obviously pleased dermody said phone interview case eight years old sometimes worth wait plaintiffs led cristina chenoster mary de luis allison gamba vice presidents shanna orlich associate torres said class action include claim goldman maintained boys club atmosphere women allegedly subjected unwanted stereotyping harassment retaliation said individual rather common issues would predominate lawsuit began september 2010 according torres delayed largely dispute kind relief former employees could obtain case chenoster et al v goldman sachs amp co et al us district court southern district new york 1006950 reporting jonathan stempel new york editing susan thomas standards thomson reuters trust principles gazaisrael border reuters least 16 palestinians killed hundreds injured friday israeli security forces confronting one largest palestinian demonstrations along israelgaza border recent years gaza medical officials said tens thousands palestinians pressing right return refugees israel gathered along fenced 65km 40mile frontier tents erected planned sixweek protest local officials said israeli military estimate 30000 united nations security council briefed violence gaza friday request kuwait palestinian un envoy riyad mansour told council least 17 palestinian civilians killed 1400 injured families brought children encampments hundred meters yards israeli security barrier hamas islamistrun enclave football fields marked sand scout bands played day wore hundreds palestinian youths ignored calls organizers israeli military stay away frontier israeli soldiers across border kept watch dirt mound embankments related coverage un chief calls independent investigation gaza deaths un fears gaza situation might deteriorate coming days military said troops used live fire people trying sabotage border security fence rolling burning tyres throwing rocks least two dead hamas operatives palestinian health officials said israeli forces used mostly gunfire protesters addition tear gas rubber bullets witnesses said military deployed drone least one location drop tear gas one dead aged 16 least 400 people wounded live gunfire others struck rubber bullets treated tear gas inhalation gaza health officials said two palestinians killed tank fire gaza health ministry said israeli military said two militants opened fire troops across border palestinian president mahmoud abbas said statement israel responsible violence declared saturday national day mourning un secretarygeneral antonio guterres called independent transparent investigation appealed concerned refrain act could lead casualties particular measures could place civilians harms way spokesman said statement senior un official told un security council fears situation gaza might deteriorate coming days united states close israel ally told council deeply saddened loss life urge involved take steps lower tensions reduce risk new clashes bad actors use protests cover incite violence endanger innocent lives us diplomat walter said right return protest presented rare show unity among rival palestinian factions impoverished gaza strip pressure building hamas abbass fatah movement end decadeold rift reconciliation efforts end feud faltering months demonstration launched land day annual commemoration deaths six arab citizens israel killed israeli security forces demonstrations government land confiscations northern israel 1976 main focus demand palestinian refugees allowed right return towns villages families fled driven state israel created 1948 palestinian runs clashes israeli troops tent city protest along israel border gaza demanding right return homeland southern gaza strip march 30 2018 reutersibraheem abu mustafa statement israeli military accused hamas cynically exploiting women children sending security fence endangering lives military said 100 army sharpshooters deployed area hamas seeks israels destruction earlier urged protesters adhere peaceful nature protest israel long ruled right return fearing influx arabs would wipe jewish majority argues refugees resettle future state palestinians seek israelioccupied west bank gaza peace talks end collapsed 2014 also small protests israelioccupied west bank 65 palestinians injured slideshow 24 images gaza protest dubbed march return tents bore names refugees original villages israel written arabic hebrew alike citing security concerns israel withdrew troops settlers gaza 2005 blockades coastal territory maintaining tight restrictions movement palestinians goods across frontier egypt battling islamist insurgency neighboring sinai keeps border gaza largely closed additional reporting maayan lubell jerusalem ali sawafta ramallah michelle nichols united nations writing ori lewis stephen farrell editing larry king sandra maler standards thomson reuters trust principles united nations reuters senior united nations official told security council friday situation gaza might deteriorate coming days called civilians particularly children targeted least 16 palestinians killed hundreds injured friday israeli security forces confronting one largest palestinian demonstrations recent years along israelgaza border gaza medical officials said israel must uphold responsibilities international human rights humanitarian law lethal force used last resort resulting fatalities properly investigated authorities un deputy political affairs chief tayebrook zerihoun said council due meet behind closed doors request kuwait became clear 15member body would unable agree statement situation diplomats said kuwait requested meeting held publicly us diplomat walter miller said unfortunate israel close us ally could take part fridays meeting due passover holiday deeply saddened loss life today urge involved take steps lower tensions reduce risk new clashes bad actors use protests cover incite violence endanger innocent lives miller told council reporting michelle nichols editing susan thomas sandra maler standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters white louisiana police officer fired friday second suspended killing alton sterling black man shot 2016 incident inflamed us debate racial bias law enforcement police official said baton rouge officer blane salamoni shot sterling confrontation outside convenience store dismissed violating department standards use force losing temper police chief murphy paul told news conference second officer howie lake suspended three days failing maintain composure decisions followed administrative review july 2016 shooting officers plan appeal paul said steps designed bring closure cloud community far long said sterling among black men slain police whose deaths sparked us protests helped fuel black lives matter movement police released four videos confrontation sterling outside convenience store selling cds paul called footage police dash camera officers body cameras store surveillance camera graphic shocking conscience salamonis camera shows yelling sterling expletives put hands car points gun sterlings head shouts shoot moves struggling sterling officers cameras came loose lakes footage ends showing sterling back parking lot blood draining body sterling 37 shot resident reported threatened black man selling cds police said sterling trying pull loaded gun pocket salamoni opened fire lawyers representing sterlings five children applauded salamonis firing expressed disappointment officers would face charges person control blane salamoni attorney michael adams said news conference person stood let control howie lake thats tragedy louisiana attorney general jeff landry said week lake salamoni would face charges since reason believe sterling armed resisting arrest file photo boy sits next makeshift memorial outside triple food mart alton sterling fatally shot police baton rouge louisiana us july 7 2016 reutersjonathan bachmanfile photo us department justice declined prosecute officers civil rights violations 2017 citing insufficient evidence reporting ian simpson washington editing sandra maler standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 1,307 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>The changes bring big improvements for some, including Howard Kraft of Lincolnton, N.C. A painful spinal problem left him unable to work as a hotel bellman. But he’s got coverage because federal law now forbids insurers from turning away people with health problems. “I am not one of these people getting a policy because I’m being made to,” Kraft said. “I need one to stay alive.”</p>
<p>What’s good for millions like Kraft is secured through what other people see as an imposition: requiring virtually every American to get covered, either through an employer, a government program, or by buying a plan directly.</p>
<p>But the biggest health care headlines early in the year could come from continued unpredictable consequences of the administration’s messy rollout.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The consumer-facing side of the HealthCare.gov website now appears to be largely fixed — with experts estimating that 2 million people have enrolled. But on the back end, insurers say they are still receiving thousands of erroneous sign-ups from the government.</p>
<p>That means early in the year patients who signed up could go for a medication refill — or turn up in the emergency room — only to be told there is no record of their coverage.</p>
<p>One of the main worries now is over certain error-tainted enrollment records that insurers call “orphans” and “ghosts.”</p>
<p>“Orphans” are sign-ups that the government has a record of, but they do not appear in insurer systems. Insurers say those customers never left the government’s “orphanage” to “go and live” with the carrier they selected.</p>
<p>“Ghosts” are new customers that the insurer does have a record of, but mysteriously the information does not appear in the government’s computers.</p>
<p>The Health and Human Services department says the rate of such errors has been dramatically reduced, and insurers agree. The catch is that the volume of sign-ups has also surged, which means even with a lower error rate the number of problem cases keeps growing. And there is no automated way to clear up mistakes; it has to be done manually.</p>
<p>“Some people are actually going to start using their coverage Jan. 1, and that is a good thing for them,” said Mark McClellan, who oversaw the rollout of Medicare’s prescription drug benefit — a program that also had its share of issues. “But there are going to be problems for any number of people who thought they had signed up, and it won’t work right off the bat. It would be particularly disruptive for people in the midst of treatment.”</p>
<p>Anticipating disruptions, major drug store chains like CVS and Walgreens have announced they will help customers who face coverage glitches, even providing temporary supplies of medications without insisting on up-front payment. Many smaller independent pharmacies are also ready to help.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Obama had envisioned that the arrival of the Affordable Care Act’s major benefits in 2014 would be like a national seminar, showcasing his philosophy that government can and should smooth the rough edges of an unforgiving economy for struggling working people.</p>
<p>The goal was that in a midterm election year, Democrats would be able to point to millions of newly insured Americans, thanks to subsidized private plans and an expanded version of Medicaid. Media reports would feature compelling cases of people literally handed a lifeline.</p>
<p>That’s indeed happening, but it seems to be only part of the story. The Republican portrayal of “Obamacare” as government inept and out of control appears to be unfolding right alongside.</p>
<p>Although the stated goal of the law was to cover the uninsured, at least 4.7 million insured people had current individual policies cancelled that didn’t measure up to new requirements. That forced an apology from the president, who had famously promised that if you like your health plan, you can keep it. It remains to be seen how many of those people suffer a break in coverage.</p>
<p>Americans with job-based health plans are also worried. A recent Associated Press-GfK poll found that most people who’ve seen their employers scale back coverage blame that on Obama’s law, even though the trend of businesses shifting health costs to workers predates the law’s passage.</p>
<p>It may take years to settle the nation’s divisive debate over health care.</p>
<p>For now, administration officials say they are just focused on getting through the March 31 end of open enrollment season. People who enroll by that date will not face the law’s tax penalty for remaining uninsured.</p>
<p>The two main objectives are to minimize any coverage disruptions around the new year, and launch a big push to get younger, healthy uninsured people to sign up. That’s key to the law’s long-term success.</p>
<p>Experts say it’s likely that a big proportion of those who have signed up so far are people like Kraft, the disabled former bellman.</p>
<p>He had an urgent need for coverage because of his painful condition, and because the temporary coverage he had been buying through his old employer was expiring at the end of 2013.</p>
<p>Kraft estimates he spent at least 20 hours over the course of two months dealing with website woes that left him frustrated. But in the end he prevailed.</p>
<p>He says he’s got better coverage than he had through his employer, and thanks to tax credits it’s costing him about half what he was paying before. The only drawback is an annual deductible of $1,250, which has to come from his pocket.</p>
<p>“Once people are able to get signed up and they actually see the policies that are available to them, I think it is going to start changing minds,” he said.</p>
| false | 2 |
changes bring big improvements including howard kraft lincolnton nc painful spinal problem left unable work hotel bellman hes got coverage federal law forbids insurers turning away people health problems one people getting policy im made kraft said need one stay alive whats good millions like kraft secured people see imposition requiring virtually every american get covered either employer government program buying plan directly biggest health care headlines early year could come continued unpredictable consequences administrations messy rollout advertisement consumerfacing side healthcaregov website appears largely fixed experts estimating 2 million people enrolled back end insurers say still receiving thousands erroneous signups government means early year patients signed could go medication refill turn emergency room told record coverage one main worries certain errortainted enrollment records insurers call orphans ghosts orphans signups government record appear insurer systems insurers say customers never left governments orphanage go live carrier selected ghosts new customers insurer record mysteriously information appear governments computers health human services department says rate errors dramatically reduced insurers agree catch volume signups also surged means even lower error rate number problem cases keeps growing automated way clear mistakes done manually people actually going start using coverage jan 1 good thing said mark mcclellan oversaw rollout medicares prescription drug benefit program also share issues going problems number people thought signed wont work right bat would particularly disruptive people midst treatment anticipating disruptions major drug store chains like cvs walgreens announced help customers face coverage glitches even providing temporary supplies medications without insisting upfront payment many smaller independent pharmacies also ready help advertisement obama envisioned arrival affordable care acts major benefits 2014 would like national seminar showcasing philosophy government smooth rough edges unforgiving economy struggling working people goal midterm election year democrats would able point millions newly insured americans thanks subsidized private plans expanded version medicaid media reports would feature compelling cases people literally handed lifeline thats indeed happening seems part story republican portrayal obamacare government inept control appears unfolding right alongside although stated goal law cover uninsured least 47 million insured people current individual policies cancelled didnt measure new requirements forced apology president famously promised like health plan keep remains seen many people suffer break coverage americans jobbased health plans also worried recent associated pressgfk poll found people whove seen employers scale back coverage blame obamas law even though trend businesses shifting health costs workers predates laws passage may take years settle nations divisive debate health care administration officials say focused getting march 31 end open enrollment season people enroll date face laws tax penalty remaining uninsured two main objectives minimize coverage disruptions around new year launch big push get younger healthy uninsured people sign thats key laws longterm success experts say likely big proportion signed far people like kraft disabled former bellman urgent need coverage painful condition temporary coverage buying old employer expiring end 2013 kraft estimates spent least 20 hours course two months dealing website woes left frustrated end prevailed says hes got better coverage employer thanks tax credits costing half paying drawback annual deductible 1250 come pocket people able get signed actually see policies available think going start changing minds said
| 520 |
<p>MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia coach Bob Huggins is confident his team will bounce back from a couple of blowouts.</p>
<p>Turnovers, poor shooting and lack of rebounding have cost the 21st-ranked Mountaineers, who fell to fourth place in the Big 12 Conference after a solid start.</p>
<p>Despite losses to No. 17 Oklahoma and No. 16 Baylor, West Virginia (18-5, 6-4) is still having a surprisingly good season and trying to put together a few more wins to return to the NCAA tournament after a two-year absence.</p>
<p>There’s no letup in the schedule over the second half of the season. Six of West Virginia’s eight remaining regular-season games are against ranked opponents.</p>
<p>Huggins is concerned about Wednesday night’s home matchup with Kansas State (12-12, 5-6). A team Mountaineers beat 65-59 on the road on Jan. 27.</p>
<p>“I don’t look very far ahead,” Huggins said. “It’s kind of scary if you do. I don’t think it’s that hard to bounce back after a loss. I think it’s a little harder to bounce back when you win a few in a row.</p>
<p>“I think we’ll be fine. We’ve got good guys. They have for the most part, tried to do the right things.”</p>
<p>Not much went right in a 19-point defeat at Oklahoma on Feb. 3 and Saturday’s 18-point setback to Baylor at home. They were the worst back-to-back losses for Huggins in his eight seasons at West Virginia and sent the Mountaineers tumbling six spots in The Associated Press poll.</p>
<p>The Sooners sliced through West Virginia’s relentless defensive pressure and shot 61 percent from the field. Baylor had a 20-point lead before the game was 10 minutes old, held a decisive rebounding advantage and shot 55 percent.</p>
<p>Huggins will continue to lean on a deep bench and a full-court press that has exhausted some opponents and prompted Kansas State coach Bruce Weber to coin it “40 minutes of chaos.”</p>
<p>The Mountaineers have forced 500 turnovers this season, 51 more than any other Division I team.</p>
<p>Kansas State committed 25 turnovers in the teams’ earlier meeting. Weber said there’s little that can be done in practice to mimic West Virginia’s defensive intensity.</p>
<p>“They just never let you get a rhythm,” Weber said. “It’s going to be difficult.”</p>
<p>Like most of its opponents, West Virginia has gotten sloppy, too. The Mountaineers averaged 15.5 turnovers in the two losses and failed to reach its Division I-leading average of 12 steals.</p>
<p>Among the players the Mountaineers will lean on over the final month are Big 12 preseason player of the year Juwan Staten, who was limited to six points against Baylor and is fifth in the league with an average of 14.4 points, and sophomore Devin Williams, the team’s second-leading scorer who had 20 points and 15 rebounds against the Bears.</p>
<p>“The best teams go through struggles like this,” Williams said. “But to be one of the best teams, you’ve got to know how to handle this adversity that we’re going through in the last two weeks. Two games in a row is tough, but it happens, especially in the best conference in the country.”</p>
<p>Huggins likes to compare and contrast his lineup that includes three freshmen and five sophomores with his teams that reached the Final Four in 2010 and the NCAA regional semifinals in 2008.</p>
<p>“They didn’t turn the ball over. They rebounded,” Huggins said. “We started out doing those things and now we got away from them. I think the opposition has stepped up, but that doesn’t mean you stop doing what you’re doing.”</p>
<p>MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia coach Bob Huggins is confident his team will bounce back from a couple of blowouts.</p>
<p>Turnovers, poor shooting and lack of rebounding have cost the 21st-ranked Mountaineers, who fell to fourth place in the Big 12 Conference after a solid start.</p>
<p>Despite losses to No. 17 Oklahoma and No. 16 Baylor, West Virginia (18-5, 6-4) is still having a surprisingly good season and trying to put together a few more wins to return to the NCAA tournament after a two-year absence.</p>
<p>There’s no letup in the schedule over the second half of the season. Six of West Virginia’s eight remaining regular-season games are against ranked opponents.</p>
<p>Huggins is concerned about Wednesday night’s home matchup with Kansas State (12-12, 5-6). A team Mountaineers beat 65-59 on the road on Jan. 27.</p>
<p>“I don’t look very far ahead,” Huggins said. “It’s kind of scary if you do. I don’t think it’s that hard to bounce back after a loss. I think it’s a little harder to bounce back when you win a few in a row.</p>
<p>“I think we’ll be fine. We’ve got good guys. They have for the most part, tried to do the right things.”</p>
<p>Not much went right in a 19-point defeat at Oklahoma on Feb. 3 and Saturday’s 18-point setback to Baylor at home. They were the worst back-to-back losses for Huggins in his eight seasons at West Virginia and sent the Mountaineers tumbling six spots in The Associated Press poll.</p>
<p>The Sooners sliced through West Virginia’s relentless defensive pressure and shot 61 percent from the field. Baylor had a 20-point lead before the game was 10 minutes old, held a decisive rebounding advantage and shot 55 percent.</p>
<p>Huggins will continue to lean on a deep bench and a full-court press that has exhausted some opponents and prompted Kansas State coach Bruce Weber to coin it “40 minutes of chaos.”</p>
<p>The Mountaineers have forced 500 turnovers this season, 51 more than any other Division I team.</p>
<p>Kansas State committed 25 turnovers in the teams’ earlier meeting. Weber said there’s little that can be done in practice to mimic West Virginia’s defensive intensity.</p>
<p>“They just never let you get a rhythm,” Weber said. “It’s going to be difficult.”</p>
<p>Like most of its opponents, West Virginia has gotten sloppy, too. The Mountaineers averaged 15.5 turnovers in the two losses and failed to reach its Division I-leading average of 12 steals.</p>
<p>Among the players the Mountaineers will lean on over the final month are Big 12 preseason player of the year Juwan Staten, who was limited to six points against Baylor and is fifth in the league with an average of 14.4 points, and sophomore Devin Williams, the team’s second-leading scorer who had 20 points and 15 rebounds against the Bears.</p>
<p>“The best teams go through struggles like this,” Williams said. “But to be one of the best teams, you’ve got to know how to handle this adversity that we’re going through in the last two weeks. Two games in a row is tough, but it happens, especially in the best conference in the country.”</p>
<p>Huggins likes to compare and contrast his lineup that includes three freshmen and five sophomores with his teams that reached the Final Four in 2010 and the NCAA regional semifinals in 2008.</p>
<p>“They didn’t turn the ball over. They rebounded,” Huggins said. “We started out doing those things and now we got away from them. I think the opposition has stepped up, but that doesn’t mean you stop doing what you’re doing.”</p>
| false | 2 |
morgantown wva ap west virginia coach bob huggins confident team bounce back couple blowouts turnovers poor shooting lack rebounding cost 21stranked mountaineers fell fourth place big 12 conference solid start despite losses 17 oklahoma 16 baylor west virginia 185 64 still surprisingly good season trying put together wins return ncaa tournament twoyear absence theres letup schedule second half season six west virginias eight remaining regularseason games ranked opponents huggins concerned wednesday nights home matchup kansas state 1212 56 team mountaineers beat 6559 road jan 27 dont look far ahead huggins said kind scary dont think hard bounce back loss think little harder bounce back win row think well fine weve got good guys part tried right things much went right 19point defeat oklahoma feb 3 saturdays 18point setback baylor home worst backtoback losses huggins eight seasons west virginia sent mountaineers tumbling six spots associated press poll sooners sliced west virginias relentless defensive pressure shot 61 percent field baylor 20point lead game 10 minutes old held decisive rebounding advantage shot 55 percent huggins continue lean deep bench fullcourt press exhausted opponents prompted kansas state coach bruce weber coin 40 minutes chaos mountaineers forced 500 turnovers season 51 division team kansas state committed 25 turnovers teams earlier meeting weber said theres little done practice mimic west virginias defensive intensity never let get rhythm weber said going difficult like opponents west virginia gotten sloppy mountaineers averaged 155 turnovers two losses failed reach division ileading average 12 steals among players mountaineers lean final month big 12 preseason player year juwan staten limited six points baylor fifth league average 144 points sophomore devin williams teams secondleading scorer 20 points 15 rebounds bears best teams go struggles like williams said one best teams youve got know handle adversity going last two weeks two games row tough happens especially best conference country huggins likes compare contrast lineup includes three freshmen five sophomores teams reached final four 2010 ncaa regional semifinals 2008 didnt turn ball rebounded huggins said started things got away think opposition stepped doesnt mean stop youre morgantown wva ap west virginia coach bob huggins confident team bounce back couple blowouts turnovers poor shooting lack rebounding cost 21stranked mountaineers fell fourth place big 12 conference solid start despite losses 17 oklahoma 16 baylor west virginia 185 64 still surprisingly good season trying put together wins return ncaa tournament twoyear absence theres letup schedule second half season six west virginias eight remaining regularseason games ranked opponents huggins concerned wednesday nights home matchup kansas state 1212 56 team mountaineers beat 6559 road jan 27 dont look far ahead huggins said kind scary dont think hard bounce back loss think little harder bounce back win row think well fine weve got good guys part tried right things much went right 19point defeat oklahoma feb 3 saturdays 18point setback baylor home worst backtoback losses huggins eight seasons west virginia sent mountaineers tumbling six spots associated press poll sooners sliced west virginias relentless defensive pressure shot 61 percent field baylor 20point lead game 10 minutes old held decisive rebounding advantage shot 55 percent huggins continue lean deep bench fullcourt press exhausted opponents prompted kansas state coach bruce weber coin 40 minutes chaos mountaineers forced 500 turnovers season 51 division team kansas state committed 25 turnovers teams earlier meeting weber said theres little done practice mimic west virginias defensive intensity never let get rhythm weber said going difficult like opponents west virginia gotten sloppy mountaineers averaged 155 turnovers two losses failed reach division ileading average 12 steals among players mountaineers lean final month big 12 preseason player year juwan staten limited six points baylor fifth league average 144 points sophomore devin williams teams secondleading scorer 20 points 15 rebounds bears best teams go struggles like williams said one best teams youve got know handle adversity going last two weeks two games row tough happens especially best conference country huggins likes compare contrast lineup includes three freshmen five sophomores teams reached final four 2010 ncaa regional semifinals 2008 didnt turn ball rebounded huggins said started things got away think opposition stepped doesnt mean stop youre
| 682 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p>MELBOURNE, Australia — The Latest on Tuesday at the Australian Open (all times local):</p>
<p>11:40 p.m.</p>
<p>Third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska is through to the second round at Melbourne Park, beating Tsvetana Pironkova 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 in the last match late Tuesday on Rod Laver Arena.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>A semifinal loser last year to Serena Williams, Radwanska improved her career record to 10-3 against the 64th-ranked Pironkova.</p>
<p>Radwanska will next play Mirjana Lucic-Baroni of Croatia, who beat Wang Qiang of China 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 earlier Tuesday.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>10:20 p.m.</p>
<p>The fans on Court 19 got their money’s worth on Tuesday night, watching 37-year-old Ivo Karlovic set an Australian Open record for the longest match — in terms of games, in the tiebreak era –as he beat Horacio Zeballos of Argentina 6-7 (6), 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 22-20 in 5 hours and 15 minutes.</p>
<p>The fifth set took 2 hours, 37 minutes and Karlovic finished the match with an Australian Open record 75 aces.</p>
<p>The 84-game total broke by one game the mark previously set by Andy Roddick in a five-set win over Younes El Aynaoui in 2003.</p>
<p>Karlovic, who had the advantage of serving to take the lead in the final set, broke Zeballos’ serve in the 42nd game of the set, with Zeballos sending an attempted return wide off the court to end the match.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>9:35 p.m.</p>
<p>Six-time champion Novak Djokovic is through to the second round at Melbourne Park with a 6-1, 7-6 (4), 6-2 win over Fernando Verdasco, an opponent Djokovic has now beaten nine out of 10 times on a hard court</p>
<p>After Djokovic dominated the opening set, Verdasco saved two break points in ninth game of the second set, sending it eventually to the tiebreaker.</p>
<p>In the third set, Djokovic swept to a 3-0 lead and won in 2 hours, 20 minutes, extending Verdasco’s seven-year losing streak against the Serbian player.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>9:45 p.m.</p>
<p>Tommy Haas’ last appearance at the Australian Open ended with a retirement.</p>
<p>The 38-year-old German was forced to quit his first-round match with an illness on Tuesday while trailing Benoit Paire 7-6 (2), 6-4.</p>
<p>Haas, once ranked as high as No. 2, announced before the season began that it would be his last year on tour. The German’s career has frequently been interrupted with injuries, most recently two years ago when he underwent shoulder surgery and again last April when he had surgery on his right foot.</p>
<p>The Australian Open has been Haas’ most successful Grand Slam tournament — he’s made the semifinals three times, most recently in 2007. He’s also made the semifinals at Wimbledon and won a silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.</p>
<p>Haas has already been confirmed as tournament director at Indian Wells, California.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>8:10 p.m.</p>
<p>Gael Monfils has advanced to the second round of the Australian Open, his 40th Grand Slam tournament.</p>
<p>Monfils, who beat Jiri Vesely 6-2, 6-3, 6-2, lost in the quarterfinals here last year, the first time he had advanced that far in his 11th tournament appearances.</p>
<p>The acrobatic Frenchman reached the semifinals at the last U.S. Open and finished in the year-end top 10 for the first time. He entered the Austrlaian Open as the No. 6 seed.</p>
<p>The pair had never met on hard courts, with Vesely beating Monfils in five sets in the second round at Wimbledon in 2014 before Monfils beat him on clay at Monte Carlo last year in straight sets.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>5:25 p.m.</p>
<p>Sam Stosur’s long Australian drought has been extended with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 loss to Heather Watson, making it back-to-back first-round defeats at her home Grand Slam tournament.The 32-year-old Australian entered the tournament on an eight-match losing streak stretching back to the first round of the U.S. Open last September.</p>
<p>Stosur won the 2011 U.S. Open, a surprising winner over Serena Williams in the final, and has reached the French Open final. Her best run at home, though, remains fourth-round exits in 2006 and ’10.</p>
<p>She lost last year to Kristyna Pliskova, who was ranked No. 114. Watson, ranked 81st, has lost in the first round in four of her previous five trips to the Australian Open.</p>
<p>____</p>
<p>4:25 p.m.</p>
<p>Five years after their last meeting, Rafael Nadal beat Florian Mayer 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in a first-round match at Melbourne Park.</p>
<p>The pair last met on clay at Rome in 2012, when Nadal won in straight sets.</p>
<p>Playing an afternoon match on Rod Laver Arena in 36 degree Celsius (97 Fahrenheit) temperatures, the ninth-seeded Nadal looked sharp despite having taken two injury breaks last year. He played only four matches after a fourth-round loss at the U.S. Open in September.</p>
<p>He’s already gone one round longer than last year here. In 2016, he lost to Fernando Verdasco in the first round at Melbourne Park, his only first-round loss at the Australian Open and only the second of his career at a Grand Slam, the other being Wimbledon in 2013 to Steve Darcis.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>2:40 p.m.</p>
<p>Milos Raonic and Dustin Brown renewed their Grand Slam duel on Tuesday and the result was the same as the last time — a three-set win for the tall Canadian.</p>
<p>Raonic and Brown met for the first time in the first round of last year’s U.S. Open, where Raonic won in straight sets.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, Raonic defeated Brown 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.</p>
<p>Last year as the 13th-seeded player, Raonic had his best performance at Melbourne Park, advancing to the semifinals before losing to Andy Murray.</p>
<p>The 26-year-old Raonic is playing in his seventh Australian Open and in his 24th major. His best result so far has been a run to the Wimbledon final last year.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>1:55 p.m.</p>
<p>Serena Williams took her first step toward Australian Open title No. 7 and Grand Slam singles championship No. 23 with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Belinda Bencic.</p>
<p>Williams broke the Swiss player’s service in the 10th game to clinch the first set. In the second set, she pulled out to a 5-0 lead but Bencic staged a comeback, breaking Williams’ serve the first time she served for the match.</p>
<p>Serving for the match at 5-3, Williams double-faulted on her first match point before clinching it on her second when Bencic netted a backhand.</p>
<p>The last time the pair met — in the Toronto semifinals in 2015 — Bencic won in three sets.</p>
<p>Williams lost the Australian Open final last year to Angelique Kerber but won last year’s Wimbledon title to equal Steffi Graf’s Open era mark of 22 Grand Slam singles titles.</p>
<p>Williams will play Lucie Safarova, who beat Yanina Wickmayer on Tuesday, in the second round.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>12:45 p.m.</p>
<p>Johanna Konta has won her opening match at Melbourne Park, beating Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium 7-5, 6-2 to open play Tuesday at Margaret Court Arena.</p>
<p>Konta was a surprise semifinalist at last year’s Australian Open, kick-starting a strong 2016 season which saw her break into the top 10 by the end of last year.</p>
<p>The British player won last week’s Sydney International, dominating No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska in straight sets in the final.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>12:15 p.m.</p>
<p>Karolina Pliskova has backed up her strong performance at last year’s U.S. Open with a first-round win at Melbourne Park, beating Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-2, 6-0 to open play Tuesday at Rod Laver Arena.</p>
<p>The fifth-seeded Pliskova, who beat Serena Williams in the semifinals at Flushing Meadows last year before losing the U.S. Open final to Angelique Kerber, took a 4-1 first-set lead in under 20 minutes.</p>
<p>Pliskova has never advanced past the third round at Melbourne Park, losing each of the last two years at that stage to Ekaterina Makarova.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>11 a.m.</p>
<p>Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic are set to begin quests for their seventh Australian Open titles on Tuesday at Melbourne Park under sunny skies and temperatures not quite as high as forecast.</p>
<p>Williams, who plays Belinda Bencic in the second match on Rod Laver Arena, is also looking to add to her 22nd Grand Slam singles titles, which would break the record for the Open era.</p>
<p>Djokovic, who has a tough match against veteran Fernando Verdasco to open night play at Rod Laver, has won the Australian Open title five out of the last six years.</p>
<p>Also in action Tuesday are third-seeded Milos Raonic, 14-time major winner iRafael Nadal and Agnieszka Radwanska.</p>
<p>The original steamy weather forecast has been scaled back to a high of 35 Celsius (95 Fahrenheit).</p>
| false | 2 |
melbourne australia latest tuesday australian open times local 1140 pm thirdseeded agnieszka radwanska second round melbourne park beating tsvetana pironkova 61 46 61 last match late tuesday rod laver arena advertisement semifinal loser last year serena williams radwanska improved career record 103 64thranked pironkova radwanska next play mirjana lucicbaroni croatia beat wang qiang china 46 63 64 earlier tuesday ___ 1020 pm fans court 19 got moneys worth tuesday night watching 37yearold ivo karlovic set australian open record longest match terms games tiebreak era beat horacio zeballos argentina 67 6 36 75 62 2220 5 hours 15 minutes fifth set took 2 hours 37 minutes karlovic finished match australian open record 75 aces 84game total broke one game mark previously set andy roddick fiveset win younes el aynaoui 2003 karlovic advantage serving take lead final set broke zeballos serve 42nd game set zeballos sending attempted return wide court end match advertisement ___ 935 pm sixtime champion novak djokovic second round melbourne park 61 76 4 62 win fernando verdasco opponent djokovic beaten nine 10 times hard court djokovic dominated opening set verdasco saved two break points ninth game second set sending eventually tiebreaker third set djokovic swept 30 lead 2 hours 20 minutes extending verdascos sevenyear losing streak serbian player ___ 945 pm tommy haas last appearance australian open ended retirement 38yearold german forced quit firstround match illness tuesday trailing benoit paire 76 2 64 haas ranked high 2 announced season began would last year tour germans career frequently interrupted injuries recently two years ago underwent shoulder surgery last april surgery right foot australian open haas successful grand slam tournament hes made semifinals three times recently 2007 hes also made semifinals wimbledon silver medal 2000 sydney olympics haas already confirmed tournament director indian wells california ___ 810 pm gael monfils advanced second round australian open 40th grand slam tournament monfils beat jiri vesely 62 63 62 lost quarterfinals last year first time advanced far 11th tournament appearances acrobatic frenchman reached semifinals last us open finished yearend top 10 first time entered austrlaian open 6 seed pair never met hard courts vesely beating monfils five sets second round wimbledon 2014 monfils beat clay monte carlo last year straight sets ___ 525 pm sam stosurs long australian drought extended 63 36 60 loss heather watson making backtoback firstround defeats home grand slam tournamentthe 32yearold australian entered tournament eightmatch losing streak stretching back first round us open last september stosur 2011 us open surprising winner serena williams final reached french open final best run home though remains fourthround exits 2006 10 lost last year kristyna pliskova ranked 114 watson ranked 81st lost first round four previous five trips australian open ____ 425 pm five years last meeting rafael nadal beat florian mayer 63 64 64 firstround match melbourne park pair last met clay rome 2012 nadal straight sets playing afternoon match rod laver arena 36 degree celsius 97 fahrenheit temperatures ninthseeded nadal looked sharp despite taken two injury breaks last year played four matches fourthround loss us open september hes already gone one round longer last year 2016 lost fernando verdasco first round melbourne park firstround loss australian open second career grand slam wimbledon 2013 steve darcis ___ 240 pm milos raonic dustin brown renewed grand slam duel tuesday result last time threeset win tall canadian raonic brown met first time first round last years us open raonic straight sets tuesday raonic defeated brown 63 64 62 last year 13thseeded player raonic best performance melbourne park advancing semifinals losing andy murray 26yearold raonic playing seventh australian open 24th major best result far run wimbledon final last year ___ 155 pm serena williams took first step toward australian open title 7 grand slam singles championship 23 64 63 win belinda bencic williams broke swiss players service 10th game clinch first set second set pulled 50 lead bencic staged comeback breaking williams serve first time served match serving match 53 williams doublefaulted first match point clinching second bencic netted backhand last time pair met toronto semifinals 2015 bencic three sets williams lost australian open final last year angelique kerber last years wimbledon title equal steffi grafs open era mark 22 grand slam singles titles williams play lucie safarova beat yanina wickmayer tuesday second round ___ 1245 pm johanna konta opening match melbourne park beating kirsten flipkens belgium 75 62 open play tuesday margaret court arena konta surprise semifinalist last years australian open kickstarting strong 2016 season saw break top 10 end last year british player last weeks sydney international dominating 4 agnieszka radwanska straight sets final ___ 1215 pm karolina pliskova backed strong performance last years us open firstround win melbourne park beating sara sorribes tormo 62 60 open play tuesday rod laver arena fifthseeded pliskova beat serena williams semifinals flushing meadows last year losing us open final angelique kerber took 41 firstset lead 20 minutes pliskova never advanced past third round melbourne park losing last two years stage ekaterina makarova ___ 11 serena williams novak djokovic set begin quests seventh australian open titles tuesday melbourne park sunny skies temperatures quite high forecast williams plays belinda bencic second match rod laver arena also looking add 22nd grand slam singles titles would break record open era djokovic tough match veteran fernando verdasco open night play rod laver australian open title five last six years also action tuesday thirdseeded milos raonic 14time major winner irafael nadal agnieszka radwanska original steamy weather forecast scaled back high 35 celsius 95 fahrenheit
| 912 |
<p>Editorials from around New England:</p>
<p>MASSACHUSETTS</p>
<p>The (Springfield) Republican, Jan. 18</p>
<p>You could think of it as detente — with an asterisk.</p>
<p>Athletes and others from North Korea and South Korea will march together under one banner in the opening ceremony of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. While there have been a couple of similar displays in the past, one has to pause and recognize that what's about to occur isn't exactly an everyday thing.</p>
<p>Is the news worth cheering? Certainly. With reservations.</p>
<p>Because there is no way to know if the two Koreas marching under a banner that shows the entire Korean peninsula is a sign of better things ahead, or if it's merely a stalling tactic from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. After all, if the entire world is busy congratulating the despot on his newfound rationality, he might well take that as an opportunity to get to work on furthering his nuclear and ballistic missile programs. While no one is looking, as it were.</p>
<p>Still, it's possible to feel that the rapprochement, even if it should turn out to be only temporary, beats the heck out of the alternative.</p>
<p>And it's notable that the two Koreas are planning more than mere symbolic gestures. If details can be worked out, the women's ice hockey teams from the longtime rivals will be briefly merged into one unit for next month's Olympics. How that might work out in practice remains anyone's guess, but at a minimum, it will make for some can't-miss television the world over.</p>
<p>The thought of the two adversaries competing together brings to mind what's come to be called "pingpong diplomacy," in which U.S. table tennis players visited China in 1971, marking an opening to a land with which we'd had no diplomatic relations for more than two decades. Did the pingpong players change everything? Consider this: Later that same year, U.S. President Richard Nixon stunned the world by announcing that he'd travel to the People's Republic of China. To be sure, he'd previously hinted of seeking better relations, and his national security adviser, Henry Kissinger, had secretly visited Beijing on several diplomatic missions. But, that said, pingpong diplomacy has to be seen as having played a role.</p>
<p>Is it possible to imagine a similar thawing of relations with North Korea? At least not immediately. No one should be readying for a Donald Trump goes to Pyongyang moment.</p>
<p>But still, a cooling of hostilities that could come from the Olympics might be just what's needed to get on a path that leads toward real change.</p>
<p>When one sees athletes from the rival Koreas marching beneath one banner, imagining a denuclearized Korean peninsula might not be quite so difficult.</p>
<p>You could think of it as a good start — with the hope of better days ahead.</p>
<p>Online: <a href="http://bit.ly/2mSEBdp" type="external">http://bit.ly/2mSEBdp</a></p>
<p>___</p>
<p>CONNECTICUT</p>
<p>The Republican-American, Jan. 17</p>
<p>Last June, Connecticut received demoralizing news when Aetna Inc. executives announced they would move Aetna's corporate headquarters from Hartford to New York City come late 2018. The insurance giant had been a Hartford fixture since before the Civil War. Last week, however, Rhode Island-based CVS Health, which reached a merger agreement with Aetna in early December, announced it will not go forward with the Aetna move. This killed the $9.6 million incentive package New York City offered Aetna.</p>
<p>Gov. Dannel P. Malloy was ecstatic. "Today's announcement confirms that Connecticut is a tremendous place to do business, with a talent pipeline and quality of life that are second to none," Gov. Malloy said Jan. 12. "My administration will continue to work with CVS Health's leadership team to ensure that their footprint in Hartford is maintained not only for the short term, but for the long run as well."</p>
<p>Contrary to Gov. Malloy's boasting, Aetna's non-move does not indicate Connecticut has a healthy business environment. Let's go back in time seven months.</p>
<p>Aetna's move was announced June 29. Then-Aetna Chairman and CEO Mark T. Bertolini told The New York Times Gotham City offered "the ecosystem of having people in the knowledge economy, working in a town they want to be living in, and we want to attract those folks, and we want to have them on our team." However, Aetna also asserted that its "long-term commitment to Connecticut will be based on the state's economic health." In a July 2 editorial, we argued, "It's hard to see this as anything but Aetna putting policymakers on notice."</p>
<p>Connecticut's economic woes need no introduction. It's unlikely the economy will turn around if state government doesn't get its perpetually messy finances in order, a point also made in recent days by Bill Curry, the liberal Demo-crat who was his party's nominee for governor in 1994 and 2002.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, there is no will power to fix the problems. This was best illustrated last summer, when Gov. Malloy and all but one of the legislature's Democrats granted the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition a "concessions" deal that all but precludes cuts to the personnel costs that account for approximately one-third of Connecticut's budget. That may at least partially explain why the $41.3 billion 2017-19 budget the governor and lawmakers approved in late October, while making some positive changes to state finances, nonetheless relies on gimmickry and tax increases.</p>
<p>This course does nothing for "the state's economic health." Remember, unstable finances prompted General Electric Co. executives to move GE headquarters from Fairfield to Boston after four-plus decades in Connecticut.</p>
<p>Gov. Malloy can blow the party noisemaker until he is blue in the face, but the fact remains that Connecticut has a fundamentally weak financial system and economy. Unfortunately, nothing is likely to change under the current Capitol powers-that-be.</p>
<p>Online: <a href="http://bit.ly/2FZkbsg" type="external">http://bit.ly/2FZkbsg</a></p>
<p>___</p>
<p>RHODE ISLAND</p>
<p>The Providence Journal, Jan. 18</p>
<p>They might as well have said "We're from the government and we're here to scare the bejeezus out of you," because that's what they did.</p>
<p>Last weekend's false warning of an incoming missile attack sent Hawaiian residents and visitors scrambling for cover, believing for a terrifying 15 minutes — and, for many, much longer — that the islands had come under attack.</p>
<p>Some hid under furniture. A man lowered a child into a storm drain, hoping it would provide protection from a nuclear blast. Many called family members and friends on the mainland and around the world to say goodbye.</p>
<p>It was all a mistake — a cruel false alarm caused by, officials said, human error.</p>
<p>Officials with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency later said an employee "pushed the wrong button" during a routine shift change. Instead of an internal test of the messaging system, the worker mistakenly sent it to the public, warning: "BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL"</p>
<p>The early efforts to correct the mistake weren't enough to stem the panic. The emergency agency sent an update 13 minutes after the message, but it was via a social media account, not an all-points text message like the original warning.</p>
<p>Two minutes after that, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, sent a tweet saying HAWAII - THIS IS A FALSE ALARM. THERE IS NO INCOMING MISSILE TO HAWAII. I HAVE CONFIRMED WITH OFFICIALS THERE IS NO INCOMING MISSILE, but it went only to her 174,000 followers, many of whom undoubtedly weren't paying attention.</p>
<p>It took 40 long minutes for the Emergency Management Agency to send a correction via text alert. "NO missile threat to Hawaii," it said.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, confusion reigned. Public officials in Hawaii had few answers for the people whose panic turned to anger as they learned the warning was a mistake.</p>
<p>The episode is a monstrous black eye for the emergency management agency and for public officials who were caught off guard. It was a startling reminder that even emergency systems staffed by trained public servants are prone to monstrous errors. And the false alarm may make Hawaii's residents less inclined to believe the next warning.</p>
<p>That danger of ignoring a real warning is particularly troubling at a time when North Korea's Kim Jong Un is firing off missiles and rapidly developing his capacity to deliver nuclear weapons to the United States. Would North Korea launch a strike on the nation it has threatened to "teach a severe lesson with its strategic nuclear force"? Officials say it would take about 20 minutes for a missile launched from the Korean Peninsula to reach Hawaii.</p>
<p>In this context, it doesn't seem too much to expect for emergency management agencies to check, re-check and triple check their systems and to develop backup plans to correct human errors like the one that caused the false missile alert. Human errors can happen any time, but the false alarm in Hawaii exposed a series of management failures that range from Honolulu to Washington. Does Rhode Island have a system that works any better (we hope)?</p>
<p>It's not enough that a single state emergency agency staffer was disciplined and reassigned to a different job. Everyone involved, from bottom to top, should take a lesson in how to avoid making the next human error into something much worse.</p>
<p>Online: <a href="http://bit.ly/2EWEwgo" type="external">http://bit.ly/2EWEwgo</a></p>
<p>___</p>
<p>VERMONT</p>
<p>Rutland Herald, Jan. 18</p>
<p>Rep. Peter Welch is hearing a rising clamor demanding that the U.S. House initiate impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump. So far, Welch has resisted that call, saying that instead he would support a vote of censure.</p>
<p>The latest surge of interest in impeaching the president follows his racist comments disparaging predominantly black nations — Haiti and the nations of Africa — with a familiar vulgarity that need not be repeated. (It is an indictment in itself that the president's language is so gross that people are reluctant to repeat it.)</p>
<p>If being a jerk were an impeachable offense, then proceedings against Trump would have begun long ago. But impeachment is described in the Constitution as a possible response by Congress to "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." This is a purposely vague formulation that allows Congress to determine what counts as a high crime or other serious misdeed. By itself, behaving as a morally repugnant individual doesn't justify impeachment.</p>
<p>That doesn't mean that grounds for impeachment will not emerge from the investigations now under way by special prosecutor Robert Mueller and several congressional committees. But jumping the gun on impeachment would put congressional Democrats in danger of making themselves the issue rather than the conduct of the president.</p>
<p>In any event, impeachment will go nowhere as long as Republicans hold a majority in the House. The Republicans have demonstrated a remarkable absence of shame or moral backbone as they have stood by the president. Their willingness to countenance his every outrage will likely put them in an extremely vulnerable position this fall, when voters are likely to punish them for their spinelessness. If Democrats win a majority in the House, talk of impeachment will then become more than academic.</p>
<p>In the meantime, Welch has it right. Refraining from impeachment puts the Democrats in a stronger position. They can push for a thorough investigation of the scandals swamping Trump's administration for the purpose of getting to the truth, rather than to pursue the political aim of removing the president. Impeachment would remain as an option if the evidence justifying it became sufficiently clear and convincing that the public could not help but rally to the cause.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, keeping the pos - sibility of impeachment alive is a worthwhile activity for those Vermonters putting pressure on Welch. Impeachment has been a constant threat during Trump's first year, like a storm cloud on the horizon, and there are many reasons to keep that storm cloud looming in place.</p>
<p>One obvious reason is the possibility that Trump engaged in a conspiracy with Russia to corrupt the election. Even Trump's former campaign manager and chief strategist, Steve Bannon, has called the meeting in June 2016 between a Russian operative and high Trump officials as "treasonous." That may have been Bannon shooting off his mouth for author Michael Wolff, but it suggests guilty knowledge of questionable connections. Trump's behavior — firing the FBI director, bragging to Russians that he had done so to protect himself — and the pattern of lies by his associates suggest impeachable offenses.</p>
<p>Trump's financial entanglements with dubious Russians and others may also paint him as a common gangster. His former campaign manager Paul Manafort has already been charged with money laundering. And his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, has already pleaded guilty to lying. Then there is the emoluments clause of the Constitution, which forbids Trump from receiving payments from foreign countries, a provision his businesses violate every day.</p>
<p>Trump is on the defensive and politically weak while investigators explore this miasma of corruption. He flails about, attacking the press and the Mueller probe, further underscoring his weakness. The Democrats do well to allow these investigations to run their course until the strongest possible case comes together. Impeachment must never be undertaken for trivial political reasons, as the Republicans learned when they went after President Bill Clinton. Welch seems to understand that impeachment may be the most potent political weapon when it remains in the holster.</p>
<p>Online: http://bit.ly/2mSHQlk</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>NEW HAMPSHIRE</p>
<p>Concord Monitor, Jan. 19</p>
<p>Lawmakers are once again debating whether to update the state's nondiscrimination laws by adding protections for transgender people. We have long argued for such a measure, and we know well the argument of those who oppose it. The challenge for the Legislature is to sort through facts and testimony to determine who faces a greater threat in this state: those who come into contact with transgender people or transgender people themselves.</p>
<p>Under current law, the state protects people from discrimination based on age, sex, race, creed, color, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability, and national origin. House Bill 1319 would add the words "gender identity" to that list.</p>
<p>The 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey provides guidance on why such a change is necessary. Of the 225 transgender people in New Hampshire who responded to the survey, 15 percent said they had lost a job because of their gender identity or expression. One in 5 reported being fired, denied a promotion or not hired based on their gender identity. Twenty-three percent said they had faced some form of housing discrimination. More than half said they avoided using a public restroom because they feared a confrontation. Many respondents also cited examples of discrimination involving education, health care and law enforcement.</p>
<p>We understand that there are many people in New Hampshire who have a difficult time wrapping their mind around the idea that a person can feel as though they were born in the wrong body. It is no small feat to see the world through the eyes of another, to experience their fear and pain as your own. We also understand that there are those who worry that somebody will use the protections proposed in House Bill 1319 in a way that could pose a danger to the public, especially women and children. But again, we ask lawmakers to consider what is more likely to happen: that without explicit protections many of the estimated 4,500 transgender people in New Hampshire will continue to face discrimination or that some bad actor will find a way to use those new protections to harm others.</p>
<p>As New Hampshire once again debates this important issue, we hope that all involved take the time to listen to those with whom they disagree and that logic overrides fear.</p>
<p>Online: http://bit.ly/2mR1Vbu</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>MAINE</p>
<p>Portland Press Herald, Jan. 18</p>
<p>A nurse practitioner can give you a complete physical, order diagnostic tests, stitch up a cut - even prescribe medication.</p>
<p>Along with other advanced-practice clinicians, like nurse midwives and nurse anesthetists, they can deliver many of the same services that a doctor can, often working in places where there is no doctor available.</p>
<p>Republicans decry timing of attorney general's bill to expand abortion access</p>
<p>But in Maine, they can't watch you take a pill - if that pill is part of a medically induced abortion. A law that's been on the books longer than the procedure has existed says that only doctors can do that here, and, as a result, women in this sparsely populated state sometimes can't access the care they need.</p>
<p>This problem is the subject of a lawsuit, filed last year in federal court by the American Civil Liberties Union. It's also the subject of a bill submitted by Maine Attorney General Janet Mills. Lawmakers should pass the bill and not wait for the courts to straighten this out.</p>
<p>When the current law was passed in 1979, just six years after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion, the doctors-only requirement was intended to protect women's health and safety from back-alley abortionists. Today, however, instead of protecting patients, the law has the effect of denying women access to health care.</p>
<p>What's changed is the invention of the medically induced abortion, which has been used in this country since 2000. The patient takes one pill in the presence of a health care provider, and takes doses of a second medication at home.</p>
<p>It is almost always effective, especially in the first weeks of a pregnancy. It's not a surgical procedure and is clearly not what lawmakers had in mind when they passed the law in 1979.</p>
<p>Passage of Mills' bill, L.D. 1763, would do two things. It would make abortion services available to women who live in parts of the state that aren't near one of the three clinics where abortions are performed: Maine Family Planning in Augusta, the Mabel Wadsworth Women's Health Center in Bangor and Planned Parenthood in Portland. And approval of the proposal also would render moot the pending lawsuit that would unnecessarily run up the state's legal bills.</p>
<p>Allowing advanced-practice clinicians to supervise women who take the abortion pill is not some wild idea. It's the practice in nine states, including New Hampshire, where there are similar problems with access to health care in rural areas.</p>
<p>Mills' sponsorship of the bill has drawn criticism from Republican lawmakers, led by Rep. Ellie Espling, assistant floor leader for House Republicans, because Mills is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor. But Mills' position on the provider bill would be an asset to her campaign only if the bill were something that voters wanted the state to do. Public officials should not be discouraged from promoting policies that most Mainers would consider to be good ideas.</p>
<p>A legislative outcome on this issue would be better than a judicial one, because lawmakers will listen to testimony from experts and have the ability to build in specific protections.</p>
<p>Nurse practitioners are highly trained professionals who are more than capable of delivering this service. We shouldn't let political barriers create legal barriers between these providers and their patients.</p>
<p>Online: http://bit.ly/2EWipGL</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Editorials from around New England:</p>
<p>MASSACHUSETTS</p>
<p>The (Springfield) Republican, Jan. 18</p>
<p>You could think of it as detente — with an asterisk.</p>
<p>Athletes and others from North Korea and South Korea will march together under one banner in the opening ceremony of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. While there have been a couple of similar displays in the past, one has to pause and recognize that what's about to occur isn't exactly an everyday thing.</p>
<p>Is the news worth cheering? Certainly. With reservations.</p>
<p>Because there is no way to know if the two Koreas marching under a banner that shows the entire Korean peninsula is a sign of better things ahead, or if it's merely a stalling tactic from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. After all, if the entire world is busy congratulating the despot on his newfound rationality, he might well take that as an opportunity to get to work on furthering his nuclear and ballistic missile programs. While no one is looking, as it were.</p>
<p>Still, it's possible to feel that the rapprochement, even if it should turn out to be only temporary, beats the heck out of the alternative.</p>
<p>And it's notable that the two Koreas are planning more than mere symbolic gestures. If details can be worked out, the women's ice hockey teams from the longtime rivals will be briefly merged into one unit for next month's Olympics. How that might work out in practice remains anyone's guess, but at a minimum, it will make for some can't-miss television the world over.</p>
<p>The thought of the two adversaries competing together brings to mind what's come to be called "pingpong diplomacy," in which U.S. table tennis players visited China in 1971, marking an opening to a land with which we'd had no diplomatic relations for more than two decades. Did the pingpong players change everything? Consider this: Later that same year, U.S. President Richard Nixon stunned the world by announcing that he'd travel to the People's Republic of China. To be sure, he'd previously hinted of seeking better relations, and his national security adviser, Henry Kissinger, had secretly visited Beijing on several diplomatic missions. But, that said, pingpong diplomacy has to be seen as having played a role.</p>
<p>Is it possible to imagine a similar thawing of relations with North Korea? At least not immediately. No one should be readying for a Donald Trump goes to Pyongyang moment.</p>
<p>But still, a cooling of hostilities that could come from the Olympics might be just what's needed to get on a path that leads toward real change.</p>
<p>When one sees athletes from the rival Koreas marching beneath one banner, imagining a denuclearized Korean peninsula might not be quite so difficult.</p>
<p>You could think of it as a good start — with the hope of better days ahead.</p>
<p>Online: <a href="http://bit.ly/2mSEBdp" type="external">http://bit.ly/2mSEBdp</a></p>
<p>___</p>
<p>CONNECTICUT</p>
<p>The Republican-American, Jan. 17</p>
<p>Last June, Connecticut received demoralizing news when Aetna Inc. executives announced they would move Aetna's corporate headquarters from Hartford to New York City come late 2018. The insurance giant had been a Hartford fixture since before the Civil War. Last week, however, Rhode Island-based CVS Health, which reached a merger agreement with Aetna in early December, announced it will not go forward with the Aetna move. This killed the $9.6 million incentive package New York City offered Aetna.</p>
<p>Gov. Dannel P. Malloy was ecstatic. "Today's announcement confirms that Connecticut is a tremendous place to do business, with a talent pipeline and quality of life that are second to none," Gov. Malloy said Jan. 12. "My administration will continue to work with CVS Health's leadership team to ensure that their footprint in Hartford is maintained not only for the short term, but for the long run as well."</p>
<p>Contrary to Gov. Malloy's boasting, Aetna's non-move does not indicate Connecticut has a healthy business environment. Let's go back in time seven months.</p>
<p>Aetna's move was announced June 29. Then-Aetna Chairman and CEO Mark T. Bertolini told The New York Times Gotham City offered "the ecosystem of having people in the knowledge economy, working in a town they want to be living in, and we want to attract those folks, and we want to have them on our team." However, Aetna also asserted that its "long-term commitment to Connecticut will be based on the state's economic health." In a July 2 editorial, we argued, "It's hard to see this as anything but Aetna putting policymakers on notice."</p>
<p>Connecticut's economic woes need no introduction. It's unlikely the economy will turn around if state government doesn't get its perpetually messy finances in order, a point also made in recent days by Bill Curry, the liberal Demo-crat who was his party's nominee for governor in 1994 and 2002.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, there is no will power to fix the problems. This was best illustrated last summer, when Gov. Malloy and all but one of the legislature's Democrats granted the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition a "concessions" deal that all but precludes cuts to the personnel costs that account for approximately one-third of Connecticut's budget. That may at least partially explain why the $41.3 billion 2017-19 budget the governor and lawmakers approved in late October, while making some positive changes to state finances, nonetheless relies on gimmickry and tax increases.</p>
<p>This course does nothing for "the state's economic health." Remember, unstable finances prompted General Electric Co. executives to move GE headquarters from Fairfield to Boston after four-plus decades in Connecticut.</p>
<p>Gov. Malloy can blow the party noisemaker until he is blue in the face, but the fact remains that Connecticut has a fundamentally weak financial system and economy. Unfortunately, nothing is likely to change under the current Capitol powers-that-be.</p>
<p>Online: <a href="http://bit.ly/2FZkbsg" type="external">http://bit.ly/2FZkbsg</a></p>
<p>___</p>
<p>RHODE ISLAND</p>
<p>The Providence Journal, Jan. 18</p>
<p>They might as well have said "We're from the government and we're here to scare the bejeezus out of you," because that's what they did.</p>
<p>Last weekend's false warning of an incoming missile attack sent Hawaiian residents and visitors scrambling for cover, believing for a terrifying 15 minutes — and, for many, much longer — that the islands had come under attack.</p>
<p>Some hid under furniture. A man lowered a child into a storm drain, hoping it would provide protection from a nuclear blast. Many called family members and friends on the mainland and around the world to say goodbye.</p>
<p>It was all a mistake — a cruel false alarm caused by, officials said, human error.</p>
<p>Officials with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency later said an employee "pushed the wrong button" during a routine shift change. Instead of an internal test of the messaging system, the worker mistakenly sent it to the public, warning: "BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL"</p>
<p>The early efforts to correct the mistake weren't enough to stem the panic. The emergency agency sent an update 13 minutes after the message, but it was via a social media account, not an all-points text message like the original warning.</p>
<p>Two minutes after that, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, sent a tweet saying HAWAII - THIS IS A FALSE ALARM. THERE IS NO INCOMING MISSILE TO HAWAII. I HAVE CONFIRMED WITH OFFICIALS THERE IS NO INCOMING MISSILE, but it went only to her 174,000 followers, many of whom undoubtedly weren't paying attention.</p>
<p>It took 40 long minutes for the Emergency Management Agency to send a correction via text alert. "NO missile threat to Hawaii," it said.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, confusion reigned. Public officials in Hawaii had few answers for the people whose panic turned to anger as they learned the warning was a mistake.</p>
<p>The episode is a monstrous black eye for the emergency management agency and for public officials who were caught off guard. It was a startling reminder that even emergency systems staffed by trained public servants are prone to monstrous errors. And the false alarm may make Hawaii's residents less inclined to believe the next warning.</p>
<p>That danger of ignoring a real warning is particularly troubling at a time when North Korea's Kim Jong Un is firing off missiles and rapidly developing his capacity to deliver nuclear weapons to the United States. Would North Korea launch a strike on the nation it has threatened to "teach a severe lesson with its strategic nuclear force"? Officials say it would take about 20 minutes for a missile launched from the Korean Peninsula to reach Hawaii.</p>
<p>In this context, it doesn't seem too much to expect for emergency management agencies to check, re-check and triple check their systems and to develop backup plans to correct human errors like the one that caused the false missile alert. Human errors can happen any time, but the false alarm in Hawaii exposed a series of management failures that range from Honolulu to Washington. Does Rhode Island have a system that works any better (we hope)?</p>
<p>It's not enough that a single state emergency agency staffer was disciplined and reassigned to a different job. Everyone involved, from bottom to top, should take a lesson in how to avoid making the next human error into something much worse.</p>
<p>Online: <a href="http://bit.ly/2EWEwgo" type="external">http://bit.ly/2EWEwgo</a></p>
<p>___</p>
<p>VERMONT</p>
<p>Rutland Herald, Jan. 18</p>
<p>Rep. Peter Welch is hearing a rising clamor demanding that the U.S. House initiate impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump. So far, Welch has resisted that call, saying that instead he would support a vote of censure.</p>
<p>The latest surge of interest in impeaching the president follows his racist comments disparaging predominantly black nations — Haiti and the nations of Africa — with a familiar vulgarity that need not be repeated. (It is an indictment in itself that the president's language is so gross that people are reluctant to repeat it.)</p>
<p>If being a jerk were an impeachable offense, then proceedings against Trump would have begun long ago. But impeachment is described in the Constitution as a possible response by Congress to "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." This is a purposely vague formulation that allows Congress to determine what counts as a high crime or other serious misdeed. By itself, behaving as a morally repugnant individual doesn't justify impeachment.</p>
<p>That doesn't mean that grounds for impeachment will not emerge from the investigations now under way by special prosecutor Robert Mueller and several congressional committees. But jumping the gun on impeachment would put congressional Democrats in danger of making themselves the issue rather than the conduct of the president.</p>
<p>In any event, impeachment will go nowhere as long as Republicans hold a majority in the House. The Republicans have demonstrated a remarkable absence of shame or moral backbone as they have stood by the president. Their willingness to countenance his every outrage will likely put them in an extremely vulnerable position this fall, when voters are likely to punish them for their spinelessness. If Democrats win a majority in the House, talk of impeachment will then become more than academic.</p>
<p>In the meantime, Welch has it right. Refraining from impeachment puts the Democrats in a stronger position. They can push for a thorough investigation of the scandals swamping Trump's administration for the purpose of getting to the truth, rather than to pursue the political aim of removing the president. Impeachment would remain as an option if the evidence justifying it became sufficiently clear and convincing that the public could not help but rally to the cause.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, keeping the pos - sibility of impeachment alive is a worthwhile activity for those Vermonters putting pressure on Welch. Impeachment has been a constant threat during Trump's first year, like a storm cloud on the horizon, and there are many reasons to keep that storm cloud looming in place.</p>
<p>One obvious reason is the possibility that Trump engaged in a conspiracy with Russia to corrupt the election. Even Trump's former campaign manager and chief strategist, Steve Bannon, has called the meeting in June 2016 between a Russian operative and high Trump officials as "treasonous." That may have been Bannon shooting off his mouth for author Michael Wolff, but it suggests guilty knowledge of questionable connections. Trump's behavior — firing the FBI director, bragging to Russians that he had done so to protect himself — and the pattern of lies by his associates suggest impeachable offenses.</p>
<p>Trump's financial entanglements with dubious Russians and others may also paint him as a common gangster. His former campaign manager Paul Manafort has already been charged with money laundering. And his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, has already pleaded guilty to lying. Then there is the emoluments clause of the Constitution, which forbids Trump from receiving payments from foreign countries, a provision his businesses violate every day.</p>
<p>Trump is on the defensive and politically weak while investigators explore this miasma of corruption. He flails about, attacking the press and the Mueller probe, further underscoring his weakness. The Democrats do well to allow these investigations to run their course until the strongest possible case comes together. Impeachment must never be undertaken for trivial political reasons, as the Republicans learned when they went after President Bill Clinton. Welch seems to understand that impeachment may be the most potent political weapon when it remains in the holster.</p>
<p>Online: http://bit.ly/2mSHQlk</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>NEW HAMPSHIRE</p>
<p>Concord Monitor, Jan. 19</p>
<p>Lawmakers are once again debating whether to update the state's nondiscrimination laws by adding protections for transgender people. We have long argued for such a measure, and we know well the argument of those who oppose it. The challenge for the Legislature is to sort through facts and testimony to determine who faces a greater threat in this state: those who come into contact with transgender people or transgender people themselves.</p>
<p>Under current law, the state protects people from discrimination based on age, sex, race, creed, color, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability, and national origin. House Bill 1319 would add the words "gender identity" to that list.</p>
<p>The 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey provides guidance on why such a change is necessary. Of the 225 transgender people in New Hampshire who responded to the survey, 15 percent said they had lost a job because of their gender identity or expression. One in 5 reported being fired, denied a promotion or not hired based on their gender identity. Twenty-three percent said they had faced some form of housing discrimination. More than half said they avoided using a public restroom because they feared a confrontation. Many respondents also cited examples of discrimination involving education, health care and law enforcement.</p>
<p>We understand that there are many people in New Hampshire who have a difficult time wrapping their mind around the idea that a person can feel as though they were born in the wrong body. It is no small feat to see the world through the eyes of another, to experience their fear and pain as your own. We also understand that there are those who worry that somebody will use the protections proposed in House Bill 1319 in a way that could pose a danger to the public, especially women and children. But again, we ask lawmakers to consider what is more likely to happen: that without explicit protections many of the estimated 4,500 transgender people in New Hampshire will continue to face discrimination or that some bad actor will find a way to use those new protections to harm others.</p>
<p>As New Hampshire once again debates this important issue, we hope that all involved take the time to listen to those with whom they disagree and that logic overrides fear.</p>
<p>Online: http://bit.ly/2mR1Vbu</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>MAINE</p>
<p>Portland Press Herald, Jan. 18</p>
<p>A nurse practitioner can give you a complete physical, order diagnostic tests, stitch up a cut - even prescribe medication.</p>
<p>Along with other advanced-practice clinicians, like nurse midwives and nurse anesthetists, they can deliver many of the same services that a doctor can, often working in places where there is no doctor available.</p>
<p>Republicans decry timing of attorney general's bill to expand abortion access</p>
<p>But in Maine, they can't watch you take a pill - if that pill is part of a medically induced abortion. A law that's been on the books longer than the procedure has existed says that only doctors can do that here, and, as a result, women in this sparsely populated state sometimes can't access the care they need.</p>
<p>This problem is the subject of a lawsuit, filed last year in federal court by the American Civil Liberties Union. It's also the subject of a bill submitted by Maine Attorney General Janet Mills. Lawmakers should pass the bill and not wait for the courts to straighten this out.</p>
<p>When the current law was passed in 1979, just six years after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion, the doctors-only requirement was intended to protect women's health and safety from back-alley abortionists. Today, however, instead of protecting patients, the law has the effect of denying women access to health care.</p>
<p>What's changed is the invention of the medically induced abortion, which has been used in this country since 2000. The patient takes one pill in the presence of a health care provider, and takes doses of a second medication at home.</p>
<p>It is almost always effective, especially in the first weeks of a pregnancy. It's not a surgical procedure and is clearly not what lawmakers had in mind when they passed the law in 1979.</p>
<p>Passage of Mills' bill, L.D. 1763, would do two things. It would make abortion services available to women who live in parts of the state that aren't near one of the three clinics where abortions are performed: Maine Family Planning in Augusta, the Mabel Wadsworth Women's Health Center in Bangor and Planned Parenthood in Portland. And approval of the proposal also would render moot the pending lawsuit that would unnecessarily run up the state's legal bills.</p>
<p>Allowing advanced-practice clinicians to supervise women who take the abortion pill is not some wild idea. It's the practice in nine states, including New Hampshire, where there are similar problems with access to health care in rural areas.</p>
<p>Mills' sponsorship of the bill has drawn criticism from Republican lawmakers, led by Rep. Ellie Espling, assistant floor leader for House Republicans, because Mills is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor. But Mills' position on the provider bill would be an asset to her campaign only if the bill were something that voters wanted the state to do. Public officials should not be discouraged from promoting policies that most Mainers would consider to be good ideas.</p>
<p>A legislative outcome on this issue would be better than a judicial one, because lawmakers will listen to testimony from experts and have the ability to build in specific protections.</p>
<p>Nurse practitioners are highly trained professionals who are more than capable of delivering this service. We shouldn't let political barriers create legal barriers between these providers and their patients.</p>
<p>Online: http://bit.ly/2EWipGL</p>
<p>___</p>
| false | 2 |
editorials around new england massachusetts springfield republican jan 18 could think detente asterisk athletes others north korea south korea march together one banner opening ceremony upcoming winter olympics pyeongchang south korea couple similar displays past one pause recognize whats occur isnt exactly everyday thing news worth cheering certainly reservations way know two koreas marching banner shows entire korean peninsula sign better things ahead merely stalling tactic north korean leader kim jong un entire world busy congratulating despot newfound rationality might well take opportunity get work furthering nuclear ballistic missile programs one looking still possible feel rapprochement even turn temporary beats heck alternative notable two koreas planning mere symbolic gestures details worked womens ice hockey teams longtime rivals briefly merged one unit next months olympics might work practice remains anyones guess minimum make cantmiss television world thought two adversaries competing together brings mind whats come called pingpong diplomacy us table tennis players visited china 1971 marking opening land wed diplomatic relations two decades pingpong players change everything consider later year us president richard nixon stunned world announcing hed travel peoples republic china sure hed previously hinted seeking better relations national security adviser henry kissinger secretly visited beijing several diplomatic missions said pingpong diplomacy seen played role possible imagine similar thawing relations north korea least immediately one readying donald trump goes pyongyang moment still cooling hostilities could come olympics might whats needed get path leads toward real change one sees athletes rival koreas marching beneath one banner imagining denuclearized korean peninsula might quite difficult could think good start hope better days ahead online httpbitly2msebdp ___ connecticut republicanamerican jan 17 last june connecticut received demoralizing news aetna inc executives announced would move aetnas corporate headquarters hartford new york city come late 2018 insurance giant hartford fixture since civil war last week however rhode islandbased cvs health reached merger agreement aetna early december announced go forward aetna move killed 96 million incentive package new york city offered aetna gov dannel p malloy ecstatic todays announcement confirms connecticut tremendous place business talent pipeline quality life second none gov malloy said jan 12 administration continue work cvs healths leadership team ensure footprint hartford maintained short term long run well contrary gov malloys boasting aetnas nonmove indicate connecticut healthy business environment lets go back time seven months aetnas move announced june 29 thenaetna chairman ceo mark bertolini told new york times gotham city offered ecosystem people knowledge economy working town want living want attract folks want team however aetna also asserted longterm commitment connecticut based states economic health july 2 editorial argued hard see anything aetna putting policymakers notice connecticuts economic woes need introduction unlikely economy turn around state government doesnt get perpetually messy finances order point also made recent days bill curry liberal democrat partys nominee governor 1994 2002 unfortunately power fix problems best illustrated last summer gov malloy one legislatures democrats granted state employees bargaining agent coalition concessions deal precludes cuts personnel costs account approximately onethird connecticuts budget may least partially explain 413 billion 201719 budget governor lawmakers approved late october making positive changes state finances nonetheless relies gimmickry tax increases course nothing states economic health remember unstable finances prompted general electric co executives move ge headquarters fairfield boston fourplus decades connecticut gov malloy blow party noisemaker blue face fact remains connecticut fundamentally weak financial system economy unfortunately nothing likely change current capitol powersthatbe online httpbitly2fzkbsg ___ rhode island providence journal jan 18 might well said government scare bejeezus thats last weekends false warning incoming missile attack sent hawaiian residents visitors scrambling cover believing terrifying 15 minutes many much longer islands come attack hid furniture man lowered child storm drain hoping would provide protection nuclear blast many called family members friends mainland around world say goodbye mistake cruel false alarm caused officials said human error officials hawaii emergency management agency later said employee pushed wrong button routine shift change instead internal test messaging system worker mistakenly sent public warning ballistic missile threat inbound hawaii seek immediate shelter drill early efforts correct mistake werent enough stem panic emergency agency sent update 13 minutes message via social media account allpoints text message like original warning two minutes rep tulsi gabbard dhawaii sent tweet saying hawaii false alarm incoming missile hawaii confirmed officials incoming missile went 174000 followers many undoubtedly werent paying attention took 40 long minutes emergency management agency send correction via text alert missile threat hawaii said meanwhile confusion reigned public officials hawaii answers people whose panic turned anger learned warning mistake episode monstrous black eye emergency management agency public officials caught guard startling reminder even emergency systems staffed trained public servants prone monstrous errors false alarm may make hawaiis residents less inclined believe next warning danger ignoring real warning particularly troubling time north koreas kim jong un firing missiles rapidly developing capacity deliver nuclear weapons united states would north korea launch strike nation threatened teach severe lesson strategic nuclear force officials say would take 20 minutes missile launched korean peninsula reach hawaii context doesnt seem much expect emergency management agencies check recheck triple check systems develop backup plans correct human errors like one caused false missile alert human errors happen time false alarm hawaii exposed series management failures range honolulu washington rhode island system works better hope enough single state emergency agency staffer disciplined reassigned different job everyone involved bottom top take lesson avoid making next human error something much worse online httpbitly2ewewgo ___ vermont rutland herald jan 18 rep peter welch hearing rising clamor demanding us house initiate impeachment proceedings president donald trump far welch resisted call saying instead would support vote censure latest surge interest impeaching president follows racist comments disparaging predominantly black nations haiti nations africa familiar vulgarity need repeated indictment presidents language gross people reluctant repeat jerk impeachable offense proceedings trump would begun long ago impeachment described constitution possible response congress treason bribery high crimes misdemeanors purposely vague formulation allows congress determine counts high crime serious misdeed behaving morally repugnant individual doesnt justify impeachment doesnt mean grounds impeachment emerge investigations way special prosecutor robert mueller several congressional committees jumping gun impeachment would put congressional democrats danger making issue rather conduct president event impeachment go nowhere long republicans hold majority house republicans demonstrated remarkable absence shame moral backbone stood president willingness countenance every outrage likely put extremely vulnerable position fall voters likely punish spinelessness democrats win majority house talk impeachment become academic meantime welch right refraining impeachment puts democrats stronger position push thorough investigation scandals swamping trumps administration purpose getting truth rather pursue political aim removing president impeachment would remain option evidence justifying became sufficiently clear convincing public could help rally cause meanwhile keeping pos sibility impeachment alive worthwhile activity vermonters putting pressure welch impeachment constant threat trumps first year like storm cloud horizon many reasons keep storm cloud looming place one obvious reason possibility trump engaged conspiracy russia corrupt election even trumps former campaign manager chief strategist steve bannon called meeting june 2016 russian operative high trump officials treasonous may bannon shooting mouth author michael wolff suggests guilty knowledge questionable connections trumps behavior firing fbi director bragging russians done protect pattern lies associates suggest impeachable offenses trumps financial entanglements dubious russians others may also paint common gangster former campaign manager paul manafort already charged money laundering former national security adviser michael flynn already pleaded guilty lying emoluments clause constitution forbids trump receiving payments foreign countries provision businesses violate every day trump defensive politically weak investigators explore miasma corruption flails attacking press mueller probe underscoring weakness democrats well allow investigations run course strongest possible case comes together impeachment must never undertaken trivial political reasons republicans learned went president bill clinton welch seems understand impeachment may potent political weapon remains holster online httpbitly2mshqlk ___ new hampshire concord monitor jan 19 lawmakers debating whether update states nondiscrimination laws adding protections transgender people long argued measure know well argument oppose challenge legislature sort facts testimony determine faces greater threat state come contact transgender people transgender people current law state protects people discrimination based age sex race creed color marital status familial status physical mental disability national origin house bill 1319 would add words gender identity list 2015 us transgender survey provides guidance change necessary 225 transgender people new hampshire responded survey 15 percent said lost job gender identity expression one 5 reported fired denied promotion hired based gender identity twentythree percent said faced form housing discrimination half said avoided using public restroom feared confrontation many respondents also cited examples discrimination involving education health care law enforcement understand many people new hampshire difficult time wrapping mind around idea person feel though born wrong body small feat see world eyes another experience fear pain also understand worry somebody use protections proposed house bill 1319 way could pose danger public especially women children ask lawmakers consider likely happen without explicit protections many estimated 4500 transgender people new hampshire continue face discrimination bad actor find way use new protections harm others new hampshire debates important issue hope involved take time listen disagree logic overrides fear online httpbitly2mr1vbu ___ maine portland press herald jan 18 nurse practitioner give complete physical order diagnostic tests stitch cut even prescribe medication along advancedpractice clinicians like nurse midwives nurse anesthetists deliver many services doctor often working places doctor available republicans decry timing attorney generals bill expand abortion access maine cant watch take pill pill part medically induced abortion law thats books longer procedure existed says doctors result women sparsely populated state sometimes cant access care need problem subject lawsuit filed last year federal court american civil liberties union also subject bill submitted maine attorney general janet mills lawmakers pass bill wait courts straighten current law passed 1979 six years us supreme court legalized abortion doctorsonly requirement intended protect womens health safety backalley abortionists today however instead protecting patients law effect denying women access health care whats changed invention medically induced abortion used country since 2000 patient takes one pill presence health care provider takes doses second medication home almost always effective especially first weeks pregnancy surgical procedure clearly lawmakers mind passed law 1979 passage mills bill ld 1763 would two things would make abortion services available women live parts state arent near one three clinics abortions performed maine family planning augusta mabel wadsworth womens health center bangor planned parenthood portland approval proposal also would render moot pending lawsuit would unnecessarily run states legal bills allowing advancedpractice clinicians supervise women take abortion pill wild idea practice nine states including new hampshire similar problems access health care rural areas mills sponsorship bill drawn criticism republican lawmakers led rep ellie espling assistant floor leader house republicans mills candidate democratic nomination governor mills position provider bill would asset campaign bill something voters wanted state public officials discouraged promoting policies mainers would consider good ideas legislative outcome issue would better judicial one lawmakers listen testimony experts ability build specific protections nurse practitioners highly trained professionals capable delivering service shouldnt let political barriers create legal barriers providers patients online httpbitly2ewipgl ___ editorials around new england massachusetts springfield republican jan 18 could think detente asterisk athletes others north korea south korea march together one banner opening ceremony upcoming winter olympics pyeongchang south korea couple similar displays past one pause recognize whats occur isnt exactly everyday thing news worth cheering certainly reservations way know two koreas marching banner shows entire korean peninsula sign better things ahead merely stalling tactic north korean leader kim jong un entire world busy congratulating despot newfound rationality might well take opportunity get work furthering nuclear ballistic missile programs one looking still possible feel rapprochement even turn temporary beats heck alternative notable two koreas planning mere symbolic gestures details worked womens ice hockey teams longtime rivals briefly merged one unit next months olympics might work practice remains anyones guess minimum make cantmiss television world thought two adversaries competing together brings mind whats come called pingpong diplomacy us table tennis players visited china 1971 marking opening land wed diplomatic relations two decades pingpong players change everything consider later year us president richard nixon stunned world announcing hed travel peoples republic china sure hed previously hinted seeking better relations national security adviser henry kissinger secretly visited beijing several diplomatic missions said pingpong diplomacy seen played role possible imagine similar thawing relations north korea least immediately one readying donald trump goes pyongyang moment still cooling hostilities could come olympics might whats needed get path leads toward real change one sees athletes rival koreas marching beneath one banner imagining denuclearized korean peninsula might quite difficult could think good start hope better days ahead online httpbitly2msebdp ___ connecticut republicanamerican jan 17 last june connecticut received demoralizing news aetna inc executives announced would move aetnas corporate headquarters hartford new york city come late 2018 insurance giant hartford fixture since civil war last week however rhode islandbased cvs health reached merger agreement aetna early december announced go forward aetna move killed 96 million incentive package new york city offered aetna gov dannel p malloy ecstatic todays announcement confirms connecticut tremendous place business talent pipeline quality life second none gov malloy said jan 12 administration continue work cvs healths leadership team ensure footprint hartford maintained short term long run well contrary gov malloys boasting aetnas nonmove indicate connecticut healthy business environment lets go back time seven months aetnas move announced june 29 thenaetna chairman ceo mark bertolini told new york times gotham city offered ecosystem people knowledge economy working town want living want attract folks want team however aetna also asserted longterm commitment connecticut based states economic health july 2 editorial argued hard see anything aetna putting policymakers notice connecticuts economic woes need introduction unlikely economy turn around state government doesnt get perpetually messy finances order point also made recent days bill curry liberal democrat partys nominee governor 1994 2002 unfortunately power fix problems best illustrated last summer gov malloy one legislatures democrats granted state employees bargaining agent coalition concessions deal precludes cuts personnel costs account approximately onethird connecticuts budget may least partially explain 413 billion 201719 budget governor lawmakers approved late october making positive changes state finances nonetheless relies gimmickry tax increases course nothing states economic health remember unstable finances prompted general electric co executives move ge headquarters fairfield boston fourplus decades connecticut gov malloy blow party noisemaker blue face fact remains connecticut fundamentally weak financial system economy unfortunately nothing likely change current capitol powersthatbe online httpbitly2fzkbsg ___ rhode island providence journal jan 18 might well said government scare bejeezus thats last weekends false warning incoming missile attack sent hawaiian residents visitors scrambling cover believing terrifying 15 minutes many much longer islands come attack hid furniture man lowered child storm drain hoping would provide protection nuclear blast many called family members friends mainland around world say goodbye mistake cruel false alarm caused officials said human error officials hawaii emergency management agency later said employee pushed wrong button routine shift change instead internal test messaging system worker mistakenly sent public warning ballistic missile threat inbound hawaii seek immediate shelter drill early efforts correct mistake werent enough stem panic emergency agency sent update 13 minutes message via social media account allpoints text message like original warning two minutes rep tulsi gabbard dhawaii sent tweet saying hawaii false alarm incoming missile hawaii confirmed officials incoming missile went 174000 followers many undoubtedly werent paying attention took 40 long minutes emergency management agency send correction via text alert missile threat hawaii said meanwhile confusion reigned public officials hawaii answers people whose panic turned anger learned warning mistake episode monstrous black eye emergency management agency public officials caught guard startling reminder even emergency systems staffed trained public servants prone monstrous errors false alarm may make hawaiis residents less inclined believe next warning danger ignoring real warning particularly troubling time north koreas kim jong un firing missiles rapidly developing capacity deliver nuclear weapons united states would north korea launch strike nation threatened teach severe lesson strategic nuclear force officials say would take 20 minutes missile launched korean peninsula reach hawaii context doesnt seem much expect emergency management agencies check recheck triple check systems develop backup plans correct human errors like one caused false missile alert human errors happen time false alarm hawaii exposed series management failures range honolulu washington rhode island system works better hope enough single state emergency agency staffer disciplined reassigned different job everyone involved bottom top take lesson avoid making next human error something much worse online httpbitly2ewewgo ___ vermont rutland herald jan 18 rep peter welch hearing rising clamor demanding us house initiate impeachment proceedings president donald trump far welch resisted call saying instead would support vote censure latest surge interest impeaching president follows racist comments disparaging predominantly black nations haiti nations africa familiar vulgarity need repeated indictment presidents language gross people reluctant repeat jerk impeachable offense proceedings trump would begun long ago impeachment described constitution possible response congress treason bribery high crimes misdemeanors purposely vague formulation allows congress determine counts high crime serious misdeed behaving morally repugnant individual doesnt justify impeachment doesnt mean grounds impeachment emerge investigations way special prosecutor robert mueller several congressional committees jumping gun impeachment would put congressional democrats danger making issue rather conduct president event impeachment go nowhere long republicans hold majority house republicans demonstrated remarkable absence shame moral backbone stood president willingness countenance every outrage likely put extremely vulnerable position fall voters likely punish spinelessness democrats win majority house talk impeachment become academic meantime welch right refraining impeachment puts democrats stronger position push thorough investigation scandals swamping trumps administration purpose getting truth rather pursue political aim removing president impeachment would remain option evidence justifying became sufficiently clear convincing public could help rally cause meanwhile keeping pos sibility impeachment alive worthwhile activity vermonters putting pressure welch impeachment constant threat trumps first year like storm cloud horizon many reasons keep storm cloud looming place one obvious reason possibility trump engaged conspiracy russia corrupt election even trumps former campaign manager chief strategist steve bannon called meeting june 2016 russian operative high trump officials treasonous may bannon shooting mouth author michael wolff suggests guilty knowledge questionable connections trumps behavior firing fbi director bragging russians done protect pattern lies associates suggest impeachable offenses trumps financial entanglements dubious russians others may also paint common gangster former campaign manager paul manafort already charged money laundering former national security adviser michael flynn already pleaded guilty lying emoluments clause constitution forbids trump receiving payments foreign countries provision businesses violate every day trump defensive politically weak investigators explore miasma corruption flails attacking press mueller probe underscoring weakness democrats well allow investigations run course strongest possible case comes together impeachment must never undertaken trivial political reasons republicans learned went president bill clinton welch seems understand impeachment may potent political weapon remains holster online httpbitly2mshqlk ___ new hampshire concord monitor jan 19 lawmakers debating whether update states nondiscrimination laws adding protections transgender people long argued measure know well argument oppose challenge legislature sort facts testimony determine faces greater threat state come contact transgender people transgender people current law state protects people discrimination based age sex race creed color marital status familial status physical mental disability national origin house bill 1319 would add words gender identity list 2015 us transgender survey provides guidance change necessary 225 transgender people new hampshire responded survey 15 percent said lost job gender identity expression one 5 reported fired denied promotion hired based gender identity twentythree percent said faced form housing discrimination half said avoided using public restroom feared confrontation many respondents also cited examples discrimination involving education health care law enforcement understand many people new hampshire difficult time wrapping mind around idea person feel though born wrong body small feat see world eyes another experience fear pain also understand worry somebody use protections proposed house bill 1319 way could pose danger public especially women children ask lawmakers consider likely happen without explicit protections many estimated 4500 transgender people new hampshire continue face discrimination bad actor find way use new protections harm others new hampshire debates important issue hope involved take time listen disagree logic overrides fear online httpbitly2mr1vbu ___ maine portland press herald jan 18 nurse practitioner give complete physical order diagnostic tests stitch cut even prescribe medication along advancedpractice clinicians like nurse midwives nurse anesthetists deliver many services doctor often working places doctor available republicans decry timing attorney generals bill expand abortion access maine cant watch take pill pill part medically induced abortion law thats books longer procedure existed says doctors result women sparsely populated state sometimes cant access care need problem subject lawsuit filed last year federal court american civil liberties union also subject bill submitted maine attorney general janet mills lawmakers pass bill wait courts straighten current law passed 1979 six years us supreme court legalized abortion doctorsonly requirement intended protect womens health safety backalley abortionists today however instead protecting patients law effect denying women access health care whats changed invention medically induced abortion used country since 2000 patient takes one pill presence health care provider takes doses second medication home almost always effective especially first weeks pregnancy surgical procedure clearly lawmakers mind passed law 1979 passage mills bill ld 1763 would two things would make abortion services available women live parts state arent near one three clinics abortions performed maine family planning augusta mabel wadsworth womens health center bangor planned parenthood portland approval proposal also would render moot pending lawsuit would unnecessarily run states legal bills allowing advancedpractice clinicians supervise women take abortion pill wild idea practice nine states including new hampshire similar problems access health care rural areas mills sponsorship bill drawn criticism republican lawmakers led rep ellie espling assistant floor leader house republicans mills candidate democratic nomination governor mills position provider bill would asset campaign bill something voters wanted state public officials discouraged promoting policies mainers would consider good ideas legislative outcome issue would better judicial one lawmakers listen testimony experts ability build specific protections nurse practitioners highly trained professionals capable delivering service shouldnt let political barriers create legal barriers providers patients online httpbitly2ewipgl ___
| 3,642 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p>Rio Rancho’s Devin Paredes (312) keeps his lead as Albuquerque Academy’s Jordan Lesansee tries to edge him at the finish line at the Metro Cross-Country Championships last month. (Jim Thompson/Albuquerque Journal)</p>
<p>The schools are separated by 95 miles of highway, by the colors red and green. One calls the Jemez Mountains home; the other sits just off a busy city street. But running binds them.</p>
<p>The boys cross-country runners from Albuquerque Academy and their counterparts from Los Alamos have engendered perhaps the most competitive rivalry in New Mexico high school sports.</p>
<p>Since 1998, Academy has won nine Class 4A cross-country titles and two 3A crowns, while Los Alamos has won five 4A titles, including the last three. Every year Academy won, Los Alamos finished second. Every year the Hilltoppers won, the Chargers were second. That’s 16 years in a row.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>“It is the ultimate high school rivalry in New Mexico,” Academy coach Adam Kedge said.</p>
<p />
<p>And it is a rivalry without animosity.</p>
<p>“It’s been a terrific rivalry,” said Rob Hipwood, who is Los Alamos’ co-head coach along with his wife, Kathy. “It epitomizes everything that sports should be about. The teams do everything they can to beat each other. Then, when it ends, they are the first to congratulate us, and hopefully, we’re the first to congratulate them.”</p>
<p>Class 4A is now 5A, but Saturday’s boys race is again expected to come down to Los Alamos and Academy.</p>
<p>Kedge said: “(The Hipwoods) are close friends of mine, as much as I want to kick them in the pants on Saturday. … I have great respect for Rob and Kathy. We talk all the time about kids, workouts, running, about people in general.”</p>
<p>Kedge ran for Española Valley, while Rob Hipwood was a Hilltopper.</p>
<p>“Rob and I have known each other 30 years,” Kedge said. “We ran against each other in high school. Nine times out of 10, he got the better part of me.”</p>
<p>“He gives me too much credit,” Hipwood said. “He was a much better middle-distance runner than I was.”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Kedge ran for the University of New Mexico, while Hipwood went to Adams State. At Adams State, he met fellow runner Kathy, and after four years they began to date.</p>
<p>“Kathy knew before I did that she wanted to coach,” Rob said.</p>
<p>Kathy assisted at Adams State and Alamosa (Colo.) High before the newlyweds moved to Los Alamos. When the Los Alamos cross-country job opened, they applied – with the condition that they be named co-head coaches.</p>
<p>“And 21 years later, we’re still here,” Hipwood said. “It’s a great place to live and a wonderful place to coach.”</p>
<p>The girls cross-country team was fairly established as a state title contender when they took over. The boys were not.</p>
<p>At the 1997 meet, the Hilltoppers boys finished 11th. On the road home from Gallup, one of the boys wandered to the front of the bus and asked the Hipwoods what they could do to be better.</p>
<p>“They hadn’t bought into the idea they had to work really hard to be one of the teams competing to be on the podium,” Hipwood said.</p>
<p>He credits two of the younger runners from that team with turning it around – Brad Skidmore (who now coaches the midschool team) and Kit Werley.</p>
<p>“They had a significant impact in changing the culture,” Hipwood said. “Even as eighth- and ninth-graders, they didn’t care what the other boys were doing. They ran day after day.”</p>
<p>The next year, the Hilltoppers finished second. They have not finished worse than second since.</p>
<p>“I don’t think we ever imagined, that many years ago, that we would have had this kind of success,” Hipwood said.</p>
<p>Kedge had similar thoughts when he took over the boys program at Academy 20 years ago.</p>
<p>“I never imagined that cross-country would take such importance in our school and within our state,” Kedge said. “I never dreamed it would be so. Twenty years ago, I was hoping I could prove we were good enough to win a title. To have the numbers we have, I’m still flabbergasted.”</p>
<p>He had been working at Eldorado when the position opened. Academy also hired him to teach ninth-grade science.</p>
<p>“It’s the best job in the world,” Kedge said.</p>
<p>The Chargers were moderately successful runners when Kedge took over. But he fueled it with numbers. The program has grown from about 40 boys and girls then to 96 this season.</p>
<p>“I will take anyone who wears a smile,” Kedge said. “I prefer if they are handsome or good-looking. Two legs is optional. Anybody who has a good attitude. Athletic ability is secondary. If they are dedicated and work hard, I’m sure they’ll have some success in the program. I don’t need tall, short, skinny, fat. I say I want them handsome, but I’ll take them even if they’re not.”</p>
<p>Neither Kedge nor Hipwood take the success for granted. They will savor Saturday. Then the work starts all over, with one eye on the other.</p>
<p>STATE MEET: While the Hilltoppers and Chargers appear to be the clear front-runners in the boys meet, Los Alamos and Academy could be challenged by St. Pius in the girls race. Jordyn DiLorenzo is the District 5-5A champ. Madison Foley leads the Hilltoppers, while the Chargers have Lillian Brunacini and Dara Procell.</p>
<p>Academy boys Jordan Lesansee, Cody Bratzler, Carlos C de Baca, Aric Kedge and Will Stanopiewicz swept the 5-5A race. Cameron Staples, John Rees, Connor Bailey and Greg Ahlers are among the top Hilltopers. Miyamura’s Niles Thomas won the Rio Rancho Jamboree (on the same course the state meet will be run) and the Academy and Lobo Invitationals.</p>
<p>In Class 6A girls, La Cueva’s Natasha Bernal, La Cueva’s Mason Swanson, Rio Rancho’s Molly Klein and Reina Paredes, and Oñate’s Meghan Aguilera and Renee Baldwin are among the contenders. Rio Rancho won the Rio Rancho Jamboree, while Eldorado took the Academy Invitational.</p>
<p>In 6A boys, Devin Paredes and Michael Goke of Rio Rancho; Carlos Oregon, Manuel Parras, Andrew Bosquez and Jessie Madrid of Hobbs; Tom Hiett of La Cueva; Chris Harlow of Cibola; and Jericho Cleveland of Volcano Vista appear to be in top form. Rio Rancho won its Jamboree and was second in the Lobo Invitational.</p>
<p>Taos, East Mountain and St. Michael’s swept district boys and girls titles in 4A. The boys and girls from Jemez Valley and Cimarron won district titles in 1A/2A.</p>
<p>The Laguna-Acoma boys, led by Jacob Sanchez, swept the top six spots at the District 5/6-3A meet, while the Navajo Prep girls, with Sarah Chacon in front, dominated the District 1-3A meet. Hope Christian’s Peter Siminski has fared well against big-school competition.</p>
<p />
<p />
| false | 2 |
rio ranchos devin paredes 312 keeps lead albuquerque academys jordan lesansee tries edge finish line metro crosscountry championships last month jim thompsonalbuquerque journal schools separated 95 miles highway colors red green one calls jemez mountains home sits busy city street running binds boys crosscountry runners albuquerque academy counterparts los alamos engendered perhaps competitive rivalry new mexico high school sports since 1998 academy nine class 4a crosscountry titles two 3a crowns los alamos five 4a titles including last three every year academy los alamos finished second every year hilltoppers chargers second thats 16 years row advertisement ultimate high school rivalry new mexico academy coach adam kedge said rivalry without animosity terrific rivalry said rob hipwood los alamos cohead coach along wife kathy epitomizes everything sports teams everything beat ends first congratulate us hopefully first congratulate class 4a 5a saturdays boys race expected come los alamos academy kedge said hipwoods close friends mine much want kick pants saturday great respect rob kathy talk time kids workouts running people general kedge ran española valley rob hipwood hilltopper rob known 30 years kedge said ran high school nine times 10 got better part gives much credit hipwood said much better middledistance runner advertisement kedge ran university new mexico hipwood went adams state adams state met fellow runner kathy four years began date kathy knew wanted coach rob said kathy assisted adams state alamosa colo high newlyweds moved los alamos los alamos crosscountry job opened applied condition named cohead coaches 21 years later still hipwood said great place live wonderful place coach girls crosscountry team fairly established state title contender took boys 1997 meet hilltoppers boys finished 11th road home gallup one boys wandered front bus asked hipwoods could better hadnt bought idea work really hard one teams competing podium hipwood said credits two younger runners team turning around brad skidmore coaches midschool team kit werley significant impact changing culture hipwood said even eighth ninthgraders didnt care boys ran day day next year hilltoppers finished second finished worse second since dont think ever imagined many years ago would kind success hipwood said kedge similar thoughts took boys program academy 20 years ago never imagined crosscountry would take importance school within state kedge said never dreamed would twenty years ago hoping could prove good enough win title numbers im still flabbergasted working eldorado position opened academy also hired teach ninthgrade science best job world kedge said chargers moderately successful runners kedge took fueled numbers program grown 40 boys girls 96 season take anyone wears smile kedge said prefer handsome goodlooking two legs optional anybody good attitude athletic ability secondary dedicated work hard im sure theyll success program dont need tall short skinny fat say want handsome ill take even theyre neither kedge hipwood take success granted savor saturday work starts one eye state meet hilltoppers chargers appear clear frontrunners boys meet los alamos academy could challenged st pius girls race jordyn dilorenzo district 55a champ madison foley leads hilltoppers chargers lillian brunacini dara procell academy boys jordan lesansee cody bratzler carlos c de baca aric kedge stanopiewicz swept 55a race cameron staples john rees connor bailey greg ahlers among top hilltopers miyamuras niles thomas rio rancho jamboree course state meet run academy lobo invitationals class 6a girls la cuevas natasha bernal la cuevas mason swanson rio ranchos molly klein reina paredes oñates meghan aguilera renee baldwin among contenders rio rancho rio rancho jamboree eldorado took academy invitational 6a boys devin paredes michael goke rio rancho carlos oregon manuel parras andrew bosquez jessie madrid hobbs tom hiett la cueva chris harlow cibola jericho cleveland volcano vista appear top form rio rancho jamboree second lobo invitational taos east mountain st michaels swept district boys girls titles 4a boys girls jemez valley cimarron district titles 1a2a lagunaacoma boys led jacob sanchez swept top six spots district 563a meet navajo prep girls sarah chacon front dominated district 13a meet hope christians peter siminski fared well bigschool competition
| 657 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p>WASHINGTON — Donald Trump enters the White House on Friday just as he entered the race for president: defiant, unfiltered, unbound by tradition and utterly confident in his chosen course.</p>
<p>In the 10 weeks since his surprise election as the nation’s 45th president, Trump has violated decades of established diplomatic protocol, sent shockwaves through business boardrooms, tested long-standing ethics rules and continued his combative style of replying to any slight with a personal attack — on Twitter and in person.</p>
<p>Past presidents have described walking into the Oval Office for the first time as a humbling experience, one that in an instant makes clear the weight of their new role as caretaker of American democracy. Trump spent much of his transition making clear he sees things differently: Rather than change for the office, he argues, the office will change for him.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>“They say it’s not presidential to call up these massive leaders of business,” Trump told a crowd in Indianapolis in December. That was after he negotiated a deal with an air conditioning company to keep jobs in the state, a move many economists derided as unworkable national economic policy.</p>
<p>“I think it’s very presidential,” he declared. “And if it’s not presidential, that’s OK. That’s OK. Because I actually like doing it.”</p>
<p>Even before he takes the oath of office, Trump has changed the very nature of presidency, breaking conventions and upending expectations for the leader of the free world.</p>
<p>Advisers who’ve spoken with Trump say the billionaire real estate mogul and reality TV star is aware of the historic nature of his new job. He’s told friends that he’s drawn to the ambition of Ronald Reagan, a Republican, and John F. Kennedy, a Democrat. He’s thinking of spending his first night in the White House sleeping in the Lincoln Bedroom, according to some who dined with him recently in Florida.</p>
<p>But Trump also views himself as a kind of “sui generis” president, beholden to no one for his success and modeling himself after no leader who’s come before. Trump has said he’s read no biographies of former presidents. When asked to name his personal heroes in a recent interview, he mentioned his father before replying that he didn’t “like the concept of heroes.”</p>
<p>“I don’t think Trump has a great sense of the history of the White House. When you don’t know your history, it’s hard to fully respect the traditions,” said historian Douglas Brinkley, who recently dined with Trump and other guests at his South Florida club. “This is not somebody who brags about how many history biographies he’s read.”</p>
<p>“He’s somebody who brags about it as this is a big event and he’s the maestro,” he said.</p>
<p>That’s a shift that thrills his supporters, who elected Trump to shake up what they see as an unresponsive and corrupt federal government in the “swamp” of Washington.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>“I don’t want him to change” said Iowa state Sen. Brad Zaun, one of Trump’s earliest backers. “One of the reasons that I supported him is that he told it the way it was. He didn’t beat around the bush. He didn’t do the standard political talking points.”</p>
<p>Trump won election with that approach, but he’s yet to win over the country. His Electoral College victory was tempered by a loss in the popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton by nearly 3 million ballots. The protests planned for the day after his inauguration threaten to draw more people to the National Mall than his official events.</p>
<p>Polls over the past week show that Trump is poised to enter the White House as the least popular president in four decades. Democrats remain staunchly opposed to him, independents have not rallied behind him and even Republicans are less enthusiastic than might be expected, according to the surveys.</p>
<p>In his typical reaction to poll results he doesn’t like, Trump dismissed them as “rigged” in a Tuesday tweet.</p>
<p>It’s exactly that kind of tweet that worries governing experts, lawmakers and other critics, who argue that traditional practices of the presidency protect the health of the American democracy.</p>
<p>“With notable exceptions, we’ve had a political culture in which presidents largely respect a series of unwritten rules that help democracy and the rule of law flourish,” said Brendan Nyhan, a professor of government at Dartmouth College. “What’s striking about Trump is he flouts norms that have previously been respected by both parties on a daily basis. He calls things into question that have never been questioned before.”</p>
<p>Since winning the election, Trump has attacked Hollywood celebrities, civil rights icons and political rivals alike. He’s moved markets by going after some companies, while praising others.</p>
<p>He’s questioned the legitimacy of American institutions — appearing to trust the word of Russian President Vladimir Putin over the intelligence agencies he’ll soon oversee, engaging in personal fights with journalists as he assails the free press and questioning the results of the election, even though it put him in office.</p>
<p>And he’s lambasted the leaders of longstanding allied nations as he questions the post-World War II international order that won the Cold War and maintained peace in Europe for generations.</p>
<p>For Trump supporters, that no-holds-barred style is the very reason he won their votes. But for others in the country, it’s a type of leadership they’ve seen before and fear will spread.</p>
<p>They point to Maine, where a Trump-like governor has roiled the state’s government with offensive statements, a combative style and little respect for the Legislature, as a warning of what the nation might expect during a Trump administration.</p>
<p>Gov. Paul LePage’s confrontational brand of politics has made it harder to pass legislation, build political coalitions or even conduct the basic workings of state government, say legislators and political consultants in the traditionally centrist state. He’s created rifts with would-be Republican allies, demonized the media and tightly controlled basic information. At times, he’s banned the heads of state agencies from appearing before legislative committees, making state budgeting and oversight difficult.</p>
<p>“What I’m concerned about nationally is what we’ve seen up here — that the checks and balances we take for granted disappear,” said Lance Dutson, a Republican political strategist who worked to get LePage elected before later speaking out against him. “There are things that are happening up here that I really thought just couldn’t happen.”</p>
<p>There are signs that Trump’s actions are already changing the traditions of government in Washington, freeing lawmakers and other officials from long-respected practices of federal politics.</p>
<p>More than 50 House Democrats plan to boycott Trump’s inauguration ceremony, an unprecedented break with the bipartisan tradition of celebrating the peaceful transfer of power. While many Democrats were furious with the outcome of the 2000 election in which Republican George W. Bush defeated Al Gore after recounts and a Supreme Court ruling, they generally attended Bush’s inauguration ceremony.</p>
<p>“I will not celebrate a man who preaches a politics of division and hate,” tweeted Keith Ellison, a Minnesota congressman who’s bidding to head the Democratic National Committee.</p>
<p>Those who know Trump say the billionaire mogul delights in confounding establishment expectations, even as he craves approval from powerbrokers in New York and Washington.</p>
<p>“He was born with a chip on his shoulder, and he is very much the guy from Queens who looked across at Manhattan and envied but also to some degree hated the elites who occupied Manhattan,” said Michael D’Antonio, author of “Never Enough,” a Trump biography. “The way that he wants to disrupt institutions reflects this idea that the institutions haven’t embraced him.”</p>
<p>That’s a style that may work better for a CEO of a family corporation — who has little oversight from corporate boards or shareholders — than a president constrained by a system of checks and balances. Former Cabinet officials say the layers of government bureaucracy, myriad regulations and intricacies of Congress will challenge Trump’s style.</p>
<p>“A president doesn’t have sweeping, universal authority. It is a very different operation than being a CEO who can fire people and hire people at will,” said Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat and former health and human services secretary. “He’s never been part of any organization with a framework where institutional rules are in place.”</p>
<p>President Barack Obama, who’s offered Trump advice both publicly and privately, said he’s urged the president-elect to hold onto some of the traditions of the office.</p>
<p>“The one thing I’ve said to him directly, and I would advise my Republican friends in Congress and supporters around the country, is just make sure that as we go forward certain norms, certain institutional traditions don’t get eroded, because there’s a reason they’re in place,” said Obama, in a recent interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes.”</p>
<p>But Trump’s supporters say it’s the institutions and Washington — and not the next president — that must change.</p>
<p>“Trump believes that he has a better understanding of how things work in the modern world than all of these so-called critics,” said Newt Gingrich, a Trump adviser and former Republican House speaker, who has spoken with the president-elect about his presidency. “That’s who he is.</p>
<p>“The rest of us are going to have to learn how to think through that.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Lisa Lerer on Twitter at: <a href="http://twitter.com/llerer" type="external">http://twitter.com/llerer</a></p>
| false | 2 |
washington donald trump enters white house friday entered race president defiant unfiltered unbound tradition utterly confident chosen course 10 weeks since surprise election nations 45th president trump violated decades established diplomatic protocol sent shockwaves business boardrooms tested longstanding ethics rules continued combative style replying slight personal attack twitter person past presidents described walking oval office first time humbling experience one instant makes clear weight new role caretaker american democracy trump spent much transition making clear sees things differently rather change office argues office change advertisement say presidential call massive leaders business trump told crowd indianapolis december negotiated deal air conditioning company keep jobs state move many economists derided unworkable national economic policy think presidential declared presidential thats ok thats ok actually like even takes oath office trump changed nature presidency breaking conventions upending expectations leader free world advisers whove spoken trump say billionaire real estate mogul reality tv star aware historic nature new job hes told friends hes drawn ambition ronald reagan republican john f kennedy democrat hes thinking spending first night white house sleeping lincoln bedroom according dined recently florida trump also views kind sui generis president beholden one success modeling leader whos come trump said hes read biographies former presidents asked name personal heroes recent interview mentioned father replying didnt like concept heroes dont think trump great sense history white house dont know history hard fully respect traditions said historian douglas brinkley recently dined trump guests south florida club somebody brags many history biographies hes read hes somebody brags big event hes maestro said thats shift thrills supporters elected trump shake see unresponsive corrupt federal government swamp washington advertisement dont want change said iowa state sen brad zaun one trumps earliest backers one reasons supported told way didnt beat around bush didnt standard political talking points trump election approach hes yet win country electoral college victory tempered loss popular vote democrat hillary clinton nearly 3 million ballots protests planned day inauguration threaten draw people national mall official events polls past week show trump poised enter white house least popular president four decades democrats remain staunchly opposed independents rallied behind even republicans less enthusiastic might expected according surveys typical reaction poll results doesnt like trump dismissed rigged tuesday tweet exactly kind tweet worries governing experts lawmakers critics argue traditional practices presidency protect health american democracy notable exceptions weve political culture presidents largely respect series unwritten rules help democracy rule law flourish said brendan nyhan professor government dartmouth college whats striking trump flouts norms previously respected parties daily basis calls things question never questioned since winning election trump attacked hollywood celebrities civil rights icons political rivals alike hes moved markets going companies praising others hes questioned legitimacy american institutions appearing trust word russian president vladimir putin intelligence agencies hell soon oversee engaging personal fights journalists assails free press questioning results election even though put office hes lambasted leaders longstanding allied nations questions postworld war ii international order cold war maintained peace europe generations trump supporters noholdsbarred style reason votes others country type leadership theyve seen fear spread point maine trumplike governor roiled states government offensive statements combative style little respect legislature warning nation might expect trump administration gov paul lepages confrontational brand politics made harder pass legislation build political coalitions even conduct basic workings state government say legislators political consultants traditionally centrist state hes created rifts wouldbe republican allies demonized media tightly controlled basic information times hes banned heads state agencies appearing legislative committees making state budgeting oversight difficult im concerned nationally weve seen checks balances take granted disappear said lance dutson republican political strategist worked get lepage elected later speaking things happening really thought couldnt happen signs trumps actions already changing traditions government washington freeing lawmakers officials longrespected practices federal politics 50 house democrats plan boycott trumps inauguration ceremony unprecedented break bipartisan tradition celebrating peaceful transfer power many democrats furious outcome 2000 election republican george w bush defeated al gore recounts supreme court ruling generally attended bushs inauguration ceremony celebrate man preaches politics division hate tweeted keith ellison minnesota congressman whos bidding head democratic national committee know trump say billionaire mogul delights confounding establishment expectations even craves approval powerbrokers new york washington born chip shoulder much guy queens looked across manhattan envied also degree hated elites occupied manhattan said michael dantonio author never enough trump biography way wants disrupt institutions reflects idea institutions havent embraced thats style may work better ceo family corporation little oversight corporate boards shareholders president constrained system checks balances former cabinet officials say layers government bureaucracy myriad regulations intricacies congress challenge trumps style president doesnt sweeping universal authority different operation ceo fire people hire people said kathleen sebelius democrat former health human services secretary hes never part organization framework institutional rules place president barack obama whos offered trump advice publicly privately said hes urged presidentelect hold onto traditions office one thing ive said directly would advise republican friends congress supporters around country make sure go forward certain norms certain institutional traditions dont get eroded theres reason theyre place said obama recent interview cbs 60 minutes trumps supporters say institutions washington next president must change trump believes better understanding things work modern world socalled critics said newt gingrich trump adviser former republican house speaker spoken presidentelect presidency thats rest us going learn think ___ follow lisa lerer twitter httptwittercomllerer
| 883 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p>WASHINGTON – Democrats intensified their opposition to President Donald Trump on Tuesday by further delaying the confirmation of several of his Cabinet nominees, prompting a bitter showdown with Republicans who accused them of paralyzing the formation of a new administration.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>First, Democrats boycotted a Senate committee scheduled to take two votes, one on Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., Trump’s nominee for secretary of health and human services, and the other on Steve Mnuchin, his choice to lead the treasury. Then, they blocked a vote on Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., Trump’s nominee for attorney general.</p>
<p>The theatrics reflected growing concern over Trump’s travel ban for refugees and foreign nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries, an order issued Friday with virtually no consultation with top government officials or senior lawmakers. In blocking Sessions, Democrats also cited the president’s firing Monday night of acting attorney general Sally Yates for refusing to defend the ban.</p>
<p>Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and other Democrats strongly defended Yates against Trump’s claim that she had betrayed the Justice Department. Yates’s defiance of Trump “took guts,” Feinstein said.</p>
<p>“That statement said what an independent attorney general should do. That statement took a steel spine to have the courage to say no.”</p>
<p>“I have no confidence that Sen. Sessions will do that,” she added. “Instead, he has been the fiercest, most dedicated and most loyal promoter in Congress of the Trump agenda.”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Democrats alone lack the votes needed to block any of Trump’s nominees from taking office – and there are no signs of Republican opposition to any of his picks. In fact, Republicans lashed out at Democrats for what they described as partisan, obstructionist moves.</p>
<p>“It is time to get over the fact that they lost the election,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said. “The president is entitled to have his Cabinet appointments considered. None of this is going to lead to a different outcome.”</p>
<p>That did nothing to tamp down enthusiasm among liberal activists and some Democratic lawmakers to mount a fierce resistance to Trump’s presidency. On the 12th day of Trump’s presidency, Democrats said they now plan to match growing anger in the streets by exhausting every mechanism at their disposal – even if it still results in Trump’s nominees taking office.</p>
<p>“Democrats are going to keep fighting back,” said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. “We are going to stand with people across the country. And we will keep pushing Republicans to put country above party, and stand with us.”</p>
<p>That stance was met with praise from liberal activists, labor unions and constituents, who have been pressuring Democrats to mount more resistance to Trump.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>“We’re seeing someone who came into office with a historic popular vote loss come in and push a radical, unconstitutional agenda,” said Kurt Walters, the campaign director of the transparency group Demand Progress. “Yes, radical and bold tactics are what senators should be using in response.”</p>
<p>During a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Democrats criticized Trump for firing Yates and said that they would vote against Sessions out of concern that he would never similarly defy Trump in the face of a potentially unconstitutional act. Then they invoked an arcane rule to block the committee from holding a roll-call vote on the nomination, forcing Republicans to postpone the vote until Wednesday.</p>
<p>In a nearby hearing room, the Senate Finance Committee convened to vote on Mnuchin and Price. Democrats boycotted that meeting entirely, denying Republicans a necessary quorum and forcing them to reschedule both votes.</p>
<p>They had less success delaying confirmations elsewhere. They tried once again to stall a committee vote to advance Trump’s pick for education secretary, Betsy DeVos, but Republicans prevailed on a party-line vote despite new revelations that her written responses to hundreds of questions from committee members appeared to include passages from uncited sources.</p>
<p>Senators also confirmed Elaine Chao to serve as Trump’s transportation secretary by a vote of 93 to 6 – although, in a sign of a new level of toxicity, Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., was among six members of the Democratic caucus who voted against her. Chao, who is also McConnell’s wife, is the first transportation secretary ever to earn “no” votes, according to a C-SPAN review of Senate records.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Additionally, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved the nominations of former Texas governor Rick Perry to be energy secretary and Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., to be interior secretary – both with bipartisan majorities, sending them to the full Senate for final up-or-down votes.</p>
<p>Developments in the Judiciary and Finance committees, however, signaled how defiant Democrats remain in stalling Trump’s nominees. Most of the drama unfolded along a fluorescent-lit hallway on the second floor of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.</p>
<p>Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, sat at the dais with just three other Republican senators at the start of his hearing. Having just come from the Judiciary Committee, Hatch told his colleagues, “Jeff Sessions isn’t treated much better than these fellas are.”</p>
<p>“Some of this is just because they don’t like the president,” Hatch said, later adding that Democrats “ought to stop posturing and acting like idiots.”</p>
<p>Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., agreed. “I think this is unconscionable,” he said.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>“We did not inflict this kind of obstructionism on President Obama,” added Sen. Patrick Toomey, R-Pa., the only other senator in the room. He added that the Democrats were committing “a completely unprecedented level of obstruction. This is not what the American people expect of the United States Senate.”</p>
<p>In fact, in 2013, Republicans similarly boycotted a Senate committee’s vote on Gina McCarthy to serve as former president Barack Obama’s Environmental Protection Agency administrator. Senators said at the time that she had refused to answer their questions about transparency in the agency. Republicans did it again that year to one of Obama’s nominees to serve as a deputy secretary of homeland security. And throughout 2016, they blocked a hearing for Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court, Merrick Garland.</p>
<p>Aware of the growing national anger with Trump’s travel ban, Democratic senators began mulling their options over the weekend, aides said. In a series of interviews on Monday, Schumer threatened to jam the Senate calendar if Trump did not revoke his order or if Republicans did not allow a vote on legislation that would rescind it.</p>
<p>“Senate Democrats, we’re the accountability,” Schumer boasted in an interview with Spanish-language network Univision.</p>
<p>Strategy discussions continued late into Monday night and coincided with two developments: First, Trump’s dramatic decision to fire Yates and a Wall Street Journal report on a discounted stock purchase by Price.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>A series of stock buys Price made in an Australian company, Innate Immunotherapeutics, has brought Democratic scrutiny for weeks. In 2016, he received a discounted price for his purchases as part of a private offering made to only a certain number of investors; the questions have been whether he received certain insider information from Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y., a company board member and its largest investor, and whether he got a special price when he bought $50,000 to $100,000 in shares last year.</p>
<p>The Journal reported Monday that Price received a “privileged” offer that he had mischaracterized in the hearings when he said they “were available to every single individual that was an investor at the time.”</p>
<p>Innate Immunotherapeutics CEO Simon Wilkinson told The Washington Post Monday that Price received the same 12 percent discount as about 620 shareholders in Australia, New Zealand and the United States.</p>
<p>Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the ranking Democrat on the Finance Committee, told reporters that Price’s statements contradicted those by Wilkinson and other company officials.</p>
<p>“At a minimum,” Wyden said, “I believe the committee should postpone this vote and talk to company officials.”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>On Tuesday, shortly before the Finance hearing began, committee Democrats huddled in Wyden’s office and agreed to boycott the meeting.</p>
<p>They also voiced several concerns about Mnuchin: He initially misstated his personal wealth on a financial disclosure form, and he misstated under oath how OneWest Bank, a bank he led as chairman and chief executive officer, scrutinized mortgage documents.</p>
<p>“In some ways, we’re doing President Trump a favor,” Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said in explaining the boycott. “If these nominees had been confirmed, and then these stories broke about how they lied, how they made money on foreclosures, how they made money off of sketchy health-care stock trades, this would have been a major scandal for the administration. Now it’s just a problem we can fix.”</p>
<p>In the Judiciary hearing, Republicans defended Sessions but said little about Trump’s executive order. Democrats ended the hearing by using the obscure “two-hour” rule that permits either party to stop committees from meeting beyond the first two hours of the Senate’s official day. During the Obama administration, Republicans used the same rule against Democratic Cabinet nominees.</p>
<p>Then senators toiled over the actual vote on DeVos’s nomination. Democrats complained that the vote should not count because Hatch – a committee member who was simultaneously dealing with events in the Judiciary and Finance meetings – was allowed to submit a proxy vote. After a recess and several minutes of heated argument, Republicans ordered a new vote with Hatch in the room and approved DeVos along party lines, 12 to 11.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Hatch, the longest-serving Republican senator, later marveled at having to rush back and forth between three contentious hearings.</p>
<p>“I lost some weight here today,” he quipped.</p>
<p>Further delays and high-level vacancies across federal agencies could have far-reaching consequences. Some Republicans complained that the slowdown of Price’s confirmation is hampering Republican plans to begin repealing the Affordable Care Act.</p>
<p>—</p>
<p>The Washington Post’s Amy Goldstein, Kimberly Kindy and David Weigel contributed to this report.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>—</p>
<p>VIDEO:</p>
<p>Democrats boycotted a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee in which Steven Mnuchin, President Trump’s nominee for Treasury secretary, and Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., President Trump’s nominee for health and human services secretary, would have likely been approved for consideration by the full Senate, on Jan. 31 at the Capitol. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)</p>
<p>— <a href="http://wapo.st/2kOgkXr" type="external">http://wapo.st/2kOgkXr</a></p>
<p>–Embed code:</p>
<p />
| false | 2 |
washington democrats intensified opposition president donald trump tuesday delaying confirmation several cabinet nominees prompting bitter showdown republicans accused paralyzing formation new administration advertisement first democrats boycotted senate committee scheduled take two votes one rep tom price rga trumps nominee secretary health human services steve mnuchin choice lead treasury blocked vote sen jeff sessions rala trumps nominee attorney general theatrics reflected growing concern trumps travel ban refugees foreign nationals seven muslimmajority countries order issued friday virtually consultation top government officials senior lawmakers blocking sessions democrats also cited presidents firing monday night acting attorney general sally yates refusing defend ban sen dianne feinstein dcalif democrats strongly defended yates trumps claim betrayed justice department yatess defiance trump took guts feinstein said statement said independent attorney general statement took steel spine courage say confidence sen sessions added instead fiercest dedicated loyal promoter congress trump agenda advertisement democrats alone lack votes needed block trumps nominees taking office signs republican opposition picks fact republicans lashed democrats described partisan obstructionist moves time get fact lost election senate majority leader mitch mcconnell rky said president entitled cabinet appointments considered none going lead different outcome nothing tamp enthusiasm among liberal activists democratic lawmakers mount fierce resistance trumps presidency 12th day trumps presidency democrats said plan match growing anger streets exhausting every mechanism disposal even still results trumps nominees taking office democrats going keep fighting back said sen patty murray dwash going stand people across country keep pushing republicans put country party stand us stance met praise liberal activists labor unions constituents pressuring democrats mount resistance trump advertisement seeing someone came office historic popular vote loss come push radical unconstitutional agenda said kurt walters campaign director transparency group demand progress yes radical bold tactics senators using response hearing senate judiciary committee democrats criticized trump firing yates said would vote sessions concern would never similarly defy trump face potentially unconstitutional act invoked arcane rule block committee holding rollcall vote nomination forcing republicans postpone vote wednesday nearby hearing room senate finance committee convened vote mnuchin price democrats boycotted meeting entirely denying republicans necessary quorum forcing reschedule votes less success delaying confirmations elsewhere tried stall committee vote advance trumps pick education secretary betsy devos republicans prevailed partyline vote despite new revelations written responses hundreds questions committee members appeared include passages uncited sources senators also confirmed elaine chao serve trumps transportation secretary vote 93 6 although sign new level toxicity minority leader charles schumer dny among six members democratic caucus voted chao also mcconnells wife first transportation secretary ever earn votes according cspan review senate records advertisement additionally senate energy natural resources committee approved nominations former texas governor rick perry energy secretary rep ryan zinke rmont interior secretary bipartisan majorities sending full senate final upordown votes developments judiciary finance committees however signaled defiant democrats remain stalling trumps nominees drama unfolded along fluorescentlit hallway second floor dirksen senate office building finance committee chairman orrin hatch rutah sat dais three republican senators start hearing come judiciary committee hatch told colleagues jeff sessions isnt treated much better fellas dont like president hatch said later adding democrats ought stop posturing acting like idiots sen mike enzi rwyo agreed think unconscionable said advertisement inflict kind obstructionism president obama added sen patrick toomey rpa senator room added democrats committing completely unprecedented level obstruction american people expect united states senate fact 2013 republicans similarly boycotted senate committees vote gina mccarthy serve former president barack obamas environmental protection agency administrator senators said time refused answer questions transparency agency republicans year one obamas nominees serve deputy secretary homeland security throughout 2016 blocked hearing obamas nominee supreme court merrick garland aware growing national anger trumps travel ban democratic senators began mulling options weekend aides said series interviews monday schumer threatened jam senate calendar trump revoke order republicans allow vote legislation would rescind senate democrats accountability schumer boasted interview spanishlanguage network univision strategy discussions continued late monday night coincided two developments first trumps dramatic decision fire yates wall street journal report discounted stock purchase price advertisement series stock buys price made australian company innate immunotherapeutics brought democratic scrutiny weeks 2016 received discounted price purchases part private offering made certain number investors questions whether received certain insider information rep chris collins rny company board member largest investor whether got special price bought 50000 100000 shares last year journal reported monday price received privileged offer mischaracterized hearings said available every single individual investor time innate immunotherapeutics ceo simon wilkinson told washington post monday price received 12 percent discount 620 shareholders australia new zealand united states sen ron wyden dore ranking democrat finance committee told reporters prices statements contradicted wilkinson company officials minimum wyden said believe committee postpone vote talk company officials advertisement tuesday shortly finance hearing began committee democrats huddled wydens office agreed boycott meeting also voiced several concerns mnuchin initially misstated personal wealth financial disclosure form misstated oath onewest bank bank led chairman chief executive officer scrutinized mortgage documents ways president trump favor sen sherrod brown dohio said explaining boycott nominees confirmed stories broke lied made money foreclosures made money sketchy healthcare stock trades would major scandal administration problem fix judiciary hearing republicans defended sessions said little trumps executive order democrats ended hearing using obscure twohour rule permits either party stop committees meeting beyond first two hours senates official day obama administration republicans used rule democratic cabinet nominees senators toiled actual vote devoss nomination democrats complained vote count hatch committee member simultaneously dealing events judiciary finance meetings allowed submit proxy vote recess several minutes heated argument republicans ordered new vote hatch room approved devos along party lines 12 11 advertisement hatch longestserving republican senator later marveled rush back forth three contentious hearings lost weight today quipped delays highlevel vacancies across federal agencies could farreaching consequences republicans complained slowdown prices confirmation hampering republican plans begin repealing affordable care act washington posts amy goldstein kimberly kindy david weigel contributed report advertisement video democrats boycotted hearing senate finance committee steven mnuchin president trumps nominee treasury secretary rep tom price rga president trumps nominee health human services secretary would likely approved consideration full senate jan 31 capitol peter stevensonthe washington post httpwapost2kogkxr embed code
| 1,014 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>The price of Noodles just went up at the University of New Mexico – and reaction was swift and strong.</p>
<p>The $200,000 raise for UNM men’s basketball coach Craig Neal is well deserved, insisted many fans and his boss, athletic director Paul Krebs.</p>
<p>But others disagreed: “THIS IS JUST wrong! Pay the professors, Teaching assistants, and provide more assistance to students and research. Let’s take a hard look at our priorities,” said reader LaWanda Albright in her post to the Journal.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The school on Monday morning announced that it had boosted the second-year coach’s annual base salary and compensation to $950,000 per season, making him the highest paid men’s basketball coach in the Mountain West Conference.</p>
<p>“It’s flattering and humbling,” said Neal, the 50-year-old coach known in basketball circles around the country more by his childhood nickname Noodles.</p>
<p>Coach Craig Neal led the Lobo men’s basketball team to the Mountain West Conference tournament title, part of the reason he earned a contract extension. (The Associated Press)</p>
<p>The contract was signed in July but not announced until Monday morning so as not to detract from the start of the UNM football season, according to Krebs. It runs through the 2019-20 season, which will be a total of $5.7 million paid out before incentives, which were reduced as part of the new deal.</p>
<p>While Neal still can get bonus pay for league titles and that coveted Sweet 16 appearance the program longs for, he no longer gets extra pay for such things as beating Top 25 teams or for his team’s academic success, an area in which the program has been at or near the top in the league for many years.</p>
<p>Krebs said he feels academic success is to be expected and no longer needs to be included in incentive clauses.</p>
<p>There remains a $1 million mirrored buyout clause that would require him to pay UNM that amount if he leaves early or require the university to pay him if it fired him without cause.</p>
<p>“Basketball is tremendously important to our athletic program and certainly to the community and state,” Krebs said. “When you look at the kind of revenue that our program generates and the support it generates, it’s real important for us … to make sure we have continuity and leadership and we’re doing everything we can to keep the program strong and vibrant because it is a major source of income for our department.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" />In March, Krebs told the Journal he wasn’t planning to increase Neal’s pay. So what’s changed since then?</p>
<p>Krebs says he’s been impressed with Neal’s handing of all aspects of the program in the past five months since the team’s bitter season-ending loss to Stanford in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 64 and he’s also become convinced Neal is a highly respected and coveted coach on a national scale. At least three schools – Virginia Tech, Tulsa and South Florida – put out feelers this offseason to gauge Neal’s interest in their coaching vacancies.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>But not everyone praised the raise Monday, especially in light of the fact that pay raises for faculty and staff has been scarce to non-existent for years.</p>
<p>Pamela Pyle, president of UNM’s Faculty Senate, said in a text that she recognizes that athletics plays a role in the branding of the university, but she believes “that we would like to see this sort of comparative valuation for our extremely high quality faculty, who are also underpaid. … Our faculty also – and one might suggest, pre-eminently – contribute to the value of a UNM degree.”</p>
<p>Renee Delgado-Riley, president of the UNM Staff Council, predicted “some tension” over Neal’s big raise among staff members.</p>
<p>She noted that the staff went for five years without a raise. Moreover, the 2.5 percent annual raise they received this year coupled with increases in the cost of health care benefits meant that some employees realized a monthly increase of $11, she said.</p>
<p>“I’m sure people will be upset,” Delgado-Riley said.</p>
<p>Neal is well aware of the criticism, but he said he’s best served concentrating on his task at hand.</p>
<p>“I don’t think it’s really my position to really say anything (about salaries across the campus),” Neal said. “I’m just trying to do my job the best I can. I know we’ve got a great school, a great university and a great state. I’m just very privileged to have the situation that I’ve got a contract that will keep me here a long time.”</p>
<p>The president of the Associated Students of UNM, Rachel Williams, defended the raise, saying the team “contributes a great deal to the UNM community” and the players and coaches are “well respected around campus, the state and nationally for what they have been able to accomplish.”</p>
<p>Del Archuleta, a UNM booster, former Regent with New Mexico State University and chairman of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, praised Krebs for Monday’s news, adding there is positive economic impact across the UNM campus and beyond that comes from maintaining a successful basketball program.</p>
<p>And securing its head coach is a needed step in that regard.</p>
<p>“That’s a very difficult situation when we’re talking about the salaries across the campus. It always is,” Archuleta said. “Unfortunately, it’s market driven and the market is such that it demands high salaries (in college athletics).”</p>
<p>UNM President Robert G. Frank and the Board of Regents had already signed off on the deal long before Monday’s announcement.</p>
<p>The Lobos this past season went 27-7 in Neal’s first year as a head coach. The team finished second in the Mountain West regular season but won its third-consecutive league tournament title and earned a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament.</p>
<p>While the athletic department as a whole has posted a budget deficit six of the past seven years, the basketball program reported a profit of at least $767,812 in 2012-13 according to figures turned into the Department of Education. Those numbers don’t factor in how much of the $2.8 million in Lobo Club revenue can be attributed to the countless fans who wouldn’t join other than to get their basketball season tickets; how much of the school’s merchandise sales are basketball driven; how much of the $384,000 in parking revenue is from basketball games; or other factors that aren’t broken down by sport in the budget.</p>
<p>San Diego State head coach Steve Fisher, the 69-year-old dean of Mountain West basketball coaches, is set to earn a base salary of $926,000 in his final year of his contract with the school.</p>
<p>Colorado State’s Larry Eustachy is poised to earn $928,200 this season.</p>
<p>Krebs said those weren’t primary factors in his negotiations with Neal, who does not have an agent, but acknowledged, “You’re not negotiating and having these discussions in a vacuum. There’s a sense of a national profile as well as what happens in the league that’s inevitable.”</p>
<p>Journal staff writer Mike Bush contributed to this article.</p>
<p />
<p />
| false | 2 |
price noodles went university new mexico reaction swift strong 200000 raise unm mens basketball coach craig neal well deserved insisted many fans boss athletic director paul krebs others disagreed wrong pay professors teaching assistants provide assistance students research lets take hard look priorities said reader lawanda albright post journal advertisement school monday morning announced boosted secondyear coachs annual base salary compensation 950000 per season making highest paid mens basketball coach mountain west conference flattering humbling said neal 50yearold coach known basketball circles around country childhood nickname noodles coach craig neal led lobo mens basketball team mountain west conference tournament title part reason earned contract extension associated press contract signed july announced monday morning detract start unm football season according krebs runs 201920 season total 57 million paid incentives reduced part new deal neal still get bonus pay league titles coveted sweet 16 appearance program longs longer gets extra pay things beating top 25 teams teams academic success area program near top league many years krebs said feels academic success expected longer needs included incentive clauses remains 1 million mirrored buyout clause would require pay unm amount leaves early require university pay fired without cause basketball tremendously important athletic program certainly community state krebs said look kind revenue program generates support generates real important us make sure continuity leadership everything keep program strong vibrant major source income department march krebs told journal wasnt planning increase neals pay whats changed since krebs says hes impressed neals handing aspects program past five months since teams bitter seasonending loss stanford ncaa tournaments round 64 hes also become convinced neal highly respected coveted coach national scale least three schools virginia tech tulsa south florida put feelers offseason gauge neals interest coaching vacancies advertisement everyone praised raise monday especially light fact pay raises faculty staff scarce nonexistent years pamela pyle president unms faculty senate said text recognizes athletics plays role branding university believes would like see sort comparative valuation extremely high quality faculty also underpaid faculty also one might suggest preeminently contribute value unm degree renee delgadoriley president unm staff council predicted tension neals big raise among staff members noted staff went five years without raise moreover 25 percent annual raise received year coupled increases cost health care benefits meant employees realized monthly increase 11 said im sure people upset delgadoriley said neal well aware criticism said hes best served concentrating task hand dont think really position really say anything salaries across campus neal said im trying job best know weve got great school great university great state im privileged situation ive got contract keep long time president associated students unm rachel williams defended raise saying team contributes great deal unm community players coaches well respected around campus state nationally able accomplish del archuleta unm booster former regent new mexico state university chairman greater albuquerque chamber commerce praised krebs mondays news adding positive economic impact across unm campus beyond comes maintaining successful basketball program securing head coach needed step regard thats difficult situation talking salaries across campus always archuleta said unfortunately market driven market demands high salaries college athletics unm president robert g frank board regents already signed deal long mondays announcement lobos past season went 277 neals first year head coach team finished second mountain west regular season thirdconsecutive league tournament title earned 7 seed ncaa tournament athletic department whole posted budget deficit six past seven years basketball program reported profit least 767812 201213 according figures turned department education numbers dont factor much 28 million lobo club revenue attributed countless fans wouldnt join get basketball season tickets much schools merchandise sales basketball driven much 384000 parking revenue basketball games factors arent broken sport budget san diego state head coach steve fisher 69yearold dean mountain west basketball coaches set earn base salary 926000 final year contract school colorado states larry eustachy poised earn 928200 season krebs said werent primary factors negotiations neal agent acknowledged youre negotiating discussions vacuum theres sense national profile well happens league thats inevitable journal staff writer mike bush contributed article
| 668 |
<p>VIERA, Fla. (AP) — Four days after becoming a father for the first time, Washington left-hander Gio Gonzalez allowed one run over 4 1/3 innings as the Nationals defeated the Houston Astros 5-3.</p>
<p>It’s been a scramble for Gonzalez, who flew to Washington to be with his fiancee for the birth of their son, Enzo. He rejoined the team on Saturday night.</p>
<p>“What’s it been like? It’s like being a dad,” Gonzalez said. “It’s been great. It’s a little tiring, because you want to be there and help them out as much as possible. But you’ve got to get back to work.”</p>
<p>“As far as the whole process, it was exciting to be a father and then all of a sudden come back to work and play baseball. You felt like a little kid as an adult,” he said. “Lea, my fiancee, I’m just happy that she’s healthy and she created a beautiful little boy. I’m glad he took all her looks. Hopefully I can teach him a thing or two. Hopefully he gets her brains, too.”</p>
<p>Gonzalez was hardly dominant against the Astros, allowing five hits, walking four and throwing a wild pitch. He was able to work himself out of several jams and only gave up the one run while throwing 87 pitches.</p>
<p>Wilson Ramos hit a solo home run and Ryan Zimmerman delivered a two-run double for the Nationals.</p>
<p>STARTING TIME</p>
<p>Astros: Scott Feldman gave up three runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings while working extensively on his changeup.</p>
<p>“I think today was the most I’ve ever thrown (it) in a game,” he said. “I threw some good ones, threw some bad ones. But I think for the most part, it was a good experience.”</p>
<p>TRAINER’S ROOM</p>
<p>Astros: C/OF Evan Gattis is getting some at-bats in minor league games and doing some running as continues to make his way back from sports hernia surgery.</p>
<p>Nationals: A day after getting hit by a comebacker, Washington RHP Joe Ross (right heel contusion) said he’s fine and expects to make his next start.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Nationals: Day off. Washington will host the New York Yankees on Wednesday.</p>
<p>Astros: Mike Fiers gets the start at home against Atlanta’s Mike Foltynewicz.</p>
<p>NATS MAKE CUTS</p>
<p>The Nationals have assigned RHPs Erik Davis, Michael Brady and Burke Badenhop to minor league camp. Nationals manager Dusty Baker said Badenhop has been given several days to decide whether to accept the assignment or ask for his release.</p>
<p>ROTATION FORMING</p>
<p>Once again, Baker hinted at, but did not confirm, Max Scherzer will be the team’s opening day starter. Baker also said at this point the rotation sets up to have Gonzalez follow Scherzer with Stephen Strasburg at the No. 3 spot. Tanner Roark and Ross will likely be the fourth and fifth starters, though their order hasn’t been determined.</p>
<p>Baker said the reason for slotting Gonzalez between Scherzer and Strasburg would be to help preserve the bullpen.</p>
<p>“You want to put Gio in the No. 2 (spot) because he’s had a little bit of a history of inconsistency as far as going deep in a game,” Baker said. “Until that happens, you like to have your innings guy behind a guy that’s still trying to get it together. If not, you’re going to tax your bullpen for three days in a row.”</p>
<p>VIERA, Fla. (AP) — Four days after becoming a father for the first time, Washington left-hander Gio Gonzalez allowed one run over 4 1/3 innings as the Nationals defeated the Houston Astros 5-3.</p>
<p>It’s been a scramble for Gonzalez, who flew to Washington to be with his fiancee for the birth of their son, Enzo. He rejoined the team on Saturday night.</p>
<p>“What’s it been like? It’s like being a dad,” Gonzalez said. “It’s been great. It’s a little tiring, because you want to be there and help them out as much as possible. But you’ve got to get back to work.”</p>
<p>“As far as the whole process, it was exciting to be a father and then all of a sudden come back to work and play baseball. You felt like a little kid as an adult,” he said. “Lea, my fiancee, I’m just happy that she’s healthy and she created a beautiful little boy. I’m glad he took all her looks. Hopefully I can teach him a thing or two. Hopefully he gets her brains, too.”</p>
<p>Gonzalez was hardly dominant against the Astros, allowing five hits, walking four and throwing a wild pitch. He was able to work himself out of several jams and only gave up the one run while throwing 87 pitches.</p>
<p>Wilson Ramos hit a solo home run and Ryan Zimmerman delivered a two-run double for the Nationals.</p>
<p>STARTING TIME</p>
<p>Astros: Scott Feldman gave up three runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings while working extensively on his changeup.</p>
<p>“I think today was the most I’ve ever thrown (it) in a game,” he said. “I threw some good ones, threw some bad ones. But I think for the most part, it was a good experience.”</p>
<p>TRAINER’S ROOM</p>
<p>Astros: C/OF Evan Gattis is getting some at-bats in minor league games and doing some running as continues to make his way back from sports hernia surgery.</p>
<p>Nationals: A day after getting hit by a comebacker, Washington RHP Joe Ross (right heel contusion) said he’s fine and expects to make his next start.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Nationals: Day off. Washington will host the New York Yankees on Wednesday.</p>
<p>Astros: Mike Fiers gets the start at home against Atlanta’s Mike Foltynewicz.</p>
<p>NATS MAKE CUTS</p>
<p>The Nationals have assigned RHPs Erik Davis, Michael Brady and Burke Badenhop to minor league camp. Nationals manager Dusty Baker said Badenhop has been given several days to decide whether to accept the assignment or ask for his release.</p>
<p>ROTATION FORMING</p>
<p>Once again, Baker hinted at, but did not confirm, Max Scherzer will be the team’s opening day starter. Baker also said at this point the rotation sets up to have Gonzalez follow Scherzer with Stephen Strasburg at the No. 3 spot. Tanner Roark and Ross will likely be the fourth and fifth starters, though their order hasn’t been determined.</p>
<p>Baker said the reason for slotting Gonzalez between Scherzer and Strasburg would be to help preserve the bullpen.</p>
<p>“You want to put Gio in the No. 2 (spot) because he’s had a little bit of a history of inconsistency as far as going deep in a game,” Baker said. “Until that happens, you like to have your innings guy behind a guy that’s still trying to get it together. If not, you’re going to tax your bullpen for three days in a row.”</p>
| false | 2 |
viera fla ap four days becoming father first time washington lefthander gio gonzalez allowed one run 4 13 innings nationals defeated houston astros 53 scramble gonzalez flew washington fiancee birth son enzo rejoined team saturday night whats like like dad gonzalez said great little tiring want help much possible youve got get back work far whole process exciting father sudden come back work play baseball felt like little kid adult said lea fiancee im happy shes healthy created beautiful little boy im glad took looks hopefully teach thing two hopefully gets brains gonzalez hardly dominant astros allowing five hits walking four throwing wild pitch able work several jams gave one run throwing 87 pitches wilson ramos hit solo home run ryan zimmerman delivered tworun double nationals starting time astros scott feldman gave three runs five hits 3 23 innings working extensively changeup think today ive ever thrown game said threw good ones threw bad ones think part good experience trainers room astros cof evan gattis getting atbats minor league games running continues make way back sports hernia surgery nationals day getting hit comebacker washington rhp joe ross right heel contusion said hes fine expects make next start next nationals day washington host new york yankees wednesday astros mike fiers gets start home atlantas mike foltynewicz nats make cuts nationals assigned rhps erik davis michael brady burke badenhop minor league camp nationals manager dusty baker said badenhop given several days decide whether accept assignment ask release rotation forming baker hinted confirm max scherzer teams opening day starter baker also said point rotation sets gonzalez follow scherzer stephen strasburg 3 spot tanner roark ross likely fourth fifth starters though order hasnt determined baker said reason slotting gonzalez scherzer strasburg would help preserve bullpen want put gio 2 spot hes little bit history inconsistency far going deep game baker said happens like innings guy behind guy thats still trying get together youre going tax bullpen three days row viera fla ap four days becoming father first time washington lefthander gio gonzalez allowed one run 4 13 innings nationals defeated houston astros 53 scramble gonzalez flew washington fiancee birth son enzo rejoined team saturday night whats like like dad gonzalez said great little tiring want help much possible youve got get back work far whole process exciting father sudden come back work play baseball felt like little kid adult said lea fiancee im happy shes healthy created beautiful little boy im glad took looks hopefully teach thing two hopefully gets brains gonzalez hardly dominant astros allowing five hits walking four throwing wild pitch able work several jams gave one run throwing 87 pitches wilson ramos hit solo home run ryan zimmerman delivered tworun double nationals starting time astros scott feldman gave three runs five hits 3 23 innings working extensively changeup think today ive ever thrown game said threw good ones threw bad ones think part good experience trainers room astros cof evan gattis getting atbats minor league games running continues make way back sports hernia surgery nationals day getting hit comebacker washington rhp joe ross right heel contusion said hes fine expects make next start next nationals day washington host new york yankees wednesday astros mike fiers gets start home atlantas mike foltynewicz nats make cuts nationals assigned rhps erik davis michael brady burke badenhop minor league camp nationals manager dusty baker said badenhop given several days decide whether accept assignment ask release rotation forming baker hinted confirm max scherzer teams opening day starter baker also said point rotation sets gonzalez follow scherzer stephen strasburg 3 spot tanner roark ross likely fourth fifth starters though order hasnt determined baker said reason slotting gonzalez scherzer strasburg would help preserve bullpen want put gio 2 spot hes little bit history inconsistency far going deep game baker said happens like innings guy behind guy thats still trying get together youre going tax bullpen three days row
| 650 |
<p>SAN ANTONIO (AP) — LeBron James has made it a point not to revel in his accomplishments. He allowed himself a moment to savor this milestone, though.</p>
<p>James became the youngest ever to join the NBA’s 30,000-point club.</p>
<p>He became the seventh player with 30,000 career points when he hit a jumper with one second left in the first quarter of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 114-102 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night.</p>
<p>“I don’t ever fully appreciate what I do anytime I accomplish something, no matter if it’s a win or a loss,” James said. “I’m looking forward to the moment when I can be done with the game and I can sit back with my family and my friends and we can drink some wine and talk about all the accomplishments that I had and feats I was able to accomplish.”</p>
<p>James, who needed seven points to reach the milestone, finished with 28.</p>
<p>He was recognized by the arena before the second quarter and got a standing ovation from Spurs fans. James patted his heart and said “thank you so much.”</p>
<p>“Just a special moment,” James said. “I just started thinking about everything that my journey (has entailed) from being a kid that first picked up a basketball when I was five years old to first starting playing organized basketball when I was nine and all the way up until this point. I give a lot of thanks to a lot of people. It’s just a special moment.</p>
<p>“It’s something I never set out to do. I’m not even a score-first guy when it comes to playing basketball. I love getting my teammates involved and seeing my teammates be excited about scoring and me getting assists. For me to sit here and be the youngest player ever to reach 30,000.”</p>
<p>He missed his first two midrange jumpers against San Antonio before making two driving layups and a 20-footer. He hit the milestone jumper over Danny Green from 19 feet out.</p>
