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<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Ash Carter is still unsure of Russia's military intentions in Syria but intends no further conversations unless Moscow agrees to participate in talks aimed at a political solution to the civil war, Carter's spokesman said Tuesday.</p>
<p>Spokesman Peter Cook said Carter delivered that message to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in a phone call last Friday to discuss Russia's military buildup in Syria and how that connects — or interferes with — a U.S.-led coalition air campaign against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. Cook said Carter has not closed the door to further talks but sees no point in military discussions if Russia does not join the political track.</p>
<p>"Let's see if we can actually reach an agreement to continue this dialogue and these conversations," Cook said. "Again, for this to move forward it's not just a defense conversation that needs to take place, but we feel very strongly that there has to be a second component here and that is, again, a political resolution, a conversation on that front as well."</p>
<p>Asked whether that meant there won't be further military contacts with Russia on Syria unless Moscow agrees to political talks, Cook replied: "That was the message" from Carter.</p>
<p>Cook said Carter's phone conversation with Shoigu was constructive but brought no clarity on what Moscow intends to do with the forces it has sent to Syria in recent weeks, including a substantial number of fighter aircraft, tanks, helicopters, support equipment and troops at an air base near the coastal city of Latakia. Russia is not part of the multinational coalition led by the U.S. that has been bombing IS targets in Syria since September 2014.</p>
<p>"It's not clear exactly what Russia's plans are," Cook said.</p>
<p>Secretary of State John Kerry said last week that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia was only interested in confronting the threat posed by the Islamic State group, which has established control over large swaths of Syria and Iraq to create what it calls an Islamic caliphate. Kerry stressed that it remained unclear whether Russia would mount a defense of Syrian President Bashar Assad, who the U.S. believes must relinquish power.</p>
<p>Russia's military buildup in Syria has perplexed the Obama administration and left it unsure how to respond. In the afterglow of the Iran nuclear deal, which was hailed by the administration as an example of what can be achieved when Russia and the United States cooperate, U.S. officials had hoped for a change in Russia's position in support of Syria, potentially even enlisting its assistance in moving Assad out.</p>
<p>Moscow's latest actions, however, have taken many by surprise and further muddied efforts to fight Islamic State militants while trying to promote political transition in Syria.</p>
<p>Kerry said Tuesday that the administration still hopes Russia and Iran will play a positive role in Syria and back a political transition for the country.</p>
<p>"But if they are there to shore up Assad and to simply stand there in a way that provides Assad with a continued sense that he doesn't have to negotiate, then I think it's a problem for Syria and it's a problem for everybody who wants to bring an end to this conflict which has gone on for too long now," Kerry said.</p>
<p>Kerry said Russia's military buildup in Syria appears initially intended to protect its existing assets and personnel on the ground. He added, though, that Moscow's ultimate aim in Syria is not yet clear.</p>
<p>Retired Army Gen. David Petraeus, a former commander in Iraq and Afghanistan, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday that while Putin wants to shore up Assad, his thinks Putin's immediate objective in Syria is to solidify a corridor on the Mediterranean coast between Latakia, home to a Russian air base, and Tartus where there is a Russian naval base — its only naval base in the Mediterranean.</p>
<p>Petraeus said, however, that the U.S. should not allow Moscow to push America into a partnership with Russia and the Iran-backed Assad to battle IS. If Russia wanted to fight IS extremists, it could have joined the more than 60-member coalition and help with airstrikes against the militant group, he said. He also warned that the U.S. should not rush to oust Assad without an understanding of who would seek to run the country.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Deb Riechmann and Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report.</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Ash Carter is still unsure of Russia's military intentions in Syria but intends no further conversations unless Moscow agrees to participate in talks aimed at a political solution to the civil war, Carter's spokesman said Tuesday.</p>
<p>Spokesman Peter Cook said Carter delivered that message to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in a phone call last Friday to discuss Russia's military buildup in Syria and how that connects — or interferes with — a U.S.-led coalition air campaign against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. Cook said Carter has not closed the door to further talks but sees no point in military discussions if Russia does not join the political track.</p>
<p>"Let's see if we can actually reach an agreement to continue this dialogue and these conversations," Cook said. "Again, for this to move forward it's not just a defense conversation that needs to take place, but we feel very strongly that there has to be a second component here and that is, again, a political resolution, a conversation on that front as well."</p>
<p>Asked whether that meant there won't be further military contacts with Russia on Syria unless Moscow agrees to political talks, Cook replied: "That was the message" from Carter.</p>
<p>Cook said Carter's phone conversation with Shoigu was constructive but brought no clarity on what Moscow intends to do with the forces it has sent to Syria in recent weeks, including a substantial number of fighter aircraft, tanks, helicopters, support equipment and troops at an air base near the coastal city of Latakia. Russia is not part of the multinational coalition led by the U.S. that has been bombing IS targets in Syria since September 2014.</p>
<p>"It's not clear exactly what Russia's plans are," Cook said.</p>
<p>Secretary of State John Kerry said last week that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia was only interested in confronting the threat posed by the Islamic State group, which has established control over large swaths of Syria and Iraq to create what it calls an Islamic caliphate. Kerry stressed that it remained unclear whether Russia would mount a defense of Syrian President Bashar Assad, who the U.S. believes must relinquish power.</p>
<p>Russia's military buildup in Syria has perplexed the Obama administration and left it unsure how to respond. In the afterglow of the Iran nuclear deal, which was hailed by the administration as an example of what can be achieved when Russia and the United States cooperate, U.S. officials had hoped for a change in Russia's position in support of Syria, potentially even enlisting its assistance in moving Assad out.</p>
<p>Moscow's latest actions, however, have taken many by surprise and further muddied efforts to fight Islamic State militants while trying to promote political transition in Syria.</p>
<p>Kerry said Tuesday that the administration still hopes Russia and Iran will play a positive role in Syria and back a political transition for the country.</p>
<p>"But if they are there to shore up Assad and to simply stand there in a way that provides Assad with a continued sense that he doesn't have to negotiate, then I think it's a problem for Syria and it's a problem for everybody who wants to bring an end to this conflict which has gone on for too long now," Kerry said.</p>
<p>Kerry said Russia's military buildup in Syria appears initially intended to protect its existing assets and personnel on the ground. He added, though, that Moscow's ultimate aim in Syria is not yet clear.</p>
<p>Retired Army Gen. David Petraeus, a former commander in Iraq and Afghanistan, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday that while Putin wants to shore up Assad, his thinks Putin's immediate objective in Syria is to solidify a corridor on the Mediterranean coast between Latakia, home to a Russian air base, and Tartus where there is a Russian naval base — its only naval base in the Mediterranean.</p>
<p>Petraeus said, however, that the U.S. should not allow Moscow to push America into a partnership with Russia and the Iran-backed Assad to battle IS. If Russia wanted to fight IS extremists, it could have joined the more than 60-member coalition and help with airstrikes against the militant group, he said. He also warned that the U.S. should not rush to oust Assad without an understanding of who would seek to run the country.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Deb Riechmann and Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report.</p>
| false | 2 |
washington ap defense secretary ash carter still unsure russias military intentions syria intends conversations unless moscow agrees participate talks aimed political solution civil war carters spokesman said tuesday spokesman peter cook said carter delivered message russian defense minister sergei shoigu phone call last friday discuss russias military buildup syria connects interferes usled coalition air campaign islamic state syria iraq cook said carter closed door talks sees point military discussions russia join political track lets see actually reach agreement continue dialogue conversations cook said move forward defense conversation needs take place feel strongly second component political resolution conversation front well asked whether meant wont military contacts russia syria unless moscow agrees political talks cook replied message carter cook said carters phone conversation shoigu constructive brought clarity moscow intends forces sent syria recent weeks including substantial number fighter aircraft tanks helicopters support equipment troops air base near coastal city latakia russia part multinational coalition led us bombing targets syria since september 2014 clear exactly russias plans cook said secretary state john kerry said last week russian foreign minister sergey lavrov said russia interested confronting threat posed islamic state group established control large swaths syria iraq create calls islamic caliphate kerry stressed remained unclear whether russia would mount defense syrian president bashar assad us believes must relinquish power russias military buildup syria perplexed obama administration left unsure respond afterglow iran nuclear deal hailed administration example achieved russia united states cooperate us officials hoped change russias position support syria potentially even enlisting assistance moving assad moscows latest actions however taken many surprise muddied efforts fight islamic state militants trying promote political transition syria kerry said tuesday administration still hopes russia iran play positive role syria back political transition country shore assad simply stand way provides assad continued sense doesnt negotiate think problem syria problem everybody wants bring end conflict gone long kerry said kerry said russias military buildup syria appears initially intended protect existing assets personnel ground added though moscows ultimate aim syria yet clear retired army gen david petraeus former commander iraq afghanistan told senate armed services committee tuesday putin wants shore assad thinks putins immediate objective syria solidify corridor mediterranean coast latakia home russian air base tartus russian naval base naval base mediterranean petraeus said however us allow moscow push america partnership russia iranbacked assad battle russia wanted fight extremists could joined 60member coalition help airstrikes militant group said also warned us rush oust assad without understanding would seek run country ___ associated press writers deb riechmann lolita c baldor contributed report washington ap defense secretary ash carter still unsure russias military intentions syria intends conversations unless moscow agrees participate talks aimed political solution civil war carters spokesman said tuesday spokesman peter cook said carter delivered message russian defense minister sergei shoigu phone call last friday discuss russias military buildup syria connects interferes usled coalition air campaign islamic state syria iraq cook said carter closed door talks sees point military discussions russia join political track lets see actually reach agreement continue dialogue conversations cook said move forward defense conversation needs take place feel strongly second component political resolution conversation front well asked whether meant wont military contacts russia syria unless moscow agrees political talks cook replied message carter cook said carters phone conversation shoigu constructive brought clarity moscow intends forces sent syria recent weeks including substantial number fighter aircraft tanks helicopters support equipment troops air base near coastal city latakia russia part multinational coalition led us bombing targets syria since september 2014 clear exactly russias plans cook said secretary state john kerry said last week russian foreign minister sergey lavrov said russia interested confronting threat posed islamic state group established control large swaths syria iraq create calls islamic caliphate kerry stressed remained unclear whether russia would mount defense syrian president bashar assad us believes must relinquish power russias military buildup syria perplexed obama administration left unsure respond afterglow iran nuclear deal hailed administration example achieved russia united states cooperate us officials hoped change russias position support syria potentially even enlisting assistance moving assad moscows latest actions however taken many surprise muddied efforts fight islamic state militants trying promote political transition syria kerry said tuesday administration still hopes russia iran play positive role syria back political transition country shore assad simply stand way provides assad continued sense doesnt negotiate think problem syria problem everybody wants bring end conflict gone long kerry said kerry said russias military buildup syria appears initially intended protect existing assets personnel ground added though moscows ultimate aim syria yet clear retired army gen david petraeus former commander iraq afghanistan told senate armed services committee tuesday putin wants shore assad thinks putins immediate objective syria solidify corridor mediterranean coast latakia home russian air base tartus russian naval base naval base mediterranean petraeus said however us allow moscow push america partnership russia iranbacked assad battle russia wanted fight extremists could joined 60member coalition help airstrikes militant group said also warned us rush oust assad without understanding would seek run country ___ associated press writers deb riechmann lolita c baldor contributed report
| 840 |
<p>FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — When he unveiled his two-year budget proposal, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin boasted classroom spending would be the highest ever.</p>
<p>Although Bevin's proposal does not cut funding for students, it slashes the spending needed to get them to the classroom. The Republican governor's plan would cut more than $138 million from public school transportation. Right now, the state covers on average 58 percent of what local districts spend on school buses. Bevin wants to lower that to 25 percent.</p>
<p>School districts would have to make up the difference. Bevin says the money can come from the school districts' savings accounts, which collectively contain more than $1 billion across the state. And his proposal would require districts to cut administrative costs by 12 percent.</p>
<p>"We have far too many people that are not teaching our students that are sucking up the dollars intended ... for our students," Bevin said. "We're going to expect the local school districts to contribute to transportation more than they have in the past."</p>
<p>Kentucky law requires the state to reimburse school districts for their transportation costs. In the 1990s, the state covered 100 percent. But as budgets have tightened, that number has dwindled to 58 percent in the most recently enacted budget. Part of the problem is the escalating cost of teacher pensions. Bevin's plan would spend $2.3 billion over the next two years just to keep the Kentucky Teachers' Retirement System solvent.</p>
<p>"It's very difficult, though, at a time like this when putting this kind of money into the retirement system to be able to protect all of education," Bevin said.</p>
<p>But some school officials say Bevin's plan shows a misunderstanding of how school funding works in Kentucky. School districts report large "fund balances," but that's an estimate of a school districts' net worth. It's not the same thing as cash, which districts don't keep a lot of, according to Tom Shelton, executive director of the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents.</p>
<p>Forcing school districts to cover 75 percent of their transportation costs, Shelton said, is the equivalent of cutting funding by $211 per student. In Boone County, Superintendent Randy Poe said he would have to divert money from the classroom to pay for that.</p>
<p>"If those cuts are enacted, it's going to affect the classroom. There is no way not to affect the classroom and make cuts," he said. "It would be a devastation."</p>
<p>The cuts would affect districts of all sizes. The Louisville area has one of the country's largest public school districts, with more than 100,900 students, of which at least 65,000 ride the bus. District officials said Bevin's proposal would cut at least $25 million from their budget. In Fulton County, a district of just over 500 students, Superintendent Aaron Collins compared the proposal to Armageddon.</p>
<p>"I don't have it. We don't have it in Fulton County," Collins said. He said the proposal should spur lawmakers to make changes to the pension system to prevent these types of cuts from happening.</p>
<p>"I have full confidence our legislators will work this out," he said.</p>
<p>Bevin's proposal is the first draft of what will become the state's two-year spending plan. The state legislature has to pass its version of the budget, which often includes significant changes. A key part of that process will be John "Bam" Carney, chairman of the House Education Committee and a public school administrator who spent 15 years teaching social studies to middle and high school students.</p>
<p>"I think it will be difficult for us to leave a cut of that magnitude in there," Carney said. "There may be some cut, but I find it difficult to think it will be that large of a cut."</p>
<p>FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — When he unveiled his two-year budget proposal, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin boasted classroom spending would be the highest ever.</p>
<p>Although Bevin's proposal does not cut funding for students, it slashes the spending needed to get them to the classroom. The Republican governor's plan would cut more than $138 million from public school transportation. Right now, the state covers on average 58 percent of what local districts spend on school buses. Bevin wants to lower that to 25 percent.</p>
<p>School districts would have to make up the difference. Bevin says the money can come from the school districts' savings accounts, which collectively contain more than $1 billion across the state. And his proposal would require districts to cut administrative costs by 12 percent.</p>
<p>"We have far too many people that are not teaching our students that are sucking up the dollars intended ... for our students," Bevin said. "We're going to expect the local school districts to contribute to transportation more than they have in the past."</p>
<p>Kentucky law requires the state to reimburse school districts for their transportation costs. In the 1990s, the state covered 100 percent. But as budgets have tightened, that number has dwindled to 58 percent in the most recently enacted budget. Part of the problem is the escalating cost of teacher pensions. Bevin's plan would spend $2.3 billion over the next two years just to keep the Kentucky Teachers' Retirement System solvent.</p>
<p>"It's very difficult, though, at a time like this when putting this kind of money into the retirement system to be able to protect all of education," Bevin said.</p>
<p>But some school officials say Bevin's plan shows a misunderstanding of how school funding works in Kentucky. School districts report large "fund balances," but that's an estimate of a school districts' net worth. It's not the same thing as cash, which districts don't keep a lot of, according to Tom Shelton, executive director of the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents.</p>
<p>Forcing school districts to cover 75 percent of their transportation costs, Shelton said, is the equivalent of cutting funding by $211 per student. In Boone County, Superintendent Randy Poe said he would have to divert money from the classroom to pay for that.</p>
<p>"If those cuts are enacted, it's going to affect the classroom. There is no way not to affect the classroom and make cuts," he said. "It would be a devastation."</p>
<p>The cuts would affect districts of all sizes. The Louisville area has one of the country's largest public school districts, with more than 100,900 students, of which at least 65,000 ride the bus. District officials said Bevin's proposal would cut at least $25 million from their budget. In Fulton County, a district of just over 500 students, Superintendent Aaron Collins compared the proposal to Armageddon.</p>
<p>"I don't have it. We don't have it in Fulton County," Collins said. He said the proposal should spur lawmakers to make changes to the pension system to prevent these types of cuts from happening.</p>
<p>"I have full confidence our legislators will work this out," he said.</p>
<p>Bevin's proposal is the first draft of what will become the state's two-year spending plan. The state legislature has to pass its version of the budget, which often includes significant changes. A key part of that process will be John "Bam" Carney, chairman of the House Education Committee and a public school administrator who spent 15 years teaching social studies to middle and high school students.</p>
<p>"I think it will be difficult for us to leave a cut of that magnitude in there," Carney said. "There may be some cut, but I find it difficult to think it will be that large of a cut."</p>
| false | 2 |
frankfort ky ap unveiled twoyear budget proposal kentucky gov matt bevin boasted classroom spending would highest ever although bevins proposal cut funding students slashes spending needed get classroom republican governors plan would cut 138 million public school transportation right state covers average 58 percent local districts spend school buses bevin wants lower 25 percent school districts would make difference bevin says money come school districts savings accounts collectively contain 1 billion across state proposal would require districts cut administrative costs 12 percent far many people teaching students sucking dollars intended students bevin said going expect local school districts contribute transportation past kentucky law requires state reimburse school districts transportation costs 1990s state covered 100 percent budgets tightened number dwindled 58 percent recently enacted budget part problem escalating cost teacher pensions bevins plan would spend 23 billion next two years keep kentucky teachers retirement system solvent difficult though time like putting kind money retirement system able protect education bevin said school officials say bevins plan shows misunderstanding school funding works kentucky school districts report large fund balances thats estimate school districts net worth thing cash districts dont keep lot according tom shelton executive director kentucky association school superintendents forcing school districts cover 75 percent transportation costs shelton said equivalent cutting funding 211 per student boone county superintendent randy poe said would divert money classroom pay cuts enacted going affect classroom way affect classroom make cuts said would devastation cuts would affect districts sizes louisville area one countrys largest public school districts 100900 students least 65000 ride bus district officials said bevins proposal would cut least 25 million budget fulton county district 500 students superintendent aaron collins compared proposal armageddon dont dont fulton county collins said said proposal spur lawmakers make changes pension system prevent types cuts happening full confidence legislators work said bevins proposal first draft become states twoyear spending plan state legislature pass version budget often includes significant changes key part process john bam carney chairman house education committee public school administrator spent 15 years teaching social studies middle high school students think difficult us leave cut magnitude carney said may cut find difficult think large cut frankfort ky ap unveiled twoyear budget proposal kentucky gov matt bevin boasted classroom spending would highest ever although bevins proposal cut funding students slashes spending needed get classroom republican governors plan would cut 138 million public school transportation right state covers average 58 percent local districts spend school buses bevin wants lower 25 percent school districts would make difference bevin says money come school districts savings accounts collectively contain 1 billion across state proposal would require districts cut administrative costs 12 percent far many people teaching students sucking dollars intended students bevin said going expect local school districts contribute transportation past kentucky law requires state reimburse school districts transportation costs 1990s state covered 100 percent budgets tightened number dwindled 58 percent recently enacted budget part problem escalating cost teacher pensions bevins plan would spend 23 billion next two years keep kentucky teachers retirement system solvent difficult though time like putting kind money retirement system able protect education bevin said school officials say bevins plan shows misunderstanding school funding works kentucky school districts report large fund balances thats estimate school districts net worth thing cash districts dont keep lot according tom shelton executive director kentucky association school superintendents forcing school districts cover 75 percent transportation costs shelton said equivalent cutting funding 211 per student boone county superintendent randy poe said would divert money classroom pay cuts enacted going affect classroom way affect classroom make cuts said would devastation cuts would affect districts sizes louisville area one countrys largest public school districts 100900 students least 65000 ride bus district officials said bevins proposal would cut least 25 million budget fulton county district 500 students superintendent aaron collins compared proposal armageddon dont dont fulton county collins said said proposal spur lawmakers make changes pension system prevent types cuts happening full confidence legislators work said bevins proposal first draft become states twoyear spending plan state legislature pass version budget often includes significant changes key part process john bam carney chairman house education committee public school administrator spent 15 years teaching social studies middle high school students think difficult us leave cut magnitude carney said may cut find difficult think large cut
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<p />
<p>Of course, they’re all Democrats. On the Republican side, there’s been no such explosion. While a tide of anti-Trump activism has led thousands of Democratic women to consider runs for office, their Republican counterparts are where they were before the 2016 election — with little chance of improving their representation.</p>
<p>“Republican women look very much the same now as they did pre-Trump,” says Jennifer Lawless, professor at American University and co-author of a recent report that examined the persistent gender gap in political ambition, on both sides of the aisle. “They’re generally not interested in running for office, the overwhelming majority has not been recruited to run, they don’t think they’re qualified to run, and their levels of political activity and enthusiasm are the same as they have always been.”</p>
<p>Lawless’ report, called “The Trump Effect,” also throws some cold water on the expectation that Democrats will see a seismic shift in numbers of women running; re-energized political activism doesn’t necessarily translate into candidacies. But the new enthusiasm has been almost entirely on the left side of the spectrum, and some groups are trying to address that.</p>
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<p>Erin Loos Cutraro, CEO of She Should Run, a nonpartisan group, says while the overall pace of adding women to elected office is too slow — women, after all, comprise just under 20 percent of Congress — it’s clearly happening faster for Democrats.</p>
<p>Part of the problem: uneven institutional resources and support. “Feeling that you’re not going at it alone makes a big difference,” Cutraro says, “and it can feel really isolating for Republican women. They don’t have the same networks, just in sheer numbers … or the same level of institutional support. If you’re a Democratic pro-choice woman, and you have Emily’s List there to support you, that can be incredibly powerful. Republican women don’t have anything that plays at the same level.”</p>
<p>While a group like Emily’s List lends concrete support to get a candidate over the finish line, She Should Run serves women seeking that first step. “‘I don’t even know where to start’ is something we hear over and over,” says Cutraro.</p>
<p>Rebecca Love is one of those women. A longtime Republican — she was even president of the Republican club in high school — Love, 38, woke up at home in San Diego the morning after Election Day wanting to get involved, somehow.</p>
<p>“I felt that my values as a Republican woman were not represented by the candidate who was elected,” says Love, who has a young daughter and works in health care consulting. “I felt Republicans were better than this. It was a wakeup call.”</p>
<p>So Love began Googling programs for women interested in politics. Most, she found, were for Democrats — and her experience had been that even groups calling themselves nonpartisan were populated mostly by Democrats, some not eager to engage with Republicans. Finally, Love, who identifies as a pro-abortion rights, moderate Republican, started working with She Should Run. She’s learning the political landscape of her community, and expects to pursue a city council seat or something similar.</p>
<p>By now, Love says, she feels confident enough that she doesn’t need to be “asked” to run. But she meets women who do: “I say to them, ‘You should think about running,’ and they say, ‘Me?'”</p>
<p>Virtually any advocate working to get women into politics will say the same thing: Much more than men, women — of any party — need to be asked to run.</p>
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<p>Julie Conway of VIEW PAC, which works to get Republican women elected to federal office, puts it this way: “You have to tell women, ‘Hey, you’d be great,’ and not only that, but you’d be the best, and now I’m going to have 10 other people tell you you’re the best. Guys just say, ‘Hey, I could do this.'”</p>
<p>It’s a bipartisan issue, Conway notes. “Women — Democratic or Republican — need to be convinced that they know everything about everything,” she says. “Because they don’t want to fake it. Guys, you ask them about a question about a specific tax issue, and they say, ‘Oh, we believe in lower taxes.’ A woman will say, ‘I need the exact details of how that works.'”</p>
<p>Adds Stephanie Schriock, president of Emily’s List: “For years we’ve sat at kitchen tables, we’ve said, ‘You can do this, you don’t need five years of training — that dude has no training!'”</p>
<p>For Jinyoung Englund, getting asked — by a former boss — was a turning point. A daughter of Korean immigrants in Washington state, Englund got the bug for public service early, working on a congressional campaign and then on Capitol Hill while she was still in her 20s.</p>
<p>She hadn’t planned to run herself, and her first response, she says, was that it sounded “kinda crazy. … Women, like myself, are often, ‘Hey, who am I to think I could run?'”</p>
<p>But she is now the Republican candidate in a much-watched special legislative election; Republican control of the state Senate hangs in the balance. At 33, she’d be the body’s youngest woman.</p>
<p>Not every woman, of course, needs to be asked. Shantel Krebs, the South Dakota secretary of state and candidate for Congress, served 10 years in the state legislature — she was 30 when first elected in 2004, and had begun her legislative career at 17, as a page. Krebs says she hasn’t encountered the obstacles some other women describe, perhaps because South Dakota has a long history of women in positions of political power. The incumbent in the seat she’s seeking, Republican Kristie Noem, is running for governor.</p>
<p>“I think South Dakotans expect another woman in that position,” says Krebs, 44. “They know that women compromise and they listen.”</p>
<p>Like Republican male candidates, GOP women must consider where they stand on President Donald Trump, their party’s polarizing leader. Depending on the district, it’s not always easy.</p>
<p>“Some candidates find themselves in a no-win situation and it’s not a great place to be,” says VIEW PAC’s Conway. “I’m not seeing a lot of candidates come through saying Trump’s the greatest thing since sliced bread. But I also haven’t met a lot of people running who are overly willing to speak against him either.”</p>
<p>Asked about potential concerns among women voters about Trump’s attitudes toward women, Krebs, of South Dakota, says her constituents aren’t troubled by that. “I haven’t heard from any of my constituents that they’re concerned. The concern here is bigger issues. They want government to be accountable, to control spending.”</p>
<p>Englund, in Washington state, says she wrote in a candidate for president. “I know part of the Democratic strategy across the country is to try to tie new candidates to the president,” she says, “but in our district, and I think nationally, people looked at last year’s election and thought, ‘Wow, neither candidate really represents my values or my vision for America.'”</p>
<p>In Austin, Texas, Jenifer Sarver is already preparing for the “Trump question,” even though she’s not yet running for office.</p>
<p>“Certainly people have told me that saying you didn’t vote for the president isn’t a good thing,” says Sarver, 41, who runs a communications consulting business and has been mentioned in the local media as a potential candidate to replace Rep. Michael McCaul — who in turn has been mentioned as a potential Trump Cabinet member. “There are going to be people who won’t vote for me. But I believe I can attract people in the middle … those who want to see that there are people of integrity and character running, who aren’t afraid to stand up to the system.”</p>
<p>Though a conservative Republican and an opponent of abortion, Sarver voted for Hillary Clinton, “in large part because of (Trump’s) history with misogyny,” she says. While she’s always felt welcome in the Republican Party, Sarver has felt stymied by the lack of an infrastructure to recruit female candidates: “Either there’s not the desire there, which I don’t think is true, or there’s not the support and infrastructure.”</p>
<p>This election cycle, there’s an additional concern for Republican women in Congress. Several aren’t running for re-election, either because they’re running for office elsewhere, or retiring. That could bring numbers of Republican women in Congress “down to numbers like we have not seen,” says Lawless. “It’s going to be very difficult for them to even maintain the numbers that they have.”</p>
<p>And that means a setback for women across the board — if you care about overall female representation in Congress. Because even with all the energy on the left, Lawless says, “the Democrats will have to have a hell of a banner year in order to compensate.”</p>
| false | 2 |
course theyre democrats republican side theres explosion tide antitrump activism led thousands democratic women consider runs office republican counterparts 2016 election little chance improving representation republican women look much pretrump says jennifer lawless professor american university coauthor recent report examined persistent gender gap political ambition sides aisle theyre generally interested running office overwhelming majority recruited run dont think theyre qualified run levels political activity enthusiasm always lawless report called trump effect also throws cold water expectation democrats see seismic shift numbers women running reenergized political activism doesnt necessarily translate candidacies new enthusiasm almost entirely left side spectrum groups trying address advertisement erin loos cutraro ceo run nonpartisan group says overall pace adding women elected office slow women comprise 20 percent congress clearly happening faster democrats part problem uneven institutional resources support feeling youre going alone makes big difference cutraro says feel really isolating republican women dont networks sheer numbers level institutional support youre democratic prochoice woman emilys list support incredibly powerful republican women dont anything plays level group like emilys list lends concrete support get candidate finish line run serves women seeking first step dont even know start something hear says cutraro rebecca love one women longtime republican even president republican club high school love 38 woke home san diego morning election day wanting get involved somehow felt values republican woman represented candidate elected says love young daughter works health care consulting felt republicans better wakeup call love began googling programs women interested politics found democrats experience even groups calling nonpartisan populated mostly democrats eager engage republicans finally love identifies proabortion rights moderate republican started working run shes learning political landscape community expects pursue city council seat something similar love says feels confident enough doesnt need asked run meets women say think running say virtually advocate working get women politics say thing much men women party need asked run advertisement julie conway view pac works get republican women elected federal office puts way tell women hey youd great youd best im going 10 people tell youre best guys say hey could bipartisan issue conway notes women democratic republican need convinced know everything everything says dont want fake guys ask question specific tax issue say oh believe lower taxes woman say need exact details works adds stephanie schriock president emilys list years weve sat kitchen tables weve said dont need five years training dude training jinyoung englund getting asked former boss turning point daughter korean immigrants washington state englund got bug public service early working congressional campaign capitol hill still 20s hadnt planned run first response says sounded kinda crazy women like often hey think could run republican candidate muchwatched special legislative election republican control state senate hangs balance 33 shed bodys youngest woman every woman course needs asked shantel krebs south dakota secretary state candidate congress served 10 years state legislature 30 first elected 2004 begun legislative career 17 page krebs says hasnt encountered obstacles women describe perhaps south dakota long history women positions political power incumbent seat shes seeking republican kristie noem running governor think south dakotans expect another woman position says krebs 44 know women compromise listen like republican male candidates gop women must consider stand president donald trump partys polarizing leader depending district always easy candidates find nowin situation great place says view pacs conway im seeing lot candidates come saying trumps greatest thing since sliced bread also havent met lot people running overly willing speak either asked potential concerns among women voters trumps attitudes toward women krebs south dakota says constituents arent troubled havent heard constituents theyre concerned concern bigger issues want government accountable control spending englund washington state says wrote candidate president know part democratic strategy across country try tie new candidates president says district think nationally people looked last years election thought wow neither candidate really represents values vision america austin texas jenifer sarver already preparing trump question even though shes yet running office certainly people told saying didnt vote president isnt good thing says sarver 41 runs communications consulting business mentioned local media potential candidate replace rep michael mccaul turn mentioned potential trump cabinet member going people wont vote believe attract people middle want see people integrity character running arent afraid stand system though conservative republican opponent abortion sarver voted hillary clinton large part trumps history misogyny says shes always felt welcome republican party sarver felt stymied lack infrastructure recruit female candidates either theres desire dont think true theres support infrastructure election cycle theres additional concern republican women congress several arent running reelection either theyre running office elsewhere retiring could bring numbers republican women congress numbers like seen says lawless going difficult even maintain numbers means setback women across board care overall female representation congress even energy left lawless says democrats hell banner year order compensate
| 793 |
<p>Jan 19 (Reuters) - Bank of China Ltd:</p>
<p>* SAYS BOARD APPROVES TO PAY DIVIDENDS FOR PREFERENCE SHARES FOR 1.54 BILLION YUAN ($240.72 million) Source text in Chinese: <a href="http://bit.ly/2FVAuGy" type="external">bit.ly/2FVAuGy</a> Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.3976 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>HOUSTON (Reuters) - Saudi Aramco IPO-ARMO.SE took the first steps toward expanding the largest U.S. refinery on Saturday, which is operated by its subsidiary Motiva Enterprises.</p> FILE PHOTO - Logo of Saudi Aramco is seen at the 20th Middle East Oil &amp; Gas Show and Conference (MOES 2017) in Manama, Bahrain, March 7, 2017. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo
<p>Aramco’s Chief Executive Amin Nasser signed agreements with Honeywell UOP, ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=HON.N" type="external">HON.N</a>) and Technip FMC ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FTI.N" type="external">FTI.N</a>) to study petrochemical production technology for use in a multi-billion-dollar chemical plant the company is considering building at the Port Arthur refinery.</p>
<p>“These agreements signal our plans for expansion into petrochemicals,” said Motiva’s Chief Executive Brian Coffman.</p>
<p>Coffman also said Motiva is evaluating boosting the 603,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) refinery’s capacity to 1 million or 1.5 million bpd, which would make it the largest in the world.</p>
<p>Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is finishing a two-week visit to the United States, Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih and U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry were present at the signing.</p>
<p>The aromatics unit for which Honeywell UOP’s technology is being considered would convert benzene and paraxylene, byproducts of gasoline production, into 2 million tons annually of feedstocks for chemicals and plastics.</p>
<p>The Technip FMC technology would produce 2 million tons a year of ethylene, which is used to make plastics, Motiva said.</p> FILE PHOTO - Chief Executive Officer of ARAMCO, Amin Nasser speaks during an interview with REUTERS in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, December 13, 2017. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
<p>The final investment decision on the Port Arthur petrochemical plant is not expected until 2019, Motiva said in a statement.</p>
<p>Coffman did not provide a timeline for the possible expansion of the Port Arthur refinery’s crude oil processing capacity.</p>
<p>“That’s something we’re evaluating, we’re studying for in the future,” he said.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=HON.N" type="external">Honeywell International Inc</a> 142.74 HON.N New York Stock Exchange -3.66 (-2.50%) HON.N FTI.N RELI.NS CVX.N PSX.N
<p>The 1.2-million bpd Reliance Industries ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=RELI.NS" type="external">RELI.NS</a>) refinery in Jamnagar, India, has the world’s largest crude oil processing capacity.</p>
<p>Aramco last year said it would invest $18 billion in Motiva to expand the refinery and move into petrochemical production.</p>
<p>Other U.S. companies, including Chevron Phillips Chemical Co - a joint venture of Chevron Corp ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=CVX.N" type="external">CVX.N</a>) and Phillips 66 ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=PSX.N" type="external">PSX.N</a>) - and Exxon Mobil Corp ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=XOM.N" type="external">XOM.N</a>), have recently opened plants, like the one Motiva is considering, to process ethane into ethylene.</p>
<p>Chevron Phillips is considering building a second ethane cracker on the Gulf Coast of Texas.</p>
<p>The price tag for a large ethane cracker is typically over $6 billion, according to analysts. In addition to taking refining byproducts, ethane crackers provide hydrogen for refineries to use in making motor fuels.</p>
<p>Reporting by Erwin Seba; Editing by Sandra Maler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>BEIRUT (Reuters) - A Syrian rebel group accused government forces on Saturday of launching a deadly chemical attack on civilians in a rebel-held town in eastern Ghouta, and a medical relief organization said 35 people had been killed in chemical attacks on the area.</p> FILE PHOTO - A man stands on rubble of damaged buildings in the besieged town of Douma, Eastern Ghouta, in Damascus, Syria March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Bassam Khabieh
<p>Syrian state media denied government forces had launched any chemical attack and said rebels in the eastern Ghouta town of Douma were in a state of collapse and spreading false news.</p>
<p>The U.S. State Department said it was monitoring the situation and that Russia should be blamed if chemicals were used.</p>
<p>Reuters could not independently verify reports of a chemical attack.</p>
<p>The Syrian government has recaptured nearly all of eastern Ghouta from rebels in an offensive that began in February, leaving just Douma in the hands of an insurgent group, Jaish al-Islam.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-attack-us/u-s-says-reports-of-chemical-attack-in-syria-horrifying-if-confirmed-calls-for-response-idUSKBN1HF02N" type="external">U.S. says reports of chemical attack in Syria 'horrifying' if confirmed, calls for response</a>
<p>Russian-backed Syrian government forces resumed the assault on Friday afternoon with heavy air strikes after days of calm.</p>
<p>The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 11 people had died in Douma as a result of suffocation caused by the smoke from conventional weapons being dropped by the government. It said a total of 70 people suffered breathing difficulties.</p>
<p>Rami Abdulrahman, the Observatory director, said he could not confirm if chemical weapons had been used.</p>
<p>Medical relief organization Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) said a chlorine bomb hit Douma hospital, killing six people, and a second attack with “mixed agents” including nerve agents had hit a nearby building.</p>
<p>Basel Termanini, the U.S.-based vice president of</p>
<p>SAMS, told Reuters the total death toll in the chemical attacks was 35. “We are contacting the U.N. and the U.S. government and the European governments,” he said by telephone.</p>
<p>The political official of Jaish al-Islam said the chemical attack had killed 100 people.</p>
<p>A U.S. State Department official in a statement said the Syrian government’s history of using chemical weapons against its own people “was not in dispute”. “Russia ultimately bears responsibility for the brutal targeting of countless Syrians with chemical weapons,” the official said.</p>
<p>Syrian state news agency SANA said the rebel group in Douma, Jaish al-Islam, was making “chemical attack fabrications in an exposed and failed attempt to obstruct advances by the Syrian Arab army,” citing an official source.</p>
<p>In the face of military defeat, rebel groups in other parts of eastern Ghouta opted to accept safe passage out of the area to the opposition-held territory at the Turkish border.</p>
<p>Several thousand people — fighters and civilians — left Douma for northern Syria in recent days as Jaish al-Islam held talks with Russia over Douma. Jaish al-Islam has insisted on remaining in the town.</p>
<p>The group rejects what it calls President Bashar al-Assad’s policy of forcibly transferring his opponents to areas near the Turkish border.</p>
<p>Rebel-held areas of the Ghouta region were hit in a major chemical attack in 2013.</p>
<p>Last year, a joint inquiry by the U.N. and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) found the Syrian government was responsible for an April 4, 2017 attack using the banned nerve agent sarin in the opposition-held town of Khan Sheikhoun, killing dozens of people.</p>
<p>The inquiry had previously found that Syrian government forces were responsible for three chlorine gas attacks in 2014 and 2015 and that Islamic State militants used mustard gas.</p>
<p>Reporting by Dahlia Nehme and Mustafa Hashem; Additional reporting by Patrick Rucker in Washington; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Sandra Maler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department said on Saturday reports of mass casualties from an alleged chemical weapons attack in Douma, Syria, were “horrifying” and would demand an international response if confirmed.</p>
<p>“These reports, if confirmed, are horrifying and demand an immediate response by the international community,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.</p>
<p>Citing a history of chemical weapons use by the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Nauert said Assad’s government and its backer Russia needed to be held accountable and “any further attacks prevented immediately.”</p>
<p>“Russia, with its unwavering support for the regime ultimately bears responsibility for these brutal attacks,” Nauert said.</p>
<p>Reporting by Tim Ahmann; Editing by Michael Perry</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese state media on Sunday called on industrial and commercial sectors in the United States to rally against President Donald Trump’s plans for an additional $100 billion in tariffs against Chinese goods.</p> Shipping containers and train wagons are seen at a port in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China April 6, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer
<p>Trump threatened the extra tariffs after China last week imposed $3 billion of tariffs on U.S. fruits, nuts, wine and pork, just hours after the United States unveiled an initial $50 billion in tariffs on Chinese goods.</p>
<p>The tit-for-tat tariffs between the world’s two largest economies follows a U.S. finding that China was engaging in unfair trade practices in connection with intellectual property protections. China rejects the charge.</p>
<p>“We call on the international business community including the United States industrial and commercial circles to take prompt and effective measures and urge the U.S. government to correct its errors,” said state newspaper People’s Daily.</p>
<p>It also said that Chinese enterprises and industry will band together to support any government action against the tariffs.</p>
<p>China warned on Friday it was fully prepared to respond with a “fierce counter strike” of fresh trade measures if Trump imposes the additional $100 billion in tariffs.</p>
<p>China’s media, which is under strict control by authorities, has staunchly defended the country’s position, saying it is a victim of U.S. trade protectionism.</p>
<p>On Friday, China launched a World Trade Organization complaint against the United States, triggering a 60-day deadline for the two countries to settle the matter.</p>
<p>Reporting by Cate Cadell; Editing by Michael Perry</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
jan 19 reuters bank china ltd says board approves pay dividends preference shares 154 billion yuan 24072 million source text chinese bitly2fvaugy company coverage 1 63976 chinese yuan renminbi reporting hong kong newsroom standards thomson reuters trust principles houston reuters saudi aramco ipoarmose took first steps toward expanding largest us refinery saturday operated subsidiary motiva enterprises file photo logo saudi aramco seen 20th middle east oil amp gas show conference moes 2017 manama bahrain march 7 2017 reutershamad mohammedfile photo aramcos chief executive amin nasser signed agreements honeywell uop honn technip fmc ftin study petrochemical production technology use multibilliondollar chemical plant company considering building port arthur refinery agreements signal plans expansion petrochemicals said motivas chief executive brian coffman coffman also said motiva evaluating boosting 603000 barrelperday bpd refinerys capacity 1 million 15 million bpd would make largest world saudi arabias crown prince mohammed bin salman finishing twoweek visit united states saudi energy minister khalid alfalih us energy secretary rick perry present signing aromatics unit honeywell uops technology considered would convert benzene paraxylene byproducts gasoline production 2 million tons annually feedstocks chemicals plastics technip fmc technology would produce 2 million tons year ethylene used make plastics motiva said file photo chief executive officer aramco amin nasser speaks interview reuters dhahran saudi arabia december 13 2017 reutershamad mohammed final investment decision port arthur petrochemical plant expected 2019 motiva said statement coffman provide timeline possible expansion port arthur refinerys crude oil processing capacity thats something evaluating studying future said honeywell international inc 14274 honn new york stock exchange 366 250 honn ftin relins cvxn psxn 12million bpd reliance industries relins refinery jamnagar india worlds largest crude oil processing capacity aramco last year said would invest 18 billion motiva expand refinery move petrochemical production us companies including chevron phillips chemical co joint venture chevron corp cvxn phillips 66 psxn exxon mobil corp xomn recently opened plants like one motiva considering process ethane ethylene chevron phillips considering building second ethane cracker gulf coast texas price tag large ethane cracker typically 6 billion according analysts addition taking refining byproducts ethane crackers provide hydrogen refineries use making motor fuels reporting erwin seba editing sandra maler standards thomson reuters trust principles beirut reuters syrian rebel group accused government forces saturday launching deadly chemical attack civilians rebelheld town eastern ghouta medical relief organization said 35 people killed chemical attacks area file photo man stands rubble damaged buildings besieged town douma eastern ghouta damascus syria march 30 2018 reutersbassam khabieh syrian state media denied government forces launched chemical attack said rebels eastern ghouta town douma state collapse spreading false news us state department said monitoring situation russia blamed chemicals used reuters could independently verify reports chemical attack syrian government recaptured nearly eastern ghouta rebels offensive began february leaving douma hands insurgent group jaish alislam related coverage us says reports chemical attack syria horrifying confirmed calls response russianbacked syrian government forces resumed assault friday afternoon heavy air strikes days calm syrian observatory human rights said 11 people died douma result suffocation caused smoke conventional weapons dropped government said total 70 people suffered breathing difficulties rami abdulrahman observatory director said could confirm chemical weapons used medical relief organization syrian american medical society sams said chlorine bomb hit douma hospital killing six people second attack mixed agents including nerve agents hit nearby building basel termanini usbased vice president sams told reuters total death toll chemical attacks 35 contacting un us government european governments said telephone political official jaish alislam said chemical attack killed 100 people us state department official statement said syrian governments history using chemical weapons people dispute russia ultimately bears responsibility brutal targeting countless syrians chemical weapons official said syrian state news agency sana said rebel group douma jaish alislam making chemical attack fabrications exposed failed attempt obstruct advances syrian arab army citing official source face military defeat rebel groups parts eastern ghouta opted accept safe passage area oppositionheld territory turkish border several thousand people fighters civilians left douma northern syria recent days jaish alislam held talks russia douma jaish alislam insisted remaining town group rejects calls president bashar alassads policy forcibly transferring opponents areas near turkish border rebelheld areas ghouta region hit major chemical attack 2013 last year joint inquiry un organization prohibition chemical weapons opcw found syrian government responsible april 4 2017 attack using banned nerve agent sarin oppositionheld town khan sheikhoun killing dozens people inquiry previously found syrian government forces responsible three chlorine gas attacks 2014 2015 islamic state militants used mustard gas reporting dahlia nehme mustafa hashem additional reporting patrick rucker washington editing hugh lawson sandra maler standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters us state department said saturday reports mass casualties alleged chemical weapons attack douma syria horrifying would demand international response confirmed reports confirmed horrifying demand immediate response international community state department spokeswoman heather nauert said statement citing history chemical weapons use government syrian president bashar alassad nauert said assads government backer russia needed held accountable attacks prevented immediately russia unwavering support regime ultimately bears responsibility brutal attacks nauert said reporting tim ahmann editing michael perry standards thomson reuters trust principles beijing reuters chinese state media sunday called industrial commercial sectors united states rally president donald trumps plans additional 100 billion tariffs chinese goods shipping containers train wagons seen port lianyungang jiangsu province china april 6 2018 reutersstringer trump threatened extra tariffs china last week imposed 3 billion tariffs us fruits nuts wine pork hours united states unveiled initial 50 billion tariffs chinese goods titfortat tariffs worlds two largest economies follows us finding china engaging unfair trade practices connection intellectual property protections china rejects charge call international business community including united states industrial commercial circles take prompt effective measures urge us government correct errors said state newspaper peoples daily also said chinese enterprises industry band together support government action tariffs china warned friday fully prepared respond fierce counter strike fresh trade measures trump imposes additional 100 billion tariffs chinas media strict control authorities staunchly defended countrys position saying victim us trade protectionism friday china launched world trade organization complaint united states triggering 60day deadline two countries settle matter reporting cate cadell editing michael perry standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 1,024 |
<p>NEW YORK (AP) — Twenty years ago, Paula Cole heard her name called, went up to the stage and took home the Grammy Award for best new artist. It was an amazing achievement on a night that turned out to be quite complicated.</p>
<p>The then-30-year-old met her idol, Aretha Franklin, and sang her hit "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" in front of millions. But she also felt misunderstood and uncomfortable in the spotlight. Cole shocked some people by raising her middle finger and beatboxing during her performance, and triggered jokes for daring to bare armpit hair.</p>
<p>All these years later, that Grammy isn't her favorite accomplishment. That would be her daughter, Sky, now 16. And her fans, who have stayed loyal, funding her last two albums via Kickstarter. Her story is a cautionary one for anyone thinking that winning one of music's most coveted awards solves everything.</p>
<p>"That night was laden and confused and amazing," says Cole, who turns 50 in April. "My career on the other side of that has been definitely different — smaller, humbler, a more authentic career. A more authentic second adulthood, if you will."</p>
<p>The Berklee College of Music-trained Cole is now touring to promote her album "Ballads," a collection of 20 jazz covers primarily from the 1930s-1960s. It honors her dad, a bass player in a polka band, and it also allowed her to go back to her roots.</p>
<p>"I intended to be a jazz singer. That's where I started and my first gigs were in jazz clubs," she says. "I got rerouted because I wanted to write my own songs with my own truths."</p>
<p>Cole went into the Grammy Awards in New York in 1998 as a Lilith Fair veteran with seven nominations from her second album, "This Fire," which contained the hit "I Don't Want to Wait," which became the theme song for "Dawson's Creek."</p>
<p>Her "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" — a wry, ironic study of gender stereotypes — had been incorrectly seen by some as nostalgic and anti-feminist. Her flipping the bird onstage was a sign that she was firmly in satire mode but it also underlined her discomfort that night.</p>
<p>"I was a very dark horse — self-produced, definitely very progressive and left," says Cole, who took home best new artist honors, beating boy band Hanson, singers Fiona Apple and Erykah Badu, and rapper Diddy.</p>
<p>In the aftermath, Cole faced a backlash and her manager complained that sales of her music plummeted. Jay Leno made a Paula Cole doll with rotating armpits to shine his shoes with.</p>
<p>"There was a lot of hate coming down on me after," she says. "All of that attention was ill-fitting for this introvert. And I ebbed away after the Grammys."</p>
<p>Cole took eight years off to raise her daughter, who was born with severe asthma. Cole re-emerged to a changed musical landscape, but with her determination to remain independent intact. She looks back and realizes she probably never really belonged on the Top 40 charts.</p>
<p>"That trajectory that I was on needed to be stopped. This is who I'm meant to be now. I needed to stop and I needed a reset," she says. "I needed to take a hiatus — kind of shed that ill-fitting skin that somehow was created for me."</p>
<p>Cole has returned to the Berklee College of Music in Boston as a voice teacher, offering classes that quickly oversubscribe.</p>
<p>Anne Peckham, who chairs the voice department, calls Cole a beloved teacher who is known for her generosity. Cole even offers her most talented students the chance to open for her when she performs.</p>
<p>"She has a quality about her that really draws people close to her and helps students learn more about themselves," Peckham says. "Can you imagine as a student having a Grammy winner offer to help you in your career by opening up for them?"</p>
<p>Cole says she learns from her students as much as they learn from her. She feels a responsibility to expose them to the pioneers.</p>
<p>"Nourish yourself," she says. "Go back and listen to the masters and honor the masters and be part of the legacy."</p>
<p>One of those masters is Bobbie Gentry, one of the first female country artists to compose and produce her own material. She covers Gentry's "Ode to Billie Joe" on her new album.</p>
<p>Cole remembers hearing Gentry when she played her parents' albums as a kid, and the more that the adult Cole dug into Gentry's past, the more she found parallels.</p>
<p>Like Cole, Gentry also won the best new artist Grammy and self-produced. Like Cole, Gentry wasn't a fan of the spotlight. "I found out she won best new artist and that she also did not like the attention and found herself in the patriarchal playing fields and withdrew as an introvert. And I relate to all of that."</p>
<p>She hopes to meet Gentry one day. "I'd love to just give her a big hug," Cole says, "and say, 'Thank you. Thank you for being a mentor to me and to so many.'"</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Online: <a href="http://paulacole.com" type="external">http://paulacole.com</a></p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Mark Kennedy is at <a href="http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits" type="external">http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits</a></p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For full coverage of awards season, visit: <a href="" type="internal">https://apnews.com/tag/AwardsSeason</a></p>
<p>NEW YORK (AP) — Twenty years ago, Paula Cole heard her name called, went up to the stage and took home the Grammy Award for best new artist. It was an amazing achievement on a night that turned out to be quite complicated.</p>
<p>The then-30-year-old met her idol, Aretha Franklin, and sang her hit "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" in front of millions. But she also felt misunderstood and uncomfortable in the spotlight. Cole shocked some people by raising her middle finger and beatboxing during her performance, and triggered jokes for daring to bare armpit hair.</p>
<p>All these years later, that Grammy isn't her favorite accomplishment. That would be her daughter, Sky, now 16. And her fans, who have stayed loyal, funding her last two albums via Kickstarter. Her story is a cautionary one for anyone thinking that winning one of music's most coveted awards solves everything.</p>
<p>"That night was laden and confused and amazing," says Cole, who turns 50 in April. "My career on the other side of that has been definitely different — smaller, humbler, a more authentic career. A more authentic second adulthood, if you will."</p>
<p>The Berklee College of Music-trained Cole is now touring to promote her album "Ballads," a collection of 20 jazz covers primarily from the 1930s-1960s. It honors her dad, a bass player in a polka band, and it also allowed her to go back to her roots.</p>
<p>"I intended to be a jazz singer. That's where I started and my first gigs were in jazz clubs," she says. "I got rerouted because I wanted to write my own songs with my own truths."</p>
<p>Cole went into the Grammy Awards in New York in 1998 as a Lilith Fair veteran with seven nominations from her second album, "This Fire," which contained the hit "I Don't Want to Wait," which became the theme song for "Dawson's Creek."</p>
<p>Her "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" — a wry, ironic study of gender stereotypes — had been incorrectly seen by some as nostalgic and anti-feminist. Her flipping the bird onstage was a sign that she was firmly in satire mode but it also underlined her discomfort that night.</p>
<p>"I was a very dark horse — self-produced, definitely very progressive and left," says Cole, who took home best new artist honors, beating boy band Hanson, singers Fiona Apple and Erykah Badu, and rapper Diddy.</p>
<p>In the aftermath, Cole faced a backlash and her manager complained that sales of her music plummeted. Jay Leno made a Paula Cole doll with rotating armpits to shine his shoes with.</p>
<p>"There was a lot of hate coming down on me after," she says. "All of that attention was ill-fitting for this introvert. And I ebbed away after the Grammys."</p>
<p>Cole took eight years off to raise her daughter, who was born with severe asthma. Cole re-emerged to a changed musical landscape, but with her determination to remain independent intact. She looks back and realizes she probably never really belonged on the Top 40 charts.</p>
<p>"That trajectory that I was on needed to be stopped. This is who I'm meant to be now. I needed to stop and I needed a reset," she says. "I needed to take a hiatus — kind of shed that ill-fitting skin that somehow was created for me."</p>
<p>Cole has returned to the Berklee College of Music in Boston as a voice teacher, offering classes that quickly oversubscribe.</p>
<p>Anne Peckham, who chairs the voice department, calls Cole a beloved teacher who is known for her generosity. Cole even offers her most talented students the chance to open for her when she performs.</p>
<p>"She has a quality about her that really draws people close to her and helps students learn more about themselves," Peckham says. "Can you imagine as a student having a Grammy winner offer to help you in your career by opening up for them?"</p>
<p>Cole says she learns from her students as much as they learn from her. She feels a responsibility to expose them to the pioneers.</p>
<p>"Nourish yourself," she says. "Go back and listen to the masters and honor the masters and be part of the legacy."</p>
<p>One of those masters is Bobbie Gentry, one of the first female country artists to compose and produce her own material. She covers Gentry's "Ode to Billie Joe" on her new album.</p>
<p>Cole remembers hearing Gentry when she played her parents' albums as a kid, and the more that the adult Cole dug into Gentry's past, the more she found parallels.</p>
<p>Like Cole, Gentry also won the best new artist Grammy and self-produced. Like Cole, Gentry wasn't a fan of the spotlight. "I found out she won best new artist and that she also did not like the attention and found herself in the patriarchal playing fields and withdrew as an introvert. And I relate to all of that."</p>
<p>She hopes to meet Gentry one day. "I'd love to just give her a big hug," Cole says, "and say, 'Thank you. Thank you for being a mentor to me and to so many.'"</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Online: <a href="http://paulacole.com" type="external">http://paulacole.com</a></p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Mark Kennedy is at <a href="http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits" type="external">http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits</a></p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For full coverage of awards season, visit: <a href="" type="internal">https://apnews.com/tag/AwardsSeason</a></p>
| false | 2 |
new york ap twenty years ago paula cole heard name called went stage took home grammy award best new artist amazing achievement night turned quite complicated then30yearold met idol aretha franklin sang hit cowboys gone front millions also felt misunderstood uncomfortable spotlight cole shocked people raising middle finger beatboxing performance triggered jokes daring bare armpit hair years later grammy isnt favorite accomplishment would daughter sky 16 fans stayed loyal funding last two albums via kickstarter story cautionary one anyone thinking winning one musics coveted awards solves everything night laden confused amazing says cole turns 50 april career side definitely different smaller humbler authentic career authentic second adulthood berklee college musictrained cole touring promote album ballads collection 20 jazz covers primarily 1930s1960s honors dad bass player polka band also allowed go back roots intended jazz singer thats started first gigs jazz clubs says got rerouted wanted write songs truths cole went grammy awards new york 1998 lilith fair veteran seven nominations second album fire contained hit dont want wait became theme song dawsons creek cowboys gone wry ironic study gender stereotypes incorrectly seen nostalgic antifeminist flipping bird onstage sign firmly satire mode also underlined discomfort night dark horse selfproduced definitely progressive left says cole took home best new artist honors beating boy band hanson singers fiona apple erykah badu rapper diddy aftermath cole faced backlash manager complained sales music plummeted jay leno made paula cole doll rotating armpits shine shoes lot hate coming says attention illfitting introvert ebbed away grammys cole took eight years raise daughter born severe asthma cole reemerged changed musical landscape determination remain independent intact looks back realizes probably never really belonged top 40 charts trajectory needed stopped im meant needed stop needed reset says needed take hiatus kind shed illfitting skin somehow created cole returned berklee college music boston voice teacher offering classes quickly oversubscribe anne peckham chairs voice department calls cole beloved teacher known generosity cole even offers talented students chance open performs quality really draws people close helps students learn peckham says imagine student grammy winner offer help career opening cole says learns students much learn feels responsibility expose pioneers nourish says go back listen masters honor masters part legacy one masters bobbie gentry one first female country artists compose produce material covers gentrys ode billie joe new album cole remembers hearing gentry played parents albums kid adult cole dug gentrys past found parallels like cole gentry also best new artist grammy selfproduced like cole gentry wasnt fan spotlight found best new artist also like attention found patriarchal playing fields withdrew introvert relate hopes meet gentry one day id love give big hug cole says say thank thank mentor many ___ online httppaulacolecom ___ mark kennedy httptwittercomkennedytwits ___ full coverage awards season visit httpsapnewscomtagawardsseason new york ap twenty years ago paula cole heard name called went stage took home grammy award best new artist amazing achievement night turned quite complicated then30yearold met idol aretha franklin sang hit cowboys gone front millions also felt misunderstood uncomfortable spotlight cole shocked people raising middle finger beatboxing performance triggered jokes daring bare armpit hair years later grammy isnt favorite accomplishment would daughter sky 16 fans stayed loyal funding last two albums via kickstarter story cautionary one anyone thinking winning one musics coveted awards solves everything night laden confused amazing says cole turns 50 april career side definitely different smaller humbler authentic career authentic second adulthood berklee college musictrained cole touring promote album ballads collection 20 jazz covers primarily 1930s1960s honors dad bass player polka band also allowed go back roots intended jazz singer thats started first gigs jazz clubs says got rerouted wanted write songs truths cole went grammy awards new york 1998 lilith fair veteran seven nominations second album fire contained hit dont want wait became theme song dawsons creek cowboys gone wry ironic study gender stereotypes incorrectly seen nostalgic antifeminist flipping bird onstage sign firmly satire mode also underlined discomfort night dark horse selfproduced definitely progressive left says cole took home best new artist honors beating boy band hanson singers fiona apple erykah badu rapper diddy aftermath cole faced backlash manager complained sales music plummeted jay leno made paula cole doll rotating armpits shine shoes lot hate coming says attention illfitting introvert ebbed away grammys cole took eight years raise daughter born severe asthma cole reemerged changed musical landscape determination remain independent intact looks back realizes probably never really belonged top 40 charts trajectory needed stopped im meant needed stop needed reset says needed take hiatus kind shed illfitting skin somehow created cole returned berklee college music boston voice teacher offering classes quickly oversubscribe anne peckham chairs voice department calls cole beloved teacher known generosity cole even offers talented students chance open performs quality really draws people close helps students learn peckham says imagine student grammy winner offer help career opening cole says learns students much learn feels responsibility expose pioneers nourish says go back listen masters honor masters part legacy one masters bobbie gentry one first female country artists compose produce material covers gentrys ode billie joe new album cole remembers hearing gentry played parents albums kid adult cole dug gentrys past found parallels like cole gentry also best new artist grammy selfproduced like cole gentry wasnt fan spotlight found best new artist also like attention found patriarchal playing fields withdrew introvert relate hopes meet gentry one day id love give big hug cole says say thank thank mentor many ___ online httppaulacolecom ___ mark kennedy httptwittercomkennedytwits ___ full coverage awards season visit httpsapnewscomtagawardsseason
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<p>DETROIT — Zehra Patwa learned only a few years ago that during a family trip to India at age 7, she was circumcised, which is common for girls in parts of Asia, Africa and the Middle East.</p>
<p>Patwa, 46, doesn’t remember undergoing the procedure, which is also called female genital mutilation or cutting and which has been condemned by the United Nations and outlawed in the U.S. But she doesn’t want to.</p>
<p>“I have no desire to get that memory back. … Psychologically, it feels like a violation, even though I don’t remember it,” said Patwa, a technology project manager from New Haven, Connecticut, who now campaigns against the centuries-old practice.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The recent arrest of a Michigan doctor accused of performing the procedure on two 7-year-old girls from Patwa’s own Shiite Muslim sect, the Dawoodi Bohra, highlights how female genital mutilation is alive and well in parts of the Western world where its adherents have migrated and formed communities.</p>
<p>Depending on the culture, female circumcisions are performed on girls of various ages and by various methods, and they are seen as a way of controlling a girl’s sexuality, maintaining her purity or even making her more fertile as she grows into adulthood. Critics, though, say it can cause complications during childbirth, make intercourse painful and eliminate any pleasure a woman can derive from sex.</p>
<p>Dr. Jumana Nagarwala is accused of performing the procedure on two Minnesota girls that left them with scars and lacerations. Her attorney, Shannon Smith, insists that Nagarwala conducted a benign religious ritual that involved no mutilation.</p>
<p>Prosecutors on Friday charged two other Bohras, Dr. Fakhruddin Attar and his wife, Farida Attar, with conspiracy. Fakhruddin Attar owns the Detroit-area clinic where the alleged procedures were performed in February, and investigators say the couple knew Nagarwala was doing the procedures after business hours.</p>
<p>There are more than a million Bohras in the world, most of whom live in India. No one knows how many there are in the U.S., but it’s estimated there are about 25,000 and that they have about 20 mosques and gathering places.</p>
<p>Patwa, who is part of the activist group Speak Out on FGM, said that given its clandestine nature, it’s hard to estimate how many people perform female circumcisions in the U.S. But there are a small number in the Bohra community who are known by elders and tend to be clustered around large cities with Bohra mosques, she said.</p>
<p>When many Bohra girls are age 6 to 8, their parents approach — or are approached by — a “secret network” of female elders about getting the girls cut. There is then an informal vetting process to make sure a request is legitimate and not an attempt to expose any activities, Patwa said.</p>
<p>“Everybody knows somebody who has gotten their daughter cut … but nobody wants to rat out their family members or friends,” she said.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>A spokesman for the Syedna, the Bohras’ religious head in Mumbai, India, could not be reached for comment. The two men vying to succeed the Syedna, his half brother and the son of a former Syedna, have different views on female circumcision. The half brother says it is time to end the practice of female circumcision. The former Syedna’s son, whom most Bohras accept as their new leader, says the tradition must continue and notes that Bohra men are also circumcised.</p>
<p>“Men have to do it, and even women have to do it,” Syedna Muffadal Saifuddin said in a speech last year.</p>
<p>The World Health Organization said the practice of removing or injuring female genital organs has no known health benefits but has been performed on roughly 200 million women and girls in 30 countries.</p>
<p>Multiple Islamic scholars and experts say the practice is cultural, not based in religious principles. Those who don’t have their daughters circumcised are subjected to pressure, and those who do believe they are protecting the girls.</p>
<p>Although Patwa and others describe it as a widespread practice, it’s not universally performed among the Bohra. Sahiyo, a Mumbai-based organization that campaigns against the procedure, estimates that about 80 percent of girls within the community have had it done.</p>
<p>She said she attends a Bohra mosque near Boston, which she describes as a welcoming and largely educated and tolerant congregation, but not one in which the procedure they call “khatna” is openly discussed.</p>
<p>“Part of my campaigning is always, ‘We have a problem within our community. We can only deal with it as a community,” she said. “We can expose it, but other people aren’t going to swoop in and help us.'”</p>
<p>Patwa said many Bohra mosques, including hers, have sent letters to members encouraging them not to engage in khatna because it could be considered illegal. But she said some critics don’t see this as a serious attempt by mosques to end the practice, but rather as legal cover.</p>
<p>Dr. Mohammed Arsiwala, president and CEO of Michigan Urgent Care and a board member of the Michigan State Medical Society, said he was a Bohra until about five years ago. He has shared his concerns about the procedure through a resolution presented to the state medical group, which adopted a policy several years ago labeling it unethical for doctors to perform.</p>