<p>The Cavaliers were unable to celebrate immediately because the Spurs had an opportunity for a last-second shot. When Brandon Paul missed a 71-foot heave and the buzzer sounded, James’ teammates quickly streamed off the bench to congratulate him.</p>
<p>Among the first to greet him was guard Dwyane Wade, James’ teammate for four seasons in Miami, including two NBA championships.</p>
<p>“I just told him I’m proud of him,” Wade said. “You see a person’s work ethic, you know a person’s heart, cares about team, cares about winning. Even though he’s had a lot of individual success, he doesn’t feel comfortable with some of it.”</p>
<p>The 33-year-old James joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387 points), Karl Malone (36,928), Kobe Bryant (33,643), Michael Jordan (32,292), Wilt Chamberlain (31,419) and Dirk Nowitzki (30,808) on the list.</p>
<p>At 33 years and 24 days, James is the youngest to reach the mark. Bryant was 34 years and 104 days when he got there.</p>
<p>The 14-time All-Star has averaged 27.1 points since breaking into the league as an 18-year-old in 2003.</p>
<p>“It’s an awesome achievement,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said, “but what else do you say about LeBron that we haven’t said many times before? He’s just a great, great competitor and a great player.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP basketball: <a href="" type="internal" /> <a href="" type="internal">https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball</a></p>
<p>SAN ANTONIO (AP) — LeBron James has made it a point not to revel in his accomplishments. He allowed himself a moment to savor this milestone, though.</p>
<p>James became the youngest ever to join the NBA’s 30,000-point club.</p>
<p>He became the seventh player with 30,000 career points when he hit a jumper with one second left in the first quarter of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 114-102 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night.</p>
<p>“I don’t ever fully appreciate what I do anytime I accomplish something, no matter if it’s a win or a loss,” James said. “I’m looking forward to the moment when I can be done with the game and I can sit back with my family and my friends and we can drink some wine and talk about all the accomplishments that I had and feats I was able to accomplish.”</p>
<p>James, who needed seven points to reach the milestone, finished with 28.</p>
<p>He was recognized by the arena before the second quarter and got a standing ovation from Spurs fans. James patted his heart and said “thank you so much.”</p>
<p>“Just a special moment,” James said. “I just started thinking about everything that my journey (has entailed) from being a kid that first picked up a basketball when I was five years old to first starting playing organized basketball when I was nine and all the way up until this point. I give a lot of thanks to a lot of people. It’s just a special moment.</p>
<p>“It’s something I never set out to do. I’m not even a score-first guy when it comes to playing basketball. I love getting my teammates involved and seeing my teammates be excited about scoring and me getting assists. For me to sit here and be the youngest player ever to reach 30,000.”</p>
<p>He missed his first two midrange jumpers against San Antonio before making two driving layups and a 20-footer. He hit the milestone jumper over Danny Green from 19 feet out.</p>
<p>The Cavaliers were unable to celebrate immediately because the Spurs had an opportunity for a last-second shot. When Brandon Paul missed a 71-foot heave and the buzzer sounded, James’ teammates quickly streamed off the bench to congratulate him.</p>
<p>Among the first to greet him was guard Dwyane Wade, James’ teammate for four seasons in Miami, including two NBA championships.</p>
<p>“I just told him I’m proud of him,” Wade said. “You see a person’s work ethic, you know a person’s heart, cares about team, cares about winning. Even though he’s had a lot of individual success, he doesn’t feel comfortable with some of it.”</p>
<p>The 33-year-old James joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387 points), Karl Malone (36,928), Kobe Bryant (33,643), Michael Jordan (32,292), Wilt Chamberlain (31,419) and Dirk Nowitzki (30,808) on the list.</p>
<p>At 33 years and 24 days, James is the youngest to reach the mark. Bryant was 34 years and 104 days when he got there.</p>
<p>The 14-time All-Star has averaged 27.1 points since breaking into the league as an 18-year-old in 2003.</p>
<p>“It’s an awesome achievement,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said, “but what else do you say about LeBron that we haven’t said many times before? He’s just a great, great competitor and a great player.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP basketball: <a href="" type="internal" /> <a href="" type="internal">https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball</a></p>
| false | 2 |
san antonio ap lebron james made point revel accomplishments allowed moment savor milestone though james became youngest ever join nbas 30000point club became seventh player 30000 career points hit jumper one second left first quarter cleveland cavaliers 114102 loss san antonio spurs tuesday night dont ever fully appreciate anytime accomplish something matter win loss james said im looking forward moment done game sit back family friends drink wine talk accomplishments feats able accomplish james needed seven points reach milestone finished 28 recognized arena second quarter got standing ovation spurs fans james patted heart said thank much special moment james said started thinking everything journey entailed kid first picked basketball five years old first starting playing organized basketball nine way point give lot thanks lot people special moment something never set im even scorefirst guy comes playing basketball love getting teammates involved seeing teammates excited scoring getting assists sit youngest player ever reach 30000 missed first two midrange jumpers san antonio making two driving layups 20footer hit milestone jumper danny green 19 feet cavaliers unable celebrate immediately spurs opportunity lastsecond shot brandon paul missed 71foot heave buzzer sounded james teammates quickly streamed bench congratulate among first greet guard dwyane wade james teammate four seasons miami including two nba championships told im proud wade said see persons work ethic know persons heart cares team cares winning even though hes lot individual success doesnt feel comfortable 33yearold james joined kareem abduljabbar 38387 points karl malone 36928 kobe bryant 33643 michael jordan 32292 wilt chamberlain 31419 dirk nowitzki 30808 list 33 years 24 days james youngest reach mark bryant 34 years 104 days got 14time allstar averaged 271 points since breaking league 18yearold 2003 awesome achievement san antonio coach gregg popovich said else say lebron havent said many times hes great great competitor great player ___ ap basketball httpsapnewscomtagnbabasketball san antonio ap lebron james made point revel accomplishments allowed moment savor milestone though james became youngest ever join nbas 30000point club became seventh player 30000 career points hit jumper one second left first quarter cleveland cavaliers 114102 loss san antonio spurs tuesday night dont ever fully appreciate anytime accomplish something matter win loss james said im looking forward moment done game sit back family friends drink wine talk accomplishments feats able accomplish james needed seven points reach milestone finished 28 recognized arena second quarter got standing ovation spurs fans james patted heart said thank much special moment james said started thinking everything journey entailed kid first picked basketball five years old first starting playing organized basketball nine way point give lot thanks lot people special moment something never set im even scorefirst guy comes playing basketball love getting teammates involved seeing teammates excited scoring getting assists sit youngest player ever reach 30000 missed first two midrange jumpers san antonio making two driving layups 20footer hit milestone jumper danny green 19 feet cavaliers unable celebrate immediately spurs opportunity lastsecond shot brandon paul missed 71foot heave buzzer sounded james teammates quickly streamed bench congratulate among first greet guard dwyane wade james teammate four seasons miami including two nba championships told im proud wade said see persons work ethic know persons heart cares team cares winning even though hes lot individual success doesnt feel comfortable 33yearold james joined kareem abduljabbar 38387 points karl malone 36928 kobe bryant 33643 michael jordan 32292 wilt chamberlain 31419 dirk nowitzki 30808 list 33 years 24 days james youngest reach mark bryant 34 years 104 days got 14time allstar averaged 271 points since breaking league 18yearold 2003 awesome achievement san antonio coach gregg popovich said else say lebron havent said many times hes great great competitor great player ___ ap basketball httpsapnewscomtagnbabasketball
| 610 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>“When Muslim communities are under attack, what do we do?. . . Stand up, fight back!”</p>
<p>“When Jewish communities are under attack, what do we do?. . . Stand up, fight back!”</p>
<p>“When immigrant communities are under attack, what do we do?. . . Stand up, fight back!”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The group – a coalition of organizations that has come together under a name that speaks to a new shared cause, “Communities Under Attack Fight Back” – is just one of many planning to make itself heard to the crowds gathering to celebrate a Trump presidency. Tens of thousands of demonstrators are expected to mark the day with shouts, marches and onstage speeches and performances. Signs have been made, art installations crafted and, in the case of one group, marijuana joints rolled.</p>
<p>Protest groups organized by Disrupt J20 are expected to gather at each of the dozen checkpoints that inauguration ticket holders will have to pass through, each demonstration speaking to a different cause. One will focus on LGBT rights. Another will center on racial justice.</p>
<p>Miller’s group, which will gather at 12th and E streets, will consists of people from the Muslim, Jewish and immigrant communities. Miller, 25, who is Jewish and grew up in Rockville, Md., said these are groups that haven’t always worked together in the past but now realize that “we have to stand together.”</p>
<p>“This is really just the beginning,” he said. “We’re taking a stand. We’re speaking loudly. But ultimately we’re building a resilient movement that can outlast the inauguration.”</p>
<p>In the days leading up to the inauguration, protests started with one group shutting down K Street in downtown Washington and gay rights advocates holding a dance party near the temporary home of Vice President-elect Mike Pence in Chevy Chase, complete with biodegradable glitter and the hashtags #WeAreQueer #WeAreHere #WeWillDance. The Woman’s March on Saturday also is expected to draw thousands of protesters.</p>
<p>It is unknown how many people will descend on the capital Friday but law enforcement officials are bracing for more than 60 demonstration groups, both in support of and against Trump. Of those, about a dozen have received permits for a specific gathering space. According to their permit requests, some of those groups are anticipating as few as 20 participants, and others are planning for tens of thousands.</p>
<p>Ben Becker, of the ANSWER Coalition, said that more than 45,000 people have indicated through social media an interest in joining the group’s protest near the U.S. Navy Memorial on Pennsylvania Avenue. The group, which stands for Act Now to Stop War and End Racism, plans to have a 28-foot stage and large sound system that will showcase speakers and performers throughout the morning and afternoon.</p>
<p>“We’re considering it the counterinauguration,” Becker, 33, said. “The main message is that there is going to be a grass-roots movement of resistance to the Trump agenda from day one of his presidency.”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The group has thousands of signs ready to hand out. Among them are: “Say no to racism,” “Stop the Trump Agenda” and “Inaugurate the Resistance.”</p>
<p>Becker said his hope for the day, regardless of how many people show up, is that they leave feeling confident in their ability to stand up, fight back and organize.</p>
<p>“It’s not a one-day event,” he said. “We’re calling it day one of a larger resistance movement.”</p>
<p>Although some protesters have promised to disrupt events that day, Becker said his group is not anticipating any activity that will lead to arrests: “We expect to be certainly loud and angry and audibly disruptive. But we’re not planning anything physically disruptive.”</p>
<p>That is not the case with Disrupt J20, which describes its plans online as “a series of massive direct actions that will shut down the Inauguration ceremonies and any related celebrations – the Inaugural parade, the Inaugural balls, you name it. We’re also planning to paralyze the city itself, using blockades and marches to stop traffic and even public transit.”</p>
<p>Lacy MacAuley, a spokeswoman for the group, said they have been working with other organizations to plan both “permitted” and “unpermitted” actions.</p>
<p>“There will be people risking arrest,” she said. “In terms of what those protests will be, we’re not talking about that at this time.”</p>
<p>The group, which expects more than 30,000 participants, also has planned a march from Union Station to McPherson Square, where they will have a stage and sound system. MacAuley said artists have also been working to make statement pieces, including elaborate puppets and a large wall that will speak to the one Trump has vowed to build along the border with Mexico.</p>
<p>Among the signs she has seen created so far, she said, some “use Trump’s name and possibly an expletive.”</p>
<p>Not all of the demonstrations on Friday will be anti-Trump. Among those groups that requested permits for space are two organizations that support him: “Bikers for Trump!” and “Let America Hear Us, Roar for Trump!”</p>
<p>The latter will be sharing DuPont Circle with a group that did not request a permit but plans to set up there early Friday – DCMJ, which was formerly known as the D.C. Cannabis Campaign and was behind the successful effort to legalize marijuana in the District in 2015.</p>
<p>The group, which started rolling joints this month, plans to hand out 4,200 before marching to the Mall. Once there, those who get through the security checkpoints – an issue because it is illegal to possess marijuana on federal land, which includes the Mall – plan to light up four minutes and 20 seconds into Trump’s speech.</p>
<p>Nikolas Schiller, co-founder of DCMJ, said the demonstration is not a protest of Trump, but a signal of wanting to work with him on fully legalizing cannabis in all 50 states and the District.</p>
<p>“This about demonstrating to Trump that he has the power to change the law and do what Obama was not able to do,” Schiller said. “We believe cannabis legalization will create jobs, it will increase tax revenue, and it will also help fix the broken criminal justice.”</p>
<p>As for the bikers they will be sharing space with Friday, he said, “We hope some come on over and get a free joint.”</p>
<p>At another park, Franklin Square, the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign and the Revolutionary Road Radio Show will continue an event that started Thursday night with a series of speakers, including Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein.</p>
<p>Organizer the Rev. Bruce Wright said that the area will serve as a place for people to eat, rest and find a medic if needed. And at night, once the parade is over, the stage will host musicians and performers.</p>
<p>At one point, weather permitting, it will be handed over to Seth Tobocman, a cartoonist from New York who will stand in front of a slideshow of his work. His latest piece will also be on display: a banner showing Trump threatening the Statue of Liberty with a missile.</p>
<p>Tobocman, 58, said that in college he was part of a five-person peace group, and during the Reagan administration he watched as people who disagreed with the president chose to say nothing. This time, he said he is encouraged by the protests.</p>
<p>“What’s heartening to me is so many people want to go out and do something about this,” he said. “If Trump has done anything positive it’s that he created enough controversy that a lot of people are expressing themselves.”</p>
<p>—</p>
<p>Perry Stein contributed to this report.</p>
<p>—</p>
<p>‘Women’s March on Washington’ organizer emphasizes inclusivity</p>
<p />
<p />
<p><a href="http://wapo.st/2iESEQo" type="external">http://wapo.st/2iESEQo</a></p>
| false | 2 |
muslim communities attack stand fight back jewish communities attack stand fight back immigrant communities attack stand fight back advertisement group coalition organizations come together name speaks new shared cause communities attack fight back one many planning make heard crowds gathering celebrate trump presidency tens thousands demonstrators expected mark day shouts marches onstage speeches performances signs made art installations crafted case one group marijuana joints rolled protest groups organized disrupt j20 expected gather dozen checkpoints inauguration ticket holders pass demonstration speaking different cause one focus lgbt rights another center racial justice millers group gather 12th e streets consists people muslim jewish immigrant communities miller 25 jewish grew rockville md said groups havent always worked together past realize stand together really beginning said taking stand speaking loudly ultimately building resilient movement outlast inauguration days leading inauguration protests started one group shutting k street downtown washington gay rights advocates holding dance party near temporary home vice presidentelect mike pence chevy chase complete biodegradable glitter hashtags wearequeer wearehere wewilldance womans march saturday also expected draw thousands protesters unknown many people descend capital friday law enforcement officials bracing 60 demonstration groups support trump dozen received permits specific gathering space according permit requests groups anticipating 20 participants others planning tens thousands ben becker answer coalition said 45000 people indicated social media interest joining groups protest near us navy memorial pennsylvania avenue group stands act stop war end racism plans 28foot stage large sound system showcase speakers performers throughout morning afternoon considering counterinauguration becker 33 said main message going grassroots movement resistance trump agenda day one presidency advertisement group thousands signs ready hand among say racism stop trump agenda inaugurate resistance becker said hope day regardless many people show leave feeling confident ability stand fight back organize oneday event said calling day one larger resistance movement although protesters promised disrupt events day becker said group anticipating activity lead arrests expect certainly loud angry audibly disruptive planning anything physically disruptive case disrupt j20 describes plans online series massive direct actions shut inauguration ceremonies related celebrations inaugural parade inaugural balls name also planning paralyze city using blockades marches stop traffic even public transit lacy macauley spokeswoman group said working organizations plan permitted unpermitted actions people risking arrest said terms protests talking time group expects 30000 participants also planned march union station mcpherson square stage sound system macauley said artists also working make statement pieces including elaborate puppets large wall speak one trump vowed build along border mexico among signs seen created far said use trumps name possibly expletive demonstrations friday antitrump among groups requested permits space two organizations support bikers trump let america hear us roar trump latter sharing dupont circle group request permit plans set early friday dcmj formerly known dc cannabis campaign behind successful effort legalize marijuana district 2015 group started rolling joints month plans hand 4200 marching mall get security checkpoints issue illegal possess marijuana federal land includes mall plan light four minutes 20 seconds trumps speech nikolas schiller cofounder dcmj said demonstration protest trump signal wanting work fully legalizing cannabis 50 states district demonstrating trump power change law obama able schiller said believe cannabis legalization create jobs increase tax revenue also help fix broken criminal justice bikers sharing space friday said hope come get free joint another park franklin square poor peoples economic human rights campaign revolutionary road radio show continue event started thursday night series speakers including green party presidential candidate jill stein organizer rev bruce wright said area serve place people eat rest find medic needed night parade stage host musicians performers one point weather permitting handed seth tobocman cartoonist new york stand front slideshow work latest piece also display banner showing trump threatening statue liberty missile tobocman 58 said college part fiveperson peace group reagan administration watched people disagreed president chose say nothing time said encouraged protests whats heartening many people want go something said trump done anything positive created enough controversy lot people expressing perry stein contributed report womens march washington organizer emphasizes inclusivity httpwapost2ieseqo
| 664 |
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump criticized U.S. abortion laws as among the most permissive in the world in a speech to anti-abortion activists at the annual March for Life on Friday, and pledged his administration would always defend “the right to life.”</p> People attend the March for Life rally in Washington, U.S., January 19, 2018. REUTERS/Eric Thayer
<p>The Republican president’s speech, relayed via video link from the White House Rose Garden to thousands gathered on Washington’s National Mall, highlighted his shift in recent years from a supporter of women’s access to abortion to a powerful opponent.</p>
<p>“As you all know, Roe v. Wade has resulted in some of the most permissive abortion laws anywhere in the world,” he said, criticizing the 1973 Supreme Court decision that affirmed a woman’s right to an abortion at most stages of a pregnancy.</p>
<p>Trump said the United States “is one of only seven countries to allow elective late-term abortions,” mentioning China and North Korea. “It is wrong. It has to change.”</p> Nuns watch as U.S. President Donald Trump remotely addresses the March for Life rally by satellite from the nearby White House in Washington, U.S. January 19, 2018. REUTERS/Eric Thayer
<p>The other countries that allow elective abortions after 20 weeks are Canada, the Netherlands, Singapore and Vietnam, according to the Charlotte Lozier Institute, an anti-abortion research group.</p>
<p>Trump listed some anti-abortion measures his administration had taken, including an announcement earlier in the day by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The agency said it was revoking Obama administration legal guidance that had sought to discourage states from trying to defund organizations that provide abortion services, such as Planned Parenthood.</p>
<p>Roe v. Wade effectively legalized abortion nationwide. In the 45 years since the decision was issued on Jan. 22, 1973, the March for Life has been staged near the ruling’s anniversary in protest.</p>
<p>“Because of you, tens of thousands of Americans have been born and reached their full, God-given potential,” Trump, a Christian, told the marchers, who included many groups of students from Roman Catholic schools.</p>
<p>Trump has pledged to appoint more federal judges who oppose abortion with the hope that the ruling might eventually be overturned.</p>
<p>Trump is the third sitting president to address the march: Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush both made supportive remarks to the march at least twice each during their presidencies, speaking via telephone broadcast by loudspeakers.</p> Slideshow (17 Images)
<p>Trump sent Vice President Mike Pence, a vocal abortion opponent, to speak at last year’s march, a few days after the presidential inauguration. This year, Pence introduced Trump, saying the president would “restore the sanctity of life to the center of American law.”</p>
<p>Many marchers, carrying signs with slogans such as “Pray to end abortion,” said they were excited to hear from a president they see as an ally, but hesitated to point to any specific advancements in their agenda from Trump’s first year in office.</p>
<p>“It’s so refreshing to have a standing president who supports pro-life,” Tim Curran, a 66-year-old grocer who had traveled to the march from Kentucky, said before the remarks and the march to the steps of the Supreme Court for a rally. “He seems to be moving us back in the direction of traditional families and morality.”</p>
<p>The event came a day before the first anniversary of Trump’s inauguration, a milestone to be marked by the second Women’s March in cities across the United States, including Washington. Organizers hope to recreate last year’s huge anti-Trump protests by hundreds of thousands of people who saw Trump as a foe of women’s rights and reproductive freedom.</p>
<p>Trump previously supported women’s access to abortion, saying in an interview in 1999, when he was still a celebrity real-estate tycoon in New York City, that while he “hated the concept of abortion,” he was “very pro-choice.”</p>
<p>As a candidate for the presidency in 2016, Trump said his position had “evolved,” describing himself as “pro-life with exceptions,” such as in cases of rape or incest.</p>
<p>Trump has said he hopes Roe v. Wade will eventually be overturned and that each state will instead be allowed to decide whether to ban it.</p>
<p>Americans tend to split roughly down the middle on abortion access, with 49 percent saying they supported it and 46 percent saying they opposed it in a 2017 Gallup poll.</p>
<p>Reporting by Ian Simpson in Washington and Jonathan Allen in New York; Writing by Jonathan Allen; Editing by Steve Orlofsky and Jonathan Oatis</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Steve Bannon, President Donald Trump’s former chief strategist and 2016 campaign CEO, had a fiery response on Wednesday to Wall Street’s dim view of Trump’s trade actions against China.</p> Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon gestures as he speaks during a conference of Swiss weekly magazine Die Weltwoche in Zurich, Switzerland, March 6, 2018. REUTERS/Moritz Hager
<p>“Ask the working people in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan about Wall Street. Wall Street supported and cheered on the export of their jobs. To hell with Wall Street if they don’t like it. It’s time somebody stood up to them and Donald Trump is the perfect guy. Wall Street is always short term. Trump is trying to protect the beating heart of American capitalism - our innovation,” he told Reuters in a telephone interview.</p>
<p>Bannon, who maintains ties to the White House, said Trump’s recent moves to impose tariffs are a signal to the Chinese that “the game of continual delay is over” and that they will have to address the central issue of forced technology transfers.”</p>
<p>“It’s full throwdown. Trump has planned this out for a long time. He led with the smart things, forced technology transfers. It’s obvious the Chinese have no real response to this. I think they played completely into his hands. By putting tariffs on agricultural products and avoiding addressing the technology questions they’ve shown once again they consider us nothing more than a tributary state.”</p> Wall Street tumbles on tech sector, trade worries
<p>“This is the beating heart of American capitalism: Technology innovation that the Chinese have either stolen or forced American companies to turn over. Trump has signaled that those days are over,” he said.</p>
<p>Just 11 hours after the Trump administration proposed 25 percent tariffs on some 1,300 Chinese industrial technology, transport and medical products, China responded with a list of similar duties on key American imports including soybeans, planes, cars, beef and chemicals.</p>
<p>Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by James Dalgleish</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U.S. television networks have scrapped two planned series about former President Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky and his 1998 impeachment.</p> Former U.S. President Bill Clinton introduces Fleetwood Mac during the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year show honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, New York, U.S., January 26, 2018. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
<p>History Channel said on Wednesday it had decided not to move forward with a six-episode scripted drama series that it announced last September.</p>
<p>“The Breach: Inside the Impeachment of Bill Clinton,” was billed as “an intimate, riveting depiction of how one of the nation’s biggest political scandals unfolded.”</p>
<p>“A decision was made a few months ago not to move forward on the series for creative reasons. Production had not commenced,” History Channel said in a statement. The network did not give details.</p>
<p>In a separate development, producer Ryan Murphy told The Hollywood Reporter that he was no longer developing the best-selling book “A Vast Conspiracy: The Real Sex Scandal that Nearly Brought Down a President” for FX television as planned.</p>
<p>Murphy, producer of the “American Crime” FX series that recently dramatized the O.J. Simpson double-murder trial, and the murder of fashion designer Gianni Versace, had optioned the 2000 book more than a year ago.</p>
<p>He told the magazine in an interview for its April 4 edition that he had second thoughts about doing the series, and had informed Lewinsky.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=DIS.N" type="external">Walt Disney Co</a> 100.95 DIS.N New York Stock Exchange +1.53 (+1.54%) DIS.N FOXA.O CBS.N
<p>“I told her, ‘Nobody should tell your story but you, and it’s kind of gross if they do,’” Murphy was quoted as saying. “‘If you want to produce it with me, I would love that; but you should be the producer and you should make all the goddamn money.’”</p>
<p>Clinton was impeached on charges of perjury and obstruction during his second term as president but was acquitted by the Senate.</p>
<p>Lewinsky, whose affair with Clinton occurred while she was an intern at the White House, has been the subject of numerous books and has recently campaigned against bullying.</p>
<p>Clinton, however, remains a hot property for television. Cable channel Showtime has said it will adapt his debut novel for a series.</p>
<p>Co-authored with thriller writer James Paterson, “The President is Missing” is due to be published in June and will tell of the sudden disappearance of a sitting U.S. president.</p>
<p>Showtime has not said when the series will air, or given details of casting.</p>
<p>History Channel is a joint venture between Hearst Communications and Walt Disney Co ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=DIS.N" type="external">DIS.N</a>). FX is a unit of 21st Century Fox ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FOXA.O" type="external">FOXA.O</a>), while Showtime is a unit of CBS Corp ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=CBS.N" type="external">CBS.N</a>).</p>
<p>Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Peter Cooney</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - New York police officers on Wednesday shot to death a black man who pointed a metal pipe at them, after responding to emergency callers who said the man was aiming a firearm at pedestrians, a police official said.</p> Police officers stand behind a cordon tape at the scene where New York police officers shot to death a black man who pointed a metal pipe at them, in the borough of Brooklyn, New York, U.S., April 4, 2018, in this picture obtained from social media. Instagram @johnnyg1rl/via REUTERS
<p>The man took a two-handed shooting stance and pointed an object at police in the city’s Brooklyn borough, and three plainclothes officers and one uniformed officer shot 10 times, Chief of Department Terence Monahan told a news conference.</p>
<p>“This was a call of a man pointing what 911 callers and people felt was a gun at people on the street,” Monahan said. “When we encounter him, he turns with what appears to be a gun at officers.”</p>
<p>Video posted to social media showed a crowd gathered on the street after the shooting. Some yelled “oppressors” as they faced off against several officers standing on the other side of police tape.</p>
<p>The shooting follows a number of killings of unarmed black men by police that triggered street protests and fueled a national debate about bias in the U.S. criminal justice system.</p>
<p>Police were investigating, Monahan said, adding that surveillance video obtained from stores nearby showed the man brandishing an object that looked like a firearm.</p>
<p>The man, whose name and age were not immediately released, was taken to a hospital where he was declared dead.</p>
<p>A police shooting of an unarmed black man in Sacramento, California, has sparked several days of protests.</p>
<p>In that incident, officers responding to a report of someone breaking windows shot to death 22-year-old Stephon Clark in his grandmother’s backyard on March 18. The officers feared he had a gun, but he was found to have been holding a cellphone, Sacramento police have said.</p>
<p>Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles; Editing by Ian Simpson in Washington</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A federal judge tore into all of the legal arguments that a lawyer for President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort made on Wednesday in his long-shot civil case to convince her that Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation has run amok and should be reined in.</p>
<p>“I don’t really understand what is left of your case,” U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson said to Kevin Downing, Manafort’s attorney, after peppering him with a lengthy series of questions.</p>
<p>Manafort filed a civil lawsuit on Jan. 3 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against Mueller and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the Justice Department official who appointed the special counsel, in a key legal test of how far Mueller’s mandate extends.</p>
<p>Jackson did not say when she might rule on the civil case, which the Justice Department is seeking to dismiss.</p>
<p>Mueller is investigating possible collusion between Trump’s campaign and Russia as well as whether the president has unlawfully tried to obstruct the probe.</p>
<p>Mueller has charged 22 individuals and entities to date, including Manafort and his associate Rick Gates. Manafort’s civil case marks the first time a defendant has sought to challenge his authority.</p>
<p>Manafort, who performed lobbying work for a pro-Russian former Ukrainian president before serving as Trump’s campaign chairman in 2016, is facing two indictments brought by Mueller in federal courts in Washington and Alexandria, Virginia. The charges against him include conspiring to launder money, failing to register as a foreign agent, bank fraud and filing false tax returns.</p>
<p>Manafort has pleaded not guilty and none of the charges directly relate to work he performed for Trump’s campaign.</p>
<p>Trump has denied colluding with Russia and called Mueller’s probe a witch hunt.</p>
<p>Manafort’s civil lawsuit relies on an arcane law called the Administrative Procedure Act, which spells out the process federal agencies must follow when writing regulations. The suit alleges that Rosenstein’s order laying out Mueller’s investigative mandate violates Justice Department rules because it is overly broad and therefore “arbitrary and capricious.”</p>
<p>Legal experts from the start have said Manafort’s civil lawsuit faced an uphill battle.</p>
<p>The Justice Department’s regulations explicitly say that private parties have no right to challenge them in court. Judges in prior cases also have generally not permitted defendants in criminal cases like Manafort to use civil litigation to try to challenge criminal charges.</p>
<p>SCALED-BACK COMPLAINT</p> FILE PHOTO: Paul Manafort (C), former campaign manager for U.S. President Donald Trump, arrives with his wife Kathleen (R), for an arraignment at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, U.S., March 8, 2018. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
<p>But Manafort’s case appeared to be even weaker in Jackson’s eyes on Wednesday after Downing told her he was scaling back the scope of the civil complaint against the Justice Department.</p>
<p>Manafort’s lawsuit originally asked the judge to declare that Rosenstein’s entire order appointing Mueller was invalid and to set aside the criminal charges against him.</p>
<p>On Wednesday, Downing said he is only challenging a portion of Rosenstein’s order, and that he is not asking the judge to toss the charges in this case, but instead seeking to protect his client from potential future charges also unrelated to Russia.</p>
<p>That prompted Jackson to ask an array of questions, including how Manafort can have legal standing to challenge the order if he has not suffered any harm, how he can know for sure whether or not Mueller may bring future charges within the proper scope of Rosenstein’s order, and whether there was legal precedent allowing someone to challenge a prosecution under the Administrative Procedure Act.</p>
<p>“It seems to me you are trying to have it both ways,” she said, adding that Downing is not trying to dismiss the indictment but still has a problem with Manafort being prosecuted.</p> Slideshow (3 Images)
<p>Downing told the judge Rosenstein’s order violates the rules governing special prosecutors because it lets Mueller broadly investigate “any matters that arose or may arise directly from” the probe into Russian interference.</p>
<p>He stressed that Manafort never even had an office in Russia and that the criminal case against him dates back to 2014, well before the campaign.</p>
<p>A court filing on Monday appeared to somewhat undermine that claim by showing that Rosenstein specifically authorized Mueller in August 2017 to investigate both whether Manafort colluded with Russia to interfere with the 2016 presidential election and his activities prior to 2016 involving Ukraine’s former pro-Russia government.</p>
<p>Jackson also is handling the criminal case against Manafort and is expected to hear oral arguments for that later this month, when Downing will ask her to dismiss the indictment.</p>
<p>Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Will Dunham and Bill Trott</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
washington reuters president donald trump criticized us abortion laws among permissive world speech antiabortion activists annual march life friday pledged administration would always defend right life people attend march life rally washington us january 19 2018 reuterseric thayer republican presidents speech relayed via video link white house rose garden thousands gathered washingtons national mall highlighted shift recent years supporter womens access abortion powerful opponent know roe v wade resulted permissive abortion laws anywhere world said criticizing 1973 supreme court decision affirmed womans right abortion stages pregnancy trump said united states one seven countries allow elective lateterm abortions mentioning china north korea wrong change nuns watch us president donald trump remotely addresses march life rally satellite nearby white house washington us january 19 2018 reuterseric thayer countries allow elective abortions 20 weeks canada netherlands singapore vietnam according charlotte lozier institute antiabortion research group trump listed antiabortion measures administration taken including announcement earlier day us department health human services agency said revoking obama administration legal guidance sought discourage states trying defund organizations provide abortion services planned parenthood roe v wade effectively legalized abortion nationwide 45 years since decision issued jan 22 1973 march life staged near rulings anniversary protest tens thousands americans born reached full godgiven potential trump christian told marchers included many groups students roman catholic schools trump pledged appoint federal judges oppose abortion hope ruling might eventually overturned trump third sitting president address march ronald reagan george w bush made supportive remarks march least twice presidencies speaking via telephone broadcast loudspeakers slideshow 17 images trump sent vice president mike pence vocal abortion opponent speak last years march days presidential inauguration year pence introduced trump saying president would restore sanctity life center american law many marchers carrying signs slogans pray end abortion said excited hear president see ally hesitated point specific advancements agenda trumps first year office refreshing standing president supports prolife tim curran 66yearold grocer traveled march kentucky said remarks march steps supreme court rally seems moving us back direction traditional families morality event came day first anniversary trumps inauguration milestone marked second womens march cities across united states including washington organizers hope recreate last years huge antitrump protests hundreds thousands people saw trump foe womens rights reproductive freedom trump previously supported womens access abortion saying interview 1999 still celebrity realestate tycoon new york city hated concept abortion prochoice candidate presidency 2016 trump said position evolved describing prolife exceptions cases rape incest trump said hopes roe v wade eventually overturned state instead allowed decide whether ban americans tend split roughly middle abortion access 49 percent saying supported 46 percent saying opposed 2017 gallup poll reporting ian simpson washington jonathan allen new york writing jonathan allen editing steve orlofsky jonathan oatis standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters steve bannon president donald trumps former chief strategist 2016 campaign ceo fiery response wednesday wall streets dim view trumps trade actions china former white house chief strategist steve bannon gestures speaks conference swiss weekly magazine die weltwoche zurich switzerland march 6 2018 reutersmoritz hager ask working people ohio pennsylvania michigan wall street wall street supported cheered export jobs hell wall street dont like time somebody stood donald trump perfect guy wall street always short term trump trying protect beating heart american capitalism innovation told reuters telephone interview bannon maintains ties white house said trumps recent moves impose tariffs signal chinese game continual delay address central issue forced technology transfers full throwdown trump planned long time led smart things forced technology transfers obvious chinese real response think played completely hands putting tariffs agricultural products avoiding addressing technology questions theyve shown consider us nothing tributary state wall street tumbles tech sector trade worries beating heart american capitalism technology innovation chinese either stolen forced american companies turn trump signaled days said 11 hours trump administration proposed 25 percent tariffs 1300 chinese industrial technology transport medical products china responded list similar duties key american imports including soybeans planes cars beef chemicals reporting steve holland editing james dalgleish standards thomson reuters trust principles los angeles reuters us television networks scrapped two planned series former president bill clintons affair monica lewinsky 1998 impeachment former us president bill clinton introduces fleetwood mac 2018 musicares person year show honoring fleetwood mac radio city music hall manhattan new york us january 26 2018 reutersandrew kelly history channel said wednesday decided move forward sixepisode scripted drama series announced last september breach inside impeachment bill clinton billed intimate riveting depiction one nations biggest political scandals unfolded decision made months ago move forward series creative reasons production commenced history channel said statement network give details separate development producer ryan murphy told hollywood reporter longer developing bestselling book vast conspiracy real sex scandal nearly brought president fx television planned murphy producer american crime fx series recently dramatized oj simpson doublemurder trial murder fashion designer gianni versace optioned 2000 book year ago told magazine interview april 4 edition second thoughts series informed lewinsky walt disney co 10095 disn new york stock exchange 153 154 disn foxao cbsn told nobody tell story kind gross murphy quoted saying want produce would love producer make goddamn money clinton impeached charges perjury obstruction second term president acquitted senate lewinsky whose affair clinton occurred intern white house subject numerous books recently campaigned bullying clinton however remains hot property television cable channel showtime said adapt debut novel series coauthored thriller writer james paterson president missing due published june tell sudden disappearance sitting us president showtime said series air given details casting history channel joint venture hearst communications walt disney co disn fx unit 21st century fox foxao showtime unit cbs corp cbsn reporting jill serjeant editing peter cooney standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters new york police officers wednesday shot death black man pointed metal pipe responding emergency callers said man aiming firearm pedestrians police official said police officers stand behind cordon tape scene new york police officers shot death black man pointed metal pipe borough brooklyn new york us april 4 2018 picture obtained social media instagram johnnyg1rlvia reuters man took twohanded shooting stance pointed object police citys brooklyn borough three plainclothes officers one uniformed officer shot 10 times chief department terence monahan told news conference call man pointing 911 callers people felt gun people street monahan said encounter turns appears gun officers video posted social media showed crowd gathered street shooting yelled oppressors faced several officers standing side police tape shooting follows number killings unarmed black men police triggered street protests fueled national debate bias us criminal justice system police investigating monahan said adding surveillance video obtained stores nearby showed man brandishing object looked like firearm man whose name age immediately released taken hospital declared dead police shooting unarmed black man sacramento california sparked several days protests incident officers responding report someone breaking windows shot death 22yearold stephon clark grandmothers backyard march 18 officers feared gun found holding cellphone sacramento police said reporting alex dobuzinskis los angeles editing ian simpson washington standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters federal judge tore legal arguments lawyer president donald trumps former campaign chairman paul manafort made wednesday longshot civil case convince special counsel robert muellers investigation run amok reined dont really understand left case us district court judge amy berman jackson said kevin downing manaforts attorney peppering lengthy series questions manafort filed civil lawsuit jan 3 us district court district columbia mueller deputy attorney general rod rosenstein justice department official appointed special counsel key legal test far muellers mandate extends jackson say might rule civil case justice department seeking dismiss mueller investigating possible collusion trumps campaign russia well whether president unlawfully tried obstruct probe mueller charged 22 individuals entities date including manafort associate rick gates manaforts civil case marks first time defendant sought challenge authority manafort performed lobbying work prorussian former ukrainian president serving trumps campaign chairman 2016 facing two indictments brought mueller federal courts washington alexandria virginia charges include conspiring launder money failing register foreign agent bank fraud filing false tax returns manafort pleaded guilty none charges directly relate work performed trumps campaign trump denied colluding russia called muellers probe witch hunt manaforts civil lawsuit relies arcane law called administrative procedure act spells process federal agencies must follow writing regulations suit alleges rosensteins order laying muellers investigative mandate violates justice department rules overly broad therefore arbitrary capricious legal experts start said manaforts civil lawsuit faced uphill battle justice departments regulations explicitly say private parties right challenge court judges prior cases also generally permitted defendants criminal cases like manafort use civil litigation try challenge criminal charges scaledback complaint file photo paul manafort c former campaign manager us president donald trump arrives wife kathleen r arraignment federal courthouse alexandria virginia us march 8 2018 reutersbrian snyder manaforts case appeared even weaker jacksons eyes wednesday downing told scaling back scope civil complaint justice department manaforts lawsuit originally asked judge declare rosensteins entire order appointing mueller invalid set aside criminal charges wednesday downing said challenging portion rosensteins order asking judge toss charges case instead seeking protect client potential future charges also unrelated russia prompted jackson ask array questions including manafort legal standing challenge order suffered harm know sure whether mueller may bring future charges within proper scope rosensteins order whether legal precedent allowing someone challenge prosecution administrative procedure act seems trying ways said adding downing trying dismiss indictment still problem manafort prosecuted slideshow 3 images downing told judge rosensteins order violates rules governing special prosecutors lets mueller broadly investigate matters arose may arise directly probe russian interference stressed manafort never even office russia criminal case dates back 2014 well campaign court filing monday appeared somewhat undermine claim showing rosenstein specifically authorized mueller august 2017 investigate whether manafort colluded russia interfere 2016 presidential election activities prior 2016 involving ukraines former prorussia government jackson also handling criminal case manafort expected hear oral arguments later month downing ask dismiss indictment reporting sarah n lynch editing dunham bill trott standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 1,643 |
<p>PERRIS, Calif. (AP) — The Latest on family members found shackled in a California home (all times local):</p>
<p>5:30 p.m.</p>
<p>The Elvis impersonator who officiated three wedding vow renewal ceremonies for two California parents accused of malnourishing and torturing their children says nothing seemed amiss with the family.</p>
<p>Kent Ripley officiated the three ceremonies for David and Louise Turpin at A Elvis Chapel in Las Vegas in 2011, 2013 and 2015.</p>
<p>He says he felt like he got to know the family, making the news of the Turpins’ arrest all the more shocking.</p>
<p>He says the couple’s 13 children, ranging from 2 to 29 years old, all looked young and thin but never like they weren’t getting enough food.</p>
<p>Ripley reviewed three videos of the couple’s renewal ceremonies and says they now seem “haunting and disturbing.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>5 p.m.</p>
<p>A nutrition expert says California siblings who were small and malnourished when they were found captive in their home may have been deprived of nutrients during key growth-spurt years.</p>
<p>Dr. Donald Kirby, director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the Cleveland Clinic, said Tuesday that deprivation can lock kids into their smaller bodies, with further growth impossible.</p>
<p>The 13 siblings discovered Sunday ranged in age from 2 to 29. Kirby says for an adult to be so malnourished they appear more like a child, they need to have lacked nutrients for years.</p>
<p>A 17-year-old girl who escaped and called 911 was so small that deputies initially mistook her for a 10-year-old.</p>
<p>Kirby says the recovery time for long-term malnutrition could take years.</p>
<p>Allegations that a couple kept their 13 children, including some adults, captive in their California home has surprised their neighbors. Kimberly Milligan says she was told the family had a dozen kids, but she never saw that many children. (Jan. 16)</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>1:25 p.m.</p>
<p>Allegations that a couple kept their 13 children, including some adults, captive in their California home has surprised their neighbors.</p>
<p>Kimberly Milligan says she was told the family had a dozen kids when she moved into the neighborhood 2½ years ago, but she never saw that many children.</p>
<p>Milligan says she didn’t see friends or family coming to the home. She also never saw or heard children playing outside. But she didn’t suspect anything like what authorities allege.</p>
<p>The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department says a 17-year-old daughter escaped out a window and called 911 on a cellphone early Sunday.</p>
<p>Deputies found the children, who appeared small and malnourished, and some were chained to pieces of furniture. The parents are under arrest.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>10:30 a.m.</p>
<p>California authorities say the mother of 13 children kept locked in filthy conditions was “perplexed” about why police came to their home.</p>
<p>Riverside County sheriff’s Capt. Greg Fellows described the reaction of 49-year-old Louise Turpin but didn’t know the reaction of the father, 57-year-old David Turpin.</p>
<p>The children, some of them chained to furniture, were described as weak and small for their age. Fellows called it torture. The abuse was discovered when a 17-year-old girl jumped out a window and called 911 Sunday.</p>
<p>The sheriff’s captain says deputies had never been to the home and neither had social service workers.</p>
<p>Corona Regional Medical Center CEO Mark Uffer says his facility is treating seven of the adult children. Uffer says they are small and clearly malnourished but are stable and very friendly.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>9:05 a.m.</p>
<p>The father of a California man accused of keeping his 13 children locked up in filthy conditions says he was surprised by news of his son’s arrest.</p>
<p>James Turpin of Princeton, West Virginia, told The Associated Press Tuesday that all 13 children are David Turpin’s biological kids. He said none are adopted.</p>
<p>Fifty-seven-year-old David Turpin and his 49-year-old wife, Louise Turpin, were arrested Sunday on suspicion of torture and child endangerment. A court appearance is set for Thursday.</p>
<p>The older Turpin said he heard about the arrests Monday but declined further comment.</p>
<p>James Turpin confirmed that his son is an engineer. He told WVNS-TV in Ghent, West Virginia, that David grew up in West Virginia.</p>
<p>Investigators say the 13 brothers and sisters had been malnourished and that several children were shackled to beds.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>This item has been corrected to show the TV station attribution should be WVNS-TV in Ghent, West Virginia, not WTRF-TV in Wheeling, West Virginia.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>12:05 a.m.</p>
<p>A 17-year-old girl called police after escaping from her family’s home where she and her 12 brothers and sisters were locked up in filthy conditions, some so malnourished officers at first believed all were children even though seven are adults.</p>
<p>Police went to the family home in Perris, about 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles on Sunday. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department says deputies found several children shackled to their beds with chains and padlocks in dark, foul-smelling surroundings.</p>
<p>The siblings range in age from 2 to 29.</p>
<p>Fifty-seven-year-old David Allen Turpin and 49-year-old Louise Anna Turpin each were held on $9 million bail. They could face charges including torture and child endangerment.</p>
<p>It wasn’t immediately known if they had attorneys.</p>
<p>PERRIS, Calif. (AP) — The Latest on family members found shackled in a California home (all times local):</p>
<p>5:30 p.m.</p>
<p>The Elvis impersonator who officiated three wedding vow renewal ceremonies for two California parents accused of malnourishing and torturing their children says nothing seemed amiss with the family.</p>
<p>Kent Ripley officiated the three ceremonies for David and Louise Turpin at A Elvis Chapel in Las Vegas in 2011, 2013 and 2015.</p>
<p>He says he felt like he got to know the family, making the news of the Turpins’ arrest all the more shocking.</p>
<p>He says the couple’s 13 children, ranging from 2 to 29 years old, all looked young and thin but never like they weren’t getting enough food.</p>
<p>Ripley reviewed three videos of the couple’s renewal ceremonies and says they now seem “haunting and disturbing.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>5 p.m.</p>
<p>A nutrition expert says California siblings who were small and malnourished when they were found captive in their home may have been deprived of nutrients during key growth-spurt years.</p>
<p>Dr. Donald Kirby, director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the Cleveland Clinic, said Tuesday that deprivation can lock kids into their smaller bodies, with further growth impossible.</p>
<p>The 13 siblings discovered Sunday ranged in age from 2 to 29. Kirby says for an adult to be so malnourished they appear more like a child, they need to have lacked nutrients for years.</p>
<p>A 17-year-old girl who escaped and called 911 was so small that deputies initially mistook her for a 10-year-old.</p>
<p>Kirby says the recovery time for long-term malnutrition could take years.</p>
<p>Allegations that a couple kept their 13 children, including some adults, captive in their California home has surprised their neighbors. Kimberly Milligan says she was told the family had a dozen kids, but she never saw that many children. (Jan. 16)</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>1:25 p.m.</p>
<p>Allegations that a couple kept their 13 children, including some adults, captive in their California home has surprised their neighbors.</p>
<p>Kimberly Milligan says she was told the family had a dozen kids when she moved into the neighborhood 2½ years ago, but she never saw that many children.</p>
<p>Milligan says she didn’t see friends or family coming to the home. She also never saw or heard children playing outside. But she didn’t suspect anything like what authorities allege.</p>
<p>The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department says a 17-year-old daughter escaped out a window and called 911 on a cellphone early Sunday.</p>
<p>Deputies found the children, who appeared small and malnourished, and some were chained to pieces of furniture. The parents are under arrest.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>10:30 a.m.</p>
<p>California authorities say the mother of 13 children kept locked in filthy conditions was “perplexed” about why police came to their home.</p>
<p>Riverside County sheriff’s Capt. Greg Fellows described the reaction of 49-year-old Louise Turpin but didn’t know the reaction of the father, 57-year-old David Turpin.</p>
<p>The children, some of them chained to furniture, were described as weak and small for their age. Fellows called it torture. The abuse was discovered when a 17-year-old girl jumped out a window and called 911 Sunday.</p>
<p>The sheriff’s captain says deputies had never been to the home and neither had social service workers.</p>
<p>Corona Regional Medical Center CEO Mark Uffer says his facility is treating seven of the adult children. Uffer says they are small and clearly malnourished but are stable and very friendly.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>9:05 a.m.</p>
<p>The father of a California man accused of keeping his 13 children locked up in filthy conditions says he was surprised by news of his son’s arrest.</p>
<p>James Turpin of Princeton, West Virginia, told The Associated Press Tuesday that all 13 children are David Turpin’s biological kids. He said none are adopted.</p>
<p>Fifty-seven-year-old David Turpin and his 49-year-old wife, Louise Turpin, were arrested Sunday on suspicion of torture and child endangerment. A court appearance is set for Thursday.</p>
<p>The older Turpin said he heard about the arrests Monday but declined further comment.</p>
<p>James Turpin confirmed that his son is an engineer. He told WVNS-TV in Ghent, West Virginia, that David grew up in West Virginia.</p>
<p>Investigators say the 13 brothers and sisters had been malnourished and that several children were shackled to beds.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>This item has been corrected to show the TV station attribution should be WVNS-TV in Ghent, West Virginia, not WTRF-TV in Wheeling, West Virginia.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>12:05 a.m.</p>
<p>A 17-year-old girl called police after escaping from her family’s home where she and her 12 brothers and sisters were locked up in filthy conditions, some so malnourished officers at first believed all were children even though seven are adults.</p>
<p>Police went to the family home in Perris, about 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles on Sunday. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department says deputies found several children shackled to their beds with chains and padlocks in dark, foul-smelling surroundings.</p>
<p>The siblings range in age from 2 to 29.</p>
<p>Fifty-seven-year-old David Allen Turpin and 49-year-old Louise Anna Turpin each were held on $9 million bail. They could face charges including torture and child endangerment.</p>
<p>It wasn’t immediately known if they had attorneys.</p>
| false | 2 |
perris calif ap latest family members found shackled california home times local 530 pm elvis impersonator officiated three wedding vow renewal ceremonies two california parents accused malnourishing torturing children says nothing seemed amiss family kent ripley officiated three ceremonies david louise turpin elvis chapel las vegas 2011 2013 2015 says felt like got know family making news turpins arrest shocking says couples 13 children ranging 2 29 years old looked young thin never like werent getting enough food ripley reviewed three videos couples renewal ceremonies says seem haunting disturbing ___ 5 pm nutrition expert says california siblings small malnourished found captive home may deprived nutrients key growthspurt years dr donald kirby director center human nutrition cleveland clinic said tuesday deprivation lock kids smaller bodies growth impossible 13 siblings discovered sunday ranged age 2 29 kirby says adult malnourished appear like child need lacked nutrients years 17yearold girl escaped called 911 small deputies initially mistook 10yearold kirby says recovery time longterm malnutrition could take years allegations couple kept 13 children including adults captive california home surprised neighbors kimberly milligan says told family dozen kids never saw many children jan 16 ___ 125 pm allegations couple kept 13 children including adults captive california home surprised neighbors kimberly milligan says told family dozen kids moved neighborhood 2½ years ago never saw many children milligan says didnt see friends family coming home also never saw heard children playing outside didnt suspect anything like authorities allege riverside county sheriffs department says 17yearold daughter escaped window called 911 cellphone early sunday deputies found children appeared small malnourished chained pieces furniture parents arrest ___ 1030 california authorities say mother 13 children kept locked filthy conditions perplexed police came home riverside county sheriffs capt greg fellows described reaction 49yearold louise turpin didnt know reaction father 57yearold david turpin children chained furniture described weak small age fellows called torture abuse discovered 17yearold girl jumped window called 911 sunday sheriffs captain says deputies never home neither social service workers corona regional medical center ceo mark uffer says facility treating seven adult children uffer says small clearly malnourished stable friendly ___ 905 father california man accused keeping 13 children locked filthy conditions says surprised news sons arrest james turpin princeton west virginia told associated press tuesday 13 children david turpins biological kids said none adopted fiftysevenyearold david turpin 49yearold wife louise turpin arrested sunday suspicion torture child endangerment court appearance set thursday older turpin said heard arrests monday declined comment james turpin confirmed son engineer told wvnstv ghent west virginia david grew west virginia investigators say 13 brothers sisters malnourished several children shackled beds ___ item corrected show tv station attribution wvnstv ghent west virginia wtrftv wheeling west virginia ___ 1205 17yearold girl called police escaping familys home 12 brothers sisters locked filthy conditions malnourished officers first believed children even though seven adults police went family home perris 70 miles southeast los angeles sunday riverside county sheriffs department says deputies found several children shackled beds chains padlocks dark foulsmelling surroundings siblings range age 2 29 fiftysevenyearold david allen turpin 49yearold louise anna turpin held 9 million bail could face charges including torture child endangerment wasnt immediately known attorneys perris calif ap latest family members found shackled california home times local 530 pm elvis impersonator officiated three wedding vow renewal ceremonies two california parents accused malnourishing torturing children says nothing seemed amiss family kent ripley officiated three ceremonies david louise turpin elvis chapel las vegas 2011 2013 2015 says felt like got know family making news turpins arrest shocking says couples 13 children ranging 2 29 years old looked young thin never like werent getting enough food ripley reviewed three videos couples renewal ceremonies says seem haunting disturbing ___ 5 pm nutrition expert says california siblings small malnourished found captive home may deprived nutrients key growthspurt years dr donald kirby director center human nutrition cleveland clinic said tuesday deprivation lock kids smaller bodies growth impossible 13 siblings discovered sunday ranged age 2 29 kirby says adult malnourished appear like child need lacked nutrients years 17yearold girl escaped called 911 small deputies initially mistook 10yearold kirby says recovery time longterm malnutrition could take years allegations couple kept 13 children including adults captive california home surprised neighbors kimberly milligan says told family dozen kids never saw many children jan 16 ___ 125 pm allegations couple kept 13 children including adults captive california home surprised neighbors kimberly milligan says told family dozen kids moved neighborhood 2½ years ago never saw many children milligan says didnt see friends family coming home also never saw heard children playing outside didnt suspect anything like authorities allege riverside county sheriffs department says 17yearold daughter escaped window called 911 cellphone early sunday deputies found children appeared small malnourished chained pieces furniture parents arrest ___ 1030 california authorities say mother 13 children kept locked filthy conditions perplexed police came home riverside county sheriffs capt greg fellows described reaction 49yearold louise turpin didnt know reaction father 57yearold david turpin children chained furniture described weak small age fellows called torture abuse discovered 17yearold girl jumped window called 911 sunday sheriffs captain says deputies never home neither social service workers corona regional medical center ceo mark uffer says facility treating seven adult children uffer says small clearly malnourished stable friendly ___ 905 father california man accused keeping 13 children locked filthy conditions says surprised news sons arrest james turpin princeton west virginia told associated press tuesday 13 children david turpins biological kids said none adopted fiftysevenyearold david turpin 49yearold wife louise turpin arrested sunday suspicion torture child endangerment court appearance set thursday older turpin said heard arrests monday declined comment james turpin confirmed son engineer told wvnstv ghent west virginia david grew west virginia investigators say 13 brothers sisters malnourished several children shackled beds ___ item corrected show tv station attribution wvnstv ghent west virginia wtrftv wheeling west virginia ___ 1205 17yearold girl called police escaping familys home 12 brothers sisters locked filthy conditions malnourished officers first believed children even though seven adults police went family home perris 70 miles southeast los angeles sunday riverside county sheriffs department says deputies found several children shackled beds chains padlocks dark foulsmelling surroundings siblings range age 2 29 fiftysevenyearold david allen turpin 49yearold louise anna turpin held 9 million bail could face charges including torture child endangerment wasnt immediately known attorneys
| 1,054 |
<p>JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — There would be little change in state aid to Mississippi public school districts in the next two years under a new funding formula being pushed by House Republican leaders.</p>
<p>The House Appropriations Committee moved <a href="http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2018/pdf/history/HB/HB0957.xml" type="external">House Bill 957</a> forward Tuesday on a divided voice vote, setting up for a vote by the full House as soon as Wednesday.</p>
<p>House Education Committee Chairman Richard Bennett emphasized again in Tuesday’s meeting that districts would be protected from losses in the first two years of a projected seven-year phase in.</p>
<p>“No one will get less in ’19 and ’20 than this year,” said Bennett, a Long Beach Republican.</p>
<p>Nathan Wells, chief of staff for House Speaker Philip Gunn, said districts gaining enrollment would get only a little more money under a method not yet been disclosed. Wells said the increase would be less than $10 million next year over the $2.27 billion the state projects to spend on the current formula, the Mississippi Adequate Education Program.</p>
<p>That defers the promise of what would be $107 million over time, and $53 million more in the first year that the new formula begins to operate. There are already questions about where the Legislature would get the additional money. Bennett on Tuesday appeared to assure Rep. Jerry Turner, a Baldwyn Republican, that the additional money wouldn’t come out of a pot that’s used to fund career and technical education outside the current formula. But Wells said after the hearing that some money could still come from that $97 million pot.</p>
<p>House Minority Leader David Baria, a Bay St. Louis Democrat, offered an amendment in the committee hearing to postpone any change for two years. Baria said that would give time for five separate studies ordered by the bill on various aspects of funding to be completed. Bennett, though, urged the committee to move ahead, pledging lawmakers could revisit those issues during the period in which funding would change little.</p>
<p>“Any adjustment that needs to be made will be made while they’re still in the two-year period,” Bennett said.</p>
<p>The new formula would provide a base student cost of $4,800, allocated to educate a student with no special requirements. It would then add extra per-student amounts for special education students, gifted students, high school students and those learning English. Extremely rural districts get an extra bump.</p>
<p>The proposal would spend $157 million less than the Mississippi Adequate Education Program legally mandates for next year.</p>
<p>A total of 24 school districts projects to lose money, while 118 are projected to gain.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>This version corrects the speaker’s chief of staff’s name. It is Nathan Wells, not Nathan Well.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Jeff Amy at: <a href="http://twitter.com/jeffamy" type="external">http://twitter.com/jeffamy</a> . Read his work at <a href="" type="internal">https://www.apnews.com/search/Jeff_Amy</a></p>
<p>JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — There would be little change in state aid to Mississippi public school districts in the next two years under a new funding formula being pushed by House Republican leaders.</p>
<p>The House Appropriations Committee moved <a href="http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2018/pdf/history/HB/HB0957.xml" type="external">House Bill 957</a> forward Tuesday on a divided voice vote, setting up for a vote by the full House as soon as Wednesday.</p>
<p>House Education Committee Chairman Richard Bennett emphasized again in Tuesday’s meeting that districts would be protected from losses in the first two years of a projected seven-year phase in.</p>
<p>“No one will get less in ’19 and ’20 than this year,” said Bennett, a Long Beach Republican.</p>
<p>Nathan Wells, chief of staff for House Speaker Philip Gunn, said districts gaining enrollment would get only a little more money under a method not yet been disclosed. Wells said the increase would be less than $10 million next year over the $2.27 billion the state projects to spend on the current formula, the Mississippi Adequate Education Program.</p>
<p>That defers the promise of what would be $107 million over time, and $53 million more in the first year that the new formula begins to operate. There are already questions about where the Legislature would get the additional money. Bennett on Tuesday appeared to assure Rep. Jerry Turner, a Baldwyn Republican, that the additional money wouldn’t come out of a pot that’s used to fund career and technical education outside the current formula. But Wells said after the hearing that some money could still come from that $97 million pot.</p>
<p>House Minority Leader David Baria, a Bay St. Louis Democrat, offered an amendment in the committee hearing to postpone any change for two years. Baria said that would give time for five separate studies ordered by the bill on various aspects of funding to be completed. Bennett, though, urged the committee to move ahead, pledging lawmakers could revisit those issues during the period in which funding would change little.</p>
<p>“Any adjustment that needs to be made will be made while they’re still in the two-year period,” Bennett said.</p>
<p>The new formula would provide a base student cost of $4,800, allocated to educate a student with no special requirements. It would then add extra per-student amounts for special education students, gifted students, high school students and those learning English. Extremely rural districts get an extra bump.</p>
<p>The proposal would spend $157 million less than the Mississippi Adequate Education Program legally mandates for next year.</p>
<p>A total of 24 school districts projects to lose money, while 118 are projected to gain.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>This version corrects the speaker’s chief of staff’s name. It is Nathan Wells, not Nathan Well.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Jeff Amy at: <a href="http://twitter.com/jeffamy" type="external">http://twitter.com/jeffamy</a> . Read his work at <a href="" type="internal">https://www.apnews.com/search/Jeff_Amy</a></p>
| false | 2 |
jackson miss ap would little change state aid mississippi public school districts next two years new funding formula pushed house republican leaders house appropriations committee moved house bill 957 forward tuesday divided voice vote setting vote full house soon wednesday house education committee chairman richard bennett emphasized tuesdays meeting districts would protected losses first two years projected sevenyear phase one get less 19 20 year said bennett long beach republican nathan wells chief staff house speaker philip gunn said districts gaining enrollment would get little money method yet disclosed wells said increase would less 10 million next year 227 billion state projects spend current formula mississippi adequate education program defers promise would 107 million time 53 million first year new formula begins operate already questions legislature would get additional money bennett tuesday appeared assure rep jerry turner baldwyn republican additional money wouldnt come pot thats used fund career technical education outside current formula wells said hearing money could still come 97 million pot house minority leader david baria bay st louis democrat offered amendment committee hearing postpone change two years baria said would give time five separate studies ordered bill various aspects funding completed bennett though urged committee move ahead pledging lawmakers could revisit issues period funding would change little adjustment needs made made theyre still twoyear period bennett said new formula would provide base student cost 4800 allocated educate student special requirements would add extra perstudent amounts special education students gifted students high school students learning english extremely rural districts get extra bump proposal would spend 157 million less mississippi adequate education program legally mandates next year total 24 school districts projects lose money 118 projected gain ___ version corrects speakers chief staffs name nathan wells nathan well ___ follow jeff amy httptwittercomjeffamy read work httpswwwapnewscomsearchjeff_amy jackson miss ap would little change state aid mississippi public school districts next two years new funding formula pushed house republican leaders house appropriations committee moved house bill 957 forward tuesday divided voice vote setting vote full house soon wednesday house education committee chairman richard bennett emphasized tuesdays meeting districts would protected losses first two years projected sevenyear phase one get less 19 20 year said bennett long beach republican nathan wells chief staff house speaker philip gunn said districts gaining enrollment would get little money method yet disclosed wells said increase would less 10 million next year 227 billion state projects spend current formula mississippi adequate education program defers promise would 107 million time 53 million first year new formula begins operate already questions legislature would get additional money bennett tuesday appeared assure rep jerry turner baldwyn republican additional money wouldnt come pot thats used fund career technical education outside current formula wells said hearing money could still come 97 million pot house minority leader david baria bay st louis democrat offered amendment committee hearing postpone change two years baria said would give time five separate studies ordered bill various aspects funding completed bennett though urged committee move ahead pledging lawmakers could revisit issues period funding would change little adjustment needs made made theyre still twoyear period bennett said new formula would provide base student cost 4800 allocated educate student special requirements would add extra perstudent amounts special education students gifted students high school students learning english extremely rural districts get extra bump proposal would spend 157 million less mississippi adequate education program legally mandates next year total 24 school districts projects lose money 118 projected gain ___ version corrects speakers chief staffs name nathan wells nathan well ___ follow jeff amy httptwittercomjeffamy read work httpswwwapnewscomsearchjeff_amy
| 594 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p>RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — President Donald Trump basked in Saudi Arabia’s lavish royal welcome Saturday as he left behind, at least temporarily, the snowballing controversies dogging him in Washington. Trump rewarded his hosts with a $110 billion arms package aimed at bolstering Saudi security and a slew of business agreements.</p>
<p>“That was a tremendous day, tremendous investments in the United States,” Trump said during a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef.</p>
<p>The visit to the kingdom’s capital kicked off Trump’s first foreign trip as president, an ambitious, five-stop swing that will take him through the Middle East and into Europe. He is the only American president to make Saudi Arabia — or any Muslim-majority nation — his first overseas trip.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Trump arrived in Riyadh besieged by the fallout from his firing of FBI Director James Comey and more revelations about the federal investigations into his election campaign’s possible ties to Russia. Escaping Washington for the embrace of the Saudi royal family appeared to give Trump a boost.</p>
<p>After an overnight flight, the president was greeted at the airport by King Salman, which was notable given that the monarch did not show up last year to welcome President Barack Obama on his final visit to Saudi Arabia.</p>
<p>Trump descended the steps alongside first lady Melania Trump, who wore a black pantsuit and gold belt, but did not cover her hair in the ultra-conservative kingdom, in keeping with the traditions of Western delegations.</p>
<p>As Trump and the 81-year-old king, who was aided by a cane, walked along the red carpet, military jets swept the sky, leaving a red, white and blue trail. During a ceremony at the grand Saudi Royal Court, Salman awarded Trump the Collar of Abdulaziz al Saud, the kingdom’s highest civilian honor.</p>
<p>Trump bent down so the king could place the gold medal around his neck. Saudi Arabia has previously bestowed the honor on Russian President Vladimir Putin, British Prime Minister Theresa May and Obama.</p>
<p>Trump’s warm welcome reflected the degree to which Saudi Arabia had become disillusioned with Obama. The Saudis deeply distrusted Obama’s overtures to Iran and were frustrated by his restrained approach to the Syrian civil war.</p>
<p>As Trump arrived, Iranians had just re-elected Hassan Rouhani — one of Obama’s partners in the landmark accord aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions — for a second four-year-term as president, validating his push for greater freedoms and outreach to the wider world. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said he hoped Rouhani would use his new term “to begin a process of dismantling Iran’s network of terrorism.”</p>
<p>Trump made no substantial remarks on his first day abroad and spent most of his time shuttling between opulent palace ballrooms with the king. The two were overheard discussing natural resources and arms, and Salman bemoaned the destruction caused by Syria’s civil war.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The most tangible agreement between the two leaders was the $110 billion sale of military equipment to Saudi Arabia that is effective immediately and could expand up to $350 billion over 10 years. The deal includes tanks, combat ships, missile defense systems, radar and communications, and cybersecurity technology. The State Department said the agreement could support “tens of thousands of new jobs in the United States.”</p>
<p>Trump was joined on the trip by the CEOs of several major U.S. companies, which announced their own agreements with the Saudis. Among them was a $15 billion arrangement with GE focused on power, oil and gas, and health care.</p>
<p>The president was trailed on the trip by a large number of advisers, including Tillerson, chief of staff Reince Priebus and chief strategist Steve Bannon. Trump’s son-in law, Jared Kushner, and daughter Ivanka, both senior advisers, were also part of the official delegation.</p>
<p>Ivanka’s presence dominated Arabic Twitter traffic, with the phrase “bint Trump” — Arabic for daughter of Trump — trending.</p>
<p>The Saudis’ welcome appeared to lift the spirits of Trump’s beleaguered staff, ensnared in a seemingly endless cycle of negative stories involving Comey’s firing and the intensifying Russia investigations. After a lavish lunch with the Saudi delegation, Kushner high-fived national security adviser H.R. McMaster.</p>
<p>Later Saturday, Trump was greeted by a traditional troupe of Saudi drummers and sword-waving dancers. Trump smirked and bopped to the beat as he made his way through the crowd.</p>
<p>On Sunday, Trump and the king were to join more than 50 regional leaders for meetings focused on combating the Islamic State group and other extremists. The president was to give the signature speech of his trip, an address that aides view as counter to Obama’s 2009 speech in Egypt to the Muslim world. Trump has criticized Obama’s remarks as too apologetic for U.S. actions in the region.</p>
<p>Trump planned to urge unity in the fight against radicalism in the Muslim world, casting the challenge as a “battle between good and evil” and appealing to Arab leaders to “drive out the terrorists from your places of worship,” according to a draft of the speech obtained by The Associated Press.</p>
<p>The draft also notably did not contain the words “radical Islamic terror,” a phrase Trump repeatedly criticized his 2016 president rival, Democrat Hillary Clinton, for not using during last year’s campaign.</p>
<p>After two days of meetings in Saudi Arabia, Trump was scheduled to travel to Israel, meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican, attend a NATO summit in Brussels and join the world’s major industrial nations at a Group of Seven gathering in Sicily.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell contributed to this report from Dubai.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Pace at <a href="http://twitter.com///twitter.com/@JonLemire" type="external">http://twitter.com///twitter.com/@JonLemire</a></p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Pace at <a href="http://twitter.com///twitter.com/@JonLemire" type="external">http://twitter.com///twitter.com/@JonLemire</a></p>
<p>___</p>
<p>This story has been corrected to reflect that the arms package could reach $350 billion over 10 years, not $350 million.</p>
| false | 2 |
riyadh saudi arabia president donald trump basked saudi arabias lavish royal welcome saturday left behind least temporarily snowballing controversies dogging washington trump rewarded hosts 110 billion arms package aimed bolstering saudi security slew business agreements tremendous day tremendous investments united states trump said meeting crown prince mohammed bin nayef visit kingdoms capital kicked trumps first foreign trip president ambitious fivestop swing take middle east europe american president make saudi arabia muslimmajority nation first overseas trip advertisement trump arrived riyadh besieged fallout firing fbi director james comey revelations federal investigations election campaigns possible ties russia escaping washington embrace saudi royal family appeared give trump boost overnight flight president greeted airport king salman notable given monarch show last year welcome president barack obama final visit saudi arabia trump descended steps alongside first lady melania trump wore black pantsuit gold belt cover hair ultraconservative kingdom keeping traditions western delegations trump 81yearold king aided cane walked along red carpet military jets swept sky leaving red white blue trail ceremony grand saudi royal court salman awarded trump collar abdulaziz al saud kingdoms highest civilian honor trump bent king could place gold medal around neck saudi arabia previously bestowed honor russian president vladimir putin british prime minister theresa may obama trumps warm welcome reflected degree saudi arabia become disillusioned obama saudis deeply distrusted obamas overtures iran frustrated restrained approach syrian civil war trump arrived iranians reelected hassan rouhani one obamas partners landmark accord aimed curbing tehrans nuclear ambitions second fouryearterm president validating push greater freedoms outreach wider world us secretary state rex tillerson said hoped rouhani would use new term begin process dismantling irans network terrorism trump made substantial remarks first day abroad spent time shuttling opulent palace ballrooms king two overheard discussing natural resources arms salman bemoaned destruction caused syrias civil war advertisement tangible agreement two leaders 110 billion sale military equipment saudi arabia effective immediately could expand 350 billion 10 years deal includes tanks combat ships missile defense systems radar communications cybersecurity technology state department said agreement could support tens thousands new jobs united states trump joined trip ceos several major us companies announced agreements saudis among 15 billion arrangement ge focused power oil gas health care president trailed trip large number advisers including tillerson chief staff reince priebus chief strategist steve bannon trumps sonin law jared kushner daughter ivanka senior advisers also part official delegation ivankas presence dominated arabic twitter traffic phrase bint trump arabic daughter trump trending saudis welcome appeared lift spirits trumps beleaguered staff ensnared seemingly endless cycle negative stories involving comeys firing intensifying russia investigations lavish lunch saudi delegation kushner highfived national security adviser hr mcmaster later saturday trump greeted traditional troupe saudi drummers swordwaving dancers trump smirked bopped beat made way crowd sunday trump king join 50 regional leaders meetings focused combating islamic state group extremists president give signature speech trip address aides view counter obamas 2009 speech egypt muslim world trump criticized obamas remarks apologetic us actions region trump planned urge unity fight radicalism muslim world casting challenge battle good evil appealing arab leaders drive terrorists places worship according draft speech obtained associated press draft also notably contain words radical islamic terror phrase trump repeatedly criticized 2016 president rival democrat hillary clinton using last years campaign two days meetings saudi arabia trump scheduled travel israel meet pope francis vatican attend nato summit brussels join worlds major industrial nations group seven gathering sicily ___ associated press writer jon gambrell contributed report dubai ___ follow pace httptwittercomtwittercomjonlemire ___ follow pace httptwittercomtwittercomjonlemire ___ story corrected reflect arms package could reach 350 billion 10 years 350 million
| 595 |
<p>Jan 23 (Reuters) - India’s Fortis Malar Hospitals Ltd :</p>
<p>* DEC QUARTER NET PROFIT 9 MILLION RUPEES VERSUS PROFIT 8.6 MILLION RUPEES YEAR AGO</p>
<p>* DEC QUARTER REVENUE FROM OPERATIONS 377 MILLION RUPEES VERSUS 362.4 MILLION RUPEES YEAR AGO Source text - <a href="http://bit.ly/2rxQzyL" type="external">bit.ly/2rxQzyL</a> Further company coverage:</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - Top Trump administration officials are asking China to cut tariffs on imported cars, allow foreign majority ownership of financial services firms and buy more U.S.-made semiconductors in negotiations to avoid plans to slap tariffs on a host of Chinese goods and a potential trade war.</p> FILE PHOTO - U.S. President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping shake hands after making joint statements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, November 9, 2017. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj/File Photo
<p>A person familiar with the discussions said these were among the asks from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer as they pursue talks with Beijing.</p>
<p>The Wall Street Journal first reported the demands from U.S. officials, saying they came in a letter sent to Beijing last week.</p>
<p>White House trade adviser Peter Navarro confirmed that President Donald Trump asked Mnuchin and Lighthizer to try to resolve trade differences with China.</p>
<p>“We’re hopeful there that China will work with us to basically address some of these practices,” Navarro told CNBC television.</p>
<p>U.S. stocks surged on Monday on the news that the two sides were talking, after a massive rout last week when Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on up to $60 billion of Chinese imports over alleged misappropriation of U.S. intellectual property.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-usa-trade-china-eu/china-steel-industry-adds-voice-to-steel-import-concerns-idUSKBN1H30RY" type="external">China steel industry adds voice to steel import concerns</a>
<p>The Dow Jones Industrial Average <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.DJI" type="external">.DJI</a> posted its third biggest point gain ever, rising 669.4 points, or 2.8 percent, to close at 24,202.6 while the broader S&amp;P 500 <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.SPX" type="external">.SPX</a> rose 2.7 percent after a nearly 6 percent drop last week.</p>
<p>Chinese Premier Li Keqiang earlier on Monday said that China and the United States should maintain negotiations and repeated pledges to ease access for American businesses to China’s markets.</p>
<p>Li told a conference that included global chief executives that China would treat foreign and domestic firms equally, would not force foreign firms to transfer technology and would strengthen intellectual property rights, repeating promises that have failed to placate Washington.</p>
<p>Despite a steady stream of fierce rhetoric from Chinese state media lambasting the United States for being a “bully” and warning of retaliation, Chinese and U.S. officials are busy negotiating behind the scenes.</p> TARIFFS TO PROCEED WITHOUT AGREEMENT
<p>In an interview aired on Sunday, Mnuchin told Fox News that he was pursuing an agreement with the Chinese “for them to open up their markets, reduce their tariffs, stop forced technology transfer. These are all the things we want to do.”</p>
<p>“We are proceeding with these tariffs, we’re not putting them on hold unless we have an acceptable agreement that the president signs off on,” Mnuchin added.</p> Slideshow (2 Images)
<p>China has offered to buy more U.S. semiconductors by diverting some purchases from South Korea and Taiwan, the Financial Times reported, citing people briefed on the negotiations. China imported $2.6 billion of semiconductors from the United States last year.</p>
<p>Chinese officials are also working to finalize rules by May - instead of the end of June - to allow foreign financial groups to take majority stakes in Chinese securities firms, the Financial Times said.</p>
<p>“I anticipate that for political reasons it would be logical for China to respond, because countries do,” Blackstone Group ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=BX.N" type="external">BX.N</a>) Chief Executive Stephen Schwarzman told Reuters on Monday on the sidelines of the Beijing conference where Li spoke.</p>
<p>“That’s why I view this more as a skirmish, and I think the interests of both countries are served by resolving some of these matters.”</p>
<p>China called on World Trade Organization members on Monday to unite to oppose Trump’s proposed tariffs targeting alleged intellectual property theft, saying they should “lock this beast back into the cage of WTO rules.”</p>
<a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.DJI" type="external">Dow Jones &amp; Company Inc</a> 24202.6 .DJI Dow Jones Indexes +669.40 (+2.84%) .DJI .SPX BX.N AAPL.O MSFT.O
<p>On Friday, China responded to the U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum by declaring plans to levy additional duties on up to $3 billion of U.S. imports, including fruit, nuts and wine.</p>
<p>China could also inflict pain on U.S. multinationals that rely on China for a substantial - and growing - portion of their total revenues, said Alex Wolf, senior emerging markets economist at Aberdeen Standard Investments.</p>
<p>“This could put U.S. companies such as Apple ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AAPL.O" type="external">AAPL.O</a>), Microsoft ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=MSFT.O" type="external">MSFT.O</a>), Starbucks ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=SBUX.O" type="external">SBUX.O</a>), GM ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GM.N" type="external">GM.N</a>), Nike ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=NKE.N" type="external">NKE.N</a>), etc in the firing line,” Wolf said in a note.</p>
<p>China can increase the regulatory burden on U.S companies through new inspections and rules; ban travel; stop providing export licenses of key intermediate goods; raise the tax burden on U.S. multinationals in China; or block U.S. companies from the government procurement market, he said.</p> CAR TARIFF DIFFERENTIAL
<p>The Trump administration has demanded that China immediately cut its $375 billion trade surplus with the United States by $100 billion.</p>
<p>China has a 25 percent tariff on U.S. cars and has talked recently of lowering it, while Trump has often complained that the U.S. import tariff on passenger vehicles is only 2.5 percent. China’s imports of U.S.-built motor vehicles totaled $10.6 billion in 2017, about 8 percent of the country’s overall U.S. imports by value, according to U.S. government data.</p>
<p>On the reported offer to increase U.S. semiconductor imports, it is unclear how U.S. chips would replace South Korean and Taiwanese chips, since there is minimal overlap between U.S. chips and those of the two Asian producers.</p>
<p>China is heavily dependent on foreign semiconductors, one of its biggest import categories by value. That said, the United States accounted for just 1 percent of China’s total semiconductor imports last year by value, according to Reuters calculations based on Chinese customs data.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Matthew Miller, Ben Blanchard, Elias Glenn and Stella Qiu in Beijing and Eric Beech in Washington; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Leslie Adler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s steel industry on Tuesday urged Beijing to ensure any increase in steel products seeking a market in the wake of U.S. tariffs did not affect its domestic industry, following the announcement of a European Union import probe.</p> Workers walk past steel pipes at a steel mill in Cangzhou, Hebei province, China March 19, 2018. REUTERS/Muyu Xu
<p>The comments by the China Iron &amp; Steel Association (CISA) came after the EU initiated a probe on Monday into imported steel in response to the U.S. tariffs, worried that steel manufacturers subject to the tariffs may divert their products to Europe.</p>
<p>The U.S. tariffs, of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum, came into force last Friday.</p>
<p>CISA said the EU investigation would complicate the response to the U.S. tariffs and add uncertainty to the global steel market.</p>
<p>“We appealed to the Chinese government to take relevant measures if necessary and strictly prevent the surge of imports from affecting the Chinese market,” it added.</p>
<p>China, the world’s biggest steelmaker, exported 75.43 million tonnes of steel products in 2017 and imported 13.3 million tonnes of steel products in 2017, according to data from the General Administration of Customs.</p>
<p>China’s commerce ministry said on Monday that China is willing to strengthen communications and coordination with European Union to cope with chaos caused by the U.S. tariffs, adding that protective measures would only make the situation worse.</p>
<p>Reporting by Muyu Xu and Josephine Mason</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>BEIJING/SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea said on Tuesday it was closely watching events that are unfolding rapidly in Beijing, where diplomatic sources said a senior North Korean official was visiting amid reports it was leader Kim Jong Un ahead of a series of historic summits.</p> A motorcade believed to be carrying a North Korean delegation makes its way along Beijing's main east-west thoroughfare, Changan Avenue, in Beijing, China March 27, 2018. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj
<p>Bloomberg, citing three unidentified sources, reported on Monday that Kim was in Beijing in what would be his first known trip outside North Korea since taking power in 2011. The unconfirmed visit also comes ahead of a potential summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.</p>
<p>“The presidential Blue House is watching things in Beijing very closely, while keeping all possibilities open,” said the senior official in Seoul, who spoke on condition of anonymity.</p>
<p>Improving bilateral ties between North Korea and China would be a positive sign before the planned summits, he said.</p>
<p>A Reuters reporter saw a convoy leave Beijing’s Diaoyutai State Guest House, where senior foreign leaders often stay on visits to the Chinese capital, and drive north on Tuesday morning. It was unclear where the convoy was headed.</p>
<p>A senior U.S. official who follows North Korea closely said the available evidence suggested that Kim had traveled to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, but stressed that has not been confirmed.</p>
<p>Diplomatic sources in Beijing said a senior North Korean official was in town, but did not know exactly who.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-northkorea-missiles-china-train/train-believed-to-be-carrying-north-korea-delegation-leaves-beijing-idUSKBN1H30QJ" type="external">Train believed to be carrying North Korea delegation leaves Beijing</a>
<a href="/article/us-northkorea-missiles-china-ministry/china-says-has-no-understanding-of-reported-beijing-visit-by-north-koreas-kim-idUSKBN1H30RU" type="external">China says has no understanding of reported Beijing visit by North Korea's Kim</a>
<p>Underscoring the mystery surrounding the trip, one senior Beijing-based diplomatic source told Reuters simply: “We just don’t know”.</p>
<p>One source with ties to China’s leadership said it was possible Kim’s younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, was in the city. She visited South Korea for the Winter Olympics last month, paving the way for a summit between the two Koreas.</p>
<p>South Korean news agency Newsis reported that Kim Yo Jong and the North’s ceremonial leader, Kim Yong Nam, were visiting Beijing, citing an unidentified North Korea-related source in Beijing.</p>
<p>The pair visited South Korean President Moon Jae-in at his office in Seoul during the Winter Olympics in February.</p>
<p>The U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said it was unlikely Kim Jong Un would have sent his sister on such an important mission because that might create an impression she is important enough to be sent on such a high-profile trip, unlike her ceremonial visit to South Korea for the Olympics.</p>
<p>On the contrary, the official said, a summit with Xi would underscore Kim’s standing as a world leader.</p>
<p>Xi and Kim Jong Un both have reasons to meet in advance of Kim’s meetings with Moon and possibly also Trump, the U.S. official said.</p>
<p>“Xi has met Trump, and in many respects learned how to deal with him better than some people here do,” the official said.</p> Police officers patrol near the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, where foreign dignitaries usually stay, in Beijing, China March 27, 2018. REUTERS/Jason Lee
<p>“At the same time, despite the recent tensions, he needs to know what Kim has in mind for dealing with the South and the U.S., and he still has a lot of leverage with the North.”</p> PURPOSE UNKNOWN
<p>The details of Kim Jong Un’s visit, including its purpose and itinerary, were not yet known, Bloomberg reported. Japanese media reported on Monday that a high-ranking Pyongyang official appeared to have arrived by train in Beijing.</p>
<p>The Blue House official said the South Korean government had been aware of “related movements” in North Korea, such as the train, for a few days but he could not confirm whether Kim or another high-ranking North Korean official was visiting China.</p>
<p>Beijing is the main ally of secretive and isolated North Korea, as well as its biggest trading partner.</p> Slideshow (7 Images)
<p>China has not confirmed any visit by a North Korean but has not totally censored speculation Kim Jong Un might be in town.</p>
<p>Searches on Baidu News, China’s equivalent of Google News, brought up two stories in the simplified Chinese edition of Taiwanese newspaper the China Times that reported, citing what it said were internet rumors, that he was on a secret visit to Beijing.</p>
<p>One of the paper’s reports showed pictures taken from Chinese social media of what was purportedly Kim Jong Un’s train in China.</p>
<p>There were also posts on Chinese social media talking about the possibility Kim Jong Un was in China, some citing family members in the Chinese border city of Dandong where the main train link between the two countries is located.</p>
<p>The North Korean leader is due to hold separate summits with South Korea in late April and the United States in May, including a potential meeting with Trump.</p>
<p>“The fact that the summits are being held has been beyond our expectations. Right now, the situation surrounding the Korean peninsula is moving very quickly and it would be inadvisable to think with prejudice,” the Blue House official said.</p>
<p>Kim Jong Un’s father, Kim Jong Il, met then-president Jiang Zemin in China in 2000 before a summit between the two Koreas in June that year.</p>
<p>Kim Jong Il was considered at the time to have made the visit to reaffirm close ties with the North’s biggest ally.</p>
<p>“North Korea likely wants to confirm its relationship with China and believes it has some leverage with which it can ask for things from China,” said Yoo Ho-yeol, Professor of North Korean studies at Seoul’s Korea University.</p>
<p>“If North Korea speaks with the United States on its own it might feel it is at a disadvantage but, if it has China as an ally, Pyongyang may think it will be able to protect its interests and profits during the summits,” Yoo said.</p>
<p>Reporting by Ben Blanchard in BEIJING and Christine Kim in SEOUL; Additional reporting by Heekyong Yang in SEOUL and John Walcott in WASHINGTON; Editing by Paul Tait</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Akzo Nobel has agreed to sell its specialty chemicals business to U.S. private equity firm Carlyle Group and Singapore’s GIC [GIC.UL] for 10.1 billion euros ($12.6 billion), including debt.</p> FILE PHOTO: The sign of AkzoNobel is pictured at its headquarters in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, February 6, 2014. REUTERS/Toussaint Kluiters/United Photos/ X02506/File Photo
<p>The net proceeds of the deal are expected to amount to 7.5 billion euros, Akzo said, with the bulk going to shareholders.</p>
<p>Akzo first announced plans to sell the business, which accounts for a third of its sales and profit, in April, as it looked to evade a takeover from rival PPG Industries.</p>
<p>The company considered both a private sale and a separate stock listing for the chemicals division, ultimately concluding that a sale to Carlyle was in the best interest for all involved “including employees, shareholders and customers.”</p>
<p>“Carlyle has significant experience in the chemicals industry and a proven track record when it comes to health, safety, innovation and sustainability”, Akzo Chief Executive Thierry Vanlancker said.</p>
<p>The deal is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to be concluded before the end of the year.</p>
<p>Reporting by Toby Sterling and Bart Meijer; editing by Jason Neely</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
jan 23 reuters indias fortis malar hospitals ltd dec quarter net profit 9 million rupees versus profit 86 million rupees year ago dec quarter revenue operations 377 million rupees versus 3624 million rupees year ago source text bitly2rxqzyl company coverage standards thomson reuters trust principles washingtonbeijing reuters top trump administration officials asking china cut tariffs imported cars allow foreign majority ownership financial services firms buy usmade semiconductors negotiations avoid plans slap tariffs host chinese goods potential trade war file photo us president donald trump chinas president xi jinping shake hands making joint statements great hall people beijing china november 9 2017 reutersdamir sagoljfile photo person familiar discussions said among asks treasury secretary steven mnuchin us trade representative robert lighthizer pursue talks beijing wall street journal first reported demands us officials saying came letter sent beijing last week white house trade adviser peter navarro confirmed president donald trump asked mnuchin lighthizer try resolve trade differences china hopeful china work us basically address practices navarro told cnbc television us stocks surged monday news two sides talking massive rout last week trump announced plans impose tariffs 60 billion chinese imports alleged misappropriation us intellectual property related coverage china steel industry adds voice steel import concerns dow jones industrial average dji posted third biggest point gain ever rising 6694 points 28 percent close 242026 broader sampp 500 spx rose 27 percent nearly 6 percent drop last week chinese premier li keqiang earlier monday said china united states maintain negotiations repeated pledges ease access american businesses chinas markets li told conference included global chief executives china would treat foreign domestic firms equally would force foreign firms transfer technology would strengthen intellectual property rights repeating promises failed placate washington despite steady stream fierce rhetoric chinese state media lambasting united states bully warning retaliation chinese us officials busy negotiating behind scenes tariffs proceed without agreement interview aired sunday mnuchin told fox news pursuing agreement chinese open markets reduce tariffs stop forced technology transfer things want proceeding tariffs putting hold unless acceptable agreement president signs mnuchin added slideshow 2 images china offered buy us semiconductors diverting purchases south korea taiwan financial times reported citing people briefed negotiations china imported 26 billion semiconductors united states last year chinese officials also working finalize rules may instead end june allow foreign financial groups take majority stakes chinese securities firms financial times said anticipate political reasons would logical china respond countries blackstone group bxn chief executive stephen schwarzman told reuters monday sidelines beijing conference li spoke thats view skirmish think interests countries served resolving matters china called world trade organization members monday unite oppose trumps proposed tariffs targeting alleged intellectual property theft saying lock beast back cage wto rules dow jones amp company inc 242026 dji dow jones indexes 66940 284 dji spx bxn aaplo msfto friday china responded us tariffs steel aluminum declaring plans levy additional duties 3 billion us imports including fruit nuts wine china could also inflict pain us multinationals rely china substantial growing portion total revenues said alex wolf senior emerging markets economist aberdeen standard investments could put us companies apple aaplo microsoft msfto starbucks sbuxo gm gmn nike nken etc firing line wolf said note china increase regulatory burden us companies new inspections rules ban travel stop providing export licenses key intermediate goods raise tax burden us multinationals china block us companies government procurement market said car tariff differential trump administration demanded china immediately cut 375 billion trade surplus united states 100 billion china 25 percent tariff us cars talked recently lowering trump often complained us import tariff passenger vehicles 25 percent chinas imports usbuilt motor vehicles totaled 106 billion 2017 8 percent countrys overall us imports value according us government data reported offer increase us semiconductor imports unclear us chips would replace south korean taiwanese chips since minimal overlap us chips two asian producers china heavily dependent foreign semiconductors one biggest import categories value said united states accounted 1 percent chinas total semiconductor imports last year value according reuters calculations based chinese customs data additional reporting matthew miller ben blanchard elias glenn stella qiu beijing eric beech washington editing cynthia osterman leslie adler standards thomson reuters trust principles beijing reuters chinas steel industry tuesday urged beijing ensure increase steel products seeking market wake us tariffs affect domestic industry following announcement european union import probe workers walk past steel pipes steel mill cangzhou hebei province china march 19 2018 reutersmuyu xu comments china iron amp steel association cisa came eu initiated probe monday imported steel response us tariffs worried steel manufacturers subject tariffs may divert products europe us tariffs 25 percent steel 10 percent aluminum came force last friday cisa said eu investigation would complicate response us tariffs add uncertainty global steel market appealed chinese government take relevant measures necessary strictly prevent surge imports affecting chinese market added china worlds biggest steelmaker exported 7543 million tonnes steel products 2017 imported 133 million tonnes steel products 2017 according data general administration customs chinas commerce ministry said monday china willing strengthen communications coordination european union cope chaos caused us tariffs adding protective measures would make situation worse reporting muyu xu josephine mason standards thomson reuters trust principles beijingseoul reuters south korea said tuesday closely watching events unfolding rapidly beijing diplomatic sources said senior north korean official visiting amid reports leader kim jong un ahead series historic summits motorcade believed carrying north korean delegation makes way along beijings main eastwest thoroughfare changan avenue beijing china march 27 2018 reutersdamir sagolj bloomberg citing three unidentified sources reported monday kim beijing would first known trip outside north korea since taking power 2011 unconfirmed visit also comes ahead potential summit us president donald trump presidential blue house watching things beijing closely keeping possibilities open said senior official seoul spoke condition anonymity improving bilateral ties north korea china would positive sign planned summits said reuters reporter saw convoy leave beijings diaoyutai state guest house senior foreign leaders often stay visits chinese capital drive north tuesday morning unclear convoy headed senior us official follows north korea closely said available evidence suggested kim traveled beijing meet chinese president xi jinping stressed confirmed diplomatic sources beijing said senior north korean official town know exactly related coverage train believed carrying north korea delegation leaves beijing china says understanding reported beijing visit north koreas kim underscoring mystery surrounding trip one senior beijingbased diplomatic source told reuters simply dont know one source ties chinas leadership said possible kims younger sister kim yo jong city visited south korea winter olympics last month paving way summit two koreas south korean news agency newsis reported kim yo jong norths ceremonial leader kim yong nam visiting beijing citing unidentified north korearelated source beijing pair visited south korean president moon jaein office seoul winter olympics february us official speaking condition anonymity said unlikely kim jong un would sent sister important mission might create impression important enough sent highprofile trip unlike ceremonial visit south korea olympics contrary official said summit xi would underscore kims standing world leader xi kim jong un reasons meet advance kims meetings moon possibly also trump us official said xi met trump many respects learned deal better people official said police officers patrol near diaoyutai state guesthouse foreign dignitaries usually stay beijing china march 27 2018 reutersjason lee time despite recent tensions needs know kim mind dealing south us still lot leverage north purpose unknown details kim jong uns visit including purpose itinerary yet known bloomberg reported japanese media reported monday highranking pyongyang official appeared arrived train beijing blue house official said south korean government aware related movements north korea train days could confirm whether kim another highranking north korean official visiting china beijing main ally secretive isolated north korea well biggest trading partner slideshow 7 images china confirmed visit north korean totally censored speculation kim jong un might town searches baidu news chinas equivalent google news brought two stories simplified chinese edition taiwanese newspaper china times reported citing said internet rumors secret visit beijing one papers reports showed pictures taken chinese social media purportedly kim jong uns train china also posts chinese social media talking possibility kim jong un china citing family members chinese border city dandong main train link two countries located north korean leader due hold separate summits south korea late april united states may including potential meeting trump fact summits held beyond expectations right situation surrounding korean peninsula moving quickly would inadvisable think prejudice blue house official said kim jong uns father kim jong il met thenpresident jiang zemin china 2000 summit two koreas june year kim jong il considered time made visit reaffirm close ties norths biggest ally north korea likely wants confirm relationship china believes leverage ask things china said yoo hoyeol professor north korean studies seouls korea university north korea speaks united states might feel disadvantage china ally pyongyang may think able protect interests profits summits yoo said reporting ben blanchard beijing christine kim seoul additional reporting heekyong yang seoul john walcott washington editing paul tait standards thomson reuters trust principles amsterdam reuters akzo nobel agreed sell specialty chemicals business us private equity firm carlyle group singapores gic gicul 101 billion euros 126 billion including debt file photo sign akzonobel pictured headquarters amsterdam netherlands february 6 2014 reuterstoussaint kluitersunited photos x02506file photo net proceeds deal expected amount 75 billion euros akzo said bulk going shareholders akzo first announced plans sell business accounts third sales profit april looked evade takeover rival ppg industries company considered private sale separate stock listing chemicals division ultimately concluding sale carlyle best interest involved including employees shareholders customers carlyle significant experience chemicals industry proven track record comes health safety innovation sustainability akzo chief executive thierry vanlancker said deal subject regulatory approvals expected concluded end year reporting toby sterling bart meijer editing jason neely standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 1,627 |
<p>LOS ANGELES (AP) - California's legal pot economy was supposed to operate under the umbrella of a vast computerized system to track marijuana from seed to storefronts, ensuring that plants are followed throughout the supply chain and don't drift into the black market.</p>
<p>But recreational cannabis sales began this week without the computer system in use for pot businesses. Instead, they are being asked to document sales and transfers of pot manually, using paper invoices or shipping manifests. That raises the potential that an unknown amount of weed will continue slipping into the illicit market, as it has for years.</p>
<p>For the moment, "you are looking at pieces of paper and self-reporting. A lot of these regulations are not being enforced right now," said Jerred Kiloh, a Los Angeles dispensary owner who heads the United Cannabis Business Association, an industry group.</p>
<p>The state Department of Food and Agriculture, which is overseeing the tracking system, said in a statement it was "implemented" Tuesday. However, it conceded that growers and sellers are not required to use it yet and training on how to input data will be necessary before it becomes mandatory, apparently later in the year.</p>
<p>Marijuana legalization arrived in California on Monday. (Jan. 1)</p>
<p>The slow rollout of the tracking system is just one sign of the daunting task facing the nation's most populous state as it attempts to transform its long-standing medicinal and illegal marijuana markets into a multibillion-dollar regulated system. Not since the end of Prohibition in 1933 has such an expansive illegal economy been reshaped into a legal one.</p>
<p>So far, it's been an unsteady start.</p>
<p>Business licenses issued to growers, distributors and sellers are temporary and will need to be redone or extended later this year. Much of the state is blacked out from recreational sales because of the scarcity of licenses and because some local governments banned commercial pot activity.</p>
<p>"There are a lot of things inside the law that are transitional. I don't think it's as rigid as people want it to sound," Kiloh said.</p>
<p>Another risk is that some consumers might stay in the black market to avoid sticker shock from hefty taxes. And there are concerns that a new distribution system will fail to get cannabis to shelves once current stockpiles run out, possibly in weeks.</p>
<p>Cathy Bliss at Mankind Cooperative in San Diego said the store did not have as much pot in stock as it would have liked.</p>
<p>Charles Boldwyn, chief compliance officer of ShowGrow in Santa Ana, which opened to customers Monday, said the relatively small number of licenses issued so far could create a bottleneck, cutting off pot from stores selling it.</p>
<p>"The biggest hurdle we see, right out of the gate, is that starting today our access to product is limited," Boldwyn said.</p>
<p>The tracking system is part of the state's maze of rules and regulations intended to govern the emerging $7 billion pot economy, the nation's largest. They range from where cannabis can be grown and smoked to environmental safeguards for streams near marijuana fields.</p>
<p>According to state law, the tracking system will provide "data points for the different stages of commercial activity, including, but not limited to, cultivation, harvest, processing, distribution, inventory and sale."</p>
<p>It's also intended to help the state keep track of taxes.</p>
<p>According to the state, businesses holding annual licenses will be required use the tracking system, but those issued so far to growers and retailers have been temporary and they "are not required" to use the system.</p>
<p>The expanded legal sales could offer a rich payoff for the state treasury. California expects to pull in $1 billion annually in taxes within several years.</p>
<p>The move into an era of legalization was marked across the state Monday with ceremonial ribbon cuttings and door prizes at dispensaries.</p>
<p>A customer buys marijuana at Oakland's Harborside dispensary. (AP Photo/Mathew Sumner)</p>
<p>The path to legalization began in 2016 when voters approved Proposition 64, which opened the way for legal pot sales to adults. Medical marijuana has been legal in California for about two decades.</p>
<p>With the 2016 vote, it became legal for adults 21 and older to grow, possess and use limited quantities of marijuana, but it was not legal to sell it for recreational purposes until Monday.</p>
<p>The state did not issue rules for the new marketplace until late last year, and cities and counties have struggled to fashion their own. Los Angeles and San Francisco are among those where recreational pot sales have been delayed.</p>
<p>California joined a growing list of states, and the nation's capital, where recreational marijuana is permitted, even though the federal government continues to classify pot as a controlled substance, like heroin and LSD.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Los Angeles officials said they would begin accepting applications Wednesday from medical marijuana shops to expand their sales to recreational pot. Temporary city licenses could go out as soon as Monday, which would then clear the way for the state to issue licenses for recreational sales.</p>
<p>Unlicensed medical marijuana shops in LA that continue to supply customers in the interim would technically be violating state law, but Los Angeles police won't crack down on those operating in good faith, Assistant Chief Michel Moore said. He said police would focus on pot operations run by felons or that attract gang activity or violence.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press Writer Brian Melley in Los Angeles contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow AP's complete coverage of marijuana legalization in California here: <a href="" type="internal" /> <a href="" type="internal">https://apnews.com/tag/CaliforniaMarijuana</a> .</p>
<p>LOS ANGELES (AP) - California's legal pot economy was supposed to operate under the umbrella of a vast computerized system to track marijuana from seed to storefronts, ensuring that plants are followed throughout the supply chain and don't drift into the black market.</p>
<p>But recreational cannabis sales began this week without the computer system in use for pot businesses. Instead, they are being asked to document sales and transfers of pot manually, using paper invoices or shipping manifests. That raises the potential that an unknown amount of weed will continue slipping into the illicit market, as it has for years.</p>
<p>For the moment, "you are looking at pieces of paper and self-reporting. A lot of these regulations are not being enforced right now," said Jerred Kiloh, a Los Angeles dispensary owner who heads the United Cannabis Business Association, an industry group.</p>
<p>The state Department of Food and Agriculture, which is overseeing the tracking system, said in a statement it was "implemented" Tuesday. However, it conceded that growers and sellers are not required to use it yet and training on how to input data will be necessary before it becomes mandatory, apparently later in the year.</p>
<p>Marijuana legalization arrived in California on Monday. (Jan. 1)</p>
<p>The slow rollout of the tracking system is just one sign of the daunting task facing the nation's most populous state as it attempts to transform its long-standing medicinal and illegal marijuana markets into a multibillion-dollar regulated system. Not since the end of Prohibition in 1933 has such an expansive illegal economy been reshaped into a legal one.</p>
<p>So far, it's been an unsteady start.</p>
<p>Business licenses issued to growers, distributors and sellers are temporary and will need to be redone or extended later this year. Much of the state is blacked out from recreational sales because of the scarcity of licenses and because some local governments banned commercial pot activity.</p>
<p>"There are a lot of things inside the law that are transitional. I don't think it's as rigid as people want it to sound," Kiloh said.</p>
<p>Another risk is that some consumers might stay in the black market to avoid sticker shock from hefty taxes. And there are concerns that a new distribution system will fail to get cannabis to shelves once current stockpiles run out, possibly in weeks.</p>
<p>Cathy Bliss at Mankind Cooperative in San Diego said the store did not have as much pot in stock as it would have liked.</p>
<p>Charles Boldwyn, chief compliance officer of ShowGrow in Santa Ana, which opened to customers Monday, said the relatively small number of licenses issued so far could create a bottleneck, cutting off pot from stores selling it.</p>
<p>"The biggest hurdle we see, right out of the gate, is that starting today our access to product is limited," Boldwyn said.</p>
<p>The tracking system is part of the state's maze of rules and regulations intended to govern the emerging $7 billion pot economy, the nation's largest. They range from where cannabis can be grown and smoked to environmental safeguards for streams near marijuana fields.</p>
<p>According to state law, the tracking system will provide "data points for the different stages of commercial activity, including, but not limited to, cultivation, harvest, processing, distribution, inventory and sale."</p>
<p>It's also intended to help the state keep track of taxes.</p>
<p>According to the state, businesses holding annual licenses will be required use the tracking system, but those issued so far to growers and retailers have been temporary and they "are not required" to use the system.</p>
<p>The expanded legal sales could offer a rich payoff for the state treasury. California expects to pull in $1 billion annually in taxes within several years.</p>
<p>The move into an era of legalization was marked across the state Monday with ceremonial ribbon cuttings and door prizes at dispensaries.</p>
<p>A customer buys marijuana at Oakland's Harborside dispensary. (AP Photo/Mathew Sumner)</p>
<p>The path to legalization began in 2016 when voters approved Proposition 64, which opened the way for legal pot sales to adults. Medical marijuana has been legal in California for about two decades.</p>
<p>With the 2016 vote, it became legal for adults 21 and older to grow, possess and use limited quantities of marijuana, but it was not legal to sell it for recreational purposes until Monday.</p>
<p>The state did not issue rules for the new marketplace until late last year, and cities and counties have struggled to fashion their own. Los Angeles and San Francisco are among those where recreational pot sales have been delayed.</p>
<p>California joined a growing list of states, and the nation's capital, where recreational marijuana is permitted, even though the federal government continues to classify pot as a controlled substance, like heroin and LSD.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Los Angeles officials said they would begin accepting applications Wednesday from medical marijuana shops to expand their sales to recreational pot. Temporary city licenses could go out as soon as Monday, which would then clear the way for the state to issue licenses for recreational sales.</p>
<p>Unlicensed medical marijuana shops in LA that continue to supply customers in the interim would technically be violating state law, but Los Angeles police won't crack down on those operating in good faith, Assistant Chief Michel Moore said. He said police would focus on pot operations run by felons or that attract gang activity or violence.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press Writer Brian Melley in Los Angeles contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow AP's complete coverage of marijuana legalization in California here: <a href="" type="internal" /> <a href="" type="internal">https://apnews.com/tag/CaliforniaMarijuana</a> .</p>
| false | 2 |
los angeles ap californias legal pot economy supposed operate umbrella vast computerized system track marijuana seed storefronts ensuring plants followed throughout supply chain dont drift black market recreational cannabis sales began week without computer system use pot businesses instead asked document sales transfers pot manually using paper invoices shipping manifests raises potential unknown amount weed continue slipping illicit market years moment looking pieces paper selfreporting lot regulations enforced right said jerred kiloh los angeles dispensary owner heads united cannabis business association industry group state department food agriculture overseeing tracking system said statement implemented tuesday however conceded growers sellers required use yet training input data necessary becomes mandatory apparently later year marijuana legalization arrived california monday jan 1 slow rollout tracking system one sign daunting task facing nations populous state attempts transform longstanding medicinal illegal marijuana markets multibilliondollar regulated system since end prohibition 1933 expansive illegal economy reshaped legal one far unsteady start business licenses issued growers distributors sellers temporary need redone extended later year much state blacked recreational sales scarcity licenses local governments banned commercial pot activity lot things inside law transitional dont think rigid people want sound kiloh said another risk consumers might stay black market avoid sticker shock hefty taxes concerns new distribution system fail get cannabis shelves current stockpiles run possibly weeks cathy bliss mankind cooperative san diego said store much pot stock would liked charles boldwyn chief compliance officer showgrow santa ana opened customers monday said relatively small number licenses issued far could create bottleneck cutting pot stores selling biggest hurdle see right gate starting today access product limited boldwyn said tracking system part states maze rules regulations intended govern emerging 7 billion pot economy nations largest range cannabis grown smoked environmental safeguards streams near marijuana fields according state law tracking system provide data points different stages commercial activity including limited cultivation harvest processing distribution inventory sale also intended help state keep track taxes according state businesses holding annual licenses required use tracking system issued far growers retailers temporary required use system expanded legal sales could offer rich payoff state treasury california expects pull 1 billion annually taxes within several years move era legalization marked across state monday ceremonial ribbon cuttings door prizes dispensaries customer buys marijuana oaklands harborside dispensary ap photomathew sumner path legalization began 2016 voters approved proposition 64 opened way legal pot sales adults medical marijuana legal california two decades 2016 vote became legal adults 21 older grow possess use limited quantities marijuana legal sell recreational purposes monday state issue rules new marketplace late last year cities counties struggled fashion los angeles san francisco among recreational pot sales delayed california joined growing list states nations capital recreational marijuana permitted even though federal government continues classify pot controlled substance like heroin lsd meanwhile los angeles officials said would begin accepting applications wednesday medical marijuana shops expand sales recreational pot temporary city licenses could go soon monday would clear way state issue licenses recreational sales unlicensed medical marijuana shops la continue supply customers interim would technically violating state law los angeles police wont crack operating good faith assistant chief michel moore said said police would focus pot operations run felons attract gang activity violence ___ associated press writer brian melley los angeles contributed report ___ follow aps complete coverage marijuana legalization california httpsapnewscomtagcaliforniamarijuana los angeles ap californias legal pot economy supposed operate umbrella vast computerized system track marijuana seed storefronts ensuring plants followed throughout supply chain dont drift black market recreational cannabis sales began week without computer system use pot businesses instead asked document sales transfers pot manually using paper invoices shipping manifests raises potential unknown amount weed continue slipping illicit market years moment looking pieces paper selfreporting lot regulations enforced right said jerred kiloh los angeles dispensary owner heads united cannabis business association industry group state department food agriculture overseeing tracking system said statement implemented tuesday however conceded growers sellers required use yet training input data necessary becomes mandatory apparently later year marijuana legalization arrived california monday jan 1 slow rollout tracking system one sign daunting task facing nations populous state attempts transform longstanding medicinal illegal marijuana markets multibilliondollar regulated system since end prohibition 1933 expansive illegal economy reshaped legal one far unsteady start business licenses issued growers distributors sellers temporary need redone extended later year much state blacked recreational sales scarcity licenses local governments banned commercial pot activity lot things inside law transitional dont think rigid people want sound kiloh said another risk consumers might stay black market avoid sticker shock hefty taxes concerns new distribution system fail get cannabis shelves current stockpiles run possibly weeks cathy bliss mankind cooperative san diego said store much pot stock would liked charles boldwyn chief compliance officer showgrow santa ana opened customers monday said relatively small number licenses issued far could create bottleneck cutting pot stores selling biggest hurdle see right gate starting today access product limited boldwyn said tracking system part states maze rules regulations intended govern emerging 7 billion pot economy nations largest range cannabis grown smoked environmental safeguards streams near marijuana fields according state law tracking system provide data points different stages commercial activity including limited cultivation harvest processing distribution inventory sale also intended help state keep track taxes according state businesses holding annual licenses required use tracking system issued far growers retailers temporary required use system expanded legal sales could offer rich payoff state treasury california expects pull 1 billion annually taxes within several years move era legalization marked across state monday ceremonial ribbon cuttings door prizes dispensaries customer buys marijuana oaklands harborside dispensary ap photomathew sumner path legalization began 2016 voters approved proposition 64 opened way legal pot sales adults medical marijuana legal california two decades 2016 vote became legal adults 21 older grow possess use limited quantities marijuana legal sell recreational purposes monday state issue rules new marketplace late last year cities counties struggled fashion los angeles san francisco among recreational pot sales delayed california joined growing list states nations capital recreational marijuana permitted even though federal government continues classify pot controlled substance like heroin lsd meanwhile los angeles officials said would begin accepting applications wednesday medical marijuana shops expand sales recreational pot temporary city licenses could go soon monday would clear way state issue licenses recreational sales unlicensed medical marijuana shops la continue supply customers interim would technically violating state law los angeles police wont crack operating good faith assistant chief michel moore said said police would focus pot operations run felons attract gang activity violence ___ associated press writer brian melley los angeles contributed report ___ follow aps complete coverage marijuana legalization california httpsapnewscomtagcaliforniamarijuana
| 1,096 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>Stuart Wilson was half a joke a decade ago: a young tollbooth worker who spent everything he had on four acres of Welsh grass, which hid – he was convinced – the ruins of a mysterious 700-year-old settlement that archaeologists had been seeking for decades.</p>
<p>Then, Wilson unearthed building after building on his field.</p>
<p>Now people fly from Japan to dig on it. TV producers line up to film it. “Archaeologist defies sceptics,” reads a headline in the Guardian, reporting that Wilson now lectures to the academics who once shunned him.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The self-described “militant archaeologist” — who, despised by his academic rivals, despised them in turn – found ancient Trellech when others found dirt.</p>
<p>But in the universities, that legend leaves some amused – others angry.</p>
<p>Wilson’s lost city is no such thing, they say. And anyway he didn’t find it so much as steal credit from the same rivals he now mocks.</p>
<p>“We don’t believe it is a city,” said David Howell, an archaeologist with the University of Gloucestershire, whose father published a dozen papers on their digs at Trellech. “But if it is, we discovered it 20 years before he did.”</p>
<p>Trellech never quite disappeared in the first place. It’s a tiny village today, but full of mysteries.</p>
<p>Clumps of iron slag litter fields and forests, suggesting great blast furnaces roared long ago. Bits of medieval pottery occasionally pop up in the pastures.</p>
<p>“It’s a very old and magical place,” said Deborah Zsigo, who owns the local pub. “There clearly used to be an ancient civilization and an awful lot of people living here.”</p>
<p>In some legends, old Trellech had seven churches. In others, its standings stones were thrown by either Satan or a Welsh magician.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>But even scholars are intrigued. Tax rolls from the late 13th century indicate that nearly 400 buildings and plots of land once stood in Trellech – on a damp, landlocked hill.</p>
<p>“How in heaven’s name can you have a town of that size in a location as unlikely as Trellech?” Ray Howell, then an archaeology professor with the University of South Wales, said in an interview with BBC Radio in 2006.</p>
<p>The working theory: Ancient Trellech was an enormous weapons factory – funded by the lords of Glamorgan to make iron for the endless wars that shaped medieval Britain.</p>
<p>A succession of attacks, fires and disease wiped it out, leaving just a medieval church and the stump of a vanished castle.</p>
<p>So go the theories. Archaeologists demand evidence.</p>
<p>Ray Howell and his team had been digging between the church and castle remains for about a decade by the early 2000s when Wilson came along – with a job at the tollbooth up the road, a fresh bachelor’s degree in archaeology and a conviction that the experts were looking in the wrong spot.</p>
<p>“The academics were saying, ‘Who in the hell does this chap think he is?'” Wilson said. “They’d found rubbish. But they were so focused, they could not accept anything else.”</p>
<p>In his early 20s at the time, Wilson was intrigued by a local hunch that ancient Trellech actually lay outside the modern village. A farmer up the road kept finding ancient pottery in mole hills.</p>
<p>So Wilson foraged into a sheep pasture in search of sunken buildings.</p>
<p>“We had the first wall with the first hour,” he said.</p>
<p>He and a group of mostly amateur archaeologists established a rival dig site – a five-minute walk from the university’s excavations, but a world apart in method and philosophy.</p>
<p>“We’re a bunch of independent militants,” Wilson said. “We were more than happy to bend a few rules, and break them when no one was around.”</p>
<p>Wilson said he once sneaked onto Howell’s dig site to prove an ancient wall the professor had uncovered was really a modern field drain. He put out news releases and told anyone who’d listen about a “lost city” beneath his field.</p>
<p>Academics sneered. Medieval cities had cathedrals, and Trellech had no sign of one.</p>
<p>But Wilson carried on. After two summers, he said, he had dug up melted walls that matched historical records of a great fire set by Trellech’s enemies.</p>
<p>He became convinced that the settlement’s main street was buried in the fields. So in 2004, with a bank loan and savings from the tollbooth job, he bought one and resolved to dig on it for the rest of his life.</p>
<p>His gamble brought the BBC to town two years later to produce a radio show, “The Boy who Bought a Field.”</p>
<p>“It really is the most extraordinary project,” the host said. “We’ve got a field full of mole hills. We’ve got a – well, I hope not a mad archaeologist who spent 32,000 pounds to buy it.”</p>
<p>Down the road, other archaeologists were getting annoyed.</p>
<p>Ray Howell briefly spoke on the BBC show too, although his own work on Trellech was barely mentioned.</p>
<p>“Dad had been digging up Trellech for the better part of a decade, but we were never going out of our way to publicize what we were doing,” David Howell told The Washington Post this month. “What’s coming out the ground is important. It’s of tremendous value, but tagging on this brand of ‘city’ – it raises expectation far beyond what Trellech can ever hope to produce.”</p>
<p>As a child in the early 1990s, David Howell washed ancient pots that his father’s students uncovered at Trellech, he said. After getting a master’s degree in archaeology, he supervised the digs.</p>
<p>It was slow, careful work – made slower by government restrictions on the land around the old church.</p>
<p>“As a professional academic unit, we didn’t have the luxury of being able to buy up land,” David Howell said.</p>
<p>They got approval to dig six trenches near the church, and through the early 2000s slowly uncovered a large building that they think was Trellech’s hospice – or perhaps a large tavern.</p>
<p>They found a medieval pilgrim’s flask, and presumed blacksmithing sites that may have produced swords and spears for the lords of Glamorgan.</p>
<p>Some of these artifacts went to museums for study. Academic journals published Howell’s discoveries at Trellech a dozen times between 1995 and 2008.</p>
<p>But other trenches the Howells dug – in spots that satellite radar suggested were filled with ruined walls – turned up none. Up the road, Wilson hammered their “mistakes.”</p>
<p>“Were we given permission to open up that entire field, we can say with confidence there were more buildings,” David Howell said.</p>
<p>Instead, their university funding dried up. By the late 2000s, the Howells had moved on and Wilson’s “lost city” was the only excavation going.</p>
<p>Enticed by the coverage and Wilson’s flair, hundreds of enthusiasts began flying to Wales, paying a small fee to dig for Wilson. They unearthed more and more structures beneath the field – most notably a mansion.</p>
<p>Wilson’s team members didn’t bother with academic journals. They announced their discoveries in newspapers, self-published reports and the occasional ad.</p>
<p>And after 14 years of digging, Wilson’s legend of Trellech approaches reality.</p>
<p>The Guardian reported this month that an archaeological society had invited Wilson to speak at Cardiff University, “after facing years of scepticism from some within the archaeological community.”</p>
<p>“Cardiff is the big one,” Wilson said.</p>
<p>But the Cardiff Archaeological Society expressed some regrets about the invitation, after Wilson used the speech to belittle his rival’s work.</p>
<p>“It was certainly an interesting talk,” Brian Davies, the Cardiff Archaeological Society’s program director, said in an email. “Unfortunately, after the talk the professional archaeologists I spoke to had concerns about his comments and work.”</p>
<p>“Despite his bold talk, Wilson has not published any papers in academic journals,” Davies noted.</p>
<p>Consequently, Wilson’s name still doesn’t mean much in university halls.</p>
<p>“Whoever’s in the Guardian, if they claim to be the first person to find it, I don’t think they can have done” so, said Nancy Edwards, a professor of medieval archaeology at Bangor University. “It’s Ray Howell who’s actually been digging parts of it.”</p>
<p>The professor is retired now and didn’t talk to The Post.</p>
<p>“Ray, for his own health and well-being, doesn’t follow the media coverage on this anymore,” said his son, David. “It’s frustrating and quite hurtful to see 20 or 30 years of work casually dismissed in a newspaper article somewhere.”</p>
<p>Many somewheres. Wilson starred in an episode of the BBC’s “Digging for Britain” last year. He’s in talks with other TV producers about an entire series on Trellech, he said, and planning to build a tourism center on the field.</p>
<p>The public, it seems, accepts his lost city. The academics can have their old war.</p>
<p>“They are closed-minded people,” Wilson said. “They still think themselves important, but that world is long since gone.”</p>
| false | 2 |
stuart wilson half joke decade ago young tollbooth worker spent everything four acres welsh grass hid convinced ruins mysterious 700yearold settlement archaeologists seeking decades wilson unearthed building building field people fly japan dig tv producers line film archaeologist defies sceptics reads headline guardian reporting wilson lectures academics shunned advertisement selfdescribed militant archaeologist despised academic rivals despised turn found ancient trellech others found dirt universities legend leaves amused others angry wilsons lost city thing say anyway didnt find much steal credit rivals mocks dont believe city said david howell archaeologist university gloucestershire whose father published dozen papers digs trellech discovered 20 years trellech never quite disappeared first place tiny village today full mysteries clumps iron slag litter fields forests suggesting great blast furnaces roared long ago bits medieval pottery occasionally pop pastures old magical place said deborah zsigo owns local pub clearly used ancient civilization awful lot people living legends old trellech seven churches others standings stones thrown either satan welsh magician advertisement even scholars intrigued tax rolls late 13th century indicate nearly 400 buildings plots land stood trellech damp landlocked hill heavens name town size location unlikely trellech ray howell archaeology professor university south wales said interview bbc radio 2006 working theory ancient trellech enormous weapons factory funded lords glamorgan make iron endless wars shaped medieval britain succession attacks fires disease wiped leaving medieval church stump vanished castle go theories archaeologists demand evidence ray howell team digging church castle remains decade early 2000s wilson came along job tollbooth road fresh bachelors degree archaeology conviction experts looking wrong spot academics saying hell chap think wilson said theyd found rubbish focused could accept anything else early 20s time wilson intrigued local hunch ancient trellech actually lay outside modern village farmer road kept finding ancient pottery mole hills wilson foraged sheep pasture search sunken buildings first wall first hour said group mostly amateur archaeologists established rival dig site fiveminute walk universitys excavations world apart method philosophy bunch independent militants wilson said happy bend rules break one around wilson said sneaked onto howells dig site prove ancient wall professor uncovered really modern field drain put news releases told anyone whod listen lost city beneath field academics sneered medieval cities cathedrals trellech sign one wilson carried two summers said dug melted walls matched historical records great fire set trellechs enemies became convinced settlements main street buried fields 2004 bank loan savings tollbooth job bought one resolved dig rest life gamble brought bbc town two years later produce radio show boy bought field really extraordinary project host said weve got field full mole hills weve got well hope mad archaeologist spent 32000 pounds buy road archaeologists getting annoyed ray howell briefly spoke bbc show although work trellech barely mentioned dad digging trellech better part decade never going way publicize david howell told washington post month whats coming ground important tremendous value tagging brand city raises expectation far beyond trellech ever hope produce child early 1990s david howell washed ancient pots fathers students uncovered trellech said getting masters degree archaeology supervised digs slow careful work made slower government restrictions land around old church professional academic unit didnt luxury able buy land david howell said got approval dig six trenches near church early 2000s slowly uncovered large building think trellechs hospice perhaps large tavern found medieval pilgrims flask presumed blacksmithing sites may produced swords spears lords glamorgan artifacts went museums study academic journals published howells discoveries trellech dozen times 1995 2008 trenches howells dug spots satellite radar suggested filled ruined walls turned none road wilson hammered mistakes given permission open entire field say confidence buildings david howell said instead university funding dried late 2000s howells moved wilsons lost city excavation going enticed coverage wilsons flair hundreds enthusiasts began flying wales paying small fee dig wilson unearthed structures beneath field notably mansion wilsons team members didnt bother academic journals announced discoveries newspapers selfpublished reports occasional ad 14 years digging wilsons legend trellech approaches reality guardian reported month archaeological society invited wilson speak cardiff university facing years scepticism within archaeological community cardiff big one wilson said cardiff archaeological society expressed regrets invitation wilson used speech belittle rivals work certainly interesting talk brian davies cardiff archaeological societys program director said email unfortunately talk professional archaeologists spoke concerns comments work despite bold talk wilson published papers academic journals davies noted consequently wilsons name still doesnt mean much university halls whoevers guardian claim first person find dont think done said nancy edwards professor medieval archaeology bangor university ray howell whos actually digging parts professor retired didnt talk post ray health wellbeing doesnt follow media coverage anymore said son david frustrating quite hurtful see 20 30 years work casually dismissed newspaper article somewhere many somewheres wilson starred episode bbcs digging britain last year hes talks tv producers entire series trellech said planning build tourism center field public seems accepts lost city academics old war closedminded people wilson said still think important world long since gone
| 821 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>The sheikhdoms have used the oil wealth to remake their region. Landmarks include man-made islands on reclaimed land, as well as financial centers, airports and ports that turned the Arabian desert into a banking and travel hub. The money was also deployed to ward off social unrest that spread through the Middle East during the Arab Spring.</p>
<p>“The region has had 10 years of abundance,” said Simon Williams, HSBC Holdings’s chief economist for central and eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. “But that decade of plenty is done. The drop in oil prices will hurt performance in the near term, even if the Gulf’s buffers are powerful enough to ensure there’s no crisis.”</p>
<p>Brent crude, which has averaged $102 a barrel since the end of 2009, plunged to about $60 earlier this month. The slump accelerated after the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, whose top producer is Saudi Arabia, decided in November to keep output unchanged. At $65 a barrel, the six nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which hold about a third of the world’s crude reserves, would run a combined budget deficit of about 6 percent of gross domestic product, according to Arqaam Capital, a Dubai-based investment bank.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Cheaper oil “will force a reassessment of the ambitious infrastructure investment program” in the region, Qatar National Bank said in a report. One exception is likely to be Qatar, which is spending on infrastructure to host the 2022 soccer World Cup final, QNB said. The oil-price drop has already prompted economists to cut next year’s growth estimates for Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.</p>
<p>The GCC spending spree hasn’t resolved problems such as high youth unemployment, especially in Saudi Arabia, where the rate was close to 30 percent in 2012, according to the International Monetary Fund. Despite total employment growth averaging near 8.5 percent, employment growth for Saudis was 4.6 percent in the years between 2010 and 2012, the IMF said in July last year.</p>
<p>Keeping revolts at bay</p>
<p>The spending helped insulate the monarchies from the revolts of 2011.</p>
<p>That year, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia allocated $130 billion to create jobs, build homes and raise salaries, while Qatar ordered $8.2 billion in to boost pensions and pay for civil servants. When protests broke out in Bahrain, the only GCC country to experience major upheaval, and to a lesser extent in Oman, their Gulf neighbors pledged $20 billion in assistance.</p>
<p>The Bloomberg GCC 200 Index has fallen 9.2 percent in the past six months, while Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index, the benchmark of the Arab world’s biggest stock market, is down 12 percent.</p>
<p>“Lower oil prices will be a real test,” said Crispin Hawes, managing director of research firm Teneo Intelligence in London. “If there was a problem in the past, they threw sacks of cash at it.”</p>
<p>That cash also financed a global spending spree. Qatar, the richest country in the world on a per-capita basis, has holdings in Harrods department store in London and in banks such as Barclays. Abu Dhabi’s national carrier Etihad Airways made a string of purchases, including a multi-billion-dollar investment in Alitalia.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The richer GCC countries were saving while they spent. Saudi Arabia, the Arab world’s biggest economy, has seen its net foreign assets jump 80 percent to $773 billion since 2009, according to central bank data. The U.A.E. and Qatar have two of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds.</p>
<p>With those funds available, “my guess is that the Gulf states will just draw down resources” rather than “do anything really serious,” said Gregory Gause, head of the International Affairs Department at Texas A&amp;M University.</p>
<p>Before having to tap their reserves, oil prices may rebound.</p>
<p>The oil market will recover with global economic growth, Saudi Arabia Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi said in Abu Dhabi on Dec. 21. “Fossil fuel will remain the main source of energy for decades to come,” he said. Oil surged from a five-year low at the end of last week after Al-Naimi said the slump in prices was temporary.</p>
<p>Minarets stand near skyscrapers in the city skyline in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The oil-price drop has already prompted economists to cut next year’s growth estimates for Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. (Duncan Chard/Bloomberg News)</p>
<p>Eating into surpluses</p>
<p>In the meantime, there’s no guarantee that a spending strategy would work because the reserve cushion may not last long without economic adjustments, said Nasser Saidi, president of Nasser Saidi &amp; Associates in Dubai and former chief economist of the Dubai International Financial Centre.</p>
<p>“Growing government spending has been eating into those surpluses,” he said. “You’re going to have to adjust to the lower oil prices. The implication is that you either have to start to reduce spending or you need new sources of revenue, or both.”</p>
<p>Persian Gulf monarchies maintain high fuel and power subsidies, which are used too transfer oil wealth to their citizens. Cutting them is politically sensitive after domestic discontent led to the overturning of governments in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt since 2011.</p>
<p>Gulf leaders say they’re aware of tougher times ahead. Saudi Finance Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf said this month that the kingdom will use its financial reserves as a “line of defense” against lower oil prices, and will keep funding “massive” development projects.</p>
<p>Oman, which lacks assets on that scale, is considering a freeze on public sector hiring, Finance Minister Darwish Al Balushi said last month.</p>
<p>In Kuwait, which has seen a wave of peaceful protests since 2011, ruler Sheikh Sabah said on Dec. 9 that oil prices are reaching “levels that have started to affect the income and development programs of our countries.”</p>
<p>Economists have begun to cut growth estimates. While the Saudi economy was still forecast to grow 3.6 percent next year in the latest Bloomberg survey between Dec. 12 and Dec. 17, that was down from 4.2 percent three months earlier. The figure dropped to 4 percent from 4.5 percent for the U.A.E., and to 2.4 percent from 2.8 percent for Kuwait.</p>
<p>“The real questions though are over the longer term, about how the Gulf generates growth without being able to fall back on ever-rising levels of public spending,” said Williams of HSBC.</p>
<p />
| false | 2 |
sheikhdoms used oil wealth remake region landmarks include manmade islands reclaimed land well financial centers airports ports turned arabian desert banking travel hub money also deployed ward social unrest spread middle east arab spring region 10 years abundance said simon williams hsbc holdingss chief economist central eastern europe middle east north africa decade plenty done drop oil prices hurt performance near term even gulfs buffers powerful enough ensure theres crisis brent crude averaged 102 barrel since end 2009 plunged 60 earlier month slump accelerated organization petroleum exporting countries whose top producer saudi arabia decided november keep output unchanged 65 barrel six nations gulf cooperation council hold third worlds crude reserves would run combined budget deficit 6 percent gross domestic product according arqaam capital dubaibased investment bank advertisement cheaper oil force reassessment ambitious infrastructure investment program region qatar national bank said report one exception likely qatar spending infrastructure host 2022 soccer world cup final qnb said oilprice drop already prompted economists cut next years growth estimates saudi arabia united arab emirates kuwait according data compiled bloomberg gcc spending spree hasnt resolved problems high youth unemployment especially saudi arabia rate close 30 percent 2012 according international monetary fund despite total employment growth averaging near 85 percent employment growth saudis 46 percent years 2010 2012 imf said july last year keeping revolts bay spending helped insulate monarchies revolts 2011 year king abdullah saudi arabia allocated 130 billion create jobs build homes raise salaries qatar ordered 82 billion boost pensions pay civil servants protests broke bahrain gcc country experience major upheaval lesser extent oman gulf neighbors pledged 20 billion assistance bloomberg gcc 200 index fallen 92 percent past six months saudi arabias tadawul share index benchmark arab worlds biggest stock market 12 percent lower oil prices real test said crispin hawes managing director research firm teneo intelligence london problem past threw sacks cash cash also financed global spending spree qatar richest country world percapita basis holdings harrods department store london banks barclays abu dhabis national carrier etihad airways made string purchases including multibilliondollar investment alitalia advertisement richer gcc countries saving spent saudi arabia arab worlds biggest economy seen net foreign assets jump 80 percent 773 billion since 2009 according central bank data uae qatar two worlds largest sovereign wealth funds funds available guess gulf states draw resources rather anything really serious said gregory gause head international affairs department texas aampm university tap reserves oil prices may rebound oil market recover global economic growth saudi arabia oil minister ali alnaimi said abu dhabi dec 21 fossil fuel remain main source energy decades come said oil surged fiveyear low end last week alnaimi said slump prices temporary minarets stand near skyscrapers city skyline abu dhabi united arab emirates oilprice drop already prompted economists cut next years growth estimates saudi arabia united arab emirates kuwait according data compiled bloomberg duncan chardbloomberg news eating surpluses meantime theres guarantee spending strategy would work reserve cushion may last long without economic adjustments said nasser saidi president nasser saidi amp associates dubai former chief economist dubai international financial centre growing government spending eating surpluses said youre going adjust lower oil prices implication either start reduce spending need new sources revenue persian gulf monarchies maintain high fuel power subsidies used transfer oil wealth citizens cutting politically sensitive domestic discontent led overturning governments tunisia libya egypt since 2011 gulf leaders say theyre aware tougher times ahead saudi finance minister ibrahim alassaf said month kingdom use financial reserves line defense lower oil prices keep funding massive development projects oman lacks assets scale considering freeze public sector hiring finance minister darwish al balushi said last month kuwait seen wave peaceful protests since 2011 ruler sheikh sabah said dec 9 oil prices reaching levels started affect income development programs countries economists begun cut growth estimates saudi economy still forecast grow 36 percent next year latest bloomberg survey dec 12 dec 17 42 percent three months earlier figure dropped 4 percent 45 percent uae 24 percent 28 percent kuwait real questions though longer term gulf generates growth without able fall back everrising levels public spending said williams hsbc
| 681 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>The takeaway is that cats – solitary, aloof, predatory – are in this whole relationship with us purely for themselves.</p>
<p>Kristyn Vitale Shreve doesn’t buy that. She teaches cats to play together in “socialization” classes. She teaches people to train their kittens to sit, stand and perform tricks. She thinks that what cats like and want is, well, complicated.</p>
<p>So Vitale Shreve, a Ph.D. student at Oregon State University, decided to formally study cats’ tastes. First she and colleagues gave 55 cats – a mix of shelter animals and pets – with three choices of foods, toys, scents and kinds of human interaction (the options in this last category were talking, petting or playing with a person holding a feather toy). Then she presented each cat with its four favorites and watched what happened.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The results of this observation of cats – which, importantly, had not eaten in 2.5 hours – might upend your ideas about feline desires. Fully half preferred to socialize with people, and they included the shelter cats that did not have a relationship with their tester. Food was not too far behind. Four cats preferred toys, and just one oddball’s favorite option was catnip.</p>
<p>That didn’t shock Vitale Shreve, who studied feral colony cats as a master’s student.</p>
<p>“I’ve worked with cats a lot,” she said. “It’s not surprising to me to see cats being social. I’ve never seen cats being unsocial.”</p>
<p>Dennis Turner, an longtime cat researcher who is director of the Institute for Applied Ethology and Animal Psychology in Switzerland, said in email that the findings are “important” as well as “gratifying,” because they bolster something he and colleague found two decades ago. In a study of feral cats, he said, they concluded that while strays show a preference for people who feed them, “it takes more than that, talking with or stroking the animal to maintain that preference and establish a relationship.”</p>
<p>While Vitale Shreve’s results might seem surprising to most of us, more surprising is that her study was done at all. Science about how dogs think and how smart they are is so thriving that several American universities now have laboratories devoted to canine cognition. But although more cats than dogs live in American homes, there’s no such lab devoted to felines. That means a fairly simple study that attempts to peer into the feline mind can break new ground.</p>
<p>—</p>
<p>Ask dog researchers why there are no feline cognition labs, and they usually chuckle and say one thing: Cats are terribly uncooperative subjects.</p>
<p>Consider a splashy study published last year that used brain scans to conclude that dogs process human speech in the same way we do, combining intonation and words to determine meaning. To determine that, the researchers trained dogs to lie as still as stones in an fMRI machine for eight minutes. Just try to imagine getting cats to do that.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>But Vitale Shreve, who said she dreams of founding the first cat cognition lab, says comparing cats to well-studied dogs has “led to some of the stagnation in the field.” Also, she said, the idea that it’s impossible to train cats to participate in cognitive tests is wrong. That’s another reason her study on cat preferences is important, Turner said: It shows that tuna might motivate some kitties to cooperate, but others might respond to petting.</p>
<p>“A lot of people try to apply tests created for dogs or other species and then apply them to cats,” Vitale Shreve said, noting that she modified her preference test to be more cat-friendly – shorter and with less handling – than is typically used with dogs.</p>
<p>“If you’re having trouble measuring behavior in the species, it’s probably not the species that’s the problem,” she said. “It’s the methodology.”</p>
<p>To be sure, some of the cats wanted nothing to do with the study. Five didn’t finish the tests “due to nervous behavior (hiding, shaking, dilated pupils),” Vitale Shreve and her co-authors wrote in their paper, which was published in the journal Behavioural Processes. Six others finished but turned their noses up at every choice. But that’s not so strange. The dog trainer for that fMRI study told me last year that several dogs considered for participation couldn’t cut it.</p>
<p>—</p>
<p>John Bradshaw, a British biologist who founded the Anthrozoology Institute at the University of Bristol, says it’s true that cats are trainable – in fact, he’s the co-author of a recent book on the topic. But, he said, you “have to get them in the right frame of mind.”</p>
<p>But he argues that’s not the only reason there aren’t cat cognition centers. Because cats prefer to stick around their territory, they’re harder than dogs to take to labs to study. That means more feline research must be done at cats’ homes, introducing variables – different settings, different handlers – that puts “a lot of noise in the data” and requires far bigger sample sizes, he said.</p>
<p>A bigger issue is that there are far more practical uses for dog training and understanding how they learn. Pooches guide blind people, assist hunters, sniff out cancer and detect bombs. That means more money for studies, said Bradshaw, who knows: After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, he says he got “quite generous funding” to foot the bill for years of studying sniffer dogs.</p>
<p>“It’s certainly possible to train cats to be relaxed in an experimental setup,” Bradshaw said. “But given that it takes longer than it takes for a dog and there are fewer applications, why would anyone do it? And I think that’s a pity.”</p>
<p>Bradshaw had one quibble with Vitale Shreve’s study. He said cats that preferred interacting with people using the feather toy should be categorized as liking playing with a moving toy, not social interaction.</p>
<p>“It kind of detracts from the headline that cats love people more than they love food or toys,” he said. “What they really like is hunting.”</p>
<p>—</p>
<p>But it does not detract from the larger point that “not all cats are the same, despite the fact that people who don’t like cats say they’re all the same, they’re aloof, and so on,” Bradshaw said. And while that may not sound like a bombshell conclusion, it’s important for a very young field.</p>
<p>“The research is playing catch up with what everyone knows. But that’s very valuable, because it puts it in the scientific literature and allows scientists to move on” to other questions, Bradshaw said, like “why do some cats like being petted and others don’t?”</p>
<p>For now, the takeaway for cat owners is that they might need to do a little investigation to figure out whether their pets are motivated by kibble or catnip, said Vitale Shreve, who’s got more studies of cat thinking and behavior underway.</p>
<p>Turner, the cat researcher in Switzerland, said he’s confident a feline research boom is still to come. There was a time, he noted, that scientists studying animal cognition focused only on primates. Then some realized dogs were even better than apes at things like reading human gestures.</p>
<p>“I expect many more studies of the cat’s cognitive abilities in the near future,” Turner said. “And I expect that they will be as high as dogs, wolves and primates, given the fact that the cat is a predator which in the wild was forced to make decisions about where and what to hunt on a daily basis.”</p>
<p>—</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Sign up for the Today’s WorldView Newsletter The Washington Post.</p>
| false | 2 |
takeaway cats solitary aloof predatory whole relationship us purely kristyn vitale shreve doesnt buy teaches cats play together socialization classes teaches people train kittens sit stand perform tricks thinks cats like want well complicated vitale shreve phd student oregon state university decided formally study cats tastes first colleagues gave 55 cats mix shelter animals pets three choices foods toys scents kinds human interaction options last category talking petting playing person holding feather toy presented cat four favorites watched happened advertisement results observation cats importantly eaten 25 hours might upend ideas feline desires fully half preferred socialize people included shelter cats relationship tester food far behind four cats preferred toys one oddballs favorite option catnip didnt shock vitale shreve studied feral colony cats masters student ive worked cats lot said surprising see cats social ive never seen cats unsocial dennis turner longtime cat researcher director institute applied ethology animal psychology switzerland said email findings important well gratifying bolster something colleague found two decades ago study feral cats said concluded strays show preference people feed takes talking stroking animal maintain preference establish relationship vitale shreves results might seem surprising us surprising study done science dogs think smart thriving several american universities laboratories devoted canine cognition although cats dogs live american homes theres lab devoted felines means fairly simple study attempts peer feline mind break new ground ask dog researchers feline cognition labs usually chuckle say one thing cats terribly uncooperative subjects consider splashy study published last year used brain scans conclude dogs process human speech way combining intonation words determine meaning determine researchers trained dogs lie still stones fmri machine eight minutes try imagine getting cats advertisement vitale shreve said dreams founding first cat cognition lab says comparing cats wellstudied dogs led stagnation field also said idea impossible train cats participate cognitive tests wrong thats another reason study cat preferences important turner said shows tuna might motivate kitties cooperate others might respond petting lot people try apply tests created dogs species apply cats vitale shreve said noting modified preference test catfriendly shorter less handling typically used dogs youre trouble measuring behavior species probably species thats problem said methodology sure cats wanted nothing study five didnt finish tests due nervous behavior hiding shaking dilated pupils vitale shreve coauthors wrote paper published journal behavioural processes six others finished turned noses every choice thats strange dog trainer fmri study told last year several dogs considered participation couldnt cut john bradshaw british biologist founded anthrozoology institute university bristol says true cats trainable fact hes coauthor recent book topic said get right frame mind argues thats reason arent cat cognition centers cats prefer stick around territory theyre harder dogs take labs study means feline research must done cats homes introducing variables different settings different handlers puts lot noise data requires far bigger sample sizes said bigger issue far practical uses dog training understanding learn pooches guide blind people assist hunters sniff cancer detect bombs means money studies said bradshaw knows 911 terrorist attacks says got quite generous funding foot bill years studying sniffer dogs certainly possible train cats relaxed experimental setup bradshaw said given takes longer takes dog fewer applications would anyone think thats pity bradshaw one quibble vitale shreves study said cats preferred interacting people using feather toy categorized liking playing moving toy social interaction kind detracts headline cats love people love food toys said really like hunting detract larger point cats despite fact people dont like cats say theyre theyre aloof bradshaw said may sound like bombshell conclusion important young field research playing catch everyone knows thats valuable puts scientific literature allows scientists move questions bradshaw said like cats like petted others dont takeaway cat owners might need little investigation figure whether pets motivated kibble catnip said vitale shreve whos got studies cat thinking behavior underway turner cat researcher switzerland said hes confident feline research boom still come time noted scientists studying animal cognition focused primates realized dogs even better apes things like reading human gestures expect many studies cats cognitive abilities near future turner said expect high dogs wolves primates given fact cat predator wild forced make decisions hunt daily basis sign todays worldview newsletter washington post
| 693 |
<p>NAPLES, Fla. (AP) — A top advocacy organization on aging is rallying supporters to lobby the state Legislature for $12.4 million more in funding to organizations around the state that provide community care services for elders.</p>
<p>Officials with the Florida Council on Aging and the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida hosted a summit Tuesday in Naples with local social service agencies to establish a unified voice on the needs of seniors in the coming year.</p>
<p>The 60-day regular session of the Florida Legislature got underway Jan. 9 in Tallahassee and is scheduled to wrap up in March.</p>
<p>The additional funding would mean 1,788 more seniors at risk of being placed in nursing homes could instead receive services in their home, said Margaret Lynn Duggar, executive director of the aging council.</p>
<p>The council represents a cross section of organizations that serve 5.2 million seniors statewide.</p>
<p>In-home care covers a gamut of services, from assistance with daily living activities to home health care, which costs a fraction of care in nursing homes, she said.</p>
<p>The current year budget for the state Department of Elder Affairs is $91.4 million for home and community care programs statewide, according to Robert Beck, the aging council's lobbyist in Tallahassee.</p>
<p>Duggar told the estimated 40 representatives gathered at Avow Hospice that the Elder Affairs Department is planning to change the format for how seniors are put on waiting lists, which could result in fewer seniors getting help.</p>
<p>The National Center for Health Statistics, an agency in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reported roughly 20 percent of adults 85 and older in 2017 needed assistance with daily living, she said.</p>
<p>Duggar called on audience members to reach out to their local lawmakers about the ongoing and growing needs of seniors. She provided contacts for members of the Southwest Florida delegation and how many voters 60 and older live in various lawmakers' districts.</p>
<p>State Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, has 144,000 voters 60 and older, and state Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, has 149,000 voters in that age group, Duggar said.</p>
<p>Nancy Green-Irwin, executive director of Friendship Centers, which serves adults 50 and older in six counties from Sarasota to Collier, spoke about the group's focus since its founding in 1973 to promote the heath, dignity and quality of life of seniors.</p>
<p>The Collier affiliate is Senior Friendship Health Center, which in 2016 joined forces with the Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida at a centralized center at 2355 Stanford Court in East Naples.</p>
<p>The organization served 2,370 seniors at risk of nursing home placement, but the need goes much deeper, Green-Irwin said.</p>
<p>"Our waiting list is close to 4,000 in our counties," she said.</p>
<p>Autumn Rosa, director of client services with the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida, said the agency is client-focused with its helpline and counselors to help seniors with Medicare options each year. The counseling often results in seniors saving money on insurance and prescription medications.</p>
<p>In 2017 the helpline responded to 68,000 calls, Rosa said.</p>
<p>"That just shows there is so much out there we could be doing," she said.</p>
<p>The counseling program, called SHINE, which stands for "Serving Health Insurance Needs of Seniors," is at risk of cuts, Rosa said.</p>
<p>For more information the Area Agency on Aging can be reached at 239-652-6900, and the helpline is 866-413-5337. The website is www.aaaswfl.org. The Florida Council on Aging can be reached at 850-222-8877 or at www.fcoa.org.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Information from: Naples (Fla.) Daily News, <a href="http://www.naplesnews.com" type="external">http://www.naplesnews.com</a></p>
<p>NAPLES, Fla. (AP) — A top advocacy organization on aging is rallying supporters to lobby the state Legislature for $12.4 million more in funding to organizations around the state that provide community care services for elders.</p>
<p>Officials with the Florida Council on Aging and the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida hosted a summit Tuesday in Naples with local social service agencies to establish a unified voice on the needs of seniors in the coming year.</p>
<p>The 60-day regular session of the Florida Legislature got underway Jan. 9 in Tallahassee and is scheduled to wrap up in March.</p>
<p>The additional funding would mean 1,788 more seniors at risk of being placed in nursing homes could instead receive services in their home, said Margaret Lynn Duggar, executive director of the aging council.</p>
<p>The council represents a cross section of organizations that serve 5.2 million seniors statewide.</p>
<p>In-home care covers a gamut of services, from assistance with daily living activities to home health care, which costs a fraction of care in nursing homes, she said.</p>
<p>The current year budget for the state Department of Elder Affairs is $91.4 million for home and community care programs statewide, according to Robert Beck, the aging council's lobbyist in Tallahassee.</p>
<p>Duggar told the estimated 40 representatives gathered at Avow Hospice that the Elder Affairs Department is planning to change the format for how seniors are put on waiting lists, which could result in fewer seniors getting help.</p>
<p>The National Center for Health Statistics, an agency in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reported roughly 20 percent of adults 85 and older in 2017 needed assistance with daily living, she said.</p>
<p>Duggar called on audience members to reach out to their local lawmakers about the ongoing and growing needs of seniors. She provided contacts for members of the Southwest Florida delegation and how many voters 60 and older live in various lawmakers' districts.</p>
<p>State Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, has 144,000 voters 60 and older, and state Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, has 149,000 voters in that age group, Duggar said.</p>
<p>Nancy Green-Irwin, executive director of Friendship Centers, which serves adults 50 and older in six counties from Sarasota to Collier, spoke about the group's focus since its founding in 1973 to promote the heath, dignity and quality of life of seniors.</p>
<p>The Collier affiliate is Senior Friendship Health Center, which in 2016 joined forces with the Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida at a centralized center at 2355 Stanford Court in East Naples.</p>
<p>The organization served 2,370 seniors at risk of nursing home placement, but the need goes much deeper, Green-Irwin said.</p>
<p>"Our waiting list is close to 4,000 in our counties," she said.</p>
<p>Autumn Rosa, director of client services with the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida, said the agency is client-focused with its helpline and counselors to help seniors with Medicare options each year. The counseling often results in seniors saving money on insurance and prescription medications.</p>
<p>In 2017 the helpline responded to 68,000 calls, Rosa said.</p>
<p>"That just shows there is so much out there we could be doing," she said.</p>
<p>The counseling program, called SHINE, which stands for "Serving Health Insurance Needs of Seniors," is at risk of cuts, Rosa said.</p>
<p>For more information the Area Agency on Aging can be reached at 239-652-6900, and the helpline is 866-413-5337. The website is www.aaaswfl.org. The Florida Council on Aging can be reached at 850-222-8877 or at www.fcoa.org.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Information from: Naples (Fla.) Daily News, <a href="http://www.naplesnews.com" type="external">http://www.naplesnews.com</a></p>
| false | 2 |
naples fla ap top advocacy organization aging rallying supporters lobby state legislature 124 million funding organizations around state provide community care services elders officials florida council aging area agency aging southwest florida hosted summit tuesday naples local social service agencies establish unified voice needs seniors coming year 60day regular session florida legislature got underway jan 9 tallahassee scheduled wrap march additional funding would mean 1788 seniors risk placed nursing homes could instead receive services home said margaret lynn duggar executive director aging council council represents cross section organizations serve 52 million seniors statewide inhome care covers gamut services assistance daily living activities home health care costs fraction care nursing homes said current year budget state department elder affairs 914 million home community care programs statewide according robert beck aging councils lobbyist tallahassee duggar told estimated 40 representatives gathered avow hospice elder affairs department planning change format seniors put waiting lists could result fewer seniors getting help national center health statistics agency centers disease control prevention reported roughly 20 percent adults 85 older 2017 needed assistance daily living said duggar called audience members reach local lawmakers ongoing growing needs seniors provided contacts members southwest florida delegation many voters 60 older live various lawmakers districts state sen lizbeth benacquisto rfort myers 144000 voters 60 older state sen kathleen passidomo rnaples 149000 voters age group duggar said nancy greenirwin executive director friendship centers serves adults 50 older six counties sarasota collier spoke groups focus since founding 1973 promote heath dignity quality life seniors collier affiliate senior friendship health center 2016 joined forces healthcare network southwest florida centralized center 2355 stanford court east naples organization served 2370 seniors risk nursing home placement need goes much deeper greenirwin said waiting list close 4000 counties said autumn rosa director client services area agency aging southwest florida said agency clientfocused helpline counselors help seniors medicare options year counseling often results seniors saving money insurance prescription medications 2017 helpline responded 68000 calls rosa said shows much could said counseling program called shine stands serving health insurance needs seniors risk cuts rosa said information area agency aging reached 2396526900 helpline 8664135337 website wwwaaaswflorg florida council aging reached 8502228877 wwwfcoaorg ___ information naples fla daily news httpwwwnaplesnewscom naples fla ap top advocacy organization aging rallying supporters lobby state legislature 124 million funding organizations around state provide community care services elders officials florida council aging area agency aging southwest florida hosted summit tuesday naples local social service agencies establish unified voice needs seniors coming year 60day regular session florida legislature got underway jan 9 tallahassee scheduled wrap march additional funding would mean 1788 seniors risk placed nursing homes could instead receive services home said margaret lynn duggar executive director aging council council represents cross section organizations serve 52 million seniors statewide inhome care covers gamut services assistance daily living activities home health care costs fraction care nursing homes said current year budget state department elder affairs 914 million home community care programs statewide according robert beck aging councils lobbyist tallahassee duggar told estimated 40 representatives gathered avow hospice elder affairs department planning change format seniors put waiting lists could result fewer seniors getting help national center health statistics agency centers disease control prevention reported roughly 20 percent adults 85 older 2017 needed assistance daily living said duggar called audience members reach local lawmakers ongoing growing needs seniors provided contacts members southwest florida delegation many voters 60 older live various lawmakers districts state sen lizbeth benacquisto rfort myers 144000 voters 60 older state sen kathleen passidomo rnaples 149000 voters age group duggar said nancy greenirwin executive director friendship centers serves adults 50 older six counties sarasota collier spoke groups focus since founding 1973 promote heath dignity quality life seniors collier affiliate senior friendship health center 2016 joined forces healthcare network southwest florida centralized center 2355 stanford court east naples organization served 2370 seniors risk nursing home placement need goes much deeper greenirwin said waiting list close 4000 counties said autumn rosa director client services area agency aging southwest florida said agency clientfocused helpline counselors help seniors medicare options year counseling often results seniors saving money insurance prescription medications 2017 helpline responded 68000 calls rosa said shows much could said counseling program called shine stands serving health insurance needs seniors risk cuts rosa said information area agency aging reached 2396526900 helpline 8664135337 website wwwaaaswflorg florida council aging reached 8502228877 wwwfcoaorg ___ information naples fla daily news httpwwwnaplesnewscom
| 734 |
<p>Jan 22 (Reuters) - NATIONAL FINANCE CO SAOG:</p>
<p>* BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT NO DIVIDEND BE DECLARED UNTIL MERGER WITH OMAN ORIX LEASING CO IS COMPLETED</p>
<p>* SAYS MERGER WITH OMAN ORIX LEASING CO IS EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE DURING Q1, 2018 Source: ( <a href="http://bit.ly/2DXKiim" type="external">bit.ly/2DXKiim</a>) Further company coverage:</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Coca-Cola Co ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=KO.N" type="external">KO.N</a>) thought it had a deal with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service on how much the company charged foreign affiliates for the rights to make and sell Coke products abroad.</p> Bottles of Coca-Cola are seen at a Carrefour Hypermarket store in Montreuil, near Paris, France, February 5, 2018. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau
<p>Then in September 2015 a letter from the IRS arrived at Coca-Cola’s Atlanta headquarters with a bill for back taxes whose amount, $3.3 billion, stunned the world’s No. 1 soft drinks maker.</p>
<p>Coca-Cola sued the IRS, disputing the bill. The case is being tried now in U.S. Tax Court in Washington. A verdict is not expected for some time after the trial ends, expected in mid-April.</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160; The case is being watched closely by tax experts as a sign of rising tension between tax authorities and multinational corporations over transfer pricing, that is, the way companies value the goods, services, trademark and patent rights that they constantly move among foreign units across national boundaries.</p>
<p>An important management discipline inside multinationals, transfer pricing is under more scrutiny than ever before from tax agencies worldwide because of strict new global standards, raising legal risks for companies and their investors.</p>
<p>The Coca-Cola case goes to trial as interest among corporations in seeking multi-year deals with the IRS covering transfer pricing arrangements has fallen in the past two years.</p>
<p>The IRS reported on Friday that it received 101 applications in 2017 for “advance pricing agreements” (APAs), similar to 2016’s level of 98 in 2016, but well below 2015’s peak of 183.</p>
<p>APA applications also fell in 2016 in Japan, the top U.S. bilateral APA partner, according to the latest data.</p>
<p>Anecdotal evidence suggests the APA process, designed to prevent conflict, is under strain in many countries, with some tax lawyers citing Mexico, Italy and China as challenging.</p>
<p>Corporate tax directors at a conference in Washington earlier this month said APAs are taking longer to negotiate and government tax agencies are less willing to do them.</p>
<p>“We’re really living in a different time and we can understand why tax authorities might be reluctant because there’s a lot more external scrutiny than there ever was,” said Amy Roberti, director of global tax and fiscal policy for Procter &amp; Gamble Co ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=PG.N" type="external">PG.N</a>), at the conference.</p>
<p>Asked for more details afterward, Roberti said through a company spokeswoman that APAs help Procter &amp; Gamble build “relationships with governments and fiscal authorities.”</p>
<p>The IRS did not immediately provide answers to questions about the Coca-Cola case and transfer pricing, in general.</p> A woman walks by a store decorated with a Coca-Cola logo in the town of Ahero near Kisumu, Kenya April 20, 2017. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
<p>Coca-Cola responded to questions by providing an internal employee memo about the case that said, “The company firmly believes that the IRS’ claims are without merit and will pursue all available administrative and judicial remedies.”</p> TRANSFER PRICING CHALLENGE
<p>The IRS contends that Coca-Cola charged several foreign affiliates royalties that were too low from 2007 to 2009, which reduced the parent company’s U.S. income and resulted in underpayment of its U.S. income taxes by $3.3 billion.</p>
<p>Tax agencies often challenge transfer pricing arrangements on the grounds that they are set up to minimize income in high-tax countries and maximize it in low-tax countries.</p>
<p>Under a Base Erosion and Profit Shifting framework set up by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 2016, one hundred national tax agencies including the IRS expect companies to use an “arm’s length” approach to transfer pricing.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=KO.N" type="external">Coca-Cola Co</a> 43.43 KO.N New York Stock Exchange +0.11 (+0.25%) KO.N PG.N
<p>That means, in the case of trademark rights, for instance, charging foreign units royalties equal to their open market value. The trouble is that trademarks are usually unique. So approximating their “arm’s length” price is difficult.</p>
<p>Coca-Cola says in court filings that the IRS approved the company’s method for setting its transfer prices for the affiliates in a 1996 agreement, but that the IRS later withdrew that approval and issued the bill for back taxes.</p>
<p>Coca-Cola did not have an APA with the IRS. Instead, it had an APA-like “audit closing agreement” that dated back to 1996 and was, the company says, reaffirmed in later audits.</p>
<p>But much changed in transfer pricing over the more than 20 years since Coca-Cola reached its understanding with the IRS.</p>
<p>“It’s an interesting case,” said former IRS Acting Commissioner Steven Miller. “If I were a tax director, I would be thinking about how much I can rely on agreements like this.</p>
<p>“It does drive home how important it is not to just assume that an agreement can be relied on forever because apparently, maybe not,” said Miller, now national director of tax at consulting firm Alliantgroup.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Chris Prentice in New York, Amanda Becker in Washington and Stanley White in Tokyo; Editing by Damon Darlin and Steve Orlofsky</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>MANILA/KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Philippines and Malaysia said on Monday they will look into whether Uber Technologies’ [UBER.UL] move to sell its Southeast Asian business to ride-hailing rival Grab hinders competition, days after Singapore began a probe into the deal on similar concerns.</p> A man walks past a Grab office in Singapore March 26, 2018. REUTERS/Edgar Su
<p>The expanded scrutiny of the deal in Southeast Asia could pose a major hurdle to the U.S. firm’s attempt to improve profitability by exiting its loss-making regional operation. It also comes as Grab is set to face tougher competition from Indonesian rival Go-Jek.</p>
<p>In a rare move, Singapore last week proposed interim measures to require Uber and Grab to maintain their pre-transaction independent pricing until it completes a review of the deal, saying it had “reasonable grounds” to suspect that competition had been infringed.</p>
<p>“The Grab-Uber acquisition is likely to have a far reaching impact on the riding public and the transportation services. As such, the PCC is looking at the deal closely,” the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) said in a statement.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-uber-grab-philippines/philippines-competition-watchdog-says-examining-uber-grab-deal-idUSKCN1H90KQ" type="external">Philippines competition watchdog says examining Uber-Grab deal</a>
<p>It said the deal will put Grab in a virtual monopoly in the ride-sharing market, and its review will determine whether the transaction substantially reduces competition, adding it is meeting representatives of Grab and Uber on Monday.</p>
<p>Should anti-competitive concerns arise, Uber and Grab may propose commitments to remedy. In the event they will not submit voluntarily, the commission could open a case that may block the deal, it said.</p>
<p>Malaysia also said on Monday that it will monitor Grab for possible anti-competitive behavior.</p>
<p>“We won’t take it lightly. We will monitor this because it is still early days and we don’t know what will happen next,” said government minister Nancy Shukri, whose portfolio oversees the public transport licensing authority.</p>
<p>“We have stressed that if there is any anti-competitive behavior, the Competition Act will come into force. We have spelt this out to them,” Nancy said, referring to a meeting with Grab representatives last Monday.</p>
<p>In Indonesia, the anti-monopoly agency said it can’t say yet whether they will investigate the deal, as there are 30 days after the deal is finalised to assess it.</p> ASSURANCES ON PRICING
<p>Uber and Grab announced the deal a week ago, marking the U.S. company’s second retreat from an Asian market. It earlier sold off its operations in China.</p>
<p>Nancy said Grab, which is valued at about $6 billion, had offered assurances during their meeting that there would be no unfair pricing, nor would it increase its fares for now.</p>
<p>After a costly market share battle in Southeast Asia, where Uber has invested $700 million, its move to exit the region is widely expected to give the U.S. firm more firepower to focus on other markets including India.</p>
<p>But competition in the region is set to grow again, as Indonesia’s Go-Jek plans to launch its first expansion to another country in the region in coming weeks, according to an internal company email seen by Reuters.</p>
<p>Singapore’s Straits Times reported on Monday Go-Jek plans to launch its services in Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.</p>
<p>Johannes Bernabe, PCC commissioner, told Reuters that Manila is processing at least three applications for ride-sharing services. It also caps the number of ride-sharing vehicles to 65,000 across all brands and reviews them every three months.</p>
<p>Grab, which operates in 195 cities in eight Southeast Asian countries, didn’t have immediate comment.</p>
<p>Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales and Joseph Sipalan; Writing by Miyoung Kim; Editing by Stephen Coates and Muralikumar Anantharaman</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia is expected to cut prices for all crude grades it sells to Asia in May to reflect weaker prices for its Middle East benchmark Dubai crude, trade sources said on Monday.</p> FILE PHOTO: Shaybah oilfield complex is seen at night in the Rub' al-Khali desert, Saudi Arabia, November 14, 2007. REUTERS/Ali Jarekji/File Photo
<p>The official selling price (OSP) for flagship Arab Light crude could fall by 50-70 cents, to the lowest in six months, a Reuters survey of six refiners and traders showed.</p>
<p>“We expect cuts of 50-60 cents across all grades,” one of the respondents said, in line with market changes last month.</p>
<p>The price spread between the first and third month Dubai spot prices widened by 55 cents a barrel in contango in March versus February, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity because there weren’t authorized to discuss the matter with media.</p>
<p>In a contango market, prompt prices are lower than those in future months, indicating weak demand for spot cargoes.</p>
<p>Most of the respondents expect similar price cuts across all grades in May, although one person said he expects a smaller cut for Arab Extra Light’s OSP on support from firm naphtha margins. He also expects a bigger price cut for Arab Heavy because of widening losses in producing fuel oil.Saudi crude OSPs are usually released around the fifth of each month, and set the trend for Iranian, Kuwaiti and Iraqi prices, affecting more than 12 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude bound for Asia.</p>
<p>State oil giant Saudi Aramco sets its crude prices based on recommendations from customers and after calculating the change in the value of its oil over the past month, based on yields and product prices.</p>
<p>Saudi Aramco officials as a matter of policy do not comment on the kingdom’s monthly OSPs.</p>
<p>Reporting by Florence Tan; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>BEIJING (Reuters) - China has increased tariffs by up to 25 percent on 128 U.S. products, from frozen pork and wine to certain fruits and nuts, escalating a spat between the world’s biggest economies in response to U.S. duties on imports of aluminum and steel.</p> FILE PHOTO: Several-week-old pigs stand in a pen inside a barn at Paustian Enterprises in Walcott, Iowa, November 19, 2014. REUTERS/Daniel Acker/File Photo
<p>The tariffs, to take effect on Monday, were announced late on Sunday by China’s finance ministry and matched a list of potential tariffs on up to $3 billion in U.S. goods published by China on March 23.</p>
<p>Soon after the announcement, an editorial in the widely read Chinese tabloid Global Times warned that if the U.S. had thought China would not retaliate or would only take symbolic counter-measures, it can now “say goodbye to that delusion.”</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-usa-trade-china-aluminium/china-metals-group-eyeing-new-counter-measures-in-u-s-trade-row-idUSKCN1H90RG" type="external">China metals group eyeing new counter-measures in U.S. trade row</a>
<a href="/article/us-usa-trade-china-ethanol/china-tariffs-on-u-s-ethanol-to-cut-off-imports-in-short-term-idUSKCN1H90RO" type="external">China tariffs on U.S. ethanol to cut off imports in short-term</a>
<p>“Even though China and the U.S. have not publicly said they are in a trade war, the sparks of such a war have already started to fly,” the editorial said.</p>
<p>China’s Ministry of Commerce said it was suspending its obligations to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to reduce tariffs on 120 U.S. goods, including fruit and ethanol. The tariffs on those products will be raised by an extra 15 percent.</p>
<p>Eight other products, including pork and scrap aluminum, will now be subject to additional tariffs of 25 percent, it said, with the measures effective from April 2.</p>
<p>“China’s suspension of its tariff concessions is a legitimate action adopted under WTO rules to safeguard China’s interests,” the Chinese finance ministry said.</p> FILE PHOTO: A butcher cuts a piece of pork at a market in Beijing, China, March 25, 2016. REUTERS/Jason Lee/File Photo
<p>China is moving swiftly with retaliatory action amid escalating trade tensions between Beijing and Washington, which have rocked global financial markets in the past week as investors feared a full-blown trade spat between the two countries will be damaging for world growth.</p>
<p>U.S. President Donald Trump is separately preparing to impose tariffs of more than $50 billion on Chinese goods intended to punish Beijing over U.S. accusations that China systematically misappropriated American intellectual property - allegations Beijing denies.</p>
<p>China has repeatedly promised to open its economy further, but many foreign companies continue to complain of unfair treatment. China warned the United States on Thursday not to open a Pandora’s Box and spark a flurry of protectionist practices across the globe.</p>
<p>“There are some people in the West who think that China looks tough for the sake of a domestic audience, and would easily make concessions in the end,” the Global Times editorial said.</p>
<p>“But they are wrong.”</p>
<p>The Global Times is run by the ruling Communist Party’s official People’s Daily, although its stance does not necessarily reflect Chinese government policy.</p> FILE PHOTO: A labourer works on coils of steel wire at a steel wholesale market in Beijing, China, January 17, 2012. REUTERS/Soo Hoo Zheyang/File Photo
<p>Reaction to China’s measures varied on Chinese social media, with some saying Chinese customers would be the one ultimately paying for the trade war.</p>
<p>“Why not directly target soybean and planes? The tariffs that China announced today don’t sound a lot to me,” said a user on Weibo, a Twitter-like microblog popular in China.</p>
<p>Aircraft and soybeans were China’s biggest U.S. imports by value last year.</p>
<p>In a statement published on Monday morning, the Chinese commerce ministry said the United States had “seriously violated” the principles of non-discrimination enshrined in World Trade Organization rules, and had also damaged China’s interests.</p>
<p>“China’s suspension of some of its obligations to the United States is its legitimate right as a member of the World Trade Organization,” it said, adding that differences between the world’s two largest economies should be resolved through dialogue and negotiation.</p>
<p>Weibo prominently featured the list of U.S. goods that China is targeting among the day’s “hot” trending topics.</p>
<p>“I will never buy fruit from the U.S.,” a Weibo user wrote.</p>
<p>Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Tony Munroe; Additional reporting by David Stanway in SHANGHAI and Stella Qiu and Lusha Zhang in BEIJING; Additional Writing by Ryan Woo; Editing by Eric Meijer and Shri Navaratnam</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
jan 22 reuters national finance co saog board recommends dividend declared merger oman orix leasing co completed says merger oman orix leasing co expected take place q1 2018 source bitly2dxkiim company coverage standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters cocacola co kon thought deal us internal revenue service much company charged foreign affiliates rights make sell coke products abroad bottles cocacola seen carrefour hypermarket store montreuil near paris france february 5 2018 reutersregis duvignau september 2015 letter irs arrived cocacolas atlanta headquarters bill back taxes whose amount 33 billion stunned worlds 1 soft drinks maker cocacola sued irs disputing bill case tried us tax court washington verdict expected time trial ends expected midapril 160160160 case watched closely tax experts sign rising tension tax authorities multinational corporations transfer pricing way companies value goods services trademark patent rights constantly move among foreign units across national boundaries important management discipline inside multinationals transfer pricing scrutiny ever tax agencies worldwide strict new global standards raising legal risks companies investors cocacola case goes trial interest among corporations seeking multiyear deals irs covering transfer pricing arrangements fallen past two years irs reported friday received 101 applications 2017 advance pricing agreements apas similar 2016s level 98 2016 well 2015s peak 183 apa applications also fell 2016 japan top us bilateral apa partner according latest data anecdotal evidence suggests apa process designed prevent conflict strain many countries tax lawyers citing mexico italy china challenging corporate tax directors conference washington earlier month said apas taking longer negotiate government tax agencies less willing really living different time understand tax authorities might reluctant theres lot external scrutiny ever said amy roberti director global tax fiscal policy procter amp gamble co pgn conference asked details afterward roberti said company spokeswoman apas help procter amp gamble build relationships governments fiscal authorities irs immediately provide answers questions cocacola case transfer pricing general woman walks store decorated cocacola logo town ahero near kisumu kenya april 20 2017 reutersbaz ratner cocacola responded questions providing internal employee memo case said company firmly believes irs claims without merit pursue available administrative judicial remedies transfer pricing challenge irs contends cocacola charged several foreign affiliates royalties low 2007 2009 reduced parent companys us income resulted underpayment us income taxes 33 billion tax agencies often challenge transfer pricing arrangements grounds set minimize income hightax countries maximize lowtax countries base erosion profit shifting framework set organization economic cooperation development oecd 2016 one hundred national tax agencies including irs expect companies use arms length approach transfer pricing cocacola co 4343 kon new york stock exchange 011 025 kon pgn means case trademark rights instance charging foreign units royalties equal open market value trouble trademarks usually unique approximating arms length price difficult cocacola says court filings irs approved companys method setting transfer prices affiliates 1996 agreement irs later withdrew approval issued bill back taxes cocacola apa irs instead apalike audit closing agreement dated back 1996 company says reaffirmed later audits much changed transfer pricing 20 years since cocacola reached understanding irs interesting case said former irs acting commissioner steven miller tax director would thinking much rely agreements like drive home important assume agreement relied forever apparently maybe said miller national director tax consulting firm alliantgroup additional reporting chris prentice new york amanda becker washington stanley white tokyo editing damon darlin steve orlofsky standards thomson reuters trust principles manilakuala lumpur reuters philippines malaysia said monday look whether uber technologies uberul move sell southeast asian business ridehailing rival grab hinders competition days singapore began probe deal similar concerns man walks past grab office singapore march 26 2018 reutersedgar su expanded scrutiny deal southeast asia could pose major hurdle us firms attempt improve profitability exiting lossmaking regional operation also comes grab set face tougher competition indonesian rival gojek rare move singapore last week proposed interim measures require uber grab maintain pretransaction independent pricing completes review deal saying reasonable grounds suspect competition infringed grabuber acquisition likely far reaching impact riding public transportation services pcc looking deal closely philippine competition commission pcc said statement related coverage philippines competition watchdog says examining ubergrab deal said deal put grab virtual monopoly ridesharing market review determine whether transaction substantially reduces competition adding meeting representatives grab uber monday anticompetitive concerns arise uber grab may propose commitments remedy event submit voluntarily commission could open case may block deal said malaysia also said monday monitor grab possible anticompetitive behavior wont take lightly monitor still early days dont know happen next said government minister nancy shukri whose portfolio oversees public transport licensing authority stressed anticompetitive behavior competition act come force spelt nancy said referring meeting grab representatives last monday indonesia antimonopoly agency said cant say yet whether investigate deal 30 days deal finalised assess assurances pricing uber grab announced deal week ago marking us companys second retreat asian market earlier sold operations china nancy said grab valued 6 billion offered assurances meeting would unfair pricing would increase fares costly market share battle southeast asia uber invested 700 million move exit region widely expected give us firm firepower focus markets including india competition region set grow indonesias gojek plans launch first expansion another country region coming weeks according internal company email seen reuters singapores straits times reported monday gojek plans launch services singapore philippines thailand vietnam johannes bernabe pcc commissioner told reuters manila processing least three applications ridesharing services also caps number ridesharing vehicles 65000 across brands reviews every three months grab operates 195 cities eight southeast asian countries didnt immediate comment reporting neil jerome morales joseph sipalan writing miyoung kim editing stephen coates muralikumar anantharaman standards thomson reuters trust principles singapore reuters top oil exporter saudi arabia expected cut prices crude grades sells asia may reflect weaker prices middle east benchmark dubai crude trade sources said monday file photo shaybah oilfield complex seen night rub alkhali desert saudi arabia november 14 2007 reutersali jarekjifile photo official selling price osp flagship arab light crude could fall 5070 cents lowest six months reuters survey six refiners traders showed expect cuts 5060 cents across grades one respondents said line market changes last month price spread first third month dubai spot prices widened 55 cents barrel contango march versus february sources said speaking condition anonymity werent authorized discuss matter media contango market prompt prices lower future months indicating weak demand spot cargoes respondents expect similar price cuts across grades may although one person said expects smaller cut arab extra lights osp support firm naphtha margins also expects bigger price cut arab heavy widening losses producing fuel oilsaudi crude osps usually released around fifth month set trend iranian kuwaiti iraqi prices affecting 12 million barrels per day bpd crude bound asia state oil giant saudi aramco sets crude prices based recommendations customers calculating change value oil past month based yields product prices saudi aramco officials matter policy comment kingdoms monthly osps reporting florence tan editing kenneth maxwell standards thomson reuters trust principles beijing reuters china increased tariffs 25 percent 128 us products frozen pork wine certain fruits nuts escalating spat worlds biggest economies response us duties imports aluminum steel file photo severalweekold pigs stand pen inside barn paustian enterprises walcott iowa november 19 2014 reutersdaniel ackerfile photo tariffs take effect monday announced late sunday chinas finance ministry matched list potential tariffs 3 billion us goods published china march 23 soon announcement editorial widely read chinese tabloid global times warned us thought china would retaliate would take symbolic countermeasures say goodbye delusion related coverage china metals group eyeing new countermeasures us trade row china tariffs us ethanol cut imports shortterm even though china us publicly said trade war sparks war already started fly editorial said chinas ministry commerce said suspending obligations world trade organization wto reduce tariffs 120 us goods including fruit ethanol tariffs products raised extra 15 percent eight products including pork scrap aluminum subject additional tariffs 25 percent said measures effective april 2 chinas suspension tariff concessions legitimate action adopted wto rules safeguard chinas interests chinese finance ministry said file photo butcher cuts piece pork market beijing china march 25 2016 reutersjason leefile photo china moving swiftly retaliatory action amid escalating trade tensions beijing washington rocked global financial markets past week investors feared fullblown trade spat two countries damaging world growth us president donald trump separately preparing impose tariffs 50 billion chinese goods intended punish beijing us accusations china systematically misappropriated american intellectual property allegations beijing denies china repeatedly promised open economy many foreign companies continue complain unfair treatment china warned united states thursday open pandoras box spark flurry protectionist practices across globe people west think china looks tough sake domestic audience would easily make concessions end global times editorial said wrong global times run ruling communist partys official peoples daily although stance necessarily reflect chinese government policy file photo labourer works coils steel wire steel wholesale market beijing china january 17 2012 reuterssoo hoo zheyangfile photo reaction chinas measures varied chinese social media saying chinese customers would one ultimately paying trade war directly target soybean planes tariffs china announced today dont sound lot said user weibo twitterlike microblog popular china aircraft soybeans chinas biggest us imports value last year statement published monday morning chinese commerce ministry said united states seriously violated principles nondiscrimination enshrined world trade organization rules also damaged chinas interests chinas suspension obligations united states legitimate right member world trade organization said adding differences worlds two largest economies resolved dialogue negotiation weibo prominently featured list us goods china targeting among days hot trending topics never buy fruit us weibo user wrote reporting ben blanchard tony munroe additional reporting david stanway shanghai stella qiu lusha zhang beijing additional writing ryan woo editing eric meijer shri navaratnam standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 1,603 |
<p>One man’s joke has become his mission: to give each word a rhyming definition.</p>
<p>Chris Strolin was teasing English buffs in an online forum years ago when he said the dictionary should be rewritten in the singsong rhyme scheme of limericks. He ended up embracing the absurd bravado of his own wisecrack and decided to try it for real.</p>
<p>He started with the word “a″ —“It’s used with a noun to convey/ A singular notion/ Like ‘a duck’ or ‘a potion’” — and kept going. More than 1,000 contributors have joined him, off and on, over the years.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.oedilf.com/db/Lim.php" type="external">The Omnificent English Dictionary in Limerick Form</a> (or OEDILF for short) has published more than 97,000 rhyming definitions since Strolin started it in 2004. The retired Air Force radio operator from Belleville, Illinois, says his project is on track to publish its 100,000th limerick in the coming year.</p>
<p>He hopes his grandchildren — or perhaps their kids — will finish the job decades from now.</p>
<p />
<p>The online wisecrack that led to the OEDILF’s origin was a teasing swipe Strolin made at the venerable Oxford English Dictionary, which defines 600,000 words across 20 printed volumes. Strolin remarked that the Oxford dictionary was good, but needed improvement. His not-so-serious solution: limericks.</p>
<p>“The more I got to thinking about it, it sounded like a good idea,” Strolin said. “The limerick is probably the most reader friendly of all types of poetry. It’s also one of the easiest forms of poetry to write.”</p>
<p>Perhaps not so easy: Writing a limerick that weaves a joke into an accurate explanation of word’s meaning. Take contributor Bill Middleton’s definition of “adult”:</p>
<p />
<p>“As a kid, I was wild and a clown.</p>
<p>As a teen, I would dash about town.</p>
<p>Now adult, I shall go</p>
<p>Very cautious and slow.</p>
<p>Goes to prove: what grows up must calm down.”</p>
<p>The definitions run the gamut from the unwieldy adjective “aequeosalinocalcalinoceraceoaluminosocupreovitriolic” — coined centuries ago to describe the spa waters of Bath, England — to terms that didn’t exist until recently.</p>
<p>When President Donald Trump created a new word this year with a head-scratching Twitter typo, four OEDILF writers churned out limericks. “Inscrutably tweeted/ A word? Uncompleted?/ The absurd so-called word was covfefe.”</p>
<p />
<p>To break a huge job into manageable chunks, Strolin has writers tackle the language in alphabetical order. The online dictionary currently stops in the Gs at “gizzard.”</p>
<p>That leaves nearly three-fourths of the alphabet still undefined. Assuming the project outlives him, Strolin estimates writers following in his keystrokes will finish the Zs around the year 2076.</p>
<p>“People have said, ‘I’ve got a great limerick for vacuum cleaner,’” Strolin said. “And I tell them: Great! Give it to your grandkids.”</p>
<p>Andrew Besso of Jericho, Vermont, took up writing limerick definitions in late 2015. Since multiple sclerosis forced him to quit working as a high school math tutor last year, he’s begun treating his hobby almost like a full-time job.</p>
<p>Besso, who used the screen name AndrewB, in recent months has been submitting one or two limericks each day. Between October and December, he more than doubled his two-year output for the site.</p>
<p>“I’ve been writing a limerick a day, or sometimes two, for a while now,” Besso said. “Usually the way I decide what to write is by choosing from lists of words that haven’t been defined yet. I won’t tackle a word that’s already been defined unless I’ve got something to add.”</p>
<p>So while many words in the OEDILF have multiple definitions by different authors, Besso so far is the only one to write limericks for words including “auto-rewind,” ″crystal therapy,” ″drum stool,” ″emoter” and “gimlet.”</p>
<p>Sandra Petersen of Frankfurt, Germany, has cranked out 289 limericks since March. The software designer said she likes the challenge of writing in English, which she learned as the daughter of a United Nations translator.</p>
<p>Petersen gravitates toward scientific words such as “ferriferous” and “Gastropteridae.” And she wrote a series of limericks on computer keyboard shortcuts such as “Control-N” and “Control-W.”</p>
<p />
<p>“I write most limericks in one sitting, but I lose interest quickly,” Petersen said in an email. “Then I’ll file away what I have and look at it again another day. Often I think of good solutions for a missing piece far away from my lists — in the shower, in bed or driving to work.”</p>
<p>While handling duties as editor-in-chief, Strolin still tries to write at least one limerick per day. His total output: 7,657 rhyming definitions. That’s an average of 589 each year.</p>
<p>Strolin said he’s confident his quirky online dictionary is a literary monument that will last. He compares it to “the huge cathedrals in Europe” that took more than a century to complete.</p>
<p>“The people who began those projects knew they would never be sitting in the pews on opening day,” Strolin said. “I do believe this project has legs. There’s no doubt in my mind people are going to be reading and enjoying our limericks 200 to 300 years from now.”</p>
<p>One man’s joke has become his mission: to give each word a rhyming definition.</p>
<p>Chris Strolin was teasing English buffs in an online forum years ago when he said the dictionary should be rewritten in the singsong rhyme scheme of limericks. He ended up embracing the absurd bravado of his own wisecrack and decided to try it for real.</p>
<p>He started with the word “a″ —“It’s used with a noun to convey/ A singular notion/ Like ‘a duck’ or ‘a potion’” — and kept going. More than 1,000 contributors have joined him, off and on, over the years.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.oedilf.com/db/Lim.php" type="external">The Omnificent English Dictionary in Limerick Form</a> (or OEDILF for short) has published more than 97,000 rhyming definitions since Strolin started it in 2004. The retired Air Force radio operator from Belleville, Illinois, says his project is on track to publish its 100,000th limerick in the coming year.</p>
<p>He hopes his grandchildren — or perhaps their kids — will finish the job decades from now.</p>
<p />
<p>The online wisecrack that led to the OEDILF’s origin was a teasing swipe Strolin made at the venerable Oxford English Dictionary, which defines 600,000 words across 20 printed volumes. Strolin remarked that the Oxford dictionary was good, but needed improvement. His not-so-serious solution: limericks.</p>
<p>“The more I got to thinking about it, it sounded like a good idea,” Strolin said. “The limerick is probably the most reader friendly of all types of poetry. It’s also one of the easiest forms of poetry to write.”</p>
<p>Perhaps not so easy: Writing a limerick that weaves a joke into an accurate explanation of word’s meaning. Take contributor Bill Middleton’s definition of “adult”:</p>
<p />
<p>“As a kid, I was wild and a clown.</p>
<p>As a teen, I would dash about town.</p>
<p>Now adult, I shall go</p>
<p>Very cautious and slow.</p>
<p>Goes to prove: what grows up must calm down.”</p>
<p>The definitions run the gamut from the unwieldy adjective “aequeosalinocalcalinoceraceoaluminosocupreovitriolic” — coined centuries ago to describe the spa waters of Bath, England — to terms that didn’t exist until recently.</p>
<p>When President Donald Trump created a new word this year with a head-scratching Twitter typo, four OEDILF writers churned out limericks. “Inscrutably tweeted/ A word? Uncompleted?/ The absurd so-called word was covfefe.”</p>
<p />
<p>To break a huge job into manageable chunks, Strolin has writers tackle the language in alphabetical order. The online dictionary currently stops in the Gs at “gizzard.”</p>
<p>That leaves nearly three-fourths of the alphabet still undefined. Assuming the project outlives him, Strolin estimates writers following in his keystrokes will finish the Zs around the year 2076.</p>
<p>“People have said, ‘I’ve got a great limerick for vacuum cleaner,’” Strolin said. “And I tell them: Great! Give it to your grandkids.”</p>
<p>Andrew Besso of Jericho, Vermont, took up writing limerick definitions in late 2015. Since multiple sclerosis forced him to quit working as a high school math tutor last year, he’s begun treating his hobby almost like a full-time job.</p>
<p>Besso, who used the screen name AndrewB, in recent months has been submitting one or two limericks each day. Between October and December, he more than doubled his two-year output for the site.</p>
<p>“I’ve been writing a limerick a day, or sometimes two, for a while now,” Besso said. “Usually the way I decide what to write is by choosing from lists of words that haven’t been defined yet. I won’t tackle a word that’s already been defined unless I’ve got something to add.”</p>
<p>So while many words in the OEDILF have multiple definitions by different authors, Besso so far is the only one to write limericks for words including “auto-rewind,” ″crystal therapy,” ″drum stool,” ″emoter” and “gimlet.”</p>
<p>Sandra Petersen of Frankfurt, Germany, has cranked out 289 limericks since March. The software designer said she likes the challenge of writing in English, which she learned as the daughter of a United Nations translator.</p>
<p>Petersen gravitates toward scientific words such as “ferriferous” and “Gastropteridae.” And she wrote a series of limericks on computer keyboard shortcuts such as “Control-N” and “Control-W.”</p>
<p />
<p>“I write most limericks in one sitting, but I lose interest quickly,” Petersen said in an email. “Then I’ll file away what I have and look at it again another day. Often I think of good solutions for a missing piece far away from my lists — in the shower, in bed or driving to work.”</p>
<p>While handling duties as editor-in-chief, Strolin still tries to write at least one limerick per day. His total output: 7,657 rhyming definitions. That’s an average of 589 each year.</p>
<p>Strolin said he’s confident his quirky online dictionary is a literary monument that will last. He compares it to “the huge cathedrals in Europe” that took more than a century to complete.</p>
<p>“The people who began those projects knew they would never be sitting in the pews on opening day,” Strolin said. “I do believe this project has legs. There’s no doubt in my mind people are going to be reading and enjoying our limericks 200 to 300 years from now.”</p>
| false | 2 |
one mans joke become mission give word rhyming definition chris strolin teasing english buffs online forum years ago said dictionary rewritten singsong rhyme scheme limericks ended embracing absurd bravado wisecrack decided try real started word used noun convey singular notion like duck potion kept going 1000 contributors joined years omnificent english dictionary limerick form oedilf short published 97000 rhyming definitions since strolin started 2004 retired air force radio operator belleville illinois says project track publish 100000th limerick coming year hopes grandchildren perhaps kids finish job decades online wisecrack led oedilfs origin teasing swipe strolin made venerable oxford english dictionary defines 600000 words across 20 printed volumes strolin remarked oxford dictionary good needed improvement notsoserious solution limericks got thinking sounded like good idea strolin said limerick probably reader friendly types poetry also one easiest forms poetry write perhaps easy writing limerick weaves joke accurate explanation words meaning take contributor bill middletons definition adult kid wild clown teen would dash town adult shall go cautious slow goes prove grows must calm definitions run gamut unwieldy adjective aequeosalinocalcalinoceraceoaluminosocupreovitriolic coined centuries ago describe spa waters bath england terms didnt exist recently president donald trump created new word year headscratching twitter typo four oedilf writers churned limericks inscrutably tweeted word uncompleted absurd socalled word covfefe break huge job manageable chunks strolin writers tackle language alphabetical order online dictionary currently stops gs gizzard leaves nearly threefourths alphabet still undefined assuming project outlives strolin estimates writers following keystrokes finish zs around year 2076 people said ive got great limerick vacuum cleaner strolin said tell great give grandkids andrew besso jericho vermont took writing limerick definitions late 2015 since multiple sclerosis forced quit working high school math tutor last year hes begun treating hobby almost like fulltime job besso used screen name andrewb recent months submitting one two limericks day october december doubled twoyear output site ive writing limerick day sometimes two besso said usually way decide write choosing lists words havent defined yet wont tackle word thats already defined unless ive got something add many words oedilf multiple definitions different authors besso far one write limericks words including autorewind crystal therapy drum stool emoter gimlet sandra petersen frankfurt germany cranked 289 limericks since march software designer said likes challenge writing english learned daughter united nations translator petersen gravitates toward scientific words ferriferous gastropteridae wrote series limericks computer keyboard shortcuts controln controlw write limericks one sitting lose interest quickly petersen said email ill file away look another day often think good solutions missing piece far away lists shower bed driving work handling duties editorinchief strolin still tries write least one limerick per day total output 7657 rhyming definitions thats average 589 year strolin said hes confident quirky online dictionary literary monument last compares huge cathedrals europe took century complete people began projects knew would never sitting pews opening day strolin said believe project legs theres doubt mind people going reading enjoying limericks 200 300 years one mans joke become mission give word rhyming definition chris strolin teasing english buffs online forum years ago said dictionary rewritten singsong rhyme scheme limericks ended embracing absurd bravado wisecrack decided try real started word used noun convey singular notion like duck potion kept going 1000 contributors joined years omnificent english dictionary limerick form oedilf short published 97000 rhyming definitions since strolin started 2004 retired air force radio operator belleville illinois says project track publish 100000th limerick coming year hopes grandchildren perhaps kids finish job decades online wisecrack led oedilfs origin teasing swipe strolin made venerable oxford english dictionary defines 600000 words across 20 printed volumes strolin remarked oxford dictionary good needed improvement notsoserious solution limericks got thinking sounded like good idea strolin said limerick probably reader friendly types poetry also one easiest forms poetry write perhaps easy writing limerick weaves joke accurate explanation words meaning take contributor bill middletons definition adult kid wild clown teen would dash town adult shall go cautious slow goes prove grows must calm definitions run gamut unwieldy adjective aequeosalinocalcalinoceraceoaluminosocupreovitriolic coined centuries ago describe spa waters bath england terms didnt exist recently president donald trump created new word year headscratching twitter typo four oedilf writers churned limericks inscrutably tweeted word uncompleted absurd socalled word covfefe break huge job manageable chunks strolin writers tackle language alphabetical order online dictionary currently stops gs gizzard leaves nearly threefourths alphabet still undefined assuming project outlives strolin estimates writers following keystrokes finish zs around year 2076 people said ive got great limerick vacuum cleaner strolin said tell great give grandkids andrew besso jericho vermont took writing limerick definitions late 2015 since multiple sclerosis forced quit working high school math tutor last year hes begun treating hobby almost like fulltime job besso used screen name andrewb recent months submitting one two limericks day october december doubled twoyear output site ive writing limerick day sometimes two besso said usually way decide write choosing lists words havent defined yet wont tackle word thats already defined unless ive got something add many words oedilf multiple definitions different authors besso far one write limericks words including autorewind crystal therapy drum stool emoter gimlet sandra petersen frankfurt germany cranked 289 limericks since march software designer said likes challenge writing english learned daughter united nations translator petersen gravitates toward scientific words ferriferous gastropteridae wrote series limericks computer keyboard shortcuts controln controlw write limericks one sitting lose interest quickly petersen said email ill file away look another day often think good solutions missing piece far away lists shower bed driving work handling duties editorinchief strolin still tries write least one limerick per day total output 7657 rhyming definitions thats average 589 year strolin said hes confident quirky online dictionary literary monument last compares huge cathedrals europe took century complete people began projects knew would never sitting pews opening day strolin said believe project legs theres doubt mind people going reading enjoying limericks 200 300 years
| 974 |
<p>FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Eric Decker never actually heard the gunshots.</p>
<p>The New York Jets wide receiver remembers being in the school lunchroom when the “Code Red” ominously blared over the intercom. As teachers frantically tried to move students to safety, Decker headed to the library with 10 other kids who piled into a closet and locked the door behind them.</p>
<p>Then, they waited.</p>
<p>Some cried while others tried to console them. For 45 minutes, Decker and his classmates feared they could be next.</p>
<p>“It’s all still very vivid to me,” Decker told The Associated Press, shaking his head. “Every year, especially on the date, it always kind of brings me back. It’s crazy.”</p>
<p>On Sept. 24, 2003, freshman John Jason McLaughlin brought a gun into Rocori High School in Cold Spring, Minnesota, and shot 14-year-old Seth Bartell and 17-year-old Aaron Rollins. McLaughlin was found guilty of first- and second-degree murder. During his trial, the issue of whether McLaughlin had been teased — or bullied — by Bartell about his severe acne was often mentioned as a possible motive.</p>
<p>“In a small town like that, you just never think that’s going to happen,” said Decker, a junior at the time.</p>
<p>Decker was friends with Bartell’s brother, Jesse, and recalled running from the lunchroom when his buddy spotted a body on the gymnasium floor across the hall.</p>
<p>“He screamed, ’That’s my brother! That’s my brother!’” said Decker, staring at the ground. “That’s the only and last thing I heard or saw. I still get a little scared in certain situations. For about two years after that, I was just on edge always, just with people around me and in certain settings. It was definitely tough.”</p>
<p>That experience has driven Decker to partner with STOMP Out Bullying, along with his wife Jessie, to educate students, teachers and parents.</p>
<p>The Jets launched an anti-bullying campaign by donating 1,000 prevention toolkits to area schools, and the Deckers wanted to be ambassadors to the program through their foundation. On Tuesday, the couple was scheduled to appear at Albert Leonard Middle School in New Rochelle, New York, to help announce their program.</p>
<p>“Having kids, there’s just that realization even more to put a stop to all of these issues,” said Decker, the father of two young children. “I think it starts, obviously, at home with proper communication and just not holding things in. That sort of escalates some situations.”</p>
<p>While Decker said he never was personally bullied while growing up, the issue hits home for his wife.</p>
<p>The country music star experienced her share of uncomfortable moments as a self-described “military kid,” moving 12 times and always trying to fit in. Things were worst in Newnan, Georgia, from seventh through 11th grades.</p>
<p>“I was tortured, pretty much, by these kids,” she said during a phone interview with the AP. “I think it messed with me so much that I still to this day can’t drive by a school without some anxiety or just feeling sick to my stomach.”</p>
<p>Jessie Decker still has nightmares every now and then about that time in her life.</p>
<p>At one sleepover, a girl she had never met poured what she called “a huge bucket of slop” over her head.</p>
<p>“It was like something out of the movie ‘Carrie,’” she said.</p>
<p>Decker was also voted to the homecoming court by her choir peers, then was booed by many students when her name was announced. She remembers being chased between classes by girls with scissors wanting to cut her waist-length hair. There was also the “I Hate Jessie James Club” website that someone started.</p>
<p>“I would hide underneath my hoodies just to get to classes,” she recalled. “And then when class was over, I’d just run so I could escape anyone trying to find me in the parking lot. It was so horrible.”</p>
<p>She never really understood the reason for the despicable acts. Decker said she developed at an early age, which might have caused jealousy, and was always involved in singing and performing.</p>
<p>A few months ago, she received an email from “one of the mean girls,” who wrote a massive apology for how she and her friends acted toward her. The woman said the girls were “full of envy and jealousy.”</p>
<p>Decker wrote back to the woman — and accepted her apology.</p>
<p>“I think it made me feel validated because for so long after that stuff happened, I wondered if I had just made it all up because it was so horrible,” Decker said. “After she wrote to me, it was like, ‘OK, they did do this to me and this is real.’”</p>
<p>Decker said her husband helped her break out of her shell after often sitting in the corner at parties or events.</p>
<p>“It was just because I was scared,” she said, adding she has also overcome stage fright, thanks in large part to her fans.</p>
<p>The NFL experienced a bullying scandal in 2013, when then-Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Jonathan Martin accused teammates Richie Incognito, John Jerry and Mike Pouncey of harassing him. That incident sparked debate about the culture of sports, whether athletes go too far with hazing young players.</p>
<p>Eric Decker acknowledged there’s a “macho man” mentality to sports, but thinks the line is crossed when things get too personal — no matter how old people are.</p>
<p>“I always just want to ask the question, ’Why? What makes you want to tease someone else?’” he said. “I understand, obviously, there’s always little jabs and even at our age, we’ll tease our good friends. But it’s about when it becomes very personal and whether it’s their appearance or learning ability — things that might be really sensitive. Unless you really know the person, why would you ever do that?”</p>
<p>Kids who are bullied need to know they’re not alone: Parents, teachers and coaches can be resources to help them through difficult times.</p>
<p>“I think the message needs to be put across that it feels a lot better to be nice to people than it does to be mean,” Jessie Decker said. “Hurting people maybe lasts a few seconds for you, but to do something really great for somebody, that lasts forever.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL" type="external">www.twitter.com/AP_NFL</a></p>
<p>FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Eric Decker never actually heard the gunshots.</p>
<p>The New York Jets wide receiver remembers being in the school lunchroom when the “Code Red” ominously blared over the intercom. As teachers frantically tried to move students to safety, Decker headed to the library with 10 other kids who piled into a closet and locked the door behind them.</p>
<p>Then, they waited.</p>
<p>Some cried while others tried to console them. For 45 minutes, Decker and his classmates feared they could be next.</p>
<p>“It’s all still very vivid to me,” Decker told The Associated Press, shaking his head. “Every year, especially on the date, it always kind of brings me back. It’s crazy.”</p>
<p>On Sept. 24, 2003, freshman John Jason McLaughlin brought a gun into Rocori High School in Cold Spring, Minnesota, and shot 14-year-old Seth Bartell and 17-year-old Aaron Rollins. McLaughlin was found guilty of first- and second-degree murder. During his trial, the issue of whether McLaughlin had been teased — or bullied — by Bartell about his severe acne was often mentioned as a possible motive.</p>
<p>“In a small town like that, you just never think that’s going to happen,” said Decker, a junior at the time.</p>
<p>Decker was friends with Bartell’s brother, Jesse, and recalled running from the lunchroom when his buddy spotted a body on the gymnasium floor across the hall.</p>
<p>“He screamed, ’That’s my brother! That’s my brother!’” said Decker, staring at the ground. “That’s the only and last thing I heard or saw. I still get a little scared in certain situations. For about two years after that, I was just on edge always, just with people around me and in certain settings. It was definitely tough.”</p>
<p>That experience has driven Decker to partner with STOMP Out Bullying, along with his wife Jessie, to educate students, teachers and parents.</p>
<p>The Jets launched an anti-bullying campaign by donating 1,000 prevention toolkits to area schools, and the Deckers wanted to be ambassadors to the program through their foundation. On Tuesday, the couple was scheduled to appear at Albert Leonard Middle School in New Rochelle, New York, to help announce their program.</p>
<p>“Having kids, there’s just that realization even more to put a stop to all of these issues,” said Decker, the father of two young children. “I think it starts, obviously, at home with proper communication and just not holding things in. That sort of escalates some situations.”</p>
<p>While Decker said he never was personally bullied while growing up, the issue hits home for his wife.</p>
<p>The country music star experienced her share of uncomfortable moments as a self-described “military kid,” moving 12 times and always trying to fit in. Things were worst in Newnan, Georgia, from seventh through 11th grades.</p>
<p>“I was tortured, pretty much, by these kids,” she said during a phone interview with the AP. “I think it messed with me so much that I still to this day can’t drive by a school without some anxiety or just feeling sick to my stomach.”</p>
<p>Jessie Decker still has nightmares every now and then about that time in her life.</p>
<p>At one sleepover, a girl she had never met poured what she called “a huge bucket of slop” over her head.</p>
<p>“It was like something out of the movie ‘Carrie,’” she said.</p>
<p>Decker was also voted to the homecoming court by her choir peers, then was booed by many students when her name was announced. She remembers being chased between classes by girls with scissors wanting to cut her waist-length hair. There was also the “I Hate Jessie James Club” website that someone started.</p>
<p>“I would hide underneath my hoodies just to get to classes,” she recalled. “And then when class was over, I’d just run so I could escape anyone trying to find me in the parking lot. It was so horrible.”</p>
<p>She never really understood the reason for the despicable acts. Decker said she developed at an early age, which might have caused jealousy, and was always involved in singing and performing.</p>
<p>A few months ago, she received an email from “one of the mean girls,” who wrote a massive apology for how she and her friends acted toward her. The woman said the girls were “full of envy and jealousy.”</p>
<p>Decker wrote back to the woman — and accepted her apology.</p>
<p>“I think it made me feel validated because for so long after that stuff happened, I wondered if I had just made it all up because it was so horrible,” Decker said. “After she wrote to me, it was like, ‘OK, they did do this to me and this is real.’”</p>
<p>Decker said her husband helped her break out of her shell after often sitting in the corner at parties or events.</p>
<p>“It was just because I was scared,” she said, adding she has also overcome stage fright, thanks in large part to her fans.</p>
<p>The NFL experienced a bullying scandal in 2013, when then-Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Jonathan Martin accused teammates Richie Incognito, John Jerry and Mike Pouncey of harassing him. That incident sparked debate about the culture of sports, whether athletes go too far with hazing young players.</p>
<p>Eric Decker acknowledged there’s a “macho man” mentality to sports, but thinks the line is crossed when things get too personal — no matter how old people are.</p>
<p>“I always just want to ask the question, ’Why? What makes you want to tease someone else?’” he said. “I understand, obviously, there’s always little jabs and even at our age, we’ll tease our good friends. But it’s about when it becomes very personal and whether it’s their appearance or learning ability — things that might be really sensitive. Unless you really know the person, why would you ever do that?”</p>
<p>Kids who are bullied need to know they’re not alone: Parents, teachers and coaches can be resources to help them through difficult times.</p>
<p>“I think the message needs to be put across that it feels a lot better to be nice to people than it does to be mean,” Jessie Decker said. “Hurting people maybe lasts a few seconds for you, but to do something really great for somebody, that lasts forever.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL" type="external">www.twitter.com/AP_NFL</a></p>
| false | 2 |
florham park nj ap eric decker never actually heard gunshots new york jets wide receiver remembers school lunchroom code red ominously blared intercom teachers frantically tried move students safety decker headed library 10 kids piled closet locked door behind waited cried others tried console 45 minutes decker classmates feared could next still vivid decker told associated press shaking head every year especially date always kind brings back crazy sept 24 2003 freshman john jason mclaughlin brought gun rocori high school cold spring minnesota shot 14yearold seth bartell 17yearold aaron rollins mclaughlin found guilty first seconddegree murder trial issue whether mclaughlin teased bullied bartell severe acne often mentioned possible motive small town like never think thats going happen said decker junior time decker friends bartells brother jesse recalled running lunchroom buddy spotted body gymnasium floor across hall screamed thats brother thats brother said decker staring ground thats last thing heard saw still get little scared certain situations two years edge always people around certain settings definitely tough experience driven decker partner stomp bullying along wife jessie educate students teachers parents jets launched antibullying campaign donating 1000 prevention toolkits area schools deckers wanted ambassadors program foundation tuesday couple scheduled appear albert leonard middle school new rochelle new york help announce program kids theres realization even put stop issues said decker father two young children think starts obviously home proper communication holding things sort escalates situations decker said never personally bullied growing issue hits home wife country music star experienced share uncomfortable moments selfdescribed military kid moving 12 times always trying fit things worst newnan georgia seventh 11th grades tortured pretty much kids said phone interview ap think messed much still day cant drive school without anxiety feeling sick stomach jessie decker still nightmares every time life one sleepover girl never met poured called huge bucket slop head like something movie carrie said decker also voted homecoming court choir peers booed many students name announced remembers chased classes girls scissors wanting cut waistlength hair also hate jessie james club website someone started would hide underneath hoodies get classes recalled class id run could escape anyone trying find parking lot horrible never really understood reason despicable acts decker said developed early age might caused jealousy always involved singing performing months ago received email one mean girls wrote massive apology friends acted toward woman said girls full envy jealousy decker wrote back woman accepted apology think made feel validated long stuff happened wondered made horrible decker said wrote like ok real decker said husband helped break shell often sitting corner parties events scared said adding also overcome stage fright thanks large part fans nfl experienced bullying scandal 2013 thenmiami dolphins offensive lineman jonathan martin accused teammates richie incognito john jerry mike pouncey harassing incident sparked debate culture sports whether athletes go far hazing young players eric decker acknowledged theres macho man mentality sports thinks line crossed things get personal matter old people always want ask question makes want tease someone else said understand obviously theres always little jabs even age well tease good friends becomes personal whether appearance learning ability things might really sensitive unless really know person would ever kids bullied need know theyre alone parents teachers coaches resources help difficult times think message needs put across feels lot better nice people mean jessie decker said hurting people maybe lasts seconds something really great somebody lasts forever ___ ap nfl website wwwpro32aporg wwwtwittercomap_nfl florham park nj ap eric decker never actually heard gunshots new york jets wide receiver remembers school lunchroom code red ominously blared intercom teachers frantically tried move students safety decker headed library 10 kids piled closet locked door behind waited cried others tried console 45 minutes decker classmates feared could next still vivid decker told associated press shaking head every year especially date always kind brings back crazy sept 24 2003 freshman john jason mclaughlin brought gun rocori high school cold spring minnesota shot 14yearold seth bartell 17yearold aaron rollins mclaughlin found guilty first seconddegree murder trial issue whether mclaughlin teased bullied bartell severe acne often mentioned possible motive small town like never think thats going happen said decker junior time decker friends bartells brother jesse recalled running lunchroom buddy spotted body gymnasium floor across hall screamed thats brother thats brother said decker staring ground thats last thing heard saw still get little scared certain situations two years edge always people around certain settings definitely tough experience driven decker partner stomp bullying along wife jessie educate students teachers parents jets launched antibullying campaign donating 1000 prevention toolkits area schools deckers wanted ambassadors program foundation tuesday couple scheduled appear albert leonard middle school new rochelle new york help announce program kids theres realization even put stop issues said decker father two young children think starts obviously home proper communication holding things sort escalates situations decker said never personally bullied growing issue hits home wife country music star experienced share uncomfortable moments selfdescribed military kid moving 12 times always trying fit things worst newnan georgia seventh 11th grades tortured pretty much kids said phone interview ap think messed much still day cant drive school without anxiety feeling sick stomach jessie decker still nightmares every time life one sleepover girl never met poured called huge bucket slop head like something movie carrie said decker also voted homecoming court choir peers booed many students name announced remembers chased classes girls scissors wanting cut waistlength hair also hate jessie james club website someone started would hide underneath hoodies get classes recalled class id run could escape anyone trying find parking lot horrible never really understood reason despicable acts decker said developed early age might caused jealousy always involved singing performing months ago received email one mean girls wrote massive apology friends acted toward woman said girls full envy jealousy decker wrote back woman accepted apology think made feel validated long stuff happened wondered made horrible decker said wrote like ok real decker said husband helped break shell often sitting corner parties events scared said adding also overcome stage fright thanks large part fans nfl experienced bullying scandal 2013 thenmiami dolphins offensive lineman jonathan martin accused teammates richie incognito john jerry mike pouncey harassing incident sparked debate culture sports whether athletes go far hazing young players eric decker acknowledged theres macho man mentality sports thinks line crossed things get personal matter old people always want ask question makes want tease someone else said understand obviously theres always little jabs even age well tease good friends becomes personal whether appearance learning ability things might really sensitive unless really know person would ever kids bullied need know theyre alone parents teachers coaches resources help difficult times think message needs put across feels lot better nice people mean jessie decker said hurting people maybe lasts seconds something really great somebody lasts forever ___ ap nfl website wwwpro32aporg wwwtwittercomap_nfl
| 1,138 |
<p>A comparison of presidential candidates’ budget plans is a surefire method of understanding their political priorities. A certain amount of compromise is necessary to pass a budget, but in general a candidate’s spending plan represents his or her priorities. If it isn’t too vague, a federal budget proposal is a relatively concise summary of which public policies the candidate finds important, and which ones they consider less important.</p>
<p>This election cycle, voters have been barraged with budget proposals that can only be described as vague. In fact, despite the eventuality of Gov. Mitt Romney’s nomination this week and the revelation that Rep. Ron Paul will not even be speaking at the Republican National Convention, the “Ron Paul <a href="http://www.ronpaul2012.com/the-issues/ron-paul-plan-to-restore-america/" type="external">Plan to Restore America</a>” budget proposal contains the most specifics of any budget submitted thus far.</p>
<p>Ron Paul’s budget plan would cut federal spending by $1 trillion in 2013 during the first year of a Paul Administration. He would&#160;achieve&#160;this&#160;colossal&#160;number by cutting wide swaths through the federal government, eliminating entire cabinet-level departments such as Energy, Housing and Urban Development, Commerce, Interior, and Education. Paul’s budget plan would also abolish the Transportation Security Administration, end corporate subsidies, end Washington’s foreign wars, and cancel foreign aid, all in an attempt to reduce federal spending to 2006 levels.</p>
<p>Aside from these measures to reduce the deficit, Paul’s plan would give entitlement programs back to the individual states&#160;in&#160;addition&#160;to giving younger workers the choice to opt out of several of these programs. In a more extreme part of his plan,&#160;Paul’s&#160;budget would also cut the federal work force by 10%. Considering that federal government employees <a href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/federal-eye/2010/09/how_many_federal_workers_are_t.html" type="external">number in the millions</a>, that means very early on in a Paul presidency, around 300,000 people would lose their jobs. Certainly that isn’t a number to be ignored in rough economic times.</p>
<p>So how does the “Plan to Restore America” stack up to the Obama budget and the Ryan budget? The Ryan budget, titled “ <a href="http://paulryan.house.gov/uploadedfiles/pathtoprosperity2013.pdf" type="external">The Path to Prosperity</a>,” has several major elements, including a simplification and reform of the current tax code, and if Romney were elected, it is safe to assume we would see a budget plan that is some amalgamation of Ryan’s budget and Romney’s. The Ryan budget would essentially create two tax brackets: 10% and 25%. It would lower taxes on the wealthiest Americans drastically, and pay for the tax cuts with major cuts to entitlement programs, in&#160;addition to widening the total tax base.</p>
<p>But this is where the lack of budget specifics arises. The math on these figures does not balance out. Cutting taxes so drastically for the wealthiest Americans would create a large deficit. Ryan’s solution for this is to “close tax loopholes,” but he has not yet specified which loopholes he would close, and <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/08/14/romney-and-ryan-s-phony-deficit-reduction-plan.html" type="external">critics say</a> there are simply not enough loopholes to make up for this deficit.</p>
<p>Under the Ryan plan, Medicare would become a voucher system in which patients can choose for themselves which provider they want to use, although critics say that this plan does not account for inflation and as the cost of health services rises, these vouchers would pay for ever-decreasing amounts of coverage every year. Another controversial choice would be to cut billions from the Federal Pell Grant program, which would drop one million students from their previously available&#160;financial aid.</p>
<p>Compare that to the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Overview" type="external">president’s budget</a>, of which the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) is a central&#160;tenant, and the differences couldn’t be more stark. Though Obamacare has been&#160;criticized&#160;by the president’s opponents for adding too much to the federal deficit, it makes similar reductions in Medicare spending to the Ryan plan, while taking them from other parts of the program so it can remain structurally the same. This is in addition to <a href="https://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/03-13-Coverage%20Estimates.pdf" type="external">a recent report</a> from the Congressional Budget Office stating that the act itself will reduce the federal deficit over a ten year period.</p>
<p>The similarities end with the proposed Medicare cuts. While the Paul and Romney plans would aim for immediate and drastic deficit reduction, President Obama opts for a more graduated deficit reduction plan, dotted with stimulus measures aimed at job creation. The president would also close corporate tax loopholes, and end the Bush era tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans to help pay for more spending in education and infrastructure.</p>
<p>In short, Ron Paul’s budget would cut the most from the federal deficit and has the most detailed plan to reduce federal spending through specific cuts to a wide variety of federal programs and departments. The Romney/Ryan plan would make major spending cuts to entitlement programs in an effort to reduce the deficit, while still lowering taxes for top income earners and corporations, but promises to close tax loopholes to pay for it.</p>
<p>The Obama budget would be similar to the budget of the last four years, reducing the deficit over a longer period of time through more modest spending cuts and by taxing the wealthiest Americans, while reforming the health care industry and maintaining the current overall structure of entitlement programs.</p>
<p>In the coming weeks, many spending comparisons will be drawn between the candidates. At the Republican National Convention taking place this week, federal spending is going to be a major focus for many of the speakers. Attack ads will be launched, stump speeches will be made, and rallies will be organized, which all adds to the noise and confusion on the political stage, but as Vice President Joe Biden commented on the matter, “Don’t tell me what you value, show me your budget and I’ll tell you what you value.”</p>
| false | 2 |
comparison presidential candidates budget plans surefire method understanding political priorities certain amount compromise necessary pass budget general candidates spending plan represents priorities isnt vague federal budget proposal relatively concise summary public policies candidate finds important ones consider less important election cycle voters barraged budget proposals described vague fact despite eventuality gov mitt romneys nomination week revelation rep ron paul even speaking republican national convention ron paul plan restore america budget proposal contains specifics budget submitted thus far ron pauls budget plan would cut federal spending 1 trillion 2013 first year paul administration would160achieve160this160colossal160number cutting wide swaths federal government eliminating entire cabinetlevel departments energy housing urban development commerce interior education pauls budget plan would also abolish transportation security administration end corporate subsidies end washingtons foreign wars cancel foreign aid attempt reduce federal spending 2006 levels aside measures reduce deficit pauls plan would give entitlement programs back individual states160in160addition160to giving younger workers choice opt several programs extreme part plan160pauls160budget would also cut federal work force 10 considering federal government employees number millions means early paul presidency around 300000 people would lose jobs certainly isnt number ignored rough economic times plan restore america stack obama budget ryan budget ryan budget titled path prosperity several major elements including simplification reform current tax code romney elected safe assume would see budget plan amalgamation ryans budget romneys ryan budget would essentially create two tax brackets 10 25 would lower taxes wealthiest americans drastically pay tax cuts major cuts entitlement programs in160addition widening total tax base lack budget specifics arises math figures balance cutting taxes drastically wealthiest americans would create large deficit ryans solution close tax loopholes yet specified loopholes would close critics say simply enough loopholes make deficit ryan plan medicare would become voucher system patients choose provider want use although critics say plan account inflation cost health services rises vouchers would pay everdecreasing amounts coverage every year another controversial choice would cut billions federal pell grant program would drop one million students previously available160financial aid compare presidents budget patient protection affordable care act obamacare central160tenant differences couldnt stark though obamacare been160criticized160by presidents opponents adding much federal deficit makes similar reductions medicare spending ryan plan taking parts program remain structurally addition recent report congressional budget office stating act reduce federal deficit ten year period similarities end proposed medicare cuts paul romney plans would aim immediate drastic deficit reduction president obama opts graduated deficit reduction plan dotted stimulus measures aimed job creation president would also close corporate tax loopholes end bush era tax cuts wealthiest americans help pay spending education infrastructure short ron pauls budget would cut federal deficit detailed plan reduce federal spending specific cuts wide variety federal programs departments romneyryan plan would make major spending cuts entitlement programs effort reduce deficit still lowering taxes top income earners corporations promises close tax loopholes pay obama budget would similar budget last four years reducing deficit longer period time modest spending cuts taxing wealthiest americans reforming health care industry maintaining current overall structure entitlement programs coming weeks many spending comparisons drawn candidates republican national convention taking place week federal spending going major focus many speakers attack ads launched stump speeches made rallies organized adds noise confusion political stage vice president joe biden commented matter dont tell value show budget ill tell value
| 544 |
<p>QUINTON, Okla. (AP) — Five people are missing after a fiery explosion ripped through an eastern Oklahoma drilling rig on Monday, sending plumes of black smoke into the air and leaving a derrick crumpled on the ground, emergency officials said.</p>
<p>More than 20 employees were at the natural gas well site when the blast was reported around 8:45 a.m., Pittsburg County Sheriff Chris Morris said. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Fa7AHFObk" type="external">Aerial footage</a> showed several fires were still burning by midday on the rig and other equipment; the derrick, a towering metal structure above the well, collapsed onto the ground.</p>
<p>Emergency crews were pulled away after other explosions at the site, where several tanks are also located, Pittsburg County Emergency Management Director Kevin Enloe said during an afternoon news conference.</p>
<p>"Pretty much everything that is on location is on fire," Enloe said.</p>
<p>A statement Monday night from emergency management said the fire was out.</p>
<p>The explosion occurred west of the town of Quinton, about 100 miles (161 kilometers) southeast of Tulsa. Enloe said firefighters were letting the blaze burn and weren't putting water on it to keep from spreading possible hazardous materials at the site.</p>
<p>Enloe said about 17 workers were pulled from the site following the blast, including one who suffered minor burns and was treated at the scene. He said crews were searching the surrounding woods to see if anyone had fled into the area.</p>
<p>"Most everybody was taken off the site and taken to a secure site here in Quinton," said Morris, the sheriff. He said workers were "pretty shook up."</p>
<p>"It's a pretty dramatic deal to go through," he said.</p>
<p>Confirmation of any fatalities wasn't expected to be possible until the fire was extinguished and investigators could get to the scene of the explosion, said Amy Elliott, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma medical examiner's office.</p>
<p>"I pray there's not, but we just don't know yet," Elliott said.</p>
<p>State environmental and regulatory officials were heading to the scene after being notified, according to Oklahoma Office of Emergency Management spokeswoman Keli Cain.</p>
<p>The drilling site was being operated by Oklahoma City-based Red Mountain Operating, said Matt Skinner, a spokesman for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, which regulates oil and gas operators in the state. Telephone and email messages left by The Associated Press with Red Mountain were not immediately returned.</p>
<p>Houston-based Patterson-UTI Energy Inc., a drilling rig operator, confirmed in a statement Monday that some of its employees remain unaccounted for.</p>
<p>"The cause of the fire is unknown at this time," the company said.</p>
<p>Skinner said a company that specializes in rig fires and other well control problems also responded to the blaze.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>This story has been corrected to show the drilling site was operated by Red Mountain Operating, not Red Mountain Energy.</p>
<p>QUINTON, Okla. (AP) — Five people are missing after a fiery explosion ripped through an eastern Oklahoma drilling rig on Monday, sending plumes of black smoke into the air and leaving a derrick crumpled on the ground, emergency officials said.</p>
<p>More than 20 employees were at the natural gas well site when the blast was reported around 8:45 a.m., Pittsburg County Sheriff Chris Morris said. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Fa7AHFObk" type="external">Aerial footage</a> showed several fires were still burning by midday on the rig and other equipment; the derrick, a towering metal structure above the well, collapsed onto the ground.</p>
<p>Emergency crews were pulled away after other explosions at the site, where several tanks are also located, Pittsburg County Emergency Management Director Kevin Enloe said during an afternoon news conference.</p>
<p>"Pretty much everything that is on location is on fire," Enloe said.</p>
<p>A statement Monday night from emergency management said the fire was out.</p>
<p>The explosion occurred west of the town of Quinton, about 100 miles (161 kilometers) southeast of Tulsa. Enloe said firefighters were letting the blaze burn and weren't putting water on it to keep from spreading possible hazardous materials at the site.</p>
<p>Enloe said about 17 workers were pulled from the site following the blast, including one who suffered minor burns and was treated at the scene. He said crews were searching the surrounding woods to see if anyone had fled into the area.</p>
<p>"Most everybody was taken off the site and taken to a secure site here in Quinton," said Morris, the sheriff. He said workers were "pretty shook up."</p>
<p>"It's a pretty dramatic deal to go through," he said.</p>
<p>Confirmation of any fatalities wasn't expected to be possible until the fire was extinguished and investigators could get to the scene of the explosion, said Amy Elliott, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma medical examiner's office.</p>
<p>"I pray there's not, but we just don't know yet," Elliott said.</p>
<p>State environmental and regulatory officials were heading to the scene after being notified, according to Oklahoma Office of Emergency Management spokeswoman Keli Cain.</p>
<p>The drilling site was being operated by Oklahoma City-based Red Mountain Operating, said Matt Skinner, a spokesman for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, which regulates oil and gas operators in the state. Telephone and email messages left by The Associated Press with Red Mountain were not immediately returned.</p>
<p>Houston-based Patterson-UTI Energy Inc., a drilling rig operator, confirmed in a statement Monday that some of its employees remain unaccounted for.</p>
<p>"The cause of the fire is unknown at this time," the company said.</p>
<p>Skinner said a company that specializes in rig fires and other well control problems also responded to the blaze.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>This story has been corrected to show the drilling site was operated by Red Mountain Operating, not Red Mountain Energy.</p>
| false | 2 |
quinton okla ap five people missing fiery explosion ripped eastern oklahoma drilling rig monday sending plumes black smoke air leaving derrick crumpled ground emergency officials said 20 employees natural gas well site blast reported around 845 pittsburg county sheriff chris morris said aerial footage showed several fires still burning midday rig equipment derrick towering metal structure well collapsed onto ground emergency crews pulled away explosions site several tanks also located pittsburg county emergency management director kevin enloe said afternoon news conference pretty much everything location fire enloe said statement monday night emergency management said fire explosion occurred west town quinton 100 miles 161 kilometers southeast tulsa enloe said firefighters letting blaze burn werent putting water keep spreading possible hazardous materials site enloe said 17 workers pulled site following blast including one suffered minor burns treated scene said crews searching surrounding woods see anyone fled area everybody taken site taken secure site quinton said morris sheriff said workers pretty shook pretty dramatic deal go said confirmation fatalities wasnt expected possible fire extinguished investigators could get scene explosion said amy elliott spokeswoman oklahoma medical examiners office pray theres dont know yet elliott said state environmental regulatory officials heading scene notified according oklahoma office emergency management spokeswoman keli cain drilling site operated oklahoma citybased red mountain operating said matt skinner spokesman oklahoma corporation commission regulates oil gas operators state telephone email messages left associated press red mountain immediately returned houstonbased pattersonuti energy inc drilling rig operator confirmed statement monday employees remain unaccounted cause fire unknown time company said skinner said company specializes rig fires well control problems also responded blaze ___ story corrected show drilling site operated red mountain operating red mountain energy quinton okla ap five people missing fiery explosion ripped eastern oklahoma drilling rig monday sending plumes black smoke air leaving derrick crumpled ground emergency officials said 20 employees natural gas well site blast reported around 845 pittsburg county sheriff chris morris said aerial footage showed several fires still burning midday rig equipment derrick towering metal structure well collapsed onto ground emergency crews pulled away explosions site several tanks also located pittsburg county emergency management director kevin enloe said afternoon news conference pretty much everything location fire enloe said statement monday night emergency management said fire explosion occurred west town quinton 100 miles 161 kilometers southeast tulsa enloe said firefighters letting blaze burn werent putting water keep spreading possible hazardous materials site enloe said 17 workers pulled site following blast including one suffered minor burns treated scene said crews searching surrounding woods see anyone fled area everybody taken site taken secure site quinton said morris sheriff said workers pretty shook pretty dramatic deal go said confirmation fatalities wasnt expected possible fire extinguished investigators could get scene explosion said amy elliott spokeswoman oklahoma medical examiners office pray theres dont know yet elliott said state environmental regulatory officials heading scene notified according oklahoma office emergency management spokeswoman keli cain drilling site operated oklahoma citybased red mountain operating said matt skinner spokesman oklahoma corporation commission regulates oil gas operators state telephone email messages left associated press red mountain immediately returned houstonbased pattersonuti energy inc drilling rig operator confirmed statement monday employees remain unaccounted cause fire unknown time company said skinner said company specializes rig fires well control problems also responded blaze ___ story corrected show drilling site operated red mountain operating red mountain energy
| 560 |
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A trade group representing U.S. auto parts makers on Monday urged the Trump administration to adopt NAFTA automotive rules that cover research, engineering, design and software development work as part of regional value content goals.</p> FILE PHOTO - A rack of SUV doors sit on a cart at the General Motors Assembly Plant in Arlington, Texas June 9, 2015. REUTERS/Mike Stone
<p>The alternative proposal from the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) was sent to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer as a sixth round of negotiations to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement began in Montreal.</p>
<p>Reporting by David Lawder; editing by Grant McCool</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - A driver plowed a vehicle into five people in San Francisco on Wednesday, killing one, before fleeing the scene, officials said.</p> Officer Robert Rueca, of the San Francisco Police department, speaks to members of the media at the scene of a hit-and-run incident that struck five pedestrians, killing one in San Francisco, California, U.S., March 28, 2018. REUTERS/Stephen Lam
<p>The five people were taken to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, where one person died and one was in critical condition, said hospital spokesman Brent Andrew. The three others were in serious or fair condition.</p> Members of the San Francisco Police department are seen at the scene of a hit-and-run incident after a vehicle struck five pedestrians, killing one in San Francisco, California, U.S. March 28, 2018. REUTERS/Stephen Lam
<p>“We do not believe the general public is at risk,” San Francisco police spokesman Robert Rueca said at a news conference, calling it an isolated incident.</p>
<p>The driver was later arrested, the San Francisco Chronicle reported, citing unnamed sources.</p>
<p>The newspaper, based on sources familiar with the investigation, also reported the people who were hit had been trying to steal the driver’s vehicle.</p>
<p>Police declined to immediately provide details on what might have led to the incident or confirm that a suspect had been arrested. They initially said the driver plowed into the five people after a physical altercation.</p> Slideshow (3 Images)
<p>In video from the San Francisco affiliate of NBC, paramedics and police could be seen attending to a person lying on the sidewalk after the incident in San Francisco’s Dogpatch neighborhood, also known as the Central Waterfront.</p>
<p>Paul Lim, who works at a business in the area, told the San Francisco Chronicle he saw the aftermath of the incident.</p>
<p>“I saw two lifeless people from across the street,” Lim told the newspaper. “Another one was being consoled by a friend screaming for help. And another one was moving very slowly.”</p>
<p>Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles and Gina Cherelus in New York; Editing by Tom Brown and Grant McCool</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fund managers have begun to ditch so-called FANG stocks that powered the U.S. stock market to record highs in January and are slowly rotating into commodity-related shares and other value stocks which typically outperform in late-cycle recoveries.</p>
<p>Portfolio managers holding shares of Facebook Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">FB.O</a>), Amazon.com Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AMZN.O" type="external">AMZN.O</a>), Netflix Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=NFLX.O" type="external">NFLX.O</a>), and Google-parent Alphabet Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GOOGL.O" type="external">GOOGL.O</a>) say they are increasingly concerned that the data scandal that has sent shares of Facebook down nearly 15 percent year-to-date will spill over into all of the FANG stocks, imperiling the broad market’s momentum at a time when there are no clear companies or sectors to take their place.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, an index which tracks the FANG stocks along with six other mega-cap technology stocks tumbled 6.3 percent, the biggest decline since September 2014.</p>
<p>Facebook rose as much as 1.5 percent in early trading Wednesday before falling into the red, one day after sources told Reuters that chief executive Mark Zuckerberg plans to testify before Congress. Amazon.com dropped 4 percent, while Netflix fell 5 percent. Google-parent Alphabet was slightly positive.</p>
<p>“There are legitimate concerns over the business models of these companies, and I expect that they will be ironed out in legislation” that will likely eat into their profit margins, said Michael Cuggino, a portfolio manager of the $17-billion Permanent Portfolio funds.</p>
<p>Cuggino, who would not say whether he was selling any of his shares in Facebook, said that commodity and industrial stocks look more attractive now given rising inflation and continued global economic growth.</p>
<p>Each FANG company rose more than 33 percent last year, helping power the S&amp;P 500 <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.SPX" type="external">.SPX</a> to a nearly 20-percent gain. Yet those gains have left the broad S&amp;P 500 trading at a high trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 21.7, leaving it overpriced despite a boost to margins from the Republican-led corporate tax cut at the end of 2017.</p>
<p>“Rising volatility and changing market leadership are now pointing towards the possible conclusion that the stock market peaked in late January 2018,” said Douglas Kass, president of Seabreeze Capital Management.</p>
<p>The S&amp;P 500 is now down 2.2 percent for the year, and down nearly 10 percent below the high of 2872.87 it reached on Jan. 26.</p> Slideshow (2 Images) UNFRIENDED
<p>Fund managers say that the high valuation of FANG stocks and the likelihood of regulation are pushing them into traditional value stocks like energy and defense companies.</p>
<p>Connor Browne, a portfolio manager at Thornburg Investment Management, said that he sold his shares of Netflix and Amazon.com last year after both companies blew through his price targets. He used those gains instead to increase positions in energy stocks such as pipeline operator Enterprise Products Partners LP ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=EPD.N" type="external">EPD.N</a>) and crude oil shipping company Overseas Shipholding Group Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=OSG.N" type="external">OSG.N</a>) that stand to benefit from the recovery in the price of oil.</p>
<p>“We noticed that in all of this excitement over the FANGs taking over the world, there are parts of the economy that seem really out of favor and offer more compelling opportunities,” he said.</p>
<p>Even after the selloff, FANG stocks continue to trade at higher valuations than the broad market. Netflix trades at a P/E of 210 and Amazon.com trades at a P/E of 327. Facebook and Google-parent Alphabet, both of which have been directly linked with privacy concerns, now trade at valuations near 52-week lows.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">Facebook Inc</a> 153.03 FB.O Nasdaq +0.81 (+0.53%) FB.O AMZN.O NFLX.O GOOGL.O .SPX
<p>The overhang of increased government oversight has sunk the fortunes of large technology companies in the past. Microsoft Corp ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=MSFT.O" type="external">MSFT.O</a>) reached a settlement in an antitrust case with the Department of Justice in 2002 that lasted until 2011, contributing to a long period of underperformance that kept the stock below the high it reached in 1999 until 2016. Since then, the stock is up nearly 60 percent on the strength of its cloud-based services.</p>
<p>Margaret Patel, a senior portfolio manager at Wells Fargo Funds, said that she has been adding to defense stocks like Raytheon Co ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=RTN.N" type="external">RTN.N</a>) that should benefit from increasing military spending in both the U.S. and overseas. At the same time, she is increasing her exposure of non-FANG technology stocks like Adobe Systems Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=ADBE.O" type="external">ADBE.O</a>) and Microsoft that have been hurt by the recent sell-off in the sector.</p>
<p>“It’s very hard to see another sector that still has all the fundamental drivers for growing much faster than any other sector,” she said.</p>
<p>Reporting by David Randall; Editing by Jennifer Ablan and Nick Zieminski</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian stocks edged up and the safe haven yen was broadly lower against the dollar on Thursday amid perceived progress on North Korea issues, although equity gains were limited after a tech-led retreat on Wall Street.</p> A man looks at an electronic stock quotation board outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan February 9, 2018. REUTERS/Toru Hanai
<p>MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.05 percent.</p>
<p>Australian stocks dipped 0.1 percent, Japan’s Nikkei rose 1 percent and South Korea’s KOSPI added 0.1 percent.</p>
<p>Wall Street closed lower after a rocky session on Wednesday as gains in consumer staples and healthcare were offset by a sharp drop in Amazon shares and a continuing slide in technology stocks.</p>
<p>“Fears of a global trade war have eased, although concerns still linger about the U.S. technology sector,” said Masahiro Ichikawa, senior strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management in Tokyo.</p>
<p>“But equities in Asia will receive support from an easing of tensions regarding North Korea, with countries like Japan seeking a summit,” Ichikawa added.</p>
<p>Japan has sounded out the North Korean government about a bilateral summit, and Pyongyang has discussed the possibility of a leaders’ meeting with Japan and other countries, Japan’s Asahi newspaper said on Thursday.</p>
<p>North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un pledged his commitment to denuclearization and to meet U.S. officials, China said on Wednesday after his meeting with President Xi Jinping.</p>
<p>The yen, often sought in times of market turmoil and political tensions, retraced its gains against the dollar.</p>
<p>The greenback was steady at 106.860 yen after it rallied 1.4 percent on Wednesday, pulling away from a 16-month trough of 104.560 set on Monday.</p> FILE PHOTO: A Japan Yen note is seen in this illustration photo taken June 1, 2017. REUTERS/Thomas White/Illustration/File Photo
<p>With fears of a worldwide trade war receding, the dollar also gained against other currencies. The dollar index versus a basket of six major currencies was at 90.068 after reaching a one-week high of 90.147.</p>
<p>Global markets were shaken this month when U.S. President Donald Trump moved to impose tariffs on Chinese goods and Beijing threatened similar measures. But fears of a full-blown trade war have eased on hopes that negotiations can bring a compromise.</p>
<p>The euro was a shade lower at $1.2305 after losing 0.75 percent on Wednesday.</p>
<p>Sterling was flat at $1.4077 after losing 0.5 percent overnight on data showing British retail sales fell in March for the first time in five months.</p>
<p>The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield was at 2.786 percent after touching a near two-month low of 2.743 percent overnight on sagging Wall Street shares.</p>
<p>In commodities, U.S. crude futures rose 0.5 percent to $64.70 a barrel, partly recovering after dropping 1 percent the previous day when data showed U.S. crude inventories unexpectedly rose last week.</p>
<p>Reporting by Shinichi Saoshiro; editing by Richard Pullin</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>TOKYO (Reuters) - Takeda Pharmaceutical ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=4502.T" type="external">4502.T</a>) shares sank to their lowest level in almost a year on Thursday after Japan’s largest drugmaker said it was considering a bid for London-listed Shire ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=SHP.L" type="external">SHP.L</a>) that could top $40 billion.</p> Takeda Pharmaceutical's signboard is seen on its headquarters building in Tokyo, Japan January 30, 2018. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
<p>Shares in Takeda fell more than 6 percent at one point in early morning trade, the lowest since last April, sharply underperforming the broader Tokyo market <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.TOPX" type="external">.TOPX</a>, which was around 1 percent.</p>
<p>Takeda said on Wednesday it was at a “preliminary and exploratory stage” of considering a bid for the rare disease specialist, adding that it had not approached Shire’s board. Shire said it noted Takeda’s statement, and confirmed it had not received an approach.</p>
<p>Takeda’s potential bid for Shire, most of whose employees are based in North America, immediately stoked expectations for another takeover battle in the deal-hungry pharma industry.</p> FILE PHOTO: Vitamins made by Shire are displayed at a chemist's in northwest London, Britain, July 11, 2014. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett/File Photo
<p>Shire’s shares ended 15.7 percent higher, valuing the group at about 32 billion pounds ($45 billion).</p>
<p>Shire sells treatments for rare diseases and attention deficit disorder. Takeda said buying it could create a global biopharmaceutical leader, boosting its position in the United States and in the fields of oncology, gastrointestinal diseases and neuroscience.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=4502.T" type="external">Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd</a> 5195.0 4502.T Tokyo Stock Exchange -337.00 (-6.09%) 4502.T SHP.L .TOPX SASY.PA ABLX.BR
<p>The drugs industry has seen a surge in dealmaking as large players look for promising assets to improve their product pipelines.</p>
<p>In recent months, France’s Sanofi ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=SASY.PA" type="external">SASY.PA</a>) agreed to buy U.S hemophilia specialist Bioverativ BIVV.O for $11.6 billion and Belgium’s Ablynx ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=ABLX.BR" type="external">ABLX.BR</a>) for 3.9 billion euro ($4.8 billion). Before that, U.S.-based Celgene ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=CELG.O" type="external">CELG.O</a>) bought cancer specialist Juno Therapeutics JUNO.O.</p>
<p>($1 = 0.8125 euros)</p>
<p>Reporting by Minami Funakoshi; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Stephen Coates</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
washington reuters trade group representing us auto parts makers monday urged trump administration adopt nafta automotive rules cover research engineering design software development work part regional value content goals file photo rack suv doors sit cart general motors assembly plant arlington texas june 9 2015 reutersmike stone alternative proposal motor equipment manufacturers association mema sent us trade representative robert lighthizer sixth round negotiations modernize north american free trade agreement began montreal reporting david lawder editing grant mccool standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters driver plowed vehicle five people san francisco wednesday killing one fleeing scene officials said officer robert rueca san francisco police department speaks members media scene hitandrun incident struck five pedestrians killing one san francisco california us march 28 2018 reutersstephen lam five people taken zuckerberg san francisco general hospital trauma center one person died one critical condition said hospital spokesman brent andrew three others serious fair condition members san francisco police department seen scene hitandrun incident vehicle struck five pedestrians killing one san francisco california us march 28 2018 reutersstephen lam believe general public risk san francisco police spokesman robert rueca said news conference calling isolated incident driver later arrested san francisco chronicle reported citing unnamed sources newspaper based sources familiar investigation also reported people hit trying steal drivers vehicle police declined immediately provide details might led incident confirm suspect arrested initially said driver plowed five people physical altercation slideshow 3 images video san francisco affiliate nbc paramedics police could seen attending person lying sidewalk incident san franciscos dogpatch neighborhood also known central waterfront paul lim works business area told san francisco chronicle saw aftermath incident saw two lifeless people across street lim told newspaper another one consoled friend screaming help another one moving slowly reporting alex dobuzinskis los angeles gina cherelus new york editing tom brown grant mccool standards thomson reuters trust principles new york reuters fund managers begun ditch socalled fang stocks powered us stock market record highs january slowly rotating commodityrelated shares value stocks typically outperform latecycle recoveries portfolio managers holding shares facebook inc fbo amazoncom inc amzno netflix inc nflxo googleparent alphabet inc googlo say increasingly concerned data scandal sent shares facebook nearly 15 percent yeartodate spill fang stocks imperiling broad markets momentum time clear companies sectors take place tuesday index tracks fang stocks along six megacap technology stocks tumbled 63 percent biggest decline since september 2014 facebook rose much 15 percent early trading wednesday falling red one day sources told reuters chief executive mark zuckerberg plans testify congress amazoncom dropped 4 percent netflix fell 5 percent googleparent alphabet slightly positive legitimate concerns business models companies expect ironed legislation likely eat profit margins said michael cuggino portfolio manager 17billion permanent portfolio funds cuggino would say whether selling shares facebook said commodity industrial stocks look attractive given rising inflation continued global economic growth fang company rose 33 percent last year helping power sampp 500 spx nearly 20percent gain yet gains left broad sampp 500 trading high trailing pricetoearnings ratio 217 leaving overpriced despite boost margins republicanled corporate tax cut end 2017 rising volatility changing market leadership pointing towards possible conclusion stock market peaked late january 2018 said douglas kass president seabreeze capital management sampp 500 22 percent year nearly 10 percent high 287287 reached jan 26 slideshow 2 images unfriended fund managers say high valuation fang stocks likelihood regulation pushing traditional value stocks like energy defense companies connor browne portfolio manager thornburg investment management said sold shares netflix amazoncom last year companies blew price targets used gains instead increase positions energy stocks pipeline operator enterprise products partners lp epdn crude oil shipping company overseas shipholding group inc osgn stand benefit recovery price oil noticed excitement fangs taking world parts economy seem really favor offer compelling opportunities said even selloff fang stocks continue trade higher valuations broad market netflix trades pe 210 amazoncom trades pe 327 facebook googleparent alphabet directly linked privacy concerns trade valuations near 52week lows facebook inc 15303 fbo nasdaq 081 053 fbo amzno nflxo googlo spx overhang increased government oversight sunk fortunes large technology companies past microsoft corp msfto reached settlement antitrust case department justice 2002 lasted 2011 contributing long period underperformance kept stock high reached 1999 2016 since stock nearly 60 percent strength cloudbased services margaret patel senior portfolio manager wells fargo funds said adding defense stocks like raytheon co rtnn benefit increasing military spending us overseas time increasing exposure nonfang technology stocks like adobe systems inc adbeo microsoft hurt recent selloff sector hard see another sector still fundamental drivers growing much faster sector said reporting david randall editing jennifer ablan nick zieminski standards thomson reuters trust principles tokyo reuters asian stocks edged safe yen broadly lower dollar thursday amid perceived progress north korea issues although equity gains limited techled retreat wall street man looks electronic stock quotation board outside brokerage tokyo japan february 9 2018 reuterstoru hanai mscis broadest index asiapacific shares outside japan 005 percent australian stocks dipped 01 percent japans nikkei rose 1 percent south koreas kospi added 01 percent wall street closed lower rocky session wednesday gains consumer staples healthcare offset sharp drop amazon shares continuing slide technology stocks fears global trade war eased although concerns still linger us technology sector said masahiro ichikawa senior strategist sumitomo mitsui asset management tokyo equities asia receive support easing tensions regarding north korea countries like japan seeking summit ichikawa added japan sounded north korean government bilateral summit pyongyang discussed possibility leaders meeting japan countries japans asahi newspaper said thursday north koreas leader kim jong un pledged commitment denuclearization meet us officials china said wednesday meeting president xi jinping yen often sought times market turmoil political tensions retraced gains dollar greenback steady 106860 yen rallied 14 percent wednesday pulling away 16month trough 104560 set monday file photo japan yen note seen illustration photo taken june 1 2017 reutersthomas whiteillustrationfile photo fears worldwide trade war receding dollar also gained currencies dollar index versus basket six major currencies 90068 reaching oneweek high 90147 global markets shaken month us president donald trump moved impose tariffs chinese goods beijing threatened similar measures fears fullblown trade war eased hopes negotiations bring compromise euro shade lower 12305 losing 075 percent wednesday sterling flat 14077 losing 05 percent overnight data showing british retail sales fell march first time five months 10year us treasury yield 2786 percent touching near twomonth low 2743 percent overnight sagging wall street shares commodities us crude futures rose 05 percent 6470 barrel partly recovering dropping 1 percent previous day data showed us crude inventories unexpectedly rose last week reporting shinichi saoshiro editing richard pullin standards thomson reuters trust principles tokyo reuters takeda pharmaceutical 4502t shares sank lowest level almost year thursday japans largest drugmaker said considering bid londonlisted shire shpl could top 40 billion takeda pharmaceuticals signboard seen headquarters building tokyo japan january 30 2018 reuterskim kyunghoon shares takeda fell 6 percent one point early morning trade lowest since last april sharply underperforming broader tokyo market topx around 1 percent takeda said wednesday preliminary exploratory stage considering bid rare disease specialist adding approached shires board shire said noted takedas statement confirmed received approach takedas potential bid shire whose employees based north america immediately stoked expectations another takeover battle dealhungry pharma industry file photo vitamins made shire displayed chemists northwest london britain july 11 2014 reuterssuzanne plunkettfile photo shires shares ended 157 percent higher valuing group 32 billion pounds 45 billion shire sells treatments rare diseases attention deficit disorder takeda said buying could create global biopharmaceutical leader boosting position united states fields oncology gastrointestinal diseases neuroscience takeda pharmaceutical co ltd 51950 4502t tokyo stock exchange 33700 609 4502t shpl topx sasypa ablxbr drugs industry seen surge dealmaking large players look promising assets improve product pipelines recent months frances sanofi sasypa agreed buy us hemophilia specialist bioverativ bivvo 116 billion belgiums ablynx ablxbr 39 billion euro 48 billion usbased celgene celgo bought cancer specialist juno therapeutics junoo 1 08125 euros reporting minami funakoshi editing changran kim stephen coates standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 1,328 |
<p>Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt criticized former President Barack Obama for leaving 40 percent of Americans with air quality that doesn’t meet EPA standards. By some measures, this is true.&#160;But a report Pruitt’s office cited as evidence said there had been a “major improvement” in air quality under Obama.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" />The American Lung Association’s 2017 air quality <a href="http://www.lung.org/assets/documents/healthy-air/state-of-the-air/state-of-the-air-2017.pdf" type="external">report</a> does say that 38.9 percent of the population was breathing “unhealthy air,” based on EPA data from 2013 to 2015 for two of the most common air pollutants. However, that figure is down from <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100508115958/http://www.stateoftheair.org/2010/assets/SOTA2010.pdf" type="external">58 percent</a> of the population before Obama took office.</p>
<p>Pruitt also failed to mention that the Obama administration updated the standard for four out of the six air pollutants that the EPA regulates under the Clean Air Act, <a href="https://www.epa.gov/no2-pollution/table-historical-nitrogen-dioxide-national-ambient-air-quality-standards-naaqs" type="external">one of which</a> hadn’t changed since the early 1970s, when the act was <a href="https://www.epa.gov/clean-air-act-overview/clean-air-act-requirements-and-history" type="external">first put into law</a>.</p>
<p>Pruitt made his claim on Sept. 11 during an <a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/scott-pruitt-criticizes-obama-as-environmental-savior-moves-epa-away-from-climate-change/article/2634253" type="external">interview</a> with the Washington Examiner:</p>
<p>Pruitt, Sept. 11: Everybody looks at the Obama Administration as being the environmental savior. Really? He was the environmental savior? He’s the gold standard, right? He left us with more Superfund sites than when he came in. Air quality standards, 40 percent of the country, nonattainment.</p>
<p>This isn’t the first time Pruitt has criticized Obama’s environmental record. In May, he <a href="http://www.hughhewitt.com/epa-administrator-scott-pruitt-new-direction-e-p/" type="external">cited</a> the same 40 percent figure on Hugh Hewitt’s radio show, adding, “What exactly did [the Obama administration] accomplish for the environment that folks are so excited about?”</p>
<p>Pruitt has a right to his opinion that the Obama administration shouldn’t be the “gold standard” for environmental protection. But he cites a statistic — that 40 percent of Americans live in nonattainment areas — without providing any context. In fact, there’s evidence of improvement in air quality under Obama.</p>
<p>(Pruitt also isn’t telling the whole story when it comes to Obama’s action on <a href="https://toxmap.nlm.nih.gov/toxmap/faq/2009/08/what-are-the-superfund-site-npl-statuses.html" type="external">Superfund sites</a>, which are areas that have been contaminated by hazardous waste. The EPA identifies these sites for cleanup when they could impact human health or the environment. But we’ll be explaining the ins and outs of that issue in a future article.)</p>
<p>There are a number of different ways to evaluate whether air quality has gotten better or worse over time. Let’s start with the most straightforward — did the concentration of air pollutants go up or down during President Obama’s tenure?</p>
<p>Between 2010 and 2016, which makes up the bulk of his presidency, the concentrations of all six air pollutants the EPA monitors <a href="https://www.epa.gov/air-trends/air-quality-national-summary" type="external">decreased</a>, some by as much as 77 percent. This makes sense, because cars, power plants, factories and other sources decreased emissions of these pollutants during this same period.</p>
<p>However, emissions haven’t decreased just during this period — they’ve <a href="https://gispub.epa.gov/air/trendsreport/2017/#growth_w_cleaner_air" type="external">been decreasing</a> since the inception of the Clean Air Act in 1970.</p>
<p>Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA <a href="https://www.epa.gov/criteria-air-pollutants/naaqs-table" type="external">regulates</a> carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ground level ozone, particle pollution and sulfur dioxide. Each of these pollutants pose a risk to human health, the environment or both.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/particulate-matter-pm-basics" type="external">Particle pollution</a>, for example, gets into the air via smokestacks, fires and other sources and can cause both respiratory and heart issues. It can also <a href="https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/health-and-environmental-effects-particulate-matter-pm" type="external">reduce</a> visibility and damage forests, crops and water sources.</p>
<p>Unlike particulate matter, <a href="https://www.epa.gov/ozone-pollution/ozone-basics" type="external">ground level ozone</a> isn’t emitted directly into the air. It’s created when pollutants from cars, power plants and other sources react to sunlight. Ground level ozone shouldn’t be confused with the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere, which protects the planet from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.</p>
<p>These two pollutants are the most widespread, <a href="http://www.lung.org/our-initiatives/healthy-air/sota/about.html" type="external">according to the American Lung Association</a>.</p>
<p>Another metric for air quality is the percentage of people in the country exposed to concentrations of air pollutants above the EPA’s standards. That’s what Pruitt means by 40 percent “nonattainment.”&#160;By this measure, air quality also improved under Obama.</p>
<p>When we reached out to the EPA for comment on Pruitt’s claim, agency spokeswoman Liz Bowman said he was “primarily” referring to ozone when he said the country is at 40 percent nonattainment.</p>
<p>Specifically, Bowman referred us to the&#160; <a href="https://www3.epa.gov/airquality/greenbook/hnsum2.html" type="external">page</a> on the EPA’s website that gives regional and population-based nonattainment estimates for ozone’s older 2008 standard – which was strengthened by Obama along with the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/criteria-air-pollutants/naaqs-table" type="external">standards</a> for nitrogen dioxide, particle pollution and sulfur dioxide. It wasn’t clear to us how data based on an outdated standard supported Pruitt’s claim. We asked for clarification, but she has yet to respond.</p>
<p>Number of People (in millions)*</p>
<p>Bowman also referred us to the American Lung Association’s 2017 air quality <a href="http://www.lung.org/assets/documents/healthy-air/state-of-the-air/state-of-the-air-2017.pdf" type="external">report</a> that found that, between 2013 and 2015, 38.9 percent of the population — or about 125 million people — lived in areas with air that didn’t meet the EPA’s current standards for particle pollution or ozone (see table to left).&#160;</p>
<p>However, that report says there&#160;had been a “major improvement” in air quality under Obama.</p>
<p>According to the association’s 2010 <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100508115958/http://www.stateoftheair.org/2010/assets/SOTA2010.pdf" type="external">report</a>, between 2006 and 2008, before Obama took office in 2009, about 58 percent of the U.S. population — an estimated 175.3 million people — lived in areas where the levels of these two pollutants were worse than the EPA’s standards.&#160;</p>
<p>That’s an estimated 50 million fewer people living in nonattainment areas during Obama’s second term than before he took office.</p>
<p>The association attributes the lion’s share of these improvements “to cleaner power plants and increased use of cleaner vehicles and engines.”</p>
<p>Obama lowered the acceptable concentration of ozone in the air in 2015, and the American Lung Association began using the more strict standard on ozone in its 2016 report – even though that report covered 2012-2014. This initially increased the number of people living in nonattainment areas, but the figure then dropped. “One-quarter fewer people now live where the air quality hit unhealthy levels in 2013-2015 than in the 2016 report,” the ALA said in its most recent report.</p>
<p>During his presidency, Obama also&#160; <a href="https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2012/08/28/obama-administration-finalizes-historic-545-mpg-fuel-efficiency-standard" type="external">finalized</a> rules to increase fuel efficiency standards for vehicles. Higher fuel efficiency leads to less emissions, which contribute to both ozone and particle matter pollution. The average EPA city/highway sticker mileage of light duty vehicles sold rose from 21 miles per gallon&#160;in January 2009, when Obama took office, to 25.1 mpg by the time he left, <a href="http://www.umich.edu/~umtriswt/EDI_sales-weighted-mpg.html" type="external">according to</a> the Transportation Research Institute of the University of Michigan.</p>
<p>However, President Donald Trump <a href="http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/324147-trump-begins-review-of-obama-emissions-standards-for-cars" type="external">said</a>&#160;in March that he may roll back some of these Obama-era rules. At that time, Pruitt said he supported the review of Obama’s standards, calling them “costly for automakers and the American people.”</p>
<p>Despite improvements in air quality, the American Lung Association concluded in 2017 that “too many people in the United States live where the air is unhealthy for them to breathe.”</p>
<p>Pruitt has repeatedly criticized Obama on air quality issues. As we already mentioned, he <a href="http://www.hughhewitt.com/epa-administrator-scott-pruitt-new-direction-e-p/" type="external">made</a>&#160;similar claims on Hugh Hewitt’s radio show back in May.</p>
<p>In February, Pruitt also&#160; <a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?424471-6/epa-administrator-scott-pruitt-2017-conservative-political-action-conference&amp;start=999" type="external">criticized</a> Obama for being “so focused on climate change and so focused on CO2” that “other priorities were left behind.” These other priorities included “air quality issues and water quality issues that cross state lines.”</p>
<p>But it’s worth mentioning that the American Lung Association reports have emphasized that climate change will hinder efforts to further improve air quality.</p>
<p>In fact, the association&#160; <a href="http://www.stateoftheair.org/2014/assets/ALA-SOTA-2014-Full.pdf" type="external">attributes</a>&#160;the 5 percent increase in the population exposed to “unhealthy” levels of ozone or particle pollution between its 2013 and 2014 reports (see table above) primarily to “warmer temperatures” worsening ozone levels.&#160;“Sunlight and heat create conditions that increase the risk of high ozone levels,” the association explains.</p>
<p>As we said, Pruitt is entitled to his opinion of Obama’s environmental record. But Pruitt cited a statistic without context, and the evidence shows air quality actually improved under Obama.</p>
<p>Editor’s Note: SciCheck is made possible by a grant from the Stanton Foundation.&#160;</p>
| false | 2 |
environmental protection agency head scott pruitt criticized former president barack obama leaving 40 percent americans air quality doesnt meet epa standards measures true160but report pruitts office cited evidence said major improvement air quality obama american lung associations 2017 air quality report say 389 percent population breathing unhealthy air based epa data 2013 2015 two common air pollutants however figure 58 percent population obama took office pruitt also failed mention obama administration updated standard four six air pollutants epa regulates clean air act one hadnt changed since early 1970s act first put law pruitt made claim sept 11 interview washington examiner pruitt sept 11 everybody looks obama administration environmental savior really environmental savior hes gold standard right left us superfund sites came air quality standards 40 percent country nonattainment isnt first time pruitt criticized obamas environmental record may cited 40 percent figure hugh hewitts radio show adding exactly obama administration accomplish environment folks excited pruitt right opinion obama administration shouldnt gold standard environmental protection cites statistic 40 percent americans live nonattainment areas without providing context fact theres evidence improvement air quality obama pruitt also isnt telling whole story comes obamas action superfund sites areas contaminated hazardous waste epa identifies sites cleanup could impact human health environment well explaining ins outs issue future article number different ways evaluate whether air quality gotten better worse time lets start straightforward concentration air pollutants go president obamas tenure 2010 2016 makes bulk presidency concentrations six air pollutants epa monitors decreased much 77 percent makes sense cars power plants factories sources decreased emissions pollutants period however emissions havent decreased period theyve decreasing since inception clean air act 1970 clean air act epa regulates carbon monoxide lead nitrogen dioxide ground level ozone particle pollution sulfur dioxide pollutants pose risk human health environment particle pollution example gets air via smokestacks fires sources cause respiratory heart issues also reduce visibility damage forests crops water sources unlike particulate matter ground level ozone isnt emitted directly air created pollutants cars power plants sources react sunlight ground level ozone shouldnt confused ozone layer upper atmosphere protects planet suns ultraviolet rays two pollutants widespread according american lung association another metric air quality percentage people country exposed concentrations air pollutants epas standards thats pruitt means 40 percent nonattainment160by measure air quality also improved obama reached epa comment pruitts claim agency spokeswoman liz bowman said primarily referring ozone said country 40 percent nonattainment specifically bowman referred us the160 page epas website gives regional populationbased nonattainment estimates ozones older 2008 standard strengthened obama along standards nitrogen dioxide particle pollution sulfur dioxide wasnt clear us data based outdated standard supported pruitts claim asked clarification yet respond number people millions bowman also referred us american lung associations 2017 air quality report found 2013 2015 389 percent population 125 million people lived areas air didnt meet epas current standards particle pollution ozone see table left160 however report says there160had major improvement air quality obama according associations 2010 report 2006 2008 obama took office 2009 58 percent us population estimated 1753 million people lived areas levels two pollutants worse epas standards160 thats estimated 50 million fewer people living nonattainment areas obamas second term took office association attributes lions share improvements cleaner power plants increased use cleaner vehicles engines obama lowered acceptable concentration ozone air 2015 american lung association began using strict standard ozone 2016 report even though report covered 20122014 initially increased number people living nonattainment areas figure dropped onequarter fewer people live air quality hit unhealthy levels 20132015 2016 report ala said recent report presidency obama also160 finalized rules increase fuel efficiency standards vehicles higher fuel efficiency leads less emissions contribute ozone particle matter pollution average epa cityhighway sticker mileage light duty vehicles sold rose 21 miles per gallon160in january 2009 obama took office 251 mpg time left according transportation research institute university michigan however president donald trump said160in march may roll back obamaera rules time pruitt said supported review obamas standards calling costly automakers american people despite improvements air quality american lung association concluded 2017 many people united states live air unhealthy breathe pruitt repeatedly criticized obama air quality issues already mentioned made160similar claims hugh hewitts radio show back may february pruitt also160 criticized obama focused climate change focused co2 priorities left behind priorities included air quality issues water quality issues cross state lines worth mentioning american lung association reports emphasized climate change hinder efforts improve air quality fact association160 attributes160the 5 percent increase population exposed unhealthy levels ozone particle pollution 2013 2014 reports see table primarily warmer temperatures worsening ozone levels160sunlight heat create conditions increase risk high ozone levels association explains said pruitt entitled opinion obamas environmental record pruitt cited statistic without context evidence shows air quality actually improved obama editors note scicheck made possible grant stanton foundation160
| 791 |
<p>The lineup of nations competing in Olympic bobsled and skeleton events was finalized by the International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation on Monday, with 30 countries formally qualifying for the Pyeongchang Games in those sports.</p>
<p>Among them: the African nations of Ghana and Nigeria, as well as Russia — which will have some specially approved athletes competing under the Olympic flag since the Russian Olympic Committee has been banned from these games as part of the massive fallout from the state-sponsored doping scandal in Sochi four years ago.</p>
<p>Nigeria has athletes in the Winter Olympics for the first time, qualifying in women's bobsled and women's skeleton. Jamaica is also sending a women's bobsled team to the Olympics for the first time.</p>
<p>Ghana will have men's skeleton racer Akwasi Frimpong in the 30-man Olympic field, meaning if he finishes he's assured of being his country's top finisher in any event at the Winter Games. The nation's only other Winter Olympian was alpine skier Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong, who was 47th in the slalom in 2010 at Vancouver.</p>
<p>At least 17 athletes are expected to fill Russia's sleds, under the designation of OAR or Olympic Athlete from Russia. The Russians qualified for two sleds in each bobsled event — two-man, four-man and women's — as well as three starting spots in men's skeleton and two from women's skeleton.</p>
<p>None of the Russian athletes sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee for doping are eligible for credentials for Pyeongchang or any future Olympics, and many including women's skeleton bronze medalist Elana Nikitina have had their medals stripped. Nikitina is among about three dozen Russians trying to clear their names through appeals.</p>
<p>"We are the masters of our own destiny," Nikitina wrote in an Instagram post Monday from Switzerland, where she's part of a Russian delegation pleading their case to the Court of Arbitration of Sport — which is expected to rule next week on those appeals.</p>
<p>Host South Korea will have sleds in all five of the bobsled and skeleton disciplines, and 2022 Winter Olympic host China will compete next month in men's skeleton, two-man bobsledding and four-man bobsledding.</p>
<p>Nations could qualify up to three sleds in each of the skeleton and bobsled events. Only Canada and Germany managed to reach the full allocation; the United States has four skeleton athletes instead of the maximum six, and eight bobsleds headed to Korea instead of the maximum nine.</p>
<p>North Korea, which will have some athletes competing in Pyeongchang, will not be taking part in sliding after all.</p>
<p>The International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation proposed and endorsed a plan to have a forerunning four-man bobsled — one that tests conditions before races but isn't part of the competition — composed of two sliders from South Korea and two others from North Korea, and have it coached by Italian and U.S. officials.</p>
<p>But the notion has fallen apart, with the North Koreans — who do not regularly compete in bobsled — sending word to the IBSF that it was unable to find athletes who could fill the two slots.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP Winter Olympics: <a href="https://wintergames.ap.org" type="external">https://wintergames.ap.org</a></p>
<p>The lineup of nations competing in Olympic bobsled and skeleton events was finalized by the International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation on Monday, with 30 countries formally qualifying for the Pyeongchang Games in those sports.</p>
<p>Among them: the African nations of Ghana and Nigeria, as well as Russia — which will have some specially approved athletes competing under the Olympic flag since the Russian Olympic Committee has been banned from these games as part of the massive fallout from the state-sponsored doping scandal in Sochi four years ago.</p>
<p>Nigeria has athletes in the Winter Olympics for the first time, qualifying in women's bobsled and women's skeleton. Jamaica is also sending a women's bobsled team to the Olympics for the first time.</p>
<p>Ghana will have men's skeleton racer Akwasi Frimpong in the 30-man Olympic field, meaning if he finishes he's assured of being his country's top finisher in any event at the Winter Games. The nation's only other Winter Olympian was alpine skier Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong, who was 47th in the slalom in 2010 at Vancouver.</p>
<p>At least 17 athletes are expected to fill Russia's sleds, under the designation of OAR or Olympic Athlete from Russia. The Russians qualified for two sleds in each bobsled event — two-man, four-man and women's — as well as three starting spots in men's skeleton and two from women's skeleton.</p>
<p>None of the Russian athletes sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee for doping are eligible for credentials for Pyeongchang or any future Olympics, and many including women's skeleton bronze medalist Elana Nikitina have had their medals stripped. Nikitina is among about three dozen Russians trying to clear their names through appeals.</p>
<p>"We are the masters of our own destiny," Nikitina wrote in an Instagram post Monday from Switzerland, where she's part of a Russian delegation pleading their case to the Court of Arbitration of Sport — which is expected to rule next week on those appeals.</p>
<p>Host South Korea will have sleds in all five of the bobsled and skeleton disciplines, and 2022 Winter Olympic host China will compete next month in men's skeleton, two-man bobsledding and four-man bobsledding.</p>
<p>Nations could qualify up to three sleds in each of the skeleton and bobsled events. Only Canada and Germany managed to reach the full allocation; the United States has four skeleton athletes instead of the maximum six, and eight bobsleds headed to Korea instead of the maximum nine.</p>
<p>North Korea, which will have some athletes competing in Pyeongchang, will not be taking part in sliding after all.</p>
<p>The International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation proposed and endorsed a plan to have a forerunning four-man bobsled — one that tests conditions before races but isn't part of the competition — composed of two sliders from South Korea and two others from North Korea, and have it coached by Italian and U.S. officials.</p>
<p>But the notion has fallen apart, with the North Koreans — who do not regularly compete in bobsled — sending word to the IBSF that it was unable to find athletes who could fill the two slots.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP Winter Olympics: <a href="https://wintergames.ap.org" type="external">https://wintergames.ap.org</a></p>
| false | 2 |
lineup nations competing olympic bobsled skeleton events finalized international bobsled skeleton federation monday 30 countries formally qualifying pyeongchang games sports among african nations ghana nigeria well russia specially approved athletes competing olympic flag since russian olympic committee banned games part massive fallout statesponsored doping scandal sochi four years ago nigeria athletes winter olympics first time qualifying womens bobsled womens skeleton jamaica also sending womens bobsled team olympics first time ghana mens skeleton racer akwasi frimpong 30man olympic field meaning finishes hes assured countrys top finisher event winter games nations winter olympian alpine skier kwame nkrumahacheampong 47th slalom 2010 vancouver least 17 athletes expected fill russias sleds designation oar olympic athlete russia russians qualified two sleds bobsled event twoman fourman womens well three starting spots mens skeleton two womens skeleton none russian athletes sanctioned international olympic committee doping eligible credentials pyeongchang future olympics many including womens skeleton bronze medalist elana nikitina medals stripped nikitina among three dozen russians trying clear names appeals masters destiny nikitina wrote instagram post monday switzerland shes part russian delegation pleading case court arbitration sport expected rule next week appeals host south korea sleds five bobsled skeleton disciplines 2022 winter olympic host china compete next month mens skeleton twoman bobsledding fourman bobsledding nations could qualify three sleds skeleton bobsled events canada germany managed reach full allocation united states four skeleton athletes instead maximum six eight bobsleds headed korea instead maximum nine north korea athletes competing pyeongchang taking part sliding international bobsled skeleton federation proposed endorsed plan forerunning fourman bobsled one tests conditions races isnt part competition composed two sliders south korea two others north korea coached italian us officials notion fallen apart north koreans regularly compete bobsled sending word ibsf unable find athletes could fill two slots ___ ap winter olympics httpswintergamesaporg lineup nations competing olympic bobsled skeleton events finalized international bobsled skeleton federation monday 30 countries formally qualifying pyeongchang games sports among african nations ghana nigeria well russia specially approved athletes competing olympic flag since russian olympic committee banned games part massive fallout statesponsored doping scandal sochi four years ago nigeria athletes winter olympics first time qualifying womens bobsled womens skeleton jamaica also sending womens bobsled team olympics first time ghana mens skeleton racer akwasi frimpong 30man olympic field meaning finishes hes assured countrys top finisher event winter games nations winter olympian alpine skier kwame nkrumahacheampong 47th slalom 2010 vancouver least 17 athletes expected fill russias sleds designation oar olympic athlete russia russians qualified two sleds bobsled event twoman fourman womens well three starting spots mens skeleton two womens skeleton none russian athletes sanctioned international olympic committee doping eligible credentials pyeongchang future olympics many including womens skeleton bronze medalist elana nikitina medals stripped nikitina among three dozen russians trying clear names appeals masters destiny nikitina wrote instagram post monday switzerland shes part russian delegation pleading case court arbitration sport expected rule next week appeals host south korea sleds five bobsled skeleton disciplines 2022 winter olympic host china compete next month mens skeleton twoman bobsledding fourman bobsledding nations could qualify three sleds skeleton bobsled events canada germany managed reach full allocation united states four skeleton athletes instead maximum six eight bobsleds headed korea instead maximum nine north korea athletes competing pyeongchang taking part sliding international bobsled skeleton federation proposed endorsed plan forerunning fourman bobsled one tests conditions races isnt part competition composed two sliders south korea two others north korea coached italian us officials notion fallen apart north koreans regularly compete bobsled sending word ibsf unable find athletes could fill two slots ___ ap winter olympics httpswintergamesaporg
| 590 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p>A cease-fire announced by the Syrian government went into effect across the country early Friday as part of a broader deal that includes a return to peace talks after more than five years of a war.</p>
<p>Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad reestablished control over the northern city of Aleppo earlier this month, forcing rebels to flee what was once their largest stronghold and handing the government a victory that appeared to bring the war’s endgame into view.</p>
<p>The Assad government, backed by Russia and Iran, is now in its strongest position since the start of the war, while rebel groups are mostly boxed into the northwestern province of Idlib and hold no strategically significant urban areas.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The Syrian military declared in a statement issued Thursday that the “comprehensive” cessation of hostilities follows “victories and advances” by the armed forces.</p>
<p>Russia and Turkey, which brokered the deal, said they could guarantee compliance from the government and its armed opposition respectively, after weeks of negotiations.</p>
<p>In Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the agreement a “historic opportunity” that should not be squandered. But in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged it was “fragile.”</p>
<p>The agreement marks an ambitious venture by the Russian leader to establish his dominant role as dealmaker in the Syrian conflict and further sideline the United States less than a month before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.</p>
<p>The Syrian army said it excluded “terrorist organizations,” notably the Islamic State, but also the country’s al-Qaida affiliate, an influential component of what remains of Syria’s armed opposition. The caveat suggested that the fighting could continue in Idlib, now the rebels’ final bastion.</p>
<p>Speaking in a televised meeting with his defense and foreign ministers Thursday, Putin said three documents were signed: the cease-fire to begin Friday between the Syrian government and certain rebel groups, an agreement on monitoring the truce and a statement of readiness to begin peace talks.</p>
<p>The State Department said it had played no part in the negotiations but called news of the cease-fire a “positive development.” Mark Toner, a department spokesman, said, “We hope it will be implemented fully and respected by all parties.”</p>
<p>As President Barack Obama prepares to leave office next month, Washington’s influence in Syria is much diminished. Russia and Turkey have taken the lead on initiatives to end a war that has killed almost half a million people, spurred the largest refugee crisis since World War II and gave safe haven to a global terrorist threat in the form of the Islamic State.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov did not mention Obama in his remarks, instead inviting the incoming Trump administration to join the process after the president-elect’s inauguration.</p>
<p>“I would also like to express my hope that when the administration of Donald Trump assumes its responsibilities, they may also join these efforts in order to work toward this goal in a friendly and collective manner,” Lavrov said during the meeting.</p>
<p>Trump has signaled his willingness to work with Moscow on a solution to the Syrian conflict. He is also on record as supporting policies that include a withdrawal of support for the armed opposition and the establishment of “safe zones” for civilians.</p>
<p>The intervention of Russia’s air force last year transformed the Syrian government’s fortunes, quashing a major rebel offensive and turning the war in Damascus’s favor. Although Russia later announced a partial withdrawal, its air and ground forces continue to play an important role, even as the influence of Assad’s other main backer, Iran, rises.</p>
<p>Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said seven opposition groups with a combined 60,000 fighters from central and northern Syria have agreed to the cease-fire, including Ahrar al-Sham and Jaish al-Islam, two powerful Islamist factions.</p>
<p>The exclusion of groups linked to the Islamic State and al-Qaida seemed to be the latest attempt to peel jihadist fighters from more-moderate elements in the armed opposition.</p>
<p>The al-Qaida-linked Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, formerly called Jabhat al-Nusra, contributes significant firepower to a coalition of rebel groups in Idlib province. U.S. officials say it may be difficult to separate the extremists fighting alongside a number of key rebel groups.</p>
<p>Previous cease-fires have been short-lived. A similar deal announced by the United States and Russia in February lasted longer than most but was over by July. A U.S.-Russian deal in September lasted a week.</p>
<p>The Syrian National Coalition, a leading political opposition group based in Turkey, confirmed its support for the truce. A senior official, Hadi al-Bahra, described it in a message posted to Twitter as “a positive achievement,” saying his group would “make sure that this agreement will be implemented fully.”</p>
<p>But as diplomacy continued, so did the fighting. A Syrian rescue group known as the White Helmets said Thursday that at least 12 people were killed and 27 others injured in airstrikes and artillery shelling on civilian homes in eastern Ghouta, a Damascus suburb. Footage from the area showed an elderly man being carried to an ambulance, his blood-soaked scarf streaking the vehicle as his stretcher was placed inside.</p>
<p>Peace efforts in Syria must still survive the many potential pitfalls of the shaky alliance between Russia and Turkey. But if Putin’s gambit to play peacemaker among the bitter regional rivals of the Middle East is successful, it would mark his greatest international achievement to date. To broker a solution to the region’s bloodiest conflict while excluding the United States would be an important shift in the international balance of power – one that Putin has called for publicly since he took power in 2000.</p>
<p>– – –</p>
<p>Heba Habib in Stockholm contributed to this report.</p>
| false | 2 |
ceasefire announced syrian government went effect across country early friday part broader deal includes return peace talks five years war forces loyal syrian president bashar assad reestablished control northern city aleppo earlier month forcing rebels flee largest stronghold handing government victory appeared bring wars endgame view assad government backed russia iran strongest position since start war rebel groups mostly boxed northwestern province idlib hold strategically significant urban areas advertisement syrian military declared statement issued thursday comprehensive cessation hostilities follows victories advances armed forces russia turkey brokered deal said could guarantee compliance government armed opposition respectively weeks negotiations ankara turkish president recep tayyip erdogan called agreement historic opportunity squandered moscow russian president vladimir putin acknowledged fragile agreement marks ambitious venture russian leader establish dominant role dealmaker syrian conflict sideline united states less month presidentelect donald trumps inauguration syrian army said excluded terrorist organizations notably islamic state also countrys alqaida affiliate influential component remains syrias armed opposition caveat suggested fighting could continue idlib rebels final bastion speaking televised meeting defense foreign ministers thursday putin said three documents signed ceasefire begin friday syrian government certain rebel groups agreement monitoring truce statement readiness begin peace talks state department said played part negotiations called news ceasefire positive development mark toner department spokesman said hope implemented fully respected parties president barack obama prepares leave office next month washingtons influence syria much diminished russia turkey taken lead initiatives end war killed almost half million people spurred largest refugee crisis since world war ii gave safe global terrorist threat form islamic state advertisement russian foreign minister sergei lavrov mention obama remarks instead inviting incoming trump administration join process presidentelects inauguration would also like express hope administration donald trump assumes responsibilities may also join efforts order work toward goal friendly collective manner lavrov said meeting trump signaled willingness work moscow solution syrian conflict also record supporting policies include withdrawal support armed opposition establishment safe zones civilians intervention russias air force last year transformed syrian governments fortunes quashing major rebel offensive turning war damascuss favor although russia later announced partial withdrawal air ground forces continue play important role even influence assads main backer iran rises russian defense minister sergei shoigu said seven opposition groups combined 60000 fighters central northern syria agreed ceasefire including ahrar alsham jaish alislam two powerful islamist factions exclusion groups linked islamic state alqaida seemed latest attempt peel jihadist fighters moremoderate elements armed opposition alqaidalinked jabhat fatah alsham formerly called jabhat alnusra contributes significant firepower coalition rebel groups idlib province us officials say may difficult separate extremists fighting alongside number key rebel groups previous ceasefires shortlived similar deal announced united states russia february lasted longer july usrussian deal september lasted week syrian national coalition leading political opposition group based turkey confirmed support truce senior official hadi albahra described message posted twitter positive achievement saying group would make sure agreement implemented fully diplomacy continued fighting syrian rescue group known white helmets said thursday least 12 people killed 27 others injured airstrikes artillery shelling civilian homes eastern ghouta damascus suburb footage area showed elderly man carried ambulance bloodsoaked scarf streaking vehicle stretcher placed inside peace efforts syria must still survive many potential pitfalls shaky alliance russia turkey putins gambit play peacemaker among bitter regional rivals middle east successful would mark greatest international achievement date broker solution regions bloodiest conflict excluding united states would important shift international balance power one putin called publicly since took power 2000 heba habib stockholm contributed report
| 572 |
<p>Jan 25 (Reuters) - Hengtai Securities Co Ltd:</p>
<p>* IS EXPECTED TO RECORD AN INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY 50% IN PROFIT ATTRIBUTABLE FOR FY</p>
<p>* EXPECTED RESULT ‍DUE TO MARKET DYNAMICS &amp; SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN PROFIT OF PROPRIETARY BUSINESS​ Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives approved spending more money on metal detectors, locks and other school security measures on Wednesday, but took no steps to tighten gun control laws a month after a Florida high school shooting that killed 17 people.</p>
<p>While students marched nationwide for change on one of America’s most vexing social issues, lawmakers voted 407-10 for legislation to spend $50 million to $75 million per year from 2019 through 2028 on school security and safety training.</p>
<p>No parallel measure was pending in the Senate, where a somewhat more ambitious bill was being debated, but prospects for meaningful gun control reforms in Congress remained remote in the face of stiff resistance from gun industry lobbyists.</p>
<p>“This bill, on its own, is not the kind of meaningful congressional action needed to address this crisis of gun violence,” Representative Steny Hoyer, the No. 2 House Democrat, said in a statement.</p>
<p>“This must be a first step and it must be followed by a serious effort to pass legislation that expands background checks and bans military-style assault weapons,” he said.</p>
<p>It was not yet clear when the Senate would take up the House bill, which would not become law without Senate approval.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump applauded the House bill, the White House said, though it falls far short of broader gun control legislation he talked about shortly after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.</p>
<p>The measure would not allow any of the funding to be used for arming teachers or other school personnel. The White House said the bill would be improved by lifting that restriction.</p> People supporting gun control attend a hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee during a hearing about legislative proposals to improve school safety in the wake of the mass shooting at the high school in Parkland, Florida, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., March 14, 2018. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts
<p>Since the Parkland massacre, student protesters have successfully lobbied for tighter gun controls in Florida. Hundreds of them gathered outside the Capitol to urge Congress to take action on placing new limits on firearms and gun sales.</p>
<p>In the Senate is a bill to strengthen existing background checks of gun purchasers. It enjoys broad bipartisan support but has not been scheduled for debate.</p> Slideshow (5 Images)
<p>Congressional aides said discussions were underway about folding the school safety and background check bills into a government funding bill that lawmakers want to pass by March 23.</p>
<p>Eleven organizations, including some gun control and law enforcement groups, wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer urging passage this month of the background checks bill.</p>
<p>Since the Florida shooting, the Republican-led Congress and the Trump administration have considered measures to curb gun violence while trying to avoid crossing the powerful National Rifle Association lobby group, or threatening the right to bear arms enshrined in the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment.</p>
<p>Neither the House nor Senate bills address many of the gun control initiatives backed by students, teachers and families of shooting victims at the Florida school.</p>
<p>In testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Katherine Posada, a teacher at the school, recounted the horror she experienced the day of the shooting and urged Congress to ban assault-style weapons like the AR-15 rifle used by Nikolas Cruz, who has been charged in the murders.</p>
<p>“Some of the victims were shot through doors, or even through walls – a knife can’t do that,” Posada said. “How many innocent lives could have been saved if these weapons of war weren’t so readily available?”</p>
<p>Reporting by Richard Cowan, Lisa Lambert, David Alexander and Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Tom Brown</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW DELHI/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Boeing Co, considered the frontrunner in the race to supply the Indian navy with new fighter jets, is now in contention for a much bigger $15 billion order after the government abruptly asked the air force to consider the twin-engine planes.</p> FILE PHOTO: A test pilot stands near a F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft on display ahead of the "Aero India 2011" at Yelahanka air force station on the outskirts of Bangalore February 8, 2011. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
<p>Until recently, Lockheed Martin Corp’s F-16 and Saab AB’s Gripen were in a two-horse race supply at least 100 single-engine jets to build up the Indian Air Force’s fast-depleting combat fleet.</p>
<p>Both had offered to build the planes in India in collaboration with local companies as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s drive to build a domestic industrial base and cut back on arms imports.</p>
<p>But last month the government asked the air force to open up the competition to twin-engine aircraft and to evaluate Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet, a defense ministry source said. That jet is a finalist for the Indian navy’s $8 billion to $9 billion contract for 57 fighters.</p>
<p>The defense ministry plans to within weeks issue a request for information (RFI), the first stage of a procurement process, for a fighter to be built in India. The competition will be open to both single and twin-engine jets, the official said, but both Lockheed and Saab said they had not been informed about the new requirements.</p>
<p>The latest change of heart is a major opportunity for Boeing, whose only foreign Super Hornet customer so far is the Royal Australian Air Force.</p>
<p>It also illustrates how dysfunctional the weapons procurement process and arms industry are in the world’s second-most-populous country. The need for new fighters has been known for nearly 15 years, but after many announcements, twists and turns, the country’s air force has only three-quarters of the aircraft it needs.</p>
<p>An indigenous light combat aircraft, the Tejas, is still not operational, 35 years after it was first proposed. &#160;</p>
<p>An Indian Air Force source said fighter procurement was urgent: the branch’s operational strength has fallen to just 33 squadrons, its weakest level in four decades, as it decommissions Soviet-era MiG-21s.</p>
<p>“The IAF wants the RFI issued within weeks and get the process started,” said the source, who declined to be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media. “The problem is that government keeps shifting what it wants.”</p> A PRESSING NEED
<p>Over the next decade, 13 more squadrons will be retired as their aircraft age out of service, parliament’s standing committee on defense said in a December report.</p>
<p>The defense ministry declined to comment on the air force’s aircraft modernization program, saying it was not in a position to do so.</p>
<p>Lockheed, which had offered to shift its F-16 production line in Fort Worth, Texas, to India, said it had not been told of any change to the Indian plan for single-engine fighters.</p>
<p>“Our proposed F-16 partnership with India stands firm,” the company said in an email. Last year it picked Tata Advanced Systems as its local partner and said it was in talks with dozens of firms to build up the supplier network.</p>
<p>“The Government of India has not yet issued formal requirements but we are continuing to support government-to-government discussions and engage with Indian companies about F-16 industrial opportunities,” Lockheed said.</p>
<p>Sweden’s Saab was also caught off guard.</p>
<p>“We have seen the reports in the Indian media, but no new formal communication has been made to us regarding the fighter program,” said Rob Hewson, Saab Asia Pacific’s head of communications.</p>
<p>France’s Dassault Systemes SE’s Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon and Russian aircraft are also potential contenders under the new requirements, the air force source and industry analysts said.</p>
<p>An order the size of India’s is rare. The only comparable opportunity for the Super Hornet is Canada’s request for 88 fighters, which could be worth as much as $14.6 billion.</p>
<p>The Indian air force competition has echoes of a 2007 tender for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft, which the Rafale won. But negotiations quickly bogged down over local production and prices, and in the end, the government ordered just 36 of the planes in 2016 for $8.7 billion.</p> LOCAL FIGHTER
<p>The air force ideally would like a combination of lighter single-engine and twin-engine jets, as well as stealthy aircraft, but cannot afford such a range of foreign systems, analysts said.</p>
<p>A twin-engine foreign fighter would perhaps offer the best value while the Tejas finishes development, they said.</p>
<p>India’s annual defense capital procurement budget of $14 billion to $15 billion has to be spread over the army, navy, air force and the indigenous defense research organization. &#160;</p>
<p>“The operational costs are going up with increased manpower, higher wages and general inflation.&#160;Ministry of Defence doesn’t have the luxury to go for too many platforms despite the rapidly falling squadron strength of the air force,” said Amber Dubey, partner and India head of aerospace and defense at global consultancy KPMG.</p>
<p>Boeing India President Pratyush Kumar said the company was ready to respond to any request from the air force.</p>
<p>“We will follow the MoD’s lead on their process and will be responsive to their needs if we are asked to provide any information,” he said.</p>
<p>Kumar said Boeing was committed to building the planes in India and had offered to help with India’s plans to develop its own advanced medium combat aircraft.</p>
<p>But the experience with the Rafale contract has made experts skeptical that the latest tender will proceed as planned.</p>
<p>Richard A. Bitzinger, visiting senior fellow at Singapore’s S.Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said he did not expect a resolution in even the next two to three years.</p>
<p>“I am never surprised by what the Indians do when it comes to their procurement tenders. They are constantly changing the rules, changing their minds, and often even cancelling orders mid-way through,” he said.</p>
<p>“The Indians have a remarkable knack for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.”</p>
<p>Reporting by Sanjeev Miglani and Jamie Freed; Editing by Gerry Doyle</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort on Wednesday filed a motion in federal court seeking to dismiss charges against him, saying that the special counsel had exceeded his authority by charging Manafort with crimes not related to Russian meddling in the 2016 election.</p> Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort departs from U.S. District Court in Washington, U.S., February 28, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas
<p>In a 46-page filing with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Manafort’s attorney Kevin Downing said Manafort had been threatened with additional indictments and “faces a game of criminal-procedure whack-a-mole” by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, “whose massive resources he cannot possibly hope to match.”</p>
<p>Under the terms of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein’s order in May appointing Mueller, the special counsel can probe links or coordination between Trump’s campaign and Russia as well as “any matters that arose or may arise directly” from the investigation.</p>
<p>Mueller’s office indicted Manafort and his business partner Rick Gates in October on charges including conspiracy to launder money, conspiracy against the United States and failing to register as foreign agents of Ukraine’s former pro-Russian government.</p>
<p>Gates, a former Trump aide, pleaded guilty last month to lying to investigators and conspiring to defraud the United States.</p>
<p>The filing said the special counsel should only be concerned with issues involving Russian meddling in the election. Instead Mueller has been given a blank check for a wide-ranging investigation. “It is a blank check the special counsel has cashed, repeatedly,” it said.</p> Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort departs from U.S. District Court in Washington, U.S., February 28, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas
<p>The charges against Manafort “simply have no connection to alleged coordination with the Russian government or the 2016 presidential election,” the filing said.</p>
<p>In January, Manafort filed a civil lawsuit in the District of Columbia federal court accusing Rosenstein of exceeding his legal authority to “grant Mr. Mueller carte blanche to investigate and pursue criminal charges in connection with anything he stumbles across.”</p>
<p>None of the charges against Manafort or Gates make reference to alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election nor accusations of collusion between Moscow and Trump’s campaign.</p>
<p>U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Moscow sought to meddle in the campaign to tilt the vote in favor of Trump, the Republican candidate, including by hacking the emails of leading Democrats and distributing disinformation and propaganda online.</p>
<p>Russia has denied the accusations of interference. Trump has said there was no collusion and denied any attempt to obstruct Mueller’s probe.</p>
<p>Manafort is also facing separate indictments in a federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, charging him with bank fraud, filing false tax returns and failing to report foreign bank accounts to the U.S. government.</p>
<p>Reporting by Sarah Lynch; Writing by Eric Walsh; Editing by Eric Beech and Michael Perry</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>PARKLAND, Fla. (Reuters) - U.S. students spilled out of classrooms by the tens of thousands on Wednesday, chanting slogans like “No more silence” and “We want change” as part of a coast-to-coast protest over gun violence prompted by last month’s massacre at a Florida high school.</p>
<p>The #ENOUGH National School Walkout was intended to pressure federal and state lawmakers to tighten laws on gun ownership despite opposition by the National Rifle Association (NRA), the powerful gun rights advocacy group.</p>
<p>With some students dressed in orange, the color adopted by the gun control movement, the walkouts began at 10 a.m. local time in each time zone and were scheduled to last 17 minutes. Many rallies went longer.</p>
<p>The duration was a tribute to 17 students and staff killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14. It was the latest in a series of shootings that have plagued U.S. schools and colleges over the past two decades.</p>
<p>While many school districts gave their blessings to the walkouts, others said anyone who participated would face discipline. Many students defied the warnings and left school anyway. They included over two dozen at Lindenhurst High School on New York state’s Long Island, who were at first suspended, then had their punishment reduced to detentions, according to a senior and the school superintendent.</p>
<p>In Parkland, thousands of students slowly filed onto the Stoneman Douglas school football field to the applause of families and supporters beyond the fences as law enforcement officers looked on. News helicopters hovered overhead.</p>
<p>Ty Thompson, the principal, called for the “biggest group hug,” and the students obliged around the 50-yard line.</p>
<p>“We want change!” students chanted on the sidewalks outside the school. “Can you hear the children screaming?” read one of the signs.</p>
<p>But not all students in Florida were in favor of gun control. About 80 miles (129 km) north of Parkland at Vero Beach High School, chants of “No More Silence, end gun violence,” were countered by shouts of “Trump!” and “We want guns” from other students, according to video posted by local newspaper TCPalm.</p>
<p>At New York City’s Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, crowds of students poured into the streets of Manhattan, many dressed in orange, symbolic of the bright color worn by hunters to avoid being shot by accident.</p>
<p>“Thoughts and prayers are not enough,” read one sign at LaGuardia, a jab at a response often uttered by lawmakers after mass shootings.</p>
<p>In Akron, Ohio, hundreds of students wearing orange t-shirts with black targets on the front walked out of Firestone High School.</p>
<p>At Granada Hills Charter High School in Los Angeles, students laid prone on the field of a football stadium to form a giant #ENOUGH, symbolizing the thousands of youth who die of gun violence every year in the United States.</p>
<p>Students at Columbine High, Colorado remembered the 1999 massacre at their school that began an era in which mass shootings became common in U.S. schools.</p> Students from Washington, DC-area schools carry signs during a protest for stricter gun control during a walkout by students at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., March 14, 2018. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts
<p>“I grew up in a community still haunted by the tragedy from 19 years ago,” said 16-year-old sophomore Abigail Orton.</p> LOBBYING LAWMAKERS
<p>The walkouts were part of a burgeoning, grassroots movement prompted by the Parkland attack and came 10 days before major protests planned in Washington and elsewhere. Survivors have lobbied lawmakers and President Donald Trump in a push for new restrictions on gun ownership, a right protected by the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment.</p>
<p>“We don’t feel safe in schools anymore,” said Sarah Chatfield, a high school student from Maryland, standing with hundreds of other protesters outside the White House.</p>
<p>Chanting “Hey hey, ho ho, the NRA has got to go!” students, many of whom will be able to vote in 2020, marched to the U.S. Capitol, where Democratic lawmakers emerged from the white-domed landmark to praise them.</p> Slideshow (30 Images)
<p>The student-led initiative helped bring about a tightening of Florida’s gun laws last week, when the minimum age of 21 for buying any handguns was extended to all firearms. But lawmakers rejected a ban on the sort of semiautomatic rifle used in the Parkland attack.</p>
<p>In Washington, however, proposals to strengthen the background-check system for gun sales, among other measures, appear to be languishing.</p>
<p>After protests began on Wednesday, the NRA tweeted a picture of a semiautomatic rifle with the caption “I’ll control my own guns, thank you.”</p> SCHOOLS VARY IN RESPONSE
<p>Students from more than 3,000 schools and groups joined the walkouts, many with the backing of their school districts, according to the event’s organizers, who also coordinated the Women’s March protests staged nationwide over the past two years.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-usa-guns-legislation-passage/house-passes-bill-to-prevent-gun-violence-in-schools-in-rare-bipartisan-vote-idUSKCN1GQ2W7" type="external">House passes bill to prevent gun violence in schools in rare bipartisan vote</a>
<a href="/article/us-usa-guns-florida/suspected-florida-school-shooter-silent-in-court-judge-enters-not-guilty-plea-idUSKCN1GQ2OB" type="external">Suspected Florida school shooter silent in court, judge enters not-guilty plea</a>
<p>In Newtown, Pennsylvania, more than 100 students walked out of Council Rock High School despite warnings they would face discipline if they left the building.</p>
<p>But after the walkout, Superintendent Robert Fraser said “the level of maturity and sincerity was amazing” among protesters, and the school district waived any punishments.</p>
<p>At Norton High School in the rural-suburban district in northeastern Ohio, a small group of students, including a teenage boy with an American flag draped over his shoulder, stood apart from a larger gathering of nearly 300 students who walked out of class. One of the students also flew a large Trump flag at the end of his truck.</p>
<p>Ryan Shanor, the school’s principal, said the small group wanted to honor the victims but disagreed with sentiment they considered to be against the Second Amendment.</p>
<p>“They did not agree with everything they thought the protest was about,” he said.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Gina Cherelus, Jonathan Allen and Alice Popovici in New York; Suzanne Barlyn in Newtown, Pennsylvania; Joe Skipper in Parkland, Florida; Scott Malone in Boston; Kim Palmer in Cleveland; Susan Heavey, Richard Cowan, Sarah N. Lynch and Ian Simpson in Washington; Lindsey Wasson in Seattle; Keith Coffman in Colorado; writing by Jonathan Allen and Andrew Hay; editing by Frank McGurty and Jonathan Oatis</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