<p>Jiwajee Bhai Bootwala belongs to the Minneapolis-area Bohra community, which he said consists of about 25 to 30 families. He said he doesn’t know of anyone involved in the practice and didn’t know about the families who went to Michigan, or if they even belong to his group. Still, he said, the news will spoil his community’s image.</p>
<p>“The law for the country is part of your faith,” he said. “So we would never do something against the laws of the country.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Amy Forliti in Plymouth, Minnesota, and Muneeza Naqvi in Mumbai, India, contributed to this story.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Jeff Karoub on Twitter at <a href="http://twitter.com/jeffkaroub" type="external">http://twitter.com/jeffkaroub</a> . His work can be found at <a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/author/jeff-karoub" type="external">http://bigstory.ap.org/author/jeff-karoub</a> .</p>
| false | 2 |
detroit zehra patwa learned years ago family trip india age 7 circumcised common girls parts asia africa middle east patwa 46 doesnt remember undergoing procedure also called female genital mutilation cutting condemned united nations outlawed us doesnt want desire get memory back psychologically feels like violation even though dont remember said patwa technology project manager new connecticut campaigns centuriesold practice advertisement recent arrest michigan doctor accused performing procedure two 7yearold girls patwas shiite muslim sect dawoodi bohra highlights female genital mutilation alive well parts western world adherents migrated formed communities depending culture female circumcisions performed girls various ages various methods seen way controlling girls sexuality maintaining purity even making fertile grows adulthood critics though say cause complications childbirth make intercourse painful eliminate pleasure woman derive sex dr jumana nagarwala accused performing procedure two minnesota girls left scars lacerations attorney shannon smith insists nagarwala conducted benign religious ritual involved mutilation prosecutors friday charged two bohras dr fakhruddin attar wife farida attar conspiracy fakhruddin attar owns detroitarea clinic alleged procedures performed february investigators say couple knew nagarwala procedures business hours million bohras world live india one knows many us estimated 25000 20 mosques gathering places patwa part activist group speak fgm said given clandestine nature hard estimate many people perform female circumcisions us small number bohra community known elders tend clustered around large cities bohra mosques said many bohra girls age 6 8 parents approach approached secret network female elders getting girls cut informal vetting process make sure request legitimate attempt expose activities patwa said everybody knows somebody gotten daughter cut nobody wants rat family members friends said advertisement spokesman syedna bohras religious head mumbai india could reached comment two men vying succeed syedna half brother son former syedna different views female circumcision half brother says time end practice female circumcision former syednas son bohras accept new leader says tradition must continue notes bohra men also circumcised men even women syedna muffadal saifuddin said speech last year world health organization said practice removing injuring female genital organs known health benefits performed roughly 200 million women girls 30 countries multiple islamic scholars experts say practice cultural based religious principles dont daughters circumcised subjected pressure believe protecting girls although patwa others describe widespread practice universally performed among bohra sahiyo mumbaibased organization campaigns procedure estimates 80 percent girls within community done said attends bohra mosque near boston describes welcoming largely educated tolerant congregation one procedure call khatna openly discussed part campaigning always problem within community deal community said expose people arent going swoop help us patwa said many bohra mosques including sent letters members encouraging engage khatna could considered illegal said critics dont see serious attempt mosques end practice rather legal cover dr mohammed arsiwala president ceo michigan urgent care board member michigan state medical society said bohra five years ago shared concerns procedure resolution presented state medical group adopted policy several years ago labeling unethical doctors perform jiwajee bhai bootwala belongs minneapolisarea bohra community said consists 25 30 families said doesnt know anyone involved practice didnt know families went michigan even belong group still said news spoil communitys image law country part faith said would never something laws country ___ associated press writers amy forliti plymouth minnesota muneeza naqvi mumbai india contributed story ___ follow jeff karoub twitter httptwittercomjeffkaroub work found httpbigstoryaporgauthorjeffkaroub
| 548 |
<p>NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 8, 2018--Barnes &amp; Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world’s largest retail bookseller, today announced that it collected approximately 1.6 million books during its 2017 Holiday Book Drive program. The books are being donated to more than 650 local charities across the country that provide services to children.</p>
<p>The donation was made possible through the generous support of Barnes &amp; Noble customers, who purchased books for donation at Barnes &amp; Noble bookstores nationwide between November 1, 2017, and January 1, 2018. Community partners are distributing the books collected to hospitals, schools, literacy organizations and social service organizations.</p>
<p>“The annual Holiday Book Drive is a key initiative for us every year, and our customers once again came through by donating approximately 1.6 million books to kids in need this holiday season,” said Tracy Vidakovich, Vice President of Business Development for Barnes &amp; Noble. “We are always amazed to see the generosity of our customers and want to thank them for giving kids of every background the chance to read.”</p>
<p>Local recipients from the Holiday Book Drive include: Toys for Tots; Children’s Aid Society; Big Brothers Big Sisters; the YMCA; Salvation Army; First Book; children’s hospitals from around the country; Reach Out &amp; Read; Ronald McDonald House; Head Start; United Way; various school districts, schools and public libraries; and hundreds of other deserving organizations.</p>
<p>About Barnes &amp; Noble, Inc.</p>
<p>Barnes &amp; Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS) is the world’s largest retail bookseller, and a leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products.&#160;The Company operates 632 Barnes &amp; Noble bookstores in 50 states, and one of the Web’s premier e-commerce sites, BN.com ( <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bn.com&amp;esheet=51739245&amp;newsitemid=20180108005688&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.bn.com&amp;index=1&amp;md5=7681bbc4582f63b7022729d9b255b1a3" type="external">www.bn.com</a> ).&#160;The Nook Digital business offers a lineup of popular NOOK ® tablets and eReaders and an expansive collection of digital reading and entertainment content through the NOOK Store ®. The NOOK Store features more than 4.5 million digital books in the US ( <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nook.com&amp;esheet=51739245&amp;newsitemid=20180108005688&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.nook.com&amp;index=2&amp;md5=01108c6bdff57978ea2bb2103ce9581c" type="external">www.nook.com</a> ), plus periodicals and comics, and offers the ability to enjoy content across a wide array of popular devices through Free NOOK Reading Apps ™ available for Android ™, iOS ® and Windows ®.</p>
<p>General information on Barnes &amp; Noble, Inc. can be obtained by visiting the Company's corporate website at <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnobleinc.com&amp;esheet=51739245&amp;newsitemid=20180108005688&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.barnesandnobleinc.com&amp;index=3&amp;md5=c6d704a07c9cea51deb74dea4d0aeed6" type="external">www.barnesandnobleinc.com</a>.</p>
<p>Barnes &amp; Noble ®, Barnes &amp; Noble Booksellers ® and Barnes &amp; Noble.com ® are trademarks of Barnes &amp; Noble, Inc. or its affiliates. NOOK ® and the NOOK logos are trademarks of Nook Digital, LLC or its affiliates.</p>
<p>For more information on Barnes &amp; Noble, follow us on <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FBNBuzz&amp;esheet=51739245&amp;newsitemid=20180108005688&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Twitter&amp;index=4&amp;md5=483a0af5518b3ceefb4e94304dd67bfc" type="external">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fbarnesandnoble&amp;esheet=51739245&amp;newsitemid=20180108005688&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Instagram&amp;index=5&amp;md5=8bbeb163df1dae5aa56db6906952ec4a" type="external">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fbarnesandnoble%2F&amp;esheet=51739245&amp;newsitemid=20180108005688&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Pinterest&amp;index=6&amp;md5=f81138c821fb667de7f577bed7333911" type="external">Pinterest</a> and Snapchat (bnsnaps), and like us on <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fbarnesandnoble&amp;esheet=51739245&amp;newsitemid=20180108005688&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Facebook&amp;index=7&amp;md5=fe5864ba8d9c78b27b6d87786a8f7154" type="external">Facebook</a>. For more information on NOOK, follow us on <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitter.com%2FnookBN&amp;esheet=51739245&amp;newsitemid=20180108005688&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Twitter&amp;index=8&amp;md5=949c6a6761c8c851d533d9f0d58e90d9" type="external">Twitter</a> and like us on <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fnook&amp;esheet=51739245&amp;newsitemid=20180108005688&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Facebook&amp;index=9&amp;md5=42f34b44542e564eaa86a89cfdce8d35" type="external">Facebook</a>.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>View source version on businesswire.com: <a href="http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180108005688/en/" type="external">http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180108005688/en/</a></p>
<p>CONTACT: Barnes &amp; Noble, Inc.</p>
<p>Mary Ellen Keating, 212-633-3323</p>
<p>Senior Vice President</p>
<p>Corporate Communications</p>
<p>[email protected]</p>
<p>or</p>
<p>Alex Ortolani, 212-633-3379</p>
<p>Director</p>
<p>Corporate Communications</p>
<p>[email protected]</p>
<p>KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA NEW YORK</p>
<p>INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SENIORS WOMEN RELIGION EDUCATION PRIMARY/SECONDARY UNIVERSITY ENTERTAINMENT PHILANTHROPY BABY/MATERNITY CHILDREN PARENTING TEENS RETAIL PRESCHOOL TRAINING BOOKS OTHER PHILANTHROPY SPECIALTY CONSUMER FAMILY MEN PETS</p>
<p>SOURCE: Barnes &amp; Noble, Inc.</p>
<p>Copyright Business Wire 2018.</p>
<p>PUB: 01/08/2018 08:30 AM/DISC: 01/08/2018 08:30 AM</p>
<p>http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180108005688/en</p>
<p>NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 8, 2018--Barnes &amp; Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world’s largest retail bookseller, today announced that it collected approximately 1.6 million books during its 2017 Holiday Book Drive program. The books are being donated to more than 650 local charities across the country that provide services to children.</p>
<p>The donation was made possible through the generous support of Barnes &amp; Noble customers, who purchased books for donation at Barnes &amp; Noble bookstores nationwide between November 1, 2017, and January 1, 2018. Community partners are distributing the books collected to hospitals, schools, literacy organizations and social service organizations.</p>
<p>“The annual Holiday Book Drive is a key initiative for us every year, and our customers once again came through by donating approximately 1.6 million books to kids in need this holiday season,” said Tracy Vidakovich, Vice President of Business Development for Barnes &amp; Noble. “We are always amazed to see the generosity of our customers and want to thank them for giving kids of every background the chance to read.”</p>
<p>Local recipients from the Holiday Book Drive include: Toys for Tots; Children’s Aid Society; Big Brothers Big Sisters; the YMCA; Salvation Army; First Book; children’s hospitals from around the country; Reach Out &amp; Read; Ronald McDonald House; Head Start; United Way; various school districts, schools and public libraries; and hundreds of other deserving organizations.</p>
<p>About Barnes &amp; Noble, Inc.</p>
<p>Barnes &amp; Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS) is the world’s largest retail bookseller, and a leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products.&#160;The Company operates 632 Barnes &amp; Noble bookstores in 50 states, and one of the Web’s premier e-commerce sites, BN.com ( <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bn.com&amp;esheet=51739245&amp;newsitemid=20180108005688&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.bn.com&amp;index=1&amp;md5=7681bbc4582f63b7022729d9b255b1a3" type="external">www.bn.com</a> ).&#160;The Nook Digital business offers a lineup of popular NOOK ® tablets and eReaders and an expansive collection of digital reading and entertainment content through the NOOK Store ®. The NOOK Store features more than 4.5 million digital books in the US ( <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nook.com&amp;esheet=51739245&amp;newsitemid=20180108005688&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.nook.com&amp;index=2&amp;md5=01108c6bdff57978ea2bb2103ce9581c" type="external">www.nook.com</a> ), plus periodicals and comics, and offers the ability to enjoy content across a wide array of popular devices through Free NOOK Reading Apps ™ available for Android ™, iOS ® and Windows ®.</p>
<p>General information on Barnes &amp; Noble, Inc. can be obtained by visiting the Company's corporate website at <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnobleinc.com&amp;esheet=51739245&amp;newsitemid=20180108005688&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.barnesandnobleinc.com&amp;index=3&amp;md5=c6d704a07c9cea51deb74dea4d0aeed6" type="external">www.barnesandnobleinc.com</a>.</p>
<p>Barnes &amp; Noble ®, Barnes &amp; Noble Booksellers ® and Barnes &amp; Noble.com ® are trademarks of Barnes &amp; Noble, Inc. or its affiliates. NOOK ® and the NOOK logos are trademarks of Nook Digital, LLC or its affiliates.</p>
<p>For more information on Barnes &amp; Noble, follow us on <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FBNBuzz&amp;esheet=51739245&amp;newsitemid=20180108005688&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Twitter&amp;index=4&amp;md5=483a0af5518b3ceefb4e94304dd67bfc" type="external">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fbarnesandnoble&amp;esheet=51739245&amp;newsitemid=20180108005688&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Instagram&amp;index=5&amp;md5=8bbeb163df1dae5aa56db6906952ec4a" type="external">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fbarnesandnoble%2F&amp;esheet=51739245&amp;newsitemid=20180108005688&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Pinterest&amp;index=6&amp;md5=f81138c821fb667de7f577bed7333911" type="external">Pinterest</a> and Snapchat (bnsnaps), and like us on <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fbarnesandnoble&amp;esheet=51739245&amp;newsitemid=20180108005688&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Facebook&amp;index=7&amp;md5=fe5864ba8d9c78b27b6d87786a8f7154" type="external">Facebook</a>. For more information on NOOK, follow us on <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitter.com%2FnookBN&amp;esheet=51739245&amp;newsitemid=20180108005688&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Twitter&amp;index=8&amp;md5=949c6a6761c8c851d533d9f0d58e90d9" type="external">Twitter</a> and like us on <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fnook&amp;esheet=51739245&amp;newsitemid=20180108005688&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Facebook&amp;index=9&amp;md5=42f34b44542e564eaa86a89cfdce8d35" type="external">Facebook</a>.</p>
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<p>View source version on businesswire.com: <a href="http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180108005688/en/" type="external">http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180108005688/en/</a></p>
<p>CONTACT: Barnes &amp; Noble, Inc.</p>
<p>Mary Ellen Keating, 212-633-3323</p>
<p>Senior Vice President</p>
<p>Corporate Communications</p>
<p>[email protected]</p>
<p>or</p>
<p>Alex Ortolani, 212-633-3379</p>
<p>Director</p>
<p>Corporate Communications</p>
<p>[email protected]</p>
<p>KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA NEW YORK</p>
<p>INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SENIORS WOMEN RELIGION EDUCATION PRIMARY/SECONDARY UNIVERSITY ENTERTAINMENT PHILANTHROPY BABY/MATERNITY CHILDREN PARENTING TEENS RETAIL PRESCHOOL TRAINING BOOKS OTHER PHILANTHROPY SPECIALTY CONSUMER FAMILY MEN PETS</p>
<p>SOURCE: Barnes &amp; Noble, Inc.</p>
<p>Copyright Business Wire 2018.</p>
<p>PUB: 01/08/2018 08:30 AM/DISC: 01/08/2018 08:30 AM</p>
<p>http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180108005688/en</p>
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new yorkbusiness wirejan 8 2018barnes amp noble inc nyse bks worlds largest retail bookseller today announced collected approximately 16 million books 2017 holiday book drive program books donated 650 local charities across country provide services children donation made possible generous support barnes amp noble customers purchased books donation barnes amp noble bookstores nationwide november 1 2017 january 1 2018 community partners distributing books collected hospitals schools literacy organizations social service organizations annual holiday book drive key initiative us every year customers came donating approximately 16 million books kids need holiday season said tracy vidakovich vice president business development barnes amp noble always amazed see generosity customers want thank giving kids every background chance read local recipients holiday book drive include toys tots childrens aid society big brothers big sisters ymca salvation army first book childrens hospitals around country reach amp read ronald mcdonald house head start united way various school districts schools public libraries hundreds deserving organizations barnes amp noble inc barnes amp noble inc nyse bks worlds largest retail bookseller leading retailer content digital media educational products160the company operates 632 barnes amp noble bookstores 50 states one webs premier ecommerce sites bncom wwwbncom 160the nook digital business offers lineup popular nook tablets ereaders expansive collection digital reading entertainment content nook store nook store features 45 million digital books us wwwnookcom plus periodicals comics offers ability enjoy content across wide array popular devices free nook reading apps available android ios windows general information barnes amp noble inc obtained visiting companys corporate website wwwbarnesandnobleinccom barnes amp noble barnes amp noble booksellers barnes amp noblecom trademarks barnes amp noble inc affiliates nook nook logos trademarks nook digital llc affiliates information barnes amp noble follow us twitter instagram pinterest snapchat bnsnaps like us facebook information nook follow us twitter like us facebook view source version businesswirecom httpwwwbusinesswirecomnewshome20180108005688en contact barnes amp noble inc mary ellen keating 2126333323 senior vice president corporate communications mkeatingbncom alex ortolani 2126333379 director corporate communications aortolanibncom keyword united states north america new york industry keyword seniors women religion education primarysecondary university entertainment philanthropy babymaternity children parenting teens retail preschool training books philanthropy specialty consumer family men pets source barnes amp noble inc copyright business wire 2018 pub 01082018 0830 amdisc 01082018 0830 httpwwwbusinesswirecomnewshome20180108005688en new yorkbusiness wirejan 8 2018barnes amp noble inc nyse bks worlds largest retail bookseller today announced collected approximately 16 million books 2017 holiday book drive program books donated 650 local charities across country provide services children donation made possible generous support barnes amp noble customers purchased books donation barnes amp noble bookstores nationwide november 1 2017 january 1 2018 community partners distributing books collected hospitals schools literacy organizations social service organizations annual holiday book drive key initiative us every year customers came donating approximately 16 million books kids need holiday season said tracy vidakovich vice president business development barnes amp noble always amazed see generosity customers want thank giving kids every background chance read local recipients holiday book drive include toys tots childrens aid society big brothers big sisters ymca salvation army first book childrens hospitals around country reach amp read ronald mcdonald house head start united way various school districts schools public libraries hundreds deserving organizations barnes amp noble inc barnes amp noble inc nyse bks worlds largest retail bookseller leading retailer content digital media educational products160the company operates 632 barnes amp noble bookstores 50 states one webs premier ecommerce sites bncom wwwbncom 160the nook digital business offers lineup popular nook tablets ereaders expansive collection digital reading entertainment content nook store nook store features 45 million digital books us wwwnookcom plus periodicals comics offers ability enjoy content across wide array popular devices free nook reading apps available android ios windows general information barnes amp noble inc obtained visiting companys corporate website wwwbarnesandnobleinccom barnes amp noble barnes amp noble booksellers barnes amp noblecom trademarks barnes amp noble inc affiliates nook nook logos trademarks nook digital llc affiliates information barnes amp noble follow us twitter instagram pinterest snapchat bnsnaps like us facebook information nook follow us twitter like us facebook view source version businesswirecom httpwwwbusinesswirecomnewshome20180108005688en contact barnes amp noble inc mary ellen keating 2126333323 senior vice president corporate communications mkeatingbncom alex ortolani 2126333379 director corporate communications aortolanibncom keyword united states north america new york industry keyword seniors women religion education primarysecondary university entertainment philanthropy babymaternity children parenting teens retail preschool training books philanthropy specialty consumer family men pets source barnes amp noble inc copyright business wire 2018 pub 01082018 0830 amdisc 01082018 0830 httpwwwbusinesswirecomnewshome20180108005688en
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<p>(Reuters) - U.S. credit card issuer Capital One Financial Corp ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=COF.N" type="external">COF.N</a>) on Tuesday reported a fourth-quarter loss of $1.05 billion on large provisions for income taxes, credit losses and recent changes to the U.S. tax law.</p>
<p>The provision for income taxes rose to $2.17 billion from $342 million last year, and the provision for credit losses increased 10 percent to $1.92 billion.</p>
<p>Capital One also took a hit of $1.77 billion related to the recent tax code changes.</p>
<p>The company swung to a quarterly loss of $1.05 billion, or $2.17 per share from a profit of $710 million, or $1.45 per share, a year earlier.</p>
<p>U.S. banks are being pressured as a rising number of Americans fall behind on their credit card payments, forcing them to set aside more money to cover defaults.</p>
<p>The company said net interest income in the quarter rose 6.7 percent to $5.81 billion.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=COF.N" type="external">Capital One Financial Corp</a> 94.65 COF.N New York Stock Exchange -- (--%) COF.N
<p>Excluding items, Capital One earned $1.62 per share.</p>
<p>Period-end loans held for investment, which includes domestic card and commercial banking loans, increased 1 percent to $254.5 billion.</p>
<p>Shares of Capital One were down about 1.5 percent at $104.01 after the bell.</p>
<p>Reporting by Diptendu Lahiri in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernard Orr</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks slumped on Thursday as President Donald Trump’s move to impose tariffs on up to $60 billion of Chinese imports drove fears about the impact on the global economy, fueling the biggest percentage declines in Wall Street’s three major indexes since they entered correction territory six weeks ago.</p>
<p>Trump signed a presidential memorandum that will target the Chinese imports only after a consultation period. China will have space to respond, reducing the risk of immediate retaliation from Beijing.</p>
<p>But after equities recovered somewhat from earlier lows, selling pressure resumed on Wall Street heading into the close as investors fretted over the potential scale of U.S tariffs and possible impact on global trade.</p>
<p>“There’s too much negative sentiment right now,” said John Carey, portfolio manager at Amundi Pioneer Asset Management in Boston. “It’s possible that it will be rough sledding for a while. I don’t see anything on the horizon that will reassure people that things are just great.”</p>
<p>Major industrials slumped. Plane maker Boeing Co lost 5.2 percent, Caterpillar Inc dropped 5.7 and 3M Co lost 4.7. The three were among the biggest drags on the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The S&amp;P industrials sector plunged 3.28 percent.</p>
<p>The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 724.42 points, or 2.93 percent, to 23,957.89, the S&amp;P 500 lost 68.24 points, or 2.52 percent, to 2,643.69, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 178.61 points, or 2.43 percent, to 7,166.68.</p>
<p>The losses marked the biggest daily percentage drop for each of the major indexes since Feb. 8, when the Dow and S&amp;P confirmed a market correction from their Jan. 26 highs.</p>
<p>Selling was broad, with only the defensive utilities 0.44on the plus side, up 0.44 percent, out of 11 major S&amp;P sectors.</p> Specialist trader Meric Greenbaum works at his post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, (NYSE) in New York, U.S., March 22, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
<p>The CBOE Volatility Index, the most widely followed barometer of expected near-term volatility in the S&amp;P 500, finished up 5.48 points at 23.34, its highest close since Feb. 13.23.34</p>
<p>U.S. treasury prices gained as investors sought out safe havens. Benchmark 10-year notes last rose 23/32 in price to yield 2.8244 percent, from 2.907 percent late on Wednesday.</p>
<p>The drop in yields weighed on financial stocks, which were down 3.70 percent, making them the worst performing of the major sectors.</p> Slideshow (7 Images)
<p>Another decline in shares of Facebook Inc, down 2.7 percent, continued to weigh on the broader market and the tech sector, the best performing S&amp;P group for this year. The S&amp;P technology index fell 2.69 percent on fears of greater regulation in the wake of the Facebook data leak.</p>
<p>Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said he was open to additional government regulation and happy to testify before the U.S. Congress.</p>
<p>AbbVie Inc tumbled 12.8 percent after the drugmaker said it would not seek accelerated approval for its experimental lung cancer treatment based on results from a mid-stage study.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-usa-stocks-futures/sp-500-futures-fall-after-trump-ousts-mcmaster-idUSKBN1GY3CG" type="external">S&amp;P 500 futures fall after Trump ousts McMaster</a>
<a href="/article/us-usa-stocks-analysts-instantview/instant-view-u-s-stocks-tumble-on-trade-worries-idUSKBN1GY2E9" type="external">Instant View: U.S. stocks tumble on trade worries</a>
<p>Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones on the NYSE by a 4.51-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 4.09-to-1 ratio favored decliners.</p>
<p>The S&amp;P 500 posted three new 52-week highs and 19 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 36 new highs and 59 new lows.</p>
<p>Volume on U.S. exchanges was 7.77 billion shares, compared to the 7.17 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by April Joyner; Editing by Leslie Adler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - Steve Wynn, the former chief executive of Wynn Resorts Ltd, has disposed his entire 11.8 percent stake in the firm for $2.1 billion in a dramatic exit of the casino and hotel enterprise he founded over 16 years ago.</p> Steve Wynn, Chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts, speaks during the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake
<p>In an unexpected separate move, Macau casino operator Galaxy Entertainment said it has agreed to buy 5.3 million primary shares of Wynn Resorts at $175 per share, giving them around a 5 percent stake in the operator which has resorts in Las Vegas and Macau.</p>
<p>Galaxy is one of six licensed operators in the world’s largest gambling hub of Macau and competes with Wynn along with Sands China, MGM China and Melco Resorts.</p>
<p>The casino mogul’s share sale comes a week after Wynn Resorts said Steve and Elaine Wynn, who has a 9.26 percent stake, had scrapped a shareholder agreement that prevented them from selling their stakes.</p>
<p>Steve Wynn resigned as CEO of the Las Vegas-based company last month, following claims he subjected women who worked for him to unwanted advances. He has denied the accusations.</p>
<p>In a joint statement by Galaxy and Wynn on Wednesday, Galaxy Vice Chairman Francis Lui said it was a unique opportunity to “acquire an investment in a globally recognised entertainment corporation with exceptionally high quality assets and a significant development pipeline.”</p>
<p>A Galaxy spokeswoman could not comment further on whether Galaxy would look to increase its holding in the future.</p>
<p>Wynn Resorts CEO Matt Maddox said Galaxy shared many of the same core “operating philosophies and values.”</p>
<p>The announcement also follows the settlement two weeks ago of long standing litigation between Wynn Resorts and Universal Entertainment Corporation.</p>
<p>Wynn said two long-term institutional investors, currently holding stakes in Wynn Resorts, have agreed to purchase the remaining eight million shares held by Steve Wynn also at $175 a share.</p>
<p>A Thursday filing showed the embattled founder sold 4.1 million shares of Wynn Resorts at $180 per share - effectively exiting his entire 12.1 million shares, or 11.8 percent stake in the firm, for a total of $2.14 billion.</p> An exterior view Wynn hotel-casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., February 7, 2018. REUTERS/Steve Marcus WYNN IMPACT
<p>Wynn, who started in Las Vegas casinos in the 1960s, created some of Las Vegas’ most iconic landmarks – the Mirage, Bellagio and Treasure Island.</p>
<p>He was forced to sell his multi-billion dollar operation Mirage Resorts to tycoon Kirk Kerkorian in a hostile takeover in 2000. Kerkorian then created MGM Mirage and Wynn went on to create Wynn Resorts with his ex-wife in 2002.</p>
<p>The 76 year old businessman, whose signature denotes the company’s logo, had built two lavish resorts in the former Portuguese colony of Macau where only six firms have licenses to operate casinos.</p>
<p>Vitaly Umansky, analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein in Hong Kong, said the implications of the Galaxy’s investment goes beyond what looks like a passive move at this stage.</p>
<p>“Wynn and Galaxy may be looking at collaborating on future development opportunities in Asia, with Japan being the critical development initiative.”</p>
<p>Galaxy’s octogenarian founder Lui Che Woo, one of Asia’s wealthiest billionaires, has a net wealth of $22 billion according to Forbes. Lui who started his career in construction has grown his casino company into one of Macau’s biggest operators over the past decade.</p>
<p>“There are other large gaming companies who do not have a presence in Macau, but who desperately want to be in Macau, and we would not be surprised to see them angling for a seat at the acquisition table too,” said Grant Govertsen, analyst at Union Gaming in Macau.</p>
<p>While Galaxy has been primarily focused on Macau with its three casinos, it this week received a license to operate a roughly $500 million resort in Boracay, the Philippines most famous holiday island.</p>
<p>Wynn, which operates a resort on Cotai and Macau’s main peninsula, focuses on premium and VIP customers, while Galaxy targets both the high end segment and the broader mass. Both companies have reported strong earnings growth in the fourth quarter with Galaxy posting a 67 percent surge in 2017 profit.</p>
<p>Shares in Wynn Macau and Galaxy dropped 3.9 percent and 2.9 percent respectively on Friday against the benchmark Hang Seng Index which was down 3.1 percent.</p>
<p>Reporting by Farah Master in Hong Kong and Philip George in Bengaluru; Editing by Shri Navaratnam</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>LONDON (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GSK.L" type="external">GSK.L</a>) has quit the race to buy Pfizer’s ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=PFE.N" type="external">PFE.N</a>) consumer healthcare business, endangering an auction the U.S. drugmaker hoped would bring in as much as $20 billion.</p> FILE PHOTO: The Pfizer logo is seen at their world headquarters in New York, U.S., April 28, 2014. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo
<p>It was not immediately clear whether there were other offers for the business, which includes Advil painkillers and Centrum vitamins, following this week’s deadline for binding bids.</p>
<p>GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), which announced its withdrawal on Friday, was seen as the frontrunner to buy the assets after Reckitt Benckiser ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=RB.L" type="external">RB.L</a>) left the race late on Wednesday. Johnson &amp; Johnson ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=JNJ.N" type="external">JNJ.N</a>) stepped away from the auction in January.</p>
<p>A source familiar with the matter said GSK declined to make a final bid for the assets in the end.</p>
<p>“While we will continue to review opportunities that may accelerate our strategy, they must meet our criteria for returns and not compromise our priorities for capital allocation,” GSK Chief Executive Emma Walmsley said in a statement.</p>
<p>GSK shares rose nearly 4 percent, as investors’ concerns about a potential dividend cut eased.</p>
<p>Pfizer said on Friday it continued to evaluate potential alternatives for the business, which include a spin-off, sale or other transaction, as well as retaining it.</p>
<p>“We have not yet made a decision, but continue to expect to make one in 2018,” a spokesman said.</p>
<p>Sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday it was possible there were other bids. On Friday, a source said that if not, Pfizer could try to tap private equity funds.</p>
<p>Pfizer is the world’s fifth-largest player in consumer health with 2.5 percent of a market bolstered by aging populations and growing interest in health and wellness.</p>
<p>The business, which also includes Chapstick lip balm and Caltrate supplements, is seen as attractive but has come to market at a bad time. GSK and Reckitt are under shareholder pressure to exercise financial discipline, while other potential suitors, such as Bayer ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=BAYGn.DE" type="external">BAYGn.DE</a>) and Sanofi ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=SASY.PA" type="external">SASY.PA</a>) are busy with other projects.</p>
<p>What is more, the global consumer health market has slowed, from 4-6 percent like-for-like sales growth to 0-3 percent growth, Morgan Stanley analysts said in December. Major players in the over-the-counter market have been grappling with pricing pressure stoked by online players such as Amazon ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AMZN.O" type="external">AMZN.O</a>) and private label competitors.</p>
<p>Pfizer’s hope of fetching around $20 billion translated to a multiple of about 20 times the unit’s core earnings, according to Bernstein analysts, in line with past deals in the sector during faster growing times.</p>
<p>Differences in price expectations also hobbled German drugmaker Merck KGaA’s ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=MRCG.DE" type="external">MRCG.DE</a>) attempts to sell its consumer products unit, where a price tag of up to 4 billion euros ($5 billion) deterred initial suitors such as Nestle ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=NESN.S" type="external">NESN.S</a>), Perrigo ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=PRGO.N" type="external">PRGO.N</a>) and a private-equity consortium.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GSK.L" type="external">GlaxoSmithKline PLC</a> 1320.6 GSK.L London Stock Exchange +46.80 (+3.67%) GSK.L PFE.N RB.L JNJ.N BAYGn.DE
<p>Reckitt’s early interest in the Merck assets also waned as the Pfizer auction gained momentum.</p> SPLIT OPINION
<p>Buying the Pfizer business would have been the boldest move to date for Walmsley, who took over at GSK last April. But the wisdom of a deal split opinion among investors, with some worried about the risk to the company’s dividend.</p>
<p>Acquiring additional consumer health assets at a reasonable price could have been a fairly safe way to boost earnings, since scale is key in over-the-counter remedies, but it could have distracted from fixing GSK’s core pharma division.</p>
<p>That is a particular headache for Walmsley - a consumer products veteran who worked for 17 years at L’Oreal ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=OREP.PA" type="external">OREP.PA</a>) - since she has her work cut out to persuade the market she is the right person to lead Britain’s top pharmaceuticals company.</p>
<p>Last month, in a bid to reassure investors, she spelt out that her first priority was improving performance in prescription drugs, followed by dividend payments and only after that acquisitions.</p>
<p>The overhaul of the drugs business, which has produced fewer blockbuster medicines than rivals in recent years, is underway in both the commercial and research fields.</p>
<p>GSK runs its consumer healthcare business via a joint venture with Novartis ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=NOVN.S" type="external">NOVN.S</a>), which complicates any acquisitions. Novartis has the right to sell down its 36.5 percent stake, valued at around $10 billion, from this month, although it has previously indicated it is in no rush to do so.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Paul Sandle and Ben Hirschler; Editing by David Goodman and Mark Potter</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>LONDON (Reuters) - The threat of a global trade war sent stock markets sliding and investors rushing for the safety of currencies like the yen and government bonds on Friday, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced tariffs on up to $60 billion of Chinese goods.</p> The German share price index, DAX board, is seen at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, March 21, 2018. REUTERS/Tilman Blasshofer
<p>Another bruising week for stocks has left global equity markets heading for their first quarterly loss since early 2016 after a spike in volatility, nervousness about rising inflation and the specter of a trade war spooked investors enjoying a multi-year bull run.</p>
<p>European stocks fell at the open, with Germany’s Dax down 1.6 percent, the French CAC 40 1.5 percent lower and Britain’s FTSE 100 0.6 percent in the red.</p>
<p>That followed large falls in the U.S., with the S&amp;P 500 shedding 2.5 percent, and overnight in Asia, where the Japanese Nikkei 225 was the biggest loser slumping 4.5 percent.</p>
<p>The MSCI World Index, down 3.4 percent since Monday, is on course for its worst week since early February when a spike in volatility sent markets into a tailspin.</p>
<p>Trump signed a presidential memorandum on Thursday that could impose tariffs on up to $60 billion of imports from China, although the measures have a 30-day consultation period.</p>
<p>China urged the United States to “pull back from the brink”, but investors fear Trump’s tariffs are leading the world’s two largest economies into a trade war with potentially dire consequences for the global economy.</p>
<p>China disclosed its own plans on Friday to impose tariffs on up to $3 billion of U.S. imports in retaliation against the U.S. tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum products.</p>
<p>“The equity markets are getting clobbered, which is not that surprising with fears of a trade war breaking out,” said Paul Fage, a TD Securities emerging markets strategist.</p>
<p>With investors seeking out safer assets, many jumped into government bond markets in Europe and the United States.</p>
<p>U.S. 10-year Treasury yields, which fell almost 8 basis points on Thursday, were set for their biggest two-week fall since September. In Europe, benchmark issuer Germany’s 10-year bond yield hovered close to 10-week lows struck a day earlier at around 0.52 percent and was on track for its biggest two-week drop since August, down 13 basis points.</p> FLIGHT TO YEN
<p>Many investors also turned to the yen, a currency likely to benefit from a full-fledged trade war. The Japanese currency gained 0.3 percent against the dollar to 104.95 yen, the first time it has been below 105 since November 2016.</p>
<p>The Swiss franc, another currency bought in times of market uncertainty, rose 0.2 percent versus the dollar, although it remained flat against the euro.</p>
<p>The dollar fell 0.2 percent against a basket of currencies.</p>
<p>“The FX market itself isn’t sure, and its reaction to risk-off and lower bond yields across the board is to buy the yen and the Swiss franc,” Kit Juckes, an FX strategist at Societe Generale, wrote in a daily note.</p>
<p>In commodity markets, oil prices recouped overnight losses after Saudi Arabia said that OPEC and Russian-led production curbs introduced in 2017 will need to be extended into 2019.</p>
<p>U.S. crude futures were up 0.3 percent at $64.48 per barrel after losing 1.3 percent on Thursday and Brent rose 0.45 percent to $69.22 before giving up most of those gains.</p>
<p>Safe-haven spot gold rose more than one percent to $1,342 an ounce, its highest since Feb. 20. [GOL/]</p>
<p>Copper and iron prices both fell, as investors bet demand for the metals would suffer in a trade war. MET/L.</p>
<p>Daniel Lockyer, senior fund manager at Hawksmoor Investment Management, said financial markets had got ahead of themselves and were failing to price in the risk a number of factors could trigger a sell-off.</p>
<p>“It’s not that we thought trade wars would cause the market to fall, it’s that there was too much optimism priced into stock markets,” he said.</p>
<p>Elsewhere, South Africa’s rand firmed 0.4 percent and was set to end the week up around 1.5 percent ahead of a decision by Moody’s on the fate of South Africa’s last remaining investment grade credit rating.</p>
<p>For Reuters Live Markets blog on European and UK stock markets open a news window on Reuters Eikon by pressing F9 and type in ‘Live Markets’ in the search bar</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Dhara Ranasinghe, Helen Reid and Marc Jones in London, editing by Larry King and Jane Merriman</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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reuters us credit card issuer capital one financial corp cofn tuesday reported fourthquarter loss 105 billion large provisions income taxes credit losses recent changes us tax law provision income taxes rose 217 billion 342 million last year provision credit losses increased 10 percent 192 billion capital one also took hit 177 billion related recent tax code changes company swung quarterly loss 105 billion 217 per share profit 710 million 145 per share year earlier us banks pressured rising number americans fall behind credit card payments forcing set aside money cover defaults company said net interest income quarter rose 67 percent 581 billion capital one financial corp 9465 cofn new york stock exchange cofn excluding items capital one earned 162 per share periodend loans held investment includes domestic card commercial banking loans increased 1 percent 2545 billion shares capital one 15 percent 10401 bell reporting diptendu lahiri bengaluru editing bernard orr standards thomson reuters trust principles new york reuters us stocks slumped thursday president donald trumps move impose tariffs 60 billion chinese imports drove fears impact global economy fueling biggest percentage declines wall streets three major indexes since entered correction territory six weeks ago trump signed presidential memorandum target chinese imports consultation period china space respond reducing risk immediate retaliation beijing equities recovered somewhat earlier lows selling pressure resumed wall street heading close investors fretted potential scale us tariffs possible impact global trade theres much negative sentiment right said john carey portfolio manager amundi pioneer asset management boston possible rough sledding dont see anything horizon reassure people things great major industrials slumped plane maker boeing co lost 52 percent caterpillar inc dropped 57 3m co lost 47 three among biggest drags dow jones industrial average sampp industrials sector plunged 328 percent dow jones industrial average fell 72442 points 293 percent 2395789 sampp 500 lost 6824 points 252 percent 264369 nasdaq composite dropped 17861 points 243 percent 716668 losses marked biggest daily percentage drop major indexes since feb 8 dow sampp confirmed market correction jan 26 highs selling broad defensive utilities 044on plus side 044 percent 11 major sampp sectors specialist trader meric greenbaum works post floor new york stock exchange nyse new york us march 22 2018 reutersbrendan mcdermid cboe volatility index widely followed barometer expected nearterm volatility sampp 500 finished 548 points 2334 highest close since feb 132334 us treasury prices gained investors sought safe havens benchmark 10year notes last rose 2332 price yield 28244 percent 2907 percent late wednesday drop yields weighed financial stocks 370 percent making worst performing major sectors slideshow 7 images another decline shares facebook inc 27 percent continued weigh broader market tech sector best performing sampp group year sampp technology index fell 269 percent fears greater regulation wake facebook data leak facebook chief executive mark zuckerberg said open additional government regulation happy testify us congress abbvie inc tumbled 128 percent drugmaker said would seek accelerated approval experimental lung cancer treatment based results midstage study related coverage sampp 500 futures fall trump ousts mcmaster instant view us stocks tumble trade worries declining issues outnumbered advancing ones nyse 451to1 ratio nasdaq 409to1 ratio favored decliners sampp 500 posted three new 52week highs 19 new lows nasdaq composite recorded 36 new highs 59 new lows volume us exchanges 777 billion shares compared 717 billion average full session last 20 trading days additional reporting april joyner editing leslie adler standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters steve wynn former chief executive wynn resorts ltd disposed entire 118 percent stake firm 21 billion dramatic exit casino hotel enterprise founded 16 years ago steve wynn chairman ceo wynn resorts speaks milken institute global conference beverly hills california us may 3 2017 reutersmike blake unexpected separate move macau casino operator galaxy entertainment said agreed buy 53 million primary shares wynn resorts 175 per share giving around 5 percent stake operator resorts las vegas macau galaxy one six licensed operators worlds largest gambling hub macau competes wynn along sands china mgm china melco resorts casino moguls share sale comes week wynn resorts said steve elaine wynn 926 percent stake scrapped shareholder agreement prevented selling stakes steve wynn resigned ceo las vegasbased company last month following claims subjected women worked unwanted advances denied accusations joint statement galaxy wynn wednesday galaxy vice chairman francis lui said unique opportunity acquire investment globally recognised entertainment corporation exceptionally high quality assets significant development pipeline galaxy spokeswoman could comment whether galaxy would look increase holding future wynn resorts ceo matt maddox said galaxy shared many core operating philosophies values announcement also follows settlement two weeks ago long standing litigation wynn resorts universal entertainment corporation wynn said two longterm institutional investors currently holding stakes wynn resorts agreed purchase remaining eight million shares held steve wynn also 175 share thursday filing showed embattled founder sold 41 million shares wynn resorts 180 per share effectively exiting entire 121 million shares 118 percent stake firm total 214 billion exterior view wynn hotelcasino las vegas nevada us february 7 2018 reuterssteve marcus wynn impact wynn started las vegas casinos 1960s created las vegas iconic landmarks mirage bellagio treasure island forced sell multibillion dollar operation mirage resorts tycoon kirk kerkorian hostile takeover 2000 kerkorian created mgm mirage wynn went create wynn resorts exwife 2002 76 year old businessman whose signature denotes companys logo built two lavish resorts former portuguese colony macau six firms licenses operate casinos vitaly umansky analyst sanford c bernstein hong kong said implications galaxys investment goes beyond looks like passive move stage wynn galaxy may looking collaborating future development opportunities asia japan critical development initiative galaxys octogenarian founder lui che woo one asias wealthiest billionaires net wealth 22 billion according forbes lui started career construction grown casino company one macaus biggest operators past decade large gaming companies presence macau desperately want macau would surprised see angling seat acquisition table said grant govertsen analyst union gaming macau galaxy primarily focused macau three casinos week received license operate roughly 500 million resort boracay philippines famous holiday island wynn operates resort cotai macaus main peninsula focuses premium vip customers galaxy targets high end segment broader mass companies reported strong earnings growth fourth quarter galaxy posting 67 percent surge 2017 profit shares wynn macau galaxy dropped 39 percent 29 percent respectively friday benchmark hang seng index 31 percent reporting farah master hong kong philip george bengaluru editing shri navaratnam standards thomson reuters trust principles london reuters glaxosmithkline gskl quit race buy pfizers pfen consumer healthcare business endangering auction us drugmaker hoped would bring much 20 billion file photo pfizer logo seen world headquarters new york us april 28 2014 reutersandrew kellyfile photo immediately clear whether offers business includes advil painkillers centrum vitamins following weeks deadline binding bids glaxosmithkline gsk announced withdrawal friday seen frontrunner buy assets reckitt benckiser rbl left race late wednesday johnson amp johnson jnjn stepped away auction january source familiar matter said gsk declined make final bid assets end continue review opportunities may accelerate strategy must meet criteria returns compromise priorities capital allocation gsk chief executive emma walmsley said statement gsk shares rose nearly 4 percent investors concerns potential dividend cut eased pfizer said friday continued evaluate potential alternatives business include spinoff sale transaction well retaining yet made decision continue expect make one 2018 spokesman said sources familiar matter said thursday possible bids friday source said pfizer could try tap private equity funds pfizer worlds fifthlargest player consumer health 25 percent market bolstered aging populations growing interest health wellness business also includes chapstick lip balm caltrate supplements seen attractive come market bad time gsk reckitt shareholder pressure exercise financial discipline potential suitors bayer baygnde sanofi sasypa busy projects global consumer health market slowed 46 percent likeforlike sales growth 03 percent growth morgan stanley analysts said december major players overthecounter market grappling pricing pressure stoked online players amazon amzno private label competitors pfizers hope fetching around 20 billion translated multiple 20 times units core earnings according bernstein analysts line past deals sector faster growing times differences price expectations also hobbled german drugmaker merck kgaas mrcgde attempts sell consumer products unit price tag 4 billion euros 5 billion deterred initial suitors nestle nesns perrigo prgon privateequity consortium glaxosmithkline plc 13206 gskl london stock exchange 4680 367 gskl pfen rbl jnjn baygnde reckitts early interest merck assets also waned pfizer auction gained momentum split opinion buying pfizer business would boldest move date walmsley took gsk last april wisdom deal split opinion among investors worried risk companys dividend acquiring additional consumer health assets reasonable price could fairly safe way boost earnings since scale key overthecounter remedies could distracted fixing gsks core pharma division particular headache walmsley consumer products veteran worked 17 years loreal oreppa since work cut persuade market right person lead britains top pharmaceuticals company last month bid reassure investors spelt first priority improving performance prescription drugs followed dividend payments acquisitions overhaul drugs business produced fewer blockbuster medicines rivals recent years underway commercial research fields gsk runs consumer healthcare business via joint venture novartis novns complicates acquisitions novartis right sell 365 percent stake valued around 10 billion month although previously indicated rush additional reporting paul sandle ben hirschler editing david goodman mark potter standards thomson reuters trust principles london reuters threat global trade war sent stock markets sliding investors rushing safety currencies like yen government bonds friday us president donald trump announced tariffs 60 billion chinese goods german share price index dax board seen stock exchange frankfurt germany march 21 2018 reuterstilman blasshofer another bruising week stocks left global equity markets heading first quarterly loss since early 2016 spike volatility nervousness rising inflation specter trade war spooked investors enjoying multiyear bull run european stocks fell open germanys dax 16 percent french cac 40 15 percent lower britains ftse 100 06 percent red followed large falls us sampp 500 shedding 25 percent overnight asia japanese nikkei 225 biggest loser slumping 45 percent msci world index 34 percent since monday course worst week since early february spike volatility sent markets tailspin trump signed presidential memorandum thursday could impose tariffs 60 billion imports china although measures 30day consultation period china urged united states pull back brink investors fear trumps tariffs leading worlds two largest economies trade war potentially dire consequences global economy china disclosed plans friday impose tariffs 3 billion us imports retaliation us tariffs chinese steel aluminum products equity markets getting clobbered surprising fears trade war breaking said paul fage td securities emerging markets strategist investors seeking safer assets many jumped government bond markets europe united states us 10year treasury yields fell almost 8 basis points thursday set biggest twoweek fall since september europe benchmark issuer germanys 10year bond yield hovered close 10week lows struck day earlier around 052 percent track biggest twoweek drop since august 13 basis points flight yen many investors also turned yen currency likely benefit fullfledged trade war japanese currency gained 03 percent dollar 10495 yen first time 105 since november 2016 swiss franc another currency bought times market uncertainty rose 02 percent versus dollar although remained flat euro dollar fell 02 percent basket currencies fx market isnt sure reaction riskoff lower bond yields across board buy yen swiss franc kit juckes fx strategist societe generale wrote daily note commodity markets oil prices recouped overnight losses saudi arabia said opec russianled production curbs introduced 2017 need extended 2019 us crude futures 03 percent 6448 per barrel losing 13 percent thursday brent rose 045 percent 6922 giving gains safehaven spot gold rose one percent 1342 ounce highest since feb 20 gol copper iron prices fell investors bet demand metals would suffer trade war metl daniel lockyer senior fund manager hawksmoor investment management said financial markets got ahead failing price risk number factors could trigger selloff thought trade wars would cause market fall much optimism priced stock markets said elsewhere south africas rand firmed 04 percent set end week around 15 percent ahead decision moodys fate south africas last remaining investment grade credit rating reuters live markets blog european uk stock markets open news window reuters eikon pressing f9 type live markets search bar additional reporting dhara ranasinghe helen reid marc jones london editing larry king jane merriman standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>MAYILATTUMPARA, India (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A year ago, no one in Mayilattumpara could sleep soundly at night. Residents of the village in the foothills of Thrissur district, in southwest India’s Kerala state, feared invasions by wild elephants.</p>
<p>The animals, reacting to the loss of their forest habitat and a scarcity of food, frequently invaded the farmland around the village, trampling on plants and crops and destroying incomes.</p>
<p>Everything the villagers tried to deter the animals – digging trenches, beating traditional drums, installing solar-powered electric fences, or planting shrubs with supposed repellent qualities – proved ineffective. One after another, residents began to give up farming.</p>
<p>But the situation has turned around in the past year. Now people in Mayilattumpara are no longer disturbed by elephants. Instead they are agreeably surprised by visiting herds of journalists, scientists and environmentalists.</p>
<p>That’s because residents have finally figured out what repels elephants: honey bees.</p>
<p>A wire fence strung with beehives now stretches 2.5km (1.5 miles) along the border of 18 village farms. The hives, hanging every 10 meters along the wire, are populated with Italian honey bees bred in Kerala.</p>
<p>Elephants, it turns out, are frightened of loudly buzzing bees and their ferocious stings. When elephants try to pass the wire fence, angry bees swarm out and the elephants quickly flee, residents say.</p>
<p>Protected by the bees, farmers can tend their crops again. And some are also beginning to cultivate a new harvest – honey.</p>
<p>Johny Kochery has 9 hectares (22 acres) of farmland in Mayilattumpara, but for a time gave up trying to produce crops after repeated damage by elephants. Now he points to flourishing coconut trees, rubber plants and more than 60 varieties of fruit on his land.</p>
<p>Since installing the beehive fence a year ago, “not even a single elephant reached the vicinity of my farm. Elephant attacks are an old story,” he said.</p>
<p>During the recent monsoon season, elephant herds crossed the nearby Peechi reservoir and raided the neighboring villages of Kalladik, Thekkumpadu and Poolachode, trampling plantain trees and destroying villagers’ huts.</p>
<p>But they haven’t come any closer than 100 meters to the beehive fence protecting Mayilattumpara, residents say.</p> AFRICAN ORIGINS
<p>The fence project, begun in January 2016 by a local farmers’ group with the support of the federal government’s Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA), cost 500,000 Indian rupees ($7,800).</p>
<p>V.S. Roy, who initiated the project while working for ATMA, said the idea came from the work of Lucy King, an Oxford University researcher who in 2008 successfully tested using African honeybees to keep elephants at bay in areas of Kenya where there was conflict between the animals and people.</p>
<p>The experiment was later repeated by other researchers in Tanzania.</p>
<p>“If it could (work)in the African forest, why couldn’t it in the Kerala forest?” Roy remembers thinking.</p>
<p>According to India’s environment ministry, conflict between humans and elephants across the country leads to regular deaths among both.</p>
<p>In Kerala alone in 2017, 22 people died in conflicts with elephants, which the state government says is a typical annual toll.</p>
<p>Last year the state’s forest department paid more than 90 million rupees ($1.5 million) in compensation for loss of life and destruction of property caused by elephants, officials said.</p>
<p>PROBLEMS - AND PROFITS</p>
<p>Roy’s project was not an initial success. An experiment in 2012, in another district, failed in part because he did not first get sufficient support from local people, he said.</p>
<p>When he came to Mayilattumpara, he started the farmers’ association and involved them in the planning to win their backing and participation, he said.</p>
<p>Kochery, who heads the farmers’ association, noted that setting up such a system is not easy “unless farmers are ready for collective, meticulous and patient experimentation”.</p>
<p>Besides figuring out an effective fence and hive system, farmers also had to learn to manage bees and replace colonies that become diseased, and pick up the costs of doing that once initial grant money from ATMA ran out, he said.</p>
<p>None of that has been easy, he said.</p>
<p>But today the effort is beginning to pay off. Each December to March honey season, each of the 260 beehives strung along the fence could produce as much as 30 kg of honey, farmers said.</p>
<p>This has the potential to bring in up to 65,000 rupees ($1,000) for each farmer, allowing for a substantial profit even after the costs of maintaining the hives.</p>
<p>That has not yet happened, and Kochery said the farmers only broke even last season due to some initial glitches – but they hope to have a big harvest this year.</p>
<p>Despite the challenges, farmers from other areas of human-elephant conflict in the state now hope to replicate the Mayilattumpara effort, and win financial support from the state’s Forest and Wildlife Department.</p>
<p>“It should be scientifically sustainable. We are awaiting reports from on the ground,” said Nagesh Prabhu, the state’s head of forest conservation.</p>
<p>Kerala’s government is also trying to defuse conflict between elephants and people by reducing deforestation and rehabilitating elephant habitat, officials said.</p>
<p>In the meantime, E.A. Jayson, a scientist with the Kerala Forest Research Institute, which has completed a study of the beehive fence experiment, said the fencing seems to work – but there are now new problems to solve.</p>
<p>“Rather than technical issues, some social issues are creating hindrances. We have met with incidences of theft of beehive boxes,” Jayson said.</p>
<p>Reporting by K. Rajendran; editing by James Baer and Laurie Goering :; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, climate change, resilience, women's rights, trafficking and property rights. Visit <a href="http://news.trust.org/climate" type="external">news.trust.org/climate</a></p> Our Standards:
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<p>MERU, Kenya (Reuters) - Kenya started marking rhinos on Thursday and aims to tag and identify 22 of them in two weeks at a cost of $600,000, senior government officials said on Thursday, as part of conserving their dwindling numbers.</p> A tranquillised rhino is tracked from a Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) helicopter during the launch of a rhino ear notching exercise and the inauguration of the extended Rhino Sanctuary at Meru National Park, Kenya, April 5, 2018. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
<p>The project comes just weeks after the world’s last male northern white rhino died in Kenya, leaving only two females of its kind alive in the world. Scientists still hope to save the subspecies from extinction using in vitro fertilization.</p> Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) personnel hold a tranquillised Rhino during the launch of a rhino ear notching exercise and the inauguration of the extended Rhino Sanctuary at Meru National Park, Kenya, April 5, 2018. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
<p>Kenya had 20,000 rhinos in the 1970s, falling to 400 in the 1990s. It now has 650, almost all of them black rhinos.</p>
<p>Kenya Wildlife Service and the Ministry of Tourism started marking the rhinos in Meru National Park, the area of which is being increased to 83 square km from 45 square km previously.</p>
<p>The numbers of rhinos in the park have risen to 104 from 90 previously. Of those, 72 are southern white rhinos and 32 are black.</p>
<p>“Ear notches are permanent markings and you can&#160;use them for the life of the animal,” Francis Gakuya, head of veterinary services at KWS, told Reuters.</p> Slideshow (8 Images)
<p>“They are permanent. The horn transmitters that we usually put on animals have a shelf life of three years, then the battery goes down, so after that you are not able to track the animal unless immobilized and you do it again.”</p>
<p>Thousands of southern white rhinos still roam sub-Saharan Africa, but decades of rampant poaching have almost wiped out northern whites.</p>
<p>Poachers were able to sell northern white rhino horns for $50,000 per kilo, making them more valuable than gold.</p>
<p>Reporting by George Ng'ang'a; Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Catherine Evans</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Black holes are hanging out at the center of our galaxy by the thousands, according to scientists who have detected a bunch of them in the neighborhood of a supermassive black hole already known to reside at the heart of the Milky Way.</p> Twelve black hole low-mass binaries orbiting Sgr A* at the center of the Milky Way galaxy, appear in this illustration provided by Columbia University, April 5, 2018. Their existence suggests there are likely about 10,000 black holes within just three light years of the Galactic Center. Columbia University/Handout via REUTERS
<p>Researchers said data from the NASA’s orbiting Chandra X-ray Observatory allowed them to detect a dozen black holes surrounding Sagittarius A*, the mammoth black hole at the center of our spiral-shaped galaxy.</p>
<p>Black holes, which come in a variety of sizes, are extraordinarily dense entities with gravity so powerful that not even light can escape. Based on these findings, the scientists estimated that up to 10,000 black holes dwell within about 3 light years of Sagittarius A*.</p>
<p>“That’s a crowd,” Columbia University astrophysicist Chuck Hailey, lead author of the study published in the journal Nature, said on Thursday.</p>
<p>Sagittarius A*, boasting 4 million times the mass of our sun, is located 26,000 light years from Earth. A light year is the distance light travels in a year, 5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion km).</p>
<p>The findings, which confirm decades-old predictions, provide insight into a fundamental aspect of galaxies.</p>
<p>“Since our galaxy is very average, it tells us that the universe is teeming with black holes orbiting near theirsupermassive black holes, because most galaxies have supermassive black holes,” Hailey said.</p>
<p>The newly detected black holes, all produced by the collapse of massive dying stars, are rare ones that captured and bound themselves to a passing star, forming what is called a stellar binary.</p>
<p>Black holes in isolation are hard to find, but the X-ray signatures of stellar binaries allowed their detection.</p>
<p>“Black holes can form farther out from the center of the galaxy. They gravitationally interact with stars, cosmic collisions so to speak, and lose energy,” Hailey said.</p>
<p>“As they lose energy, they sink to the center of the galaxy, the same way heavy sediment sinks faster than light sedimentin water. They get captured by the gravity of the supermassive black hole, catch a star, and voila, you have something we can see X-rays from.”</p>
<p>Supermassive black holes arise relatively soon after their galaxies are formed, devouring enormous amounts of gas, dust and stars to achieve colossal size. Hailey said, “As one black hole grows to such huge size, even if it was not originally in the exact center, it will sink into the center of the galaxy.”</p>
<p>Reporting by Will Dunham; Editing by Sandra Maler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>ROME (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The number of plastic bags found in the seas around Britain has significantly dropped since 2010 as European governments crack down on their use, researchers said on Thursday.</p>
<p>The percentage of trawls by fishermen that catch at least one plastic bag in the greater North Sea, off Britain’s east coast, more than halved since 2010 to 16 percent, scientists in Britain and the Netherlands said.</p>
<p>Prior to 2010, the average was 40 percent, said the study which spanned 25 years.</p>
<p>Several European countries, including Ireland, Denmark, France and Britain, have introduced plastic bag levies since 2003, which have led to massive reductions in their use.</p>
<p>“The action of all these nations ... meant there are less bags being distributed, less bags ... escaping into the marine environment,” Thomas Maes, co-author of the study, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.</p>
<p>“If we think a bit more wisely about plastic, especially the single use items we use in our daily life, we can make big changes,” said the marine scientist at Britain’s governmental Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science.</p>
<p>United Nations figures show 8 million tonnes of plastic - bottles, packaging and other waste - enter the ocean each year, killing marine life and entering the human food chain.</p>
<p>Scientists have urged tougher restrictions on plastic waste. In December, almost 200 nations agreed to limit plastic pollution of the oceans, warning it could outweigh fish by 2030.</p>
<p>In contrast to plastic bags, the researchers found the amount of plastic fishing debris - including nets, floats, buoys - caught has risen. Measures introduced to curb this will take a while to have an impact, Maes said.</p>
<p>Several European countries have introduced deposit return schemes for single use bottles in a bid to increase recycling.</p>
<p>Britain said it plans to follow later this year as plastic is wreaking havoc on the marine environment – killing dolphins, choking turtles and degrading precious habitats.</p>
<p>Plastics which have been in the seas for a while may sink into the sea floor, or be torn up and gradually turned into microplastics. They can take hundreds of years to degrade.</p>
<p>Cleaning up the oceans is a very complex issue but the crucial thing is to stop more plastic waste entering the seas, and then think about cleaning it up, Maes said.</p>
<p>“We can’t be mopping the floor while the tap is still open,” he said.</p>
<p>Reporting by Alex Whiting @Alexwhi, Editing by Katy Migiro. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, climate change, resilience, women's rights, trafficking and property rights. Visit <a href="http://news.trust.org/climate" type="external">news.trust.org/climate</a></p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>OSLO (Reuters) - Global shipping should set a goal of halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, Norway’s government and shipowners’ association said on Thursday before talks by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London next week.</p> FILE PHOTO: Drilling rigs and ships anchored in Skipavika, Norway April 1, 2018. REUTERS/Gwladys Fouche/File Photo
<p>Norway’s fleet is worth about $45 billion, the fifth most valuable in the world behind Japan, Greece, China and the United States. Norway’s shipping includes offshore, gas, chemicals, car vessels, dry bulk, crude, crude products and containers.</p>
<p>The IMO, which says international shipping represents about 2.2 percent of world carbon dioxide emissions, will meet from April 9-13 to develop a strategy to combat climate change. Shipping was not included in the 2015 Paris climate agreement.</p>
<p>“Emissions should be reduced by 50 percent towards 2050 compared to 2008,” Harald Solberg, head of the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association, told a joint news conference with Trade Minister Torbjoern Rooe Isaksen.</p>
<p>“In the same period demand will increase by maybe 60 percent, so in absolute terms it’s more than a half,” Solberg said.</p>
<p>“We need international rules ... our base line is the same as the Norwegian Shipowners (to cut emissions by 50 percent towards 2050),” Isaksen told Reuters.</p>
<p>“We hope the IMO will agree on these ambitious emission targets. That is the only solution, if not we fear regional solutions, and that will not work,” Solberg said.</p>
<p>He said that the association’s vision is that shipping should be emissions free in 2100.</p>
<p>The IMO says its Marine Environment Protection Committee is expected “to adopt an initial strategy on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships” at the meeting in London.</p>
<p>The Paris Agreement sets a goal of phasing out net greenhouse gas emissions in the second half of the century, mainly by shifting from fossil fuels to cleaner energies such as solar and wind power.</p>
<p>Reporting By Ole Petter Skonnord, editing by Alister Doyle and David Evans</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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mayilattumpara india thomson reuters foundation year ago one mayilattumpara could sleep soundly night residents village foothills thrissur district southwest indias kerala state feared invasions wild elephants animals reacting loss forest habitat scarcity food frequently invaded farmland around village trampling plants crops destroying incomes everything villagers tried deter animals digging trenches beating traditional drums installing solarpowered electric fences planting shrubs supposed repellent qualities proved ineffective one another residents began give farming situation turned around past year people mayilattumpara longer disturbed elephants instead agreeably surprised visiting herds journalists scientists environmentalists thats residents finally figured repels elephants honey bees wire fence strung beehives stretches 25km 15 miles along border 18 village farms hives hanging every 10 meters along wire populated italian honey bees bred kerala elephants turns frightened loudly buzzing bees ferocious stings elephants try pass wire fence angry bees swarm elephants quickly flee residents say protected bees farmers tend crops also beginning cultivate new harvest honey johny kochery 9 hectares 22 acres farmland mayilattumpara time gave trying produce crops repeated damage elephants points flourishing coconut trees rubber plants 60 varieties fruit land since installing beehive fence year ago even single elephant reached vicinity farm elephant attacks old story said recent monsoon season elephant herds crossed nearby peechi reservoir raided neighboring villages kalladik thekkumpadu poolachode trampling plantain trees destroying villagers huts havent come closer 100 meters beehive fence protecting mayilattumpara residents say african origins fence project begun january 2016 local farmers group support federal governments agriculture technology management agency atma cost 500000 indian rupees 7800 vs roy initiated project working atma said idea came work lucy king oxford university researcher 2008 successfully tested using african honeybees keep elephants bay areas kenya conflict animals people experiment later repeated researchers tanzania could workin african forest couldnt kerala forest roy remembers thinking according indias environment ministry conflict humans elephants across country leads regular deaths among kerala alone 2017 22 people died conflicts elephants state government says typical annual toll last year states forest department paid 90 million rupees 15 million compensation loss life destruction property caused elephants officials said problems profits roys project initial success experiment 2012 another district failed part first get sufficient support local people said came mayilattumpara started farmers association involved planning win backing participation said kochery heads farmers association noted setting system easy unless farmers ready collective meticulous patient experimentation besides figuring effective fence hive system farmers also learn manage bees replace colonies become diseased pick costs initial grant money atma ran said none easy said today effort beginning pay december march honey season 260 beehives strung along fence could produce much 30 kg honey farmers said potential bring 65000 rupees 1000 farmer allowing substantial profit even costs maintaining hives yet happened kochery said farmers broke even last season due initial glitches hope big harvest year despite challenges farmers areas humanelephant conflict state hope replicate mayilattumpara effort win financial support states forest wildlife department scientifically sustainable awaiting reports ground said nagesh prabhu states head forest conservation keralas government also trying defuse conflict elephants people reducing deforestation rehabilitating elephant habitat officials said meantime ea jayson scientist kerala forest research institute completed study beehive fence experiment said fencing seems work new problems solve rather technical issues social issues creating hindrances met incidences theft beehive boxes jayson said reporting k rajendran editing james baer laurie goering please credit thomson reuters foundation charitable arm thomson reuters covers humanitarian news climate change resilience womens rights trafficking property rights visit newstrustorgclimate standards thomson reuters trust principles meru kenya reuters kenya started marking rhinos thursday aims tag identify 22 two weeks cost 600000 senior government officials said thursday part conserving dwindling numbers tranquillised rhino tracked kenya wildlife service kws helicopter launch rhino ear notching exercise inauguration extended rhino sanctuary meru national park kenya april 5 2018 reutersbaz ratner project comes weeks worlds last male northern white rhino died kenya leaving two females kind alive world scientists still hope save subspecies extinction using vitro fertilization kenya wildlife service kws personnel hold tranquillised rhino launch rhino ear notching exercise inauguration extended rhino sanctuary meru national park kenya april 5 2018 reutersbaz ratner kenya 20000 rhinos 1970s falling 400 1990s 650 almost black rhinos kenya wildlife service ministry tourism started marking rhinos meru national park area increased 83 square km 45 square km previously numbers rhinos park risen 104 90 previously 72 southern white rhinos 32 black ear notches permanent markings can160use life animal francis gakuya head veterinary services kws told reuters slideshow 8 images permanent horn transmitters usually put animals shelf life three years battery goes able track animal unless immobilized thousands southern white rhinos still roam subsaharan africa decades rampant poaching almost wiped northern whites poachers able sell northern white rhino horns 50000 per kilo making valuable gold reporting george nganga writing george obulutsa editing catherine evans standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters black holes hanging center galaxy thousands according scientists detected bunch neighborhood supermassive black hole already known reside heart milky way twelve black hole lowmass binaries orbiting sgr center milky way galaxy appear illustration provided columbia university april 5 2018 existence suggests likely 10000 black holes within three light years galactic center columbia universityhandout via reuters researchers said data nasas orbiting chandra xray observatory allowed detect dozen black holes surrounding sagittarius mammoth black hole center spiralshaped galaxy black holes come variety sizes extraordinarily dense entities gravity powerful even light escape based findings scientists estimated 10000 black holes dwell within 3 light years sagittarius thats crowd columbia university astrophysicist chuck hailey lead author study published journal nature said thursday sagittarius boasting 4 million times mass sun located 26000 light years earth light year distance light travels year 59 trillion miles 95 trillion km findings confirm decadesold predictions provide insight fundamental aspect galaxies since galaxy average tells us universe teeming black holes orbiting near theirsupermassive black holes galaxies supermassive black holes hailey said newly detected black holes produced collapse massive dying stars rare ones captured bound passing star forming called stellar binary black holes isolation hard find xray signatures stellar binaries allowed detection black holes form farther center galaxy gravitationally interact stars cosmic collisions speak lose energy hailey said lose energy sink center galaxy way heavy sediment sinks faster light sedimentin water get captured gravity supermassive black hole catch star voila something see xrays supermassive black holes arise relatively soon galaxies formed devouring enormous amounts gas dust stars achieve colossal size hailey said one black hole grows huge size even originally exact center sink center galaxy reporting dunham editing sandra maler standards thomson reuters trust principles rome thomson reuters foundation number plastic bags found seas around britain significantly dropped since 2010 european governments crack use researchers said thursday percentage trawls fishermen catch least one plastic bag greater north sea britains east coast halved since 2010 16 percent scientists britain netherlands said prior 2010 average 40 percent said study spanned 25 years several european countries including ireland denmark france britain introduced plastic bag levies since 2003 led massive reductions use action nations meant less bags distributed less bags escaping marine environment thomas maes coauthor study told thomson reuters foundation think bit wisely plastic especially single use items use daily life make big changes said marine scientist britains governmental centre environment fisheries aquaculture science united nations figures show 8 million tonnes plastic bottles packaging waste enter ocean year killing marine life entering human food chain scientists urged tougher restrictions plastic waste december almost 200 nations agreed limit plastic pollution oceans warning could outweigh fish 2030 contrast plastic bags researchers found amount plastic fishing debris including nets floats buoys caught risen measures introduced curb take impact maes said several european countries introduced deposit return schemes single use bottles bid increase recycling britain said plans follow later year plastic wreaking havoc marine environment killing dolphins choking turtles degrading precious habitats plastics seas may sink sea floor torn gradually turned microplastics take hundreds years degrade cleaning oceans complex issue crucial thing stop plastic waste entering seas think cleaning maes said cant mopping floor tap still open said reporting alex whiting alexwhi editing katy migiro please credit thomson reuters foundation charitable arm thomson reuters covers humanitarian news climate change resilience womens rights trafficking property rights visit newstrustorgclimate standards thomson reuters trust principles oslo reuters global shipping set goal halving greenhouse gas emissions 2050 norways government shipowners association said thursday talks international maritime organization imo london next week file photo drilling rigs ships anchored skipavika norway april 1 2018 reutersgwladys fouchefile photo norways fleet worth 45 billion fifth valuable world behind japan greece china united states norways shipping includes offshore gas chemicals car vessels dry bulk crude crude products containers imo says international shipping represents 22 percent world carbon dioxide emissions meet april 913 develop strategy combat climate change shipping included 2015 paris climate agreement emissions reduced 50 percent towards 2050 compared 2008 harald solberg head norwegian shipowners association told joint news conference trade minister torbjoern rooe isaksen period demand increase maybe 60 percent absolute terms half solberg said need international rules base line norwegian shipowners cut emissions 50 percent towards 2050 isaksen told reuters hope imo agree ambitious emission targets solution fear regional solutions work solberg said said associations vision shipping emissions free 2100 imo says marine environment protection committee expected adopt initial strategy reduction greenhouse gas emissions ships meeting london paris agreement sets goal phasing net greenhouse gas emissions second half century mainly shifting fossil fuels cleaner energies solar wind power reporting ole petter skonnord editing alister doyle david evans standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Phoenix coach Jay Triano’s decision to move Devin Booker to point guard late in the fourth quarter worked out perfectly for the struggling Suns.</p>