jan 25 reuters hengtai securities co ltd expected record increase approximately 50 profit attributable fy expected result due market dynamics amp significant increase profit proprietary business source text eikon company coverage standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters us house representatives approved spending money metal detectors locks school security measures wednesday took steps tighten gun control laws month florida high school shooting killed 17 people students marched nationwide change one americas vexing social issues lawmakers voted 40710 legislation spend 50 million 75 million per year 2019 2028 school security safety training parallel measure pending senate somewhat ambitious bill debated prospects meaningful gun control reforms congress remained remote face stiff resistance gun industry lobbyists bill kind meaningful congressional action needed address crisis gun violence representative steny hoyer 2 house democrat said statement must first step must followed serious effort pass legislation expands background checks bans militarystyle assault weapons said yet clear senate would take house bill would become law without senate approval president donald trump applauded house bill white house said though falls far short broader gun control legislation talked shortly shooting marjory stoneman douglas high school parkland florida measure would allow funding used arming teachers school personnel white house said bill would improved lifting restriction people supporting gun control attend hearing senate judiciary committee hearing legislative proposals improve school safety wake mass shooting high school parkland florida capitol hill washington us march 14 2018 reutersjoshua roberts since parkland massacre student protesters successfully lobbied tighter gun controls florida hundreds gathered outside capitol urge congress take action placing new limits firearms gun sales senate bill strengthen existing background checks gun purchasers enjoys broad bipartisan support scheduled debate slideshow 5 images congressional aides said discussions underway folding school safety background check bills government funding bill lawmakers want pass march 23 eleven organizations including gun control law enforcement groups wrote senate majority leader mitch mcconnell republican senate democratic leader chuck schumer urging passage month background checks bill since florida shooting republicanled congress trump administration considered measures curb gun violence trying avoid crossing powerful national rifle association lobby group threatening right bear arms enshrined us constitutions second amendment neither house senate bills address many gun control initiatives backed students teachers families shooting victims florida school testimony senate judiciary committee katherine posada teacher school recounted horror experienced day shooting urged congress ban assaultstyle weapons like ar15 rifle used nikolas cruz charged murders victims shot doors even walls knife cant posada said many innocent lives could saved weapons war werent readily available reporting richard cowan lisa lambert david alexander sarah n lynch editing kevin drawbaugh tom brown standards thomson reuters trust principles new delhisingapore reuters boeing co considered frontrunner race supply indian navy new fighter jets contention much bigger 15 billion order government abruptly asked air force consider twinengine planes file photo test pilot stands near fa18 super hornet aircraft display ahead aero india 2011 yelahanka air force station outskirts bangalore february 8 2011 reutersstringerfile photo recently lockheed martin corps f16 saab abs gripen twohorse race supply least 100 singleengine jets build indian air forces fastdepleting combat fleet offered build planes india collaboration local companies part prime minister narendra modis drive build domestic industrial base cut back arms imports last month government asked air force open competition twinengine aircraft evaluate boeings fa18 super hornet defense ministry source said jet finalist indian navys 8 billion 9 billion contract 57 fighters defense ministry plans within weeks issue request information rfi first stage procurement process fighter built india competition open single twinengine jets official said lockheed saab said informed new requirements latest change heart major opportunity boeing whose foreign super hornet customer far royal australian air force also illustrates dysfunctional weapons procurement process arms industry worlds secondmostpopulous country need new fighters known nearly 15 years many announcements twists turns countrys air force threequarters aircraft needs indigenous light combat aircraft tejas still operational 35 years first proposed 160 indian air force source said fighter procurement urgent branchs operational strength fallen 33 squadrons weakest level four decades decommissions sovietera mig21s iaf wants rfi issued within weeks get process started said source declined identified authorized speak media problem government keeps shifting wants pressing need next decade 13 squadrons retired aircraft age service parliaments standing committee defense said december report defense ministry declined comment air forces aircraft modernization program saying position lockheed offered shift f16 production line fort worth texas india said told change indian plan singleengine fighters proposed f16 partnership india stands firm company said email last year picked tata advanced systems local partner said talks dozens firms build supplier network government india yet issued formal requirements continuing support governmenttogovernment discussions engage indian companies f16 industrial opportunities lockheed said swedens saab also caught guard seen reports indian media new formal communication made us regarding fighter program said rob hewson saab asia pacifics head communications frances dassault systemes ses rafale eurofighter typhoon russian aircraft also potential contenders new requirements air force source industry analysts said order size indias rare comparable opportunity super hornet canadas request 88 fighters could worth much 146 billion indian air force competition echoes 2007 tender 126 medium multirole combat aircraft rafale negotiations quickly bogged local production prices end government ordered 36 planes 2016 87 billion local fighter air force ideally would like combination lighter singleengine twinengine jets well stealthy aircraft afford range foreign systems analysts said twinengine foreign fighter would perhaps offer best value tejas finishes development said indias annual defense capital procurement budget 14 billion 15 billion spread army navy air force indigenous defense research organization 160 operational costs going increased manpower higher wages general inflation160ministry defence doesnt luxury go many platforms despite rapidly falling squadron strength air force said amber dubey partner india head aerospace defense global consultancy kpmg boeing india president pratyush kumar said company ready respond request air force follow mods lead process responsive needs asked provide information said kumar said boeing committed building planes india offered help indias plans develop advanced medium combat aircraft experience rafale contract made experts skeptical latest tender proceed planned richard bitzinger visiting senior fellow singapores srajaratnam school international studies said expect resolution even next two three years never surprised indians comes procurement tenders constantly changing rules changing minds often even cancelling orders midway said indians remarkable knack snatching defeat jaws victory reporting sanjeev miglani jamie freed editing gerry doyle standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters former trump campaign manager paul manafort wednesday filed motion federal court seeking dismiss charges saying special counsel exceeded authority charging manafort crimes related russian meddling 2016 election former trump campaign manager paul manafort departs us district court washington us february 28 2018 reutersyuri gripas 46page filing us district court district columbia manaforts attorney kevin downing said manafort threatened additional indictments faces game criminalprocedure whackamole special counsel robert mueller whose massive resources possibly hope match terms deputy attorney general rod rosensteins order may appointing mueller special counsel probe links coordination trumps campaign russia well matters arose may arise directly investigation muellers office indicted manafort business partner rick gates october charges including conspiracy launder money conspiracy united states failing register foreign agents ukraines former prorussian government gates former trump aide pleaded guilty last month lying investigators conspiring defraud united states filing said special counsel concerned issues involving russian meddling election instead mueller given blank check wideranging investigation blank check special counsel cashed repeatedly said former trump campaign manager paul manafort departs us district court washington us february 28 2018 reutersyuri gripas charges manafort simply connection alleged coordination russian government 2016 presidential election filing said january manafort filed civil lawsuit district columbia federal court accusing rosenstein exceeding legal authority grant mr mueller carte blanche investigate pursue criminal charges connection anything stumbles across none charges manafort gates make reference alleged russian interference 2016 election accusations collusion moscow trumps campaign us intelligence agencies concluded moscow sought meddle campaign tilt vote favor trump republican candidate including hacking emails leading democrats distributing disinformation propaganda online russia denied accusations interference trump said collusion denied attempt obstruct muellers probe manafort also facing separate indictments federal court alexandria virginia charging bank fraud filing false tax returns failing report foreign bank accounts us government reporting sarah lynch writing eric walsh editing eric beech michael perry standards thomson reuters trust principles parkland fla reuters us students spilled classrooms tens thousands wednesday chanting slogans like silence want change part coasttocoast protest gun violence prompted last months massacre florida high school enough national school walkout intended pressure federal state lawmakers tighten laws gun ownership despite opposition national rifle association nra powerful gun rights advocacy group students dressed orange color adopted gun control movement walkouts began 10 local time time zone scheduled last 17 minutes many rallies went longer duration tribute 17 students staff killed marjory stoneman douglas high school parkland florida feb 14 latest series shootings plagued us schools colleges past two decades many school districts gave blessings walkouts others said anyone participated would face discipline many students defied warnings left school anyway included two dozen lindenhurst high school new york states long island first suspended punishment reduced detentions according senior school superintendent parkland thousands students slowly filed onto stoneman douglas school football field applause families supporters beyond fences law enforcement officers looked news helicopters hovered overhead ty thompson principal called biggest group hug students obliged around 50yard line want change students chanted sidewalks outside school hear children screaming read one signs students florida favor gun control 80 miles 129 km north parkland vero beach high school chants silence end gun violence countered shouts trump want guns students according video posted local newspaper tcpalm new york citys fiorello h laguardia high school crowds students poured streets manhattan many dressed orange symbolic bright color worn hunters avoid shot accident thoughts prayers enough read one sign laguardia jab response often uttered lawmakers mass shootings akron ohio hundreds students wearing orange tshirts black targets front walked firestone high school granada hills charter high school los angeles students laid prone field football stadium form giant enough symbolizing thousands youth die gun violence every year united states students columbine high colorado remembered 1999 massacre school began era mass shootings became common us schools students washington dcarea schools carry signs protest stricter gun control walkout students us capitol washington us march 14 2018 reutersjoshua roberts grew community still haunted tragedy 19 years ago said 16yearold sophomore abigail orton lobbying lawmakers walkouts part burgeoning grassroots movement prompted parkland attack came 10 days major protests planned washington elsewhere survivors lobbied lawmakers president donald trump push new restrictions gun ownership right protected us constitutions second amendment dont feel safe schools anymore said sarah chatfield high school student maryland standing hundreds protesters outside white house chanting hey hey ho ho nra got go students many able vote 2020 marched us capitol democratic lawmakers emerged whitedomed landmark praise slideshow 30 images studentled initiative helped bring tightening floridas gun laws last week minimum age 21 buying handguns extended firearms lawmakers rejected ban sort semiautomatic rifle used parkland attack washington however proposals strengthen backgroundcheck system gun sales among measures appear languishing protests began wednesday nra tweeted picture semiautomatic rifle caption ill control guns thank schools vary response students 3000 schools groups joined walkouts many backing school districts according events organizers also coordinated womens march protests staged nationwide past two years related coverage house passes bill prevent gun violence schools rare bipartisan vote suspected florida school shooter silent court judge enters notguilty plea newtown pennsylvania 100 students walked council rock high school despite warnings would face discipline left building walkout superintendent robert fraser said level maturity sincerity amazing among protesters school district waived punishments norton high school ruralsuburban district northeastern ohio small group students including teenage boy american flag draped shoulder stood apart larger gathering nearly 300 students walked class one students also flew large trump flag end truck ryan shanor schools principal said small group wanted honor victims disagreed sentiment considered second amendment agree everything thought protest said additional reporting gina cherelus jonathan allen alice popovici new york suzanne barlyn newtown pennsylvania joe skipper parkland florida scott malone boston kim palmer cleveland susan heavey richard cowan sarah n lynch ian simpson washington lindsey wasson seattle keith coffman colorado writing jonathan allen andrew hay editing frank mcgurty jonathan oatis standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 2,032 |
<p>(Reuters) - USA Gymnastics has terminated its agreement with the Karolyi Ranch in Huntsville, Texas where a number of top gymnasts have said they were victims of sexual abuse by former team physician Larry Nassar, the ruling body said on Thursday.</p> Larry Nassar, a former team USA Gymnastics doctor who pleaded guilty in November 2017 to sexual assault charges, stands in the courtroom during his sentencing hearing in Lansing, Michigan, U.S., January 18, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
<p>The facility has been used for regular training camps but USA Gymnastics said in a statement it has canceled next week’s session and is exploring alternative sites until a permanent location is found.</p>
<p>Earlier this week, four-times Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles said she was sexually abused by Nassar and that it would be too traumatic to return to the Karolyi Ranch as she worked toward her goal of competing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.</p>
<p>“It is impossibly difficult to relive these experiences and it breaks my heart even more to think that as I work towards my dream of competing in Tokyo 2020, I will have to continually return to the same training facility where I was abused,” Biles wrote in a letter posted on her Twitter account.</p>
<p>Nassar was sentenced last month to 60 years in prison on federal child pornography charges and is set to be sentenced this week in Michigan after pleading guilty to additional counts of criminal sexual conduct related to allegations he assaulted girls under the guise of medical treatment.</p>
<p>Three-times Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman told ESPN’s Outside the Lines this week that USA Gymnastics should stop sending athletes to the ranch.</p>
<p>“I hope USA Gymnastics listens because they haven’t listened to us so far. I hope they listen and I hope they don’t make any of the girls go back to the ranch. No one should have to go back there after so many of us were abused there,” she said.</p>
<p>The complex, opened by celebrated coaches Bela and Martha Karolyi in the mid 1980s, played a vital role in making the U.S. women’s team a dominant force in global competitions.</p>
<p>Located in the Sam Houston Forest, the facility includes training gyms, a dance studio, housing for 300 athletes, coaches and administrators and a dining hall.</p>
<p>It has been the home of several Olympic and world champions and was the designated Olympic training site for the USA Gymnastics National Team.</p>
<p>“It has been my intent to terminate this agreement since I began as president and CEO in December,” USA Gymnastics president and chief executive Kerry Perry said.</p>
<p>“Our most important priority is our athletes, and their training environment must reflect this. We are committed to a culture that empowers and supports our athletes.”</p>
<p>Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto, editing by Ed Osmond</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>GOLD COAST, Australia (Reuters) - Indian athletes Rakesh Babu and Irfan Kolothum Thodi are being sent home from the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games after a needle was found in a cup in their bedroom at the Athletes’ Village, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) said on Friday.</p> Athletics - Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games - Men's Triple Jump - Qualifying - Carrara Stadium - Gold Coast, Australia - April 12, 2018. A. V. Rakesh Babu of India. REUTERS/David Gray
<p>Triple jumper Babu, race walker Thodi and three Indian team officials had appeared before a CGF hearing on Thursday, CGF President Louise Martin told reporters.</p>
<p>“The testimony of the athletes ... are both unreliable and evasive,” Martin told reporters. “Rakesh Babu and Irfan Kolothum Thodi are in breach of the ‘no-needles’ policy.</p>
<p>“Babu and Thodi are with immediate effect not permitted to participate in the Games. Their accreditation was suspended and both athletes have been removed from the village.</p>
<p>“We have asked the Commonwealth Games association of India to depart Australia on the first flights available.”</p>
<p>The three team officials — chef de mission Vikram Singh Sisodia, team manager Namdev Shirgaonker and athletics team manager Ravinder Chaudhry — were all reprimanded, Martin added.</p>
<p>“The CGF shall advise Vikram Singh Sisodia, Namdev Shirgaonker and Ravinder Chaudhry that any further infractions by any member of the Indian team of the ‘no-needle’ policy could result in the withdrawal of accreditation of the offending person,” she said.</p>
<p>The Indian team were not immediately available for comment and the CGF refused to take any further questions.</p>
<p>Babu was the 12th and final qualifier for the men’s triple jump final on Saturday. Thodi finished 13th in the men’s 20km race walk last Sunday.</p>
<p>Athletes must have a specific medical exemption to have needles at the Games as part of the fight against doping.</p>
<p>It is the second time the Indian team have been in breach of the policy on the Gold Coast after boxing team doctor Amol Patil was issued a strong written reprimand last week after needles were discovered in a plastic bottle.</p>
<p>Patil had administered a Vitamin B complex injection to a sick boxer and left needles in the room, breaking CGF rules regarding their proper storage.</p>
<p>The matter was not defined as an anti-doping rule violation, but the entire India delegation was warned by the CGF there would be repercussions if they breached the rules again.</p>
<p>Reporting by Greg Stutchbury; Editing by Peter Rutherford</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>LONDON (Reuters) - Traditional sports can learn a lot from esports in using virtual world technology to stay relevant for younger audiences, says former International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Angela Ruggiero.</p> FILE PHOTO: Angela Ruggiero arrives for an Executive Board meeting in Pully near Lausanne, Switzerland December 6, 2017. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
<p>Speaking to Reuters at a SportsPro Live event, the 1998 U.S. Olympic ice hockey gold medalist put a twist on the debate about whether esports should be included along with regular sports at future Games.</p>
<p>“We’re focused on how do we actually become more like esports,” Ruggiero said of the Boston-based Sports Innovation Lab that she co-founded.</p>
<p>“How do we take and capture what esports are doing really well?</p>
<p>“Let’s explore it and be open minded. Let’s look at what they are doing really well and figure out what we can pull into the traditional realm.”</p>
<p>A member of the IOC’s digital and technology commission, as well as the coordination commission for the Beijing 2022 Winter Games, the four-times Olympian is on the board of directors for the Olympic Channel.</p>
<p>She left the IOC’s executive board after February’s Pyeongchang Olympics, having served on the athletes’ commission for eight years, and was also chief strategy officer for the Los Angeles 2028 bid.</p>
<p>“I believe esports is delivering in a way that traditional sports is not today,” she said.</p>
<p>“And traditional sports are scratching their heads and going ‘why are all the young people going to esports’ and ‘why aren’t they playing real sports?’.</p>
<p>“Honestly I think a lot of it is they are raised on social media, raised engaging with others, they know cell phones like the back of their hand. They have a computer in their hand from the day they were born and esports lives on that media.</p>
<p>“If you want to stay relevant, then you (as a traditional sport) need to follow the trends and you need to understand why.”</p>
<p>Ruggiero cited platforms such as live-streaming service Twitch, a subsidiary of Amazon.</p>
<p>“Twitch and some of these other platforms are creating interactive forms... really just doing things in a very innovative way that are attractive to younger people,” she said.</p>
<p>“Why can’t we create more Twitch type of platforms for traditional sports?</p>
<p>“If you take a step back and look at what it actually is, it’s a community platform. So I’m interested in what we can learn from that.”</p>
<p>Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Pritha Sarkar</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has made his peace with Max Verstappen and moved on from their collision in Bahrain last weekend.</p> Formula One - F1 - Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai, China - April 12, 2018 - Red Bull Formula One driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands attends a press conference at the Shanghai International Circuit ahead of the Chinese F1 Grand Prix. REUTERS/Aly Song
<p>The Mercedes driver told reporters at the Chinese Grand Prix on Thursday that he had sought out the 20-year-old Red Bull driver and shaken hands.</p>
<p>“Being that I’m the older driver I felt that it was important that I went to him,” said the Briton.</p>
<p>“I just shook his hand and I was like, ‘Look I’m sorry about the last race.’</p>
<p>“Regardless if it is his fault or my fault, it’s in the past. Hopefully, that sign of respect shows a lot and helps you turn the page and move forwards.”</p>
<p>Verstappen earlier accused the four-times world champion of taking the easy option in blaming him for the collision at Sakhir, and said he would not be doing anything different in future.</p>
<p>Asked why he felt Hamilton had blamed him, the Dutch driver replied: “Why? Because it’s quite simple and easy to blame the younger driver. That’s the only way I can see it.”</p>
<p>The pair collided on the second lap of last Sunday’s floodlit race when the youngster dived down the inside of the 33-year-old in an attempt to take 10th position.</p>
<p>The impact punctured a tyre on Verstappen’s car, eventually damaging the gearbox and forcing him to retire. Hamilton finished third.</p>
<p>“You know, that’s racing,” said Verstappen comparing his move to a similar one he pulled off in Mexico last year on the way to victory.</p>
<p>“Why should I change something? I was just trying to overtake a car. Last year in Mexico it could have gone wrong as well, maybe for me, maybe for another car. As you could see... it didn’t,” he added.</p>
<p>“I don’t understand why everybody is on top of the topic because those things happen in racing.”</p>
<p>Verstappen has taken Formula One by storm since making his debut as a 17-year-old with the Red Bull-owned Toro Rosso team in 2015.</p>
<p>His speed, aggression and racecraft have won him many admirers but also led to run-ins with rivals, most notably Ferrari pair Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen.</p>
<p>Hamilton had always spoken of the man he sees as a future champion in glowing terms, but was heard swearing in reference to him immediately after Sunday’s race.</p>
<p>He also accused the Red Bull driver of lacking respect and went on to suggest Verstappen’s inexperience was costing the former champions crucial points.</p>
<p>Editing by Alan Baldwin and Pritha Sarkar</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=DIS.N" type="external">DIS.N</a>) on Thursday debuted its new ESPN+ digital subscription service, the first consumer offering in the traditional media company’s push to become a leader in streaming entertainment.</p>
<p>The service will carry more than 10,000 live sporting events that are not shown on television, as well as exclusive on-demand programing such as a new documentary about controversial college basketball coach Bobby Knight.</p>
<p>ESPN and other cable networks have been losing pay TV subscribers as audiences rapidly migrate to online services such as Netflix Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=NFLX.O" type="external">NFLX.O</a>). Disney is trying to adapt to the switch by developing its own streaming offerings.</p>
<p>ESPN+ may lose money for “some number of years, not huge” as the company works to lure enough subscribers to cover programing investments, said Kevin Mayer, chairman of Disney’s direct-to-consumer and international unit.</p>
<p>During a briefing at ESPN’s studio in downtown Los Angeles, Mayer told reporters he expects the service will become profitable and will provide valuable insight for other Disney streaming services.</p>
<p>“This is strategic for us,” Mayer said. “This is a multi-year effort. It’s going to take some time to assess how it has performed.”</p>
<p>ESPN+ is designed for fanatics who want more sports programing, and for people who cannot find their favorite teams or sports on TV, Disney executives said. The latter includes fans of cricket, rugby, Canadian football or Ivy League sports.</p> FILE PHOTO: A screen shows the logo and a ticker symbol for The Walt Disney Company on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., December 14, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
<p>The service is offered as an add-on inside a newly designed ESPN mobile app or through ESPN.com. It costs $4.99 a month, or $49.99 per year.</p>
<p>“It is an opportunity for us to serve sports fans in new ways, and in ways no one else can,” ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro said.</p>
<p>Programing includes one live Major League Baseball game each day during the regular season, starting with the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants on Thursday. Customers also will see Major League Soccer games, college sports from 20 U.S. conferences, and boxing and Grand Slam tennis matches that do not air on TV. A daily National Hockey League matchup will be added starting with the 2018-2019 season.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=DIS.N" type="external">Walt Disney Co</a> 100.39 DIS.N New York Stock Exchange -0.41 (-0.41%) DIS.N NFLX.O
<p>ESPN+ does not include Monday Night Football or National Basketball Association games that are shown on ESPN’s TV channels. Those are reserved for subscribers of pay TV packages, who can stream the live TV lineup through the ESPN app. The redesigned app allows customers to watch up to four streams simultaneously on one screen.</p>
<p>Reporting by Lisa Richwine</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
reuters usa gymnastics terminated agreement karolyi ranch huntsville texas number top gymnasts said victims sexual abuse former team physician larry nassar ruling body said thursday larry nassar former team usa gymnastics doctor pleaded guilty november 2017 sexual assault charges stands courtroom sentencing hearing lansing michigan us january 18 2018 reutersbrendan mcdermid facility used regular training camps usa gymnastics said statement canceled next weeks session exploring alternative sites permanent location found earlier week fourtimes olympic gold medalist simone biles said sexually abused nassar would traumatic return karolyi ranch worked toward goal competing 2020 tokyo olympics impossibly difficult relive experiences breaks heart even think work towards dream competing tokyo 2020 continually return training facility abused biles wrote letter posted twitter account nassar sentenced last month 60 years prison federal child pornography charges set sentenced week michigan pleading guilty additional counts criminal sexual conduct related allegations assaulted girls guise medical treatment threetimes olympic gold medalist aly raisman told espns outside lines week usa gymnastics stop sending athletes ranch hope usa gymnastics listens havent listened us far hope listen hope dont make girls go back ranch one go back many us abused said complex opened celebrated coaches bela martha karolyi mid 1980s played vital role making us womens team dominant force global competitions located sam houston forest facility includes training gyms dance studio housing 300 athletes coaches administrators dining hall home several olympic world champions designated olympic training site usa gymnastics national team intent terminate agreement since began president ceo december usa gymnastics president chief executive kerry perry said important priority athletes training environment must reflect committed culture empowers supports athletes reporting frank pingue toronto editing ed osmond standards thomson reuters trust principles gold coast australia reuters indian athletes rakesh babu irfan kolothum thodi sent home gold coast commonwealth games needle found cup bedroom athletes village commonwealth games federation cgf said friday athletics gold coast 2018 commonwealth games mens triple jump qualifying carrara stadium gold coast australia april 12 2018 v rakesh babu india reutersdavid gray triple jumper babu race walker thodi three indian team officials appeared cgf hearing thursday cgf president louise martin told reporters testimony athletes unreliable evasive martin told reporters rakesh babu irfan kolothum thodi breach noneedles policy babu thodi immediate effect permitted participate games accreditation suspended athletes removed village asked commonwealth games association india depart australia first flights available three team officials chef de mission vikram singh sisodia team manager namdev shirgaonker athletics team manager ravinder chaudhry reprimanded martin added cgf shall advise vikram singh sisodia namdev shirgaonker ravinder chaudhry infractions member indian team noneedle policy could result withdrawal accreditation offending person said indian team immediately available comment cgf refused take questions babu 12th final qualifier mens triple jump final saturday thodi finished 13th mens 20km race walk last sunday athletes must specific medical exemption needles games part fight doping second time indian team breach policy gold coast boxing team doctor amol patil issued strong written reprimand last week needles discovered plastic bottle patil administered vitamin b complex injection sick boxer left needles room breaking cgf rules regarding proper storage matter defined antidoping rule violation entire india delegation warned cgf would repercussions breached rules reporting greg stutchbury editing peter rutherford standards thomson reuters trust principles london reuters traditional sports learn lot esports using virtual world technology stay relevant younger audiences says former international olympic committee ioc member angela ruggiero file photo angela ruggiero arrives executive board meeting pully near lausanne switzerland december 6 2017 reutersdenis balibouse speaking reuters sportspro live event 1998 us olympic ice hockey gold medalist put twist debate whether esports included along regular sports future games focused actually become like esports ruggiero said bostonbased sports innovation lab cofounded take capture esports really well lets explore open minded lets look really well figure pull traditional realm member iocs digital technology commission well coordination commission beijing 2022 winter games fourtimes olympian board directors olympic channel left iocs executive board februarys pyeongchang olympics served athletes commission eight years also chief strategy officer los angeles 2028 bid believe esports delivering way traditional sports today said traditional sports scratching heads going young people going esports arent playing real sports honestly think lot raised social media raised engaging others know cell phones like back hand computer hand day born esports lives media want stay relevant traditional sport need follow trends need understand ruggiero cited platforms livestreaming service twitch subsidiary amazon twitch platforms creating interactive forms really things innovative way attractive younger people said cant create twitch type platforms traditional sports take step back look actually community platform im interested learn reporting alan baldwin editing pritha sarkar standards thomson reuters trust principles shanghai reuters formula one world champion lewis hamilton made peace max verstappen moved collision bahrain last weekend formula one f1 chinese grand prix shanghai china april 12 2018 red bull formula one driver max verstappen netherlands attends press conference shanghai international circuit ahead chinese f1 grand prix reutersaly song mercedes driver told reporters chinese grand prix thursday sought 20yearold red bull driver shaken hands im older driver felt important went said briton shook hand like look im sorry last race regardless fault fault past hopefully sign respect shows lot helps turn page move forwards verstappen earlier accused fourtimes world champion taking easy option blaming collision sakhir said would anything different future asked felt hamilton blamed dutch driver replied quite simple easy blame younger driver thats way see pair collided second lap last sundays floodlit race youngster dived inside 33yearold attempt take 10th position impact punctured tyre verstappens car eventually damaging gearbox forcing retire hamilton finished third know thats racing said verstappen comparing move similar one pulled mexico last year way victory change something trying overtake car last year mexico could gone wrong well maybe maybe another car could see didnt added dont understand everybody top topic things happen racing verstappen taken formula one storm since making debut 17yearold red bullowned toro rosso team 2015 speed aggression racecraft many admirers also led runins rivals notably ferrari pair sebastian vettel kimi raikkonen hamilton always spoken man sees future champion glowing terms heard swearing reference immediately sundays race also accused red bull driver lacking respect went suggest verstappens inexperience costing former champions crucial points editing alan baldwin pritha sarkar standards thomson reuters trust principles los angeles reuters walt disney co disn thursday debuted new espn digital subscription service first consumer offering traditional media companys push become leader streaming entertainment service carry 10000 live sporting events shown television well exclusive ondemand programing new documentary controversial college basketball coach bobby knight espn cable networks losing pay tv subscribers audiences rapidly migrate online services netflix inc nflxo disney trying adapt switch developing streaming offerings espn may lose money number years huge company works lure enough subscribers cover programing investments said kevin mayer chairman disneys directtoconsumer international unit briefing espns studio downtown los angeles mayer told reporters expects service become profitable provide valuable insight disney streaming services strategic us mayer said multiyear effort going take time assess performed espn designed fanatics want sports programing people find favorite teams sports tv disney executives said latter includes fans cricket rugby canadian football ivy league sports file photo screen shows logo ticker symbol walt disney company floor new york stock exchange nyse new york us december 14 2017 reutersbrendan mcdermid service offered addon inside newly designed espn mobile app espncom costs 499 month 4999 per year opportunity us serve sports fans new ways ways one else espn president jimmy pitaro said programing includes one live major league baseball game day regular season starting san diego padres san francisco giants thursday customers also see major league soccer games college sports 20 us conferences boxing grand slam tennis matches air tv daily national hockey league matchup added starting 20182019 season walt disney co 10039 disn new york stock exchange 041 041 disn nflxo espn include monday night football national basketball association games shown espns tv channels reserved subscribers pay tv packages stream live tv lineup espn app redesigned app allows customers watch four streams simultaneously one screen reporting lisa richwine standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 1,341 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>1 p.m.</p>
<p>Standing Rock Sioux Chairman Dave Archambault says it’s time for Dakota Access oil pipeline opponents to leave a camp along the pipeline route in southern North Dakota.</p>
<p>But many of the opponents who’ve been protesting for months are vowing to stay. They believe the four-state pipeline threatens tribal drinking water and cultural sites.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The Army has denied a permit for the pipeline to cross under a Missouri River reservoir in the area. Archambault says the protest camp’s purpose has been served and there’s no need for people to stay in dangerous winter weather.</p>
<p>Pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners could still prevail in federal court. Some opponents also fear President-elect Donald Trump could reverse the Army’s decision.</p>
<p>But Archambault doesn’t think there will be any developments for months.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>12:40 p.m.</p>
<p>Many Dakota Access oil pipeline opponents who’ve gathered for months in a camp in southern North Dakota are committed to staying despite wintry weather and demands that they leave.</p>
<p>Monday was the government’s deadline for the several hundred people to leave the camp that’s on federal land. But authorities have said they won’t forcibly remove them. Gov. Jack Dalrymple last week also issued a “mandatory evacuation” but said no one would be removed by force.</p>
<p>Another snowstorm was hitting the area Monday, and people in camp were busy shoring up housing and stockpiling firewood. Andy Shute of St. Louis said he’s “staying until it’s over.”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>That could be months from now. Robin Pegel, of Mead, Nebraska, said she thinks the weather might force some people from camp over time.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>11 a.m.</p>
<p>President-elect Donald Trump isn’t saying what he’ll do about the $3.8 billion, four-state Dakota Access oil pipeline once he takes office in January.</p>
<p>Trump spokesman Jason Miller said Monday that the incoming president supports construction of the pipeline. But he wouldn’t say whether Trump would reverse an Army decision to deny a permit for the pipeline to cross under a Missouri River reservoir in southern North Dakota.</p>
<p>The segment under Lake Oahe is the only remaining big chunk of construction on the 1,200-mile pipeline to carry North Dakota oil through the Dakotas and Iowa to a shipping point in Illinois. The Standing Rock Sioux says the project threatens cultural sites and drinking water on its nearby reservation. Texas-based pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners says the Army’s decision was politically motivated.</p>
<p>Miller says the Trump administration will review the situation “and make the appropriate determination.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>10:40 a.m.</p>
<p>The trade association representing the country’s oil and natural gas industry is urging President-Elect Donald Trump to make approval of the Dakota Access oil pipeline a “top priority” when he takes office next month.</p>
<p>American Petroleum Institute President and CEO Jack Gerard said in a statement late Sunday that the Obama administration “is putting politics over sound public policy.” He says Trump should “stand up for American consumers and American workers.”</p>
<p>The Army on Sunday denied a permit for the $3.8 billion pipeline to cross under the Missouri River in North Dakota near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. The tribe believes the pipeline threatens drinking water and cultural sites. The pipeline would run through the Dakotas and Iowa to Illinois.</p>
<p>Texas-based pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners says the Army’s decision was politically motivated.</p>
<p>This item has been corrected to reflect that the institute’s statement was released late Sunday, not Monday.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>9:50 a.m.</p>
<p>The leader of the Standing Rock Sioux says the tribe “will be forever grateful to the Obama administration” for the Army’s decision to refuse to allow the construction of a pipeline under a North Dakota reservoir.</p>
<p>Chairman Dave Archambault says he hopes Dakota Access pipeline developer, Energy Transfer Partners, and the incoming Trump administration will respect that decision.</p>
<p>The Army declined to approve an easement for construction of the section of the pipeline Sunday. Assistant Secretary for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy said the company must consider alternative routes.</p>
<p>The tribe believes the pipeline threatens drinking water and cultural sites. Archambault says the Army’s decision “took tremendous courage.”</p>
<p>ETP says the decision was politically motivated. The company continues to seek permission for the crossing from a federal judge.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>9:30 a.m.</p>
<p>An industry group supporting the $3.8 billion Dakota Access oil pipeline is hoping President-Elect Donald Trump clears the way for its completion.</p>
<p>The MAIN Coalition is made up of agriculture, business and labor entities that benefit from Midwest infrastructure projects. It says the Army’s decision not to approve a permit for construction under a Missouri River reservoir in North Dakota is “arrogance that working class Americans soundly rejected on Nov. 8.”</p>
<p>The group says it hopes pipeline supporter Trump will take action once he takes office in January.</p>
<p>The Standing Rock Sioux say the pipeline threatens the tribe’s water supply and cultural sites. The human rights organization Amnesty International praised the Army’s decision, saying “indigenous voices must not be ignored.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>7:50 a.m.</p>
<p>The president of the National Congress of American Indians says an Army decision to deny a permit for the Dakota Access oil pipeline in North Dakota is a victory for “all of Indian Country.”</p>
<p>Brian Cladoosby says the denial of an easement for a crossing beneath a Missouri River reservoir shows “respect for tribal sovereignty and a true government-to-government relationship.”</p>
<p>The Standing Rock Sioux and its supporters say the $3.8 billion pipeline threatens the tribe’s water source and cultural sites.</p>
<p>Pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners says the Army’s decision is politically motivated. The segment under the river is the only remaining big chunk of construction on the 1,200-mile pipeline to carry North Dakota oil to a shipping point in Illinois.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>1:19 a.m.</p>
<p>Oil pipeline protesters are pledging to remain camped on federal land in North Dakota, despite a favorable government ruling and an imminent deadline to leave.</p>
<p>Monday’s government-imposed deadline for the protesters to depart the property comes a day after the Army refused to let the company extend the pipeline beneath a Missouri River reservoir.</p>
<p>The Standing Rock Sioux tribe and its supporters argue that extending the project beneath Lake Oahe would threaten the tribe’s water source and cultural sites. The segment is the last major sticking point for the four-state, $3.8 billion project.</p>
<p>Despite the deadline, authorities say they won’t forcibly remove the protesters.</p>
<p>The company constructing the pipeline, Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners, released a statement Sunday night slamming the Army’s decision as politically motivated.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>This story has been corrected to reflect that the decision not to approve the easement came from the Army instead of the Corps of Engineers</p>
| false | 2 |
1 pm standing rock sioux chairman dave archambault says time dakota access oil pipeline opponents leave camp along pipeline route southern north dakota many opponents whove protesting months vowing stay believe fourstate pipeline threatens tribal drinking water cultural sites advertisement army denied permit pipeline cross missouri river reservoir area archambault says protest camps purpose served theres need people stay dangerous winter weather pipeline developer energy transfer partners could still prevail federal court opponents also fear presidentelect donald trump could reverse armys decision archambault doesnt think developments months ___ 1240 pm many dakota access oil pipeline opponents whove gathered months camp southern north dakota committed staying despite wintry weather demands leave monday governments deadline several hundred people leave camp thats federal land authorities said wont forcibly remove gov jack dalrymple last week also issued mandatory evacuation said one would removed force another snowstorm hitting area monday people camp busy shoring housing stockpiling firewood andy shute st louis said hes staying advertisement could months robin pegel mead nebraska said thinks weather might force people camp time ___ 11 presidentelect donald trump isnt saying hell 38 billion fourstate dakota access oil pipeline takes office january trump spokesman jason miller said monday incoming president supports construction pipeline wouldnt say whether trump would reverse army decision deny permit pipeline cross missouri river reservoir southern north dakota segment lake oahe remaining big chunk construction 1200mile pipeline carry north dakota oil dakotas iowa shipping point illinois standing rock sioux says project threatens cultural sites drinking water nearby reservation texasbased pipeline developer energy transfer partners says armys decision politically motivated miller says trump administration review situation make appropriate determination ___ 1040 trade association representing countrys oil natural gas industry urging presidentelect donald trump make approval dakota access oil pipeline top priority takes office next month american petroleum institute president ceo jack gerard said statement late sunday obama administration putting politics sound public policy says trump stand american consumers american workers army sunday denied permit 38 billion pipeline cross missouri river north dakota near standing rock sioux reservation tribe believes pipeline threatens drinking water cultural sites pipeline would run dakotas iowa illinois texasbased pipeline developer energy transfer partners says armys decision politically motivated item corrected reflect institutes statement released late sunday monday ___ 950 leader standing rock sioux says tribe forever grateful obama administration armys decision refuse allow construction pipeline north dakota reservoir chairman dave archambault says hopes dakota access pipeline developer energy transfer partners incoming trump administration respect decision army declined approve easement construction section pipeline sunday assistant secretary civil works joellen darcy said company must consider alternative routes tribe believes pipeline threatens drinking water cultural sites archambault says armys decision took tremendous courage etp says decision politically motivated company continues seek permission crossing federal judge ___ 930 industry group supporting 38 billion dakota access oil pipeline hoping presidentelect donald trump clears way completion main coalition made agriculture business labor entities benefit midwest infrastructure projects says armys decision approve permit construction missouri river reservoir north dakota arrogance working class americans soundly rejected nov 8 group says hopes pipeline supporter trump take action takes office january standing rock sioux say pipeline threatens tribes water supply cultural sites human rights organization amnesty international praised armys decision saying indigenous voices must ignored ___ 750 president national congress american indians says army decision deny permit dakota access oil pipeline north dakota victory indian country brian cladoosby says denial easement crossing beneath missouri river reservoir shows respect tribal sovereignty true governmenttogovernment relationship standing rock sioux supporters say 38 billion pipeline threatens tribes water source cultural sites pipeline developer energy transfer partners says armys decision politically motivated segment river remaining big chunk construction 1200mile pipeline carry north dakota oil shipping point illinois ___ 119 oil pipeline protesters pledging remain camped federal land north dakota despite favorable government ruling imminent deadline leave mondays governmentimposed deadline protesters depart property comes day army refused let company extend pipeline beneath missouri river reservoir standing rock sioux tribe supporters argue extending project beneath lake oahe would threaten tribes water source cultural sites segment last major sticking point fourstate 38 billion project despite deadline authorities say wont forcibly remove protesters company constructing pipeline dallasbased energy transfer partners released statement sunday night slamming armys decision politically motivated ___ story corrected reflect decision approve easement came army instead corps engineers
| 718 |
<p>NEW YORK (AP) - More people are getting voice-activated speakers and other smart devices for convenience and security. But doing so could also be giving hackers a key to their homes.</p>
<p>Many devices from reputable manufacturers have safeguards built in, but those can't guarantee against hacks. Gadgets from startups and no-name brands may offer little or no protection.</p>
<p>Before buying one, here are some risks to assess.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>LISTENING IN</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Speakers with built-in microphones</a> are increasingly popular. Devices such as Amazon's Echo and Google Home let people check the weather or their personal calendar with simple voice commands. Beyond that, many smart TVs and <a href="" type="internal">TV streaming devices</a> now have voice-activated functions, often for playback controls and video search. Many newer toys also come with microphones so kids can talk to them and get canned responses.</p>
<p>Many of these devices are constantly listening for your commands; when they receive them, they connect to corporate servers to carry them out. What if you're having private conversations at home? Are they getting sent over the internet, too?</p>
<p>In some cases, sound recordings will only leave home when you trigger the device. You might have to speak a command phrase like "OK Google" or press a button to get the device's attention. Check before buying to make sure a product includes such safeguards.</p>
<p>Some gadgets go further. Smart speakers, for instance, typically have a mute button to disable the microphone completely. Amazon says its mute function involves disconnecting the circuit, so that hackers cannot override the intent.</p>
<p>But there's no easy way for consumers to verify manufacturer promises, such as Amazon's assertion that the Echo never transmits recordings to the cloud unless it's been activated. That's where it helps to stick with reputable brands, as their reputations are at stake if they're caught in a lie. Bigger companies can also quickly fix security holes that crop up.</p>
<p>Missteps are still possible, even with reputable brands. One of the WikiLeaks disclosures <a href="" type="internal">alleged that the CIA commandeered</a> some Samsung smart TVs as listening devices even when the TV appeared to be off. And <a href="" type="internal">beware of internet-connected toys</a> , as manufacturers frequently rush their products to market, sometimes skimping on privacy features in the process. (You can check online to see if other parents or consumer groups have identified problems.)</p>
<p>One more catch: Voice commands sent over the internet are typically stored indefinitely to help manufacturers personalize their services (and, potentially, advertisements). These voice snippets may include music or conversations in the background. They <a href="" type="internal">can be sought</a> in lawsuits and investigations. Reputable brands let you review and delete your voice history; be sure to do so regularly.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WATCHING YOU</p>
<p>Online security cameras such as the <a href="" type="internal">Cam IQ</a> , from Google sibling company Nest, let you check in on your pets or kids when you're not home. They also typically store video online, so you can see whether your housekeeper actually cleaned the kitchen last week. Some services routinely send video to online storage; others do so only when triggered by a sound or motion.</p>
<p>Again, reputable brands are likely to take security seriously, but no system is perfect.</p>
<p>If you want to be very careful, you might want to turn the camera to face the wall when you're home. You might also want to turn off the microphone, since it could capture background conversations. Or just unplug the camera altogether ... though you'll also have to remember to reconnect it when you leave.</p>
<p>Along similar lines, consider covering up the front-facing camera on your laptop with opaque tape unless you need it regularly for video chats. Laptops aren't supposed to send video unless you activate an app that needs it, but malware has been known to activate the camera remotely.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>DIGITAL TRAILS</p>
<p>Smart locks let you unlock doors with an app, so you can let in guests even when you're not home. Burglars might try to hack the system, though it's often easier for them to just break a window.</p>
<p>Some rental properties are also turning to smart locks to control access. When you move out, the landlord can automatically disable your digital key. But these systems also let landlords track your whereabouts and those of your guests. If you create a guest key that's used daily, for instance, the landlord might suspect you have an unauthorized occupant.</p>
<p>Even if you own the home, these keys can leave a digital trail. In a child-custody dispute, for instance, your ex might subpoena the records to learn that you've been staying out late on school nights.</p>
<p>NEW YORK (AP) - More people are getting voice-activated speakers and other smart devices for convenience and security. But doing so could also be giving hackers a key to their homes.</p>
<p>Many devices from reputable manufacturers have safeguards built in, but those can't guarantee against hacks. Gadgets from startups and no-name brands may offer little or no protection.</p>
<p>Before buying one, here are some risks to assess.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>LISTENING IN</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Speakers with built-in microphones</a> are increasingly popular. Devices such as Amazon's Echo and Google Home let people check the weather or their personal calendar with simple voice commands. Beyond that, many smart TVs and <a href="" type="internal">TV streaming devices</a> now have voice-activated functions, often for playback controls and video search. Many newer toys also come with microphones so kids can talk to them and get canned responses.</p>
<p>Many of these devices are constantly listening for your commands; when they receive them, they connect to corporate servers to carry them out. What if you're having private conversations at home? Are they getting sent over the internet, too?</p>
<p>In some cases, sound recordings will only leave home when you trigger the device. You might have to speak a command phrase like "OK Google" or press a button to get the device's attention. Check before buying to make sure a product includes such safeguards.</p>
<p>Some gadgets go further. Smart speakers, for instance, typically have a mute button to disable the microphone completely. Amazon says its mute function involves disconnecting the circuit, so that hackers cannot override the intent.</p>
<p>But there's no easy way for consumers to verify manufacturer promises, such as Amazon's assertion that the Echo never transmits recordings to the cloud unless it's been activated. That's where it helps to stick with reputable brands, as their reputations are at stake if they're caught in a lie. Bigger companies can also quickly fix security holes that crop up.</p>
<p>Missteps are still possible, even with reputable brands. One of the WikiLeaks disclosures <a href="" type="internal">alleged that the CIA commandeered</a> some Samsung smart TVs as listening devices even when the TV appeared to be off. And <a href="" type="internal">beware of internet-connected toys</a> , as manufacturers frequently rush their products to market, sometimes skimping on privacy features in the process. (You can check online to see if other parents or consumer groups have identified problems.)</p>
<p>One more catch: Voice commands sent over the internet are typically stored indefinitely to help manufacturers personalize their services (and, potentially, advertisements). These voice snippets may include music or conversations in the background. They <a href="" type="internal">can be sought</a> in lawsuits and investigations. Reputable brands let you review and delete your voice history; be sure to do so regularly.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WATCHING YOU</p>
<p>Online security cameras such as the <a href="" type="internal">Cam IQ</a> , from Google sibling company Nest, let you check in on your pets or kids when you're not home. They also typically store video online, so you can see whether your housekeeper actually cleaned the kitchen last week. Some services routinely send video to online storage; others do so only when triggered by a sound or motion.</p>
<p>Again, reputable brands are likely to take security seriously, but no system is perfect.</p>
<p>If you want to be very careful, you might want to turn the camera to face the wall when you're home. You might also want to turn off the microphone, since it could capture background conversations. Or just unplug the camera altogether ... though you'll also have to remember to reconnect it when you leave.</p>
<p>Along similar lines, consider covering up the front-facing camera on your laptop with opaque tape unless you need it regularly for video chats. Laptops aren't supposed to send video unless you activate an app that needs it, but malware has been known to activate the camera remotely.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>DIGITAL TRAILS</p>
<p>Smart locks let you unlock doors with an app, so you can let in guests even when you're not home. Burglars might try to hack the system, though it's often easier for them to just break a window.</p>
<p>Some rental properties are also turning to smart locks to control access. When you move out, the landlord can automatically disable your digital key. But these systems also let landlords track your whereabouts and those of your guests. If you create a guest key that's used daily, for instance, the landlord might suspect you have an unauthorized occupant.</p>
<p>Even if you own the home, these keys can leave a digital trail. In a child-custody dispute, for instance, your ex might subpoena the records to learn that you've been staying out late on school nights.</p>
| false | 2 |
new york ap people getting voiceactivated speakers smart devices convenience security could also giving hackers key homes many devices reputable manufacturers safeguards built cant guarantee hacks gadgets startups noname brands may offer little protection buying one risks assess ___ listening speakers builtin microphones increasingly popular devices amazons echo google home let people check weather personal calendar simple voice commands beyond many smart tvs tv streaming devices voiceactivated functions often playback controls video search many newer toys also come microphones kids talk get canned responses many devices constantly listening commands receive connect corporate servers carry youre private conversations home getting sent internet cases sound recordings leave home trigger device might speak command phrase like ok google press button get devices attention check buying make sure product includes safeguards gadgets go smart speakers instance typically mute button disable microphone completely amazon says mute function involves disconnecting circuit hackers override intent theres easy way consumers verify manufacturer promises amazons assertion echo never transmits recordings cloud unless activated thats helps stick reputable brands reputations stake theyre caught lie bigger companies also quickly fix security holes crop missteps still possible even reputable brands one wikileaks disclosures alleged cia commandeered samsung smart tvs listening devices even tv appeared beware internetconnected toys manufacturers frequently rush products market sometimes skimping privacy features process check online see parents consumer groups identified problems one catch voice commands sent internet typically stored indefinitely help manufacturers personalize services potentially advertisements voice snippets may include music conversations background sought lawsuits investigations reputable brands let review delete voice history sure regularly ___ watching online security cameras cam iq google sibling company nest let check pets kids youre home also typically store video online see whether housekeeper actually cleaned kitchen last week services routinely send video online storage others triggered sound motion reputable brands likely take security seriously system perfect want careful might want turn camera face wall youre home might also want turn microphone since could capture background conversations unplug camera altogether though youll also remember reconnect leave along similar lines consider covering frontfacing camera laptop opaque tape unless need regularly video chats laptops arent supposed send video unless activate app needs malware known activate camera remotely ___ digital trails smart locks let unlock doors app let guests even youre home burglars might try hack system though often easier break window rental properties also turning smart locks control access move landlord automatically disable digital key systems also let landlords track whereabouts guests create guest key thats used daily instance landlord might suspect unauthorized occupant even home keys leave digital trail childcustody dispute instance ex might subpoena records learn youve staying late school nights new york ap people getting voiceactivated speakers smart devices convenience security could also giving hackers key homes many devices reputable manufacturers safeguards built cant guarantee hacks gadgets startups noname brands may offer little protection buying one risks assess ___ listening speakers builtin microphones increasingly popular devices amazons echo google home let people check weather personal calendar simple voice commands beyond many smart tvs tv streaming devices voiceactivated functions often playback controls video search many newer toys also come microphones kids talk get canned responses many devices constantly listening commands receive connect corporate servers carry youre private conversations home getting sent internet cases sound recordings leave home trigger device might speak command phrase like ok google press button get devices attention check buying make sure product includes safeguards gadgets go smart speakers instance typically mute button disable microphone completely amazon says mute function involves disconnecting circuit hackers override intent theres easy way consumers verify manufacturer promises amazons assertion echo never transmits recordings cloud unless activated thats helps stick reputable brands reputations stake theyre caught lie bigger companies also quickly fix security holes crop missteps still possible even reputable brands one wikileaks disclosures alleged cia commandeered samsung smart tvs listening devices even tv appeared beware internetconnected toys manufacturers frequently rush products market sometimes skimping privacy features process check online see parents consumer groups identified problems one catch voice commands sent internet typically stored indefinitely help manufacturers personalize services potentially advertisements voice snippets may include music conversations background sought lawsuits investigations reputable brands let review delete voice history sure regularly ___ watching online security cameras cam iq google sibling company nest let check pets kids youre home also typically store video online see whether housekeeper actually cleaned kitchen last week services routinely send video online storage others triggered sound motion reputable brands likely take security seriously system perfect want careful might want turn camera face wall youre home might also want turn microphone since could capture background conversations unplug camera altogether though youll also remember reconnect leave along similar lines consider covering frontfacing camera laptop opaque tape unless need regularly video chats laptops arent supposed send video unless activate app needs malware known activate camera remotely ___ digital trails smart locks let unlock doors app let guests even youre home burglars might try hack system though often easier break window rental properties also turning smart locks control access move landlord automatically disable digital key systems also let landlords track whereabouts guests create guest key thats used daily instance landlord might suspect unauthorized occupant even home keys leave digital trail childcustody dispute instance ex might subpoena records learn youve staying late school nights
| 878 |
<p>LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska lawmakers are again pushing to reduce prison crowding and employee turnover ahead of a July 2020 deadline that could force state officials to parole more inmates.</p>
<p>Nine state senators outlined a series of prison measures Friday that they will pursue this year to address crowding and other issues in the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services.</p>
<p>The department has faced intense scrutiny from lawmakers following two deadly prison riots in a two-year period, the June 2016 escape of two inmates from a Lincoln prison and other high-profile problems. Some lawmakers have said overcrowding and employee burnout are to blame for many of the issues.</p>
<p>"If we don't plan and prepare, we are not assuring the public safety," Sen. Patty Pansing-Brooks of Lincoln said at a news conference at the Capitol.</p>
<p>Nebraska's corrections department has until July 1, 2020 to lower its inmate population to 140 percent of what all of its facilities were designed to hold. If the department falls short of that target, the prisons will fall into an automatic "overcrowding emergency" that forces the state officials to consider paroling all eligible prisoners right away.</p>
<p>Lawmakers imposed the requirement in 2015 as part of a package that was intended to reduce the prison population, but the legislation hasn't yet produced the desired result. The prisons housed roughly 5,200 inmates on Friday in facilities that were designed to hold 3,375, placing the population at roughly 154 percent of the design capacity.</p>
<p>Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha said state officials need to alleviate overcrowding soon to try to prevent the U.S. Department of Justice from intervening, as it did with California's prison system. In 2011, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that California's prison overcrowding amounted to cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Constitution and ordered state officials to release more inmates.</p>
<p>The Nebraska prison bills include a proposal that would require the corrections agency to create a plan in case it has to release a large number of inmates. Another measure would continue the state's partnership with county jails to house inmates who are nearing their release date.</p>
<p>Still another bill would reinstate longevity-based pay raises for prison workers, who have complained that the department offers few incentives to keep experienced staffers on the job.</p>
<p>"This is a systemic issue that will need a systemwide solution," said Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln, the sponsor of that bill.</p>
<p>Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue introduced legislation Wednesday that would require the department to conduct a staffing analysis to identify what jobs are needed and report back to the Legislature by Dec. 15. Krist has proposed letting the department approve a "medical release" for inmates who are terminally ill or permanently incapacitated.</p>
<p>Sen. Kate Bolz of Lincoln said the bills all stem from a legislative report that found lingering problems in the corrections department, despite some improvements.</p>
<p>Prisons spokeswoman Dawn-Renee Smith said department officials haven't yet decided whether to support or oppose any of the bills.</p>
<p>"Certainly we'll review them and determine what impact they have on the agency and public safety," Smith said.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Grant Schulte on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/GrantSchulte" type="external">https://twitter.com/GrantSchulte</a></p>
<p>LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska lawmakers are again pushing to reduce prison crowding and employee turnover ahead of a July 2020 deadline that could force state officials to parole more inmates.</p>
<p>Nine state senators outlined a series of prison measures Friday that they will pursue this year to address crowding and other issues in the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services.</p>
<p>The department has faced intense scrutiny from lawmakers following two deadly prison riots in a two-year period, the June 2016 escape of two inmates from a Lincoln prison and other high-profile problems. Some lawmakers have said overcrowding and employee burnout are to blame for many of the issues.</p>
<p>"If we don't plan and prepare, we are not assuring the public safety," Sen. Patty Pansing-Brooks of Lincoln said at a news conference at the Capitol.</p>
<p>Nebraska's corrections department has until July 1, 2020 to lower its inmate population to 140 percent of what all of its facilities were designed to hold. If the department falls short of that target, the prisons will fall into an automatic "overcrowding emergency" that forces the state officials to consider paroling all eligible prisoners right away.</p>
<p>Lawmakers imposed the requirement in 2015 as part of a package that was intended to reduce the prison population, but the legislation hasn't yet produced the desired result. The prisons housed roughly 5,200 inmates on Friday in facilities that were designed to hold 3,375, placing the population at roughly 154 percent of the design capacity.</p>
<p>Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha said state officials need to alleviate overcrowding soon to try to prevent the U.S. Department of Justice from intervening, as it did with California's prison system. In 2011, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that California's prison overcrowding amounted to cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Constitution and ordered state officials to release more inmates.</p>
<p>The Nebraska prison bills include a proposal that would require the corrections agency to create a plan in case it has to release a large number of inmates. Another measure would continue the state's partnership with county jails to house inmates who are nearing their release date.</p>
<p>Still another bill would reinstate longevity-based pay raises for prison workers, who have complained that the department offers few incentives to keep experienced staffers on the job.</p>
<p>"This is a systemic issue that will need a systemwide solution," said Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln, the sponsor of that bill.</p>
<p>Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue introduced legislation Wednesday that would require the department to conduct a staffing analysis to identify what jobs are needed and report back to the Legislature by Dec. 15. Krist has proposed letting the department approve a "medical release" for inmates who are terminally ill or permanently incapacitated.</p>
<p>Sen. Kate Bolz of Lincoln said the bills all stem from a legislative report that found lingering problems in the corrections department, despite some improvements.</p>
<p>Prisons spokeswoman Dawn-Renee Smith said department officials haven't yet decided whether to support or oppose any of the bills.</p>
<p>"Certainly we'll review them and determine what impact they have on the agency and public safety," Smith said.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Grant Schulte on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/GrantSchulte" type="external">https://twitter.com/GrantSchulte</a></p>
| false | 2 |
lincoln neb ap nebraska lawmakers pushing reduce prison crowding employee turnover ahead july 2020 deadline could force state officials parole inmates nine state senators outlined series prison measures friday pursue year address crowding issues nebraska department correctional services department faced intense scrutiny lawmakers following two deadly prison riots twoyear period june 2016 escape two inmates lincoln prison highprofile problems lawmakers said overcrowding employee burnout blame many issues dont plan prepare assuring public safety sen patty pansingbrooks lincoln said news conference capitol nebraskas corrections department july 1 2020 lower inmate population 140 percent facilities designed hold department falls short target prisons fall automatic overcrowding emergency forces state officials consider paroling eligible prisoners right away lawmakers imposed requirement 2015 part package intended reduce prison population legislation hasnt yet produced desired result prisons housed roughly 5200 inmates friday facilities designed hold 3375 placing population roughly 154 percent design capacity sen bob krist omaha said state officials need alleviate overcrowding soon try prevent us department justice intervening californias prison system 2011 us supreme court ruled californias prison overcrowding amounted cruel unusual punishment violation constitution ordered state officials release inmates nebraska prison bills include proposal would require corrections agency create plan case release large number inmates another measure would continue states partnership county jails house inmates nearing release date still another bill would reinstate longevitybased pay raises prison workers complained department offers incentives keep experienced staffers job systemic issue need systemwide solution said sen anna wishart lincoln sponsor bill sen carol blood bellevue introduced legislation wednesday would require department conduct staffing analysis identify jobs needed report back legislature dec 15 krist proposed letting department approve medical release inmates terminally ill permanently incapacitated sen kate bolz lincoln said bills stem legislative report found lingering problems corrections department despite improvements prisons spokeswoman dawnrenee smith said department officials havent yet decided whether support oppose bills certainly well review determine impact agency public safety smith said ___ follow grant schulte twitter httpstwittercomgrantschulte lincoln neb ap nebraska lawmakers pushing reduce prison crowding employee turnover ahead july 2020 deadline could force state officials parole inmates nine state senators outlined series prison measures friday pursue year address crowding issues nebraska department correctional services department faced intense scrutiny lawmakers following two deadly prison riots twoyear period june 2016 escape two inmates lincoln prison highprofile problems lawmakers said overcrowding employee burnout blame many issues dont plan prepare assuring public safety sen patty pansingbrooks lincoln said news conference capitol nebraskas corrections department july 1 2020 lower inmate population 140 percent facilities designed hold department falls short target prisons fall automatic overcrowding emergency forces state officials consider paroling eligible prisoners right away lawmakers imposed requirement 2015 part package intended reduce prison population legislation hasnt yet produced desired result prisons housed roughly 5200 inmates friday facilities designed hold 3375 placing population roughly 154 percent design capacity sen bob krist omaha said state officials need alleviate overcrowding soon try prevent us department justice intervening californias prison system 2011 us supreme court ruled californias prison overcrowding amounted cruel unusual punishment violation constitution ordered state officials release inmates nebraska prison bills include proposal would require corrections agency create plan case release large number inmates another measure would continue states partnership county jails house inmates nearing release date still another bill would reinstate longevitybased pay raises prison workers complained department offers incentives keep experienced staffers job systemic issue need systemwide solution said sen anna wishart lincoln sponsor bill sen carol blood bellevue introduced legislation wednesday would require department conduct staffing analysis identify jobs needed report back legislature dec 15 krist proposed letting department approve medical release inmates terminally ill permanently incapacitated sen kate bolz lincoln said bills stem legislative report found lingering problems corrections department despite improvements prisons spokeswoman dawnrenee smith said department officials havent yet decided whether support oppose bills certainly well review determine impact agency public safety smith said ___ follow grant schulte twitter httpstwittercomgrantschulte
| 646 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>POLITICAL PARTY:&#160;Republican</p>
<p>OCCUPATION:&#160;Congressman, former small-business man</p>
<p>RESIDENCE:&#160;Hobbs</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: Owned and operated a small business with wife, Cynthia.</p>
<p>EDUCATION: Bachelor’s in economics, New Mexico State University; master’s in business administration, Eastern New Mexico University.</p>
<p>CAMPAIGN WEBSITE:&#160; <a href="http://peopleforpearce.com/" type="external">peopleforpearce.com</a></p>
<p>1. What can Congress do to help spur job creation?</p>
<p>Congress needs to stop passing laws that punish job creation. Here in New&#160;Mexico federal laws are chasing jobs overseas when we could have more agriculture, energy and manufacturing jobs. Reckless spending on special interest projects takes money away from small businesses. This is a roadblock that prevents money from flowing to small local businesses that could hire new workers or help a business expand giving raises to current workers.</p>
<p>2. How should Congress address the budget deficit and national debt?</p>
<p>I voted for a plan to cut spending and balance the budget within 10 years. Nancy Pelosi and her liberal allies have a plan that never balances the budget. Ever. There are very few areas of the federal government where we cannot save money or be more efficient. Tackling fraud in government programs is critical. Fraud estimates including for Medicaid approach $200 billion. Obamacare is also a major factor in driving up our long-term spending. Money that we will owe to foreign governments.</p>
<p>3. How would you propose to overhaul the nation’s immigration laws?</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>For years I tried to pull both sides together. First, we must secure the border. &#160;Then we can reform our immigration system. Both problems demand we treat people with respect. I have never supported amnesty but I have long championed a complete overhaul of our immigration system. We also need a new fair guest worker program that does not hand out entitlements but allows people to work. I have joined with Democrats to tackle slices of the issue, including helping dual-status families and also increasing training and accountability in the Border Patrol.</p>
<p>4. How would you propose to change the nation’s gun laws, if at all?</p>
<p>We do not need more gun laws. We should enforce the ones we have now.</p>
<p>5. Do you approve of the president’s actions in Syria and Iraq?</p>
<p>The president laid out a fairly clear strategy for defeating ISIL.&#160;I support efforts to promote stability, target terrorists who threaten Americans and encourage Middle East nations to confront these threats. &#160;If we say we are going to terminate ISIL and risk the lives of our troops, we must follow through. We must complete the mission. &#160;If actions follow the president’s words, the strategy highlighted will have the ability to do just that.</p>
<p>6. What is your approach to foreign policy and especially armed conflicts? Do you envision more U.S. involvement in crisis spots around the globe or less?</p>
<p>The world is safer for us all when America is strong and our friends and foes know with certainty what our policy is. When we stand clearly for freedom and liberty we are at our best. We do not need to be responding with military force all the time. But we must act strongly to protect our national interests.</p>
<p>7. New Mexico’s economy is heavily dependent on federal spending. Is this a good economic model for the state? If not, what should be done in the alternative?</p>
<p>I support the important work at our labs and our military bases. I opposed an out-of -state corporation’s project at White Sands Missile Range because it puts the base and the jobs that support it at risk — something we cannot afford. We need to bring back agriculture, ranching, logging and manufacturing that have been crushed by oppressive regulations like the Endangered Species Act.</p>
<p>8. The U.S. is producing more oil and gas than ever before. Do you support or oppose hydraulic fracturing for natural gas? What energy policies should be implemented with respect to domestic oil and gas production?</p>
<p>Oil and gas production is up significantly because the private sector has found ways to produce more in spite of special interests’ attempts to overregulate domestic production. Hydraulic fracturing has been done safely for years and should continue. Domestic oil and gas has led to a boom that creates good paying middle class jobs both directly and indirectly. We should encourage this to end our dependence on foreign oil.</p>
<p>9. How should Congress respond to issues of global climate change?</p>
<p>I have long believed we must diversify our energy structure. Oil and gas are critical to our economy, but we cannot stop there. Wind, biofuels, solar and particularly nuclear power all have less impact on our environment. We need to further reduce the world’s dependence on Middle East oil and develop alternative green energies. I oppose cap-and-trade plans that would simply shatter our economy.</p>
<p>10. Has the federal government and the Department of Education gone too far in its oversight of local schools and state education policies?</p>
<p>Education is a local responsibility. Common Core and one-size-fit-all mandates from Washington are doomed to failure. We are a large and diverse nation with many talented teachers and education leaders. We need to shift power to the local level with fewer strings attached. I joined with Democrats to help pass reforms to hold down the skyrocketing cost of college loans. This is an area where the federal government helped play a positive role.</p>
<p>11. Do you think President Obama has overstepped his authority in the use of executive orders, such as creating national monuments in New Mexico, deferring immigration enforcement against children brought to the U.S. illegally and establishing new environmental rules to limit greenhouse gas emissions?</p>
<p>The president has overstepped his authority in some areas and the courts have pulled him back. According to the courts, the president unlawfully appointed people to the National Labor Relations Board so they would issue decisions to help the president’s political supporters. These were overturned. The result has been&#160;chaos and lost jobs. In other areas, the president has sided with special interests to enact wide-ranging changes that would have been better done through legislation.</p>
<p>12. Describe your position on abortion.</p>
<p>I am pro-life and I oppose taxpayer funding of abortion.</p>
<p>13. Have you or your business, if you are a business owner, ever been the subject of any state or federal tax liens?</p>
<p>No.</p>
<p>14. Have you ever been involved in a personal or business bankruptcy proceeding?</p>
<p>No.</p>
<p>15. Have you ever been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor or any felony in New Mexico or any other state? If so, explain.</p>
<p>No.</p>
| false | 2 |
political party160republican occupation160congressman former smallbusiness man residence160hobbs advertisement relevant experience owned operated small business wife cynthia education bachelors economics new mexico state university masters business administration eastern new mexico university campaign website160 peopleforpearcecom 1 congress help spur job creation congress needs stop passing laws punish job creation new160mexico federal laws chasing jobs overseas could agriculture energy manufacturing jobs reckless spending special interest projects takes money away small businesses roadblock prevents money flowing small local businesses could hire new workers help business expand giving raises current workers 2 congress address budget deficit national debt voted plan cut spending balance budget within 10 years nancy pelosi liberal allies plan never balances budget ever areas federal government save money efficient tackling fraud government programs critical fraud estimates including medicaid approach 200 billion obamacare also major factor driving longterm spending money owe foreign governments 3 would propose overhaul nations immigration laws advertisement years tried pull sides together first must secure border 160then reform immigration system problems demand treat people respect never supported amnesty long championed complete overhaul immigration system also need new fair guest worker program hand entitlements allows people work joined democrats tackle slices issue including helping dualstatus families also increasing training accountability border patrol 4 would propose change nations gun laws need gun laws enforce ones 5 approve presidents actions syria iraq president laid fairly clear strategy defeating isil160i support efforts promote stability target terrorists threaten americans encourage middle east nations confront threats 160if say going terminate isil risk lives troops must follow must complete mission 160if actions follow presidents words strategy highlighted ability 6 approach foreign policy especially armed conflicts envision us involvement crisis spots around globe less world safer us america strong friends foes know certainty policy stand clearly freedom liberty best need responding military force time must act strongly protect national interests 7 new mexicos economy heavily dependent federal spending good economic model state done alternative support important work labs military bases opposed outof state corporations project white sands missile range puts base jobs support risk something afford need bring back agriculture ranching logging manufacturing crushed oppressive regulations like endangered species act 8 us producing oil gas ever support oppose hydraulic fracturing natural gas energy policies implemented respect domestic oil gas production oil gas production significantly private sector found ways produce spite special interests attempts overregulate domestic production hydraulic fracturing done safely years continue domestic oil gas led boom creates good paying middle class jobs directly indirectly encourage end dependence foreign oil 9 congress respond issues global climate change long believed must diversify energy structure oil gas critical economy stop wind biofuels solar particularly nuclear power less impact environment need reduce worlds dependence middle east oil develop alternative green energies oppose capandtrade plans would simply shatter economy 10 federal government department education gone far oversight local schools state education policies education local responsibility common core onesizefitall mandates washington doomed failure large diverse nation many talented teachers education leaders need shift power local level fewer strings attached joined democrats help pass reforms hold skyrocketing cost college loans area federal government helped play positive role 11 think president obama overstepped authority use executive orders creating national monuments new mexico deferring immigration enforcement children brought us illegally establishing new environmental rules limit greenhouse gas emissions president overstepped authority areas courts pulled back according courts president unlawfully appointed people national labor relations board would issue decisions help presidents political supporters overturned result been160chaos lost jobs areas president sided special interests enact wideranging changes would better done legislation 12 describe position abortion prolife oppose taxpayer funding abortion 13 business business owner ever subject state federal tax liens 14 ever involved personal business bankruptcy proceeding 15 ever arrested charged convicted drunken driving misdemeanor felony new mexico state explain
| 623 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>The FBI opened an investigation Monday into the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown, who police said was shot multiple times Saturday after being confronted by an officer in Ferguson, a suburb of 21,000 that’s nearly 70 percent black.</p>
<p>Authorities in Ferguson used tear gas and rubber bullets to try to disperse a large crowd Monday night that had gathered at the site of a burned-out convenience store damaged a night earlier, when many businesses in the area were looted.</p>
<p>Police Chief Tom Jackson said members of the crowd threw rocks at police and gunfire came from the crowd, so officers used tear gas and shot “beanbag rounds” meant to stun them. Jackson said police blocked off the area where most of the looting and vandalism occurred the previous night out of concern that cars passing by might hit demonstrators in the street.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>St. Louis County police spokesman Brian Schellman said there were at least five arrests and no reports of looting. He said police using loudspeakers were urging people to go home.</p>
<p>Authorities were vague about exactly what led the officer to open fire on Brown, except to say that the shooting was preceded by a scuffle of some kind with a man. It was unclear whether Brown or the man he was with was involved in the altercation.</p>
<p>Investigators have refused to publicly disclose the race of the officer, who is now on administrative leave. But Phillip Walker said he was on the porch of an apartment complex overlooking the scene when he heard a shot and saw a white officer with Brown on the street.</p>
<p>Brown “was giving up in the sense of raising his arms and being subdued,” Walker told The Associated Press on Monday. The officer “had his gun raised and started shooting the individual in the chest multiple times.” The officer then “stood over him and shot him” after the victim fell wounded.</p>
<p>Dorian Johnson offered a similar account when he told KMOV-TV that he and Brown were walking home from a convenience store when a police officer told them to get out of the street and onto the sidewalk. Johnson said they kept walking, which caused the officer to confront them from his car and again after getting out of the vehicle.</p>
<p>Johnson said the first time the officer fired, he and Brown got scared and ran away.</p>
<p>“He shot again, and once my friend felt that shot, he turned around and put his hands in the air, and he started to get down,” Johnson said. “But the officer still approached with his weapon drawn and fired several more shots.”</p>
<p>“We wasn’t causing harm to nobody,” Johnson said. “We had no weapons on us at all.”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Walker said that he did not see a scuffle or the circumstances that preceded the first gunshot.</p>
<p>The St. Louis County Police Department refused to discuss Johnson’s remarks, citing the ongoing investigation. But county Police Chief Jon Belmar previously said that an officer encountered Brown and another man outside an apartment complex, and that one of the men pushed the officer into his squad car and they struggled over the officer’s weapon.</p>
<p>Jackson, the Ferguson police chief, said there’s no video footage of the shooting from the apartment complex or from any police dashboard cameras or body-worn cameras that the department recently bought but has not yet put to use.</p>
<p>Brown’s parents and their attorneys asked the public to share any information and videos they might have related to the shooting.</p>
<p>The family had planned to drop their son off at a technical college Monday to begin his studies.</p>
<p>“Instead of celebrating his future, they are having to plan his funeral,” said Benjamin Crump, a family attorney who also represented Trayvon Martin’s relatives. Martin, 17, was fatally shot by a Florida neighborhood watch organizer who was later acquitted of murder charges.</p>
<p>“I don’t want to sugarcoat it,” Crump added. Brown “was executed in broad daylight.”</p>
<p>Crump and some civil rights leaders drew comparisons between Brown’s death and that of Martin and other young black men killed in racially charged incidents.</p>
<p>Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden, said she did not understand why police did not subdue her son with a club or stun gun. She said the officer involved should be fired and prosecuted, adding that “I would like to see him go to jail with the death penalty.”</p>
<p>The FBI is looking into possible civil rights violations, said Cheryl Mimura, a spokeswoman for the agency’s St. Louis field office.</p>
<p>Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement that the case deserves a full review.</p>
<p>Nearly three dozen people were arrested following a candlelight vigil Sunday night after crowds looted and burned stores, vandalized vehicles, assaulted and threatened reporters and taunted officers.</p>
<p>Deanel Trout, a 14-year resident of Ferguson, was convinced the troublemakers were largely from outside Ferguson and that they used Brown’s death and the vigil as an opportunity to steal.</p>
<p>“I can understand the anger and unrest, but I can’t understand the violence and looting,” Trout said.</p>
<p>Some people climbed atop police cars as officers with riot shields and batons stood stoically nearby, trying to restrict access to the most endangered areas.</p>
<p>Thirty-two people were arrested, police said. Two officers suffered minor injuries. There were no reports of civilians hurt.</p>
<p>On Monday, the scene of the shooting was marked with a makeshift memorial of candles and signs in the middle of the narrow street where Brown fell dead.</p>
<p>Brown’s father, also named Michael Brown, visited the memorial Monday, at one point straightening a wooden cross. He abruptly left after gunshots rang out a block away. There were no reports of injuries from that gunfire.</p>
<p>The person who was with Brown has not been arrested or charged, and it was not clear if he was armed, Jackson said. Blood samples were taken from Brown and the officer for toxicology tests, which can take weeks to complete.</p>
<p>——</p>
<p>Associated Press reporters Jim Salter and Jeff Roberson in Ferguson, Alan Scher Zagier in St. Louis and Eric Tucker in Washington and AP researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York contributed to this report.</p>
| false | 2 |
fbi opened investigation monday death 18yearold michael brown police said shot multiple times saturday confronted officer ferguson suburb 21000 thats nearly 70 percent black authorities ferguson used tear gas rubber bullets try disperse large crowd monday night gathered site burnedout convenience store damaged night earlier many businesses area looted police chief tom jackson said members crowd threw rocks police gunfire came crowd officers used tear gas shot beanbag rounds meant stun jackson said police blocked area looting vandalism occurred previous night concern cars passing might hit demonstrators street advertisement st louis county police spokesman brian schellman said least five arrests reports looting said police using loudspeakers urging people go home authorities vague exactly led officer open fire brown except say shooting preceded scuffle kind man unclear whether brown man involved altercation investigators refused publicly disclose race officer administrative leave phillip walker said porch apartment complex overlooking scene heard shot saw white officer brown street brown giving sense raising arms subdued walker told associated press monday officer gun raised started shooting individual chest multiple times officer stood shot victim fell wounded dorian johnson offered similar account told kmovtv brown walking home convenience store police officer told get street onto sidewalk johnson said kept walking caused officer confront car getting vehicle johnson said first time officer fired brown got scared ran away shot friend felt shot turned around put hands air started get johnson said officer still approached weapon drawn fired several shots wasnt causing harm nobody johnson said weapons us advertisement walker said see scuffle circumstances preceded first gunshot st louis county police department refused discuss johnsons remarks citing ongoing investigation county police chief jon belmar previously said officer encountered brown another man outside apartment complex one men pushed officer squad car struggled officers weapon jackson ferguson police chief said theres video footage shooting apartment complex police dashboard cameras bodyworn cameras department recently bought yet put use browns parents attorneys asked public share information videos might related shooting family planned drop son technical college monday begin studies instead celebrating future plan funeral said benjamin crump family attorney also represented trayvon martins relatives martin 17 fatally shot florida neighborhood watch organizer later acquitted murder charges dont want sugarcoat crump added brown executed broad daylight crump civil rights leaders drew comparisons browns death martin young black men killed racially charged incidents browns mother lesley mcspadden said understand police subdue son club stun gun said officer involved fired prosecuted adding would like see go jail death penalty fbi looking possible civil rights violations said cheryl mimura spokeswoman agencys st louis field office attorney general eric holder said statement case deserves full review nearly three dozen people arrested following candlelight vigil sunday night crowds looted burned stores vandalized vehicles assaulted threatened reporters taunted officers deanel trout 14year resident ferguson convinced troublemakers largely outside ferguson used browns death vigil opportunity steal understand anger unrest cant understand violence looting trout said people climbed atop police cars officers riot shields batons stood stoically nearby trying restrict access endangered areas thirtytwo people arrested police said two officers suffered minor injuries reports civilians hurt monday scene shooting marked makeshift memorial candles signs middle narrow street brown fell dead browns father also named michael brown visited memorial monday one point straightening wooden cross abruptly left gunshots rang block away reports injuries gunfire person brown arrested charged clear armed jackson said blood samples taken brown officer toxicology tests take weeks complete associated press reporters jim salter jeff roberson ferguson alan scher zagier st louis eric tucker washington ap researcher rhonda shafner new york contributed report
| 593 |
<p>BEIJING (AP) — The foreign ministers of Pakistan and Afghanistan appealed to Taliban militants to join peace talks following a meeting Tuesday organized by China to mend strained relations between the two governments.</p>
<p>In a joint statement, the three governments called for a "broad-based and inclusive peace and reconciliation process" following near-daily Taliban attacks in areas across Afghanistan. The three governments said they "call on the Afghan Taliban to join the peace process at an early date."</p>
<p>Afghanistan and Pakistan are at odds over American and Afghan accusations that Islamabad is harboring some of the fiercest factions of the Taliban, which was overthrown as the Afghan government in 2001 by a U.S. invasion. Those include the Haqqani group, which the U.S. government has declared a terrorist organization.</p>
<p>"Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to improve their relations as soon as possible," said the Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi. "The two sides unanimously expressed the point that they will not allow any party or force to use their territories to engage in the activities that would undermine the security of the other side."</p>
<p>The talks reflected Beijing's efforts to expand its political and diplomatic role in the region. Chinese leaders also are uneasy about the potential for militant activity in Afghanistan and elsewhere in Central Asia to spill across the border into China's Muslim northwest.</p>
<p>The Taliban have stepped up attacks across Afghanistan since the United States and its NATO allies concluded their combat mission at the end of 2014. The insurgents have gained ground across several provinces and increasingly launch attacks in urban centers.</p>
<p>On Sunday, a roadside bomb killed seven civilians in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province. No group immediately claimed responsibility, but the Taliban have a strong and growing presence in the area.</p>
<p>Also on Sunday, a mortar shell struck a market and killed three civilians during a battle between Afghan security forces and the Taliban in Logar province in the east, according to the provincial government. Seven people were wounded.</p>
<p>Taliban leaders have refused to talk to the Afghan government but have traveled several times to China, held talks with Russia and Iran, and attended conferences in Japan and Europe.</p>
<p>At the Beijing meeting, Pakistan's foreign minister, Khawaja Asif, expressed hope for progress on proposals to improve trade and cooperation in securing their border areas.</p>
<p>"Pakistan emphasized the importance of border management, the return of Afghan refugees and intelligence sharing for effective counterterrorism cooperation," said Asif.</p>
<p>Pakistan hosted talks between Kabul and the Taliban in July 2015. Since then, diplomats from Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States have tried without success to organize another meeting.</p>
<p>Other governments have pressed Pakistan to encourage the Taliban to rejoin talks, but Islamabad says it has less influence over the group than others believe.</p>
<p>China and Pakistan agreed to look at adding Afghanistan to an "economic corridor" of dozens of projects including railways and highways being developed by the two governments in Pakistan.</p>
<p>The project, with some $60 billion in planned investment, is part of Beijing's sprawling "Belt and Road Initiative" to improve trade by building infrastructure across dozens of countries from Asia to Europe. Afghan leaders have lobbied for a place in trade and transportation plans that they say could reduce poverty and improve security.</p>
<p>"China and Pakistan are willing to discuss with Afghanistan, under the principle of mutual benefit and win-win, the possibility of extending the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan," said Wang, the Chinese foreign minister.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Ahmed reported from Islamabad.</p>
<p>BEIJING (AP) — The foreign ministers of Pakistan and Afghanistan appealed to Taliban militants to join peace talks following a meeting Tuesday organized by China to mend strained relations between the two governments.</p>
<p>In a joint statement, the three governments called for a "broad-based and inclusive peace and reconciliation process" following near-daily Taliban attacks in areas across Afghanistan. The three governments said they "call on the Afghan Taliban to join the peace process at an early date."</p>
<p>Afghanistan and Pakistan are at odds over American and Afghan accusations that Islamabad is harboring some of the fiercest factions of the Taliban, which was overthrown as the Afghan government in 2001 by a U.S. invasion. Those include the Haqqani group, which the U.S. government has declared a terrorist organization.</p>
<p>"Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to improve their relations as soon as possible," said the Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi. "The two sides unanimously expressed the point that they will not allow any party or force to use their territories to engage in the activities that would undermine the security of the other side."</p>
<p>The talks reflected Beijing's efforts to expand its political and diplomatic role in the region. Chinese leaders also are uneasy about the potential for militant activity in Afghanistan and elsewhere in Central Asia to spill across the border into China's Muslim northwest.</p>
<p>The Taliban have stepped up attacks across Afghanistan since the United States and its NATO allies concluded their combat mission at the end of 2014. The insurgents have gained ground across several provinces and increasingly launch attacks in urban centers.</p>
<p>On Sunday, a roadside bomb killed seven civilians in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province. No group immediately claimed responsibility, but the Taliban have a strong and growing presence in the area.</p>
<p>Also on Sunday, a mortar shell struck a market and killed three civilians during a battle between Afghan security forces and the Taliban in Logar province in the east, according to the provincial government. Seven people were wounded.</p>
<p>Taliban leaders have refused to talk to the Afghan government but have traveled several times to China, held talks with Russia and Iran, and attended conferences in Japan and Europe.</p>
<p>At the Beijing meeting, Pakistan's foreign minister, Khawaja Asif, expressed hope for progress on proposals to improve trade and cooperation in securing their border areas.</p>
<p>"Pakistan emphasized the importance of border management, the return of Afghan refugees and intelligence sharing for effective counterterrorism cooperation," said Asif.</p>
<p>Pakistan hosted talks between Kabul and the Taliban in July 2015. Since then, diplomats from Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States have tried without success to organize another meeting.</p>
<p>Other governments have pressed Pakistan to encourage the Taliban to rejoin talks, but Islamabad says it has less influence over the group than others believe.</p>
<p>China and Pakistan agreed to look at adding Afghanistan to an "economic corridor" of dozens of projects including railways and highways being developed by the two governments in Pakistan.</p>
<p>The project, with some $60 billion in planned investment, is part of Beijing's sprawling "Belt and Road Initiative" to improve trade by building infrastructure across dozens of countries from Asia to Europe. Afghan leaders have lobbied for a place in trade and transportation plans that they say could reduce poverty and improve security.</p>
<p>"China and Pakistan are willing to discuss with Afghanistan, under the principle of mutual benefit and win-win, the possibility of extending the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan," said Wang, the Chinese foreign minister.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Ahmed reported from Islamabad.</p>
| false | 2 |
beijing ap foreign ministers pakistan afghanistan appealed taliban militants join peace talks following meeting tuesday organized china mend strained relations two governments joint statement three governments called broadbased inclusive peace reconciliation process following neardaily taliban attacks areas across afghanistan three governments said call afghan taliban join peace process early date afghanistan pakistan odds american afghan accusations islamabad harboring fiercest factions taliban overthrown afghan government 2001 us invasion include haqqani group us government declared terrorist organization pakistan afghanistan agreed improve relations soon possible said chinese foreign minister wang yi two sides unanimously expressed point allow party force use territories engage activities would undermine security side talks reflected beijings efforts expand political diplomatic role region chinese leaders also uneasy potential militant activity afghanistan elsewhere central asia spill across border chinas muslim northwest taliban stepped attacks across afghanistan since united states nato allies concluded combat mission end 2014 insurgents gained ground across several provinces increasingly launch attacks urban centers sunday roadside bomb killed seven civilians afghanistans southern helmand province group immediately claimed responsibility taliban strong growing presence area also sunday mortar shell struck market killed three civilians battle afghan security forces taliban logar province east according provincial government seven people wounded taliban leaders refused talk afghan government traveled several times china held talks russia iran attended conferences japan europe beijing meeting pakistans foreign minister khawaja asif expressed hope progress proposals improve trade cooperation securing border areas pakistan emphasized importance border management return afghan refugees intelligence sharing effective counterterrorism cooperation said asif pakistan hosted talks kabul taliban july 2015 since diplomats afghanistan pakistan china united states tried without success organize another meeting governments pressed pakistan encourage taliban rejoin talks islamabad says less influence group others believe china pakistan agreed look adding afghanistan economic corridor dozens projects including railways highways developed two governments pakistan project 60 billion planned investment part beijings sprawling belt road initiative improve trade building infrastructure across dozens countries asia europe afghan leaders lobbied place trade transportation plans say could reduce poverty improve security china pakistan willing discuss afghanistan principle mutual benefit winwin possibility extending chinapakistan economic corridor afghanistan said wang chinese foreign minister ___ ahmed reported islamabad beijing ap foreign ministers pakistan afghanistan appealed taliban militants join peace talks following meeting tuesday organized china mend strained relations two governments joint statement three governments called broadbased inclusive peace reconciliation process following neardaily taliban attacks areas across afghanistan three governments said call afghan taliban join peace process early date afghanistan pakistan odds american afghan accusations islamabad harboring fiercest factions taliban overthrown afghan government 2001 us invasion include haqqani group us government declared terrorist organization pakistan afghanistan agreed improve relations soon possible said chinese foreign minister wang yi two sides unanimously expressed point allow party force use territories engage activities would undermine security side talks reflected beijings efforts expand political diplomatic role region chinese leaders also uneasy potential militant activity afghanistan elsewhere central asia spill across border chinas muslim northwest taliban stepped attacks across afghanistan since united states nato allies concluded combat mission end 2014 insurgents gained ground across several provinces increasingly launch attacks urban centers sunday roadside bomb killed seven civilians afghanistans southern helmand province group immediately claimed responsibility taliban strong growing presence area also sunday mortar shell struck market killed three civilians battle afghan security forces taliban logar province east according provincial government seven people wounded taliban leaders refused talk afghan government traveled several times china held talks russia iran attended conferences japan europe beijing meeting pakistans foreign minister khawaja asif expressed hope progress proposals improve trade cooperation securing border areas pakistan emphasized importance border management return afghan refugees intelligence sharing effective counterterrorism cooperation said asif pakistan hosted talks kabul taliban july 2015 since diplomats afghanistan pakistan china united states tried without success organize another meeting governments pressed pakistan encourage taliban rejoin talks islamabad says less influence group others believe china pakistan agreed look adding afghanistan economic corridor dozens projects including railways highways developed two governments pakistan project 60 billion planned investment part beijings sprawling belt road initiative improve trade building infrastructure across dozens countries asia europe afghan leaders lobbied place trade transportation plans say could reduce poverty improve security china pakistan willing discuss afghanistan principle mutual benefit winwin possibility extending chinapakistan economic corridor afghanistan said wang chinese foreign minister ___ ahmed reported islamabad
| 712 |
<p>BEIRUT (AP) — The United States struck an al-Qaida gathering in northern Syria, killing dozens of militants, U.S. officials said Friday. They said they found no basis for reports that civilians were killed.</p>
<p>Syrian opposition activists said around 40 people, mostly civilians, were killed in a mosque in the area, accusing the U.S.-led coalition of carrying out the airstrike Thursday evening.</p>
<p>Friday prayers were cancelled across rebel-held parts of northern Syria after the airstrike that opposition activists and paramedics said struck the crowded Omar Ibn al-Khattab Mosque in the Jeeneh district in Aleppo province, killing and wounding dozens of people, some of whom were left trapped under the rubble.</p>
<p>U.S. Army Maj. Josh Jacques, a U.S. Central Command spokesman, said the U.S. did not target or strike a mosque.</p>
<p>“We targeted an al-Qaeda gathering across the street from a mosque. The mosque does not appear to be damaged following the strike,” he said.</p>
<p>Later, a Pentagon spokesman, Eric Pahon, said U.S. surveillance of the target area indicated evening prayers already had concluded before the attack. He said the building that was struck was a “partially constructed community meeting hall” that al-Qaida leaders used to gather and “as a place to educate and indoctrinate al-Qaida fighters.”</p>
<p>“Initial assessments based upon post-strike analysis do not indicate civilian casualties,” Pahon said. He said the Pentagon would investigate any credible allegations it received.</p>
<p>Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, another Pentagon spokesman, said officials weren’t aware of any such credible assessment. He showed reporters a U.S. military photo of the strike and said that “dozens” of al-Qaida militants who were meeting in the building were targeted and killed. The photo, which the military said was taken less than five minutes after the strike, showed extensive damage to the building. Debris also was scattered toward the mosque, but there was little visible damage to the mosque or two cars parked next to it.</p>
<p>Davis said the U.S. was aware the mosque was next door and deliberately did not strike it. He said that some video he has seen showed damage to the building on the other side of the al-Qaida base.</p>
<p>Davis said the U.S. believes there were some high ranking individuals there, but he did not identify them, and said the U.S. is still assessing the results of the strike. He said al-Qaida had been using the building as a meeting place, but he said he did not know if the building had at some point been associated with the mosque next door.</p>
<p>He said that manned and unmanned aircraft launched airstrikes at the building, which would include Hellfire missiles and bombs.</p>
<p>A powerful Syrian opposition group and other opposition activists blamed the U.S.-led coalition for the airstrike. The coalition has been targeting the Islamic State group and al-Qaida’s affiliate in northern Syria for more than two years, but it was not clear how the opposition group knew who carried out the strike. Russian and Syrian aircraft are known also to operate in the opposition-held region.</p>
<p>Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said fragments of ammunition with Latin markings were found in the debris at the scene, which made it possible to conclude that Hellfire missiles were being used.</p>
<p>“The US military has officially confirmed that it was they who struck the area. The goal was a building located across the street from the mosque, which was used to hold meetings by al-Qaida terrorists,” she said.</p>
<p>Bahaa al-Halaby, an Aleppo-based opposition activist based, said the Thursday night airstrike hit as about 250 people had gathered at the mosque for prayers or to attend a religious lesson. Mosques are usually crowded on Thursday night ahead of Friday, the day of communal prayers in the Muslim weekend.</p>
<p>“This was one of the worst massacres committed in the area,” al-Halaby said.</p>
<p>An Islamic networking group as Advocacy and Intimation is known to be active at the mosque where religious lessons are offered to the local population, according to al-Halaby and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which also described the attack as a “massacre.”</p>
<p>Jihadi and militant websites said the group, which aims to encourage people to adhere to Islam by peaceful means, was holding a weekly meeting with about 250 people in attendance. The group has branches in other countries.</p>
<p>Footage from the scene showed volunteers putting out fires and pulling victims from the rubble.</p>
<p>The Observatory and al-Halaby said Friday prayers were cancelled in rebel-held parts of Aleppo and Idlib provinces, adding that such decisions are not uncommon where mosques have been targeted in the past.</p>
<p>The Observatory said the airstrike on the mosque in Jeeneh killed 46 while the Local Coordination Committees, another monitoring group, said 40 were killed. Such discrepancies are not uncommon in the immediate aftermath of attacks in Syria.</p>
<p>The powerful ultraconservative Ahrar al-Sham group also said the airstrike was carried out by the U.S.-led coalition, adding that “the targeting mosques and places of worship is a war crime.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue reported this story from Beirut and AP writer Lolita C. Baldor reported from Washington. AP writer Jim Heintz in Moscow contributed to this report.</p>
<p>BEIRUT (AP) — The United States struck an al-Qaida gathering in northern Syria, killing dozens of militants, U.S. officials said Friday. They said they found no basis for reports that civilians were killed.</p>
<p>Syrian opposition activists said around 40 people, mostly civilians, were killed in a mosque in the area, accusing the U.S.-led coalition of carrying out the airstrike Thursday evening.</p>
<p>Friday prayers were cancelled across rebel-held parts of northern Syria after the airstrike that opposition activists and paramedics said struck the crowded Omar Ibn al-Khattab Mosque in the Jeeneh district in Aleppo province, killing and wounding dozens of people, some of whom were left trapped under the rubble.</p>
<p>U.S. Army Maj. Josh Jacques, a U.S. Central Command spokesman, said the U.S. did not target or strike a mosque.</p>
<p>“We targeted an al-Qaeda gathering across the street from a mosque. The mosque does not appear to be damaged following the strike,” he said.</p>
<p>Later, a Pentagon spokesman, Eric Pahon, said U.S. surveillance of the target area indicated evening prayers already had concluded before the attack. He said the building that was struck was a “partially constructed community meeting hall” that al-Qaida leaders used to gather and “as a place to educate and indoctrinate al-Qaida fighters.”</p>
<p>“Initial assessments based upon post-strike analysis do not indicate civilian casualties,” Pahon said. He said the Pentagon would investigate any credible allegations it received.</p>
<p>Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, another Pentagon spokesman, said officials weren’t aware of any such credible assessment. He showed reporters a U.S. military photo of the strike and said that “dozens” of al-Qaida militants who were meeting in the building were targeted and killed. The photo, which the military said was taken less than five minutes after the strike, showed extensive damage to the building. Debris also was scattered toward the mosque, but there was little visible damage to the mosque or two cars parked next to it.</p>
<p>Davis said the U.S. was aware the mosque was next door and deliberately did not strike it. He said that some video he has seen showed damage to the building on the other side of the al-Qaida base.</p>
<p>Davis said the U.S. believes there were some high ranking individuals there, but he did not identify them, and said the U.S. is still assessing the results of the strike. He said al-Qaida had been using the building as a meeting place, but he said he did not know if the building had at some point been associated with the mosque next door.</p>
<p>He said that manned and unmanned aircraft launched airstrikes at the building, which would include Hellfire missiles and bombs.</p>
<p>A powerful Syrian opposition group and other opposition activists blamed the U.S.-led coalition for the airstrike. The coalition has been targeting the Islamic State group and al-Qaida’s affiliate in northern Syria for more than two years, but it was not clear how the opposition group knew who carried out the strike. Russian and Syrian aircraft are known also to operate in the opposition-held region.</p>
<p>Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said fragments of ammunition with Latin markings were found in the debris at the scene, which made it possible to conclude that Hellfire missiles were being used.</p>
<p>“The US military has officially confirmed that it was they who struck the area. The goal was a building located across the street from the mosque, which was used to hold meetings by al-Qaida terrorists,” she said.</p>
<p>Bahaa al-Halaby, an Aleppo-based opposition activist based, said the Thursday night airstrike hit as about 250 people had gathered at the mosque for prayers or to attend a religious lesson. Mosques are usually crowded on Thursday night ahead of Friday, the day of communal prayers in the Muslim weekend.</p>
<p>“This was one of the worst massacres committed in the area,” al-Halaby said.</p>
<p>An Islamic networking group as Advocacy and Intimation is known to be active at the mosque where religious lessons are offered to the local population, according to al-Halaby and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which also described the attack as a “massacre.”</p>
<p>Jihadi and militant websites said the group, which aims to encourage people to adhere to Islam by peaceful means, was holding a weekly meeting with about 250 people in attendance. The group has branches in other countries.</p>
<p>Footage from the scene showed volunteers putting out fires and pulling victims from the rubble.</p>
<p>The Observatory and al-Halaby said Friday prayers were cancelled in rebel-held parts of Aleppo and Idlib provinces, adding that such decisions are not uncommon where mosques have been targeted in the past.</p>
<p>The Observatory said the airstrike on the mosque in Jeeneh killed 46 while the Local Coordination Committees, another monitoring group, said 40 were killed. Such discrepancies are not uncommon in the immediate aftermath of attacks in Syria.</p>
<p>The powerful ultraconservative Ahrar al-Sham group also said the airstrike was carried out by the U.S.-led coalition, adding that “the targeting mosques and places of worship is a war crime.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue reported this story from Beirut and AP writer Lolita C. Baldor reported from Washington. AP writer Jim Heintz in Moscow contributed to this report.</p>
| false | 2 |
beirut ap united states struck alqaida gathering northern syria killing dozens militants us officials said friday said found basis reports civilians killed syrian opposition activists said around 40 people mostly civilians killed mosque area accusing usled coalition carrying airstrike thursday evening friday prayers cancelled across rebelheld parts northern syria airstrike opposition activists paramedics said struck crowded omar ibn alkhattab mosque jeeneh district aleppo province killing wounding dozens people left trapped rubble us army maj josh jacques us central command spokesman said us target strike mosque targeted alqaeda gathering across street mosque mosque appear damaged following strike said later pentagon spokesman eric pahon said us surveillance target area indicated evening prayers already concluded attack said building struck partially constructed community meeting hall alqaida leaders used gather place educate indoctrinate alqaida fighters initial assessments based upon poststrike analysis indicate civilian casualties pahon said said pentagon would investigate credible allegations received navy capt jeff davis another pentagon spokesman said officials werent aware credible assessment showed reporters us military photo strike said dozens alqaida militants meeting building targeted killed photo military said taken less five minutes strike showed extensive damage building debris also scattered toward mosque little visible damage mosque two cars parked next davis said us aware mosque next door deliberately strike said video seen showed damage building side alqaida base davis said us believes high ranking individuals identify said us still assessing results strike said alqaida using building meeting place said know building point associated mosque next door said manned unmanned aircraft launched airstrikes building would include hellfire missiles bombs powerful syrian opposition group opposition activists blamed usled coalition airstrike coalition targeting islamic state group alqaidas affiliate northern syria two years clear opposition group knew carried strike russian syrian aircraft known also operate oppositionheld region russian foreign ministry spokeswoman maria zakharova said fragments ammunition latin markings found debris scene made possible conclude hellfire missiles used us military officially confirmed struck area goal building located across street mosque used hold meetings alqaida terrorists said bahaa alhalaby aleppobased opposition activist based said thursday night airstrike hit 250 people gathered mosque prayers attend religious lesson mosques usually crowded thursday night ahead friday day communal prayers muslim weekend one worst massacres committed area alhalaby said islamic networking group advocacy intimation known active mosque religious lessons offered local population according alhalaby britainbased syrian observatory human rights also described attack massacre jihadi militant websites said group aims encourage people adhere islam peaceful means holding weekly meeting 250 people attendance group branches countries footage scene showed volunteers putting fires pulling victims rubble observatory alhalaby said friday prayers cancelled rebelheld parts aleppo idlib provinces adding decisions uncommon mosques targeted past observatory said airstrike mosque jeeneh killed 46 local coordination committees another monitoring group said 40 killed discrepancies uncommon immediate aftermath attacks syria powerful ultraconservative ahrar alsham group also said airstrike carried usled coalition adding targeting mosques places worship war crime ___ associated press writer bassem mroue reported story beirut ap writer lolita c baldor reported washington ap writer jim heintz moscow contributed report beirut ap united states struck alqaida gathering northern syria killing dozens militants us officials said friday said found basis reports civilians killed syrian opposition activists said around 40 people mostly civilians killed mosque area accusing usled coalition carrying airstrike thursday evening friday prayers cancelled across rebelheld parts northern syria airstrike opposition activists paramedics said struck crowded omar ibn alkhattab mosque jeeneh district aleppo province killing wounding dozens people left trapped rubble us army maj josh jacques us central command spokesman said us target strike mosque targeted alqaeda gathering across street mosque mosque appear damaged following strike said later pentagon spokesman eric pahon said us surveillance target area indicated evening prayers already concluded attack said building struck partially constructed community meeting hall alqaida leaders used gather place educate indoctrinate alqaida fighters initial assessments based upon poststrike analysis indicate civilian casualties pahon said said pentagon would investigate credible allegations received navy capt jeff davis another pentagon spokesman said officials werent aware credible assessment showed reporters us military photo strike said dozens alqaida militants meeting building targeted killed photo military said taken less five minutes strike showed extensive damage building debris also scattered toward mosque little visible damage mosque two cars parked next davis said us aware mosque next door deliberately strike said video seen showed damage building side alqaida base davis said us believes high ranking individuals identify said us still assessing results strike said alqaida using building meeting place said know building point associated mosque next door said manned unmanned aircraft launched airstrikes building would include hellfire missiles bombs powerful syrian opposition group opposition activists blamed usled coalition airstrike coalition targeting islamic state group alqaidas affiliate northern syria two years clear opposition group knew carried strike russian syrian aircraft known also operate oppositionheld region russian foreign ministry spokeswoman maria zakharova said fragments ammunition latin markings found debris scene made possible conclude hellfire missiles used us military officially confirmed struck area goal building located across street mosque used hold meetings alqaida terrorists said bahaa alhalaby aleppobased opposition activist based said thursday night airstrike hit 250 people gathered mosque prayers attend religious lesson mosques usually crowded thursday night ahead friday day communal prayers muslim weekend one worst massacres committed area alhalaby said islamic networking group advocacy intimation known active mosque religious lessons offered local population according alhalaby britainbased syrian observatory human rights also described attack massacre jihadi militant websites said group aims encourage people adhere islam peaceful means holding weekly meeting 250 people attendance group branches countries footage scene showed volunteers putting fires pulling victims rubble observatory alhalaby said friday prayers cancelled rebelheld parts aleppo idlib provinces adding decisions uncommon mosques targeted past observatory said airstrike mosque jeeneh killed 46 local coordination committees another monitoring group said 40 killed discrepancies uncommon immediate aftermath attacks syria powerful ultraconservative ahrar alsham group also said airstrike carried usled coalition adding targeting mosques places worship war crime ___ associated press writer bassem mroue reported story beirut ap writer lolita c baldor reported washington ap writer jim heintz moscow contributed report
| 1,006 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>A Mora County sheriff’s transport officer has been fired after State Police discovered him passed out in his patrol car.</p>
<p>The Las Vegas Optic reports that 28-year-old Ramon Montoya of Sapello was terminated last week after an internal affairs investigation.</p>
<p>State Police have said an officer found Montoya passed out in an unmarked sheriff’s car on Interstate 25 south of Wagon Mound on Oct. 25.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Montoya has been charged with aggravated DWI. State Police reported his blood-alcohol content at 0.30 percent, almost four times New Mexico’s presumed level of intoxication.</p>
<p>Montoya began work in July as an uncommissioned officer who transported inmates.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Thursday, 28 October 2010 12:34</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>The Mora County sheriff’s transport officer who was arrested on a drunken driving charge Monday night has been placed on unpaid administrative leave, according to Undersheriff Michael Benjamin.</p>
<p>Ramon Montoya was found passed out in a sheriff’s vehicle along Interstate 25 south of Wagon Mound. Montoya’s blood-alcohol concentration was registered at 0.32 percent, which is four times the state’s presumed level of intoxication for a New Mexico driver, according to State Police.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Montoya admitted he had been drinking heavily leading up to his arrest and now faces an aggravated DWI charge.</p>
<p>Montoya had not been in communication with the Sheriff’s Office since a juvenile he was taking to court escaped his custody that morning. The boy, 14-year-old Daniel Gallegos, was arrested later in the day.</p>
<p>State Police originally reported Montoya was a deputy with the Sheriff’s Office, but Benjamin said in a news release that he is a noncommissioned transport officer.</p>
<p>Benjamin told the Journal in a phone interview that an internal affairs investigation is under way at the Sheriff’s Office regarding Monday’s events.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Wednesday, October 27, 2010</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>A Mora County sheriff’s deputy was found drunk and passed out in his squad car along Interstate 25 on Monday after both he and the 14-year-old he was taking to court went missing earlier that day, according to New Mexico State Police.</p>
<p>The deputy, Ramon Montoya, 28, was arrested and charged with aggravated DWI after he registered a blood-alcohol concentration up to 0.32, four times the state’s presumed level of intoxication.</p>
<p>This came several hours after the juvenile he was transporting ran away when Montoya opened the door for him to get out of the car in front of the state District Courthouse in Las Vegas, according to Las Vegas Police Deputy Chief Christian Montaño. The juvenile was found at a home in Las Vegas later that evening and taken back into custody, according to Montaño.</p>
<p>The Mora County Sheriff’s Office had no contact with Montoya from about the time the boy escaped Monday morning until they learned State Police had arrested him for DWI later that evening, according to State Police Lt. Eric Garcia.</p>
<p>The deputy admitted he had been drinking heavily that evening, having consumed “numerous beers and Yukon Jack” whiskey, said Garcia, who did not know where Montoya had been boozing. An unopened bottle of vodka was found inside the vehicle.</p>
<p>The reason Montoya pulled off the interstate in the first place was because he had run out of gas. When the arresting officer approached Montoya’s squad car, the vehicle was still in drive mode and the keys were in the ignition as the deputy slept.</p>
<p>“He was so drunk, he didn’t realize he was about to run out of gas,” Garcia said.</p>
<p>State Police officers were looking for Montoya after the Mora County Sheriff’s Office became concerned that he had not checked in with them for several hours. About 7 p.m. Monday, a State Police officer spotted Montoya’s sheriff’s unit parked along I-25’s southbound shoulder near Mile Post 383 south of Wagon Mound.</p>
<p>Montoya was found passed out, but he revived after the investigating officer knocked several times on the driver’s side window, according to police. When Montoya opened his door, the state officer “was struck by a heavy (odor) of alcoholic beverage,” according to Garcia.</p>
<p>Montoya could not perform roadside sobriety tests and two separate Breathalyzer tests showed a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.29 and 0.32 percent.</p>
<p>Montoya was supposed to be on duty at the time of his arrest. But he had not communicated with the Sheriff’s Office since around 10:40 a.m., about the time 14-year-old Daniel Gallegos escaped.</p>
<p>Gallegos was scheduled for a hearing after he had recently been arrested for violating the terms of probation he received on an assault case, according to Children, Youth and Families Department spokeswoman Romaine Serna.</p>
<p>No one knows why Montoya stopped communicating with the Sheriff’s Office after the escape.</p>
<p>Calls to Mora County Sheriff Roy Cordova and Undersheriff Michael Benjamin were not returned Tuesday.</p>
<p>After his arrest, Montoya was booked into the San Miguel County jail on a charge of aggravated DWI, his first such offense, Garcia said.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Tuesday, 26 October 2010 15:15</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>State Police say a Mora County sheriff’s deputy is facing an aggravated drunken driving charge after being found passed out in his sheriff’s department patrol car on the shoulder of Interstate 25 south of Wagon Mound.</p>
<p>State Police spokesman Lt. Eric Garcia said in a news release Tuesday that Ramon Montoya, 28, of Sapello was arrested Monday evening.</p>
<p>The news release said that after spotting Montoya’s sheriff’s department unit parked on the shoulder, a State Police officer walked up to the driver’s side of the car and saw the deputy sleeping inside the vehicle. After the officer knocked on the window several times, Montoya opened the door and the officer was struck by a heavy odor of an alcoholic beverage, according to the news release.</p>
<p>Montoya was unable to perform a variety of sobriety tests and was arrested and taken to the State Police office in Las Vegas, N.M., the news release said.</p>
<p>Montoya submitted to breath tests and registered blood-alcohol content of 0.29 percent and 0.32 percent, according to the news release. The level of presumed intoxication in New Mexico is 0.08 percent.</p>
<p>The news release said Montoya was taken to the San Miguel County Detention Center.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
| false | 2 |
mora county sheriffs transport officer fired state police discovered passed patrol car las vegas optic reports 28yearold ramon montoya sapello terminated last week internal affairs investigation state police said officer found montoya passed unmarked sheriffs car interstate 25 south wagon mound oct 25 advertisement montoya charged aggravated dwi state police reported bloodalcohol content 030 percent almost four times new mexicos presumed level intoxication montoya began work july uncommissioned officer transported inmates 160 160 thursday 28 october 2010 1234 160 mora county sheriffs transport officer arrested drunken driving charge monday night placed unpaid administrative leave according undersheriff michael benjamin ramon montoya found passed sheriffs vehicle along interstate 25 south wagon mound montoyas bloodalcohol concentration registered 032 percent four times states presumed level intoxication new mexico driver according state police advertisement montoya admitted drinking heavily leading arrest faces aggravated dwi charge montoya communication sheriffs office since juvenile taking court escaped custody morning boy 14yearold daniel gallegos arrested later day state police originally reported montoya deputy sheriffs office benjamin said news release noncommissioned transport officer benjamin told journal phone interview internal affairs investigation way sheriffs office regarding mondays events 160 160 wednesday october 27 2010 160 mora county sheriffs deputy found drunk passed squad car along interstate 25 monday 14yearold taking court went missing earlier day according new mexico state police deputy ramon montoya 28 arrested charged aggravated dwi registered bloodalcohol concentration 032 four times states presumed level intoxication came several hours juvenile transporting ran away montoya opened door get car front state district courthouse las vegas according las vegas police deputy chief christian montaño juvenile found home las vegas later evening taken back custody according montaño mora county sheriffs office contact montoya time boy escaped monday morning learned state police arrested dwi later evening according state police lt eric garcia deputy admitted drinking heavily evening consumed numerous beers yukon jack whiskey said garcia know montoya boozing unopened bottle vodka found inside vehicle reason montoya pulled interstate first place run gas arresting officer approached montoyas squad car vehicle still drive mode keys ignition deputy slept drunk didnt realize run gas garcia said state police officers looking montoya mora county sheriffs office became concerned checked several hours 7 pm monday state police officer spotted montoyas sheriffs unit parked along i25s southbound shoulder near mile post 383 south wagon mound montoya found passed revived investigating officer knocked several times drivers side window according police montoya opened door state officer struck heavy odor alcoholic beverage according garcia montoya could perform roadside sobriety tests two separate breathalyzer tests showed bloodalcohol concentration 029 032 percent montoya supposed duty time arrest communicated sheriffs office since around 1040 time 14yearold daniel gallegos escaped gallegos scheduled hearing recently arrested violating terms probation received assault case according children youth families department spokeswoman romaine serna one knows montoya stopped communicating sheriffs office escape calls mora county sheriff roy cordova undersheriff michael benjamin returned tuesday arrest montoya booked san miguel county jail charge aggravated dwi first offense garcia said 160 160 tuesday 26 october 2010 1515 160 state police say mora county sheriffs deputy facing aggravated drunken driving charge found passed sheriffs department patrol car shoulder interstate 25 south wagon mound state police spokesman lt eric garcia said news release tuesday ramon montoya 28 sapello arrested monday evening news release said spotting montoyas sheriffs department unit parked shoulder state police officer walked drivers side car saw deputy sleeping inside vehicle officer knocked window several times montoya opened door officer struck heavy odor alcoholic beverage according news release montoya unable perform variety sobriety tests arrested taken state police office las vegas nm news release said montoya submitted breath tests registered bloodalcohol content 029 percent 032 percent according news release level presumed intoxication new mexico 008 percent news release said montoya taken san miguel county detention center 160 160
| 633 |
<p>(Reuters) - Exiled Zimbabwe opposition leader Roy Bennett and four other people were killed in a helicopter crash in a remote northern part of the U.S. state of New Mexico, officials and his political party said on Thursday.</p> File photo: Roy Bennett arrives at the high court in Harare January 13, 2010. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo
<p>The crash of a private Huey helicopter in rugged terrain near Raton, New Mexico, on Wednesday evening killed Bennett, 60, along with his wife, Heather Bennett, 55, James Coleman Dodd, 57, of Colorado, Charles Ryland Burnett, 61, of Texas and Paul Cobb, 67, of Texas, New Mexico State Police said.</p>
<p>Bennett, a former treasurer general of the opposition MDC party, was an important figure in Zimbabwean politics and served time in prison under former President Robert Mugabe. He recently told CNN that his country would never again let itself be ruled by a dictatorship.</p>
<p>“Roy was a resolute and committed fighter for democratic change in Zimbabwe,” the MDC said in a statement.</p> Slideshow (2 Images)
<p>The party described Bennett as a charismatic grassroots politician and successful farmer in the country’s eastern Chimanimani District. He was fluent in Zimbabwe’s Shona language, it said, and had helped hundreds of impoverished villagers pay school fees for their children.</p>
<p>Though white, Bennett fought for the rights of black Zimbabweans, the party said, and had the nickname “Pachedu,” a Shona word that translates as “together” or “one of us.”</p>
<p>The National Transportation Safety Board said it was investigating the crash 15 miles (24 km) east of Raton.</p>
<p>Reporting by Sharon Bernstein; Editing by Daniel Wallis</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>YANBIAN, China (Reuters) - I sat on a metal bench, the chill seeping through my down jacket, as a Chinese government official towered above me, shouting.</p> Policemen control a check point after preventing Reuters reporters from driving through, near the border of China and North Korea, just outside the village of Sanhe, China, November 25, 2017. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj
<p>It was a Saturday morning in March, just after daybreak. I was on China’s border with North Korea, trying to follow up on reports that the country was making preparations for a large-scale influx of North Korean refugees. As usually happens when I report from this part of the world, the Chinese authorities were telling me to go away.</p>
<p>Cui Changwan, the local government official who had been called in when border guards stopped me, shoved a document into my hands and jabbed his finger on the page which stated that “without approval, foreigners are not permitted to enter areas out of bounds to foreigners.”</p>
<p>I asked him to show me the rule that said I was in such a place.</p>
<p>“It’s an internal document which you’re not allowed to see,” he replied, spittle flying at me. In the office behind us, a colleague of his played video games.</p>
<p>China has long posted military and police along its border with North Korea. The border is marked by two rivers which often freeze over in the winter, making it easier for North Koreans to cross - a particular concern for China’s state security.</p>
<p>Despite a recent thaw in relations between North Korea and both China and the United States, locals say that over the past six months, China has stepped up military patrols here. Media reports in South Korea and elsewhere say China has been bolstering its defences along the border - some have said as many as 300,000 troops have been added.</p>
<p>Two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters the number of Chinese military on the border could be up to 200,000 or possibly 300,000. This would be an increase from just 100,000 in August last year. China’s foreign ministry declined to respond to a question on the numbers or the intensified activity.</p>
<p>Many of the military bases are in Yanbian, an area which includes Sanhe village, where the authorities had detained me.</p>
<p>On assignment in November with photographer Damir Sagolj, we documented the ways some people who live on the frontier say they interact across it. Spots like this village underline how Beijing also maintains a wary eye on its neighbor.</p>
<p>Chinese border control staff called in at our hotel. We were prevented from continuing our trip along the border at three separate roadblocks around Tumen. At one point, plain clothes police hovered as Damir took photos of tourists. They followed us in two cars.</p>
<p>“We have secret military installations here,” one soldier told me in November. A declassified CIA document from May 1970 says China had begun constructing personnel trenches - with possible forward firing positions facing the border - in 1969.</p>
<p>Tens of thousands of North Koreans have already traveled through China as they left one of the world’s poorest countries. Around 31,000 of them eventually sought refuge in South Korea. Others have stayed in China.</p>
<p>Both China and North Korea have bolstered efforts to prevent North Koreans from making the journey to South Korea through countries including Laos and Thailand, according to Human Rights Watch. Last year, it said, Chinese authorities intensified their crackdown on arriving North Koreans and the networks which help them. China says it handles North Korean arrivals in accordance with humanitarian principles; North Korea’s mission to the United Nations didn’t respond to a request for comment.</p>
<p>If war were to break out in North Korea, the Chinese have made extensive plans to respond and are likely to intervene in some way, two diplomatic sources said. China’s foreign ministry told us it consistently supports denuclearisation and peace on the Korean peninsula and believes in the need for dialogue.</p>
<p>Late last year, a document that appeared to be from a Chinese state-owned company was leaked online, outlining plans for China to build refugee camps along its border with North Korea. At the time, neither the company or the government made any comment on the plans.</p>
<p>Around 20 people I spoke to who live along or near the border said they had seen no sign of camps being built. But none doubted plans were being made.</p>
<p>Many locals said the government’s focus was fortifying its military presence. If North Korea were to collapse and millions were to rush into China, the Chinese government could easily convert abandoned homes in villages all along the border into temporary accommodation, they told me.</p>
<p>“Border regions anywhere in the world are sensitive, but it’s particularly sensitive up here because the river is narrower and historically there has been a lot of interaction between the two sides,” said Li Zhonglin, a China-North Korea specialist at Yanbian University.</p>
<p>In recent years, Chinese media have reported that villagers have been killed by North Koreans sneaking across the border, often in search of food.</p>
<p>China is more likely to look at the issue of North Koreans rushing across its border as a military threat rather than a humanitarian disaster, some Chinese academics say.</p>
<p>Yang Guosheng tends to 100 cows near China’s border with Russia and North Korea. He said Chinese border control personnel come by at least 10 times every day, night and day. There are cameras at the edge of his property, which hugs the bank of the Tumen river.</p>
<p>All along the border, signs remind people to be on the lookout for spies and other suspicious activities.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Hyonhee Shin in Seoul; Edited by Sara Ledwith</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia urged the United States and its allies on Thursday to refrain from military action against Syria over a suspected chemical weapons attack and said he “cannot exclude” war between Washington and Moscow.</p> Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia (L) and Bolivia's Ambassador to the United Nations Sacha Sergio Llorenty Soliz speak to the media outside Security Council chambers at the U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., April 12, 2018. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
<p>Speaking after a closed-door U.N. Security Council meeting requested by Bolivia over threats of military action in Syria by U.S. President Donald Trump, Nebenzia said the situation was even more dangerous because Russian troops are in Syria.</p>
<p>“The immediate priority is to avert the danger of war,” he told reporters. “We hope there will be no point of no return.”</p> Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia (L) and Bolivia's Ambassador to the United Nations Sacha Sergio Llorenty Soliz speak to the media outside Security Council chambers at the U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., April 12, 2018. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
<p>When asked if he was referring to a war between the United States and Russia, he said, “We cannot exclude any possibilities, unfortunately, because we saw messages that are coming from Washington. They were very bellicose.”</p>
<p>Trump said he was holding meetings on Thursday on Syria, and expected to make decisions “fairly soon.”</p>
<p>Russia called a meeting of the Security Council for Friday on Syria and has asked for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to publicly brief the body.</p> Slideshow (4 Images)
<p>In a bid to avoid an escalation, Sweden proposed a Security Council resolution on Thursday, seen by Reuters, that would ask Guterres to send a high-level disarmament team to Syria to address “all outstanding issues on the use of chemical weapons once and for all.”</p>
<p>Some U.N. diplomats said there was little interest among the council’s 15 member countries to pursue the proposal.</p>
<p>Nebenzia thanked Sweden for its efforts, but added, “Frankly in the circumstances we find ourselves now, this is not an immediate priority.”</p>
<p>The council failed on Tuesday to approve three draft resolutions on chemical weapons attacks in Syria. Russia vetoed a U.S. text, while two Russian-drafted resolutions failed to get a minimum nine votes to pass.</p>
<p>Investigators from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons are traveling to Syria to determine whether a toxic gas was used in the town of Douma, the site of the April 7 incident, and will start work on Saturday. They are not mandated to assign blame.</p>
<p>Syrian U.N. Ambassador Bashar Ja’afari told reporters on Thursday, “We’re ready to escort them to where they want, whenever they want, anytime they want.”</p>
<p>“Any delay or disruption in the visit will be a result of the political pressure exercised on the OPCW from a very well-known state, as the Syrian government expressed its readiness to facilitate this visit,” Ja’afari said.</p>
<p>Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Will Dunham</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - North Korea should not expect rewards from talks with the United States until it takes irreversible steps to give up its nuclear weapons, President Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, CIA Director Mike Pompeo, said on Thursday.</p> North Korean leader Kim Jong Un heads a party meeting in this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang April 9, 2018. KCNA/via Reuters
<p>Pompeo said the historical analysis was “not optimistic,” when asked at his Senate confirmation hearing if he believed North Korea would agree to dismantle its nuclear program. He said that in past negotiations the United States and the world had relaxed sanctions too quickly.</p>
<p>“It is the intention of the president and the administration not to do that this time to make sure that … before we provide rewards, we get the outcome permanently, irreversibly, that it is that we hope to achieve,” Pompeo said.</p>
<p>“It is a tall order, but I am hopeful that President Trump can achieve that through sound diplomacy,” he said.</p>
<p>Trump has said he plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in May or early June and hopes the discussions will ultimately lead to an end of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, which Washington sees as its most pressing security threat.</p>
<p>On Thursday, Trump said meetings were being set up between him and Kim and said the United States would approach the talks respectfully.</p>
<p>He thanked China for its help in trying to resolve the crisis over North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons capable of hitting the United States. “They’ve been really terrific at helping us get to some kind of settlement,” Trump said.</p>
<p>“Meetings are being set up right now between myself and Kim Jong Un. I think it will be terrific. I think we’ll go in with a lot of respect and we’ll see what happens,” he said.</p>
<p>Trump also said trade “negotiations” between Washington and Beijing were going well, conflicting with China’s statements since the president’s announcements of plans to impose billions of dollars of tariffs on Chinese goods, which have fed fears of an all-out trade war.</p>
<p>“We are getting along very well, think we’re going to do some great things,” Trump said, adding that getting rid of nuclear weapons was “very good for them, good for everybody.”</p> NO ILLUSIONS
<p>Pompeo said he was optimistic a course could be set at the Trump-Kim summit for a diplomatic outcome with North Korea, but added that no one was under any illusion that a comprehensive deal could be reached at that meeting.</p>
<p>He brushed aside concerns that the administration’s moves to modify a nuclear deal with Iran could make an agreement with North Korea more difficult. He argued that Kim would be looking to his own interests, including his country’s economy and the “sustainment of his regime,” not other historical agreements.</p>
<p>Pompeo stressed that the aim of a Trump-Kim summit was to get North Korea to “step away.” Under questioning, he would not take any option off the table, including military ones.</p>
<p>At the same time, Pompeo said he was not advocating regime change for North Korea and had never done so.</p>
<p>Last year, North Korea accused Pompeo of favoring such a policy after he told a forum in July it was important to separate the country’s nuclear weapons from the “character who holds the control over them.”</p> U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with governors and members of Congress at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 12, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
<p>In May, North Korea accused the CIA and South Korea’s intelligence service of a failed plot to assassinate Kim at a military parade in Pyongyang.</p>
<p>On Thursday, Trump’s new national security adviser, John Bolton, met separately with South Korea’s National Security Office director, Chung Eui-yong, who led a South Korean delegation that met Kim Jong Un last month, and his Japanese counterpart Shotaro Yachi.</p>
<p>“The national security advisers committed to continue coordinating closely,” a White House official said.</p>
<p>A South Korean diplomat said Chung had a “very useful” meeting with Bolton on preparations for South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s scheduled April 27 summit with Kim Jong Un and the planned Trump-Kim meeting, but gave no details.</p>
<p>“We had very informative discussions,” South Korea’s Yonhap news agency quoted Chung as saying. “We had a wide-ranging exchange of views on various ways to make (the summits) a success and peacefully achieve denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”</p>
<p>Bolton, who took up his post on Monday, has called for North Korea regime change in the past and has previously been rejected as a negotiating partner by Pyongyang.</p>
<p>At a separate congressional hearing, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the aim was for a negotiated solution to the North Korean crisis.</p>
<p>“We’re all cautiously optimistic that we may be on the right path for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula,” he told the House of Representative Armed Services Committee.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Jeff Mason, Steve Holland, Doina Chiacu, Lesley Wroughton and Idrees Ali; Writing by David Brunnstrom and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Leslie Adler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to arrest an International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor if she conducts activities in his country, arguing it was no longer an ICC member so the court had no right to do any investigating.</p> Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gestures as he delivers a speech during the 121st founding anniversary of the Philippine Army (PA) at Taguig city, Metro Manila, Philippines March 20, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco
<p>Hitting out at what he said was an international effort to paint him as a “ruthless and heartless violator of human rights”, Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC’s Rome Statute a month ago and promised to continue his crackdown on drugs, in which thousands have been killed.</p>
<p>ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in February announced the start of a preliminary examination into a complaint by a Philippine lawyer which accuses Duterte and top officials of crimes against humanity, and of killing criminals as a policy.</p>
<p>Duterte has cited numerous reasons why he believes the ICC has no jurisdiction over him, and on Friday suggested that any doubts about that should have been dispelled by his withdrawal.</p>
<p>“What is your authority now? If we are not members of the treaty, why are you ... in this country?,” told reporters, in comments aimed at Bensouda.</p>
<p>“You cannot exercise any proceedings here without basis. That is illegal and I will arrest you.”</p>
<p>It is not clear whether Bensouda or the ICC has carried out any activities in the Philippines related to the complaint against Duterte.</p>
<p>The office of the prosecutor in The Hague and the Philippine foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.</p>
<p>Police have since July 2016 killed more than 4,000 people they say are drug dealers who resisted arrest. Activists say many of those were executions, which police deny.</p>
<p>Duterte has told security forces not to cooperate with any foreign investigators and last month said he would convince other ICC members to withdraw.</p>
<p>Duterte had earlier vowed to face the ICC and critics say pulling out is futile, because the ICC has jurisdiction to investigate alleged crimes committed in the period from when the Philippines joined in 2011 to when its withdrawal takes effect in March 2019.</p>
<p>Under the Rome Statute, the ICC can step in and exercise jurisdiction if states are unable or unwilling to investigate suspected crimes.</p>
<p>But the mercurial former mayor and his legal aides argue that technically, the Philippines never actually joined the ICC, because it was not announced in the country’s official gazette.</p>
<p>“If there is no publication, it is as if there is no law at all,” Duterte said on Friday.</p>
<p>Reporting by Martin Petty and Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Robert Birsel</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
reuters exiled zimbabwe opposition leader roy bennett four people killed helicopter crash remote northern part us state new mexico officials political party said thursday file photo roy bennett arrives high court harare january 13 2010 reutersphilimon bulawayo crash private huey helicopter rugged terrain near raton new mexico wednesday evening killed bennett 60 along wife heather bennett 55 james coleman dodd 57 colorado charles ryland burnett 61 texas paul cobb 67 texas new mexico state police said bennett former treasurer general opposition mdc party important figure zimbabwean politics served time prison former president robert mugabe recently told cnn country would never let ruled dictatorship roy resolute committed fighter democratic change zimbabwe mdc said statement slideshow 2 images party described bennett charismatic grassroots politician successful farmer countrys eastern chimanimani district fluent zimbabwes shona language said helped hundreds impoverished villagers pay school fees children though white bennett fought rights black zimbabweans party said nickname pachedu shona word translates together one us national transportation safety board said investigating crash 15 miles 24 km east raton reporting sharon bernstein editing daniel wallis standards thomson reuters trust principles yanbian china reuters sat metal bench chill seeping jacket chinese government official towered shouting policemen control check point preventing reuters reporters driving near border china north korea outside village sanhe china november 25 2017 reutersdamir sagolj saturday morning march daybreak chinas border north korea trying follow reports country making preparations largescale influx north korean refugees usually happens report part world chinese authorities telling go away cui changwan local government official called border guards stopped shoved document hands jabbed finger page stated without approval foreigners permitted enter areas bounds foreigners asked show rule said place internal document youre allowed see replied spittle flying office behind us colleague played video games china long posted military police along border north korea border marked two rivers often freeze winter making easier north koreans cross particular concern chinas state security despite recent thaw relations north korea china united states locals say past six months china stepped military patrols media reports south korea elsewhere say china bolstering defences along border said many 300000 troops added two sources knowledge matter told reuters number chinese military border could 200000 possibly 300000 would increase 100000 august last year chinas foreign ministry declined respond question numbers intensified activity many military bases yanbian area includes sanhe village authorities detained assignment november photographer damir sagolj documented ways people live frontier say interact across spots like village underline beijing also maintains wary eye neighbor chinese border control staff called hotel prevented continuing trip along border three separate roadblocks around tumen one point plain clothes police hovered damir took photos tourists followed us two cars secret military installations one soldier told november declassified cia document may 1970 says china begun constructing personnel trenches possible forward firing positions facing border 1969 tens thousands north koreans already traveled china left one worlds poorest countries around 31000 eventually sought refuge south korea others stayed china china north korea bolstered efforts prevent north koreans making journey south korea countries including laos thailand according human rights watch last year said chinese authorities intensified crackdown arriving north koreans networks help china says handles north korean arrivals accordance humanitarian principles north koreas mission united nations didnt respond request comment war break north korea chinese made extensive plans respond likely intervene way two diplomatic sources said chinas foreign ministry told us consistently supports denuclearisation peace korean peninsula believes need dialogue late last year document appeared chinese stateowned company leaked online outlining plans china build refugee camps along border north korea time neither company government made comment plans around 20 people spoke live along near border said seen sign camps built none doubted plans made many locals said governments focus fortifying military presence north korea collapse millions rush china chinese government could easily convert abandoned homes villages along border temporary accommodation told border regions anywhere world sensitive particularly sensitive river narrower historically lot interaction two sides said li zhonglin chinanorth korea specialist yanbian university recent years chinese media reported villagers killed north koreans sneaking across border often search food china likely look issue north koreans rushing across border military threat rather humanitarian disaster chinese academics say yang guosheng tends 100 cows near chinas border russia north korea said chinese border control personnel come least 10 times every day night day cameras edge property hugs bank tumen river along border signs remind people lookout spies suspicious activities additional reporting hyonhee shin seoul edited sara ledwith standards thomson reuters trust principles united nations reuters russias un ambassador vassily nebenzia urged united states allies thursday refrain military action syria suspected chemical weapons attack said exclude war washington moscow russian ambassador united nations vassily nebenzia l bolivias ambassador united nations sacha sergio llorenty soliz speak media outside security council chambers un headquarters new york us april 12 2018 reutersshannon stapleton speaking closeddoor un security council meeting requested bolivia threats military action syria us president donald trump nebenzia said situation even dangerous russian troops syria immediate priority avert danger war told reporters hope point return russian ambassador united nations vassily nebenzia l bolivias ambassador united nations sacha sergio llorenty soliz speak media outside security council chambers un headquarters new york us april 12 2018 reutersshannon stapleton asked referring war united states russia said exclude possibilities unfortunately saw messages coming washington bellicose trump said holding meetings thursday syria expected make decisions fairly soon russia called meeting security council friday syria asked un secretarygeneral antonio guterres publicly brief body slideshow 4 images bid avoid escalation sweden proposed security council resolution thursday seen reuters would ask guterres send highlevel disarmament team syria address outstanding issues use chemical weapons un diplomats said little interest among councils 15 member countries pursue proposal nebenzia thanked sweden efforts added frankly circumstances find immediate priority council failed tuesday approve three draft resolutions chemical weapons attacks syria russia vetoed us text two russiandrafted resolutions failed get minimum nine votes pass investigators organisation prohibition chemical weapons traveling syria determine whether toxic gas used town douma site april 7 incident start work saturday mandated assign blame syrian un ambassador bashar jaafari told reporters thursday ready escort want whenever want anytime want delay disruption visit result political pressure exercised opcw wellknown state syrian government expressed readiness facilitate visit jaafari said reporting michelle nichols editing chizu nomiyama dunham standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters north korea expect rewards talks united states takes irreversible steps give nuclear weapons president donald trumps nominee secretary state cia director mike pompeo said thursday north korean leader kim jong un heads party meeting photo released north koreas korean central news agency kcna pyongyang april 9 2018 kcnavia reuters pompeo said historical analysis optimistic asked senate confirmation hearing believed north korea would agree dismantle nuclear program said past negotiations united states world relaxed sanctions quickly intention president administration time make sure provide rewards get outcome permanently irreversibly hope achieve pompeo said tall order hopeful president trump achieve sound diplomacy said trump said plans meet north korean leader kim jong un may early june hopes discussions ultimately lead end north koreas nuclear weapons program washington sees pressing security threat thursday trump said meetings set kim said united states would approach talks respectfully thanked china help trying resolve crisis north koreas development nuclear weapons capable hitting united states theyve really terrific helping us get kind settlement trump said meetings set right kim jong un think terrific think well go lot respect well see happens said trump also said trade negotiations washington beijing going well conflicting chinas statements since presidents announcements plans impose billions dollars tariffs chinese goods fed fears allout trade war getting along well think going great things trump said adding getting rid nuclear weapons good good everybody illusions pompeo said optimistic course could set trumpkim summit diplomatic outcome north korea added one illusion comprehensive deal could reached meeting brushed aside concerns administrations moves modify nuclear deal iran could make agreement north korea difficult argued kim would looking interests including countrys economy sustainment regime historical agreements pompeo stressed aim trumpkim summit get north korea step away questioning would take option table including military ones time pompeo said advocating regime change north korea never done last year north korea accused pompeo favoring policy told forum july important separate countrys nuclear weapons character holds control us president donald trump speaks meeting governors members congress white house washington us april 12 2018 reuterskevin lamarque may north korea accused cia south koreas intelligence service failed plot assassinate kim military parade pyongyang thursday trumps new national security adviser john bolton met separately south koreas national security office director chung euiyong led south korean delegation met kim jong un last month japanese counterpart shotaro yachi national security advisers committed continue coordinating closely white house official said south korean diplomat said chung useful meeting bolton preparations south korean president moon jaeins scheduled april 27 summit kim jong un planned trumpkim meeting gave details informative discussions south koreas yonhap news agency quoted chung saying wideranging exchange views various ways make summits success peacefully achieve denuclearization korean peninsula bolton took post monday called north korea regime change past previously rejected negotiating partner pyongyang separate congressional hearing defense secretary jim mattis said aim negotiated solution north korean crisis cautiously optimistic may right path denuclearization korean peninsula told house representative armed services committee additional reporting jeff mason steve holland doina chiacu lesley wroughton idrees ali writing david brunnstrom doina chiacu editing cynthia osterman leslie adler standards thomson reuters trust principles manila reuters philippine president rodrigo duterte threatened arrest international criminal court icc prosecutor conducts activities country arguing longer icc member court right investigating philippine president rodrigo duterte gestures delivers speech 121st founding anniversary philippine army pa taguig city metro manila philippines march 20 2018 reutersromeo ranoco hitting said international effort paint ruthless heartless violator human rights duterte withdrew philippines iccs rome statute month ago promised continue crackdown drugs thousands killed icc prosecutor fatou bensouda february announced start preliminary examination complaint philippine lawyer accuses duterte top officials crimes humanity killing criminals policy duterte cited numerous reasons believes icc jurisdiction friday suggested doubts dispelled withdrawal authority members treaty country told reporters comments aimed bensouda exercise proceedings without basis illegal arrest clear whether bensouda icc carried activities philippines related complaint duterte office prosecutor hague philippine foreign ministry immediately respond requests comment police since july 2016 killed 4000 people say drug dealers resisted arrest activists say many executions police deny duterte told security forces cooperate foreign investigators last month said would convince icc members withdraw duterte earlier vowed face icc critics say pulling futile icc jurisdiction investigate alleged crimes committed period philippines joined 2011 withdrawal takes effect march 2019 rome statute icc step exercise jurisdiction states unable unwilling investigate suspected crimes mercurial former mayor legal aides argue technically philippines never actually joined icc announced countrys official gazette publication law duterte said friday reporting martin petty neil jerome morales editing robert birsel standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 1,816 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>Sunday</p>
<p>Denver (2-2) at Baltimore (3-1)Time: 11 a.m.Line: Ravens by 7Facts: Denver’s rush offense has a norm of 2.2 a carry, the worst for any team the past 64 years. … The Ravens held Denver to 200 yards of total offense in last year’s 30-7 victory in Baltimore, the Broncos’ first loss after a 6-0 start. It was the Broncos’ lowest yardage total since getting 194 at Baltimore in 2003. … Denver QB Kyle Orton is on pace to become the first man to throw 700 passes in a season. Fifty years ago, the Broncos’ Frank Tripucka was the first to 400. … Broncos leading rusher RB Knowshon Moreno will miss his third straight game.Analysis: Ravens DT Haloti Noga and his line buddies should be able to mangle Denver’s interior line like pipe cleaners, much like what happened last week when Denver rushed 20 times for 19 yards at Tennessee. Forecast: Ravens 20, Broncos 7</p>
<p>Tennessee (2-2) at Dallas (1-2)Time: 2:15 p.m.Line: Cowboys by 7Weather: Mid-80s, clearFacts: Tennessee’s Chris Johnson vowed in the offseason to reach 2,500 rushing yards this year. He’s going to have to average 179 a game the rest of the way to come through. … Under Wade Phillips, the Cowboys are 3-0 the past three years in their first three games off their bye. However, in his last two years at Buffalo (1999-2000), the Bills lost their first game off the break both times as a favorite. … The Titans are atop the league charts with most penalty yards (344) and fumbles (11).Analysis: Although QB Tony Romo leads the league’s No. 5 offense, two of those games came against the league’s bottom-feeder defenses, No. 31 Washington and No. 32 Houston. Tennessee has enough athleticism to create problems.Forecast: Cowboys 24, Titans 21</p>
<p>Jacksonville (2-2) at Buffalo (0-4)Time: 11 a.m.Line: Pick-emFacts: Last year in Week 8, the Jags were ambushed on the road by 0-6 Tennessee and lost, 30-13. A year earlier, they fell to an 0-8 Bengals team in Cincinnati, 21-19. … Buffalo is the lone team without an INT on defense. Last year, the Bills had 28, the second best total by anyone in a season since 2007. …&#160; The Bills are the only team to have yielded a first-drive score each week this season. … The Jaguars are 1-6 against the line as a favorite dating to midseason 2008, including an 18-15 home victory over Buffalo last year as an 8.5-point choice.Analysis: Jacksonville, which has two 25-point losses this season, is 0-4 ATS the past two seasons after facing AFC North rival Indianapolis and will be facing a Buffalo team that just shipped its marquee back, Marshawn Lynch, to Seattle. With a bye looming, all the Bills are on notice.Forecast: Bills 23, Jaguars 20</p>
<p>Kansas City (3-0) at Indianapolis (2-2)Time: 11 a.m.Line: Colts by 7Facts: KC, off a bye, is facing a meat-grinder schedule, with its next two games, both on the road, against Indy’s second-rated offense and Houston’s No. 3 unit. In Week 1, the Chiefs foiled San Diego’s top-rated group, 21-14. … Indianapolis is the only team to have two TDs when starting a drive from inside its 10. … This is the first time in 2010 the Chiefs will be facing a team that had already won a game. … Five receivers have 28 or more catches in the league, and three of them are Colts (Reggie Wayne 33, Austin Collie 32 and Dallas Clark 28).Analysis: KC, the NFL’s lone unbeaten team, figures to start two rookie safeties against QB Peyton Manning, whose no-huddle approach won’t give them a chance to think. Coming off a loss at Jacksonville, Indy also faces a greater-than-usual sense of urgency.Forecast: Colts 38, Chiefs 23</p>
<p>St. Louis (2-2) at Detroit (0-4)Time: 11 a.m.Line: Lions by 3Facts: This marks the 40th consecutive game the Rams have been an underdog. … In Week 8 of 2009, coming off a bye, the Mathew Stafford-led Lions lost at home to St. Louis 17-10 as a 3.5-point pick. This time Shaun Hill makes his fourth straight start in place of Stafford (shoulder). … Three of the Rams’ next five foes stand 0-4. … St. Louis has the league’s longest streak of not allowing a first-drive score – 13 games. In that stretch the Rams have forced six turnovers.Analysis: Detroit isn’t playing that awful, having 38 more snaps than Green Bay in a close-call road loss last week. This week, the Lions won’t be able to brush off another loss to the Rams. Like the Cowboys against the Texans in Week 3, the Lions will be well-prepared and play with enormous desperation. &#160;Forecast: Lions 24, Rams 10</p>
<p>Atlanta (3-1) at Cleveland (1-3)Time: 11 a.m.Line: Falcons by 3Facts: If the Browns win, it will match their best five-game start the past seven years. … Atlanta WR Roddy White was the second-most targeted receiver last year, with 10.3 a game. This year, Matt Ryan has taken aim at White a league-high 12.5 times an outing in four games. He’s caught 32. … The Browns’ next five foes all stand 3-1. … Atlanta is fourth on the rushing charts at 144.8 yards a game, but are 20th at 3.9 a carry. Cleveland, meanwhile, is one of two teams not to allow a rushing TD.Analysis: Cleveland RB Peyton Hillis (questionable, thigh) has been a wrecking ball the past two weeks in surpassing 100 yards as the team’s new alpha back. Atlanta, meanwhile, easily could be 1-3 despite facing three offenses ranked 23rd or worse. Cleveland’s is 21st.Forecast: Browns 21, Falcons 16</p>
<p>Tampa Bay (2-1) at Cincinnati (2-2)Time: 11 a.m.Line: Bengals by 6.5Facts: The Bucs, returning from a bye, were 0-7 exiting their break last year and beat Green Bay 38-28 as a 9.5-point underdog. It was QB Josh Freeman’s first start. He’s since led his team to three straight road victories as an underdog dating to 2009. … Terrell Owens’ 222 receiving yards for Cincinnati last week were the most by anyone since Dallas’ Miles Austin had 250 at KC in Week 5 last year. … The Bucs have won the past five games in this series. Analysis: The Bengals are a shadow of their 2009 NFC North title team. The pass rush has disintegrated (three sacks) and their longest run has been 13 yards, whereas last year they had with 17 runs of 20-plus. Tampa Bay can fare well if rookie RB LeGarrette Blount is fed the ball.Forecast: Buccaneers 24, Bengals 21</p>
<p>Chicago (3-1) at Carolina (0-4)Time: 11 a.m.Line: Panthers by 1.5Facts: Chicago QBs were sacked 10 times in a 17-3 road loss to the Giants on Sunday, with Jay Cutler (out, concussion) the victim nine times. But that’s no excuse for losing. In 1986, Dallas and Philadelphia won despite yielding 11 sacks. … Carolina has only five offensive TDs this year in nine games, counting exhibitions. …&#160; When it was announced Todd Collins would replace Cutler at QB, the line moved 4 points in Carolina’s favor. …&#160; The Bears gave up only 119 rushing yards the first three games total until yielding 189 to the New York.Analysis: Carolina couldn’t get off the field last week against a relatively pedestrian New Orleans offense, giving up drives of 13, 15 and 18 plays. Bears RB Matt Forte will be Collins’ best friend Sunday.Forecast: Bears 21, Panthers 7</p>
<p>Green Bay (3-1) at Washington (2-2)Time: 11 a.m.Line: Packers by 2.5Facts: Favorites are 23-36-3 against the line this year. … With Redskins veteran RB Clinton Portis out (groin), Arizona State alum Ryan Torain tops the depth chart. A month ago, Washington cut him. … Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has one completion of 40-plus yards this year. Last season he totaled 17, tied for most in the league. … Last week, Green Bay’s defense faced a Lions’ offense that led the league in three-and-outs, yet forced only one. Analysis: Despite getting a game ball for guiding Washington to an emotional victory in Philly last week, ex-Eagles QB Donovan McNabb was only 2-for-11, with an INT, in a scoreless second half. Green Bay surely has more firepower than that.Forecast: Packers 31, Redskins 16</p>
<p>N.Y. Giants (2-2) at Houston (3-1)Time: 11 a.m.Line: Texans by 3Facts: Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw (questionable, ankle) has the most 20-plus-yard runs with six, but also has an NFL-high three fumbles. … Houston RB Arian Foster leads league rushers with 537 yards – 126 clear of anyone else. In August at the Venetian, he was part of the “field” to win the rushing title at 14-1. … Houston gets standout LB Brian Cushing back from his suspension. But WR Andre Johnson, who had 12 catches in Week 2, could miss his second straight game (questionable, ankle).Analysis: The Giants’ offensive line remains in flux, with standout center Shaun O’Hara (ankle) likely to miss his third straight game. And its doubly bad that their pass-blocking woes combine with the fact QB Eli Manning has fumbled more times than anyone else since Week 14 last year (11). &#160;Forecast: Texans 31, Giants 21</p>
<p>New Orleans (3-1) at Arizona (2-2)Time: 2:05 p.m.Line: Saints by 7Facts: The last times these teams met in Arizona, in 2004 at Sun Devil Stadium, 28,019 paid to watch. There hasn’t been a smaller NFL crowd since. … The Cardinals are ditching QB Derek Anderson for undrafted rookie Matt Hall out of BYU. He had 22 drop-backs last week in a relief role and was sacked six times. … New Orleans is the only team that’s winless against the spread this year (0-3-1). … The Cardinals were 41-10 losers at San Diego last week. Over the past two seasons, teams are 11-5-1 ATS coming off a 30-plus-point defeats.Analysis: Saints defensive boss Gregg Williams has a knack for confounding newbie QBs, And Hall also will be working with two rookie free-agent WRs when the team goes to four-wide sets. Forecast: Saints 30, Cardinals 13</p>
<p>San Diego (2-2) at Oakland (1-3)Time: 2:15 p.m.Line: Chargers by 6.5Facts: San Diego ranks No. 1 in offense and defense. But that’s no guarantee for success. The dynamic 1953 Eagles, for instance, had only the fifth-best record in a 12-team league. … A Chargers win gives them 14 in a row against Oakland, tying for the longest current streak by one team over another (Patriots over Bills). In that stretch, San Diego is 10-3 ATS.Analysis: The infirmary report speaks volumes: Oakland starting RB Darren McFadden (hamstring), starting QB Bruce Gradkowski (shoulder) and top lineman Robert Gallery (hamstring) are all questionable or worse. Wonder if Oakland will have a half-empty stadium again.Forecast: Chargers 38, Raiders 20</p>
<p>Philadelphia (2-2) at San Francisco (0-4)Time: 6:20 p.m.Line: 49ers by 3Facts: QB Michael Vick (out, rib cartilage) and RB LeSean McCoy (questionable, cracked rib) have 87 percent of Philly’s rushing yards. If McCoy can’t go, the team’s leading active rusher would be QB Kevin Kolb, who’s amassed 21. … Dating to 2005, the Eagles have beaten the 49ers four straight by at least 14 points. … San Francisco’s new offensive coordinator, Mike Johnson, got off to a good start when the 49ers drove 88 yards at Atlanta for a first-drive TD. The offense didn’t get another score the rest of the way. … San Francisco is one of two 0-4 teams to be a favorite this week (Detroit).Analysis: Two years ago, the NFC West was a cumulative 20 games under .500, the worst for any division/conference in history. And things aren’t much better this year, which gives the 49ers hope they can rally the troops during a stretch of five homes games in six outings. It starts here. Forecast: 49ers 27, Eagles 20</p>
<p>Monday</p>
<p>Minnesota (1-2) at N.Y. Jets (3-1)Time: 6:35 p.m.Line: Jets by 4Facts: Coach Brad Childress’ Vikings are 4-0-1 ATS after a week off. … New Minnesota WR Randy Moss has a reason to be mad: The trade from New England cost him his bye. … Jets WR Braylon Edwards likes to party on Monday nights, as we learned a few weeks ago. In 2008 with Cleveland, his only three 100-yard games came under the MNF spotlight. … New York had a league-best 273 rushing yards last week in Buffalo. … Minnesota RB Adrian Peterson, who’s coming off 145- and 160-yard rushing games, still hasn’t fumbled in 2009. Last year he led all RBs with eight.Analysis: Don’t think the arrival of Moss will help QB Brett Favre, whose long heaves aren’t much different than when a bride blindly throws her bouquet to the masses. Also, Jets CB Darrelle Revis (hamstring) is hoping o play this week. Not to mention New York gets WR Santonio Holmes back from his suspension.Forecast: Jets 28, Vikings 16</p>
<p>Last week: 6-8 vs. spread; 8-6 straight upSeason total: 32-26-4 vs. spread; 39-23 straight up</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
| false | 2 |
sunday denver 22 baltimore 31time 11 amline ravens 7facts denvers rush offense norm 22 carry worst team past 64 years ravens held denver 200 yards total offense last years 307 victory baltimore broncos first loss 60 start broncos lowest yardage total since getting 194 baltimore 2003 denver qb kyle orton pace become first man throw 700 passes season fifty years ago broncos frank tripucka first 400 broncos leading rusher rb knowshon moreno miss third straight gameanalysis ravens dt haloti noga line buddies able mangle denvers interior line like pipe cleaners much like happened last week denver rushed 20 times 19 yards tennessee forecast ravens 20 broncos 7 tennessee 22 dallas 12time 215 pmline cowboys 7weather mid80s clearfacts tennessees chris johnson vowed offseason reach 2500 rushing yards year hes going average 179 game rest way come wade phillips cowboys 30 past three years first three games bye however last two years buffalo 19992000 bills lost first game break times favorite titans atop league charts penalty yards 344 fumbles 11analysis although qb tony romo leads leagues 5 offense two games came leagues bottomfeeder defenses 31 washington 32 houston tennessee enough athleticism create problemsforecast cowboys 24 titans 21 jacksonville 22 buffalo 04time 11 amline pickemfacts last year week 8 jags ambushed road 06 tennessee lost 3013 year earlier fell 08 bengals team cincinnati 2119 buffalo lone team without int defense last year bills 28 second best total anyone season since 2007 160 bills team yielded firstdrive score week season jaguars 16 line favorite dating midseason 2008 including 1815 home victory buffalo last year 85point choiceanalysis jacksonville two 25point losses season 04 ats past two seasons facing afc north rival indianapolis facing buffalo team shipped marquee back marshawn lynch seattle bye looming bills noticeforecast bills 23 jaguars 20 kansas city 30 indianapolis 22time 11 amline colts 7facts kc bye facing meatgrinder schedule next two games road indys secondrated offense houstons 3 unit week 1 chiefs foiled san diegos toprated group 2114 indianapolis team two tds starting drive inside 10 first time 2010 chiefs facing team already game five receivers 28 catches league three colts reggie wayne 33 austin collie 32 dallas clark 28analysis kc nfls lone unbeaten team figures start two rookie safeties qb peyton manning whose nohuddle approach wont give chance think coming loss jacksonville indy also faces greaterthanusual sense urgencyforecast colts 38 chiefs 23 st louis 22 detroit 04time 11 amline lions 3facts marks 40th consecutive game rams underdog week 8 2009 coming bye mathew staffordled lions lost home st louis 1710 35point pick time shaun hill makes fourth straight start place stafford shoulder three rams next five foes stand 04 st louis leagues longest streak allowing firstdrive score 13 games stretch rams forced six turnoversanalysis detroit isnt playing awful 38 snaps green bay closecall road loss last week week lions wont able brush another loss rams like cowboys texans week 3 lions wellprepared play enormous desperation 160forecast lions 24 rams 10 atlanta 31 cleveland 13time 11 amline falcons 3facts browns win match best fivegame start past seven years atlanta wr roddy white secondmost targeted receiver last year 103 game year matt ryan taken aim white leaguehigh 125 times outing four games hes caught 32 browns next five foes stand 31 atlanta fourth rushing charts 1448 yards game 20th 39 carry cleveland meanwhile one two teams allow rushing tdanalysis cleveland rb peyton hillis questionable thigh wrecking ball past two weeks surpassing 100 yards teams new alpha back atlanta meanwhile easily could 13 despite facing three offenses ranked 23rd worse clevelands 21stforecast browns 21 falcons 16 tampa bay 21 cincinnati 22time 11 amline bengals 65facts bucs returning bye 07 exiting break last year beat green bay 3828 95point underdog qb josh freemans first start hes since led team three straight road victories underdog dating 2009 terrell owens 222 receiving yards cincinnati last week anyone since dallas miles austin 250 kc week 5 last year bucs past five games series analysis bengals shadow 2009 nfc north title team pass rush disintegrated three sacks longest run 13 yards whereas last year 17 runs 20plus tampa bay fare well rookie rb legarrette blount fed ballforecast buccaneers 24 bengals 21 chicago 31 carolina 04time 11 amline panthers 15facts chicago qbs sacked 10 times 173 road loss giants sunday jay cutler concussion victim nine times thats excuse losing 1986 dallas philadelphia despite yielding 11 sacks carolina five offensive tds year nine games counting exhibitions 160 announced todd collins would replace cutler qb line moved 4 points carolinas favor 160 bears gave 119 rushing yards first three games total yielding 189 new yorkanalysis carolina couldnt get field last week relatively pedestrian new orleans offense giving drives 13 15 18 plays bears rb matt forte collins best friend sundayforecast bears 21 panthers 7 green bay 31 washington 22time 11 amline packers 25facts favorites 23363 line year redskins veteran rb clinton portis groin arizona state alum ryan torain tops depth chart month ago washington cut packers qb aaron rodgers one completion 40plus yards year last season totaled 17 tied league last week green bays defense faced lions offense led league threeandouts yet forced one analysis despite getting game ball guiding washington emotional victory philly last week exeagles qb donovan mcnabb 2for11 int scoreless second half green bay surely firepower thatforecast packers 31 redskins 16 ny giants 22 houston 31time 11 amline texans 3facts giants rb ahmad bradshaw questionable ankle 20plusyard runs six also nflhigh three fumbles houston rb arian foster leads league rushers 537 yards 126 clear anyone else august venetian part field win rushing title 141 houston gets standout lb brian cushing back suspension wr andre johnson 12 catches week 2 could miss second straight game questionable ankleanalysis giants offensive line remains flux standout center shaun ohara ankle likely miss third straight game doubly bad passblocking woes combine fact qb eli manning fumbled times anyone else since week 14 last year 11 160forecast texans 31 giants 21 new orleans 31 arizona 22time 205 pmline saints 7facts last times teams met arizona 2004 sun devil stadium 28019 paid watch hasnt smaller nfl crowd since cardinals ditching qb derek anderson undrafted rookie matt hall byu 22 dropbacks last week relief role sacked six times new orleans team thats winless spread year 031 cardinals 4110 losers san diego last week past two seasons teams 1151 ats coming 30pluspoint defeatsanalysis saints defensive boss gregg williams knack confounding newbie qbs hall also working two rookie freeagent wrs team goes fourwide sets forecast saints 30 cardinals 13 san diego 22 oakland 13time 215 pmline chargers 65facts san diego ranks 1 offense defense thats guarantee success dynamic 1953 eagles instance fifthbest record 12team league chargers win gives 14 row oakland tying longest current streak one team another patriots bills stretch san diego 103 atsanalysis infirmary report speaks volumes oakland starting rb darren mcfadden hamstring starting qb bruce gradkowski shoulder top lineman robert gallery hamstring questionable worse wonder oakland halfempty stadium againforecast chargers 38 raiders 20 philadelphia 22 san francisco 04time 620 pmline 49ers 3facts qb michael vick rib cartilage rb lesean mccoy questionable cracked rib 87 percent phillys rushing yards mccoy cant go teams leading active rusher would qb kevin kolb whos amassed 21 dating 2005 eagles beaten 49ers four straight least 14 points san franciscos new offensive coordinator mike johnson got good start 49ers drove 88 yards atlanta firstdrive td offense didnt get another score rest way san francisco one two 04 teams favorite week detroitanalysis two years ago nfc west cumulative 20 games 500 worst divisionconference history things arent much better year gives 49ers hope rally troops stretch five homes games six outings starts forecast 49ers 27 eagles 20 monday minnesota 12 ny jets 31time 635 pmline jets 4facts coach brad childress vikings 401 ats week new minnesota wr randy moss reason mad trade new england cost bye jets wr braylon edwards likes party monday nights learned weeks ago 2008 cleveland three 100yard games came mnf spotlight new york leaguebest 273 rushing yards last week buffalo minnesota rb adrian peterson whos coming 145 160yard rushing games still hasnt fumbled 2009 last year led rbs eightanalysis dont think arrival moss help qb brett favre whose long heaves arent much different bride blindly throws bouquet masses also jets cb darrelle revis hamstring hoping play week mention new york gets wr santonio holmes back suspensionforecast jets 28 vikings 16 last week 68 vs spread 86 straight upseason total 32264 vs spread 3923 straight 160
| 1,406 |
<p>PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Nick Foles contemplated retirement after a miserable season with the Rams in which he ended up losing his starting job to Case Keenum.</p>
<p>That's just one spin of a unique quarterback carousel that'll be on display when Foles and the Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) host Keenum and the Minnesota Vikings (14-3) in the NFC championship game Sunday.</p>
<p>"It pretty wild," Foles said. "Case's success and the way he plays doesn't surprise me because him and I were together and we prepared together. We were around each other every day. But I think the big message there is no matter what happens, you've just got to keep believing in yourself, keep working hard and just never give up."</p>
<p>The cycle began when former Eagles coach Chip Kelly traded Foles to the St. Louis Rams for Sam Bradford in March 2015. A day later, the Rams acquired Keenum from the Houston Texans to back up Foles.</p>
<p>Foles went 4-7 in 11 starts for the Rams before he was benched for Keenum. Meanwhile, Bradford had a decent season with the Eagles, but was traded to Minnesota a week before the 2016 season opener to pave the way for Carson Wentz. The Vikings needed Bradford to replace the injured Teddy Bridgewater. Bradford had a career year in 2016.</p>
<p>Foles asked for his release from the Rams after they moved to Los Angeles and drafted Jared Goff No. 1, one pick ahead of Wentz. Foles seriously considered hanging up the cleats before Andy Reid — who drafted him in third round in Philadelphia in 2012 — persuaded him to join the Kansas City Chiefs as a backup to Alex Smith.</p>
<p>Foles played well in two games in relief and then returned to Philly on a two-year deal to provide insurance behind Wentz this season. Keenum helped groom Goff in Los Angeles last year and then went to Minnesota to back up Bradford.</p>
<p>Keenum stepped into the lineup in September after Bradford was injured and had by far the best season of his career, passing for 3,547 yards, 22 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. Foles took over in Philadelphia after Wentz tore his ACL in Week 14.</p>
<p>Now, the former teammates are one win away from starting in the Super Bowl.</p>
<p>"I know this is what all of you guys predicted back in the day, a Foles vs. Keenum NFC championship," Keenum joked. "So good job to all of you guys who predicted that."</p>
<p>The Eagles are fortunate Foles chose to keep playing a year ago.</p>
<p>"I talked a lot to my wife and I remember just saying a prayer," Foles recalled. "Going to back to play for coach Reid, I am a better person because of that decision. It wasn't an easy decision. But I leaned on my wife, I leaned on my family and I leaned on my faith in those moments, and I'm very grateful I made the decision."</p>
<p>Foles started six games his rookie season, going 1-5 on a 4-12 team that got Reid fired after 14 seasons in Philadelphia. He began 2013 as the backup to Michael Vick in Kelly's first season in the NFL and ended up having a sensational year, leading the Eagles to an NFC East title.</p>
<p>He threw 29 TDs and only two picks — including playoffs — and posted a passer rating of 119.2, third highest in league history. He tied an NFL record with seven TD passes in a game at Oakland in November 2013.</p>
<p>Foles wasn't quite as spectacular in 2014, but the Eagles were 6-2 in his eight starts. He tossed 13 TDs, 10 interceptions and missed the final eight games after breaking his collarbone.</p>
<p>Then he went to St. Louis and struggled on another one of Jeff Fisher's losing teams. Keenum, an undrafted free agent in 2012 who bounced around from with the Texans and Rams, also didn't have much success playing for Fisher. Neither did Goff. All three have thrived playing for other coaches.</p>
<p>"You've just always got to believe and you always have to prepare," Foles said. "Sometimes things happen where unfortunately guys get injured and you have to step in and it's your job to lead the team. (Keenum) has really done an amazing job. It doesn't surprise me. That was my job stepping in for Carson to lead this team like I have before."</p>
<p>Foles completed <a href="http://www.nfl.com/m/share?p=%2Fvideos%2Fnfl-cant-miss-plays%2F0ap3000000905891%2FCan-t-Miss-Play-Torrey-Smith-makes-Immaculate-Reception-esque-catch-off-Neal-s-knee" type="external">77 percent</a> (23 of 30) for 246 yards in a 15-10 win over Atlanta last week.</p>
<p>Keenum, 9-15 as a starter before joining the Vikings, followed his breakout season by leading Minnesota to an improbable comeback win against the Saints, tossing a 61-yard <a href="http://www.nfl.com/m/share?p=%2Fvideos%2Fnfl-cant-miss-plays%2F0ap3000000906711%2FCan-t-Miss-Play-Diggs-MIRACULOUS-last-second-TD-SEALS-Vikings-win" type="external">TD pass</a> to Stefon Diggs as time expired.</p>
<p>The two quarterbacks are good friends off the field.</p>
<p>"Nick is a great guy," Keenum said. "Great faith, great family. My wife and his wife are great friends. His entire family are good people. Great football player. Prepares well, extremely talented, big arm and he's really, really athletic, too. I know he's got a lot of confidence and I'm looking forward to playing against him."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>AP Pro Football Writer Dave Campbell contributed.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_RobMaaddi</p>
<p>PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Nick Foles contemplated retirement after a miserable season with the Rams in which he ended up losing his starting job to Case Keenum.</p>
<p>That's just one spin of a unique quarterback carousel that'll be on display when Foles and the Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) host Keenum and the Minnesota Vikings (14-3) in the NFC championship game Sunday.</p>
<p>"It pretty wild," Foles said. "Case's success and the way he plays doesn't surprise me because him and I were together and we prepared together. We were around each other every day. But I think the big message there is no matter what happens, you've just got to keep believing in yourself, keep working hard and just never give up."</p>
<p>The cycle began when former Eagles coach Chip Kelly traded Foles to the St. Louis Rams for Sam Bradford in March 2015. A day later, the Rams acquired Keenum from the Houston Texans to back up Foles.</p>
<p>Foles went 4-7 in 11 starts for the Rams before he was benched for Keenum. Meanwhile, Bradford had a decent season with the Eagles, but was traded to Minnesota a week before the 2016 season opener to pave the way for Carson Wentz. The Vikings needed Bradford to replace the injured Teddy Bridgewater. Bradford had a career year in 2016.</p>
<p>Foles asked for his release from the Rams after they moved to Los Angeles and drafted Jared Goff No. 1, one pick ahead of Wentz. Foles seriously considered hanging up the cleats before Andy Reid — who drafted him in third round in Philadelphia in 2012 — persuaded him to join the Kansas City Chiefs as a backup to Alex Smith.</p>
<p>Foles played well in two games in relief and then returned to Philly on a two-year deal to provide insurance behind Wentz this season. Keenum helped groom Goff in Los Angeles last year and then went to Minnesota to back up Bradford.</p>
<p>Keenum stepped into the lineup in September after Bradford was injured and had by far the best season of his career, passing for 3,547 yards, 22 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. Foles took over in Philadelphia after Wentz tore his ACL in Week 14.</p>
<p>Now, the former teammates are one win away from starting in the Super Bowl.</p>
<p>"I know this is what all of you guys predicted back in the day, a Foles vs. Keenum NFC championship," Keenum joked. "So good job to all of you guys who predicted that."</p>
<p>The Eagles are fortunate Foles chose to keep playing a year ago.</p>
<p>"I talked a lot to my wife and I remember just saying a prayer," Foles recalled. "Going to back to play for coach Reid, I am a better person because of that decision. It wasn't an easy decision. But I leaned on my wife, I leaned on my family and I leaned on my faith in those moments, and I'm very grateful I made the decision."</p>
<p>Foles started six games his rookie season, going 1-5 on a 4-12 team that got Reid fired after 14 seasons in Philadelphia. He began 2013 as the backup to Michael Vick in Kelly's first season in the NFL and ended up having a sensational year, leading the Eagles to an NFC East title.</p>
<p>He threw 29 TDs and only two picks — including playoffs — and posted a passer rating of 119.2, third highest in league history. He tied an NFL record with seven TD passes in a game at Oakland in November 2013.</p>
<p>Foles wasn't quite as spectacular in 2014, but the Eagles were 6-2 in his eight starts. He tossed 13 TDs, 10 interceptions and missed the final eight games after breaking his collarbone.</p>
<p>Then he went to St. Louis and struggled on another one of Jeff Fisher's losing teams. Keenum, an undrafted free agent in 2012 who bounced around from with the Texans and Rams, also didn't have much success playing for Fisher. Neither did Goff. All three have thrived playing for other coaches.</p>
<p>"You've just always got to believe and you always have to prepare," Foles said. "Sometimes things happen where unfortunately guys get injured and you have to step in and it's your job to lead the team. (Keenum) has really done an amazing job. It doesn't surprise me. That was my job stepping in for Carson to lead this team like I have before."</p>
<p>Foles completed <a href="http://www.nfl.com/m/share?p=%2Fvideos%2Fnfl-cant-miss-plays%2F0ap3000000905891%2FCan-t-Miss-Play-Torrey-Smith-makes-Immaculate-Reception-esque-catch-off-Neal-s-knee" type="external">77 percent</a> (23 of 30) for 246 yards in a 15-10 win over Atlanta last week.</p>
<p>Keenum, 9-15 as a starter before joining the Vikings, followed his breakout season by leading Minnesota to an improbable comeback win against the Saints, tossing a 61-yard <a href="http://www.nfl.com/m/share?p=%2Fvideos%2Fnfl-cant-miss-plays%2F0ap3000000906711%2FCan-t-Miss-Play-Diggs-MIRACULOUS-last-second-TD-SEALS-Vikings-win" type="external">TD pass</a> to Stefon Diggs as time expired.</p>
<p>The two quarterbacks are good friends off the field.</p>
<p>"Nick is a great guy," Keenum said. "Great faith, great family. My wife and his wife are great friends. His entire family are good people. Great football player. Prepares well, extremely talented, big arm and he's really, really athletic, too. I know he's got a lot of confidence and I'm looking forward to playing against him."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>AP Pro Football Writer Dave Campbell contributed.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_RobMaaddi</p>
| false | 2 |
philadelphia ap nick foles contemplated retirement miserable season rams ended losing starting job case keenum thats one spin unique quarterback carousel thatll display foles philadelphia eagles 143 host keenum minnesota vikings 143 nfc championship game sunday pretty wild foles said cases success way plays doesnt surprise together prepared together around every day think big message matter happens youve got keep believing keep working hard never give cycle began former eagles coach chip kelly traded foles st louis rams sam bradford march 2015 day later rams acquired keenum houston texans back foles foles went 47 11 starts rams benched keenum meanwhile bradford decent season eagles traded minnesota week 2016 season opener pave way carson wentz vikings needed bradford replace injured teddy bridgewater bradford career year 2016 foles asked release rams moved los angeles drafted jared goff 1 one pick ahead wentz foles seriously considered hanging cleats andy reid drafted third round philadelphia 2012 persuaded join kansas city chiefs backup alex smith foles played well two games relief returned philly twoyear deal provide insurance behind wentz season keenum helped groom goff los angeles last year went minnesota back bradford keenum stepped lineup september bradford injured far best season career passing 3547 yards 22 touchdowns seven interceptions foles took philadelphia wentz tore acl week 14 former teammates one win away starting super bowl know guys predicted back day foles vs keenum nfc championship keenum joked good job guys predicted eagles fortunate foles chose keep playing year ago talked lot wife remember saying prayer foles recalled going back play coach reid better person decision wasnt easy decision leaned wife leaned family leaned faith moments im grateful made decision foles started six games rookie season going 15 412 team got reid fired 14 seasons philadelphia began 2013 backup michael vick kellys first season nfl ended sensational year leading eagles nfc east title threw 29 tds two picks including playoffs posted passer rating 1192 third highest league history tied nfl record seven td passes game oakland november 2013 foles wasnt quite spectacular 2014 eagles 62 eight starts tossed 13 tds 10 interceptions missed final eight games breaking collarbone went st louis struggled another one jeff fishers losing teams keenum undrafted free agent 2012 bounced around texans rams also didnt much success playing fisher neither goff three thrived playing coaches youve always got believe always prepare foles said sometimes things happen unfortunately guys get injured step job lead team keenum really done amazing job doesnt surprise job stepping carson lead team like foles completed 77 percent 23 30 246 yards 1510 win atlanta last week keenum 915 starter joining vikings followed breakout season leading minnesota improbable comeback win saints tossing 61yard td pass stefon diggs time expired two quarterbacks good friends field nick great guy keenum said great faith great family wife wife great friends entire family good people great football player prepares well extremely talented big arm hes really really athletic know hes got lot confidence im looking forward playing ___ ap pro football writer dave campbell contributed ___ nfl coverage wwwpro32aporg wwwtwittercomap_nfl ___ follow rob maaddi twitter httpstwittercomap_robmaaddi philadelphia ap nick foles contemplated retirement miserable season rams ended losing starting job case keenum thats one spin unique quarterback carousel thatll display foles philadelphia eagles 143 host keenum minnesota vikings 143 nfc championship game sunday pretty wild foles said cases success way plays doesnt surprise together prepared together around every day think big message matter happens youve got keep believing keep working hard never give cycle began former eagles coach chip kelly traded foles st louis rams sam bradford march 2015 day later rams acquired keenum houston texans back foles foles went 47 11 starts rams benched keenum meanwhile bradford decent season eagles traded minnesota week 2016 season opener pave way carson wentz vikings needed bradford replace injured teddy bridgewater bradford career year 2016 foles asked release rams moved los angeles drafted jared goff 1 one pick ahead wentz foles seriously considered hanging cleats andy reid drafted third round philadelphia 2012 persuaded join kansas city chiefs backup alex smith foles played well two games relief returned philly twoyear deal provide insurance behind wentz season keenum helped groom goff los angeles last year went minnesota back bradford keenum stepped lineup september bradford injured far best season career passing 3547 yards 22 touchdowns seven interceptions foles took philadelphia wentz tore acl week 14 former teammates one win away starting super bowl know guys predicted back day foles vs keenum nfc championship keenum joked good job guys predicted eagles fortunate foles chose keep playing year ago talked lot wife remember saying prayer foles recalled going back play coach reid better person decision wasnt easy decision leaned wife leaned family leaned faith moments im grateful made decision foles started six games rookie season going 15 412 team got reid fired 14 seasons philadelphia began 2013 backup michael vick kellys first season nfl ended sensational year leading eagles nfc east title threw 29 tds two picks including playoffs posted passer rating 1192 third highest league history tied nfl record seven td passes game oakland november 2013 foles wasnt quite spectacular 2014 eagles 62 eight starts tossed 13 tds 10 interceptions missed final eight games breaking collarbone went st louis struggled another one jeff fishers losing teams keenum undrafted free agent 2012 bounced around texans rams also didnt much success playing fisher neither goff three thrived playing coaches youve always got believe always prepare foles said sometimes things happen unfortunately guys get injured step job lead team keenum really done amazing job doesnt surprise job stepping carson lead team like foles completed 77 percent 23 30 246 yards 1510 win atlanta last week keenum 915 starter joining vikings followed breakout season leading minnesota improbable comeback win saints tossing 61yard td pass stefon diggs time expired two quarterbacks good friends field nick great guy keenum said great faith great family wife wife great friends entire family good people great football player prepares well extremely talented big arm hes really really athletic know hes got lot confidence im looking forward playing ___ ap pro football writer dave campbell contributed ___ nfl coverage wwwpro32aporg wwwtwittercomap_nfl ___ follow rob maaddi twitter httpstwittercomap_robmaaddi
| 1,026 |
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — Talk about lousy timing.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump had hoped to spend the weekend celebrating the one-year anniversary of his inauguration amid friends at his opulent Palm Beach, Florida, estate. Instead, he’s reckoning with a federal government shutdown.</p>
<p>Trump scrapped plans to depart Friday for his Mar-a-Lago club, where he’d been set to attend a high-dollar fundraiser Saturday night to commemorate his first year in office.</p>
<p>Instead, he spent much of the day in the Oval Office, trying to hash out a deal with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to keep the government open. As chances for a deal began to fade, he retreated to the White House residence, where he watched the drama play out on television and called friends, insisting Democrats would be blamed in the fallout, according to a person familiar with the president’s conversations but not authorized to discuss them publicly.</p>
<p>Throughout the day, administration officials seemed resigned to the eventual outcome, with Budget Director Mick Mulvaney telling reporters before noon, “We are going to manage the shutdown differently.”</p>
<p>And even before the Senate had voted on — and failed to pass — the short-term funding bill to keep the government open, much of the West Wing had already emptied out, the press offices sitting dark.</p>
<p>White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a scathing statement shortly before midnight slamming Senate Democrats as “obstructionist losers, not legislators.”</p>
<p>She said that until the shutdown ends, the White House will not resume negotiations on the fate of hundreds of thousands of young immigrants who entered the country illegally as children.</p>
<p>While White House aides did not respond to questions about the president’s weekend plans, Mulvaney told reporters he didn’t expect Trump to go to Florida Saturday.</p>
<p>“I think the president’s been very clear: He’s not leaving until this is finished,” he said.</p>
<p>But the timing was undeniably unfortunate for a president trying to steer the conversation away from controversy and back to his first-year accomplishments.</p>
<p>Trump was originally scheduled to attend a “Trump Victory Dinner” Saturday night at Mar-a-Lago, with proceeds going to a joint fundraising committee for his re-election campaign and the Republican National Committee. That was up in the air early Saturday.</p>
<p>The reverberations will be felt across Washington, all over the nation — and within the White House residence.</p>
<p>According to federal stipulations, just 21 of the 96 members of the White House residential staff would report to duty on any day of a shutdown.</p>
<p>“Essentially, our core group of residence staff would still report to work to ensure that basic services are still provided to the first family,” said Stephanie Grisham, a spokeswoman for first lady Melania Trump.</p>
<p>Electricians and engineers would also report for duty “to ensure the safety of the facilities in the mansion,” Grisham said.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writer Jonathan Lemire contributed to this report. Follow Colvin on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/colvinj" type="external">https://twitter.com/colvinj</a></p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — Talk about lousy timing.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump had hoped to spend the weekend celebrating the one-year anniversary of his inauguration amid friends at his opulent Palm Beach, Florida, estate. Instead, he’s reckoning with a federal government shutdown.</p>
<p>Trump scrapped plans to depart Friday for his Mar-a-Lago club, where he’d been set to attend a high-dollar fundraiser Saturday night to commemorate his first year in office.</p>
<p>Instead, he spent much of the day in the Oval Office, trying to hash out a deal with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to keep the government open. As chances for a deal began to fade, he retreated to the White House residence, where he watched the drama play out on television and called friends, insisting Democrats would be blamed in the fallout, according to a person familiar with the president’s conversations but not authorized to discuss them publicly.</p>
<p>Throughout the day, administration officials seemed resigned to the eventual outcome, with Budget Director Mick Mulvaney telling reporters before noon, “We are going to manage the shutdown differently.”</p>
<p>And even before the Senate had voted on — and failed to pass — the short-term funding bill to keep the government open, much of the West Wing had already emptied out, the press offices sitting dark.</p>
<p>White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a scathing statement shortly before midnight slamming Senate Democrats as “obstructionist losers, not legislators.”</p>
<p>She said that until the shutdown ends, the White House will not resume negotiations on the fate of hundreds of thousands of young immigrants who entered the country illegally as children.</p>
<p>While White House aides did not respond to questions about the president’s weekend plans, Mulvaney told reporters he didn’t expect Trump to go to Florida Saturday.</p>
<p>“I think the president’s been very clear: He’s not leaving until this is finished,” he said.</p>
<p>But the timing was undeniably unfortunate for a president trying to steer the conversation away from controversy and back to his first-year accomplishments.</p>
<p>Trump was originally scheduled to attend a “Trump Victory Dinner” Saturday night at Mar-a-Lago, with proceeds going to a joint fundraising committee for his re-election campaign and the Republican National Committee. That was up in the air early Saturday.</p>
<p>The reverberations will be felt across Washington, all over the nation — and within the White House residence.</p>
<p>According to federal stipulations, just 21 of the 96 members of the White House residential staff would report to duty on any day of a shutdown.</p>
<p>“Essentially, our core group of residence staff would still report to work to ensure that basic services are still provided to the first family,” said Stephanie Grisham, a spokeswoman for first lady Melania Trump.</p>
<p>Electricians and engineers would also report for duty “to ensure the safety of the facilities in the mansion,” Grisham said.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writer Jonathan Lemire contributed to this report. Follow Colvin on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/colvinj" type="external">https://twitter.com/colvinj</a></p>
| false | 2 |
washington ap talk lousy timing president donald trump hoped spend weekend celebrating oneyear anniversary inauguration amid friends opulent palm beach florida estate instead hes reckoning federal government shutdown trump scrapped plans depart friday maralago club hed set attend highdollar fundraiser saturday night commemorate first year office instead spent much day oval office trying hash deal senate minority leader chuck schumer keep government open chances deal began fade retreated white house residence watched drama play television called friends insisting democrats would blamed fallout according person familiar presidents conversations authorized discuss publicly throughout day administration officials seemed resigned eventual outcome budget director mick mulvaney telling reporters noon going manage shutdown differently even senate voted failed pass shortterm funding bill keep government open much west wing already emptied press offices sitting dark white house press secretary sarah huckabee sanders issued scathing statement shortly midnight slamming senate democrats obstructionist losers legislators said shutdown ends white house resume negotiations fate hundreds thousands young immigrants entered country illegally children white house aides respond questions presidents weekend plans mulvaney told reporters didnt expect trump go florida saturday think presidents clear hes leaving finished said timing undeniably unfortunate president trying steer conversation away controversy back firstyear accomplishments trump originally scheduled attend trump victory dinner saturday night maralago proceeds going joint fundraising committee reelection campaign republican national committee air early saturday reverberations felt across washington nation within white house residence according federal stipulations 21 96 members white house residential staff would report duty day shutdown essentially core group residence staff would still report work ensure basic services still provided first family said stephanie grisham spokeswoman first lady melania trump electricians engineers would also report duty ensure safety facilities mansion grisham said ___ associated press writer jonathan lemire contributed report follow colvin twitter httpstwittercomcolvinj washington ap talk lousy timing president donald trump hoped spend weekend celebrating oneyear anniversary inauguration amid friends opulent palm beach florida estate instead hes reckoning federal government shutdown trump scrapped plans depart friday maralago club hed set attend highdollar fundraiser saturday night commemorate first year office instead spent much day oval office trying hash deal senate minority leader chuck schumer keep government open chances deal began fade retreated white house residence watched drama play television called friends insisting democrats would blamed fallout according person familiar presidents conversations authorized discuss publicly throughout day administration officials seemed resigned eventual outcome budget director mick mulvaney telling reporters noon going manage shutdown differently even senate voted failed pass shortterm funding bill keep government open much west wing already emptied press offices sitting dark white house press secretary sarah huckabee sanders issued scathing statement shortly midnight slamming senate democrats obstructionist losers legislators said shutdown ends white house resume negotiations fate hundreds thousands young immigrants entered country illegally children white house aides respond questions presidents weekend plans mulvaney told reporters didnt expect trump go florida saturday think presidents clear hes leaving finished said timing undeniably unfortunate president trying steer conversation away controversy back firstyear accomplishments trump originally scheduled attend trump victory dinner saturday night maralago proceeds going joint fundraising committee reelection campaign republican national committee air early saturday reverberations felt across washington nation within white house residence according federal stipulations 21 96 members white house residential staff would report duty day shutdown essentially core group residence staff would still report work ensure basic services still provided first family said stephanie grisham spokeswoman first lady melania trump electricians engineers would also report duty ensure safety facilities mansion grisham said ___ associated press writer jonathan lemire contributed report follow colvin twitter httpstwittercomcolvinj
| 588 |
<p />
<p>Forbes compiled a list of the 200 Hot Shot small companies that have an average share price increase of 58 percent&#160;in the last 12 months.</p>
<p>Here is <a href="http://www.forbes.com/lists/results.jhtml?passListId=23&amp;passYear=2003&amp;passListType=Company&amp;searchParameter1=unset&amp;searchParameter2=unset&amp;resultsStart=1&amp;resultsHowMany=25&amp;resultsSortProperties=%2Bnumberfield1%2C%2Bstringfield2&amp;resultsSortCategoryName=overall+rank&amp;passKeyword=&amp;category1=category&amp;category2=category" type="external">the list in order</a> of the "best" 200 small companies in America.</p>
<p>Here is the list <a href="http://www.forbes.com/lists/results.jhtml?passListId=23&amp;passYear=2003&amp;passListType=Company&amp;searchParameter1=unset&amp;searchParameter2=unset&amp;resultsStart=1&amp;resultsHowMany=25&amp;resultsSortProperties=%2Bstringfield3%2C%2Bnumberfield1&amp;resultsSortCategoryName=state&amp;passKeyword=&amp;category1=category&amp;category2=category" type="external">state-by-state</a> to help you find your local Hot Shot companies. Who are the forces behind these companies? What do the companies actually manufacture or&#160;produce? I bet many of them are unknown to your public.</p>
<p>One Nation Under God Fight</p>
<p>The Supreme Court said Tuesday it will decide whether the Pledge of Allegiance is an unconstitutional blending of church and state. The case is <a href="http://www.usdoj.gov/osg/briefs/2003/2pet/7pet/2003-1574.pet.rep.html" type="external">Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow, 02-1574</a>.</p>
<p>This will become a huge debate, no matter how the case ends up. <a href="http://www.usdoj.gov/osg/briefs/2003/2pet/7pet/2002-1574.pet.rep.pdf" type="external">The Pledge of Allegiance case</a> involves a California atheist whose 9-year-old daughter, like most elementary school children, hears the pledge recited daily. <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/06/27/news/opinion/courtwatch/main513567.shtml" type="external">Here is a nice background story</a> to previous pledge cases from CBS News.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.msnbc.com/news/980091.asp?0cv=CA01" type="external">MSNBC said</a>:</p>
<p>Resources:</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Telemarketers Turn To Cell Phones</p>
<p><a href="http://biz.yahoo.com/bizwk/031010/tc200310100536_tc024_1.html" type="external">BusinessWeek Online&#160;reports:</a></p>
<p>For most of their brief history, telemarketers have stuck to landline phones. But that could soon change, says Rene Link, vice-president for marketing at wireless consultancy <a href="http://www.incodetel.com/what_we_do/wireless_service_offerings.asp" type="external">InCode Telecom</a> in San Diego. Soon after the Federal Communications Commission [FCC] implements its <a href="http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-224368A1.pdf" type="external">wireless number portability rules on Nov. 24</a>, it's expected that most phone customers will also be able to keep the same number when they switch from regular landline to wireless service. And as that happens, telemarketers almost certainly will start reaching people via their mobile phones.</p>
<p>Theoretically, that trend could snowball. Within five years, 20 percent&#160;of U.S. households, up from 5 percent&#160;today, might use a mobile device as their primary phone, estimates Craig Mathias, who runs wireless consultancy Farpoint Group in Ashland, Mass.</p>
<p />
<p>Change Cell Service, But Keep Your Number</p>
<p><a href="http://money.cnn.com/2003/09/04/technology/techinvestor/lamonica/" type="external">CNN Money says,</a> "On Nov. 24, the long-awaited wireless number portability rule kicks in, which will allow cell phone users to keep their numbers when they switch service providers.</p>
<p>"So if the hassle of letting people know your new number is the only reason you've stuck with your current service, you will soon be in luck."</p>
<p><a href="http://www.commweb.com/shared/article/showArticle.jhtml?articleId=15201780" type="external">CommWeb.com reports</a>, "A new study by <a href="http://media.convergys.com/home.php" type="external">Convergys</a> (Cincinnati, OH) reveals that one third of U.S. cell phone users are likely to switch carriers once they can take their phone numbers with them."CNN/Money predicts price wars and tons of advertising among cell phone companies:</p>
<p>And of course, the carriers will likely come up with creative new pricing plans in order to lure customers and hang on to existing ones.</p>
<p>Add all that up and you have lower profit margins ...</p>
<p>"This is going to cause more price wars, minute wars, whatever you want to call it," said Patrick Comack, an analyst with <a href="http://www.guzman.com/about/default.asp" type="external">Guzman &amp; Co</a>. "It's great for consumers but terrible for the wireless companies."</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Here is a story that might prompt you to go look at how often your local and state government workers actually reimburse your governments for personal use of government cell phones.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/100203/met_13681014.shtml" type="external">The&#160;Florida Times-Union&#160;reports</a>:</p>
<p>Jacksonville City Councilman Reggie Fullwood has spent the equivalent of almost four months on his city-issued cell phone since taking office in 1999, racking up more than $14,200 in charges. Until (Oct. 1) though, Fullwood had reimbursed the city for personal calls only once&#160;— writing a $23.29 check four years ago. After he was questioned Tuesday by The Times-Union about his bill, Fullwood wrote the city a $4,655 check.</p>
<p>"I do take tax dollars seriously and I wanted to pay this, put it behind me, and move on," Fullwood said yesterday. The city pays for all calls pertaining to city business, but council members themselves are responsible for marking their personal calls, totaling the charges, and writing a check to the city.</p>
<p />
<p>Government Workers&#160;and Frequent Traveler Points</p>
<p><a href="http://www.govexec.com/features/0202/0202travel.htm" type="external">Since last year</a>, federal employees have been allowed to <a href="http://www.govtraveler.com/newsletter/03_03/03_03.htm#rules" type="external">keep their mileage</a> earned while traveling on government business.</p>
<p>I spotted this in&#160; <a href="http://www.tribnet.com/news/story/4110524p-4126959c.html" type="external">The (Tacoma) News Tribune</a>. The paper has been looking into spending at Tacoma Power. Now, an audit shows that some power company heads were staying at pricey hotels to run up their frequent traveler points. The paper reports:</p>
<p>A Tacoma Power supervisor fired after the improper purchase came to light in February also routinely stayed in high-priced hotels at utility expense where he collected travel club points that he redeemed for personal trips to the Oregon Coast and Whistler, British Columbia.</p>
<p>In two years, Joe Orth&#160;— supervisor of a multimillion-dollar computer conversion project&#160;— spent more than $48,000 on travel partly by staying in hotels where rates exceeded both the government rate and those of comparable hotels nearby, the auditor found.</p>
<p>The City of Tacoma, owner of the municipal utility, has no rule against employees collecting personal travel club points or frequent flier miles from government-funded trips, but employees are supposed to request government rates at "midpriced" hotels.</p>
<p>"By staying in higher-priced rooms, (the supervisor and others) accumulated more points at a faster rate," auditor Mark Rapozo said.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p />
<p />
<p />
<p />
<p />
<p>We are always looking for your great ideas. <a href="" type="internal">Send &lt;AL &lt;?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = STRONG"Al&lt;STRONG"AlAl</a> a few sentences and hot links.</p>
<p />
| false | 2 |
forbes compiled list 200 hot shot small companies average share price increase 58 percent160in last 12 months list order best 200 small companies america list statebystate help find local hot shot companies forces behind companies companies actually manufacture or160produce bet many unknown public one nation god fight supreme court said tuesday decide whether pledge allegiance unconstitutional blending church state case elk grove unified school district v newdow 021574 become huge debate matter case ends pledge allegiance case involves california atheist whose 9yearold daughter like elementary school children hears pledge recited daily nice background story previous pledge cases cbs news msnbc said resources telemarketers turn cell phones businessweek online160reports brief history telemarketers stuck landline phones could soon change says rene link vicepresident marketing wireless consultancy incode telecom san diego soon federal communications commission fcc implements wireless number portability rules nov 24 expected phone customers also able keep number switch regular landline wireless service happens telemarketers almost certainly start reaching people via mobile phones theoretically trend could snowball within five years 20 percent160of us households 5 percent160today might use mobile device primary phone estimates craig mathias runs wireless consultancy farpoint group ashland mass change cell service keep number cnn money says nov 24 longawaited wireless number portability rule kicks allow cell phone users keep numbers switch service providers hassle letting people know new number reason youve stuck current service soon luck commwebcom reports new study convergys cincinnati oh reveals one third us cell phone users likely switch carriers take phone numbers themcnnmoney predicts price wars tons advertising among cell phone companies course carriers likely come creative new pricing plans order lure customers hang existing ones add lower profit margins going cause price wars minute wars whatever want call said patrick comack analyst guzman amp co great consumers terrible wireless companies story might prompt go look often local state government workers actually reimburse governments personal use government cell phones the160florida timesunion160reports jacksonville city councilman reggie fullwood spent equivalent almost four months cityissued cell phone since taking office 1999 racking 14200 charges oct 1 though fullwood reimbursed city personal calls once160 writing 2329 check four years ago questioned tuesday timesunion bill fullwood wrote city 4655 check take tax dollars seriously wanted pay put behind move fullwood said yesterday city pays calls pertaining city business council members responsible marking personal calls totaling charges writing check city government workers160and frequent traveler points since last year federal employees allowed keep mileage earned traveling government business spotted in160 tacoma news tribune paper looking spending tacoma power audit shows power company heads staying pricey hotels run frequent traveler points paper reports tacoma power supervisor fired improper purchase came light february also routinely stayed highpriced hotels utility expense collected travel club points redeemed personal trips oregon coast whistler british columbia two years joe orth160 supervisor multimilliondollar computer conversion project160 spent 48000 travel partly staying hotels rates exceeded government rate comparable hotels nearby auditor found city tacoma owner municipal utility rule employees collecting personal travel club points frequent flier miles governmentfunded trips employees supposed request government rates midpriced hotels staying higherpriced rooms supervisor others accumulated points faster rate auditor mark rapozo said always looking great ideas send ltal ltxmlnamespace prefix strongalltstrongalal sentences hot links
| 533 |
<p>FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — For a day, at least, Vince Wilfork was with the Patriots again, to collect a Super Bowl ring at the home of team owner Robert Kraft.</p>
<p>His presence at the celebration served as an immediate reminder that the leader won’t be in Foxborough this coming season for the first time in a long time.</p>
<p>The five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman who played 11 seasons with New England and won two Super Bowls is shifting to the Houston Texans, playing alongside J.J. Watt.</p>
<p>“Yeah, that’s the way the cookie crumbles -- especially in this game where the next man is always up,” fellow tackle Alan Branch said Wednesday, as the Patriots completed Day 2 of their three-day minicamp. “Big V was awesome. He was a big, big deal for the team, the city and everything to do with the Patriots,” defensive tackle Alan Branch said Wednesday as the Patriots finished the second day of a three-day minicamp. “He was a great guy and a great leader, but ... it’s next man up and that’s always the mentality of a football player.”</p>
<p>There is no shortage of candidates to fill the void. Branch, signed to a new two-year deal, is in the mix but not a shoo-in. Two top draft picks — Dominque Easley and Malcom Brown — both play the position, Easley coming back from knee surgery that shortened his rookie season.</p>
<p>“I don’t feel like I’m where I need to be right now, but I feel like I’m going to get there,” said Easley, who played in 11 games and had just 10 tackles before going down with the injury.</p>
<p>Asked about the difference on the field with Wilfork gone, Branch smiled and said: “There’s not another guy as big as me right next to me right now.”</p>
<p>Brown, who came from Texas, is 6-2 and 320 pounds, five pounds lighter than Wilfork’s listed weight.</p>
<p>“I’m not here to replace anybody,” Brown said. “Whatever role the coaches give me, I’m going to take that role and I’m going to play my best at it.”</p>
<p>Wilfork played in 177 games with the Patriots, starting 19 games in the postseason. His absence means the defensive line needs to find cohesion again.</p>
<p>“The best part about this is you get to bond on and off the field,” said Easley, who says he’s happy to be back on the field because there’s no other profession like playing in the NFL.</p>
<p>Easley said he’s more comfortable entering his second season than he was as a rookie.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>NOTES: Patriots coach Bill Belichick, asked about Wednesday’s spirited practice (no pads), which included some jostling among players, said, “Yeah, we don’t really need that. We’re just trying to teach things. The competition will start in training camp. There will be plenty of it there. If these guys want to get after it and hit somebody, there will be plenty of chances in training camp - more than they want.” ... Defensive end Rob Ninkovich will drive the pace car for next month’s NH 301 NASCAR Spring &amp; Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Last July, teammate Julian Edelman did the same thing for the Sprint Cup race at the same track. ... The Gillette Stadium field was flooded with 7,500 tons of dirt Wednesday in preparation for a monster truck event on Saturday.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>AP NFL websites: <a href="http://pro32.ap.org" type="external" /> <a href="http://pro32.ap.org" type="external">http://pro32.ap.org</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/AP_NFL" type="external" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/AP_NFL" type="external">http://twitter.com/AP_NFL</a></p>
<p>FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — For a day, at least, Vince Wilfork was with the Patriots again, to collect a Super Bowl ring at the home of team owner Robert Kraft.</p>
<p>His presence at the celebration served as an immediate reminder that the leader won’t be in Foxborough this coming season for the first time in a long time.</p>
<p>The five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman who played 11 seasons with New England and won two Super Bowls is shifting to the Houston Texans, playing alongside J.J. Watt.</p>
<p>“Yeah, that’s the way the cookie crumbles -- especially in this game where the next man is always up,” fellow tackle Alan Branch said Wednesday, as the Patriots completed Day 2 of their three-day minicamp. “Big V was awesome. He was a big, big deal for the team, the city and everything to do with the Patriots,” defensive tackle Alan Branch said Wednesday as the Patriots finished the second day of a three-day minicamp. “He was a great guy and a great leader, but ... it’s next man up and that’s always the mentality of a football player.”</p>
<p>There is no shortage of candidates to fill the void. Branch, signed to a new two-year deal, is in the mix but not a shoo-in. Two top draft picks — Dominque Easley and Malcom Brown — both play the position, Easley coming back from knee surgery that shortened his rookie season.</p>
<p>“I don’t feel like I’m where I need to be right now, but I feel like I’m going to get there,” said Easley, who played in 11 games and had just 10 tackles before going down with the injury.</p>
<p>Asked about the difference on the field with Wilfork gone, Branch smiled and said: “There’s not another guy as big as me right next to me right now.”</p>
<p>Brown, who came from Texas, is 6-2 and 320 pounds, five pounds lighter than Wilfork’s listed weight.</p>
<p>“I’m not here to replace anybody,” Brown said. “Whatever role the coaches give me, I’m going to take that role and I’m going to play my best at it.”</p>
<p>Wilfork played in 177 games with the Patriots, starting 19 games in the postseason. His absence means the defensive line needs to find cohesion again.</p>
<p>“The best part about this is you get to bond on and off the field,” said Easley, who says he’s happy to be back on the field because there’s no other profession like playing in the NFL.</p>
<p>Easley said he’s more comfortable entering his second season than he was as a rookie.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>NOTES: Patriots coach Bill Belichick, asked about Wednesday’s spirited practice (no pads), which included some jostling among players, said, “Yeah, we don’t really need that. We’re just trying to teach things. The competition will start in training camp. There will be plenty of it there. If these guys want to get after it and hit somebody, there will be plenty of chances in training camp - more than they want.” ... Defensive end Rob Ninkovich will drive the pace car for next month’s NH 301 NASCAR Spring &amp; Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Last July, teammate Julian Edelman did the same thing for the Sprint Cup race at the same track. ... The Gillette Stadium field was flooded with 7,500 tons of dirt Wednesday in preparation for a monster truck event on Saturday.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>AP NFL websites: <a href="http://pro32.ap.org" type="external" /> <a href="http://pro32.ap.org" type="external">http://pro32.ap.org</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/AP_NFL" type="external" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/AP_NFL" type="external">http://twitter.com/AP_NFL</a></p>
| false | 2 |
foxborough mass ap day least vince wilfork patriots collect super bowl ring home team owner robert kraft presence celebration served immediate reminder leader wont foxborough coming season first time long time fivetime pro bowl defensive lineman played 11 seasons new england two super bowls shifting houston texans playing alongside jj watt yeah thats way cookie crumbles especially game next man always fellow tackle alan branch said wednesday patriots completed day 2 threeday minicamp big v awesome big big deal team city everything patriots defensive tackle alan branch said wednesday patriots finished second day threeday minicamp great guy great leader next man thats always mentality football player shortage candidates fill void branch signed new twoyear deal mix shooin two top draft picks dominque easley malcom brown play position easley coming back knee surgery shortened rookie season dont feel like im need right feel like im going get said easley played 11 games 10 tackles going injury asked difference field wilfork gone branch smiled said theres another guy big right next right brown came texas 62 320 pounds five pounds lighter wilforks listed weight im replace anybody brown said whatever role coaches give im going take role im going play best wilfork played 177 games patriots starting 19 games postseason absence means defensive line needs find cohesion best part get bond field said easley says hes happy back field theres profession like playing nfl easley said hes comfortable entering second season rookie ___ notes patriots coach bill belichick asked wednesdays spirited practice pads included jostling among players said yeah dont really need trying teach things competition start training camp plenty guys want get hit somebody plenty chances training camp want defensive end rob ninkovich drive pace car next months nh 301 nascar spring amp cup race new hampshire motor speedway last july teammate julian edelman thing sprint cup race track gillette stadium field flooded 7500 tons dirt wednesday preparation monster truck event saturday ___ ap nfl websites httppro32aporg httptwittercomap_nfl foxborough mass ap day least vince wilfork patriots collect super bowl ring home team owner robert kraft presence celebration served immediate reminder leader wont foxborough coming season first time long time fivetime pro bowl defensive lineman played 11 seasons new england two super bowls shifting houston texans playing alongside jj watt yeah thats way cookie crumbles especially game next man always fellow tackle alan branch said wednesday patriots completed day 2 threeday minicamp big v awesome big big deal team city everything patriots defensive tackle alan branch said wednesday patriots finished second day threeday minicamp great guy great leader next man thats always mentality football player shortage candidates fill void branch signed new twoyear deal mix shooin two top draft picks dominque easley malcom brown play position easley coming back knee surgery shortened rookie season dont feel like im need right feel like im going get said easley played 11 games 10 tackles going injury asked difference field wilfork gone branch smiled said theres another guy big right next right brown came texas 62 320 pounds five pounds lighter wilforks listed weight im replace anybody brown said whatever role coaches give im going take role im going play best wilfork played 177 games patriots starting 19 games postseason absence means defensive line needs find cohesion best part get bond field said easley says hes happy back field theres profession like playing nfl easley said hes comfortable entering second season rookie ___ notes patriots coach bill belichick asked wednesdays spirited practice pads included jostling among players said yeah dont really need trying teach things competition start training camp plenty guys want get hit somebody plenty chances training camp want defensive end rob ninkovich drive pace car next months nh 301 nascar spring amp cup race new hampshire motor speedway last july teammate julian edelman thing sprint cup race track gillette stadium field flooded 7500 tons dirt wednesday preparation monster truck event saturday ___ ap nfl websites httppro32aporg httptwittercomap_nfl
| 654 |
<p>DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — The Latest on the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland (all times local):</p>
<p>10 p.m.</p>
<p>George Soros, the billionaire businessman-turned-philanthropist, says he believes President Donald Trump wants to create a "mafia state" in the U.S. — but can't because of the strength of the country's underlying institutions. He didn't elaborate on what he meant.</p>
<p>At a dinner he hosted on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Soros also predicted that Trump would be a "temporary phenomenon" and would lose in the 2020 election if he got that far.</p>
<p>Soros has been a consistent critic of Trump who is also in Davos, the first U.S. president to attend since Bill Clinton in 2000. Trump is due to address delegates Friday.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>7:50 p.m.</p>
<p>Israel's prime minister is suggesting a "new model" for peace with the Palestinians that would allow them to govern themselves but maintain Israeli control over security.</p>
<p>Speaking at a discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, Benjamin Netanyahu declined to endorse a "two-state solution" favored by the Palestinians and most of the international community.</p>
<p>Netanyahu said he wanted to avoid labels, but said the Palestinians can have "the whole trappings" of self-governance, while Israel should maintain responsibility for security in the region.</p>
<p>The Palestinians, who already have limited autonomy in parts of the West Bank, are unlikely to accept such a proposal. They seek all of the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza for an independent state.</p>
<p>The Trump administration is expected to present a peace proposal to the sides that could hew closely to Israeli positions. The Palestinians have pre-emptively rejected any proposal amid concerns it would fall far below their hopes for an independent state.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>7:15 p.m.</p>
<p>Israel's prime minister says President Donald Trump has offered a "refreshing point of view" by threatening to withhold aid money to the Palestinians unless they resume negotiations with Israel.</p>
<p>Trump said earlier Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that the Palestinians must return to peace talks to receive U.S. aid money.</p>
<p>In a discussion at the economic summit, Benjamin Netanyahu said the international community has "pampered" the Palestinians. He said that Trump's position intends to have the Palestinians "enter the room and negotiate peace." Netanyahu also said "there is no substitute" to the United States as Mideast peace broker.</p>
<p>The Palestinians rejected the U.S. as an honest peace facilitator after Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital last year. They called Trump's remarks on aid money "unacceptable."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>6:55 p.m.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump says his visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, is already proving "very successful."</p>
<p>He told reporters on his way between meetings that "we are seeing tremendous investment and today has been a very exciting day, a very great day and great for our country."</p>
<p>Trump is the first U.S. president to come to the forum in Davos since Bill Clinton in 2000. He met Thursday with the leaders of Britain and Israel, Theresa May and Benjamin Netanyahu, and was due to give a speech to the forum on Friday.</p>
<p>Later on Thursday he was due to hold a reception with CEOs and other global executives.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>6:10 p.m.</p>
<p>The British government says U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to visit the U.K. this year.</p>
<p>Prime Minister Theresa May met Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday. Her office says the two leaders asked their officials "to work together on finalizing the details of a visit by the President to the U.K. later this year."</p>
<p>A year has passed since May invited Trump to pay a state visit to Britain as a guest of Queen Elizabeth II. Opponents have vowed to stage large protests if he comes, and no date has yet been announced.</p>
<p>The president recently said he would not come on a more low-key working visit to open the new U.S. Embassy in London because he did not approve of the location or the cost of the building.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>5:15 p.m.</p>
<p>The Palestinians say President Donald Trump's threat to hold back aid unless they resume negotiations with Israel is "unacceptable."</p>
<p>Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump said the Palestinians must return to peace talks to receive U.S. aid money.</p>
<p>Nabil Abu Rdeneh, an aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said Wednesday that "this language of dictation is unacceptable." He said the Palestinians are "ready to engage in negotiations" and committed to a peace process "based on a Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as capital."</p>
<p>Trump's decision last year to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital angered the Palestinians and prompted them to reject the U.S. as an honest Mideast peace broker. Abu Rdeneh says Trump should "backtrack" on the Jerusalem declaration.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>4:50 p.m.</p>
<p>South Korea says there's mounting evidence that sanctions against North Korea are having an effect, with trade across the Chinese border with the north now virtually "frozen up."</p>
<p>The claim comes from South Korean foreign minister, Kang Kyung-Wha, who has been speaking to reporters on the fringes of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.</p>
<p>Kang welcomed a new wave of diplomacy with North Korea, which includes the two Koreas jointly competing in certain events at next month's Winter Olympics, which the south is hosting. But the foreign minister emphasized that for sustained diplomatic progress to be made beyond the Olympics, North Korea needs to recognize its stance on nuclear weapons is "unacceptable " and has "to move away from that course .... find a different course and engage."</p>
<p>She said the south wants to see "some kind of a momentum" created as a result of the Olympic rapprochement, but warned "south-north relations cannot improve without some traction and advance on the nuclear front."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>4:45 p.m.</p>
<p>South Korea says it will refer a dispute with the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump over tariffs on solar panels and washing machines to the World Trade Organization.</p>
<p>But the country's foreign minister, Kang Kyung-Wha, said Thursday that while "disappointed" by the U.S. stance, it won't affect Seoul's wider security alliance with America.</p>
<p>Her comments came while speaking to reporters on the fringes of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where Trump arrived Thursday.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>4:35 p.m.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump says the Palestinians must return to peace talks with Israel to receive U.S. aid money.</p>
<p>Trump's decision last year to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital roiled Arab nations and led Palestinians to refuse to negotiate with the U.S. on grounds that America can no longer be an honest broker in the quest for peace. Palestinians claim east Jerusalem for their future capital.</p>
<p>Trump says U.S. aid to the Palestinians is "on the table" but they won't get it "unless they sit down and negotiate peace."</p>
<p>Trump commented as he opened a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an economic summit in Davos, Switzerland.</p>
<p>Netanyahu praised Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and to move the U.S. Embassy there from Tel Aviv.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>3:50 p.m.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump is trying to dispel the perception that he and British Prime Minister Theresa May don't get along.</p>
<p>Trump says he and May have a "really great relationship, although some people don't necessarily believe that." He said it was a "false rumor" and that he wanted to "correct it."</p>
<p>Trump and May met Thursday during the World Economic Forum in Davos.</p>
<p>May said the "special relationship" between the U.S. and the U.K. continues.</p>
<p>Trump and May last year traded criticism over Trump's retweets of a far-right group's anti-Muslim videos.</p>
<p>Trump also canceled a trip to London for the opening of a new U.S. embassy.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>3:20 p.m.</p>
<p>One way to get President Donald Trump to stop and talk at the World Economic Forum: wield a book about him.</p>
<p>On his way into the World Economic Forum, Trump stopped and talked for about ten seconds to one delegate who was brandishing a copy of "God and Donald Trump" by Stephen E. Strang. He then proceeded to hold the book aloft in his left hand.</p>
<p>Trump is the first U.S. president to attend the World Economic Forum since Bill Clinton back in 2000.</p>
<p>Trump is holding a series of meetings and is due to deliver a speech on Friday in which he will argue that what is good for the U.S. economy is beneficial for the global economy.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>3:10 p.m.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump says he's bringing a message of "peace and prosperity" to an annual economic summit in the Swiss Alps.</p>
<p>Trump arrived in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday for his first appearance at the World Economic Forum.</p>
<p>As he arrived at the summit venue, Trump was asked how he likes Davos and replied that he thinks "it's great."</p>
<p>Asked about his message for the gathering of world leaders, business executives and celebrities, Trump said it's about "peace and prosperity."</p>
<p>Asked whether he would be supported at the forum, Trump said: "I already am. You take a look."</p>
<p>"We're very happy to be here," he said. "The United States is doing very well, and will continue to do well and tis will be a very exciting two days."</p>
<p>Trump's attendance at the annual gathering for free-trade-loving political and business elites has raised eyebrows, given Trump's protectionist leanings.</p>
<p>He is the first sitting U.S. president to attend the forum since Bill Clinton in 2000.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>3:05 p.m.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May are meeting during a summit in Switzerland.</p>
<p>The leaders met Thursday during the World Economic Forum in Davos and were expected to discuss the conflict in Syria, U.S. efforts to revise the Iran nuclear deal and North Korea's nuclear threat.</p>
<p>Trump hosted May at the White House days after he took office in January 2017, but the relationship has been strained since then.</p>
<p>Trump recently canceled a trip to London for the opening of a new U.S. Embassy. Trump and May last year traded criticism over Trump's retweets of a far-right group's anti-Muslim videos.</p>
<p>Earlier Thursday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (mih-NOO'-shin) said the U.S. stands ready to negotiate an "attractive" trade deal with Britain once it leaves the European Union.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>3:00 p.m.</p>
<p>Activists have hung a large banner reading "Trump not welcome!" on the side of a Swiss mountain to coincide with the arrival of the U.S. president.</p>
<p>Swiss group Campax said Thursday that even though the banner is on the side of a mountain near Sargans, well removed from Davos where Donald Trump's participating in the World Economic Forum, they hope it will come to his attention.</p>
<p>They say that "be it during a flyby through the valley here or through his daily television consumption" they want their message to reach the president.</p>
<p>They have a litany of complaints about Trump, saying he "stands for racism, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, sexism, hostility towards women, warfare, denial of climate change, attacks on human rights and a policy that deepens poverty and inequality."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>2:25 p.m.</p>
<p>British Prime Minister Theresa May says some of the rhetoric in favor of free trade needs to be matched by action.</p>
<p>Addressing the World Economic Forum, May highlighted three shortfalls. She noted that commitments on steel need to be implemented, that aid donors need to meet targets and that the World Trade Organization must move faster in developing standards on services and e-commerce to keep pace with the changes in the world economy.</p>
<p>After her speech, May is due to hold a meeting with President Donald Trump, who has arrived in Davos.</p>
<p>Though Brexit is not set to be on the agenda, May will look to get relations with Trump back on track following a recent spat involving his promotion on Twitter of a U.K. far-right group. Trump recently cancelled a planned visit to open the new U.S. embassy in London.</p>
<p>May said Britain will continue to be a "global advocate" for free trade after it leaves the European Union.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>12:55 p.m.</p>
<p>With President Donald Trump having arrived in Davos, there's a growing sense of anticipation among the delegates at the World Economic Forum.</p>
<p>Trump, who is the first U.S. president to attend the summit since Bill Clinton in 2000, is due to hold meetings later with British Prime Minister Theresa May and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He is due to give a speech on Friday.</p>
<p>Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said he hopes Trump can flesh out his "America First" platform to show that it doesn't preclude cooperation with the rest of the world on some of the world's big challenges.</p>
<p>He said: "I think everybody needs to realize, whether you are leader from a small or medium-sized or big country that you can't achieve what you want on your own."</p>
<p>And Dalia Grybauskaite, Lithuania's president, said "we need global solutions and there is no choice but to be together and not isolate each other."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>12:30 p.m.</p>
<p>Optimism about the global economy is widespread at this year's World Economic Forum.</p>
<p>But Christine Lagarde, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, is warning about growing complacency now that the global economy is powering ahead, ten years after the global financial crisis.</p>
<p>She said the IMF thinks complacency is "one of the major risks" to the global outlook. She urged policymakers around the world to not start scrapping many of the regulations that were put in place after the crisis, notably with regard to the banking sector, the primary source of the difficulties a decade ago.</p>
<p>Earlier this week, the IMF upgraded its forecasts and is now expecting global growth of 3.9 percent, which would be the highest in seven years.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>12:15 p.m.</p>
<p>Philip Hammond, Britain's Treasury chief, says services — particularly finance — have to be part of any post-Brexit deal with the European Union.</p>
<p>Speaking at the World Economic Forum, Hammond said the only deal that "can ever get done is one that's fair to both parties and a deal which included goods but did not include services could never be fair. It could never be attractive to the U.K."</p>
<p>Britain is about to start discussions on its future relationship with the EU after Brexit in March 2019. Hammond said he hopes that a transition deal that will see Britain abiding by EU rules for a while after Brexit will be secured in March and that will provide "clarity" to investors and business.</p>
<p>Hammond warned that a failure to agree on a post-Brexit deal without financial services would be bad for the U.K. and for the EU.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>11:50 a.m.</p>
<p>Larry Fink, the chairman and CEO of investment firm Blackrock, thinks the dollar's recent weakness has more to do with the improving economic backdrop in places like Europe than any attempt by the U.S. government to talk its value down.</p>
<p>At a panel at the World Economic Forum, Fink said the dollar's fall over recent weeks is perfectly normal: "This is a normal course of markets and they adjust to new information."</p>
<p>He expects the dollar to start to rise again as the U.S. economy continues to grow strongly.</p>
<p>Fink also warned about trade becoming a "violent" issue and that there's nothing particularly protectionist about the U.S. trying to renegotiate trade deals going back decades.</p>
<p>A Revaluation of 70-year-old deals, he said, is "not anti-trade" and could actually become a "win-win" for all involved.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>11:35 a.m.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump has arrived in the Swiss Alps to attend the World Economic Forum.</p>
<p>Trump flew to the town of Davos by helicopter from Zurich, where he arrived Thursday morning after flying overnight from Washington.</p>
<p>The president is scheduled Thursday to hold talks with British Prime Minister Theresa May and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while the summit takes place. He's also scheduled to meet with the forum's founder, attend a reception and eat dinner with European business leaders.</p>
<p>Trump is the first sitting president to attend the annual summit since Bill Clinton in 2000.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>10:50 a.m.</p>
<p>U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says the U.S. is ready to negotiate an "attractive" trade deal with Britain once the country has left the European Union.</p>
<p>At the World Economic Forum, Mnuchin said the U.S. is first looking to see a "successful transition that's good for the U.K., good for the markets."</p>
<p>The British government is about to begin discussions about the future relationship with the EU after Brexit. First it's looking to agree on a transition period after Brexit in March 2019 that make the exit less abrupt.</p>
<p>While within the EU, the U.K. cannot negotiate separate trade deals with other countries.</p>
<p>Mnuchin said that once the "U.K. is ready, we are prepared to negotiate an attractive trade deal."</p>
<p>He added that President Donald Trump has already said Britain will be at the "front of the line" in trade negotiations.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>10:40 a.m.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump's homeland security adviser says the United States would prefer that Turkish troops "remove themselves" from a conflict in the Syrian border town of Afrin, and appealed to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to focus on "longer-term strategic goals" of a peaceable Syria.</p>
<p>Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, before Trump's imminent arrival, Tom Bossert said Turkey "ought to be mindful of the potential for escalation as they move into Syria and Afrin."</p>
<p>The United States has previously expressed concerns about Turkish efforts against the Kurdish-led SDF forces that drove Islamic State fighters from much of northeastern Syria with the help of a U.S.-led coalition.</p>
<p>Bossert said Thursday it would be a "terrible outcome" if Turkish troops clashed with "the proxy forces that we have all been relying on to defeat ISIS, especially if there are U.S. advisers in the region."</p>
<p>He said: "There could be grave consequences to any miscalculation and escalation."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>9:10 a.m.</p>
<p>U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says the U.S is "not concerned" about the value of the dollar in the short-term.</p>
<p>At a press briefing at the World Economic Forum on Thursday, Mnuchin said the short-term value of the dollar is dependent on many factors in what is a very liquid market.</p>
<p>In the longer-term, he said, the U.S. currency's value will be determined by the underlying strength of the U.S. economy.</p>
<p>On Wednesday, Mnuchin sparked a big dollar sell-off when he said the recent fall in the value of the dollar was "good" for trade. The euro, for example, spiked to a three-year high.</p>
<p>Mnuchin insisted Thursday that his comment on the dollar was "balanced and consistent."</p>
<p>DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — The Latest on the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland (all times local):</p>
<p>10 p.m.</p>
<p>George Soros, the billionaire businessman-turned-philanthropist, says he believes President Donald Trump wants to create a "mafia state" in the U.S. — but can't because of the strength of the country's underlying institutions. He didn't elaborate on what he meant.</p>
<p>At a dinner he hosted on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Soros also predicted that Trump would be a "temporary phenomenon" and would lose in the 2020 election if he got that far.</p>
<p>Soros has been a consistent critic of Trump who is also in Davos, the first U.S. president to attend since Bill Clinton in 2000. Trump is due to address delegates Friday.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>7:50 p.m.</p>
<p>Israel's prime minister is suggesting a "new model" for peace with the Palestinians that would allow them to govern themselves but maintain Israeli control over security.</p>
<p>Speaking at a discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, Benjamin Netanyahu declined to endorse a "two-state solution" favored by the Palestinians and most of the international community.</p>
<p>Netanyahu said he wanted to avoid labels, but said the Palestinians can have "the whole trappings" of self-governance, while Israel should maintain responsibility for security in the region.</p>
<p>The Palestinians, who already have limited autonomy in parts of the West Bank, are unlikely to accept such a proposal. They seek all of the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza for an independent state.</p>
<p>The Trump administration is expected to present a peace proposal to the sides that could hew closely to Israeli positions. The Palestinians have pre-emptively rejected any proposal amid concerns it would fall far below their hopes for an independent state.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>7:15 p.m.</p>
<p>Israel's prime minister says President Donald Trump has offered a "refreshing point of view" by threatening to withhold aid money to the Palestinians unless they resume negotiations with Israel.</p>
<p>Trump said earlier Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that the Palestinians must return to peace talks to receive U.S. aid money.</p>
<p>In a discussion at the economic summit, Benjamin Netanyahu said the international community has "pampered" the Palestinians. He said that Trump's position intends to have the Palestinians "enter the room and negotiate peace." Netanyahu also said "there is no substitute" to the United States as Mideast peace broker.</p>
<p>The Palestinians rejected the U.S. as an honest peace facilitator after Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital last year. They called Trump's remarks on aid money "unacceptable."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>6:55 p.m.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump says his visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, is already proving "very successful."</p>
<p>He told reporters on his way between meetings that "we are seeing tremendous investment and today has been a very exciting day, a very great day and great for our country."</p>
<p>Trump is the first U.S. president to come to the forum in Davos since Bill Clinton in 2000. He met Thursday with the leaders of Britain and Israel, Theresa May and Benjamin Netanyahu, and was due to give a speech to the forum on Friday.</p>
<p>Later on Thursday he was due to hold a reception with CEOs and other global executives.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>6:10 p.m.</p>
<p>The British government says U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to visit the U.K. this year.</p>
<p>Prime Minister Theresa May met Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday. Her office says the two leaders asked their officials "to work together on finalizing the details of a visit by the President to the U.K. later this year."</p>
<p>A year has passed since May invited Trump to pay a state visit to Britain as a guest of Queen Elizabeth II. Opponents have vowed to stage large protests if he comes, and no date has yet been announced.</p>
<p>The president recently said he would not come on a more low-key working visit to open the new U.S. Embassy in London because he did not approve of the location or the cost of the building.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>5:15 p.m.</p>
<p>The Palestinians say President Donald Trump's threat to hold back aid unless they resume negotiations with Israel is "unacceptable."</p>
<p>Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump said the Palestinians must return to peace talks to receive U.S. aid money.</p>
<p>Nabil Abu Rdeneh, an aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said Wednesday that "this language of dictation is unacceptable." He said the Palestinians are "ready to engage in negotiations" and committed to a peace process "based on a Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as capital."</p>
<p>Trump's decision last year to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital angered the Palestinians and prompted them to reject the U.S. as an honest Mideast peace broker. Abu Rdeneh says Trump should "backtrack" on the Jerusalem declaration.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>4:50 p.m.</p>
<p>South Korea says there's mounting evidence that sanctions against North Korea are having an effect, with trade across the Chinese border with the north now virtually "frozen up."</p>
<p>The claim comes from South Korean foreign minister, Kang Kyung-Wha, who has been speaking to reporters on the fringes of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.</p>
<p>Kang welcomed a new wave of diplomacy with North Korea, which includes the two Koreas jointly competing in certain events at next month's Winter Olympics, which the south is hosting. But the foreign minister emphasized that for sustained diplomatic progress to be made beyond the Olympics, North Korea needs to recognize its stance on nuclear weapons is "unacceptable " and has "to move away from that course .... find a different course and engage."</p>
<p>She said the south wants to see "some kind of a momentum" created as a result of the Olympic rapprochement, but warned "south-north relations cannot improve without some traction and advance on the nuclear front."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>4:45 p.m.</p>
<p>South Korea says it will refer a dispute with the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump over tariffs on solar panels and washing machines to the World Trade Organization.</p>
<p>But the country's foreign minister, Kang Kyung-Wha, said Thursday that while "disappointed" by the U.S. stance, it won't affect Seoul's wider security alliance with America.</p>
<p>Her comments came while speaking to reporters on the fringes of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where Trump arrived Thursday.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>4:35 p.m.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump says the Palestinians must return to peace talks with Israel to receive U.S. aid money.</p>
<p>Trump's decision last year to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital roiled Arab nations and led Palestinians to refuse to negotiate with the U.S. on grounds that America can no longer be an honest broker in the quest for peace. Palestinians claim east Jerusalem for their future capital.</p>
<p>Trump says U.S. aid to the Palestinians is "on the table" but they won't get it "unless they sit down and negotiate peace."</p>
<p>Trump commented as he opened a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an economic summit in Davos, Switzerland.</p>
<p>Netanyahu praised Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and to move the U.S. Embassy there from Tel Aviv.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>3:50 p.m.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump is trying to dispel the perception that he and British Prime Minister Theresa May don't get along.</p>
<p>Trump says he and May have a "really great relationship, although some people don't necessarily believe that." He said it was a "false rumor" and that he wanted to "correct it."</p>
<p>Trump and May met Thursday during the World Economic Forum in Davos.</p>
<p>May said the "special relationship" between the U.S. and the U.K. continues.</p>
<p>Trump and May last year traded criticism over Trump's retweets of a far-right group's anti-Muslim videos.</p>
<p>Trump also canceled a trip to London for the opening of a new U.S. embassy.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>3:20 p.m.</p>
<p>One way to get President Donald Trump to stop and talk at the World Economic Forum: wield a book about him.</p>
<p>On his way into the World Economic Forum, Trump stopped and talked for about ten seconds to one delegate who was brandishing a copy of "God and Donald Trump" by Stephen E. Strang. He then proceeded to hold the book aloft in his left hand.</p>
<p>Trump is the first U.S. president to attend the World Economic Forum since Bill Clinton back in 2000.</p>
<p>Trump is holding a series of meetings and is due to deliver a speech on Friday in which he will argue that what is good for the U.S. economy is beneficial for the global economy.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>3:10 p.m.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump says he's bringing a message of "peace and prosperity" to an annual economic summit in the Swiss Alps.</p>
<p>Trump arrived in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday for his first appearance at the World Economic Forum.</p>
<p>As he arrived at the summit venue, Trump was asked how he likes Davos and replied that he thinks "it's great."</p>
<p>Asked about his message for the gathering of world leaders, business executives and celebrities, Trump said it's about "peace and prosperity."</p>
<p>Asked whether he would be supported at the forum, Trump said: "I already am. You take a look."</p>
<p>"We're very happy to be here," he said. "The United States is doing very well, and will continue to do well and tis will be a very exciting two days."</p>
<p>Trump's attendance at the annual gathering for free-trade-loving political and business elites has raised eyebrows, given Trump's protectionist leanings.</p>
<p>He is the first sitting U.S. president to attend the forum since Bill Clinton in 2000.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>3:05 p.m.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May are meeting during a summit in Switzerland.</p>
<p>The leaders met Thursday during the World Economic Forum in Davos and were expected to discuss the conflict in Syria, U.S. efforts to revise the Iran nuclear deal and North Korea's nuclear threat.</p>
<p>Trump hosted May at the White House days after he took office in January 2017, but the relationship has been strained since then.</p>
<p>Trump recently canceled a trip to London for the opening of a new U.S. Embassy. Trump and May last year traded criticism over Trump's retweets of a far-right group's anti-Muslim videos.</p>
<p>Earlier Thursday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (mih-NOO'-shin) said the U.S. stands ready to negotiate an "attractive" trade deal with Britain once it leaves the European Union.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>3:00 p.m.</p>
<p>Activists have hung a large banner reading "Trump not welcome!" on the side of a Swiss mountain to coincide with the arrival of the U.S. president.</p>
<p>Swiss group Campax said Thursday that even though the banner is on the side of a mountain near Sargans, well removed from Davos where Donald Trump's participating in the World Economic Forum, they hope it will come to his attention.</p>
<p>They say that "be it during a flyby through the valley here or through his daily television consumption" they want their message to reach the president.</p>
<p>They have a litany of complaints about Trump, saying he "stands for racism, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, sexism, hostility towards women, warfare, denial of climate change, attacks on human rights and a policy that deepens poverty and inequality."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>2:25 p.m.</p>
<p>British Prime Minister Theresa May says some of the rhetoric in favor of free trade needs to be matched by action.</p>
<p>Addressing the World Economic Forum, May highlighted three shortfalls. She noted that commitments on steel need to be implemented, that aid donors need to meet targets and that the World Trade Organization must move faster in developing standards on services and e-commerce to keep pace with the changes in the world economy.</p>
<p>After her speech, May is due to hold a meeting with President Donald Trump, who has arrived in Davos.</p>
<p>Though Brexit is not set to be on the agenda, May will look to get relations with Trump back on track following a recent spat involving his promotion on Twitter of a U.K. far-right group. Trump recently cancelled a planned visit to open the new U.S. embassy in London.</p>
<p>May said Britain will continue to be a "global advocate" for free trade after it leaves the European Union.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>12:55 p.m.</p>
<p>With President Donald Trump having arrived in Davos, there's a growing sense of anticipation among the delegates at the World Economic Forum.</p>
<p>Trump, who is the first U.S. president to attend the summit since Bill Clinton in 2000, is due to hold meetings later with British Prime Minister Theresa May and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He is due to give a speech on Friday.</p>
<p>Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said he hopes Trump can flesh out his "America First" platform to show that it doesn't preclude cooperation with the rest of the world on some of the world's big challenges.</p>
<p>He said: "I think everybody needs to realize, whether you are leader from a small or medium-sized or big country that you can't achieve what you want on your own."</p>
<p>And Dalia Grybauskaite, Lithuania's president, said "we need global solutions and there is no choice but to be together and not isolate each other."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>12:30 p.m.</p>
<p>Optimism about the global economy is widespread at this year's World Economic Forum.</p>
<p>But Christine Lagarde, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, is warning about growing complacency now that the global economy is powering ahead, ten years after the global financial crisis.</p>
<p>She said the IMF thinks complacency is "one of the major risks" to the global outlook. She urged policymakers around the world to not start scrapping many of the regulations that were put in place after the crisis, notably with regard to the banking sector, the primary source of the difficulties a decade ago.</p>
<p>Earlier this week, the IMF upgraded its forecasts and is now expecting global growth of 3.9 percent, which would be the highest in seven years.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>12:15 p.m.</p>
<p>Philip Hammond, Britain's Treasury chief, says services — particularly finance — have to be part of any post-Brexit deal with the European Union.</p>
<p>Speaking at the World Economic Forum, Hammond said the only deal that "can ever get done is one that's fair to both parties and a deal which included goods but did not include services could never be fair. It could never be attractive to the U.K."</p>
<p>Britain is about to start discussions on its future relationship with the EU after Brexit in March 2019. Hammond said he hopes that a transition deal that will see Britain abiding by EU rules for a while after Brexit will be secured in March and that will provide "clarity" to investors and business.</p>
<p>Hammond warned that a failure to agree on a post-Brexit deal without financial services would be bad for the U.K. and for the EU.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>11:50 a.m.</p>
<p>Larry Fink, the chairman and CEO of investment firm Blackrock, thinks the dollar's recent weakness has more to do with the improving economic backdrop in places like Europe than any attempt by the U.S. government to talk its value down.</p>
<p>At a panel at the World Economic Forum, Fink said the dollar's fall over recent weeks is perfectly normal: "This is a normal course of markets and they adjust to new information."</p>
<p>He expects the dollar to start to rise again as the U.S. economy continues to grow strongly.</p>
<p>Fink also warned about trade becoming a "violent" issue and that there's nothing particularly protectionist about the U.S. trying to renegotiate trade deals going back decades.</p>
<p>A Revaluation of 70-year-old deals, he said, is "not anti-trade" and could actually become a "win-win" for all involved.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>11:35 a.m.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump has arrived in the Swiss Alps to attend the World Economic Forum.</p>
<p>Trump flew to the town of Davos by helicopter from Zurich, where he arrived Thursday morning after flying overnight from Washington.</p>
<p>The president is scheduled Thursday to hold talks with British Prime Minister Theresa May and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while the summit takes place. He's also scheduled to meet with the forum's founder, attend a reception and eat dinner with European business leaders.</p>
<p>Trump is the first sitting president to attend the annual summit since Bill Clinton in 2000.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>10:50 a.m.</p>
<p>U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says the U.S. is ready to negotiate an "attractive" trade deal with Britain once the country has left the European Union.</p>
<p>At the World Economic Forum, Mnuchin said the U.S. is first looking to see a "successful transition that's good for the U.K., good for the markets."</p>
<p>The British government is about to begin discussions about the future relationship with the EU after Brexit. First it's looking to agree on a transition period after Brexit in March 2019 that make the exit less abrupt.</p>
<p>While within the EU, the U.K. cannot negotiate separate trade deals with other countries.</p>
<p>Mnuchin said that once the "U.K. is ready, we are prepared to negotiate an attractive trade deal."</p>
<p>He added that President Donald Trump has already said Britain will be at the "front of the line" in trade negotiations.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>10:40 a.m.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump's homeland security adviser says the United States would prefer that Turkish troops "remove themselves" from a conflict in the Syrian border town of Afrin, and appealed to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to focus on "longer-term strategic goals" of a peaceable Syria.</p>
<p>Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, before Trump's imminent arrival, Tom Bossert said Turkey "ought to be mindful of the potential for escalation as they move into Syria and Afrin."</p>
<p>The United States has previously expressed concerns about Turkish efforts against the Kurdish-led SDF forces that drove Islamic State fighters from much of northeastern Syria with the help of a U.S.-led coalition.</p>
<p>Bossert said Thursday it would be a "terrible outcome" if Turkish troops clashed with "the proxy forces that we have all been relying on to defeat ISIS, especially if there are U.S. advisers in the region."</p>
<p>He said: "There could be grave consequences to any miscalculation and escalation."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>9:10 a.m.</p>
<p>U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says the U.S is "not concerned" about the value of the dollar in the short-term.</p>
<p>At a press briefing at the World Economic Forum on Thursday, Mnuchin said the short-term value of the dollar is dependent on many factors in what is a very liquid market.</p>
<p>In the longer-term, he said, the U.S. currency's value will be determined by the underlying strength of the U.S. economy.</p>
<p>On Wednesday, Mnuchin sparked a big dollar sell-off when he said the recent fall in the value of the dollar was "good" for trade. The euro, for example, spiked to a three-year high.</p>
<p>Mnuchin insisted Thursday that his comment on the dollar was "balanced and consistent."</p>
| false | 2 |
davos switzerland ap latest world economic forum davos switzerland times local 10 pm george soros billionaire businessmanturnedphilanthropist says believes president donald trump wants create mafia state us cant strength countrys underlying institutions didnt elaborate meant dinner hosted sidelines world economic forum davos switzerland soros also predicted trump would temporary phenomenon would lose 2020 election got far soros consistent critic trump also davos first us president attend since bill clinton 2000 trump due address delegates friday ___ 750 pm israels prime minister suggesting new model peace palestinians would allow govern maintain israeli control security speaking discussion world economic forum davos switzerland thursday benjamin netanyahu declined endorse twostate solution favored palestinians international community netanyahu said wanted avoid labels said palestinians whole trappings selfgovernance israel maintain responsibility security region palestinians already limited autonomy parts west bank unlikely accept proposal seek west bank east jerusalem gaza independent state trump administration expected present peace proposal sides could hew closely israeli positions palestinians preemptively rejected proposal amid concerns would fall far hopes independent state ___ 715 pm israels prime minister says president donald trump offered refreshing point view threatening withhold aid money palestinians unless resume negotiations israel trump said earlier thursday world economic forum davos switzerland palestinians must return peace talks receive us aid money discussion economic summit benjamin netanyahu said international community pampered palestinians said trumps position intends palestinians enter room negotiate peace netanyahu also said substitute united states mideast peace broker palestinians rejected us honest peace facilitator trump recognized jerusalem israels capital last year called trumps remarks aid money unacceptable ___ 655 pm president donald trump says visit world economic forum davos switzerland already proving successful told reporters way meetings seeing tremendous investment today exciting day great day great country trump first us president come forum davos since bill clinton 2000 met thursday leaders britain israel theresa may benjamin netanyahu due give speech forum friday later thursday due hold reception ceos global executives ___ 610 pm british government says us president donald trump expected visit uk year prime minister theresa may met trump world economic forum davos switzerland thursday office says two leaders asked officials work together finalizing details visit president uk later year year passed since may invited trump pay state visit britain guest queen elizabeth ii opponents vowed stage large protests comes date yet announced president recently said would come lowkey working visit open new us embassy london approve location cost building ___ 515 pm palestinians say president donald trumps threat hold back aid unless resume negotiations israel unacceptable speaking alongside israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu world economic forum davos switzerland trump said palestinians must return peace talks receive us aid money nabil abu rdeneh aide palestinian president mahmoud abbas said wednesday language dictation unacceptable said palestinians ready engage negotiations committed peace process based palestinian state east jerusalem capital trumps decision last year recognize jerusalem israels capital angered palestinians prompted reject us honest mideast peace broker abu rdeneh says trump backtrack jerusalem declaration ___ 450 pm south korea says theres mounting evidence sanctions north korea effect trade across chinese border north virtually frozen claim comes south korean foreign minister kang kyungwha speaking reporters fringes world economic forum davos switzerland kang welcomed new wave diplomacy north korea includes two koreas jointly competing certain events next months winter olympics south hosting foreign minister emphasized sustained diplomatic progress made beyond olympics north korea needs recognize stance nuclear weapons unacceptable move away course find different course engage said south wants see kind momentum created result olympic rapprochement warned southnorth relations improve without traction advance nuclear front ___ 445 pm south korea says refer dispute us administration president donald trump tariffs solar panels washing machines world trade organization countrys foreign minister kang kyungwha said thursday disappointed us stance wont affect seouls wider security alliance america comments came speaking reporters fringes world economic forum davos switzerland trump arrived thursday ___ 435 pm president donald trump says palestinians must return peace talks israel receive us aid money trumps decision last year recognize jerusalem israels capital roiled arab nations led palestinians refuse negotiate us grounds america longer honest broker quest peace palestinians claim east jerusalem future capital trump says us aid palestinians table wont get unless sit negotiate peace trump commented opened meeting israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu economic summit davos switzerland netanyahu praised trumps decision recognize jerusalem israels capital move us embassy tel aviv ___ 350 pm president donald trump trying dispel perception british prime minister theresa may dont get along trump says may really great relationship although people dont necessarily believe said false rumor wanted correct trump may met thursday world economic forum davos may said special relationship us uk continues trump may last year traded criticism trumps retweets farright groups antimuslim videos trump also canceled trip london opening new us embassy ___ 320 pm one way get president donald trump stop talk world economic forum wield book way world economic forum trump stopped talked ten seconds one delegate brandishing copy god donald trump stephen e strang proceeded hold book aloft left hand trump first us president attend world economic forum since bill clinton back 2000 trump holding series meetings due deliver speech friday argue good us economy beneficial global economy ___ 310 pm president donald trump says hes bringing message peace prosperity annual economic summit swiss alps trump arrived davos switzerland thursday first appearance world economic forum arrived summit venue trump asked likes davos replied thinks great asked message gathering world leaders business executives celebrities trump said peace prosperity asked whether would supported forum trump said already take look happy said united states well continue well tis exciting two days trumps attendance annual gathering freetradeloving political business elites raised eyebrows given trumps protectionist leanings first sitting us president attend forum since bill clinton 2000 ___ 305 pm president donald trump british prime minister theresa may meeting summit switzerland leaders met thursday world economic forum davos expected discuss conflict syria us efforts revise iran nuclear deal north koreas nuclear threat trump hosted may white house days took office january 2017 relationship strained since trump recently canceled trip london opening new us embassy trump may last year traded criticism trumps retweets farright groups antimuslim videos earlier thursday us treasury secretary steven mnuchin mihnooshin said us stands ready negotiate attractive trade deal britain leaves european union ___ 300 pm activists hung large banner reading trump welcome side swiss mountain coincide arrival us president swiss group campax said thursday even though banner side mountain near sargans well removed davos donald trumps participating world economic forum hope come attention say flyby valley daily television consumption want message reach president litany complaints trump saying stands racism islamophobia antisemitism sexism hostility towards women warfare denial climate change attacks human rights policy deepens poverty inequality ___ 225 pm british prime minister theresa may says rhetoric favor free trade needs matched action addressing world economic forum may highlighted three shortfalls noted commitments steel need implemented aid donors need meet targets world trade organization must move faster developing standards services ecommerce keep pace changes world economy speech may due hold meeting president donald trump arrived davos though brexit set agenda may look get relations trump back track following recent spat involving promotion twitter uk farright group trump recently cancelled planned visit open new us embassy london may said britain continue global advocate free trade leaves european union ___ 1255 pm president donald trump arrived davos theres growing sense anticipation among delegates world economic forum trump first us president attend summit since bill clinton 2000 due hold meetings later british prime minister theresa may israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu due give speech friday danish prime minister lars lokke rasmussen said hopes trump flesh america first platform show doesnt preclude cooperation rest world worlds big challenges said think everybody needs realize whether leader small mediumsized big country cant achieve want dalia grybauskaite lithuanias president said need global solutions choice together isolate ___ 1230 pm optimism global economy widespread years world economic forum christine lagarde managing director international monetary fund warning growing complacency global economy powering ahead ten years global financial crisis said imf thinks complacency one major risks global outlook urged policymakers around world start scrapping many regulations put place crisis notably regard banking sector primary source difficulties decade ago earlier week imf upgraded forecasts expecting global growth 39 percent would highest seven years ___ 1215 pm philip hammond britains treasury chief says services particularly finance part postbrexit deal european union speaking world economic forum hammond said deal ever get done one thats fair parties deal included goods include services could never fair could never attractive uk britain start discussions future relationship eu brexit march 2019 hammond said hopes transition deal see britain abiding eu rules brexit secured march provide clarity investors business hammond warned failure agree postbrexit deal without financial services would bad uk eu ___ 1150 larry fink chairman ceo investment firm blackrock thinks dollars recent weakness improving economic backdrop places like europe attempt us government talk value panel world economic forum fink said dollars fall recent weeks perfectly normal normal course markets adjust new information expects dollar start rise us economy continues grow strongly fink also warned trade becoming violent issue theres nothing particularly protectionist us trying renegotiate trade deals going back decades revaluation 70yearold deals said antitrade could actually become winwin involved ___ 1135 president donald trump arrived swiss alps attend world economic forum trump flew town davos helicopter zurich arrived thursday morning flying overnight washington president scheduled thursday hold talks british prime minister theresa may israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu summit takes place hes also scheduled meet forums founder attend reception eat dinner european business leaders trump first sitting president attend annual summit since bill clinton 2000 ___ 1050 us treasury secretary steven mnuchin says us ready negotiate attractive trade deal britain country left european union world economic forum mnuchin said us first looking see successful transition thats good uk good markets british government begin discussions future relationship eu brexit first looking agree transition period brexit march 2019 make exit less abrupt within eu uk negotiate separate trade deals countries mnuchin said uk ready prepared negotiate attractive trade deal added president donald trump already said britain front line trade negotiations ___ 1040 president donald trumps homeland security adviser says united states would prefer turkish troops remove conflict syrian border town afrin appealed president recep tayyip erdogan focus longerterm strategic goals peaceable syria speaking world economic forum davos switzerland trumps imminent arrival tom bossert said turkey ought mindful potential escalation move syria afrin united states previously expressed concerns turkish efforts kurdishled sdf forces drove islamic state fighters much northeastern syria help usled coalition bossert said thursday would terrible outcome turkish troops clashed proxy forces relying defeat isis especially us advisers region said could grave consequences miscalculation escalation ___ 910 us treasury secretary steven mnuchin says us concerned value dollar shortterm press briefing world economic forum thursday mnuchin said shortterm value dollar dependent many factors liquid market longerterm said us currencys value determined underlying strength us economy wednesday mnuchin sparked big dollar selloff said recent fall value dollar good trade euro example spiked threeyear high mnuchin insisted thursday comment dollar balanced consistent davos switzerland ap latest world economic forum davos switzerland times local 10 pm george soros billionaire businessmanturnedphilanthropist says believes president donald trump wants create mafia state us cant strength countrys underlying institutions didnt elaborate meant dinner hosted sidelines world economic forum davos switzerland soros also predicted trump would temporary phenomenon would lose 2020 election got far soros consistent critic trump also davos first us president attend since bill clinton 2000 trump due address delegates friday ___ 750 pm israels prime minister suggesting new model peace palestinians would allow govern maintain israeli control security speaking discussion world economic forum davos switzerland thursday benjamin netanyahu declined endorse twostate solution favored palestinians international community netanyahu said wanted avoid labels said palestinians whole trappings selfgovernance israel maintain responsibility security region palestinians already limited autonomy parts west bank unlikely accept proposal seek west bank east jerusalem gaza independent state trump administration expected present peace proposal sides could hew closely israeli positions palestinians preemptively rejected proposal amid concerns would fall far hopes independent state ___ 715 pm israels prime minister says president donald trump offered refreshing point view threatening withhold aid money palestinians unless resume negotiations israel trump said earlier thursday world economic forum davos switzerland palestinians must return peace talks receive us aid money discussion economic summit benjamin netanyahu said international community pampered palestinians said trumps position intends palestinians enter room negotiate peace netanyahu also said substitute united states mideast peace broker palestinians rejected us honest peace facilitator trump recognized jerusalem israels capital last year called trumps remarks aid money unacceptable ___ 655 pm president donald trump says visit world economic forum davos switzerland already proving successful told reporters way meetings seeing tremendous investment today exciting day great day great country trump first us president come forum davos since bill clinton 2000 met thursday leaders britain israel theresa may benjamin netanyahu due give speech forum friday later thursday due hold reception ceos global executives ___ 610 pm british government says us president donald trump expected visit uk year prime minister theresa may met trump world economic forum davos switzerland thursday office says two leaders asked officials work together finalizing details visit president uk later year year passed since may invited trump pay state visit britain guest queen elizabeth ii opponents vowed stage large protests comes date yet announced president recently said would come lowkey working visit open new us embassy london approve location cost building ___ 515 pm palestinians say president donald trumps threat hold back aid unless resume negotiations israel unacceptable speaking alongside israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu world economic forum davos switzerland trump said palestinians must return peace talks receive us aid money nabil abu rdeneh aide palestinian president mahmoud abbas said wednesday language dictation unacceptable said palestinians ready engage negotiations committed peace process based palestinian state east jerusalem capital trumps decision last year recognize jerusalem israels capital angered palestinians prompted reject us honest mideast peace broker abu rdeneh says trump backtrack jerusalem declaration ___ 450 pm south korea says theres mounting evidence sanctions north korea effect trade across chinese border north virtually frozen claim comes south korean foreign minister kang kyungwha speaking reporters fringes world economic forum davos switzerland kang welcomed new wave diplomacy north korea includes two koreas jointly competing certain events next months winter olympics south hosting foreign minister emphasized sustained diplomatic progress made beyond olympics north korea needs recognize stance nuclear weapons unacceptable move away course find different course engage said south wants see kind momentum created result olympic rapprochement warned southnorth relations improve without traction advance nuclear front ___ 445 pm south korea says refer dispute us administration president donald trump tariffs solar panels washing machines world trade organization countrys foreign minister kang kyungwha said thursday disappointed us stance wont affect seouls wider security alliance america comments came speaking reporters fringes world economic forum davos switzerland trump arrived thursday ___ 435 pm president donald trump says palestinians must return peace talks israel receive us aid money trumps decision last year recognize jerusalem israels capital roiled arab nations led palestinians refuse negotiate us grounds america longer honest broker quest peace palestinians claim east jerusalem future capital trump says us aid palestinians table wont get unless sit negotiate peace trump commented opened meeting israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu economic summit davos switzerland netanyahu praised trumps decision recognize jerusalem israels capital move us embassy tel aviv ___ 350 pm president donald trump trying dispel perception british prime minister theresa may dont get along trump says may really great relationship although people dont necessarily believe said false rumor wanted correct trump may met thursday world economic forum davos may said special relationship us uk continues trump may last year traded criticism trumps retweets farright groups antimuslim videos trump also canceled trip london opening new us embassy ___ 320 pm one way get president donald trump stop talk world economic forum wield book way world economic forum trump stopped talked ten seconds one delegate brandishing copy god donald trump stephen e strang proceeded hold book aloft left hand trump first us president attend world economic forum since bill clinton back 2000 trump holding series meetings due deliver speech friday argue good us economy beneficial global economy ___ 310 pm president donald trump says hes bringing message peace prosperity annual economic summit swiss alps trump arrived davos switzerland thursday first appearance world economic forum arrived summit venue trump asked likes davos replied thinks great asked message gathering world leaders business executives celebrities trump said peace prosperity asked whether would supported forum trump said already take look happy said united states well continue well tis exciting two days trumps attendance annual gathering freetradeloving political business elites raised eyebrows given trumps protectionist leanings first sitting us president attend forum since bill clinton 2000 ___ 305 pm president donald trump british prime minister theresa may meeting summit switzerland leaders met thursday world economic forum davos expected discuss conflict syria us efforts revise iran nuclear deal north koreas nuclear threat trump hosted may white house days took office january 2017 relationship strained since trump recently canceled trip london opening new us embassy trump may last year traded criticism trumps retweets farright groups antimuslim videos earlier thursday us treasury secretary steven mnuchin mihnooshin said us stands ready negotiate attractive trade deal britain leaves european union ___ 300 pm activists hung large banner reading trump welcome side swiss mountain coincide arrival us president swiss group campax said thursday even though banner side mountain near sargans well removed davos donald trumps participating world economic forum hope come attention say flyby valley daily television consumption want message reach president litany complaints trump saying stands racism islamophobia antisemitism sexism hostility towards women warfare denial climate change attacks human rights policy deepens poverty inequality ___ 225 pm british prime minister theresa may says rhetoric favor free trade needs matched action addressing world economic forum may highlighted three shortfalls noted commitments steel need implemented aid donors need meet targets world trade organization must move faster developing standards services ecommerce keep pace changes world economy speech may due hold meeting president donald trump arrived davos though brexit set agenda may look get relations trump back track following recent spat involving promotion twitter uk farright group trump recently cancelled planned visit open new us embassy london may said britain continue global advocate free trade leaves european union ___ 1255 pm president donald trump arrived davos theres growing sense anticipation among delegates world economic forum trump first us president attend summit since bill clinton 2000 due hold meetings later british prime minister theresa may israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu due give speech friday danish prime minister lars lokke rasmussen said hopes trump flesh america first platform show doesnt preclude cooperation rest world worlds big challenges said think everybody needs realize whether leader small mediumsized big country cant achieve want dalia grybauskaite lithuanias president said need global solutions choice together isolate ___ 1230 pm optimism global economy widespread years world economic forum christine lagarde managing director international monetary fund warning growing complacency global economy powering ahead ten years global financial crisis said imf thinks complacency one major risks global outlook urged policymakers around world start scrapping many regulations put place crisis notably regard banking sector primary source difficulties decade ago earlier week imf upgraded forecasts expecting global growth 39 percent would highest seven years ___ 1215 pm philip hammond britains treasury chief says services particularly finance part postbrexit deal european union speaking world economic forum hammond said deal ever get done one thats fair parties deal included goods include services could never fair could never attractive uk britain start discussions future relationship eu brexit march 2019 hammond said hopes transition deal see britain abiding eu rules brexit secured march provide clarity investors business hammond warned failure agree postbrexit deal without financial services would bad uk eu ___ 1150 larry fink chairman ceo investment firm blackrock thinks dollars recent weakness improving economic backdrop places like europe attempt us government talk value panel world economic forum fink said dollars fall recent weeks perfectly normal normal course markets adjust new information expects dollar start rise us economy continues grow strongly fink also warned trade becoming violent issue theres nothing particularly protectionist us trying renegotiate trade deals going back decades revaluation 70yearold deals said antitrade could actually become winwin involved ___ 1135 president donald trump arrived swiss alps attend world economic forum trump flew town davos helicopter zurich arrived thursday morning flying overnight washington president scheduled thursday hold talks british prime minister theresa may israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu summit takes place hes also scheduled meet forums founder attend reception eat dinner european business leaders trump first sitting president attend annual summit since bill clinton 2000 ___ 1050 us treasury secretary steven mnuchin says us ready negotiate attractive trade deal britain country left european union world economic forum mnuchin said us first looking see successful transition thats good uk good markets british government begin discussions future relationship eu brexit first looking agree transition period brexit march 2019 make exit less abrupt within eu uk negotiate separate trade deals countries mnuchin said uk ready prepared negotiate attractive trade deal added president donald trump already said britain front line trade negotiations ___ 1040 president donald trumps homeland security adviser says united states would prefer turkish troops remove conflict syrian border town afrin appealed president recep tayyip erdogan focus longerterm strategic goals peaceable syria speaking world economic forum davos switzerland trumps imminent arrival tom bossert said turkey ought mindful potential escalation move syria afrin united states previously expressed concerns turkish efforts kurdishled sdf forces drove islamic state fighters much northeastern syria help usled coalition bossert said thursday would terrible outcome turkish troops clashed proxy forces relying defeat isis especially us advisers region said could grave consequences miscalculation escalation ___ 910 us treasury secretary steven mnuchin says us concerned value dollar shortterm press briefing world economic forum thursday mnuchin said shortterm value dollar dependent many factors liquid market longerterm said us currencys value determined underlying strength us economy wednesday mnuchin sparked big dollar selloff said recent fall value dollar good trade euro example spiked threeyear high mnuchin insisted thursday comment dollar balanced consistent
| 3,712 |
<p>MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s going crazy for the Olympics. The 1972 Olympics.</p>
<p>Even as the Russian team faces up to being barred from next month’s Winter Games for doping offenses, audiences are flocking to see a movie about Soviet glory on the Olympic basketball court 46 years ago.</p>
<p>“Three Seconds” tells the story of the Soviet Union team which won gold in 1972, becoming the first basketball team in history ever to beat the United States at the Olympics.</p>
<p>It’s a tale of Cold War rivalry, inspiring speeches and something very familiar to Russian sports fans after recent scandals — a gold medal decided by officials.</p>
<p>After pulling in crowds throughout the holiday season, last week “Three Seconds” became the highest-earning Russian movie ever in domestic cinemas with 1.84 billion rubles ($32.5 million) in takings, according to a government-backed statistics service.</p>
<p>At a screening in central Moscow on Thursday, audience members whooped and applauded as Alexander Belov sank the winning Soviet basket to beat the U.S. 51-50, and then cheered again when the original 1972 footage was played alongside the credits.</p>
<p>“I was crying tears of joy,” cinemagoer Nina Parshikova said. To the millions of Russians who consider their country unfairly persecuted over doping allegations, even the Cold War can seem a simpler time. Audience member Yegor Druzhinin said: “Now politics plays more of a role. Then it was sport.”</p>
<p>Actor Kuzma Saprykin used his childhood basketball experience to play Ivan Edeshko, who threw what Russians still call the “golden pass” for the Soviets’ winning basket.</p>
<p>“I didn’t think there would actually be this kind of colossal success,” he told The Associated Press. “It’s surprising when people send me videos, how at practically every screening people are clapping, with some kind of patriotism and spirit awakening in people.”</p>
<p>In Russia, the game has similar significance to the U.S. “Miracle on Ice,” its defeat of the Soviet hockey team at the 1980 Olympics.</p>
<p>The U.S. remembers the 1972 basketball gold medal game very differently — as a robbery.</p>
<p>The last three seconds of the final were replayed twice after the Soviet team protested their signal for a timeout had been ignored, and the U.S. players twice celebrated victory before being told to play again. On the third and final play, Soviet player Ivan Edeshko threw a full-court pass for Belov to score a last-second layup.</p>
<p>The result prompted days of wrangling between officials from both nations and the international basketball federation. That’s left out of the movie, as is the U.S. players’ decision to reject their silver medals, which still lie unclaimed with the International Olympic Committee.</p>
<p>The script also suggests the Soviets were facing top U.S. pros, when in fact the U.S. fielded college players including future NBA stars like three-time All Star Doug Collins, and Tom McMillen, later a congressman. The Soviet team, while technically amateurs under the then-current Olympic rules, was effectively composed of full-time pro players several years older than most of the Americans.</p>
<p>The movie plays up its Cold War rivalry, portraying the U.S. team and fans as brash, overconfident rule-breakers, though ultimately courageous. The movie also takes some digs at the Soviet system’s rationed healthcare and the cultural divides between what would later become independent countries. Edeshko says it’s a “just and honest” view.</p>
<p>Some family members of deceased players have objected to the way it portrays the team. Belov, who scored the winning basket, spends much of the movie balancing romance with news he’s terminally ill. However, his widow told Russian media outlet Meduza that the real Belov, who died of a rare cancer in 1978 aged 26, was single and healthy in 1972.</p>
<p>The upcoming soccer World Cup in Russia provides more fodder for sports movies, with a biography of Soviet goalkeeper Lev Yashin in the pipeline, as well as a fictionalized story of a modern-day coach.</p>
<p>For Saprykin, the actor, “Three Seconds” illuminates Russia’s ongoing love and respect for Soviet sports stars. He says he and Edeshko are now “like grandfather and grandson” after bonding on set — and a nagging feeling that modern athletes don’t match up.</p>
<p>Looking at photographs of the 1972 team, “you get goosebumps because you understand that there’s three people left (who played in the 1972 final) and that’s it,” he said. They’re leaving and there aren’t any new legends. That’s the worst.”</p>
<p>MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s going crazy for the Olympics. The 1972 Olympics.</p>
<p>Even as the Russian team faces up to being barred from next month’s Winter Games for doping offenses, audiences are flocking to see a movie about Soviet glory on the Olympic basketball court 46 years ago.</p>
<p>“Three Seconds” tells the story of the Soviet Union team which won gold in 1972, becoming the first basketball team in history ever to beat the United States at the Olympics.</p>
<p>It’s a tale of Cold War rivalry, inspiring speeches and something very familiar to Russian sports fans after recent scandals — a gold medal decided by officials.</p>
<p>After pulling in crowds throughout the holiday season, last week “Three Seconds” became the highest-earning Russian movie ever in domestic cinemas with 1.84 billion rubles ($32.5 million) in takings, according to a government-backed statistics service.</p>
<p>At a screening in central Moscow on Thursday, audience members whooped and applauded as Alexander Belov sank the winning Soviet basket to beat the U.S. 51-50, and then cheered again when the original 1972 footage was played alongside the credits.</p>
<p>“I was crying tears of joy,” cinemagoer Nina Parshikova said. To the millions of Russians who consider their country unfairly persecuted over doping allegations, even the Cold War can seem a simpler time. Audience member Yegor Druzhinin said: “Now politics plays more of a role. Then it was sport.”</p>
<p>Actor Kuzma Saprykin used his childhood basketball experience to play Ivan Edeshko, who threw what Russians still call the “golden pass” for the Soviets’ winning basket.</p>
<p>“I didn’t think there would actually be this kind of colossal success,” he told The Associated Press. “It’s surprising when people send me videos, how at practically every screening people are clapping, with some kind of patriotism and spirit awakening in people.”</p>
<p>In Russia, the game has similar significance to the U.S. “Miracle on Ice,” its defeat of the Soviet hockey team at the 1980 Olympics.</p>
<p>The U.S. remembers the 1972 basketball gold medal game very differently — as a robbery.</p>
<p>The last three seconds of the final were replayed twice after the Soviet team protested their signal for a timeout had been ignored, and the U.S. players twice celebrated victory before being told to play again. On the third and final play, Soviet player Ivan Edeshko threw a full-court pass for Belov to score a last-second layup.</p>
<p>The result prompted days of wrangling between officials from both nations and the international basketball federation. That’s left out of the movie, as is the U.S. players’ decision to reject their silver medals, which still lie unclaimed with the International Olympic Committee.</p>
<p>The script also suggests the Soviets were facing top U.S. pros, when in fact the U.S. fielded college players including future NBA stars like three-time All Star Doug Collins, and Tom McMillen, later a congressman. The Soviet team, while technically amateurs under the then-current Olympic rules, was effectively composed of full-time pro players several years older than most of the Americans.</p>
<p>The movie plays up its Cold War rivalry, portraying the U.S. team and fans as brash, overconfident rule-breakers, though ultimately courageous. The movie also takes some digs at the Soviet system’s rationed healthcare and the cultural divides between what would later become independent countries. Edeshko says it’s a “just and honest” view.</p>
<p>Some family members of deceased players have objected to the way it portrays the team. Belov, who scored the winning basket, spends much of the movie balancing romance with news he’s terminally ill. However, his widow told Russian media outlet Meduza that the real Belov, who died of a rare cancer in 1978 aged 26, was single and healthy in 1972.</p>
<p>The upcoming soccer World Cup in Russia provides more fodder for sports movies, with a biography of Soviet goalkeeper Lev Yashin in the pipeline, as well as a fictionalized story of a modern-day coach.</p>
<p>For Saprykin, the actor, “Three Seconds” illuminates Russia’s ongoing love and respect for Soviet sports stars. He says he and Edeshko are now “like grandfather and grandson” after bonding on set — and a nagging feeling that modern athletes don’t match up.</p>
<p>Looking at photographs of the 1972 team, “you get goosebumps because you understand that there’s three people left (who played in the 1972 final) and that’s it,” he said. They’re leaving and there aren’t any new legends. That’s the worst.”</p>
| false | 2 |
moscow ap russias going crazy olympics 1972 olympics even russian team faces barred next months winter games doping offenses audiences flocking see movie soviet glory olympic basketball court 46 years ago three seconds tells story soviet union team gold 1972 becoming first basketball team history ever beat united states olympics tale cold war rivalry inspiring speeches something familiar russian sports fans recent scandals gold medal decided officials pulling crowds throughout holiday season last week three seconds became highestearning russian movie ever domestic cinemas 184 billion rubles 325 million takings according governmentbacked statistics service screening central moscow thursday audience members whooped applauded alexander belov sank winning soviet basket beat us 5150 cheered original 1972 footage played alongside credits crying tears joy cinemagoer nina parshikova said millions russians consider country unfairly persecuted doping allegations even cold war seem simpler time audience member yegor druzhinin said politics plays role sport actor kuzma saprykin used childhood basketball experience play ivan edeshko threw russians still call golden pass soviets winning basket didnt think would actually kind colossal success told associated press surprising people send videos practically every screening people clapping kind patriotism spirit awakening people russia game similar significance us miracle ice defeat soviet hockey team 1980 olympics us remembers 1972 basketball gold medal game differently robbery last three seconds final replayed twice soviet team protested signal timeout ignored us players twice celebrated victory told play third final play soviet player ivan edeshko threw fullcourt pass belov score lastsecond layup result prompted days wrangling officials nations international basketball federation thats left movie us players decision reject silver medals still lie unclaimed international olympic committee script also suggests soviets facing top us pros fact us fielded college players including future nba stars like threetime star doug collins tom mcmillen later congressman soviet team technically amateurs thencurrent olympic rules effectively composed fulltime pro players several years older americans movie plays cold war rivalry portraying us team fans brash overconfident rulebreakers though ultimately courageous movie also takes digs soviet systems rationed healthcare cultural divides would later become independent countries edeshko says honest view family members deceased players objected way portrays team belov scored winning basket spends much movie balancing romance news hes terminally ill however widow told russian media outlet meduza real belov died rare cancer 1978 aged 26 single healthy 1972 upcoming soccer world cup russia provides fodder sports movies biography soviet goalkeeper lev yashin pipeline well fictionalized story modernday coach saprykin actor three seconds illuminates russias ongoing love respect soviet sports stars says edeshko like grandfather grandson bonding set nagging feeling modern athletes dont match looking photographs 1972 team get goosebumps understand theres three people left played 1972 final thats said theyre leaving arent new legends thats worst moscow ap russias going crazy olympics 1972 olympics even russian team faces barred next months winter games doping offenses audiences flocking see movie soviet glory olympic basketball court 46 years ago three seconds tells story soviet union team gold 1972 becoming first basketball team history ever beat united states olympics tale cold war rivalry inspiring speeches something familiar russian sports fans recent scandals gold medal decided officials pulling crowds throughout holiday season last week three seconds became highestearning russian movie ever domestic cinemas 184 billion rubles 325 million takings according governmentbacked statistics service screening central moscow thursday audience members whooped applauded alexander belov sank winning soviet basket beat us 5150 cheered original 1972 footage played alongside credits crying tears joy cinemagoer nina parshikova said millions russians consider country unfairly persecuted doping allegations even cold war seem simpler time audience member yegor druzhinin said politics plays role sport actor kuzma saprykin used childhood basketball experience play ivan edeshko threw russians still call golden pass soviets winning basket didnt think would actually kind colossal success told associated press surprising people send videos practically every screening people clapping kind patriotism spirit awakening people russia game similar significance us miracle ice defeat soviet hockey team 1980 olympics us remembers 1972 basketball gold medal game differently robbery last three seconds final replayed twice soviet team protested signal timeout ignored us players twice celebrated victory told play third final play soviet player ivan edeshko threw fullcourt pass belov score lastsecond layup result prompted days wrangling officials nations international basketball federation thats left movie us players decision reject silver medals still lie unclaimed international olympic committee script also suggests soviets facing top us pros fact us fielded college players including future nba stars like threetime star doug collins tom mcmillen later congressman soviet team technically amateurs thencurrent olympic rules effectively composed fulltime pro players several years older americans movie plays cold war rivalry portraying us team fans brash overconfident rulebreakers though ultimately courageous movie also takes digs soviet systems rationed healthcare cultural divides would later become independent countries edeshko says honest view family members deceased players objected way portrays team belov scored winning basket spends much movie balancing romance news hes terminally ill however widow told russian media outlet meduza real belov died rare cancer 1978 aged 26 single healthy 1972 upcoming soccer world cup russia provides fodder sports movies biography soviet goalkeeper lev yashin pipeline well fictionalized story modernday coach saprykin actor three seconds illuminates russias ongoing love respect soviet sports stars says edeshko like grandfather grandson bonding set nagging feeling modern athletes dont match looking photographs 1972 team get goosebumps understand theres three people left played 1972 final thats said theyre leaving arent new legends thats worst
| 904 |
<p>CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — SpaceX will have to wait another day to deliver groceries and an espresso maker to the International Space Station.</p>
<p>Fast-approaching storm clouds prevented the unmanned rocket from blasting off Monday afternoon. The company will try again Tuesday afternoon, but more bad weather is forecast. The odds of acceptable conditions are just 50-50.</p>
<p>SpaceX halted the countdown at the 2½-minute mark as a menacing storm system moved into the 11-mile keep-out zone surrounding the Falcon rocket. The company had a single second to get off the ground.</p>
<p>“We were in a race, but we didn’t quite make it today,” a SpaceX launch commentator said.</p>
<p>The SpaceX supply ship holds more than 4,000 pounds of food, experiments and equipment. Italy provided the specially designed espresso machine for Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, who arrived at the space station last November.</p>
<p>The espresso maker was supposed to fly in January, but ended up on backlog following another company’s launch explosion last year. That accident left the space station’s pantry a little emptier than NASA would prefer. The space agency is trying to get back to&#160;a six-month reserve on food.</p>
<p>Once the cargo ship flies, SpaceX will try to land the leftover booster on an ocean barge. It will be the third such landing attempt for the California company led by billionaire Elon Musk. SpaceX aims to reuse the first-stage boosters that are normally thrown away, to make spaceflight more affordable.</p>
<p>Musk said via Twitter on Monday that he was holding the odds of a successful rocket landing at less than 50 percent. On Sunday, one of his top officers put the odds at 75 percent to possibly 80 percent.</p>
<p>The company failed in January on its first effort to fly a first-stage booster to a platform floating off Florida’s east coast and land it vertically. The booster’s steering system ran out of hydraulic fluid, and the booster hit too hard and fell off in a fiery explosion. Rough seas forced the February attempt to be called off at the last minute. Sea conditions were much better Monday, and the platform was tweaked in the meantime to be more stable.</p>
<p>The platform is dubbed “Just Read the Instructions.” It will remain on location in the Atlantic, off Jacksonville.</p>
<p>Musk’s company would be the first to accomplish this.</p>
<p>“The implications are huge and, of course, in the long term this might change completely how we approach transportation to space,” said Hans Koenigsmann, vice president for mission assurance.</p>
<p>Tuesday’s launch time is 4:10 p.m.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Online:</p>
<p>SpaceX: <a href="http://www.spacex.com/" type="external">http://www.spacex.com/</a></p>
<p>NASA: <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station" type="external">http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station</a></p>
<p>CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — SpaceX will have to wait another day to deliver groceries and an espresso maker to the International Space Station.</p>
<p>Fast-approaching storm clouds prevented the unmanned rocket from blasting off Monday afternoon. The company will try again Tuesday afternoon, but more bad weather is forecast. The odds of acceptable conditions are just 50-50.</p>
<p>SpaceX halted the countdown at the 2½-minute mark as a menacing storm system moved into the 11-mile keep-out zone surrounding the Falcon rocket. The company had a single second to get off the ground.</p>
<p>“We were in a race, but we didn’t quite make it today,” a SpaceX launch commentator said.</p>
<p>The SpaceX supply ship holds more than 4,000 pounds of food, experiments and equipment. Italy provided the specially designed espresso machine for Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, who arrived at the space station last November.</p>
<p>The espresso maker was supposed to fly in January, but ended up on backlog following another company’s launch explosion last year. That accident left the space station’s pantry a little emptier than NASA would prefer. The space agency is trying to get back to&#160;a six-month reserve on food.</p>
<p>Once the cargo ship flies, SpaceX will try to land the leftover booster on an ocean barge. It will be the third such landing attempt for the California company led by billionaire Elon Musk. SpaceX aims to reuse the first-stage boosters that are normally thrown away, to make spaceflight more affordable.</p>
<p>Musk said via Twitter on Monday that he was holding the odds of a successful rocket landing at less than 50 percent. On Sunday, one of his top officers put the odds at 75 percent to possibly 80 percent.</p>
<p>The company failed in January on its first effort to fly a first-stage booster to a platform floating off Florida’s east coast and land it vertically. The booster’s steering system ran out of hydraulic fluid, and the booster hit too hard and fell off in a fiery explosion. Rough seas forced the February attempt to be called off at the last minute. Sea conditions were much better Monday, and the platform was tweaked in the meantime to be more stable.</p>
<p>The platform is dubbed “Just Read the Instructions.” It will remain on location in the Atlantic, off Jacksonville.</p>
<p>Musk’s company would be the first to accomplish this.</p>
<p>“The implications are huge and, of course, in the long term this might change completely how we approach transportation to space,” said Hans Koenigsmann, vice president for mission assurance.</p>
<p>Tuesday’s launch time is 4:10 p.m.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Online:</p>
<p>SpaceX: <a href="http://www.spacex.com/" type="external">http://www.spacex.com/</a></p>
<p>NASA: <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station" type="external">http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station</a></p>
| false | 2 |
cape canaveral fla ap spacex wait another day deliver groceries espresso maker international space station fastapproaching storm clouds prevented unmanned rocket blasting monday afternoon company try tuesday afternoon bad weather forecast odds acceptable conditions 5050 spacex halted countdown 2½minute mark menacing storm system moved 11mile keepout zone surrounding falcon rocket company single second get ground race didnt quite make today spacex launch commentator said spacex supply ship holds 4000 pounds food experiments equipment italy provided specially designed espresso machine italian astronaut samantha cristoforetti arrived space station last november espresso maker supposed fly january ended backlog following another companys launch explosion last year accident left space stations pantry little emptier nasa would prefer space agency trying get back to160a sixmonth reserve food cargo ship flies spacex try land leftover booster ocean barge third landing attempt california company led billionaire elon musk spacex aims reuse firststage boosters normally thrown away make spaceflight affordable musk said via twitter monday holding odds successful rocket landing less 50 percent sunday one top officers put odds 75 percent possibly 80 percent company failed january first effort fly firststage booster platform floating floridas east coast land vertically boosters steering system ran hydraulic fluid booster hit hard fell fiery explosion rough seas forced february attempt called last minute sea conditions much better monday platform tweaked meantime stable platform dubbed read instructions remain location atlantic jacksonville musks company would first accomplish implications huge course long term might change completely approach transportation space said hans koenigsmann vice president mission assurance tuesdays launch time 410 pm ___ online spacex httpwwwspacexcom nasa httpwwwnasagovmission_pagesstation cape canaveral fla ap spacex wait another day deliver groceries espresso maker international space station fastapproaching storm clouds prevented unmanned rocket blasting monday afternoon company try tuesday afternoon bad weather forecast odds acceptable conditions 5050 spacex halted countdown 2½minute mark menacing storm system moved 11mile keepout zone surrounding falcon rocket company single second get ground race didnt quite make today spacex launch commentator said spacex supply ship holds 4000 pounds food experiments equipment italy provided specially designed espresso machine italian astronaut samantha cristoforetti arrived space station last november espresso maker supposed fly january ended backlog following another companys launch explosion last year accident left space stations pantry little emptier nasa would prefer space agency trying get back to160a sixmonth reserve food cargo ship flies spacex try land leftover booster ocean barge third landing attempt california company led billionaire elon musk spacex aims reuse firststage boosters normally thrown away make spaceflight affordable musk said via twitter monday holding odds successful rocket landing less 50 percent sunday one top officers put odds 75 percent possibly 80 percent company failed january first effort fly firststage booster platform floating floridas east coast land vertically boosters steering system ran hydraulic fluid booster hit hard fell fiery explosion rough seas forced february attempt called last minute sea conditions much better monday platform tweaked meantime stable platform dubbed read instructions remain location atlantic jacksonville musks company would first accomplish implications huge course long term might change completely approach transportation space said hans koenigsmann vice president mission assurance tuesdays launch time 410 pm ___ online spacex httpwwwspacexcom nasa httpwwwnasagovmission_pagesstation
| 522 |
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has proven himself an unconventional leader time and time again in his first year in office. Here are some of the more memorable moments from the AP reporters tasked with covering this whirlwind presidency:</p>
<p>CAN I SHOW YOU MY BUTTON?</p>
<p>Midway through my April 23, 2017, interview with President Donald Trump, he reached over and pressed a red button on his desk in the Oval Office.</p>
<p>It didn't trigger a nuclear launch or send advisers scurrying into the room. Instead, a White House butler walked in with a single glass of Diet Coke on a silver tray for the commander in chief.</p>
<p>Trump was still relatively new in office and seemed to relish the trappings of his new digs. Moments before pressing the button, in the middle of an answer about his dealings with China, he said to me without skipping a beat: "Do you want a Coke or anything?"</p>
<p>Months later, Trump would tweet about another "button" in a taunt to the North Koreans, declaring, "my Button works!"</p>
<p>In reality, there's no such thing as a nuclear button for the president to launch a nuclear attack. But his Diet Coke button indeed works.</p>
<p>— By Julie Pace</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>NO-GO ZONE</p>
<p>Before dawn in a windowless room in a Seoul hotel, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders gathered a group of reporters sworn to secrecy to inform them of their next destination.</p>
<p>Sanders held up a slip of paper, saying this was how she was told to convey the sensitive information. It read: "DMZ."</p>
<p>Ever the showman, Trump had hoped to punctuate his war of words with Pyongyang with a surprise Nov. 7 visit to the Demilitarized Zone, the heavily fortified border between North and South Korea.</p>
<p>But he never made it.</p>
<p>His convoy of helicopters was just five minutes from the border when heavy fog forced them to turn back. Trump urged another try but, after nearly an hour of waiting, military pilots and the Secret Service deemed it unsafe to make another try.</p>
<p>In a rage, Trump told an aide he thought the failed flight made him look weak.</p>
<p>"He's pretty frustrated," Sanders, wearing pearls and a borrowed military jacket, told reporters later.</p>
<p>— By Jonathan Lemire</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>GRIP-AND-GRIN AND BEAR IT</p>
<p>"Handshake?" members of the German media prodded at the start of Chancellor Angela Merkel's first Oval Office meeting with Trump in March.</p>
<p>The two leaders never locked hands during the photo op. It was an awkward tête-à-tête, one of multiple odd interactions between the new president and other world leaders in his first year.</p>
<p>There was Trump's white-knuckle grip and stare-down with French President Emmanuel Macron. Trump's mangled attempt at an interlocking handshake with world leaders in the Philippines. His gone-viral shove of Montenegro's leader at NATO headquarters.</p>
<p>Trump's highlight reel also includes a brief hand-holding moment with a baffled British Prime Minister Theresa May, a 19-second handshake/pat-down with Japan's Shinzo Abe, and multiple bear hugs with India's Narendra Modi.</p>
<p>Taken together, the encounters turned the tradition of staid grip-and-grins between world leaders on its head.</p>
<p>— By Ken Thomas</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TWO SCOOPS</p>
<p>Trump beckoned a trio of reporters into his private dining room with a wave.</p>
<p>Just off the Oval Office, the room featured a newly installed 60-inch television and a chandelier, selected personally by the president, that he boasted restored the character of the room.</p>
<p>Surrounded by briefing papers and periodicals, Trump grabbed the remote and proceeded to offer color commentary on congressional testimony earlier that day from former acting Attorney General Sally Yates and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.</p>
<p>"Watch them start to choke like dogs," he said, already well versed in what he was to show us over and again.</p>
<p>It was a front-row seat to the president's voluminous media diet and a window into his consumption habits: Fox News programs recorded on TiVo, and later, two scoops of ice cream at dinner.</p>
<p>Everyone else at the dinner was served one scoop.</p>
<p>— By Zeke Miller</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>MAR-A-LAGO DIPLOMACY</p>
<p>Trump was hosting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for a February weekend of golf and get-to-know-you meetings at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, when the press pool traveling with the new president was hastily summoned.</p>
<p>Reporters were led past a wedding arch on the lawn to an ornate ballroom, where the two leaders soon delivered brief statements responding to North Korea's first ballistic missile test of Trump's presidency. Party music from the wedding could be heard in the distance as they spoke.</p>
<p>It was an early indication of Trump's very different approach to foreign provocations.</p>
<p>Earlier in the evening, it would later emerge, Trump and Abe sat on the club's terrace, in full view of dues-paying club members and their guests, working out a response to the missile test.</p>
<p>Then-Press Secretary Sean Spicer insisted no classified material had been discussed.</p>
<p>All the while, members snapped photos. One guest posed with the military official carrying the nuclear football.</p>
<p>— By Jill Colvin</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>GREAT OR GREATEST?</p>
<p>It was the presidential version of "You like me, you really like me."</p>
<p>At Trump's first full Cabinet meeting in June, his top aides gathered at a long table in the Cabinet Room and reporters filed in for an opening photo opportunity.</p>
<p>Usually journalists are allowed into these gatherings for only a few remarks before being ushered out.</p>
<p>Not this time. After the president extoled his young administration, he asked the other participants to weigh in.</p>
<p>One by one, the Cabinet secretaries spoke out, touching on policy but most focused on something else: the president's ego, singing his praises in the kind of glowing language typically reserved for greeting cards.</p>
<p>Vice President Mike Pence called his job "the greatest privilege of my life."</p>
<p>Former Chief of Staff Reince Priebus thanked Trump for the "opportunity and the blessing that you've given us to serve your agenda."</p>
<p>Priebus was ousted the following month. But the meeting lives on as one of the oddest moments of Trump's first year.</p>
<p>— By Catherine Lucey</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>COMEY'S EXIT</p>
<p>White House reporters were anticipating a press statement, topic unknown, late in the day on May 9.</p>
<p>Then it came: a three-paragraph announcement from then-press secretary Spicer. I read it quickly and blurted out to my colleagues: "Oh my God. He just fired Jim Comey."</p>
<p>Trump roiled Washington by firing the FBI director overseeing the investigation into possible election-year collusion between Trump's campaign and Russian government officials. Trump had seethed about the investigation leading up to Comey's dismissal.</p>
<p>He sent his longtime bodyguard and confidant Keith Schiller to hand-deliver Comey's termination letter. But apparently no one bothered to check on Comey's whereabouts. The director was in Los Angeles, speaking to agents at the FBI field office, and learned from TV that he had just been fired.</p>
<p>At the White House, Spicer struggled to explain the stunning decision.</p>
<p>Between media interviews, the press secretary collected his thoughts while waiting among the hedges.</p>
<p>— By Darlene Superville</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has proven himself an unconventional leader time and time again in his first year in office. Here are some of the more memorable moments from the AP reporters tasked with covering this whirlwind presidency:</p>
<p>CAN I SHOW YOU MY BUTTON?</p>
<p>Midway through my April 23, 2017, interview with President Donald Trump, he reached over and pressed a red button on his desk in the Oval Office.</p>
<p>It didn't trigger a nuclear launch or send advisers scurrying into the room. Instead, a White House butler walked in with a single glass of Diet Coke on a silver tray for the commander in chief.</p>
<p>Trump was still relatively new in office and seemed to relish the trappings of his new digs. Moments before pressing the button, in the middle of an answer about his dealings with China, he said to me without skipping a beat: "Do you want a Coke or anything?"</p>
<p>Months later, Trump would tweet about another "button" in a taunt to the North Koreans, declaring, "my Button works!"</p>
<p>In reality, there's no such thing as a nuclear button for the president to launch a nuclear attack. But his Diet Coke button indeed works.</p>
<p>— By Julie Pace</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>NO-GO ZONE</p>
<p>Before dawn in a windowless room in a Seoul hotel, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders gathered a group of reporters sworn to secrecy to inform them of their next destination.</p>
<p>Sanders held up a slip of paper, saying this was how she was told to convey the sensitive information. It read: "DMZ."</p>
<p>Ever the showman, Trump had hoped to punctuate his war of words with Pyongyang with a surprise Nov. 7 visit to the Demilitarized Zone, the heavily fortified border between North and South Korea.</p>
<p>But he never made it.</p>
<p>His convoy of helicopters was just five minutes from the border when heavy fog forced them to turn back. Trump urged another try but, after nearly an hour of waiting, military pilots and the Secret Service deemed it unsafe to make another try.</p>
<p>In a rage, Trump told an aide he thought the failed flight made him look weak.</p>
<p>"He's pretty frustrated," Sanders, wearing pearls and a borrowed military jacket, told reporters later.</p>
<p>— By Jonathan Lemire</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>GRIP-AND-GRIN AND BEAR IT</p>
<p>"Handshake?" members of the German media prodded at the start of Chancellor Angela Merkel's first Oval Office meeting with Trump in March.</p>
<p>The two leaders never locked hands during the photo op. It was an awkward tête-à-tête, one of multiple odd interactions between the new president and other world leaders in his first year.</p>
<p>There was Trump's white-knuckle grip and stare-down with French President Emmanuel Macron. Trump's mangled attempt at an interlocking handshake with world leaders in the Philippines. His gone-viral shove of Montenegro's leader at NATO headquarters.</p>
<p>Trump's highlight reel also includes a brief hand-holding moment with a baffled British Prime Minister Theresa May, a 19-second handshake/pat-down with Japan's Shinzo Abe, and multiple bear hugs with India's Narendra Modi.</p>
<p>Taken together, the encounters turned the tradition of staid grip-and-grins between world leaders on its head.</p>
<p>— By Ken Thomas</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TWO SCOOPS</p>
<p>Trump beckoned a trio of reporters into his private dining room with a wave.</p>
<p>Just off the Oval Office, the room featured a newly installed 60-inch television and a chandelier, selected personally by the president, that he boasted restored the character of the room.</p>
<p>Surrounded by briefing papers and periodicals, Trump grabbed the remote and proceeded to offer color commentary on congressional testimony earlier that day from former acting Attorney General Sally Yates and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.</p>
<p>"Watch them start to choke like dogs," he said, already well versed in what he was to show us over and again.</p>
<p>It was a front-row seat to the president's voluminous media diet and a window into his consumption habits: Fox News programs recorded on TiVo, and later, two scoops of ice cream at dinner.</p>
<p>Everyone else at the dinner was served one scoop.</p>
<p>— By Zeke Miller</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>MAR-A-LAGO DIPLOMACY</p>
<p>Trump was hosting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for a February weekend of golf and get-to-know-you meetings at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, when the press pool traveling with the new president was hastily summoned.</p>
<p>Reporters were led past a wedding arch on the lawn to an ornate ballroom, where the two leaders soon delivered brief statements responding to North Korea's first ballistic missile test of Trump's presidency. Party music from the wedding could be heard in the distance as they spoke.</p>
<p>It was an early indication of Trump's very different approach to foreign provocations.</p>
<p>Earlier in the evening, it would later emerge, Trump and Abe sat on the club's terrace, in full view of dues-paying club members and their guests, working out a response to the missile test.</p>
<p>Then-Press Secretary Sean Spicer insisted no classified material had been discussed.</p>
<p>All the while, members snapped photos. One guest posed with the military official carrying the nuclear football.</p>
<p>— By Jill Colvin</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>GREAT OR GREATEST?</p>
<p>It was the presidential version of "You like me, you really like me."</p>
<p>At Trump's first full Cabinet meeting in June, his top aides gathered at a long table in the Cabinet Room and reporters filed in for an opening photo opportunity.</p>
<p>Usually journalists are allowed into these gatherings for only a few remarks before being ushered out.</p>
<p>Not this time. After the president extoled his young administration, he asked the other participants to weigh in.</p>
<p>One by one, the Cabinet secretaries spoke out, touching on policy but most focused on something else: the president's ego, singing his praises in the kind of glowing language typically reserved for greeting cards.</p>
<p>Vice President Mike Pence called his job "the greatest privilege of my life."</p>
<p>Former Chief of Staff Reince Priebus thanked Trump for the "opportunity and the blessing that you've given us to serve your agenda."</p>
<p>Priebus was ousted the following month. But the meeting lives on as one of the oddest moments of Trump's first year.</p>
<p>— By Catherine Lucey</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>COMEY'S EXIT</p>
<p>White House reporters were anticipating a press statement, topic unknown, late in the day on May 9.</p>
<p>Then it came: a three-paragraph announcement from then-press secretary Spicer. I read it quickly and blurted out to my colleagues: "Oh my God. He just fired Jim Comey."</p>
<p>Trump roiled Washington by firing the FBI director overseeing the investigation into possible election-year collusion between Trump's campaign and Russian government officials. Trump had seethed about the investigation leading up to Comey's dismissal.</p>
<p>He sent his longtime bodyguard and confidant Keith Schiller to hand-deliver Comey's termination letter. But apparently no one bothered to check on Comey's whereabouts. The director was in Los Angeles, speaking to agents at the FBI field office, and learned from TV that he had just been fired.</p>
<p>At the White House, Spicer struggled to explain the stunning decision.</p>
<p>Between media interviews, the press secretary collected his thoughts while waiting among the hedges.</p>
<p>— By Darlene Superville</p>
| false | 2 |
washington ap president donald trump proven unconventional leader time time first year office memorable moments ap reporters tasked covering whirlwind presidency show button midway april 23 2017 interview president donald trump reached pressed red button desk oval office didnt trigger nuclear launch send advisers scurrying room instead white house butler walked single glass diet coke silver tray commander chief trump still relatively new office seemed relish trappings new digs moments pressing button middle answer dealings china said without skipping beat want coke anything months later trump would tweet another button taunt north koreans declaring button works reality theres thing nuclear button president launch nuclear attack diet coke button indeed works julie pace ___ nogo zone dawn windowless room seoul hotel white house press secretary sarah huckabee sanders gathered group reporters sworn secrecy inform next destination sanders held slip paper saying told convey sensitive information read dmz ever showman trump hoped punctuate war words pyongyang surprise nov 7 visit demilitarized zone heavily fortified border north south korea never made convoy helicopters five minutes border heavy fog forced turn back trump urged another try nearly hour waiting military pilots secret service deemed unsafe make another try rage trump told aide thought failed flight made look weak hes pretty frustrated sanders wearing pearls borrowed military jacket told reporters later jonathan lemire ___ gripandgrin bear handshake members german media prodded start chancellor angela merkels first oval office meeting trump march two leaders never locked hands photo op awkward têteàtête one multiple odd interactions new president world leaders first year trumps whiteknuckle grip staredown french president emmanuel macron trumps mangled attempt interlocking handshake world leaders philippines goneviral shove montenegros leader nato headquarters trumps highlight reel also includes brief handholding moment baffled british prime minister theresa may 19second handshakepatdown japans shinzo abe multiple bear hugs indias narendra modi taken together encounters turned tradition staid gripandgrins world leaders head ken thomas ___ two scoops trump beckoned trio reporters private dining room wave oval office room featured newly installed 60inch television chandelier selected personally president boasted restored character room surrounded briefing papers periodicals trump grabbed remote proceeded offer color commentary congressional testimony earlier day former acting attorney general sally yates former director national intelligence james clapper watch start choke like dogs said already well versed show us frontrow seat presidents voluminous media diet window consumption habits fox news programs recorded tivo later two scoops ice cream dinner everyone else dinner served one scoop zeke miller ___ maralago diplomacy trump hosting japanese prime minister shinzo abe february weekend golf gettoknowyou meetings maralago club palm beach florida press pool traveling new president hastily summoned reporters led past wedding arch lawn ornate ballroom two leaders soon delivered brief statements responding north koreas first ballistic missile test trumps presidency party music wedding could heard distance spoke early indication trumps different approach foreign provocations earlier evening would later emerge trump abe sat clubs terrace full view duespaying club members guests working response missile test thenpress secretary sean spicer insisted classified material discussed members snapped photos one guest posed military official carrying nuclear football jill colvin ___ great greatest presidential version like really like trumps first full cabinet meeting june top aides gathered long table cabinet room reporters filed opening photo opportunity usually journalists allowed gatherings remarks ushered time president extoled young administration asked participants weigh one one cabinet secretaries spoke touching policy focused something else presidents ego singing praises kind glowing language typically reserved greeting cards vice president mike pence called job greatest privilege life former chief staff reince priebus thanked trump opportunity blessing youve given us serve agenda priebus ousted following month meeting lives one oddest moments trumps first year catherine lucey ___ comeys exit white house reporters anticipating press statement topic unknown late day may 9 came threeparagraph announcement thenpress secretary spicer read quickly blurted colleagues oh god fired jim comey trump roiled washington firing fbi director overseeing investigation possible electionyear collusion trumps campaign russian government officials trump seethed investigation leading comeys dismissal sent longtime bodyguard confidant keith schiller handdeliver comeys termination letter apparently one bothered check comeys whereabouts director los angeles speaking agents fbi field office learned tv fired white house spicer struggled explain stunning decision media interviews press secretary collected thoughts waiting among hedges darlene superville washington ap president donald trump proven unconventional leader time time first year office memorable moments ap reporters tasked covering whirlwind presidency show button midway april 23 2017 interview president donald trump reached pressed red button desk oval office didnt trigger nuclear launch send advisers scurrying room instead white house butler walked single glass diet coke silver tray commander chief trump still relatively new office seemed relish trappings new digs moments pressing button middle answer dealings china said without skipping beat want coke anything months later trump would tweet another button taunt north koreans declaring button works reality theres thing nuclear button president launch nuclear attack diet coke button indeed works julie pace ___ nogo zone dawn windowless room seoul hotel white house press secretary sarah huckabee sanders gathered group reporters sworn secrecy inform next destination sanders held slip paper saying told convey sensitive information read dmz ever showman trump hoped punctuate war words pyongyang surprise nov 7 visit demilitarized zone heavily fortified border north south korea never made convoy helicopters five minutes border heavy fog forced turn back trump urged another try nearly hour waiting military pilots secret service deemed unsafe make another try rage trump told aide thought failed flight made look weak hes pretty frustrated sanders wearing pearls borrowed military jacket told reporters later jonathan lemire ___ gripandgrin bear handshake members german media prodded start chancellor angela merkels first oval office meeting trump march two leaders never locked hands photo op awkward têteàtête one multiple odd interactions new president world leaders first year trumps whiteknuckle grip staredown french president emmanuel macron trumps mangled attempt interlocking handshake world leaders philippines goneviral shove montenegros leader nato headquarters trumps highlight reel also includes brief handholding moment baffled british prime minister theresa may 19second handshakepatdown japans shinzo abe multiple bear hugs indias narendra modi taken together encounters turned tradition staid gripandgrins world leaders head ken thomas ___ two scoops trump beckoned trio reporters private dining room wave oval office room featured newly installed 60inch television chandelier selected personally president boasted restored character room surrounded briefing papers periodicals trump grabbed remote proceeded offer color commentary congressional testimony earlier day former acting attorney general sally yates former director national intelligence james clapper watch start choke like dogs said already well versed show us frontrow seat presidents voluminous media diet window consumption habits fox news programs recorded tivo later two scoops ice cream dinner everyone else dinner served one scoop zeke miller ___ maralago diplomacy trump hosting japanese prime minister shinzo abe february weekend golf gettoknowyou meetings maralago club palm beach florida press pool traveling new president hastily summoned reporters led past wedding arch lawn ornate ballroom two leaders soon delivered brief statements responding north koreas first ballistic missile test trumps presidency party music wedding could heard distance spoke early indication trumps different approach foreign provocations earlier evening would later emerge trump abe sat clubs terrace full view duespaying club members guests working response missile test thenpress secretary sean spicer insisted classified material discussed members snapped photos one guest posed military official carrying nuclear football jill colvin ___ great greatest presidential version like really like trumps first full cabinet meeting june top aides gathered long table cabinet room reporters filed opening photo opportunity usually journalists allowed gatherings remarks ushered time president extoled young administration asked participants weigh one one cabinet secretaries spoke touching policy focused something else presidents ego singing praises kind glowing language typically reserved greeting cards vice president mike pence called job greatest privilege life former chief staff reince priebus thanked trump opportunity blessing youve given us serve agenda priebus ousted following month meeting lives one oddest moments trumps first year catherine lucey ___ comeys exit white house reporters anticipating press statement topic unknown late day may 9 came threeparagraph announcement thenpress secretary spicer read quickly blurted colleagues oh god fired jim comey trump roiled washington firing fbi director overseeing investigation possible electionyear collusion trumps campaign russian government officials trump seethed investigation leading comeys dismissal sent longtime bodyguard confidant keith schiller handdeliver comeys termination letter apparently one bothered check comeys whereabouts director los angeles speaking agents fbi field office learned tv fired white house spicer struggled explain stunning decision media interviews press secretary collected thoughts waiting among hedges darlene superville