<p>A big night from T.J. Warren helped too, especially when Booker’s own shot was off most of the game.</p>
<p>Booker scored 13 of his 26 points over the final five minutes, Warren added a double-double and Phoenix came back to beat the Sacramento Kings 111-101 on Friday night.</p>
<p>Booker missed nine games with a left adductor strain before returning to score 32 against Memphis on Tuesday. He wasn’t as crisp against the Kings, shooting 9 of 25 from the field, but helped rally the Suns with his late scoring flurry that keyed a 17-4 run.</p>
<p>“Both of us are just natural scorers but in different ways,” Booker said of he and Warren. “Teams usually have one really good defender and sometimes they put it on me, sometimes they put it on him, and the other player gets to attack. It’s a good 1-2 punch.”</p>
<p>Warren had 26 points and 10 rebounds, Marquese Chriss added 14 points and seven rebounds while Tyson Chandler had six points and 11 rebounds for the Suns.</p>
<p>Triano said he put Booker at point guard to free him up more in Phoenix’s offense.</p>
<p>“I think he’s going to take over anyway, and we want him to do that,” Triano said. “The idea is to put shooters around him and you could see how much space there was on the floor when (Troy Daniels) is on the floor and T.J.’s scoring the way that he was.”</p>
<p>Phoenix led most of the game but fell behind early in the fourth after Sacramento scored nine consecutive points to go up 97-93.</p>
<p>Booker brought the Suns back and scored the final seven points for Phoenix, including a layup past 7-footer Willie Cauley-Stein, a buzzer-beating 15-footer and a 3-pointer.</p>
<p>“He’s a special player,” Chandler said. “You can see it. Just some players that come into this league that just have it. They’re far and few in between, and he’s one of those players.”</p>
<p>Zach Randolph scored 14 points, Bogdan Bogdanovic had 13 and four others scored 12 apiece for the Kings.</p>
<p>Sacramento, which beat Cleveland 109-95 on Wednesday, fell to 2-22 when trailing after three quarters.</p>
<p>Phoenix closed the first quarter on a 14-2 run and Warren scored six consecutive points in the second to help the Suns to a 55-46 halftime lead. Warren made his first six shots and had 15 points in the first half.</p>
<p>“I’m really impressed with T.J.’s game,” Kings coach Dave Joerger said. “He picks his spots out on the court and says, ’I’m just bigger than you,” and then he shoots up over the top.”</p>
<p>After Sacramento closed within 71-68 on Hill’s two free throws midway through the third, Isaiah Canaan hit a 3-pointer and scored on a layup, and Troy Daniels added a 3 to push Phoenix’s lead to 10.</p>
<p>DEFENDING Z-BO</p>
<p>Randolph scored 11 points in the fourth quarter to rally Sacramento past Phoenix when the two teams played at Golden1 Center on Dec. 12 but was shut out over the final 12 minutes this time around while being defended most of the night by Chriss. “Zach is a beast and we know that,” Triano said. “We need to make him work for every single touch, and Marquese did that.”</p>
<p>TIP-INS</p>
<p>Suns: Chriss, the Sacramento native who was drafted eighth overall by the Kings in 2016 and traded that night to Phoenix, shot 5 of 6 and made all three of his 3-point attempts. ... Chandler was called for a technical while on the bench in the third quarter. Josh Jackson picked up a technical in the second. . Booker missed six of his first eight shots and had one blocked.</p>
<p>Kings: Skal Labissiere made his 13th start of the season and first since Dec. 14 after sitting out the previous three games because of coach’s decision. . Vince Carter, who scored a season-high 24 points against Cleveland on Wednesday, did not play.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Suns: Returns to Phoenix to play Philadelphia on Sunday.</p>
<p>Kings: Host Memphis on Sunday.</p>
<p>SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Phoenix coach Jay Triano’s decision to move Devin Booker to point guard late in the fourth quarter worked out perfectly for the struggling Suns.</p>
<p>A big night from T.J. Warren helped too, especially when Booker’s own shot was off most of the game.</p>
<p>Booker scored 13 of his 26 points over the final five minutes, Warren added a double-double and Phoenix came back to beat the Sacramento Kings 111-101 on Friday night.</p>
<p>Booker missed nine games with a left adductor strain before returning to score 32 against Memphis on Tuesday. He wasn’t as crisp against the Kings, shooting 9 of 25 from the field, but helped rally the Suns with his late scoring flurry that keyed a 17-4 run.</p>
<p>“Both of us are just natural scorers but in different ways,” Booker said of he and Warren. “Teams usually have one really good defender and sometimes they put it on me, sometimes they put it on him, and the other player gets to attack. It’s a good 1-2 punch.”</p>
<p>Warren had 26 points and 10 rebounds, Marquese Chriss added 14 points and seven rebounds while Tyson Chandler had six points and 11 rebounds for the Suns.</p>
<p>Triano said he put Booker at point guard to free him up more in Phoenix’s offense.</p>
<p>“I think he’s going to take over anyway, and we want him to do that,” Triano said. “The idea is to put shooters around him and you could see how much space there was on the floor when (Troy Daniels) is on the floor and T.J.’s scoring the way that he was.”</p>
<p>Phoenix led most of the game but fell behind early in the fourth after Sacramento scored nine consecutive points to go up 97-93.</p>
<p>Booker brought the Suns back and scored the final seven points for Phoenix, including a layup past 7-footer Willie Cauley-Stein, a buzzer-beating 15-footer and a 3-pointer.</p>
<p>“He’s a special player,” Chandler said. “You can see it. Just some players that come into this league that just have it. They’re far and few in between, and he’s one of those players.”</p>
<p>Zach Randolph scored 14 points, Bogdan Bogdanovic had 13 and four others scored 12 apiece for the Kings.</p>
<p>Sacramento, which beat Cleveland 109-95 on Wednesday, fell to 2-22 when trailing after three quarters.</p>
<p>Phoenix closed the first quarter on a 14-2 run and Warren scored six consecutive points in the second to help the Suns to a 55-46 halftime lead. Warren made his first six shots and had 15 points in the first half.</p>
<p>“I’m really impressed with T.J.’s game,” Kings coach Dave Joerger said. “He picks his spots out on the court and says, ’I’m just bigger than you,” and then he shoots up over the top.”</p>
<p>After Sacramento closed within 71-68 on Hill’s two free throws midway through the third, Isaiah Canaan hit a 3-pointer and scored on a layup, and Troy Daniels added a 3 to push Phoenix’s lead to 10.</p>
<p>DEFENDING Z-BO</p>
<p>Randolph scored 11 points in the fourth quarter to rally Sacramento past Phoenix when the two teams played at Golden1 Center on Dec. 12 but was shut out over the final 12 minutes this time around while being defended most of the night by Chriss. “Zach is a beast and we know that,” Triano said. “We need to make him work for every single touch, and Marquese did that.”</p>
<p>TIP-INS</p>
<p>Suns: Chriss, the Sacramento native who was drafted eighth overall by the Kings in 2016 and traded that night to Phoenix, shot 5 of 6 and made all three of his 3-point attempts. ... Chandler was called for a technical while on the bench in the third quarter. Josh Jackson picked up a technical in the second. . Booker missed six of his first eight shots and had one blocked.</p>
<p>Kings: Skal Labissiere made his 13th start of the season and first since Dec. 14 after sitting out the previous three games because of coach’s decision. . Vince Carter, who scored a season-high 24 points against Cleveland on Wednesday, did not play.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Suns: Returns to Phoenix to play Philadelphia on Sunday.</p>
<p>Kings: Host Memphis on Sunday.</p>
| false | 2 |
sacramento calif ap phoenix coach jay trianos decision move devin booker point guard late fourth quarter worked perfectly struggling suns big night tj warren helped especially bookers shot game booker scored 13 26 points final five minutes warren added doubledouble phoenix came back beat sacramento kings 111101 friday night booker missed nine games left adductor strain returning score 32 memphis tuesday wasnt crisp kings shooting 9 25 field helped rally suns late scoring flurry keyed 174 run us natural scorers different ways booker said warren teams usually one really good defender sometimes put sometimes put player gets attack good 12 punch warren 26 points 10 rebounds marquese chriss added 14 points seven rebounds tyson chandler six points 11 rebounds suns triano said put booker point guard free phoenixs offense think hes going take anyway want triano said idea put shooters around could see much space floor troy daniels floor tjs scoring way phoenix led game fell behind early fourth sacramento scored nine consecutive points go 9793 booker brought suns back scored final seven points phoenix including layup past 7footer willie cauleystein buzzerbeating 15footer 3pointer hes special player chandler said see players come league theyre far hes one players zach randolph scored 14 points bogdan bogdanovic 13 four others scored 12 apiece kings sacramento beat cleveland 10995 wednesday fell 222 trailing three quarters phoenix closed first quarter 142 run warren scored six consecutive points second help suns 5546 halftime lead warren made first six shots 15 points first half im really impressed tjs game kings coach dave joerger said picks spots court says im bigger shoots top sacramento closed within 7168 hills two free throws midway third isaiah canaan hit 3pointer scored layup troy daniels added 3 push phoenixs lead 10 defending zbo randolph scored 11 points fourth quarter rally sacramento past phoenix two teams played golden1 center dec 12 shut final 12 minutes time around defended night chriss zach beast know triano said need make work every single touch marquese tipins suns chriss sacramento native drafted eighth overall kings 2016 traded night phoenix shot 5 6 made three 3point attempts chandler called technical bench third quarter josh jackson picked technical second booker missed six first eight shots one blocked kings skal labissiere made 13th start season first since dec 14 sitting previous three games coachs decision vince carter scored seasonhigh 24 points cleveland wednesday play next suns returns phoenix play philadelphia sunday kings host memphis sunday sacramento calif ap phoenix coach jay trianos decision move devin booker point guard late fourth quarter worked perfectly struggling suns big night tj warren helped especially bookers shot game booker scored 13 26 points final five minutes warren added doubledouble phoenix came back beat sacramento kings 111101 friday night booker missed nine games left adductor strain returning score 32 memphis tuesday wasnt crisp kings shooting 9 25 field helped rally suns late scoring flurry keyed 174 run us natural scorers different ways booker said warren teams usually one really good defender sometimes put sometimes put player gets attack good 12 punch warren 26 points 10 rebounds marquese chriss added 14 points seven rebounds tyson chandler six points 11 rebounds suns triano said put booker point guard free phoenixs offense think hes going take anyway want triano said idea put shooters around could see much space floor troy daniels floor tjs scoring way phoenix led game fell behind early fourth sacramento scored nine consecutive points go 9793 booker brought suns back scored final seven points phoenix including layup past 7footer willie cauleystein buzzerbeating 15footer 3pointer hes special player chandler said see players come league theyre far hes one players zach randolph scored 14 points bogdan bogdanovic 13 four others scored 12 apiece kings sacramento beat cleveland 10995 wednesday fell 222 trailing three quarters phoenix closed first quarter 142 run warren scored six consecutive points second help suns 5546 halftime lead warren made first six shots 15 points first half im really impressed tjs game kings coach dave joerger said picks spots court says im bigger shoots top sacramento closed within 7168 hills two free throws midway third isaiah canaan hit 3pointer scored layup troy daniels added 3 push phoenixs lead 10 defending zbo randolph scored 11 points fourth quarter rally sacramento past phoenix two teams played golden1 center dec 12 shut final 12 minutes time around defended night chriss zach beast know triano said need make work every single touch marquese tipins suns chriss sacramento native drafted eighth overall kings 2016 traded night phoenix shot 5 6 made three 3point attempts chandler called technical bench third quarter josh jackson picked technical second booker missed six first eight shots one blocked kings skal labissiere made 13th start season first since dec 14 sitting previous three games coachs decision vince carter scored seasonhigh 24 points cleveland wednesday play next suns returns phoenix play philadelphia sunday kings host memphis sunday
| 812 |
<p>BALTIMORE (AP) — The mother of a mentally ill woman who was left outside a Baltimore hospital on a frigid night wearing only a flimsy gown and socks says the 22-year-old daughter was denied care by medical professionals and left to face life-threatening conditions on the street.</p>
<p>Cheryl Chandler said she was only made aware of her missing daughter's predicament on the night of Jan. 9 when she happened upon a viral video shot by a passer-by enraged at the way she was treated.</p>
<p>Chandler's daughter, Rebecca, was escorted out of the hospital by uniformed security personnel with her street clothes stuffed in plastic bags, and she was left at an open-air bus stop with outdoor temperatures in the 30s. She had a gash on her forehead and was visibly disoriented, stumbling in her hospital gown and unable to formulate any words on the cold night.</p>
<p>At a Thursday press conference held at a lawyer's office, Chandler described her daughter as a beloved young woman who has been struggling intensely with mental illness since she was 16. Over the past year-and-a-half, she has cycled through a couple of residential facilities for mentally ill clients.</p>
<p>She said Rebecca, who has health insurance, was "denied her right by law to receive the clinical care" that the CEO of the University of Maryland Medical Center has publicly claimed she received that night.</p>
<p>"My daughter did not choose to be the face of mental illness. She didn't choose to be an example of the impact of a failed mental health care system. She was an individual in need of services," Chandler said through tears, adding that she was "eternally grateful" to psychotherapist Imamu Baraka for shooting the cellphone video showing her daughter's condition.</p>
<p>J. Wyndal Gordon, the attorney representing Rebecca, said she was suffering from an episode of acute psychosis when the institution turned its back on her. He asserts it's a case of "patient dumping," an illegal practice of turning away patients, mostly uninsured, from emergency rooms.</p>
<p>"Rebecca's condition was going to require a considerable hospital stay to stabilize her. UMMC, believing that she did not have insurance, determined it was better to return her to the street untreated and face whatever consequences arose from that decision rather than to absorb the cost," Gordon alleged.</p>
<p>Dr. Mohan Suntha, president and CEO of University of Maryland Medical Center, told reporters last week there were no excuses for what happened to the young woman. But he stood by her medical care, saying she received treatment and was discharged.</p>
<p>"We believe firmly that we provided appropriate medical care to a patient who came to us in need, but where we absolutely failed, and where we own that failure, is in the demonstration of basic humanity and compassion as a patient was being discharged," he said.</p>
<p>On Thursday, the hospital released a statement saying its internal investigation has identified a breakdown after the point of medical discharge. It said resulting "actions steps" will include holding personnel accountable and getting outside experts to conduct an independent audit.</p>
<p>Suntha, in the statement, said he's confident that their actions "address the root causes of last week's breakdown."</p>
<p>But Gordon said he expects "legal action" over the incident.</p>
<p>He believes Rebecca should have been placed on a 72-hour hold so she could be properly evaluated. Instead, the hospital dumped her on the street "unable to speak coherently, fend for herself, or respond appropriately to the frigid temperatures."</p>
<p>She was involuntarily admitted to another Baltimore hospital a day after being discharged from the University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus and sent to a homeless shelter, her family said.</p>
<p>Her mother said Rebecca is now at an undisclosed inpatient facility undergoing mental health treatment. Her younger sister, Rachelle, said she was doing better and read aloud a statement from Rebecca thanking people for their support.</p>
<p>Rebecca's twin sister, Rosslyn, who flew to Baltimore from her home in Texas, wept as she recalled watching the video showing her beloved sister in such distress.</p>
<p>"It didn't take a genius to see that she needed help," she said, her voice shaking.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>David McFadden on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dmcfadd</p>
<p>BALTIMORE (AP) — The mother of a mentally ill woman who was left outside a Baltimore hospital on a frigid night wearing only a flimsy gown and socks says the 22-year-old daughter was denied care by medical professionals and left to face life-threatening conditions on the street.</p>
<p>Cheryl Chandler said she was only made aware of her missing daughter's predicament on the night of Jan. 9 when she happened upon a viral video shot by a passer-by enraged at the way she was treated.</p>
<p>Chandler's daughter, Rebecca, was escorted out of the hospital by uniformed security personnel with her street clothes stuffed in plastic bags, and she was left at an open-air bus stop with outdoor temperatures in the 30s. She had a gash on her forehead and was visibly disoriented, stumbling in her hospital gown and unable to formulate any words on the cold night.</p>
<p>At a Thursday press conference held at a lawyer's office, Chandler described her daughter as a beloved young woman who has been struggling intensely with mental illness since she was 16. Over the past year-and-a-half, she has cycled through a couple of residential facilities for mentally ill clients.</p>
<p>She said Rebecca, who has health insurance, was "denied her right by law to receive the clinical care" that the CEO of the University of Maryland Medical Center has publicly claimed she received that night.</p>
<p>"My daughter did not choose to be the face of mental illness. She didn't choose to be an example of the impact of a failed mental health care system. She was an individual in need of services," Chandler said through tears, adding that she was "eternally grateful" to psychotherapist Imamu Baraka for shooting the cellphone video showing her daughter's condition.</p>
<p>J. Wyndal Gordon, the attorney representing Rebecca, said she was suffering from an episode of acute psychosis when the institution turned its back on her. He asserts it's a case of "patient dumping," an illegal practice of turning away patients, mostly uninsured, from emergency rooms.</p>
<p>"Rebecca's condition was going to require a considerable hospital stay to stabilize her. UMMC, believing that she did not have insurance, determined it was better to return her to the street untreated and face whatever consequences arose from that decision rather than to absorb the cost," Gordon alleged.</p>
<p>Dr. Mohan Suntha, president and CEO of University of Maryland Medical Center, told reporters last week there were no excuses for what happened to the young woman. But he stood by her medical care, saying she received treatment and was discharged.</p>
<p>"We believe firmly that we provided appropriate medical care to a patient who came to us in need, but where we absolutely failed, and where we own that failure, is in the demonstration of basic humanity and compassion as a patient was being discharged," he said.</p>
<p>On Thursday, the hospital released a statement saying its internal investigation has identified a breakdown after the point of medical discharge. It said resulting "actions steps" will include holding personnel accountable and getting outside experts to conduct an independent audit.</p>
<p>Suntha, in the statement, said he's confident that their actions "address the root causes of last week's breakdown."</p>
<p>But Gordon said he expects "legal action" over the incident.</p>
<p>He believes Rebecca should have been placed on a 72-hour hold so she could be properly evaluated. Instead, the hospital dumped her on the street "unable to speak coherently, fend for herself, or respond appropriately to the frigid temperatures."</p>
<p>She was involuntarily admitted to another Baltimore hospital a day after being discharged from the University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus and sent to a homeless shelter, her family said.</p>
<p>Her mother said Rebecca is now at an undisclosed inpatient facility undergoing mental health treatment. Her younger sister, Rachelle, said she was doing better and read aloud a statement from Rebecca thanking people for their support.</p>
<p>Rebecca's twin sister, Rosslyn, who flew to Baltimore from her home in Texas, wept as she recalled watching the video showing her beloved sister in such distress.</p>
<p>"It didn't take a genius to see that she needed help," she said, her voice shaking.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>David McFadden on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dmcfadd</p>
| false | 2 |
baltimore ap mother mentally ill woman left outside baltimore hospital frigid night wearing flimsy gown socks says 22yearold daughter denied care medical professionals left face lifethreatening conditions street cheryl chandler said made aware missing daughters predicament night jan 9 happened upon viral video shot passerby enraged way treated chandlers daughter rebecca escorted hospital uniformed security personnel street clothes stuffed plastic bags left openair bus stop outdoor temperatures 30s gash forehead visibly disoriented stumbling hospital gown unable formulate words cold night thursday press conference held lawyers office chandler described daughter beloved young woman struggling intensely mental illness since 16 past yearandahalf cycled couple residential facilities mentally ill clients said rebecca health insurance denied right law receive clinical care ceo university maryland medical center publicly claimed received night daughter choose face mental illness didnt choose example impact failed mental health care system individual need services chandler said tears adding eternally grateful psychotherapist imamu baraka shooting cellphone video showing daughters condition j wyndal gordon attorney representing rebecca said suffering episode acute psychosis institution turned back asserts case patient dumping illegal practice turning away patients mostly uninsured emergency rooms rebeccas condition going require considerable hospital stay stabilize ummc believing insurance determined better return street untreated face whatever consequences arose decision rather absorb cost gordon alleged dr mohan suntha president ceo university maryland medical center told reporters last week excuses happened young woman stood medical care saying received treatment discharged believe firmly provided appropriate medical care patient came us need absolutely failed failure demonstration basic humanity compassion patient discharged said thursday hospital released statement saying internal investigation identified breakdown point medical discharge said resulting actions steps include holding personnel accountable getting outside experts conduct independent audit suntha statement said hes confident actions address root causes last weeks breakdown gordon said expects legal action incident believes rebecca placed 72hour hold could properly evaluated instead hospital dumped street unable speak coherently fend respond appropriately frigid temperatures involuntarily admitted another baltimore hospital day discharged university maryland medical center midtown campus sent homeless shelter family said mother said rebecca undisclosed inpatient facility undergoing mental health treatment younger sister rachelle said better read aloud statement rebecca thanking people support rebeccas twin sister rosslyn flew baltimore home texas wept recalled watching video showing beloved sister distress didnt take genius see needed help said voice shaking ___ david mcfadden twitter httpstwittercomdmcfadd baltimore ap mother mentally ill woman left outside baltimore hospital frigid night wearing flimsy gown socks says 22yearold daughter denied care medical professionals left face lifethreatening conditions street cheryl chandler said made aware missing daughters predicament night jan 9 happened upon viral video shot passerby enraged way treated chandlers daughter rebecca escorted hospital uniformed security personnel street clothes stuffed plastic bags left openair bus stop outdoor temperatures 30s gash forehead visibly disoriented stumbling hospital gown unable formulate words cold night thursday press conference held lawyers office chandler described daughter beloved young woman struggling intensely mental illness since 16 past yearandahalf cycled couple residential facilities mentally ill clients said rebecca health insurance denied right law receive clinical care ceo university maryland medical center publicly claimed received night daughter choose face mental illness didnt choose example impact failed mental health care system individual need services chandler said tears adding eternally grateful psychotherapist imamu baraka shooting cellphone video showing daughters condition j wyndal gordon attorney representing rebecca said suffering episode acute psychosis institution turned back asserts case patient dumping illegal practice turning away patients mostly uninsured emergency rooms rebeccas condition going require considerable hospital stay stabilize ummc believing insurance determined better return street untreated face whatever consequences arose decision rather absorb cost gordon alleged dr mohan suntha president ceo university maryland medical center told reporters last week excuses happened young woman stood medical care saying received treatment discharged believe firmly provided appropriate medical care patient came us need absolutely failed failure demonstration basic humanity compassion patient discharged said thursday hospital released statement saying internal investigation identified breakdown point medical discharge said resulting actions steps include holding personnel accountable getting outside experts conduct independent audit suntha statement said hes confident actions address root causes last weeks breakdown gordon said expects legal action incident believes rebecca placed 72hour hold could properly evaluated instead hospital dumped street unable speak coherently fend respond appropriately frigid temperatures involuntarily admitted another baltimore hospital day discharged university maryland medical center midtown campus sent homeless shelter family said mother said rebecca undisclosed inpatient facility undergoing mental health treatment younger sister rachelle said better read aloud statement rebecca thanking people support rebeccas twin sister rosslyn flew baltimore home texas wept recalled watching video showing beloved sister distress didnt take genius see needed help said voice shaking ___ david mcfadden twitter httpstwittercomdmcfadd
| 778 |
<p>BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Palestinian Christians say U.S. Vice President Mike Pence’s brand of evangelical Christianity, with its fervent embrace of modern-day Israel as fulfilment of biblical prophecy, lacks their faith’s compassion and justice, including for those who have endured half a century of Israeli occupation.</p>
<p>Pence was in Jerusalem on Monday, expressing his full-throated support for Israel in a speech to parliament filled with biblical references. During an exuberant welcome, Pence and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly rejoiced in the Trump administration’s decision last month to recognize contested Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.</p>
<p>The dramatic policy shift is seen as a betrayal by the Palestinians, who claim Jerusalem’s Israeli-annexed eastern sector as a capital and now reject U.S. mediation in any future efforts to resolve their long-running conflict with Israel. The Jerusalem pivot also upset some of Washington’s Arab allies, particularly Jordan, where King Abdullah II laid out his disagreement with U.S. policy to the visiting Pence in unusually pointed remarks Sunday.</p>
<p>The Jerusalem declaration and a subsequent Trump decision to curb aid to Palestinian refugees — both aligned with the Netanyahu government’s agenda — had been top priorities for Pence.</p>
<p>The vice president — by his own definition “a Christian, a conservative, a Republican, in that order” — has cited his religious beliefs as the source of his unwavering support of Israel.</p>
<p>He has been embraced by so-called Christian Zionists who believe the establishment of the state of Israel is proof of God keeping his promises and a step toward the second coming of Christ.</p>
<p>In a 2017 speech to Christians United for Israel, or CUFI, an influential organization run by Texas pastor John Hagee, Pence signaled similar views, saying that “though Israel was built by human hands, it is impossible not to sense that just beneath its history lies the hand of heaven.”</p>
<p>Critics say Jewish supporters of Christian Zionists and their pro-Israel fundraising juggernaut conveniently overlook violent end-time prophecies that are espoused by some and are based on the belief that only those who embrace Jesus will be saved.</p>
<p>David Parsons, a spokesman for Christian Zionism’s International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, said it’s a big tent movement with different views on end-time prophecy.</p>
<p>In his CUFI speech, Pence stuck to what the vice president portrayed as biblically mandated support for Israel.</p>
<p>Pence has “very solid evangelical credentials,” Parsons said. “We consider him to be ... in our camp.”</p>
<p>Palestinian Christians, many with deep roots in the Holy Land, consider Christian Zionist views as a negation of the teachings of Jesus on justice and compassion for all of humanity. They argue that such streams of evangelical Christianity have used religion to whitewash Israel’s harsh policies during its half-century-old rule over millions of Palestinians.</p>
<p>“For me, it’s a sick ideology,” said Munib Younan, the recently retired bishop of the small Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and former president of the Lutheran World Federation, an umbrella for churches with millions of believers.</p>
<p>“When I say Jesus is love, they want my Jesus to be a political Jesus,” Younan, 67, a Jerusalem-born Palestinian, said in a recent interview at his West Bank church.</p>
<p>Younan said he supports a just solution to the conflict with Israel, including the establishment of a Palestinian state in the lands Israel captured in 1967 — east Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. Jerusalem should be shared by Christians, Muslims and Jews, he said, adding that a peace deal would enhance Israel’s security.</p>
<p>Pence on Monday portrayed the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital as the “only true foundation for a just and lasting peace,” but omitted any mention of Palestinian claims to the city. He also gave less than full support to a two-state solution, once a pillar of U.S, Mideast policy, saying President Donald Trump is in favor “if both sides agree.”</p>
<p>In biblical Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus, Mayor Anton Salman said Pence’s comments contradict his declared aim of helping Christians in the Middle East.</p>
<p>“He would need to change his thoughts and behavior ... and recognize the rights of Arab Palestinian Christians who are the people of this land, to support their rights to have their independence, their freedom and east Jerusalem as our capital,” said Salman, a Roman Catholic.</p>
<p>Christians make up a small minority of the overwhelmingly Muslim Palestinian population in the West Bank, but relations between the two religious groups are typically cordial and tolerant — unlike in conflict-battered Iraq and Syria, where Islamic State extremists have persecuted Christians. In Gaza, dominated by the Islamic militant group Hamas, a tiny Christian community has been targeted from time to time by zealots.</p>
<p>“We are the authentic Christians and we live with our brothers, the Muslims, without any problem,” said Bethlehem Christian Nadia Hazboun, 55, standing outside a souvenir shop in Manger Square, where the pealing of church bells often blends with the Muslim call to prayer. On Saturday, a towering Christmas tree decorated with large red balls was still up in the square, near the entrance to the Church of the Nativity, the basilica built over Jesus’ traditional birth grotto.</p>
<p>The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has become a hot button issue for U.S. Christians, pitting Christian Zionists again those calling for an end to Israel’s occupation or expressing support for a Palestinian-led campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions as a means of pressuring Israel.</p>
<p>Rebecca Littlejohn, a Disciples of Christ pastor from La Mesa, California, contemplated the debate while sipping hot lemon in a coffee shop off Manger Square, at the end of a Holy Land study tour during which her group met Israelis and Palestinians.</p>
<p>Littlejohn said her denomination works with Palestinian Christians and that she belongs to a grass-roots group engaged in peace efforts.</p>
<p>She said that while Disciples of Christ emphasizes Christian unity, “I find very little, from what I know of it, in Mike Pence’s religion that looks like Christianity to me.”</p>
<p>“But am I going to say, he is not welcome at the table?” she said. “No, I’m not going to say that because it’s not up to me.”</p>
<p>__</p>
<p>Associated Press writer Mohammed Daraghmeh in Ramallah, West Bank, contributed to this report.</p>
<p>BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Palestinian Christians say U.S. Vice President Mike Pence’s brand of evangelical Christianity, with its fervent embrace of modern-day Israel as fulfilment of biblical prophecy, lacks their faith’s compassion and justice, including for those who have endured half a century of Israeli occupation.</p>
<p>Pence was in Jerusalem on Monday, expressing his full-throated support for Israel in a speech to parliament filled with biblical references. During an exuberant welcome, Pence and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly rejoiced in the Trump administration’s decision last month to recognize contested Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.</p>
<p>The dramatic policy shift is seen as a betrayal by the Palestinians, who claim Jerusalem’s Israeli-annexed eastern sector as a capital and now reject U.S. mediation in any future efforts to resolve their long-running conflict with Israel. The Jerusalem pivot also upset some of Washington’s Arab allies, particularly Jordan, where King Abdullah II laid out his disagreement with U.S. policy to the visiting Pence in unusually pointed remarks Sunday.</p>
<p>The Jerusalem declaration and a subsequent Trump decision to curb aid to Palestinian refugees — both aligned with the Netanyahu government’s agenda — had been top priorities for Pence.</p>
<p>The vice president — by his own definition “a Christian, a conservative, a Republican, in that order” — has cited his religious beliefs as the source of his unwavering support of Israel.</p>
<p>He has been embraced by so-called Christian Zionists who believe the establishment of the state of Israel is proof of God keeping his promises and a step toward the second coming of Christ.</p>
<p>In a 2017 speech to Christians United for Israel, or CUFI, an influential organization run by Texas pastor John Hagee, Pence signaled similar views, saying that “though Israel was built by human hands, it is impossible not to sense that just beneath its history lies the hand of heaven.”</p>
<p>Critics say Jewish supporters of Christian Zionists and their pro-Israel fundraising juggernaut conveniently overlook violent end-time prophecies that are espoused by some and are based on the belief that only those who embrace Jesus will be saved.</p>
<p>David Parsons, a spokesman for Christian Zionism’s International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, said it’s a big tent movement with different views on end-time prophecy.</p>
<p>In his CUFI speech, Pence stuck to what the vice president portrayed as biblically mandated support for Israel.</p>
<p>Pence has “very solid evangelical credentials,” Parsons said. “We consider him to be ... in our camp.”</p>
<p>Palestinian Christians, many with deep roots in the Holy Land, consider Christian Zionist views as a negation of the teachings of Jesus on justice and compassion for all of humanity. They argue that such streams of evangelical Christianity have used religion to whitewash Israel’s harsh policies during its half-century-old rule over millions of Palestinians.</p>
<p>“For me, it’s a sick ideology,” said Munib Younan, the recently retired bishop of the small Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and former president of the Lutheran World Federation, an umbrella for churches with millions of believers.</p>
<p>“When I say Jesus is love, they want my Jesus to be a political Jesus,” Younan, 67, a Jerusalem-born Palestinian, said in a recent interview at his West Bank church.</p>
<p>Younan said he supports a just solution to the conflict with Israel, including the establishment of a Palestinian state in the lands Israel captured in 1967 — east Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. Jerusalem should be shared by Christians, Muslims and Jews, he said, adding that a peace deal would enhance Israel’s security.</p>
<p>Pence on Monday portrayed the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital as the “only true foundation for a just and lasting peace,” but omitted any mention of Palestinian claims to the city. He also gave less than full support to a two-state solution, once a pillar of U.S, Mideast policy, saying President Donald Trump is in favor “if both sides agree.”</p>
<p>In biblical Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus, Mayor Anton Salman said Pence’s comments contradict his declared aim of helping Christians in the Middle East.</p>
<p>“He would need to change his thoughts and behavior ... and recognize the rights of Arab Palestinian Christians who are the people of this land, to support their rights to have their independence, their freedom and east Jerusalem as our capital,” said Salman, a Roman Catholic.</p>
<p>Christians make up a small minority of the overwhelmingly Muslim Palestinian population in the West Bank, but relations between the two religious groups are typically cordial and tolerant — unlike in conflict-battered Iraq and Syria, where Islamic State extremists have persecuted Christians. In Gaza, dominated by the Islamic militant group Hamas, a tiny Christian community has been targeted from time to time by zealots.</p>
<p>“We are the authentic Christians and we live with our brothers, the Muslims, without any problem,” said Bethlehem Christian Nadia Hazboun, 55, standing outside a souvenir shop in Manger Square, where the pealing of church bells often blends with the Muslim call to prayer. On Saturday, a towering Christmas tree decorated with large red balls was still up in the square, near the entrance to the Church of the Nativity, the basilica built over Jesus’ traditional birth grotto.</p>
<p>The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has become a hot button issue for U.S. Christians, pitting Christian Zionists again those calling for an end to Israel’s occupation or expressing support for a Palestinian-led campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions as a means of pressuring Israel.</p>
<p>Rebecca Littlejohn, a Disciples of Christ pastor from La Mesa, California, contemplated the debate while sipping hot lemon in a coffee shop off Manger Square, at the end of a Holy Land study tour during which her group met Israelis and Palestinians.</p>
<p>Littlejohn said her denomination works with Palestinian Christians and that she belongs to a grass-roots group engaged in peace efforts.</p>
<p>She said that while Disciples of Christ emphasizes Christian unity, “I find very little, from what I know of it, in Mike Pence’s religion that looks like Christianity to me.”</p>
<p>“But am I going to say, he is not welcome at the table?” she said. “No, I’m not going to say that because it’s not up to me.”</p>
<p>__</p>
<p>Associated Press writer Mohammed Daraghmeh in Ramallah, West Bank, contributed to this report.</p>
| false | 2 |
bethlehem west bank ap palestinian christians say us vice president mike pences brand evangelical christianity fervent embrace modernday israel fulfilment biblical prophecy lacks faiths compassion justice including endured half century israeli occupation pence jerusalem monday expressing fullthroated support israel speech parliament filled biblical references exuberant welcome pence israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu publicly rejoiced trump administrations decision last month recognize contested jerusalem israels capital dramatic policy shift seen betrayal palestinians claim jerusalems israeliannexed eastern sector capital reject us mediation future efforts resolve longrunning conflict israel jerusalem pivot also upset washingtons arab allies particularly jordan king abdullah ii laid disagreement us policy visiting pence unusually pointed remarks sunday jerusalem declaration subsequent trump decision curb aid palestinian refugees aligned netanyahu governments agenda top priorities pence vice president definition christian conservative republican order cited religious beliefs source unwavering support israel embraced socalled christian zionists believe establishment state israel proof god keeping promises step toward second coming christ 2017 speech christians united israel cufi influential organization run texas pastor john hagee pence signaled similar views saying though israel built human hands impossible sense beneath history lies hand heaven critics say jewish supporters christian zionists proisrael fundraising juggernaut conveniently overlook violent endtime prophecies espoused based belief embrace jesus saved david parsons spokesman christian zionisms international christian embassy jerusalem said big tent movement different views endtime prophecy cufi speech pence stuck vice president portrayed biblically mandated support israel pence solid evangelical credentials parsons said consider camp palestinian christians many deep roots holy land consider christian zionist views negation teachings jesus justice compassion humanity argue streams evangelical christianity used religion whitewash israels harsh policies halfcenturyold rule millions palestinians sick ideology said munib younan recently retired bishop small evangelical lutheran church jordan holy land former president lutheran world federation umbrella churches millions believers say jesus love want jesus political jesus younan 67 jerusalemborn palestinian said recent interview west bank church younan said supports solution conflict israel including establishment palestinian state lands israel captured 1967 east jerusalem west bank gaza jerusalem shared christians muslims jews said adding peace deal would enhance israels security pence monday portrayed recognition jerusalem israels capital true foundation lasting peace omitted mention palestinian claims city also gave less full support twostate solution pillar us mideast policy saying president donald trump favor sides agree biblical bethlehem traditional birthplace jesus mayor anton salman said pences comments contradict declared aim helping christians middle east would need change thoughts behavior recognize rights arab palestinian christians people land support rights independence freedom east jerusalem capital said salman roman catholic christians make small minority overwhelmingly muslim palestinian population west bank relations two religious groups typically cordial tolerant unlike conflictbattered iraq syria islamic state extremists persecuted christians gaza dominated islamic militant group hamas tiny christian community targeted time time zealots authentic christians live brothers muslims without problem said bethlehem christian nadia hazboun 55 standing outside souvenir shop manger square pealing church bells often blends muslim call prayer saturday towering christmas tree decorated large red balls still square near entrance church nativity basilica built jesus traditional birth grotto israelipalestinian conflict become hot button issue us christians pitting christian zionists calling end israels occupation expressing support palestinianled campaign boycott divestment sanctions means pressuring israel rebecca littlejohn disciples christ pastor la mesa california contemplated debate sipping hot lemon coffee shop manger square end holy land study tour group met israelis palestinians littlejohn said denomination works palestinian christians belongs grassroots group engaged peace efforts said disciples christ emphasizes christian unity find little know mike pences religion looks like christianity going say welcome table said im going say __ associated press writer mohammed daraghmeh ramallah west bank contributed report bethlehem west bank ap palestinian christians say us vice president mike pences brand evangelical christianity fervent embrace modernday israel fulfilment biblical prophecy lacks faiths compassion justice including endured half century israeli occupation pence jerusalem monday expressing fullthroated support israel speech parliament filled biblical references exuberant welcome pence israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu publicly rejoiced trump administrations decision last month recognize contested jerusalem israels capital dramatic policy shift seen betrayal palestinians claim jerusalems israeliannexed eastern sector capital reject us mediation future efforts resolve longrunning conflict israel jerusalem pivot also upset washingtons arab allies particularly jordan king abdullah ii laid disagreement us policy visiting pence unusually pointed remarks sunday jerusalem declaration subsequent trump decision curb aid palestinian refugees aligned netanyahu governments agenda top priorities pence vice president definition christian conservative republican order cited religious beliefs source unwavering support israel embraced socalled christian zionists believe establishment state israel proof god keeping promises step toward second coming christ 2017 speech christians united israel cufi influential organization run texas pastor john hagee pence signaled similar views saying though israel built human hands impossible sense beneath history lies hand heaven critics say jewish supporters christian zionists proisrael fundraising juggernaut conveniently overlook violent endtime prophecies espoused based belief embrace jesus saved david parsons spokesman christian zionisms international christian embassy jerusalem said big tent movement different views endtime prophecy cufi speech pence stuck vice president portrayed biblically mandated support israel pence solid evangelical credentials parsons said consider camp palestinian christians many deep roots holy land consider christian zionist views negation teachings jesus justice compassion humanity argue streams evangelical christianity used religion whitewash israels harsh policies halfcenturyold rule millions palestinians sick ideology said munib younan recently retired bishop small evangelical lutheran church jordan holy land former president lutheran world federation umbrella churches millions believers say jesus love want jesus political jesus younan 67 jerusalemborn palestinian said recent interview west bank church younan said supports solution conflict israel including establishment palestinian state lands israel captured 1967 east jerusalem west bank gaza jerusalem shared christians muslims jews said adding peace deal would enhance israels security pence monday portrayed recognition jerusalem israels capital true foundation lasting peace omitted mention palestinian claims city also gave less full support twostate solution pillar us mideast policy saying president donald trump favor sides agree biblical bethlehem traditional birthplace jesus mayor anton salman said pences comments contradict declared aim helping christians middle east would need change thoughts behavior recognize rights arab palestinian christians people land support rights independence freedom east jerusalem capital said salman roman catholic christians make small minority overwhelmingly muslim palestinian population west bank relations two religious groups typically cordial tolerant unlike conflictbattered iraq syria islamic state extremists persecuted christians gaza dominated islamic militant group hamas tiny christian community targeted time time zealots authentic christians live brothers muslims without problem said bethlehem christian nadia hazboun 55 standing outside souvenir shop manger square pealing church bells often blends muslim call prayer saturday towering christmas tree decorated large red balls still square near entrance church nativity basilica built jesus traditional birth grotto israelipalestinian conflict become hot button issue us christians pitting christian zionists calling end israels occupation expressing support palestinianled campaign boycott divestment sanctions means pressuring israel rebecca littlejohn disciples christ pastor la mesa california contemplated debate sipping hot lemon coffee shop manger square end holy land study tour group met israelis palestinians littlejohn said denomination works palestinian christians belongs grassroots group engaged peace efforts said disciples christ emphasizes christian unity find little know mike pences religion looks like christianity going say welcome table said im going say __ associated press writer mohammed daraghmeh ramallah west bank contributed report
| 1,204 |
<p>HONG KONG (Reuters) - Beijing Electric Vehicle Co (BJEV) will gain a stock market listing through a share issue and asset swap deal valuing the state-backed electric car manufacturer at 28.8 billion yuan ($4.5 billion), according to a Shanghai stock exchange filing.</p>
<p>ChengDu QianFeng Electronics Co, one of the listed arms of Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC Group), will buy BJEV in an asset swap and stock sale, it said in Monday’s filing. As part of the arrangement, QianFeng plans to sell 761.1 million shares at 37.66 yuan per share.</p>
<p>The deal will allow BJEV to become the listing entity after the transaction, replacing ChengDu QianFeng Electronics.</p>
<p>BJEV, which will become the first state-owned new-energy vehicle manufacturer listed on one of China’s main stock exchanges, was established in 2009 by BAIC Group and other shareholders as a development platform for new energy vehicles(NEVs).</p>
<p>The company focuses on research and development, production and sales and services for NEVs and core components. To date its product portfolio covers five major series of electric vehicles.</p>
<p>China’s automotive market, the world’s largest, slowed sharply in 2017, but new energy vehicles have been a bright spot. Such vehicles are expected to achieve sales growth of about 40 percent in China this year, an industry association said this month.</p>
<p>Reporting by Meg Shen and Twinnie Siu; Editing by David Goodman</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Tesla Inc shares rose on Thursday ahead of the expected release next week of the company’s quarterly auto production data, while a senior executive urged workers at the automaker to hit a weekly production target of 2,500 Model 3 sedans by the end of March.</p> A Tesla Model 3 sedan, its first car aimed at the mass market, is displayed during its launch in Hawthorne, California, March 31, 2016. REUTERS/Joe White/File Photo
<p>Quickly ramping up Model 3 production is crucial for the Silicon Valley electric vehicle maker. The company’s profitability depends on delivering the new sedans to customers on a waiting list that Tesla has said now numbers about 500,000 advance reservation holders.</p>
<p>Tesla shares recovered to $266.13, up 3 percent, Thursday after a sell-off prompted by a Moody’s debt downgrade and news that safety regulators are investigating a Model X-involved fatality.</p>
<p>In an email to employees viewed by Reuters, Tesla Senior Vice President of Engineering Doug Fields wrote that production of Tesla vehicles is “well into the 200’s on every single line.”</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-tesla-recall/tesla-voluntarily-recalls-early-model-s-vehicles-over-power-steering-bolts-idUSKBN1H5381" type="external">Tesla voluntarily recalls early Model S vehicles over power steering bolts</a>
<p>Field gave reasons why Tesla needs to get to 2,500 vehicles a week, including: “There are an incredible number of people who ‘short’ Tesla stock, which means they profit when we fail. And lately the story is the same: ‘Tesla can’t do high-volume production’. I find that personally insulting, and you should too. Let’s make them regret ever betting against us.”</p>
<p>Tesla must “quickly break through the 300 cars/day barrier, and keep going,” the email continued.</p>
<p>Tesla did not immediately comment on the email, which was previously reported by Bloomberg News.</p>
<p>Doubts that Tesla could meet its production targets and concerns about cash reserves were behind Moody’s downgrade of Tesla last week. The ratings agency cited the likelihood of a new capital raise, which it estimated at over $2 billion, in part to cover approximately $1.2 billion in convertible bonds coming due by March 2019.</p>
<p>The downgrade, together with a fatality involving a Model X that is currently being investigated by safety regulators, sent shares down 12 percent for the week, even after Thursday’s rebound. That made it Tesla’s worst week in nine months.</p>
<p>Tesla shares are still above the $255.73 level, the price when Tesla last announced a capital raise in March last year to raise $1.15 billion.</p>
<p>Moody’s and other analysts have predicted Tesla will soon have to sell more shares to replenish cash reserves and pay for expansion of Model 3 production and new vehicles such as the Tesla Semi electric commercial truck and a compact sport utility vehicle.</p>
<p>As of Dec. 31, Tesla had $3.4 billion in cash and securities. Moody’s estimated approximately $500 million in cash was needed for normal operations and forecast cash burn this year of about $2 billion.</p>
<p>Beyond the $2 billion that Moody’s predicted Tesla would seek in the near-term, it said the company would likely need to raise additional capital during the second half of 2019.</p>
<p>Chief Executive Elon Musk has promised to build 10,000 Model 3s per week by some point in 2018 after meeting a 5,000-per week target by the end of the second quarter. Tesla built only 2,425 Model 3s in its fourth quarter.</p>
<p>Barclays analyst Brian Johnson warned in a note to investors on Thursday that Tesla could engage in a Model 3 “burst rate” of production that could send shares up, but would not be sustainable.</p>
<p>Writing by Alexandria Sage and Joe White; Edting by Tom Brown</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street surged on Thursday, bringing an upbeat end to a tumultuous, holiday-shortened week as technology stocks rebounded, but the S&amp;P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average posted their biggest quarterly declines in more than two years.</p>
<p>The year started strong, but early gains evaporated as the markets entered a correction over interest rate jitters, fears of an escalating import tariff dispute between the United States and China, and a selloff in the tech sector.</p>
<p>(GRAPHIC: S&amp;P Quarterly performance during bull market - <a href="https://reut.rs/2pUJYLR" type="external">reut.rs/2pUJYLR</a>)</p>
<a href="https://reut.rs/2pUJYLR" type="external" />
<p>Tech stocks reversed course on Thursday and the S&amp;P 500 information technology index .SPLRCT closed up 2.2 percent after reaching a session high of 3.2 percent, helping push the S&amp;P 500 up 1.4 percent, with the Dow and Nasdaq also rallying.</p>
<p>“All the fears now look overblown. Interest rates, the concern about tariffs, we’re going to get into a trade war,” said Doug Cote, chief market strategist at Voya Investment Management in New York. “But now clearer heads are prevailing. If anything this is a buying opportunity.”</p>
<p>Technology gains were led by Facebook ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">FB.O</a>), Intel ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=INTC.O" type="external">INTC.O</a>), Alphabet ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GOOGL.O" type="external">GOOGL.O</a>) and Microsoft ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=MSFT.O" type="external">MSFT.O</a>) shares.</p>
<p>“Tech will always lead the charge in a bull market. And we’re in a bull market,” said Cote.</p>
<p>The Dow Jones Industrial Average <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.DJI" type="external">.DJI</a> rose 254.69 points, or 1.07 percent, to close at 24,103.11, the S&amp;P 500 <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.SPX" type="external">.SPX</a> gained 35.87 points, or 1.38 percent, to 2,640.87 and the Nasdaq Composite <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.IXIC" type="external">.IXIC</a> added 114.22 points, or 1.64 percent, to 7,063.45.</p>
<p>Investors were unfazed by economic reports showing a slight increase in consumer spending and initial jobless claims dropping to a more than 45-year low.</p> Slideshow (4 Images)
<p>In other data, core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) rose by 1.6 percent year-on-year. The index, the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation, has been below the U.S. central bank’s 2 percent target since mid-2012.</p>
<p>Amazon.com ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AMZN.O" type="external">AMZN.O</a>) closed up 1.1 percent, recovering from a 4.6 percent drop after U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the online retailer via Twitter early Thursday, claiming without evidence that the company pays “little to no taxes to state &amp; local governments.”</p>
<p>Stocks shot up earlier in the week as comments from officials in the United States and China suggested the world’s two largest economies would renegotiate tariffs and trade imbalances, averting a trade war.</p>
<p>But worries that retaliatory tariffs would harm the global economy led investors to cut equity exposure to a four-month low in March and reduce holdings of U.S. stocks to the lowest in nearly two years, according to a Reuters poll.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">Facebook Inc</a> 159.79 FB.O Nasdaq +6.76 (+4.42%) FB.O INTC.O GOOGL.O MSFT.O .DJI
<p>Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by a 3.66-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 2.23-to-1 ratio favored advancers.</p>
<p>Volume on U.S. exchanges was 7.49 billion shares, compared to the 7.29 billion average over the last 20 trading days.</p>
<p>Reporting by Stephen Culp in New York; Additional reporting by Charles Mikolajczak; Editing by James Dalgleish</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - U.S. retailer Walmart Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=WMT.N" type="external">WMT.N</a>) is in early-stage talks with health insurer Humana Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=HUM.N" type="external">HUM.N</a>) about developing closer ties, with the acquisition of Humana being discussed as one possibility, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.</p> Shopping carts are seen outside a new Wal-Mart Express store in Chicago July 26, 2011. REUTERS/John Gress/Files
<p>Should the talks lead to a tieup, it would be the latest deal to bring together a retail chain and a health insurer in the last few months, following CVS Health Corp’s ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=CVS.N" type="external">CVS.N</a>) $69 billion deal to acquire Aetna Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AET.N" type="external">AET.N</a>) and Cigna Corp’s ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=CI.N" type="external">CI.N</a>) $54 billion deal to buy Express Scripts Holding Co ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=ESRX.O" type="external">ESRX.O</a>).</p>
<p>Walmart approached Humana earlier this month and the deliberations are preliminary, two of the sources said. While the conversations have focused on new partnerships, an acquisition of Humana by Walmart is also something being discussed, the sources added.</p>
<p>The sources asked not to be identified because the deliberations are confidential. Humana and Walmart declined to comment.</p>
<p>Walmart and Humana have market capitalizations of $264 billion and $37 billion, respectively.</p>
<p>An acquisition of Humana would represent a significant strategic shift for Walmart, which is the world’s largest retailer and has been focused on fending off Amazon.com Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AMZN.O" type="external">AMZN.O</a>) in online shopping.</p>
<p>Amazon has also been looking at entering the healthcare sector. Earlier this year, Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=BRKa.N" type="external">BRKa.N</a>) and JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=JPM.N" type="external">JPM.N</a>), said they would form a company aimed at cutting healthcare costs for their U.S. employees.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=WMT.N" type="external">Walmart Inc</a> 88.97 WMT.N New York Stock Exchange +1.20 (+1.37%) WMT.N HUM.N CVS.N AET.N CI.N
<p>“The risks (for Walmart) of becoming entangled in the complex U.S. healthcare industry are considerable, especially at a time when Walmart is grappling with the competitive challenges of a rapidly shifting retail market,” Neil Saunders, managing director of retail consultancy GlobalData Retail, wrote in a note.</p>
<p>“The hammering out of any agreement, which would be Walmart’s largest ever corporate deal, would, of itself, be an enormous distraction,” Saunders added.</p>
<p>Walmart currently has a co-branded Medicare drug plan with Humana that steers patients to Walmart stores. The partnership offers a prescription drug plan that can save up to 20 percent in drug costs for customers.</p>
<p>Closer ties between the two companies could allow Walmart to tap into Humana’s patient population, expanding low-level medical services in its pharmacies to avoid ER visits. They could allow it to better manage prescription drug use though access to medical records.</p>
<p>Humana’s biggest business is managing Medicare Advantage health plans for older and disabled people, a heavily regulated business that Walmart would have to take on in an acquisition.</p>
<p>Memberships in retail Medicare Advantage plans - where individuals sign up directly with Humana - rose about 1 percent to 2.86 million, as of Dec. 31. Employer or other group-based Medicare Advantage membership climbed 24 percent to 441,400.</p>
<p>Last month, Walmart reported a sharp drop in profit and online sales growth during the critical holiday period and forecast annual profit at the lower end of expectations.</p>
<p>Reporting by Carl O'Donnell and Greg Roumeliotis in New York; Additional reporting by Nandita Bose and Michele Gershberg in New York; Editing by Sandra Maler and Leslie Adler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - Online retailing behemoth Amazon.com Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AMZN.O" type="external">AMZN.O</a>) has cut ties with Washington lobbying firms Akin Gump Strauss Hauer &amp; Feld LLP and Squire Patton Boggs, Bloomberg reported on Friday.</p> FILE PHOTO: An Amazon.com Inc driver stands next to an Amazon delivery truck in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 21, 2016. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AMZN.O" type="external">Amazon.com Inc</a> 1447.34 AMZN.O Nasdaq +15.92 (+1.11%) AMZN.O ORCL.N
<p>The changes took place about a week before U.S. President Donald Trump accused Amazon in a tweet on Thursday of not paying enough tax, taking advantage of the U.S. postal system and putting small retailers out of business.</p>
<p>Amazon had cut ties from the lobbying firms last Friday and in their place hired Paul Brathwaite of Federal Street Strategies LLC and Josh Holly of Holly Strategies Inc, both of whom have previously worked as outside lobbyists for Airbnb Inc and Oracle Corp ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=ORCL.N" type="external">ORCL.N</a>), the report said, citing a source.</p>
<p>Neither of the parties were immediately available for comment outside regular business hours.</p>
<p>The e-commerce giant employs about 15 lobbyists, according to earlier disclosures submitted to the U.S. Senate, with another 15 outside lobbying firms who each assign more lobbyists to work on behalf of the company.</p>
<p>The retailer spent $15.4 million in 2017 on lobbying in Washington, up from $12 million a year earlier.</p>
<p>Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Sunil Nair</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
hong kong reuters beijing electric vehicle co bjev gain stock market listing share issue asset swap deal valuing statebacked electric car manufacturer 288 billion yuan 45 billion according shanghai stock exchange filing chengdu qianfeng electronics co one listed arms beijing automotive group baic group buy bjev asset swap stock sale said mondays filing part arrangement qianfeng plans sell 7611 million shares 3766 yuan per share deal allow bjev become listing entity transaction replacing chengdu qianfeng electronics bjev become first stateowned newenergy vehicle manufacturer listed one chinas main stock exchanges established 2009 baic group shareholders development platform new energy vehiclesnevs company focuses research development production sales services nevs core components date product portfolio covers five major series electric vehicles chinas automotive market worlds largest slowed sharply 2017 new energy vehicles bright spot vehicles expected achieve sales growth 40 percent china year industry association said month reporting meg shen twinnie siu editing david goodman standards thomson reuters trust principles san francisco reuters tesla inc shares rose thursday ahead expected release next week companys quarterly auto production data senior executive urged workers automaker hit weekly production target 2500 model 3 sedans end march tesla model 3 sedan first car aimed mass market displayed launch hawthorne california march 31 2016 reutersjoe whitefile photo quickly ramping model 3 production crucial silicon valley electric vehicle maker companys profitability depends delivering new sedans customers waiting list tesla said numbers 500000 advance reservation holders tesla shares recovered 26613 3 percent thursday selloff prompted moodys debt downgrade news safety regulators investigating model xinvolved fatality email employees viewed reuters tesla senior vice president engineering doug fields wrote production tesla vehicles well 200s every single line related coverage tesla voluntarily recalls early model vehicles power steering bolts field gave reasons tesla needs get 2500 vehicles week including incredible number people short tesla stock means profit fail lately story tesla cant highvolume production find personally insulting lets make regret ever betting us tesla must quickly break 300 carsday barrier keep going email continued tesla immediately comment email previously reported bloomberg news doubts tesla could meet production targets concerns cash reserves behind moodys downgrade tesla last week ratings agency cited likelihood new capital raise estimated 2 billion part cover approximately 12 billion convertible bonds coming due march 2019 downgrade together fatality involving model x currently investigated safety regulators sent shares 12 percent week even thursdays rebound made teslas worst week nine months tesla shares still 25573 level price tesla last announced capital raise march last year raise 115 billion moodys analysts predicted tesla soon sell shares replenish cash reserves pay expansion model 3 production new vehicles tesla semi electric commercial truck compact sport utility vehicle dec 31 tesla 34 billion cash securities moodys estimated approximately 500 million cash needed normal operations forecast cash burn year 2 billion beyond 2 billion moodys predicted tesla would seek nearterm said company would likely need raise additional capital second half 2019 chief executive elon musk promised build 10000 model 3s per week point 2018 meeting 5000per week target end second quarter tesla built 2425 model 3s fourth quarter barclays analyst brian johnson warned note investors thursday tesla could engage model 3 burst rate production could send shares would sustainable writing alexandria sage joe white edting tom brown standards thomson reuters trust principles new york reuters wall street surged thursday bringing upbeat end tumultuous holidayshortened week technology stocks rebounded sampp 500 dow jones industrial average posted biggest quarterly declines two years year started strong early gains evaporated markets entered correction interest rate jitters fears escalating import tariff dispute united states china selloff tech sector graphic sampp quarterly performance bull market reutrs2pujylr tech stocks reversed course thursday sampp 500 information technology index splrct closed 22 percent reaching session high 32 percent helping push sampp 500 14 percent dow nasdaq also rallying fears look overblown interest rates concern tariffs going get trade war said doug cote chief market strategist voya investment management new york clearer heads prevailing anything buying opportunity technology gains led facebook fbo intel intco alphabet googlo microsoft msfto shares tech always lead charge bull market bull market said cote dow jones industrial average dji rose 25469 points 107 percent close 2410311 sampp 500 spx gained 3587 points 138 percent 264087 nasdaq composite ixic added 11422 points 164 percent 706345 investors unfazed economic reports showing slight increase consumer spending initial jobless claims dropping 45year low slideshow 4 images data core personal consumption expenditures pce rose 16 percent yearonyear index federal reserves preferred measure inflation us central banks 2 percent target since mid2012 amazoncom amzno closed 11 percent recovering 46 percent drop us president donald trump criticized online retailer via twitter early thursday claiming without evidence company pays little taxes state amp local governments stocks shot earlier week comments officials united states china suggested worlds two largest economies would renegotiate tariffs trade imbalances averting trade war worries retaliatory tariffs would harm global economy led investors cut equity exposure fourmonth low march reduce holdings us stocks lowest nearly two years according reuters poll facebook inc 15979 fbo nasdaq 676 442 fbo intco googlo msfto dji advancing issues outnumbered declining ones nyse 366to1 ratio nasdaq 223to1 ratio favored advancers volume us exchanges 749 billion shares compared 729 billion average last 20 trading days reporting stephen culp new york additional reporting charles mikolajczak editing james dalgleish standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters us retailer walmart inc wmtn earlystage talks health insurer humana inc humn developing closer ties acquisition humana discussed one possibility people familiar matter said thursday shopping carts seen outside new walmart express store chicago july 26 2011 reutersjohn gressfiles talks lead tieup would latest deal bring together retail chain health insurer last months following cvs health corps cvsn 69 billion deal acquire aetna inc aetn cigna corps cin 54 billion deal buy express scripts holding co esrxo walmart approached humana earlier month deliberations preliminary two sources said conversations focused new partnerships acquisition humana walmart also something discussed sources added sources asked identified deliberations confidential humana walmart declined comment walmart humana market capitalizations 264 billion 37 billion respectively acquisition humana would represent significant strategic shift walmart worlds largest retailer focused fending amazoncom inc amzno online shopping amazon also looking entering healthcare sector earlier year amazon berkshire hathaway inc brkan jpmorgan chase amp co jpmn said would form company aimed cutting healthcare costs us employees walmart inc 8897 wmtn new york stock exchange 120 137 wmtn humn cvsn aetn cin risks walmart becoming entangled complex us healthcare industry considerable especially time walmart grappling competitive challenges rapidly shifting retail market neil saunders managing director retail consultancy globaldata retail wrote note hammering agreement would walmarts largest ever corporate deal would enormous distraction saunders added walmart currently cobranded medicare drug plan humana steers patients walmart stores partnership offers prescription drug plan save 20 percent drug costs customers closer ties two companies could allow walmart tap humanas patient population expanding lowlevel medical services pharmacies avoid er visits could allow better manage prescription drug use though access medical records humanas biggest business managing medicare advantage health plans older disabled people heavily regulated business walmart would take acquisition memberships retail medicare advantage plans individuals sign directly humana rose 1 percent 286 million dec 31 employer groupbased medicare advantage membership climbed 24 percent 441400 last month walmart reported sharp drop profit online sales growth critical holiday period forecast annual profit lower end expectations reporting carl odonnell greg roumeliotis new york additional reporting nandita bose michele gershberg new york editing sandra maler leslie adler standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters online retailing behemoth amazoncom inc amzno cut ties washington lobbying firms akin gump strauss hauer amp feld llp squire patton boggs bloomberg reported friday file photo amazoncom inc driver stands next amazon delivery truck los angeles california us may 21 2016 reuterslucy nicholsonfile photo amazoncom inc 144734 amzno nasdaq 1592 111 amzno orcln changes took place week us president donald trump accused amazon tweet thursday paying enough tax taking advantage us postal system putting small retailers business amazon cut ties lobbying firms last friday place hired paul brathwaite federal street strategies llc josh holly holly strategies inc previously worked outside lobbyists airbnb inc oracle corp orcln report said citing source neither parties immediately available comment outside regular business hours ecommerce giant employs 15 lobbyists according earlier disclosures submitted us senate another 15 outside lobbying firms assign lobbyists work behalf company retailer spent 154 million 2017 lobbying washington 12 million year earlier reporting kanishka singh bengaluru editing sunil nair standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>Long protected at Arsenal by FA Cup glory, Arsene Wenger endured his earliest elimination Sunday when his title defense ended at managerless, second-tier side Nottingham Forest.</p>
<p>The decision to rest stars backfired as a 4-2 collapse saw Arsenal knocked out in the third round, when Premier League teams enter, for the first time since Wenger took charge in 1996.</p>
<p>"It hurts even more because it's a competition we love," said Wenger, who has lifted the FA Cup in three of the last four seasons and is the 145-year-old competition's most successful manager with seven triumphs.</p>
<p>While Wenger has endured a Premier League title drought since 2004, success in soccer's oldest cup competition has helped the Frenchman to gain new contracts.</p>
<p>The manner of the loss in Nottingham was mortifying for Wenger, who was forced to watch from the stands as he started a three-match touchline ban for misconduct toward a referee.</p>
<p>"They were sharper than us," Wenger said, "more incisive and more dominant in the challenges."</p>
<p>Eric Lichaj was the match-winner with two goals for Forest, which is 14th in the League Championship and without a manager since firing Mark Warburton a week ago.</p>
<p>After Lichaj headed in Kieran Dowell's free kick in the 20th minute, Per Mertesacker quickly leveled but the American defender was on target again just before halftime. Rob Holding's weak headed clearance fell straight to Lichaj, who brought the ball down with his chest and unleashed a dipping volley into the far corner of the net.</p>
<p>"My wife told me that if I get a hat trick any time during the year, then I get a dog," Lichaj said. "So I was trying to get the penalty."</p>
<p>There were two in the second half. Ben Brereton extended Forest's lead in the 64th after Holding tripped Matthew Cash.</p>
<p>Although Welbeck pulled one back - seizing on goalkeeper Jordan Smith's losing his grip on the ball - Arsenal conceded a second penalty. Mathieu Debuchy challenged former Gunners defender Armand Traore from behind and Kieran Dowell netted from the spot in the 85th.</p>
<p>With a two-goal cushion it should have been a calm conclusion for the hosts, but Joe Worrall was sent off three minutes later for a sliding tackle on Chuba Akpom.</p>
<p>It was too late for Arsenal, which rested Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, to mount a comeback.</p>
<p>And Forest secured a victory that revived memories of its heyday under Brian Clough.</p>
<p>The modest central England team stunned soccer from 1978 to 1980 when it won the top flight and then back-to-back European Cups. But Forest, which reached the FA Cup final in 1991 when it lost to Tottenham, has been out of the Premier League since 1999 and only avoided relegation to the third tier last season on goal difference.</p>
<p>Now the team, which was bought last year by Olympiakos owner Vangelis Marinakis, is preparing for the fourth round.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TOOTHLESS WEST HAM</p>
<p>While West Ham avoided being eliminated at Shrewsbury, midfielder Josh Cullen did have a tooth knocked out.</p>
<p>And the 0-0 draw means West Ham will have to face the third-tier side again with a replay at the Olympic Stadium after struggling in its third game in five days.</p>
<p>Cullen had a front tooth inadvertently kicked out by Shrewsbury midfielder Abu Ogogo as they both went for the ball in the 75th minute. The tooth was recovered from the turf, while a bloodied Cullen was cleaned up on the touchline before returning to the action.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>KANE DOUBLE</p>
<p>Like West Ham, Tottenham struggled to breakdown a third-tier side but it did find a breakthrough after 63 minutes against AFC Wimbledon.</p>
<p>Harry Kane made up for Tottenham's profligacy by scoring twice inside two minutes. And Jan Vertonghen netted from 30 yards (meters) in the 71st minute to seal a 3-0 victory at Wembley Stadium - the site of the final being used as the north London club's temporary home this season.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>LEEDS UPSET</p>
<p>Hours before Arsenal's shock loss, fourth-tier side Newport knocked out Leeds, which is 53 places higher in the league ladder in the second-tier Championship.</p>
<p>Leeds led through Gaetano Berardi's ninth-minute strike but Newport leveled through Conor Shaugnessy's own-goal in the 76th and Shawn McCoulsky's 89th-minute header sealed a 2-1 victory.</p>
<p>Leeds finished with 10 men after Spanish forward Samuel Saiz was sent off in stoppage time for spitting at Newport midfielder Robbie Willmott.</p>
<p>Long protected at Arsenal by FA Cup glory, Arsene Wenger endured his earliest elimination Sunday when his title defense ended at managerless, second-tier side Nottingham Forest.</p>
<p>The decision to rest stars backfired as a 4-2 collapse saw Arsenal knocked out in the third round, when Premier League teams enter, for the first time since Wenger took charge in 1996.</p>
<p>"It hurts even more because it's a competition we love," said Wenger, who has lifted the FA Cup in three of the last four seasons and is the 145-year-old competition's most successful manager with seven triumphs.</p>
<p>While Wenger has endured a Premier League title drought since 2004, success in soccer's oldest cup competition has helped the Frenchman to gain new contracts.</p>
<p>The manner of the loss in Nottingham was mortifying for Wenger, who was forced to watch from the stands as he started a three-match touchline ban for misconduct toward a referee.</p>
<p>"They were sharper than us," Wenger said, "more incisive and more dominant in the challenges."</p>
<p>Eric Lichaj was the match-winner with two goals for Forest, which is 14th in the League Championship and without a manager since firing Mark Warburton a week ago.</p>
<p>After Lichaj headed in Kieran Dowell's free kick in the 20th minute, Per Mertesacker quickly leveled but the American defender was on target again just before halftime. Rob Holding's weak headed clearance fell straight to Lichaj, who brought the ball down with his chest and unleashed a dipping volley into the far corner of the net.</p>
<p>"My wife told me that if I get a hat trick any time during the year, then I get a dog," Lichaj said. "So I was trying to get the penalty."</p>
<p>There were two in the second half. Ben Brereton extended Forest's lead in the 64th after Holding tripped Matthew Cash.</p>
<p>Although Welbeck pulled one back - seizing on goalkeeper Jordan Smith's losing his grip on the ball - Arsenal conceded a second penalty. Mathieu Debuchy challenged former Gunners defender Armand Traore from behind and Kieran Dowell netted from the spot in the 85th.</p>
<p>With a two-goal cushion it should have been a calm conclusion for the hosts, but Joe Worrall was sent off three minutes later for a sliding tackle on Chuba Akpom.</p>
<p>It was too late for Arsenal, which rested Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, to mount a comeback.</p>
<p>And Forest secured a victory that revived memories of its heyday under Brian Clough.</p>
<p>The modest central England team stunned soccer from 1978 to 1980 when it won the top flight and then back-to-back European Cups. But Forest, which reached the FA Cup final in 1991 when it lost to Tottenham, has been out of the Premier League since 1999 and only avoided relegation to the third tier last season on goal difference.</p>
<p>Now the team, which was bought last year by Olympiakos owner Vangelis Marinakis, is preparing for the fourth round.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TOOTHLESS WEST HAM</p>
<p>While West Ham avoided being eliminated at Shrewsbury, midfielder Josh Cullen did have a tooth knocked out.</p>
<p>And the 0-0 draw means West Ham will have to face the third-tier side again with a replay at the Olympic Stadium after struggling in its third game in five days.</p>
<p>Cullen had a front tooth inadvertently kicked out by Shrewsbury midfielder Abu Ogogo as they both went for the ball in the 75th minute. The tooth was recovered from the turf, while a bloodied Cullen was cleaned up on the touchline before returning to the action.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>KANE DOUBLE</p>
<p>Like West Ham, Tottenham struggled to breakdown a third-tier side but it did find a breakthrough after 63 minutes against AFC Wimbledon.</p>
<p>Harry Kane made up for Tottenham's profligacy by scoring twice inside two minutes. And Jan Vertonghen netted from 30 yards (meters) in the 71st minute to seal a 3-0 victory at Wembley Stadium - the site of the final being used as the north London club's temporary home this season.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>LEEDS UPSET</p>
<p>Hours before Arsenal's shock loss, fourth-tier side Newport knocked out Leeds, which is 53 places higher in the league ladder in the second-tier Championship.</p>
<p>Leeds led through Gaetano Berardi's ninth-minute strike but Newport leveled through Conor Shaugnessy's own-goal in the 76th and Shawn McCoulsky's 89th-minute header sealed a 2-1 victory.</p>
<p>Leeds finished with 10 men after Spanish forward Samuel Saiz was sent off in stoppage time for spitting at Newport midfielder Robbie Willmott.</p>
| false | 2 |
long protected arsenal fa cup glory arsene wenger endured earliest elimination sunday title defense ended managerless secondtier side nottingham forest decision rest stars backfired 42 collapse saw arsenal knocked third round premier league teams enter first time since wenger took charge 1996 hurts even competition love said wenger lifted fa cup three last four seasons 145yearold competitions successful manager seven triumphs wenger endured premier league title drought since 2004 success soccers oldest cup competition helped frenchman gain new contracts manner loss nottingham mortifying wenger forced watch stands started threematch touchline ban misconduct toward referee sharper us wenger said incisive dominant challenges eric lichaj matchwinner two goals forest 14th league championship without manager since firing mark warburton week ago lichaj headed kieran dowells free kick 20th minute per mertesacker quickly leveled american defender target halftime rob holdings weak headed clearance fell straight lichaj brought ball chest unleashed dipping volley far corner net wife told get hat trick time year get dog lichaj said trying get penalty two second half ben brereton extended forests lead 64th holding tripped matthew cash although welbeck pulled one back seizing goalkeeper jordan smiths losing grip ball arsenal conceded second penalty mathieu debuchy challenged former gunners defender armand traore behind kieran dowell netted spot 85th twogoal cushion calm conclusion hosts joe worrall sent three minutes later sliding tackle chuba akpom late arsenal rested alexis sanchez mesut ozil mount comeback forest secured victory revived memories heyday brian clough modest central england team stunned soccer 1978 1980 top flight backtoback european cups forest reached fa cup final 1991 lost tottenham premier league since 1999 avoided relegation third tier last season goal difference team bought last year olympiakos owner vangelis marinakis preparing fourth round ___ toothless west ham west ham avoided eliminated shrewsbury midfielder josh cullen tooth knocked 00 draw means west ham face thirdtier side replay olympic stadium struggling third game five days cullen front tooth inadvertently kicked shrewsbury midfielder abu ogogo went ball 75th minute tooth recovered turf bloodied cullen cleaned touchline returning action ___ kane double like west ham tottenham struggled breakdown thirdtier side find breakthrough 63 minutes afc wimbledon harry kane made tottenhams profligacy scoring twice inside two minutes jan vertonghen netted 30 yards meters 71st minute seal 30 victory wembley stadium site final used north london clubs temporary home season ___ leeds upset hours arsenals shock loss fourthtier side newport knocked leeds 53 places higher league ladder secondtier championship leeds led gaetano berardis ninthminute strike newport leveled conor shaugnessys owngoal 76th shawn mccoulskys 89thminute header sealed 21 victory leeds finished 10 men spanish forward samuel saiz sent stoppage time spitting newport midfielder robbie willmott long protected arsenal fa cup glory arsene wenger endured earliest elimination sunday title defense ended managerless secondtier side nottingham forest decision rest stars backfired 42 collapse saw arsenal knocked third round premier league teams enter first time since wenger took charge 1996 hurts even competition love said wenger lifted fa cup three last four seasons 145yearold competitions successful manager seven triumphs wenger endured premier league title drought since 2004 success soccers oldest cup competition helped frenchman gain new contracts manner loss nottingham mortifying wenger forced watch stands started threematch touchline ban misconduct toward referee sharper us wenger said incisive dominant challenges eric lichaj matchwinner two goals forest 14th league championship without manager since firing mark warburton week ago lichaj headed kieran dowells free kick 20th minute per mertesacker quickly leveled american defender target halftime rob holdings weak headed clearance fell straight lichaj brought ball chest unleashed dipping volley far corner net wife told get hat trick time year get dog lichaj said trying get penalty two second half ben brereton extended forests lead 64th holding tripped matthew cash although welbeck pulled one back seizing goalkeeper jordan smiths losing grip ball arsenal conceded second penalty mathieu debuchy challenged former gunners defender armand traore behind kieran dowell netted spot 85th twogoal cushion calm conclusion hosts joe worrall sent three minutes later sliding tackle chuba akpom late arsenal rested alexis sanchez mesut ozil mount comeback forest secured victory revived memories heyday brian clough modest central england team stunned soccer 1978 1980 top flight backtoback european cups forest reached fa cup final 1991 lost tottenham premier league since 1999 avoided relegation third tier last season goal difference team bought last year olympiakos owner vangelis marinakis preparing fourth round ___ toothless west ham west ham avoided eliminated shrewsbury midfielder josh cullen tooth knocked 00 draw means west ham face thirdtier side replay olympic stadium struggling third game five days cullen front tooth inadvertently kicked shrewsbury midfielder abu ogogo went ball 75th minute tooth recovered turf bloodied cullen cleaned touchline returning action ___ kane double like west ham tottenham struggled breakdown thirdtier side find breakthrough 63 minutes afc wimbledon harry kane made tottenhams profligacy scoring twice inside two minutes jan vertonghen netted 30 yards meters 71st minute seal 30 victory wembley stadium site final used north london clubs temporary home season ___ leeds upset hours arsenals shock loss fourthtier side newport knocked leeds 53 places higher league ladder secondtier championship leeds led gaetano berardis ninthminute strike newport leveled conor shaugnessys owngoal 76th shawn mccoulskys 89thminute header sealed 21 victory leeds finished 10 men spanish forward samuel saiz sent stoppage time spitting newport midfielder robbie willmott
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<p>Galecki, who will be in town this week for the Las Cruces International Film Festival, is best known for his roles as Darlene’s love interest, David Healy, in “Roseanne,” and as Leonard Hofstadter in the CBS sitcom “The Big Bang Theory.” He grew up in Oak Park, Illinois, and spent much of his childhood in the theaters in and around Chicago.</p>
<p>“I talked about becoming an actor when I was 3 years old,” Galecki told the Sun-News last week. “How that was even part of my vocabulary, I have no idea. No one in my immediate family was an actor, and we didn’t have a neighbor who was an actor. We certainly didn’t have the money to go and see a movie, nevermind the theater. My parents weren’t unsupportive — they just had no idea what to do with this strange ambition from this strange toddler.”</p>
<p>They tried to dissuade him with several years of “soccer and T-ball, and other epic failures of my childhood,” he said with a laugh. Then, when he was 7, his parents discovered open auditions for a community theater production of “Fiddler on the Roof,” just down the street from his house.</p>
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<p>“The explained to me that we were going to watch people audition — that it’s how actors get roles,” he recalled. “We did. I ended up jumping onstage and singing something, terribly, with a bunch of gum in my mouth. They thought I was precocious enough to put in the chorus of the production. I was the only kid.”</p>
<p>He’d spend the next several years, after earning the interest and support of the Chicago theater community, learning the ropes.</p>
<p>“I did a lot of theater growing up,” he said. “I didn’t do a lot of commercials or industrials, because I didn’t enjoy doing them, if there wasn’t a character to play or a story to tell. Thankfully, my parents let me get away with not doing many of those — even though it would’ve been helpful for the economics of our family.”</p>
<p>Around age 13, he got what would turn out to be his first big break, when he was cast as Rusty in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”</p>
<p>“I made a tape for that in my agent’s office in Chicago, and the next thing I knew I was on a plane to Los Angeles to read with Chevy Chase,” he said. “It was mind-boggling.”</p>
<p>He had already acted in a handful of smaller film roles, but nothing that was career-launching.</p>
<p>“There have probably been two dozen jobs I thought were going to be my ‘big break,'” he said. “And they may have, for a moment. But sometimes people never see them, they come and go real fast. If you’ve been doing it for a while, you kind of stop thinking that way, because you never know what will resonate with an audience.”</p>
<p>Galecki said Chase was the first to try to teach him the art of comedy.</p>
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<p>“He really took the time and attempted to teach me about comedy timing,” he said. “He was incredibly patient with me, and very generous with his time — because I hadn’t really done comedy before.”</p>
<p>Galecki was later cast by Roseanne Barr to play her son in the made-for-TV movie “Backfield in Motion.” She was so impressed with him, she asked him to appear on her sitcom, “Roseanne.” It was intended to be a one-time appearance, but she ended up writing him into the recurring role of David Healy.</p>
<p>“It was the No. 1 show in the country at the time,” Galecki said. “More than anything, that was a real learning process for me. It put 40 million new pairs of eyes on me, many of whom had never seen me before. Fortunately, I was in good hands with that cast.”</p>
<p>The cast of “Roseanne” was very close, and Galecki said he had “a trio of incredible professors” — in Barr, John Goodman and Laurie Metcalf.</p>
<p>“I hadn’t really co-authored a character before — a character’s backstory,” he said. “The cast of Roseanne was extremely helpful in showing me how to craft that.”</p>
<p>Those lessons he learned while working on the show have served him well in his current role on “The Big Bang Theory.” When asked how much he is like his character, Leonard, Galecki responds, “Not at all. Not one iota.”</p>
<p>“Which is good,” he added. “Because I feel the more a character is similar to you, the more uncomfortable it can be to play that character. It’s probably the No. 1 reason I’ve enjoyed playing Leonard for 10 years. Jim Parsons (who plays Sheldon) once said that Leonard and I have a similar degree of sensitivity — which might not be completely untrue — but that’s it. As far as likenesses or intelligence or common interests — ZERO.”</p>
<p>He said he doesn’t worry much about getting typecast because of his role as Leonard.</p>
<p>“I’ve just kind of come to terms with the fact that that’s always going to be the case,” he said. “I accepted that years ago — not with Leonard, in particular, but with any role that one has done even an OK job at. That’s what they want you to do next. Ironically, the first time I ever heard anyone say that I had ‘range’ was after I played myself on three episodes of ‘Entourage.'”</p>
<p>Off the set, Galecki is committed to a number of philanthropic causes.</p>
<p>“Environmental issues are extremely important to me,” he said. “My father was a teacher of blind veterans at a VA hospital outside of Chicago, and that occupies a big piece of real estate in my heart. And ‘Big Bang’ is the first TV show to ever band together and start a foundation of any sort. But ours is for scholarships for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) students.”</p>
<p>The Big Bang Theory Scholarship Endowment at the University of California, Los Angeles, began in 2015, with an initial donation of more than $4 million from the Chuck Lorre Family Foundation and gifts from nearly 50 people associated with the show, including Galecki and his co-stars, Parsons, Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch.</p>
<p>Five students receive the Big Bang Theory Scholarship each year, and will do so in perpetuity.</p>
<p>Galecki said he has never been to Las Cruces, and his visit to the Las Cruces International Film Festival will be his first.</p>
<p>“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “I’m really jazzed about it.”</p>
<p>Galecki will host a comedy workshop at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Rio Grande Theatre, 211 N. Main St. The workshop will also feature Don Foster, who has worked as a writer on a number of television sitcoms, including four seasons on “The Big Bang Theory.” The event is free and open to the public. Galecki is being honored with the film festival’s “Outstanding Achievement in Comedy” award, to be presented during the Filmmaker Awards Reception at 9 p.m. Saturday at De La Vega’s Pecan Grill and Brewery. The awards ceremony is open to sponsors, filmmakers and VIP Pass holders.</p>
<p>Damien Willis may be reached at 575-541-5468, [email protected] or @damienwillis on Twitter.</p>
<p>——</p>
<p>©2017 the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.)</p>
<p>Visit the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.) at <a href="http://www.lcsun-news.com" type="external">www.lcsun-news.com</a></p>
<p>Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.</p>
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galecki town week las cruces international film festival best known roles darlenes love interest david healy roseanne leonard hofstadter cbs sitcom big bang theory grew oak park illinois spent much childhood theaters around chicago talked becoming actor 3 years old galecki told sunnews last week even part vocabulary idea one immediate family actor didnt neighbor actor certainly didnt money go see movie nevermind theater parents werent unsupportive idea strange ambition strange toddler tried dissuade several years soccer tball epic failures childhood said laugh 7 parents discovered open auditions community theater production fiddler roof street house advertisement explained going watch people audition actors get roles recalled ended jumping onstage singing something terribly bunch gum mouth thought precocious enough put chorus production kid hed spend next several years earning interest support chicago theater community learning ropes lot theater growing said didnt lot commercials industrials didnt enjoy wasnt character play story tell thankfully parents let get away many even though wouldve helpful economics family around age 13 got would turn first big break cast rusty national lampoons christmas vacation made tape agents office chicago next thing knew plane los angeles read chevy chase said mindboggling already acted handful smaller film roles nothing careerlaunching probably two dozen jobs thought going big break said may moment sometimes people never see come go real fast youve kind stop thinking way never know resonate audience galecki said chase first try teach art comedy advertisement really took time attempted teach comedy timing said incredibly patient generous time hadnt really done comedy galecki later cast roseanne barr play son madefortv movie backfield motion impressed asked appear sitcom roseanne intended onetime appearance ended writing recurring role david healy 1 show country time galecki said anything real learning process put 40 million new pairs eyes many never seen fortunately good hands cast cast roseanne close galecki said trio incredible professors barr john goodman laurie metcalf hadnt really coauthored character characters backstory said cast roseanne extremely helpful showing craft lessons learned working show served well current role big bang theory asked much like character leonard galecki responds one iota good added feel character similar uncomfortable play character probably 1 reason ive enjoyed playing leonard 10 years jim parsons plays sheldon said leonard similar degree sensitivity might completely untrue thats far likenesses intelligence common interests zero said doesnt worry much getting typecast role leonard ive kind come terms fact thats always going case said accepted years ago leonard particular role one done even ok job thats want next ironically first time ever heard anyone say range played three episodes entourage set galecki committed number philanthropic causes environmental issues extremely important said father teacher blind veterans va hospital outside chicago occupies big piece real estate heart big bang first tv show ever band together start foundation sort scholarships stem science technology engineering math students big bang theory scholarship endowment university california los angeles began 2015 initial donation 4 million chuck lorre family foundation gifts nearly 50 people associated show including galecki costars parsons kaley cuocosweeting simon helberg kunal nayyar mayim bialik melissa rauch five students receive big bang theory scholarship year perpetuity galecki said never las cruces visit las cruces international film festival first im looking forward said im really jazzed galecki host comedy workshop 230 pm saturday rio grande theatre 211 n main st workshop also feature foster worked writer number television sitcoms including four seasons big bang theory event free open public galecki honored film festivals outstanding achievement comedy award presented filmmaker awards reception 9 pm saturday de la vegas pecan grill brewery awards ceremony open sponsors filmmakers vip pass holders damien willis may reached 5755415468 dawillislcsunnewscom damienwillis twitter 2017 las cruces sunnews las cruces nm visit las cruces sunnews las cruces nm wwwlcsunnewscom distributed tribune content agency llc _____
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<p>There has been considerable discussion of Governor Romney’s views about the causes of climate change and about policies such as cap and trade. It’s not easy, however, to find detailed documentation. For that reason, I’ve assembled as much information as I could find about what Romney has said and done over the years, with links to sources (including video or original documents when I could find them).</p>
<p>Jan. 2003. Romney takes office as Governor of Massachusetts.</p>
<p>July 21, 2003. In a <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Letter-from-Romney-to-Pataki-RGGI.pdf" type="external">letter</a> to New York Governor George Pataki, Romney says : “Thank you for your invitation to embark on a cooperative northeast process to reduce the power plant pollution that is harming our climate. I concur that climate change is beginning to effect on [sic] our natural resources and that now is the time to take action toward climate protection. . . . I believe that our joint work to create a flexible market-based regional cap and trade system could serve as an effective approach to meeting these goals.”</p>
<p>Jan. 2004 to July 2005. “During his first 18 months as governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney spent considerable time hammering out a sweeping climate change plan to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions.” ( <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jun/13/nation/la-na-romney-energy-20120613" type="external">L.A. Times</a>).</p>
<p>May 6, 2004. Romney announces the <a href="http://www.newamerica.net/files/MAClimateProtPlan0504.pdf" type="external">Massachusetts Climate Protection Plan</a>. The Plan was Massachusetts’ effort to implement a regional climate change plan adopted by the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG/ECP) in August 2001. The plan’s medium term goal was to reduce GHG emissions 10% below 1990 levels by 2020. The plan stresses voluntary measures by business in conjunction with a carbon registry and with carbon reductions by government – but it also says: “Massachusetts is committed to active participation in the effort to develop a multi-state cap and trade program covering greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions.”</p>
<p>According to Romney, the plan would make sense because of its other benefits even if it turned out later that climate change was not a problem: “Although many of the policies will not be easy to implement, the benefits will be long-lasting and enormous – benefits to our health, our economy, our quality of life, our very landscape. These are actions we can and must take now, if we are to have ‘no regrets’ when we transfer our temporary stewardship of this earth to the next generation.” Also, the plan states, “A consensus of climate change scientists agrees that the increasing concentrations of GHGs are causing a rise in average global temperatures.”</p>
<p>Nov. 7, 2005. “On Nov. 7, 2005, Mr. Romney hailed the proposed nine-state climate-change agreement [the RGGI cap-and trade system] as ‘good business’ that would spur investment in renewable energy while having only moderate effects on energy bills.” Then “alarm bells went off in the business community.” Later, Romney said he became concerned about the lack of a cap on permit prices. ( <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204505304577004352121240264.html" type="external">Wall Street Journal</a>).</p>
<p>Dec. 2005. Romney changes course on regional cap-and-trade program (RGGI): “in mid-December Romney abruptly pulled his state out — despite the fact that several staffers in his administration had spent two and a half years and more than half a million dollars negotiating and shaping the deal.” ( <a href="http://www.salon.com/2006/01/28/muckraker_29/" type="external">Salon</a>).</p>
<p>Dec. 2005. Romney announces he will not run for reelection as governor. ( <a href="https://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/12/14/romney_to_announce_he_wont_seek_re_election/" type="external">Boston Globe</a>).</p>
<p>2006. “Laying the foundation of a presidential candidacy, Governor Mitt Romney has spent all or part of 212 days outside Massachusetts so far in 2006, an average of more than four days on the road each week, a Globe review of his public schedules shows.” ( <a href="https://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/12/24/romney_left_mass_on_212_days_in_06/" type="external">Boston Globe</a>).</p>
<p>March 16, 2006. Romney signs smart-growth legislation. ( <a href="http://myclob.pbworks.com/w/page/21955991/03-16-2006" type="external">press release</a>).</p>
<p>2007-2008. Romney’s first presidential run.</p>
<p>Feb. 23, 2007. “Unfortunately, some in the Republican Party are embracing the radical environmental ideas of the liberal left. As governor, I found that thoughtful environmentalism need not be anti-growth and anti-jobs. But Kyoto-style sweeping mandates, imposed unilaterally in the United States, would kill jobs, depress growth and shift manufacturing to the dirtiest developing nations. . . . Republicans should never abandon pro-growth conservative principles in an effort to embrace the ideas of Al Gore. Instead of sweeping mandates, we must use America’s power of innovation to develop alternative sources of energy and new technologies that use energy more efficiently.” ( <a href="http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=95678" type="external">UCSB</a>).</p>
<p>May 2007. “There are a lot of people who are concerned about global warming. I think we’re probably experiencing a change in our climate. Human activity may well be contributing to it. I think it probably is. What I don’t know is how much of the change is due to human activity, and what action we can take that would change the trajectory of the things we’re seeing. “ (emphasis added) He calls for “no regrets” policies and says the developing countries must share in any effort to set an international cap. (video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnryDuV9_SI&amp;feature=player_embedded" type="external">here</a>).</p>
<p>2010. In his book, No Apology, Romney says: “I believe that climate change is occurring. … I also believe that human activity is a contributing factor. I am uncertain how much of the warming, however, is attributable to man and how much is attributable to factors out of our control.” (emphasis added) He discusses swapping the payroll tax for a carbon tax, comparing this option favorably with cap-and-trade as a policy measure. He opposes unilateral U.S. action such as a cap-and-trade policy as economically disastrous and ineffective.</p>
<p>June 2011. Romney announces presidential run.</p>
<p>June 3, 2011. Romney: “I think it’s important for us to reduce our emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases that may well be significant contributors to the climate change and global warming that you’re seeing,” ( <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/62022.html" type="external">Politico</a>)</p>
<p>Oct. 28, 2011. Speaking at the Consol Energy Center, Romney said, “My view is that we don’t know what’s causing climate change on this planet.” ( <a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/10/28/141807732/romney-seemingly-shifts-on-climate-change" type="external">NPR</a>) He also says “I do not believe in a cap and trade program.” The speech stresses energy independence and aggressive development of fossil fuels, saying “let the drillers start drilling.” (Video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmfoQZMzsh8" type="external">here</a>)</p>
<p>May 30, 2012. Romney cinches nomination with Texas primary win. ( <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/05/29/romney-clinches-gop-nomination-with-texas-primary-win/" type="external">Fox</a>)</p>
<p>July 11, 2012. According to a campaign surrogate: “Although Romney does not support EPA’s climate regulations, he is ‘certainly not a denier’ when it comes to the reality of climate change and the fact that human activities are contributing to rising global temperatures . . . But he does not believe unilateral regulations in the United States would be effective because of rising emissions from countries in the developing world, such as India and China.” ( <a href="http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2012/07/11/4" type="external">E&amp;E News</a>).</p>
<p>&#160;This post originally appeared on Legal Planet.</p>
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considerable discussion governor romneys views causes climate change policies cap trade easy however find detailed documentation reason ive assembled much information could find romney said done years links sources including video original documents could find jan 2003 romney takes office governor massachusetts july 21 2003 letter new york governor george pataki romney says thank invitation embark cooperative northeast process reduce power plant pollution harming climate concur climate change beginning effect sic natural resources time take action toward climate protection believe joint work create flexible marketbased regional cap trade system could serve effective approach meeting goals jan 2004 july 2005 first 18 months governor massachusetts mitt romney spent considerable time hammering sweeping climate change plan reduce states greenhouse gas emissions la times may 6 2004 romney announces massachusetts climate protection plan plan massachusetts effort implement regional climate change plan adopted new england governors eastern canadian premiers negecp august 2001 plans medium term goal reduce ghg emissions 10 1990 levels 2020 plan stresses voluntary measures business conjunction carbon registry carbon reductions government also says massachusetts committed active participation effort develop multistate cap trade program covering greenhouse gases ghg emissions according romney plan would make sense benefits even turned later climate change problem although many policies easy implement benefits longlasting enormous benefits health economy quality life landscape actions must take regrets transfer temporary stewardship earth next generation also plan states consensus climate change scientists agrees increasing concentrations ghgs causing rise average global temperatures nov 7 2005 nov 7 2005 mr romney hailed proposed ninestate climatechange agreement rggi capand trade system good business would spur investment renewable energy moderate effects energy bills alarm bells went business community later romney said became concerned lack cap permit prices wall street journal dec 2005 romney changes course regional capandtrade program rggi middecember romney abruptly pulled state despite fact several staffers administration spent two half years half million dollars negotiating shaping deal salon dec 2005 romney announces run reelection governor boston globe 2006 laying foundation presidential candidacy governor mitt romney spent part 212 days outside massachusetts far 2006 average four days road week globe review public schedules shows boston globe march 16 2006 romney signs smartgrowth legislation press release 20072008 romneys first presidential run feb 23 2007 unfortunately republican party embracing radical environmental ideas liberal left governor found thoughtful environmentalism need antigrowth antijobs kyotostyle sweeping mandates imposed unilaterally united states would kill jobs depress growth shift manufacturing dirtiest developing nations republicans never abandon progrowth conservative principles effort embrace ideas al gore instead sweeping mandates must use americas power innovation develop alternative sources energy new technologies use energy efficiently ucsb may 2007 lot people concerned global warming think probably experiencing change climate human activity may well contributing think probably dont know much change due human activity action take would change trajectory things seeing emphasis added calls regrets policies says developing countries must share effort set international cap video 2010 book apology romney says believe climate change occurring also believe human activity contributing factor uncertain much warming however attributable man much attributable factors control emphasis added discusses swapping payroll tax carbon tax comparing option favorably capandtrade policy measure opposes unilateral us action capandtrade policy economically disastrous ineffective june 2011 romney announces presidential run june 3 2011 romney think important us reduce emissions pollutants greenhouse gases may well significant contributors climate change global warming youre seeing politico oct 28 2011 speaking consol energy center romney said view dont know whats causing climate change planet npr also says believe cap trade program speech stresses energy independence aggressive development fossil fuels saying let drillers start drilling video may 30 2012 romney cinches nomination texas primary win fox july 11 2012 according campaign surrogate although romney support epas climate regulations certainly denier comes reality climate change fact human activities contributing rising global temperatures believe unilateral regulations united states would effective rising emissions countries developing world india china eampe news 160this post originally appeared legal planet
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<p>LOS ANGELES (AP) — The governor of California once again denied parole Friday for Leslie Van Houten, the youngest follower of murderous cult leader Charles Manson who blamed herself at her parole hearing for letting him control her life.</p>
<p>Gov. Jerry Brown said in his decision that Van Houten still lays too much of the blame on Manson, who died two months ago at 83.</p>
<p>Brown acknowledged that Van Houten's youth at the time of the crime, her more than four decades as a model prisoner and her abuse at the hands of Manson make it worth considering her release.</p>
<p>"However," he wrote in his decision "these factors are outweighed by negative factors that demonstrate she remains unsuitable for parole."</p>
<p>The 68-year-old Van Houten is serving life for the murders of wealthy grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary, when Van Houten was 19. They were stabbed a day after other Manson followers killed pregnant actress Sharon Tate and four other people in Los Angeles.</p>
<p>Van Houten's attorney, Rich Pfeiffer, said Brown's decision shows an unprecedented and unlawful reliance to deny parole based on the circumstances of the crime, rather than the inmate's fitness.</p>
<p>"We're going to challenge this in court," Pfeiffer said. "I expect the courts to uphold the law and allow her to be released."</p>
<p>Pfeiffer added that he has "dozens of clients who have done much worse deeds than Leslie has done and they're out leading productive lives."</p>
<p>Van Houten has long been considered among the most likely candidates among Manson "family" members to be paroled, But Brown, like Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger before him, has steadfastly refused to let anyone associated with Manson's killings go free.</p>
<p>It's the second time Brown has blocked parole for Van Houten after a state parole panel recommended that she be freed.</p>
<p>Brown wrote Friday that Van Houten "played a vital part in the LaBianca murders, one of the most notorious of the Manson family crimes. The devastation and loss experienced by the LaBianca family and all the victims' families continues today."</p>
<p>Although she said at her September parole hearing that she accepts full responsibility for her role, Van Houten "still shifted blame for her own actions onto Manson to some extent."</p>
<p>Brown recalled Van Houten saying that she takes responsibility for "Manson being able to do what he did to all of us. I allowed it. I accept responsibility that I allowed him to conduct my life in that way."</p>
<p>She appeared frail at the parole hearing with her silver hair pulled back in a bun, almost unrecognizable from the young woman who pledged her allegiance to Manson.</p>
<p>She said at the hearing that she was devastated when her parents divorced when she was 14. Soon after, she said, she began hanging out with her school's outcast crowd and using drugs in the Los Angeles suburb of Monrovia. When she was 17, she and her boyfriend ran away to San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury District during the city' summer of love.</p>
<p>She was traveling up and down the California coast when acquaintances led her to Manson, who was holed up at an abandoned movie ranch on the outskirts of Los Angeles where he had recruited what he called a "family" to survive what he insisted would be a race war he would launch by committing a series of random, horrifying murders.</p>
<p>At her hearing, Van Houten candidly described how she joined several other members of the group in killing the LaBiancas, carving up Leno LaBianca's body and smearing the couple's blood on the walls.</p>
<p>No one who took part in the Tate-LaBianca murders has been released from prison.</p>
<p>Manson died of natural causes on Nov. 20 at a California hospital while serving a life sentence. A man who befriended him through letters and another who purports to be his grandson are fighting in court over his body and possessions.</p>
<p>LOS ANGELES (AP) — The governor of California once again denied parole Friday for Leslie Van Houten, the youngest follower of murderous cult leader Charles Manson who blamed herself at her parole hearing for letting him control her life.</p>
<p>Gov. Jerry Brown said in his decision that Van Houten still lays too much of the blame on Manson, who died two months ago at 83.</p>
<p>Brown acknowledged that Van Houten's youth at the time of the crime, her more than four decades as a model prisoner and her abuse at the hands of Manson make it worth considering her release.</p>
<p>"However," he wrote in his decision "these factors are outweighed by negative factors that demonstrate she remains unsuitable for parole."</p>
<p>The 68-year-old Van Houten is serving life for the murders of wealthy grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary, when Van Houten was 19. They were stabbed a day after other Manson followers killed pregnant actress Sharon Tate and four other people in Los Angeles.</p>
<p>Van Houten's attorney, Rich Pfeiffer, said Brown's decision shows an unprecedented and unlawful reliance to deny parole based on the circumstances of the crime, rather than the inmate's fitness.</p>
<p>"We're going to challenge this in court," Pfeiffer said. "I expect the courts to uphold the law and allow her to be released."</p>
<p>Pfeiffer added that he has "dozens of clients who have done much worse deeds than Leslie has done and they're out leading productive lives."</p>
<p>Van Houten has long been considered among the most likely candidates among Manson "family" members to be paroled, But Brown, like Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger before him, has steadfastly refused to let anyone associated with Manson's killings go free.</p>
<p>It's the second time Brown has blocked parole for Van Houten after a state parole panel recommended that she be freed.</p>
<p>Brown wrote Friday that Van Houten "played a vital part in the LaBianca murders, one of the most notorious of the Manson family crimes. The devastation and loss experienced by the LaBianca family and all the victims' families continues today."</p>
<p>Although she said at her September parole hearing that she accepts full responsibility for her role, Van Houten "still shifted blame for her own actions onto Manson to some extent."</p>
<p>Brown recalled Van Houten saying that she takes responsibility for "Manson being able to do what he did to all of us. I allowed it. I accept responsibility that I allowed him to conduct my life in that way."</p>
<p>She appeared frail at the parole hearing with her silver hair pulled back in a bun, almost unrecognizable from the young woman who pledged her allegiance to Manson.</p>
<p>She said at the hearing that she was devastated when her parents divorced when she was 14. Soon after, she said, she began hanging out with her school's outcast crowd and using drugs in the Los Angeles suburb of Monrovia. When she was 17, she and her boyfriend ran away to San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury District during the city' summer of love.</p>
<p>She was traveling up and down the California coast when acquaintances led her to Manson, who was holed up at an abandoned movie ranch on the outskirts of Los Angeles where he had recruited what he called a "family" to survive what he insisted would be a race war he would launch by committing a series of random, horrifying murders.</p>
<p>At her hearing, Van Houten candidly described how she joined several other members of the group in killing the LaBiancas, carving up Leno LaBianca's body and smearing the couple's blood on the walls.</p>
<p>No one who took part in the Tate-LaBianca murders has been released from prison.</p>
<p>Manson died of natural causes on Nov. 20 at a California hospital while serving a life sentence. A man who befriended him through letters and another who purports to be his grandson are fighting in court over his body and possessions.</p>
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los angeles ap governor california denied parole friday leslie van houten youngest follower murderous cult leader charles manson blamed parole hearing letting control life gov jerry brown said decision van houten still lays much blame manson died two months ago 83 brown acknowledged van houtens youth time crime four decades model prisoner abuse hands manson make worth considering release however wrote decision factors outweighed negative factors demonstrate remains unsuitable parole 68yearold van houten serving life murders wealthy grocer leno labianca wife rosemary van houten 19 stabbed day manson followers killed pregnant actress sharon tate four people los angeles van houtens attorney rich pfeiffer said browns decision shows unprecedented unlawful reliance deny parole based circumstances crime rather inmates fitness going challenge court pfeiffer said expect courts uphold law allow released pfeiffer added dozens clients done much worse deeds leslie done theyre leading productive lives van houten long considered among likely candidates among manson family members paroled brown like gov arnold schwarzenegger steadfastly refused let anyone associated mansons killings go free second time brown blocked parole van houten state parole panel recommended freed brown wrote friday van houten played vital part labianca murders one notorious manson family crimes devastation loss experienced labianca family victims families continues today although said september parole hearing accepts full responsibility role van houten still shifted blame actions onto manson extent brown recalled van houten saying takes responsibility manson able us allowed accept responsibility allowed conduct life way appeared frail parole hearing silver hair pulled back bun almost unrecognizable young woman pledged allegiance manson said hearing devastated parents divorced 14 soon said began hanging schools outcast crowd using drugs los angeles suburb monrovia 17 boyfriend ran away san franciscos haightashbury district city summer love traveling california coast acquaintances led manson holed abandoned movie ranch outskirts los angeles recruited called family survive insisted would race war would launch committing series random horrifying murders hearing van houten candidly described joined several members group killing labiancas carving leno labiancas body smearing couples blood walls one took part tatelabianca murders released prison manson died natural causes nov 20 california hospital serving life sentence man befriended letters another purports grandson fighting court body possessions los angeles ap governor california denied parole friday leslie van houten youngest follower murderous cult leader charles manson blamed parole hearing letting control life gov jerry brown said decision van houten still lays much blame manson died two months ago 83 brown acknowledged van houtens youth time crime four decades model prisoner abuse hands manson make worth considering release however wrote decision factors outweighed negative factors demonstrate remains unsuitable parole 68yearold van houten serving life murders wealthy grocer leno labianca wife rosemary van houten 19 stabbed day manson followers killed pregnant actress sharon tate four people los angeles van houtens attorney rich pfeiffer said browns decision shows unprecedented unlawful reliance deny parole based circumstances crime rather inmates fitness going challenge court pfeiffer said expect courts uphold law allow released pfeiffer added dozens clients done much worse deeds leslie done theyre leading productive lives van houten long considered among likely candidates among manson family members paroled brown like gov arnold schwarzenegger steadfastly refused let anyone associated mansons killings go free second time brown blocked parole van houten state parole panel recommended freed brown wrote friday van houten played vital part labianca murders one notorious manson family crimes devastation loss experienced labianca family victims families continues today although said september parole hearing accepts full responsibility role van houten still shifted blame actions onto manson extent brown recalled van houten saying takes responsibility manson able us allowed accept responsibility allowed conduct life way appeared frail parole hearing silver hair pulled back bun almost unrecognizable young woman pledged allegiance manson said hearing devastated parents divorced 14 soon said began hanging schools outcast crowd using drugs los angeles suburb monrovia 17 boyfriend ran away san franciscos haightashbury district city summer love traveling california coast acquaintances led manson holed abandoned movie ranch outskirts los angeles recruited called family survive insisted would race war would launch committing series random horrifying murders hearing van houten candidly described joined several members group killing labiancas carving leno labiancas body smearing couples blood walls one took part tatelabianca murders released prison manson died natural causes nov 20 california hospital serving life sentence man befriended letters another purports grandson fighting court body possessions
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<p>WASHINGTON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - White House budget director Mike Mulvaney said on Friday he expects an agreement will be reached in the next 24 hours to fund the U.S. government, which will shut down at midnight unless a deal is agreed upon.</p>
<p>“I think there is a deal in the next 24 hours because of the nature of the back and forth between the House and the Senate I look at more in terms of what gets done before the offices are supposed to open on Monday,” Mulvaney told CNN. (Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Eric Walsh)</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>
<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>
<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> 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>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>(Reuters) - John-David Bowman, Arizona’s 2015 “Teacher of the Year,” considers himself lucky: he can do the job he loves without worrying about supporting his family because of his wife’s higher salary.</p> High school teacher, John-David Bowman, poses for a portrait in a classroom in Mesa, Arizona, U.S., in this handout photo provided April 4, 2018. Courtesy Rebecca Nicol/Handout via REUTERS
<p>Jenny Vargas, an Oklahoma teacher and divorced mother of a 6-year-old daughter, said that after three years on the job she decided to leave her home state for a job in Kansas, where she can earn $8,000 more a year.</p>
<p>Her story is similar to those of thousands of teachers taking part in job actions in the past month in Kentucky, West Virginia, and Oklahoma over long-stagnant pay and school budgets.</p>
<p>Kentucky teachers are also objecting to new limits on the state’s underfunded public employee pension system. In Arizona, teachers have threatened job actions as they demand more spending on schools.</p>
<p>And problems could be brewing in the low-teacher pay states of North Carolina and Mississippi, according to Michael Leachman, director of state fiscal research at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.</p>
<p>The walk-outs are in states where largely Republican-controlled legislatures have cut funding for public schools, primarily as a means of cutting or at least holding the line on taxes.</p> Teacher Jenny Vargas poses for photos at a rally outside the state Capitol on the second day of a teacher walkout to demand higher pay and more funding for education in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S., April 3, 2018. Courtesy Ginny Duncan/Handout via REUTERS
<p>Porter Davis, a founding member of Oklahoma Taxpayers Unite, which seeks more transparent and fiscally responsible state government, said that rather than raising taxes, eliminating bureaucracy and waste would free money for education.</p>
<p>“We’re not going to fight with the teachers. That’s not our beef,” the former Republican state representative said in a telephone interview. “The answer is real structural reform ... with everything in government.”</p>
<p>Vargas, who teaches second grade in Tulsa, joined thousands of Oklahoma teachers who jammed the state Capitol in Oklahoma City this week. Others held sympathy rallies around the state.</p>
<p>They demanded lawmakers pass a tax package that would raise another $200 million for the state school budget to provide up-to-date books and other classroom materials. The protests continued on Wednesday.</p>
<p>“It was never my intention to leave the state of Oklahoma,” Vargas said in a telephone interview. Despite her love for her students, she laments that she made more per year working at Walmart as a student than she does teaching, and said she is moving to give her daughter a better life.</p>
<p>Oklahoma ranked 47th in spending per student, according to National Education Association data. Its average salary for a high school teacher is $42,460, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data.</p>
<p>Anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist said few workers in Oklahoma have the generous packages enjoyed by teachers. He said news accounts about protests in Oklahoma and West Virginia focused almost entirely on pay while giving little attention to teachers’ public pensions, summers off and other benefits.</p>
<p>“If Oklahoma is like any other state, the pay for public workers is higher than that for private workers,” Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, said in a telephone interview.</p> Teachers rally outside the state Capitol for the second day of a teacher walkout to demand higher pay and more funding for education in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S., April 3, 2018. REUTERS/Nick Oxford
<p>Bowman earns slightly over $50,000 a year for teaching social studies at a high school in Mesa, Arizona. He earns more than the $48,020 mean for the state, though that is below the $58,030 national median, according to the BLS.</p>
<p>Over his 11 years of teaching, pay raises have not kept pace with the cost of living in the fast-growing Phoenix area, Bowman said. Many of his colleagues wait tables, mow lawns or drive for ride-share services to make ends meet. He has boosted his pay with extracurricular assignments including coaching baseball, he said.</p>
<p>“I decided to teach because I felt it would be a job I could do for a couple of years and I could give back to my community,” Bowman said.&#160;“But I fell in love with the profession.”</p>
<p>He has been able to stay because his wife, a designer, earns considerably more than he does.</p>
<p>Education union leaders have warned that cuts in school spending across the country are scaring away future teachers.</p>
<p>A report last year by the Morrison Institute for Public Policy at Arizona State University found that almost a quarter of the state’s teachers hired between 2013 and 2015 were no longer teaching after a year, while 42 percent of teachers hired in 2013 lasted no more than three years.</p>
<p>“We are at a crisis now where if you go to the colleges of education, every single one of them will tell you they are seeing a drop in the number of applicants,” said&#160;Lily Eskelsen Garcia, president of the National Education Association union.</p>
<p>Realizing that low wages will make it difficult for teachers to pay for the advanced degrees that the field requires, she added, “Parents are telling their sons and daughters, ‘Don’t become a teacher.’”</p>
<p>Reporting by Bernie Woodall in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Barbara Goldberg in New York, additional reporting by Ian Simpson in Washington and Ben Klayman in Detroit; Writing by Scott Malone; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe, Frank McGurty</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
washington jan 19 reuters white house budget director mike mulvaney said friday expects agreement reached next 24 hours fund us government shut midnight unless deal agreed upon think deal next 24 hours nature back forth house senate look terms gets done offices supposed open monday mulvaney told cnn reporting eric beech editing eric walsh 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 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 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 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 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 reuters johndavid bowman arizonas 2015 teacher year considers lucky job loves without worrying supporting family wifes higher salary high school teacher johndavid bowman poses portrait classroom mesa arizona us handout photo provided april 4 2018 courtesy rebecca nicolhandout via reuters jenny vargas oklahoma teacher divorced mother 6yearold daughter said three years job decided leave home state job kansas earn 8000 year story similar thousands teachers taking part job actions past month kentucky west virginia oklahoma longstagnant pay school budgets kentucky teachers also objecting new limits states underfunded public employee pension system arizona teachers threatened job actions demand spending schools problems could brewing lowteacher pay states north carolina mississippi according michael leachman director state fiscal research center budget policy priorities walkouts states largely republicancontrolled legislatures cut funding public schools primarily means cutting least holding line taxes teacher jenny vargas poses photos rally outside state capitol second day teacher walkout demand higher pay funding education oklahoma city oklahoma us april 3 2018 courtesy ginny duncanhandout via reuters porter davis founding member oklahoma taxpayers unite seeks transparent fiscally responsible state government said rather raising taxes eliminating bureaucracy waste would free money education going fight teachers thats beef former republican state representative said telephone interview answer real structural reform everything government vargas teaches second grade tulsa joined thousands oklahoma teachers jammed state capitol oklahoma city week others held sympathy rallies around state demanded lawmakers pass tax package would raise another 200 million state school budget provide uptodate books classroom materials protests continued wednesday never intention leave state oklahoma vargas said telephone interview despite love students laments made per year working walmart student teaching said moving give daughter better life oklahoma ranked 47th spending per student according national education association data average salary high school teacher 42460 according us bureau labor statistics bls data antitax crusader grover norquist said workers oklahoma generous packages enjoyed teachers said news accounts protests oklahoma west virginia focused almost entirely pay giving little attention teachers public pensions summers benefits oklahoma like state pay public workers higher private workers norquist president americans tax reform said telephone interview teachers rally outside state capitol second day teacher walkout demand higher pay funding education oklahoma city oklahoma us april 3 2018 reutersnick oxford bowman earns slightly 50000 year teaching social studies high school mesa arizona earns 48020 mean state though 58030 national median according bls 11 years teaching pay raises kept pace cost living fastgrowing phoenix area bowman said many colleagues wait tables mow lawns drive rideshare services make ends meet boosted pay extracurricular assignments including coaching baseball said decided teach felt would job could couple years could give back community bowman said160but fell love profession able stay wife designer earns considerably education union leaders warned cuts school spending across country scaring away future teachers report last year morrison institute public policy arizona state university found almost quarter states teachers hired 2013 2015 longer teaching year 42 percent teachers hired 2013 lasted three years crisis go colleges education every single one tell seeing drop number applicants said160lily eskelsen garcia president national education association union realizing low wages make difficult teachers pay advanced degrees field requires added parents telling sons daughters dont become teacher reporting bernie woodall fort lauderdale florida barbara goldberg new york additional reporting ian simpson washington ben klayman detroit writing scott malone editing jeffrey benkoe frank mcgurty standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — When athletes from the rival Koreas paraded together behind a single flag for the first time at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, it was a highly emotional event that came on a wave of hope for reconciliation following their leaders’ first-ever summit talks.</p>
<p>The Koreas’ plan to do so again at next month’s Pyeongchang Olympics hasn’t generated much enthusiasm among South Koreans, with many conservatives asking why their athletes cannot carry their own national flag during the first Winter Olympics on their soil.</p>
<p>“We are turning the Pyeongchang Olympics that we’ve got into the Pyongyang Olympics,” said Hong Joon-pyo, leader of South Korea’s main conservative opposition party, referring to North Korea’s capital. “We are dancing to the tune of (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Un’s disguised peace offensive.”</p>
<p>The two Koreas reached a package of Olympics-related rapprochement deals on Wednesday, including marching together at the opening ceremony and fielding their first joint Olympic team, in women’s ice hockey. The agreements came after three rounds of talks which began after Kim said in a New Year’s speech that he was willing to send a delegation to the Feb. 9-25 Pyeongchang Games.</p>
<p>Many critics are skeptical of Kim’s abrupt overture, believing he may be trying to use the Olympics to weaken U.S.-led international pressure and sanctions toughened after North Korea’s sixth and biggest nuclear test and a series of missile launches last year.</p>
<p>Public surveys show most South Koreans support the North’s participation in the Olympics, a chance to create a tentative thaw in the Koreas’ long-strained relations. But a poll released Thursday suggests that half of South Koreans oppose a joint flag.</p>
<p>The survey by the private polling group Realmeter indicates how much South Koreans’ view of their northern neighbor has changed because of its expanding nuclear and missile programs since the two countries’ athletes marched together at sporting events during the era of detente in the 2000s.</p>
<p>At those events, North and South Korean athletes in the same uniforms entered stadiums behind a “unification flag,” a blue image of the Korean Peninsula on a white background, to the tune of the Korean traditional folk song “Arirang” instead of their individual national anthems. The name displayed during the marches was “Korea,” although the North and South competed separately for medals. Their march at the Sydney Olympics drew a standing ovation, with many spectators shedding tears and the applause continuing until the Koreans finished circling the track.</p>
<p>This week’s agreements require approval from the International Olympic Committee, which is to meet officials from the two Koreas and the Pyeongchang organizing committee at IOC headquarters in Switzerland on Saturday.</p>
<p>If approved, the two Koreas are expected to decide whether they will use the same “unification flag” as in the past, who will carry the flag, what uniforms their athletes will wear, and whether they will use the same folk song.</p>
<p>Despite conservative skepticism, South Korea’s government led by liberal President Moon Jae-in says it hopes the Olympics will provide the Koreas with a chance to improve their frosty relations. Government officials say the South Korean national flag will appear at the start of the opening ceremony, regardless of the joint march, and will appear again whenever South Korean athletes win medals.</p>
<p>North Korean Olympic participation “will serve as a chance to warm solidly frozen South-North ties,” Moon said during a visit with South Korean Olympic athletes on Wednesday. “But if we march together or field a single team, I think that can be a further step in developing South-North relations.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>This story has been corrected to show dates of games are Feb. 9-25.</p>
<p>SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — When athletes from the rival Koreas paraded together behind a single flag for the first time at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, it was a highly emotional event that came on a wave of hope for reconciliation following their leaders’ first-ever summit talks.</p>
<p>The Koreas’ plan to do so again at next month’s Pyeongchang Olympics hasn’t generated much enthusiasm among South Koreans, with many conservatives asking why their athletes cannot carry their own national flag during the first Winter Olympics on their soil.</p>
<p>“We are turning the Pyeongchang Olympics that we’ve got into the Pyongyang Olympics,” said Hong Joon-pyo, leader of South Korea’s main conservative opposition party, referring to North Korea’s capital. “We are dancing to the tune of (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Un’s disguised peace offensive.”</p>
<p>The two Koreas reached a package of Olympics-related rapprochement deals on Wednesday, including marching together at the opening ceremony and fielding their first joint Olympic team, in women’s ice hockey. The agreements came after three rounds of talks which began after Kim said in a New Year’s speech that he was willing to send a delegation to the Feb. 9-25 Pyeongchang Games.</p>
<p>Many critics are skeptical of Kim’s abrupt overture, believing he may be trying to use the Olympics to weaken U.S.-led international pressure and sanctions toughened after North Korea’s sixth and biggest nuclear test and a series of missile launches last year.</p>
<p>Public surveys show most South Koreans support the North’s participation in the Olympics, a chance to create a tentative thaw in the Koreas’ long-strained relations. But a poll released Thursday suggests that half of South Koreans oppose a joint flag.</p>
<p>The survey by the private polling group Realmeter indicates how much South Koreans’ view of their northern neighbor has changed because of its expanding nuclear and missile programs since the two countries’ athletes marched together at sporting events during the era of detente in the 2000s.</p>
<p>At those events, North and South Korean athletes in the same uniforms entered stadiums behind a “unification flag,” a blue image of the Korean Peninsula on a white background, to the tune of the Korean traditional folk song “Arirang” instead of their individual national anthems. The name displayed during the marches was “Korea,” although the North and South competed separately for medals. Their march at the Sydney Olympics drew a standing ovation, with many spectators shedding tears and the applause continuing until the Koreans finished circling the track.</p>
<p>This week’s agreements require approval from the International Olympic Committee, which is to meet officials from the two Koreas and the Pyeongchang organizing committee at IOC headquarters in Switzerland on Saturday.</p>
<p>If approved, the two Koreas are expected to decide whether they will use the same “unification flag” as in the past, who will carry the flag, what uniforms their athletes will wear, and whether they will use the same folk song.</p>
<p>Despite conservative skepticism, South Korea’s government led by liberal President Moon Jae-in says it hopes the Olympics will provide the Koreas with a chance to improve their frosty relations. Government officials say the South Korean national flag will appear at the start of the opening ceremony, regardless of the joint march, and will appear again whenever South Korean athletes win medals.</p>
<p>North Korean Olympic participation “will serve as a chance to warm solidly frozen South-North ties,” Moon said during a visit with South Korean Olympic athletes on Wednesday. “But if we march together or field a single team, I think that can be a further step in developing South-North relations.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>This story has been corrected to show dates of games are Feb. 9-25.</p>
| false | 2 |
seoul south korea ap athletes rival koreas paraded together behind single flag first time opening ceremony 2000 sydney olympics highly emotional event came wave hope reconciliation following leaders firstever summit talks koreas plan next months pyeongchang olympics hasnt generated much enthusiasm among south koreans many conservatives asking athletes carry national flag first winter olympics soil turning pyeongchang olympics weve got pyongyang olympics said hong joonpyo leader south koreas main conservative opposition party referring north koreas capital dancing tune north korean leader kim jong uns disguised peace offensive two koreas reached package olympicsrelated rapprochement deals wednesday including marching together opening ceremony fielding first joint olympic team womens ice hockey agreements came three rounds talks began kim said new years speech willing send delegation feb 925 pyeongchang games many critics skeptical kims abrupt overture believing may trying use olympics weaken usled international pressure sanctions toughened north koreas sixth biggest nuclear test series missile launches last year public surveys show south koreans support norths participation olympics chance create tentative thaw koreas longstrained relations poll released thursday suggests half south koreans oppose joint flag survey private polling group realmeter indicates much south koreans view northern neighbor changed expanding nuclear missile programs since two countries athletes marched together sporting events era detente 2000s events north south korean athletes uniforms entered stadiums behind unification flag blue image korean peninsula white background tune korean traditional folk song arirang instead individual national anthems name displayed marches korea although north south competed separately medals march sydney olympics drew standing ovation many spectators shedding tears applause continuing koreans finished circling track weeks agreements require approval international olympic committee meet officials two koreas pyeongchang organizing committee ioc headquarters switzerland saturday approved two koreas expected decide whether use unification flag past carry flag uniforms athletes wear whether use folk song despite conservative skepticism south koreas government led liberal president moon jaein says hopes olympics provide koreas chance improve frosty relations government officials say south korean national flag appear start opening ceremony regardless joint march appear whenever south korean athletes win medals north korean olympic participation serve chance warm solidly frozen southnorth ties moon said visit south korean olympic athletes wednesday march together field single team think step developing southnorth relations ___ story corrected show dates games feb 925 seoul south korea ap athletes rival koreas paraded together behind single flag first time opening ceremony 2000 sydney olympics highly emotional event came wave hope reconciliation following leaders firstever summit talks koreas plan next months pyeongchang olympics hasnt generated much enthusiasm among south koreans many conservatives asking athletes carry national flag first winter olympics soil turning pyeongchang olympics weve got pyongyang olympics said hong joonpyo leader south koreas main conservative opposition party referring north koreas capital dancing tune north korean leader kim jong uns disguised peace offensive two koreas reached package olympicsrelated rapprochement deals wednesday including marching together opening ceremony fielding first joint olympic team womens ice hockey agreements came three rounds talks began kim said new years speech willing send delegation feb 925 pyeongchang games many critics skeptical kims abrupt overture believing may trying use olympics weaken usled international pressure sanctions toughened north koreas sixth biggest nuclear test series missile launches last year public surveys show south koreans support norths participation olympics chance create tentative thaw koreas longstrained relations poll released thursday suggests half south koreans oppose joint flag survey private polling group realmeter indicates much south koreans view northern neighbor changed expanding nuclear missile programs since two countries athletes marched together sporting events era detente 2000s events north south korean athletes uniforms entered stadiums behind unification flag blue image korean peninsula white background tune korean traditional folk song arirang instead individual national anthems name displayed marches korea although north south competed separately medals march sydney olympics drew standing ovation many spectators shedding tears applause continuing koreans finished circling track weeks agreements require approval international olympic committee meet officials two koreas pyeongchang organizing committee ioc headquarters switzerland saturday approved two koreas expected decide whether use unification flag past carry flag uniforms athletes wear whether use folk song despite conservative skepticism south koreas government led liberal president moon jaein says hopes olympics provide koreas chance improve frosty relations government officials say south korean national flag appear start opening ceremony regardless joint march appear whenever south korean athletes win medals north korean olympic participation serve chance warm solidly frozen southnorth ties moon said visit south korean olympic athletes wednesday march together field single team think step developing southnorth relations ___ story corrected show dates games feb 925
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<p>Jan 18 (Reuters) - Carl Icahn:</p> * CARL ICAHN RELEASES OPEN LETTER TO XEROX SHAREHOLDERS
<p>* CARL ICAHN SAYS “WE ARE OBVIOUSLY IN FAVOR OF” RENEGOTIATING FUJI XEROX JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT TO MAKE IT MORE FAVORABLE FOR XEROX‍​</p>
<p>* CARL ICAHN SAYS “WE ARE IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT WITH” DARWIN DEASON’S VIEW THAT XEROX SHOULD IMMEDIATELY DISCLOSE THE JV AGREEMENT WITH FUJI</p>
<p>* CARL ICAHN SAYS IF XEROX’S “OLD GUARD” DIRECTORS ARE NOT ABLE TO OR UNWILLING TO RENEGOTIATE JV DEAL, THEN THEY MUST BE REPLACED</p>
<p>* CARL ICAHN ON XEROX SAYS "WE FEAR THAT FAILING TO REPLACE JEFF JACOBSON AS CEO COULD INEVITABLY RESULT IN THE LOSS OF OUR ENTIRE INVESTMENT" Source text: ( <a href="http://bit.ly/2FROq4e" type="external">bit.ly/2FROq4e</a>)</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON/BEIRUT (Reuters) - U.S., British and French forces struck Syria with more than 100 missiles on Saturday in the first coordinated Western strikes against the Damascus government, targetting what they called chemical weapons sites in retaliation for a poison gas attack.</p>
<p>U.S. President Donald Trump announced the military action from the White House, saying the three allies had “marshaled their righteous power against barbarism and brutality”.</p>
<p>As he spoke, explosions rocked Damascus.</p>
<p>The bombing represents a major escalation in the West’s confrontation with Assad’s superpower ally Russia, but is unlikely to alter the course of a multi-sided war which has killed at least half a million people in the past seven years.</p>
<p>That in turn raises the question of where Western countries go from here, after a volley of strikes denounced by Damascus and Moscow as at once both reckless and pointless.</p>
<p>By morning, the Western countries said their bombing was over for now. Syria released video of the wreckage of a bombed-out research lab, but also of President Bashar al-Assad arriving at work as usual, with the caption “morning of resilience”.</p>
<p>There were no immediate reports of casualties, with Damascus allies saying the buildings hit had been evacuated in advance.</p>
<p>British Prime Minister Theresa May described the strike as “limited and targeted”. She said she had authorized British action after intelligence indicated Assad’s government was to blame for gassing the Damascus suburb of Douma a week ago.</p>
<p>In a speech she gave a vivid description of the victims of the chemical strike that killed scores, huddling in basements as gas rained down. She said Russia had thwarted diplomatic efforts to halt Assad’s use of poison gas, leaving no option but force.</p> Related Coverage
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<a href="/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-nato/u-s-france-britain-to-brief-nato-allies-on-syria-on-saturday-idUSKBN1HL0MA" type="external">U.S., France, Britain to brief NATO allies on Syria on Saturday</a>
<a href="/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-explosions/western-attack-struck-syrian-research-center-other-targets-idUSKBN1HL02U" type="external">Western attack struck Syrian research center, other targets</a>
<p>French President Emmanuel Macron said the strikes had been limited so far to Syria’s chemical weapons facilities. Paris released a dossier which it said showed Damascus was to blame for the poison gas attack on Douma, the last town holding out in a rebel-held swathe of territory near Damascus which government forces have recaptured in this year’s biggest offensive.</p>
<p>Washington described its targets as a center near Damascus for the research, development, production and testing of chemical and biological weapons, a chemical weapons storage site near the city of Homs and another site near Homs that stored chemical weapons equipment and housed a command post.</p>
<p>U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis called the strikes a “one time shot”, although Trump raised the prospect of further strikes if Assad’s government again used chemical weapons.</p>
<p>“We are prepared to sustain this response until the Syrian regime stops its use of prohibited chemical agents,” the U.S. president said in a televised address.</p>
<p>The Syrian conflict pits a complex myriad of parties against each other, with Russia and Iran giving Assad military help that has largely proven decisive over the past three years, crushing any rebel threat to topple him. Fractured opposition forces have had varying support from the West, Arab states and Turkey.</p>
<p>The United States, Britain and France have all bombed Islamic State fighters in Syria for years and had troops on the ground to fight them, but refrained from targetting Assad’s government apart from a volley of U.S. missiles last year.</p>
<p>Although the Western countries have all said for seven years that Assad must leave power, they held back in the past from striking his government, lacking a wider strategy to defeat him.</p>
<p>Assad’s government and allies responded outwardly with fury to Saturday’s attack, but also made clear that they considered it a one-off, unlikely to harm Assad in any meaningful way.</p>
<p>Russia, whose relations with the West have deteriorated to levels of Cold War-era hostility, has denied that last week’s chemical weapons attack took place and even accused Britain of staging it to whip up anti-Russian hysteria.</p>
<p>President Vladimir Putin called for a meeting of the U.N. Security Council to discuss what Moscow decried as an unjustified attack on a sovereign state. Syrian state media called the attack a “flagrant violation of international law.” An official in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said it would cause consequences against U.S. interests.</p>
<p>Arab states, generally hostile to Assad and Iran, backed the Western action, including both Saudi Arabi and its rival Qatar.</p> “ABSORBED THE STRIKE”
<p>But the Western powers were at pains to avert any further escalation, including any unexpected conflict with their superpower rival. French Defense Minister Florence Parly said the Russians “were warned beforehand” to avert conflict.</p>
<p>A senior official in a regional alliance that backs Damascus told Reuters the Syrian government and its allies had “absorbed” the attack. The sites that were targeted had been evacuated days ago thanks to a warning from Russia, the official said.</p>
<p>“If it is finished, and there is no second round, it will be considered limited,” the official said.</p>
<p>At least six loud explosions were heard in Damascus and smoke rose over the city, a Reuters witness said. A second witness said the Barzah district of Damascus was hit.</p>
<p>A scientific research facility in Barzah appeared to have been completely destroyed, according to footage broadcast by Syrian state TV station al-Ikhbariya. Smoke rose from piles of rubble and a heavily damaged bus was parked outside.</p>
<p>The Western intervention appears to have virtually no chance of altering the military balance of power at a time when Assad is in his strongest position since the war’s early months.</p>
<p>In Douma, site of last week’s suspected gas attack, the final buses were due on Saturday to transport out rebels and their families who agreed to surrender the town, Syrian state TV reported. That effectively ends all resistance in the suburbs of Damascus known as eastern Ghouta, marking one of the biggest victories for Assad’s government of the entire war.</p>
<p>The combined U.S., British and French assault involved more missiles, but appears to have struck more limited targets, than a similar strike Trump ordered a year ago in retaliation for an earlier suspected chemical weapons attack. Last year’s U.S. strike, which Washington said at the time would cripple Assad’s air forces and defenses, had effectively no impact on the war.</p>
<p>Mattis said the United States conducted Saturday’s strikes with conclusive evidence that chlorine gas had been used in the April 7 attack in Syria. Evidence that the nerve agent sarin also was used was inconclusive, he said.</p>
<p>Syria agreed in 2013 to give up its chemical weapons after a nerve gas attack killed hundreds of people in Douma. Damascus is still permitted to have chlorine for civilian use, although its use as a weapon is banned. Allegations of Assad’s chlorine use have been frequent during the war, although unlike nerve agents chlorine did not produce mass casualties as seen last week.</p>
<p>The global chemical weapons watchdog, the OPCW, has sent a team to assess last week’s suspected gas attack. Saturday’s strikes took place before the inspectors had a chance to gather evidence at the scene.</p>
<p>Mattis, who U.S. officials said had earlier warned in internal debates that too large an attack would risk confrontation with Russia, described the strikes as a one-off to dissuade Assad from “doing this again”.</p>
<p>But a U.S. official familiar with the military planning said there could be more air strikes if the intelligence indicates Assad has not stopped making, importing, storing or using chemical weapons, including chlorine. The official said this could require a more sustained U.S. air and naval presence.</p> A missile is seen crossing over Damascus, Syria April 14, 2018. SANA/Handout via REUTERS EXIT SYRIA?