| 1,414 |
<p>NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints face the prospect of seeing their season end where it began.</p>
<p>That is, unless they've improved enough to turn the tables on the Minnesota Vikings, who beat New Orleans convincingly in Week 1.</p>
<p>"That feels like ages and ages ago," Brees said of the 29-19 loss in Minnesota, describing the difference between the Saints then and now as "night and day."</p>
<p>The Saints (12-5) rebounded from double-digit losses to the Vikings and New England Patriots in their first two games to win the NFC South. Now they're on to the divisional round of the NFC playoffs after holding off Carolina (11-6), 31-26 on Sunday.</p>
<p>New Orleans' next game comes one day before Brees turns 39 years old, and will come one week after the veteran quarterback reminded everyone he's still capable of big passing days if opposing defenses sell out to stop the Pro Bowl running back tandem of Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara.</p>
<p>Brees completed 23 passes to eight different receivers for 375 yards and two touchdowns. Only two of his completions went to Ingram or Kamara, who accounted for only 68 yards from scrimmage combined.</p>
<p>"We trust our system. We trust each other and what we proved is we can beat you in a lot of different ways," Brees said. "There's no better feeling than knowing you just won, not only won but won a playoff game as a team and now you're on to the next one."</p>
<p>His touchdown passes of 80 yards to Ted Ginn and 9-yards to tight end Josh Hill helped New Orleans open up a 21-6 lead late in the first half. Michael Thomas caught eight passes for 131 yards, including a 46-yarder that set up Kamara's short TD run in the fourth quarter.</p>
<p>For the Panthers, it was an excruciating end to the season. Beaten soundly by the Saints twice before this season, they pushed New Orleans to the brink in the third matchup.</p>
<p>Aided by the return of star tight end Greg Olsen, the Panthers drove inside the Saints 22-yard line five times, only to come away with nothing twice and field goals three other times.</p>
<p>"That was the difference in the game," said Olsen, who had eight catches for 107 yards and a touchdown. "We moved the ball pretty much at will the whole game. We just struggled in the first half in the red zone and it turned out to be points that we kept chasing."</p>
<p>Still, the Panthers had a first down on the Saints 21 with 41 seconds left. It wasn't until Newton's intentional grounding in the face of end Cameron Jordan's pass rush, followed by Vonn Bell's sack on a safety blitz on fourth down, that the Saints sealed the victory.</p>
<p>Some other things to know from the Saints' win:</p>
<p>GETTING PRESSURE: The Saints sacked Newton four times. Jordan, Bell, linebacker Jonathan Freeny and defensive tackle David Onyemata each had one. Jordan, a newly named All-Pro, also tipped two passes and might have made his biggest play when he ran through two blockers to force Newton's intentional grounding. Their pass rush could be a factor against Minnesota QB Case Keenum, who's been sacked 17 times in Minnesota's last six games.</p>
<p>Certainly, Jordan expects a different game that Week 1, when the Saints had one sack - by Jordan - against then-starter Sam Bradford.</p>
<p>"We had a young defense that was still learning," Jordan said. "We've clearly turned the corner. We've clearly turned to the next chapter. Now we're into the playoffs and we've got bigger and better goals."</p>
<p>SECONDARY CONCERNS: While the Saints' defense has been far better this season than last, the secondary has looked more vulnerable lately. Against Carolina, they allowed Newton to pass for 349 yards, his second most all season. New Orleans struggled to cover Olsen and versatile running back Christian McCaffrey, who six catches for 101 yards, including a 56-yard score.</p>
<p>END ZONE PROTECTION: While the Saints defense gave up 413 net yards, their ability to keep Carolina out of the end zone was crucial.</p>
<p>"It's better to hold them to three than six," Bell said. "We held them in the red zone and we won the game."</p>
<p>ROAD WOES: While the Saints won their sixth straight home playoff game and improved to 5-0 in the Superdome in postseason games under coach Sean Payton, they've won only one road playoff game in their history. That was during the 2013 season, when they won a wild-card round game at Philadelphia before losing the next week at Seattle.</p>
<p>The Saints' all time road playoff record is 1-6.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL</p>
<p>NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints face the prospect of seeing their season end where it began.</p>
<p>That is, unless they've improved enough to turn the tables on the Minnesota Vikings, who beat New Orleans convincingly in Week 1.</p>
<p>"That feels like ages and ages ago," Brees said of the 29-19 loss in Minnesota, describing the difference between the Saints then and now as "night and day."</p>
<p>The Saints (12-5) rebounded from double-digit losses to the Vikings and New England Patriots in their first two games to win the NFC South. Now they're on to the divisional round of the NFC playoffs after holding off Carolina (11-6), 31-26 on Sunday.</p>
<p>New Orleans' next game comes one day before Brees turns 39 years old, and will come one week after the veteran quarterback reminded everyone he's still capable of big passing days if opposing defenses sell out to stop the Pro Bowl running back tandem of Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara.</p>
<p>Brees completed 23 passes to eight different receivers for 375 yards and two touchdowns. Only two of his completions went to Ingram or Kamara, who accounted for only 68 yards from scrimmage combined.</p>
<p>"We trust our system. We trust each other and what we proved is we can beat you in a lot of different ways," Brees said. "There's no better feeling than knowing you just won, not only won but won a playoff game as a team and now you're on to the next one."</p>
<p>His touchdown passes of 80 yards to Ted Ginn and 9-yards to tight end Josh Hill helped New Orleans open up a 21-6 lead late in the first half. Michael Thomas caught eight passes for 131 yards, including a 46-yarder that set up Kamara's short TD run in the fourth quarter.</p>
<p>For the Panthers, it was an excruciating end to the season. Beaten soundly by the Saints twice before this season, they pushed New Orleans to the brink in the third matchup.</p>
<p>Aided by the return of star tight end Greg Olsen, the Panthers drove inside the Saints 22-yard line five times, only to come away with nothing twice and field goals three other times.</p>
<p>"That was the difference in the game," said Olsen, who had eight catches for 107 yards and a touchdown. "We moved the ball pretty much at will the whole game. We just struggled in the first half in the red zone and it turned out to be points that we kept chasing."</p>
<p>Still, the Panthers had a first down on the Saints 21 with 41 seconds left. It wasn't until Newton's intentional grounding in the face of end Cameron Jordan's pass rush, followed by Vonn Bell's sack on a safety blitz on fourth down, that the Saints sealed the victory.</p>
<p>Some other things to know from the Saints' win:</p>
<p>GETTING PRESSURE: The Saints sacked Newton four times. Jordan, Bell, linebacker Jonathan Freeny and defensive tackle David Onyemata each had one. Jordan, a newly named All-Pro, also tipped two passes and might have made his biggest play when he ran through two blockers to force Newton's intentional grounding. Their pass rush could be a factor against Minnesota QB Case Keenum, who's been sacked 17 times in Minnesota's last six games.</p>
<p>Certainly, Jordan expects a different game that Week 1, when the Saints had one sack - by Jordan - against then-starter Sam Bradford.</p>
<p>"We had a young defense that was still learning," Jordan said. "We've clearly turned the corner. We've clearly turned to the next chapter. Now we're into the playoffs and we've got bigger and better goals."</p>
<p>SECONDARY CONCERNS: While the Saints' defense has been far better this season than last, the secondary has looked more vulnerable lately. Against Carolina, they allowed Newton to pass for 349 yards, his second most all season. New Orleans struggled to cover Olsen and versatile running back Christian McCaffrey, who six catches for 101 yards, including a 56-yard score.</p>
<p>END ZONE PROTECTION: While the Saints defense gave up 413 net yards, their ability to keep Carolina out of the end zone was crucial.</p>
<p>"It's better to hold them to three than six," Bell said. "We held them in the red zone and we won the game."</p>
<p>ROAD WOES: While the Saints won their sixth straight home playoff game and improved to 5-0 in the Superdome in postseason games under coach Sean Payton, they've won only one road playoff game in their history. That was during the 2013 season, when they won a wild-card round game at Philadelphia before losing the next week at Seattle.</p>
<p>The Saints' all time road playoff record is 1-6.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL</p>
| false | 2 |
new orleans ap drew brees new orleans saints face prospect seeing season end began unless theyve improved enough turn tables minnesota vikings beat new orleans convincingly week 1 feels like ages ages ago brees said 2919 loss minnesota describing difference saints night day saints 125 rebounded doubledigit losses vikings new england patriots first two games win nfc south theyre divisional round nfc playoffs holding carolina 116 3126 sunday new orleans next game comes one day brees turns 39 years old come one week veteran quarterback reminded everyone hes still capable big passing days opposing defenses sell stop pro bowl running back tandem mark ingram alvin kamara brees completed 23 passes eight different receivers 375 yards two touchdowns two completions went ingram kamara accounted 68 yards scrimmage combined trust system trust proved beat lot different ways brees said theres better feeling knowing playoff game team youre next one touchdown passes 80 yards ted ginn 9yards tight end josh hill helped new orleans open 216 lead late first half michael thomas caught eight passes 131 yards including 46yarder set kamaras short td run fourth quarter panthers excruciating end season beaten soundly saints twice season pushed new orleans brink third matchup aided return star tight end greg olsen panthers drove inside saints 22yard line five times come away nothing twice field goals three times difference game said olsen eight catches 107 yards touchdown moved ball pretty much whole game struggled first half red zone turned points kept chasing still panthers first saints 21 41 seconds left wasnt newtons intentional grounding face end cameron jordans pass rush followed vonn bells sack safety blitz fourth saints sealed victory things know saints win getting pressure saints sacked newton four times jordan bell linebacker jonathan freeny defensive tackle david onyemata one jordan newly named allpro also tipped two passes might made biggest play ran two blockers force newtons intentional grounding pass rush could factor minnesota qb case keenum whos sacked 17 times minnesotas last six games certainly jordan expects different game week 1 saints one sack jordan thenstarter sam bradford young defense still learning jordan said weve clearly turned corner weve clearly turned next chapter playoffs weve got bigger better goals secondary concerns saints defense far better season last secondary looked vulnerable lately carolina allowed newton pass 349 yards second season new orleans struggled cover olsen versatile running back christian mccaffrey six catches 101 yards including 56yard score end zone protection saints defense gave 413 net yards ability keep carolina end zone crucial better hold three six bell said held red zone game road woes saints sixth straight home playoff game improved 50 superdome postseason games coach sean payton theyve one road playoff game history 2013 season wildcard round game philadelphia losing next week seattle saints time road playoff record 16 ___ nfl coverage httpwwwpro32aporg httpwwwtwittercomap_nfl new orleans ap drew brees new orleans saints face prospect seeing season end began unless theyve improved enough turn tables minnesota vikings beat new orleans convincingly week 1 feels like ages ages ago brees said 2919 loss minnesota describing difference saints night day saints 125 rebounded doubledigit losses vikings new england patriots first two games win nfc south theyre divisional round nfc playoffs holding carolina 116 3126 sunday new orleans next game comes one day brees turns 39 years old come one week veteran quarterback reminded everyone hes still capable big passing days opposing defenses sell stop pro bowl running back tandem mark ingram alvin kamara brees completed 23 passes eight different receivers 375 yards two touchdowns two completions went ingram kamara accounted 68 yards scrimmage combined trust system trust proved beat lot different ways brees said theres better feeling knowing playoff game team youre next one touchdown passes 80 yards ted ginn 9yards tight end josh hill helped new orleans open 216 lead late first half michael thomas caught eight passes 131 yards including 46yarder set kamaras short td run fourth quarter panthers excruciating end season beaten soundly saints twice season pushed new orleans brink third matchup aided return star tight end greg olsen panthers drove inside saints 22yard line five times come away nothing twice field goals three times difference game said olsen eight catches 107 yards touchdown moved ball pretty much whole game struggled first half red zone turned points kept chasing still panthers first saints 21 41 seconds left wasnt newtons intentional grounding face end cameron jordans pass rush followed vonn bells sack safety blitz fourth saints sealed victory things know saints win getting pressure saints sacked newton four times jordan bell linebacker jonathan freeny defensive tackle david onyemata one jordan newly named allpro also tipped two passes might made biggest play ran two blockers force newtons intentional grounding pass rush could factor minnesota qb case keenum whos sacked 17 times minnesotas last six games certainly jordan expects different game week 1 saints one sack jordan thenstarter sam bradford young defense still learning jordan said weve clearly turned corner weve clearly turned next chapter playoffs weve got bigger better goals secondary concerns saints defense far better season last secondary looked vulnerable lately carolina allowed newton pass 349 yards second season new orleans struggled cover olsen versatile running back christian mccaffrey six catches 101 yards including 56yard score end zone protection saints defense gave 413 net yards ability keep carolina end zone crucial better hold three six bell said held red zone game road woes saints sixth straight home playoff game improved 50 superdome postseason games coach sean payton theyve one road playoff game history 2013 season wildcard round game philadelphia losing next week seattle saints time road playoff record 16 ___ nfl coverage httpwwwpro32aporg httpwwwtwittercomap_nfl
| 938 |
<p>LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky quarterback Patrick Towles and coach Mark Stoops have found it hard to contain their anticipation about new-look Commonwealth Stadium.</p>
<p>Stoops has occasionally stopped by to check progress of round-the-clock construction. Towles has found sanctuary there amid the clanging and cleanup.</p>
<p>“I’m a big fan of peaceful situations,” Towles said. “On Saturday there’s not going to be a lot of peace, so I just wanted to get in there, relax and take it all in.”</p>
<p>When the action begins on the field, the junior quarterback aims to guide Kentucky past Louisiana-Lafayette in the coming-out party for the “new” CWS following a $120 million makeover. A near-sellout crowd is expected for the first of eight home games as the Wildcats look improve on last year’s 5-7 finish, and clinch the program’s first bowl appearance since 2010.</p>
<p>Doing so means putting aside the pomp and circumstance to beat a Ragin’ Cajuns squad coming off their fourth straight 9-4 finish and New Orleans Bowl victory. Junior running back Elijah McGuire returns for Louisiana after rushing for 1,264 yards and 14 touchdowns last season.</p>
<p>For the Wildcats, establishing a similar postseason presence starts with handling their business at home.</p>
<p>“We’re excited, but the most important thing we can do is go out and play well,” Stoops said of keeping players from getting caught up in the moment.</p>
<p>“It’s important to a lot of people, and we recognize that. But we truly have to play one play at a time, and we’ve got to have discipline and focus about us to do that.”</p>
<p>No doubt, the Wildcats are eager to make a strong first impression as they aim to make CWS feel like home instead of their home field.</p>
<p>Modern amenities abound for players in the 61,000-seat stadium, including a club lounge/training table and new recruiting room with a patio overlooking the field. The recruiting room sits atop a newly-created tunnel from which the Wildcats will enter a new synthetic turf field with checkerboard patterns in the end zones.</p>
<p>Having watched the stadium’s nearly two-year transformation, Kentucky safety A.J. Stamps and teammates can’t wait to kick off its new era and added, “the adrenaline’s going to be flowing for sure.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Some other things to watch when Kentucky opens the season against Louisiana-Lafayette:</p>
<p>DAWSON’S DEBUT: Shannon Dawson has replaced Neal Brown as Kentucky’s offensive coordinator and wants to continue the pass-heavy “Air Raid” scheme with a quicker, efficient pace. West Virginia ranked 12th in offense last season under Dawson, who believes the Wildcats can be just as prolific with better execution and balance from the running game.</p>
<p>TWO CAJUN QBS: The departure of three-year starter Terrance Broadway left a void that either Brooks Haack or Jalen Nixon, or both, must fill. Both juniors played in six games last season but Haack had the numbers, completing 20 of 23 passes for 179 yards and two TDs.</p>
<p>MATURING TOWLES: A year ago, Towles was understandably nervous approaching his first career start after nearly dropping off the depth chart. He went on to combine for more than 3,000 total yards and 20 touchdowns, resulting in a more polished and confident QB who beat out Drew Barker for the starting job this year. “He’s definitely a leader, just making sure he’s doing everything right and making sure everybody’s on top of their game,” receiver Jeff Badet said.</p>
<p>LOUISIANA’S DEFENSE: The Ragin’ Cajuns allowed just 12 fewer yards per game than they gained last season, but return five starters including senior linebacker Dominique Tovell. Melvin Smith and Charlie Harbison take over as defensive coordinators.</p>
<p>CATS’ KICKERS: Sophomore Austin MacGinnis earned first team all-Southeastern Conference honors after setting school records with 104 points and 21 field goals including a 54-yarder. Landon Foster enters his fourth season as the punter and has been reliable, averaging nearly 43 yards per attempt last season.</p>
<p>LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky quarterback Patrick Towles and coach Mark Stoops have found it hard to contain their anticipation about new-look Commonwealth Stadium.</p>
<p>Stoops has occasionally stopped by to check progress of round-the-clock construction. Towles has found sanctuary there amid the clanging and cleanup.</p>
<p>“I’m a big fan of peaceful situations,” Towles said. “On Saturday there’s not going to be a lot of peace, so I just wanted to get in there, relax and take it all in.”</p>
<p>When the action begins on the field, the junior quarterback aims to guide Kentucky past Louisiana-Lafayette in the coming-out party for the “new” CWS following a $120 million makeover. A near-sellout crowd is expected for the first of eight home games as the Wildcats look improve on last year’s 5-7 finish, and clinch the program’s first bowl appearance since 2010.</p>
<p>Doing so means putting aside the pomp and circumstance to beat a Ragin’ Cajuns squad coming off their fourth straight 9-4 finish and New Orleans Bowl victory. Junior running back Elijah McGuire returns for Louisiana after rushing for 1,264 yards and 14 touchdowns last season.</p>
<p>For the Wildcats, establishing a similar postseason presence starts with handling their business at home.</p>
<p>“We’re excited, but the most important thing we can do is go out and play well,” Stoops said of keeping players from getting caught up in the moment.</p>
<p>“It’s important to a lot of people, and we recognize that. But we truly have to play one play at a time, and we’ve got to have discipline and focus about us to do that.”</p>
<p>No doubt, the Wildcats are eager to make a strong first impression as they aim to make CWS feel like home instead of their home field.</p>
<p>Modern amenities abound for players in the 61,000-seat stadium, including a club lounge/training table and new recruiting room with a patio overlooking the field. The recruiting room sits atop a newly-created tunnel from which the Wildcats will enter a new synthetic turf field with checkerboard patterns in the end zones.</p>
<p>Having watched the stadium’s nearly two-year transformation, Kentucky safety A.J. Stamps and teammates can’t wait to kick off its new era and added, “the adrenaline’s going to be flowing for sure.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Some other things to watch when Kentucky opens the season against Louisiana-Lafayette:</p>
<p>DAWSON’S DEBUT: Shannon Dawson has replaced Neal Brown as Kentucky’s offensive coordinator and wants to continue the pass-heavy “Air Raid” scheme with a quicker, efficient pace. West Virginia ranked 12th in offense last season under Dawson, who believes the Wildcats can be just as prolific with better execution and balance from the running game.</p>
<p>TWO CAJUN QBS: The departure of three-year starter Terrance Broadway left a void that either Brooks Haack or Jalen Nixon, or both, must fill. Both juniors played in six games last season but Haack had the numbers, completing 20 of 23 passes for 179 yards and two TDs.</p>
<p>MATURING TOWLES: A year ago, Towles was understandably nervous approaching his first career start after nearly dropping off the depth chart. He went on to combine for more than 3,000 total yards and 20 touchdowns, resulting in a more polished and confident QB who beat out Drew Barker for the starting job this year. “He’s definitely a leader, just making sure he’s doing everything right and making sure everybody’s on top of their game,” receiver Jeff Badet said.</p>
<p>LOUISIANA’S DEFENSE: The Ragin’ Cajuns allowed just 12 fewer yards per game than they gained last season, but return five starters including senior linebacker Dominique Tovell. Melvin Smith and Charlie Harbison take over as defensive coordinators.</p>
<p>CATS’ KICKERS: Sophomore Austin MacGinnis earned first team all-Southeastern Conference honors after setting school records with 104 points and 21 field goals including a 54-yarder. Landon Foster enters his fourth season as the punter and has been reliable, averaging nearly 43 yards per attempt last season.</p>
| false | 2 |
lexington ky ap kentucky quarterback patrick towles coach mark stoops found hard contain anticipation newlook commonwealth stadium stoops occasionally stopped check progress roundtheclock construction towles found sanctuary amid clanging cleanup im big fan peaceful situations towles said saturday theres going lot peace wanted get relax take action begins field junior quarterback aims guide kentucky past louisianalafayette comingout party new cws following 120 million makeover nearsellout crowd expected first eight home games wildcats look improve last years 57 finish clinch programs first bowl appearance since 2010 means putting aside pomp circumstance beat ragin cajuns squad coming fourth straight 94 finish new orleans bowl victory junior running back elijah mcguire returns louisiana rushing 1264 yards 14 touchdowns last season wildcats establishing similar postseason presence starts handling business home excited important thing go play well stoops said keeping players getting caught moment important lot people recognize truly play one play time weve got discipline focus us doubt wildcats eager make strong first impression aim make cws feel like home instead home field modern amenities abound players 61000seat stadium including club loungetraining table new recruiting room patio overlooking field recruiting room sits atop newlycreated tunnel wildcats enter new synthetic turf field checkerboard patterns end zones watched stadiums nearly twoyear transformation kentucky safety aj stamps teammates cant wait kick new era added adrenalines going flowing sure ___ things watch kentucky opens season louisianalafayette dawsons debut shannon dawson replaced neal brown kentuckys offensive coordinator wants continue passheavy air raid scheme quicker efficient pace west virginia ranked 12th offense last season dawson believes wildcats prolific better execution balance running game two cajun qbs departure threeyear starter terrance broadway left void either brooks haack jalen nixon must fill juniors played six games last season haack numbers completing 20 23 passes 179 yards two tds maturing towles year ago towles understandably nervous approaching first career start nearly dropping depth chart went combine 3000 total yards 20 touchdowns resulting polished confident qb beat drew barker starting job year hes definitely leader making sure hes everything right making sure everybodys top game receiver jeff badet said louisianas defense ragin cajuns allowed 12 fewer yards per game gained last season return five starters including senior linebacker dominique tovell melvin smith charlie harbison take defensive coordinators cats kickers sophomore austin macginnis earned first team allsoutheastern conference honors setting school records 104 points 21 field goals including 54yarder landon foster enters fourth season punter reliable averaging nearly 43 yards per attempt last season lexington ky ap kentucky quarterback patrick towles coach mark stoops found hard contain anticipation newlook commonwealth stadium stoops occasionally stopped check progress roundtheclock construction towles found sanctuary amid clanging cleanup im big fan peaceful situations towles said saturday theres going lot peace wanted get relax take action begins field junior quarterback aims guide kentucky past louisianalafayette comingout party new cws following 120 million makeover nearsellout crowd expected first eight home games wildcats look improve last years 57 finish clinch programs first bowl appearance since 2010 means putting aside pomp circumstance beat ragin cajuns squad coming fourth straight 94 finish new orleans bowl victory junior running back elijah mcguire returns louisiana rushing 1264 yards 14 touchdowns last season wildcats establishing similar postseason presence starts handling business home excited important thing go play well stoops said keeping players getting caught moment important lot people recognize truly play one play time weve got discipline focus us doubt wildcats eager make strong first impression aim make cws feel like home instead home field modern amenities abound players 61000seat stadium including club loungetraining table new recruiting room patio overlooking field recruiting room sits atop newlycreated tunnel wildcats enter new synthetic turf field checkerboard patterns end zones watched stadiums nearly twoyear transformation kentucky safety aj stamps teammates cant wait kick new era added adrenalines going flowing sure ___ things watch kentucky opens season louisianalafayette dawsons debut shannon dawson replaced neal brown kentuckys offensive coordinator wants continue passheavy air raid scheme quicker efficient pace west virginia ranked 12th offense last season dawson believes wildcats prolific better execution balance running game two cajun qbs departure threeyear starter terrance broadway left void either brooks haack jalen nixon must fill juniors played six games last season haack numbers completing 20 23 passes 179 yards two tds maturing towles year ago towles understandably nervous approaching first career start nearly dropping depth chart went combine 3000 total yards 20 touchdowns resulting polished confident qb beat drew barker starting job year hes definitely leader making sure hes everything right making sure everybodys top game receiver jeff badet said louisianas defense ragin cajuns allowed 12 fewer yards per game gained last season return five starters including senior linebacker dominique tovell melvin smith charlie harbison take defensive coordinators cats kickers sophomore austin macginnis earned first team allsoutheastern conference honors setting school records 104 points 21 field goals including 54yarder landon foster enters fourth season punter reliable averaging nearly 43 yards per attempt last season
| 818 |
<p>Both Moderate and Conservative Partisans Grow Restless</p>
<p>by Courtney Kennedy and Michael Dimock</p>
<p>Pew Research Center for the People &amp; the Press</p>
<p>As public approval of George W. Bush languishes at all-time low levels, supporters of the president are increasingly hard to find. In the months following his re-election, roughly half of the country rated Bush’s job performance favorably. Today only a third of Americans do so, while more than half (56%) disapprove of his performance. These latest figures are based on a Pew Research Center survey conducted April 27-May 22, among a national sample of 3,204 adults, a large enough survey to allow for a more detailed breakdown of where and how opinion has changed since the election.</p>
<p>While the decline in support transcends ideological and demographic lines, the drop among one group – moderate Republicans – has been especially steep. Among all Republicans, Bush’s job approval rating has dropped 20 percentage points since December 2004 (from 89% to 69%). This erosion of support has been most severe among Republicans describing themselves as moderate or liberal, where his rating has dropped 25 points from 81% to 56%.</p>
<p>Conservative Republican support for Bush has also declined, but more gradually. Approval among this group was nearly unanimous (93%) following his re-election, and stands 15 points lower at 78% today.</p>
<p>But there are far more conservatives than moderates in the GOP; as many as two-thirds of Republicans identify themselves as conservative. This means that even though the drop off in their support has been more gradual, the implications are no less serious. Translated into real numbers, just as many conservative Republicans as moderate and liberal Republicans have grown frustrated with the president’s leadership over the past year-and-a-half. While a much larger share of moderate and liberal Republicans disapprove of the president, they make up only a minority of the GOP.</p>
<p>Within the Republican Party, moderate women stand out for their lack of support for the president. Through most of Bush’s presidency he has been evaluated similarly by men and women within the GOP, but this latest survey shows signs of a potential gender gap. Currently, only half (51%) of Republican women who describe themselves as moderate or liberal approve of Bush’s job performance – a falloff of 31 percentage points since his re-election. By comparison, his approval rating among moderate and liberal Republican men stands at just over six-in-ten (62%) down only 19 points over this same period. There is no gender gap in presidential approval among more conservative Republicans.</p>
<p>In addition to losing support within his partisan base, the president has lost much of the backing of independents that helped him win reelection in 2004. Job approval among independents has fallen from 45% to 26% since the post-election period. By comparison, Bush has lost less support among Democrats, but there was little support to lose. In December of 2004, 17% of Democrats rated the president’s performance positively; just 9% do so today.</p>
<p>Even white evangelical Protestants, a traditional Republican constituency, are expressing more dissatisfaction with the president today. Barely half (55%) of white Evangelicals now approve of the job Bush is doing, down from 77% following the 2004 election.</p>
<p>Looking at various population groups across all partisan lines, the decline in Bush’s approval rating is fairly consistent among various groups with the largest drops coming from those who had supported him the most strongly and, thus, had the farthest to fall. For example, more than half (53%) of seniors rated Bush’s performance positively on the heels of his re-election, while just a third do so today. Meanwhile, Bush’s rating among Americans under age 30 fell just 11 percentage points during that time from an already marginal rating of 40% down to 29% today.</p>
<p>Similarly, Bush has lost support across all regions of the country. In the South, where Bush is viewed most favorably, his job approval has dropped 20 points from 56% to 36%. In the Northeast, where he has had the least support throughout his presidency, approval has fallen 12 points from 39% to 27% today.</p>
<p>The percent of Hispanics who approve of Bush’s performance in office is down from 45% to 29% since the election, and African-Americans continue to view Bush very negatively.</p>
<p>Support for the president is down across the socioeconomic spectrum as well, among both wealthy and poor, and those with more and less education. If anything, positive views of Bush’s performance have fallen most sharply in the middle-income brackets. Among those with a household income in the $30,000-$75,000 range, approval has dropped roughly 20 percentage points compared with 12- and 13-point drops among the most wealthy and least wealthy, respectively.</p>
<p>Beyond the overall balance of opinion, the intensity of views about Bush has changed as well. After his re-election, comparable numbers strongly approved and strongly disapproved of his job performance (34% vs. 35%). Today those who strongly disapprove of his performance outnumber those who strongly approve by more than two-to-one (45% vs. 19%, respectively).</p>
<p>Even among key Republican constituencies, support for Bush has been waning – not necessarily from approval to disapproval but from strong approval to a somewhat weaker endorsement. In December 2004, more than eight-in-ten (81%) conservative Republicans strongly approved of Bush’s job in office, but closer to half (54%) feel this way today. Similarly, the number of white, evangelical Protestants strongly backing the president has fallen from six-in-ten after his re-election down to 34% today. Strong support for Bush has declined at similar rates among southerners (40% to 20%), high income earners (34% to 22%), weekly church-goers (42% to 25%), and those who are married with young children (41% to 26%).</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Presidential Approval Trend in Detail</a></p>
| false | 2 |
moderate conservative partisans grow restless courtney kennedy michael dimock pew research center people amp press public approval george w bush languishes alltime low levels supporters president increasingly hard find months following reelection roughly half country rated bushs job performance favorably today third americans half 56 disapprove performance latest figures based pew research center survey conducted april 27may 22 among national sample 3204 adults large enough survey allow detailed breakdown opinion changed since election decline support transcends ideological demographic lines drop among one group moderate republicans especially steep among republicans bushs job approval rating dropped 20 percentage points since december 2004 89 69 erosion support severe among republicans describing moderate liberal rating dropped 25 points 81 56 conservative republican support bush also declined gradually approval among group nearly unanimous 93 following reelection stands 15 points lower 78 today far conservatives moderates gop many twothirds republicans identify conservative means even though drop support gradual implications less serious translated real numbers many conservative republicans moderate liberal republicans grown frustrated presidents leadership past yearandahalf much larger share moderate liberal republicans disapprove president make minority gop within republican party moderate women stand lack support president bushs presidency evaluated similarly men women within gop latest survey shows signs potential gender gap currently half 51 republican women describe moderate liberal approve bushs job performance falloff 31 percentage points since reelection comparison approval rating among moderate liberal republican men stands sixinten 62 19 points period gender gap presidential approval among conservative republicans addition losing support within partisan base president lost much backing independents helped win reelection 2004 job approval among independents fallen 45 26 since postelection period comparison bush lost less support among democrats little support lose december 2004 17 democrats rated presidents performance positively 9 today even white evangelical protestants traditional republican constituency expressing dissatisfaction president today barely half 55 white evangelicals approve job bush 77 following 2004 election looking various population groups across partisan lines decline bushs approval rating fairly consistent among various groups largest drops coming supported strongly thus farthest fall example half 53 seniors rated bushs performance positively heels reelection third today meanwhile bushs rating among americans age 30 fell 11 percentage points time already marginal rating 40 29 today similarly bush lost support across regions country south bush viewed favorably job approval dropped 20 points 56 36 northeast least support throughout presidency approval fallen 12 points 39 27 today percent hispanics approve bushs performance office 45 29 since election africanamericans continue view bush negatively support president across socioeconomic spectrum well among wealthy poor less education anything positive views bushs performance fallen sharply middleincome brackets among household income 3000075000 range approval dropped roughly 20 percentage points compared 12 13point drops among wealthy least wealthy respectively beyond overall balance opinion intensity views bush changed well reelection comparable numbers strongly approved strongly disapproved job performance 34 vs 35 today strongly disapprove performance outnumber strongly approve twotoone 45 vs 19 respectively even among key republican constituencies support bush waning necessarily approval disapproval strong approval somewhat weaker endorsement december 2004 eightinten 81 conservative republicans strongly approved bushs job office closer half 54 feel way today similarly number white evangelical protestants strongly backing president fallen sixinten reelection 34 today strong support bush declined similar rates among southerners 40 20 high income earners 34 22 weekly churchgoers 42 25 married young children 41 26 presidential approval trend detail
| 558 |
<p>Despite frigid temperatures plaguing some parts of the U.S., winter does have unique charms, whether it's getting cozy by a fireplace with a mug of hot chocolate in a mountain inn or heading outdoors to a magical landscape of forests and mountains sparkling with snow.</p>
<p>Here are a few ideas for shaking off the January blahs with a trip in the dead of winter to enjoy festivals, parks, natural phenomena and all kinds of recreation. Just be sure to bundle up.</p>
<p>NATURAL PHENOMENA</p>
<p>Seeing the northern lights seems to be on everybody's bucket list these days. There's no guarantee that nature will cooperate, but spend a few nights in a place like <a href="https://chenahotsprings.com/winteractivities1/" type="external">Chena Hot Springs</a> , north of Fairbanks, Alaska, or take a <a href="https://www.inspiredbyiceland.com/things-to-do/activities/northern-lights" type="external">northern lights tour in Iceland</a> , and you may be able to check that one off. Wisconsin is known for magnificent natural ice formations inside caves on the Apostle Islands, but it takes just the right weather conditions for a thick enough layer of ice to form on Lake Superior near the caves so that visitors can walk across the frozen water to get there. Check the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/apostleislandsnationallakeshore" type="external">Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Facebook</a> .</p>
<p>RECREATION</p>
<p>Not a skier? Not a problem. There are many ways to enjoy wintry landscapes. Snowshoeing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing are available in many snowy destinations and can be easier for beginners than downhill skiing. Or try one of the more offbeat snow sports. In some places, you can go snow biking. Others, like <a href="http://ourayicepark.com/" type="external">Ouray Ice Park</a> in Colorado, offer ice climbing. There's also skijoring - skiing while pulled by dogs or a horse - and snow-kiting, which is like kite-surfing on skis, with the wind pulling the skier across the ice.</p>
<p>Dogsledding is popular in many wintry places, including Ely, Minnesota. For a truly remote experience, consider a sled dog safari with <a href="http://www.visitfinland.com/article/call-of-the-wild-tinja-and-her-dogs/" type="external">Tinja Myllykangas in Finland's Lapland</a> wilderness.</p>
<p>How about Nordic skating? Also called tour skating, it's ice skating on a frozen trail rather than around a small rink, and it requires a different type of skate - typically a long blade attached to ski boots. It's popular in Sweden, Finland and elsewhere in Northern Europe, but you can also do it in North America on the <a href="http://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places-to-visit/rideau-canal-skateway" type="external">Rideau Canal in Ottawa</a> , Canada, and the <a href="http://lakemoreyresort.com/activities/winter-activities/" type="external">Lake Morey Ice Skating Trail in Fairlee, Vermont</a> .</p>
<p>Roller coaster fans can also now enjoy winter thrills with mountain coasters - which are gravity-driven roller coasters with dips, waves and loops - at three Colorado resorts: Aspen Snowmass, Steamboat and Copper Mountain. Colorado's Purgatory Resort also plans to open a mountain coaster this year.</p>
<p>YELLOWSTONE AND MORE</p>
<p>Travelers who have experienced <a href="https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/visiting-yellowstone-in-winter.htm" type="external">Yellowstone National Park in winter</a> say it's utterly magical: wildlife watching in the snow, geysers steaming in the cold air, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snow coaches, snowmobiles and more. Rick Hoeninghausen, director of sales and marketing for Yellowstone National Park Lodges in Wyoming, says the weeks after Christmas are typically slow, though February is busier than January, with Presidents Day weekend often selling out. Except for that Feb. 19 holiday weekend, he says "most folks should be able to find lodging in the park" this winter at either <a href="https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/stay/winter-lodges/" type="external">Old Faithful Snow Lodge or Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel</a> . Winter vacation packages like <a href="https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/special-offer/winter-wolf-discovery-package/" type="external">Winter Wolf Discovery</a> or <a href="https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/special-offer/winter-in-wonderland-package/" type="external">Winter in Wonderland</a> combine lodging, meals and activities.</p>
<p>Or look into vacation rentals and resorts nearby. <a href="https://bigskyresort.com/" type="external">Big Sky Resort</a> in Montana is 50 miles from Yellowstone's West Entrance, and <a href="http://www.bigskyyurt.com/montana-dinner-yurt/" type="external">Montana Backcountry Adventures</a> offers an excursion to a yurt for an evening of dinner, music, sledding and stargazing.</p>
<p>But you don't have to go to a major national park to enjoy winter fun. Many smaller, local parks around the U.S. host special winter activities as well. <a href="http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/4699.htm" type="external">Toboggan Run in Pokagon State Park</a> near Angola, Indiana, is a 30-second thrill ride that can hit 40 mph with a 90-foot drop over a quarter-mile. <a href="https://www.starvedrockstatepark.org/" type="external">Starved Rock State Park</a> in Illinois, 90 minutes from Chicago, has gorgeous frozen waterfalls, various trails and even an overnight lodge.</p>
<p>FESTIVALS</p>
<p>The <a href="https://carnaval.qc.ca/home" type="external">Quebec Winter Carnival</a> in Quebec City, Canada, runs Jan. 26-Feb. 11, with snow slides, snow sculptures, night parades, an ice palace and snow baths, where brave (foolish?) visitors play in the snow wearing swimsuits. The Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in China is known for massive, elaborate and colorfully lit ice sculptures along with art exhibitions and sporting events. The Harbin festival runs through late February, with heavy crowds expected the week of Chinese New Year celebrations, Feb. 15-23. Japan's Sapporo Snow Festival, Feb. 5-12, is also known for ice and snow sculptures. In Minnesota, a celebration called <a href="https://www.thegreatnorthernfestival.com/" type="external">The Great Northern</a> encompasses the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, Jan. 25-Feb. 10, with ice carvings and parades; the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships, Jan. 25-28, on Lake Nokomis; and the City of Lakes Loppet Ski Festival on Lake Calhoun, Jan. 27-28 and Feb. 3-4. Minneapolis is also hosting the Super Bowl this year on Feb. 4. In Wisconsin, <a href="https://www.visitlakegeneva.com/winterfest/" type="external">Lake Geneva's Winterfest</a> (easily accessed from Chicago and Milwaukee), Jan. 27-Feb. 4, hosts the U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition along with a chili cook-off and some wacky events like a human dog sled race.</p>
<p>Despite frigid temperatures plaguing some parts of the U.S., winter does have unique charms, whether it's getting cozy by a fireplace with a mug of hot chocolate in a mountain inn or heading outdoors to a magical landscape of forests and mountains sparkling with snow.</p>
<p>Here are a few ideas for shaking off the January blahs with a trip in the dead of winter to enjoy festivals, parks, natural phenomena and all kinds of recreation. Just be sure to bundle up.</p>
<p>NATURAL PHENOMENA</p>
<p>Seeing the northern lights seems to be on everybody's bucket list these days. There's no guarantee that nature will cooperate, but spend a few nights in a place like <a href="https://chenahotsprings.com/winteractivities1/" type="external">Chena Hot Springs</a> , north of Fairbanks, Alaska, or take a <a href="https://www.inspiredbyiceland.com/things-to-do/activities/northern-lights" type="external">northern lights tour in Iceland</a> , and you may be able to check that one off. Wisconsin is known for magnificent natural ice formations inside caves on the Apostle Islands, but it takes just the right weather conditions for a thick enough layer of ice to form on Lake Superior near the caves so that visitors can walk across the frozen water to get there. Check the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/apostleislandsnationallakeshore" type="external">Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Facebook</a> .</p>
<p>RECREATION</p>
<p>Not a skier? Not a problem. There are many ways to enjoy wintry landscapes. Snowshoeing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing are available in many snowy destinations and can be easier for beginners than downhill skiing. Or try one of the more offbeat snow sports. In some places, you can go snow biking. Others, like <a href="http://ourayicepark.com/" type="external">Ouray Ice Park</a> in Colorado, offer ice climbing. There's also skijoring - skiing while pulled by dogs or a horse - and snow-kiting, which is like kite-surfing on skis, with the wind pulling the skier across the ice.</p>
<p>Dogsledding is popular in many wintry places, including Ely, Minnesota. For a truly remote experience, consider a sled dog safari with <a href="http://www.visitfinland.com/article/call-of-the-wild-tinja-and-her-dogs/" type="external">Tinja Myllykangas in Finland's Lapland</a> wilderness.</p>
<p>How about Nordic skating? Also called tour skating, it's ice skating on a frozen trail rather than around a small rink, and it requires a different type of skate - typically a long blade attached to ski boots. It's popular in Sweden, Finland and elsewhere in Northern Europe, but you can also do it in North America on the <a href="http://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places-to-visit/rideau-canal-skateway" type="external">Rideau Canal in Ottawa</a> , Canada, and the <a href="http://lakemoreyresort.com/activities/winter-activities/" type="external">Lake Morey Ice Skating Trail in Fairlee, Vermont</a> .</p>
<p>Roller coaster fans can also now enjoy winter thrills with mountain coasters - which are gravity-driven roller coasters with dips, waves and loops - at three Colorado resorts: Aspen Snowmass, Steamboat and Copper Mountain. Colorado's Purgatory Resort also plans to open a mountain coaster this year.</p>
<p>YELLOWSTONE AND MORE</p>
<p>Travelers who have experienced <a href="https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/visiting-yellowstone-in-winter.htm" type="external">Yellowstone National Park in winter</a> say it's utterly magical: wildlife watching in the snow, geysers steaming in the cold air, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snow coaches, snowmobiles and more. Rick Hoeninghausen, director of sales and marketing for Yellowstone National Park Lodges in Wyoming, says the weeks after Christmas are typically slow, though February is busier than January, with Presidents Day weekend often selling out. Except for that Feb. 19 holiday weekend, he says "most folks should be able to find lodging in the park" this winter at either <a href="https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/stay/winter-lodges/" type="external">Old Faithful Snow Lodge or Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel</a> . Winter vacation packages like <a href="https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/special-offer/winter-wolf-discovery-package/" type="external">Winter Wolf Discovery</a> or <a href="https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/special-offer/winter-in-wonderland-package/" type="external">Winter in Wonderland</a> combine lodging, meals and activities.</p>
<p>Or look into vacation rentals and resorts nearby. <a href="https://bigskyresort.com/" type="external">Big Sky Resort</a> in Montana is 50 miles from Yellowstone's West Entrance, and <a href="http://www.bigskyyurt.com/montana-dinner-yurt/" type="external">Montana Backcountry Adventures</a> offers an excursion to a yurt for an evening of dinner, music, sledding and stargazing.</p>
<p>But you don't have to go to a major national park to enjoy winter fun. Many smaller, local parks around the U.S. host special winter activities as well. <a href="http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/4699.htm" type="external">Toboggan Run in Pokagon State Park</a> near Angola, Indiana, is a 30-second thrill ride that can hit 40 mph with a 90-foot drop over a quarter-mile. <a href="https://www.starvedrockstatepark.org/" type="external">Starved Rock State Park</a> in Illinois, 90 minutes from Chicago, has gorgeous frozen waterfalls, various trails and even an overnight lodge.</p>
<p>FESTIVALS</p>
<p>The <a href="https://carnaval.qc.ca/home" type="external">Quebec Winter Carnival</a> in Quebec City, Canada, runs Jan. 26-Feb. 11, with snow slides, snow sculptures, night parades, an ice palace and snow baths, where brave (foolish?) visitors play in the snow wearing swimsuits. The Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in China is known for massive, elaborate and colorfully lit ice sculptures along with art exhibitions and sporting events. The Harbin festival runs through late February, with heavy crowds expected the week of Chinese New Year celebrations, Feb. 15-23. Japan's Sapporo Snow Festival, Feb. 5-12, is also known for ice and snow sculptures. In Minnesota, a celebration called <a href="https://www.thegreatnorthernfestival.com/" type="external">The Great Northern</a> encompasses the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, Jan. 25-Feb. 10, with ice carvings and parades; the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships, Jan. 25-28, on Lake Nokomis; and the City of Lakes Loppet Ski Festival on Lake Calhoun, Jan. 27-28 and Feb. 3-4. Minneapolis is also hosting the Super Bowl this year on Feb. 4. In Wisconsin, <a href="https://www.visitlakegeneva.com/winterfest/" type="external">Lake Geneva's Winterfest</a> (easily accessed from Chicago and Milwaukee), Jan. 27-Feb. 4, hosts the U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition along with a chili cook-off and some wacky events like a human dog sled race.</p>
| false | 2 |
despite frigid temperatures plaguing parts us winter unique charms whether getting cozy fireplace mug hot chocolate mountain inn heading outdoors magical landscape forests mountains sparkling snow ideas shaking january blahs trip dead winter enjoy festivals parks natural phenomena kinds recreation sure bundle natural phenomena seeing northern lights seems everybodys bucket list days theres guarantee nature cooperate spend nights place like chena hot springs north fairbanks alaska take northern lights tour iceland may able check one wisconsin known magnificent natural ice formations inside caves apostle islands takes right weather conditions thick enough layer ice form lake superior near caves visitors walk across frozen water get check apostle islands national lakeshore facebook recreation skier problem many ways enjoy wintry landscapes snowshoeing snowmobiling crosscountry skiing available many snowy destinations easier beginners downhill skiing try one offbeat snow sports places go snow biking others like ouray ice park colorado offer ice climbing theres also skijoring skiing pulled dogs horse snowkiting like kitesurfing skis wind pulling skier across ice dogsledding popular many wintry places including ely minnesota truly remote experience consider sled dog safari tinja myllykangas finlands lapland wilderness nordic skating also called tour skating ice skating frozen trail rather around small rink requires different type skate typically long blade attached ski boots popular sweden finland elsewhere northern europe also north america rideau canal ottawa canada lake morey ice skating trail fairlee vermont roller coaster fans also enjoy winter thrills mountain coasters gravitydriven roller coasters dips waves loops three colorado resorts aspen snowmass steamboat copper mountain colorados purgatory resort also plans open mountain coaster year yellowstone travelers experienced yellowstone national park winter say utterly magical wildlife watching snow geysers steaming cold air crosscountry skiing snowshoeing snow coaches snowmobiles rick hoeninghausen director sales marketing yellowstone national park lodges wyoming says weeks christmas typically slow though february busier january presidents day weekend often selling except feb 19 holiday weekend says folks able find lodging park winter either old faithful snow lodge mammoth hot springs hotel winter vacation packages like winter wolf discovery winter wonderland combine lodging meals activities look vacation rentals resorts nearby big sky resort montana 50 miles yellowstones west entrance montana backcountry adventures offers excursion yurt evening dinner music sledding stargazing dont go major national park enjoy winter fun many smaller local parks around us host special winter activities well toboggan run pokagon state park near angola indiana 30second thrill ride hit 40 mph 90foot drop quartermile starved rock state park illinois 90 minutes chicago gorgeous frozen waterfalls various trails even overnight lodge festivals quebec winter carnival quebec city canada runs jan 26feb 11 snow slides snow sculptures night parades ice palace snow baths brave foolish visitors play snow wearing swimsuits harbin international ice snow festival china known massive elaborate colorfully lit ice sculptures along art exhibitions sporting events harbin festival runs late february heavy crowds expected week chinese new year celebrations feb 1523 japans sapporo snow festival feb 512 also known ice snow sculptures minnesota celebration called great northern encompasses saint paul winter carnival jan 25feb 10 ice carvings parades us pond hockey championships jan 2528 lake nokomis city lakes loppet ski festival lake calhoun jan 2728 feb 34 minneapolis also hosting super bowl year feb 4 wisconsin lake genevas winterfest easily accessed chicago milwaukee jan 27feb 4 hosts us national snow sculpting competition along chili cookoff wacky events like human dog sled race despite frigid temperatures plaguing parts us winter unique charms whether getting cozy fireplace mug hot chocolate mountain inn heading outdoors magical landscape forests mountains sparkling snow ideas shaking january blahs trip dead winter enjoy festivals parks natural phenomena kinds recreation sure bundle natural phenomena seeing northern lights seems everybodys bucket list days theres guarantee nature cooperate spend nights place like chena hot springs north fairbanks alaska take northern lights tour iceland may able check one wisconsin known magnificent natural ice formations inside caves apostle islands takes right weather conditions thick enough layer ice form lake superior near caves visitors walk across frozen water get check apostle islands national lakeshore facebook recreation skier problem many ways enjoy wintry landscapes snowshoeing snowmobiling crosscountry skiing available many snowy destinations easier beginners downhill skiing try one offbeat snow sports places go snow biking others like ouray ice park colorado offer ice climbing theres also skijoring skiing pulled dogs horse snowkiting like kitesurfing skis wind pulling skier across ice dogsledding popular many wintry places including ely minnesota truly remote experience consider sled dog safari tinja myllykangas finlands lapland wilderness nordic skating also called tour skating ice skating frozen trail rather around small rink requires different type skate typically long blade attached ski boots popular sweden finland elsewhere northern europe also north america rideau canal ottawa canada lake morey ice skating trail fairlee vermont roller coaster fans also enjoy winter thrills mountain coasters gravitydriven roller coasters dips waves loops three colorado resorts aspen snowmass steamboat copper mountain colorados purgatory resort also plans open mountain coaster year yellowstone travelers experienced yellowstone national park winter say utterly magical wildlife watching snow geysers steaming cold air crosscountry skiing snowshoeing snow coaches snowmobiles rick hoeninghausen director sales marketing yellowstone national park lodges wyoming says weeks christmas typically slow though february busier january presidents day weekend often selling except feb 19 holiday weekend says folks able find lodging park winter either old faithful snow lodge mammoth hot springs hotel winter vacation packages like winter wolf discovery winter wonderland combine lodging meals activities look vacation rentals resorts nearby big sky resort montana 50 miles yellowstones west entrance montana backcountry adventures offers excursion yurt evening dinner music sledding stargazing dont go major national park enjoy winter fun many smaller local parks around us host special winter activities well toboggan run pokagon state park near angola indiana 30second thrill ride hit 40 mph 90foot drop quartermile starved rock state park illinois 90 minutes chicago gorgeous frozen waterfalls various trails even overnight lodge festivals quebec winter carnival quebec city canada runs jan 26feb 11 snow slides snow sculptures night parades ice palace snow baths brave foolish visitors play snow wearing swimsuits harbin international ice snow festival china known massive elaborate colorfully lit ice sculptures along art exhibitions sporting events harbin festival runs late february heavy crowds expected week chinese new year celebrations feb 1523 japans sapporo snow festival feb 512 also known ice snow sculptures minnesota celebration called great northern encompasses saint paul winter carnival jan 25feb 10 ice carvings parades us pond hockey championships jan 2528 lake nokomis city lakes loppet ski festival lake calhoun jan 2728 feb 34 minneapolis also hosting super bowl year feb 4 wisconsin lake genevas winterfest easily accessed chicago milwaukee jan 27feb 4 hosts us national snow sculpting competition along chili cookoff wacky events like human dog sled race
| 1,120 |
<p />
<p>Work-life balance issues are real and troubling to people who work in news organizations. We heard it -- clearly and convincingly&#160;-- from journalists and media leaders who responded to a detailed online survey from Poynter.</p>
<p>The 750 respondents tell a story of long hours, pressure to do more, missed vacations, staff cutbacks, and as a result, a significant number of journalists who are considering leaving the field. Those most at risk of leaving are young journalists, women, and minorities. But others are not far behind them in that consideration.</p>
<p>The risk of losing journalists due to work-life balance issues is especially troubling because they also report a high level of satisfaction with the work of journalism. It is the working conditions that are at issue.</p>
<p>Key issues</p>
<p>A closer lookWork-life balance issues often surface during discussions in our Poynter seminars and our work in newsrooms. The issues seemed to be increasingly troubling to journalists, but we wanted to make certain what we were hearing was more than anecdotal.</p>
<p>So, we prepared a 42-question online survey and distributed it to journalists and media leaders during the first two weeks of February 2005. ( <a href="" type="internal">See methodology</a>.) We analyzed the 750 responses across several categories: managers/non-managers, gender, race and ethnicity, age, and medium. Here are some of the interesting stories that surfaced.</p>
<p>Most at risk of leaving journalismAs media leaders look to recruiting and retaining young minds, women and people of color, those very same groups turn out to be the ones most likely to think about leaving because of work-life issues.</p>
<p>While overall, 47.2 percent of the respondents said they have seriously considered leaving, the response of young journalists (ages 20-34) was 58.3 percent. For women it was 50.5 percent and for people of color, the response was 54.5 percent.</p>
<p>Some of this might be explained by responses to another question. We asked if respondents had ever asked their supervisors for short-term accommodations for work-life balance issues, and if so, whether or not the request was granted.&#160;</p>
<p>Among all respondents, 47 percent asked, and of them, 72.2 received it. At the same time, more women and minorities had made such requests&#160;-- 52.2 and 58 percent, respectively. But they report they were slightly less likely to get it&#160;-- 68.8 and 70.1 percent, respectively.&#160; Which group was the most likely to get the short-term accommodation they requested? Men:&#160;43.4 said they had asked (slightly less than the average), but when they did, 75.5 got what they requested.</p>
<p>People of color and women, we should note, were among the most likely individuals to be responsible for significant care of extended family (parents, siblings, etc.). While for all respondents, 18.1 percent were responsible for care,&#160;for people of color it was 28.8, and for women, 20.8.</p>
<p>The fear factorJournalists in our survey expressed concern that acting on their work-life balance concerns could prove detrimental to their careers: 55.8 percent of responsdents replied "yes"&#160;to the question "Do you believe people in your organization who request accommodations for work-life balance are likely to lose opportunities for advancement?"</p>
<p>The respondents most likely to foresee trouble if they were non-managers&#160;-- 62.9 percent, and persons working at newspapers&#160;-- 64.1 percent.</p>
<p>To push the question further, we asked if respondents knew of situations in their news organizations in which people who requested or received accommodations for work-life balance actually lost opportunities for advancement. There was an interesting variance in some of the "Yes" responses.</p>
<p>Managers under stressNewsroom managers report plenty of pressures. They are more likely:</p>
<p>"Can't keep up"&#160;-- a dangerous messageTo fully appreciate the stress level the survey revealed, consider this. That response was only one of several options related to taking home work. Other options were:</p>
<p>So, on top of all those journalists, staff and supervisory, who are taking work home routinely or from time to time to get it done, there is a large body of news managers&#160;-- three in 10 -- who say they take work home and still can't finish it all.</p>
<p>Impact on physical healthWe wanted to see if work is taking a toll on journalists. To the question: Do you feel your current work responsibilities have an impact on your physical health, the answer is pretty clear:</p>
<p>We received similar responses when we asked the same "impact of work" question regarding emotional health and personal relationships.&#160; Organizations get "some" creditWe asked respondents to describe their organization's approach to work-life balance. The most popular response was "demonstrates some concern" at 55.2 percent; "good amount of concern" and "very high concern" were selected by 18.3 percent and 3.6 percent, respectively.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, one other option: "demonstrates no concern" was the choice of 22.9 percent of respondents. That greater than two in&#160;10 go to work each day feeling that way seems to present an opportunity for media leaders to step up.</p>
<p>Immediate supervisors play a key roleEvery employee --&#160;staff or management --&#160;reports to somebody. That somebody, the immediate supervisor, plays a pivotal role in the employee's success and satisfaction. Clearly, that is borne out in Poynter's survey.</p>
<p>We asked, "Please describe your immediate supervisor's role in your work-life balance."</p>
<p>The unsupportive supervisors totaled 51.6 percent:</p>
<p>The supportive supervisors totaled 48.4 percent:</p>
<p>What they say about supervisors:We invited open-ended responses about supportive and unsupportive supervisors. From those, some themes surfaced.</p>
<p>Supportive supervisors:</p>
<p>A sample of the comments illustrate those points:</p>
<p>On the negative side, here are the characteristics of unsupportive supervisors:</p>
<p>Here are stories their employees told us about them:</p>
<p>The Quality of JournalismIt is important to point out that for all the concerns expressed about work-life balance, our respondents still care about their work and still believe in its quality. In short, the voices in this survey should not be written off as malcontents.</p>
<p>It appears the journalists and media leaders represented in our survey may see themselves as upholding the quality of a profession they care about, but the weight of that commitment is wearing on too many of them.</p>
<p>How do the responses of our 750 journalists and media leaders compare with those of other professions?&#160;The Gallup Organization has looked into the subject of " <a href="http://gmj.gallup.com/content/default.asp?ci=466" type="external">disengaged workers</a>" and the Families and Work Institute has studied the concept of " <a href="http://www.familiesandwork.org/press/OverworkPressRelease.htm" type="external">Feeling Overworked</a>."&#160;Each group raises concerns about issues in the workplace that drive dissatisfaction, but don't ask the same direct questions as Poynter's survey, so direct comparison can't be made.In 2001, the Columbia Journalism Review surveyed " <a href="http://archives.cjr.org/year/01/5/survey.asp" type="external">newsroom morale</a>" and found it eroding, but for many reasons beyond work-life balance.&#160;And as far back as 1993, CJR ran an article asking&#160;" <a href="http://archives.cjr.org/year/93/5/families.asp" type="external">Do Newsroom Value Families?</a>"&#160;-– a question we're still struggling with today.</p>
<p>Respondents' AdviceIn constructing the survey, we included a section in which respondents could offer advice to those at the top of media organizations about work-life balance. Hundreds took the time to do so. Most were genuine and thoughtful words of advice to those who could make a difference in the work-life imbalance stories we found in our survey.</p>
<p>We'll give two of those respondents the final word in this report:</p>
<p>________________________Correction: The original version of this article incorrectly&#160;stated the percentage of respondents who reported not taking all of their vacation time. The correct percentage is 46.2.</p>
| false | 2 |
worklife balance issues real troubling people work news organizations heard clearly convincingly160 journalists media leaders responded detailed online survey poynter 750 respondents tell story long hours pressure missed vacations staff cutbacks result significant number journalists considering leaving field risk leaving young journalists women minorities others far behind consideration risk losing journalists due worklife balance issues especially troubling also report high level satisfaction work journalism working conditions issue key issues closer lookworklife balance issues often surface discussions poynter seminars work newsrooms issues seemed increasingly troubling journalists wanted make certain hearing anecdotal prepared 42question online survey distributed journalists media leaders first two weeks february 2005 see methodology analyzed 750 responses across several categories managersnonmanagers gender race ethnicity age medium interesting stories surfaced risk leaving journalismas media leaders look recruiting retaining young minds women people color groups turn ones likely think leaving worklife issues overall 472 percent respondents said seriously considered leaving response young journalists ages 2034 583 percent women 505 percent people color response 545 percent might explained responses another question asked respondents ever asked supervisors shortterm accommodations worklife balance issues whether request granted160 among respondents 47 percent asked 722 received time women minorities made requests160 522 58 percent respectively report slightly less likely get it160 688 701 percent respectively160 group likely get shortterm accommodation requested men160434 said asked slightly less average 755 got requested people color women note among likely individuals responsible significant care extended family parents siblings etc respondents 181 percent responsible care160for people color 288 women 208 fear factorjournalists survey expressed concern acting worklife balance concerns could prove detrimental careers 558 percent responsdents replied yes160to question believe people organization request accommodations worklife balance likely lose opportunities advancement respondents likely foresee trouble nonmanagers160 629 percent persons working newspapers160 641 percent push question asked respondents knew situations news organizations people requested received accommodations worklife balance actually lost opportunities advancement interesting variance yes responses managers stressnewsroom managers report plenty pressures likely cant keep up160 dangerous messageto fully appreciate stress level survey revealed consider response one several options related taking home work options top journalists staff supervisory taking work home routinely time time get done large body news managers160 three 10 say take work home still cant finish impact physical healthwe wanted see work taking toll journalists question feel current work responsibilities impact physical health answer pretty clear received similar responses asked impact work question regarding emotional health personal relationships160 organizations get creditwe asked respondents describe organizations approach worklife balance popular response demonstrates concern 552 percent good amount concern high concern selected 183 percent 36 percent respectively unfortunately one option demonstrates concern choice 229 percent respondents greater two in16010 go work day feeling way seems present opportunity media leaders step immediate supervisors play key roleevery employee 160staff management 160reports somebody somebody immediate supervisor plays pivotal role employees success satisfaction clearly borne poynters survey asked please describe immediate supervisors role worklife balance unsupportive supervisors totaled 516 percent supportive supervisors totaled 484 percent say supervisorswe invited openended responses supportive unsupportive supervisors themes surfaced supportive supervisors sample comments illustrate points negative side characteristics unsupportive supervisors stories employees told us quality journalismit important point concerns expressed worklife balance respondents still care work still believe quality short voices survey written malcontents appears journalists media leaders represented survey may see upholding quality profession care weight commitment wearing many responses 750 journalists media leaders compare professions160the gallup organization looked subject disengaged workers families work institute studied concept feeling overworked160each group raises concerns issues workplace drive dissatisfaction dont ask direct questions poynters survey direct comparison cant madein 2001 columbia journalism review surveyed newsroom morale found eroding many reasons beyond worklife balance160and far back 1993 cjr ran article asking160 newsroom value families160 question still struggling today respondents advicein constructing survey included section respondents could offer advice top media organizations worklife balance hundreds took time genuine thoughtful words advice could make difference worklife imbalance stories found survey well give two respondents final word report ________________________correction original version article incorrectly160stated percentage respondents reported taking vacation time correct percentage 462
| 665 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>Or there. Watch Jordan Byrd, showing off a fifth gear that is unrivaled.</p>
<p>Take a short walk. And see Jackson Morris establish a record in his final home meet.</p>
<p>Oscar-caliber performances abounded Saturday for the metro area’s elite track and field athletes as the Richard A. Harper Memorial meet concluded on a warm Saturday afternoon at Albuquerque Academy.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>This recap could be initiated with any number of stellar performances, but perhaps best to start with Morris, the Chargers’ muscular throwing ace who, on his final attempt in the javelin, set a meet record with a heave of 202 feet, 10 inches.</p>
<p>“It was awesome,” said the Colorado State-bound Morris. “I just got really pumped up and I said,&#160; ‘I’m gonna do a big throw.’ ”</p>
<p>The previous record, 201-3, had been established 12 years ago by Highland’s Anthony Fairbanks.</p>
<p>“This one, I knew it,” Morris said with a smile. “I knew it was going pretty far when I released it.”</p>
<p>Byrd, a Manzano junior, continued to prove definitively that he has no peers in the short sprints.</p>
<p>He beat Los Lunas’ O’maury Samuels and Volcano Vista’s David Cormier in the 100-meter final — after Byrd dusted them both while setting a meet record in the prelims on Friday — winning Saturday in 10.76 seconds. Later, Byrd added the 200-meter title, in 22.12 seconds.</p>
<p>“It was good, especially running against O’maury, who I haven’t run with before,” Byrd said. “It’s really fun. We help push each other.”</p>
<p>Mayoral’s effortless-looking style is an enigma for her rivals. The Cleveland junior went out quickly in the 1,600-meter final Saturday and led all the way, adding this to the 3,200 she bagged on Friday. Mayoral finished in 5 minutes, 11.95 seconds, five seconds in front of Cibola’s game Juanita Johnson.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>It was a huge day for Cleveland’s girls in general, who lapped the field at the Harper, scoring 99 points. That was more than twice the total of second-place Los Alamos (43½).</p>
<p>“Our biggest strength is we have a lot of depth,” said Cleveland senior hurdler Sarah Mackin. “And we have that very tight team closeness.”</p>
<p>Mackin, a University of New Mexico signee, won both hurdles finals. “I’m going into metros (next week) with a lot of confidence,” she said.</p>
<p>Caitlin Barnard, Friday’s long jump champ, added the 100 on Saturday as her Cleveland teammate, Aphiniti Crupper, who won the 100 earlier in the week at the Sepulveda, opted to try to qualify in the 200 instead.</p>
<p>The Storm also set a meet record in the 4×400-meter relay.</p>
<p>Volcano Vista’s and Academy’s boys tied for first place, each with 73 points, and it was thought to be the first tie in the meet’s history.</p>
<p>Aside from Byrd and Morris, the most memorable effort of the day belonged to Eldorado junior Harrison Smith III.</p>
<p>Academy’s Jordan Lesansee set the pace for the first 3½ laps in the 1,600-meter final, with Smith a stride behind him. Nobody was close to that duo, who pulled away.</p>
<p>But Smith finally overtook Lesansee with about 200 meters to go in a thrilling mano a mano final. Smith nearly broke the meet record, falling about a second short of the mark in a time of 4:18.51. Lesansee was three seconds behind as Smith beat the Charger for the first time in his life.</p>
<p>“The first lap was 64 (seconds) and I thought, ‘Wow, this is gonna be really quick,’ ” said Smith. “And Jordan didn’t let up at all. Last year, he did the same thing to me&#160; — he put such a big gap between us I couldn’t catch him. I knew (today) I had to stay with him. I found another gear.”</p>
<p>Another girls D-1 signee, Lauren Green of Volcano Vista (Nevada), won the 400.</p>
<p>“This is my favorite meet,” Green said. “I get the best feeling here. I don’t know if it’s the track or the atmosphere. It’s just something about this meet.”</p>
<p>Green also ran second to Del Norte’s Malakah Martinez — herself with several D-1 offers, although she has yet to commit — in a odd-looking, two-girl 200-meter final with six others having scratched.</p>
<p>Cleveland’s boys, who were third, five points behind Academy and Volcano Vista, produced several event winners Saturday: Daniel Johnson in the 110-meter hurdles, Veto Virgin in the 300 hurdles and Dylon Sandoval in the 400.</p>
<p>The Albuquerque Metro Championships are next Thursday and Friday at Nusenda Community Stadium.</p>
<p>TRACK AND FIELD</p>
<p>Richard A. Harper Memorial Meet</p>
<p>Saturday — at Albuquerque Academy</p>
<p>BOYS</p>
<p>Team: 1 (tie), Volcano Vista and Albuquerque Academy 73; 3, Cleveland 68; 4, Eldorado 41; 5, Rio Rancho 40; 6, Manzano 39; 7, Cibola 25; 8, Los Lunas 22; 9, Sandia 15; 10, Los Alamos 14; 11, La Cueva 10; 12, West Mesa 7; 13, Santa Fe 6; 14, Valencia 5; 15 (tie), Atrisco Heritage, Capital, 4; 17 (tie), Piedra Vista, Grants 3; 19 (tie), Belen, Rio Grande 1.</p>
<p>Individual:&#160; 4×100—1, Manzano, 42.12; 2, Volcano Vista, 43.02; 3, Rio Rancho, 43.18.&#160; 110HH—1, Daniel Johnson, Cleveland, 14.82; 2, Shawn Kelly-Romero, Los Lunas, 15.54; 3, Rogelio Morales, Atrisco Heritage, 15.70.&#160; 100—1, Jordan Byrd, Manzano, 10.76; 2, O’maury Samuels, Los Lunas, 11.00; 3, David Cormier, Volcano Vista, 11.03.&#160; 4×200—1, Manzano, 1:29.56; 2, Volcano Vista, 1:30.81; 3, Rio Rancho, 1:31.40.&#160; 400—1, Dylon Sandoval, Cleveland, 49.58; 2, Irvin Onyia, Rio Rancho, 50.09; 3, Lucas McNatt, Capital, 51.57.&#160; 300IH—1, Veto Virgin, Cleveland, 38.80; 2, Noah Fay, Rio Rancho, 39.80; 3, Daniel Johnson, Cleveland, 39.92.&#160; 1,600—1, Harrison Smith III, Eldorado, 4:18.51; 2, Jordan Lesansee, Albuquerque Academy, 4:21.49; 3, Ivan Piñeda-Dominguez, Volcano Vista, 4:25.87.&#160; Medley relay—1, Volcano Vista, 3:37.60; 2, Eldorado, 3:38.87; 3, Albuquerque Academy, 3:39.35.&#160;&#160; Javelin—1, Jackson Morris, Albuquerque Academy, 202-10 (meet record); 2, Tyler Block, Rio Rancho, 177-1; 3, Teagun Glenn, Albuquerque Academy, 175-8.&#160; 200—1, Jordan Byrd, Manzano, 22.12; 2, Devon Sparkman, Valencia, 22.63; 3, Theodore Goujon, Santa Fe, 22.73.&#160; 4×400—1, Cleveland, 3:22.96; 2, Rio Rancho, 3:23.16; 3, Volcano Vista, 3:25.22.</p>
<p>GIRLS</p>
<p>Team: 1, Cleveland 99; 2, Los Alamos 43½; 3, Albuquerque Academy 42½; 4, Volcano Vista 41½; 5, Eldorado 40; 6, Rio Rancho 29½; 7, Piedra Vista 29; 8, Del Norte 23; 9, La Cueva 21; 10, Cibola 18; 11, Santa Fe 9; 12 (tie), Sandia Prep, Albuquerque High 8; 14, Los Lunas 7; 15 (tie), Manzano, Valencia 6; 17 (tie), Sandia, Valley 5; 19, Belen 3.</p>
<p>Individual:&#160; 4×100—1, Volcano Vista, 48.89; 2, Cleveland, 49.65; 3, Del Norte, 50.10.&#160; 100HH—1, Sarah Mackin, Cleveland, 15.36; 2, Kaylee Caldwell, Cleveland, 16.10; 3, Cydnie Stock, Piedra Vista, 16.28.&#160; 100—1, Caitlin Barnard, Cleveland, 12.60; 2, Kjia Stith, Volcano Vista, 12.91; 3, Madi Hirschman, Eldorado, 12.94.&#160; 1,600—1, Amanda Mayoral, Cleveland, 5:11.95; 2, Juanita Johnson, Cibola, 5:16.88; 3, Jane Archibeck, Albuquerque Academy, 5:27.04.&#160; 4×200—1, Eldorado, 1:44.33 (meet record); 2, Cleveland, 1:44.80; 3, Albuquerque High, 1:46.82.&#160; 400—1, Lauren Green, Volcano Vista, 57.34; 2, Elena Abeyta, Los Alamos, 58.35; 3, Samantha DeWees-Keller, Piedra Vista, 59.95.&#160; 300IH—1, Sarah Mackin, Cleveland, 45.72; 2, Cydnie Stock, Piedra Vista, 46.58; 3, Claire Moots, Rio Rancho, 47.48.&#160; Medley relay—1, Del Norte, 4:22.68; 2, Eldorado, 4:22.85; 3, Albuquerque Academy, 4:23.08.&#160; 200—1, Malakah Martinez, Del Norte, 25.32; 2, Lauren Green, Volcano Vista, 25.47. (NOTE: Only two girls competed in the final.)&#160; 4×400—1, Cleveland, 4:00.73 (meet record); 2, Eldorado, 4:01.29; 3, Rio Rancho, 4:06.82. Javelin—1, Hannah Sayyeau, Piedra Vista, 115-9; 2, Nia Johnson, Albuquerque Academy, 115-7; 3, Kelsey Crist, Albuquerque Academy, 111-9.</p>
| false | 2 |
watch jordan byrd showing fifth gear unrivaled take short walk see jackson morris establish record final home meet oscarcaliber performances abounded saturday metro areas elite track field athletes richard harper memorial meet concluded warm saturday afternoon albuquerque academy advertisement recap could initiated number stellar performances perhaps best start morris chargers muscular throwing ace final attempt javelin set meet record heave 202 feet 10 inches awesome said colorado statebound morris got really pumped said160 im gon na big throw previous record 2013 established 12 years ago highlands anthony fairbanks one knew morris said smile knew going pretty far released byrd manzano junior continued prove definitively peers short sprints beat los lunas omaury samuels volcano vistas david cormier 100meter final byrd dusted setting meet record prelims friday winning saturday 1076 seconds later byrd added 200meter title 2212 seconds good especially running omaury havent run byrd said really fun help push mayorals effortlesslooking style enigma rivals cleveland junior went quickly 1600meter final saturday led way adding 3200 bagged friday mayoral finished 5 minutes 1195 seconds five seconds front cibolas game juanita johnson advertisement huge day clevelands girls general lapped field harper scoring 99 points twice total secondplace los alamos 43½ biggest strength lot depth said cleveland senior hurdler sarah mackin tight team closeness mackin university new mexico signee hurdles finals im going metros next week lot confidence said caitlin barnard fridays long jump champ added 100 saturday cleveland teammate aphiniti crupper 100 earlier week sepulveda opted try qualify 200 instead storm also set meet record 4400meter relay volcano vistas academys boys tied first place 73 points thought first tie meets history aside byrd morris memorable effort day belonged eldorado junior harrison smith iii academys jordan lesansee set pace first 3½ laps 1600meter final smith stride behind nobody close duo pulled away smith finally overtook lesansee 200 meters go thrilling mano mano final smith nearly broke meet record falling second short mark time 41851 lesansee three seconds behind smith beat charger first time life first lap 64 seconds thought wow gon na really quick said smith jordan didnt let last year thing me160 put big gap us couldnt catch knew today stay found another gear another girls d1 signee lauren green volcano vista nevada 400 favorite meet green said get best feeling dont know track atmosphere something meet green also ran second del nortes malakah martinez several d1 offers although yet commit oddlooking twogirl 200meter final six others scratched clevelands boys third five points behind academy volcano vista produced several event winners saturday daniel johnson 110meter hurdles veto virgin 300 hurdles dylon sandoval 400 albuquerque metro championships next thursday friday nusenda community stadium track field richard harper memorial meet saturday albuquerque academy boys team 1 tie volcano vista albuquerque academy 73 3 cleveland 68 4 eldorado 41 5 rio rancho 40 6 manzano 39 7 cibola 25 8 los lunas 22 9 sandia 15 10 los alamos 14 11 la cueva 10 12 west mesa 7 13 santa fe 6 14 valencia 5 15 tie atrisco heritage capital 4 17 tie piedra vista grants 3 19 tie belen rio grande 1 individual160 41001 manzano 4212 2 volcano vista 4302 3 rio rancho 4318160 110hh1 daniel johnson cleveland 1482 2 shawn kellyromero los lunas 1554 3 rogelio morales atrisco heritage 1570160 1001 jordan byrd manzano 1076 2 omaury samuels los lunas 1100 3 david cormier volcano vista 1103160 42001 manzano 12956 2 volcano vista 13081 3 rio rancho 13140160 4001 dylon sandoval cleveland 4958 2 irvin onyia rio rancho 5009 3 lucas mcnatt capital 5157160 300ih1 veto virgin cleveland 3880 2 noah fay rio rancho 3980 3 daniel johnson cleveland 3992160 16001 harrison smith iii eldorado 41851 2 jordan lesansee albuquerque academy 42149 3 ivan piñedadominguez volcano vista 42587160 medley relay1 volcano vista 33760 2 eldorado 33887 3 albuquerque academy 33935160160 javelin1 jackson morris albuquerque academy 20210 meet record 2 tyler block rio rancho 1771 3 teagun glenn albuquerque academy 1758160 2001 jordan byrd manzano 2212 2 devon sparkman valencia 2263 3 theodore goujon santa fe 2273160 44001 cleveland 32296 2 rio rancho 32316 3 volcano vista 32522 girls team 1 cleveland 99 2 los alamos 43½ 3 albuquerque academy 42½ 4 volcano vista 41½ 5 eldorado 40 6 rio rancho 29½ 7 piedra vista 29 8 del norte 23 9 la cueva 21 10 cibola 18 11 santa fe 9 12 tie sandia prep albuquerque high 8 14 los lunas 7 15 tie manzano valencia 6 17 tie sandia valley 5 19 belen 3 individual160 41001 volcano vista 4889 2 cleveland 4965 3 del norte 5010160 100hh1 sarah mackin cleveland 1536 2 kaylee caldwell cleveland 1610 3 cydnie stock piedra vista 1628160 1001 caitlin barnard cleveland 1260 2 kjia stith volcano vista 1291 3 madi hirschman eldorado 1294160 16001 amanda mayoral cleveland 51195 2 juanita johnson cibola 51688 3 jane archibeck albuquerque academy 52704160 42001 eldorado 14433 meet record 2 cleveland 14480 3 albuquerque high 14682160 4001 lauren green volcano vista 5734 2 elena abeyta los alamos 5835 3 samantha deweeskeller piedra vista 5995160 300ih1 sarah mackin cleveland 4572 2 cydnie stock piedra vista 4658 3 claire moots rio rancho 4748160 medley relay1 del norte 42268 2 eldorado 42285 3 albuquerque academy 42308160 2001 malakah martinez del norte 2532 2 lauren green volcano vista 2547 note two girls competed final160 44001 cleveland 40073 meet record 2 eldorado 40129 3 rio rancho 40682 javelin1 hannah sayyeau piedra vista 1159 2 nia johnson albuquerque academy 1157 3 kelsey crist albuquerque academy 1119
| 916 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p>WASHINGTON — Jefferson Beauregard Sessions, a son of the segregated South who was named after leaders of the Confederacy, faces a tough new test of his commitment to protecting civil rights as he oversees the Justice Department’s investigation of the deadly violence at a rally of white nationalists in Virginia.</p>
<p>Sessions’ political career has been dogged by questions about race, including during his confirmation hearings this year. In his six months as attorney general, he has worked quickly to change how the department enforces civil rights law, particularly in the areas of police reform and voting rights.</p>
<p>Yet Sessions was also quick to forcefully condemn the car attack at the neo-Nazi rally in support of a Confederate statue in Charlottesville. His response stood in contrast to that of President Donald Trump, who drew equivalence between the white nationalists and those protesting their beliefs. Sessions denounced racism and bigotry and called the driver’s actions an “evil” act of domestic terrorism worthy of a federal civil rights investigation.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Observers say the real test will be in what Sessions does next, given the legal limitations he faces.</p>
<p>Federal hate crimes law may not cover the killing even if it was motivated by hate. Federal criminal law has no specific, catchall charge for acts of domestic terrorism. Sessions may decide that the murder charges already leveled against James Alex Fields Jr. in state court are sufficient for justice.</p>
<p>“It’s my hope that with the degree of national and international scrutiny, that this department will do the right thing,” said Kristen Clarke, a former hate crimes prosecutor and president of the liberal Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “This is a case that the world is watching.”</p>
<p>For Sessions, a genial 70-year-old with an Alabama drawl and an uncompromising conservative ideology, leading the Justice Department is the capstone of a decadeslong political career. He has faced questions about his treatment of minorities along the way.</p>
<p>As a federal prosecutor in the 1980s, Sessions charged black community activists, who were swiftly acquitted, in a voter fraud case that, along with allegations of racially charged comments, cost him a federal judgeship. As a Republican senator more than 20 years later, he opposed expanding the federal hate crimes statute to protect people based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.</p>
<p>Clarke said Sessions’ comments in the days after the Charlottesville attack made her cautiously optimistic, but his history has her concerned.</p>
<p>Sessions promised to “advance the investigation toward the most serious charges that can be brought, because this is an unequivocally unacceptable and evil attack that cannot be accepted in America.”</p>
<p>But he also acknowledged that deciding whether to bring federal charges won’t be quick or easy.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Hate crime cases are often challenging because the government must prove that a suspect was primarily motivated by hatred of the victims’ race or religion, as opposed to their political views. The Charlottesville case could be tricky. The victim, 32-year-old Heather Heyer, was white. That means investigators will have to prove Fields was targeting minorities when he plowed into the crowd, not just anti-racism protesters.</p>
<p>Prosecutors can argue that a suspect committed a crime not because of the race of the victim but because of the race of the people on whose behalf she was protesting, said William Yeomans, an American University law fellow and former high-ranking official in the Justice Department’s civil rights division. But that interpretation of the hate crimes law has rarely if ever been used, he said.</p>
<p>“It’s a challenge, but I don’t think it’s entirely impossible or shouldn’t be explored,” Yeomans said. “The real measure of (Sessions’) commitment and his success in this case will be the thoroughness of the investigation” even if the case remains in state court.</p>
<p>Fields already faces a long sentence if he is convicted in Virginia, so a federal charge could be seen as largely symbolic. Former Attorney General Loretta Lynch, for example, said she brought hate crimes charges in a massacre at a black church in South Carolina because that state has no hate-crimes law, and federal charges were needed to adequately address a motive rooted in racial hate.</p>
<p>The latest case is being investigated by career prosecutors and FBI agents, who will make recommendations to Sessions. The FBI would not describe the scope of the resources it has devoted to the investigation, but there are signs it is a priority. Agents were looking for clues in Fields’ hometown in Ohio the day of the attack.</p>
<p>Sessions has said prosecuting hate crimes is a priority of his civil rights division. Yet he is reshaping the unit in other ways that make advocates nervous.</p>
<p>Under Sessions, the department has expressed support for a strict Texas voter ID that a federal judge last month found discriminates against minorities; backed off court-enforceable improvement plans for troubled police agencies; and told local school districts they no longer must allow transgender students to use the bathrooms of their choice.</p>
<p>The department declined to comment further on Sessions’ thinking about the Charlottesville case. Sessions has not said whether he personally favors the removal of Confederate monuments such as the one memorializing Robert E. Lee at the center of the Charlottesville violence. He has said only that cities should make that choice free from violence. His supporters say neither emotions nor his past will guide him in the investigation.</p>
<p>“He will look at it from a very legal perspective. Was a crime committed, and what are we going to do to get a conviction?” said Armand DeKeyser, who worked closely with Sessions and became his chief of staff in the Senate. “He won’t be governed by emotion.”</p>
| false | 2 |
washington jefferson beauregard sessions son segregated south named leaders confederacy faces tough new test commitment protecting civil rights oversees justice departments investigation deadly violence rally white nationalists virginia sessions political career dogged questions race including confirmation hearings year six months attorney general worked quickly change department enforces civil rights law particularly areas police reform voting rights yet sessions also quick forcefully condemn car attack neonazi rally support confederate statue charlottesville response stood contrast president donald trump drew equivalence white nationalists protesting beliefs sessions denounced racism bigotry called drivers actions evil act domestic terrorism worthy federal civil rights investigation advertisement observers say real test sessions next given legal limitations faces federal hate crimes law may cover killing even motivated hate federal criminal law specific catchall charge acts domestic terrorism sessions may decide murder charges already leveled james alex fields jr state court sufficient justice hope degree national international scrutiny department right thing said kristen clarke former hate crimes prosecutor president liberal lawyers committee civil rights law case world watching sessions genial 70yearold alabama drawl uncompromising conservative ideology leading justice department capstone decadeslong political career faced questions treatment minorities along way federal prosecutor 1980s sessions charged black community activists swiftly acquitted voter fraud case along allegations racially charged comments cost federal judgeship republican senator 20 years later opposed expanding federal hate crimes statute protect people based sexual orientation gender identity clarke said sessions comments days charlottesville attack made cautiously optimistic history concerned sessions promised advance investigation toward serious charges brought unequivocally unacceptable evil attack accepted america also acknowledged deciding whether bring federal charges wont quick easy advertisement hate crime cases often challenging government must prove suspect primarily motivated hatred victims race religion opposed political views charlottesville case could tricky victim 32yearold heather heyer white means investigators prove fields targeting minorities plowed crowd antiracism protesters prosecutors argue suspect committed crime race victim race people whose behalf protesting said william yeomans american university law fellow former highranking official justice departments civil rights division interpretation hate crimes law rarely ever used said challenge dont think entirely impossible shouldnt explored yeomans said real measure sessions commitment success case thoroughness investigation even case remains state court fields already faces long sentence convicted virginia federal charge could seen largely symbolic former attorney general loretta lynch example said brought hate crimes charges massacre black church south carolina state hatecrimes law federal charges needed adequately address motive rooted racial hate latest case investigated career prosecutors fbi agents make recommendations sessions fbi would describe scope resources devoted investigation signs priority agents looking clues fields hometown ohio day attack sessions said prosecuting hate crimes priority civil rights division yet reshaping unit ways make advocates nervous sessions department expressed support strict texas voter id federal judge last month found discriminates minorities backed courtenforceable improvement plans troubled police agencies told local school districts longer must allow transgender students use bathrooms choice department declined comment sessions thinking charlottesville case sessions said whether personally favors removal confederate monuments one memorializing robert e lee center charlottesville violence said cities make choice free violence supporters say neither emotions past guide investigation look legal perspective crime committed going get conviction said armand dekeyser worked closely sessions became chief staff senate wont governed emotion
| 534 |
<p>Jan 19 (Reuters) - Fujian Start Group Co Ltd:</p>
<p>* SAYS IT PLANS TO OFFER TO BUY SHARES IN RENTIAN TECHNOLOGY , TRADING IN COMPANY SHARES REMAINS SUSPENDED Source text in Chinese: <a href="http://bit.ly/2EWahX0" type="external">bit.ly/2EWahX0</a> Further company coverage: (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - One man was killed and four firefighters received minor injuries in an apartment fire on the 50th floor of Trump Tower in New York on Saturday, in a blaze that was quickly extinguished, fire officials said.</p> Trump Tower is pictured during a fire in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., April 7, 2018. REUTERS/Catherine Koppel
<p>The victim, 67, was found unresponsive and unconscious in the apartment and was pronounced dead at an area hospital, police said.</p> Debris falls during a fire at Trump Tower in New York, U.S., April 7, 2018 in this still image from video obtained from social media. Twitter @ZionLee_ /via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
<p>U.S. President Donald Trump, who has an office and a private residence in the midtown Manhattan structure, was not in the building at the time.</p>
<p>“Fire at Trump Tower is out. Very confined (well built building). Firemen (and women) did a great job. THANK YOU!” Trump tweeted.</p>
<p>Fire officials have not yet released a suspected cause of the blaze, adding no member of the Trump family was in the building at the time.</p>
<p>“This was a very difficult fire. As you can imagine, the apartment is quite large, we are 50 stories up. The rest of the building had a considerable amount of smoke,” Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said on Twitter.</p> Slideshow (12 Images)
<p>About 200 fire personnel responded to the incident that the department said was a four-alarm fire.</p>
<p>Video on social media showed flames outside of a few windows and black smoke billowing up from the high-rise.</p>
<p>In January, three people were injured in an early-morning fire at the top of Trump Tower. One firefighter was hospitalized while two people received minor injuries that were treated at the scene, the New York Fire Department said.</p>
<p>In addition to the president’s 66th-floor penthouse, Trump Tower houses the headquarters of the Trump Organization as well as other residences, offices and stores.</p>
<p>Reporting by Jon Herskovitz in Austin, Texas and Meredith Mazzilli in New York; Editing by Sandra Maler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>MUENSTER, Germany (Reuters) - A German man drove a van into a group of people sitting outside a restaurant in the old city center of Muenster in western Germany on Saturday, killing two of them before shooting himself dead, police and state officials said.</p>
<p>The vehicle plowed into people seated at tables outside the Grosser Kiepenkerl eatery, a popular destination for tourists in the pretty university city.</p>
<p>Herbert Reul, interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, home to Muenster, told German television the suspect was a German citizen and there was “no indication of an Islamist background”.</p>
<p>Police spokesman Andreas Bode earlier said: “At 15:27 (1327 GMT), a vehicle drove into the outside area of the restaurant ... three people were killed, 20 injured, and six of those seriously injured.”</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-germany-crash-timeline-factbox/factbox-deadly-attacks-in-western-europe-idUSKBN1HE0ND" type="external">Factbox: Deadly attacks in Western Europe</a>
<p>“The perpetrator killed himself in the vehicle,” Bode added.</p>
<p>Reul said the three dead included the perpetrator.</p>
<p>The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported in its online edition that the perpetrator was Jens R., 48, who resided some 2 km (1.2 miles) from the crime scene.</p>
<p>Broadcaster ZDF said police were searching his apartment and that he had contact with far-right extremists, but there was no evidence thus far that he was a far-right extremist himself.</p>
<p>The Sueddeutsche Zeitung said the man had psychological problems. The Interior Ministry in North Rhine-Westphalia would neither confirm nor deny the report.</p>
<p>Bode said investigators were looking at the possibility that other suspects fled the scene, though they had no evidence that this was the case, he added.</p>
<p>Bild newspaper said police were searching for two possible additional suspects after witnesses said they had seen two people jump out of the van. Jens R. had no police record, the newspaper said.</p>
<p>“The crime scene investigators are checking out the crime scene, trying to identify, investigate and secure traces. That is our current task,” Bode said.</p>
<p>A police spokeswoman said: “The danger is over.”</p>
<p>Martin Wiech, who said he had studied in Muenster, told Der Spiegel he had driven there to go shopping and was now unable to return to his car.</p> Police stands guard in a street near a place where a man drove a van into a group of people sitting outside a popular restaurant in the old city centre of Muenster, Germany, April 7, 2018. REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler
<p>“Unbelievable that something like this could happen in Muenster. It is one of the most peaceful cities I know,” he said.</p> MERKEL ‘SHAKEN’
<p>The incident came one year to the day after a truck attack in Stockholm that killed five people.</p>
<p>It also evoked memories of a December 2016 truck attack in Berlin that killed 12. In that attack, Anis Amri, a failed Tunisian asylum seeker with Islamist links, hijacked a truck, killed the driver and then plowed into a crowded marketplace, killing 11 more people and injuring dozens of others.</p> Slideshow (17 Images)
<p>Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a statement she was “deeply shaken”.</p>
<p>“Everything possible is now being done to clarify the facts and to support the victims and their relatives”, she added.</p>
<p>On Saturday evening, the White House issued a statement sending U.S. President Donald Trump’s “thoughts and prayers” to the families of those killed.</p>
<p>French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted: “All my thoughts are with the victims of the attack in Muenster. France shares in Germany’s suffering”.</p>
<p>Der Spiegel reported that police were investigating a similar incident that occurred in the eastern German city of Cottbus on Friday evening, when a man drove his car into a group of people, injuring two, before fleeing.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Sabine Siebold and Andrea Shalal in Berlin, Matthias Inverardi in Duesseldorf, and Sarah White in Paris, Patrick Rucker in Washington; writing by Paul Carrel; editing by Dale Hudson, Hugh Lawson and G Crosse</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>HUMBOLDT, Saskatchewan (Reuters) - Fifteen people were killed when a bus carrying a Canadian junior ice hockey team collided with a truck in Saskatchewan province, police said on Saturday, in one of the worst disasters to strike Canada’s sporting community.</p>
<p>The tragedy sent shock waves through the hockey-loving country and engulfed the home of the Humboldt Broncos hockey team, a small farming town of fewer than 6,000 people, in grief. Fourteen survivors were still in hospital, with some in critical condition, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said.</p>
<p>The accident occurred at about 5 p.m. on Friday near the Tisdale area, around 185 miles (300 km) north of Regina.</p>
<p>“Our Broncos family is in shock as we try to come to grips with our incredible loss,” Kevin Garinger, the team’s president, said in a statement.</p>
<p>The players had been on their way to compete in Game 5 of a playoff series against the Nipawin Hawks when the bus they were traveling in collided with a semi-trailer.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-canada-crash-icehockey/ice-hockey-world-shocked-by-fatal-junior-team-crash-in-canada-idUSKBN1HE0U6" type="external">Ice hockey world shocked by fatal junior team crash in Canada</a>
<p>The Hawks’ president, Darren Opp, told the Globe and Mail newspaper that the truck T-boned the players’ bus. “It’s a horrible accident, my God,” he said. “It’s very, very bad.”</p>
<p>The driver of the tractor trailer was not injured in the crash, RCMP Saskatchewan assistant commissioner Curtis Zablocki told a media conference. He said the driver was initially detained, but later released.</p>
<p>Zablocki said it was too early to comment on the cause of the collision and that the RCMP is continuing its investigation, which will examine the road, weather and mechanical condition of both vehicles.</p>
<p>Citing relatives, the Canadian Press reported that the Broncos’ head coach Darcy Haugan and the team’s 20-year-old captain, Logan Schatz, were among those killed.</p>
<p>Many social media users posted Haugan’s photograph alongside messages of shock and sympathy, and the hashtags #prayersforhumboldt and #humboldtstrong.</p>
<p>“God bless Darcy Haugan for being an incredible mentor and coach to young hockey players and prayers for his family to help cope with their immense loss,” the Western Provinces Hockey Association wrote on Twitter.</p>
<p>National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman said the NHL mourned the passing of those who died “and offers strength and comfort to those injured while traveling to play and be part of a game they loved.”</p>
<p>Ice hockey teams around the world expressed shock and paid tribute to the Broncos.</p> ‘HEARTBROKEN’
<p>A steady stream of people arrived at Humboldt’s Elgar Petersen sports arena on Saturday, consoling the grieving families and offering flowers. Counseling services for the victims’ relatives were offered nearby.</p>
<p>“We woke up to the reality of what happened last night,” Humboldt Mayor Rob Muench told Reuters. “It has been a tragedy nobody would have imagined. It’s very tough, but I have been trying to get the message out that we will get through this, we will see the light at the end of the tunnel.”</p>
<p>Condolences poured in from both current and former players, sports organizations and political leaders.</p>
<p>Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the entire country was in shock and mourning as the details of the tragedy emerged. Canada’s hockey family was a close one, he said.</p> The 2017-2018 Humboldt Broncos Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League team is pictured in this undated handout photo. Amanda Brochu/Handout via REUTERS
<p>“We are heartbroken knowing many of those we lost had their entire lives in front of them,” he said in a statement.</p>
<p>U.S. President Donald Trump said in a Twitter post that he spoke with Trudeau “to pay my highest respect and condolences to the families of the terrible Humboldt Team tragedy. May God be with them all!”</p>
<p>Pastor Jordan Gadsby of Nipawin’s Apostolic Church said hundreds of people, including parents and relatives of players on the bus, had gathered at the church late on Friday to seek information and solace.</p>
<p>“The worst part of the night was watching parents waiting for news of their kids,” he said. “There’s not a lot we can do. It’s a terrible thing that happened.”</p>
<p>For some, the tragedy revived painful memories of a bus crash in the province in December 1986 that killed four young players from the Swift Current Broncos ice hockey team.</p> Slideshow (17 Images)
<p>An online fundraising campaign for the affected players and their families was set up late on Friday by the mother of a former Broncos teammate with an initial target of $10,000.</p>
<p>By Saturday evening, it had raised more than $2.1 million. ( <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/funds-for-humboldt-broncos" type="external">here</a>)</p>
<p>“Stay Hockey family strong,” wrote one donor on the GoFundMe site who said he was a coach from rural Saskatchewan.</p>
<p>Reporting by Matt Smith in Humboldt; Additional reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee and Frank Pingue in Augusta, Georgia; Writing by Denny Thomas and Daniel Wallis; Editing by Tom Brown and G Crosse</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SAO BERNARDO DO CAMPO, Brazil (Reuters) - Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva turned himself in to police on Saturday, ending a day-long standoff to begin serving a 12-year prison sentence for corruption that derails his bid to return to power.</p> Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is carried by supporters in front of the metallurgic trade union in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, April 7, 2018. REUTERS/Francisco Proer
<p>Lula moved out in a convoy of black police SUVs after pushing his way out of the steel workers union headquarters where he had taken refuge, as militant supporters sought to stop him from surrendering to police. He entered police custody more than 24 hours after a court deadline on Friday afternoon.</p>
<p>In a fiery speech hours earlier to a crowd of red-shirted supporters of his Workers Party outside the union building, Brazil’s first working class president insisted on his innocence and called his bribery conviction a political crime, but said he would turn himself in.</p>
<p>“I will comply with the order,” he told the cheering crowd. “I’m not above the law. If I didn’t believe in the law, I wouldn’t have started a political party. I would have started a revolution.”</p> Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva walks to enter a Federal Police plane in Sao Paulo, Brazil, April 7, 2018. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker
<p>Lula’s imprisonment removes Brazil’s most influential political figure and front-runner from this year’s presidential campaign, throwing the race wide open and strengthening the odds of a more centrist candidate prevailing, according to analysts and political foes.</p>
<p>It also marks the end of an era for Brazil’s left, which was out in force in the streets outside of the union headquarters in the industrial suburb of Sao Paulo where Lula’s political career began four decades ago as a union organizer.</p>
<p>The throngs of supporters, which began gathering when he arrived late on Thursday night, dissuaded police from trying to take him into custody and heightened concerns about a violent showdown.</p>
<p>Supporters blocked Lula’s first attempt to leave the union building on Saturday afternoon, pushing back against fellow party members trying to open the gate for his car to leave. Workers Party chief Gleisi Hoffmann pleaded with supporters to let him exit.</p>
<p>He will be flown by police to the southern city of Curitiba and held in a special jail cell where he will begin serving his 12-year sentence.</p>
<p>Lula was convicted of taking bribes, including renovation of a three-story seaside apartment that he denies ever owning, from an engineering firm in return for help landing public contracts.</p> Slideshow (15 Images)
<p>“I’m the only person being prosecuted over an apartment that isn’t mine,” insisted Lula, standing on a sound truck alongside his impeached handpicked successor Dilma Rousseff and leaders of other left-wing parties.</p>
<p>A Brazilian Supreme Court justice on Saturday rejected the latest plea by Lula’s legal team, which argued they had not exhausted procedural appeals when a judge issued the order to turn himself in.</p>
<p>Under Brazilian electoral law, a candidate is forbidden from running for office for eight years after being found guilty of a crime. Rare exceptions have been made in the past, and the final decision would be made by the top electoral court if and when Lula officially files to be a candidate.</p>
<p>The union where Lula, 72, sought refuge was the launch pad for his career in the late 1970s leading nationwide strikes that helped to end Brazil’s 1964-85 military dictatorship.</p>
<p>Lula’s everyman style and unvarnished speeches electrified masses and eventually won him two terms as president, from 2003 to 2011, when he oversaw robust economic growth and falling inequality amid a commodities boom.</p>
<p>“Those who condemn me without proof know that I am innocent and I governed honestly,” Lula said in a video message to his supporters. “Those who persecute me can do what they want to me, but they will never imprison our dreams.”</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Lisandra Paraguassú, Ricardo Brito and Jake Spring in Brasilia; Writing by Anthony Boadle and Jake Spring; Editing by Sandra Maler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
jan 19 reuters fujian start group co ltd says plans offer buy shares rentian technology trading company shares remains suspended source text chinese bitly2ewahx0 company coverage reporting hong kong newsroom standards thomson reuters trust principles new york reuters one man killed four firefighters received minor injuries apartment fire 50th floor trump tower new york saturday blaze quickly extinguished fire officials said trump tower pictured fire manhattan borough new york city new york us april 7 2018 reuterscatherine koppel victim 67 found unresponsive unconscious apartment pronounced dead area hospital police said debris falls fire trump tower new york us april 7 2018 still image video obtained social media twitter zionlee_ via reuters image supplied third party mandatory credit resales archives us president donald trump office private residence midtown manhattan structure building time fire trump tower confined well built building firemen women great job thank trump tweeted fire officials yet released suspected cause blaze adding member trump family building time difficult fire imagine apartment quite large 50 stories rest building considerable amount smoke fire commissioner daniel nigro said twitter slideshow 12 images 200 fire personnel responded incident department said fouralarm fire video social media showed flames outside windows black smoke billowing highrise january three people injured earlymorning fire top trump tower one firefighter hospitalized two people received minor injuries treated scene new york fire department said addition presidents 66thfloor penthouse trump tower houses headquarters trump organization well residences offices stores reporting jon herskovitz austin texas meredith mazzilli new york editing sandra maler standards thomson reuters trust principles muenster germany reuters german man drove van group people sitting outside restaurant old city center muenster western germany saturday killing two shooting dead police state officials said vehicle plowed people seated tables outside grosser kiepenkerl eatery popular destination tourists pretty university city herbert reul interior minister north rhinewestphalia home muenster told german television suspect german citizen indication islamist background police spokesman andreas bode earlier said 1527 1327 gmt vehicle drove outside area restaurant three people killed 20 injured six seriously injured related coverage factbox deadly attacks western europe perpetrator killed vehicle bode added reul said three dead included perpetrator frankfurter allgemeine zeitung reported online edition perpetrator jens r 48 resided 2 km 12 miles crime scene broadcaster zdf said police searching apartment contact farright extremists evidence thus far farright extremist sueddeutsche zeitung said man psychological problems interior ministry north rhinewestphalia would neither confirm deny report bode said investigators looking possibility suspects fled scene though evidence case added bild newspaper said police searching two possible additional suspects witnesses said seen two people jump van jens r police record newspaper said crime scene investigators checking crime scene trying identify investigate secure traces current task bode said police spokeswoman said danger martin wiech said studied muenster told der spiegel driven go shopping unable return car police stands guard street near place man drove van group people sitting outside popular restaurant old city centre muenster germany april 7 2018 reutersleon kuegeler unbelievable something like could happen muenster one peaceful cities know said merkel shaken incident came one year day truck attack stockholm killed five people also evoked memories december 2016 truck attack berlin killed 12 attack anis amri failed tunisian asylum seeker islamist links hijacked truck killed driver plowed crowded marketplace killing 11 people injuring dozens others slideshow 17 images chancellor angela merkel said statement deeply shaken everything possible done clarify facts support victims relatives added saturday evening white house issued statement sending us president donald trumps thoughts prayers families killed french president emmanuel macron tweeted thoughts victims attack muenster france shares germanys suffering der spiegel reported police investigating similar incident occurred eastern german city cottbus friday evening man drove car group people injuring two fleeing additional reporting sabine siebold andrea shalal berlin matthias inverardi duesseldorf sarah white paris patrick rucker washington writing paul carrel editing dale hudson hugh lawson g crosse standards thomson reuters trust principles humboldt saskatchewan reuters fifteen people killed bus carrying canadian junior ice hockey team collided truck saskatchewan province police said saturday one worst disasters strike canadas sporting community tragedy sent shock waves hockeyloving country engulfed home humboldt broncos hockey team small farming town fewer 6000 people grief fourteen survivors still hospital critical condition royal canadian mounted police rcmp said accident occurred 5 pm friday near tisdale area around 185 miles 300 km north regina broncos family shock try come grips incredible loss kevin garinger teams president said statement players way compete game 5 playoff series nipawin hawks bus traveling collided semitrailer related coverage ice hockey world shocked fatal junior team crash canada hawks president darren opp told globe mail newspaper truck tboned players bus horrible accident god said bad driver tractor trailer injured crash rcmp saskatchewan assistant commissioner curtis zablocki told media conference said driver initially detained later released zablocki said early comment cause collision rcmp continuing investigation examine road weather mechanical condition vehicles citing relatives canadian press reported broncos head coach darcy haugan teams 20yearold captain logan schatz among killed many social media users posted haugans photograph alongside messages shock sympathy hashtags prayersforhumboldt humboldtstrong god bless darcy haugan incredible mentor coach young hockey players prayers family help cope immense loss western provinces hockey association wrote twitter national hockey league commissioner gary bettman said nhl mourned passing died offers strength comfort injured traveling play part game loved ice hockey teams around world expressed shock paid tribute broncos heartbroken steady stream people arrived humboldts elgar petersen sports arena saturday consoling grieving families offering flowers counseling services victims relatives offered nearby woke reality happened last night humboldt mayor rob muench told reuters tragedy nobody would imagined tough trying get message get see light end tunnel condolences poured current former players sports organizations political leaders canadian prime minister justin trudeau said entire country shock mourning details tragedy emerged canadas hockey family close one said 20172018 humboldt broncos saskatchewan junior hockey league team pictured undated handout photo amanda brochuhandout via reuters heartbroken knowing many lost entire lives front said statement us president donald trump said twitter post spoke trudeau pay highest respect condolences families terrible humboldt team tragedy may god pastor jordan gadsby nipawins apostolic church said hundreds people including parents relatives players bus gathered church late friday seek information solace worst part night watching parents waiting news kids said theres lot terrible thing happened tragedy revived painful memories bus crash province december 1986 killed four young players swift current broncos ice hockey team slideshow 17 images online fundraising campaign affected players families set late friday mother former broncos teammate initial target 10000 saturday evening raised 21 million stay hockey family strong wrote one donor gofundme site said coach rural saskatchewan reporting matt smith humboldt additional reporting brendan obrien milwaukee frank pingue augusta georgia writing denny thomas daniel wallis editing tom brown g crosse standards thomson reuters trust principles sao bernardo campo brazil reuters former brazilian president luiz inacio lula da silva turned police saturday ending daylong standoff begin serving 12year prison sentence corruption derails bid return power former brazilian president luiz inacio lula da silva carried supporters front metallurgic trade union sao bernardo campo brazil april 7 2018 reutersfrancisco proer lula moved convoy black police suvs pushing way steel workers union headquarters taken refuge militant supporters sought stop surrendering police entered police custody 24 hours court deadline friday afternoon fiery speech hours earlier crowd redshirted supporters workers party outside union building brazils first working class president insisted innocence called bribery conviction political crime said would turn comply order told cheering crowd im law didnt believe law wouldnt started political party would started revolution former brazilian president luiz inacio lula da silva walks enter federal police plane sao paulo brazil april 7 2018 reuterspaulo whitaker lulas imprisonment removes brazils influential political figure frontrunner years presidential campaign throwing race wide open strengthening odds centrist candidate prevailing according analysts political foes also marks end era brazils left force streets outside union headquarters industrial suburb sao paulo lulas political career began four decades ago union organizer throngs supporters began gathering arrived late thursday night dissuaded police trying take custody heightened concerns violent showdown supporters blocked lulas first attempt leave union building saturday afternoon pushing back fellow party members trying open gate car leave workers party chief gleisi hoffmann pleaded supporters let exit flown police southern city curitiba held special jail cell begin serving 12year sentence lula convicted taking bribes including renovation threestory seaside apartment denies ever owning engineering firm return help landing public contracts slideshow 15 images im person prosecuted apartment isnt mine insisted lula standing sound truck alongside impeached handpicked successor dilma rousseff leaders leftwing parties brazilian supreme court justice saturday rejected latest plea lulas legal team argued exhausted procedural appeals judge issued order turn brazilian electoral law candidate forbidden running office eight years found guilty crime rare exceptions made past final decision would made top electoral court lula officially files candidate union lula 72 sought refuge launch pad career late 1970s leading nationwide strikes helped end brazils 196485 military dictatorship lulas everyman style unvarnished speeches electrified masses eventually two terms president 2003 2011 oversaw robust economic growth falling inequality amid commodities boom condemn without proof know innocent governed honestly lula said video message supporters persecute want never imprison dreams additional reporting lisandra paraguassú ricardo brito jake spring brasilia writing anthony boadle jake spring editing sandra maler standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 1,553 |
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) - Wall Street sure loves the tax bill, even if polls show most Americans don't.</p>
<p>The Dow Jones industrial average surged past 25,000 Thursday, a strong signal of investor enthusiasm for President Donald Trump's $1.5 trillion tax cut. The milestone comes less than a year after the Dow topped 20,000.</p>
<p>"We broke a very, very big barrier," Trump said Thursday at the White House. "Every time you see that number go up on Wall Street it means jobs, it means success, it means 401(k)s that are flourishing."</p>
<p>The Dow jumped an additional 220 points Friday after the government reported that employers added 148,000 jobs last month and that the unemployment rate remained a low 4.1 percent. Investors celebrated the modest job gains because they made it less likely that the Federal Reserve will step up its pace of interest rate increases. Higher rates can depress share prices as some investors shift money away from stocks to bonds.</p>
<p>It's easy to see why investors like the tax overhaul: Businesses will benefit from a steep cut in the corporate tax rate. They'll also be able to fully deduct the cost of major purchases from their taxable income, reducing the amount they owe. And companies with large stockpiles of cash overseas can bring the money back to the United States at new, lower rates.</p>
<p>All told, Wall Street analysts estimate the tax package should boost earnings for companies in the Standard &amp; Poor's 500 index by roughly 8 percent this year. That's much more generous than the average tax cut of 1.6 percent that middle-class families will receive, according to the Tax Policy Center.</p>
<p>"All else being equal, this should go straight to the bottom line," said David Joy, chief market strategist for Ameriprise Financial, a financial services company based in Minneapolis. Improved corporate profits contributed to the market's gains last year.</p>
<p>The public has been less enthusiastic about the tax law. A Monmouth University poll last month found that nearly half of Americans disapproved of it, with only 26 percent in support.</p>
<p>Still, some workers have seen a benefit: So far, dozens of companies have announced bonuses and higher minimum wages as a result of the tax cut. AT&amp;T, Comcast, Bank of America, and American Airlines have all pledged to pay $1,000 bonuses to their employees.</p>
<p>Investors also appear less concerned than many politicians about how the additional profits will be used. The Trump administration says it expects companies will plow much of the extra profit back into their businesses, purchasing more software, machinery, and other equipment. Those investments will make workers more productive and provide a key boost to the economy's long-run growth. They should also boost wages and salaries for employees.</p>
<p>Opponents of the tax law respond that companies are more likely to pass the windfall on to shareholders in the form of higher dividend payments and share buybacks, which raise the price of those shares still in investors' hands. Previous cuts in corporate tax rates, in the U.S. and overseas, haven't always led to higher wages.</p>
<p>For Wall Street, it's all good, at least in the short run. Most analysts take the view that either way, companies and the economy will benefit. Whether businesses pass most of the extra money to workers or to shareholders, consumer spending should increase and lift economic growth.</p>
<p>Trump has repeatedly made highly optimistic claims about the impact of his tax cuts and other policies on the economy, speculating that they would lead to annual growth of 4 percent or higher.</p>
<p>Last month, the Treasury Department estimated that the economy will expand at a 2.9 percent annual rate for the next decade.</p>
<p>Private economists, as well as the Federal Reserve, forecast a more modest impact. Most expect growth will be closer to 2.5 percent in 2018 and slower than that in subsequent years.</p>
<p>Some companies and sectors will likely benefit more than others, particularly if they derive most of their income from the United States. Analysts at Goldman Sachs estimate that large banks will see their earnings rise by 13 percent as a result of the corporate rate cut. Wells Fargo will likely see the biggest gain, at 18 percent.</p>
<p>Analysts at Stifel, an investment bank, project that some restaurant chains could see earnings boosts of 20 percent or more, including Chipotle, Wingstop and Domino's Pizza.</p>
<p>Barclays, another bank, says that technology and pharmaceutical firms, which are already paying lower taxes because they have lots of cash overseas, will see much smaller increases of less than 4 percent.</p>
<p>The legislation's corporate tax cut is not necessarily as dramatic as it seems, because most corporations don't end up paying the full 35 percent rate. Barclays estimates that the "effective" tax rate - what companies actually pay - will drop from 26 percent to 20.1 percent.</p>
<p>Joy and other analysts think that most of the money brought back from other countries will go to shareholders, rather than investment. That's what happened in 2004, when companies were given a one-time low rate on repatriated cash as an inducement.</p>
<p>Opinions differ, however, when it comes to the additional profits that result from the tax cut. Many economists expect that most of those dollars will also be passed on to shareholders.</p>
<p>Glenn Hubbard, an economist at Columbia Business School and former top economist for President George W. Bush, says the corporate tax cut will eventually benefit workers through higher pay. That will also boost the economy and most businesses by lifting spending.</p>
<p>"Any way you slice it, it's good for companies," Hubbard said.</p>
<p>For much of last year, the stock market's gains were helped by a synchronized global recovery, with economies from Europe to Asia to Latin America expanding simultaneously for the first time in a decade.</p>
<p>Since November, investors' anticipation of a tax cut has pushed markets higher, said Keith Parker, an analyst at UBS.</p>
<p>Still, the market's outsize return, benefits only a narrow slice of the population. According to research by Edward Wolff, an economist at New York University, just 10 percent of the population owns 84 percent of the stock market's value.</p>
<p>"That benefit won't accrue to everybody, certainly," Joy said.</p>
<p>__</p>
<p>Contact Christopher Rugaber on Twitter at <a href="http://Twitter.com/ChrisRugaber" type="external">http://Twitter.com/ChrisRugaber</a></p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) - Wall Street sure loves the tax bill, even if polls show most Americans don't.</p>
<p>The Dow Jones industrial average surged past 25,000 Thursday, a strong signal of investor enthusiasm for President Donald Trump's $1.5 trillion tax cut. The milestone comes less than a year after the Dow topped 20,000.</p>
<p>"We broke a very, very big barrier," Trump said Thursday at the White House. "Every time you see that number go up on Wall Street it means jobs, it means success, it means 401(k)s that are flourishing."</p>
<p>The Dow jumped an additional 220 points Friday after the government reported that employers added 148,000 jobs last month and that the unemployment rate remained a low 4.1 percent. Investors celebrated the modest job gains because they made it less likely that the Federal Reserve will step up its pace of interest rate increases. Higher rates can depress share prices as some investors shift money away from stocks to bonds.</p>
<p>It's easy to see why investors like the tax overhaul: Businesses will benefit from a steep cut in the corporate tax rate. They'll also be able to fully deduct the cost of major purchases from their taxable income, reducing the amount they owe. And companies with large stockpiles of cash overseas can bring the money back to the United States at new, lower rates.</p>
<p>All told, Wall Street analysts estimate the tax package should boost earnings for companies in the Standard &amp; Poor's 500 index by roughly 8 percent this year. That's much more generous than the average tax cut of 1.6 percent that middle-class families will receive, according to the Tax Policy Center.</p>
<p>"All else being equal, this should go straight to the bottom line," said David Joy, chief market strategist for Ameriprise Financial, a financial services company based in Minneapolis. Improved corporate profits contributed to the market's gains last year.</p>
<p>The public has been less enthusiastic about the tax law. A Monmouth University poll last month found that nearly half of Americans disapproved of it, with only 26 percent in support.</p>
<p>Still, some workers have seen a benefit: So far, dozens of companies have announced bonuses and higher minimum wages as a result of the tax cut. AT&amp;T, Comcast, Bank of America, and American Airlines have all pledged to pay $1,000 bonuses to their employees.</p>
<p>Investors also appear less concerned than many politicians about how the additional profits will be used. The Trump administration says it expects companies will plow much of the extra profit back into their businesses, purchasing more software, machinery, and other equipment. Those investments will make workers more productive and provide a key boost to the economy's long-run growth. They should also boost wages and salaries for employees.</p>
<p>Opponents of the tax law respond that companies are more likely to pass the windfall on to shareholders in the form of higher dividend payments and share buybacks, which raise the price of those shares still in investors' hands. Previous cuts in corporate tax rates, in the U.S. and overseas, haven't always led to higher wages.</p>
<p>For Wall Street, it's all good, at least in the short run. Most analysts take the view that either way, companies and the economy will benefit. Whether businesses pass most of the extra money to workers or to shareholders, consumer spending should increase and lift economic growth.</p>
<p>Trump has repeatedly made highly optimistic claims about the impact of his tax cuts and other policies on the economy, speculating that they would lead to annual growth of 4 percent or higher.</p>
<p>Last month, the Treasury Department estimated that the economy will expand at a 2.9 percent annual rate for the next decade.</p>
<p>Private economists, as well as the Federal Reserve, forecast a more modest impact. Most expect growth will be closer to 2.5 percent in 2018 and slower than that in subsequent years.</p>
<p>Some companies and sectors will likely benefit more than others, particularly if they derive most of their income from the United States. Analysts at Goldman Sachs estimate that large banks will see their earnings rise by 13 percent as a result of the corporate rate cut. Wells Fargo will likely see the biggest gain, at 18 percent.</p>
<p>Analysts at Stifel, an investment bank, project that some restaurant chains could see earnings boosts of 20 percent or more, including Chipotle, Wingstop and Domino's Pizza.</p>
<p>Barclays, another bank, says that technology and pharmaceutical firms, which are already paying lower taxes because they have lots of cash overseas, will see much smaller increases of less than 4 percent.</p>
<p>The legislation's corporate tax cut is not necessarily as dramatic as it seems, because most corporations don't end up paying the full 35 percent rate. Barclays estimates that the "effective" tax rate - what companies actually pay - will drop from 26 percent to 20.1 percent.</p>
<p>Joy and other analysts think that most of the money brought back from other countries will go to shareholders, rather than investment. That's what happened in 2004, when companies were given a one-time low rate on repatriated cash as an inducement.</p>
<p>Opinions differ, however, when it comes to the additional profits that result from the tax cut. Many economists expect that most of those dollars will also be passed on to shareholders.</p>
<p>Glenn Hubbard, an economist at Columbia Business School and former top economist for President George W. Bush, says the corporate tax cut will eventually benefit workers through higher pay. That will also boost the economy and most businesses by lifting spending.</p>
<p>"Any way you slice it, it's good for companies," Hubbard said.</p>
<p>For much of last year, the stock market's gains were helped by a synchronized global recovery, with economies from Europe to Asia to Latin America expanding simultaneously for the first time in a decade.</p>
<p>Since November, investors' anticipation of a tax cut has pushed markets higher, said Keith Parker, an analyst at UBS.</p>
<p>Still, the market's outsize return, benefits only a narrow slice of the population. According to research by Edward Wolff, an economist at New York University, just 10 percent of the population owns 84 percent of the stock market's value.</p>
<p>"That benefit won't accrue to everybody, certainly," Joy said.</p>
<p>__</p>
<p>Contact Christopher Rugaber on Twitter at <a href="http://Twitter.com/ChrisRugaber" type="external">http://Twitter.com/ChrisRugaber</a></p>
| false | 2 |
washington ap wall street sure loves tax bill even polls show americans dont dow jones industrial average surged past 25000 thursday strong signal investor enthusiasm president donald trumps 15 trillion tax cut milestone comes less year dow topped 20000 broke big barrier trump said thursday white house every time see number go wall street means jobs means success means 401ks flourishing dow jumped additional 220 points friday government reported employers added 148000 jobs last month unemployment rate remained low 41 percent investors celebrated modest job gains made less likely federal reserve step pace interest rate increases higher rates depress share prices investors shift money away stocks bonds easy see investors like tax overhaul businesses benefit steep cut corporate tax rate theyll also able fully deduct cost major purchases taxable income reducing amount owe companies large stockpiles cash overseas bring money back united states new lower rates told wall street analysts estimate tax package boost earnings companies standard amp poors 500 index roughly 8 percent year thats much generous average tax cut 16 percent middleclass families receive according tax policy center else equal go straight bottom line said david joy chief market strategist ameriprise financial financial services company based minneapolis improved corporate profits contributed markets gains last year public less enthusiastic tax law monmouth university poll last month found nearly half americans disapproved 26 percent support still workers seen benefit far dozens companies announced bonuses higher minimum wages result tax cut atampt comcast bank america american airlines pledged pay 1000 bonuses employees investors also appear less concerned many politicians additional profits used trump administration says expects companies plow much extra profit back businesses purchasing software machinery equipment investments make workers productive provide key boost economys longrun growth also boost wages salaries employees opponents tax law respond companies likely pass windfall shareholders form higher dividend payments share buybacks raise price shares still investors hands previous cuts corporate tax rates us overseas havent always led higher wages wall street good least short run analysts take view either way companies economy benefit whether businesses pass extra money workers shareholders consumer spending increase lift economic growth trump repeatedly made highly optimistic claims impact tax cuts policies economy speculating would lead annual growth 4 percent higher last month treasury department estimated economy expand 29 percent annual rate next decade private economists well federal reserve forecast modest impact expect growth closer 25 percent 2018 slower subsequent years companies sectors likely benefit others particularly derive income united states analysts goldman sachs estimate large banks see earnings rise 13 percent result corporate rate cut wells fargo likely see biggest gain 18 percent analysts stifel investment bank project restaurant chains could see earnings boosts 20 percent including chipotle wingstop dominos pizza barclays another bank says technology pharmaceutical firms already paying lower taxes lots cash overseas see much smaller increases less 4 percent legislations corporate tax cut necessarily dramatic seems corporations dont end paying full 35 percent rate barclays estimates effective tax rate companies actually pay drop 26 percent 201 percent joy analysts think money brought back countries go shareholders rather investment thats happened 2004 companies given onetime low rate repatriated cash inducement opinions differ however comes additional profits result tax cut many economists expect dollars also passed shareholders glenn hubbard economist columbia business school former top economist president george w bush says corporate tax cut eventually benefit workers higher pay also boost economy businesses lifting spending way slice good companies hubbard said much last year stock markets gains helped synchronized global recovery economies europe asia latin america expanding simultaneously first time decade since november investors anticipation tax cut pushed markets higher said keith parker analyst ubs still markets outsize return benefits narrow slice population according research edward wolff economist new york university 10 percent population owns 84 percent stock markets value benefit wont accrue everybody certainly joy said __ contact christopher rugaber twitter httptwittercomchrisrugaber washington ap wall street sure loves tax bill even polls show americans dont dow jones industrial average surged past 25000 thursday strong signal investor enthusiasm president donald trumps 15 trillion tax cut milestone comes less year dow topped 20000 broke big barrier trump said thursday white house every time see number go wall street means jobs means success means 401ks flourishing dow jumped additional 220 points friday government reported employers added 148000 jobs last month unemployment rate remained low 41 percent investors celebrated modest job gains made less likely federal reserve step pace interest rate increases higher rates depress share prices investors shift money away stocks bonds easy see investors like tax overhaul businesses benefit steep cut corporate tax rate theyll also able fully deduct cost major purchases taxable income reducing amount owe companies large stockpiles cash overseas bring money back united states new lower rates told wall street analysts estimate tax package boost earnings companies standard amp poors 500 index roughly 8 percent year thats much generous average tax cut 16 percent middleclass families receive according tax policy center else equal go straight bottom line said david joy chief market strategist ameriprise financial financial services company based minneapolis improved corporate profits contributed markets gains last year public less enthusiastic tax law monmouth university poll last month found nearly half americans disapproved 26 percent support still workers seen benefit far dozens companies announced bonuses higher minimum wages result tax cut atampt comcast bank america american airlines pledged pay 1000 bonuses employees investors also appear less concerned many politicians additional profits used trump administration says expects companies plow much extra profit back businesses purchasing software machinery equipment investments make workers productive provide key boost economys longrun growth also boost wages salaries employees opponents tax law respond companies likely pass windfall shareholders form higher dividend payments share buybacks raise price shares still investors hands previous cuts corporate tax rates us overseas havent always led higher wages wall street good least short run analysts take view either way companies economy benefit whether businesses pass extra money workers shareholders consumer spending increase lift economic growth trump repeatedly made highly optimistic claims impact tax cuts policies economy speculating would lead annual growth 4 percent higher last month treasury department estimated economy expand 29 percent annual rate next decade private economists well federal reserve forecast modest impact expect growth closer 25 percent 2018 slower subsequent years companies sectors likely benefit others particularly derive income united states analysts goldman sachs estimate large banks see earnings rise 13 percent result corporate rate cut wells fargo likely see biggest gain 18 percent analysts stifel investment bank project restaurant chains could see earnings boosts 20 percent including chipotle wingstop dominos pizza barclays another bank says technology pharmaceutical firms already paying lower taxes lots cash overseas see much smaller increases less 4 percent legislations corporate tax cut necessarily dramatic seems corporations dont end paying full 35 percent rate barclays estimates effective tax rate companies actually pay drop 26 percent 201 percent joy analysts think money brought back countries go shareholders rather investment thats happened 2004 companies given onetime low rate repatriated cash inducement opinions differ however comes additional profits result tax cut many economists expect dollars also passed shareholders glenn hubbard economist columbia business school former top economist president george w bush says corporate tax cut eventually benefit workers higher pay also boost economy businesses lifting spending way slice good companies hubbard said much last year stock markets gains helped synchronized global recovery economies europe asia latin america expanding simultaneously first time decade since november investors anticipation tax cut pushed markets higher said keith parker analyst ubs still markets outsize return benefits narrow slice population according research edward wolff economist new york university 10 percent population owns 84 percent stock markets value benefit wont accrue everybody certainly joy said __ contact christopher rugaber twitter httptwittercomchrisrugaber
| 1,288 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>3:10 p.m.</p>
<p>A group that led the push to oust the University of Missouri System's president says it wants a say in choosing his replacement and wants the percentage of black faculty doubled, among other things.</p>
<p>Members of Concerned Students 1950 said Monday after President Tim Wolfe announced his resignation that they want meet with the university's governing board, the faculty council and Gov. Jay Nixon to discuss their demands in detail.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Among the other desired changes they mentioned is a greater emphasis on shared governance and more inclusivity for minority students. The university's flagship campus in Columbia is overwhelmingly white.</p>
<p>Graduate student Jonathan Butler, who ended a weeklong hunger strike Monday, says it took the administration much too long to react to the complaints.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>2:30 p.m.</p>
<p>A University of Missouri Republican student group is apologizing for a tweet likening students protesting the school's handling of racial issues with Islamic extremism.</p>
<p>The Mizzou College Republicans deleted the Monday morning tweet and said in a follow-up tweet that the post was "the opinion of one individual" and not "a reflection of our organization." The group didn't identify the person who sent the original tweet and didn't respond to requests for comment.</p>
<p>The deleted tweet included the caption "Seen today at #ConceredStudent1950," which was a misspelled reference to Concerned Student 1950, a black student group leading the protests. It showed a photo of scarf-wearing protesters and linked to an article with the headline "Muslim student supports new Holocaust" and a reference below to a "terrorist neckerchief."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>1:05 p.m.</p>
<p>University of Missouri officials say the football team will resume its regular activities following the resignation of the university system president.</p>
<p>Athletics Director Mack Rhoades and head football coach Gary Pinkel said in a joint statement that there will be a news conference later Monday. The team will resume practicing Tuesday, as it typically does.</p>
<p>The announcement came hours after university system President Tim Wolfe said he was stepping down amid criticism over his administration's handling of racial issues.</p>
<p>Black student groups that complained for months about Wolfe's leadership got a big boost over the weekend when 30 black football players said they wouldn't take part in team activities until Wolfe was gone.</p>
<p>Pinkel sent a tweet of support for his protesting players on Sunday.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>12:40 p.m.</p>
<p>A University of Missouri graduate student who endured a week-long hunger strike to protest the administration's handling of racial issues has joined celebrating demonstrators on the Columbia campus.</p>
<p>Jonathan Butler tweeted that he was ending his hunger strike after university system President Tim Wolfe announced his resignation Monday.</p>
<p>Butler, whose hunger strike began Nov. 2, appeared weak and unsteady as two people helped him past a human chain and into a sea of celebrants. Many broke into dance at seeing him.</p>
<p>Black student groups have complained for months about the administration's handling of racial issues, including slurs that have been directed at minority students. They got a boost over the weekend when 30 black football players said they wouldn't take part in team activities until Wolfe was gone.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>12:20 p.m.</p>
<p>Gov. Jay Nixon says the resignation of the University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe was a necessary step toward "healing and reconciliation" at the school.</p>
<p>The Democratic governor issued his statement Monday after Wolfe announced that he was stepping down amid criticism of his handling of racial issues.</p>
<p>Black student groups at the school's flagship campus in Columbia have been complaining for months over the university's handling of such matters, including racial slurs that have been directed at students.</p>
<p>The issue came to a head over the weekend when 30 black members of Missouri's football team said they wouldn't take part in team activities until Wolfe was removed.</p>
<p>After Wolfe's announcement, a black graduate student said he was ending his week-long hunger strike meant to force the president's ouster.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>11:50 a.m.</p>
<p>An adjunct professor at the University of Missouri says the school has had racial problems for decades.</p>
<p>Carl Kenney, a 1986 Missouri graduate who is also the pastor of a local church, says the current problems on campus run much deeper than the leadership of university system President Tim Wolfe, who announced Monday that he's resigning.</p>
<p>Kenney says minority students and faculty feel as if they don't belong on campus unless they are football or basketball players. He says the atmosphere has been tense on campus since the university didn't respond last year to the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson.</p>
<p>Kenney says that even though the racial problems aren't new, it took a threatened strike by 30 black football players to get the administration to act.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>11:20 a.m.</p>
<p>Protesting students and faculty members are celebrating the University of Missouri System president's announcement that he is resigning amid anger over his treatment of racial issues.</p>
<p>The students and educators at the system's flagship campus in Columbia hugged and chanted when President Tim Wolfe's announced Monday that he was stepping down.</p>
<p>Katelyn Brown, a white sophomore from Liberty, said she wasn't necessarily aware of chronic racism at the school. But she applauded the efforts of black students groups who have complained for months about racial slurs and inequality on the overwhelmingly white Columbia campus.</p>
<p>Their efforts got a boost over the weekend when 30 black football players announced they wouldn't participate in team activities until Wolfe was removed.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>10:55 a.m.</p>
<p>A University of Missouri graduate student says he will end his hunger strike now that the university system's president has resigned.</p>
<p>Jonathan Butler, who started his hunger strike Nov. 2, told CNN that he welcomes President Tim Wolfe's resignation announcement Monday but that the university still has a long way to go to make minority students feel welcome.</p>
<p>Butler says the university system's governing board needs to listen to more minority faculty and student voices so that situations like this don't happen again.</p>
<p>Black student groups have been complaining for months about racial slurs and other slights on the system's overwhelmingly white flagship campus in Columbia. Their efforts got a boost over the weekend when 30 black football players announced they wouldn't participate in team activities until Wolfe was removed.</p>
<p>This item has been changed to correct a reference to resigning University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe, who was erroneously referred to as Tim Wright on first reference.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>10:35 a.m.</p>
<p>University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe says he hopes the school community uses his resignation as a way to "move forward together."</p>
<p>Wolfe said Monday at a special meeting of the system's governing board that he takes "full responsibility for the frustration" students had expressed regarding racial issues and that it "is clear" and "real."</p>
<p>Black student groups have been complaining for months about racial slurs and other slights on the system's overwhelmingly white flagship campus in Columbia. Their efforts got a boost over the weekend when 30 black football players announced they wouldn't participate in team activities until Wolfe was removed.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>10:20 a.m.</p>
<p>The president of the University of Missouri System says he is resigning amid student criticism of his handling of racial issues.</p>
<p>President Tim Wolfe said Monday that his resignation is effective immediately.</p>
<p>The announcement came at a special meeting of the university system's governing body, the Board of Curators.</p>
<p>Black student groups have been complaining for months about racial slurs and other slights on the system's overwhelmingly white flagship campus in Columbia. Their efforts got a boost over the weekend when 30 black football players announced they wouldn't participate in team activities until Wolfe was removed.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>9:15 a.m.</p>
<p>The student government at the University of Missouri's flagship campus has added its voice to those calling for the school president to resign immediately.</p>
<p>The Missouri Students Association, which represents the 27,000 undergraduates at the system's Columbia campus, called for President Tim Wolfe to step down in a letter sent to the Missouri System Board of Curators on Sunday night.</p>
<p>The students say there has been an increase in "tension and inequality with no systemic support" since last year's fatal shooting of an unarmed black 18-year-old by a white police officer in Ferguson.</p>
<p>The group Concerned Student 1950 and black members of the football team want Wolfe to step down over his handling of race and discrimination at the flagship school of the four-campus system.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>8:25 a.m.</p>
<p>Some University of Missouri undergraduate students are attending class despite two student groups calling for walkouts in solidarity with protesters who want the system president to resign.</p>
<p>Brendan W. Merz, a senior undergraduate heading to an economics class Monday, says the protests haven't affected him at all. Merz says the protests are "a little excessive."</p>
<p>The Steering Committee of the Forum on Graduate Rights and the Coalition of Graduate Workers called Sunday for walkouts of student workers out of support for protesters seeking the removal of President Tim Wolfe.</p>
<p>The group Concerned Student 1950 and black members of the football team are calling for Wolfe to step down over his handling of race and discrimination at the flagship school of the four-campus system.</p>
<p>This story has been changed to reflect that the student who said the protests haven't affected him is Brendan W. Merz. There is another student at the school named Brendan A. Merz.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>1 a.m.</p>
<p>Members of the governing body of the University of Missouri system are set for a special meeting amid ongoing protests over matters of race and discrimination at the system's flagship school.</p>
<p>The University of Missouri Board of Curators is to meet Monday at 10 a.m. on the system's Columbia campus.</p>
<p>According to an agenda provided in a statement announcing the meeting, part of the meeting will be closed to the public.</p>
<p>The statement says Missouri law allows the group to meet in a private "executive session" to discuss topics including privileged communications with university counsel or personnel matters.</p>
<p>A university spokesman didn't immediately respond to questions about whether the group would address the status of University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe. Wolfe has been the target of protests by students, including 32 black football players who announced they will not participate in team activities until he is removed. One black graduate student is on a hunger strike.</p>
<p>Wolfe has given no indication he intends to step down.</p>
| false | 2 |
310 pm group led push oust university missouri systems president says wants say choosing replacement wants percentage black faculty doubled among things members concerned students 1950 said monday president tim wolfe announced resignation want meet universitys governing board faculty council gov jay nixon discuss demands detail advertisement among desired changes mentioned greater emphasis shared governance inclusivity minority students universitys flagship campus columbia overwhelmingly white graduate student jonathan butler ended weeklong hunger strike monday says took administration much long react complaints ___ 230 pm university missouri republican student group apologizing tweet likening students protesting schools handling racial issues islamic extremism mizzou college republicans deleted monday morning tweet said followup tweet post opinion one individual reflection organization group didnt identify person sent original tweet didnt respond requests comment deleted tweet included caption seen today conceredstudent1950 misspelled reference concerned student 1950 black student group leading protests showed photo scarfwearing protesters linked article headline muslim student supports new holocaust reference terrorist neckerchief ___ advertisement 105 pm university missouri officials say football team resume regular activities following resignation university system president athletics director mack rhoades head football coach gary pinkel said joint statement news conference later monday team resume practicing tuesday typically announcement came hours university system president tim wolfe said stepping amid criticism administrations handling racial issues black student groups complained months wolfes leadership got big boost weekend 30 black football players said wouldnt take part team activities wolfe gone pinkel sent tweet support protesting players sunday ___ 1240 pm university missouri graduate student endured weeklong hunger strike protest administrations handling racial issues joined celebrating demonstrators columbia campus jonathan butler tweeted ending hunger strike university system president tim wolfe announced resignation monday butler whose hunger strike began nov 2 appeared weak unsteady two people helped past human chain sea celebrants many broke dance seeing black student groups complained months administrations handling racial issues including slurs directed minority students got boost weekend 30 black football players said wouldnt take part team activities wolfe gone ___ 1220 pm gov jay nixon says resignation university missouri system president tim wolfe necessary step toward healing reconciliation school democratic governor issued statement monday wolfe announced stepping amid criticism handling racial issues black student groups schools flagship campus columbia complaining months universitys handling matters including racial slurs directed students issue came head weekend 30 black members missouris football team said wouldnt take part team activities wolfe removed wolfes announcement black graduate student said ending weeklong hunger strike meant force presidents ouster ___ 1150 adjunct professor university missouri says school racial problems decades carl kenney 1986 missouri graduate also pastor local church says current problems campus run much deeper leadership university system president tim wolfe announced monday hes resigning kenney says minority students faculty feel dont belong campus unless football basketball players says atmosphere tense campus since university didnt respond last year police killing michael brown ferguson kenney says even though racial problems arent new took threatened strike 30 black football players get administration act ___ 1120 protesting students faculty members celebrating university missouri system presidents announcement resigning amid anger treatment racial issues students educators systems flagship campus columbia hugged chanted president tim wolfes announced monday stepping katelyn brown white sophomore liberty said wasnt necessarily aware chronic racism school applauded efforts black students groups complained months racial slurs inequality overwhelmingly white columbia campus efforts got boost weekend 30 black football players announced wouldnt participate team activities wolfe removed ___ 1055 university missouri graduate student says end hunger strike university systems president resigned jonathan butler started hunger strike nov 2 told cnn welcomes president tim wolfes resignation announcement monday university still long way go make minority students feel welcome butler says university systems governing board needs listen minority faculty student voices situations like dont happen black student groups complaining months racial slurs slights systems overwhelmingly white flagship campus columbia efforts got boost weekend 30 black football players announced wouldnt participate team activities wolfe removed item changed correct reference resigning university missouri system president tim wolfe erroneously referred tim wright first reference ___ 1035 university missouri system president tim wolfe says hopes school community uses resignation way move forward together wolfe said monday special meeting systems governing board takes full responsibility frustration students expressed regarding racial issues clear real black student groups complaining months racial slurs slights systems overwhelmingly white flagship campus columbia efforts got boost weekend 30 black football players announced wouldnt participate team activities wolfe removed ___ 1020 president university missouri system says resigning amid student criticism handling racial issues president tim wolfe said monday resignation effective immediately announcement came special meeting university systems governing body board curators black student groups complaining months racial slurs slights systems overwhelmingly white flagship campus columbia efforts got boost weekend 30 black football players announced wouldnt participate team activities wolfe removed ___ 915 student government university missouris flagship campus added voice calling school president resign immediately missouri students association represents 27000 undergraduates systems columbia campus called president tim wolfe step letter sent missouri system board curators sunday night students say increase tension inequality systemic support since last years fatal shooting unarmed black 18yearold white police officer ferguson group concerned student 1950 black members football team want wolfe step handling race discrimination flagship school fourcampus system ___ 825 university missouri undergraduate students attending class despite two student groups calling walkouts solidarity protesters want system president resign brendan w merz senior undergraduate heading economics class monday says protests havent affected merz says protests little excessive steering committee forum graduate rights coalition graduate workers called sunday walkouts student workers support protesters seeking removal president tim wolfe group concerned student 1950 black members football team calling wolfe step handling race discrimination flagship school fourcampus system story changed reflect student said protests havent affected brendan w merz another student school named brendan merz ___ 1 members governing body university missouri system set special meeting amid ongoing protests matters race discrimination systems flagship school university missouri board curators meet monday 10 systems columbia campus according agenda provided statement announcing meeting part meeting closed public statement says missouri law allows group meet private executive session discuss topics including privileged communications university counsel personnel matters university spokesman didnt immediately respond questions whether group would address status university missouri system president tim wolfe wolfe target protests students including 32 black football players announced participate team activities removed one black graduate student hunger strike wolfe given indication intends step
| 1,064 |
<p>What president?</p>
<p>A year after politics — and the newly elected occupant of the White House — dominated the conversation and tone of the Golden Globes, there was barely a mention of such things at Sunday’s ceremony. This year, it was all gender politics, and of course the #MeToo movement that has engulfed Hollywood and spread into the culture at large with astonishing speed. From the sea of glittering black gowns worn in solidarity on the usually multi-colored red carpet, to sly references to unequal pay and recognition for women, to Frances McDormand’s salute to “a tectonic shift” in the Hollywood power structure, it was a night for reckoning — crowned by Oprah Winfrey’s barn-raiser of a speech proclaiming “Their time is UP!”</p>
<p>Some key moments:</p>
<p>Meryl Streep, left, and Ai-jen Poo (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)</p>
<p>SERIOUS CARPET TALK:</p>
<p>Usually, red carpet interviews focus on the provenance of designer gowns and jewelry. This year, there was talk of working conditions for farmers and janitors, and demands for equal pay across society. Several actresses, including Meryl Streep, Michelle Williams and Emma Watson, <a href="" type="internal">brought social activists with them</a> , to focus on real-life solutions to gritty problems far from Hollywood. “We feel emboldened in this particular moment,” Streep said, “to stand together in a thick black line dividing then from now.”</p>
<p>Speaking backstage at the Golden Globe Awards, Oprah Winfrey says the ‘Time’s Up’ movement isn’t just for the privileged, it’s for every “culture, race, religion, politic or workplace.” (Jan. 8)</p>
<p>LAURA DERN’S NORTH STAR:</p>
<p>(Paul Drinkwater/NBC via AP)</p>
<p>It was a night of unusually powerful speeches, whether long or short, that touched eloquently on the #MeToo moment. One came from Laura Dern, who won supporting actress for “Big Little Lies,” a TV series that, aptly, depicts not only sexual abuse, but a group of women who only fully discover their power when they unite. Using her character to describe a past culture in which people were afraid to speak out, Dern urged Hollywood to support and employ survivors brave enough to come forward. And she went further: “May we teach our children,” she said, “that speaking out without the fear of retribution is our culture’s new North Star.”</p>
<p>A SLY NOD TO A GLARING OMISSION:</p>
<p>One of the most glaring snubs in this year’s movie nominations came in the best director category, where Greta Gerwig was passed over for her much-loved “Lady Bird.” Natalie Portman, presenting the director prize, was not about to let that go unnoticed. “And here are the all MALE nominees,” she quipped, to knowing laughter. (Guillermo del Toro won for “The Shape of Water.“) Barbra Streisand also took a jab at the Globes, noting that she’d been the only woman to have won best director — in 1984. “That was 34 years ago, folks. Time’s up!” she said.</p>
<p>A ‘TECTONIC’ SHIFT:</p>
<p>A big winner was “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” in which Frances McDormand plays a mother taunting police to solve the rape and murder of her daughter. Winning for <a href="" type="internal">best actress</a> , McDormand noted to the crowd that “I keep my politics private. But it was really great to be in this room and to be part of a tectonic shift in our industry power structure.” And she added: “Trust me: The women in this room tonight are not here for the food. We’re here for the work.”</p>
<p>OPRAH RULES THE ROOM:</p>
<p>But with all the eloquent speeches, none roused the room like Winfrey’s, who had the crowd giving her repeated ovations as she issued a warning — not once, but three times — to powerful men who abuse women: “ <a href="" type="internal">Their time is up!</a> ” She ended her barn-storming speech, in which she accepted the Cecil B. DeMille lifetime achievement award, with a call to young girls. “I want all the girls watching here and now to know that a new day is on the horizon!” she said. “And when that new day finally dawns, it will be because of a lot of magnificent women ... and some pretty phenomenal men, fighting hard to make sure that they become the leaders who take us to the time when nobody ever has to say, ‘Me too,’ again.” Director Ava DuVernay later wrote on Twitter that the room was “still vibrating like electricity from that speech.”</p>
<p>STERLING K. BROWN MAKES HISTORY:</p>
<p>(Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)</p>
<p>While most of the talk was about progress in the sphere of gender, actor Sterling K. Brown of TV’s “This Is Us” addressed progress of a different kind: he was the first black actor to win the Globe for best actor in a TV drama. He thanked the show’s creator, Dan Fogelman, for writing a role “for a black man that can only be played by a black man.” What he was grateful for, Brown said, is that “I’m being seen for who I am and being appreciated for who I am, and it makes it that much more difficult to dismiss me or dismiss anybody who looks like me.”</p>
<p>CALLING OUT A NETWORK, ON EQUAL PAY:</p>
<p>There’s been much talk about equal pay lately, but Debra Messing and Eva Longoria got very specific, calling out E! Entertainment Television on the issue while doing interviews with them on the red carpet.</p>
<p>Messing referenced the recent departure from E! of host Catt Sadler, who has said she was making about half the pay of her male counterpart, Jason Kennedy.</p>
<p>“I was so shocked to hear that E! doesn’t believe in paying their female co-hosts the same as their male co-hosts,” she said. “I miss Catt Sadler.”</p>
<p>Longoria also made the point, to Ryan Seacrest. “We support gender equity and equal pay and we hope that E! follows that lead with Catt as well,” she said.</p>
<p>THELMA AND LOUISE RETURN:</p>
<p>On an evening recognizing women in Hollywood, it was certainly apt to have Thelma and Louise, aka Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon, present an award. Davis — who is a longtime advocate for gender equality in film — joked cynically that the two had already “fixed everything.” She also noted that the men in the category they were presenting had agreed to give half their salary back “so the women can make more than them.”</p>
<p>She was joking there, too.</p>
<p>CUT-OFF SPEECH AND FAST-FOOD RUN</p>
<p>Guillermo del Toro, who won best director at the Golden Globes, had to hush the orchestra after they began playing shortly after he started his acceptance speech.</p>
<p>He told them to “lower the music ... it’s taken 25 years. Give me a minute!”</p>
<p>He won for the Cold War-era fantasy “The Shape of Water.” The film stars Sally Hawkins as a mute cleaning lady who falls in love with an amphibious creature kept confined in a government lab.</p>
<p>The emotional Mexican-born filmmaker’s acceptance speech was an ode to his love affair with monsters.</p>
<p>He thanked the film’s cast, before continuing: “My monsters thank you.”</p>
<p>Del Toro later <a href="https://twitter.com/RealGDT" type="external">tweeted</a> a photo of an In-N-Out drive-thru menu board with the caption “After the globes celebration.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For full coverage of awards season, visit: <a href="" type="internal" /> <a href="" type="internal">https://apnews.com/tag/AwardsSeason</a></p>
<p>What president?</p>
<p>A year after politics — and the newly elected occupant of the White House — dominated the conversation and tone of the Golden Globes, there was barely a mention of such things at Sunday’s ceremony. This year, it was all gender politics, and of course the #MeToo movement that has engulfed Hollywood and spread into the culture at large with astonishing speed. From the sea of glittering black gowns worn in solidarity on the usually multi-colored red carpet, to sly references to unequal pay and recognition for women, to Frances McDormand’s salute to “a tectonic shift” in the Hollywood power structure, it was a night for reckoning — crowned by Oprah Winfrey’s barn-raiser of a speech proclaiming “Their time is UP!”</p>
<p>Some key moments:</p>
<p>Meryl Streep, left, and Ai-jen Poo (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)</p>
<p>SERIOUS CARPET TALK:</p>
<p>Usually, red carpet interviews focus on the provenance of designer gowns and jewelry. This year, there was talk of working conditions for farmers and janitors, and demands for equal pay across society. Several actresses, including Meryl Streep, Michelle Williams and Emma Watson, <a href="" type="internal">brought social activists with them</a> , to focus on real-life solutions to gritty problems far from Hollywood. “We feel emboldened in this particular moment,” Streep said, “to stand together in a thick black line dividing then from now.”</p>
<p>Speaking backstage at the Golden Globe Awards, Oprah Winfrey says the ‘Time’s Up’ movement isn’t just for the privileged, it’s for every “culture, race, religion, politic or workplace.” (Jan. 8)</p>
<p>LAURA DERN’S NORTH STAR:</p>
<p>(Paul Drinkwater/NBC via AP)</p>
<p>It was a night of unusually powerful speeches, whether long or short, that touched eloquently on the #MeToo moment. One came from Laura Dern, who won supporting actress for “Big Little Lies,” a TV series that, aptly, depicts not only sexual abuse, but a group of women who only fully discover their power when they unite. Using her character to describe a past culture in which people were afraid to speak out, Dern urged Hollywood to support and employ survivors brave enough to come forward. And she went further: “May we teach our children,” she said, “that speaking out without the fear of retribution is our culture’s new North Star.”</p>
<p>A SLY NOD TO A GLARING OMISSION:</p>
<p>One of the most glaring snubs in this year’s movie nominations came in the best director category, where Greta Gerwig was passed over for her much-loved “Lady Bird.” Natalie Portman, presenting the director prize, was not about to let that go unnoticed. “And here are the all MALE nominees,” she quipped, to knowing laughter. (Guillermo del Toro won for “The Shape of Water.“) Barbra Streisand also took a jab at the Globes, noting that she’d been the only woman to have won best director — in 1984. “That was 34 years ago, folks. Time’s up!” she said.</p>
<p>A ‘TECTONIC’ SHIFT:</p>
<p>A big winner was “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” in which Frances McDormand plays a mother taunting police to solve the rape and murder of her daughter. Winning for <a href="" type="internal">best actress</a> , McDormand noted to the crowd that “I keep my politics private. But it was really great to be in this room and to be part of a tectonic shift in our industry power structure.” And she added: “Trust me: The women in this room tonight are not here for the food. We’re here for the work.”</p>
<p>OPRAH RULES THE ROOM:</p>
<p>But with all the eloquent speeches, none roused the room like Winfrey’s, who had the crowd giving her repeated ovations as she issued a warning — not once, but three times — to powerful men who abuse women: “ <a href="" type="internal">Their time is up!</a> ” She ended her barn-storming speech, in which she accepted the Cecil B. DeMille lifetime achievement award, with a call to young girls. “I want all the girls watching here and now to know that a new day is on the horizon!” she said. “And when that new day finally dawns, it will be because of a lot of magnificent women ... and some pretty phenomenal men, fighting hard to make sure that they become the leaders who take us to the time when nobody ever has to say, ‘Me too,’ again.” Director Ava DuVernay later wrote on Twitter that the room was “still vibrating like electricity from that speech.”</p>
<p>STERLING K. BROWN MAKES HISTORY:</p>
<p>(Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)</p>
<p>While most of the talk was about progress in the sphere of gender, actor Sterling K. Brown of TV’s “This Is Us” addressed progress of a different kind: he was the first black actor to win the Globe for best actor in a TV drama. He thanked the show’s creator, Dan Fogelman, for writing a role “for a black man that can only be played by a black man.” What he was grateful for, Brown said, is that “I’m being seen for who I am and being appreciated for who I am, and it makes it that much more difficult to dismiss me or dismiss anybody who looks like me.”</p>
<p>CALLING OUT A NETWORK, ON EQUAL PAY:</p>
<p>There’s been much talk about equal pay lately, but Debra Messing and Eva Longoria got very specific, calling out E! Entertainment Television on the issue while doing interviews with them on the red carpet.</p>
<p>Messing referenced the recent departure from E! of host Catt Sadler, who has said she was making about half the pay of her male counterpart, Jason Kennedy.</p>
<p>“I was so shocked to hear that E! doesn’t believe in paying their female co-hosts the same as their male co-hosts,” she said. “I miss Catt Sadler.”</p>
<p>Longoria also made the point, to Ryan Seacrest. “We support gender equity and equal pay and we hope that E! follows that lead with Catt as well,” she said.</p>
<p>THELMA AND LOUISE RETURN:</p>
<p>On an evening recognizing women in Hollywood, it was certainly apt to have Thelma and Louise, aka Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon, present an award. Davis — who is a longtime advocate for gender equality in film — joked cynically that the two had already “fixed everything.” She also noted that the men in the category they were presenting had agreed to give half their salary back “so the women can make more than them.”</p>