<p>The U.S., British and French leaders all face domestic political issues over the decision to use force in Syria.</p>
<p>Trump has been leery of U.S. military involvement in the Middle East, and is eager to withdraw roughly 2,000 troops in Syria taking part in the campaign against Islamic State.</p>
<p>“America does not seek an indefinite presence in Syria, under no circumstances,” Trump said in his address. “The purpose of our actions tonight is to establish a strong deterrent against the production, spread and use of chemical weapons.”</p>
<p>Trump has tried to build good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. A prosecutor is investigating whether Trump’s campaign colluded with Moscow in illegal efforts to help him get elected, which Trump calls a witch hunt.</p>
<p>“To Iran and to Russia, I ask, what kind of a nation wants to be associated with the mass murder of innocent men, women and children?” Trump said in his address.</p>
<p>In Britain, May’s decision to order strikes without consulting parliament overturned an arrangement in place since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Her predecessor David Cameron was damaged politically when he lost a vote in the House of Commons on whether to bomb Syria.</p>
<p>Britain has led international condemnation of Russia, persuading more than 20 countries to expel Russian diplomats, over the poisoning with a nerve agent of a former Russian spy in England last month. May made clear that case was part of her calculus in ordering retaliation for chemical weapons in Syria.</p>
<p>She argued on Saturday it was necessary to act quickly without waiting for parliament’s approval. Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn accused her of following Trump, hugely unpopular in Britain, into battle without waiting for the evidence.</p> Slideshow (11 Images)
<p>In France, Macron has long threatened to use force against Assad if he uses chemical weapons, and had faced criticism over what opponents described as an empty threat.</p>
<p>Reporting by Steve Holland and Tom Perry,; Additional reporting by Phil Stewart, Tim Ahmann, Eric Beech, Lesley Wroughton, Lucia Mutikani, Idrees Ali, Patricia Zengerle, Matt Spetalnick and John Walcott in Washington; Samia Nakhoul, Tom Perry, Laila Bassam Ellen Francis in Beirut; Michael Holden and Guy Faulconbridge in London; and Jean-Baptiste Vey, Geert de Clerq and Matthias Blamont in Paris; Polina Ivanova in Moscow, Writing by Peter Graff, Editing by Angus MacSwan</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Weapons inspectors will try on Saturday to reach the site of a suspected poison attack in the Syrian town of Douma, hours after Western countries launched air strikes in retaliation over the gassing.</p>
<p>The OPCW’s fact-finding mission “will continue its deployment to the Syrian Arab Republic to establish facts around the allegations of chemical weapons use in Douma”, the agency said in a statement.</p>
<p>The United States, Britain and France fired more than 100 missiles at Syria early on Saturday in the first coordinated Western military intervention against the Damascus government. They say the strikes are punishment for killing dozens of people, many of them women and children, with banned toxic munitions.</p>
<p>Damascus and its ally Russia have denounced the Western action, in particular for refusing to wait until the results of the fact-finding mission sent by the OPCW in the wake of the April 7 incident.</p>
<p>Rescue workers said scores of people died in that incident. Washington says it has confirmed that chlorine gas was used, and has unconfirmed suspicion that nerve agents may also have been used. Damascus and Moscow deny blame for any such attack.</p>
<p>Security permitting, a team from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons will deploy briefly on Saturday to the site.</p>
<p>The team will work with the United Nations Department of Safety and Security ensure the safety of the team, it said.</p>
<p>Syria agreed to give up its chemical weapons arsenal in 2013 and submit to OPCW inspections. It is meant to have destroyed all of its stockpiles of nerve agents. In the case of chlorine, it is permitted to possess it for civilian use, but not to use it as a weapon.</p>
<p>The OPCW will determine whether chemical weapons were used, but will not assign blame.</p>
<p>Despite a U.S.-Russian agreement to completely eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons program after hundreds of people were gassed with sarin in Ghouta on Aug. 21, 2013, the OPCW had been unable to verify that all manufacturing, storage and research facilities were destroyed.</p>
<p>Among the sites reportedly hit overnight Friday was the Scientific Studies and Research Centre, a facility that has played a key role in Syria’s chemical weapons program since the 1970s.</p>
<p>OPCW inspectors have raised questions about the SSRC since 2013, when Damascus joined the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention and agreed to do away with its stockpile to avert threatened strikes under President Barack Obama.</p>
<p>Syria has been unable to explain several findings by inspectors, including undeclared research and development sites, the presence of banned chemicals and missing munitions, sources have told Reuters.</p>
<p>Reporting by Anthony Deutsch; Editing by Peter Graff</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>PRAGUE (Reuters) - Milos Forman, the Czech-born movie director who found fame in Hollywood with the Oscar-winning classics “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and “Amadeus,” has died at the age of 86, Czech news agency CTK reported on Saturday.</p> FILE PHOTO: Czech director Milos Forman talks after being presented with the 'Giraldillo' award for his life-long career achievements at Sevilla Festival Film in Seville, Spain November 6, 2004. REUTERS/Marcelo Del Pozo/File photo
<p>Forman died on Friday in the United States after a short illness, his wife, Martina, told CTK.</p> Slideshow (4 Images)
<p>“His departure was calm and he was surrounded the whole time by his family and his closest friends,” she said.</p>
<p>Forman was born in the Czech town of Caslav on Feb. 18, 1932, but moved to the United States after the Communist crackdown on the “Prague Spring” uprising in 1968. He became a U.S. citizen in the 1970s.</p>
<p>“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” in which a psychiatric institution becomes a microcosm of the contemporary world, and “Amadeus,” the life of 18th-century composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart through the eyes of his rival Antonio Salieri, earned 13 Oscars between them, including those for best director to Forman.</p>
<p>His other notable work included the rock musical “Hair” in 1979, “Ragtime” in 1981 and “The People vs Larry Flint” in 1996, which was nominated for an Academy Award that year.</p>
<p>Reporting by Jason Hovet; editing by Angus MacSwan</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>ANKARA (Reuters) - Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said an attack on Syria by the United States, France and Britain on Saturday was a crime and would not achieve any gains.</p> FILE PHOTO - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gestures as he delivers a speech in Mashad, Iran, March 21, 2018. Leader.ir/Handout via REUTERS
<p>“Today’s dawn attack on Syria is a crime. I clearly declare that the president of the United States, the president of France and the British prime minister are criminals,” Khamenei said in a speech, according to his Twitter account.</p>
<p>“They will not benefit (from the attack) as they went to Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan in the past years and committed such crimes and did not gain any benefits,” Khamenei said.</p>
<p>Iran - the dominant Shi’ite Muslim power which is in rivalry with Saudi Arabia and the United States’ other Sunni Arab friends - has fought decades of sectarian proxy wars in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen.</p>
<p>Iran’s pragmatist President Hassan Rouhani also warned that the U.S.-led missile attack on Syria would lead to further destruction in the Middle East, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.</p>
<p>“Such attacks will have no result but more destruction ... the Americans want to justify their presence in the region by such attacks,” Rouhani was quoted as saying by Tasnim.</p>
<p>Rouhani signaled that Iran’s support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad would grow.</p>
<p>“The Syrian nation will continue to resist against foreign aggression ...Iran has always helped and will continue to support oppressed nations in the region and around the globe,” Rouhani said.</p>
<p>Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan said: “The Syrian people will certainly answer these attacks and the people of the world should condemn this aggression,” Fars news agency reported.</p>
<p>An official in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the Islamic Republic’s most powerful arm, said the fallout from the attacks will be at Washington’s expense.</p>
<p>“With this attack ... the situation will become more complex, and this will surely be at the expense of the United States, which will be responsible for the aftermath of upcoming regional events that will certainly not be in their interest,” Yadollah Javani, the Guards’ deputy head for political affairs, told Fars news agency.</p>
<p>“The resistance front will be strengthened and it will have more capacity to act against (U.S.) acts of intervention. Americans should expect the consequences of their actions,” Javani said.</p>
<p>Iran often refers to regional countries and forces opposed to Israel and the United States as a “resistance front”.</p>
<p>“Undoubtedly, the United States and its allies, which took military action against Syria despite the absence of any proven evidence ... will assume responsibility for the regional and trans-regional consequences of this adventurism,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement carried by state media.</p>
<p>“Iran is opposed to the use of chemical weapons on the basis of religious, legal and ethical standards, while at the same time it ... strongly condemns (using this) as an excuse to commit aggression against a sovereign state,” it said.</p>
<p>Iran has been Assad’s most supportive ally against insurgents throughout the conflict. Iran-backed militias 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>Analyst Hossein Sheikholeslam, a former Iranian ambassador to Damascus, told state television the attacks would help unite Syrians behind the government.</p>
<p>“These attacks will stabilize the Syrian government... and unite the different tribes in Syria as Syrians become aware of their honor and come to the defense of the independence, territorial integrity and the government of their country,” Sheikholeslam said.</p>
<p>Reporting by Parisa Hafezi and Dubai newsroom; writing by Samia Nakhoul and Parisa Hafezi; editing by Jason Neely</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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jan 18 reuters carl icahn carl icahn releases open letter xerox shareholders carl icahn says obviously favor renegotiating fuji xerox joint venture agreement make favorable xerox carl icahn says complete agreement darwin deasons view xerox immediately disclose jv agreement fuji carl icahn says xeroxs old guard directors able unwilling renegotiate jv deal must replaced carl icahn xerox says fear failing replace jeff jacobson ceo could inevitably result loss entire investment source text bitly2froq4e standards thomson reuters trust principles washingtonbeirut reuters us british french forces struck syria 100 missiles saturday first coordinated western strikes damascus government targetting called chemical weapons sites retaliation poison gas attack us president donald trump announced military action white house saying three allies marshaled righteous power barbarism brutality spoke explosions rocked damascus bombing represents major escalation wests confrontation assads superpower ally russia unlikely alter course multisided war killed least half million people past seven years turn raises question western countries go volley strikes denounced damascus moscow reckless pointless morning western countries said bombing syria released video wreckage bombedout research lab also president bashar alassad arriving work usual caption morning resilience immediate reports casualties damascus allies saying buildings hit evacuated advance british prime minister theresa may described strike limited targeted said authorized british action intelligence indicated assads government blame gassing damascus suburb douma week ago speech gave vivid description victims chemical strike killed scores huddling basements gas rained said russia thwarted diplomatic efforts halt assads use poison gas leaving option force related coverage syria strikes important signal iran hezbollah israeli minister us france britain brief nato allies syria saturday western attack struck syrian research center targets french president emmanuel macron said strikes limited far syrias chemical weapons facilities paris released dossier said showed damascus blame poison gas attack douma last town holding rebelheld swathe territory near damascus government forces recaptured years biggest offensive washington described targets center near damascus research development production testing chemical biological weapons chemical weapons storage site near city homs another site near homs stored chemical weapons equipment housed command post us defense secretary jim mattis called strikes one time shot although trump raised prospect strikes assads government used chemical weapons prepared sustain response syrian regime stops use prohibited chemical agents us president said televised address syrian conflict pits complex myriad parties russia iran giving assad military help largely proven decisive past three years crushing rebel threat topple fractured opposition forces varying support west arab states turkey united states britain france bombed islamic state fighters syria years troops ground fight refrained targetting assads government apart volley us missiles last year although western countries said seven years assad must leave power held back past striking government lacking wider strategy defeat assads government allies responded outwardly fury saturdays attack also made clear considered oneoff unlikely harm assad meaningful way russia whose relations west deteriorated levels cold warera hostility denied last weeks chemical weapons attack took place even accused britain staging whip antirussian hysteria president vladimir putin called meeting un security council discuss moscow decried unjustified attack sovereign state syrian state media called attack flagrant violation international law official irans revolutionary guards said would cause consequences us interests arab states generally hostile assad iran backed western action including saudi arabi rival qatar absorbed strike western powers pains avert escalation including unexpected conflict superpower rival french defense minister florence parly said russians warned beforehand avert conflict senior official regional alliance backs damascus told reuters syrian government allies absorbed attack sites targeted evacuated days ago thanks warning russia official said finished second round considered limited official said least six loud explosions heard damascus smoke rose city reuters witness said second witness said barzah district damascus hit scientific research facility barzah appeared completely destroyed according footage broadcast syrian state tv station alikhbariya smoke rose piles rubble heavily damaged bus parked outside western intervention appears virtually chance altering military balance power time assad strongest position since wars early months douma site last weeks suspected gas attack final buses due saturday transport rebels families agreed surrender town syrian state tv reported effectively ends resistance suburbs damascus known eastern ghouta marking one biggest victories assads government entire war combined us british french assault involved missiles appears struck limited targets similar strike trump ordered year ago retaliation earlier suspected chemical weapons attack last years us strike washington said time would cripple assads air forces defenses effectively impact war mattis said united states conducted saturdays strikes conclusive evidence chlorine gas used april 7 attack syria evidence nerve agent sarin also used inconclusive said syria agreed 2013 give chemical weapons nerve gas attack killed hundreds people douma damascus still permitted chlorine civilian use although use weapon banned allegations assads chlorine use frequent war although unlike nerve agents chlorine produce mass casualties seen last week global chemical weapons watchdog opcw sent team assess last weeks suspected gas attack saturdays strikes took place inspectors chance gather evidence scene mattis us officials said earlier warned internal debates large attack would risk confrontation russia described strikes oneoff dissuade assad us official familiar military planning said could air strikes intelligence indicates assad stopped making importing storing using chemical weapons including chlorine official said could require sustained us air naval presence missile seen crossing damascus syria april 14 2018 sanahandout via reuters exit syria us british french leaders face domestic political issues decision use force syria trump leery us military involvement middle east eager withdraw roughly 2000 troops syria taking part campaign islamic state america seek indefinite presence syria circumstances trump said address purpose actions tonight establish strong deterrent production spread use chemical weapons trump tried build good relations russian president vladimir putin prosecutor investigating whether trumps campaign colluded moscow illegal efforts help get elected trump calls witch hunt iran russia ask kind nation wants associated mass murder innocent men women children trump said address britain mays decision order strikes without consulting parliament overturned arrangement place since 2003 invasion iraq predecessor david cameron damaged politically lost vote house commons whether bomb syria britain led international condemnation russia persuading 20 countries expel russian diplomats poisoning nerve agent former russian spy england last month may made clear case part calculus ordering retaliation chemical weapons syria argued saturday necessary act quickly without waiting parliaments approval opposition leader jeremy corbyn accused following trump hugely unpopular britain battle without waiting evidence slideshow 11 images france macron long threatened use force assad uses chemical weapons faced criticism opponents described empty threat reporting steve holland tom perry additional reporting phil stewart tim ahmann eric beech lesley wroughton lucia mutikani idrees ali patricia zengerle matt spetalnick john walcott washington samia nakhoul tom perry laila bassam ellen francis beirut michael holden guy faulconbridge london jeanbaptiste vey geert de clerq matthias blamont paris polina ivanova moscow writing peter graff editing angus macswan standards thomson reuters trust principles amsterdam reuters weapons inspectors try saturday reach site suspected poison attack syrian town douma hours western countries launched air strikes retaliation gassing opcws factfinding mission continue deployment syrian arab republic establish facts around allegations chemical weapons use douma agency said statement united states britain france fired 100 missiles syria early saturday first coordinated western military intervention damascus government say strikes punishment killing dozens people many women children banned toxic munitions damascus ally russia denounced western action particular refusing wait results factfinding mission sent opcw wake april 7 incident rescue workers said scores people died incident washington says confirmed chlorine gas used unconfirmed suspicion nerve agents may also used damascus moscow deny blame attack security permitting team organisation prohibition chemical weapons deploy briefly saturday site team work united nations department safety security ensure safety team said syria agreed give chemical weapons arsenal 2013 submit opcw inspections meant destroyed stockpiles nerve agents case chlorine permitted possess civilian use use weapon opcw determine whether chemical weapons used assign blame despite usrussian agreement completely eliminate syrias chemical weapons program hundreds people gassed sarin ghouta aug 21 2013 opcw unable verify manufacturing storage research facilities destroyed among sites reportedly hit overnight friday scientific studies research centre facility played key role syrias chemical weapons program since 1970s opcw inspectors raised questions ssrc since 2013 damascus joined 1997 chemical weapons convention agreed away stockpile avert threatened strikes president barack obama syria unable explain several findings inspectors including undeclared research development sites presence banned chemicals missing munitions sources told reuters reporting anthony deutsch editing peter graff standards thomson reuters trust principles prague reuters milos forman czechborn movie director found fame hollywood oscarwinning classics one flew cuckoos nest amadeus died age 86 czech news agency ctk reported saturday file photo czech director milos forman talks presented giraldillo award lifelong career achievements sevilla festival film seville spain november 6 2004 reutersmarcelo del pozofile photo forman died friday united states short illness wife martina told ctk slideshow 4 images departure calm surrounded whole time family closest friends said forman born czech town caslav feb 18 1932 moved united states communist crackdown prague spring uprising 1968 became us citizen 1970s one flew cuckoos nest psychiatric institution becomes microcosm contemporary world amadeus life 18thcentury composer wolfgang amadeus mozart eyes rival antonio salieri earned 13 oscars including best director forman notable work included rock musical hair 1979 ragtime 1981 people vs larry flint 1996 nominated academy award year reporting jason hovet editing angus macswan standards thomson reuters trust principles ankara reuters irans supreme leader ayatollah ali khamenei said attack syria united states france britain saturday crime would achieve gains file photo irans supreme leader ayatollah ali khamenei gestures delivers speech mashad iran march 21 2018 leaderirhandout via reuters todays dawn attack syria crime clearly declare president united states president france british prime minister criminals khamenei said speech according twitter account benefit attack went iraq syria afghanistan past years committed crimes gain benefits khamenei said iran dominant shiite muslim power rivalry saudi arabia united states sunni arab friends fought decades sectarian proxy wars syria lebanon iraq yemen irans pragmatist president hassan rouhani also warned usled missile attack syria would lead destruction middle east semiofficial tasnim news agency reported attacks result destruction americans want justify presence region attacks rouhani quoted saying tasnim rouhani signaled irans support syrian president bashar alassad would grow syrian nation continue resist foreign aggression iran always helped continue support oppressed nations region around globe rouhani said iranian defense minister hossein dehghan said syrian people certainly answer attacks people world condemn aggression fars news agency reported official irans revolutionary guards corps irgc islamic republics powerful arm said fallout attacks washingtons expense attack situation become complex surely expense united states responsible aftermath upcoming regional events certainly interest yadollah javani guards deputy head political affairs told fars news agency resistance front strengthened capacity act us acts intervention americans expect consequences actions javani said iran often refers regional countries forces opposed israel united states resistance front undoubtedly united states allies took military action syria despite absence proven evidence assume responsibility regional transregional consequences adventurism irans foreign ministry said statement carried state media iran opposed use chemical weapons basis religious legal ethical standards time strongly condemns using excuse commit aggression sovereign state said iran assads supportive ally insurgents throughout conflict iranbacked militias helped army stem rebel advances following russias entry war 2015 turn tide decisively assads favor analyst hossein sheikholeslam former iranian ambassador damascus told state television attacks would help unite syrians behind government attacks stabilize syrian government unite different tribes syria syrians become aware honor come defense independence territorial integrity government country sheikholeslam said reporting parisa hafezi dubai newsroom writing samia nakhoul parisa hafezi editing jason neely standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>The lawsuit accused Fox Television Stations, LLC, TheBlaze Inc., television and radio personalities, such as Glenn Beck, Ben Ferguson and Ben Shapiro, and others of airing and making false statements accusing Ahmed Mohamed and his family of being terrorists. The 21-page complaint alleged that the defendants misled the public and, in doing so, fanned “the flames of fear and anger toward Muslims and immigrants.”</p>
<p>Fox; TheBlaze Inc. and its founder, Beck; the Center for Security Policy, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank and its executive vice president, Jim Hanson; television and radio personalities Ferguson and Shapiro; and Beth Van Duyne, mayor of the Texas city where the Mohameds lived, were all sued by the boy’s father, Mohamed Mohamed, in Dallas County in September.</p>
<p>Over the last two months, a judge has tossed out the cases against all but two of the defendants, with the last round of dismissals happening on Monday.</p>
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<p>Van Duyne, the mayor of Irving, Tex., and Shapiro, a national columnist and radio talk show host, are the two remaining defendants. A hearing on Shapiro’s motion to dismiss is scheduled for Jan. 30. Van Duyne’s motion was heard earlier this week, according to an online docket, but the judge has not issued a ruling.</p>
<p>The judge found that the defendants are protected under the Texas Citizens Participation Act, a state law designed to fight Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, also known as SLAPP. The statute, enacted in 2011, protects citizens from defamation lawsuits on the basis of rights to free speech.</p>
<p>The Mohameds’ attorney was not immediately available for comment.</p>
<p>Mike Grygiel, who represents Beck and TheBlaze Inc., said in a statement that his clients are pleased that the court applied the law “to protect free speech through the summary dismissal of unmeritorious defamation claims.”</p>
<p>Hanson, of the Center for Security Policy, said in a statement that the ruling “reaffirms our most fundamental liberty – the right to free expression – and punishes Mr. Mohammed and his allies for attempting to suppress ideas they oppose.”</p>
<p>The defamation lawsuit was filed about a year after Ahmed was arrested and interrogated by Irving police in September 2015, when he brought an alarm clock that a teacher thought to be a bomb. Libelous statements about the then-13-year-old were made in the media shortly after, according to the complaint.</p>
<p>“The broadcasts aired by Fox and the Blaze are the very definition of ‘yellow journalism,'” the complaint said. “To broadcast inaccurate, biased and sensationalized falsehoods in the guise of ‘news’ is an offense, not just to the victims of the defamatory statements, but to the public.”</p>
<p>Ahmed had developed a love for robotics and was known for creating elaborate contraptions and bringing them to school to please his teachers, the complaint said. One day, he brought an alarm clock he created out of old batteries, a pencil box he had when he was in middle school and other gadgets he found in his family’s garage, and showed it to his geometry teacher at MacArthur High School.</p>
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<p>The teacher thought the device was a bomb, and took the alarm clock from Ahmed, telling him she would hold it for him for the rest of the day, according to the complaint.</p>
<p>Several hours later, police officers showed up at the school.</p>
<p>Ahmed was pulled out of his chair during class, handcuffed and escorted out of the school, according to the complaint. He was brought to the police station, where his mug shots and fingerprints were taken.</p>
<p>During a 1 1/2 hour-long interrogation, Ahmed repeatedly told officers that he brought an alarm clock to school, not a bomb, the complaint says. Despite repeated pleas to talk to his parents, he was told he couldn’t.</p>
<p>The Irving police chief later admitted that the arrest was a mistake. The charge – possession of a hoax bomb – was dropped.</p>
<p>According to an internal police department email obtained through a public records request, one of the officers said that “that thing doesn’t even look like a bomb,” the complaint says.</p>
<p>Still, Ahmed was disciplined and suspended for three days for code of conduct violation and possession of prohibited items. The incident has since prompted the U.S. Department of Justice’s civil rights division to investigate the Irving Independent School District. That investigation remains pending.</p>
<p>The incident turned the teenager into a viral sensation and earned him the nickname “Clock Boy” or “Clock Kid.”</p>
<p>That same month, TheBlaze aired a show in which Beck, who is the host, and guests Hanson, of the Center for Security Policy, and Van Duyne, the Texas mayor, discussed Ahmed’s arrest.</p>
<p>“My theory is that for some reason Irving is important to the Islamists, not the Muslims, but the Islamists. It could be as simple as the progressives trying to turn Texas blue, and this is just the place where they’re just going to start planting the seeds and taking a stand,” Beck said on the show.</p>
<p>Van Duyne said on the show that Ahmed was not forthcoming to police and school officials about what he’d brought to school, and that his family didn’t respond to requests for records from the city. The lawsuit claims that wasn’t true.</p>
<p>In response to Beck, Hanson said that Ahmed’s arrest was a publicity stunt by terrorists, and that someone persuaded the boy to bring the device to school.</p>
<p>“They wanted people to react, and they wanted to portray this kid as an innocent victim,” Hanson said. “I think he was a pawn potentially by his father.”</p>
<p>Over the next two months, Shapiro and Ferguson made similar statements on Fox News and Fox 4 News, respectively.</p>
<p>“I think he used his son. He is one of those, you know, ‘I’m gonna point out anyone that’s against Islam type of guy. I’m going to cause problems.’ They preplanned this. It looked like a bomb. He also didn’t create a clock. He took a clock apart and he put it in a mini-briefcase to make it look like a bomb,” said Ferguson, who also said that Ahmed loved his newfound fame and compared him to the Kardashians.</p>
<p>In an earlier email response to The Washington Post, Hanson repeated statements he’d made about Ahmed’s father, saying he’s using his son “as a pawn in a political game.”</p>
<p>“This lawsuit is just another example of that and worse an attempt to silence the truth tellers who expose the Islamist agenda,” Hanson said. “They will not silence us and we hope that others who may fear to speak up will be heartened when he prevail, and we will.”</p>
<p>The center’s general counsel, David Yerushalmi, called the lawsuit “frivolous,” an example of “malicious prosecution” and “Islamist lawfare.”</p>
<p>The lawsuit demanded that the defendants publicly retract statements they’d made about Ahmed’s arrest.</p>
<p>Ahmed’s family also recently filed a civil rights lawsuit against his former Texas school district, the principal of the high school and the city of Irving.</p>
<p>The boy and his family left Irving and moved to Qatar in October, 2015.</p>
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lawsuit accused fox television stations llc theblaze inc television radio personalities glenn beck ben ferguson ben shapiro others airing making false statements accusing ahmed mohamed family terrorists 21page complaint alleged defendants misled public fanned flames fear anger toward muslims immigrants fox theblaze inc founder beck center security policy washington dcbased think tank executive vice president jim hanson television radio personalities ferguson shapiro beth van duyne mayor texas city mohameds lived sued boys father mohamed mohamed dallas county september last two months judge tossed cases two defendants last round dismissals happening monday advertisement van duyne mayor irving tex shapiro national columnist radio talk show host two remaining defendants hearing shapiros motion dismiss scheduled jan 30 van duynes motion heard earlier week according online docket judge issued ruling judge found defendants protected texas citizens participation act state law designed fight strategic lawsuits public participation also known slapp statute enacted 2011 protects citizens defamation lawsuits basis rights free speech mohameds attorney immediately available comment mike grygiel represents beck theblaze inc said statement clients pleased court applied law protect free speech summary dismissal unmeritorious defamation claims hanson center security policy said statement ruling reaffirms fundamental liberty right free expression punishes mr mohammed allies attempting suppress ideas oppose defamation lawsuit filed year ahmed arrested interrogated irving police september 2015 brought alarm clock teacher thought bomb libelous statements then13yearold made media shortly according complaint broadcasts aired fox blaze definition yellow journalism complaint said broadcast inaccurate biased sensationalized falsehoods guise news offense victims defamatory statements public ahmed developed love robotics known creating elaborate contraptions bringing school please teachers complaint said one day brought alarm clock created old batteries pencil box middle school gadgets found familys garage showed geometry teacher macarthur high school advertisement teacher thought device bomb took alarm clock ahmed telling would hold rest day according complaint several hours later police officers showed school ahmed pulled chair class handcuffed escorted school according complaint brought police station mug shots fingerprints taken 1 12 hourlong interrogation ahmed repeatedly told officers brought alarm clock school bomb complaint says despite repeated pleas talk parents told couldnt irving police chief later admitted arrest mistake charge possession hoax bomb dropped according internal police department email obtained public records request one officers said thing doesnt even look like bomb complaint says still ahmed disciplined suspended three days code conduct violation possession prohibited items incident since prompted us department justices civil rights division investigate irving independent school district investigation remains pending incident turned teenager viral sensation earned nickname clock boy clock kid month theblaze aired show beck host guests hanson center security policy van duyne texas mayor discussed ahmeds arrest theory reason irving important islamists muslims islamists could simple progressives trying turn texas blue place theyre going start planting seeds taking stand beck said show van duyne said show ahmed forthcoming police school officials hed brought school family didnt respond requests records city lawsuit claims wasnt true response beck hanson said ahmeds arrest publicity stunt terrorists someone persuaded boy bring device school wanted people react wanted portray kid innocent victim hanson said think pawn potentially father next two months shapiro ferguson made similar statements fox news fox 4 news respectively think used son one know im gon na point anyone thats islam type guy im going cause problems preplanned looked like bomb also didnt create clock took clock apart put minibriefcase make look like bomb said ferguson also said ahmed loved newfound fame compared kardashians earlier email response washington post hanson repeated statements hed made ahmeds father saying hes using son pawn political game lawsuit another example worse attempt silence truth tellers expose islamist agenda hanson said silence us hope others may fear speak heartened prevail centers general counsel david yerushalmi called lawsuit frivolous example malicious prosecution islamist lawfare lawsuit demanded defendants publicly retract statements theyd made ahmeds arrest ahmeds family also recently filed civil rights lawsuit former texas school district principal high school city irving boy family left irving moved qatar october 2015
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<p>Israeli police stand by the shrouded body of Palestinian attacker in Beersheba, Israel, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015. An Arab attacker armed with a gun and a knife opened fire in a southern Israel bus station on Sunday, police said, killing an Israeli soldier and wounding 10 people in one of the boldest attacks yet in a month long wave of violence. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)</p>
<p>JERUSALEM - The latest developments in a wave of Israeli-Palestinian violence (all times local).</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>5:10 p.m.</p>
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<p>Israel's prime minister has condemned the beating by an angry mob of a wounded Eritrean migrant who was mistakenly believed to be involved in a bus station shooting. The Eritrean man later died.</p>
<p>Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told members of his Likud Party on Monday that Israel is a "law abiding" country, saying "No one should take the law into their own hands."</p>
<p>Police say that during Sunday night's attack, carried out by an Arab citizen of Israel, a security guard mistakenly identified the Eritrean man as a second attacker. He shot the migrant, and as he lay on the ground a mob of people cursed him, kicked him and hit him with objects.</p>
<p>Netanyahu offered condolences to the man's family, and police say they are reviewing security camera footage to identify and catch the people who beat the man.</p>
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<p>4:20 p.m.</p>
<p>The Islamic State group has launched an unprecedented media campaign calling on Palestinians to continue their attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians.</p>
<p>One video urges Palestinians to carry out their attacks using every means at their disposal, including knives, vehicles, poison and explosives.</p>
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<p>The video posted Monday on social media pages used by supporters of the IS group coincides with a wave of Israeli-Palestinian violence and a climate of ratcheted up tensions among Israelis after a series of seemingly random lone-wolf attacks by Palestinians.</p>
<p>In the video, a masked fighter praised Arabs who are attacking Israelis, describing them as "lone wolves who refused to be subdued and spread fear among the sons of Zion."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>2:15 p.m.</p>
<p>Nine Palestinian doctors are heading from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank to help colleagues treat the injured after weeks of violence between the Israeli army and Palestinian protesters.</p>
<p>Fathi Abu Warda, the head of the delegation, said they entered Israel through a border crossing in northern Gaza on Monday and were on the way to the West Bank. Such visits are coordinated with Israel.</p>
<p>Abu Warda says the delegation shows the Palestinians are "one people."</p>
<p>The month of violence has been characterized by numerous attacks on Israelis, mostly stabbings, by Palestinian assailants. Nine Israelis have been killed, while 41 Palestinians - including 20 people identified by Israel as attackers - have died. An Eritrean migrant mistakenly identified as an attacker was also killed. Hundreds of people in the West Bank have been wounded in clashes with Israeli troops.</p>
<p>He said the delegation comprises surgeons, anesthesiologists and orthopedic specialists "with advanced experience" after working through three wars between Israel and Gaza militants, and dozens of violent flare-ups in the Hamas-controlled territory.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>12:45 p.m.</p>
<p>An Israeli official says France's ambassador to Israel has been summoned to the Israeli Foreign Ministry in the wake of France's proposal to place independent observers at a contested Jerusalem holy site.</p>
<p>Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon says Israel expressed its "firm opposition" over the French proposal for a United Nations Security Council resolution that would establish an international presence to ensure the status quo at the site, where Jews are allowed to visit but not pray.</p>
<p>Nahshon said Monday that Israel is opposed to any moves not coordinated or proposed jointly with Israel that related to the country's "critical interests."</p>
<p>The Israeli spokesman says the French ambassador told Israeli officials that France is exploring different ideas to tackle what he called "the continuing freeze in the peace process."</p>
<p>U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has said that the U.S. and Jordan are also opposed to independent observers at the site, known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary.</p>
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<p>9:50 a.m.</p>
<p>Israeli security officials are identifying the assailant of an Israeli bus station attack as a 21-year-old Arab citizen of Israel.</p>
<p>Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri says the attacker is Mohannad al-Okbi from the Bedouin town of Hura in southern Israel. He was shot and killed in the attack. She says security officers arrested one of al-Okbi's relatives on suspicion that he assisted the attacker.</p>
<p>The Israeli security agency Shin Bet said Monday the attacker had no past record of involvement in militant activity.</p>
<p>Police say the attacker was armed with a gun and knife and opened fire in a southern Israeli bus station, killing an Israeli soldier and wounding 10 people. An Eritrean migrant was also killed in the attack after an Israeli security guard fired at him, apparently thinking he was an assailant.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>9 a.m.</p>
<p>An Israeli hospital official says an Eritrean migrant shot during an attack on a bus station has died of his wounds.</p>
<p>Soroka Hospital spokeswoman Sharon Edri says the migrant died of his wounds late Sunday. Israeli officials say an Israeli soldier was also killed and several others hurt in the attack carried out by an Arab attacker armed with a gun and knife.</p>
<p>Israeli police said officers at the bus station mistakenly opened fire on the Eritrean man during the attack, apparently thinking he was an assailant. Security camera footage of the incident on Israeli news sites showed an Israeli security guard shooting the man as he crawled on the ground. Israeli news sites said the man was kicked by bystanders as he lay in a pool of blood.</p>
<p>About 34,000 Eritreans migrants are in Israel. They say they are fleeing persecution and conflict and seek refugee status.</p>
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israeli police stand shrouded body palestinian attacker beersheba israel sunday oct 18 2015 arab attacker armed gun knife opened fire southern israel bus station sunday police said killing israeli soldier wounding 10 people one boldest attacks yet month long wave violence ap phototsafrir abayov jerusalem latest developments wave israelipalestinian violence times local ___ 510 pm advertisement israels prime minister condemned beating angry mob wounded eritrean migrant mistakenly believed involved bus station shooting eritrean man later died prime minister benjamin netanyahu told members likud party monday israel law abiding country saying one take law hands police say sunday nights attack carried arab citizen israel security guard mistakenly identified eritrean man second attacker shot migrant lay ground mob people cursed kicked hit objects netanyahu offered condolences mans family police say reviewing security camera footage identify catch people beat man ____ 420 pm islamic state group launched unprecedented media campaign calling palestinians continue attacks israeli soldiers civilians one video urges palestinians carry attacks using every means disposal including knives vehicles poison explosives advertisement video posted monday social media pages used supporters group coincides wave israelipalestinian violence climate ratcheted tensions among israelis series seemingly random lonewolf attacks palestinians video masked fighter praised arabs attacking israelis describing lone wolves refused subdued spread fear among sons zion ___ 215 pm nine palestinian doctors heading gaza strip west bank help colleagues treat injured weeks violence israeli army palestinian protesters fathi abu warda head delegation said entered israel border crossing northern gaza monday way west bank visits coordinated israel abu warda says delegation shows palestinians one people month violence characterized numerous attacks israelis mostly stabbings palestinian assailants nine israelis killed 41 palestinians including 20 people identified israel attackers died eritrean migrant mistakenly identified attacker also killed hundreds people west bank wounded clashes israeli troops said delegation comprises surgeons anesthesiologists orthopedic specialists advanced experience working three wars israel gaza militants dozens violent flareups hamascontrolled territory ___ 1245 pm israeli official says frances ambassador israel summoned israeli foreign ministry wake frances proposal place independent observers contested jerusalem holy site foreign ministry spokesman emmanuel nahshon says israel expressed firm opposition french proposal united nations security council resolution would establish international presence ensure status quo site jews allowed visit pray nahshon said monday israel opposed moves coordinated proposed jointly israel related countrys critical interests israeli spokesman says french ambassador told israeli officials france exploring different ideas tackle called continuing freeze peace process us secretary state john kerry said us jordan also opposed independent observers site known jews temple mount muslims noble sanctuary ___ 950 israeli security officials identifying assailant israeli bus station attack 21yearold arab citizen israel israeli police spokeswoman luba samri says attacker mohannad alokbi bedouin town hura southern israel shot killed attack says security officers arrested one alokbis relatives suspicion assisted attacker israeli security agency shin bet said monday attacker past record involvement militant activity police say attacker armed gun knife opened fire southern israeli bus station killing israeli soldier wounding 10 people eritrean migrant also killed attack israeli security guard fired apparently thinking assailant ___ 9 israeli hospital official says eritrean migrant shot attack bus station died wounds soroka hospital spokeswoman sharon edri says migrant died wounds late sunday israeli officials say israeli soldier also killed several others hurt attack carried arab attacker armed gun knife israeli police said officers bus station mistakenly opened fire eritrean man attack apparently thinking assailant security camera footage incident israeli news sites showed israeli security guard shooting man crawled ground israeli news sites said man kicked bystanders lay pool blood 34000 eritreans migrants israel say fleeing persecution conflict seek refugee status
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<p>A Second Amendment challenge out of California, a religious liberty test from Missouri and a voter ID law from North Carolina now await Gorsuch and his eight colleagues on the high court. Following private and public swearing-in ceremonies Monday morning, Gorsuch began digging into the first of the cases that could consume him for decades to come.</p>
<p>“I am humbled by the trust placed in me today,” Gorsuch said in the White House Rose Garden. “I will never forget that to whom much is given, much will be expected.”</p>
<p>Gorsuch’s impact could become apparent as early as Thursday, when justices meet for their near-weekly private conference to consider petitions. If at least four justices agree, a case can be accepted and added, at this point in the year, to the court’s oral argument docket for the term that starts next October.</p>
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<p>Notably, a California resident named Edward Peruta is challenging a denial of his request for a concealed-carry permit that would enable him to take a hidden handgun outside of his home. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department limits the concealed-carry permits to those who can show they have specific, particular needs for self-defense.</p>
<p>“The whole point of the sheriff’s policy is to confine concealed-carry licenses to a very narrow subset of law-abiding residents,” Peruta’s attorneys wrote. “And because California law prohibits openly carrying a handgun outside the home, the result is that the typical law-abiding resident cannot bear a handgun for self-defense outside the home at all.”</p>
<p>Yolo County, in the Sacramento Valley, maintains a similarly stringent concealed-carry permit policy.</p>
<p>The lead attorney, former George W. Bush administration Solicitor General Paul Clement, further characterized Peruta’s challenge as raising “perhaps the single most important unresolved Second Amendment question” since the Supreme Court’s 2008 decision striking down a District of Columbia gun ban.</p>
<p>Though Gorsuch lacks a Second Amendment track record from his decade on the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, his overall reputation as a Western conservative reassures gun rights advocates. The National Rifle Association spent a reported $1 million on pro-Gorsuch ads during the campaign that led to his confirmation by the Senate on a 54-45 vote last Friday.</p>
<p>Gorsuch is also a self-professed admirer of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, the author of the Supreme Court’s landmark 2008 Second Amendment decision, which found the Constitution protects an individual’s right to possess firearms without regard to any militia membership. Scalia’s death in February 2016 set in motion the political battle that led first to Senate Republicans blocking any consideration of Judge Merrick Garland for the position and then to Gorsuch’s eventual confirmation.</p>
<p>“I won’t ever forget that the seat I inherit today is that of a very, very great man,” Gorsuch said.</p>
<p>The confirmation came after Republicans changed Senate rules to water down the filibuster, allowing endless debate to be cut off with 51 votes instead of 60 on Supreme Court nominations. Senate Democrats had adopted a similar majority rules maneuver in 2013 for lower-level judicial and executive branch candidates.</p>
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<p>With Congress out of town on Monday, Gorsuch’s dual swearing-in ceremonies unfolded with little sign of lingering bitterness and amid crisp spring weather.</p>
<p>The first ceremony took place at about 9 a.m. in the justices’ conference room, with Gorsuch’s family members present and Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. administering the oath required by the Constitution.</p>
<p>The second ceremony took place in the White House Rose Garden, led by President Donald Trump and attended by the other eight Supreme Court justices as well as three Republican senators and a host of allies. Justice Anthony Kennedy, for whom Gorsuch once clerked, administered the federal judicial oath.</p>
<p>“Spring is really the perfect backdrop for this joyful gathering of friends, because together we are in the process of reviewing and renewing, and also rebuilding our country,” Trump said.</p>
<p>Trump also seemed to make a point of praising the 80-year-old Kennedy, whose own long-term plans come under sharper focus with Gorsuch’s ascension.</p>
<p>With the ceremonies done, Gorsuch returned to claim his new Supreme Court chambers and resume his preparations for the private conference Thursday as well as his first public oral arguments next Monday. Thirteen cases remain set for argument this month, with the most closely watched case a challenge by a Columbia, Mo.-based church that was denied a state grant.</p>
<p>In the April 19 oral argument, the justices will consider whether the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ rejection of a grant application by Trinity Lutheran Church violated the U.S. Constitution.</p>
<p>The state’s Constitution says that “no money shall ever be taken from the public treasury, directly or indirectly, in aid of any church, sect or denomination of religion.” Consequently, the state turned down the church’s application for a grant to cover the cost of resurfacing a playground with recycled scrap-tire material.</p>
<p>“A categorical ban on religion here is merely an overbroad and unconstitutional restriction on the faithful’s ability to participate on equal terms in public life,” the church’s attorneys wrote.</p>
<p>As an appellate judge, Gorsuch has been sympathetic to religious liberty claims, siding, for instance, with the company Hobby Lobby’s effort to escape the Affordable Care Act’s so-called contraceptive mandate. These sympathies could be tested soon in a challenge from a self-described Colorado “cake artist” who was charged with discrimination for refusing a job request from a same-sex couple.</p>
<p>Gorsuch and his colleagues must also address a case challenging North Carolina’s voter identification law, key portions of which were struck down by an appellate court.</p>
<p>——</p>
<p>©2017 McClatchy Washington Bureau</p>
<p>Visit the McClatchy Washington Bureau at <a href="http://www.mcclatchydc.com" type="external">www.mcclatchydc.com</a></p>
<p>Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.</p>
<p>———-</p>
<p>PHOTOS (for help with images, contact 312-222-4194): Gorsuch</p>
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second amendment challenge california religious liberty test missouri voter id law north carolina await gorsuch eight colleagues high court following private public swearingin ceremonies monday morning gorsuch began digging first cases could consume decades come humbled trust placed today gorsuch said white house rose garden never forget much given much expected gorsuchs impact could become apparent early thursday justices meet nearweekly private conference consider petitions least four justices agree case accepted added point year courts oral argument docket term starts next october advertisement notably california resident named edward peruta challenging denial request concealedcarry permit would enable take hidden handgun outside home san diego county sheriffs department limits concealedcarry permits show specific particular needs selfdefense whole point sheriffs policy confine concealedcarry licenses narrow subset lawabiding residents perutas attorneys wrote california law prohibits openly carrying handgun outside home result typical lawabiding resident bear handgun selfdefense outside home yolo county sacramento valley maintains similarly stringent concealedcarry permit policy lead attorney former george w bush administration solicitor general paul clement characterized perutas challenge raising perhaps single important unresolved second amendment question since supreme courts 2008 decision striking district columbia gun ban though gorsuch lacks second amendment track record decade denverbased 10th us circuit court appeals overall reputation western conservative reassures gun rights advocates national rifle association spent reported 1 million progorsuch ads campaign led confirmation senate 5445 vote last friday gorsuch also selfprofessed admirer late justice antonin scalia author supreme courts landmark 2008 second amendment decision found constitution protects individuals right possess firearms without regard militia membership scalias death february 2016 set motion political battle led first senate republicans blocking consideration judge merrick garland position gorsuchs eventual confirmation wont ever forget seat inherit today great man gorsuch said confirmation came republicans changed senate rules water filibuster allowing endless debate cut 51 votes instead 60 supreme court nominations senate democrats adopted similar majority rules maneuver 2013 lowerlevel judicial executive branch candidates advertisement congress town monday gorsuchs dual swearingin ceremonies unfolded little sign lingering bitterness amid crisp spring weather first ceremony took place 9 justices conference room gorsuchs family members present chief justice john roberts jr administering oath required constitution second ceremony took place white house rose garden led president donald trump attended eight supreme court justices well three republican senators host allies justice anthony kennedy gorsuch clerked administered federal judicial oath spring really perfect backdrop joyful gathering friends together process reviewing renewing also rebuilding country trump said trump also seemed make point praising 80yearold kennedy whose longterm plans come sharper focus gorsuchs ascension ceremonies done gorsuch returned claim new supreme court chambers resume preparations private conference thursday well first public oral arguments next monday thirteen cases remain set argument month closely watched case challenge columbia mobased church denied state grant april 19 oral argument justices consider whether missouri department natural resources rejection grant application trinity lutheran church violated us constitution states constitution says money shall ever taken public treasury directly indirectly aid church sect denomination religion consequently state turned churchs application grant cover cost resurfacing playground recycled scraptire material categorical ban religion merely overbroad unconstitutional restriction faithfuls ability participate equal terms public life churchs attorneys wrote appellate judge gorsuch sympathetic religious liberty claims siding instance company hobby lobbys effort escape affordable care acts socalled contraceptive mandate sympathies could tested soon challenge selfdescribed colorado cake artist charged discrimination refusing job request samesex couple gorsuch colleagues must also address case challenging north carolinas voter identification law key portions struck appellate court 2017 mcclatchy washington bureau visit mcclatchy washington bureau wwwmcclatchydccom distributed tribune content agency llc photos help images contact 3122224194 gorsuch _____
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<p>She was the first of nine babies born to Eleutaria and Tranquilino Baca in the small ranching town of Magdalena some 100 miles south. Though her birth 96 years ago was a joyous event, the celebration in Albuquerque commemorated something else – the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote.</p>
<p>Sarah Griggs casts her absentee ballot for the first major-party female candidate for president 96 years after women won the right to vote. (Courtesy Of Susana Villalobos)</p>
<p>Ninety-six years later, women are still voting. This time, their votes, including Sarita’s, became a force to be reckoned with.</p>
<p>And maybe that’s why this time, the heartache felt by so many women hurt that much more. After coming so close to breaking that highest, hardest glass ceiling, Hillary Clinton, the woman they had pinned their hopes upon, had come up short, leaving some to wonder when the chance would come again and who would step up to take it.</p>
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<p>It had seemed so possible. Even those who had largely stayed quiet through this dirtiest and angriest of elections had shown up proudly to the polls Tuesday donning pantsuits – the trademark attire of their standard bearer – or suffragette white. They slyly adopted the nickname “Nasty Woman,” which Clinton’s opponent had meant as disparaging. They flashed their “women cards.” They danced. They cheered.</p>
<p>They embraced the history of the moment and, if they were lucky, they embraced their mothers and their grandmothers, and all those women in their lives who had got them this far. And when the votes started going the other way, hour by hour, state by state, they embraced each other, dazed and sobbing, and wondering what comes next.</p>
<p>One of those daughters is Susana Villalobos, whose mother is Sarita, now known as Sarah Griggs, her married name. It was Villalobos who discovered that her mother’s birthday on Aug. 28, 1920, had been the day the bells pealed and the sirens sang for the 19th Amendment.</p>
<p>“Sympathizers will swell the sound and join the celebration which at that minute will be going on all over the United States,” read an article on the suffrage celebration that she found in the Journal archives. “Flags will be hung down town and women are asked to hang flags at their homes, and to wear small flags pinned upon their coats. The committee of the National Suffrage association wish to remind the women of Albuquerque to show today their pleasure in the victory won after so many years of struggling for the ballot.”</p>
<p>New Mexico had been the 32nd state to ratify the 19th Amendment on Feb. 19, 1920, some 70 years after brave women like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony began the fight for that right. It took six months more for the last four states required to sign on. Ten days after that, on Aug. 28, 1920, New Mexico celebrated along with the rest of the country – and Griggs’ own story began.</p>
<p>She had known nothing of the historical date of her birth. After marrying her husband, Benjamin Griggs, an Air Force man, the couple moved to Albuquerque and raised a family. She was a stay-at-home mom who volunteered at the church and the Catholic school her three children attended. Come election time, she served as a poll worker. She cried when President Kennedy – a good Catholic, she says – was assassinated. She continued voting long after her husband passed away.</p>
<p>But she knows, she said. He would have voted for Clinton, too.</p>
<p>“If a woman can take care of a home and her children, why can’t she take care of the country?” she said. “I believe a woman can do anything.”</p>
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<p>Her story is like the stories of many women over the years who have continued to move us forward in varying increments, in fits and starts, to get us to this place in history.</p>
<p>It is the story of New Mexico Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham, who, at age 57, knows the struggle of finding her footing in a world that has not always been kind to women.</p>
<p>“I am still in that age group of women who know that, even if you were a professional in the office, you were still expected to bring the coffee,” Grisham said. “Even after I had a college degree, a law degree, I spent a lot of time getting coffee for the men in my office. All of that has been changing, but now, here, it’s like an explosion.”</p>
<p>It is the story of Madison Schaeffer, a University of New Mexico graduate student and epidemiologist who imagined the letter she hoped to write to her future daughter.</p>
<p>“Before you were born, I walked into a polling place one cold morning in October and I filled out a ballot,” she wrote. “And into that ballot I put all the love for the women in my life. … I poured all my hopes and dreams for what it might mean if we took the leap of rebuilding a democracy in an image that included women as something far more than property.”</p>
<p>It is the story of Mariana Pedroza, an 8-year-old Albuquerque girl who dreams that maybe someday she will be the one to break that highest, hardest glass ceiling.</p>
<p>“What I think is that Hillary Clinton will inspire girls all around to be the first to do something, and I think it’s really cool because all of our presidents have been boys,” she said. “I think it’s good we can change that.”</p>
<p>It is the story of mothers and daughters and granddaughters – and those men who love them – who voted not just for one woman but for women who have been told all their lives that they needed to smile more, that they were too ugly or too fat or too emotional or too stupid, that all they needed was a good man, that all they needed was to get over their sexual assault, that they should have no control over their own bodies. It is the story of women who have always known somewhere deep inside that they are a force to be reckoned with, who may not have succeeded this time, but know that, one fine day, someday, that glass ceiling will not hold.</p>
<p>The story continues.</p>
<p>UpFront is a daily front-page news and opinion column. Comment directly to Joline at 823-3603, [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @jolinegkg. Go to www.abqjournal.com/letters/new to submit a letter to the editor.</p>
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<p>“I dreamed of a more perfect union … One where you knew a woman could be anything. An astronaut. A biologist, like me …. A Supreme Court justice. THE PRESIDENT.” – Madison Schaeffer, epidemiologist</p>
<p>“… all of us who support and voted for Hillary, are still on that journey. We are still a procession moving this country forward and we’re stronger together.” – Stephanie Telles, bank operations analyst</p>
<p>“I get the luxury of witnessing history thanks to a brave woman born a mere two months before me. – Rita Triviz, first woman Doña Ana County commissioner, three-time Democratic National Convention delegate</p>
<p>“When I was younger, I told my mom and dad I wanted to be one of the first women presidents, and since I’m darker that Hillary I was thinking maybe now I can be the first brown woman president.” – Mariana Pedroza, Coronado Elementary third-grader, future president of the United States</p>
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first nine babies born eleutaria tranquilino baca small ranching town magdalena 100 miles south though birth 96 years ago joyous event celebration albuquerque commemorated something else 19th amendment gave women right vote sarah griggs casts absentee ballot first majorparty female candidate president 96 years women right vote courtesy susana villalobos ninetysix years later women still voting time votes including saritas became force reckoned maybe thats time heartache felt many women hurt much coming close breaking highest hardest glass ceiling hillary clinton woman pinned hopes upon come short leaving wonder chance would come would step take advertisement seemed possible even largely stayed quiet dirtiest angriest elections shown proudly polls tuesday donning pantsuits trademark attire standard bearer suffragette white slyly adopted nickname nasty woman clintons opponent meant disparaging flashed women cards danced cheered embraced history moment lucky embraced mothers grandmothers women lives got far votes started going way hour hour state state embraced dazed sobbing wondering comes next one daughters susana villalobos whose mother sarita known sarah griggs married name villalobos discovered mothers birthday aug 28 1920 day bells pealed sirens sang 19th amendment sympathizers swell sound join celebration minute going united states read article suffrage celebration found journal archives flags hung town women asked hang flags homes wear small flags pinned upon coats committee national suffrage association wish remind women albuquerque show today pleasure victory many years struggling ballot new mexico 32nd state ratify 19th amendment feb 19 1920 70 years brave women like elizabeth cady stanton susan b anthony began fight right took six months last four states required sign ten days aug 28 1920 new mexico celebrated along rest country griggs story began known nothing historical date birth marrying husband benjamin griggs air force man couple moved albuquerque raised family stayathome mom volunteered church catholic school three children attended come election time served poll worker cried president kennedy good catholic says assassinated continued voting long husband passed away knows said would voted clinton woman take care home children cant take care country said believe woman anything advertisement story like stories many women years continued move us forward varying increments fits starts get us place history story new mexico congresswoman michelle lujan grisham age 57 knows struggle finding footing world always kind women still age group women know even professional office still expected bring coffee grisham said even college degree law degree spent lot time getting coffee men office changing like explosion story madison schaeffer university new mexico graduate student epidemiologist imagined letter hoped write future daughter born walked polling place one cold morning october filled ballot wrote ballot put love women life poured hopes dreams might mean took leap rebuilding democracy image included women something far property story mariana pedroza 8yearold albuquerque girl dreams maybe someday one break highest hardest glass ceiling think hillary clinton inspire girls around first something think really cool presidents boys said think good change story mothers daughters granddaughters men love voted one woman women told lives needed smile ugly fat emotional stupid needed good man needed get sexual assault control bodies story women always known somewhere deep inside force reckoned may succeeded time know one fine day someday glass ceiling hold story continues upfront daily frontpage news opinion column comment directly joline 8233603 jkruegerabqjournalcom follow twitter jolinegkg go wwwabqjournalcomlettersnew submit letter editor 160 dreamed perfect union one knew woman could anything astronaut biologist like supreme court justice president madison schaeffer epidemiologist us support voted hillary still journey still procession moving country forward stronger together stephanie telles bank operations analyst get luxury witnessing history thanks brave woman born mere two months rita triviz first woman doña ana county commissioner threetime democratic national convention delegate younger told mom dad wanted one first women presidents since im darker hillary thinking maybe first brown woman president mariana pedroza coronado elementary thirdgrader future president united states
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<p>CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that on the week of October 26, David Limbaugh's book "Persecution" had been on The New York Times bestseller list for 10 weeks, and was the only book on the list marked by a dagger. In fact, Limbaugh's book had been on the list for only three weeks, and was one of several books that week marked by daggers.</p>
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<p>Hi Ellen,</p>
<p>The sticks and stones adage may have it all wrong: Words — i.e. books — apparently can wound, especially if they come with daggers.</p>
<p>Daggers are the icons The New York Times attaches to bestselling books that reportedly have benefited by bulk sales. Lately, they have become a weapon in an on-going liberal vs. conservative battle for bestseller supremacy.</p>
<p>The daggers were initiated by the Times after two writers in 1995 rounded up credit cards from their co-workers to buy batches of their book in order to propel it onto the prestigious New York Times bestseller list. The strategy worked. (The supposedly confidential list of stores that report their book sales to the New York Times for the list apparently has always been the world's worst kept secret). But the daggers didn't deter bulk buyers. In 2002 Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post reporter David Vise bought 20,000 copies of his own book, "The Bureau and the Mole," from barnesandnoble.com at a discounted rate over four weeks in January and February (and then returned 17,500 copies and demanded a refund!). This caused his rivals to accuse him of also trying to manipulate bestseller lists. Vise claimed he was buying them to offer autograph copies of his book on his website.</p>
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<p>Now my question is this: With publishers' dire reports about slumps in reading and book buying in America, why are so many political partisans all of a sudden interested in the bestseller list? Even politicians seem to think that writing a book will give them some added cachet. Wesley Clark, John Kerry, and Dennis Kucinich all have books out, and books by some of the other presidential candidates are on the horizon. But do they have any political impact at all? Who reads these books except the already convinced? Is the bestseller list ever an accurate barometer of current political tastes? For example, does the fact that there are more liberals currently on the bestseller list than conservatives say anything at all about the political mood of the country? I have my doubts. For years, conservative books dominated the list. Still, in the last election, this country was divided right down the middle. What do you think this battle over the bestseller list is all about? Are we all just engaging in bulk buying ideology?</p>
<p>For the record, there is only one dagger attached to&#160;one of the&#160;top 10 books on The New York Times bestseller list for the week of October 26 (posted on the newspaper's website): David Limbaugh's "Persecution," which, according to the Times, argues that "liberals are waging a war against Christianity." The book, which has been&#160;3 weeks on the list, came in at No. 9.</p>
<p>Margo,</p>
<p>Obviously, the liberals have taken a page out of the conservatives' playbook: Spread the word via whatever medium you can. And, let's face it, a book translates into potential television appearances. Sadly, this is where the louder you shout, the wider the exposure for pushing your book. Only a few anointed ones can still speak softly and garner a big print run — Bob Woodward, for example, because of his Watergate celebrity and tremendous enterprise as an author. Everyone else has to make as much noise as possible. Bill O'Reilly has the best gig of all: a nightly talk show that's one long infomercial for his books, not to mention an assortment of other geegaws. His latest tack is to tell viewers how many liberal books are out there, and their best way to fight the deluge is — I kid you not — to buy his latest.</p>
<p>On the matter of bestsellers: Will the day ever come when people can speak about The New York Times list without treating it as the end all and be all for any given book? There are so many other telling measurements of what America reads: the more all-encompassing Amazon.com ratings and the populist USA Today list, for one; and, for another, Book Sense, which confines its survey to independent booksellers and therefore gives a more precise picture than the others, I believe, of what the people who really love books — the sellers and the buyers who visit these little islands of literary sanity — are choosing. I know, I know: Opinion makers read The Times. But, as the books on their list show, their methodology is designed to serve an opinion-maker audience, not to reflect the broad range of tastes and categories that can be found in book publishing. (Where are the lists for cookbooks? Diet books? Books about religion?)</p>
<p>In my view, no matter which side controls more slots on the bestseller lists, neither the liberals nor the conservatives are winning. We're all losing by being exposed to so much vitriol. Let me suggest two new books that I believe make much better reading than the self-serving, mud-slinging books already mentioned: First, "Franklin and Winston: An Intimate Portrait of an Epic Friendship," by Newsweek managing editor Jon Meacham, who calls the relationship between FDR and Winston Churchill "the most fascinating friendship of modern times." As Meacham shows us, it was a chess player's friendship, born of intense need and conducted with canny regard. But both men also liked each other, and his warm, detailed portrait goes down as easily as Doris Kearns Goodwin's "No Ordinary Time." Another is a related book, "Never Give In!: The Best of Winston Churchill's Speeches," as selected by Churchill's grandson. The book, unfortunately, doesn't include Churchill's secret speech to the House of Commons, given April 23, 1943, in which he catalogued his country's dire military situation and expressed faith in the United States. But the stirring testimonies during the dark days of the war and even after his political defeat show such grace and eloquence: "Never flinch, never weary, never despair," he declared. I wonder what he'd make of the current whining.</p>
<p>Ellen,</p>
<p>Yes, I think you are right that the loudest and the loutiest seem to be getting the most attention lately. The liberals are learning that being conciliatory in this heated climate doesn't get you anywere&#160;— or at least not on talk shows. But I do think it's sad that the two books you mention are history books and not current political tomes. The only book in the current pack I'd recommend is Gen. Wesley Clark's "Winning Modern Wars." Unlike the others, it's not filled with platitudes and campaign pitches (well, at least not until the very end), and it actually presents a coherent analysis of our war in Iraq, the battle against terrorism, and America as empire. Most reviewers will probably find it too wonky&#160;— his detailed retelling of what he calls "Gulf War, Round Two" is heavy sledding. I found it, however, enormously useful in tracking what went wrong (and right) in Iraq. Clark obviously is a man who has thought about what America's foreign policy can and cannot do.</p>
<p>But where are the serious analyses by those with less self-serving aims? I would like to see more books like "The System: The American Way of Politics at the Breaking Point" by David Broder and Haynes Johnson. That book illustrates just how damaging the current extreme partisanship can be. The book dissects the political battle during the early Clinton years over health care reform. Evenhanded, Broder and Johnson, step by step, chronicle both the arrogance of the Clintons in their health insurance initiative and the crassness of Gingrich and company in exploiting the fight purely for political gain. We, the public, of course, are the losers. Maybe if that book had been bought in bulk, we wouldn't be in the health care mess we are in today.</p>
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correction earlier version story incorrectly stated week october 26 david limbaughs book persecution new york times bestseller list 10 weeks book list marked dagger fact limbaughs book list three weeks one several books week marked daggers hi ellen sticks stones adage may wrong words ie books apparently wound especially come daggers daggers icons new york times attaches bestselling books reportedly benefited bulk sales lately become weapon ongoing liberal vs conservative battle bestseller supremacy daggers initiated times two writers 1995 rounded credit cards coworkers buy batches book order propel onto prestigious new york times bestseller list strategy worked supposedly confidential list stores report book sales new york times list apparently always worlds worst kept secret daggers didnt deter bulk buyers 2002 pulitzer prizewinning washington post reporter david vise bought 20000 copies book bureau mole barnesandnoblecom discounted rate four weeks january february returned 17500 copies demanded refund caused rivals accuse also trying manipulate bestseller lists vise claimed buying offer autograph copies book website question publishers dire reports slumps reading book buying america many political partisans sudden interested bestseller list even politicians seem think writing book give added cachet wesley clark john kerry dennis kucinich books books presidential candidates horizon political impact reads books except already convinced bestseller list ever accurate barometer current political tastes example fact liberals currently bestseller list conservatives say anything political mood country doubts years conservative books dominated list still last election country divided right middle think battle bestseller list engaging bulk buying ideology record one dagger attached to160one the160top 10 books new york times bestseller list week october 26 posted newspapers website david limbaughs persecution according times argues liberals waging war christianity book been1603 weeks list came 9 margo obviously liberals taken page conservatives playbook spread word via whatever medium lets face book translates potential television appearances sadly louder shout wider exposure pushing book anointed ones still speak softly garner big print run bob woodward example watergate celebrity tremendous enterprise author everyone else make much noise possible bill oreilly best gig nightly talk show thats one long infomercial books mention assortment geegaws latest tack tell viewers many liberal books best way fight deluge kid buy latest matter bestsellers day ever come people speak new york times list without treating end given book many telling measurements america reads allencompassing amazoncom ratings populist usa today list one another book sense confines survey independent booksellers therefore gives precise picture others believe people really love books sellers buyers visit little islands literary sanity choosing know know opinion makers read times books list show methodology designed serve opinionmaker audience reflect broad range tastes categories found book publishing lists cookbooks diet books books religion view matter side controls slots bestseller lists neither liberals conservatives winning losing exposed much vitriol let suggest two new books believe make much better reading selfserving mudslinging books already mentioned first franklin winston intimate portrait epic friendship newsweek managing editor jon meacham calls relationship fdr winston churchill fascinating friendship modern times meacham shows us chess players friendship born intense need conducted canny regard men also liked warm detailed portrait goes easily doris kearns goodwins ordinary time another related book never give best winston churchills speeches selected churchills grandson book unfortunately doesnt include churchills secret speech house commons given april 23 1943 catalogued countrys dire military situation expressed faith united states stirring testimonies dark days war even political defeat show grace eloquence never flinch never weary never despair declared wonder hed make current whining ellen yes think right loudest loutiest seem getting attention lately liberals learning conciliatory heated climate doesnt get anywere160 least talk shows think sad two books mention history books current political tomes book current pack id recommend gen wesley clarks winning modern wars unlike others filled platitudes campaign pitches well least end actually presents coherent analysis war iraq battle terrorism america empire reviewers probably find wonky160 detailed retelling calls gulf war round two heavy sledding found however enormously useful tracking went wrong right iraq clark obviously man thought americas foreign policy serious analyses less selfserving aims would like see books like system american way politics breaking point david broder haynes johnson book illustrates damaging current extreme partisanship book dissects political battle early clinton years health care reform evenhanded broder johnson step step chronicle arrogance clintons health insurance initiative crassness gingrich company exploiting fight purely political gain public course losers maybe book bought bulk wouldnt health care mess today
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<p>Public Focus Remains on Japan</p>
<p />
<p>The public’s news interests this week are far out of sync with the news media’s coverage: While the aftermath of the Japan earthquake and tsunami was the public’s top story by a wide margin, news organizations devoted far more coverage to the military conflict in Libya.</p>
<p>Nearly six-in-ten Americans (57%) say they followed news about the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan more closely than any other news story last week. Just 15% say they followed news about the U.S. and allies’ airstrikes on Libya most closely, according to the latest News Interest Index survey conducted March 24-27 among 1,002 adults.</p>
<p>The public’s news interests are largely unchanged from a week earlier. But <a href="http://www.journalism.org/index_report/pej_news_coverage_index_march_2127_2011" type="external">news organizations suddenly shifted their focus</a> from Japan to the ongoing military action in Libya. News about Libya accounted for 41% of news coverage this week, compared with just 15% devoted to the Japan crisis, according to the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism (PEJ). Just a week earlier, news from Japan accounted for more than half (57%) of all news coverage.</p>
<p>The past few months have seen an unusual series of major news stories and, in a departure from recent years, most have been overseas stories. In February, the public and news media focused on the extraordinary wave of protests and unrest in the Middle East. The devastating Japanese earthquake hit on March 11 as the rebellion against Moammar Gadhafi gained strength in Libya. <a href="http://www.journalism.org/index_report/pej_news_coverage_index_march_2127_2011" type="external">According to PEJ</a>, 43% of coverage so far this year has been devoted to international events, double the normal level.</p>
<p>With major news unfolding in Japan and Libya last week, two foreign stories topped the News Interest Index for the first time since the first week of July 2007. That week the public’s top stories were the war in Iraq and the string of coordinated suicide bombings in London. Other foreign stories have topped the public’s news interest in recent years, such as the earthquake in Haiti last January, but they generally shared attention with major domestic stories — especially economic and political news.</p>
<p>A third of the public (33%) says they followed news about military air strikes in Libya by the U.S. and its allies very closely last week. By contrast, 50% say they followed news about the aftermath of the Japanese disasters very closely. The survey was completed before President Obama addressed the nation Monday night about the mission in Libya.</p>
<p>As a point of comparison, there was considerably more public interest in the start of NATO airstrikes against Serbian forces in March 1999 (43% very closely).</p>
<p />
<p>The current level of interest in Libya is no higher than interest in news about the nation’s economy (36% very closely). But economic news accounted for only 6% of coverage.</p>
<p>In other news, 11% say they followed news about the death of actress Elizabeth Taylor very closely; 3% say this was their top story. News about the movie star’s death accounted for 7% of coverage.</p>
<p>Similar percentages followed news about the 2012 presidential candidates, though this story received less coverage; 13% say they followed news about the elections very closely, while 2% say this was the news they followed most closely. News about the early positioning garnered just 2% of coverage.</p>
<p>Just 8% say they very closely followed news about Egyptians voting on a new constitution. Less than 1% say this was their top story for the week. News about the developments in Egypt accounted for 1% of coverage.</p>
<p>Public interest and media coverage have been largely in sync on the huge stories that have broken since the start of 2011 — until the allied air strikes in Libya started this month.</p>
<p>Both the public and the media focused heavily on the January shootings in Tucson that left six dead and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords severely injured. Public interest stayed relatively high on this story, though coverage fell off more quickly as the media moved on to other developing stories — especially the growing unrest in the Middle East.</p>
<p>As the protests swelled in Cairo’s Tahrir Square — along with occasional outbreaks of violence — interest and coverage of the protests in Egypt ramped up quickly. After then-President Hosni Mubarak stepped down Feb. 11, the focus of coverage shifted to unrest elsewhere in the region. The percentage of the public saying they were following news about Egypt more closely than any other news fell off as well. Few closely followed voting last week on a new constitution.</p>
<p>After Mubarak resigned, two new stories competed for media and public attention — the protests in Wisconsin over a plan to scale back the collective bargaining rights of public workers and the worsening unrest in Libya.</p>
<p>Then the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan March 11. That story has continued to capture the public’s interest as Japan grapples with an ongoing nuclear crisis at a crippled nuclear power complex. While public interest stayed strong last week, the media focused more on developments in Libya.</p>
<p>The focus on foreign news has meant less attention in the first quarter to long-running domestic stories such as the fight over the federal budget deficit and the early stages of the 2012 presidential elections. At this stage in 2007, with candidates in both parties vying for the presidential nomination, the 2008 election garnered both more coverage and more interest. See “ <a href="http://people-press.org/2011/03/23/obama-tests-well-at-start-of-reelection-run/" type="external">Obama Tests Well at Start of Reelection Run</a>,” March 23, 2011.)</p>
<p>Last week, foreign news dominated the public’s news interest with more than seven-in-ten saying they tracked either news about Japan (57%) or about allied air strikes in Libya (15%) more closely than any other news. That is rarely the case for this index, which measures public interest in a wide range of stories.</p>
<p>Looking at surveys conducted since the start of 2009, interest in international news cumulatively has rarely made up a high percentage of the index. One exception came last month. In mid-February, 48% said they were following developments in Egypt most closely the week that Hosni Mubarak stepped down.</p>
<p>In mid-October of last year, 40% said the dramatic rescue of a crew of Chilean miners trapped in an underground mine was their top story of the week. Despite the fast approaching congressional elections, nothing else came close.</p>
<p>Interest in the Haiti earthquake last January was comparable to current interest in the disasters in Japan; 57% said they followed developments there more closely than any other news.</p>
<p>The week of June 15, 2009, 20% said their top story was the anti-government protests in Iran, while 12% said it was new tensions between North and South Korea. Roughly a third of the public (32%) said they were following one of those stories most closely.</p>
<p>The week of April 6 of that year, 20% of the public said they were following news about pirates hijacking ships off the coast of Somalia most closely, 11% said they were following Obama’s trip to Turkey and Iraq and 8% said they were following news about an earthquake in Italy that closely.</p>
<p>The following week, 34% said their top story was the Somali pirates, while 6% said it was Obama’s travels to Latin America.</p>
<p>More than eight-in-ten Americans rate press coverage of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan as excellent (43%) or good (42%). Almost as many say the same about coverage of the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in early January (34% excellent, 40% good).</p>
<p>But when it comes to domestic stories focused on economics and politics, the press gets much lower marks. Just 4% say the news media has done an excellent job covering discussions about how to address the federal budget deficit, 27% say coverage has been good. Nearly two-thirds rate the job the press has done as only fair (40%) or poor (24%).</p>
<p>Reporting on the dispute in Wisconsin between the state government and public employee unions is rated only slightly better: 11% say coverage of that story has been excellent; 32% say it has been good. About half rate it as only fair (29%) or poor (19%).</p>
<p>Ratings are somewhat better for two of the complex stories unfolding in the Middle East. About six-in-ten say the press has done an excellent (18%) or good job (44%) covering the uprising in Libya and the military air strikes by the U.S. and its allies. A third say the coverage has been only fair (23%) or poor (10%). Coverage of the uprising in Egypt and the political transition there gets similar ratings. Nearly six-in-ten say it has been excellent (16%) or good (41%); 26% say it has been only fair and 11% rate it as poor.</p>
<p>These findings are based on the most recent installment of the weekly News Interest Index, an ongoing project of the Pew Research Center for the People &amp; the Press. The index, building on the Center’s longstanding research into public attentiveness to major news stories, examines news interest as it relates to the news media’s coverage. The weekly survey is conducted in conjunction with The Project for Excellence in Journalism’s News Coverage Index, which monitors the news reported by major newspaper, television, radio and online news outlets on an ongoing basis. In the most recent week, data relating to news coverage were collected March 21-27, and survey data measuring public interest in the top news stories of the week were collected March 24-27, from a nationally representative sample of 1,002 adults.</p>
<p>View the <a href="" type="internal">topline questionnaire</a> and <a href="http://people-press.org/2011/03/30/public-stays-focused-on-japan-as-media-turns-to-libya/" type="external">survey methodology</a> at <a href="http://www.people-press.org/" type="external">people-press.org</a>.</p>
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public focus remains japan publics news interests week far sync news medias coverage aftermath japan earthquake tsunami publics top story wide margin news organizations devoted far coverage military conflict libya nearly sixinten americans 57 say followed news aftermath earthquake tsunami japan closely news story last week 15 say followed news us allies airstrikes libya closely according latest news interest index survey conducted march 2427 among 1002 adults publics news interests largely unchanged week earlier news organizations suddenly shifted focus japan ongoing military action libya news libya accounted 41 news coverage week compared 15 devoted japan crisis according pew research centers project excellence journalism pej week earlier news japan accounted half 57 news coverage past months seen unusual series major news stories departure recent years overseas stories february public news media focused extraordinary wave protests unrest middle east devastating japanese earthquake hit march 11 rebellion moammar gadhafi gained strength libya according pej 43 coverage far year devoted international events double normal level major news unfolding japan libya last week two foreign stories topped news interest index first time since first week july 2007 week publics top stories war iraq string coordinated suicide bombings london foreign stories topped publics news interest recent years earthquake haiti last january generally shared attention major domestic stories especially economic political news third public 33 says followed news military air strikes libya us allies closely last week contrast 50 say followed news aftermath japanese disasters closely survey completed president obama addressed nation monday night mission libya point comparison considerably public interest start nato airstrikes serbian forces march 1999 43 closely current level interest libya higher interest news nations economy 36 closely economic news accounted 6 coverage news 11 say followed news death actress elizabeth taylor closely 3 say top story news movie stars death accounted 7 coverage similar percentages followed news 2012 presidential candidates though story received less coverage 13 say followed news elections closely 2 say news followed closely news early positioning garnered 2 coverage 8 say closely followed news egyptians voting new constitution less 1 say top story week news developments egypt accounted 1 coverage public interest media coverage largely sync huge stories broken since start 2011 allied air strikes libya started month public media focused heavily january shootings tucson left six dead rep gabrielle giffords severely injured public interest stayed relatively high story though coverage fell quickly media moved developing stories especially growing unrest middle east protests swelled cairos tahrir square along occasional outbreaks violence interest coverage protests egypt ramped quickly thenpresident hosni mubarak stepped feb 11 focus coverage shifted unrest elsewhere region percentage public saying following news egypt closely news fell well closely followed voting last week new constitution mubarak resigned two new stories competed media public attention protests wisconsin plan scale back collective bargaining rights public workers worsening unrest libya devastating earthquake tsunami hit japan march 11 story continued capture publics interest japan grapples ongoing nuclear crisis crippled nuclear power complex public interest stayed strong last week media focused developments libya focus foreign news meant less attention first quarter longrunning domestic stories fight federal budget deficit early stages 2012 presidential elections stage 2007 candidates parties vying presidential nomination 2008 election garnered coverage interest see obama tests well start reelection run march 23 2011 last week foreign news dominated publics news interest seveninten saying tracked either news japan 57 allied air strikes libya 15 closely news rarely case index measures public interest wide range stories looking surveys conducted since start 2009 interest international news cumulatively rarely made high percentage index one exception came last month midfebruary 48 said following developments egypt closely week hosni mubarak stepped midoctober last year 40 said dramatic rescue crew chilean miners trapped underground mine top story week despite fast approaching congressional elections nothing else came close interest haiti earthquake last january comparable current interest disasters japan 57 said followed developments closely news week june 15 2009 20 said top story antigovernment protests iran 12 said new tensions north south korea roughly third public 32 said following one stories closely week april 6 year 20 public said following news pirates hijacking ships coast somalia closely 11 said following obamas trip turkey iraq 8 said following news earthquake italy closely following week 34 said top story somali pirates 6 said obamas travels latin america eightinten americans rate press coverage earthquake tsunami japan excellent 43 good 42 almost many say coverage shooting rep gabrielle giffords early january 34 excellent 40 good comes domestic stories focused economics politics press gets much lower marks 4 say news media done excellent job covering discussions address federal budget deficit 27 say coverage good nearly twothirds rate job press done fair 40 poor 24 reporting dispute wisconsin state government public employee unions rated slightly better 11 say coverage story excellent 32 say good half rate fair 29 poor 19 ratings somewhat better two complex stories unfolding middle east sixinten say press done excellent 18 good job 44 covering uprising libya military air strikes us allies third say coverage fair 23 poor 10 coverage uprising egypt political transition gets similar ratings nearly sixinten say excellent 16 good 41 26 say fair 11 rate poor findings based recent installment weekly news interest index ongoing project pew research center people amp press index building centers longstanding research public attentiveness major news stories examines news interest relates news medias coverage weekly survey conducted conjunction project excellence journalisms news coverage index monitors news reported major newspaper television radio online news outlets ongoing basis recent week data relating news coverage collected march 2127 survey data measuring public interest top news stories week collected march 2427 nationally representative sample 1002 adults view topline questionnaire survey methodology peoplepressorg
| 944 |
<p>Samir Soni’s “My Birthday Song” is supposed to be many things - including a psychological thriller and a mid-life crisis drama - but it is mostly a repository of bad acting, the kind that makes you cringe every time someone on screen even tries to attempt an emotional scene.</p> Handout photo Handout photo
<p>From leading man Sanjay Suri, playing a 40 year-old ad filmmaker whose birthday party goes awry after an encounter with a woman, to Nora Fatehi, who plays that woman, everyone seems to be putting in their worst. And the mediocre script (by Soni and Vrushali Telang) doesn’t help.</p>
<p>Protagonist Rajeev goes through the film running like a headless chicken, unsure if the events in his life are real or imaginary. He will suddenly wake up and realise that events he thought he saw with his own eyes didn’t happen, that time has been reversed, and that nothing is as it seems.</p>
<p>Rajeev has strange encounters with his wife, car mechanics and women who he thought were dead. While all these are meant to project the film as a psychological thriller, neither Suri nor Soni have the acting and directing chops to pull it off.</p>
<p>Suri is in almost every scene and woefully inadequate - his movements are jerky and his dialogue staccato. Add to that a wafer-thin plot, excessive use of slow motion to indicate drama and a vague conclusion, and you have a film that pretty much has no redeeming qualities.</p>
<p>The views expressed in this article are not those of Reuters News.</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>MELBOURNE (Reuters) - A Roman-style chariot, gold Rolex watch, leather jock strap and a 128-year-old violin that all belonged to Australian actor Russell Crowe have been sold in an auction that reaped in more than $2.8 million dollars.</p> FILE PHOTO - Actor Russell Crowe speaks at the 30th annual American Cinematheque Award ceremony in Beverly Hills, California U.S., October 14, 2016. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
<p>The auction titled ‘The Art of Divorce’ was held in Sydney on Saturday and attracted dozens of buyers and spectators. About 200 movie costumes, props from some of his most popular films, including Gladiator, Master and Commander, LA Confidential and The Insider, went under the hammer.</p>
<p>The auction was held on what would have been his 15th wedding anniversary with former wife Danielle Spencer and Crowe’s 54th birthday.</p>
<p>Auction house Sotheby’s reported many items sold for well above their estimated value, including a pair of metal cuffs the Oscar winner wore in Gladiator, which was valued at up to $1,535 but sold for $29,974. The replica chariot used in the 2000 film Gladiator sold for $49,907.</p>
<p>There were also some unusual items, including a fossil of a dinosaur-era reptile’s skull, which was previously owned by U.S. actor Leonardo Dicaprio which sold for $60,886.</p>
<p>Crowe made an unexpected appearance during the auction, cheerfully welcoming would-be buyers.</p>
<p>Reporting by Alana Schetzer; Editing by Michael Perry</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>MUMBAI (Reuters) - Bollywood star Salman Khan, jailed on Thursday for five years for poaching, was granted bail by an Indian court on Saturday in a case being followed by tens of millions of fans and a movie industry that banks heavily on his popularity.</p>
<p>The actor will be freed from jail on Saturday after completing the necessary formalities, his lawyer Mahesh Bora told reporters.</p>
<p>Khan’s fans set off firecrackers outside his home in Mumbai and outside the court in Jodhpur in the northwestern state of Rajasthan after the actor was granted bail.</p>
<p>Khan, 52, was found guilty of violating Indian wildlife laws by killing a blackbuck, an endangered species of antelope, in 1998.</p>
<p>The case was brought by members of a community known as the Bishnoi, who revere antelopes. The community had pursued the case against Khan for almost two decades.</p>
<p>The actor may not leave the country without the court’s permission, Mahipal Bishnoi, a lawyer for the Bishnoi community, told reporters.</p>
<p>Khan has had other run-ins with the law.</p>
<p>In 2015, a Bombay High Court overturned Khan’s conviction in a hit-and-run case in which he was accused of running over a group of people sleeping on a city sidewalk, killing one and injuring four.</p>
<p>Last year, another court in Jodhpur acquitted Khan in a separate poaching case, ruling that there was no proof that Khan had killed an endangered gazelle.</p>
<p>Khan has made a series of blockbuster hits in the last few years with the latest in December, “Tiger Zinda Hai”, grossing more than 3 billion rupees ($52 million) at the box office.</p> FILE PHOTO - Bollywood actor Salman Khan (2nd L) arrives at a court in Jodhpur in the western state of Rajasthan, India, April 5, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer
<p>His next film, “Race 3”, is an action thriller scheduled for release later in the year. Khan has also signed a deal with global e-commerce giant Amazon that gives its Prime video streaming service exclusive worldwide rights to his catalogue and upcoming titles.</p>
<p>Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; editing by Euan Rocha and Jason Neely</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>BEIRUT (Reuters) - A Syrian rebel group accused government forces on Saturday of dropping a barrel bomb containing poisonous chemicals on civilians in eastern Ghouta, and a medical relief organization said 35 people had been killed in chemical attacks on the area.</p>
<p>Syrian state media denied government forces had launched any chemical attack as soon as the reports began circulating and said rebels in the eastern Ghouta town of Douma were in a state of collapse and spreading false news.</p>
<p>The U.S. State Department said on Saturday reports of mass casualties from an alleged chemical weapons attack in Douma were “horrifying” and would, if confirmed, “demand an immediate response by the international community”.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-attack-usa/u-s-says-reports-of-chemical-attack-in-syria-horrifying-if-confirmed-calls-for-response-idUSKBN1HF02N" type="external">U.S. says reports of chemical attack in Syria 'horrifying' if confirmed, calls for response</a>
<p>The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 11 people had died in Douma as a result of suffocation caused by the smoke from conventional weapons being dropped by the government. It said a total of 70 people suffered breathing difficulties.</p>
<p>Rami Abdulrahman, the Observatory director, said he could not confirm if chemical weapons had been used.</p>
<p>Medical relief organization Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) said a chlorine bomb hit Douma hospital, killing six people, and a second attack with “mixed agents” including nerve agents had hit a nearby building.</p>
<p>Basel Termanini, the U.S.-based vice president of SAMS, told Reuters the total death toll in the chemical attacks was 35. “We are contacting the U.N. and the U.S. government and the European governments,” he said by telephone.</p>
<p>Reuters could not independently verify the reports.</p>
<p>Syrian state news agency SANA said the rebel group in Douma, Jaish al-Islam, was making “chemical attack fabrications in an exposed and failed attempt to obstruct advances by the Syrian Arab army,” citing an official source.</p>
<p>“The Assad regime and its backers must be held accountable and any further attacks prevented immediately”, said U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauret, recalling a 2017 sarin gas attack that the West and the United Nations blamed on Assad’s government.</p>
<p>“The United States calls on Russia to end this unmitigated support immediately and work with the international community to prevent further, barbaric chemical weapons attacks,” Nauert said in a statement.</p>
<p>The Syrian government has repeatedly denied using chemical weapons during the conflict.</p>
<p>Reporting by Dahlia Nehme and Mustafa Hashem; Additional reporting by Patrick Rucker and Tim Ahmann in Washington; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Sandra Maler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department said on Saturday reports of mass casualties from an alleged chemical weapons attack in Douma, Syria, were “horrifying” and would demand an international response if confirmed.</p>
<p>“These reports, if confirmed, are horrifying and demand an immediate response by the international community,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.</p>
<p>Citing a history of chemical weapons use by the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Nauert said Assad’s government and its backer Russia needed to be held accountable and “any further attacks prevented immediately.”</p>
<p>“Russia, with its unwavering support for the regime ultimately bears responsibility for these brutal attacks,” Nauert said.</p>
<p>Reporting by Tim Ahmann; Editing by Michael Perry</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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samir sonis birthday song supposed many things including psychological thriller midlife crisis drama mostly repository bad acting kind makes cringe every time someone screen even tries attempt emotional scene handout photo handout photo leading man sanjay suri playing 40 yearold ad filmmaker whose birthday party goes awry encounter woman nora fatehi plays woman everyone seems putting worst mediocre script soni vrushali telang doesnt help protagonist rajeev goes film running like headless chicken unsure events life real imaginary suddenly wake realise events thought saw eyes didnt happen time reversed nothing seems rajeev strange encounters wife car mechanics women thought dead meant project film psychological thriller neither suri soni acting directing chops pull suri almost every scene woefully inadequate movements jerky dialogue staccato add waferthin plot excessive use slow motion indicate drama vague conclusion film pretty much redeeming qualities views expressed article reuters news standards thomson reuters trust principles melbourne reuters romanstyle chariot gold rolex watch leather jock strap 128yearold violin belonged australian actor russell crowe sold auction reaped 28 million dollars file photo actor russell crowe speaks 30th annual american cinematheque award ceremony beverly hills california us october 14 2016 reutersmario anzuoni auction titled art divorce held sydney saturday attracted dozens buyers spectators 200 movie costumes props popular films including gladiator master commander la confidential insider went hammer auction held would 15th wedding anniversary former wife danielle spencer crowes 54th birthday auction house sothebys reported many items sold well estimated value including pair metal cuffs oscar winner wore gladiator valued 1535 sold 29974 replica chariot used 2000 film gladiator sold 49907 also unusual items including fossil dinosaurera reptiles skull previously owned us actor leonardo dicaprio sold 60886 crowe made unexpected appearance auction cheerfully welcoming wouldbe buyers reporting alana schetzer editing michael perry standards thomson reuters trust principles mumbai reuters bollywood star salman khan jailed thursday five years poaching granted bail indian court saturday case followed tens millions fans movie industry banks heavily popularity actor freed jail saturday completing necessary formalities lawyer mahesh bora told reporters khans fans set firecrackers outside home mumbai outside court jodhpur northwestern state rajasthan actor granted bail khan 52 found guilty violating indian wildlife laws killing blackbuck endangered species antelope 1998 case brought members community known bishnoi revere antelopes community pursued case khan almost two decades actor may leave country without courts permission mahipal bishnoi lawyer bishnoi community told reporters khan runins law 2015 bombay high court overturned khans conviction hitandrun case accused running group people sleeping city sidewalk killing one injuring four last year another court jodhpur acquitted khan separate poaching case ruling proof khan killed endangered gazelle khan made series blockbuster hits last years latest december tiger zinda hai grossing 3 billion rupees 52 million box office file photo bollywood actor salman khan 2nd l arrives court jodhpur western state rajasthan india april 5 2018 reutersstringer next film race 3 action thriller scheduled release later year khan also signed deal global ecommerce giant amazon gives prime video streaming service exclusive worldwide rights catalogue upcoming titles reporting rajendra jadhav editing euan rocha jason neely standards thomson reuters trust principles beirut reuters syrian rebel group accused government forces saturday dropping barrel bomb containing poisonous chemicals civilians eastern ghouta medical relief organization said 35 people killed chemical attacks area syrian state media denied government forces launched chemical attack soon reports began circulating said rebels eastern ghouta town douma state collapse spreading false news us state department said saturday reports mass casualties alleged chemical weapons attack douma horrifying would confirmed demand immediate response international community related coverage us says reports chemical attack syria horrifying confirmed calls response syrian observatory human rights said 11 people died douma result suffocation caused smoke conventional weapons dropped government said total 70 people suffered breathing difficulties rami abdulrahman observatory director said could confirm chemical weapons used medical relief organization syrian american medical society sams said chlorine bomb hit douma hospital killing six people second attack mixed agents including nerve agents hit nearby building basel termanini usbased vice president sams told reuters total death toll chemical attacks 35 contacting un us government european governments said telephone reuters could independently verify reports syrian state news agency sana said rebel group douma jaish alislam making chemical attack fabrications exposed failed attempt obstruct advances syrian arab army citing official source assad regime backers must held accountable attacks prevented immediately said us state department spokeswoman heather nauret recalling 2017 sarin gas attack west united nations blamed assads government united states calls russia end unmitigated support immediately work international community prevent barbaric chemical weapons attacks nauert said statement syrian government repeatedly denied using chemical weapons conflict reporting dahlia nehme mustafa hashem additional reporting patrick rucker tim ahmann washington editing hugh lawson sandra maler standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters us state department said saturday reports mass casualties alleged chemical weapons attack douma syria horrifying would demand international response confirmed reports confirmed horrifying demand immediate response international community state department spokeswoman heather nauert said statement citing history chemical weapons use government syrian president bashar alassad nauert said assads government backer russia needed held accountable attacks prevented immediately russia unwavering support regime ultimately bears responsibility brutal attacks nauert said reporting tim ahmann editing michael perry standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>His son, painter, songwriter, singer and comedian Richard Corey, quipped that his father died “peacefully, at home, surrounded by his son.”</p>
<p>Under the moniker Professor Corey, the self-described rebel comedian spent eight decades perfecting a mock-intellectual routine laced with malapropisms and non sequiturs.</p>
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<p>“Protocol takes precedence over procedure,” he quipped in a typical self-satisfied insight.</p>
<p>Such fractured wisdom earned him requests to perform his act on radio and television news shows.</p>
<p>On an election-year outcome, he once pronounced, “I’m sorry, the returns are fragmentary, but the indication is that there will be a turnout that won’t come up to the expectations of those who, through their own analyses, have proved the percentages will only relate to the outcome.”</p>
<p>On a morning show’s weather report, he explained that the day’s temperature could be attributed to “a weather mass coming from Canada, a country we don’t own yet” clashing with “a hot-air mass coming from Washington.”</p>
<p>Corey debuted on Broadway in 1943 and became a staple of nightclubs such as the Copacabana in New York and the Silver Slipper in Washington, with a monologue that usually commenced with “However . . .”</p>
<p>He was instantly recognizable for his disheveled appearance, frazzled hair sprouting in all directions. His signature outfit was a black tuxedo with tails, a string tie and a ratty pair of high-tops.</p>
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<p>He was a household name to generations of Americans through his appearances on late-night television talk shows from the 1950s onward and on the college circuit starting in the counterculture 1960s.</p>
<p>Onscreen, he usually played street-smart hokum artists in comedies such as “How to Commit Marriage” (1969) with Jackie Gleason, “Car Wash” (1976) with Richard Pryor and Woody Allen’s “The Curse of the Jade Scorpion” (2001).</p>
<p>Theater critic Kenneth Tynan once described Corey as “a cultural clown, a parody of literacy, a travesty of all that our civilization holds dear and one of the funniest grotesques in America. He is Chaplin’s clown with a college education.”</p>
<p>Corey grew up mostly in an orphanage and did not have a college education. In an act tinged with politics, his were squarely on the far left, although he claimed he was disallowed from membership in the Communist Party USA for being an “anarchist.”</p>
<p>He was best known for a rambling, absurdist routine that satirized pontificating bar-stool philosophers.</p>
<p>“Why do you wear tennis shoes?” he was once asked.</p>
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<p>“Well, that’s a two-part question,” he began. “First you ask why. Well, why has been plaguing man since time immemorial.</p>
<p>“Statesman, philosophers, educators, teachers, scientists have been asking the ultimate why. And in these few moments allocated me, it would be ludicrous on my part — for the sake of brevity — to delve into the ultimate why.</p>
<p>“Do I wear sneakers? Yes.”</p>
<p>Irwin Eli Corey was born July 29, 1914, in Brooklyn, N.Y. His father was a waiter, his mother was a dressmaker, and at times the family was desperately poor.</p>
<p>The six Corey children – Irwin was the youngest – spent much of their early lives at the Brooklyn Hebrew Orphan Asylum. They gradually returned to their parents’ care.</p>
<p>During the Depression, Corey was a button maker for the International Ladies Garment Union before launching a stage career with Borscht Belt and left-wing theater groups.</p>
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<p>He once auditioned for a play by reciting the soliloquy from “Hamlet” only to have the casting director doubled over in laughter. His advice: “You should be a comedian.”</p>
<p>He debuted at the Village Vanguard nightclub in 1942 and first reached Broadway in a musical revue called “New Faces of 1943.” He was drafted into the Army during World War II but claimed he was discharged after convincing a military psychiatrist he was gay, despite being married.</p>
<p>During the war, he appeared as the peddler Ali Hakim in a production of the musical “Oklahoma!” for a U.S.O. tour of Europe. He had supporting roles on Broadway in shows including the musical “Flahooley” (1951), as a genie called Abou Ben Atom.</p>
<p>Subsequently, he performed in nightclubs from London to Los Angeles and was a fixture at many Playboy clubs. He launched a short-lived presidential campaign in the 1960 election on Hugh Hefner’s Playboy ticket with the slogan: “Professor Corey will run for any party and bring his own bottle.”</p>
<p>“That was a lot of fun,” he told the Cincinnati Post in 2004. “We had parades. They put my campaign manager in jail for disturbing the peace.”</p>
<p>His career reached its peak of absurdity in 1974 when he was called upon to accept the National Book Award on behalf of the reclusive author Thomas Pynchon for the novel “Gravity’s Rainbow.”</p>
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<p>Corey gave a wandering acceptance speech on behalf of Pynchon, offering thanks to Communist Party leader Leonid Brezhnev, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger — whom Corey called the “acting president of the United States” — and author Truman Capote.</p>
<p>His wife, Frances Berman Corey, died in 2011. Survivors include a son, Richard Corey of Manhattan; two grandsons; and two great-grandchildren. A daughter, Margaret Corey, died in 1997.</p>
<p>In his later years, he found a way to combine politics with performance art.</p>
<p>The New York Times reported in 2011 that Corey, dressed like the street philosopher he played onstage much of his career, had been panhandling for 17 years in midtown Manhattan. Meanwhile, he lived in an 1840 carriage house on Manhattan’s East Side that he estimated would sell for $3.5 million.</p>
<p>Corey told the Times he had collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in spare change while begging and that he had donated the money to a charity providing Cuban children with medical aid.</p>
<p>Corey was sharp-tongued about fellow comics who he felt did not rise to his standard of iconoclasm. Only close friends such as Lenny Bruce, Mort Sahl and Jonathan Winters made the cut as comic artists in the truest sense.</p>
<p>“The role of the artist is to be a rebel,” he told The Washington Post in 1970. “That’s what the great ones have always been.</p>
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son painter songwriter singer comedian richard corey quipped father died peacefully home surrounded son moniker professor corey selfdescribed rebel comedian spent eight decades perfecting mockintellectual routine laced malapropisms non sequiturs advertisement protocol takes precedence procedure quipped typical selfsatisfied insight fractured wisdom earned requests perform act radio television news shows electionyear outcome pronounced im sorry returns fragmentary indication turnout wont come expectations analyses proved percentages relate outcome morning shows weather report explained days temperature could attributed weather mass coming canada country dont yet clashing hotair mass coming washington corey debuted broadway 1943 became staple nightclubs copacabana new york silver slipper washington monologue usually commenced however instantly recognizable disheveled appearance frazzled hair sprouting directions signature outfit black tuxedo tails string tie ratty pair hightops advertisement household name generations americans appearances latenight television talk shows 1950s onward college circuit starting counterculture 1960s onscreen usually played streetsmart hokum artists comedies commit marriage 1969 jackie gleason car wash 1976 richard pryor woody allens curse jade scorpion 2001 theater critic kenneth tynan described corey cultural clown parody literacy travesty civilization holds dear one funniest grotesques america chaplins clown college education corey grew mostly orphanage college education act tinged politics squarely far left although claimed disallowed membership communist party usa anarchist best known rambling absurdist routine satirized pontificating barstool philosophers wear tennis shoes asked advertisement well thats twopart question began first ask well plaguing man since time immemorial statesman philosophers educators teachers scientists asking ultimate moments allocated would ludicrous part sake brevity delve ultimate wear sneakers yes irwin eli corey born july 29 1914 brooklyn ny father waiter mother dressmaker times family desperately poor six corey children irwin youngest spent much early lives brooklyn hebrew orphan asylum gradually returned parents care depression corey button maker international ladies garment union launching stage career borscht belt leftwing theater groups advertisement auditioned play reciting soliloquy hamlet casting director doubled laughter advice comedian debuted village vanguard nightclub 1942 first reached broadway musical revue called new faces 1943 drafted army world war ii claimed discharged convincing military psychiatrist gay despite married war appeared peddler ali hakim production musical oklahoma uso tour europe supporting roles broadway shows including musical flahooley 1951 genie called abou ben atom subsequently performed nightclubs london los angeles fixture many playboy clubs launched shortlived presidential campaign 1960 election hugh hefners playboy ticket slogan professor corey run party bring bottle lot fun told cincinnati post 2004 parades put campaign manager jail disturbing peace career reached peak absurdity 1974 called upon accept national book award behalf reclusive author thomas pynchon novel gravitys rainbow advertisement corey gave wandering acceptance speech behalf pynchon offering thanks communist party leader leonid brezhnev secretary state henry kissinger corey called acting president united states author truman capote wife frances berman corey died 2011 survivors include son richard corey manhattan two grandsons two greatgrandchildren daughter margaret corey died 1997 later years found way combine politics performance art new york times reported 2011 corey dressed like street philosopher played onstage much career panhandling 17 years midtown manhattan meanwhile lived 1840 carriage house manhattans east side estimated would sell 35 million corey told times collected hundreds thousands dollars spare change begging donated money charity providing cuban children medical aid corey sharptongued fellow comics felt rise standard iconoclasm close friends lenny bruce mort sahl jonathan winters made cut comic artists truest sense role artist rebel told washington post 1970 thats great ones always
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<p>Americans are consuming drugs of all kinds at an alarming rate. Our appetite for heroin, methamphetamine, prescription painkillers and marijuana seems insatiable. The Journal published the first five parts of an investigative report from Feb. 12 through Feb. 16, revealing how the Mexican drug cartels account for 90 percent of the illegal drugs consumed in the U.S. that fuel crime and addiction. Law enforcement constantly busts drug runners and seizes contraband. But the river flows on, and efforts to make real inroads are complicated and multinational and will take years. Today, the Journal concludes the series with a look at those efforts. To read the entire series, go to ABQJournal.com/cartels.</p>
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<p>A carton of produce enters the United States at an inspection station (Roberto E. Rosales/Journal)</p>
<p>Over the Christmas holidays, seven people were charged with transporting more than 52 pounds of methamphetamine in four separate incidents in and around Albuquerque.</p>
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<p>There was a time when any one of those arrests would have been big local news here, even though all the drugs were destined for Oklahoma City, Columbia, S.C., and other cities.</p>
<p>But arrests and seizures are so commonplace, and drugs so ubiquitous, they scarcely moved the media interest meter.</p>
<p>It’s not as though the arrests were inconsequential.</p>
<p>Federal agents say that by intercepting drugs carried by “mules” at the Amtrak and Greyhound stations or during traffic stops on I-40, they are having an impact on the country’s drug problem. The 52 pounds of methamphetamine seized on Dec. 28 and 30 represent more than 23,000 grams of meth that would have been sold on the streets of New York for more than $2.3 million.</p>
<p>But did these busts make much of an impact on the supply of methamphetamine wreaking havoc coast to coast? Not even a dent.</p>
<p>Heroin and methamphetamine smuggled from Mexico into the United States by Mexican cartels are more abundant, cheaper and more powerful than ever. And the cartels provide plenty of marijuana as well, although the price is a little higher than it was a few years ago.</p>
<p>In addition, the Mexican cartels have added fentanyl – a cheap synthetic opioid 100 times more powerful than morphine – to the mix of illicit drugs smuggled into the United States.</p>
<p>The current Drug Enforcement Administration wanted poster for Rafael Caro Quintero.</p>
<p>While Mexico has been a frequent target of President Donald Trump, both governments have a huge challenge in trying to rein in the cartels.</p>
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<p>Most drugs enter the United States through the ports of entry, and Trump’s suggestion that a “wall” along the border will curb drug trafficking has been met with some skepticism from within his own political party.</p>
<p>“There are a lot of ways to defeat the wall,” Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., said in an interview last week. “They can fly over it with light aircraft using GPS on bundles of drugs. The cartels have great tunnelers. They’ve had tunnels with traffic in both directions.”</p>
<p>And the cartels have the money to support those efforts.</p>
<p>“Transnational organized crime groups get to a size where they overwhelm the central governments,” said Bruce Ohr, associate deputy attorney general at the U.S. Department of Justice.</p>
<p>“They have more money than their central governments,” Ohr said in an interview. “Those groups are a threat to the United States. It is a global problem, and one we worry about.”</p>
<p>Positive steps</p>
<p>Ohr serves as the director of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement task forces, as well as director of the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Council. Ohr also deals with his counterparts across the globe.</p>
<p>He can sound like a prophet of doom and them pivot to point out progress around the world on combating international drug trafficking.</p>
<p>In a December interview, he pointed out a number of positive developments.</p>
<p>Among them:</p>
<p>• Despite changes in leadership, Mexico is continuing to overhaul its criminal justice system to make it more effective in combating drug cartels.</p>
<p>• Mexico has raided an average of 240 methamphetamine laboratories a year and forced the cartels to move some methamphetamine operations into Central America because of police pressure.</p>
<p>• Mexico has extradited cartel leaders, including Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera, the head of the Sinaloa Cartel, to the United States. Guzmán, who was brought to the United States in January, will face trial in New York on charges related to running one of the world’s biggest drug organizations.</p>
<p>• China has worked with U.S. law enforcement to restrict the production and trade of precursor chemicals used to make methamphetamine and in the production of fentanyl and fentanyl-type drugs.</p>
<p>• More countries, including China, are working with U.S. law enforcement on organized crime money laundering investigations.</p>
<p>But Ohr said international cooperation isn’t always smooth.</p>
<p>There are a lot of substances that are still legal in China, but that is changing, he said. And “in Mexico, there has been a lot of progress, but corruption is still a concern,” he said.</p>
<p>Agent tortured</p>
<p>DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena was kidnapped and killed in Mexico in 1985.</p>
<p>Rafael Caro Quintero is a problem in U.S. law enforcement relations with Mexico.</p>
<p>Quintero is supposed to be in a Mexican federal prison.</p>
<p>He’s not.</p>
<p>Quintero, Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo and Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo founded the Guadalajara Cartel in the early 1980s. Gallardo was chairman of the board. Fonseca represented the old guard and Quintero represented the up-and-comers.</p>
<p>He also is believed to be the man behind the murder of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena in February 1985.</p>
<p>Camarena, who was assigned to the DEA office in Guadalajara, led the Mexican military to the Rancho El Bufalo in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, where between 5,000 and 10,000 tons of marijuana was destroyed in late 1984.</p>
<p>It was Quintero’s marijuana operation.</p>
<p>A few months later, Camarena was abducted, taken to a cartel ranch and tortured for more than 30 hours.</p>
<p>His abductors included members of the Mexican Federal Security Directorate, a police agency that was eventually broken up because it was so corrupt.</p>
<p>Camarena’s torture and interrogation were recorded on audiotape that was recovered by U.S. law enforcement. His skull, nose, jaw and cheekbones were broken with a tire iron. His torturers broke his ribs. They used a cattle prod on him.</p>
<p>Camarena’s body was discovered in March 1985, a month after his abduction.</p>
<p>When American DEA agents cornered Quintero, Mexican police turned and held the agents at gunpoint while Quintero boarded an airplane and escaped. He was later arrested in Costa Rica by DEA agents, returned to Mexico and was sentenced to 40 years in prison.</p>
<p>Mexico would not extradite him to stand trial in the U.S. for Camarena’s murder, partly because Quintero faced the death penalty.</p>
<p>He was released, without any announcement, in August 2013 after serving 28 years.</p>
<p>The Mexican government never notified the United States.</p>
<p>The extradition request for Quintero has been ignored.</p>
<p>Quintero has written the Mexican press that he is innocent of the charges of killing Camarena and is not involved in drug trafficking.</p>
<p>The U.S. Treasury Department has publicly linked him to laundering drug money in 2014 and again in 2016.</p>
<p>Quintero is believed to be living in southern Chihuahua, where the Juárez Cartel has expanded poppy production in recent years.</p>
<p>Partial victories</p>
<p>There are no quick answers, but there may be hope.</p>
<p>Associate Deputy Attorney General Ohr points to what can be considered past successes ‒ – the destruction of the large Colombian cocaine cartels and the defeat of the Italian Mafia families in New York City.</p>
<p>Neither was a complete victory. There are Colombian cartels dealing cocaine today. And the Italian Mafia still exists in New York.</p>
<p>But they are shadows of the powerful organized crime syndicates they were decades ago.</p>
<p>The Medellin Cartel was a legitimate threat to the Colombian government, killing police, prosecutors, judges and legislators.</p>
<p>The five Mafia families in New York had their hands in almost every aspect of life in the New York area, from drugs to garbage hauling to construction to food distribution.</p>
<p>“It took sustained law enforcement efforts,” Ohr said.</p>
<p>In taking on the Mafia families, the Department of Justice developed the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force system.</p>
<p>It took money from all federal law enforcement agencies – to get them to cooperate – and pooled the money to pay for long-term investigations.</p>
<p>The DOJ used federal racketeering statutes and money laundering laws.</p>
<p>“We were able to knock La Cosa Nostra down to size,” he said.</p>
<p>In Florida, U.S. law enforcement used many of the same tools to help Colombian law enforcement attack the Medellin Cartel and later the Cali Cartel.</p>
<p>“These were huge, intractable problems,” Ohr said. “It was messy at times. It wasn’t easy, but the existing drug networks are nowhere near as powerful as they once were.”</p>
<p>“I think Colombia might be the best example of what we may be able to do in combating the criminal networks in Mexico,” he said.</p>
<p>Whether Mexico would willingly accept the full public participation by American law enforcement is another question.</p>
<p>Demand drives it</p>
<p>In New Mexico, Damon Martinez has been running the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the past four years.</p>
<p>U. S. Attorney Damon Martinez</p>
<p>From his perspective, combating drug trafficking organizations is less difficult than fighting the drug abuse problem.</p>
<p>“If the traffickers are on this side of the border, we should be able to tattoo that organization,” Martinez said. “We have the capability to take on any drug trafficking organization.</p>
<p>“We have the tools. We can get their drugs. We can get their assets. We can get their money, which is a crucial component to hurting their ability to operate.”</p>
<p>But he and others in federal law enforcement have made it clear they don’t believe we can arrest our way out of the drug abuse problem.</p>
<p>“We have to attack the traffickers,” he said in an interview. “But we have to suppress the demand side through education and treatment to deprive traffickers of their market.”</p>
<p>In response to New Mexico’s constantly high ranking in drug overdose deaths, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and UNM Health Sciences Center formed the New Mexico Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Initiative.</p>
<p>They were joined by the DEA, the Bernalillo County Opioid Accountability Initiative, Healing Addiction in Our Community, Albuquerque Public Schools and other community groups. The principal goal was the reduction in the number of opioid-related deaths in the state.</p>
<p>“We have a lot of people in prison for drug crimes, and the recidivism statistics are bad for people being released,” Martinez said.</p>
<p>Isleta Pueblo, with the HOPE Initiative’s help, set up a re-entry plan to help former inmates with transportation, education and jobs.</p>
<p>New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas recently launched initiatives to combat drug abuse at the state level.</p>
<p>The State Pharmacy and Medical boards have toughened regulations on prescribing painkilling drugs.</p>
<p>And other state programs aimed at reducing the harm caused by the drugs, like making heroin overdose antidotes available to police, have helped reduce the state’s rate of overdose deaths.</p>
<p>But as heroin overdose deaths have declined slightly, methamphetamine overdose deaths have increased. Some consider a meth habit harder to break than addiction to heroin.</p>
<p>But they both fuel crime as addicts rob, steal and sell drugs to buy more drugs.</p>
<p>Albuquerque Deputy Police Chief Eric Garcia said drugs are directly related to the overwhelming number of crimes here and that crimes by people high on meth tend to be more violent and horrific than others.</p>
<p>Still, law enforcement has responded.</p>
<p>“We have limited resources; we have to direct our resources where they will make a difference,” Martinez said. “We targeted violent criminals in the community through the worst of the worst. We targeted pharmacy robberies.</p>
<p>“Our law enforcement efforts have to evolve,” he said. “I think we can counter each and every move the cartels and traffickers make.</p>
<p>“We can’t give up on it.”</p>
<p>By the numbers</p>
<p>1,989 miles – The length of Mexico’s border with the U.S. from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico.</p>
<p>48 – Number of border crossings.</p>
<p>330 – ports of entry, including railroad crossings.</p>
<p>More than 74 million –&#160;The number of personal vehicles that used the ports of entry to cross the border in 2015.</p>
<p>More than 41 million – The number of pedestrians that crossed the border in 2015.</p>
<p>5.5 million – The number of tractor-trailers that legally crossed the border in 2015.</p>
<p>Mexico is the United States’ third-largest trading partner, behind Canada and China.</p>
<p>$172 billion – The value of exports from the U.S. to Mexico in 2015, more than twice what the U.S. sent to China.</p>
<p>More than $218 billion – The value of imports from Mexico to the U.S. in 2015. Trade with Mexico accounts for 14.5 percent of all U.S. foreign trade.</p>
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mules amtrak greyhound stations traffic stops i40 impact countrys drug problem 52 pounds methamphetamine seized dec 28 30 represent 23000 grams meth would sold streets new york 23 million busts make much impact supply methamphetamine wreaking havoc coast coast even dent heroin methamphetamine smuggled mexico united states mexican cartels abundant cheaper powerful ever cartels provide plenty marijuana well although price little higher years ago addition mexican cartels added fentanyl cheap synthetic opioid 100 times powerful morphine mix illicit drugs smuggled united states current drug enforcement administration wanted poster rafael caro quintero mexico frequent target president donald trump governments huge challenge trying rein cartels advertisement drugs enter united states ports entry trumps suggestion wall along border curb drug trafficking met skepticism within political party lot ways defeat wall rep steve pearce rnm said interview last week fly light aircraft using gps bundles drugs cartels great tunnelers theyve tunnels traffic directions cartels money support efforts transnational organized crime groups get size overwhelm central governments said bruce ohr associate deputy attorney general us department justice money central governments ohr said interview groups threat united states global problem one worry positive steps ohr serves director organized crime drug enforcement task forces well director attorney generals organized crime council ohr also deals counterparts across globe sound like prophet doom pivot point progress around world combating international drug trafficking december interview pointed number positive developments among despite changes leadership mexico continuing overhaul criminal justice system make effective combating drug cartels mexico raided average 240 methamphetamine laboratories year forced cartels move methamphetamine operations central america police pressure mexico extradited cartel leaders including joaquín el chapo guzmán loera head sinaloa cartel united states guzmán brought united states january face trial new york charges related running one worlds biggest drug organizations china worked us law enforcement restrict production trade precursor chemicals used make methamphetamine production fentanyl fentanyltype drugs countries including china working us law enforcement organized crime money laundering investigations ohr said international cooperation isnt always smooth lot substances still legal china changing said mexico lot progress corruption still concern said agent tortured dea agent enrique kiki camarena kidnapped killed mexico 1985 rafael caro quintero problem us law enforcement relations mexico quintero supposed mexican federal prison hes quintero miguel Ãngel félix gallardo ernesto fonseca carrillo founded guadalajara cartel early 1980s gallardo chairman board fonseca represented old guard quintero represented upandcomers also believed man behind murder us drug enforcement administration special agent enrique kiki camarena february 1985 camarena assigned dea office guadalajara led mexican military rancho el bufalo mexican state chihuahua 5000 10000 tons marijuana destroyed late 1984 quinteros marijuana operation months later camarena abducted taken cartel ranch tortured 30 hours abductors included members mexican federal security directorate police agency eventually broken corrupt camarenas torture interrogation recorded audiotape recovered us law enforcement skull nose jaw cheekbones broken tire iron torturers broke ribs used cattle prod camarenas body discovered march 1985 month abduction american dea agents cornered quintero mexican police turned held agents gunpoint quintero boarded airplane escaped later arrested costa rica dea agents returned mexico sentenced 40 years prison mexico would extradite stand trial us camarenas murder partly quintero faced death penalty released without announcement august 2013 serving 28 years mexican government never notified united states extradition request quintero ignored quintero written mexican press innocent charges killing camarena involved drug trafficking us treasury department publicly linked laundering drug money 2014 2016 quintero believed living southern chihuahua juárez cartel expanded poppy production recent years partial victories quick answers may hope associate deputy attorney general ohr points considered past successes â destruction large colombian cocaine cartels defeat italian mafia families new york city neither complete victory colombian cartels dealing cocaine today italian mafia still exists new york shadows powerful organized crime syndicates decades ago medellin cartel legitimate threat colombian government killing police prosecutors judges legislators five mafia families new york hands almost every aspect life new york area drugs garbage hauling construction food distribution took sustained law enforcement efforts ohr said taking mafia families department justice developed organized crime drug enforcement task force system took money federal law enforcement agencies get cooperate pooled money pay longterm investigations doj used federal racketeering statutes money laundering laws able knock la cosa nostra size said florida us law enforcement used many tools help colombian law enforcement attack medellin cartel later cali cartel huge intractable problems ohr said messy times wasnt easy existing drug networks nowhere near powerful think colombia might best example may able combating criminal networks mexico said whether mexico would willingly accept full public participation american law enforcement another question demand drives new mexico damon martinez running us attorneys office past four years u attorney damon martinez perspective combating drug trafficking organizations less difficult fighting drug abuse problem traffickers side border able tattoo organization martinez said capability take drug trafficking organization tools get drugs get assets get money crucial component hurting ability operate others federal law enforcement made clear dont believe arrest way drug abuse problem attack traffickers said interview suppress demand side education treatment deprive traffickers market response new mexicos constantly high ranking drug overdose deaths us attorneys office unm health sciences center formed new mexico heroin opioid prevention education hope initiative joined dea bernalillo county opioid accountability initiative healing addiction community albuquerque public schools community groups principal goal reduction number opioidrelated deaths state lot people prison drug crimes recidivism statistics bad people released martinez said isleta pueblo hope initiatives help set reentry plan help former inmates transportation education jobs new mexico attorney general hector balderas recently launched initiatives combat drug abuse state level state pharmacy medical boards toughened regulations prescribing painkilling drugs state programs aimed reducing harm caused drugs like making heroin overdose antidotes available police helped reduce states rate overdose deaths heroin overdose deaths declined slightly methamphetamine overdose deaths increased consider meth habit harder break addiction heroin fuel crime addicts rob steal sell drugs buy drugs albuquerque deputy police chief eric garcia said drugs directly related overwhelming number crimes crimes people high meth tend violent horrific others still law enforcement responded limited resources direct resources make difference martinez said targeted violent criminals community worst worst targeted pharmacy robberies law enforcement efforts evolve said think counter every move cartels traffickers make cant give numbers 1989 miles length mexicos border us pacific ocean gulf mexico 48 number border crossings 330 ports entry including railroad crossings 74 million 160the number personal vehicles used ports entry cross border 2015 41 million number pedestrians crossed border 2015 55 million number tractortrailers legally crossed border 2015 mexico united states thirdlargest trading partner behind canada china 172 billion value exports us mexico 2015 twice us sent china 218 billion value imports mexico us 2015 trade mexico accounts 145 percent us foreign trade
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<p />
<p>But hopes for rebuilding collide with daunting realities.</p>
<p>Without a comprehensive peace deal to Syria’s civil war, Western nations are unlikely to give funds to the government of President Bashar Assad, which remains under U.S., European, and Arab sanctions that bar aid. Even Assad’s allies, Russia and Iran, which are bankrolling his rule, show little enthusiasm to shoulder rebuilding costs.</p>
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<p>There is the question of how to discuss reconstruction while the war still rages. Much depends on the shape of any eventual political settlement ending the conflict. Rebuilding without a deal may only entrench demographic changes caused by the war — which have run along sectarian lines.</p>
<p>The fear among some is that Assad’s government will rebuild opposition areas like east Aleppo for its supporters and do little to draw back millions of refugees, most from parts of the country that joined the rebellion.</p>
<p>Still, the European Union, where nearly 1 million Syrians are seeking asylum, says planning must start now. The questions surrounding Aleppo, where fighting ended last month with the government’s capture of the entire city, point to the wider problems that will be faced in rebuilding the appalling destruction across Syria from its six-year civil war.</p>
<p>The EU wants to host a conference in the spring on the future of Syria with a focus on reconstruction. U.N. officials are scrambling to form a vision for a future Syria and find ways to tackle financing.</p>
<p>“I remember people were telling us, ‘Are you mad? You start planning for rebuilding now?’ And my reaction was, ‘It is already too late,'” said Abdullah Al Dardari, deputy executive secretary for the U.N. Economic and Social Commission for West Asia.</p>