<p>She was joking there, too.</p>
<p>CUT-OFF SPEECH AND FAST-FOOD RUN</p>
<p>Guillermo del Toro, who won best director at the Golden Globes, had to hush the orchestra after they began playing shortly after he started his acceptance speech.</p>
<p>He told them to “lower the music ... it’s taken 25 years. Give me a minute!”</p>
<p>He won for the Cold War-era fantasy “The Shape of Water.” The film stars Sally Hawkins as a mute cleaning lady who falls in love with an amphibious creature kept confined in a government lab.</p>
<p>The emotional Mexican-born filmmaker’s acceptance speech was an ode to his love affair with monsters.</p>
<p>He thanked the film’s cast, before continuing: “My monsters thank you.”</p>
<p>Del Toro later <a href="https://twitter.com/RealGDT" type="external">tweeted</a> a photo of an In-N-Out drive-thru menu board with the caption “After the globes celebration.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For full coverage of awards season, visit: <a href="" type="internal" /> <a href="" type="internal">https://apnews.com/tag/AwardsSeason</a></p>
| false | 2 |
president year politics newly elected occupant white house dominated conversation tone golden globes barely mention things sundays ceremony year gender politics course metoo movement engulfed hollywood spread culture large astonishing speed sea glittering black gowns worn solidarity usually multicolored red carpet sly references unequal pay recognition women frances mcdormands salute tectonic shift hollywood power structure night reckoning crowned oprah winfreys barnraiser speech proclaiming time key moments meryl streep left aijen poo photo jordan straussinvisionap serious carpet talk usually red carpet interviews focus provenance designer gowns jewelry year talk working conditions farmers janitors demands equal pay across society several actresses including meryl streep michelle williams emma watson brought social activists focus reallife solutions gritty problems far hollywood feel emboldened particular moment streep said stand together thick black line dividing speaking backstage golden globe awards oprah winfrey says times movement isnt privileged every culture race religion politic workplace jan 8 laura derns north star paul drinkwaternbc via ap night unusually powerful speeches whether long short touched eloquently metoo moment one came laura dern supporting actress big little lies tv series aptly depicts sexual abuse group women fully discover power unite using character describe past culture people afraid speak dern urged hollywood support employ survivors brave enough come forward went may teach children said speaking without fear retribution cultures new north star sly nod glaring omission one glaring snubs years movie nominations came best director category greta gerwig passed muchloved lady bird natalie portman presenting director prize let go unnoticed male nominees quipped knowing laughter guillermo del toro shape water barbra streisand also took jab globes noting shed woman best director 1984 34 years ago folks times said tectonic shift big winner three billboards outside ebbing missouri frances mcdormand plays mother taunting police solve rape murder daughter winning best actress mcdormand noted crowd keep politics private really great room part tectonic shift industry power structure added trust women room tonight food work oprah rules room eloquent speeches none roused room like winfreys crowd giving repeated ovations issued warning three times powerful men abuse women time ended barnstorming speech accepted cecil b demille lifetime achievement award call young girls want girls watching know new day horizon said new day finally dawns lot magnificent women pretty phenomenal men fighting hard make sure become leaders take us time nobody ever say director ava duvernay later wrote twitter room still vibrating like electricity speech sterling k brown makes history photo jordan straussinvisionap talk progress sphere gender actor sterling k brown tvs us addressed progress different kind first black actor win globe best actor tv drama thanked shows creator dan fogelman writing role black man played black man grateful brown said im seen appreciated makes much difficult dismiss dismiss anybody looks like calling network equal pay theres much talk equal pay lately debra messing eva longoria got specific calling e entertainment television issue interviews red carpet messing referenced recent departure e host catt sadler said making half pay male counterpart jason kennedy shocked hear e doesnt believe paying female cohosts male cohosts said miss catt sadler longoria also made point ryan seacrest support gender equity equal pay hope e follows lead catt well said thelma louise return evening recognizing women hollywood certainly apt thelma louise aka geena davis susan sarandon present award davis longtime advocate gender equality film joked cynically two already fixed everything also noted men category presenting agreed give half salary back women make joking cutoff speech fastfood run guillermo del toro best director golden globes hush orchestra began playing shortly started acceptance speech told lower music taken 25 years give minute cold warera fantasy shape water film stars sally hawkins mute cleaning lady falls love amphibious creature kept confined government lab emotional mexicanborn filmmakers acceptance speech ode love affair monsters thanked films cast continuing monsters thank del toro later tweeted photo innout drivethru menu board caption globes celebration ___ full coverage awards season visit httpsapnewscomtagawardsseason president year politics newly elected occupant white house dominated conversation tone golden globes barely mention things sundays ceremony year gender politics course metoo movement engulfed hollywood spread culture large astonishing speed sea glittering black gowns worn solidarity usually multicolored red carpet sly references unequal pay recognition women frances mcdormands salute tectonic shift hollywood power structure night reckoning crowned oprah winfreys barnraiser speech proclaiming time key moments meryl streep left aijen poo photo jordan straussinvisionap serious carpet talk usually red carpet interviews focus provenance designer gowns jewelry year talk working conditions farmers janitors demands equal pay across society several actresses including meryl streep michelle williams emma watson brought social activists focus reallife solutions gritty problems far hollywood feel emboldened particular moment streep said stand together thick black line dividing speaking backstage golden globe awards oprah winfrey says times movement isnt privileged every culture race religion politic workplace jan 8 laura derns north star paul drinkwaternbc via ap night unusually powerful speeches whether long short touched eloquently metoo moment one came laura dern supporting actress big little lies tv series aptly depicts sexual abuse group women fully discover power unite using character describe past culture people afraid speak dern urged hollywood support employ survivors brave enough come forward went may teach children said speaking without fear retribution cultures new north star sly nod glaring omission one glaring snubs years movie nominations came best director category greta gerwig passed muchloved lady bird natalie portman presenting director prize let go unnoticed male nominees quipped knowing laughter guillermo del toro shape water barbra streisand also took jab globes noting shed woman best director 1984 34 years ago folks times said tectonic shift big winner three billboards outside ebbing missouri frances mcdormand plays mother taunting police solve rape murder daughter winning best actress mcdormand noted crowd keep politics private really great room part tectonic shift industry power structure added trust women room tonight food work oprah rules room eloquent speeches none roused room like winfreys crowd giving repeated ovations issued warning three times powerful men abuse women time ended barnstorming speech accepted cecil b demille lifetime achievement award call young girls want girls watching know new day horizon said new day finally dawns lot magnificent women pretty phenomenal men fighting hard make sure become leaders take us time nobody ever say director ava duvernay later wrote twitter room still vibrating like electricity speech sterling k brown makes history photo jordan straussinvisionap talk progress sphere gender actor sterling k brown tvs us addressed progress different kind first black actor win globe best actor tv drama thanked shows creator dan fogelman writing role black man played black man grateful brown said im seen appreciated makes much difficult dismiss dismiss anybody looks like calling network equal pay theres much talk equal pay lately debra messing eva longoria got specific calling e entertainment television issue interviews red carpet messing referenced recent departure e host catt sadler said making half pay male counterpart jason kennedy shocked hear e doesnt believe paying female cohosts male cohosts said miss catt sadler longoria also made point ryan seacrest support gender equity equal pay hope e follows lead catt well said thelma louise return evening recognizing women hollywood certainly apt thelma louise aka geena davis susan sarandon present award davis longtime advocate gender equality film joked cynically two already fixed everything also noted men category presenting agreed give half salary back women make joking cutoff speech fastfood run guillermo del toro best director golden globes hush orchestra began playing shortly started acceptance speech told lower music taken 25 years give minute cold warera fantasy shape water film stars sally hawkins mute cleaning lady falls love amphibious creature kept confined government lab emotional mexicanborn filmmakers acceptance speech ode love affair monsters thanked films cast continuing monsters thank del toro later tweeted photo innout drivethru menu board caption globes celebration ___ full coverage awards season visit httpsapnewscomtagawardsseason
| 1,300 |
<p>DAVOS/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Italian oil and gas group Eni said on Wednesday afternoon that it was carrying out exploratory drilling in the Black Sea in a Rosneft-led offshore project - while ensuring its activities comply with U.S. sanctions on Russia.</p>
<p>Eni’s chairwoman Emma Marcegaglia had told the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier in the day that the group had suspended the drilling due to U.S. sanctions, in comments that Rosneft denied - and Eni itself later clarified.</p>
<p>“I would like to clarify that the exploration well in the Black Sea is being drilled as planned,” Marcegaglia said through a spokesman later in the day.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-russia-sanctions-eni-rosneft-oil/drilling-at-rosneft-led-offshore-project-continues-as-planned-eni-chairwoman-idUSKBN1FD2I2" type="external">Drilling at Rosneft-led offshore project continues as planned: ENI chairwoman</a>
<p>“What I was saying is that we are continuously monitoring (in order for) our activities (to be) compliant with existing sanctions,” she added in her later statement.</p>
<p>U.S. energy sanctions have been focused on high-tech Russian energy projects such as drilling for oil in the Arctic, fracking and offshore drilling. The boycott has blocked U.S. companies like Exxon Mobil from investing in such projects.</p>
<p>Kremlin-controlled giant Rosneft said in December it had started exploration drilling for oil and gas at a Black Sea offshore deposit.</p>
<p>Eni has three licenses with Rosneft in the Black Sea and Barents Sea.</p>
<p>In her earlier comments, Marcegaglia said her company’s main concern was that it understood and complied with the U.S. sanctions because it has shares listed on U.S. exchanges.</p>
<p>“We will try to understand a little bit better what we should do ... We have to be absolutely compliant with the U.S. authority because we are also listed in the U.S.,” she told a session attended by Russian officials and business people.</p>
<p>Rosneft said the drilling at the Black Sea offshore project was continuing.</p>
<p>“There are no reasons to stop the work at the well,” said Rosneft spokesman Mikhail Leontyev.</p>
<p>Asked whether drilling on the project was still under way, Leontyev said: “Of course.”</p>
<p>According to shipping data on the Thomson Reuters terminal, the drilling vessel Scarabeo 9, owned by Italian oil service group Saipem and used for the Rosneft offshore project, is currently in the Black sea not far from the oil deposit.</p>
<p>Reporting by Paola Arosio, Denis Pinchuk and Vladimir Soldatkin; Additional reporting by Oksana Kobzeva; Writing by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber and Denis Pinchuk; Editing by David Evans and Hugh Lawson</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>LONDON/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The suspended chief executive of Cambridge Analytica said in a secretly recorded video broadcast on Tuesday that his UK-based political consultancy’s online campaign played a decisive role in U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2016 election victory.</p>
<p>His comments, which could not be verified, are potentially a further problem for Facebook Inc as it faces lawmakers’ scrutiny in the United States and Europe over Cambridge Analytica’s improper use of 50 million Facebook users’ personal data to target voters.</p>
<p>The social media network’s shares fell for a second day, closing down 2.5 percent, as investors worried that its dealings with Cambridge Analytica might damage its reputation, deter advertisers and invite restrictive regulation. The company has lost $60 billion of its stock market value over the last two days.</p>
<p>Cambridge Analytica’s board of directors suspended CEO Alexander Nix on Tuesday, shortly before the second part of British broadcaster Channel 4’s expose of the firm’s methods.</p>
<p>In the program Nix describes questionable practices used to influence foreign elections and said his firm did all the research, analytics and targeting of voters for Trump’s digital and TV campaigns. He also boasts he met Trump when he was the Republican presidential candidate “many times.”</p>
<p>Nix’s comments “do not represent the values or operations of the firm and his suspension reflects the seriousness with which we view this violation,” Cambridge Analytica said in a statement on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Brad Parscale, the 2016 Trump campaign’s main digital adviser who dealt regularly with Cambridge Analytica, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Nix’s claims.</p>
<p>Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and now senior adviser, oversaw the Trump campaign’s digital operations. One former Trump adviser said Kushner brought Cambridge Analytica into the 2016 campaign effort. Kushner’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.</p>
<p>U.S. law bans foreigners from making contributions or spending money on behalf of a U.S. election campaign but it was not illegal for the Trump campaign to retain Cambridge Analytica’s services, according to Bradley Smith, a former Republican member of the U.S. Federal Election Commission.</p>
<p>“The fact that they are a British company doesn’t add anything to the analysis unless they were giving their services away for free or charging below-market rates,” said Smith, now a professor at the Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio.</p> FTC REVIEW, LAWSUIT
<p>U.S. and European lawmakers have demanded an explanation of how Cambridge Analytica gained access to user data in 2014 and why Facebook failed to inform its users, raising broader industry questions about consumer privacy.</p>
<p>Facebook said it had been told by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the leading U.S. consumer regulator, that it would receive a letter this week with questions about the data acquired by Cambridge Analytica. It said it had no indication of a formal investigation.</p>
<p>“The entire company is outraged we were deceived,” Facebook said in a statement on Tuesday. “We are committed to vigorously enforcing our policies to protect people’s information and will take whatever steps are required to see that this happens.”</p>
<p>The FTC is reviewing whether Facebook violated a 2011 consent decree it reached with the authority over its privacy practices, a person briefed on the matter told Reuters.</p>
<p>If the FTC finds Facebook violated terms of the consent decree, it has the power to fine the company thousands of dollars a day per violation, which could add up to billions of dollars.</p> People walk past the building housing the offices of Cambridge Analytica in central London, Britain, March 20, 2018. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
<p>Facebook was also hit on Tuesday in a San Francisco court by the first of what could be many lawsuits by shareholders claiming to suffer losses because the company misled them about its ability to protect user data.&#160;The company could also soon face lawsuits on behalf of users whose personal information was exposed.</p>
<p>Facebook and its peers Alphabet Inc’s Google and Twitter already face a backlash from users and lawmakers over their role during the U.S. presidential election by allowing the spread of false information that might have swayed voters toward Trump.</p>
<p>Fear of increased regulation hurt other social media firms on Tuesday. Shares of Snap Inc fell 2.5 percent and Twitter Inc fell more than 10 percent.</p> FOREIGN INFLUENCE
<p>U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, called on Tuesday for Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to testify in Congress. Congressional staff said the company would brief U.S. Senate and House aides on Wednesday.</p> Slideshow (6 Images)
<p>A Congressional official said House Intelligence Committee Democrats plan to interview Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Christopher Wylie. The committee interviewed Nix by video teleconference, according to the Congressional official, but a transcript of that interview has not yet been made public.</p>
<p>The Senate Intelligence Committee, which is conducting a long-term investigation of alleged Russian interference in U.S. politics and a detailed examination of U.S. election security precautions, would carry out its own inquiry of Cambridge Analytica, a Congressional official with direct knowledge of the investigation said.</p>
<p>The White House said it welcomed inquiries, and that the President believes that Americans’ privacy should be protected.</p> PERSONAL INFORMATION
<p>In Britain, the Information Commissioner’s Office, an independent authority set up to uphold information rights in the public interest, was seeking a warrant from a judge to search the offices of London-based Cambridge Analytica. It was unclear late on Tuesday whether it had obtained it.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-facebook-cambrige-analytica-stocks/social-media-stocks-tumble-as-wall-street-fears-regulation-idUSKBN1GW2QO" type="external">Social media stocks tumble as Wall Street fears regulation</a>
<a href="/article/us-facebook-cambridge-analytica-feinstei/senate-democrat-wants-facebook-ceo-zuckerberg-to-testify-idUSKBN1GW2TU" type="external">Senate Democrat wants Facebook CEO Zuckerberg to testify</a>
<a href="/article/us-facebook-cambridge-analytica-states/massachusetts-new-york-send-letter-to-facebook-demanding-documents-idUSKBN1GW2RX" type="external">Massachusetts, New York send letter to Facebook demanding documents</a>
<p>Created in 2013, Cambridge Analytica markets itself as a source of consumer research, targeted advertising and other data-related services to both political and corporate clients.</p>
<p>According to the New York Times, it was launched with $15 million in backing from billionaire Republican donor Robert Mercer and a name chosen by the-then future Trump White House adviser Steve Bannon.</p>
<p>Facebook says the data were harvested by a British academic, Aleksandr Kogan, who created an app on the platform that was downloaded by 270,000 people, providing access not only to their own personal data but also their friends’.</p>
<p>Facebook said Kogan then violated its policies by passing the data to Cambridge Analytica. Facebook has since suspended both the consulting firm and SCL (Strategic Communication Laboratories), a government and military contractor.</p>
<p>Facebook said it had been told that the data were destroyed. Kogan was not immediately reachable for comment.</p>
<p>Cambridge Analytica has denied all the media claims and said it deleted the data after learning the information did not adhere to data protection rules.</p>
<p>Reporting by David Ingram in San Francisco, Kate Holton and Paul Sandle in London, David Shepardson, Susan Heavey, Mark Hosenball, Jonathan Landay and Sarah N. Lynch in Washington, Jonathan Stempel in New York; Additional reporting by Munsif Vengattil; Writing by Susan Thomas; Editing by Nick Zieminski and Bill Rigby</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - The Minneapolis police officer who fatally shot an unarmed Australian woman last July was arrested on Tuesday on charges of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, prosecutors said.</p>
<p>Mohamed Noor, 32, turned himself in and was arrested for the death of Justine Damond, 40, who had called 911 about a possible sexual assault near her house, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said at a news conference announcing the charges.</p>
<p>“There is no evidence that Officer Noor encountered a threat, appreciated a threat, investigated a threat or confirmed a threat that justified his decision to use deadly force,” Freeman said. “Instead, Officer Noor recklessly and intentionally fired his handgun.”</p>
<p>After Noor shot her, Damond put her hands on the gunshot wound on the left side of her abdomen and said, “I’m dying” or “I’m dead,” Freeman said.</p>
<p>The shooting drew condemnation in Minnesota and Australia, where Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called it “shocking” and “inexplicable.” Then-Minneapolis police chief Jamee Harteau resigned after city officials said procedures had been violated and Damond “didn’t have to die.”</p>
<p>The third-degree murder charge accused Noor of committing an “eminently dangerous act” and showing a “depraved mind,” and the second-degree manslaughter charge cited “culpable negligence creating unreasonable risk,” the records showed.</p>
<p>The penalty for third-degree murder is up to 25 years in prison and second-degree manslaughter carries a penalty of up to 10 years, according to a state website.</p>
<p>Freeman, Minneapolis’ top prosecutor, had delayed his decision in December, saying his office needed more time and that he lacked sufficient evidence to charge Noor.</p>
<p>Noor has been on paid leave and refused to be interviewed by Minnesota state investigators. Noor’s attorney, Tom Plunkett, said his client should not be charged.</p> Mohamed Noor, 32, is pictured in this undated handout photo obtained by Reuters March 20, 2018. Hennepin County Sheriff's Office/Handout via REUTERS
<p>“The loss of Justine Ruszczyk Damond is a tragedy and Officer Noor again personally extends his continued condolences to her family for their loss,” Plunkett said in a statement.</p>
<p>“The facts will show that Officer Noor acted as he has been trained and consistent with established departmental policy,” Plunkett added. “Officer Noor should not have been charged with any crime.”</p> FILE PHOTO: Justine Damond, also known as Justine Ruszczyk, from Sydney, is seen in this 2015 photo released by Stephen Govel Photography in New York, U.S., on July 17, 2017. Courtesy Stephen Govel/Stephen Govel Photography/Handout/File Photo via REUTERS ‘INIQUITOUS ACT’
<p>Damond’s fiance, Don Damond, and her father, John Ruszczyk, issued a joint statement in which they praised the decision to charge Noor and hoped it resulted in a conviction, calling it “one step toward justice for this iniquitous act.”</p>
<p>“No charges can bring our Justine back. However, justice demands accountability for those responsible for recklessly killing the fellow citizens they are sworn to protect,” they said in the statement.</p>
<p>Damond, who was living in Minneapolis and engaged to be married, approached the police after their arrival, authorities have said. She had owned a meditation and life-coaching company.</p>
<p>Neither Noor, who came to the United States from Somalia as a child, nor Matthew Harrity, another officer in the patrol car, had their body cameras activated, police have said.</p>
<p>Harrity was startled by a loud sound near the patrol car shortly before Noor fired from the passenger seat of the patrol car through Harrity’s window, Freeman said.</p>
<p>Harrity, who pulled out his handgun during the incident but did not fire it, said both officers “got spooked” when Damond appeared “out of nowhere,” Freeman said.</p>
<p>Noor is scheduled to make an initial court appearance on Wednesday in Hennepin County District Court in Minneapolis. Prosecutors are asking that Noor’s bail be set at $500,000, Freeman said.</p>
<p>Reporting by Todd Melby in Minneapolis; Writing by Ben Klayman; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Matthew Lewis</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>AUSTIN/SCHERTZ, Texas (Reuters) - The series of parcel bombs in Texas that have killed two people and put residents on edge escalated on Tuesday with two more incidents, a bomb that exploded at a FedEx distribution center near San Antonio and one that was discovered before it detonated.</p>
<p>A third explosion Tuesday evening in Austin was not a package bomb and officials said it did not appear to be related to the other incidents.</p>
<p>The latest cluster of booby-trapped packages brought to six the number of explosive devices - five that detonated - that have come under investigation in Texas this month as the work of a possible serial bomber.</p>
<p>Baffled investigators have taken the extraordinary step of making public appeals asking that whoever is responsible to at least come forward with a demand or an explanation.</p>
<p>Early on Tuesday, a package filled with nails and metal shrapnel exploded at about 12:30 a.m. on a conveyer belt at FedEx sorting center in Schertz, near San Antonio, knocking a female employee off her feet, officials said. The package was being sent from Austin to another address in Austin and passed through a sorting center in Schertz, about 65 miles (105 km) away.</p>
<p>Authorities said the worker was treated for her injuries at the scene.</p> Law enforcement personnel are seen gathering evidence outside a FedEx Store which was closed for investigation, in Austin, Texas, U.S., March 20, 2018. REUTERS/Sergio Flores
<p>Later in the morning, authorities were alerted to a suspicious package at a FedEx facility in Austin. Police and federal agents called to the scene found the package contained a bomb and it “was disrupted by law enforcement,” according to a joint statement from Austin police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).</p>
<p>No injuries were reported, the statement said.</p> Slideshow (18 Images)
<p>The three agencies said investigators had determined that the two FedEx bombs “are connected” to the four package explosions that occurred between March 2 and March 18 in Austin, killing two people and injuring four others.</p>
<p>But officials with the ATF said the incident Tuesday evening in south Austin, which seriously injured a man in his 20s, “does not appear to be related” to the previous incidents. Local emergency services officials said the victim is expected to survive.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-texas-blast-fedex/fedex-to-scan-every-parcel-at-two-texas-facilities-after-blast-idUSKBN1GX03B" type="external">FedEx to scan every parcel at two Texas facilities after blast</a>
<a href="/article/us-texas-blast-changes/serial-bombings-put-texas-capital-on-edge-idUSKBN1GW35O" type="external">Serial bombings put Texas capital on edge</a>
<a href="/article/us-texas-blast-whitehouse/no-known-link-to-terrorism-in-texas-bombings-white-house-idUSKBN1GW293" type="external">No known link to terrorism in Texas bombings: White House</a>
<p>Speaking through the media, officials have appealed to the bomber to reveal the motives for the attacks. They have also asked the public for any tips, offering a $115,000 reward.</p>
<p>“Somebody has to know something,” FBI spokeswoman Christina Garza said. “The person behind these explosives, please, we want to know why.”</p>
<p>“This is obviously a very, very sick individual, or maybe individuals,” President Donald Trump told reporters. “These are sick people, and we will get to the bottom of it.”</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee, Mark Hosenball and Lisa Lambert in Washington, Andrew Hay and Eric Johnson; Writing by Daniel Trotta and Rosalba O'Brien; Editing by Tom Brown and Leslie Adler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Despite signs that Democrats are in a strong position, U.S. President Donald Trump vowed on Tuesday to beat expectations and keep the House of Representatives in Republican control in the mid-term elections in November.</p> U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the National Republican Congressional Committee's annual March dinner at the National Building Museum in Washington, U.S., March 20, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis
<p>Trump, who won an improbable victory in 2016 as an outsider, spoke at a National Republican Congressional Committee dinner in Washington that raised a record $32 million for Republican House candidates.</p>
<p>“We’re going to defy predictions once again. We will keep the House majority,” said Trump.</p>
<p>Whether the party can make good on Trump’s prediction is far from clear as Republicans face headwinds holding onto control the House. Democrats, riding a wave of angst about Trump’s presidency, hold an enthusiasm edge in public opinion polls.</p>
<p>The party that wins control of the White House typically loses seats in the first congressional mid-term election after a new president takes power.</p>
<p>A Democratic win in a special election last week for a House seat was seen as a referendum on Trump’s performance and an ominous sign for the November elections. Trump had won the congressional district by almost 20 percentage points in 2016.</p> U.S. President Donald Trump greets Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R) before delivering remarks at the National Republican Congressional Committee's annual March dinner at the National Building Museum in Washington, U.S., March 20, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis
<p>A loss of one or both houses of Congress would spell trouble for Trump’s “America First” agenda by forcing him into greater compromises with Democrats.</p>
<p>Trump said Republicans can beat the odds by embracing his policies. He said they should promote the tax cuts that he helped steer through Congress in December and embrace his tough immigration message.</p> Slideshow (2 Images)
<p>“A vote for Democrats is truly a vote for open borders, people pouring into our country,” said Trump, who wants to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and crack down on cities with lenient immigration policies like Los Angeles and San Francisco.</p>
<p>He vowed to campaign “all across this country to elect Republicans” and urged party voters to guard against complacency.</p> Related Video
<p>“I can understand it. It’s natural human trait. But we cannot be complacent,” Trump said. “We can’t. We have so much to gain and this country has so much to lose.”</p>
<p>The Democrats “are going so far to the left-hand side of the equation, I don’t know whether or not it’s going to even be possible for them to do well, but for some reason they’ll probably do okay. We can’t let that happen. They have gone so far left, we have to go a little bit further right.” &#160;&#160;</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Eric Beech and Eric Walsh; Editing by Leslie Adler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
davosmoscow reuters italian oil gas group eni said wednesday afternoon carrying exploratory drilling black sea rosneftled offshore project ensuring activities comply us sanctions russia enis chairwoman emma marcegaglia told world economic forum davos earlier day group suspended drilling due us sanctions comments rosneft denied eni later clarified would like clarify exploration well black sea drilled planned marcegaglia said spokesman later day related coverage drilling rosneftled offshore project continues planned eni chairwoman saying continuously monitoring order activities compliant existing sanctions added later statement us energy sanctions focused hightech russian energy projects drilling oil arctic fracking offshore drilling boycott blocked us companies like exxon mobil investing projects kremlincontrolled giant rosneft said december started exploration drilling oil gas black sea offshore deposit eni three licenses rosneft black sea barents sea earlier comments marcegaglia said companys main concern understood complied us sanctions shares listed us exchanges try understand little bit better absolutely compliant us authority also listed us told session attended russian officials business people rosneft said drilling black sea offshore project continuing reasons stop work well said rosneft spokesman mikhail leontyev asked whether drilling project still way leontyev said course according shipping data thomson reuters terminal drilling vessel scarabeo 9 owned italian oil service group saipem used rosneft offshore project currently black sea far oil deposit reporting paola arosio denis pinchuk vladimir soldatkin additional reporting oksana kobzeva writing gabrielle tétraultfarber denis pinchuk editing david evans hugh lawson standards thomson reuters trust principles londonsan francisco reuters suspended chief executive cambridge analytica said secretly recorded video broadcast tuesday ukbased political consultancys online campaign played decisive role us president donald trumps 2016 election victory comments could verified potentially problem facebook inc faces lawmakers scrutiny united states europe cambridge analyticas improper use 50 million facebook users personal data target voters social media networks shares fell second day closing 25 percent investors worried dealings cambridge analytica might damage reputation deter advertisers invite restrictive regulation company lost 60 billion stock market value last two days cambridge analyticas board directors suspended ceo alexander nix tuesday shortly second part british broadcaster channel 4s expose firms methods program nix describes questionable practices used influence foreign elections said firm research analytics targeting voters trumps digital tv campaigns also boasts met trump republican presidential candidate many times nixs comments represent values operations firm suspension reflects seriousness view violation cambridge analytica said statement tuesday brad parscale 2016 trump campaigns main digital adviser dealt regularly cambridge analytica immediately respond request comment nixs claims jared kushner trumps soninlaw senior adviser oversaw trump campaigns digital operations one former trump adviser said kushner brought cambridge analytica 2016 campaign effort kushners lawyer immediately respond request comment us law bans foreigners making contributions spending money behalf us election campaign illegal trump campaign retain cambridge analyticas services according bradley smith former republican member us federal election commission fact british company doesnt add anything analysis unless giving services away free charging belowmarket rates said smith professor capital university law school columbus ohio ftc review lawsuit us european lawmakers demanded explanation cambridge analytica gained access user data 2014 facebook failed inform users raising broader industry questions consumer privacy facebook said told federal trade commission ftc leading us consumer regulator would receive letter week questions data acquired cambridge analytica said indication formal investigation entire company outraged deceived facebook said statement tuesday committed vigorously enforcing policies protect peoples information take whatever steps required see happens ftc reviewing whether facebook violated 2011 consent decree reached authority privacy practices person briefed matter told reuters ftc finds facebook violated terms consent decree power fine company thousands dollars day per violation could add billions dollars people walk past building housing offices cambridge analytica central london britain march 20 2018 reutershenry nicholls facebook also hit tuesday san francisco court first could many lawsuits shareholders claiming suffer losses company misled ability protect user data160the company could also soon face lawsuits behalf users whose personal information exposed facebook peers alphabet incs google twitter already face backlash users lawmakers role us presidential election allowing spread false information might swayed voters toward trump fear increased regulation hurt social media firms tuesday shares snap inc fell 25 percent twitter inc fell 10 percent foreign influence us senator dianne feinstein top democrat judiciary committee called tuesday facebook ceo mark zuckerberg testify congress congressional staff said company would brief us senate house aides wednesday slideshow 6 images congressional official said house intelligence committee democrats plan interview cambridge analytica whistleblower christopher wylie committee interviewed nix video teleconference according congressional official transcript interview yet made public senate intelligence committee conducting longterm investigation alleged russian interference us politics detailed examination us election security precautions would carry inquiry cambridge analytica congressional official direct knowledge investigation said white house said welcomed inquiries president believes americans privacy protected personal information britain information commissioners office independent authority set uphold information rights public interest seeking warrant judge search offices londonbased cambridge analytica unclear late tuesday whether obtained related coverage social media stocks tumble wall street fears regulation senate democrat wants facebook ceo zuckerberg testify massachusetts new york send letter facebook demanding documents created 2013 cambridge analytica markets source consumer research targeted advertising datarelated services political corporate clients according new york times launched 15 million backing billionaire republican donor robert mercer name chosen thethen future trump white house adviser steve bannon facebook says data harvested british academic aleksandr kogan created app platform downloaded 270000 people providing access personal data also friends facebook said kogan violated policies passing data cambridge analytica facebook since suspended consulting firm scl strategic communication laboratories government military contractor facebook said told data destroyed kogan immediately reachable comment cambridge analytica denied media claims said deleted data learning information adhere data protection rules reporting david ingram san francisco kate holton paul sandle london david shepardson susan heavey mark hosenball jonathan landay sarah n lynch washington jonathan stempel new york additional reporting munsif vengattil writing susan thomas editing nick zieminski bill rigby standards thomson reuters trust principles minneapolis reuters minneapolis police officer fatally shot unarmed australian woman last july arrested tuesday charges thirddegree murder seconddegree manslaughter prosecutors said mohamed noor 32 turned arrested death justine damond 40 called 911 possible sexual assault near house hennepin county attorney mike freeman said news conference announcing charges evidence officer noor encountered threat appreciated threat investigated threat confirmed threat justified decision use deadly force freeman said instead officer noor recklessly intentionally fired handgun noor shot damond put hands gunshot wound left side abdomen said im dying im dead freeman said shooting drew condemnation minnesota australia prime minister malcolm turnbull called shocking inexplicable thenminneapolis police chief jamee harteau resigned city officials said procedures violated damond didnt die thirddegree murder charge accused noor committing eminently dangerous act showing depraved mind seconddegree manslaughter charge cited culpable negligence creating unreasonable risk records showed penalty thirddegree murder 25 years prison seconddegree manslaughter carries penalty 10 years according state website freeman minneapolis top prosecutor delayed decision december saying office needed time lacked sufficient evidence charge noor noor paid leave refused interviewed minnesota state investigators noors attorney tom plunkett said client charged mohamed noor 32 pictured undated handout photo obtained reuters march 20 2018 hennepin county sheriffs officehandout via reuters loss justine ruszczyk damond tragedy officer noor personally extends continued condolences family loss plunkett said statement facts show officer noor acted trained consistent established departmental policy plunkett added officer noor charged crime file photo justine damond also known justine ruszczyk sydney seen 2015 photo released stephen govel photography new york us july 17 2017 courtesy stephen govelstephen govel photographyhandoutfile photo via reuters iniquitous act damonds fiance damond father john ruszczyk issued joint statement praised decision charge noor hoped resulted conviction calling one step toward justice iniquitous act charges bring justine back however justice demands accountability responsible recklessly killing fellow citizens sworn protect said statement damond living minneapolis engaged married approached police arrival authorities said owned meditation lifecoaching company neither noor came united states somalia child matthew harrity another officer patrol car body cameras activated police said harrity startled loud sound near patrol car shortly noor fired passenger seat patrol car harritys window freeman said harrity pulled handgun incident fire said officers got spooked damond appeared nowhere freeman said noor scheduled make initial court appearance wednesday hennepin county district court minneapolis prosecutors asking noors bail set 500000 freeman said reporting todd melby minneapolis writing ben klayman editing cynthia osterman matthew lewis standards thomson reuters trust principles austinschertz texas reuters series parcel bombs texas killed two people put residents edge escalated tuesday two incidents bomb exploded fedex distribution center near san antonio one discovered detonated third explosion tuesday evening austin package bomb officials said appear related incidents latest cluster boobytrapped packages brought six number explosive devices five detonated come investigation texas month work possible serial bomber baffled investigators taken extraordinary step making public appeals asking whoever responsible least come forward demand explanation early tuesday package filled nails metal shrapnel exploded 1230 conveyer belt fedex sorting center schertz near san antonio knocking female employee feet officials said package sent austin another address austin passed sorting center schertz 65 miles 105 km away authorities said worker treated injuries scene law enforcement personnel seen gathering evidence outside fedex store closed investigation austin texas us march 20 2018 reuterssergio flores later morning authorities alerted suspicious package fedex facility austin police federal agents called scene found package contained bomb disrupted law enforcement according joint statement austin police federal bureau investigation us bureau alcohol tobacco firearms explosives atf injuries reported statement said slideshow 18 images three agencies said investigators determined two fedex bombs connected four package explosions occurred march 2 march 18 austin killing two people injuring four others officials atf said incident tuesday evening south austin seriously injured man 20s appear related previous incidents local emergency services officials said victim expected survive related coverage fedex scan every parcel two texas facilities blast serial bombings put texas capital edge known link terrorism texas bombings white house speaking media officials appealed bomber reveal motives attacks also asked public tips offering 115000 reward somebody know something fbi spokeswoman christina garza said person behind explosives please want know obviously sick individual maybe individuals president donald trump told reporters sick people get bottom additional reporting brendan obrien milwaukee mark hosenball lisa lambert washington andrew hay eric johnson writing daniel trotta rosalba obrien editing tom brown leslie adler standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters despite signs democrats strong position us president donald trump vowed tuesday beat expectations keep house representatives republican control midterm elections november us president donald trump delivers remarks national republican congressional committees annual march dinner national building museum washington us march 20 2018 reutersleah millis trump improbable victory 2016 outsider spoke national republican congressional committee dinner washington raised record 32 million republican house candidates going defy predictions keep house majority said trump whether party make good trumps prediction far clear republicans face headwinds holding onto control house democrats riding wave angst trumps presidency hold enthusiasm edge public opinion polls party wins control white house typically loses seats first congressional midterm election new president takes power democratic win special election last week house seat seen referendum trumps performance ominous sign november elections trump congressional district almost 20 percentage points 2016 us president donald trump greets speaker house paul ryan r delivering remarks national republican congressional committees annual march dinner national building museum washington us march 20 2018 reutersleah millis loss one houses congress would spell trouble trumps america first agenda forcing greater compromises democrats trump said republicans beat odds embracing policies said promote tax cuts helped steer congress december embrace tough immigration message slideshow 2 images vote democrats truly vote open borders people pouring country said trump wants build wall along usmexico border crack cities lenient immigration policies like los angeles san francisco vowed campaign across country elect republicans urged party voters guard complacency related video understand natural human trait complacent trump said cant much gain country much lose democrats going far lefthand side equation dont know whether going even possible well reason theyll probably okay cant let happen gone far left go little bit right 160160 additional reporting eric beech eric walsh editing leslie adler standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 2,014 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>Money is still tight for some. Others are fed up with commercialism of the holidays. Still others are waiting for bigger bargains.</p>
<p>And people like Lark-Marie Anton Menchini are more thoughtful about their purchases. The New York public relations executive says in the past she’d buy her children up to eight Christmas gifts each, but this year they’re getting three apiece. The leftover money is going toward their college savings.</p>
<p>“We told them Santa is … being very conscious of how many gifts he puts on his sleigh,” Menchini, 36, says.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Despite an improving economy, most workers are not seeing meaningful wage increases. And those who can splurge say the brash commercialism around the holidays — many more stores are opening for business on Thanksgiving — is a turnoff.</p>
<p>But perhaps the biggest factor is that shoppers are less motivated than ever by holiday sales. Since the Great Recession, retailers have been dangling more discounts throughout the year, so Americans have learned to hold out for even deeper holiday savings on clothes, electronics and more. To stay competitive and boost sales, retailers are slashing prices further during their busiest season of the year, which is cutting into their own profit margins.</p>
<p>There aren’t reliable figures on how many people plan to shop during the holidays. But early data points to a shift in holiday spending.</p>
<p>The National Retail Federation estimates that sales during the start to the official start to season — the four-day weekend that began on Thanksgiving Day — dropped 2.9 percent from last year to $57.4 billion. That would mark the first decline in the seven years the trade group has tracked spending.</p>
<p>And during the week afterward — which ended on Sunday — sales fell another 2.9 percent compared with a year ago, according to data tracker ShopperTrak, which did not give dollar amounts. Meanwhile, the number of shoppers in stores plunged nearly 22 percent.</p>
<p>The numbers are sobering for retailers, which depend on making up to 40 percent of their revenue in the last two months of the year. They suggest shifts in the attitudes of U.S. shoppers that could force stores to reshape their strategies:</p>
<p>SHOPPERS WANT DEALS</p>
<p>Stores slashed prices during the recession to get financially-strapped shoppers in stores and to better compete with the cheaper prices of online retailers like Amazon. But shoppers got used to those deals and now won’t buy without them. The constant discounting has blunted the “wow” factor of sales during the holidays.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>For instance, some retailers were offering discounts of 40 percent or more on the day after Thanksgiving known as Black Friday. But Jennifer Ambrosh, 40 was unimpressed with the “deals” she saw on that day. “There’s a lot of hype, but … the deals aren’t that good,” Ambrosh, an accountant, says.</p>
<p>Overall, the retail federation expects spending in November and December to rise 3.9 percent to $602.1 billion. But to get that growth, analysts say retailers will need to discount heavily, which eats away profits.</p>
<p>There are signs that profits for the quarter that includes the holiday season are being hurt by the discounting. Wal-Mart and American Eagle Outfitters are among 47 retailers that have slashed their outlooks for either the quarter or the year.</p>
<p>Overall, retailers’ earnings growth is expected to be up 2.1 percent, according to research firm Retail Metrics. That would be the worst performance since profit fell 6.7 percent in the second quarter of 2009 when the country was in a recession.</p>
<p>SCRUTINIZING PURCHASES</p>
<p>The recession not only taught Americans to expect bargains. It also showed them that they could make do with less. And in the economic recovery, many have maintained that frugality.</p>
<p>So whereas in a better economy, Americans would make both big and small purchases, in this economy they’re being more thoughtful and making choices about what to buy.</p>
<p>That hasn’t boded well for retailers that sell clothing, shoes and holiday items. That’s because Americans are buying more big-ticket items over the holidays.</p>
<p>Government figures show that retail sales were up 0.7 percent in November, the biggest gain in five months. But the increase was led by autos, appliances and electronics.</p>
<p>Auto sales jumped 1.8 percent, furniture purchases rose 1.2 percent and sales at electronics and appliances stores rose 1.1 percent. Meanwhile, sales at department stores and clothing chains were weak.</p>
<p>Americans are leaning toward big purchases for two reasons. They want to take advantage of low interest rates. And since many paid down debt since the recession, they feel more comfortable using credit cards again for such purchases.</p>
<p>But they won’t do that and buy smaller items. “This is still a weak, fragile shopper,” says Craig Johnson, president of Customer Growth Partners, a retail consultancy.</p>
<p>Retailers including Macy’s and Target in recent months have said that shoppers’ focus on big-ticket items has put a damper on sales of discretionary items, and the retail federation says it has hurt holiday sales in particular.</p>
<p>HOLIDAY CONSUMERISM</p>
<p>Black Friday used to be the official kickoff to the buying season, but more than a dozen chains opened on Thanksgiving this year.</p>
<p>That didn’t sit well with some shoppers who viewed it as an encroachment on family time. Some threatened to boycott stores that opened on the holiday, while others decided to forgo shopping altogether.</p>
<p>In a poll of 6,200 shoppers conducted for the retail federation prior to the start of the season, 38 percent didn’t plan to shop during the Thanksgiving weekend, up from 34.8 percent the year before.</p>
<p>Ruth Kleinman, 30, isn’t planning to shop the entire season in part because she’s disheartened by the holiday openings. The New Yorker says the holiday season “has really disintegrated.”</p>
<p>While some shoppers didn’t approve, analysts say stores will need to open on the holiday to appeal to the masses. Overall sales declined over the holiday weekend, but several retailers said there were big crowds on Thanksgiving. “Customers clearly showed that they wanted to be out shopping,” says Amy von Walter, a Best Buy spokeswoman.</p>
<p>Analysts say stores will need to redefine Thanksgiving as a family tradition beyond sitting at the table eating turkey to make more shoppers comfortable.</p>
<p>“They have to show that they’re maintaining a family tradition in new ways,” says Marshal Cohen, chief retail analyst at market research firm NPD Group.</p>
<p>—–</p>
<p>Mae Anderson in New York contributed to this report.</p>
<p>——</p>
<p>Follow Candice Choi at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/candicechoi" type="external">www.twitter.com/candicechoi</a></p>
| false | 2 |
money still tight others fed commercialism holidays still others waiting bigger bargains people like larkmarie anton menchini thoughtful purchases new york public relations executive says past shed buy children eight christmas gifts year theyre getting three apiece leftover money going toward college savings told santa conscious many gifts puts sleigh menchini 36 says advertisement despite improving economy workers seeing meaningful wage increases splurge say brash commercialism around holidays many stores opening business thanksgiving turnoff perhaps biggest factor shoppers less motivated ever holiday sales since great recession retailers dangling discounts throughout year americans learned hold even deeper holiday savings clothes electronics stay competitive boost sales retailers slashing prices busiest season year cutting profit margins arent reliable figures many people plan shop holidays early data points shift holiday spending national retail federation estimates sales start official start season fourday weekend began thanksgiving day dropped 29 percent last year 574 billion would mark first decline seven years trade group tracked spending week afterward ended sunday sales fell another 29 percent compared year ago according data tracker shoppertrak give dollar amounts meanwhile number shoppers stores plunged nearly 22 percent numbers sobering retailers depend making 40 percent revenue last two months year suggest shifts attitudes us shoppers could force stores reshape strategies shoppers want deals stores slashed prices recession get financiallystrapped shoppers stores better compete cheaper prices online retailers like amazon shoppers got used deals wont buy without constant discounting blunted wow factor sales holidays advertisement instance retailers offering discounts 40 percent day thanksgiving known black friday jennifer ambrosh 40 unimpressed deals saw day theres lot hype deals arent good ambrosh accountant says overall retail federation expects spending november december rise 39 percent 6021 billion get growth analysts say retailers need discount heavily eats away profits signs profits quarter includes holiday season hurt discounting walmart american eagle outfitters among 47 retailers slashed outlooks either quarter year overall retailers earnings growth expected 21 percent according research firm retail metrics would worst performance since profit fell 67 percent second quarter 2009 country recession scrutinizing purchases recession taught americans expect bargains also showed could make less economic recovery many maintained frugality whereas better economy americans would make big small purchases economy theyre thoughtful making choices buy hasnt boded well retailers sell clothing shoes holiday items thats americans buying bigticket items holidays government figures show retail sales 07 percent november biggest gain five months increase led autos appliances electronics auto sales jumped 18 percent furniture purchases rose 12 percent sales electronics appliances stores rose 11 percent meanwhile sales department stores clothing chains weak americans leaning toward big purchases two reasons want take advantage low interest rates since many paid debt since recession feel comfortable using credit cards purchases wont buy smaller items still weak fragile shopper says craig johnson president customer growth partners retail consultancy retailers including macys target recent months said shoppers focus bigticket items put damper sales discretionary items retail federation says hurt holiday sales particular holiday consumerism black friday used official kickoff buying season dozen chains opened thanksgiving year didnt sit well shoppers viewed encroachment family time threatened boycott stores opened holiday others decided forgo shopping altogether poll 6200 shoppers conducted retail federation prior start season 38 percent didnt plan shop thanksgiving weekend 348 percent year ruth kleinman 30 isnt planning shop entire season part shes disheartened holiday openings new yorker says holiday season really disintegrated shoppers didnt approve analysts say stores need open holiday appeal masses overall sales declined holiday weekend several retailers said big crowds thanksgiving customers clearly showed wanted shopping says amy von walter best buy spokeswoman analysts say stores need redefine thanksgiving family tradition beyond sitting table eating turkey make shoppers comfortable show theyre maintaining family tradition new ways says marshal cohen chief retail analyst market research firm npd group mae anderson new york contributed report follow candice choi wwwtwittercomcandicechoi
| 638 |
<p>(Reuters) - Spain’s Jon Rahm survived four playoff holes to capture the CareerBuilder Challenge in southern California on Sunday.</p> Jan 21, 2018; La Quinta, CA, USA; Jon Rahm hits on the tenth green during the third playoff hole during the final round of the CareerBuilder Challenge golf tournament at PGA West TPC Stadium Course. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
<p>Rahm shot a five-under-par 67 to post a combined 22-under and force extra holes with American Andrew Landry, who fired a final round 68.</p> Jan 21, 2018; La Quinta, CA, USA; Jon Rahm gives the forks up gesture for his alma mater Arizona State University while holding the trophy after the final round of the CareerBuilder Challenge golf tournament at PGA West TPC Stadium Course. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
<p>Rahm birdied the par-4 18th hole, the fourth of the playoff, to seal the win. The 23-year-old won the DP World Tour Championship in November and Sunday’s victory was his second on the PGA Tour.</p>
<p>“It’s hard to explain what this means right now,” Rahm told the Golf Channel. “I had a good feeling going into today. One of us had to do it and either one of us would’ve been a well deserved champion.”</p>
<p>Rahm entered the tournament as the world’s number three but his victory pushes him past Jordan Spieth into second spot.</p>
<p>“It’s hard to believe to be honest, passing Jordan Spieth,” he said. “That’s a three-time major champion. I only have two wins. He’s got 10-plus, right? It’s again – I’ve said it many times – I never thought I was going to be at this point in my life right now.”</p> Slideshow (3 Images)
<p>Rahm started the final day two behind 54-hole leader Austin Cook and Landry was one behind.</p>
<p>Cook’s chances faded when he went three over after six holes.</p>
<p>Martin Piller, John Huh and Adam Hadwin each finished at 20-under.</p>
<p>Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Rutherford</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his wife, Ri Sol Ju, were among the hundreds in Pyongyang on Sunday watching South Korean K-pop singers perform in the North for the first time in more than a decade as tensions between the old rivals thaw.</p>
<p>It was the first time a North Korean leader had attended a South Korean performance in the North’s capital. Kim was seen clapping in tune to some of the songs and took photographs with the performers after the show.</p>
<p>“Our dear leader comrade said his heart swelled and he was moved by the sight of his people deepen their understanding of South Korean popular culture and cheer with sincerity,” the North’s KCNA state media said.</p>
<p>The North Korean audience clapped, cheered, sang along to some of the songs and later presented the South Korean performers with bouquets.</p>
<p>“(Kim Jong Un) showed much interest during the show and asked questions about the songs and lyrics,” Culture Minister Do Jong-whan told reporters after the show.</p>
<p>Sunday’s performance coincided with the start of annual joint South Korean-U.S. military drills, which have previously been met with denunciations and missile launches by the North, and were delayed and shortened this year in order not to overshadow the Olympic detente.</p>
<p>The recent thaw in relations, which could even lead to a summit between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump in May, follows months of increased tensions after North Korea conducted missile launches and a nuclear test last year in defiance of United Nations Security Council sanctions.</p>
<p>Sunday’s concert was held under the title “Spring is Coming” at the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre, performed by an elite lineup of South Korean artists including veteran vocalists Cho Yong-pil, Lee Sun-hee, rock star Yoon Do-hyun and singer Baek Ji-young, as well as K-pop girl band Red Velvet.</p>
<p>Like the concert title, the performance had brought a “spring of peace” to the two Koreas, Kim was also cited as saying by the North’s central news agency, and expressed wishes for a “prosperous autumn”.</p>
<p>The North Korean leader’s face was slightly flushed in a group photograph with the performers distributed by North Korean state media. He was seen in another directly addressing members of Red Velvet, which commands more than 4.6 million followers on Instagram.</p>
<p>North Korean staff were spotted outside the performers’ dressing rooms using Japan-made electronic devices to serve coffee and cupcakes, including Western Lavazza and Coffee-mate products, according to a South Korean media pool report.</p> SIGNIFICANT THAW
<p>Sunday’s two-hour concert in Pyongyang, along with a separate taekwondo performance earlier in the day, came as South Korea’s engagement with North Korea has grown since Kim expressed his willingness for more contact between the two countries.</p>
<p>Athletes from North and South Korea marched under a unified peninsula flag at the opening ceremony at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in February. The significant thaw in the inter-Korean relations has led them to set a date for their first summit in more than a decade on April 27.</p>
<p>The two Koreas are technically still at war after the 1950-1953 conflict ended with a ceasefire rather than a peace agreement.</p>
<p>The South Korean delegation included artists, concert staff, taekwondo demonstrators, reporters and government officials. They traveled to Pyongyang on Saturday in a reciprocal cultural visit after North Korea sent performers to the South in February, the South’s Culture Ministry said.</p> North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets South Korean K-pop singers in this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang April 2, 2018. KCNA/via Reuters
<p>In addition to the concert, a team of South Korean taekwondo demonstrators performed on Sunday at the Pyongyang Taekwondo Hall, drawing more than 2,300 North Koreans, including Choe Hwi, chairman of the National Sports Guidance Committee.</p> BANNED MEDIA
<p>The images of Kim posing and laughing with the young South Korean pop stars and applauding in the stands contrasts with reports from North Korean defectors who say he has overseen a crackdown on foreign media.</p>
<p>“North Korean refugees overwhelmingly and consistently report that it has become more dangerous to consume foreign media under Kim Jong Un’s crackdowns,” Sokeel Park, the South Korea country director for refugee aid organization Liberty in North Korea, said on Twitter.</p>
<p>A 2015 survey of North Korean refugees conducted by the U.S. government’s Broadcasting Board of Governors found that 77 percent of respondents said it had become more dangerous to listen to foreign radio under Kim.</p>
<p>South Korean movies were often reported to be especially taboo compared to Chinese films, according to a report by the InterMedia consultancy group, with North Koreans potentially facing prison time if caught.</p> Slideshow (6 Images)
<p>Seohyun, an actress and vocalist with South Korean girl group Girls’ Generation, sang a North Korean pop song called “Blue Willow Tree”. She had performed with the North’s Samjiyon Orchestra in Seoul in February.</p>
<p>Cho Yong-pil, 68, sang a string of hits including “The Cafe in the Winter”, “Short Hair” and “Let’s Go on a Trip”. Cho staged a solo concert in Pyongyang in 2005 - the last concert by a South Korean artist in the North before Sunday’s performance.</p>
<p>The same South Korean singers will hold a joint concert with North Korean performers on Tuesday at the Ryukyung Chung Ju Yung Gymnasium, a joint project between the North and South named after Hyundai Group billionaire founder Chung Ju-yung, who had long advocated inter-Korean cultural and economic exchanges.</p>
<p>Kim had been planning to attend the Tuesday performance but decided to watch Sunday’s show due to “political schedules”, KCNA and South Korean officials there said.</p>
<p>Reporting by Heekyong Yang and Christine Kim; Additional reporting by Josh Smith; Editing by Louise Heavens, Peter Cooney and Paul Tait</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>HOUSTON(Reuters) - Latin America this year will host the most licensing rounds in its history, opening about 1,100 oil and gas blocks for foreign capital.</p>
<p>Mexico started the calendar in January with a round that attracted $93 billion in investment pledges and followed with another securing over $8 billion. In March, Brazil drew $2.4 billion in pledges for offshore areas on top of about $30 billion from an October bidding round.</p>
<p>The following is a list of expected bidding rounds in each country this year:</p>
<p>MEXICO A July onshore round will allocate up to 37 areas, followed by nine unconventional blocks, with results due in September. Mexico also hopes to schedule an auction of heavy oil areas in the Gulf’s shallow waters late this year.</p> BRAZIL
<p>Brazil will host another large offshore auction this year and the government is preparing the transfer of rights from state-run Petrobras ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=PETR4.SA" type="external">PETR4.SA</a>). The country plans a permanent offer of up to 850 onshore and offshore blocks starting in May, a number that could climb to 1,700 areas in 2019.</p>
<p>The South American country, which is reducing royalties for bordering and mature fields, has worked hard in recent years to relax its local content rules, an issue seen in the past as a major obstacle on investment.</p> COLOMBIA
<p>In May, Colombia expects to begin offering up to 25 onshore and offshore blocks in a permanent auction similar to what Brazil is planning, a process that will follow its Sinu-San Jacinto round including 15 areas to be awarded in early April.</p>
<p>The country’s regulator also is in talks with holders of nine permits for seismic studies in the Caribbean Sea to convert them into exploration and production contracts.</p> URUGUAY
<p>Results of third offshore round could be disclosed in late April, including 17 blocks for exploration and production at its Exclusive Economic Zone.</p>
<p>The nation is offering less demanding qualification conditions and mandatory exploration terms, according to the government.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=PETR4.SA" type="external">Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras</a> 21.41 PETR4.SA Sao Paulo Stock Exchange -- (--%) PETR4.SA PARAGUAY
<p>State-run Petroleos Paraguayos plans to relaunch in the second quarter an auction to find partners for two exploration and production areas after a failed attempt last year.</p>
<p>The blocks - Petropar III and Palo Santo - are part of five areas received by Petropar to be developed in Paraguay’s western zone near the border with Bolivia and Argentina.</p> ARGENTINA
<p>Argentina will appear late in Latin America’s 2018 auction wave with terms of its first offshore round due in July and results expected in December.</p>
<p>The auction, of a mostly unexplored area covering 225,000 kilometers off the Atlantic coast, does not include bidding bonuses, according to the government. Interested firms can propose blocks to be added to the offer.</p>
<p>Reporting by Marianna Parraga; additional reporting by Daniela Desantis in Asuncion, Paraguay and Neil Marks in Georgetown, Guyana; Editing by Gary McWilliams and Brian Thevenot</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>HOUSTON (Reuters) - For decades, many Latin America’s oil-producing nations have often shunned investment from foreign firms, instead keeping their vast reserves under the tight control of governments and state-run oil companies.</p> FILE PHOTO - View of the oil refinery Ecopetrol in Barrancabermeja, Colombia, March 1, 2017. Picture Taken March 1, 2017. REUTERS/Jaime Saldarriaga
<p>They aimed to protect profits to feed public budgets, but in practice have seen some major breakdowns, as with the corruption scandals and heavy debts at Brazil’s Petroleo Brasileiro SA [PDVSA.UL], or the inability of Mexico’s Pemex[PEMX.UL] to conjure the cash and expertise to tap its vast deepwater reserves.</p>
<p>Now, an unprecedented wave of free-market energy reforms is gaining traction across the region, setting up a fierce competition to attract billions of dollars in investment from the likes of Exxon Mobil ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=XOM.N" type="external">XOM.N</a>), BP ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=BP.L" type="external">BP.L</a>) and Royal Dutch Shell ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=RDSa.L" type="external">RDSa.L</a>).</p>
<p>Seven governments this year will combine to hold at least 15 oil and gas auctions, offering a record 1,100 blocks of onshore or offshore acreage, according to interviews with officials and a tally of announced auctions. On Thursday, Brazil’s latest auction collected $2.4 billion in pledges, awarding 22 of 68 regions on offer.</p>
<p>“In 2018, countries in the region will host the most licensing rounds in history,” said Pablo Medina, vice president of energy consultancy Welligence.</p>
<p>(For a graphic on Latin American oil auctions, see: <a href="http://tmsnrt.rs/2pw8i6y" type="external">tmsnrt.rs/2pw8i6y</a> )</p>
<p>The race for private investment reflects an acknowledgment by many countries that they have neither the cash nor the technology to fully explore and develop their reserves. The embrace of foreign capital in Argentina, Brazil and Ecuador also follows the rise of centrist or right-leaning governments.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-latam-oil-reform-factbox/factbox-latin-america-holding-record-number-of-oil-auctions-this-year-idUSKCN1H90UX" type="external">Factbox - Latin America holding record number of oil auctions this year</a>
<p>It also signals a willingness by governments to settle for a smaller cut of the profits - which could be slimmed further by the competition to attract investment as governments offer tax incentives, reduced royalties and other inducements.</p>
<p>The glaring exception is Venezuela, where state-run PDVSA remains under the firm control of a leftist government in the throes of an economic and political meltdown.</p>
<p>Elsewhere, emerging reforms are giving oil majors and independent producers their pick of some of the region’s richest resources - after being shut out of these markets or waiting years for the right moment to invest. But they also face a risk that governments could shift back to resource nationalization or lose the political will to fully establish market reforms. An oil price drop could also undermine profits from such long-term, expensive projects.</p>
<p>“We love this continent. We know it well and now need to make sure we will spend the money wisely,” said Michel Hourcard, senior vice president of development, exploration and production at France’s Total ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=TOTF.PA" type="external">TOTF.PA</a>), during an industry conference in Houston last month.</p> INCENTIVES TO INVEST
<p>The ground-breaking regulatory changes in Latin America include tax breaks, reduced royalties, longer contracts, relaxed qualification terms and flexible exploration mandates that allow companies to back out of investments more easily than in the past.</p>
<p>Brazil and Colombia also plan to set up permanent offers of areas for exploration and production - similar to those offered by the United States - rather than making them available only in occasional auctions.</p>
<p>Ecuador is offering shared-profit agreements that are potentially more lucrative for oil firms than fee-for-service contracts that prevented companies from benefiting from oil price gains.</p>
<p>Countries have to present terms attractive enough to draw bidders back to the region, said Julie Wilson, research director of global exploration at consultancy Wood Mackenzie.</p> $110 BILLION IN PLEDGES
<p>Strong participation by oil majors in recent auctions of exploration and production rights in Mexico and Brazil have heralded a new era by attracting about $110 billion in investment pledges.</p>
<p>Brazil started its effort to lure outside capital two decades ago, but it fell flat after initially enticing more than 100 companies, said Decio Oddone, head of Brazil’s oil regulator. The effort was stymied by too few areas offered for auction, the low quality of some projects and the dominant role of state-run Petrobras.</p>
<p>“Many of those companies did not have the expected success,” Oddone said.</p>
<p>Now, Brazil is relaxing bidding rules to encourage local firms and medium-size foreign explorers to participate, joining majors already established in its vast pre-salt region.</p>
<p>In Mexico, political risks hampered its most recent auction in March, where bidding was dominated by state-run Pemex. The front-runner in a presidential election set for July has promised to scrutinize the nation’s energy reforms.</p>
<p>But some industry leaders believe the country will stay on the path of opening everything from exploration to refining and gasoline retailing.</p>
<p>“There is a very clear long-term strategy,” said Jeremy Weir, chief executive of Trading firm Trafigura [TRAFGF.UL].</p>
<p>Broad participation by European, U.S. and Asian firms in several auctions is another a sign a “Mexican revival” is underway, added Fatih Birol, president of the International Energy Agency, a 29-nation group representing most of the world’s top oil consuming nations.</p>
<p>Some of Mexico’s and Brazil’s efforts are being copied.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=XOM.N" type="external">Exxon Mobil Corp</a> 74.61 XOM.N New York Stock Exchange -- (--%) XOM.N BP.L RDSa.L TOTF.PA
<p>Argentina is allowing oil companies to recommend specific areas for they would like to see auctioned, as Mexico did in past rounds; Colombia will open a permanent offer of areas, as Brazil plans to do; and Mexico plans to replicate Brazil’s three-year auction calendar, giving firms more time to plan capital spending before bidding rounds.</p>
<p>Some countries are keenly aware of the need to adjust its policies to compete with other nations, according to Juan Carlos Zepeda, head of the nation’s energy regulator National Hydrocarbons Commission (CNH).</p>
<p>“We are flexible enough to accommodate any of our neighbors’ creativity,” he said. HIGHER RISK, HIGHER REWARD</p>
<p>Compared with Brazil and Mexico, Argentina and Uruguay this year hope to catch investors with offers that hold greater exploration risk - but potentially higher rewards.</p>
<p>Argentina officials believe Brazil’s oil-rich pre-salt formation could extend to areas off its Atlantic coast, and in July will release terms of its first offshore auction. That is a big change in a nation that just six year ago expropriated Spanish oil firm Repsol’s stake in state-owned YPF YPFB.BA.</p>
<p>Unlike the rounds for Argentina’s vast Vaca Muerta shale formation - which were led locally by provincial governments - the nation’s central government will run this year’s auctions, standardizing rules and offering better terms.</p>
<p>Uruguay, which holds a third offshore auction in April, is putting up 17 blocks for exploration and production after relaxing the qualification terms and reducing the scope of its mandatory exploration programs.</p>
<p>Smaller Latin American countries including Guyana, Suriname and Paraguay are in talks with oil companies to offer rights to oilfields or to find partners for their state-run oil firms.</p>
<p>Similar energy market openings have blossomed in the past only to fade as governments reverted to resource nationalization or imposed limits to foreign investment.</p>
<p>Latin America has see-sawed in prior decades between opening to private investment and returning to oil nationalism.</p>
<p>“It’s part of the cycle: The countries tend to ask (oil companies) for as much as they can,” said Horacio Cuenca, Wood Mackenzie’s director of upstream research for Latin America. They only lower costs and royalties “when available capital starts drying up.”</p>
<p>Reporting by Marianna Parraga; Additional reporting by Ernest Scheyder Editing by Gary McWilliams and Brian Thevenot</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures fell on the first trading day of the new quarter as China’s decision to raise import tariffs on U.S. products rekindled global trade war fears and technology stocks showed little signs of recovery.</p> FILE PHOTO - Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., March 29, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
<p>Nasdaq futures NQc1 pointed to a 0.6 percent decline at the open on Monday, as big names including Facebook ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">FB.O</a>) and Amazon ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AMZN.O" type="external">AMZN.O</a>) fell in premarket trading.</p>
<p>China, late on Sunday, said it would increase tariffs by up to 25 percent on 128 U.S. products, from frozen pork and wine to certain fruits and nuts, escalating a spat between the world’s biggest economies. The move came in response to U.S. duties on imports of aluminum and steel.</p>
<p>U.S. President Donald Trump is separately preparing to impose tariffs of more than $50 billion targeting “largely high-technology” Chinese products.</p>
<p>At 7:18 a.m. ET, Dow e-minis 1YMc1 were down 113 points, or 0.47 percent, with 28,512 contracts changing hands.</p>
<p>S&amp;P 500 e-minis ESc1 were down 11 points, or 0.42 percent, with 78,340 contracts traded.</p>
<p>Nasdaq 100 e-minis NQc1 were down 58.25 points, or 0.88 percent, on volume of 32,382 contracts.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">Facebook Inc</a> 159.79 FB.O Nasdaq +0.00 (+0.00%) FB.O AMZN.O .SPX .DJI TSLA.O
<p>Amazon fell 1.5 percent after Trump launched his second attack over the weekend, accusing the world’s biggest online retailer of getting unfairly cheap rates from the U.S. Postal Service and not paying enough tax.</p>
<p>Facebook was down marginally as the data scandal last month continued to weigh. On Monday, brokerage Pivotal Research slashed its price target to $138 from $152.</p>
<p>After stellar gains in 2017 and early this year, the S&amp;P technology index .SPLRCT posted its worst performance in March in nearly two years.</p>
<p>Hit by concerns about a possible trade war, rising interest rates and valuations in the technology sector, the S&amp;P 500 <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.SPX" type="external">.SPX</a> and the Dow Jones Industrial Average <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.DJI" type="external">.DJI</a> posted their worst declines in more than two years in the quarter ended March.</p>
<p>Nervous stock investors are hoping an unusually U.S. strong earnings season can restore some of the optimism that characterized equity markets last year.</p>
<p>Tesla ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=TSLA.O" type="external">TSLA.O</a>) shares fell about 5 percent after the electric car maker said the Model X vehicle that crashed was on Autopilot. The company also announced a recall.</p>
<p>Reporting by Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
reuters spains jon rahm survived four playoff holes capture careerbuilder challenge southern california sunday jan 21 2018 la quinta ca usa jon rahm hits tenth green third playoff hole final round careerbuilder challenge golf tournament pga west tpc stadium course mandatory credit joe camporealeusa today sports rahm shot fiveunderpar 67 post combined 22under force extra holes american andrew landry fired final round 68 jan 21 2018 la quinta ca usa jon rahm gives forks gesture alma mater arizona state university holding trophy final round careerbuilder challenge golf tournament pga west tpc stadium course mandatory credit joe camporealeusa today sports rahm birdied par4 18th hole fourth playoff seal win 23yearold dp world tour championship november sundays victory second pga tour hard explain means right rahm told golf channel good feeling going today one us either one us wouldve well deserved champion rahm entered tournament worlds number three victory pushes past jordan spieth second spot hard believe honest passing jordan spieth said thats threetime major champion two wins hes got 10plus right ive said many times never thought going point life right slideshow 3 images rahm started final day two behind 54hole leader austin cook landry one behind cooks chances faded went three six holes martin piller john huh adam hadwin finished 20under writing jahmal corner los angeles editing peter rutherford standards thomson reuters trust principles seoul reuters north korean leader kim jong un wife ri sol ju among hundreds pyongyang sunday watching south korean kpop singers perform north first time decade tensions old rivals thaw first time north korean leader attended south korean performance norths capital kim seen clapping tune songs took photographs performers show dear leader comrade said heart swelled moved sight people deepen understanding south korean popular culture cheer sincerity norths kcna state media said north korean audience clapped cheered sang along songs later presented south korean performers bouquets kim jong un showed much interest show asked questions songs lyrics culture minister jongwhan told reporters show sundays performance coincided start annual joint south koreanus military drills previously met denunciations missile launches north delayed shortened year order overshadow olympic detente recent thaw relations could even lead summit kim us president donald trump may follows months increased tensions north korea conducted missile launches nuclear test last year defiance united nations security council sanctions sundays concert held title spring coming east pyongyang grand theatre performed elite lineup south korean artists including veteran vocalists cho yongpil lee sunhee rock star yoon dohyun singer baek jiyoung well kpop girl band red velvet like concert title performance brought spring peace two koreas kim also cited saying norths central news agency expressed wishes prosperous autumn north korean leaders face slightly flushed group photograph performers distributed north korean state media seen another directly addressing members red velvet commands 46 million followers instagram north korean staff spotted outside performers dressing rooms using japanmade electronic devices serve coffee cupcakes including western lavazza coffeemate products according south korean media pool report significant thaw sundays twohour concert pyongyang along separate taekwondo performance earlier day came south koreas engagement north korea grown since kim expressed willingness contact two countries athletes north south korea marched unified peninsula flag opening ceremony pyeongchang winter olympics february significant thaw interkorean relations led set date first summit decade april 27 two koreas technically still war 19501953 conflict ended ceasefire rather peace agreement south korean delegation included artists concert staff taekwondo demonstrators reporters government officials traveled pyongyang saturday reciprocal cultural visit north korea sent performers south february souths culture ministry said north korean leader kim jong un meets south korean kpop singers photo released north koreas korean central news agency kcna pyongyang april 2 2018 kcnavia reuters addition concert team south korean taekwondo demonstrators performed sunday pyongyang taekwondo hall drawing 2300 north koreans including choe hwi chairman national sports guidance committee banned media images kim posing laughing young south korean pop stars applauding stands contrasts reports north korean defectors say overseen crackdown foreign media north korean refugees overwhelmingly consistently report become dangerous consume foreign media kim jong uns crackdowns sokeel park south korea country director refugee aid organization liberty north korea said twitter 2015 survey north korean refugees conducted us governments broadcasting board governors found 77 percent respondents said become dangerous listen foreign radio kim south korean movies often reported especially taboo compared chinese films according report intermedia consultancy group north koreans potentially facing prison time caught slideshow 6 images seohyun actress vocalist south korean girl group girls generation sang north korean pop song called blue willow tree performed norths samjiyon orchestra seoul february cho yongpil 68 sang string hits including cafe winter short hair lets go trip cho staged solo concert pyongyang 2005 last concert south korean artist north sundays performance south korean singers hold joint concert north korean performers tuesday ryukyung chung ju yung gymnasium joint project north south named hyundai group billionaire founder chung juyung long advocated interkorean cultural economic exchanges kim planning attend tuesday performance decided watch sundays show due political schedules kcna south korean officials said reporting heekyong yang christine kim additional reporting josh smith editing louise heavens peter cooney paul tait standards thomson reuters trust principles houstonreuters latin america year host licensing rounds history opening 1100 oil gas blocks foreign capital mexico started calendar january round attracted 93 billion investment pledges followed another securing 8 billion march brazil drew 24 billion pledges offshore areas top 30 billion october bidding round following list expected bidding rounds country year mexico july onshore round allocate 37 areas followed nine unconventional blocks results due september mexico also hopes schedule auction heavy oil areas gulfs shallow waters late year brazil brazil host another large offshore auction year government preparing transfer rights staterun petrobras petr4sa country plans permanent offer 850 onshore offshore blocks starting may number could climb 1700 areas 2019 south american country reducing royalties bordering mature fields worked hard recent years relax local content rules issue seen past major obstacle investment colombia may colombia expects begin offering 25 onshore offshore blocks permanent auction similar brazil planning process follow sinusan jacinto round including 15 areas awarded early april countrys regulator also talks holders nine permits seismic studies caribbean sea convert exploration production contracts uruguay results third offshore round could disclosed late april including 17 blocks exploration production exclusive economic zone nation offering less demanding qualification conditions mandatory exploration terms according government petroleo brasileiro sa petrobras 2141 petr4sa sao paulo stock exchange petr4sa paraguay staterun petroleos paraguayos plans relaunch second quarter auction find partners two exploration production areas failed attempt last year blocks petropar iii palo santo part five areas received petropar developed paraguays western zone near border bolivia argentina argentina argentina appear late latin americas 2018 auction wave terms first offshore round due july results expected december auction mostly unexplored area covering 225000 kilometers atlantic coast include bidding bonuses according government interested firms propose blocks added offer reporting marianna parraga additional reporting daniela desantis asuncion paraguay neil marks georgetown guyana editing gary mcwilliams brian thevenot standards thomson reuters trust principles houston reuters decades many latin americas oilproducing nations often shunned investment foreign firms instead keeping vast reserves tight control governments staterun oil companies file photo view oil refinery ecopetrol barrancabermeja colombia march 1 2017 picture taken march 1 2017 reutersjaime saldarriaga aimed protect profits feed public budgets practice seen major breakdowns corruption scandals heavy debts brazils petroleo brasileiro sa pdvsaul inability mexicos pemexpemxul conjure cash expertise tap vast deepwater reserves unprecedented wave freemarket energy reforms gaining traction across region setting fierce competition attract billions dollars investment likes exxon mobil xomn bp bpl royal dutch shell rdsal seven governments year combine hold least 15 oil gas auctions offering record 1100 blocks onshore offshore acreage according interviews officials tally announced auctions thursday brazils latest auction collected 24 billion pledges awarding 22 68 regions offer 2018 countries region host licensing rounds history said pablo medina vice president energy consultancy welligence graphic latin american oil auctions see tmsnrtrs2pw8i6y race private investment reflects acknowledgment many countries neither cash technology fully explore develop reserves embrace foreign capital argentina brazil ecuador also follows rise centrist rightleaning governments related coverage factbox latin america holding record number oil auctions year also signals willingness governments settle smaller cut profits could slimmed competition attract investment governments offer tax incentives reduced royalties inducements glaring exception venezuela staterun pdvsa remains firm control leftist government throes economic political meltdown elsewhere emerging reforms giving oil majors independent producers pick regions richest resources shut markets waiting years right moment invest also face risk governments could shift back resource nationalization lose political fully establish market reforms oil price drop could also undermine profits longterm expensive projects love continent know well need make sure spend money wisely said michel hourcard senior vice president development exploration production frances total totfpa industry conference houston last month incentives invest groundbreaking regulatory changes latin america include tax breaks reduced royalties longer contracts relaxed qualification terms flexible exploration mandates allow companies back investments easily past brazil colombia also plan set permanent offers areas exploration production similar offered united states rather making available occasional auctions ecuador offering sharedprofit agreements potentially lucrative oil firms feeforservice contracts prevented companies benefiting oil price gains countries present terms attractive enough draw bidders back region said julie wilson research director global exploration consultancy wood mackenzie 110 billion pledges strong participation oil majors recent auctions exploration production rights mexico brazil heralded new era attracting 110 billion investment pledges brazil started effort lure outside capital two decades ago fell flat initially enticing 100 companies said decio oddone head brazils oil regulator effort stymied areas offered auction low quality projects dominant role staterun petrobras many companies expected success oddone said brazil relaxing bidding rules encourage local firms mediumsize foreign explorers participate joining majors already established vast presalt region mexico political risks hampered recent auction march bidding dominated staterun pemex frontrunner presidential election set july promised scrutinize nations energy reforms industry leaders believe country stay path opening everything exploration refining gasoline retailing clear longterm strategy said jeremy weir chief executive trading firm trafigura trafgful broad participation european us asian firms several auctions another sign mexican revival underway added fatih birol president international energy agency 29nation group representing worlds top oil consuming nations mexicos brazils efforts copied exxon mobil corp 7461 xomn new york stock exchange xomn bpl rdsal totfpa argentina allowing oil companies recommend specific areas would like see auctioned mexico past rounds colombia open permanent offer areas brazil plans mexico plans replicate brazils threeyear auction calendar giving firms time plan capital spending bidding rounds countries keenly aware need adjust policies compete nations according juan carlos zepeda head nations energy regulator national hydrocarbons commission cnh flexible enough accommodate neighbors creativity said higher risk higher reward compared brazil mexico argentina uruguay year hope catch investors offers hold greater exploration risk potentially higher rewards argentina officials believe brazils oilrich presalt formation could extend areas atlantic coast july release terms first offshore auction big change nation six year ago expropriated spanish oil firm repsols stake stateowned ypf ypfbba unlike rounds argentinas vast vaca muerta shale formation led locally provincial governments nations central government run years auctions standardizing rules offering better terms uruguay holds third offshore auction april putting 17 blocks exploration production relaxing qualification terms reducing scope mandatory exploration programs smaller latin american countries including guyana suriname paraguay talks oil companies offer rights oilfields find partners staterun oil firms similar energy market openings blossomed past fade governments reverted resource nationalization imposed limits foreign investment latin america seesawed prior decades opening private investment returning oil nationalism part cycle countries tend ask oil companies much said horacio cuenca wood mackenzies director upstream research latin america lower costs royalties available capital starts drying reporting marianna parraga additional reporting ernest scheyder editing gary mcwilliams brian thevenot standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters us stock index futures fell first trading day new quarter chinas decision raise import tariffs us products rekindled global trade war fears technology stocks showed little signs recovery file photo traders work floor new york stock exchange nyse new york us march 29 2018 reutersbrendan mcdermid nasdaq futures nqc1 pointed 06 percent decline open monday big names including facebook fbo amazon amzno fell premarket trading china late sunday said would increase tariffs 25 percent 128 us products frozen pork wine certain fruits nuts escalating spat worlds biggest economies move came response us duties imports aluminum steel us president donald trump separately preparing impose tariffs 50 billion targeting largely hightechnology chinese products 718 et dow eminis 1ymc1 113 points 047 percent 28512 contracts changing hands sampp 500 eminis esc1 11 points 042 percent 78340 contracts traded nasdaq 100 eminis nqc1 5825 points 088 percent volume 32382 contracts facebook inc 15979 fbo nasdaq 000 000 fbo amzno spx dji tslao amazon fell 15 percent trump launched second attack weekend accusing worlds biggest online retailer getting unfairly cheap rates us postal service paying enough tax facebook marginally data scandal last month continued weigh monday brokerage pivotal research slashed price target 138 152 stellar gains 2017 early year sampp technology index splrct posted worst performance march nearly two years hit concerns possible trade war rising interest rates valuations technology sector sampp 500 spx dow jones industrial average dji posted worst declines two years quarter ended march nervous stock investors hoping unusually us strong earnings season restore optimism characterized equity markets last year tesla tslao shares fell 5 percent electric car maker said model x vehicle crashed autopilot company also announced recall reporting sruthi shankar bengaluru editing sriraj kalluvila standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 2,244 |
<p>NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Oklahoma is one team in this year's College Football Playoff that is not like the others.</p>
<p>When it comes to regional distinctions, the Sooners are the only team left that can loosen the virtual stranglehold that the Southeastern U.S. has had on college football's national championship for the past decade.</p>
<p>Of the 11 national championship games since the 2006 season, 10 have been won by six teams based in the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina, "which is crazy," said Clemson defensive lineman Christian Wilkins, one of the best players in the playoffs but who isn't from the Southeast. He is from Massachusetts.</p>
<p>Odds are, the winner will come from the Southeast again this year, with the other three semifinalists being Alabama, Clemson and Georgia.</p>
<p>It begs the question, are college football players and fans from the Midwest to the West Coast starting to feel a little disenfranchised as it pertains to the privilege of celebrating national titles?</p>
<p>"There are still some strong football programs outside the Southeast that really care about football and have fans that are very passionate," said Clemson co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott. "But there's probably a heavier concentration in the Southeast.</p>
<p>"College football is probably bigger than the NFL in a lot of places around the Southeast," Scott added. "In other parts of the country, that's not true."</p>
<p>There is at least anecdotal evidence to support Scott's contention.</p>
<p>As popular as the Saints are in Louisiana, there's a common refrain that people love the Saints on Sundays and are LSU fans six days a week. In Georgia, the Bulldogs arguably trump the Falcons in terms of popularity, particularly outside Atlanta.</p>
<p>In several football-mad states such as Alabama and South Carolina, there are no pro teams, and the major college teams are institutions with long histories and enormous followings.</p>
<p>"People eat, sleep and breathe everything football down south and it's not exactly the same up north," Wilkins said. "It was a little bit of a culture shock when I got down here and got to see the Saturday game day environment, just completely different than I had ever been used to or ever seen."</p>
<p>ESPN's Chris Fowler said it likely helps the ratings if all regions are represented, then all fans are probably more engaged.</p>
<p>"But you have to select teams to the playoff purely on merit. You can't worry about the league. You can't worry about the region," said Fowler, the network's lead college football announcer. "You have to pick the four best teams. And if the four best teams are all from the Southeast, or three out of the four, then so be it.</p>
<p>"If you're from another part of the country, then go get better."</p>
<p>Whatever the reason for the Southeast's success, the optics of supreme football in the region has been a powerful reality in recruiting — the lifeblood of major college football.</p>
<p>With the help of enhanced television exposure and the growth of social media, the historically strong programs in the Southeast have been able to parlay their extraordinary local support into not just keeping a lot of top players close to home, but also attracting some of the best from outside the region.</p>
<p>Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick, recently named the Bednarik Award winner as the nation's top defensive player, is from New Jersey.</p>
<p>"There's a whole bunch of different things that played into my decision ... but one of them was the challenge that it posed, being in the Southeastern Conference," Fitzpatrick said. "There's a lot of talent here. The demands that it placed on me and my teammates — I thought it would make me the best player possible."</p>
<p>Scott's experience as a recruiter is that social media has allowed schools from the Southeast to better connect with recruits everywhere in the past 10 to 15 years and give them a taste of their programs' tradition, history and enormous fan bases.</p>
<p>"Ten or 15 years ago, I don't know that we could have gone up (to Massachusetts) and gotten a guy like Christian Wilkins. But for several years he's following Clemson football on social media. He's learning about The Rock, The Hill, all about our program," Scott said, referring to a pre-game ritual of touching Howard's Rock before trotting down an embankment to the field. "We feel like our brand is out there all over the country more than it was 10 years ago."</p>
<p>Alabama punter J.K. Scott, a two-time Ray Guy Award finalist, said he wasn't keenly aware of Alabama football or its illustrious football history until he was being recruited during high school in Colorado.</p>
<p>Scott said the most popular sports among kids his age back home were lacrosse and soccer.</p>
<p>"The region where I came from, football was a big deal, but it wasn't nearly as big of a deal as down here," Scott said. "People put a lot more of their time into it in the Southeast. Culturally, it's so much bigger. I don't know why that is, but I think it might have something to do with why the programs are so big. There's so much support, so much money coming in.</p>
<p>"That's a recruiting tool because Alabama and other schools have the ability to build really nice facilities."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>AP College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP college football: <a href="https://collegefootball.ap.org" type="external">https://collegefootball.ap.org</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_Top25" type="external">https://twitter.com/AP_Top25</a></p>
<p>NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Oklahoma is one team in this year's College Football Playoff that is not like the others.</p>
<p>When it comes to regional distinctions, the Sooners are the only team left that can loosen the virtual stranglehold that the Southeastern U.S. has had on college football's national championship for the past decade.</p>
<p>Of the 11 national championship games since the 2006 season, 10 have been won by six teams based in the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina, "which is crazy," said Clemson defensive lineman Christian Wilkins, one of the best players in the playoffs but who isn't from the Southeast. He is from Massachusetts.</p>
<p>Odds are, the winner will come from the Southeast again this year, with the other three semifinalists being Alabama, Clemson and Georgia.</p>
<p>It begs the question, are college football players and fans from the Midwest to the West Coast starting to feel a little disenfranchised as it pertains to the privilege of celebrating national titles?</p>
<p>"There are still some strong football programs outside the Southeast that really care about football and have fans that are very passionate," said Clemson co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott. "But there's probably a heavier concentration in the Southeast.</p>
<p>"College football is probably bigger than the NFL in a lot of places around the Southeast," Scott added. "In other parts of the country, that's not true."</p>
<p>There is at least anecdotal evidence to support Scott's contention.</p>
<p>As popular as the Saints are in Louisiana, there's a common refrain that people love the Saints on Sundays and are LSU fans six days a week. In Georgia, the Bulldogs arguably trump the Falcons in terms of popularity, particularly outside Atlanta.</p>
<p>In several football-mad states such as Alabama and South Carolina, there are no pro teams, and the major college teams are institutions with long histories and enormous followings.</p>
<p>"People eat, sleep and breathe everything football down south and it's not exactly the same up north," Wilkins said. "It was a little bit of a culture shock when I got down here and got to see the Saturday game day environment, just completely different than I had ever been used to or ever seen."</p>
<p>ESPN's Chris Fowler said it likely helps the ratings if all regions are represented, then all fans are probably more engaged.</p>
<p>"But you have to select teams to the playoff purely on merit. You can't worry about the league. You can't worry about the region," said Fowler, the network's lead college football announcer. "You have to pick the four best teams. And if the four best teams are all from the Southeast, or three out of the four, then so be it.</p>
<p>"If you're from another part of the country, then go get better."</p>
<p>Whatever the reason for the Southeast's success, the optics of supreme football in the region has been a powerful reality in recruiting — the lifeblood of major college football.</p>
<p>With the help of enhanced television exposure and the growth of social media, the historically strong programs in the Southeast have been able to parlay their extraordinary local support into not just keeping a lot of top players close to home, but also attracting some of the best from outside the region.</p>
<p>Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick, recently named the Bednarik Award winner as the nation's top defensive player, is from New Jersey.</p>
<p>"There's a whole bunch of different things that played into my decision ... but one of them was the challenge that it posed, being in the Southeastern Conference," Fitzpatrick said. "There's a lot of talent here. The demands that it placed on me and my teammates — I thought it would make me the best player possible."</p>
<p>Scott's experience as a recruiter is that social media has allowed schools from the Southeast to better connect with recruits everywhere in the past 10 to 15 years and give them a taste of their programs' tradition, history and enormous fan bases.</p>
<p>"Ten or 15 years ago, I don't know that we could have gone up (to Massachusetts) and gotten a guy like Christian Wilkins. But for several years he's following Clemson football on social media. He's learning about The Rock, The Hill, all about our program," Scott said, referring to a pre-game ritual of touching Howard's Rock before trotting down an embankment to the field. "We feel like our brand is out there all over the country more than it was 10 years ago."</p>
<p>Alabama punter J.K. Scott, a two-time Ray Guy Award finalist, said he wasn't keenly aware of Alabama football or its illustrious football history until he was being recruited during high school in Colorado.</p>
<p>Scott said the most popular sports among kids his age back home were lacrosse and soccer.</p>
<p>"The region where I came from, football was a big deal, but it wasn't nearly as big of a deal as down here," Scott said. "People put a lot more of their time into it in the Southeast. Culturally, it's so much bigger. I don't know why that is, but I think it might have something to do with why the programs are so big. There's so much support, so much money coming in.</p>
<p>"That's a recruiting tool because Alabama and other schools have the ability to build really nice facilities."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>AP College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP college football: <a href="https://collegefootball.ap.org" type="external">https://collegefootball.ap.org</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_Top25" type="external">https://twitter.com/AP_Top25</a></p>
| false | 2 |
new orleans ap oklahoma one team years college football playoff like others comes regional distinctions sooners team left loosen virtual stranglehold southeastern us college footballs national championship past decade 11 national championship games since 2006 season 10 six teams based states alabama florida louisiana south carolina crazy said clemson defensive lineman christian wilkins one best players playoffs isnt southeast massachusetts odds winner come southeast year three semifinalists alabama clemson georgia begs question college football players fans midwest west coast starting feel little disenfranchised pertains privilege celebrating national titles still strong football programs outside southeast really care football fans passionate said clemson cooffensive coordinator jeff scott theres probably heavier concentration southeast college football probably bigger nfl lot places around southeast scott added parts country thats true least anecdotal evidence support scotts contention popular saints louisiana theres common refrain people love saints sundays lsu fans six days week georgia bulldogs arguably trump falcons terms popularity particularly outside atlanta several footballmad states alabama south carolina pro teams major college teams institutions long histories enormous followings people eat sleep breathe everything football south exactly north wilkins said little bit culture shock got got see saturday game day environment completely different ever used ever seen espns chris fowler said likely helps ratings regions represented fans probably engaged select teams playoff purely merit cant worry league cant worry region said fowler networks lead college football announcer pick four best teams four best teams southeast three four youre another part country go get better whatever reason southeasts success optics supreme football region powerful reality recruiting lifeblood major college football help enhanced television exposure growth social media historically strong programs southeast able parlay extraordinary local support keeping lot top players close home also attracting best outside region alabama defensive back minkah fitzpatrick recently named bednarik award winner nations top defensive player new jersey theres whole bunch different things played decision one challenge posed southeastern conference fitzpatrick said theres lot talent demands placed teammates thought would make best player possible scotts experience recruiter social media allowed schools southeast better connect recruits everywhere past 10 15 years give taste programs tradition history enormous fan bases ten 15 years ago dont know could gone massachusetts gotten guy like christian wilkins several years hes following clemson football social media hes learning rock hill program scott said referring pregame ritual touching howards rock trotting embankment field feel like brand country 10 years ago alabama punter jk scott twotime ray guy award finalist said wasnt keenly aware alabama football illustrious football history recruited high school colorado scott said popular sports among kids age back home lacrosse soccer region came football big deal wasnt nearly big deal scott said people put lot time southeast culturally much bigger dont know think might something programs big theres much support much money coming thats recruiting tool alabama schools ability build really nice facilities ___ ap college football writer ralph russo contributed report ___ ap college football httpscollegefootballaporg httpstwittercomap_top25 new orleans ap oklahoma one team years college football playoff like others comes regional distinctions sooners team left loosen virtual stranglehold southeastern us college footballs national championship past decade 11 national championship games since 2006 season 10 six teams based states alabama florida louisiana south carolina crazy said clemson defensive lineman christian wilkins one best players playoffs isnt southeast massachusetts odds winner come southeast year three semifinalists alabama clemson georgia begs question college football players fans midwest west coast starting feel little disenfranchised pertains privilege celebrating national titles still strong football programs outside southeast really care football fans passionate said clemson cooffensive coordinator jeff scott theres probably heavier concentration southeast college football probably bigger nfl lot places around southeast scott added parts country thats true least anecdotal evidence support scotts contention popular saints louisiana theres common refrain people love saints sundays lsu fans six days week georgia bulldogs arguably trump falcons terms popularity particularly outside atlanta several footballmad states alabama south carolina pro teams major college teams institutions long histories enormous followings people eat sleep breathe everything football south exactly north wilkins said little bit culture shock got got see saturday game day environment completely different ever used ever seen espns chris fowler said likely helps ratings regions represented fans probably engaged select teams playoff purely merit cant worry league cant worry region said fowler networks lead college football announcer pick four best teams four best teams southeast three four youre another part country go get better whatever reason southeasts success optics supreme football region powerful reality recruiting lifeblood major college football help enhanced television exposure growth social media historically strong programs southeast able parlay extraordinary local support keeping lot top players close home also attracting best outside region alabama defensive back minkah fitzpatrick recently named bednarik award winner nations top defensive player new jersey theres whole bunch different things played decision one challenge posed southeastern conference fitzpatrick said theres lot talent demands placed teammates thought would make best player possible scotts experience recruiter social media allowed schools southeast better connect recruits everywhere past 10 15 years give taste programs tradition history enormous fan bases ten 15 years ago dont know could gone massachusetts gotten guy like christian wilkins several years hes following clemson football social media hes learning rock hill program scott said referring pregame ritual touching howards rock trotting embankment field feel like brand country 10 years ago alabama punter jk scott twotime ray guy award finalist said wasnt keenly aware alabama football illustrious football history recruited high school colorado scott said popular sports among kids age back home lacrosse soccer region came football big deal wasnt nearly big deal scott said people put lot time southeast culturally much bigger dont know think might something programs big theres much support much money coming thats recruiting tool alabama schools ability build really nice facilities ___ ap college football writer ralph russo contributed report ___ ap college football httpscollegefootballaporg httpstwittercomap_top25
| 980 |
<p>(Repeats with new media identifier, no changes to text)</p>
<p>PARIS, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Philippe Knoche, chief executive officer of French uranium and nuclear fuel group Orano - formerly called Areva - said current market prices for uranium are too low to invest in new uranium mines.</p>
<p>He added that long-term contract prices for uranium are about $10 per pound higher than spot prices.</p>
<p>Knoche, speaking to reporters at the presentation of the company’s new name and logo, also said that selling a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant to China was not essential for the company’s survival.</p>
<p>Knoche added that Orano aims to be cash flow positive from this year onwards and for the coming years, and that it aims to get 30 percent of turnover from Asia by 2020, compared to 20 percent at present. (Reporting by Geert De Clercq; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis, starting Holy Week services leading to Easter, urged young people on Sunday to keep shouting and not allow the older generations to silence their voices or anesthetize their idealism.</p> Pope Francis blesses faithful gathered to attend the Palm Sunday Mass in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, March 25, 2018 REUTERS/Tony Gentile
<p>Francis spoke a day after hundreds of thousands of young Americans and their supporters answered a call to action from survivors of last month’s Florida high school massacre and rallied across the United States to demand tighter gun laws.</p>
<p>He did not mention the demonstrations. Catholic News Service (CNS) said Gabriella Zuniga, 16, and her sister Valentina, 15, both students from Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, where 17 people were killed in February, attended the service with their parents.</p>
<p>CNS posted a photo of the two holding up signs in St. Peter’s Square, with one reading, “Protect Our Children, Not Our Guns.”</p>
<p>The 81-year-old Francis led a long and solemn Palm Sunday service before tens of thousands in the square, many of them young people there for the Catholic Church’s World Day of Youth.</p>
<p>Carrying a woven palm branch known as a “palmurello,” Francis led a procession in front of the largest church in Christendom to commemorate the day the Bible says Jesus rode into Jerusalem and was hailed as a savior, only to be crucified five days later.</p> “YOU HAVE IT IN YOU TO SHOUT”
<p>Drawing on biblical parallels, Francis urged the young people in the crowd not to let themselves be manipulated.</p> Pope Francis holds palm as he leads the Palm Sunday Mass in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, March 25, 2018 REUTERS/Tony Gentile
<p>“The temptation to silence young people has always existed,” Francis said in the homily of a Mass.</p>
<p>“There are many ways to silence young people and make them invisible. Many ways to anesthetize them, to make them keep quiet, ask nothing, question nothing. There are many ways to sedate them, to keep them from getting involved, to make their dreams flat and dreary, petty and plaintive,” he said.</p>
<p>“Dear young people, you have it in you to shout,” he told young people, urging them to be like the people who welcomed Jesus with palms rather than those who shouted for his crucifixion only days later.</p> Slideshow (10 Images)
<p>“It is up to you not to keep quiet. Even if others keep quiet, if we older people and leaders, some corrupt, keep quiet, if the whole world keeps quiet and loses its joy, I ask you: Will you cry out?”</p>
<p>The young people in the crowd shouted, “Yes!”</p>
<p>While Francis did not mention Saturday’s marches in the United States, he has often condemned weapons manufacturing and mass shootings.</p>
<p>Palm Sunday marked the start of a hectic week of activities for the pope.</p>
<p>On Holy Thursday he is due to preside at two services, including one in which he will wash the feet of 12 inmates in a Rome jail to commemorate Jesus’ gesture of humility toward his apostles the night before he died.</p>
<p>On Good Friday, he is due to lead a Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) procession at Rome’s Colosseum. On Saturday night he leads a Easter vigil service and on Easter Sunday he delivers his twice-yearly “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) message.</p>
<p>Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Mark Heinrich</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>BARCELONA/BERLIN (Reuters) - Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont was detained on Sunday in Germany five months after he went into self-imposed exile from Spain, where he faces up to 25 years in prison for organizing an illegal referendum on secession last year.</p>
<p>Puigdemont had entered Germany from Denmark after leaving Finland on Friday when it appeared police would arrest him there and begin an extradition process requested by Spain. [nL8N1R60CR]</p>
<p>The detention threatens to worsen the Catalan crisis which flared last year when the region made a symbolic declaration of independence, prompting Madrid to take direct rule.</p>
<p>Pro-independence groups called on Sunday for a protest in Barcelona in support of Puigdemont outside the offices of the delegation of the European Commission and the German consulate.</p>
<p>German police said they had arrested Puigdemont in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein on a European arrest warrant issued by Spain.</p>
<p>In a statement, police said Puigdemont was detained near a section of the A7 highway which cuts through the state from the city of Flensburg near the Danish border.</p>
<p>Police did not say exactly where Puigdemont, who had been living in Brussels since late October, was being held but the Spanish press said he was at a police station in the nearby town of Schuby.</p>
<p>German magazine Focus said Spanish intelligence informed the BKA federal police that Puigdemont was on his way from Finland to Germany. It gave no source for its report.</p>
<p>He had arrived in Finland on Thursday to meet lawmakers and attend a conference.</p> EXTRADITION ISSUE
<p>It is not clear if Puigdemont will be immediately extradited from Germany.</p> Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont speaks during his briefing on the situation in Catalonia at Finnish Parliament in Helsinki, Finland March 22, 2018. Lehtikuva/Martti Kainulainen via REUTERS
<p>The Spanish prosecutor’s office said on Sunday it was working closely with counterparts in Germany and EU agency Eurojust to provide all of the information needed to make the European arrest warrant for Puigdemont effective.</p>
<p>The European arrest warrant system in place since 2004 makes it easier for EU countries to demand the extradition from other EU states of people wanted for crimes, and removes political decision-making from the process.</p>
<p>EU countries issue thousands of such warrants each year.</p> Slideshow (2 Images)
<p>Puidgemont could take his case to Germany’s highest court, which had in 2005 blocked the extradition to Spain on an EU arrest warrant of a German-Syrian al-Qaeda suspect.</p>
<p>The case of Mamoun Darkazanli sparked a judicial row between the two countries after Germany’s Federal Constitutional court refused to turn over Darkazanli, saying that EU extradition laws designed to speed up the delivery of suspects between member states violated the rights of German citizens.</p>
<p>Puigdemont had previously made clear his preference to fight the extradition process from Belgium, where the former Catalan leader was heading at the time of his detention, according to Puigdemont’s spokesman, Joan Maria Pique.</p>
<p>“The president was going to Belgium to put himself, as always, at the disposal of Belgian justice,” Pique told Reuters.</p>
<p>The Spanish Supreme Court had issued an international arrest warrant against Puigdemont last year but withdrew it in December to avoid the risk of Belgian authorities granting him asylum.</p>
<p>Leaving Belgium had exposed him again to the risk of arrest.</p>
<p>Spain’s Supreme Court ruled on Friday that 25 Catalan leaders would be tried for rebellion, embezzlement or disobeying the state.</p>
<p>Supreme Court judge Pablo Llarena also sent five separatist leaders to pre-trial jail. Their detention sparked protests across Catalonia.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Andres Gonzalez in Madrid; Writing by Julien Toyer; Editing by Mark Heinrich/Keith Weir</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Ride-hailing firm Uber Technologies [UBER.UL] has agreed to sell its Southeast Asian business to bigger regional rival Grab, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said on Sunday, in what would be the U.S. company’s second retreat from Asia.</p> Uber's logo is pictured at its office in Tokyo, Japan, November 27, 2017. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
<p>The deal, which could be announced as early as Monday, marks the first big consolidation in the industry in Southeast Asia, home to about 640 million people, and will put pressure on rivals such as Indonesia’s Go-Jek, backed by Google and China’s Tencent Holdings.</p>
<p>As part of the transaction, Uber would get a stake of as much as 30 percent in the combined business, the source said. He did not want to be identified as the deal is not public yet.</p>
<p>A multi-billion dollar investment in Uber earlier this year by Japan’s SoftBank Group, already one of Grab’s main investors, had stoked expectations that Uber would consolidate its Southeast Asian business with Grab.</p> FILE PHOTO: New hires relax at a lounge area in a Grab office in Singapore September 23, 2016. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
<p>Grab’s deal with Uber would be similar to the one struck in China in 2016, when Didi Chuxing bought out Uber’s China business and handed over a stake in return.</p>
<p>During a visit to India in February, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi had, however, pledged to continue investing aggressively in Southeast Asia, even as the company expected to lose money in the fast growing market.</p>
<p>Both Grab and Uber have raised billions of dollars from global investors to fund their expansion plans, as they offer heavy discounts and promotions to attract both riders and drivers.</p>
<p>Uber declined to comment and Grab, which has an estimated valuation of about $6 billion, declined to comment.</p>
<p>Citing people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported earlier on Sunday that Uber had agreed to sell its Southeast Asian business to Grab.</p>
<p>Reporting by Anshuman Daga; Editing by Miyoung Kim/Keith Weir</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Fewer than half of Americans trust Facebook ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">FB.O</a>) to obey U.S. privacy laws, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Sunday, illustrating the challenge facing the social media network after a scandal over its handling of personal information.</p> FILE PHOTO: A 3D-printed Facebook Like symbol is displayed inverted in front of a U.S. flag in this illustration taken, March 18, 2018. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
<p>The poll, taken Wednesday through Friday, also found that fewer Americans trust Facebook than other tech companies that gather user data, such as Apple Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AAPL.O" type="external">AAPL.O</a>), Alphabet Inc’s Google ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GOOGL.O" type="external">GOOGL.O</a>), Amazon.com Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AMZN.O" type="external">AMZN.O</a>), Microsoft Corp ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=MSFT.O" type="external">MSFT.O</a>) and Yahoo.</p>
<p>Some 41 percent of Americans trust Facebook to obey laws that protect their personal information, compared with 66 percent who said they trust Amazon, 62 percent who trust Google, 60 percent for Microsoft and 47 percent for Yahoo.</p>
<p>The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online in English throughout the United States. It gathered responses from 2,237 people and has a credibility interval, a measure of accuracy, of 2 percentage points. (Graphic: <a href="https://tmsnrt.rs/2pA8DoG" type="external">tmsnrt.rs/2pA8DoG</a>)</p>
<p>Facebook, the world’s largest social media firm, has been offering apologies as it tries to repair its reputation among users, advertisers, lawmakers and investors for mistakes that let 50 million users’ data get into the hands of political consultancy Cambridge Analytica.</p>
<p>Facebook shares tumbled 14 percent last week, while the hashtag #DeleteFacebook gained traction online and the company’s chief executive officer, Mark Zuckerberg, faced demands that he appear before U.S. lawmakers to testify in a hearing.</p>
<p>Zuckerberg and Facebook’s chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg, said last week that shoring up trust was their priority. “We know this is an issue of trust. We know this is a critical moment for our company,” Sandberg told CNBC on Thursday.</p>
<p>It is too early to say if distrust will cause people to step back from Facebook, eMarketer analyst Debra Williamson said. Customers of banks or other industries do not necessarily quit after losing faith, she said.</p>
<p>“It’s psychologically harder to let go of a platform like Facebook that’s become pretty well ingrained into people’s lives,” she said.</p>
<p>One reason that Facebook and other internet companies collect personal information from users is to deliver advertisements for products and services to people who are most likely to want them.</p>
<p>Facebook, with more than 2 billion monthly active users, made almost all its $40.6 billion in revenue last year from advertising.</p>
<p>The poll found that many people take a dim view of those “targeted” advertisements.</p>
<p>Some 63 percent said they would like to see “less targeted advertising” in the future, while 9 percent said they wanted more. When asked to compare them with traditional forms of advertising, 41 percent said targeted ads are “worse” while 21 percent said they are “better.”</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">Facebook Inc</a> 159.39 FB.O Nasdaq -5.50 (-3.34%) FB.O AAPL.O GOOGL.O AMZN.O MSFT.O
<p>“I think they make a lot of assumptions that are not true,” poll respondent Maria Curran, 56, who lives near Manchester, New Hampshire, said in a follow-up interview.</p>
<p>“It’s like if I show an interest in healthy eating, all of a sudden all of the ads are about weight control and exercise and how to lose weight. I just get inundated,” she said.</p>
<p>Curran said she knows online retailer Amazon.com also collects her information for targeted marketing, but that it is less annoying because it is a shopping site, not a place for personal conversations.</p>
<p>Another poll respondent, Kamaal Greene, 26, said he likes targeted ads better than traditional ones because they provide a service, steering him to products he wants.</p>
<p>“A while ago I was looking for a special kind of glove for my job,” said Greene, a firefighter from Detroit.</p>
<p>“I put it in my Amazon cart and forgot about it. Then, later, the ad popped up on ... Facebook, and I was like ‘oh shoot.’ It reminded me and I clicked on it and bought it.”</p>
<p>A plurality of adults said they would like the government to take a bigger role in overseeing the industry’s handling of user information. According to the poll, 46 percent of adults said they want more government regulation, while 17 percent said they want less. Another 20 percent said they wanted no change, and the remaining 18 percent said they did not know.</p>
<p>Reporting by Chris Kahn in New York and David Ingram in San Francisco; Editing by Leslie Adler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
repeats new media identifier changes text paris jan 23 reuters philippe knoche chief executive officer french uranium nuclear fuel group orano formerly called areva said current market prices uranium low invest new uranium mines added longterm contract prices uranium 10 per pound higher spot prices knoche speaking reporters presentation companys new name logo also said selling nuclear fuel reprocessing plant china essential companys survival knoche added orano aims cash flow positive year onwards coming years aims get 30 percent turnover asia 2020 compared 20 percent present reporting geert de clercq editing sudip kargupta standards thomson reuters trust principles vatican city reuters pope francis starting holy week services leading easter urged young people sunday keep shouting allow older generations silence voices anesthetize idealism pope francis blesses faithful gathered attend palm sunday mass saint peters square vatican march 25 2018 reuterstony gentile francis spoke day hundreds thousands young americans supporters answered call action survivors last months florida high school massacre rallied across united states demand tighter gun laws mention demonstrations catholic news service cns said gabriella zuniga 16 sister valentina 15 students stoneman douglas high school florida 17 people killed february attended service parents cns posted photo two holding signs st peters square one reading protect children guns 81yearold francis led long solemn palm sunday service tens thousands square many young people catholic churchs world day youth carrying woven palm branch known palmurello francis led procession front largest church christendom commemorate day bible says jesus rode jerusalem hailed savior crucified five days later shout drawing biblical parallels francis urged young people crowd let manipulated pope francis holds palm leads palm sunday mass saint peters square vatican march 25 2018 reuterstony gentile temptation silence young people always existed francis said homily mass many ways silence young people make invisible many ways anesthetize make keep quiet ask nothing question nothing many ways sedate keep getting involved make dreams flat dreary petty plaintive said dear young people shout told young people urging like people welcomed jesus palms rather shouted crucifixion days later slideshow 10 images keep quiet even others keep quiet older people leaders corrupt keep quiet whole world keeps quiet loses joy ask cry young people crowd shouted yes francis mention saturdays marches united states often condemned weapons manufacturing mass shootings palm sunday marked start hectic week activities pope holy thursday due preside two services including one wash feet 12 inmates rome jail commemorate jesus gesture humility toward apostles night died good friday due lead via crucis way cross procession romes colosseum saturday night leads easter vigil service easter sunday delivers twiceyearly urbi et orbi city world message reporting philip pullella editing mark heinrich standards thomson reuters trust principles barcelonaberlin reuters former catalan leader carles puigdemont detained sunday germany five months went selfimposed exile spain faces 25 years prison organizing illegal referendum secession last year puigdemont entered germany denmark leaving finland friday appeared police would arrest begin extradition process requested spain nl8n1r60cr detention threatens worsen catalan crisis flared last year region made symbolic declaration independence prompting madrid take direct rule proindependence groups called sunday protest barcelona support puigdemont outside offices delegation european commission german consulate german police said arrested puigdemont northern state schleswigholstein european arrest warrant issued spain statement police said puigdemont detained near section a7 highway cuts state city flensburg near danish border police say exactly puigdemont living brussels since late october held spanish press said police station nearby town schuby german magazine focus said spanish intelligence informed bka federal police puigdemont way finland germany gave source report arrived finland thursday meet lawmakers attend conference extradition issue clear puigdemont immediately extradited germany former catalan leader carles puigdemont speaks briefing situation catalonia finnish parliament helsinki finland march 22 2018 lehtikuvamartti kainulainen via reuters spanish prosecutors office said sunday working closely counterparts germany eu agency eurojust provide information needed make european arrest warrant puigdemont effective european arrest warrant system place since 2004 makes easier eu countries demand extradition eu states people wanted crimes removes political decisionmaking process eu countries issue thousands warrants year slideshow 2 images puidgemont could take case germanys highest court 2005 blocked extradition spain eu arrest warrant germansyrian alqaeda suspect case mamoun darkazanli sparked judicial row two countries germanys federal constitutional court refused turn darkazanli saying eu extradition laws designed speed delivery suspects member states violated rights german citizens puigdemont previously made clear preference fight extradition process belgium former catalan leader heading time detention according puigdemonts spokesman joan maria pique president going belgium put always disposal belgian justice pique told reuters spanish supreme court issued international arrest warrant puigdemont last year withdrew december avoid risk belgian authorities granting asylum leaving belgium exposed risk arrest spains supreme court ruled friday 25 catalan leaders would tried rebellion embezzlement disobeying state supreme court judge pablo llarena also sent five separatist leaders pretrial jail detention sparked protests across catalonia additional reporting andres gonzalez madrid writing julien toyer editing mark heinrichkeith weir standards thomson reuters trust principles singapore reuters ridehailing firm uber technologies uberul agreed sell southeast asian business bigger regional rival grab source direct knowledge matter said sunday would us companys second retreat asia ubers logo pictured office tokyo japan november 27 2017 reuterskim kyunghoon deal could announced early monday marks first big consolidation industry southeast asia home 640 million people put pressure rivals indonesias gojek backed google chinas tencent holdings part transaction uber would get stake much 30 percent combined business source said want identified deal public yet multibillion dollar investment uber earlier year japans softbank group already one grabs main investors stoked expectations uber would consolidate southeast asian business grab file photo new hires relax lounge area grab office singapore september 23 2016 reutersedgar sufile photo grabs deal uber would similar one struck china 2016 didi chuxing bought ubers china business handed stake return visit india february uber ceo dara khosrowshahi however pledged continue investing aggressively southeast asia even company expected lose money fast growing market grab uber raised billions dollars global investors fund expansion plans offer heavy discounts promotions attract riders drivers uber declined comment grab estimated valuation 6 billion declined comment citing people familiar matter bloomberg reported earlier sunday uber agreed sell southeast asian business grab reporting anshuman daga editing miyoung kimkeith weir standards thomson reuters trust principles new yorksan francisco reuters fewer half americans trust facebook fbo obey us privacy laws according reutersipsos poll released sunday illustrating challenge facing social media network scandal handling personal information file photo 3dprinted facebook like symbol displayed inverted front us flag illustration taken march 18 2018 reutersdado ruvicillustration poll taken wednesday friday also found fewer americans trust facebook tech companies gather user data apple inc aaplo alphabet incs google googlo amazoncom inc amzno microsoft corp msfto yahoo 41 percent americans trust facebook obey laws protect personal information compared 66 percent said trust amazon 62 percent trust google 60 percent microsoft 47 percent yahoo reutersipsos poll conducted online english throughout united states gathered responses 2237 people credibility interval measure accuracy 2 percentage points graphic tmsnrtrs2pa8dog facebook worlds largest social media firm offering apologies tries repair reputation among users advertisers lawmakers investors mistakes let 50 million users data get hands political consultancy cambridge analytica facebook shares tumbled 14 percent last week hashtag deletefacebook gained traction online companys chief executive officer mark zuckerberg faced demands appear us lawmakers testify hearing zuckerberg facebooks chief operating officer sheryl sandberg said last week shoring trust priority know issue trust know critical moment company sandberg told cnbc thursday early say distrust cause people step back facebook emarketer analyst debra williamson said customers banks industries necessarily quit losing faith said psychologically harder let go platform like facebook thats become pretty well ingrained peoples lives said one reason facebook internet companies collect personal information users deliver advertisements products services people likely want facebook 2 billion monthly active users made almost 406 billion revenue last year advertising poll found many people take dim view targeted advertisements 63 percent said would like see less targeted advertising future 9 percent said wanted asked compare traditional forms advertising 41 percent said targeted ads worse 21 percent said better facebook inc 15939 fbo nasdaq 550 334 fbo aaplo googlo amzno msfto think make lot assumptions true poll respondent maria curran 56 lives near manchester new hampshire said followup interview like show interest healthy eating sudden ads weight control exercise lose weight get inundated said curran said knows online retailer amazoncom also collects information targeted marketing less annoying shopping site place personal conversations another poll respondent kamaal greene 26 said likes targeted ads better traditional ones provide service steering products wants ago looking special kind glove job said greene firefighter detroit put amazon cart forgot later ad popped facebook like oh shoot reminded clicked bought plurality adults said would like government take bigger role overseeing industrys handling user information according poll 46 percent adults said want government regulation 17 percent said want less another 20 percent said wanted change remaining 18 percent said know reporting chris kahn new york david ingram san francisco editing leslie adler standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 1,501 |
<p>SUGEDIGI, Turkey (Reuters) - Turkish artillery fired into Syria’s Afrin region on Friday in what Ankara said was the start of a military campaign against the Kurdish-controlled area.</p>
<p>The cross-border bombardment took place after days of threats from Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to crush the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia in Afrin in response to growing Kurdish strength across a wide stretch of north Syria.</p>
<p>Direct military action against territory held by Kurdish militia would open a new front in Syria’s civil war and would see Ankara confronting Kurds allied to the United States at a time when Turkey’s relations with Washington are reaching breaking point.</p>
<p>“The operation has actually de facto started with cross-border shelling,” Turkish Defence Minister Nurettin Canikli said, adding that no troops had crossed into Afrin.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey-army/turkish-army-shells-kurdish-positions-in-syrias-afrin-military-idUSKBN1F909B" type="external">Turkish army shells Kurdish positions in Syria's Afrin: military</a>
<a href="/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey-russia/russia-reports-about-russian-army-withdrawing-from-syrias-afrin-denied-idUSKBN1F82G3" type="external">Russia: reports about Russian army withdrawing from Syria's Afrin denied</a>
<a href="/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey-usa/reported-turkish-activity-in-syrias-afrin-destabilizing-u-s-official-idUSKBN1F81WV" type="external">Reported Turkish activity in Syria's Afrin destabilizing: U.S. official</a>
<p>A U.S. State Department official said such moves would undermine regional stability and would not help protect Turkey’s border security.</p>
<p>“We do not believe that a military operation serves the cause of regional stability, Syrian stability or indeed Turkish concerns about the security of their border,” the official told reporters, stressing he had limited information about Turkey’s reported military moves.</p>
<p>“The kind of threats or activities which these initial reports may be referring to, we don’t think advance any of these issues. They are destabilizing.”</p>
<p>The United States has instead called on Turkey to focus on the fight against Islamic State militants and not take military action in Afrin.</p>
<p>Reuters TV filmed Turkish artillery at the border village of Sugedigi firing on Friday morning into Afrin region, and the YPG militia said Turkish forces fired 70 shells at Kurdish villages between midnight and Friday morning. Shelling continued in the late afternoon, said Rojhat Roj, a YPG spokesman in Afrin.</p>
<p>Roj said it was the heaviest Turkish bombardment since Ankara stepped up threats to take military action against the Kurdish region.</p>
<p>“YPG is ready to confront Turkish troops and FSA terrorists. If they dare to attack, we are ready to bury them one by one in Afrin,” a YPG statement said.</p>
<p>Separately, Russia’s RIA news agency quoted Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying that media reports on Russian military units withdrawing from the Afrin region had been denied, though he did specify who had denied them.</p>
<p>Turkey had sent its military chief to Moscow on Thursday to seek approval for an air campaign in Afrin, although Damascus warned it could shoot down any Turkish planes in its skies.</p> Trucks drive past by a military post near the town of Hassa on the Turkish-Syrian border in Hatay province, Turkey January 20, 2018. REUTERS/Osman Orsal ‘NO OTHER WAY’
<p>Canikli said Ankara was determined to destroy the Kurdish group. “All terror networks and elements in northern Syria will be eliminated. There is no other way,” he said.</p>
<p>“The operation in central Afrin may last a long time, but the terrorist organization will swiftly come undone there.”</p>
<p>Although Canikli said no Turkish troops have gone into Afrin, Turkish newspapers said 20 buses carrying Free Syrian Army rebels crossed on Friday from Turkey into a Turkish-controlled part of northern Syria, on Afrin’s eastern flank.</p>
<p>They said the FSA rebels would deploy near the town of Azaz, where Kurdish shelling overnight struck a psychiatric hospital. The Turkish armed forces said several civilians wounded in the attack were taken to Turkey for treatment, and Turkish television footage showed rubble and damaged walls.</p> Slideshow (2 Images)
<p>Turkey has been angered by U.S. military support for the Kurdish YPG-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces which spearheaded the fight against Islamic State in Syria, and by an announcement that the United States would stay in Syria to train about 30,000 personnel in the swathe of eastern Syria under SDF control.</p>
<p>Turkey says the YPG is a terrorist group and a branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party which has waged an insurgency in southeast Turkey for decades, and Canikli criticized Washington for its continued emphasis on countering Islamic State.</p>
<p>“The threat of Daesh has been removed in both Syria and Iraq. With this reality out in the open, a ‘focus on Daesh’ statement is truly a meaningless remark,” he said.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ece Toksabay in Ankara; Tom Perry and Lisa Barrington in Beirut; Arshad Mohammed in Washington; Writing by Dominic Evans; Editing by David Dolan, Angus MacSwan and Hugh Lawson</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey, Iran and Russia pledged on Wednesday to accelerate efforts to bring stability to Syria, underlining their joint commitment to the country a day after President Donald Trump raised the prospect of withdrawing U.S. troops.</p>
<p>A statement by the three countries after a summit meeting of their leaders in the Turkish capital Ankara said they were determined to “speed up their efforts to ensure calm on the ground” in Syria.</p>
<p>While their decision to work together has done little to reduce violence, in part because of their own military interventions on opposing sides, it underlined their central role just as questions grow over Washington’s presence in Syria.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-islamicstate/syrian-kurdish-leader-signals-possible-joint-action-with-iraq-idUSKCN1HB24G" type="external">Syrian Kurdish leader signals possible joint action with Iraq</a>
<p>A senior U.S. official said Trump wanted U.S. forces out of Syria relatively soon. “We’re not going to immediately withdraw but neither is the president willing to back a long-term commitment,” the official said.</p>
<p>Around 2,000 U.S. troops are deployed in northern Syria on a mission to battle the remnants of an Islamic State force that once controlled the area. Trump had said on Tuesday it was time to pull them out.</p>
<p>Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said developments in Syria, where the Syrian army and its allies have driven back rebels in recent years, showed that the United States had “failed to topple the Syrian government” of President Bashar al-Assad.</p>
<p>“They wanted to fuel insecurity in order to maintain their own interests but they have gained no success,” he told a news conference after talks with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He added, however, that he believed U.S. forces would stay in Syria.</p> RIFTS CONTINUE
<p>Iran and Russia have both strongly supported the Syrian president, while Turkey backed anti-Assad rebels. Those differences have continued on the ground despite their political cooperation aimed at winding down some of the violence.</p>
<p>Turkey has waged a military campaign to drive Kurdish YPG fighters from northwestern Syria’s Afrin district, while Russian air power and Iran-backed militias have supported Syrian army offensives in the Idlib and Ghouta regions.</p> Presidents Hassan Rouhani of Iran, Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and Vladimir Putin of Russia hold a joint news conference after their meeting in Ankara, Turkey April 4, 2018. REUTERS/Umit Bektas
<p>Iran’s state television quoted Rouhani as telling Erdogan and Putin that Afrin should be handed over to Syria’s army.</p>
<p>“The developments in Afrin can only be useful if they do not violate Syria’s territorial integrity, and control of these areas should be handed over to the Syrian army,” Rouhani said.</p>
<p>Erdogan has said the Turkish army will extend its military operation after Afrin to the town of Tel Rifaat and then further east along Syria’s border with Turkey - a prospect which has angered Tehran.</p> Slideshow (8 Images)
<p>“Whatever the intentions are, Turkey’s moves in Syria, whether in Afrin, Tel Rifaat or any other part of Syria, should be halted as soon as possible,” a senior Iranian official told Reuters before Wednesday’s talks.</p>
<p>Seated alongside Putin and Rouhani, Erdogan focused on areas of common ground, saying that Turkey wanted to build a mobile hospital to help treat civilians coming from formerly rebel-controlled parts of eastern Ghouta, on the edge of Damascus, which the Syrian army has taken over.</p>
<p>Rebel fighters and civilians who were evacuated from eastern Ghouta have been taken to the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib, which borders Turkey.</p>
<p>Erdogan proposed providing a bakery to help feed refugees and build housing on both sides of the border.</p>
<p>“We can save these people from tents and container cities by building housing. We can, all together, make that zone safe,” Erdogan said.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Denis Pinchuk, Ece Toksabay and Tuvan Gumrukcu; Writing by Dominic Evans; Editing by Catherine Evans and Richard Balmforth</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>IXTEPEC, Mexico/EDINBURG, Texas (Reuters) - In some of the Mexican towns playing host to a “caravan” of more than 1,200 Central American migrants heading to the U.S. border, the welcome mat has been rolled out despite President Donald Trump’s call for Mexican authorities to stop them.</p>
<p>Local officials have offered lodging in town squares and empty warehouses or arranged transport for the migrants, participants in a journey organized by the immigrant advocacy group Pueblo Sin Fronteras. The officials have conscripted buses, cars, ambulances and police trucks. But the help may not be entirely altruistic.</p>
<p>“The authorities want us to leave their cities,” said Rodrigo Abeja, an organizer from Pueblo Sin Fronteras. “They’ve been helping us, in part to speed the massive group out of their jurisdictions.”</p>
<p>At some point this spring, the caravan’s 2,000-mile (3,200-km) journey that began at Tapachula near the Guatemalan border on March 25 will end at the U.S. border, where some of its members will apply for asylum, while others will attempt to sneak into the United States.</p>
<p>Abeja said there was a lot of pressure from authorities to stop the caravan “because of Donald Trump’s reaction.” The Mexican government issued a statement late on Monday saying it was committed to “legal and orderly” migration.</p>
<p>The government said the caravan had been taking place since 2010 and was largely made up of Central Americans entering Mexico who had not met the necessary legal requirements.</p>
<p>“For this reason, participants in this (caravan) are subject to an administrative migratory procedure, while 400 have already been repatriated to their countries of origin, in strict accordance with the law and respecting their human rights,” it said.</p>
<p>Those without permission to stay in Mexico or who had failed to request it through the proper channels could expect to be returned to their homelands, a government official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.</p> ‘DOING LITTLE’
<p>Trump railed on Twitter against the caravan on Monday, accusing Mexico of “doing very little, if not NOTHING” to stop the flow of immigrants crossing the U.S. border illegally. “They must stop the big drug and people flows, or I will stop their cash cow, NAFTA,” he concluded.</p>
<p>Mexico’s interior minister Alfonso Navarrete did not directly address the caravan, but he wrote on Twitter that he spoke to the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen on Monday, and that the two had “agreed to analyze the best ways to attend to the flows of migrants in accordance with the laws of each country.”</p>
<p>Mexico must walk a delicate line with the United States because the countries are in the midst of renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) along with Canada.</p>
<p>At the same time, Mexican left-wing presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has an 18-point lead ahead of the July 1 election, according to a poll published on Monday.</p>
<p>A Lopez Obrador victory could usher in a Mexican government less accommodating toward the United States on both trade and immigration issues.</p>
<p>Mexican Senator Angelica de la Pena, who presides over the Senate’s human rights commission, told Reuters that Mexico should protect migrants’ rights despite the pressure from Trump. &#160;</p>
<p>Former President Vicente Fox called for Mexican officials to take a stand against Trump’s attacks.&#160;Trump keeps “blackmailing, offending and denigrating Mexico and Mexicans,” he wrote on Twitter on Monday.</p>
<p>Under Mexican law, Central Americans who enter Mexico legally are generally allowed to move freely through the country, even if their goal is to cross illegally into the United States.</p> ‘WE’RE SUFFERING’
<p>Migrants in the caravan cite a variety of reasons for joining it. Its members are disproportionately from Honduras, which has high levels of violence and has been rocked by political upheaval in recent months following the re-election of U.S.-backed president, Juan Orlando Hernández, in an intensely disputed election.</p> Central American migrants participating in a caravan heading to the U.S. take a pause from their journey in Matias Romero, Oaxaca, Mexico April 2, 2018. REUTERS/Jose de Jesus Cortes
<p>Maria Elena Colindres Ortega, a member of the caravan and, until January, a member of Congress in Honduras, said she is fleeing the political upheaval at home. “We’ve had to live through a fraudulent electoral process,” she said. “We’re suffering a progressive militarization and lack of institutions, and ... they’re criminalizing those who protested.”</p>
<p>Colindres Ortega, who opposed the ruling party in Honduras, said she spiraled into debt after serving without pay for the last 18 months of her four-year term. She decided to head north after a fellow congressman from her party put out word on Facebook that a caravan of migrants was gathering in southern Mexico, leaving home with a small bag with necessities and photos of her children.</p>
<p>Pueblo Sin Fronteras has helped coordinate migrant caravans for the past several years, although previously they had a maximum of several hundred participants. During the journey members of the organization instruct the migrants about their rights.</p>
<p>“We accompany at least those who want to request asylum,” said Alex Mensing, Pueblo Sin Fronteras’ program director. “We help prepare them for the detention process and asylum process before they cross the border, because it’s so difficult for people to have success if they don’t have the information.”</p>
<p>Typically, Central Americans have not fared well with U.S. asylum claims, particularly those from Honduras. A Reuters analysis of immigration court data found that Hondurans who come before the court receive deportation orders in more than 83 percent of cases, the highest rate of any nationality. Hondurans also face deportation in Mexico, where immigration data shows that 5,000 Hondurans were deported from Mexico in February alone, the highest number since May 2016.</p>
<p>Manuel Padilla, chief of the border patrol’s Rio Grande Valley sector, one of the busiest crossing points on the U.S. Mexico border, said in an interview with Reuters that he worries the caravan could “generate interest for other groups to do the same thing,” but he was not terribly nervous about coping with the group currently traveling.</p>
<p>“Not to be flippant,” Padilla said, “but it’s similar numbers to what we are seeing every day pretty much.”</p> Slideshow (6 Images)
<p>(This version of the story corrects spelling to Manuel from Maunel in penultimate paragraph)</p>
<p>Reporting by Delphine Schrank and Mica Rosenberg; Additional reporting by Dave Graham, Lizbeth Diaz, Diego Ore and Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Sue Horton, Lisa Shumaker and Paul Tait</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>ANKARA/ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Three foreign powers who have shaped Syria’s civil war - Iran, Russia and Turkey - will discuss ways to wind down the fighting on Wednesday despite their involvement in rival military campaigns on the ground.</p>
<p>The leaders of the three countries will meet in Ankara for talks on a new constitution for Syria and increasing security in “de-escalation” zones across the country, Turkish officials say.</p>
<p>The Syria summit brings together two powers which have been President Bashar al-Assad’s most forceful supporters, Iran and Russia, with one of his strongest opponents, Turkey.</p>
<p>Cooperation between the rival camps raised hopes of stabilizing Syria after seven years of conflict in which 500,000 people have been killed and half the population displaced.</p>
<p>But the violence has raged on, highlighting strategic rifts between the three countries who, in the absence of decisive Western intervention, hold Syria’s fate largely in their hands.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-mideast-crisis-iran-syria/u-s-and-israel-interfere-in-syria-says-iran-president-idUSKCN1HA1X6" type="external">U.S. and Israel interfere in Syria, says Iran president</a>
<p>Syria’s army and Iran-backed militias, with Russian air power, have crushed insurgents near Damascus in eastern Ghouta - one of the four mooted “de-escalation zones”.</p>
<p>Turkey, which sharply criticized the Ghouta offensive, waged its own military operation to drive Kurdish YPG fighters from the northwestern Syrian region of Afrin. It has pledged to take the town of Tel Rifaat and push further east, angering Iran.</p>
<p>“Whatever the intentions are, Turkey’s moves in Syria, whether in Afrin, Tel Rifaat or any other part of Syria, should be halted as soon as possible,” a senior Iranian official said.</p>
<p>Iran has been Assad’s most supportive ally throughout the conflict. Iran-backed militias first helped his army stem rebel advances and, following Russia’s entry into the war in 2015, turn the tide decisively in Assad’s favor.</p>
<p>A Turkish official said Ankara will ask Moscow to press Assad to grant more humanitarian access in Ghouta, and to rein in air strikes on rebel-held areas. “We expect ... Russia to control the regime more,” the official told reporters this week.</p> RIFTS OVER ASSAD
<p>Ankara’s relations with Moscow collapsed in 2015 when Turkey shot down a Russian warplane but have recovered since then - to the concern of Turkey’s Western allies.</p>
<p>Turkey was one of the few NATO partners not to expel Russian diplomats in response to a nerve agent attack on a former Russian agent which Britain blamed on Moscow - an allegation which Turkey said was not proven.</p>
<p>Improved political ties have been reflected in Turkey’s agreement to buy a Russian missile defence system and plans for Russia’s ROSATOM to build Turkey’s first nuclear power plant.</p>
<p>Turkey has also expanded relations with Iran, exchanging visits by military chiefs of staff, although its deepening ties with Tehran and Moscow have not translated into broader agreement on Syria’s future.</p>
<p>Iran remains determined that Assad stay in power, while Russia is less committed to keeping him in office, a regional diplomat said. Turkey says Assad has lost legitimacy, although it no longer demands his immediate departure.</p>
<p>At a meeting in Russia two months ago, boycotted by the leadership of Syria’s opposition, delegates agreed to set up a committee to rewrite Syria’s constitution and called for democratic elections.</p>
<p>Turkey says Wednesday’s meeting will discuss setting up the constitutional committee, humanitarian issues and developments in Syria’s northern Idlib region, which is under the control of rival rebel factions and jihadi groups, and where Turkey has set up seven military observation posts.</p> Syrian and Russian soldiers are seen at a checkpoint near Wafideen camp in Damascus, Syria March 2, 2018. REUTERS/Omar Sanadiki
<p>“There are issues where all three countries have different policies in Syria,” another Turkish official said. “In this regard, an aim is to find middle ground and create policies to improve the current situation.”</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Orhan Coskun and Tulay Karadeniz in Ankara, Writing by Dominic Evans, Editing by Angus MacSwan</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
sugedigi turkey reuters turkish artillery fired syrias afrin region friday ankara said start military campaign kurdishcontrolled area crossborder bombardment took place days threats turkish president tayyip erdogan crush syrian kurdish ypg militia afrin response growing kurdish strength across wide stretch north syria direct military action territory held kurdish militia would open new front syrias civil war would see ankara confronting kurds allied united states time turkeys relations washington reaching breaking point operation actually de facto started crossborder shelling turkish defence minister nurettin canikli said adding troops crossed afrin related coverage turkish army shells kurdish positions syrias afrin military russia reports russian army withdrawing syrias afrin denied reported turkish activity syrias afrin destabilizing us official us state department official said moves would undermine regional stability would help protect turkeys border security believe military operation serves cause regional stability syrian stability indeed turkish concerns security border official told reporters stressing limited information turkeys reported military moves kind threats activities initial reports may referring dont think advance issues destabilizing united states instead called turkey focus fight islamic state militants take military action afrin reuters tv filmed turkish artillery border village sugedigi firing friday morning afrin region ypg militia said turkish forces fired 70 shells kurdish villages midnight friday morning shelling continued late afternoon said rojhat roj ypg spokesman afrin roj said heaviest turkish bombardment since ankara stepped threats take military action kurdish region ypg ready confront turkish troops fsa terrorists dare attack ready bury one one afrin ypg statement said separately russias ria news agency quoted foreign minister sergei lavrov saying media reports russian military units withdrawing afrin region denied though specify denied turkey sent military chief moscow thursday seek approval air campaign afrin although damascus warned could shoot turkish planes skies trucks drive past military post near town hassa turkishsyrian border hatay province turkey january 20 2018 reutersosman orsal way canikli said ankara determined destroy kurdish group terror networks elements northern syria eliminated way said operation central afrin may last long time terrorist organization swiftly come undone although canikli said turkish troops gone afrin turkish newspapers said 20 buses carrying free syrian army rebels crossed friday turkey turkishcontrolled part northern syria afrins eastern flank said fsa rebels would deploy near town azaz kurdish shelling overnight struck psychiatric hospital turkish armed forces said several civilians wounded attack taken turkey treatment turkish television footage showed rubble damaged walls slideshow 2 images turkey angered us military support kurdish ypgdominated syrian democratic forces spearheaded fight islamic state syria announcement united states would stay syria train 30000 personnel swathe eastern syria sdf control turkey says ypg terrorist group branch outlawed kurdistan workers party waged insurgency southeast turkey decades canikli criticized washington continued emphasis countering islamic state threat daesh removed syria iraq reality open focus daesh statement truly meaningless remark said additional reporting tuvan gumrukcu ece toksabay ankara tom perry lisa barrington beirut arshad mohammed washington writing dominic evans editing david dolan angus macswan hugh lawson standards thomson reuters trust principles ankara reuters turkey iran russia pledged wednesday accelerate efforts bring stability syria underlining joint commitment country day president donald trump raised prospect withdrawing us troops statement three countries summit meeting leaders turkish capital ankara said determined speed efforts ensure calm ground syria decision work together done little reduce violence part military interventions opposing sides underlined central role questions grow washingtons presence syria related coverage syrian kurdish leader signals possible joint action iraq senior us official said trump wanted us forces syria relatively soon going immediately withdraw neither president willing back longterm commitment official said around 2000 us troops deployed northern syria mission battle remnants islamic state force controlled area trump said tuesday time pull irans president hassan rouhani said developments syria syrian army allies driven back rebels recent years showed united states failed topple syrian government president bashar alassad wanted fuel insecurity order maintain interests gained success told news conference talks turkish president tayyip erdogan russian president vladimir putin added however believed us forces would stay syria rifts continue iran russia strongly supported syrian president turkey backed antiassad rebels differences continued ground despite political cooperation aimed winding violence turkey waged military campaign drive kurdish ypg fighters northwestern syrias afrin district russian air power iranbacked militias supported syrian army offensives idlib ghouta regions presidents hassan rouhani iran tayyip erdogan turkey vladimir putin russia hold joint news conference meeting ankara turkey april 4 2018 reutersumit bektas irans state television quoted rouhani telling erdogan putin afrin handed syrias army developments afrin useful violate syrias territorial integrity control areas handed syrian army rouhani said erdogan said turkish army extend military operation afrin town tel rifaat east along syrias border turkey prospect angered tehran slideshow 8 images whatever intentions turkeys moves syria whether afrin tel rifaat part syria halted soon possible senior iranian official told reuters wednesdays talks seated alongside putin rouhani erdogan focused areas common ground saying turkey wanted build mobile hospital help treat civilians coming formerly rebelcontrolled parts eastern ghouta edge damascus syrian army taken rebel fighters civilians evacuated eastern ghouta taken northwestern syrian province idlib borders turkey erdogan proposed providing bakery help feed refugees build housing sides border save people tents container cities building housing together make zone safe erdogan said additional reporting denis pinchuk ece toksabay tuvan gumrukcu writing dominic evans editing catherine evans richard balmforth standards thomson reuters trust principles ixtepec mexicoedinburg texas reuters mexican towns playing host caravan 1200 central american migrants heading us border welcome mat rolled despite president donald trumps call mexican authorities stop local officials offered lodging town squares empty warehouses arranged transport migrants participants journey organized immigrant advocacy group pueblo sin fronteras officials conscripted buses cars ambulances police trucks help may entirely altruistic authorities want us leave cities said rodrigo abeja organizer pueblo sin fronteras theyve helping us part speed massive group jurisdictions point spring caravans 2000mile 3200km journey began tapachula near guatemalan border march 25 end us border members apply asylum others attempt sneak united states abeja said lot pressure authorities stop caravan donald trumps reaction mexican government issued statement late monday saying committed legal orderly migration government said caravan taking place since 2010 largely made central americans entering mexico met necessary legal requirements reason participants caravan subject administrative migratory procedure 400 already repatriated countries origin strict accordance law respecting human rights said without permission stay mexico failed request proper channels could expect returned homelands government official said speaking condition anonymity little trump railed twitter caravan monday accusing mexico little nothing stop flow immigrants crossing us border illegally must stop big drug people flows stop cash cow nafta concluded mexicos interior minister alfonso navarrete directly address caravan wrote twitter spoke us homeland security secretary kirstjen nielsen monday two agreed analyze best ways attend flows migrants accordance laws country mexico must walk delicate line united states countries midst renegotiating north american free trade agreement nafta along canada time mexican leftwing presidential candidate andres manuel lopez obrador 18point lead ahead july 1 election according poll published monday lopez obrador victory could usher mexican government less accommodating toward united states trade immigration issues mexican senator angelica de la pena presides senates human rights commission told reuters mexico protect migrants rights despite pressure trump 160 former president vicente fox called mexican officials take stand trumps attacks160trump keeps blackmailing offending denigrating mexico mexicans wrote twitter monday mexican law central americans enter mexico legally generally allowed move freely country even goal cross illegally united states suffering migrants caravan cite variety reasons joining members disproportionately honduras high levels violence rocked political upheaval recent months following reelection usbacked president juan orlando hernández intensely disputed election central american migrants participating caravan heading us take pause journey matias romero oaxaca mexico april 2 2018 reutersjose de jesus cortes maria elena colindres ortega member caravan january member congress honduras said fleeing political upheaval home weve live fraudulent electoral process said suffering progressive militarization lack institutions theyre criminalizing protested colindres ortega opposed ruling party honduras said spiraled debt serving without pay last 18 months fouryear term decided head north fellow congressman party put word facebook caravan migrants gathering southern mexico leaving home small bag necessities photos children pueblo sin fronteras helped coordinate migrant caravans past several years although previously maximum several hundred participants journey members organization instruct migrants rights accompany least want request asylum said alex mensing pueblo sin fronteras program director help prepare detention process asylum process cross border difficult people success dont information typically central americans fared well us asylum claims particularly honduras reuters analysis immigration court data found hondurans come court receive deportation orders 83 percent cases highest rate nationality hondurans also face deportation mexico immigration data shows 5000 hondurans deported mexico february alone highest number since may 2016 manuel padilla chief border patrols rio grande valley sector one busiest crossing points us mexico border said interview reuters worries caravan could generate interest groups thing terribly nervous coping group currently traveling flippant padilla said similar numbers seeing every day pretty much slideshow 6 images version story corrects spelling manuel maunel penultimate paragraph reporting delphine schrank mica rosenberg additional reporting dave graham lizbeth diaz diego ore daina beth solomon editing sue horton lisa shumaker paul tait standards thomson reuters trust principles ankaraistanbul reuters three foreign powers shaped syrias civil war iran russia turkey discuss ways wind fighting wednesday despite involvement rival military campaigns ground leaders three countries meet ankara talks new constitution syria increasing security deescalation zones across country turkish officials say syria summit brings together two powers president bashar alassads forceful supporters iran russia one strongest opponents turkey cooperation rival camps raised hopes stabilizing syria seven years conflict 500000 people killed half population displaced violence raged highlighting strategic rifts three countries absence decisive western intervention hold syrias fate largely hands related coverage us israel interfere syria says iran president syrias army iranbacked militias russian air power crushed insurgents near damascus eastern ghouta one four mooted deescalation zones turkey sharply criticized ghouta offensive waged military operation drive kurdish ypg fighters northwestern syrian region afrin pledged take town tel rifaat push east angering iran whatever intentions turkeys moves syria whether afrin tel rifaat part syria halted soon possible senior iranian official said iran assads supportive ally throughout conflict iranbacked militias first helped army stem rebel advances following russias entry war 2015 turn tide decisively assads favor turkish official said ankara ask moscow press assad grant humanitarian access ghouta rein air strikes rebelheld areas expect russia control regime official told reporters week rifts assad ankaras relations moscow collapsed 2015 turkey shot russian warplane recovered since concern turkeys western allies turkey one nato partners expel russian diplomats response nerve agent attack former russian agent britain blamed moscow allegation turkey said proven improved political ties reflected turkeys agreement buy russian missile defence system plans russias rosatom build turkeys first nuclear power plant turkey also expanded relations iran exchanging visits military chiefs staff although deepening ties tehran moscow translated broader agreement syrias future iran remains determined assad stay power russia less committed keeping office regional diplomat said turkey says assad lost legitimacy although longer demands immediate departure meeting russia two months ago boycotted leadership syrias opposition delegates agreed set committee rewrite syrias constitution called democratic elections turkey says wednesdays meeting discuss setting constitutional committee humanitarian issues developments syrias northern idlib region control rival rebel factions jihadi groups turkey set seven military observation posts syrian russian soldiers seen checkpoint near wafideen camp damascus syria march 2 2018 reutersomar sanadiki issues three countries different policies syria another turkish official said regard aim find middle ground create policies improve current situation additional reporting orhan coskun tulay karadeniz ankara writing dominic evans editing angus macswan standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 1,930 |
<p>Jan 24 (Reuters) - C.Q. Pharmaceutical Holding Co Ltd :</p>
<p>* SAYS IT EXPECTS 2017 NET PROFIT OF 1.08-1.15 BILLION YUAN VERSUS 257.0 MILLION YUAN ($40.22 million) YEAR AGO Source text in Chinese: <a href="http://bit.ly/2na2r4S" type="external">bit.ly/2na2r4S</a> Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.3906 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>BEIJING (Reuters) - The launch of China’s yuan-denominated oil futures will mark the culmination of a decade-long push by the Shanghai Futures Exchange (ShFE) aimed at giving the world’s largest energy consumer more power in pricing crude sold to Asia.</p> Pumpjacks are seen at an oil field in Huaian, Jiangsu province, China November 11, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS AMONG FOREIGN INVESTORS?
<p>* Worries include how to freely exchange the yuan because of a Chinese clampdown on capital outflows, while some concerns remain about Beijing’s heavy handed intervention in its commodity markets in recent years, traders and analysts said.</p>
<p>The obligation to trade Shanghai crudes in yuan will also add a currency risk to the market, which some traders are reluctant to take.</p>
<p>* The Shanghai International Energy Exchange (INE), the unit of ShFE running the contract, has strict daily limits on the number of canceled orders allowed per account, aimed at curbing spoofing. This involves placing bids to buy or offers to sell futures contracts with the intent to cancel them before execution. By creating an illusion of demand, spoofers can influence prices to benefit their market positions.</p>
<p>For a larger client placing orders of more than 300 lots, equivalent to 30,000 barrels of oil, the limit is 50 a day. Users with smaller orders are allowed 500 cancellations.</p>
<p>That’s different to international exchanges, like the CME ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=CME.O" type="external">CME.O</a>), which uses a ratio based on an investor’s traded volume.</p>
<p>On days when price volatility and volumes are high, overseas investors new to Chinese markets could get penalized if they exceed those restrictions as they try to adjust their positions, traders say.</p>
<p>* Chinese commodity futures investors do not typically trade steadily over the months, but instead pick specific months in which they deal. That could complicate efforts to trade spreads between Brent, WTI and Shanghai.</p>
<p>Take iron ore &lt;0#DCIO:&gt;, one of China’s most-active futures markets: most of the more than 2.3 million lots of open interest are in May and September contracts, with delivery months in between ranging from tens of thousands of lots to in some cases less than 10.</p>
<p>In contrast, liquidity across the first five months of the Brent and WTI contracts &lt;0#LCO:&gt; &lt;0#CL:&gt; are relatively evenly spread out, reflecting their popularity among hedge funds and other financial players, who like to trade month by month.</p>
<p>* There will be a 1.5-hour gap between the settlement and the price settlement by S&amp;P Global Platts ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=SPGI.N" type="external">SPGI.N</a>), which sets physical prices for the region between 4:00-4:30 p.m.</p> FILE PHOTO: A crude oil terminal under construction is pictured off Ningbo Zhoushan port in Zhejiang province, China January 6, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo WHAT WILL HAPPEN DURING CHINA’S NATIONAL HOLIDAYS?
<p>Trading will stop for China’s week-long national holidays - Spring Festival and Golden Week - leaving the Shanghai market out of synch with the western exchanges.</p>
<p>Shorter trading hours - with three slots each day - compared with almost 24 hours on western exchanges means the market may sometimes play catch-up with the rest of the world.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=CME.O" type="external">CME Group Inc</a> 164.5 CME.O Nasdaq +0.32 (+0.19%) CME.O SPGI.N WHO WILL USE IT IN THE DOMESTIC INDUSTRY?
<p>China has opened more than 6,000 trading accounts, including the country’s oil majors and about 150 brokerages. Ten foreign intermediaries have registered, including JPMorgan, Bands Financial, Straits Financial Services and other Hong Kong based affiliates of domestic brokerages.</p>
<p>It will likely attract mainly ‘mon-and-pop’ speculative investors, who dominate the country’s other often volatile commodity futures markets from dates to iron ore, although transaction fees for crude are relatively high.</p>
<p>China’s independent refineries are more likely to process heavy crude instead of the medium-sour crude traded in futures, a Shandong-based crude trader said.</p>
<p>At least three independent refineries who are looking to use the contract for hedging also said they are unsure about delivery. Under the rules, buyers cannot choose a specific grade that will be delivered or the location of the warehouse for delivery.</p> HOW DO FOREIGN USERS OPEN A TRADING ACCOUNT?