<p>“One day soon, hopefully, when there is a peace agreement of some sort and we need to deliver to the people of Syria on basic services and housing and schooling and all this, you will see how much time we really needed for planning.”</p>
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<p>The EU move may in part be aimed at gaining a voice in Syria — and a carrot of reconstruction aid to dangle before Assad — at a time when Moscow dominates the political process. Russia’s warplanes helped Assad’s forces recapture east Aleppo, the government’s greatest victory of the war, and now Russia along with opposition-backer Turkey is pushing to jumpstart negotiations.</p>
<p>A comprehensive political solution remains far off. But any settlement in current circumstances would no doubt leave Assad in office and therefore running rebuilding efforts.</p>
<p>Al Dardari estimated war damages across Syria so far at $350 billion, including physical damage amid loss of economic activity. Aleppo’s share is about 15 percent, or over $52 billion, he said, though others put the estimate at nearly double that.</p>
<p>“The economic damage is beyond calculation at the moment,” Al Dardari said, who later this month will move to the World Bank as an adviser on reconstruction efforts in the Middle East. “There is no number on earth that can be put on the loss (of) the historical, archaeological and cultural and also the business aspect of it.”</p>
<p>Since 2012, Aleppo was divided between a government-held west and opposition-held east, with constant battling between the two sides. The east bore the brunt, under bombardment by government artillery, airstrikes and helicopter-dropped barrel bombs. The Russian-backed siege last year brought months of intense barrages until the rebel enclave collapsed in December.</p>
<p>Eastern Aleppo, home to nearly 1.5 million before the war, now lies largely empty. While theoretically residents are allowed to return, many will not in the absence of a reconciliation deal, fearing retaliation or military conscription.</p>
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<p>Still, dozens of residents have filtered in to inspect their properties, climbing over debris to reach hollowed-out, punctured buildings with unexploded ordnance littered around. Entire apartment blocks are now rubble. Vehicles can’t move through most streets because of debris and bomb craters.</p>
<p>During an Associated Press tour in January, a body — likely of a rebel fighter– still lay outside a bombed hospital. Rebels’ graffiti was covered over with black paint, adding to the haunted feel of streets largely empty of life.</p>
<p>In the city’s center, the historic old quarters — which were largely held by the opposition and stood on the dividing line — are a wrecked shadow of their glorious past. UNESCO estimated that 60 percent of the old city has been severely damaged and 30 percent destroyed. Among the casualties are the heavily damaged centuries-old Umayyad Mosque and historic bazaar.</p>
<p>“My heart burns every time I come to the market and see the destruction. I cry every day but there is nothing I can do,” said Abdul-Qadir Homsi, owner of a shoe shop. Inside his shop, three cylinders — perhaps homemade bombs — nearly blocked the door.</p>
<p>“I informed the authorities two weeks ago but so far they have not come to remove them.”</p>
<p>Mohammed Saddour, who sold carts, found his shop had been used by rebels as an operations room near the front lines. He spoke as workers poured sand into a fighters’ tunnel underneath his shop. He estimated he would need $1,200 to get the shop running plus $800 for a generator — an amount that the 52-year-old merchant can’t afford.</p>
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<p>“The economic cycle in Aleppo will not start unless the big and small business owners begin working. If they don’t start, it will not resume,” he said.</p>
<p>On some streets, municipal workers were fixing electricity poles, a sign of the first steps by Syrian authorities.</p>
<p>The government says its priority is to rebuild infrastructure with a goal of reviving Aleppo’s industries and businesses, said Abdul-Qadder Azzouz, an economy professor at Damascus University. That alone could cost an estimated half billion dollars, he said.</p>
<p>At the top of the list is getting the city’s airport working again as well as water and power facilities. Authorities may try to quickly rehabilitate the east’s Sheikh Najjar industrial zone, Azzouz said.</p>
<p>The most pressing challenge is to bring home the people of Aleppo and other cities, said AlHakam Shaar, a 30-year-old Aleppan who fled soon after the war began to avoid the draft and now lives in Budapest. That is unlikely to happen without a peace deal.</p>
<p>“Any rushed reconstruction is dangerous and is likely to cut out the owners or the ex-residents as well,” said Shaar, who is a member of the “Aleppo Project,” a team documenting the city’s recent history.</p>
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<p>International officials are informally discussing whether to pursue country-by-country reconstruction or a regional Marshall Plan-type project.</p>
<p>But the money being discussed currently is “small, incremental,” suitable for some stabilization projects but not reconstruction on a scale “that is going to bring 12 million displaced people back to their homes,” said a Syrian urban planner who is aware of the discussions. He spoke about the behind-the-scenes talks on condition of anonymity</p>
<p>Officials in Russia — in the midst of a two-year recession — have not commented on rebuilding. Moscow may instead encourage companies and other entities to lend support. Russia’s province of Chechnya said it will help restore Aleppo’s Umayyad Mosque.</p>
<p>With no overall peace deal, Turkey, a major ally of the opposition, may take a role in reconstruction in areas under its sphere. It has begun restoration work in Jarablus, a town captured in the campaign its military has waged alongside Syrian fighters against the Islamic State group and the Kurds in northern Syria.</p>
<p>Without a large-scale campaign, rebuilding will likely come through financing smaller, local efforts.</p>
<p>In Beirut, the U.N. and Italy’s University of Venezia organized a gathering of Syrian architects and artists with others from Europe to put together a “Sketch for Syria.”</p>
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<p>They brainstormed ideas, including using energy efficient methods, recycling scrap metal from destroyed buildings, and speeding construction so that residents can move back into homes while building continues on upper floors. They drew up proposals for decentralizing governance.</p>
<p>Luna Rajab, a Damascus architect and the coordinator of the project, said the focus is on Syria’s future, not the conflict.</p>
<p>“We are not forgetting there is a war,” she said. “But I can choose to sit under the ruins and ashes or I can choose to climb on top of the mountain and scream as loud as I can: ‘I want to rebuild.”</p>
<p>__</p>
<p>El Deeb reported from Beirut. Andrea Rosa in Beirut, Hassan Ammar in Aleppo and Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria, contributed to this report.</p>
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hopes rebuilding collide daunting realities without comprehensive peace deal syrias civil war western nations unlikely give funds government president bashar assad remains us european arab sanctions bar aid even assads allies russia iran bankrolling rule show little enthusiasm shoulder rebuilding costs advertisement question discuss reconstruction war still rages much depends shape eventual political settlement ending conflict rebuilding without deal may entrench demographic changes caused war run along sectarian lines fear among assads government rebuild opposition areas like east aleppo supporters little draw back millions refugees parts country joined rebellion still european union nearly 1 million syrians seeking asylum says planning must start questions surrounding aleppo fighting ended last month governments capture entire city point wider problems faced rebuilding appalling destruction across syria sixyear civil war eu wants host conference spring future syria focus reconstruction un officials scrambling form vision future syria find ways tackle financing remember people telling us mad start planning rebuilding reaction already late said abdullah al dardari deputy executive secretary un economic social commission west asia one day soon hopefully peace agreement sort need deliver people syria basic services housing schooling see much time really needed planning advertisement eu move may part aimed gaining voice syria carrot reconstruction aid dangle assad time moscow dominates political process russias warplanes helped assads forces recapture east aleppo governments greatest victory war russia along oppositionbacker turkey pushing jumpstart negotiations comprehensive political solution remains far settlement current circumstances would doubt leave assad office therefore running rebuilding efforts al dardari estimated war damages across syria far 350 billion including physical damage amid loss economic activity aleppos share 15 percent 52 billion said though others put estimate nearly double economic damage beyond calculation moment al dardari said later month move world bank adviser reconstruction efforts middle east number earth put loss historical archaeological cultural also business aspect since 2012 aleppo divided governmentheld west oppositionheld east constant battling two sides east bore brunt bombardment government artillery airstrikes helicopterdropped barrel bombs russianbacked siege last year brought months intense barrages rebel enclave collapsed december eastern aleppo home nearly 15 million war lies largely empty theoretically residents allowed return many absence reconciliation deal fearing retaliation military conscription advertisement still dozens residents filtered inspect properties climbing debris reach hollowedout punctured buildings unexploded ordnance littered around entire apartment blocks rubble vehicles cant move streets debris bomb craters associated press tour january body likely rebel fighter still lay outside bombed hospital rebels graffiti covered black paint adding haunted feel streets largely empty life citys center historic old quarters largely held opposition stood dividing line wrecked shadow glorious past unesco estimated 60 percent old city severely damaged 30 percent destroyed among casualties heavily damaged centuriesold umayyad mosque historic bazaar heart burns every time come market see destruction cry every day nothing said abdulqadir homsi owner shoe shop inside shop three cylinders perhaps homemade bombs nearly blocked door informed authorities two weeks ago far come remove mohammed saddour sold carts found shop used rebels operations room near front lines spoke workers poured sand fighters tunnel underneath shop estimated would need 1200 get shop running plus 800 generator amount 52yearold merchant cant afford advertisement economic cycle aleppo start unless big small business owners begin working dont start resume said streets municipal workers fixing electricity poles sign first steps syrian authorities government says priority rebuild infrastructure goal reviving aleppos industries businesses said abdulqadder azzouz economy professor damascus university alone could cost estimated half billion dollars said top list getting citys airport working well water power facilities authorities may try quickly rehabilitate easts sheikh najjar industrial zone azzouz said pressing challenge bring home people aleppo cities said alhakam shaar 30yearold aleppan fled soon war began avoid draft lives budapest unlikely happen without peace deal rushed reconstruction dangerous likely cut owners exresidents well said shaar member aleppo project team documenting citys recent history advertisement international officials informally discussing whether pursue countrybycountry reconstruction regional marshall plantype project money discussed currently small incremental suitable stabilization projects reconstruction scale going bring 12 million displaced people back homes said syrian urban planner aware discussions spoke behindthescenes talks condition anonymity officials russia midst twoyear recession commented rebuilding moscow may instead encourage companies entities lend support russias province chechnya said help restore aleppos umayyad mosque overall peace deal turkey major ally opposition may take role reconstruction areas sphere begun restoration work jarablus town captured campaign military waged alongside syrian fighters islamic state group kurds northern syria without largescale campaign rebuilding likely come financing smaller local efforts beirut un italys university venezia organized gathering syrian architects artists others europe put together sketch syria advertisement brainstormed ideas including using energy efficient methods recycling scrap metal destroyed buildings speeding construction residents move back homes building continues upper floors drew proposals decentralizing governance luna rajab damascus architect coordinator project said focus syrias future conflict forgetting war said choose sit ruins ashes choose climb top mountain scream loud want rebuild __ el deeb reported beirut andrea rosa beirut hassan ammar aleppo albert aji damascus syria contributed report
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<p>PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech Republic's presidential runoff vote features the pro-Russian incumbent in a tight race against the former head of the Academy of Sciences.</p>
<p>President Milos Zeman and Jiri Drahos advanced to the second round of voting after none of the nine candidates seeking the largely ceremonial post received a majority in the first round two weeks ago. Zeman won 38.6 percent of the vote to Drahos' 26.6 percent.</p>
<p>Zeman, 73, is favored to win another five-year term but polls suggest a tight race in the two-day ballot starting Friday after most other candidates endorsed Drahos in the runoff.</p>
<p>Here's a look at the vote:</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WHAT'S AT STAKE</p>
<p>According to the Czech Constitution, the president picks the prime minister after a general election, one of the office's key responsibilities. The Czech government led by Andrej Babis resigned on Wednesday after failing to win a confidence vote, but Zeman immediately asked Babis to try again. Zeman has said that even if he loses the election, he will swear Babis in as prime minister before his term expires on March 8.</p>
<p>The president also appoints members of the Central Bank board and selects Constitutional Court judges with the approval of Parliament's upper house.</p>
<p>Otherwise, the president has little executive power since the country is run by a government chosen and led by the prime minister.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>INCUMBENT</p>
<p>Zeman is considered a leading pro-Russian voice in European Union politics, and his views on the conflict in Ukraine, as well as the migrant crisis, diverge sharply from the European mainstream. He called Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula irreversible.</p>
<p>He has linked attacks in Europe to the ongoing influx of migrants, called the immigration wave an "organized invasion" and repeatedly said that Islam is not compatible with European culture. He recently made derogatory comments about the #MeToo movement. Nonetheless, he remains popular.</p>
<p>A chain smoker with a soft spot for a drink, he constantly tours the country to meet with citizens.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>CHALLENGER</p>
<p>Drahos, 68, is a political newcomer who is not affiliated with a political party. He is seen as more Western-oriented and firmly supports the country's EU and NATO membership. He has said he wants the values of "truth, reason and decency" to win. He says he is worried about the rise of extremism and populism. A professor of chemistry, he headed the Academy of Sciences from 2009 until last year.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>STOP MIGRANTS</p>
<p>Zeman has exploited widespread fear of migration among Czechs and has been trying to present Drahos as someone who would welcome migrants, charges his opponent denies.</p>
<p>A group of Zeman's friends commissioned billboards and newspaper ads that call on citizens to "Stop Migrants and Drahos," adding "This is our land! Vote Zeman!"</p>
<p>Some pro-Russian websites have stepped up efforts to spread fake news about Drahos, alleging his cooperation with the Communist-era secret police or that he is ready to accept a European Union plan to redistribute migrants among member countries.</p>
<p>The migrant issue still remains dominant even though the country has rarely been used by refugees on their way to Germany and other rich western countries.</p>
<p>PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech Republic's presidential runoff vote features the pro-Russian incumbent in a tight race against the former head of the Academy of Sciences.</p>
<p>President Milos Zeman and Jiri Drahos advanced to the second round of voting after none of the nine candidates seeking the largely ceremonial post received a majority in the first round two weeks ago. Zeman won 38.6 percent of the vote to Drahos' 26.6 percent.</p>
<p>Zeman, 73, is favored to win another five-year term but polls suggest a tight race in the two-day ballot starting Friday after most other candidates endorsed Drahos in the runoff.</p>
<p>Here's a look at the vote:</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WHAT'S AT STAKE</p>
<p>According to the Czech Constitution, the president picks the prime minister after a general election, one of the office's key responsibilities. The Czech government led by Andrej Babis resigned on Wednesday after failing to win a confidence vote, but Zeman immediately asked Babis to try again. Zeman has said that even if he loses the election, he will swear Babis in as prime minister before his term expires on March 8.</p>
<p>The president also appoints members of the Central Bank board and selects Constitutional Court judges with the approval of Parliament's upper house.</p>
<p>Otherwise, the president has little executive power since the country is run by a government chosen and led by the prime minister.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>INCUMBENT</p>
<p>Zeman is considered a leading pro-Russian voice in European Union politics, and his views on the conflict in Ukraine, as well as the migrant crisis, diverge sharply from the European mainstream. He called Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula irreversible.</p>
<p>He has linked attacks in Europe to the ongoing influx of migrants, called the immigration wave an "organized invasion" and repeatedly said that Islam is not compatible with European culture. He recently made derogatory comments about the #MeToo movement. Nonetheless, he remains popular.</p>
<p>A chain smoker with a soft spot for a drink, he constantly tours the country to meet with citizens.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>CHALLENGER</p>
<p>Drahos, 68, is a political newcomer who is not affiliated with a political party. He is seen as more Western-oriented and firmly supports the country's EU and NATO membership. He has said he wants the values of "truth, reason and decency" to win. He says he is worried about the rise of extremism and populism. A professor of chemistry, he headed the Academy of Sciences from 2009 until last year.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>STOP MIGRANTS</p>
<p>Zeman has exploited widespread fear of migration among Czechs and has been trying to present Drahos as someone who would welcome migrants, charges his opponent denies.</p>
<p>A group of Zeman's friends commissioned billboards and newspaper ads that call on citizens to "Stop Migrants and Drahos," adding "This is our land! Vote Zeman!"</p>
<p>Some pro-Russian websites have stepped up efforts to spread fake news about Drahos, alleging his cooperation with the Communist-era secret police or that he is ready to accept a European Union plan to redistribute migrants among member countries.</p>
<p>The migrant issue still remains dominant even though the country has rarely been used by refugees on their way to Germany and other rich western countries.</p>
| false | 2 |
prague ap czech republics presidential runoff vote features prorussian incumbent tight race former head academy sciences president milos zeman jiri drahos advanced second round voting none nine candidates seeking largely ceremonial post received majority first round two weeks ago zeman 386 percent vote drahos 266 percent zeman 73 favored win another fiveyear term polls suggest tight race twoday ballot starting friday candidates endorsed drahos runoff heres look vote ___ whats stake according czech constitution president picks prime minister general election one offices key responsibilities czech government led andrej babis resigned wednesday failing win confidence vote zeman immediately asked babis try zeman said even loses election swear babis prime minister term expires march 8 president also appoints members central bank board selects constitutional court judges approval parliaments upper house otherwise president little executive power since country run government chosen led prime minister ___ incumbent zeman considered leading prorussian voice european union politics views conflict ukraine well migrant crisis diverge sharply european mainstream called russias annexation crimean peninsula irreversible linked attacks europe ongoing influx migrants called immigration wave organized invasion repeatedly said islam compatible european culture recently made derogatory comments metoo movement nonetheless remains popular chain smoker soft spot drink constantly tours country meet citizens ___ challenger drahos 68 political newcomer affiliated political party seen westernoriented firmly supports countrys eu nato membership said wants values truth reason decency win says worried rise extremism populism professor chemistry headed academy sciences 2009 last year ___ stop migrants zeman exploited widespread fear migration among czechs trying present drahos someone would welcome migrants charges opponent denies group zemans friends commissioned billboards newspaper ads call citizens stop migrants drahos adding land vote zeman prorussian websites stepped efforts spread fake news drahos alleging cooperation communistera secret police ready accept european union plan redistribute migrants among member countries migrant issue still remains dominant even though country rarely used refugees way germany rich western countries prague ap czech republics presidential runoff vote features prorussian incumbent tight race former head academy sciences president milos zeman jiri drahos advanced second round voting none nine candidates seeking largely ceremonial post received majority first round two weeks ago zeman 386 percent vote drahos 266 percent zeman 73 favored win another fiveyear term polls suggest tight race twoday ballot starting friday candidates endorsed drahos runoff heres look vote ___ whats stake according czech constitution president picks prime minister general election one offices key responsibilities czech government led andrej babis resigned wednesday failing win confidence vote zeman immediately asked babis try zeman said even loses election swear babis prime minister term expires march 8 president also appoints members central bank board selects constitutional court judges approval parliaments upper house otherwise president little executive power since country run government chosen led prime minister ___ incumbent zeman considered leading prorussian voice european union politics views conflict ukraine well migrant crisis diverge sharply european mainstream called russias annexation crimean peninsula irreversible linked attacks europe ongoing influx migrants called immigration wave organized invasion repeatedly said islam compatible european culture recently made derogatory comments metoo movement nonetheless remains popular chain smoker soft spot drink constantly tours country meet citizens ___ challenger drahos 68 political newcomer affiliated political party seen westernoriented firmly supports countrys eu nato membership said wants values truth reason decency win says worried rise extremism populism professor chemistry headed academy sciences 2009 last year ___ stop migrants zeman exploited widespread fear migration among czechs trying present drahos someone would welcome migrants charges opponent denies group zemans friends commissioned billboards newspaper ads call citizens stop migrants drahos adding land vote zeman prorussian websites stepped efforts spread fake news drahos alleging cooperation communistera secret police ready accept european union plan redistribute migrants among member countries migrant issue still remains dominant even though country rarely used refugees way germany rich western countries
| 630 |
<p>MONTECITO, Calif. (AP) — Taking stock of their lives and remembering those who were lost, emotional residents on Thursday trickled back to the California coastal town that was devastated two weeks ago by mudslides that killed at least 21 people and destroyed more than a hundred homes.</p>
<p>Santa Barbara County officials finally lifted evacuation orders this week for about 1,600 people in the hillside enclave of Montecito, while thousands of others still waited for word that it was safe to return.</p>
<p>Sheriff’s deputies drove vans full of evacuees back to their homes. The owners of those that were heavily damaged or destroyed were allowed to briefly search the rubble for precious belongings.</p>
<p>Curtis Skene fought back tears as firefighters uncovered old photographs of his father in the ruins of his home.</p>
<p>“You have to be grateful you’re OK,” Skene said. “It’s just stuff.”</p>
<p>Eric and Pamela Arneson found their home still standing. While he dug through their refrigerator, throwing away spoiled food and chuckling at how bad it smelled, she took notes on each item to submit to their insurance company.</p>
<p>The couple initially remained in their home after the mudslides but later stayed with friends and in a hotel when their electricity was shut off a few days later.</p>
<p>Emotional residents are trickling back to the California coastal town that was devastated two weeks ago by mudslides that killed at least 21 people and destroyed more than a hundred homes. (Jan. 25)</p>
<p>“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves. Our lives are OK. Our house is OK,” Eric Arneson said.</p>
<p>The couple bought their home in 1972 and had attended church with John McManigal, who died in the mudslides.</p>
<p>“He was the rock of our church,” Pamela Arneson said.</p>
<p>Authorities warned that the returns would be gradual and many people would have to stay out until at least the end of the month.</p>
<p>The town’s narrow streets were clogged with bulldozers and utility trucks as crews remove mud and boulders and rebuild drainage pipes and power lines. Utility workers are also busy restoring water and sewage pipes, gas service and electricity.</p>
<p>Montecito was hit by debris-laden flash floods on Jan. 9 when downpours from a storm hit mountain slopes burned bare by a huge wildfire. Hundreds of homes were damaged. A 17-year-old boy and 2-year-old girl remain missing.</p>
<p>The majority of residents and businesses in and around the town of about 9,000 people have yet to receive an all-clear advisory.</p>
<p>On Thursday attorneys announced a class-action lawsuit they have filed on behalf of a group of Montecito residents and business owners. They are suing the utility Southern California Edison, saying it had a role in starting the fire that led to the subsequent displacement and devastation. It comes after a similar lawsuit filed last week that names Edison and a Montecito local utility.</p>
<p>Officials have not given a cause of the fire, and Edison says it’s premature to speculate on the litigation before the investigation is completed.</p>
<p>Village Service Station reopened shortly after the mudslides, providing fuel, food and restrooms for emergency responders.</p>
<p>Owner Keith Slocum said Thursday that “it looked like a Third World country” in the days after the disaster but since then crews have made significant progress clearing roads. He’s eager to learn when neighboring businesses will be allowed to reopen.</p>
<p>“We really could use something definitive,” he said. “I don’t know what the benchmarks are for why they open some parts and don’t open others.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Christopher Weber and Andrew Dalton contributed from Los Angeles.</p>
<p>MONTECITO, Calif. (AP) — Taking stock of their lives and remembering those who were lost, emotional residents on Thursday trickled back to the California coastal town that was devastated two weeks ago by mudslides that killed at least 21 people and destroyed more than a hundred homes.</p>
<p>Santa Barbara County officials finally lifted evacuation orders this week for about 1,600 people in the hillside enclave of Montecito, while thousands of others still waited for word that it was safe to return.</p>
<p>Sheriff’s deputies drove vans full of evacuees back to their homes. The owners of those that were heavily damaged or destroyed were allowed to briefly search the rubble for precious belongings.</p>
<p>Curtis Skene fought back tears as firefighters uncovered old photographs of his father in the ruins of his home.</p>
<p>“You have to be grateful you’re OK,” Skene said. “It’s just stuff.”</p>
<p>Eric and Pamela Arneson found their home still standing. While he dug through their refrigerator, throwing away spoiled food and chuckling at how bad it smelled, she took notes on each item to submit to their insurance company.</p>
<p>The couple initially remained in their home after the mudslides but later stayed with friends and in a hotel when their electricity was shut off a few days later.</p>
<p>Emotional residents are trickling back to the California coastal town that was devastated two weeks ago by mudslides that killed at least 21 people and destroyed more than a hundred homes. (Jan. 25)</p>
<p>“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves. Our lives are OK. Our house is OK,” Eric Arneson said.</p>
<p>The couple bought their home in 1972 and had attended church with John McManigal, who died in the mudslides.</p>
<p>“He was the rock of our church,” Pamela Arneson said.</p>
<p>Authorities warned that the returns would be gradual and many people would have to stay out until at least the end of the month.</p>
<p>The town’s narrow streets were clogged with bulldozers and utility trucks as crews remove mud and boulders and rebuild drainage pipes and power lines. Utility workers are also busy restoring water and sewage pipes, gas service and electricity.</p>
<p>Montecito was hit by debris-laden flash floods on Jan. 9 when downpours from a storm hit mountain slopes burned bare by a huge wildfire. Hundreds of homes were damaged. A 17-year-old boy and 2-year-old girl remain missing.</p>
<p>The majority of residents and businesses in and around the town of about 9,000 people have yet to receive an all-clear advisory.</p>
<p>On Thursday attorneys announced a class-action lawsuit they have filed on behalf of a group of Montecito residents and business owners. They are suing the utility Southern California Edison, saying it had a role in starting the fire that led to the subsequent displacement and devastation. It comes after a similar lawsuit filed last week that names Edison and a Montecito local utility.</p>
<p>Officials have not given a cause of the fire, and Edison says it’s premature to speculate on the litigation before the investigation is completed.</p>
<p>Village Service Station reopened shortly after the mudslides, providing fuel, food and restrooms for emergency responders.</p>
<p>Owner Keith Slocum said Thursday that “it looked like a Third World country” in the days after the disaster but since then crews have made significant progress clearing roads. He’s eager to learn when neighboring businesses will be allowed to reopen.</p>
<p>“We really could use something definitive,” he said. “I don’t know what the benchmarks are for why they open some parts and don’t open others.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Christopher Weber and Andrew Dalton contributed from Los Angeles.</p>
| false | 2 |
montecito calif ap taking stock lives remembering lost emotional residents thursday trickled back california coastal town devastated two weeks ago mudslides killed least 21 people destroyed hundred homes santa barbara county officials finally lifted evacuation orders week 1600 people hillside enclave montecito thousands others still waited word safe return sheriffs deputies drove vans full evacuees back homes owners heavily damaged destroyed allowed briefly search rubble precious belongings curtis skene fought back tears firefighters uncovered old photographs father ruins home grateful youre ok skene said stuff eric pamela arneson found home still standing dug refrigerator throwing away spoiled food chuckling bad smelled took notes item submit insurance company couple initially remained home mudslides later stayed friends hotel electricity shut days later emotional residents trickling back california coastal town devastated two weeks ago mudslides killed least 21 people destroyed hundred homes jan 25 cant feel sorry lives ok house ok eric arneson said couple bought home 1972 attended church john mcmanigal died mudslides rock church pamela arneson said authorities warned returns would gradual many people would stay least end month towns narrow streets clogged bulldozers utility trucks crews remove mud boulders rebuild drainage pipes power lines utility workers also busy restoring water sewage pipes gas service electricity montecito hit debrisladen flash floods jan 9 downpours storm hit mountain slopes burned bare huge wildfire hundreds homes damaged 17yearold boy 2yearold girl remain missing majority residents businesses around town 9000 people yet receive allclear advisory thursday attorneys announced classaction lawsuit filed behalf group montecito residents business owners suing utility southern california edison saying role starting fire led subsequent displacement devastation comes similar lawsuit filed last week names edison montecito local utility officials given cause fire edison says premature speculate litigation investigation completed village service station reopened shortly mudslides providing fuel food restrooms emergency responders owner keith slocum said thursday looked like third world country days disaster since crews made significant progress clearing roads hes eager learn neighboring businesses allowed reopen really could use something definitive said dont know benchmarks open parts dont open others ___ associated press writers christopher weber andrew dalton contributed los angeles montecito calif ap taking stock lives remembering lost emotional residents thursday trickled back california coastal town devastated two weeks ago mudslides killed least 21 people destroyed hundred homes santa barbara county officials finally lifted evacuation orders week 1600 people hillside enclave montecito thousands others still waited word safe return sheriffs deputies drove vans full evacuees back homes owners heavily damaged destroyed allowed briefly search rubble precious belongings curtis skene fought back tears firefighters uncovered old photographs father ruins home grateful youre ok skene said stuff eric pamela arneson found home still standing dug refrigerator throwing away spoiled food chuckling bad smelled took notes item submit insurance company couple initially remained home mudslides later stayed friends hotel electricity shut days later emotional residents trickling back california coastal town devastated two weeks ago mudslides killed least 21 people destroyed hundred homes jan 25 cant feel sorry lives ok house ok eric arneson said couple bought home 1972 attended church john mcmanigal died mudslides rock church pamela arneson said authorities warned returns would gradual many people would stay least end month towns narrow streets clogged bulldozers utility trucks crews remove mud boulders rebuild drainage pipes power lines utility workers also busy restoring water sewage pipes gas service electricity montecito hit debrisladen flash floods jan 9 downpours storm hit mountain slopes burned bare huge wildfire hundreds homes damaged 17yearold boy 2yearold girl remain missing majority residents businesses around town 9000 people yet receive allclear advisory thursday attorneys announced classaction lawsuit filed behalf group montecito residents business owners suing utility southern california edison saying role starting fire led subsequent displacement devastation comes similar lawsuit filed last week names edison montecito local utility officials given cause fire edison says premature speculate litigation investigation completed village service station reopened shortly mudslides providing fuel food restrooms emergency responders owner keith slocum said thursday looked like third world country days disaster since crews made significant progress clearing roads hes eager learn neighboring businesses allowed reopen really could use something definitive said dont know benchmarks open parts dont open others ___ associated press writers christopher weber andrew dalton contributed los angeles
| 702 |
<p>This holiday season, there’s all manner of conflict at your local movie theater — Jedis battling in the stars, Winston Churchill warring in Europe and Olympic athletes dueling on ice. And then there’s that 2,000-pound bull that refuses to fight.</p>
<p>“ <a href="https://www.foxmovies.com/movies/ferdinand" type="external">Ferdinand</a> ” is a first-rate animated tale adapted from the beloved 1936 children’s book about a pacifist Spanish bull who just loves to sit around and sniff flowers. It’s often dark, sometimes whacky, but true to the heart of the book and beautifully brought to life in modern Spain.</p>
<p>Carlos Saldanha, the director of “Rio” and “Ice Age” movies, and screenwriters Robert L. Baird, Tim Federle and Brad Copeland faced a daunting task turning a spare 66-page book by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson into more than 100 minutes of film.</p>
<p>But they’ve largely succeeded, while adding more serious issues along the way, including animal rights, rigged economic systems, nature versus nurture, cowardice, and the importance of looking out for each other. Not bad for a kid’s flick, huh? It also plunges another sword in the sport of bull fighting.</p>
<p>At its core, “Ferdinand” is an anti-bullying statement that stars a bull. In a neat twist, that bull who refuses to fight is voiced by professional wrestler John Cena, a man who makes his living with violence.</p>
<p>Ferdinand is bred to fight but won’t. His dad and peers at a bull fighting ranch all want to go into the ring and take on a matador. “Is it OK if it’s not my dream?” the young Ferdinand asks. No, he’s told. “You’re either a fighter or you’re meat.”</p>
<p>After his father disappears, our bullish conscientious objector manages to escape and ends up in a peaceful flower farm, lovingly taken care of by a young girl. Good for Ferdinand, but bad for the filmmakers, who have more than another hour more to fill.</p>
<p>Enter a cavalcade of strange and bewildering creatures: three crafty hedgehogs, three condescending Lipizzaner horses and an unhinged goat called Lupe. Kate McKinnon voices the goat and her performance is Robin Williams-in-“Aladdin” level work. A film that was overly dark suddenly gets an infusion of silliness and comic genius.</p>
<p>We take a few detours — there’s a brilliant dance competition between break-dancing bulls and the prancing horses; an unorthodox running of the bulls, this time with the animals chased by bad guys through the streets on Segways; and an utterly wonderful interpretation of a bull in a china shop.</p>
<p>Ferdinand is the only bull to realize that the entire bullfighting game is fixed and tries to convince his peers to flee (the voice actors include a very good Peyton Manning — yes, that Peyton Manning — as a bull prone to vomiting, and a hysterical David Tennant as a very hairy Scottish bull.)</p>
<p>Ferdinand rescues some of his pals from the “chop shop” — note: seeing this with your kids may become uncomfortable if you promised hamburgers afterward — then sacrifices himself for the good of the group and ends up facing the meanest matador in all of Spain in the ring in Madrid. Will he finally fight? Will he die for his convictions?</p>
<p>There are a few weird notes. It’s a little strange to hear the Ferdinand we grew up with under a Spanish cork tree now have a SoCal surfer accent, saying he’s “stoked,” ″hold that thought” and “this is some next level stuff.” He also does that weird thing where he talks to fellow animals but is mute when it comes to communicating with humans.</p>
<p>And the musical choices are a little odd. Nick Jonas offers the new soaring ballad “Home” and the Colombian artist Juanes delivers with “Lay Your Head On Me.” But did we really need the unearthing of the 20-year-old “Macarena”? And Pitbull’s overexposed “Freedom” makes little sense here unless it’s because of the pun on his name. It would have been nice to have a more Spanish-heavy soundtrack.</p>
<p>Still, for all its problems, this is a film with world-class animation, revealing everything from astonishingly rich crowd scenes to rusty details on an old pail. The animators have managed to make wet fur feel tactile and show the headlights of cars bouncing off other cars.</p>
<p>So for the overall message of the film — “Live your own life” — plus the rich animation and the completely looney McKinnon, we have one word: Ole!</p>
<p>“Ferdinand,” a 20th Century Fox release, is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for “rude humor, action and some thematic elements.” Running time: 107 minutes. Three stars out of four.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>MPAA definition of PG: Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Online: <a href="https://www.foxmovies.com/movies/ferdinand" type="external" /> <a href="https://www.foxmovies.com/movies/ferdinand" type="external">https://www.foxmovies.com/movies/ferdinand</a></p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Mark Kennedy is at <a href="http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits" type="external" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits" type="external">http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits</a></p>
<p>This holiday season, there’s all manner of conflict at your local movie theater — Jedis battling in the stars, Winston Churchill warring in Europe and Olympic athletes dueling on ice. And then there’s that 2,000-pound bull that refuses to fight.</p>
<p>“ <a href="https://www.foxmovies.com/movies/ferdinand" type="external">Ferdinand</a> ” is a first-rate animated tale adapted from the beloved 1936 children’s book about a pacifist Spanish bull who just loves to sit around and sniff flowers. It’s often dark, sometimes whacky, but true to the heart of the book and beautifully brought to life in modern Spain.</p>
<p>Carlos Saldanha, the director of “Rio” and “Ice Age” movies, and screenwriters Robert L. Baird, Tim Federle and Brad Copeland faced a daunting task turning a spare 66-page book by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson into more than 100 minutes of film.</p>
<p>But they’ve largely succeeded, while adding more serious issues along the way, including animal rights, rigged economic systems, nature versus nurture, cowardice, and the importance of looking out for each other. Not bad for a kid’s flick, huh? It also plunges another sword in the sport of bull fighting.</p>
<p>At its core, “Ferdinand” is an anti-bullying statement that stars a bull. In a neat twist, that bull who refuses to fight is voiced by professional wrestler John Cena, a man who makes his living with violence.</p>
<p>Ferdinand is bred to fight but won’t. His dad and peers at a bull fighting ranch all want to go into the ring and take on a matador. “Is it OK if it’s not my dream?” the young Ferdinand asks. No, he’s told. “You’re either a fighter or you’re meat.”</p>
<p>After his father disappears, our bullish conscientious objector manages to escape and ends up in a peaceful flower farm, lovingly taken care of by a young girl. Good for Ferdinand, but bad for the filmmakers, who have more than another hour more to fill.</p>
<p>Enter a cavalcade of strange and bewildering creatures: three crafty hedgehogs, three condescending Lipizzaner horses and an unhinged goat called Lupe. Kate McKinnon voices the goat and her performance is Robin Williams-in-“Aladdin” level work. A film that was overly dark suddenly gets an infusion of silliness and comic genius.</p>
<p>We take a few detours — there’s a brilliant dance competition between break-dancing bulls and the prancing horses; an unorthodox running of the bulls, this time with the animals chased by bad guys through the streets on Segways; and an utterly wonderful interpretation of a bull in a china shop.</p>
<p>Ferdinand is the only bull to realize that the entire bullfighting game is fixed and tries to convince his peers to flee (the voice actors include a very good Peyton Manning — yes, that Peyton Manning — as a bull prone to vomiting, and a hysterical David Tennant as a very hairy Scottish bull.)</p>
<p>Ferdinand rescues some of his pals from the “chop shop” — note: seeing this with your kids may become uncomfortable if you promised hamburgers afterward — then sacrifices himself for the good of the group and ends up facing the meanest matador in all of Spain in the ring in Madrid. Will he finally fight? Will he die for his convictions?</p>
<p>There are a few weird notes. It’s a little strange to hear the Ferdinand we grew up with under a Spanish cork tree now have a SoCal surfer accent, saying he’s “stoked,” ″hold that thought” and “this is some next level stuff.” He also does that weird thing where he talks to fellow animals but is mute when it comes to communicating with humans.</p>
<p>And the musical choices are a little odd. Nick Jonas offers the new soaring ballad “Home” and the Colombian artist Juanes delivers with “Lay Your Head On Me.” But did we really need the unearthing of the 20-year-old “Macarena”? And Pitbull’s overexposed “Freedom” makes little sense here unless it’s because of the pun on his name. It would have been nice to have a more Spanish-heavy soundtrack.</p>
<p>Still, for all its problems, this is a film with world-class animation, revealing everything from astonishingly rich crowd scenes to rusty details on an old pail. The animators have managed to make wet fur feel tactile and show the headlights of cars bouncing off other cars.</p>
<p>So for the overall message of the film — “Live your own life” — plus the rich animation and the completely looney McKinnon, we have one word: Ole!</p>
<p>“Ferdinand,” a 20th Century Fox release, is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for “rude humor, action and some thematic elements.” Running time: 107 minutes. Three stars out of four.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>MPAA definition of PG: Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Online: <a href="https://www.foxmovies.com/movies/ferdinand" type="external" /> <a href="https://www.foxmovies.com/movies/ferdinand" type="external">https://www.foxmovies.com/movies/ferdinand</a></p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Mark Kennedy is at <a href="http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits" type="external" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits" type="external">http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits</a></p>
| false | 2 |
holiday season theres manner conflict local movie theater jedis battling stars winston churchill warring europe olympic athletes dueling ice theres 2000pound bull refuses fight ferdinand firstrate animated tale adapted beloved 1936 childrens book pacifist spanish bull loves sit around sniff flowers often dark sometimes whacky true heart book beautifully brought life modern spain carlos saldanha director rio ice age movies screenwriters robert l baird tim federle brad copeland faced daunting task turning spare 66page book munro leaf robert lawson 100 minutes film theyve largely succeeded adding serious issues along way including animal rights rigged economic systems nature versus nurture cowardice importance looking bad kids flick huh also plunges another sword sport bull fighting core ferdinand antibullying statement stars bull neat twist bull refuses fight voiced professional wrestler john cena man makes living violence ferdinand bred fight wont dad peers bull fighting ranch want go ring take matador ok dream young ferdinand asks hes told youre either fighter youre meat father disappears bullish conscientious objector manages escape ends peaceful flower farm lovingly taken care young girl good ferdinand bad filmmakers another hour fill enter cavalcade strange bewildering creatures three crafty hedgehogs three condescending lipizzaner horses unhinged goat called lupe kate mckinnon voices goat performance robin williamsinaladdin level work film overly dark suddenly gets infusion silliness comic genius take detours theres brilliant dance competition breakdancing bulls prancing horses unorthodox running bulls time animals chased bad guys streets segways utterly wonderful interpretation bull china shop ferdinand bull realize entire bullfighting game fixed tries convince peers flee voice actors include good peyton manning yes peyton manning bull prone vomiting hysterical david tennant hairy scottish bull ferdinand rescues pals chop shop note seeing kids may become uncomfortable promised hamburgers afterward sacrifices good group ends facing meanest matador spain ring madrid finally fight die convictions weird notes little strange hear ferdinand grew spanish cork tree socal surfer accent saying hes stoked hold thought next level stuff also weird thing talks fellow animals mute comes communicating humans musical choices little odd nick jonas offers new soaring ballad home colombian artist juanes delivers lay head really need unearthing 20yearold macarena pitbulls overexposed freedom makes little sense unless pun name would nice spanishheavy soundtrack still problems film worldclass animation revealing everything astonishingly rich crowd scenes rusty details old pail animators managed make wet fur feel tactile show headlights cars bouncing cars overall message film live life plus rich animation completely looney mckinnon one word ole ferdinand 20th century fox release rated pg motion picture association america rude humor action thematic elements running time 107 minutes three stars four ___ mpaa definition pg parental guidance suggested material may suitable children ___ online httpswwwfoxmoviescommoviesferdinand ___ mark kennedy httptwittercomkennedytwits holiday season theres manner conflict local movie theater jedis battling stars winston churchill warring europe olympic athletes dueling ice theres 2000pound bull refuses fight ferdinand firstrate animated tale adapted beloved 1936 childrens book pacifist spanish bull loves sit around sniff flowers often dark sometimes whacky true heart book beautifully brought life modern spain carlos saldanha director rio ice age movies screenwriters robert l baird tim federle brad copeland faced daunting task turning spare 66page book munro leaf robert lawson 100 minutes film theyve largely succeeded adding serious issues along way including animal rights rigged economic systems nature versus nurture cowardice importance looking bad kids flick huh also plunges another sword sport bull fighting core ferdinand antibullying statement stars bull neat twist bull refuses fight voiced professional wrestler john cena man makes living violence ferdinand bred fight wont dad peers bull fighting ranch want go ring take matador ok dream young ferdinand asks hes told youre either fighter youre meat father disappears bullish conscientious objector manages escape ends peaceful flower farm lovingly taken care young girl good ferdinand bad filmmakers another hour fill enter cavalcade strange bewildering creatures three crafty hedgehogs three condescending lipizzaner horses unhinged goat called lupe kate mckinnon voices goat performance robin williamsinaladdin level work film overly dark suddenly gets infusion silliness comic genius take detours theres brilliant dance competition breakdancing bulls prancing horses unorthodox running bulls time animals chased bad guys streets segways utterly wonderful interpretation bull china shop ferdinand bull realize entire bullfighting game fixed tries convince peers flee voice actors include good peyton manning yes peyton manning bull prone vomiting hysterical david tennant hairy scottish bull ferdinand rescues pals chop shop note seeing kids may become uncomfortable promised hamburgers afterward sacrifices good group ends facing meanest matador spain ring madrid finally fight die convictions weird notes little strange hear ferdinand grew spanish cork tree socal surfer accent saying hes stoked hold thought next level stuff also weird thing talks fellow animals mute comes communicating humans musical choices little odd nick jonas offers new soaring ballad home colombian artist juanes delivers lay head really need unearthing 20yearold macarena pitbulls overexposed freedom makes little sense unless pun name would nice spanishheavy soundtrack still problems film worldclass animation revealing everything astonishingly rich crowd scenes rusty details old pail animators managed make wet fur feel tactile show headlights cars bouncing cars overall message film live life plus rich animation completely looney mckinnon one word ole ferdinand 20th century fox release rated pg motion picture association america rude humor action thematic elements running time 107 minutes three stars four ___ mpaa definition pg parental guidance suggested material may suitable children ___ online httpswwwfoxmoviescommoviesferdinand ___ mark kennedy httptwittercomkennedytwits
| 894 |
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — In bluntly vulgar language, President Donald Trump questioned Thursday why the U.S. would accept more immigrants from Haiti and "shithole countries" in Africa rather than places like Norway, as he rejected a bipartisan immigration deal, according to people briefed on the extraordinary Oval Office conversation.</p>
<p>Trump's contemptuous description of an entire continent startled lawmakers in the meeting and immediately revived charges that the president is racist. The White House did not deny his remark but issued a statement saying Trump supports immigration policies that welcome "those who can contribute to our society."</p>
<p>Trump's comments came as two senators presented details of a bipartisan compromise that would extend protections against deportation for hundreds of thousands of young immigrants — and also strengthen border protections, as Trump has insisted.</p>
<p>The lawmakers had hoped Trump would back their accord, an agreement among six senators evenly split among Republicans and Democrats, ending a months-long, bitter dispute over protecting the "Dreamers." But the White House later rejected it, plunging the issue back into uncertainty just eight days before a deadline that threatens a government shutdown.</p>
<p>Dick Durbin of Illinois, the Senate' s No. 2 Democrat, explained that as part of that deal, a lottery for visas that has benefited people from Africa and other nations would be ended, the sources said, though there could be another way for them to apply. Durbin said people would be allowed to stay in the U.S. who fled here after disasters hit their homes in places including El Salvador, Guatemala and Haiti.</p>
<p>Trump specifically questioned why the U.S. would want to admit more people from Haiti. As for Africa, he asked why more people from "shithole countries" should be allowed into the U.S., the sources said.</p>
<p>The president suggested that instead, the U.S. should allow more entrants from countries like Norway. Trump met this week with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg.</p>
<p>Late Thursday, Trump was pushing for "a Great Wall" and criticizing Democrats' stance on immigration, highlighting the difficulties for any negotiations.</p>
<p>"The Democrats seem intent on having people and drugs pour into our country from the Southern Border, risking thousands of lives in the process. It is my duty to protect the lives and safety of all Americans," he said in a late-night tweet. "We must build a Great Wall ..."</p>
<p>Asked about the earlier remarks insulting other countries, White House spokesman Raj Shah did not deny them.</p>
<p>"Certain Washington politicians choose to fight for foreign countries, but President Trump will always fight for the American people," he said.</p>
<p>Trump's remarks were remarkable even by the standards of a president who has been accused by his foes of racist attitudes and has routinely smashed through public decorum that his modern predecessors have generally embraced.</p>
<p>Trump has claimed without evidence that Barack Obama, the nation's first black president, wasn't born in the United States, has said Mexican immigrants were "bringing crime" and were "rapists" and said there were "very fine people on both sides" after violence at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, left one counter-protester dead.</p>
<p>"Racist," tweeted Rep. Kathleen Rice, D-N.Y., after Thursday's story broke. But it wasn't just Democrats objecting.</p>
<p>Republican Rep. Mia Love of Utah, the daughter of Haitian immigrants, said Trump's comments were "unkind, divisive, elitist and fly in the face of our nation's values." She said, "This behavior is unacceptable from the leader of our nation" and Trump must apologize to the American people "and the nations he so wantonly maligned."</p>
<p>Trump has called himself the "least racist person that you've ever met." On Friday he plans to sign a proclamation honoring Martin Luther King Day.</p>
<p>Critics also have questioned his mental fitness to serve as president, citing his inability to muster some policy details and his tweets asserting his "nuclear button" is bigger than North Korea's. He responded to such criticism with a recent tweet calling himself "a very stable genius" who is "like, really smart."</p>
<p>The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to publicly describe the conversation. One said lawmakers in the room were taken aback by Trump's remarks.</p>
<p>The Trump administration announced late last year that it would end a temporary residency permit program that allowed nearly 60,000 citizens from Haiti to live and work in the United States following a devastating 2010 earthquake.</p>
<p>Trump has spoken positively about Haitians in public. During a 2016 campaign event in Miami, he said "the Haitian people deserve better" and told the audience of Haitian-Americans he wanted to "be your greatest champion, and I will be your champion."</p>
<p>The agreement that Durbin and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., described to Trump also includes his $1.6 billion request for a first installment on his long-sought border wall, aides familiar with the agreement said. They required anonymity because the agreement is not yet public.</p>
<p>Trump's request covers 74 miles of border wall as part of a 10-year, $18 billion proposal.</p>
<p>Democrats had long vowed they wouldn't fund the wall but are accepting the opening request as part of a broader plan that protects from deportation about 800,000 younger immigrants brought to the country as children and now here illegally.</p>
<p>The deal also would include restrictions on a program allowing immigrants to bring some relatives to the U.S.</p>
<p>In an afternoon of drama and confusing developments, four other GOP lawmakers — including hardliners on immigration — were also in Trump's office for Thursday's meeting, a development sources said Durbin and Graham did not expect. It was unclear why the four Republicans were there, and the session did not produce the results the two senators were hoping for.</p>
<p>"There has not been a deal reached yet," said White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders. But she added, "We feel like we're close."</p>
<p>Underscoring the hurdles facing the effort, other Republicans also undercut the significance of the deal the half-dozen senators hoped to sell to Trump.</p>
<p>"How do six people bind the other 94 in the Senate? I don't get that," said No. 2 Senate Republican John Cornyn of Texas.</p>
<p>Cornyn said the six lawmakers were hoping for a deal and "everyone would fall in line. The president made it clear to me on the phone less than an hour ago that he wasn't going to do that."</p>
<p>The six senators have been meeting for months to find a way to revive protections for young immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children and are here illegally. Trump ended the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program last year but has given Congress until March 5 to find a way to keep it alive.</p>
<p>Federal agencies will run out of money and have to shut down if lawmakers don't pass legislation extending their financing by Jan. 19. Some Democrats are threatening to withhold their votes — which Republicans will need to push that legislation through Congress — unless an immigration accord is reached.</p>
<p>Cornyn said the real work for a bipartisan immigration deal will be achieved by a group of four leading lawmakers — the No. 2 Republicans and Democrats in both the House and Senate. That group met for the first time this week.</p>
<p>The immigration effort seemed to receive a boost Tuesday when Trump met with two dozen lawmakers and agreed to seek a bipartisan way to resuscitate the program. The group agreed to also include provisions strengthening security — which for Trump means building parts of a wall along the border with Mexico — curbing immigrants' relatives from coming here and restricting the visa lottery.</p>
<p>Also in Thursday's Oval Office meeting were House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., and GOP Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and David Perdue of Georgia. Aides to lawmakers who attended declined to provide comment on Trump's remarks.</p>
<p>Any immigration deal would face hurdles winning congressional approval.</p>
<p>Many Democrats would oppose providing substantial sums for Trump's campaign promise to build a wall along the border with Mexico. Many Hispanic and liberal members of the party oppose steps toward curtailing immigration such as ending the visa lottery and restricting the relatives that legal immigrants could bring to the U.S.</p>
<p>Among Republicans, some conservatives are insisting on going further than the steps that Trump has suggested. They want to reduce legal immigration, require employers to verify workers' citizenship and block federal grants to so-called sanctuary cities that hinder federal anti-immigrant efforts.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Andrew Taylor, Kevin Freking and Matthew Daly contributed to this report.</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — In bluntly vulgar language, President Donald Trump questioned Thursday why the U.S. would accept more immigrants from Haiti and "shithole countries" in Africa rather than places like Norway, as he rejected a bipartisan immigration deal, according to people briefed on the extraordinary Oval Office conversation.</p>
<p>Trump's contemptuous description of an entire continent startled lawmakers in the meeting and immediately revived charges that the president is racist. The White House did not deny his remark but issued a statement saying Trump supports immigration policies that welcome "those who can contribute to our society."</p>
<p>Trump's comments came as two senators presented details of a bipartisan compromise that would extend protections against deportation for hundreds of thousands of young immigrants — and also strengthen border protections, as Trump has insisted.</p>
<p>The lawmakers had hoped Trump would back their accord, an agreement among six senators evenly split among Republicans and Democrats, ending a months-long, bitter dispute over protecting the "Dreamers." But the White House later rejected it, plunging the issue back into uncertainty just eight days before a deadline that threatens a government shutdown.</p>
<p>Dick Durbin of Illinois, the Senate' s No. 2 Democrat, explained that as part of that deal, a lottery for visas that has benefited people from Africa and other nations would be ended, the sources said, though there could be another way for them to apply. Durbin said people would be allowed to stay in the U.S. who fled here after disasters hit their homes in places including El Salvador, Guatemala and Haiti.</p>
<p>Trump specifically questioned why the U.S. would want to admit more people from Haiti. As for Africa, he asked why more people from "shithole countries" should be allowed into the U.S., the sources said.</p>
<p>The president suggested that instead, the U.S. should allow more entrants from countries like Norway. Trump met this week with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg.</p>
<p>Late Thursday, Trump was pushing for "a Great Wall" and criticizing Democrats' stance on immigration, highlighting the difficulties for any negotiations.</p>
<p>"The Democrats seem intent on having people and drugs pour into our country from the Southern Border, risking thousands of lives in the process. It is my duty to protect the lives and safety of all Americans," he said in a late-night tweet. "We must build a Great Wall ..."</p>
<p>Asked about the earlier remarks insulting other countries, White House spokesman Raj Shah did not deny them.</p>
<p>"Certain Washington politicians choose to fight for foreign countries, but President Trump will always fight for the American people," he said.</p>
<p>Trump's remarks were remarkable even by the standards of a president who has been accused by his foes of racist attitudes and has routinely smashed through public decorum that his modern predecessors have generally embraced.</p>
<p>Trump has claimed without evidence that Barack Obama, the nation's first black president, wasn't born in the United States, has said Mexican immigrants were "bringing crime" and were "rapists" and said there were "very fine people on both sides" after violence at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, left one counter-protester dead.</p>
<p>"Racist," tweeted Rep. Kathleen Rice, D-N.Y., after Thursday's story broke. But it wasn't just Democrats objecting.</p>
<p>Republican Rep. Mia Love of Utah, the daughter of Haitian immigrants, said Trump's comments were "unkind, divisive, elitist and fly in the face of our nation's values." She said, "This behavior is unacceptable from the leader of our nation" and Trump must apologize to the American people "and the nations he so wantonly maligned."</p>
<p>Trump has called himself the "least racist person that you've ever met." On Friday he plans to sign a proclamation honoring Martin Luther King Day.</p>
<p>Critics also have questioned his mental fitness to serve as president, citing his inability to muster some policy details and his tweets asserting his "nuclear button" is bigger than North Korea's. He responded to such criticism with a recent tweet calling himself "a very stable genius" who is "like, really smart."</p>
<p>The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to publicly describe the conversation. One said lawmakers in the room were taken aback by Trump's remarks.</p>
<p>The Trump administration announced late last year that it would end a temporary residency permit program that allowed nearly 60,000 citizens from Haiti to live and work in the United States following a devastating 2010 earthquake.</p>
<p>Trump has spoken positively about Haitians in public. During a 2016 campaign event in Miami, he said "the Haitian people deserve better" and told the audience of Haitian-Americans he wanted to "be your greatest champion, and I will be your champion."</p>
<p>The agreement that Durbin and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., described to Trump also includes his $1.6 billion request for a first installment on his long-sought border wall, aides familiar with the agreement said. They required anonymity because the agreement is not yet public.</p>
<p>Trump's request covers 74 miles of border wall as part of a 10-year, $18 billion proposal.</p>
<p>Democrats had long vowed they wouldn't fund the wall but are accepting the opening request as part of a broader plan that protects from deportation about 800,000 younger immigrants brought to the country as children and now here illegally.</p>
<p>The deal also would include restrictions on a program allowing immigrants to bring some relatives to the U.S.</p>
<p>In an afternoon of drama and confusing developments, four other GOP lawmakers — including hardliners on immigration — were also in Trump's office for Thursday's meeting, a development sources said Durbin and Graham did not expect. It was unclear why the four Republicans were there, and the session did not produce the results the two senators were hoping for.</p>
<p>"There has not been a deal reached yet," said White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders. But she added, "We feel like we're close."</p>
<p>Underscoring the hurdles facing the effort, other Republicans also undercut the significance of the deal the half-dozen senators hoped to sell to Trump.</p>
<p>"How do six people bind the other 94 in the Senate? I don't get that," said No. 2 Senate Republican John Cornyn of Texas.</p>
<p>Cornyn said the six lawmakers were hoping for a deal and "everyone would fall in line. The president made it clear to me on the phone less than an hour ago that he wasn't going to do that."</p>
<p>The six senators have been meeting for months to find a way to revive protections for young immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children and are here illegally. Trump ended the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program last year but has given Congress until March 5 to find a way to keep it alive.</p>
<p>Federal agencies will run out of money and have to shut down if lawmakers don't pass legislation extending their financing by Jan. 19. Some Democrats are threatening to withhold their votes — which Republicans will need to push that legislation through Congress — unless an immigration accord is reached.</p>
<p>Cornyn said the real work for a bipartisan immigration deal will be achieved by a group of four leading lawmakers — the No. 2 Republicans and Democrats in both the House and Senate. That group met for the first time this week.</p>
<p>The immigration effort seemed to receive a boost Tuesday when Trump met with two dozen lawmakers and agreed to seek a bipartisan way to resuscitate the program. The group agreed to also include provisions strengthening security — which for Trump means building parts of a wall along the border with Mexico — curbing immigrants' relatives from coming here and restricting the visa lottery.</p>
<p>Also in Thursday's Oval Office meeting were House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., and GOP Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and David Perdue of Georgia. Aides to lawmakers who attended declined to provide comment on Trump's remarks.</p>
<p>Any immigration deal would face hurdles winning congressional approval.</p>
<p>Many Democrats would oppose providing substantial sums for Trump's campaign promise to build a wall along the border with Mexico. Many Hispanic and liberal members of the party oppose steps toward curtailing immigration such as ending the visa lottery and restricting the relatives that legal immigrants could bring to the U.S.</p>
<p>Among Republicans, some conservatives are insisting on going further than the steps that Trump has suggested. They want to reduce legal immigration, require employers to verify workers' citizenship and block federal grants to so-called sanctuary cities that hinder federal anti-immigrant efforts.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Andrew Taylor, Kevin Freking and Matthew Daly contributed to this report.</p>
| false | 2 |