<p>Foreign investors will need to open a non-residential bank account with one of the eight banks that handles margin deposit for yuan crude futures, according to INE.</p>
<p>The banks are Agricultural Bank of China, CITIC Bank, China Construction Bank and Industrial and Commerical Bank of China, Bank of China, Bank of Communications, China Merchant Bank and the Development Bank of Singapore.</p>
<p>Investors will need to transfer money from that bank account to an account opened with either a domestic broker or foreign broker or agencies registered with the INE. The broker will open two accounts with INE: one for margin deposit and one for settlement for foreign currencies.</p>
<p>Reporting by Meng Meng, Josephine Mason and Tom Daly; editing by Richard Pullin</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s crude oil futures, to be launched on Monday, will be a major step in Beijing’s years-long push to win greater sway over oil pricing, but for western traders it will likely bring frustration as well as opportunity.</p> Workers are seen on an offshore oil platform surrounded by icy waters in Liaodong bay off Liaoning province, China January 18, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer
<p>Shanghai Crude aims to rival the world’s two crude benchmarks, luring overseas traders with the promise of a deep pool of liquidity and the chance for arbitrage between Asian, U.S. and European markets.</p>
<p>However, the contract will also come with quirks that traders used to London’s Brent or U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) may find less appealing, including shorter business hours, unique Chinese trading habits and extended holiday breaks.</p>
<p>Yuan-denominated trading and a blend of new rules and regulatory burdens will also likely hamper initial take-up on the Shanghai International Energy Exchange (INE), executives at a dozen banks and brokers and experts involved in the launch told Reuters.</p>
<p>“The rules around trading methodology will be unfamiliar for western houses,” said John Browning, chief operating officer of Hong Kong-based futures broker Bands Financial Ltd, which is an approved overseas intermediary for the INE.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-china-oil-futures-explainer/china-aims-to-challenge-brent-wti-oil-with-crude-futures-launch-idUSKBN1GY0S9" type="external">China aims to challenge Brent, WTI oil with crude futures launch</a>
<p>“They’ll have to get to grips with a different set of trading parameters, including initial margin calculation, rolling between months, order cancellations ratios, etc. It’s all very different.”</p>
<p>So far, China has opened more than 6,000 trading accounts, including the country’s oil majors and about 150 brokerages. Ten foreign intermediaries have registered, including J.P.Morgan, Bands Financial, Straits Financial Services and other Hong Kong based affiliates of domestic brokerages.</p>
<p>Last-minute changes are still being made to entice overseas users. On Tuesday, the government said it would waive income taxes for foreign investors for the first three years.</p> CHINESE CHARACTERISTICS
<p>Specific issues for traders include Shanghai’s shorter trading hours, split into three slots, with the afternoon session ending at 3:00 p.m. local time (0700 GMT), just before London ramps up.</p>
<p>Although the exchange will have an overnight trading session to match late European and early U.S. trading, it will close for more than six hours before trade resumes in Beijing.</p> Slideshow (4 Images)
<p>This could mean the contract risks having to play catch-up each morning to the moods and swings of Europe and America, rather than setting its own price, several senior futures traders said.</p>
<p>Chinese trading habits may also be a shock to foreign users, they said.</p>
<p>Chinese commodity futures investors do not typically trade steadily over the months, but instead pick specific months in which they deal, due to a different cost structure. That could complicate efforts to trade spreads between Brent, WTI and Shanghai.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=ICE.N" type="external">Intercontinental Exchange Inc</a> 74.02 ICE.N New York Stock Exchange -0.39 (-0.52%) ICE.N CME.O 601857.SS 600028.SS
<p>These and other factors mean the contract may have a “hard time” building correlations with Brent and WTI that would make arbitrage possible, said Albert Helmig, chief executive of financial consultancy Grey House and a former vice chairman of NYMEX.</p>
<p>“It’s a China market, with Chinese characteristics,” said Helmig.</p> FUTURE PLANS
<p>Still, China offers the potential for a deep, liquid market, buoyed by an explosion of interest from mom-and-pop investors that has supported its vast commodities derivative markets from apples to iron ore in Shanghai, Zhengzhou and Dalian.</p>
<p>In 2017, the total traded value of ShFE’s steel derivatives contracts was $4.4 trillion from domestic investors. This compares with global turnover of more than $10 trillion in international oil futures, the world’s biggest commodity market.</p>
<p>Previous attempts at an Asia benchmark have foundered. Contracts set up by the Dubai Mercantile Exchange a decade ago have not matched Brent or WTI, traded on the Intercontinental Exchange ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=ICE.N" type="external">ICE.N</a>) and the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) owned by CME Group ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=CME.O" type="external">CME.O</a>).</p>
<p>China hopes it can do better: with state-controlled oil majors like PetroChina ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=601857.SS" type="external">601857.SS</a>) and Sinopec ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=600028.SS" type="external">600028.SS</a>) expected to provide liquidity, analysts said the contract has a chance of succeeding even if it faces short-term caution.</p>
<p>“Launching a new exchange is enormously complex, so if the initial uptake for the contract isn’t that strong, it isn’t necessarily a bad thing,” said Bands’ Browning.</p>
<p>Reporting by Josephine Mason, Meng Meng and Tom Daly in BEIJING and Henning Gloystein in SINGAPORE; editing by Richard Pullin</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - The threat of dangerous mudslides will grow on Thursday as a storm rolls through coastal California, where thousands have fled from homes near hillsides that were stripped of vegetation by massive wildfires.</p>
<p>Intense rains of up to an inch (3 cm) per hour was forecast on Thursday morning for Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, northwest of Los Angeles, where 25,000 people have evacuated in recent days, weather and local officials said.</p>
<p>“The storm has a lot of intensity behind it and has the potential to be life-threatening,” said Amber Anderson, a spokeswoman for the Santa Barbara Fire Department. “The public, for the most part, has heeded the warnings for evacuations.”</p>
<p>Wildfires last winter left California’s coastline vulnerable to mudslides, by burning grass and shrubs that hold soil in place and baking a layer of earth that keeps rainwater from sinking deeply.</p>
<p>Some 21 people were killed and dozens injured in mudslides on Jan. 9 after rain in and around the Santa Barbara County community of Montecito, 85 miles (137 km) northwest of Los Angeles.</p>
<p>The current storm began producing downpours on Tuesday night and continued on Wednesday. County officials said this storm is expected to produce far more rainfall than January’s.</p>
<p>As California prepared for rain, the East Coast was digging out from the fourth major snowstorm this month, which closed schools, grounded flights and halted bus and train service across the region. Two people died in separate traffic crashes, local media reported.</p>
<p>Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee, editing by Larry King</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>PARIS (Reuters) - Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy told magistrates that accusations of illicit Libyan funding for his 2007 election campaign were a web of lies that had made his life “hell” and lost him a re-election bid in 2012, Le Figaro newspaper said.</p> FILE PHOTO: Nicolas Sarkozy, former head of the Les Republicains political party, attends a Les Republicains (LR) public meeting in Les Sables d'Olonne, France, October 1, 2016. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo
<p>The 63-year-old, who held power from 2007 to 2012, was told by investigators after two days of questioning in police custody on Wednesday he was formally suspected of passive corruption, an offense that carries a sentence of up to 10 years in jail.</p>
<p>At issue is a murky affair of Libyan spies, arms dealers and allegations that late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi provided Sarkozy’s 2007 election campaign with millions of euros shipped to Paris in suitcases - allegations Sarkozy has always denied.</p>
<p>The newspaper published a lengthy account of what it said was a verbatim declaration by Sarkozy.</p>
<p>“This calumny has made my life a living hell since March 11, 2011,” he states, according to the newspaper.</p>
<p>“I’ve paid a heavy price for this affair. Put it this way: I lost the presidential election of 2012 by 1.5 percentage points. The controversy initiated by Gaddafi and his henchmen cost me that 1.5 percent”.</p>
<p>Sarkozy, who came under fire for giving Gaddafi a red-carpet reception in Paris in late 2007, said his problems began in March 2011 after he hosted Libyan rebels and went on to become one of the main advocates of a NATO-led campaign that resulted in the dictator’s overthrow and killing by rebels in 2011.</p> Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy leaves the judiciary police offices in Nanterre, near Paris, France, March 21, 2018. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
<p>He also denounced what he described as lies from one of his main accusers, a Franco-Lebanese businessman who has described himself among other things as a “middleman in the shadows” on liaison between Paris and Libyan secret service chiefs.</p> ACCUSATIONS
<p>The accusations prompted the opening of a judicial inquiry in 2013 which snowballed this week when Sarkozy was called in for interrogation and, on Wednesday evening, formally placed under investigation as a suspect in the affair.</p>
<p>In France, being “placed under investigation” is a step that judicial investigators can take if they have serious grounds for suspecting an offense. It often but not always leads to trial.</p>
<p>Sarkozy, who was called “president bling bling” by many due to his flashy style, has been dogged for years by accusations of wrongdoing. He is challenging an order to stand trial on charges of illicit spending overruns during his failed 2012 campaign.</p>
<p>One of the many factors that played in 40-year-old Emmanuel Macron’s presidential election win in May 2017 was a promise of a clean break with traditional French politics, often marred by accusations of corruption.</p>
<p>Sarkozy’s immediate predecessor, Jacques Chirac, was tried and convicted in 2011 of misusing public funds to keep political friends in phantom jobs - making him the first French head of state to be convicted of a crime since Nazi collaborator Marshall Philippe Petain in 1945.</p>
<p>Reporting by Brian Love and Emmanuel Jarry; Editing by Geert De Clercq and Gareth Jones</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
jan 24 reuters cq pharmaceutical holding co ltd says expects 2017 net profit 108115 billion yuan versus 2570 million yuan 4022 million year ago source text chinese bitly2na2r4s company coverage 1 63906 chinese yuan renminbi reporting hong kong newsroom standards thomson reuters trust principles beijing reuters launch chinas yuandenominated oil futures mark culmination decadelong push shanghai futures exchange shfe aimed giving worlds largest energy consumer power pricing crude sold asia pumpjacks seen oil field huaian jiangsu province china november 11 2017 reutersstringer concerns among foreign investors worries include freely exchange yuan chinese clampdown capital outflows concerns remain beijings heavy handed intervention commodity markets recent years traders analysts said obligation trade shanghai crudes yuan also add currency risk market traders reluctant take shanghai international energy exchange ine unit shfe running contract strict daily limits number canceled orders allowed per account aimed curbing spoofing involves placing bids buy offers sell futures contracts intent cancel execution creating illusion demand spoofers influence prices benefit market positions larger client placing orders 300 lots equivalent 30000 barrels oil limit 50 day users smaller orders allowed 500 cancellations thats different international exchanges like cme cmeo uses ratio based investors traded volume days price volatility volumes high overseas investors new chinese markets could get penalized exceed restrictions try adjust positions traders say chinese commodity futures investors typically trade steadily months instead pick specific months deal could complicate efforts trade spreads brent wti shanghai take iron ore lt0dciogt one chinas mostactive futures markets 23 million lots open interest may september contracts delivery months ranging tens thousands lots cases less 10 contrast liquidity across first five months brent wti contracts lt0lcogt lt0clgt relatively evenly spread reflecting popularity among hedge funds financial players like trade month month 15hour gap settlement price settlement sampp global platts spgin sets physical prices region 400430 pm file photo crude oil terminal construction pictured ningbo zhoushan port zhejiang province china january 6 2018 reutersstringerfile photo happen chinas national holidays trading stop chinas weeklong national holidays spring festival golden week leaving shanghai market synch western exchanges shorter trading hours three slots day compared almost 24 hours western exchanges means market may sometimes play catchup rest world cme group inc 1645 cmeo nasdaq 032 019 cmeo spgin use domestic industry china opened 6000 trading accounts including countrys oil majors 150 brokerages ten foreign intermediaries registered including jpmorgan bands financial straits financial services hong kong based affiliates domestic brokerages likely attract mainly monandpop speculative investors dominate countrys often volatile commodity futures markets dates iron ore although transaction fees crude relatively high chinas independent refineries likely process heavy crude instead mediumsour crude traded futures shandongbased crude trader said least three independent refineries looking use contract hedging also said unsure delivery rules buyers choose specific grade delivered location warehouse delivery foreign users open trading account foreign investors need open nonresidential bank account one eight banks handles margin deposit yuan crude futures according ine banks agricultural bank china citic bank china construction bank industrial commerical bank china bank china bank communications china merchant bank development bank singapore investors need transfer money bank account account opened either domestic broker foreign broker agencies registered ine broker open two accounts ine one margin deposit one settlement foreign currencies reporting meng meng josephine mason tom daly editing richard pullin standards thomson reuters trust principles beijing reuters chinas crude oil futures launched monday major step beijings yearslong push win greater sway oil pricing western traders likely bring frustration well opportunity workers seen offshore oil platform surrounded icy waters liaodong bay liaoning province china january 18 2018 reutersstringer shanghai crude aims rival worlds two crude benchmarks luring overseas traders promise deep pool liquidity chance arbitrage asian us european markets however contract also come quirks traders used londons brent us west texas intermediate wti may find less appealing including shorter business hours unique chinese trading habits extended holiday breaks yuandenominated trading blend new rules regulatory burdens also likely hamper initial takeup shanghai international energy exchange ine executives dozen banks brokers experts involved launch told reuters rules around trading methodology unfamiliar western houses said john browning chief operating officer hong kongbased futures broker bands financial ltd approved overseas intermediary ine related coverage china aims challenge brent wti oil crude futures launch theyll get grips different set trading parameters including initial margin calculation rolling months order cancellations ratios etc different far china opened 6000 trading accounts including countrys oil majors 150 brokerages ten foreign intermediaries registered including jpmorgan bands financial straits financial services hong kong based affiliates domestic brokerages lastminute changes still made entice overseas users tuesday government said would waive income taxes foreign investors first three years chinese characteristics specific issues traders include shanghais shorter trading hours split three slots afternoon session ending 300 pm local time 0700 gmt london ramps although exchange overnight trading session match late european early us trading close six hours trade resumes beijing slideshow 4 images could mean contract risks play catchup morning moods swings europe america rather setting price several senior futures traders said chinese trading habits may also shock foreign users said chinese commodity futures investors typically trade steadily months instead pick specific months deal due different cost structure could complicate efforts trade spreads brent wti shanghai intercontinental exchange inc 7402 icen new york stock exchange 039 052 icen cmeo 601857ss 600028ss factors mean contract may hard time building correlations brent wti would make arbitrage possible said albert helmig chief executive financial consultancy grey house former vice chairman nymex china market chinese characteristics said helmig future plans still china offers potential deep liquid market buoyed explosion interest momandpop investors supported vast commodities derivative markets apples iron ore shanghai zhengzhou dalian 2017 total traded value shfes steel derivatives contracts 44 trillion domestic investors compares global turnover 10 trillion international oil futures worlds biggest commodity market previous attempts asia benchmark foundered contracts set dubai mercantile exchange decade ago matched brent wti traded intercontinental exchange icen new york mercantile exchange nymex owned cme group cmeo china hopes better statecontrolled oil majors like petrochina 601857ss sinopec 600028ss expected provide liquidity analysts said contract chance succeeding even faces shortterm caution launching new exchange enormously complex initial uptake contract isnt strong isnt necessarily bad thing said bands browning reporting josephine mason meng meng tom daly beijing henning gloystein singapore editing richard pullin standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters threat dangerous mudslides grow thursday storm rolls coastal california thousands fled homes near hillsides stripped vegetation massive wildfires intense rains inch 3 cm per hour forecast thursday morning santa barbara ventura counties northwest los angeles 25000 people evacuated recent days weather local officials said storm lot intensity behind potential lifethreatening said amber anderson spokeswoman santa barbara fire department public part heeded warnings evacuations wildfires last winter left californias coastline vulnerable mudslides burning grass shrubs hold soil place baking layer earth keeps rainwater sinking deeply 21 people killed dozens injured mudslides jan 9 rain around santa barbara county community montecito 85 miles 137 km northwest los angeles current storm began producing downpours tuesday night continued wednesday county officials said storm expected produce far rainfall januarys california prepared rain east coast digging fourth major snowstorm month closed schools grounded flights halted bus train service across region two people died separate traffic crashes local media reported reporting brendan obrien milwaukee editing larry king standards thomson reuters trust principles paris reuters former french president nicolas sarkozy told magistrates accusations illicit libyan funding 2007 election campaign web lies made life hell lost reelection bid 2012 le figaro newspaper said file photo nicolas sarkozy former head les republicains political party attends les republicains lr public meeting les sables dolonne france october 1 2016 reutersstephane mahefile photo 63yearold held power 2007 2012 told investigators two days questioning police custody wednesday formally suspected passive corruption offense carries sentence 10 years jail issue murky affair libyan spies arms dealers allegations late libyan leader muammar gaddafi provided sarkozys 2007 election campaign millions euros shipped paris suitcases allegations sarkozy always denied newspaper published lengthy account said verbatim declaration sarkozy calumny made life living hell since march 11 2011 states according newspaper ive paid heavy price affair put way lost presidential election 2012 15 percentage points controversy initiated gaddafi henchmen cost 15 percent sarkozy came fire giving gaddafi redcarpet reception paris late 2007 said problems began march 2011 hosted libyan rebels went become one main advocates natoled campaign resulted dictators overthrow killing rebels 2011 former french president nicolas sarkozy leaves judiciary police offices nanterre near paris france march 21 2018 reutersstephane mahe also denounced described lies one main accusers francolebanese businessman described among things middleman shadows liaison paris libyan secret service chiefs accusations accusations prompted opening judicial inquiry 2013 snowballed week sarkozy called interrogation wednesday evening formally placed investigation suspect affair france placed investigation step judicial investigators take serious grounds suspecting offense often always leads trial sarkozy called president bling bling many due flashy style dogged years accusations wrongdoing challenging order stand trial charges illicit spending overruns failed 2012 campaign one many factors played 40yearold emmanuel macrons presidential election win may 2017 promise clean break traditional french politics often marred accusations corruption sarkozys immediate predecessor jacques chirac tried convicted 2011 misusing public funds keep political friends phantom jobs making first french head state convicted crime since nazi collaborator marshall philippe petain 1945 reporting brian love emmanuel jarry editing geert de clercq gareth jones standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 1,555 |
<p>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two utilities were sued Tuesday for the widespread destruction from last week's deadly mudslides that were caused when hillsides ravaged by California's largest-ever wildfire let loose in heavy rain.</p>
<p>An amended negligence lawsuit filed in Santa Barbara County Superior Court added the Montecito Water District to the suit that originally targeted only Southern California Edison.</p>
<p>The litigation was brought by three people injured or related to someone hurt, plus a business damaged in flash floods that devastated the coastal town of Montecito. At least twenty people were killed by mudslides and more than 350 homes were destroyed or damaged.</p>
<p>Crews continued to search Tuesday for three missing people, including a 2-year-old girl.</p>
<p>Seven people remained hospitalized a week after they were injured in the mudslides. Twenty-eight patients have been treated and released.</p>
<p>Transportation workers were blasting boulders and clearing other debris that littered U.S. Highway 101, the freeway linking Santa Barbara with Ventura. The route is not expected to reopen until Jan. 22, transportation officials said.</p>
<p>The suit claims an explosion or fire in one of SCE's transformers sparked the enormous Thomas Fire on the night of Dec. 4 in neighboring Ventura County, followed by another transformer fire nearly 6 miles (10 kilometers) away that was a second ignition point and that the two blazes merged. It further states that the Jan. 9 mudslides only occurred because vegetation that typically holds soil in place was burned in the blaze.</p>
<p>"Had SCE acted responsibly, the Thomas Fire could have been prevented," attorney Robert Curtis said in court papers. The utility failed to properly maintain power lines and transformers and safely trim tinder-dry vegetation around their equipment, the suit said.</p>
<p>Southern California Edison said it was premature to speculate on litigation related to the mudslides while the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection continues to investigate the cause of the blaze.</p>
<p>"The devastating impact of the mudslides in Montecito has been tragic," Edison said in a statement, adding it was supporting the recovery effort and would attempt to restore power when it was safe to do so.</p>
<p>The water district is accused of not having an adequate shut-off valve system to stop the flow of water when a major water main burst in hills above Montecito. At least 8 million gallons of water from large storage tanks joined the rainfall that cascaded down the steep slopes toward the town, carrying boulders and trees that crushed cars and flattened homes.</p>
<p>The water district did not immediately respond to phone and email requests for comment.</p>
<p>Among other damages sought, the suit seeks an unspecified amount of money for property ruined, emotional distress and lost wages, as well as punitive damages.</p>
<p>"It's difficult to put a dollar value on property damage alone, much less the loss of life," said attorney Peter Bezek. "But I don't think it's an overestimation that damages could exceed $1 billion."</p>
<p>The number of single-family homes destroyed by the slides nearly doubled from last week to 115, according to a more accurate assessment Tuesday. But the number of damaged houses was lowered to 242.</p>
<p>That's a fraction of the more than 1,000 homes and buildings destroyed by the fire that burned out of control for more than a month, but the mudslide was far deadlier. The fire that scorched 440 square miles (1,140 square kilometers) was responsible for two deaths, officials said.</p>
<p>Several other fire lawsuits have been filed against Southern California Edison and other defendants in Ventura County. Other suits are also expected in the mudslides, with one law firm soliciting clients through a TV commercial airing in the Los Angeles market.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press Writers Brian Melley and John Antczak contributed to this story.</p>
<p>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two utilities were sued Tuesday for the widespread destruction from last week's deadly mudslides that were caused when hillsides ravaged by California's largest-ever wildfire let loose in heavy rain.</p>
<p>An amended negligence lawsuit filed in Santa Barbara County Superior Court added the Montecito Water District to the suit that originally targeted only Southern California Edison.</p>
<p>The litigation was brought by three people injured or related to someone hurt, plus a business damaged in flash floods that devastated the coastal town of Montecito. At least twenty people were killed by mudslides and more than 350 homes were destroyed or damaged.</p>
<p>Crews continued to search Tuesday for three missing people, including a 2-year-old girl.</p>
<p>Seven people remained hospitalized a week after they were injured in the mudslides. Twenty-eight patients have been treated and released.</p>
<p>Transportation workers were blasting boulders and clearing other debris that littered U.S. Highway 101, the freeway linking Santa Barbara with Ventura. The route is not expected to reopen until Jan. 22, transportation officials said.</p>
<p>The suit claims an explosion or fire in one of SCE's transformers sparked the enormous Thomas Fire on the night of Dec. 4 in neighboring Ventura County, followed by another transformer fire nearly 6 miles (10 kilometers) away that was a second ignition point and that the two blazes merged. It further states that the Jan. 9 mudslides only occurred because vegetation that typically holds soil in place was burned in the blaze.</p>
<p>"Had SCE acted responsibly, the Thomas Fire could have been prevented," attorney Robert Curtis said in court papers. The utility failed to properly maintain power lines and transformers and safely trim tinder-dry vegetation around their equipment, the suit said.</p>
<p>Southern California Edison said it was premature to speculate on litigation related to the mudslides while the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection continues to investigate the cause of the blaze.</p>
<p>"The devastating impact of the mudslides in Montecito has been tragic," Edison said in a statement, adding it was supporting the recovery effort and would attempt to restore power when it was safe to do so.</p>
<p>The water district is accused of not having an adequate shut-off valve system to stop the flow of water when a major water main burst in hills above Montecito. At least 8 million gallons of water from large storage tanks joined the rainfall that cascaded down the steep slopes toward the town, carrying boulders and trees that crushed cars and flattened homes.</p>
<p>The water district did not immediately respond to phone and email requests for comment.</p>
<p>Among other damages sought, the suit seeks an unspecified amount of money for property ruined, emotional distress and lost wages, as well as punitive damages.</p>
<p>"It's difficult to put a dollar value on property damage alone, much less the loss of life," said attorney Peter Bezek. "But I don't think it's an overestimation that damages could exceed $1 billion."</p>
<p>The number of single-family homes destroyed by the slides nearly doubled from last week to 115, according to a more accurate assessment Tuesday. But the number of damaged houses was lowered to 242.</p>
<p>That's a fraction of the more than 1,000 homes and buildings destroyed by the fire that burned out of control for more than a month, but the mudslide was far deadlier. The fire that scorched 440 square miles (1,140 square kilometers) was responsible for two deaths, officials said.</p>
<p>Several other fire lawsuits have been filed against Southern California Edison and other defendants in Ventura County. Other suits are also expected in the mudslides, with one law firm soliciting clients through a TV commercial airing in the Los Angeles market.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press Writers Brian Melley and John Antczak contributed to this story.</p>
| false | 2 |
los angeles ap two utilities sued tuesday widespread destruction last weeks deadly mudslides caused hillsides ravaged californias largestever wildfire let loose heavy rain amended negligence lawsuit filed santa barbara county superior court added montecito water district suit originally targeted southern california edison litigation brought three people injured related someone hurt plus business damaged flash floods devastated coastal town montecito least twenty people killed mudslides 350 homes destroyed damaged crews continued search tuesday three missing people including 2yearold girl seven people remained hospitalized week injured mudslides twentyeight patients treated released transportation workers blasting boulders clearing debris littered us highway 101 freeway linking santa barbara ventura route expected reopen jan 22 transportation officials said suit claims explosion fire one sces transformers sparked enormous thomas fire night dec 4 neighboring ventura county followed another transformer fire nearly 6 miles 10 kilometers away second ignition point two blazes merged states jan 9 mudslides occurred vegetation typically holds soil place burned blaze sce acted responsibly thomas fire could prevented attorney robert curtis said court papers utility failed properly maintain power lines transformers safely trim tinderdry vegetation around equipment suit said southern california edison said premature speculate litigation related mudslides california department forestry fire protection continues investigate cause blaze devastating impact mudslides montecito tragic edison said statement adding supporting recovery effort would attempt restore power safe water district accused adequate shutoff valve system stop flow water major water main burst hills montecito least 8 million gallons water large storage tanks joined rainfall cascaded steep slopes toward town carrying boulders trees crushed cars flattened homes water district immediately respond phone email requests comment among damages sought suit seeks unspecified amount money property ruined emotional distress lost wages well punitive damages difficult put dollar value property damage alone much less loss life said attorney peter bezek dont think overestimation damages could exceed 1 billion number singlefamily homes destroyed slides nearly doubled last week 115 according accurate assessment tuesday number damaged houses lowered 242 thats fraction 1000 homes buildings destroyed fire burned control month mudslide far deadlier fire scorched 440 square miles 1140 square kilometers responsible two deaths officials said several fire lawsuits filed southern california edison defendants ventura county suits also expected mudslides one law firm soliciting clients tv commercial airing los angeles market ___ associated press writers brian melley john antczak contributed story los angeles ap two utilities sued tuesday widespread destruction last weeks deadly mudslides caused hillsides ravaged californias largestever wildfire let loose heavy rain amended negligence lawsuit filed santa barbara county superior court added montecito water district suit originally targeted southern california edison litigation brought three people injured related someone hurt plus business damaged flash floods devastated coastal town montecito least twenty people killed mudslides 350 homes destroyed damaged crews continued search tuesday three missing people including 2yearold girl seven people remained hospitalized week injured mudslides twentyeight patients treated released transportation workers blasting boulders clearing debris littered us highway 101 freeway linking santa barbara ventura route expected reopen jan 22 transportation officials said suit claims explosion fire one sces transformers sparked enormous thomas fire night dec 4 neighboring ventura county followed another transformer fire nearly 6 miles 10 kilometers away second ignition point two blazes merged states jan 9 mudslides occurred vegetation typically holds soil place burned blaze sce acted responsibly thomas fire could prevented attorney robert curtis said court papers utility failed properly maintain power lines transformers safely trim tinderdry vegetation around equipment suit said southern california edison said premature speculate litigation related mudslides california department forestry fire protection continues investigate cause blaze devastating impact mudslides montecito tragic edison said statement adding supporting recovery effort would attempt restore power safe water district accused adequate shutoff valve system stop flow water major water main burst hills montecito least 8 million gallons water large storage tanks joined rainfall cascaded steep slopes toward town carrying boulders trees crushed cars flattened homes water district immediately respond phone email requests comment among damages sought suit seeks unspecified amount money property ruined emotional distress lost wages well punitive damages difficult put dollar value property damage alone much less loss life said attorney peter bezek dont think overestimation damages could exceed 1 billion number singlefamily homes destroyed slides nearly doubled last week 115 according accurate assessment tuesday number damaged houses lowered 242 thats fraction 1000 homes buildings destroyed fire burned control month mudslide far deadlier fire scorched 440 square miles 1140 square kilometers responsible two deaths officials said several fire lawsuits filed southern california edison defendants ventura county suits also expected mudslides one law firm soliciting clients tv commercial airing los angeles market ___ associated press writers brian melley john antczak contributed story
| 772 |
<p>Financial planners tend to have firm ideas about the most important goals: You should save for retirement, <a href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/pay-off-debt/?utm_campaign=ct_prod&amp;utm_source=ap&amp;utm_medium=mpsyn" type="external">pay off debt</a> and build an emergency fund. Buying a pair of $200 sneakers or an ultra-high definition TV is probably not on that list.</p>
<p>But maybe saving for something you really, really want isn't frivolous. It may be exactly what you need to get your financial life on track.</p>
<p>Researchers who have studied the role of savings in financial health say what's important is the habit of putting aside money and having a plan for that cash. People who have a planned savings habit are four times more likely to be financially healthy than those who don't, according to <a href="https://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/foundation/understanding-and-improving-consumer-financial-health-in-america.pdf" type="external">a report</a> by the nonprofit Center for Financial Services Innovation. That habit is more important than income, age or other demographic characteristics, the report found.</p>
<p>Saving even small amounts can help people avoid the high cost of being broke. A few hundred bucks saved may help bypass credit card debt, payday lenders, rent-to-own stores and bank overdraft fees. It can help avoid eviction, or losing a job because the car broke down. Even a thin financial cushion can help people become more financially stable.</p>
<p>"That ability to be resilient in the face of ups and downs is a very important component of financial health," says John Thompson, senior vice president and head of research consulting at the Center for Financial Services Innovation. "It also helps people avoid high-cost financial services when they face a short-term challenge."</p>
<p>But saving a small amount, only to see it wiped out by an unexpected expense, isn't satisfying. Saving up to buy something we want, on the other hand, can feel like a real win — and it's the winning that matters to our brains. Each time we anticipate getting a reward, our brains are treated to a shot of dopamine, the chemical that makes us want to repeat a pleasurable experience.</p>
<p>Recalling our small wins also can help us learn to persist when difficulties arise, rather than just giving up, says Michael Thomas Jr., an accredited financial counselor who advises clients at the University of Georgia's free Aspire Clinic.</p>
<p>Remembering the times we've achieved a money-focused goal helps counteract the "negative automatic thoughts and catastrophic thinking" that keeps people from seeing progress, says Thomas, who has studied psychology and is getting his Ph.D. in financial planning and who also co-hosts "Nothing Funny About Money ," a public radio program in Atlanta.</p>
<p>If people aren't already in the habit of saving money, their goal doesn't need to be lofty — and perhaps shouldn't be. Being told to save $1 million for retirement or three months' worth of expenses for emergencies could cause them to give up in despair.</p>
<p>"When I'm starting from zero, those seem like magical, fantastical, unattainable sums of money," Thompson says. "How would you begin is a daunting challenge."</p>
<p>What may be worse is telling non-savers that they need to put aside money for retirement and emergencies and a host of other goals. Researchers at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management found people were much more likely to save money when presented with a single goal. When contemplating multiple goals, people considered the trade-offs and put off taking action, the researchers found.</p>
<p>Letting people set their own goals also may goose savings habits. WiseBanyan, a digital investing site, found the percentage of customers who set up automatic savings plans increased about 50 percent after it allowed them to create their own milestones or goals, whether retirement, a trip around the world or a new wardrobe, says chief operating officer and co-founder Vicki Zhou .</p>
<p>"When you personalize it, the way you think about it changes," Zhou says.</p>
<p>That's not to say people should save only for the fun stuff and ignore their long-term financial health. But the fun stuff can be a powerful motivator.</p>
<p>"The behavior of savings is what we're trying to encourage," Thompson says. "It's not that we're suggesting (saving for emergencies and retirement) isn't important, but before that comes the behavior."</p>
<p>______________________________________________________________________________</p>
<p>This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Liz Weston is a columnist at NerdWallet, a certified financial planner and author of "Your Credit Score." Email: [email protected]. Twitter: @lizweston.</p>
<p>RELATED LINKS:</p>
<p>NerdWallet: Pay off your debt</p>
<p><a href="https://nerd.me/steps-pay-off-debt" type="external">https://nerd.me/steps-pay-off-debt</a></p>
<p>Center for Financial Services Innovation: Understanding and improving consumer financial health in America</p>
<p><a href="https://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/foundation/understanding-and-improving-consumer-financial-health-in-america.pdf" type="external">https://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/foundation/understanding-and-improving-consumer-financial-health-in-america.pdf</a></p>
<p>Financial planners tend to have firm ideas about the most important goals: You should save for retirement, <a href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/pay-off-debt/?utm_campaign=ct_prod&amp;utm_source=ap&amp;utm_medium=mpsyn" type="external">pay off debt</a> and build an emergency fund. Buying a pair of $200 sneakers or an ultra-high definition TV is probably not on that list.</p>
<p>But maybe saving for something you really, really want isn't frivolous. It may be exactly what you need to get your financial life on track.</p>
<p>Researchers who have studied the role of savings in financial health say what's important is the habit of putting aside money and having a plan for that cash. People who have a planned savings habit are four times more likely to be financially healthy than those who don't, according to <a href="https://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/foundation/understanding-and-improving-consumer-financial-health-in-america.pdf" type="external">a report</a> by the nonprofit Center for Financial Services Innovation. That habit is more important than income, age or other demographic characteristics, the report found.</p>
<p>Saving even small amounts can help people avoid the high cost of being broke. A few hundred bucks saved may help bypass credit card debt, payday lenders, rent-to-own stores and bank overdraft fees. It can help avoid eviction, or losing a job because the car broke down. Even a thin financial cushion can help people become more financially stable.</p>
<p>"That ability to be resilient in the face of ups and downs is a very important component of financial health," says John Thompson, senior vice president and head of research consulting at the Center for Financial Services Innovation. "It also helps people avoid high-cost financial services when they face a short-term challenge."</p>
<p>But saving a small amount, only to see it wiped out by an unexpected expense, isn't satisfying. Saving up to buy something we want, on the other hand, can feel like a real win — and it's the winning that matters to our brains. Each time we anticipate getting a reward, our brains are treated to a shot of dopamine, the chemical that makes us want to repeat a pleasurable experience.</p>
<p>Recalling our small wins also can help us learn to persist when difficulties arise, rather than just giving up, says Michael Thomas Jr., an accredited financial counselor who advises clients at the University of Georgia's free Aspire Clinic.</p>
<p>Remembering the times we've achieved a money-focused goal helps counteract the "negative automatic thoughts and catastrophic thinking" that keeps people from seeing progress, says Thomas, who has studied psychology and is getting his Ph.D. in financial planning and who also co-hosts "Nothing Funny About Money ," a public radio program in Atlanta.</p>
<p>If people aren't already in the habit of saving money, their goal doesn't need to be lofty — and perhaps shouldn't be. Being told to save $1 million for retirement or three months' worth of expenses for emergencies could cause them to give up in despair.</p>
<p>"When I'm starting from zero, those seem like magical, fantastical, unattainable sums of money," Thompson says. "How would you begin is a daunting challenge."</p>
<p>What may be worse is telling non-savers that they need to put aside money for retirement and emergencies and a host of other goals. Researchers at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management found people were much more likely to save money when presented with a single goal. When contemplating multiple goals, people considered the trade-offs and put off taking action, the researchers found.</p>
<p>Letting people set their own goals also may goose savings habits. WiseBanyan, a digital investing site, found the percentage of customers who set up automatic savings plans increased about 50 percent after it allowed them to create their own milestones or goals, whether retirement, a trip around the world or a new wardrobe, says chief operating officer and co-founder Vicki Zhou .</p>
<p>"When you personalize it, the way you think about it changes," Zhou says.</p>
<p>That's not to say people should save only for the fun stuff and ignore their long-term financial health. But the fun stuff can be a powerful motivator.</p>
<p>"The behavior of savings is what we're trying to encourage," Thompson says. "It's not that we're suggesting (saving for emergencies and retirement) isn't important, but before that comes the behavior."</p>
<p>______________________________________________________________________________</p>
<p>This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Liz Weston is a columnist at NerdWallet, a certified financial planner and author of "Your Credit Score." Email: [email protected]. Twitter: @lizweston.</p>
<p>RELATED LINKS:</p>
<p>NerdWallet: Pay off your debt</p>
<p><a href="https://nerd.me/steps-pay-off-debt" type="external">https://nerd.me/steps-pay-off-debt</a></p>
<p>Center for Financial Services Innovation: Understanding and improving consumer financial health in America</p>
<p><a href="https://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/foundation/understanding-and-improving-consumer-financial-health-in-america.pdf" type="external">https://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/foundation/understanding-and-improving-consumer-financial-health-in-america.pdf</a></p>
| false | 2 |
financial planners tend firm ideas important goals save retirement pay debt build emergency fund buying pair 200 sneakers ultrahigh definition tv probably list maybe saving something really really want isnt frivolous may exactly need get financial life track researchers studied role savings financial health say whats important habit putting aside money plan cash people planned savings habit four times likely financially healthy dont according report nonprofit center financial services innovation habit important income age demographic characteristics report found saving even small amounts help people avoid high cost broke hundred bucks saved may help bypass credit card debt payday lenders renttoown stores bank overdraft fees help avoid eviction losing job car broke even thin financial cushion help people become financially stable ability resilient face ups downs important component financial health says john thompson senior vice president head research consulting center financial services innovation also helps people avoid highcost financial services face shortterm challenge saving small amount see wiped unexpected expense isnt satisfying saving buy something want hand feel like real win winning matters brains time anticipate getting reward brains treated shot dopamine chemical makes us want repeat pleasurable experience recalling small wins also help us learn persist difficulties arise rather giving says michael thomas jr accredited financial counselor advises clients university georgias free aspire clinic remembering times weve achieved moneyfocused goal helps counteract negative automatic thoughts catastrophic thinking keeps people seeing progress says thomas studied psychology getting phd financial planning also cohosts nothing funny money public radio program atlanta people arent already habit saving money goal doesnt need lofty perhaps shouldnt told save 1 million retirement three months worth expenses emergencies could cause give despair im starting zero seem like magical fantastical unattainable sums money thompson says would begin daunting challenge may worse telling nonsavers need put aside money retirement emergencies host goals researchers university torontos rotman school management found people much likely save money presented single goal contemplating multiple goals people considered tradeoffs put taking action researchers found letting people set goals also may goose savings habits wisebanyan digital investing site found percentage customers set automatic savings plans increased 50 percent allowed create milestones goals whether retirement trip around world new wardrobe says chief operating officer cofounder vicki zhou personalize way think changes zhou says thats say people save fun stuff ignore longterm financial health fun stuff powerful motivator behavior savings trying encourage thompson says suggesting saving emergencies retirement isnt important comes behavior ______________________________________________________________________________ column provided associated press personal finance website nerdwallet liz weston columnist nerdwallet certified financial planner author credit score email lwestonnerdwalletcom twitter lizweston related links nerdwallet pay debt httpsnerdmestepspayoffdebt center financial services innovation understanding improving consumer financial health america httpswwwmetlifecomassetscaofoundationunderstandingandimprovingconsumerfinancialhealthinamericapdf financial planners tend firm ideas important goals save retirement pay debt build emergency fund buying pair 200 sneakers ultrahigh definition tv probably list maybe saving something really really want isnt frivolous may exactly need get financial life track researchers studied role savings financial health say whats important habit putting aside money plan cash people planned savings habit four times likely financially healthy dont according report nonprofit center financial services innovation habit important income age demographic characteristics report found saving even small amounts help people avoid high cost broke hundred bucks saved may help bypass credit card debt payday lenders renttoown stores bank overdraft fees help avoid eviction losing job car broke even thin financial cushion help people become financially stable ability resilient face ups downs important component financial health says john thompson senior vice president head research consulting center financial services innovation also helps people avoid highcost financial services face shortterm challenge saving small amount see wiped unexpected expense isnt satisfying saving buy something want hand feel like real win winning matters brains time anticipate getting reward brains treated shot dopamine chemical makes us want repeat pleasurable experience recalling small wins also help us learn persist difficulties arise rather giving says michael thomas jr accredited financial counselor advises clients university georgias free aspire clinic remembering times weve achieved moneyfocused goal helps counteract negative automatic thoughts catastrophic thinking keeps people seeing progress says thomas studied psychology getting phd financial planning also cohosts nothing funny money public radio program atlanta people arent already habit saving money goal doesnt need lofty perhaps shouldnt told save 1 million retirement three months worth expenses emergencies could cause give despair im starting zero seem like magical fantastical unattainable sums money thompson says would begin daunting challenge may worse telling nonsavers need put aside money retirement emergencies host goals researchers university torontos rotman school management found people much likely save money presented single goal contemplating multiple goals people considered tradeoffs put taking action researchers found letting people set goals also may goose savings habits wisebanyan digital investing site found percentage customers set automatic savings plans increased 50 percent allowed create milestones goals whether retirement trip around world new wardrobe says chief operating officer cofounder vicki zhou personalize way think changes zhou says thats say people save fun stuff ignore longterm financial health fun stuff powerful motivator behavior savings trying encourage thompson says suggesting saving emergencies retirement isnt important comes behavior ______________________________________________________________________________ column provided associated press personal finance website nerdwallet liz weston columnist nerdwallet certified financial planner author credit score email lwestonnerdwalletcom twitter lizweston related links nerdwallet pay debt httpsnerdmestepspayoffdebt center financial services innovation understanding improving consumer financial health america httpswwwmetlifecomassetscaofoundationunderstandingandimprovingconsumerfinancialhealthinamericapdf
| 886 |
<p>CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — When the stars of the Miami Hurricanes’ latest basketball victory sat down at a table for the postgame news conference, guard Bruce Brown expressed doubt about freshman teammate Chris Lykes’ ability to reach the microphone.</p>
<p>“You’ll have to stand up,” Brown said with a grin.</p>
<p>Lykes is accustomed to hearing that sort of thing. He’s 5-foot-7.</p>
<p>“I tell him height over heart, because he believes in heart over height,” 6-11 center Dewan Huell said. “I do that just to mess with him.”</p>
<p>But the rest of the Atlantic Coast Conference is starting to take Lykes seriously. That includes the <a href="https://collegebasketball.ap.org/article/nc-state-upsets-no-19-clemson-78-77-devoes-missed-ft" type="external">No. 19 Clemson Tigers</a> (14-2, 3-1 ACC), <a href="https://collegebasketball.ap.org/article/miami-clemson-matchup-headlines-weekend-acc" type="external">who play host Saturday to the No. 18 Hurricanes</a> (13-2, 2-1 ACC), and No. 7 Duke, which visits Miami on Monday.</p>
<p>The smallest Hurricane made perhaps the biggest contribution in their win Sunday over No. 23 Florida State by <a href="https://collegebasketball.ap.org/article/freshman-lykes-helps-no-15-miami-beat-no-24-fsu-80-74" type="external">scoring a season-high 18 points</a> . It was the latest example of Lykes providing a spark off the bench.</p>
<p>He’s averaging 7.5 points and 17 minutes per game.</p>
<p>“Lykes is extremely talented,” Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said. “When you’re small like that, you have to have exceptional skills. He’s a flawless dribbler, and fearless taking the ball to the basket. He has such explosive quickness. As he gains a little more experience, he’s going to be a handful.”</p>
<p>Lykes is part of the most highly regarded recruiting class in coach Jim Larranaga’s seven seasons at Miami. Guard Lonnie Walker IV arrived with the most hype, but Lykes was also considered a top-50 prospect after averaging 17.6 points as a senior at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C.</p>
<p>“I watched a lot of his highlights last year, and I was pretty excited he was coming here,” Huell said.</p>
<p>But when Lykes arrived at Miami, he was too short for other students to treat him like a Big Man on Campus.</p>
<p>“I always think it’s funny when they hear there are two basketball players in the class,” Lykes said. “They’ll immediately pick out one because he’s like 6-5. Then they struggle to find the other one. We always get a good laugh out of it.”</p>
<p>Larranaga has said if Lykes were 6-6, he’d be another Michael Jordan.</p>
<p>“You can immediately see the electricity he brings to the game with his speed, quickness and scoring ability,” Larranaga said. “We’re very excited about him being here, but like all freshmen, he’s learning. There are some things that will make him a much better player as he gets older.”</p>
<p>Lykes is shooting only 41 percent from the field and 61 percent from the free throw line, and he has been exposed at times on defense.</p>
<p>But he has made 23 3-pointers, and shows a remarkable knack for penetrating and getting the ball to the rim amid much taller players. A couple of his layups against Florida State were highlight-worthy.</p>
<p>While Lykes’ size might make him better suited to other sports, basketball has been his favorite since he started playing on a county team at age 6.</p>
<p>“I wasn’t that good, but I really loved the game,” he said. “I love video games of basketball, and love watching college and NBA basketball. So I just wasn’t going to let my size determine if I should play. I kept pushing myself, and didn’t listen to outside comments. I didn’t care what my size was.”</p>
<p>He’s at least a couple of inches shorter than both his father and his younger brother, and even a young man who doesn’t play basketball might find that annoying.</p>
<p>But Lykes said he doesn’t wish he was taller.</p>
<p>“God has blessed me with what I have, and I’m going to continue to use it,” he said. “Being lower to the ground helps me with my speed and ball control. Especially in the ACC, where guys are bigger, I can use my speed to get around them.”</p>
<p>In other words, heart over height.</p>
<p>“Dewan likes to say height over heart, which I don’t understand,” Lykes said with a chuckle. “But I guess that’s funny for him.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For more AP college basketball coverage: <a href="http://collegebasketball.ap.org" type="external">http://collegebasketball.ap.org</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/AP_Top25" type="external">http://twitter.com/AP_Top25</a></p>
<p>CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — When the stars of the Miami Hurricanes’ latest basketball victory sat down at a table for the postgame news conference, guard Bruce Brown expressed doubt about freshman teammate Chris Lykes’ ability to reach the microphone.</p>
<p>“You’ll have to stand up,” Brown said with a grin.</p>
<p>Lykes is accustomed to hearing that sort of thing. He’s 5-foot-7.</p>
<p>“I tell him height over heart, because he believes in heart over height,” 6-11 center Dewan Huell said. “I do that just to mess with him.”</p>
<p>But the rest of the Atlantic Coast Conference is starting to take Lykes seriously. That includes the <a href="https://collegebasketball.ap.org/article/nc-state-upsets-no-19-clemson-78-77-devoes-missed-ft" type="external">No. 19 Clemson Tigers</a> (14-2, 3-1 ACC), <a href="https://collegebasketball.ap.org/article/miami-clemson-matchup-headlines-weekend-acc" type="external">who play host Saturday to the No. 18 Hurricanes</a> (13-2, 2-1 ACC), and No. 7 Duke, which visits Miami on Monday.</p>
<p>The smallest Hurricane made perhaps the biggest contribution in their win Sunday over No. 23 Florida State by <a href="https://collegebasketball.ap.org/article/freshman-lykes-helps-no-15-miami-beat-no-24-fsu-80-74" type="external">scoring a season-high 18 points</a> . It was the latest example of Lykes providing a spark off the bench.</p>
<p>He’s averaging 7.5 points and 17 minutes per game.</p>
<p>“Lykes is extremely talented,” Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said. “When you’re small like that, you have to have exceptional skills. He’s a flawless dribbler, and fearless taking the ball to the basket. He has such explosive quickness. As he gains a little more experience, he’s going to be a handful.”</p>
<p>Lykes is part of the most highly regarded recruiting class in coach Jim Larranaga’s seven seasons at Miami. Guard Lonnie Walker IV arrived with the most hype, but Lykes was also considered a top-50 prospect after averaging 17.6 points as a senior at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C.</p>
<p>“I watched a lot of his highlights last year, and I was pretty excited he was coming here,” Huell said.</p>
<p>But when Lykes arrived at Miami, he was too short for other students to treat him like a Big Man on Campus.</p>
<p>“I always think it’s funny when they hear there are two basketball players in the class,” Lykes said. “They’ll immediately pick out one because he’s like 6-5. Then they struggle to find the other one. We always get a good laugh out of it.”</p>
<p>Larranaga has said if Lykes were 6-6, he’d be another Michael Jordan.</p>
<p>“You can immediately see the electricity he brings to the game with his speed, quickness and scoring ability,” Larranaga said. “We’re very excited about him being here, but like all freshmen, he’s learning. There are some things that will make him a much better player as he gets older.”</p>
<p>Lykes is shooting only 41 percent from the field and 61 percent from the free throw line, and he has been exposed at times on defense.</p>
<p>But he has made 23 3-pointers, and shows a remarkable knack for penetrating and getting the ball to the rim amid much taller players. A couple of his layups against Florida State were highlight-worthy.</p>
<p>While Lykes’ size might make him better suited to other sports, basketball has been his favorite since he started playing on a county team at age 6.</p>
<p>“I wasn’t that good, but I really loved the game,” he said. “I love video games of basketball, and love watching college and NBA basketball. So I just wasn’t going to let my size determine if I should play. I kept pushing myself, and didn’t listen to outside comments. I didn’t care what my size was.”</p>
<p>He’s at least a couple of inches shorter than both his father and his younger brother, and even a young man who doesn’t play basketball might find that annoying.</p>
<p>But Lykes said he doesn’t wish he was taller.</p>
<p>“God has blessed me with what I have, and I’m going to continue to use it,” he said. “Being lower to the ground helps me with my speed and ball control. Especially in the ACC, where guys are bigger, I can use my speed to get around them.”</p>
<p>In other words, heart over height.</p>
<p>“Dewan likes to say height over heart, which I don’t understand,” Lykes said with a chuckle. “But I guess that’s funny for him.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For more AP college basketball coverage: <a href="http://collegebasketball.ap.org" type="external">http://collegebasketball.ap.org</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/AP_Top25" type="external">http://twitter.com/AP_Top25</a></p>
| false | 2 |
coral gables fla ap stars miami hurricanes latest basketball victory sat table postgame news conference guard bruce brown expressed doubt freshman teammate chris lykes ability reach microphone youll stand brown said grin lykes accustomed hearing sort thing hes 5foot7 tell height heart believes heart height 611 center dewan huell said mess rest atlantic coast conference starting take lykes seriously includes 19 clemson tigers 142 31 acc play host saturday 18 hurricanes 132 21 acc 7 duke visits miami monday smallest hurricane made perhaps biggest contribution win sunday 23 florida state scoring seasonhigh 18 points latest example lykes providing spark bench hes averaging 75 points 17 minutes per game lykes extremely talented florida state coach leonard hamilton said youre small like exceptional skills hes flawless dribbler fearless taking ball basket explosive quickness gains little experience hes going handful lykes part highly regarded recruiting class coach jim larranagas seven seasons miami guard lonnie walker iv arrived hype lykes also considered top50 prospect averaging 176 points senior gonzaga college high school washington dc watched lot highlights last year pretty excited coming huell said lykes arrived miami short students treat like big man campus always think funny hear two basketball players class lykes said theyll immediately pick one hes like 65 struggle find one always get good laugh larranaga said lykes 66 hed another michael jordan immediately see electricity brings game speed quickness scoring ability larranaga said excited like freshmen hes learning things make much better player gets older lykes shooting 41 percent field 61 percent free throw line exposed times defense made 23 3pointers shows remarkable knack penetrating getting ball rim amid much taller players couple layups florida state highlightworthy lykes size might make better suited sports basketball favorite since started playing county team age 6 wasnt good really loved game said love video games basketball love watching college nba basketball wasnt going let size determine play kept pushing didnt listen outside comments didnt care size hes least couple inches shorter father younger brother even young man doesnt play basketball might find annoying lykes said doesnt wish taller god blessed im going continue use said lower ground helps speed ball control especially acc guys bigger use speed get around words heart height dewan likes say height heart dont understand lykes said chuckle guess thats funny ___ ap college basketball coverage httpcollegebasketballaporg httptwittercomap_top25 coral gables fla ap stars miami hurricanes latest basketball victory sat table postgame news conference guard bruce brown expressed doubt freshman teammate chris lykes ability reach microphone youll stand brown said grin lykes accustomed hearing sort thing hes 5foot7 tell height heart believes heart height 611 center dewan huell said mess rest atlantic coast conference starting take lykes seriously includes 19 clemson tigers 142 31 acc play host saturday 18 hurricanes 132 21 acc 7 duke visits miami monday smallest hurricane made perhaps biggest contribution win sunday 23 florida state scoring seasonhigh 18 points latest example lykes providing spark bench hes averaging 75 points 17 minutes per game lykes extremely talented florida state coach leonard hamilton said youre small like exceptional skills hes flawless dribbler fearless taking ball basket explosive quickness gains little experience hes going handful lykes part highly regarded recruiting class coach jim larranagas seven seasons miami guard lonnie walker iv arrived hype lykes also considered top50 prospect averaging 176 points senior gonzaga college high school washington dc watched lot highlights last year pretty excited coming huell said lykes arrived miami short students treat like big man campus always think funny hear two basketball players class lykes said theyll immediately pick one hes like 65 struggle find one always get good laugh larranaga said lykes 66 hed another michael jordan immediately see electricity brings game speed quickness scoring ability larranaga said excited like freshmen hes learning things make much better player gets older lykes shooting 41 percent field 61 percent free throw line exposed times defense made 23 3pointers shows remarkable knack penetrating getting ball rim amid much taller players couple layups florida state highlightworthy lykes size might make better suited sports basketball favorite since started playing county team age 6 wasnt good really loved game said love video games basketball love watching college nba basketball wasnt going let size determine play kept pushing didnt listen outside comments didnt care size hes least couple inches shorter father younger brother even young man doesnt play basketball might find annoying lykes said doesnt wish taller god blessed im going continue use said lower ground helps speed ball control especially acc guys bigger use speed get around words heart height dewan likes say height heart dont understand lykes said chuckle guess thats funny ___ ap college basketball coverage httpcollegebasketballaporg httptwittercomap_top25
| 778 |
<p>SAO PAULO, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Brazil’s patent office has concluded that Monsanto Co’s Intacta RR2 Pro patent should be declared void, according to court filings seen by Reuters regarding a lawsuit against the company by soy growers association Aprosoja.</p>
<p>In the Jan. 17 document, the solicitor general’s office said patent office INPI issued the technical opinion after reexamining the issue. In November Aprosoja asked a federal court to cancel Monsanto’s Intacta patent in Brazil, claiming it did not bring real technological innovation. Intacta’s patent protection extends through October 2022.</p>
<p>Monsanto did not immediately respond to a request for comment.</p>
<p>Reporting by Ana Mano; Editing by Richard Chang</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The selection process for the next Federal Reserve Bank of New York president has drawn the ire of New York City, state and other elected officials amid a report that San Francisco Fed President John Williams is the front runner for the job.</p> President and Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, John Williams, gestures as he addresses a news conference in Zurich, Switzerland September 22, 2017. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
<p>The extraordinary public opposition from Democrats, circulated by Washington-based advocacy group Center for Popular Democracy on Wednesday, highlighted concerns over a lack of racial and gender diversity at the U.S. central bank.</p>
<p>The outcry marked an escalation of scrutiny of the New York Fed, and could pose a challenge for Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s efforts to protect the central bank’s independence from political influence.</p>
<p>“The New York Fed has never been led by a woman or a person of color, and that needs to change,” Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said in a statement, adding such well-qualified candidates “should not be overlooked.” The junior U.S. senator from New York also urged Congressional oversight of the selection process.</p>
<p>U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren earlier this week also had called for Congressional hearings on the process.</p>
<p>The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday that the New York Fed board of directors had recommended Williams, a long time Fed economist and policymaker, to succeed William Dudley as New York Fed president.</p>
<p>The New York Fed and the San Francisco Fed declined to comment on Wednesday and the Federal Reserve Board did not respond to a request for comment. The New York Fed said on March 16 it was considering “a handful” of final candidates to replace Dudley, who plans to step down by mid-year.</p>
<p>Both Williams and Dudley are white men and professional economists, though their track record in promoting diversity within their banks’ ranks appears to differ.</p>
<p>In 2016, 46 percent of senior executives at the San Francisco Fed were minorities, the highest percentage of all the 12 Fed banks, and up from 15 percent when Williams took the helm at the bank. The 2016 figure at the New York Fed was 11 percent.</p>
<p>The Fed’s 12 regional banks send diversity reports to Congress annually and the 2017 data will be published by the end of March.</p>
<p>The New York Fed president, often seen as the second most influential policymaker at the central bank, has a permanent vote on interest-rate setting; serves as vice chair of the policy-making committee; oversees market operations including $4.4 trillion in assets; and supervises big banks.</p>
<p>“The New York Federal Reserve Bank must be led by someone who will stand up for an economy that works for all of us – not just Wall Street and the 1 percent. Period,” said New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio in a separate statement.</p>
<p>New York City comptroller Scott Stringer, and 34 state legislators also released letters urging the Fed Chair and the New York Fed to consider diversity in selecting a candidate.</p>
<p>Still, a final decision has not yet been made on a nominee, according to two sources close to the search process who spoke under conditional of anonymity.</p>
<p>Reporting by Jonathan Spicer and Ann Saphir; editing by Diane Craft</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump’s legal troubles deepened on Wednesday as a federal judge refused to throw out a lawsuit accusing him of flouting constitutional safeguards against corruption by maintaining ownership of his business empire while in office.</p>
<p>U.S. District Judge Peter Messitte in Greenbelt, Maryland allowed the lawsuit filed by Maryland and District of Columbia to proceed, rejecting a Justice Department request that it be dismissed. The judge, however, narrowed the claims to include only those involving the Trump International Hotel in Washington and not Trump’s businesses outside of the U.S. capital.</p>
<p>A U.S. judge in Manhattan in December threw out a similar lawsuit against Trump brought by another group of plaintiffs.</p>
<p>Both lawsuits accused Trump of violating the U.S. Constitution’s “emoluments” provisions designed to prevent corruption and foreign influence. One bars U.S. officials from accepting gifts or other emoluments from foreign governments without congressional approval. The other forbids the president from receiving emoluments from individual states.</p>
<p>If the lawsuit presided over by Messitte continues to move forward, the plaintiffs have indicated they would seek a number of documents related to the president, including his tax returns, which Trump has refused to release.</p>
<p>The lawsuit, filed last June, said the Republican president has failed to disentangle himself from his hotels and other businesses, making him vulnerable to inducements by officials seeking to curry favor.</p>
<p>Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh, a Democrat, said in an interview he was pleased with the judge’s action.</p>
<p>“It demonstrates that Donald Trump is not above the law, that he like every other federal employee is governed by the emoluments clause, the original anti-corruption law of the United States. And we intend to hold him accountable,” Frosh said.</p>
<p>Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said, “As we argued, we believe this case should be dismissed, and we will continue to defend the president in court.”</p>
<p>As part of the suit, the District of Columbia and Maryland said their local residents who compete with Trump’s businesses like Trump International Hotel are harmed by decreased patronage, wages and tips.</p>
<p>Trump’s attorneys said such claims were speculative and raised doubts that any harm to competition could be traced directly to Trump’s status as president.</p>
<p>Messitte rejected that view, saying the plaintiffs’ allegations were sufficient to allow the case to proceed.</p>
<p>“Their allegation is bolstered by explicit statements from certain foreign government officials indicating that they are clearly choosing to stay at the president’s hotel, because, as one representative of a foreign government has stated, they want him to know ‘I love your new hotel,’” the judge wrote.</p>
<p>Messitte also noted that since the 2016 presidential election, “foreign governments have indisputably transferred business from the Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton hotels in the District to the President’s Hotel.”</p> LEGAL WOES
<p>Trump’s legal woes are mounting. His lead lawyer in the intensifying special counsel investigation into Russia’s role in the 2016 presidential election resigned last week.</p> FILE PHOTO: Flags fly above the entrance to the new Trump International Hotel on its opening day in Washington, DC, U.S. on September 12, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo
<p>A New York state judge last week allowed a defamation lawsuit by a woman who accused Trump of sexually harassing her after she appeared on his former reality TV show to proceed.</p>
<p>He also is facing lawsuits from adult film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal arising from affairs they said they had with the president.</p>
<p>Trump, a wealthy real estate developer who as president regularly visits his own hotels, resorts and golf clubs, has ceded day-to-day control of his businesses to his sons. Critics have said that is not a sufficient safeguard.</p>
<p>This undermines democracy, the suit said, because Americans cannot be sure if Trump is acting in their best interest, or “international and domestic business dealings in which President Trump’s personal fortune is at stake.”</p>
<p>The suit said Trump had received millions of dollars in payments and benefits through leases of Trump properties held by foreign government entities, the purchase of condominiums in Trump properties, as well as hotel accommodations, restaurant purchases and the use of venues for events by foreign governments and diplomats.</p>
<p>Messitte’s action contrasts with that of U.S. District Judge George Daniels in Manhattan, who threw out the similar case filed by a nonprofit watchdog group, a hotel owner, a hotel events booker and a restaurant trade group.</p> FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump takes part in a forum called Generation Next at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, U.S., March 22, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo
<p>Daniels said the claims were speculative and that the U.S. Congress was the proper place to hold the president to account.</p>
<p>Reporting by Andrew Chung; Editing by Will Dunham</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump ousted Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin on Wednesday in response to heavy criticism and nominated his personal physician, Rear Admiral Ronny Jackson, to replace him in the latest turnover among Trump’s team.</p>
<p>White House officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Shulkin had become a distraction due to a constant wave of speculation about his future and said he would be leaving in the next day or two. They said an undersecretary at the Department of Defense, Robert Wilkie, will be the acting secretary.</p>
<p>Shulkin had drawn fire for a damning report from the inspector general of the Department of Veterans Affairs. It found that during a trip to London and Denmark he improperly accepted tickets to the Wimbledon tennis tournament and his chief of staff made false statements so Shulkin’s wife could travel at government expense.</p>
<p>One official said the criticism of Shulkin was “making it harder for him to carry out the duties of secretary of the VA, which is something the president has made clear is a big priority for him.”</p>
<p>Jackson, a rear admiral of the U.S. Navy, has been working as a presidential physician since the George W. Bush administration, and has been the lead doctor monitoring Trump’s health since Trump became president.</p>
<p>Jackson gave Trump a clean bill of health early this year after giving the president a physical. He put him on a diet to lose some weight and directed him to get some exercise. Aides said Trump has been eating more fish and fewer cheeseburgers lately.</p>
<p>A Texas native who has been on active duty since 1995, Jackson served during the U.S.-led war in Iraq as an emergency medicine physician in Taqaddum, Iraq.</p>
<p>“Admiral Jackson is highly trained and qualified and as a service member himself, he has seen firsthand the tremendous sacrifice our veterans make and has a deep appreciation for the debt our great country owes them,” Trump said.</p>
<p>A White House official said Trump warmed to Jackson and had been aware that Shulkin had sought to make Jackson the VA undersecretary last year.</p>
<p>“The president wants somebody who gives him the best possible care to go over and give that same care to the veterans. That’s how strongly he feels about getting them represented properly,” the official said.</p>
<p>Trump said he appreciated Shulkin’s work, including passage of the VA Accountability Act.”He has been a great supporter of veterans across the country and I am grateful for his service,” Trump said in a statement.</p>
<p>U.S. Representative Phil Roe, a Republican who chairs the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, said he hated to see Shulkin go but respected Trump’s decision.</p>
<p>“At the end of the day, cabinet secretaries serve at the pleasure of the president,” he said.</p> FILE PHOTO: Secretary of the Department of Veteran Affairs David Shulkin talks with U.S. President Donald Trump during the signing of an executive order entitled "Supporting our Veterans during their Transition from Uniformed Service to Civilian Life" in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 9, 2018. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/Files
<p>Will Fischer, director of government relations for the VoteVets lobby group, said his group hopes Jackson will oppose any attempt to privatize the VA or its health services, a concept that Republicans talk about occasionally.</p>
<p>“If Dr. Jackson can do that, immediately, he will do a lot to help his chances at confirmation,” Fischer said.</p>
<p>The VA oversees healthcare and benefits going to roughly 20 million U.S. military veterans. The Veterans Health Administration, the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States, provides care at more than 1,200 facilities, including 170 VA Medical Centers, to more than 9 million veterans.</p>
<p>Trump praised Shulkin as “fantastic” when he chose him to head the VA in January 2017. Trump, who promised improved veterans’ care during his presidential campaign, last year said the department had made “tremendous progress” under Shulkin.</p>
<p>But support for him at the White House eroded quickly in recent weeks as Trump grew weary of the drumbeat of negative headlines about him.</p> Slideshow (4 Images)
<p>Shulkin said after the release of the inspector general’s report that he would comply with its recommendations, including reimbursing the government for his wife’s $4,312 airfare and paying his friend for the Wimbledon tickets. The department announced two days after the report was issued that Shulkin’s chief of staff, Vivieca Wright Simpson, would retire.</p>
<p>Shulkin joins a long list of senior officials who have either resigned or been fired since Trump took office in January 2017. Others include Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price, FBI chief James Comey and FBI No. 2 Andrew McCabe, Trump’s chief strategist Steve Bannon, national security advisers H.R. McMaster and Michael Flynn, White House chief of staff Reince Priebus, communications directors Hope Hicks and Anthony Scaramucci, and economic adviser Gary Cohn.</p>
<p>Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Leslie Adler and James Dalgleish</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Supreme Court justices on Wednesday appeared conflicted over what to do — if anything — to rein in politicians who draw state electoral maps with the aim of entrenching their party in power in a closely watched case from Maryland over the practice known as partisan gerrymandering.</p>
<p>The nine justices heard an hour-long argument in a challenge by Republican voters to a U.S. House of Representatives district in Maryland that was reconfigured by Democratic state legislators in a way that helped the Democrats defeat an incumbent Republican congressman.</p>
<p>There appeared little dispute among the justices that the Maryland district’s lines were drawn with partisan intent.</p>
<p>But based on questions they asked, the justices seemed no closer to answering the major question in this case and a similar one involving Wisconsin: whether courts should be able to intervene to curb the manipulation of electoral district boundaries purely to favor one party over another.</p>
<p>On Oct. 3, the court, which has a 5-4 conservative majority, seemed similarly torn when it heard a challenge by Democratic voters to Republican-drawn legislative districts statewide in Wisconsin, and has not yet issued a ruling.</p>
<p>The rulings in the two cases, due by the end of June, could alter the U.S. political landscape, either by imposing limits on partisan gerrymandering or by allowing it even in its most extreme forms.</p>
<p>Opponents have said partisan gerrymandering has begun to warp American democracy by muffling large segments of the electorate.</p>
<p>Liberal Justice Stephen Breyer suggested the court delay deciding the cases and instead hear another round of arguments in its next term, starting in October, along with a similar case from North Carolina.</p>
<p>“It seems like a pretty clear violation of the Constitution in some form to have deliberate, extreme gerrymandering,” Breyer said. “ ... But is there a practical remedy that won’t get judges involved in every — or dozens and dozens and dozens of very important political decisions?”</p> ‘TOO MUCH’
<p>Liberal Justice Elena Kagan agreed with Breyer about the problem of deciding the threshold for when partisan line-drawing becomes too much to allow, but said, “However much you think is too much, this case is too much.”</p>
<p>“How much more evidence of partisan intent could we need?” Kagan asked.</p>
<p>The Maryland voters, supported by Republican Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, appealed a lower court ruling rejecting their challenge.</p>
<p>Conservative Justice Anthony Kennedy, a potential key vote in the case, raised concerns about a ruling so soon before November’s mid-term election but also indicated there was evidence of partisan intent in Maryland.</p>
<p>Maryland’s lawyer Steven Sullivan said the law enacting the state’s electoral map contained no language suggesting partisan intent, prompting a sharp response from Kennedy.</p>
<p>“So if you hide the evidence of what you’re doing, you’re going to prevail?” Kennedy asked.</p>
<p>The Supreme Court for decades has invalidated state electoral maps due to racial discrimination but not due to partisan advantage.</p>
<p>Democrats have said partisan gerrymandering by Republicans in such states as Wisconsin and Pennsylvania has helped President Donald Trump’s party maintain control of the House and various state legislatures.</p>
<p>Republican voters sued Maryland after the legislature in 2011 redrew boundaries for the state’s Sixth District in a way that removed Republican-leaning areas and added Democratic-leaning areas. Democrat John Delaney subsequently beat incumbent Republican Roscoe Bartlett to take the seat in 2012.</p> People gather on the plaza in front of the Supreme court before oral arguments on Benisek v. Lamone, a redistricting case on whether Democratic lawmakers in Maryland unlawfully drew a congressional district in a way that would prevent a Republican candidate from winning, in Washington, U.S., March 28, 2018. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts
<p>Governor Hogan’s election victory in 2014 illustrated Republican strength statewide. But Republicans hold just one of Maryland’s eight House seats because of the way the districts are configured.</p>
<p>The question before the Supreme Court is whether Maryland’s electoral map violated the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment guarantee of free speech. The novel legal theory pursued by the challengers is that Republican voters were retaliated against by Democrats based on their political views.</p>
<p>In a 2004 ruling in another case, Kennedy suggested that if partisan gerrymandering went too far courts might have to step in if a “workable standard” could be found.</p>
<p>Conservative Justice Samuel Alito on Wednesday told the Maryland plaintiffs’ lawyer he did not think their First Amendment challenge offered a workable standard.</p>
<p>“I don’t see how any legislature would ever be able to redistrict,” Alito said.</p>
<p>The Wisconsin challengers presented a different argument, focusing on the Constitution’s 14th Amendment guarantee of equal protection under the law because of the extent to which it marginalized Democratic voters.</p>
<p>Gerrymandered electoral maps often concentrate voters who tend to favor the minority party into a small number of districts to dilute their statewide clout and distribute the rest of those voters in other districts in numbers too small to be a majority.</p> Slideshow (6 Images)
<p>Legislative districts are redrawn nationwide every decade to reflect population changes after the national census. Redistricting in most states is done by the party in power, though some states in the interest of fairness assign the task to independent commissions.</p>
<p>Reporting by Lawrence Hurley and Andrew Chung; Editing by Will Dunham</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
sao paulo jan 22 reuters brazils patent office concluded monsanto cos intacta rr2 pro patent declared void according court filings seen reuters regarding lawsuit company soy growers association aprosoja jan 17 document solicitor generals office said patent office inpi issued technical opinion reexamining issue november aprosoja asked federal court cancel monsantos intacta patent brazil claiming bring real technological innovation intactas patent protection extends october 2022 monsanto immediately respond request comment reporting ana mano editing richard chang standards thomson reuters trust principles new yorksan francisco reuters selection process next federal reserve bank new york president drawn ire new york city state elected officials amid report san francisco fed president john williams front runner job president chief executive officer us federal reserve bank san francisco john williams gestures addresses news conference zurich switzerland september 22 2017 reutersarnd wiegmann extraordinary public opposition democrats circulated washingtonbased advocacy group center popular democracy wednesday highlighted concerns lack racial gender diversity us central bank outcry marked escalation scrutiny new york fed could pose challenge fed chair jerome powells efforts protect central banks independence political influence new york fed never led woman person color needs change democratic senator kirsten gillibrand said statement adding wellqualified candidates overlooked junior us senator new york also urged congressional oversight selection process us senator elizabeth warren earlier week also called congressional hearings process wall street journal reported saturday new york fed board directors recommended williams long time fed economist policymaker succeed william dudley new york fed president new york fed san francisco fed declined comment wednesday federal reserve board respond request comment new york fed said march 16 considering handful final candidates replace dudley plans step midyear williams dudley white men professional economists though track record promoting diversity within banks ranks appears differ 2016 46 percent senior executives san francisco fed minorities highest percentage 12 fed banks 15 percent williams took helm bank 2016 figure new york fed 11 percent feds 12 regional banks send diversity reports congress annually 2017 data published end march new york fed president often seen second influential policymaker central bank permanent vote interestrate setting serves vice chair policymaking committee oversees market operations including 44 trillion assets supervises big banks new york federal reserve bank must led someone stand economy works us wall street 1 percent period said new york city mayor bill de blasio separate statement new york city comptroller scott stringer 34 state legislators also released letters urging fed chair new york fed consider diversity selecting candidate still final decision yet made nominee according two sources close search process spoke conditional anonymity reporting jonathan spicer ann saphir editing diane craft standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters president donald trumps legal troubles deepened wednesday federal judge refused throw lawsuit accusing flouting constitutional safeguards corruption maintaining ownership business empire office us district judge peter messitte greenbelt maryland allowed lawsuit filed maryland district columbia proceed rejecting justice department request dismissed judge however narrowed claims include involving trump international hotel washington trumps businesses outside us capital us judge manhattan december threw similar lawsuit trump brought another group plaintiffs lawsuits accused trump violating us constitutions emoluments provisions designed prevent corruption foreign influence one bars us officials accepting gifts emoluments foreign governments without congressional approval forbids president receiving emoluments individual states lawsuit presided messitte continues move forward plaintiffs indicated would seek number documents related president including tax returns trump refused release lawsuit filed last june said republican president failed disentangle hotels businesses making vulnerable inducements officials seeking curry favor maryland attorney general brian frosh democrat said interview pleased judges action demonstrates donald trump law like every federal employee governed emoluments clause original anticorruption law united states intend hold accountable frosh said justice department spokeswoman kerri kupec said argued believe case dismissed continue defend president court part suit district columbia maryland said local residents compete trumps businesses like trump international hotel harmed decreased patronage wages tips trumps attorneys said claims speculative raised doubts harm competition could traced directly trumps status president messitte rejected view saying plaintiffs allegations sufficient allow case proceed allegation bolstered explicit statements certain foreign government officials indicating clearly choosing stay presidents hotel one representative foreign government stated want know love new hotel judge wrote messitte also noted since 2016 presidential election foreign governments indisputably transferred business four seasons ritz carlton hotels district presidents hotel legal woes trumps legal woes mounting lead lawyer intensifying special counsel investigation russias role 2016 presidential election resigned last week file photo flags fly entrance new trump international hotel opening day washington dc us september 12 2016 reuterskevin lamarquefile photo new york state judge last week allowed defamation lawsuit woman accused trump sexually harassing appeared former reality tv show proceed also facing lawsuits adult film actress stormy daniels former playboy model karen mcdougal arising affairs said president trump wealthy real estate developer president regularly visits hotels resorts golf clubs ceded daytoday control businesses sons critics said sufficient safeguard undermines democracy suit said americans sure trump acting best interest international domestic business dealings president trumps personal fortune stake suit said trump received millions dollars payments benefits leases trump properties held foreign government entities purchase condominiums trump properties well hotel accommodations restaurant purchases use venues events foreign governments diplomats messittes action contrasts us district judge george daniels manhattan threw similar case filed nonprofit watchdog group hotel owner hotel events booker restaurant trade group file photo us president donald trump takes part forum called generation next eisenhower executive office building washington us march 22 2018 reutersleah millisfile photo daniels said claims speculative us congress proper place hold president account reporting andrew chung editing dunham standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters president donald trump ousted veterans affairs secretary david shulkin wednesday response heavy criticism nominated personal physician rear admiral ronny jackson replace latest turnover among trumps team white house officials speaking condition anonymity said shulkin become distraction due constant wave speculation future said would leaving next day two said undersecretary department defense robert wilkie acting secretary shulkin drawn fire damning report inspector general department veterans affairs found trip london denmark improperly accepted tickets wimbledon tennis tournament chief staff made false statements shulkins wife could travel government expense one official said criticism shulkin making harder carry duties secretary va something president made clear big priority jackson rear admiral us navy working presidential physician since george w bush administration lead doctor monitoring trumps health since trump became president jackson gave trump clean bill health early year giving president physical put diet lose weight directed get exercise aides said trump eating fish fewer cheeseburgers lately texas native active duty since 1995 jackson served usled war iraq emergency medicine physician taqaddum iraq admiral jackson highly trained qualified service member seen firsthand tremendous sacrifice veterans make deep appreciation debt great country owes trump said white house official said trump warmed jackson aware shulkin sought make jackson va undersecretary last year president wants somebody gives best possible care go give care veterans thats strongly feels getting represented properly official said trump said appreciated shulkins work including passage va accountability acthe great supporter veterans across country grateful service trump said statement us representative phil roe republican chairs house committee veterans affairs said hated see shulkin go respected trumps decision end day cabinet secretaries serve pleasure president said file photo secretary department veteran affairs david shulkin talks us president donald trump signing executive order entitled supporting veterans transition uniformed service civilian life oval office white house washington us january 9 2018 reuterscarlos barriafiles fischer director government relations votevets lobby group said group hopes jackson oppose attempt privatize va health services concept republicans talk occasionally dr jackson immediately lot help chances confirmation fischer said va oversees healthcare benefits going roughly 20 million us military veterans veterans health administration largest integrated healthcare system united states provides care 1200 facilities including 170 va medical centers 9 million veterans trump praised shulkin fantastic chose head va january 2017 trump promised improved veterans care presidential campaign last year said department made tremendous progress shulkin support white house eroded quickly recent weeks trump grew weary drumbeat negative headlines slideshow 4 images shulkin said release inspector generals report would comply recommendations including reimbursing government wifes 4312 airfare paying friend wimbledon tickets department announced two days report issued shulkins chief staff vivieca wright simpson would retire shulkin joins long list senior officials either resigned fired since trump took office january 2017 others include secretary state rex tillerson secretary health human services tom price fbi chief james comey fbi 2 andrew mccabe trumps chief strategist steve bannon national security advisers hr mcmaster michael flynn white house chief staff reince priebus communications directors hope hicks anthony scaramucci economic adviser gary cohn reporting steve holland editing leslie adler james dalgleish standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters us supreme court justices wednesday appeared conflicted anything rein politicians draw state electoral maps aim entrenching party power closely watched case maryland practice known partisan gerrymandering nine justices heard hourlong argument challenge republican voters us house representatives district maryland reconfigured democratic state legislators way helped democrats defeat incumbent republican congressman appeared little dispute among justices maryland districts lines drawn partisan intent based questions asked justices seemed closer answering major question case similar one involving wisconsin whether courts able intervene curb manipulation electoral district boundaries purely favor one party another oct 3 court 54 conservative majority seemed similarly torn heard challenge democratic voters republicandrawn legislative districts statewide wisconsin yet issued ruling rulings two cases due end june could alter us political landscape either imposing limits partisan gerrymandering allowing even extreme forms opponents said partisan gerrymandering begun warp american democracy muffling large segments electorate liberal justice stephen breyer suggested court delay deciding cases instead hear another round arguments next term starting october along similar case north carolina seems like pretty clear violation constitution form deliberate extreme gerrymandering breyer said practical remedy wont get judges involved every dozens dozens dozens important political decisions much liberal justice elena kagan agreed breyer problem deciding threshold partisan linedrawing becomes much allow said however much think much case much much evidence partisan intent could need kagan asked maryland voters supported republican maryland governor larry hogan appealed lower court ruling rejecting challenge conservative justice anthony kennedy potential key vote case raised concerns ruling soon novembers midterm election also indicated evidence partisan intent maryland marylands lawyer steven sullivan said law enacting states electoral map contained language suggesting partisan intent prompting sharp response kennedy hide evidence youre youre going prevail kennedy asked supreme court decades invalidated state electoral maps due racial discrimination due partisan advantage democrats said partisan gerrymandering republicans states wisconsin pennsylvania helped president donald trumps party maintain control house various state legislatures republican voters sued maryland legislature 2011 redrew boundaries states sixth district way removed republicanleaning areas added democraticleaning areas democrat john delaney subsequently beat incumbent republican roscoe bartlett take seat 2012 people gather plaza front supreme court oral arguments benisek v lamone redistricting case whether democratic lawmakers maryland unlawfully drew congressional district way would prevent republican candidate winning washington us march 28 2018 reutersjoshua roberts governor hogans election victory 2014 illustrated republican strength statewide republicans hold one marylands eight house seats way districts configured question supreme court whether marylands electoral map violated us constitutions first amendment guarantee free speech novel legal theory pursued challengers republican voters retaliated democrats based political views 2004 ruling another case kennedy suggested partisan gerrymandering went far courts might step workable standard could found conservative justice samuel alito wednesday told maryland plaintiffs lawyer think first amendment challenge offered workable standard dont see legislature would ever able redistrict alito said wisconsin challengers presented different argument focusing constitutions 14th amendment guarantee equal protection law extent marginalized democratic voters gerrymandered electoral maps often concentrate voters tend favor minority party small number districts dilute statewide clout distribute rest voters districts numbers small majority slideshow 6 images legislative districts redrawn nationwide every decade reflect population changes national census redistricting states done party power though states interest fairness assign task independent commissions reporting lawrence hurley andrew chung editing dunham standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 1,994 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is considering new regulations that would severely curtail a contentious practice called mandatory arbitration, which is when consumers are forced to take their disputes to a third-party mediator instead of a court of law. It is something consumer advocates have long argued does a disservice to people who have disputes with banks, credit card issuers and other financial service providers.</p>
<p>Many Americans don't know that, buried in the fine print, they've agreed not to bring lawsuits against banks or other financial institutions if they have complaints over issues such as disputed charges on their checking accounts or credit card bills.</p>
<p>Instead, they're required to go through a binding arbitration process. Consumer advocates say these arbitrators are often biased and routinely rule against consumers. If a customer loses an arbitration ruling, oftentimes it cannot be appealed.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The goal of forcing disputes to be arbitrated instead of litigated was to streamline and lower the cost of resolving disputes that customers had with financial service providers.</p>
<p>But what started off as a good idea became corrupted over time, critics say. Companies who did not like how an arbitration firm would rule could shop around, giving arbitration companies a reason to rule in favor of the companies who hired them. Arbitration rulings were also not transparent.</p>
<p>The proposal, which the agency announced Wednesday, follows years of scrutiny by financial regulators, state attorneys general and consumer financial advocates.</p>
<p>"Companies can sidestep the legal system, avoid big refunds, and continue to pursue profitable practices that may violate the law and harm countless consumers," said Richard Cordray, director of the CFPB, in a statement.</p>
<p>The proposal is the first step toward restricting the practice. The regulator is likely to face stiff resistance from the financial industry and the CFPB's critics in Washington.</p>
<p>"Forcing consumers to hire expensive lawyers and go to trial rather than use a low-cost dispute resolution system harms the very low and middle income consumers the CFPB should be helping," said Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, who is chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.</p>
<p>The CFPB's proposal does not create a blanket ban on arbitration, which is legal in the U.S. under the Federal Arbitration Act of 1925. Instead, the CFPB's new rules would allow disgruntled customers to sue banks or other financial companies as a group through a class-action lawsuit, should they choose to, even if they're subject to arbitration agreements. Financial companies will still be able to force individuals to settle disputes through arbitration, however those cases are less common. Many disputes are also resolved outside of the formal arbitration process.</p>
<p>Another proposal would force companies that continue to use arbitration to submit those claims to the CFPB, so the agency can monitor the process and make sure it's fair to customers.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Roughly 20 years ago, arbitration began to become a common way for financial companies to resolve disputes with customers without having to go to trial. Over the years, the practice ballooned to the point that many financial services, ranging from checking accounts to private student loans have incorporated arbitration clauses in the fine print of their customer agreements.</p>
<p>In one notorious case in 2009, Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson found out that a debt collection company and the National Arbitration Forum, at the time one of the largest arbitration companies, were owned by the same investors. National Arbitration Forum was also involved in helping writing arbitration clauses into contracts.</p>
<p>"The Forum presented itself as this neutral party like our court system, but consumers didn't know they were affiliated with same companies bringing the claims against them," Swanson said in an interview.</p>
<p>Shortly after Swanson's lawsuit was filed, National Arbitration Forum agreed to get out of the business of arbitrating consumer financial disputes.</p>
<p>If a group of bank customers found they were victims of unfair practices at their bank, under the new rules they would be able to pursue a class-action lawsuit against the bank.</p>
<p>Under current rules, customers can be bound to use individual arbitration to resolve disputes, even in cases where many individuals were victims of the same practice. For consumers, pursuing individual lawsuits is typically a drawn-out and expensive process.</p>
<p>"It is simply impossible to have an effective group claim where the vast majority of consumers have all lost their right to have their day in court," Cordray said.</p>
<p>While it is only a partial ban in writing, arbitration experts say that by allowing class action lawsuits to go forward, the CFPB's proposal is in essence a de-facto ban on arbitration because the service, which is typically paid for by the bank, becomes less cost-effective.</p>
<p>"If I was a consumer advocate against arbitration, and I was looking at what the CFPB proposed, I would be popping those champagne corks right about now," said Alan Kaplinsky, a consumer financial services lawyer with Ballard Spahr LLP.</p>
<p>The Dodd-Frank Act required the CFPB to study forced arbitration and submit a report to Congress. In its final report, released in March, the CFPB found companies widely used arbitration clauses to dismiss class action lawsuits and, despite being on the majority of financial products, three out of four Americans did not know they were subject to arbitration.</p>
<p>The CFPB is holding a hearing on arbitration in Denver on Wednesday, where it will hear from consumers, advocates and industry officials about its proposal.</p>
| false | 2 |
consumer financial protection bureau considering new regulations would severely curtail contentious practice called mandatory arbitration consumers forced take disputes thirdparty mediator instead court law something consumer advocates long argued disservice people disputes banks credit card issuers financial service providers many americans dont know buried fine print theyve agreed bring lawsuits banks financial institutions complaints issues disputed charges checking accounts credit card bills instead theyre required go binding arbitration process consumer advocates say arbitrators often biased routinely rule consumers customer loses arbitration ruling oftentimes appealed advertisement goal forcing disputes arbitrated instead litigated streamline lower cost resolving disputes customers financial service providers started good idea became corrupted time critics say companies like arbitration firm would rule could shop around giving arbitration companies reason rule favor companies hired arbitration rulings also transparent proposal agency announced wednesday follows years scrutiny financial regulators state attorneys general consumer financial advocates companies sidestep legal system avoid big refunds continue pursue profitable practices may violate law harm countless consumers said richard cordray director cfpb statement proposal first step toward restricting practice regulator likely face stiff resistance financial industry cfpbs critics washington forcing consumers hire expensive lawyers go trial rather use lowcost dispute resolution system harms low middle income consumers cfpb helping said rep jeb hensarling rtexas chairman house financial services committee cfpbs proposal create blanket ban arbitration legal us federal arbitration act 1925 instead cfpbs new rules would allow disgruntled customers sue banks financial companies group classaction lawsuit choose even theyre subject arbitration agreements financial companies still able force individuals settle disputes arbitration however cases less common many disputes also resolved outside formal arbitration process another proposal would force companies continue use arbitration submit claims cfpb agency monitor process make sure fair customers advertisement roughly 20 years ago arbitration began become common way financial companies resolve disputes customers without go trial years practice ballooned point many financial services ranging checking accounts private student loans incorporated arbitration clauses fine print customer agreements one notorious case 2009 minnesota attorney general lori swanson found debt collection company national arbitration forum time one largest arbitration companies owned investors national arbitration forum also involved helping writing arbitration clauses contracts forum presented neutral party like court system consumers didnt know affiliated companies bringing claims swanson said interview shortly swansons lawsuit filed national arbitration forum agreed get business arbitrating consumer financial disputes group bank customers found victims unfair practices bank new rules would able pursue classaction lawsuit bank current rules customers bound use individual arbitration resolve disputes even cases many individuals victims practice consumers pursuing individual lawsuits typically drawnout expensive process simply impossible effective group claim vast majority consumers lost right day court cordray said partial ban writing arbitration experts say allowing class action lawsuits go forward cfpbs proposal essence defacto ban arbitration service typically paid bank becomes less costeffective consumer advocate arbitration looking cfpb proposed would popping champagne corks right said alan kaplinsky consumer financial services lawyer ballard spahr llp doddfrank act required cfpb study forced arbitration submit report congress final report released march cfpb found companies widely used arbitration clauses dismiss class action lawsuits despite majority financial products three four americans know subject arbitration cfpb holding hearing arbitration denver wednesday hear consumers advocates industry officials proposal
| 533 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>Cleveland, with 197 points, finished third, behind Queen Creek, Ariz. (237 points) and Class 6A newcomer Piedra Vista (201.5).</p>
<p>Rio Rancho (168) placed seventh, with Cibola (106) in 10th place.</p>
<p>A handful of Rio West area wrestlers brought home individual titles from the two-day meet.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Cleveland’s fifth-seeded Tristan Mascareñas captured the title at 106 pounds.</p>
<p>Another Mascareñas from Cleveland, Mikey, was the dominant champion at 120 pounds. He had three pins, a major decision and a technical fall during the event.</p>
<p>Rio Rancho’s top-seeded Ryan Rochford took down the 152-pound bracket, recording five pins.</p>
<p>His Rams teammate, Orion Gutierrez, was the champion at 160 pounds. In the final, he won a tough 12-9 decision over Piedra Vista’s Hosman Caraveo.</p>
<p>Cleveland’s Daimon Altamirano, seeded No. 2, was the heavyweight champion and pinned Belen’s Estevan Chavez in the finals in 77 seconds.</p>
<p>Cleveland is in Deming for a meet this weekend; the Rams are in Reno, Nev., for the Tournament of Champions.</p>
<p>Cibola, West Mesa, Valley and Volcano Vista are at the APS Invitational, which concludes today at West Mesa.</p>
<p>Basketball</p>
<p>BOYS: At 7-0, Cleveland is off to a very impressive start. The Storm won three games in three days last week, including a taut, 67-63 victory over previously undefeated Los Lunas on Saturday. The Storm was home to Las Cruces on Friday and visits Oñate today. Both are strong 6A teams.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Cibola (5-2) finished third at the Joe Armijo Classic at Albuquerque Academy last weekend, whipping the host Chargers in the consolation game, 71-36, after losing a tough 52-47 decision to Hope Christian in the semifinals.</p>
<p>Cibola is playing Highland and West Mesa this weekend.</p>
<p>Valley (5-2) finished fifth at the Hub City tournament in Belen last week. The Vikings lost their opener to Roswell, but bounced back with wins over Los Alamos and Lovington. Valley was to face a pair of defending state champions this weekend: at Rio Rancho late Friday, and at Hope Christian today.</p>
<p>Rio Rancho dropped a 53-50 game to host Artesia in the Bulldogs’ tournament final last Saturday. Also, the Rams have lost senior guard Clay Patterson for an indeterminate period after he dislocated his kneecap in the semifinals of that event. The Rams (5-3), after playing Valley on Friday, are off until their holiday tournament, which begins Dec. 28.</p>
<p>West Mesa (2-4) plays Cibola today, then is off until the metro tournament, which begins just after the New Year.</p>
<p>Volcano Vista (1-3) has a tough weekend, traveling to Albuquerque High (late Friday) and at home to face Rio Grande today.</p>
<p>• St. Pius was third at Sandia Prep’s tournament, defeating Valencia last Saturday 55-39. The Sartans (6-2) scratched out a tough road victory at Gallup on Tuesday night, 50-49.</p>
<p>Bernalillo (2-6) was also at the Belen tournament last weekend, and the Spartans finished fourth, closing with losses to Belen and Centennial. Bernalillo was beaten soundly 78-40 at Grants on Tuesday night, and the Spartans have games next week against Valencia and Taos.</p>
<p>Bosque School (0-8) was at Moriarty on Friday and visiting Jemez Valley today.</p>
<p>GIRLS: The 5-1 West Mesa Mustangs were at Cibola (5-3) late Friday night. West Mesa is coming off a 62-46 win over Del Norte last Saturday.</p>
<p>The Cougars finished third at the Joe Armijo Classic, losing to Hope Christian in the semifinals before defeating Cleveland 62-53 in the third-place contest. The Storm (4-4) was home late Friday to Las Cruces, before traveling to Oñate today. It also has a quick turnaround with another road game Tuesday in Las Cruces against Centennial.</p>
<p>Volcano Vista (4-2) was at Eldorado late Friday. Rio Rancho (1-5) finished fourth in its Mel Otero Invite last weekend, closing with a semifinal loss to Centennial and a loss in the third-place game to Las Cruces. The Rams are at Gallup tonight.</p>
<p>Valley (0-6) has a solid chance to get its first win of the season when the Vikings visit Manzano this afternoon.</p>
<p>• St. Pius (8-0 and the last unbeaten team in Class 5A) won the Alice King Invitational in Moriarty last weekend, defeating the host Pintos 53-50 in the title game. The Sartans won only six games last season.</p>
<p>Bosque School (4-3) had wins last weekend against Hot Springs and the Academy for Technology and the Classics out of Santa Fe. The Bobcats are at Jemez Valley today.</p>
<p>Bernalillo (0-9), which finished last at the Alice King, fell 53-37 to St. Michael’s on Tuesday. The Spartans are at Aztec today, then have road games next week at West Las Vegas and Capital.</p>
<p>Football</p>
<p>Rio Rancho’s Class 6A championship football team will be recognized by MaxPreps.com as one of the best teams in the country.</p>
<p>The school and the team will be presented a trophy on a date in the near future. MaxPreps says from the approximately 17,000 high schools that field varsity football teams, only 50 are given such an award during the 12th annual MaxPreps Tour of Champions.</p>
<p>The Rams earlier this month defeated Las Cruces to win the state title and cap a 13-0 season.</p>
<p>• The North-South All-Star rosters were announced earlier this week, and the North squad is loaded with athletes from the Rio West area.</p>
<p>Six members of Rio Rancho were voted to the North team: running back Josh Foley, offensive tackle Logan Hertz, defensive end/linebacker Zeneth Klövenäs, quarterback Nic Little, defensive lineman Kevin McCracken and linebacker Vinny Palmeri.</p>
<p>From Cleveland, it is offensive tackle Leo Sykes, linebacker Isaac Jaramillo and defensive lineman Brendon Armstead. Guard Thomas Kenny will represent Valley, QB Dillon Gassoway will represent Volcano Vista and linebacker Jacob Garduño will represent West Mesa.</p>
<p>Class 5A state champion St. Pius’ players will compete for the South next summer. QB Drew Ortiz was voted in, as was center John Corcoran, receivers Dylan DiLorenzo and Mel DeHerrera, and linebackers Austin Shull and Adrian Leon.</p>
<p>The North-South game will be either July 24 or 26 at Nusenda Community Stadium.</p>
<p />
| false | 2 |
cleveland 197 points finished third behind queen creek ariz 237 points class 6a newcomer piedra vista 2015 rio rancho 168 placed seventh cibola 106 10th place handful rio west area wrestlers brought home individual titles twoday meet advertisement clevelands fifthseeded tristan mascareñas captured title 106 pounds another mascareñas cleveland mikey dominant champion 120 pounds three pins major decision technical fall event rio ranchos topseeded ryan rochford took 152pound bracket recording five pins rams teammate orion gutierrez champion 160 pounds final tough 129 decision piedra vistas hosman caraveo clevelands daimon altamirano seeded 2 heavyweight champion pinned belens estevan chavez finals 77 seconds cleveland deming meet weekend rams reno nev tournament champions cibola west mesa valley volcano vista aps invitational concludes today west mesa basketball boys 70 cleveland impressive start storm three games three days last week including taut 6763 victory previously undefeated los lunas saturday storm home las cruces friday visits oñate today strong 6a teams advertisement cibola 52 finished third joe armijo classic albuquerque academy last weekend whipping host chargers consolation game 7136 losing tough 5247 decision hope christian semifinals cibola playing highland west mesa weekend valley 52 finished fifth hub city tournament belen last week vikings lost opener roswell bounced back wins los alamos lovington valley face pair defending state champions weekend rio rancho late friday hope christian today rio rancho dropped 5350 game host artesia bulldogs tournament final last saturday also rams lost senior guard clay patterson indeterminate period dislocated kneecap semifinals event rams 53 playing valley friday holiday tournament begins dec 28 west mesa 24 plays cibola today metro tournament begins new year volcano vista 13 tough weekend traveling albuquerque high late friday home face rio grande today st pius third sandia preps tournament defeating valencia last saturday 5539 sartans 62 scratched tough road victory gallup tuesday night 5049 bernalillo 26 also belen tournament last weekend spartans finished fourth closing losses belen centennial bernalillo beaten soundly 7840 grants tuesday night spartans games next week valencia taos bosque school 08 moriarty friday visiting jemez valley today girls 51 west mesa mustangs cibola 53 late friday night west mesa coming 6246 win del norte last saturday cougars finished third joe armijo classic losing hope christian semifinals defeating cleveland 6253 thirdplace contest storm 44 home late friday las cruces traveling oñate today also quick turnaround another road game tuesday las cruces centennial volcano vista 42 eldorado late friday rio rancho 15 finished fourth mel otero invite last weekend closing semifinal loss centennial loss thirdplace game las cruces rams gallup tonight valley 06 solid chance get first win season vikings visit manzano afternoon st pius 80 last unbeaten team class 5a alice king invitational moriarty last weekend defeating host pintos 5350 title game sartans six games last season bosque school 43 wins last weekend hot springs academy technology classics santa fe bobcats jemez valley today bernalillo 09 finished last alice king fell 5337 st michaels tuesday spartans aztec today road games next week west las vegas capital football rio ranchos class 6a championship football team recognized maxprepscom one best teams country school team presented trophy date near future maxpreps says approximately 17000 high schools field varsity football teams 50 given award 12th annual maxpreps tour champions rams earlier month defeated las cruces win state title cap 130 season northsouth allstar rosters announced earlier week north squad loaded athletes rio west area six members rio rancho voted north team running back josh foley offensive tackle logan hertz defensive endlinebacker zeneth klövenäs quarterback nic little defensive lineman kevin mccracken linebacker vinny palmeri cleveland offensive tackle leo sykes linebacker isaac jaramillo defensive lineman brendon armstead guard thomas kenny represent valley qb dillon gassoway represent volcano vista linebacker jacob garduño represent west mesa class 5a state champion st pius players compete south next summer qb drew ortiz voted center john corcoran receivers dylan dilorenzo mel deherrera linebackers austin shull adrian leon northsouth game either july 24 26 nusenda community stadium
| 655 |
<p>President Obama exaggerates the potential benefits of his ambitious plan for universal preschool, as he first outlined in the State of the Union and repeated elsewhere since then:</p>
<p>In both cases, Obama is extrapolating the results of small, expensive programs and applying them to universal state programs.</p>
<p>Academics who have studied preschool programs say it is too soon to know the long-term results of statewide universal programs, but evidence suggests Obama’s plan to include all 4-year-old kids — including those from middle-income families — would not see nearly as dramatic results. For example, a study of the Georgia program — which Obama touts as an example of cost-effective universal preschool — found that “disadvantaged children residing in small towns and rural areas” benefited the most. But, the study’s author tells us, “We just haven’t seen the same types of gains for all kids when programs become available more broadly.”</p>
<p>It also remains to be seen exactly how universal Obama’s proposal will end up being.</p>
<p>According to the details of his plan released by the White House, Obama “is proposing a new federal-state partnership to provide all low- and moderate-income four-year old children [those from families at or below 200 percent of poverty level] with high-quality preschool, while also expanding these programs to reach additional children from middle class families.” However, it continues to tout “preschool for all.” The full extent of Obama’s plan may not become apparent until he releases a proposed budget in mid-March.</p>
<p>In his <a href="http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2013/02/12/Transcript-of-Obama-SOTU/UPI-47101360721778/?spt=hs&amp;or=tn" type="external">State of the Union address</a>, President Obama unveiled a bold plan to make preschool available to all 4-year-old children.</p>
<p>Obama, Feb. 12: You know, study after study shows that the sooner a child begins learning, the better he or she does down the road. But today, fewer than three in ten 4-year-olds are enrolled in a high-quality preschool program. Most middle-class parents can’t afford a few hundred bucks a week for private preschool. And for poor kids who need help the most, this lack of access to preschool education can shadow them for the rest of their lives.</p>
<p>So, tonight, I propose working with states to make high-quality preschool available to every single child in America.</p>
<p>That’s something we should be able to do.</p>
<p>Every dollar we invest in high-quality early childhood education can save more than seven dollars later on, by boosting graduation rates, reducing teen pregnancy, even reducing violent crime. In states that make it a priority to educate our youngest children — like Georgia or Oklahoma — studies show students grow up more likely to read and do math at grade level, graduate high school, hold a job, form more stable families of their own. We know this works. So let’s do what works and make sure none of our children start the race of life already behind. Let’s give our kids that chance.</p>
<p>Two days later, Obama gave <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/14/remarks-president-early-childhood-education-decatur-ga" type="external">a speech</a> on early childhood education at the Decatur Community Recreation Center in Georgia, again proposing to “make high-quality preschool available to every child in America.” And he again touted its benefits.</p>
<p>Obama, Feb. 14: Most middle-class parents can’t afford a few hundred bucks a week for private preschool. And for the poor children who need it the most, the lack of access to a great preschool education can have an impact on their entire lives. And we all pay a price for that. And as I said, this is not speculation. Study after study shows the achievement gap starts off very young. Kids who, when they go into kindergarten, their first day, if they already have a lot fewer vocabulary words, they don’t know their numbers and their shapes and have the capacity for focus, they’re going to be behind that first day. And it’s very hard for them to catch up over time. …</p>
<p>Every dollar we invest in high-quality early education can save more than seven dollars later on — boosting graduation rates, reducing teen pregnancy, reducing violent crime. In states like Georgia that have made it a priority to educate our youngest children, states like Oklahoma, students don’t just show up in kindergarten and first grade more prepared to learn, they’re also more likely to grow up reading and doing math at grade level, graduating from high school, holding a job, even forming more stable families.</p>
<p>Hope is found in what works. This works. We know it works. If you are looking for a good bang for your educational buck, this is it right here.</p>
<p>At our request, the White House sent along a handful of studies to back up the president’s claims.</p>
<p>In regard to Obama’s claims about a cost-to-benefit ratio of 1-to-7, the White House pointed specifically to <a href="http://heckman.uchicago.edu/sites/heckman.uchicago.edu/files/uploads/Heckman_etal_2010_RateofRtn-to-Perry.pdf" type="external">a study</a>led by James J. Heckman at the University of Chicago of the Perry Preschool Program in Ypsilanti, Mich., that concluded “each dollar invested returns in present value terms 7 to 12 dollars back to society.”</p>
<p>The Perry program targeted disadvantaged African-American youth in the early 1960s, and academics tracked the progress of 123 students — including a control group that did not get into the program — through age 40. The two-year program cost about $19,000 per student in today’s dollars, and included in-home visits (participants had to have stay-at-home mothers).</p>
<p>That’s far different than any universal preschool program currently run by any state.</p>
<p>Most state programs cost around <a href="http://www.nber.org/chapters/c11722.pdf" type="external">$6,100 per student</a>, and are one-year programs (such as the president talked about in his State of the Union address). In addition, the results in Perry are for “disadvantaged students.” Other studies suggest the benefits that accrue to middle-income students are far less dramatic.</p>
<p>We reached out to Heckman’s office, which referred our questions to Rich Neimand, president of the <a href="http://www.neimandcollaborative.com/theteam.html" type="external">Neimand Collaborative</a>. Neimand said “high-quality” preschool “is directly linked to adult outcomes” and all students can benefit from it. But, he added, “disadvantaged children are least likely to receive it,” and “if funds are limited then the priority should be placed on disadvantaged children because it provides the greatest economic return.”</p>
<p>We asked if it was fair to extend the results observed from the Perry program to that of universal preschool, which Obama did without saying that’s what he’d done. Neimand responded via email: “To the best of our knowledge, there has been no evidence-based scientific research on the value of universal pre-school. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that universal has no value.”</p>
<p>There are disagreements in academia about the long-term effects of preschool programs. The biggest effort, the Head Start program — which provides a comprehensive approach including preschool, health care, nutrition and parent outreach —&#160; has shown “initial positive impacts,” according to <a href="http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/opre/head_start_report.pdf" type="external">a study</a> done for the Obama administration last year. But, the study said that “by the end of 3rd grade there were very few impacts found for either cohort in any of the four domains of cognitive, social-emotional, health and parenting practices.”</p>
<p>And the studies cited by the White House — which you can view <a href="http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/opre/head_start_report.pdf" type="external">here</a>, <a href="http://jenni.uchicago.edu/human-inequality/papers/Heckman_final_all_wp_2007-03-22c_jsb.pdf" type="external">here</a>, <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/content/333/6040/360" type="external">here</a> and <a href="http://www.highscope.org/Content.asp?ContentId=219" type="external">here</a> — were either studies of programs that targeted low-income disadvantaged students, or concluded that the positive effects are largest for disadvantaged students.</p>
<p>Georgia and Oklahoma</p>
<p>Obama also overreached when he linked the programs in Georgia and Oklahoma to studies that “show students grow up more likely to read and do math at grade level, graduate high school, hold a job, form more stable families of their own.” The oldest students in the Georgia program are now just 20 years old, and the Oklahoma students are even younger. So Obama isn’t talking about them, when he cites the ability to “hold a job” and “form more stable families of their own.”</p>
<p>Studies of the Georgia program have shown promising academic results, especially in the few years after preschool, and particularly for disadvantaged students.</p>
<p>In 2008, <a href="http://www.human.cornell.edu/bio.cfm?netid=mdf98" type="external">Maria Donovan Fitzpatrick</a>, then a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute for Economic Policy Research at Stanford University, did a <a href="http://www-siepr.stanford.edu/Papers/pdf/08-05.pdf" type="external">research paper</a> looking at&#160; the program in Georgia, the first state, as Obama said, to offer universal preschool. She concluded that while the economic benefits for disadvantaged children were clear, they were less so for middle-income kids.</p>
<p>Fitzpatrick, 2008: For disadvantaged children residing in small towns and rural areas, Universal Pre-K availability increases both reading and mathematics test scores at fourth grade as well as the probability of students being on-grade for their age. Increases in some measures of achievement also were seen among other groups, though the patterns were less uniform across outcome measures.</p>
<p>One of the key qualifiers is that the best results were seen for “disadvantaged children residing in small towns and rural areas.” The same level of results were not achieved by middle-income students, for example.</p>
<p>In fact, Fitzpatrick concluded:</p>
<p>Fitzpatrick, 2008: The costs of the program today ($302 million in 2007-2008) greatly outweigh the benefits in terms of potential increased taxable revenue. This is a very simple cost benefit analysis and should therefore be interpreted with caution. However, it is at least suggestive that the government’s scarce resources would be better spent on more targeted early childhood interventions that have been shown to be more cost efficient, particularly if the goal is to increase wages through test scores.</p>
<p>“We just haven’t seen the same types of gains for all kids when programs become available more broadly,” said Fitzpatrick in a phone interview with FactCheck.org. “We don’t really know what the returns are yet from a universal program.”</p>
<p>If there are limited resources, and in government that is always the case, the question is whether it would make more sense to invest a smaller amount of money per student for a mediocre program for all students or a larger amount of money for a more targeted program, said Fitzpatrick, now an assistant professor at Cornell University. The evidence seems to support the latter, she said.</p>
<p>Most of the claims about the benefits of preschool are based on research on the <a href="http://www.highscope.org/content.asp?contentid=219" type="external">Perry preschool program</a> and the <a href="http://projects.fpg.unc.edu/~abc/#intervention" type="external">Carolina Abecedarian Project</a> in Chapel Hill, N.C, which also targeted children from low-income families.</p>
<p>But those were costly programs. According to a Perry program report, the program cost <a href="http://www.highscope.org/file/Research/PerryProject/Perry-SRCD_2003.pdf" type="external">$14,716 per student</a> in 2001 dollars, which now adjusted for inflation would be just over $19,000. And the Abecedarian program was even more expensive: <a href="http://www.nber.org/chapters/c11722.pdf" type="external">about $90,000 per child</a> in 2010 dollars, or nearly $95,000 today.</p>
<p>By comparison, the Georgia program currently costs about $4,000 to $5,000 per student, Fitzgerald said, and is in line with what other states are paying for preschool.</p>
<p>In <a href="http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/brown-center-chalkboard/posts/2013/01/23-prek-whitehurst" type="external">a story on preschool written last month</a>, Grover J. “Russ” Whitehurst, director of the Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institution, argued against just the kind of comparisons that Obama made.</p>
<p>“In my view, generalizations to state pre-K programs from research findings on Perry and Abecedarian are prodigious leaps of faith,” wrote <a href="http://www.brookings.edu/experts/whitehurstg" type="external">Whitehurst</a>, a former education official under George W. Bush.</p>
<p>For starters, he said, the two programs were multiyear programs, whereas the state programs are one-year programs for 4-year-olds. The cost of those programs was much higher than any current state program, he added. And the two programs were “run by very experienced, committed teams, whereas widely deployed present day preschool programs are, well, widely deployed.”</p>
<p>It’s relevant to talk about the results of the Perry program, as long as you note that’s what you’re talking about, Whitehurst told us in a phone interview. Whitehurst said Obama was “at best misleading” when using the results from studies of those small programs in the same sentence as the universal programs in Oklahoma and Georgia.</p>
<p>“Not only is that an unjustified reference,” Whitehurst said, “it’s also contradicted by what little research we have.”</p>
<p>By and large, he said, “middle-income kids are already prepared for kindergarten. … The impact is always greatest for kids who are farthest behind.”</p>
<p>That’s why a program targeted to kids from low-income families may make economic sense, while a universal program may not, Whitehurst said.</p>
<p>Interestingly, while Obama proposed preschool for all and talked about the burden of preschool costs on middle-class families, the details of the proposal unveiled by the White House in <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/13/fact-sheet-president-obama-s-plan-early-education-all-americans" type="external">a fact sheet</a>on Feb. 13 suggest the federal focus is primarily on children from low-income families.</p>
<p>According to the plan, Obama is proposing “a cost sharing partnership with all 50 states, to extend federal funds to expand high-quality public preschool to reach all low- and moderate-income four-year olds from families at or below 200 percent of poverty.”</p>
<p>Dollars would be allocated based on states’ “share of four-year olds from low- and moderate-income families.” In addition, the proposal includes “an incentive for states to broaden participation in their public preschool program for additional middle-class families,” which states may decide to offer as a “sliding-scale arrangement.” The full extent of Obama’s financial commitment to the plan won’t be known until he unveils his proposed budget, which is <a href="http://www.federaltimes.com/article/20130211/AGENCY01/302110001/2014-budget-released-mid-March-memo-says" type="external">expected to be released</a> in mid-March.</p>
<p>So, in fact, the president’s plan does seem to target dollars to reach disadvantaged, low-income students. But in his State of the Union address, Obama exaggerated the effects of universal preschool by comparing results from small, expensive programs targeted to disadvantaged youth to a universal program for which such results are unproven.</p>
<p>— by Robert Farley</p>
<p>Transcript of <a href="http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2013/02/12/Transcript-of-Obama-SOTU/UPI-47101360721778/?spt=hs&amp;or=tn" type="external">Obama’s State of the Union Address</a>. UPI.com. 12 Feb 2013.</p>
<p>White House Website. <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/14/remarks-president-early-childhood-education-decatur-ga" type="external">Remarks by the President on Early Childhood Education — Decatur, GA</a>. 14 Feb 2013.</p>
<p>Heckman, James J.; Moon, Seong Hyeok Moon; Pinto, Rodrigo; Savelyev, Peter A.; and Yavitz, Adam. “ <a href="http://heckman.uchicago.edu/sites/heckman.uchicago.edu/files/uploads/Heckman_etal_2010_RateofRtn-to-Perry.pdf" type="external">The rate of return to the HighScope Perry Preschool Program</a>.” Journal of Public Economics. 18 Nov 2009.</p>
<p>Levine, Phillip B. and Zimmerman, David J.” <a href="http://www.nber.org/chapters/c11722.pdf" type="external">Targeting Investments in Children: Fighting Poverty When Resources are Limited</a>.” National Bureau of Economic Research. Aug 2010.</p>
<p>Puma, Michael, Bell, Stephen, Cook, Ronna, Camilla Heid, Camilla, Broene, Pam, Jenkins, Frank, Andrew Mashburn, Andrew and Downer, Jason. <a href="http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/opre/head_start_report.pdf" type="external">Third Grade Follow-up to the Head Start Impact Study, Final Report</a>. For the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Oct 2012.</p>
<p>Heckman, James J. and Masterov, Dimitriy V. “ <a href="http://jenni.uchicago.edu/human-inequality/papers/Heckman_final_all_wp_2007-03-22c_jsb.pdf" type="external">The Productivity Argument for Investing in Young Children</a>.” 22 Mar 2007.</p>
<p>Reynolds, Arthur J., Temple, Judy A., Ou, Suh-Ruu, Arteaga, Irma A. and White, Barry A. “ <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/content/333/6040/360" type="external">School-Based Early Childhood Education and Age-28 Well-Being: Effects by Timing, Dosage, and Subgroups</a>.” Science. 15 Jul 2011.</p>
<p>Schweinhart, L. J., Montie, J., Xiang, Z., Barnett, W. S., Belfield, C. R., and Nores, M. “ <a href="http://www.highscope.org/Content.asp?ContentId=219" type="external">Lifetime effects: The HighScope Perry Preschool study through age 40</a>.” HighScope Educational Research Foundation. 2005.</p>
<p>Fitzpatrick, Maria Donovan. “ <a href="http://www-siepr.stanford.edu/Papers/pdf/08-05.pdf" type="external">Starting School at Four: The Effect of Universal Pre-Kindergarten on Children’s Academic Achievement</a>.” Stanford University. December 2008.</p>
<p><a href="http://projects.fpg.unc.edu/~abc/#intervention" type="external">The Carolina Abecedarian Project</a>. University of North Carolina.</p>
<p>Schweinhart, Lawrence J. “ <a href="http://www.highscope.org/file/Research/PerryProject/Perry-SRCD_2003.pdf" type="external">Benefits, Costs, and Explanation of the High/Scope Perry Preschool Program</a>.” High/Scope Educational Research Foundation. 26 Apr 2003.</p>
<p>Whitehurst, Grover J. “Russ.” “ <a href="http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/brown-center-chalkboard/posts/2013/01/23-prek-whitehurst" type="external">Can We Be Hard-Headed About Preschool? A Look at Universal and Targeted Pre-K</a>.” The Brown Center Chalkboard. Brookings Institution. 23 Jan 2013.</p>
<p>White House Website. “ <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/13/fact-sheet-president-obama-s-plan-early-education-all-americans" type="external">Fact Sheet President Obama’s Plan for Early Education for all Americans</a>.” 13 Feb 2013.</p>
<p>Reilly, Sean. “ <a href="http://www.federaltimes.com/article/20130211/AGENCY01/302110001/2014-budget-released-mid-March-memo-says" type="external">2014 budget to be released in mid-March, memo says</a>.” Federal Times. 11 Feb 2013.</p>
| false | 2 |
president obama exaggerates potential benefits ambitious plan universal preschool first outlined state union repeated elsewhere since cases obama extrapolating results small expensive programs applying universal state programs academics studied preschool programs say soon know longterm results statewide universal programs evidence suggests obamas plan include 4yearold kids including middleincome families would see nearly dramatic results example study georgia program obama touts example costeffective universal preschool found disadvantaged children residing small towns rural areas benefited studys author tells us havent seen types gains kids programs become available broadly also remains seen exactly universal obamas proposal end according details plan released white house obama proposing new federalstate partnership provide low moderateincome fouryear old children families 200 percent poverty level highquality preschool also expanding programs reach additional children middle class families however continues tout preschool full extent obamas plan may become apparent releases proposed budget midmarch state union address president obama unveiled bold plan make preschool available 4yearold children obama feb 12 know study study shows sooner child begins learning better road today fewer three ten 4yearolds enrolled highquality preschool program middleclass parents cant afford hundred bucks week private preschool poor kids need help lack access preschool education shadow rest lives tonight propose working states make highquality preschool available every single child america thats something able every dollar invest highquality early childhood education save seven dollars later boosting graduation rates reducing teen pregnancy even reducing violent crime states make priority educate youngest children like georgia oklahoma studies show students grow likely read math grade level graduate high school hold job form stable families know works lets works make sure none children start race life already behind lets give kids chance two days later obama gave speech early childhood education decatur community recreation center georgia proposing make highquality preschool available every child america touted benefits obama feb 14 middleclass parents cant afford hundred bucks week private preschool poor children need lack access great preschool education impact entire lives pay price said speculation study study shows achievement gap starts young kids go kindergarten first day already lot fewer vocabulary words dont know numbers shapes capacity focus theyre going behind first day hard catch time every dollar invest highquality early education save seven dollars later boosting graduation rates reducing teen pregnancy reducing violent crime states like georgia made priority educate youngest children states like oklahoma students dont show kindergarten first grade prepared learn theyre also likely grow reading math grade level graduating high school holding job even forming stable families hope found works works know works looking good bang educational buck right request white house sent along handful studies back presidents claims regard obamas claims costtobenefit ratio 1to7 white house pointed specifically studyled james j heckman university chicago perry preschool program ypsilanti mich concluded dollar invested returns present value terms 7 12 dollars back society perry program targeted disadvantaged africanamerican youth early 1960s academics tracked progress 123 students including control group get program age 40 twoyear program cost 19000 per student todays dollars included inhome visits participants stayathome mothers thats far different universal preschool program currently run state state programs cost around 6100 per student oneyear programs president talked state union address addition results perry disadvantaged students studies suggest benefits accrue middleincome students far less dramatic reached heckmans office referred questions rich neimand president neimand collaborative neimand said highquality preschool directly linked adult outcomes students benefit added disadvantaged children least likely receive funds limited priority placed disadvantaged children provides greatest economic return asked fair extend results observed perry program universal preschool obama without saying thats hed done neimand responded via email best knowledge evidencebased scientific research value universal preschool however doesnt necessarily mean universal value disagreements academia longterm effects preschool programs biggest effort head start program provides comprehensive approach including preschool health care nutrition parent outreach 160 shown initial positive impacts according study done obama administration last year study said end 3rd grade impacts found either cohort four domains cognitive socialemotional health parenting practices studies cited white house view either studies programs targeted lowincome disadvantaged students concluded positive effects largest disadvantaged students georgia oklahoma obama also overreached linked programs georgia oklahoma studies show students grow likely read math grade level graduate high school hold job form stable families oldest students georgia program 20 years old oklahoma students even younger obama isnt talking cites ability hold job form stable families studies georgia program shown promising academic results especially years preschool particularly disadvantaged students 2008 maria donovan fitzpatrick postdoctoral fellow institute economic policy research stanford university research paper looking at160 program georgia first state obama said offer universal preschool concluded economic benefits disadvantaged children clear less middleincome kids fitzpatrick 2008 disadvantaged children residing small towns rural areas universal prek availability increases reading mathematics test scores fourth grade well probability students ongrade age increases measures achievement also seen among groups though patterns less uniform across outcome measures one key qualifiers best results seen disadvantaged children residing small towns rural areas level results achieved middleincome students example fact fitzpatrick concluded fitzpatrick 2008 costs program today 302 million 20072008 greatly outweigh benefits terms potential increased taxable revenue simple cost benefit analysis therefore interpreted caution however least suggestive governments scarce resources would better spent targeted early childhood interventions shown cost efficient particularly goal increase wages test scores havent seen types gains kids programs become available broadly said fitzpatrick phone interview factcheckorg dont really know returns yet universal program limited resources government always case question whether would make sense invest smaller amount money per student mediocre program students larger amount money targeted program said fitzpatrick assistant professor cornell university evidence seems support latter said claims benefits preschool based research perry preschool program carolina abecedarian project chapel hill nc also targeted children lowincome families costly programs according perry program report program cost 14716 per student 2001 dollars adjusted inflation would 19000 abecedarian program even expensive 90000 per child 2010 dollars nearly 95000 today comparison georgia program currently costs 4000 5000 per student fitzgerald said line states paying preschool story preschool written last month grover j russ whitehurst director brown center education policy brookings institution argued kind comparisons obama made view generalizations state prek programs research findings perry abecedarian prodigious leaps faith wrote whitehurst former education official george w bush starters said two programs multiyear programs whereas state programs oneyear programs 4yearolds cost programs much higher current state program added two programs run experienced committed teams whereas widely deployed present day preschool programs well widely deployed relevant talk results perry program long note thats youre talking whitehurst told us phone interview whitehurst said obama best misleading using results studies small programs sentence universal programs oklahoma georgia unjustified reference whitehurst said also contradicted little research large said middleincome kids already prepared kindergarten impact always greatest kids farthest behind thats program targeted kids lowincome families may make economic sense universal program may whitehurst said interestingly obama proposed preschool talked burden preschool costs middleclass families details proposal unveiled white house fact sheeton feb 13 suggest federal focus primarily children lowincome families according plan obama proposing cost sharing partnership 50 states extend federal funds expand highquality public preschool reach low moderateincome fouryear olds families 200 percent poverty dollars would allocated based states share fouryear olds low moderateincome families addition proposal includes incentive states broaden participation public preschool program additional middleclass families states may decide offer slidingscale arrangement full extent obamas financial commitment plan wont known unveils proposed budget expected released midmarch fact presidents plan seem target dollars reach disadvantaged lowincome students state union address obama exaggerated effects universal preschool comparing results small expensive programs targeted disadvantaged youth universal program results unproven robert farley transcript obamas state union address upicom 12 feb 2013 white house website remarks president early childhood education decatur ga 14 feb 2013 heckman james j moon seong hyeok moon pinto rodrigo savelyev peter yavitz adam rate return highscope perry preschool program journal public economics 18 nov 2009 levine phillip b zimmerman david j targeting investments children fighting poverty resources limited national bureau economic research aug 2010 puma michael bell stephen cook ronna camilla heid camilla broene pam jenkins frank andrew mashburn andrew downer jason third grade followup head start impact study final report us department health human services oct 2012 heckman james j masterov dimitriy v productivity argument investing young children 22 mar 2007 reynolds arthur j temple judy ou suhruu arteaga irma white barry schoolbased early childhood education age28 wellbeing effects timing dosage subgroups science 15 jul 2011 schweinhart l j montie j xiang z barnett w belfield c r nores lifetime effects highscope perry preschool study age 40 highscope educational research foundation 2005 fitzpatrick maria donovan starting school four effect universal prekindergarten childrens academic achievement stanford university december 2008 carolina abecedarian project university north carolina schweinhart lawrence j benefits costs explanation highscope perry preschool program highscope educational research foundation 26 apr 2003 whitehurst grover j russ hardheaded preschool look universal targeted prek brown center chalkboard brookings institution 23 jan 2013 white house website fact sheet president obamas plan early education americans 13 feb 2013 reilly sean 2014 budget released midmarch memo says federal times 11 feb 2013
| 1,512 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>Early voting for a school board election that includes a question on a $100 million general obligation bond to fund the work over the next four years is underway at the Santa Fe County clerk’s office, Santa Fe Community College, the SFPS’s central office on Alta Vista and Nina Otero Community School – the latter an example of what was built under a 2013 G.O. bond.</p>
<p>Turnout is traditionally low for school board elections and there’s less incentive to show up at the polls this year as the two seats on the board up for vote are uncontested. Board Vice President Lorraine Price is poised to return for another four-year term in District 5, and Kate Noble is the only candidate running for the District 3 seat being vacated by Susan Duncan, the current board president who decided not to run for re-election.</p>
<p>There is also one seat up for grabs on the Santa Fe Community College Governing Board this election. Incumbent Pablo Sedillo Sr. will defend his seat against challenger George Gamble.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>But even after combining the public schools and community college elections in 2015, there seems to be a declining trend in terms of turnout for school elections.</p>
<p>Fewer than 5,000 people, or about 5 percent of approximately 87,000 eligible voters, turned out in 2015 for an election where there was one contested race for school board and one contested seat for the SFCC governing body. Turnout was closer to 7 percent in 2013, when 5,632 people voted in favor of a $107 million G.O. bond for public schools by close to a 3-to-1 margin.</p>
<p>Last year, fewer than 3,000 voters, 62 percent of the mere 4,647 voters who cast ballots, approved continuation of a $55 million Education Technology Note, supported by property taxes, to pay for technology upgrades for charter and district schools over a five-year period.</p>
<p>If the G.O. bond is approved this time, property taxes for a home with a market value of $300,000 would increase by about $6.67 per month, or $80 per year.</p>
<p>“We know it’s a burden on people,” said Maureen Cashmon, a school board member who previously served on the Citizen Review Committee, which identifies and prioritizes district building projects. “This is about our kids’ future. We need to give them a leg up.”</p>
<p>If the bond question is defeated, owners of homes in the $300,000 range would see a phased reduction in their property tax bill, cutting it by about $100 two years from now. But Cashmon said it would be “a disaster” for the public schools, which has identified $260 million in current needs.</p>
<p>Rudy Garcia, current chairman of the Citizens Review Committee, said the property tax rate would not have gone up if the school district had decided to ask for a $75 million G.O. bond. “The committee talked about it quite a bit,” he said. “We felt that ($100 million) was minimal to meet the needs of the community.”</p>
<p>Focus on alternatives</p>
<p>New Mexico schools consistently rank near the bottom on national education lists and, while Santa Fe has shown some progress in recent years, it has lagged below state averages in reading and math proficiency scores, and, until this year, graduation rates.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>In addition, school funding from the state isn’t expected to increase while the Legislature works to close a cavernous budget deficit.</p>
<p>“The need (for facilities) never goes down,” said Cashmon, who has seen the construction of two new schools and the rebuild or renovation of several others during her two years on the board. “What we can do is ask taxpayers to continue to support us.”</p>
<p>Much of the money from bonds approved in recent years has been spent on accommodating growth on the city’s south side, but the new proposal reflects a need to maintain and improve buildings district-wide. “So many of them are health and safety needs, and bread-and-butter stuff,” Superintendent Veronica Garcia said in a recent interview.</p>
<p>About $13.6 million would be allocated for improvements to such fundamentals as air conditioning, plumbing, roofing, electricity and paved parking lots district-wide. About two-thirds of the money would be earmarked for jobs at specific schools – the biggest of which is the construction of what the school board last week decided to name Milagro Middle School. About $27.8 million to build the school would come out of the bond, along with another $2 million left over from the 2013 bonds.</p>
<p>“We definitely need a new middle school,” Garcia said.</p>
<p>The need for a new one came after the school board decided to consolidate Capshaw and De Vargas middle schools, both of which had experienced declining enrollment. The new school is to be located on the current De Vargas campus on Llano Street, with about 60 percent of the existing school set to be demolished as part of the project. Construction is expected to last through June 2018.</p>
<p>According to Kristy Janda Wagner, chief operations officer for the district, the school will accommodate approximately 650 students and be outfitted with classrooms; spaces for art, music, band, orchestra and physical education; a second-floor media center adjacent to a digital design lab; a workout and dance room; and a synthetic turf athletic field.</p>
<p>But Janda Wagner said the main focus of the 2017 G.O. bond is for improvements at the high schools.</p>
<p>“The last two bonds have been about elementary and K through 8; the goal now is supporting high schools,” she said, adding that about $200 million has been spent on SFPS facility improvements since 2009. “And the focus of the 2017 bond is alternative programs, such as Early College Opportunities, providing options and hands-on learning.”</p>
<p>The approved bonds also would provide $2 million for the school district’s in-house construction team. That 2 percent portion of the bond proceeds is cheaper than the at least 5 percent the district used to pay private contractors for the work, said a district spokesman.</p>
<p>More options for students</p>
<p>Janda Wagner spoke during a district-sponsored bus tour last week that ended at Early College Opportunities, or ECO, billed as SFPS’s “applied science magnet school.”</p>
<p>ECO is the latest iteration of the vocational trades school on the south campus of Santa Fe High School. It offers programs in automobile technology, auto collision, construction, environmental science and natural resource management, sustainable technologies, greenhouse management and welding.</p>
<p>“Not every kid is college bound,” said school board member Steven Carrillo, who was also on the tour, “so we’re preparing them for 21st-century trades and technologies. And kids are excited about coming to school because it’s relevant to them.”</p>
<p>Dana Richards heads the ECO program. “Trade programs help with engagement, attendance and graduation rates,” he said. “We’re mostly targeting students with lower academics and students that want to learn by doing. The upside is more options for students.”</p>
<p>“They also get dual credit,” added Chris Coriz, who teaches auto collision, auto tech and welding classes. “So, by the time they graduate, they either have an associate’s degree or a certification in welding and make twice as much money as I did when I got out of school.”</p>
<p>In all, more than $10 million of the proposed 2017 bonds would be allocated to improvements at ECO.</p>
<p>Another alternative program that would receive funding is the Mandela International Magnet School, which recently received authorization to become an International Baccalaureate World School. It was also recently announced that the Mandela school would be relocating from a wing of De Vargas Middle School to the former location of the Larragoite Elementary School on Agua Fría Street. About $4 million would help that transition, if voters approve.</p>
<p>The Academy for Technology and the Classics, a charter school catering to college-bound students, would benefit with nearly $6.6 million in funding, much of it to pay for a gym and locker rooms it currently does not have.</p>
<p>Stewardship of tax dollars</p>
<p>There’s also an emphasis on keeping pace with technology advances and steps toward increased efficiency through sustainability. Some of the 2017 bond money would go toward upgrading infrastructure, Neil Weaver, the district’s director of digital learning said.</p>
<p>“Public schools are charged with preparing students for college and careers that are becoming more and more technology based,” he said. So the school district is integrating technology in every classroom.</p>
<p>The school district is also investing funds into sustainability efforts. This bond would allocate $7.3 million into such things as LED lighting, solar power and synthetic turf athletic fields.</p>
<p>Lisa Randall, the district’s energy and water conservation program coordinator, was never a fan of plastic grass until she saw the water savings. Not only that, but the fields can be used year-round and the district doesn’t have to deal with the removal and safety concerns that result from prairie dog and mole holes.</p>
<p>Randall added that a roofwater catchment cistern at the recently renovated Atalaya Elementary School has kept the school from having to use any city water to water the grounds. Overall, the district has managed to reduce its water usage by 40 percent, she said.</p>
<p>She also touted the energy efficiency of the district’s buildings, especially the new ones. Nina Otero and Amy Biehl community schools, for example, have an Energy Use Index, where the lower the number the better, of 31 when the regional average is 71.</p>
<p>School board member Carrillo said the school district should also be given credit for good use of public dollars.</p>
<p>“All these projects are coming in on time and under budget,” he said. “Once again, it’s good stewardship of tax dollars at work.”</p>
<p />
<p>&#160;</p>
<p />
| false | 2 |
early voting school board election includes question 100 million general obligation bond fund work next four years underway santa fe county clerks office santa fe community college sfpss central office alta vista nina otero community school latter example built 2013 go bond turnout traditionally low school board elections theres less incentive show polls year two seats board vote uncontested board vice president lorraine price poised return another fouryear term district 5 kate noble candidate running district 3 seat vacated susan duncan current board president decided run reelection also one seat grabs santa fe community college governing board election incumbent pablo sedillo sr defend seat challenger george gamble advertisement even combining public schools community college elections 2015 seems declining trend terms turnout school elections fewer 5000 people 5 percent approximately 87000 eligible voters turned 2015 election one contested race school board one contested seat sfcc governing body turnout closer 7 percent 2013 5632 people voted favor 107 million go bond public schools close 3to1 margin last year fewer 3000 voters 62 percent mere 4647 voters cast ballots approved continuation 55 million education technology note supported property taxes pay technology upgrades charter district schools fiveyear period go bond approved time property taxes home market value 300000 would increase 667 per month 80 per year know burden people said maureen cashmon school board member previously served citizen review committee identifies prioritizes district building projects kids future need give leg bond question defeated owners homes 300000 range would see phased reduction property tax bill cutting 100 two years cashmon said would disaster public schools identified 260 million current needs rudy garcia current chairman citizens review committee said property tax rate would gone school district decided ask 75 million go bond committee talked quite bit said felt 100 million minimal meet needs community focus alternatives new mexico schools consistently rank near bottom national education lists santa fe shown progress recent years lagged state averages reading math proficiency scores year graduation rates advertisement addition school funding state isnt expected increase legislature works close cavernous budget deficit need facilities never goes said cashmon seen construction two new schools rebuild renovation several others two years board ask taxpayers continue support us much money bonds approved recent years spent accommodating growth citys south side new proposal reflects need maintain improve buildings districtwide many health safety needs breadandbutter stuff superintendent veronica garcia said recent interview 136 million would allocated improvements fundamentals air conditioning plumbing roofing electricity paved parking lots districtwide twothirds money would earmarked jobs specific schools biggest construction school board last week decided name milagro middle school 278 million build school would come bond along another 2 million left 2013 bonds definitely need new middle school garcia said need new one came school board decided consolidate capshaw de vargas middle schools experienced declining enrollment new school located current de vargas campus llano street 60 percent existing school set demolished part project construction expected last june 2018 according kristy janda wagner chief operations officer district school accommodate approximately 650 students outfitted classrooms spaces art music band orchestra physical education secondfloor media center adjacent digital design lab workout dance room synthetic turf athletic field janda wagner said main focus 2017 go bond improvements high schools last two bonds elementary k 8 goal supporting high schools said adding 200 million spent sfps facility improvements since 2009 focus 2017 bond alternative programs early college opportunities providing options handson learning approved bonds also would provide 2 million school districts inhouse construction team 2 percent portion bond proceeds cheaper least 5 percent district used pay private contractors work said district spokesman options students janda wagner spoke districtsponsored bus tour last week ended early college opportunities eco billed sfpss applied science magnet school eco latest iteration vocational trades school south campus santa fe high school offers programs automobile technology auto collision construction environmental science natural resource management sustainable technologies greenhouse management welding every kid college bound said school board member steven carrillo also tour preparing 21stcentury trades technologies kids excited coming school relevant dana richards heads eco program trade programs help engagement attendance graduation rates said mostly targeting students lower academics students want learn upside options students also get dual credit added chris coriz teaches auto collision auto tech welding classes time graduate either associates degree certification welding make twice much money got school 10 million proposed 2017 bonds would allocated improvements eco another alternative program would receive funding mandela international magnet school recently received authorization become international baccalaureate world school also recently announced mandela school would relocating wing de vargas middle school former location larragoite elementary school agua fría street 4 million would help transition voters approve academy technology classics charter school catering collegebound students would benefit nearly 66 million funding much pay gym locker rooms currently stewardship tax dollars theres also emphasis keeping pace technology advances steps toward increased efficiency sustainability 2017 bond money would go toward upgrading infrastructure neil weaver districts director digital learning said public schools charged preparing students college careers becoming technology based said school district integrating technology every classroom school district also investing funds sustainability efforts bond would allocate 73 million things led lighting solar power synthetic turf athletic fields lisa randall districts energy water conservation program coordinator never fan plastic grass saw water savings fields used yearround district doesnt deal removal safety concerns result prairie dog mole holes randall added roofwater catchment cistern recently renovated atalaya elementary school kept school use city water water grounds overall district managed reduce water usage 40 percent said also touted energy efficiency districts buildings especially new ones nina otero amy biehl community schools example energy use index lower number better 31 regional average 71 school board member carrillo said school district also given credit good use public dollars projects coming time budget said good stewardship tax dollars work 160
| 966 |
<p>PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — When Giovanni Savarese was interviewing to be the Portland Timbers' new head coach, he brought along a scouting report as if he was going to face that team.</p>
<p>Team owner Merritt Paulson appreciated that and on Monday, Savarese was formally introduced as the team's coach. The 46-year-old former player had been coach of the North American Soccer League's New York Cosmos since 2012. He led the team to three Soccer Bowl championships in five seasons.</p>
<p>"With Gio it was — I hate to use the proverbial cliche, 'check the boxes' — but the off-the-field, on-the-field philosophy, the way he thinks about the game, it was pretty seamless," Paulson said.</p>
<p>Savarese replaces coach Caleb Porter, who unexpectedly parted ways with the Timbers in November. In five seasons under Porter, Portland posted a 68-50-52 record and won the MLS Cup championship in 2015. The team finished atop the Western Conference last season.</p>
<p>Paulson said he was impressed when Savarese brought the scouting report to one of their first meetings.</p>
<p>Savarese said many of the pieces are already in place.</p>
<p>"It's good not to start from zero," he said.</p>
<p>The coach said he has spoken to a few of the players, including MLS Most Valuable Player Diego Valeri, midfielder Diego Chara and forward Fanendo Adi.</p>
<p>"I think this was the right time for me to make this transition. And I couldn't have found a better club to make the transition, because of what the club represents and the culture. I think culture is very important in soccer. This club has a tremendous culture," he said. "I'm a person, I cannot just work for a club to coach, I have to feel it. I'm passionate about what I do and I need to be with a club that has the same beliefs."</p>
<p>Savarese, who is from Venezuela, played for 18 seasons in Europe and in the United States, including stints with Major League Soccer's MetroStars (Red Bulls), New England Revolution and San Jose Earthquakes.</p>
<p>Under Savarese, the Cosmos were 65-26-44 in 135 regular-season games. The team went 20-7-5 in 2016 and had an undefeated spring season the year before.</p>
<p>Paulson smiled and nodded when Savarese said the Timbers would play their first match against the LA Galaxy on March 4 as if it were a final.</p>
<p>The Timbers finished this season as the top seed in the Western Conference but fell in the conference semifinals 2-1 on aggregate to the Houston Dynamo. The Timbers were hampered by injuries in the semis, including to Chara, who broke a bone in his foot.</p>
<p>Savarese is already getting acclimated to rainy Portland and its quirks.</p>
<p>"Yesterday I went to cut my hair and of course it was raining," Savarese said. "So I bring my umbrella and the lady who was cutting my hair says, 'You are not from here, this town, right?' And I say, 'Yes, you know because of my accent.' And she said 'No, no, no. Because you have an umbrella. Usually people here don't use an umbrella.'</p>
<p>"Good to know,' I said. Next time I'm not bringing the umbrella," Savarese said, laughing.</p>
<p>PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — When Giovanni Savarese was interviewing to be the Portland Timbers' new head coach, he brought along a scouting report as if he was going to face that team.</p>
<p>Team owner Merritt Paulson appreciated that and on Monday, Savarese was formally introduced as the team's coach. The 46-year-old former player had been coach of the North American Soccer League's New York Cosmos since 2012. He led the team to three Soccer Bowl championships in five seasons.</p>
<p>"With Gio it was — I hate to use the proverbial cliche, 'check the boxes' — but the off-the-field, on-the-field philosophy, the way he thinks about the game, it was pretty seamless," Paulson said.</p>
<p>Savarese replaces coach Caleb Porter, who unexpectedly parted ways with the Timbers in November. In five seasons under Porter, Portland posted a 68-50-52 record and won the MLS Cup championship in 2015. The team finished atop the Western Conference last season.</p>
<p>Paulson said he was impressed when Savarese brought the scouting report to one of their first meetings.</p>
<p>Savarese said many of the pieces are already in place.</p>
<p>"It's good not to start from zero," he said.</p>
<p>The coach said he has spoken to a few of the players, including MLS Most Valuable Player Diego Valeri, midfielder Diego Chara and forward Fanendo Adi.</p>
<p>"I think this was the right time for me to make this transition. And I couldn't have found a better club to make the transition, because of what the club represents and the culture. I think culture is very important in soccer. This club has a tremendous culture," he said. "I'm a person, I cannot just work for a club to coach, I have to feel it. I'm passionate about what I do and I need to be with a club that has the same beliefs."</p>
<p>Savarese, who is from Venezuela, played for 18 seasons in Europe and in the United States, including stints with Major League Soccer's MetroStars (Red Bulls), New England Revolution and San Jose Earthquakes.</p>
<p>Under Savarese, the Cosmos were 65-26-44 in 135 regular-season games. The team went 20-7-5 in 2016 and had an undefeated spring season the year before.</p>
<p>Paulson smiled and nodded when Savarese said the Timbers would play their first match against the LA Galaxy on March 4 as if it were a final.</p>
<p>The Timbers finished this season as the top seed in the Western Conference but fell in the conference semifinals 2-1 on aggregate to the Houston Dynamo. The Timbers were hampered by injuries in the semis, including to Chara, who broke a bone in his foot.</p>
<p>Savarese is already getting acclimated to rainy Portland and its quirks.</p>
<p>"Yesterday I went to cut my hair and of course it was raining," Savarese said. "So I bring my umbrella and the lady who was cutting my hair says, 'You are not from here, this town, right?' And I say, 'Yes, you know because of my accent.' And she said 'No, no, no. Because you have an umbrella. Usually people here don't use an umbrella.'</p>
<p>"Good to know,' I said. Next time I'm not bringing the umbrella," Savarese said, laughing.</p>
| false | 2 |
portland ore ap giovanni savarese interviewing portland timbers new head coach brought along scouting report going face team team owner merritt paulson appreciated monday savarese formally introduced teams coach 46yearold former player coach north american soccer leagues new york cosmos since 2012 led team three soccer bowl championships five seasons gio hate use proverbial cliche check boxes offthefield onthefield philosophy way thinks game pretty seamless paulson said savarese replaces coach caleb porter unexpectedly parted ways timbers november five seasons porter portland posted 685052 record mls cup championship 2015 team finished atop western conference last season paulson said impressed savarese brought scouting report one first meetings savarese said many pieces already place good start zero said coach said spoken players including mls valuable player diego valeri midfielder diego chara forward fanendo adi think right time make transition couldnt found better club make transition club represents culture think culture important soccer club tremendous culture said im person work club coach feel im passionate need club beliefs savarese venezuela played 18 seasons europe united states including stints major league soccers metrostars red bulls new england revolution san jose earthquakes savarese cosmos 652644 135 regularseason games team went 2075 2016 undefeated spring season year paulson smiled nodded savarese said timbers would play first match la galaxy march 4 final timbers finished season top seed western conference fell conference semifinals 21 aggregate houston dynamo timbers hampered injuries semis including chara broke bone foot savarese already getting acclimated rainy portland quirks yesterday went cut hair course raining savarese said bring umbrella lady cutting hair says town right say yes know accent said umbrella usually people dont use umbrella good know said next time im bringing umbrella savarese said laughing portland ore ap giovanni savarese interviewing portland timbers new head coach brought along scouting report going face team team owner merritt paulson appreciated monday savarese formally introduced teams coach 46yearold former player coach north american soccer leagues new york cosmos since 2012 led team three soccer bowl championships five seasons gio hate use proverbial cliche check boxes offthefield onthefield philosophy way thinks game pretty seamless paulson said savarese replaces coach caleb porter unexpectedly parted ways timbers november five seasons porter portland posted 685052 record mls cup championship 2015 team finished atop western conference last season paulson said impressed savarese brought scouting report one first meetings savarese said many pieces already place good start zero said coach said spoken players including mls valuable player diego valeri midfielder diego chara forward fanendo adi think right time make transition couldnt found better club make transition club represents culture think culture important soccer club tremendous culture said im person work club coach feel im passionate need club beliefs savarese venezuela played 18 seasons europe united states including stints major league soccers metrostars red bulls new england revolution san jose earthquakes savarese cosmos 652644 135 regularseason games team went 2075 2016 undefeated spring season year paulson smiled nodded savarese said timbers would play first match la galaxy march 4 final timbers finished season top seed western conference fell conference semifinals 21 aggregate houston dynamo timbers hampered injuries semis including chara broke bone foot savarese already getting acclimated rainy portland quirks yesterday went cut hair course raining savarese said bring umbrella lady cutting hair says town right say yes know accent said umbrella usually people dont use umbrella good know said next time im bringing umbrella savarese said laughing
| 566 |
<p>ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Kyle Williams stood at his locker, grudgingly discussing a topic he'd prefer to avoid: himself.</p>
<p>The Bills defensive tackle acknowledged Wednesday he's heard the many well-wishes and accolades from coaches, and current and former teammates, rooting for him to make the playoffs in what might be Williams' 12th and final season in Buffalo — and the NFL for that matter.</p>
<p>And yet Williams was defiant about refusing to create any sort of a spectacle by making the Bills' season finale at Miami on Sunday about him.</p>
<p>"I appreciate the compliments, and I'm glad that you guys ask them the questions about me," Williams said. "But this is about our football team, our organization, and it's much bigger than me."</p>
<p>Though their chances are slim, the Bills (8-7) are in playoff contention entering the final week of the season for the first time in Williams' tenure.</p>
<p>Aside from having to beat Miami (6-9), the Bills need either the Ravens to lose to Cincinnati, or both the Titans and Los Angeles Chargers to lose for Buffalo to end a 17-season playoff drought — the longest active streak in North America's four major professional sports.</p>
<p>To hear Williams talk, the Bills' AFC East rival Dolphins represent nothing more than the next opponent on a 17-week schedule.</p>
<p>"I think about it the same way I thought about the game last week," he said. "All that stuff on the side, and all the extras and distractions, that's really not going to help us win."</p>
<p>Williams won't even look beyond the game Sunday to <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/williams-focused-bills-beating-miami-not-future-plans" type="external">address his future</a> with his contract expiring after this season.</p>
<p>"I'm not going down that road," he said.</p>
<p>Williams acknowledged he can be stubborn and even a contrarian, especially when it comes to finding motivation in proving wrong anyone who has ever doubted his ability.</p>
<p>He's had plenty of experience in exceeding expectations.</p>
<p>Despite starting 33 of 46 games at LSU and earning first-team SEC honors in his senior season, the 6-foot, 295-pound Williams was considered undersized by NFL standards and was selected by Buffalo in the fifth round of the 2006 draft.</p>
<p>Williams proceeded to take over the starting job six games into his rookie season and now leads Bills defensive tackles with 43½ sacks, and his 166 games rank 11th on the team list. He's earned five Pro Bowl honors and a second-team All-Pro selection in 2010</p>
<p>First-year coach Sean McDermott became an immediate fan of Williams, and he often grows emotional when referencing the player's career and the impact he's made as a leader on a rebuilding team.</p>
<p>"It's hard not to gravitate toward a guy like that, because of who he is as a person more so than anything," said McDermott, who coaxed Williams into returning after he contemplated retirement following last season. "How could you not like the way he plays and appreciate that, right?"</p>
<p>First-year defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said there is no player on the team who deserves to make the playoffs more than Williams.</p>
<p>"Your heart goes out to him. You want to see it happen," Frazier said. "I can't imagine a finer player, a finer person, a more deserving person than Kyle."</p>
<p>Former Bills defensive end Chris Kelsay has several reasons to root for Williams to make the playoffs.</p>
<p>For one, it would end the team's drought. Secondly, Kelsay noted Williams is carrying the torch for his former teammates who never got to the postseason.</p>
<p>"I think that's kind of the responsibility for guys like Kyle, who have been there for 12 years," said Kelsay, who spent his entire 10-year career in Buffalo from 2003-12.</p>
<p>"To see him and the team as a whole get there would be a very proud moment for everybody that's paying attention to the Buffalo Bills and Kyle Williams."</p>
<p>Williams said he can appreciate Kelsay's comments.</p>
<p>He's also proud of hearing how <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/bills-lean-kyle-williams-leadership-after-dareus-traded" type="external">current and former teammates</a> have credited him for helping further their careers with the advice he's provided.</p>
<p>It's the least Williams said he could do.</p>
<p>"I think it's an opportunity to pay it forward," he said.</p>
<p>Williams then referenced a team employee he encountered shoveling snow outside the Bills' facility when he arrived early Wednesday.</p>
<p>"There's probably countless people in this building who have done stuff for me I don't even know about." Williams said. "He's doing that for us."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP NFL: <a href="https://pro32.ap.org" type="external">https://pro32.ap.org</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_NFL" type="external">https://twitter.com/AP_NFL</a></p>
<p>ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Kyle Williams stood at his locker, grudgingly discussing a topic he'd prefer to avoid: himself.</p>
<p>The Bills defensive tackle acknowledged Wednesday he's heard the many well-wishes and accolades from coaches, and current and former teammates, rooting for him to make the playoffs in what might be Williams' 12th and final season in Buffalo — and the NFL for that matter.</p>
<p>And yet Williams was defiant about refusing to create any sort of a spectacle by making the Bills' season finale at Miami on Sunday about him.</p>
<p>"I appreciate the compliments, and I'm glad that you guys ask them the questions about me," Williams said. "But this is about our football team, our organization, and it's much bigger than me."</p>
<p>Though their chances are slim, the Bills (8-7) are in playoff contention entering the final week of the season for the first time in Williams' tenure.</p>
<p>Aside from having to beat Miami (6-9), the Bills need either the Ravens to lose to Cincinnati, or both the Titans and Los Angeles Chargers to lose for Buffalo to end a 17-season playoff drought — the longest active streak in North America's four major professional sports.</p>
<p>To hear Williams talk, the Bills' AFC East rival Dolphins represent nothing more than the next opponent on a 17-week schedule.</p>
<p>"I think about it the same way I thought about the game last week," he said. "All that stuff on the side, and all the extras and distractions, that's really not going to help us win."</p>
<p>Williams won't even look beyond the game Sunday to <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/williams-focused-bills-beating-miami-not-future-plans" type="external">address his future</a> with his contract expiring after this season.</p>
<p>"I'm not going down that road," he said.</p>
<p>Williams acknowledged he can be stubborn and even a contrarian, especially when it comes to finding motivation in proving wrong anyone who has ever doubted his ability.</p>
<p>He's had plenty of experience in exceeding expectations.</p>
<p>Despite starting 33 of 46 games at LSU and earning first-team SEC honors in his senior season, the 6-foot, 295-pound Williams was considered undersized by NFL standards and was selected by Buffalo in the fifth round of the 2006 draft.</p>
<p>Williams proceeded to take over the starting job six games into his rookie season and now leads Bills defensive tackles with 43½ sacks, and his 166 games rank 11th on the team list. He's earned five Pro Bowl honors and a second-team All-Pro selection in 2010</p>
<p>First-year coach Sean McDermott became an immediate fan of Williams, and he often grows emotional when referencing the player's career and the impact he's made as a leader on a rebuilding team.</p>
<p>"It's hard not to gravitate toward a guy like that, because of who he is as a person more so than anything," said McDermott, who coaxed Williams into returning after he contemplated retirement following last season. "How could you not like the way he plays and appreciate that, right?"</p>
<p>First-year defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said there is no player on the team who deserves to make the playoffs more than Williams.</p>
<p>"Your heart goes out to him. You want to see it happen," Frazier said. "I can't imagine a finer player, a finer person, a more deserving person than Kyle."</p>
<p>Former Bills defensive end Chris Kelsay has several reasons to root for Williams to make the playoffs.</p>
<p>For one, it would end the team's drought. Secondly, Kelsay noted Williams is carrying the torch for his former teammates who never got to the postseason.</p>
<p>"I think that's kind of the responsibility for guys like Kyle, who have been there for 12 years," said Kelsay, who spent his entire 10-year career in Buffalo from 2003-12.</p>
<p>"To see him and the team as a whole get there would be a very proud moment for everybody that's paying attention to the Buffalo Bills and Kyle Williams."</p>
<p>Williams said he can appreciate Kelsay's comments.</p>
<p>He's also proud of hearing how <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/bills-lean-kyle-williams-leadership-after-dareus-traded" type="external">current and former teammates</a> have credited him for helping further their careers with the advice he's provided.</p>
<p>It's the least Williams said he could do.</p>
<p>"I think it's an opportunity to pay it forward," he said.</p>
<p>Williams then referenced a team employee he encountered shoveling snow outside the Bills' facility when he arrived early Wednesday.</p>
<p>"There's probably countless people in this building who have done stuff for me I don't even know about." Williams said. "He's doing that for us."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP NFL: <a href="https://pro32.ap.org" type="external">https://pro32.ap.org</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_NFL" type="external">https://twitter.com/AP_NFL</a></p>
| false | 2 |
orchard park ny ap kyle williams stood locker grudgingly discussing topic hed prefer avoid bills defensive tackle acknowledged wednesday hes heard many wellwishes accolades coaches current former teammates rooting make playoffs might williams 12th final season buffalo nfl matter yet williams defiant refusing create sort spectacle making bills season finale miami sunday appreciate compliments im glad guys ask questions williams said football team organization much bigger though chances slim bills 87 playoff contention entering final week season first time williams tenure aside beat miami 69 bills need either ravens lose cincinnati titans los angeles chargers lose buffalo end 17season playoff drought longest active streak north americas four major professional sports hear williams talk bills afc east rival dolphins represent nothing next opponent 17week schedule think way thought game last week said stuff side extras distractions thats really going help us win williams wont even look beyond game sunday address future contract expiring season im going road said williams acknowledged stubborn even contrarian especially comes finding motivation proving wrong anyone ever doubted ability hes plenty experience exceeding expectations despite starting 33 46 games lsu earning firstteam sec honors senior season 6foot 295pound williams considered undersized nfl standards selected buffalo fifth round 2006 draft williams proceeded take starting job six games rookie season leads bills defensive tackles 43½ sacks 166 games rank 11th team list hes earned five pro bowl honors secondteam allpro selection 2010 firstyear coach sean mcdermott became immediate fan williams often grows emotional referencing players career impact hes made leader rebuilding team hard gravitate toward guy like person anything said mcdermott coaxed williams returning contemplated retirement following last season could like way plays appreciate right firstyear defensive coordinator leslie frazier said player team deserves make playoffs williams heart goes want see happen frazier said cant imagine finer player finer person deserving person kyle former bills defensive end chris kelsay several reasons root williams make playoffs one would end teams drought secondly kelsay noted williams carrying torch former teammates never got postseason think thats kind responsibility guys like kyle 12 years said kelsay spent entire 10year career buffalo 200312 see team whole get would proud moment everybody thats paying attention buffalo bills kyle williams williams said appreciate kelsays comments hes also proud hearing current former teammates credited helping careers advice hes provided least williams said could think opportunity pay forward said williams referenced team employee encountered shoveling snow outside bills facility arrived early wednesday theres probably countless people building done stuff dont even know williams said hes us ___ ap nfl httpspro32aporg httpstwittercomap_nfl orchard park ny ap kyle williams stood locker grudgingly discussing topic hed prefer avoid bills defensive tackle acknowledged wednesday hes heard many wellwishes accolades coaches current former teammates rooting make playoffs might williams 12th final season buffalo nfl matter yet williams defiant refusing create sort spectacle making bills season finale miami sunday appreciate compliments im glad guys ask questions williams said football team organization much bigger though chances slim bills 87 playoff contention entering final week season first time williams tenure aside beat miami 69 bills need either ravens lose cincinnati titans los angeles chargers lose buffalo end 17season playoff drought longest active streak north americas four major professional sports hear williams talk bills afc east rival dolphins represent nothing next opponent 17week schedule think way thought game last week said stuff side extras distractions thats really going help us win williams wont even look beyond game sunday address future contract expiring season im going road said williams acknowledged stubborn even contrarian especially comes finding motivation proving wrong anyone ever doubted ability hes plenty experience exceeding expectations despite starting 33 46 games lsu earning firstteam sec honors senior season 6foot 295pound williams considered undersized nfl standards selected buffalo fifth round 2006 draft williams proceeded take starting job six games rookie season leads bills defensive tackles 43½ sacks 166 games rank 11th team list hes earned five pro bowl honors secondteam allpro selection 2010 firstyear coach sean mcdermott became immediate fan williams often grows emotional referencing players career impact hes made leader rebuilding team hard gravitate toward guy like person anything said mcdermott coaxed williams returning contemplated retirement following last season could like way plays appreciate right firstyear defensive coordinator leslie frazier said player team deserves make playoffs williams heart goes want see happen frazier said cant imagine finer player finer person deserving person kyle former bills defensive end chris kelsay several reasons root williams make playoffs one would end teams drought secondly kelsay noted williams carrying torch former teammates never got postseason think thats kind responsibility guys like kyle 12 years said kelsay spent entire 10year career buffalo 200312 see team whole get would proud moment everybody thats paying attention buffalo bills kyle williams williams said appreciate kelsays comments hes also proud hearing current former teammates credited helping careers advice hes provided least williams said could think opportunity pay forward said williams referenced team employee encountered shoveling snow outside bills facility arrived early wednesday theres probably countless people building done stuff dont even know williams said hes us ___ ap nfl httpspro32aporg httpstwittercomap_nfl
| 846 |
<p>LOS ANGELES (AP) - There will be no legal pot party in Los Angeles on Jan. 1.</p>
<p>California kicks off recreational sales on New Year's Day, becoming the largest state in the nation with legal marijuana. But Los Angeles officials announced Friday that dispensaries in the city won't be part of the celebration.</p>
<p>The city won't begin accepting applications to sell legal recreational pot until Jan. 3, and it could take weeks before those businesses are properly licensed with the city and state and open their doors.</p>
<p>"Come Jan. 1 in the city of Los Angeles, there are no legal, adult-use sales," Cat Packer, who heads the city's Department of Cannabis Regulation, told reporters at City Hall.</p>
<p>"We are starting a process. This is something that is not going to happen overnight," Packer said.</p>
<p>Los Angeles is California's largest pot market and the opening of legal sales was widely anticipated. In March, 80 percent of city voters endorsed a ballot measure that set in motion creation of the new pot marketplace.</p>
<p>The decision to delay licensing, even for several weeks, was a disappointment for growers and sellers who have feared they could be squeezed out of the market if LA lagged in licensing.</p>
<p>"It's a scary time for the operators," said Adam Spiker, executive director of the Southern California Coalition, a marijuana industry group.</p>
<p>"It's not just the retailers. There is still complete uncertainty to other aspects of the industry," such as cultivation and transportation, he added. "At the end of the day, the city is not ready."</p>
<p>Los Angeles struggled for months to get rules in place to license businesses for legal sales, only agreeing to guidelines earlier this month. Packer was hired in August, just months before legalization kicked in.</p>
<p>Under Los Angeles rules, neighborhoods would be largely off-limits to pot businesses, and buffer zones would be set up around schools, libraries and parks. The city has long been a hive of unlicensed dispensaries, and hundreds have been shut down.</p>
<p>So far, legalization has resulted in a patchwork of regulations around California.</p>
<p>Santa Cruz, San Diego, Shasta Lake, San Jose and West Hollywood are among the cities where businesses have been authorized for recreational sales. But Kern County is among the places that have banned all commercial marijuana activity.</p>
<p>In general, California will treat pot like alcohol, allowing people 21 and older to legally possess up to 1 ounce of the drug and grow six plants at home.</p>
<p>The slower rollout in Los Angeles will leave operators in a kind of legal limbo, at least temporarily. The state has said licensed businesses should only do business with other properly licensed operators.</p>
<p>However, Packer said that medicinal sales to consumers with a doctor's recommendation can continue. Medical marijuana has been legal in the state for two decades.</p>
<p>There could be more confusion to come.</p>
<p>The first licenses are expected to go largely to retailers. However, if not enough cultivators hold licenses, sellers would have to look elsewhere in California to stock their shelves.</p>
<p>"I will admit this is an incomplete process," Packer said.</p>
<p>The route to legalization began last year when state voters approved Proposition 64, which set the stage for recreational pot sales to adults.</p>
<p>LOS ANGELES (AP) - There will be no legal pot party in Los Angeles on Jan. 1.</p>
<p>California kicks off recreational sales on New Year's Day, becoming the largest state in the nation with legal marijuana. But Los Angeles officials announced Friday that dispensaries in the city won't be part of the celebration.</p>
<p>The city won't begin accepting applications to sell legal recreational pot until Jan. 3, and it could take weeks before those businesses are properly licensed with the city and state and open their doors.</p>
<p>"Come Jan. 1 in the city of Los Angeles, there are no legal, adult-use sales," Cat Packer, who heads the city's Department of Cannabis Regulation, told reporters at City Hall.</p>
<p>"We are starting a process. This is something that is not going to happen overnight," Packer said.</p>
<p>Los Angeles is California's largest pot market and the opening of legal sales was widely anticipated. In March, 80 percent of city voters endorsed a ballot measure that set in motion creation of the new pot marketplace.</p>
<p>The decision to delay licensing, even for several weeks, was a disappointment for growers and sellers who have feared they could be squeezed out of the market if LA lagged in licensing.</p>
<p>"It's a scary time for the operators," said Adam Spiker, executive director of the Southern California Coalition, a marijuana industry group.</p>
<p>"It's not just the retailers. There is still complete uncertainty to other aspects of the industry," such as cultivation and transportation, he added. "At the end of the day, the city is not ready."</p>
<p>Los Angeles struggled for months to get rules in place to license businesses for legal sales, only agreeing to guidelines earlier this month. Packer was hired in August, just months before legalization kicked in.</p>
<p>Under Los Angeles rules, neighborhoods would be largely off-limits to pot businesses, and buffer zones would be set up around schools, libraries and parks. The city has long been a hive of unlicensed dispensaries, and hundreds have been shut down.</p>
<p>So far, legalization has resulted in a patchwork of regulations around California.</p>
<p>Santa Cruz, San Diego, Shasta Lake, San Jose and West Hollywood are among the cities where businesses have been authorized for recreational sales. But Kern County is among the places that have banned all commercial marijuana activity.</p>
<p>In general, California will treat pot like alcohol, allowing people 21 and older to legally possess up to 1 ounce of the drug and grow six plants at home.</p>
<p>The slower rollout in Los Angeles will leave operators in a kind of legal limbo, at least temporarily. The state has said licensed businesses should only do business with other properly licensed operators.</p>
<p>However, Packer said that medicinal sales to consumers with a doctor's recommendation can continue. Medical marijuana has been legal in the state for two decades.</p>
<p>There could be more confusion to come.</p>
<p>The first licenses are expected to go largely to retailers. However, if not enough cultivators hold licenses, sellers would have to look elsewhere in California to stock their shelves.</p>
<p>"I will admit this is an incomplete process," Packer said.</p>
<p>The route to legalization began last year when state voters approved Proposition 64, which set the stage for recreational pot sales to adults.</p>
| false | 2 |
los angeles ap legal pot party los angeles jan 1 california kicks recreational sales new years day becoming largest state nation legal marijuana los angeles officials announced friday dispensaries city wont part celebration city wont begin accepting applications sell legal recreational pot jan 3 could take weeks businesses properly licensed city state open doors come jan 1 city los angeles legal adultuse sales cat packer heads citys department cannabis regulation told reporters city hall starting process something going happen overnight packer said los angeles californias largest pot market opening legal sales widely anticipated march 80 percent city voters endorsed ballot measure set motion creation new pot marketplace decision delay licensing even several weeks disappointment growers sellers feared could squeezed market la lagged licensing scary time operators said adam spiker executive director southern california coalition marijuana industry group retailers still complete uncertainty aspects industry cultivation transportation added end day city ready los angeles struggled months get rules place license businesses legal sales agreeing guidelines earlier month packer hired august months legalization kicked los angeles rules neighborhoods would largely offlimits pot businesses buffer zones would set around schools libraries parks city long hive unlicensed dispensaries hundreds shut far legalization resulted patchwork regulations around california santa cruz san diego shasta lake san jose west hollywood among cities businesses authorized recreational sales kern county among places banned commercial marijuana activity general california treat pot like alcohol allowing people 21 older legally possess 1 ounce drug grow six plants home slower rollout los angeles leave operators kind legal limbo least temporarily state said licensed businesses business properly licensed operators however packer said medicinal sales consumers doctors recommendation continue medical marijuana legal state two decades could confusion come first licenses expected go largely retailers however enough cultivators hold licenses sellers would look elsewhere california stock shelves admit incomplete process packer said route legalization began last year state voters approved proposition 64 set stage recreational pot sales adults los angeles ap legal pot party los angeles jan 1 california kicks recreational sales new years day becoming largest state nation legal marijuana los angeles officials announced friday dispensaries city wont part celebration city wont begin accepting applications sell legal recreational pot jan 3 could take weeks businesses properly licensed city state open doors come jan 1 city los angeles legal adultuse sales cat packer heads citys department cannabis regulation told reporters city hall starting process something going happen overnight packer said los angeles californias largest pot market opening legal sales widely anticipated march 80 percent city voters endorsed ballot measure set motion creation new pot marketplace decision delay licensing even several weeks disappointment growers sellers feared could squeezed market la lagged licensing scary time operators said adam spiker executive director southern california coalition marijuana industry group retailers still complete uncertainty aspects industry cultivation transportation added end day city ready los angeles struggled months get rules place license businesses legal sales agreeing guidelines earlier month packer hired august months legalization kicked los angeles rules neighborhoods would largely offlimits pot businesses buffer zones would set around schools libraries parks city long hive unlicensed dispensaries hundreds shut far legalization resulted patchwork regulations around california santa cruz san diego shasta lake san jose west hollywood among cities businesses authorized recreational sales kern county among places banned commercial marijuana activity general california treat pot like alcohol allowing people 21 older legally possess 1 ounce drug grow six plants home slower rollout los angeles leave operators kind legal limbo least temporarily state said licensed businesses business properly licensed operators however packer said medicinal sales consumers doctors recommendation continue medical marijuana legal state two decades could confusion come first licenses expected go largely retailers however enough cultivators hold licenses sellers would look elsewhere california stock shelves admit incomplete process packer said route legalization began last year state voters approved proposition 64 set stage recreational pot sales adults
| 642 |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.