washington ap bluntly vulgar language president donald trump questioned thursday us would accept immigrants haiti shithole countries africa rather places like norway rejected bipartisan immigration deal according people briefed extraordinary oval office conversation trumps contemptuous description entire continent startled lawmakers meeting immediately revived charges president racist white house deny remark issued statement saying trump supports immigration policies welcome contribute society trumps comments came two senators presented details bipartisan compromise would extend protections deportation hundreds thousands young immigrants also strengthen border protections trump insisted lawmakers hoped trump would back accord agreement among six senators evenly split among republicans democrats ending monthslong bitter dispute protecting dreamers white house later rejected plunging issue back uncertainty eight days deadline threatens government shutdown dick durbin illinois senate 2 democrat explained part deal lottery visas benefited people africa nations would ended sources said though could another way apply durbin said people would allowed stay us fled disasters hit homes places including el salvador guatemala haiti trump specifically questioned us would want admit people haiti africa asked people shithole countries allowed us sources said president suggested instead us allow entrants countries like norway trump met week norwegian prime minister erna solberg late thursday trump pushing great wall criticizing democrats stance immigration highlighting difficulties negotiations democrats seem intent people drugs pour country southern border risking thousands lives process duty protect lives safety americans said latenight tweet must build great wall asked earlier remarks insulting countries white house spokesman raj shah deny certain washington politicians choose fight foreign countries president trump always fight american people said trumps remarks remarkable even standards president accused foes racist attitudes routinely smashed public decorum modern predecessors generally embraced trump claimed without evidence barack obama nations first black president wasnt born united states said mexican immigrants bringing crime rapists said fine people sides violence white supremacist rally charlottesville virginia left one counterprotester dead racist tweeted rep kathleen rice dny thursdays story broke wasnt democrats objecting republican rep mia love utah daughter haitian immigrants said trumps comments unkind divisive elitist fly face nations values said behavior unacceptable leader nation trump must apologize american people nations wantonly maligned trump called least racist person youve ever met friday plans sign proclamation honoring martin luther king day critics also questioned mental fitness serve president citing inability muster policy details tweets asserting nuclear button bigger north koreas responded criticism recent tweet calling stable genius like really smart sources spoke condition anonymity werent authorized publicly describe conversation one said lawmakers room taken aback trumps remarks trump administration announced late last year would end temporary residency permit program allowed nearly 60000 citizens haiti live work united states following devastating 2010 earthquake trump spoken positively haitians public 2016 campaign event miami said haitian people deserve better told audience haitianamericans wanted greatest champion champion agreement durbin sen lindsey graham rsc described trump also includes 16 billion request first installment longsought border wall aides familiar agreement said required anonymity agreement yet public trumps request covers 74 miles border wall part 10year 18 billion proposal democrats long vowed wouldnt fund wall accepting opening request part broader plan protects deportation 800000 younger immigrants brought country children illegally deal also would include restrictions program allowing immigrants bring relatives us afternoon drama confusing developments four gop lawmakers including hardliners immigration also trumps office thursdays meeting development sources said durbin graham expect unclear four republicans session produce results two senators hoping deal reached yet said white house spokeswoman sarah huckabee sanders added feel like close underscoring hurdles facing effort republicans also undercut significance deal halfdozen senators hoped sell trump six people bind 94 senate dont get said 2 senate republican john cornyn texas cornyn said six lawmakers hoping deal everyone would fall line president made clear phone less hour ago wasnt going six senators meeting months find way revive protections young immigrants arrived us children illegally trump ended obamaera deferred action childhood arrivals program last year given congress march 5 find way keep alive federal agencies run money shut lawmakers dont pass legislation extending financing jan 19 democrats threatening withhold votes republicans need push legislation congress unless immigration accord reached cornyn said real work bipartisan immigration deal achieved group four leading lawmakers 2 republicans democrats house senate group met first time week immigration effort seemed receive boost tuesday trump met two dozen lawmakers agreed seek bipartisan way resuscitate program group agreed also include provisions strengthening security trump means building parts wall along border mexico curbing immigrants relatives coming restricting visa lottery also thursdays oval office meeting house majority leader kevin mccarthy rcalif house judiciary committee chairman bob goodlatte rva gop sens tom cotton arkansas david perdue georgia aides lawmakers attended declined provide comment trumps remarks immigration deal would face hurdles winning congressional approval many democrats would oppose providing substantial sums trumps campaign promise build wall along border mexico many hispanic liberal members party oppose steps toward curtailing immigration ending visa lottery restricting relatives legal immigrants could bring us among republicans conservatives insisting going steps trump suggested want reduce legal immigration require employers verify workers citizenship block federal grants socalled sanctuary cities hinder federal antiimmigrant efforts ___ associated press writers jill colvin andrew taylor kevin freking matthew daly contributed report washington ap bluntly vulgar language president donald trump questioned thursday us would accept immigrants haiti shithole countries africa rather places like norway rejected bipartisan immigration deal according people briefed extraordinary oval office conversation trumps contemptuous description entire continent startled lawmakers meeting immediately revived charges president racist white house deny remark issued statement saying trump supports immigration policies welcome contribute society trumps comments came two senators presented details bipartisan compromise would extend protections deportation hundreds thousands young immigrants also strengthen border protections trump insisted lawmakers hoped trump would back accord agreement among six senators evenly split among republicans democrats ending monthslong bitter dispute protecting dreamers white house later rejected plunging issue back uncertainty eight days deadline threatens government shutdown dick durbin illinois senate 2 democrat explained part deal lottery visas benefited people africa nations would ended sources said though could another way apply durbin said people would allowed stay us fled disasters hit homes places including el salvador guatemala haiti trump specifically questioned us would want admit people haiti africa asked people shithole countries allowed us sources said president suggested instead us allow entrants countries like norway trump met week norwegian prime minister erna solberg late thursday trump pushing great wall criticizing democrats stance immigration highlighting difficulties negotiations democrats seem intent people drugs pour country southern border risking thousands lives process duty protect lives safety americans said latenight tweet must build great wall asked earlier remarks insulting countries white house spokesman raj shah deny certain washington politicians choose fight foreign countries president trump always fight american people said trumps remarks remarkable even standards president accused foes racist attitudes routinely smashed public decorum modern predecessors generally embraced trump claimed without evidence barack obama nations first black president wasnt born united states said mexican immigrants bringing crime rapists said fine people sides violence white supremacist rally charlottesville virginia left one counterprotester dead racist tweeted rep kathleen rice dny thursdays story broke wasnt democrats objecting republican rep mia love utah daughter haitian immigrants said trumps comments unkind divisive elitist fly face nations values said behavior unacceptable leader nation trump must apologize american people nations wantonly maligned trump called least racist person youve ever met friday plans sign proclamation honoring martin luther king day critics also questioned mental fitness serve president citing inability muster policy details tweets asserting nuclear button bigger north koreas responded criticism recent tweet calling stable genius like really smart sources spoke condition anonymity werent authorized publicly describe conversation one said lawmakers room taken aback trumps remarks trump administration announced late last year would end temporary residency permit program allowed nearly 60000 citizens haiti live work united states following devastating 2010 earthquake trump spoken positively haitians public 2016 campaign event miami said haitian people deserve better told audience haitianamericans wanted greatest champion champion agreement durbin sen lindsey graham rsc described trump also includes 16 billion request first installment longsought border wall aides familiar agreement said required anonymity agreement yet public trumps request covers 74 miles border wall part 10year 18 billion proposal democrats long vowed wouldnt fund wall accepting opening request part broader plan protects deportation 800000 younger immigrants brought country children illegally deal also would include restrictions program allowing immigrants bring relatives us afternoon drama confusing developments four gop lawmakers including hardliners immigration also trumps office thursdays meeting development sources said durbin graham expect unclear four republicans session produce results two senators hoping deal reached yet said white house spokeswoman sarah huckabee sanders added feel like close underscoring hurdles facing effort republicans also undercut significance deal halfdozen senators hoped sell trump six people bind 94 senate dont get said 2 senate republican john cornyn texas cornyn said six lawmakers hoping deal everyone would fall line president made clear phone less hour ago wasnt going six senators meeting months find way revive protections young immigrants arrived us children illegally trump ended obamaera deferred action childhood arrivals program last year given congress march 5 find way keep alive federal agencies run money shut lawmakers dont pass legislation extending financing jan 19 democrats threatening withhold votes republicans need push legislation congress unless immigration accord reached cornyn said real work bipartisan immigration deal achieved group four leading lawmakers 2 republicans democrats house senate group met first time week immigration effort seemed receive boost tuesday trump met two dozen lawmakers agreed seek bipartisan way resuscitate program group agreed also include provisions strengthening security trump means building parts wall along border mexico curbing immigrants relatives coming restricting visa lottery also thursdays oval office meeting house majority leader kevin mccarthy rcalif house judiciary committee chairman bob goodlatte rva gop sens tom cotton arkansas david perdue georgia aides lawmakers attended declined provide comment trumps remarks immigration deal would face hurdles winning congressional approval many democrats would oppose providing substantial sums trumps campaign promise build wall along border mexico many hispanic liberal members party oppose steps toward curtailing immigration ending visa lottery restricting relatives legal immigrants could bring us among republicans conservatives insisting going steps trump suggested want reduce legal immigration require employers verify workers citizenship block federal grants socalled sanctuary cities hinder federal antiimmigrant efforts ___ associated press writers jill colvin andrew taylor kevin freking matthew daly contributed report
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<p>Weber and his wife loved vacations in New Mexico, so they relocated to Carrizozo and began plotting their next move. Weber enjoyed drinking British ales when he traveled, and he had been brewing his own beer at home. He had always wanted to manufacture something, he said. "Why not beer?" In 1996, he started Sierra Blanca Brewing Co., which is now based in Moriarty.</p>
<p>Mike Levis was part of a family that had manufactured glass for generations. When the family business was sold to Owens Illinois, Levis worked for that company in the East and Midwest. His wife was part of a Harding County ranching family, so the Levises moved to Galisteo in 1979 to be near kin. Levis was selling bottles to wineries when he saw an advertisement in a trade magazine. A failed Colorado brewery was selling some equipment. Levis bought it. "That was his midlife crisis," said Levis' son, Ty. Mike brewed a batch of pale ale in 1988 and that was the foundation of Santa Fe Brewing, the state's oldest brewer.</p>
<p>Head brewer Ty Levis checks on a batch of barley wine he is brewing at Rio Bravo Brewing Co. on Second Street in Albuquerque. (Marla Brose/Albuquerque Journal)</p>
<p>Ty worked for his father from the time he was in high school, became a part-owner of the company until last year and is now head brewer for 1-year-old Rio Bravo Brewing Co. in Albuquerque.</p>
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<p>Santa Fe businessman Gerald Peters doesn't remember quite how it happened, but, at some point 20 years ago, it was suggested that he add craft beer to the offerings in his restaurant. Blue Corn Brewery was the result. Years later, he provided the financing for Marble Brewery in Albuquerque.</p>
<p>Chris Goblet of the New Mexico Brewers Guild says that Rod Tweet was an engineer when he sampled some Sierra Nevada pale ale on a camping trip. Now he runs Second Street Brewery in Santa Fe, which he started in 1996.</p>
<p>High Desert Brewing was started in Las Cruces by two New Mexico State University scientists who in 1993 were looking for a career change.</p>
<p>That is how an industry is built.</p>
<p>State and local economic developers have tried to build industries - with financial incentives, by offering land and infrastructure packages, by recruiting out-of-state firms - around semiconductors, solar energy, lasers, aviation and other businesses, with decidedly mixed results.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the craft beer brewing industry just sort of happened, without planning, without tax breaks. A few guys who, for reasons of their own, wanted to brew beer started small companies, hired people and trained other brewers who then started their own companies. These successes inspired other entrepreneurs, who found they could start a small brewery with as little as $200,000 of capital investment. <a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>The two oldest brewers even boast a family tree. Brewers affiliated with Rio Bravo Brewing, Boese Brothers and Bathtub Row Brewing, among others, got their start at Santa Fe Brewing. Blue Corn-trained brewers started Marble, La Cumbre, Bosque Brewing and Boxing Bear, among others.</p>
<p>Today, there are 60 craft breweries in New Mexico. They employ almost 900 people, with a payroll of almost $10 million and annual beer sales of about $25 million. Weber brewed 400 barrels in his first year of operation. He brewed 400 barrels in the first 15 days of this year, he expects to sell 9,000 barrels this year, and he expects to reach 15,000 barrels in a couple of years, which means he would be marketing regionally instead of locally. Some brewers are investing in bigger fermentation tanks and faster equipment to grow their businesses, he said. Weber has no doubt that some New Mexico brewers will produce 100,000 barrels a year in the foreseeable future. (There are 13.77 cases of beer in a barrel.)</p>
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<p>Just to keep things in perspective, about 40 million barrels of Budweiser is produced in a year.</p>
<p>There is plenty of space in the New Mexico market for all of the microbreweries, taprooms and pubs that are springing up, Goblet said. Only 5 percent of the Albuquerque market drinks craft beers. In Portland, Ore., 25 percent of the market consumes craft.</p>
<p>Peters expects brewing to become a meaningful contributor to New Mexico's economy, but he also expects some consolidation. There is only so much shelf space for all of the beer being produced. Some brewers are financially weak. The whole point of craft beer is to appeal to customers who value good quality and good flavor. "There are quite a few with mediocre beer," Peters said. "They won't do very well. Quality will win out."</p>
<p>Maintaining quality is among the small brewers' biggest challenges. The process of brewing "is less than ideal," Ty Levis said. Beer is made from yeast, water, barley and hops, and the science of fermentation is well-known. Then, it's up to the brewer to find the right combination of ingredients mixed in the right way in the right equipment at the right temperature. Small things can make a huge difference, Levis said. When the local water supply shifts from surface to well, the beer changes. One of the hardest things to do is expand, he said. Making more of a high-quality beer requires better processes and zealous quality control.</p>
<p>"Expansion doesn't mean quality goes down by necessity," Peters said. "It depends on the integrity of the brewer. The focus has to be maintained."</p>
<p>UpFront is a daily front-page news and opinion column. Comment directly to Winthrop Quigley at 823-3896 or [email protected]. Go to www.abqjournal.com/letters/new to submit a letter to the editor.</p>
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weber wife loved vacations new mexico relocated carrizozo began plotting next move weber enjoyed drinking british ales traveled brewing beer home always wanted manufacture something said beer 1996 started sierra blanca brewing co based moriarty mike levis part family manufactured glass generations family business sold owens illinois levis worked company east midwest wife part harding county ranching family levises moved galisteo 1979 near kin levis selling bottles wineries saw advertisement trade magazine failed colorado brewery selling equipment levis bought midlife crisis said levis son ty mike brewed batch pale ale 1988 foundation santa fe brewing states oldest brewer head brewer ty levis checks batch barley wine brewing rio bravo brewing co second street albuquerque marla brosealbuquerque journal ty worked father time high school became partowner company last year head brewer 1yearold rio bravo brewing co albuquerque advertisement santa fe businessman gerald peters doesnt remember quite happened point 20 years ago suggested add craft beer offerings restaurant blue corn brewery result years later provided financing marble brewery albuquerque chris goblet new mexico brewers guild says rod tweet engineer sampled sierra nevada pale ale camping trip runs second street brewery santa fe started 1996 high desert brewing started las cruces two new mexico state university scientists 1993 looking career change industry built state local economic developers tried build industries financial incentives offering land infrastructure packages recruiting outofstate firms around semiconductors solar energy lasers aviation businesses decidedly mixed results meanwhile craft beer brewing industry sort happened without planning without tax breaks guys reasons wanted brew beer started small companies hired people trained brewers started companies successes inspired entrepreneurs found could start small brewery little 200000 capital investment two oldest brewers even boast family tree brewers affiliated rio bravo brewing boese brothers bathtub row brewing among others got start santa fe brewing blue corntrained brewers started marble la cumbre bosque brewing boxing bear among others today 60 craft breweries new mexico employ almost 900 people payroll almost 10 million annual beer sales 25 million weber brewed 400 barrels first year operation brewed 400 barrels first 15 days year expects sell 9000 barrels year expects reach 15000 barrels couple years means would marketing regionally instead locally brewers investing bigger fermentation tanks faster equipment grow businesses said weber doubt new mexico brewers produce 100000 barrels year foreseeable future 1377 cases beer barrel advertisement keep things perspective 40 million barrels budweiser produced year plenty space new mexico market microbreweries taprooms pubs springing goblet said 5 percent albuquerque market drinks craft beers portland ore 25 percent market consumes craft peters expects brewing become meaningful contributor new mexicos economy also expects consolidation much shelf space beer produced brewers financially weak whole point craft beer appeal customers value good quality good flavor quite mediocre beer peters said wont well quality win maintaining quality among small brewers biggest challenges process brewing less ideal ty levis said beer made yeast water barley hops science fermentation wellknown brewer find right combination ingredients mixed right way right equipment right temperature small things make huge difference levis said local water supply shifts surface well beer changes one hardest things expand said making highquality beer requires better processes zealous quality control expansion doesnt mean quality goes necessity peters said depends integrity brewer focus maintained upfront daily frontpage news opinion column comment directly winthrop quigley 8233896 wquigleyabqjournalcom go wwwabqjournalcomlettersnew submit letter editor 160
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<p>MARTINSBURG, W.Va. (AP) - Chrissy Lewin's four kids played outside in the snow Dec. 30, while she took a break from her busy schedule as a yoga instructor and second-grade teacher at Rosemont Elementary School.</p>
<p>"I have taught children's yoga for about two years now," Lewin said, mentioning that she regularly teaches children's and family yoga classes at The Station in Shepherdstown and Climbing New Heights in Martinsburg.</p>
<p>"When I first started years ago, I had only one child, and I went in thinking, 'I'm going to look like one of those yoga people on TV,'" Lewin, who has practiced yoga for about 13 years, said. "I went in strictly for vanity reasons. After my twins - my third and fourth children-were born, I developed major anxiety. Practicing yoga made me slow down and made me OK with myself."</p>
<p>Lewin graduated from Shepherd University in 2003 and worked in her degree field of journalism and mass communication for a while, but said she always knew she wanted to teach kids. She began to pursue that dream by enrolling in American Public University's online master's in education program, from which she will be graduating in June.</p>
<p>"I just knew I always wanted to be a teacher in the public school system," Lewin said, mentioning that she started one of the first afterschool yoga clubs in Berkeley County at Rosemont Elementary. Her long-term dream is to teach yoga throughout Berkeley County's public school system, teaching yoga to teachers and students.</p>
<p>"I love yoga, and I love teaching it. It's a way for me to teach kids how to have self-control, how to be OK with how they are and not feel pressured to be like somebody else," Lewin said. "Today, with technology, they have to constantly be doing things, but with yoga, they have to learn to be still.</p>
<p>"I have quite a few children I do private yoga sessions with, to help their behavior. They get angry and they get sad and don't know how to handle it," Lewin said. "I teach them 'breathe until you're happy again, and then open your mouth.' "</p>
<p>Lewin's credentials include being a Kidding Around Yoga certified children's yoga teacher, a 200-hour Yoga Alliance Certified Yoga Teacher with Jess Kahn Yoga and a Master Naturalist with the Potomac Valley Audubon Society. She said she is starting a new curriculum with her students over the holidays, with weekly 30-minute classes to improve students' focus.</p>
<p>Lewin can be contacted through her Facebook page, Autumn's Teacher: Children's Yoga and Nature Lessons, where she regularly posts updates and information about upcoming children's and family yoga workshops.</p>
<p>"Practicing yoga gives kids the tools to be brave, to be kind, to be a force in this topsy-turvy world. What a great thing for children to learn early in their lives, but also never too late for adults to learn as well," Lewin said.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Information from: The Journal, <a href="http://journal-news.net/" type="external">http://journal-news.net/</a></p>
<p>MARTINSBURG, W.Va. (AP) - Chrissy Lewin's four kids played outside in the snow Dec. 30, while she took a break from her busy schedule as a yoga instructor and second-grade teacher at Rosemont Elementary School.</p>
<p>"I have taught children's yoga for about two years now," Lewin said, mentioning that she regularly teaches children's and family yoga classes at The Station in Shepherdstown and Climbing New Heights in Martinsburg.</p>
<p>"When I first started years ago, I had only one child, and I went in thinking, 'I'm going to look like one of those yoga people on TV,'" Lewin, who has practiced yoga for about 13 years, said. "I went in strictly for vanity reasons. After my twins - my third and fourth children-were born, I developed major anxiety. Practicing yoga made me slow down and made me OK with myself."</p>
<p>Lewin graduated from Shepherd University in 2003 and worked in her degree field of journalism and mass communication for a while, but said she always knew she wanted to teach kids. She began to pursue that dream by enrolling in American Public University's online master's in education program, from which she will be graduating in June.</p>
<p>"I just knew I always wanted to be a teacher in the public school system," Lewin said, mentioning that she started one of the first afterschool yoga clubs in Berkeley County at Rosemont Elementary. Her long-term dream is to teach yoga throughout Berkeley County's public school system, teaching yoga to teachers and students.</p>
<p>"I love yoga, and I love teaching it. It's a way for me to teach kids how to have self-control, how to be OK with how they are and not feel pressured to be like somebody else," Lewin said. "Today, with technology, they have to constantly be doing things, but with yoga, they have to learn to be still.</p>
<p>"I have quite a few children I do private yoga sessions with, to help their behavior. They get angry and they get sad and don't know how to handle it," Lewin said. "I teach them 'breathe until you're happy again, and then open your mouth.' "</p>
<p>Lewin's credentials include being a Kidding Around Yoga certified children's yoga teacher, a 200-hour Yoga Alliance Certified Yoga Teacher with Jess Kahn Yoga and a Master Naturalist with the Potomac Valley Audubon Society. She said she is starting a new curriculum with her students over the holidays, with weekly 30-minute classes to improve students' focus.</p>
<p>Lewin can be contacted through her Facebook page, Autumn's Teacher: Children's Yoga and Nature Lessons, where she regularly posts updates and information about upcoming children's and family yoga workshops.</p>
<p>"Practicing yoga gives kids the tools to be brave, to be kind, to be a force in this topsy-turvy world. What a great thing for children to learn early in their lives, but also never too late for adults to learn as well," Lewin said.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Information from: The Journal, <a href="http://journal-news.net/" type="external">http://journal-news.net/</a></p>
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martinsburg wva ap chrissy lewins four kids played outside snow dec 30 took break busy schedule yoga instructor secondgrade teacher rosemont elementary school taught childrens yoga two years lewin said mentioning regularly teaches childrens family yoga classes station shepherdstown climbing new heights martinsburg first started years ago one child went thinking im going look like one yoga people tv lewin practiced yoga 13 years said went strictly vanity reasons twins third fourth childrenwere born developed major anxiety practicing yoga made slow made ok lewin graduated shepherd university 2003 worked degree field journalism mass communication said always knew wanted teach kids began pursue dream enrolling american public universitys online masters education program graduating june knew always wanted teacher public school system lewin said mentioning started one first afterschool yoga clubs berkeley county rosemont elementary longterm dream teach yoga throughout berkeley countys public school system teaching yoga teachers students love yoga love teaching way teach kids selfcontrol ok feel pressured like somebody else lewin said today technology constantly things yoga learn still quite children private yoga sessions help behavior get angry get sad dont know handle lewin said teach breathe youre happy open mouth lewins credentials include kidding around yoga certified childrens yoga teacher 200hour yoga alliance certified yoga teacher jess kahn yoga master naturalist potomac valley audubon society said starting new curriculum students holidays weekly 30minute classes improve students focus lewin contacted facebook page autumns teacher childrens yoga nature lessons regularly posts updates information upcoming childrens family yoga workshops practicing yoga gives kids tools brave kind force topsyturvy world great thing children learn early lives also never late adults learn well lewin said ___ information journal httpjournalnewsnet martinsburg wva ap chrissy lewins four kids played outside snow dec 30 took break busy schedule yoga instructor secondgrade teacher rosemont elementary school taught childrens yoga two years lewin said mentioning regularly teaches childrens family yoga classes station shepherdstown climbing new heights martinsburg first started years ago one child went thinking im going look like one yoga people tv lewin practiced yoga 13 years said went strictly vanity reasons twins third fourth childrenwere born developed major anxiety practicing yoga made slow made ok lewin graduated shepherd university 2003 worked degree field journalism mass communication said always knew wanted teach kids began pursue dream enrolling american public universitys online masters education program graduating june knew always wanted teacher public school system lewin said mentioning started one first afterschool yoga clubs berkeley county rosemont elementary longterm dream teach yoga throughout berkeley countys public school system teaching yoga teachers students love yoga love teaching way teach kids selfcontrol ok feel pressured like somebody else lewin said today technology constantly things yoga learn still quite children private yoga sessions help behavior get angry get sad dont know handle lewin said teach breathe youre happy open mouth lewins credentials include kidding around yoga certified childrens yoga teacher 200hour yoga alliance certified yoga teacher jess kahn yoga master naturalist potomac valley audubon society said starting new curriculum students holidays weekly 30minute classes improve students focus lewin contacted facebook page autumns teacher childrens yoga nature lessons regularly posts updates information upcoming childrens family yoga workshops practicing yoga gives kids tools brave kind force topsyturvy world great thing children learn early lives also never late adults learn well lewin said ___ information journal httpjournalnewsnet
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<p>Mayor Tim Keller</p>
<p>Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller told business and community leaders Wednesday that the city is facing a budget deficit as gross receipts tax revenues fail to come in at the rate projected in the spending plan approved by the City Council earlier this year.</p>
<p>Keller said the budget for the current fiscal year, which began July 1, was based on 3 percent gross receipts tax growth.</p>
<p>“We’ve had 1.7 (percent). That’s what we’re looking at,” he said in his first speech to the Albuquerque Economic Forum as mayor during a breakfast meeting at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.</p>
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<p>Alicia Manzano, interim communications director for the Mayor’s Office, told the Journal the current revenue shortfall is $10 million. The city’s operating budget is nearly $530 million. Manzano said the new administration is watching revenues and expenditures very closely.</p>
<p>Keller said in his speech that his predecessor “did a lot for infrastructure throughout our city,” but left the budget deficit, federal funding that has yet to materialize for the Albuquerque Rapid Transit project, a lack of “working capital” to hire needed police officers, and a new fountain on Civic Plaza that leaks.</p>
<p>“The last administration had some tremendous projects,” he said “… But also like any administration … there’s some unfinished business.”</p>
<p>Keller said the city has been using vacancy savings to fund infrastructure projects.</p>
<p>“So instead of fully hiring across city government, but also in APD … we take the savings at the end of the year and we move it to a special projects fund,” Keller said. “There’s nothing wrong with that at all. It’s a financial strategy, but it has now left us in a place where our budget keeps getting smaller.”</p>
<p>He also talked about the severe officer shortage the city is facing, noting that the city has about 800 officers, nearly 400 fewer than when he was in high school about 20 years ago.</p>
<p>“When 911 wait times are 90 minutes for nonviolent crimes, we have to get more police officers,” he said. “I know they have to be quality. I know we have to find money to do that, but we have to get more police officers.”</p>
<p>The city’s current budget allocates enough money to APD for 1,000 officers, but Keller said the department has had to pay lots of overtime, which eats into the budget.</p>
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<p>“We’ve got to get more officers to fix that, but to hire more officers, we need more money,” he said. “… So we also have a working capital problem.”</p>
<p>He also told the nearly 200 who attended the breakfast meeting that he might be reaching out to them to take part in public-private partnerships, which could include things like asking for private funds to provide low-interest home loans or down payment bonuses to help recruit officers.</p>
<p>As for Albuquerque Rapid Transit, the controversial project that is transforming Central Avenue into a rapid-transit corridor with a nine-mile stretch of bus-only lanes and bus stations, Keller said it’s not fully funded. The project cost was initially pegged at $119 million but is now about $134 million.</p>
<p>The city is banking on $75 million from the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Program for the project, and the previous administration had told the council that the federal funding was on track and that the funding agreement should be in place by this past November.</p>
<p>A federal budget deal announced in May contained $50 million for the Albuquerque project, and former Mayor Richard Berry’s administration said at the time that he was expecting the rest to be awarded the next year, although it has been unclear when, exactly, the city would get the money.</p>
<p>“I’m telling you, straight up, we do not have the money from the feds,” Keller said. “It has been promised. It has been in the budget. The check has not been signed. We’re going in January to meet with them to get an update. We have to understand, as a city, to call it like it is, which is that all the homework was done. All the legwork was done, but we still need the check.”</p>
<p>The Federal Transit Administration told the Journal earlier this week that the ART project is in the Small Starts Project Development phase of the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grants program and is undergoing internal review.</p>
<p>Keller said he has some ideas about how to pay for ART if the city is forced to cover the cost on its own, and it involves expanding ART to the airport to tap into the airport’s excess bonding capacity.</p>
<p>“I’m not really interested in the short-term notions of … expanding that on its own right; however, to pay for it we might have to drive it to the airport, but the good news actually about that is it should have gone there in the first place. And then you could take it to the Lobo games and the Isotopes games,” he said.</p>
<p>Keller also revealed that there’s a problem with the new fountain at Civic Plaza.</p>
<p>“If you drive underneath, you will see why there’s no parking underneath (in) the parking garage because the new fountain leaks,” he said. “So we’ve got some things to work on.”</p>
<p>Berry’s administration said in April that the old fountain needed to be replaced because it was leaking into the parking structure below Civic Plaza.</p>
<p>The new mayor also pledged to double down on economic development.</p>
<p>“For me, the name of the game is focus,” he said. “I want to use every economic development tool we have more, but I want to use it in a focused way to finally turn around things like the Rail Yards. To finish the rail corridor that some people I know are starting to invest in. … To finish these areas of town that need investment. We want to support all development, but if you want taxpayer money it’s got to be for a company that is scaling here, and it’s got to be for a location that has incremental economic multipliers. We’ll come up with the criteria and we’ll work with folks on this.”</p>
<p>Asked about his plans for Downtown, Keller said his administration is working on a Downtown crime program in which officers are actually in businesses, the equivalent of having mini-police stations.</p>
<p>“The other thing is the Rail Yards,” he said. “We have to finally do that, and I think the way to do it is to make it a Tax Increment District or an Enterprise Zone. So I’m going to get with the lawyers and figure out how to do that.”</p>
<p>Keller drew applause when he said the city needs to get past pointing fingers at others and instead focus on solving its problems.</p>
<p>“It would be very easy for me to stand up here and blame others also – past administrations, Santa Fe, governor, county, Rio Rancho,” he said. “I am going to try to not do that, and I am going to ask you to not do that either. We have to push past the ‘whose fault it is’ and the ‘why is there a problem’ discussion and actually get down to how we are going to address these issues head-on.”</p>
<p>He said he planned to advocate for the District Attorney’s Office, Bernalillo County and others for their needs, and he hopes they, too, will advocate for the city’s needs.</p>
<p>“I do believe we fundamentally have to come together and take responsibility for our future,” Keller said.</p>
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mayor tim keller albuquerque mayor tim keller told business community leaders wednesday city facing budget deficit gross receipts tax revenues fail come rate projected spending plan approved city council earlier year keller said budget current fiscal year began july 1 based 3 percent gross receipts tax growth weve 17 percent thats looking said first speech albuquerque economic forum mayor breakfast meeting indian pueblo cultural center advertisement alicia manzano interim communications director mayors office told journal current revenue shortfall 10 million citys operating budget nearly 530 million manzano said new administration watching revenues expenditures closely keller said speech predecessor lot infrastructure throughout city left budget deficit federal funding yet materialize albuquerque rapid transit project lack working capital hire needed police officers new fountain civic plaza leaks last administration tremendous projects said also like administration theres unfinished business keller said city using vacancy savings fund infrastructure projects instead fully hiring across city government also apd take savings end year move special projects fund keller said theres nothing wrong financial strategy left us place budget keeps getting smaller also talked severe officer shortage city facing noting city 800 officers nearly 400 fewer high school 20 years ago 911 wait times 90 minutes nonviolent crimes get police officers said know quality know find money get police officers citys current budget allocates enough money apd 1000 officers keller said department pay lots overtime eats budget advertisement weve got get officers fix hire officers need money said also working capital problem also told nearly 200 attended breakfast meeting might reaching take part publicprivate partnerships could include things like asking private funds provide lowinterest home loans payment bonuses help recruit officers albuquerque rapid transit controversial project transforming central avenue rapidtransit corridor ninemile stretch busonly lanes bus stations keller said fully funded project cost initially pegged 119 million 134 million city banking 75 million federal transit administrations capital investment program project previous administration told council federal funding track funding agreement place past november federal budget deal announced may contained 50 million albuquerque project former mayor richard berrys administration said time expecting rest awarded next year although unclear exactly city would get money im telling straight money feds keller said promised budget check signed going january meet get update understand city call like homework done legwork done still need check federal transit administration told journal earlier week art project small starts project development phase federal transit administrations capital investment grants program undergoing internal review keller said ideas pay art city forced cover cost involves expanding art airport tap airports excess bonding capacity im really interested shortterm notions expanding right however pay might drive airport good news actually gone first place could take lobo games isotopes games said keller also revealed theres problem new fountain civic plaza drive underneath see theres parking underneath parking garage new fountain leaks said weve got things work berrys administration said april old fountain needed replaced leaking parking structure civic plaza new mayor also pledged double economic development name game focus said want use every economic development tool want use focused way finally turn around things like rail yards finish rail corridor people know starting invest finish areas town need investment want support development want taxpayer money got company scaling got location incremental economic multipliers well come criteria well work folks asked plans downtown keller said administration working downtown crime program officers actually businesses equivalent minipolice stations thing rail yards said finally think way make tax increment district enterprise zone im going get lawyers figure keller drew applause said city needs get past pointing fingers others instead focus solving problems would easy stand blame others also past administrations santa fe governor county rio rancho said going try going ask either push past whose fault problem discussion actually get going address issues headon said planned advocate district attorneys office bernalillo county others needs hopes advocate citys needs believe fundamentally come together take responsibility future keller said
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<p>Gonzalez was deported to Tijuana, Mexico, from Santa Barbara in December, one of nearly 2 million removals from the United States since Barack Obama was first elected president.</p>
<p>“I have nobody here,” said Gonzalez, who serves breakfasts in a Tijuana migrant shelter while nursing a foot that fractured in 10 places when he jumped the border fence in a failed attempt to rejoin his mother, two brothers and extended family in California. “The United States is all I know.”</p>
<p>While a Senate bill introduced earlier this month would bring many of the estimated 11 million people living in the U.S. illegally out of the shadows, not everyone would benefit. They include anyone who arrived after Dec. 31, 2011, those with gay partners legally in the U.S., siblings of U.S. citizens and many deportees such as Gonzalez.</p>
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<p>With net immigration from Mexico near zero, the number who came to the U.S. since January 2012 is believed to be relatively small, possibly a few hundred thousand. They include Isaac Jimenez, 45, who paid a smuggler $4,800 to guide him across the California desert in August to reunite with his wife and children in Fresno.</p>
<p>“My children are here, everything is here for me,” Jimenez said from Fresno. He lived in the U.S. illegally since 1998 and returned voluntarily to southern Mexico last year to see his mother before she died.</p>
<p>So far, advocates on the left have shown limited appetite to fight for expanded coverage as they brace for a tough battle in Congress. Some take aim at other provisions of the sweeping legislation, like a 13-year track to citizenship they consider too long and $4.5 billion for increased border security.</p>
<p>“It’s not going to include everybody,” said Laura Lichter, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. “It’s not perfect. I think you hear a lot of people saying, ‘Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good,’ and this is good.”</p>
<p>Peter Nunez, who supports restrictive policies as chairman of the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, rates the bill an 8 or 9 on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the most inclusive. He criticizes a measure that allows deportees without criminal histories to apply for permission to return if they have spouses or children in the U.S. legally, a step that supporters say would reunite families.</p>
<p>“I just don’t understand why we are going to basically undo a deportation,” said Nunez, a former U.S. attorney in San Diego.</p>
<p>Senate negotiators were more forgiving of criminal records than the Obama administration was when it granted temporary work permits last year to many who came to the U.S. as children. The administration disqualified anyone with a single misdemeanor conviction of driving under the influence, domestic violence, drug dealing or certain other crimes. The Senate bill says only that three misdemeanors or a single felony make someone ineligible.</p>
<p>Deportations topped 400,000 in fiscal 2012, more than double from seven years earlier, sending Mexicans to border cities like Tijuana where they often struggle to find work. The Padre Chava migrant shelter serves breakfast to 1,100 people daily in a bright yellow building that opened three years ago because it outgrew its old quarters. Director Ernesto Hernandez estimates 75 percent are deported.</p>
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<p>“Many come wearing sneakers that cost hundreds of dollars and nothing in their pockets,” Hernandez said.</p>
<p>About 10 percent of the shelter’s deportees speak little or no Spanish, including Salvador Herrera IV, 28, who came to the U.S. when he was 2 in the back seat of a car and grew up skateboarding and playing basketball in Long Beach. With a conviction for grand theft auto putting his legal status out of the question, he is considering paying $8,000 for someone else’s identity documents to try to return illegally to Southern California.</p>
<p>“I’m basically American,” he said. “I’m a beach boy. I do American stuff.”</p>
<p>Many at the shelter have convictions for DUI or domestic violence, said Hernandez, reflecting the Obama administration’s priority to target anyone with criminal records for deportation.</p>
<p>Gonzalez was arrested in Santa Barbara on suspicion of disorderly conduct, landing him in Tijuana for New Year’s Eve. He said he had several misdemeanor convictions, including a DUI, which he committed shortly after turning 18.</p>
<p>“That’s when you party a lot and you think it’s not going to matter,” he said.</p>
<p>Gonzalez was born in Cuernavaca, south of Mexico City, and came to the U.S. by plane when he was 2 years old, never leaving Santa Barbara. After graduating from Santa Barbara High School in 2002, he took automotive classes at community college, worked about four years at a Jiffy Lube outlet and held jobs as a mechanic, gardener and telemarketer in the picturesque California coastal city of 90,000 people.</p>
<p>Gonzalez doesn’t know where he will settle after his foot heals. His family helped with more than $3,000 in medical expenses, including a metal rod that holds a toe together.</p>
<p>He may try to find an aunt in Cuernavaca but doesn’t have her phone number or address.</p>
<p>“I never thought I would be in this predicament,” he said.</p>
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gonzalez deported tijuana mexico santa barbara december one nearly 2 million removals united states since barack obama first elected president nobody said gonzalez serves breakfasts tijuana migrant shelter nursing foot fractured 10 places jumped border fence failed attempt rejoin mother two brothers extended family california united states know senate bill introduced earlier month would bring many estimated 11 million people living us illegally shadows everyone would benefit include anyone arrived dec 31 2011 gay partners legally us siblings us citizens many deportees gonzalez advertisement net immigration mexico near zero number came us since january 2012 believed relatively small possibly hundred thousand include isaac jimenez 45 paid smuggler 4800 guide across california desert august reunite wife children fresno children everything jimenez said fresno lived us illegally since 1998 returned voluntarily southern mexico last year see mother died far advocates left shown limited appetite fight expanded coverage brace tough battle congress take aim provisions sweeping legislation like 13year track citizenship consider long 45 billion increased border security going include everybody said laura lichter president american immigration lawyers association perfect think hear lot people saying dont let perfect enemy good good peter nunez supports restrictive policies chairman center immigration studies washington rates bill 8 9 scale 1 10 10 inclusive criticizes measure allows deportees without criminal histories apply permission return spouses children us legally step supporters say would reunite families dont understand going basically undo deportation said nunez former us attorney san diego senate negotiators forgiving criminal records obama administration granted temporary work permits last year many came us children administration disqualified anyone single misdemeanor conviction driving influence domestic violence drug dealing certain crimes senate bill says three misdemeanors single felony make someone ineligible deportations topped 400000 fiscal 2012 double seven years earlier sending mexicans border cities like tijuana often struggle find work padre chava migrant shelter serves breakfast 1100 people daily bright yellow building opened three years ago outgrew old quarters director ernesto hernandez estimates 75 percent deported advertisement many come wearing sneakers cost hundreds dollars nothing pockets hernandez said 10 percent shelters deportees speak little spanish including salvador herrera iv 28 came us 2 back seat car grew skateboarding playing basketball long beach conviction grand theft auto putting legal status question considering paying 8000 someone elses identity documents try return illegally southern california im basically american said im beach boy american stuff many shelter convictions dui domestic violence said hernandez reflecting obama administrations priority target anyone criminal records deportation gonzalez arrested santa barbara suspicion disorderly conduct landing tijuana new years eve said several misdemeanor convictions including dui committed shortly turning 18 thats party lot think going matter said gonzalez born cuernavaca south mexico city came us plane 2 years old never leaving santa barbara graduating santa barbara high school 2002 took automotive classes community college worked four years jiffy lube outlet held jobs mechanic gardener telemarketer picturesque california coastal city 90000 people gonzalez doesnt know settle foot heals family helped 3000 medical expenses including metal rod holds toe together may try find aunt cuernavaca doesnt phone number address never thought would predicament said
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<p>BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Electric power generation from the Missouri River's six upstream dams increased 23 percent in 2017 but the federal agency that sells the power still had to buy electricity on the open market to fulfill contracts.</p>
<p>The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which manages dams and reservoirs along the 2,341-mile river, said energy production from the dams in the Dakotas, Montana and Nebraska totaled 9.6 billion kilowatts of electricity last year, up from 7.6 billion kilowatts.</p>
<p>A billion kilowatt-hours of power is enough to supply about 86,000 homes for a year, said Mike Swenson, a corps engineer in Omaha, Nebraska.</p>
<p>The Western Area Power Administration, which buys and sells power from 56 hydropower plants around the nation, says the six Missouri River dams are WAPA's second-largest producer of energy.</p>
<p>The agency sells the power to rural electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, Indian tribes and other customers. A shortfall of needed hydropower to satisfy customers' contracts meant WAPA had to purchase $28.3 million of electricity on the open market, agency data show.</p>
<p>WAPA has spent more than $1.7 billion since 2000 to fulfill contracts, mostly due to drought years that caused shallow river levels.</p>
<p>Oahe Dam near Pierre, South Dakota, which holds Lake Oahe in the Dakotas, and Garrison Dam, which creates Lake Sakakawea in western North Dakota, are typically the biggest power producers in the Missouri River system.</p>
<p>Oahe Dam generated 2.6 billion kilowatt hours last year, equal to the long-term average, Swenson said.</p>
<p>Garrison Dam also generated 2.6 billion kilowatt hours of electricity last year, up from long-term average of 2.2 billion kilowatt hours, he said.</p>
<p>The plants have generated an average of 9.3 billion kilowatt hours of electricity since 1967, including a high of 14.6 billion kilowatts in 1997, Swenson said.</p>
<p>The water storage level of the six upstream reservoirs in the Missouri River system is about 56 million acre-feet at present, about equal to the ideal level.</p>
<p>An acre-foot is the amount of water covering one acre, a foot deep.</p>
<p>The corps is charged with finding a balance between upstream states, which want water held in reservoirs to support fish reproduction and recreation, and downstream states, which want more water released from the dams, mainly to support barge traffic.</p>
<p>BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Electric power generation from the Missouri River's six upstream dams increased 23 percent in 2017 but the federal agency that sells the power still had to buy electricity on the open market to fulfill contracts.</p>
<p>The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which manages dams and reservoirs along the 2,341-mile river, said energy production from the dams in the Dakotas, Montana and Nebraska totaled 9.6 billion kilowatts of electricity last year, up from 7.6 billion kilowatts.</p>
<p>A billion kilowatt-hours of power is enough to supply about 86,000 homes for a year, said Mike Swenson, a corps engineer in Omaha, Nebraska.</p>
<p>The Western Area Power Administration, which buys and sells power from 56 hydropower plants around the nation, says the six Missouri River dams are WAPA's second-largest producer of energy.</p>
<p>The agency sells the power to rural electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, Indian tribes and other customers. A shortfall of needed hydropower to satisfy customers' contracts meant WAPA had to purchase $28.3 million of electricity on the open market, agency data show.</p>
<p>WAPA has spent more than $1.7 billion since 2000 to fulfill contracts, mostly due to drought years that caused shallow river levels.</p>
<p>Oahe Dam near Pierre, South Dakota, which holds Lake Oahe in the Dakotas, and Garrison Dam, which creates Lake Sakakawea in western North Dakota, are typically the biggest power producers in the Missouri River system.</p>
<p>Oahe Dam generated 2.6 billion kilowatt hours last year, equal to the long-term average, Swenson said.</p>
<p>Garrison Dam also generated 2.6 billion kilowatt hours of electricity last year, up from long-term average of 2.2 billion kilowatt hours, he said.</p>
<p>The plants have generated an average of 9.3 billion kilowatt hours of electricity since 1967, including a high of 14.6 billion kilowatts in 1997, Swenson said.</p>
<p>The water storage level of the six upstream reservoirs in the Missouri River system is about 56 million acre-feet at present, about equal to the ideal level.</p>
<p>An acre-foot is the amount of water covering one acre, a foot deep.</p>
<p>The corps is charged with finding a balance between upstream states, which want water held in reservoirs to support fish reproduction and recreation, and downstream states, which want more water released from the dams, mainly to support barge traffic.</p>
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bismarck nd ap electric power generation missouri rivers six upstream dams increased 23 percent 2017 federal agency sells power still buy electricity open market fulfill contracts us army corps engineers manages dams reservoirs along 2341mile river said energy production dams dakotas montana nebraska totaled 96 billion kilowatts electricity last year 76 billion kilowatts billion kilowatthours power enough supply 86000 homes year said mike swenson corps engineer omaha nebraska western area power administration buys sells power 56 hydropower plants around nation says six missouri river dams wapas secondlargest producer energy agency sells power rural electric cooperatives municipal utilities indian tribes customers shortfall needed hydropower satisfy customers contracts meant wapa purchase 283 million electricity open market agency data show wapa spent 17 billion since 2000 fulfill contracts mostly due drought years caused shallow river levels oahe dam near pierre south dakota holds lake oahe dakotas garrison dam creates lake sakakawea western north dakota typically biggest power producers missouri river system oahe dam generated 26 billion kilowatt hours last year equal longterm average swenson said garrison dam also generated 26 billion kilowatt hours electricity last year longterm average 22 billion kilowatt hours said plants generated average 93 billion kilowatt hours electricity since 1967 including high 146 billion kilowatts 1997 swenson said water storage level six upstream reservoirs missouri river system 56 million acrefeet present equal ideal level acrefoot amount water covering one acre foot deep corps charged finding balance upstream states want water held reservoirs support fish reproduction recreation downstream states want water released dams mainly support barge traffic bismarck nd ap electric power generation missouri rivers six upstream dams increased 23 percent 2017 federal agency sells power still buy electricity open market fulfill contracts us army corps engineers manages dams reservoirs along 2341mile river said energy production dams dakotas montana nebraska totaled 96 billion kilowatts electricity last year 76 billion kilowatts billion kilowatthours power enough supply 86000 homes year said mike swenson corps engineer omaha nebraska western area power administration buys sells power 56 hydropower plants around nation says six missouri river dams wapas secondlargest producer energy agency sells power rural electric cooperatives municipal utilities indian tribes customers shortfall needed hydropower satisfy customers contracts meant wapa purchase 283 million electricity open market agency data show wapa spent 17 billion since 2000 fulfill contracts mostly due drought years caused shallow river levels oahe dam near pierre south dakota holds lake oahe dakotas garrison dam creates lake sakakawea western north dakota typically biggest power producers missouri river system oahe dam generated 26 billion kilowatt hours last year equal longterm average swenson said garrison dam also generated 26 billion kilowatt hours electricity last year longterm average 22 billion kilowatt hours said plants generated average 93 billion kilowatt hours electricity since 1967 including high 146 billion kilowatts 1997 swenson said water storage level six upstream reservoirs missouri river system 56 million acrefeet present equal ideal level acrefoot amount water covering one acre foot deep corps charged finding balance upstream states want water held reservoirs support fish reproduction recreation downstream states want water released dams mainly support barge traffic
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<p>The insurance industry makes an implausible and poorly documented claim in a new ad saying “lawsuit abuse” by trial lawyers costs every household “$1200 in higher medical bills.” The figure is based mainly on a single academic study of a narrow group of patients – the results of which have been contradicted by virtually all other research.</p>
<p>The ad portrays trial lawyers as a shark in a feeding frenzy. The trial lawyers responded in kind, launching their own ad comparing “Big insurance and HMOs” as a huge crocodile “ready to pounce” on consumers, but without offering any facts. Both ads are fishy.</p>
<p>On April 4, the insurance industry group America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) released a TV ad called “Shark Bait” that will run through the entire month on national cable channels, accompanied by print ads appearing in various Washington, DC publications. According to a press&#160; <a href="http://www.ahip.org/content/pressrelease.aspx?docid=9138" type="external">release</a>, the ad campaign highlights the cost of malpractice lawsuits and shows how trial lawyers “have set their sights on opposing medical liability reform.” The&#160; <a href="" type="external">sponsor</a> is an association of nearly 1,300 providers of health insurance, including such giants&#160;as Aetna, Cigna and many Blue Cross Blue Shield organizations.</p>
<p>America’s Health Insurance Plans Ad: “Shark Bite”</p>
<p>Announcer: They’re circling. America’s trial lawyers are on the prowl. And your health care is still their favorite bait. Their lawsuit feeding frenzy costs every American household up to $1,200 a year in higher medical bills. That’s money that could have gone in your pocket. Now it’s just fish food. It’s time for Congress to stop lawsuit abuse. Because until they do, it won’t be safe for anyone to go back in the water.</p>
<p>AHIP’s&#160;ad is a challenge to common sense. They&#160;crow that every household sacrifices $1,200 in higher medical bills as “fish food” swallowed up by&#160;extra, needless&#160;medical costs imposed by trial lawyers.&#160;But&#160;total income for the&#160;median household in the US was $43,318 in 2003, the most recent year on record. Half of all households made more, half made less.&#160;So if the&#160;ad’s claim were&#160;true, it would mean that almost 3 percent of the typical American household’s income was being&#160;lost to “lawsuit abuse” in the medical area alone. Viewers would have to be dumb as an ox not to be suspicious.</p>
<p>And in fact, the&#160;lion’s share of the $1,200 figure is attributed to “defensive medicine,” the supposed tendency of doctors to&#160;order up&#160;needless tests or procedures to avoid malpractice lawsuits. Thus, AHIP’s ad recycles a theme that President Bush championed during the 2004 campaign. Not to crow about&#160;it, but we’ve&#160;addressed that one&#160; <a href="" type="internal">before</a>.&#160;Actually,&#160;there’s almost no scientific support for the claim that fear of malpractice awards drives up the cost of American health care to any substantial degree.</p>
<p>Although the ad cites “HHS data” (referring to the federal Department of Health and Human Services),&#160;it really rests mainly on a nine-year-old&#160;study by two Stanford University scholars, which is virtually the only such study to find&#160;evidence of major costs from&#160;“defensive medicine.” The&#160;1996&#160;Stanford study concluded that caps on damage awards could reduce overall health care costs by 5% to 9%, but it was based only on a&#160;study of&#160;heart patients who were hospitalized. AHIP and others cite this as evidence of a 5% to 9%&#160;increase&#160;across&#160;the entire health care system. However,&#160;virtually all other studies of defensive medicine have found no such thing.</p>
<p>Two nonpartisan agencies of Congress have examined the question. In 2004 the&#160;Congressional Budget Office found “no evidence that restrictions on tort liability reduce medical spending.” And in 1999 the Governmental Accountability Office evaluated the study and said that the evidence presented was too narrow for estimating the overall costs of defensive medicine.</p>
<p>CBO concluded that “the evidence available to date does not make a strong case that restricting malpractice liability would have a significant effect, either positive or negative, on economic efficiency.” And the earlier&#160;GAO report&#160;said of the Stanford study:</p>
<p>GAO: Because this study was focused on only one condition and on a hospital setting, it cannot be extrapolated to the larger practice of medicine. Given the limited evidence, reliable cost savings estimates cannot be developed.</p>
<p>Consequently, nearly $1,000 of the insurance industry’s&#160;$1,200 figure&#160;has little basis in fact.</p>
<p>For the remainder — $234 —&#160;AHIP&#160;relies on another estimate of the direct costs of medical malpractice awards. This estimate comes from Tillinghast-Towers Perrin, a consulting firm that is paid by insurance companies. That doesn’t&#160;mean the figure is&#160;wrong, but the fact that it comes from an industry-friendly group&#160;should make anyone wary.</p>
<p>Tillinghast-Towers Perrin released an annual report titled “U.S. Tort Costs,” which put the direct cost of malpractice claims for 2003 at $26.5 billion.&#160;Tillinghast said that the overall cost of medical malpractice&#160;“translates to $91 per person.”&#160;So for an average U.S. household, which the Census Bureau&#160; <a href="http://www.census.gov/prod/2004pubs/p20-553.pdf" type="external">reported</a> was 2.57 persons in 2003, that figures to&#160;$243.</p>
<p>But it turns out, even that $234 figure is too high for measuring “lawsuit abuse” as the ad claims. In fact, the&#160;study acknowledges that&#160;it includes all claims — including those in which real malpractice occurred, and those that were settled before they ever resulted in a lawsuit.&#160;The introduction states that the costs ” include far more than just the claims that are litigated” and “are not a reflection&#160;of the litigated claims or the legal system.”</p>
<p>The study actually undercuts the ad’s claim to some degree. To their credit, Tillinghast explicitly affirms that there are&#160; benefits of a&#160;tort system, something the ad quite naturally fails to mention.&#160;Tillinghast says, “This study makes no conclusion that the costs of the U.S. tort system outweigh the benefits, or vice versa.”</p>
<p>Tillinghast-Towers Perrin:&#160;Such benefits include a systematic resolution of disputes, thereby reducing conflict, possibly including violence. Another indirect benefit is that the tort system may act as a deterrent to unsafe practices and products. From this perspective, compensation for pain and suffering is seen as beneficial to society as a whole.</p>
<p>That idea is totally ignored in the “Shark Bite” ad, which is aimed at building support for the President’s proposal to limit that very compensation for pain and suffering.</p>
<p>Picking up on the scary-animal theme, the American Trial Lawyers Association responded with an ad of their own portraying the insurance industry as a predatory reptile.</p>
<p>In an ad they call “Big Appetite,” the trial lawyers proclaim that “big insurance and HMO’s” are “lying in the weeds” and “ready to pounce” on innocent victims.</p>
<p>&#160;American Trial Lawyers Association Ad: “Big Appetite”</p>
<p>Announcer: Lying in the weeds … Heading our way. Big Insurance and HMOs are ready to pounce… They’ve got their eye on you … Price gouging and record profits, ignoring innocent victims of medical negligence, harming health care. Big Insurance thinks you’re easy prey. Call Congress … tell them stop feeding the Insurance industry, tell them to stand up for consumers.</p>
<p>We smell a rat when the ad claims “record profits” for the industry. In fact, the malpractice insurance industry has been losing money&#160;for the three most recent years on record.&#160;Figures gathered by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (the state officials who oversee the industry)&#160;medical malpractice insurers lost 4.7 percent of their net worth in 2001 and lost 7.4&#160;percent of their net worth in 2002. In 2003 they nearly broke even but still came out behind, losing 0.1 percent of net worth.&#160;(The trial lawyers say they were referring to profits of HMO’s, not malpractice insurers, even though the ad is aimed at defeating legislation that would set caps on medical malpractice awards.)</p>
<p>Otherwise, the&#160;lawyers’ ad is virtually fact-free, playing on prejudice and stereotypes without actually stating anything concrete. It accuses the industry of “price gouging,” which is a subjective term that simply means charging more than a customer thinks is justified. In fact, according to the insurance commissioners, in 2003 the medical malpractice insurers paid out nearly $1.29 for every $1 they collected in premiums (counting reserves set aside for future losses.) Despite those losses on insurance operations the&#160;industry nearly broke even that year, but that&#160;was mainly because&#160;insurors&#160;received income from a rising stock market, and hardly&#160;constitutes evidence of overcharging for insurance.</p>
<p>Our advice: When lobbyists start using animal metaphors — duck.</p>
<p>Update, April 26, 2005: Originally this article referred to the reptile in the ATLA ad as an alligator, and gave the name of the ad as “Alligator.” That was incorrect. We have changed all references to the creature “alligator” to “crocodile.” We were misled by a script of the ad sent to us by ATLA which carried the ad’s title as “Alligator,”&#160;as well as by an April 5&#160;ATLA news&#160; <a href="http://www.atla.org/ConsumerMediaResources/Tier3/press_room/PressReleases/2005Apr5Release.aspx" type="external">release</a> announcing the ad. ATLA’s release said “insurance companies are portrayed as alligators” in the ad. The release also quoted ATLA &#160;president Todd A. Smith as saying, “Alligators live in a swamp, hide from their prey, and once they’ve got you, it’s too late. The insurance industry and HMOs are just under the surface in the debate about health care.”</p>
<p>ATLA’s public relations department now informs us that the name of their ad is actually “Big Appetite,” and that the animal shown is in fact a crocodile. We are happy to clear up the confusion.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&lt;iframe style="width: 500px; height:300px;" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen src="https://video.factcheck.org/play/legacy-136-1"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;</p>
<p>&lt;iframe style="width: 500px; height:300px;" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen src="https://video.factcheck.org/play/legacy-136-2"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;</p>
<p>Tillinghast-Towers Perrin, “ <a href="http://www.towersperrin.com/tillinghast/publications/reports/Tort_2004/Tort.pdf" type="external">U.S. Tort Costs: 2004 Update</a> ,” 12 January 2005 .</p>
<p>Daniel Kessler and Mark McClellan, “Do Doctors Practice Defensive Medicine?” Quarterly Journal of Economics, May 1996: 353-390.</p>
<p>Perry Beider and Stuart Hagen “ <a href="http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdoc.cfm?index=4968&amp;type=0" type="external">Limiting Tort Liability for Medical Malpractice</a> ” Congressional Budget Office&#160; 8 Jan. 2004 .</p>
<p>US General Accounting Office “ <a href="http://www.gao.gov/new.items/he00005.pdf" type="external">Medical Malpractice</a> : Effect of Varying Laws in the District of Columbia , Maryland and Virginia ” 15 Oct 1999.</p>
<p>“2003 Profitability Report: Medical Malpractice,” National Association of Insurance Commissioners, undated.</p>
<p>“2002 Profitability Report: Medical Malpractice,” National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Oct 2003.</p>
<p>“2001 Profitability Report: Medical Malpractice,” National Association of Insurance Commissioners, 11 Jan 2005.</p>
| false | 2 |
insurance industry makes implausible poorly documented claim new ad saying lawsuit abuse trial lawyers costs every household 1200 higher medical bills figure based mainly single academic study narrow group patients results contradicted virtually research ad portrays trial lawyers shark feeding frenzy trial lawyers responded kind launching ad comparing big insurance hmos huge crocodile ready pounce consumers without offering facts ads fishy april 4 insurance industry group americas health insurance plans ahip released tv ad called shark bait run entire month national cable channels accompanied print ads appearing various washington dc publications according press160 release ad campaign highlights cost malpractice lawsuits shows trial lawyers set sights opposing medical liability reform the160 sponsor association nearly 1300 providers health insurance including giants160as aetna cigna many blue cross blue shield organizations americas health insurance plans ad shark bite announcer theyre circling americas trial lawyers prowl health care still favorite bait lawsuit feeding frenzy costs every american household 1200 year higher medical bills thats money could gone pocket fish food time congress stop lawsuit abuse wont safe anyone go back water ahips160ad challenge common sense they160crow every household sacrifices 1200 higher medical bills fish food swallowed by160extra needless160medical costs imposed trial lawyers160but160total income the160median household us 43318 2003 recent year record half households made half made less160so the160ads claim were160true would mean almost 3 percent typical american households income being160lost lawsuit abuse medical area alone viewers would dumb ox suspicious fact the160lions share 1200 figure attributed defensive medicine supposed tendency doctors to160order up160needless tests procedures avoid malpractice lawsuits thus ahips ad recycles theme president bush championed 2004 campaign crow about160it weve160addressed one160 before160actually160theres almost scientific support claim fear malpractice awards drives cost american health care substantial degree although ad cites hhs data referring federal department health human services160it really rests mainly nineyearold160study two stanford university scholars virtually study find160evidence major costs from160defensive medicine the1601996160stanford study concluded caps damage awards could reduce overall health care costs 5 9 based a160study of160heart patients hospitalized ahip others cite evidence 5 9160increase160across160the entire health care system however160virtually studies defensive medicine found thing two nonpartisan agencies congress examined question 2004 the160congressional budget office found evidence restrictions tort liability reduce medical spending 1999 governmental accountability office evaluated study said evidence presented narrow estimating overall costs defensive medicine cbo concluded evidence available date make strong case restricting malpractice liability would significant effect either positive negative economic efficiency earlier160gao report160said stanford study gao study focused one condition hospital setting extrapolated larger practice medicine given limited evidence reliable cost savings estimates developed consequently nearly 1000 insurance industrys1601200 figure160has little basis fact remainder 234 160ahip160relies another estimate direct costs medical malpractice awards estimate comes tillinghasttowers perrin consulting firm paid insurance companies doesnt160mean figure is160wrong fact comes industryfriendly group160should make anyone wary tillinghasttowers perrin released annual report titled us tort costs put direct cost malpractice claims 2003 265 billion160tillinghast said overall cost medical malpractice160translates 91 per person160so average us household census bureau160 reported 257 persons 2003 figures to160243 turns even 234 figure high measuring lawsuit abuse ad claims fact the160study acknowledges that160it includes claims including real malpractice occurred settled ever resulted lawsuit160the introduction states costs include far claims litigated reflection160of litigated claims legal system study actually undercuts ads claim degree credit tillinghast explicitly affirms are160 benefits a160tort system something ad quite naturally fails mention160tillinghast says study makes conclusion costs us tort system outweigh benefits vice versa tillinghasttowers perrin160such benefits include systematic resolution disputes thereby reducing conflict possibly including violence another indirect benefit tort system may act deterrent unsafe practices products perspective compensation pain suffering seen beneficial society whole idea totally ignored shark bite ad aimed building support presidents proposal limit compensation pain suffering picking scaryanimal theme american trial lawyers association responded ad portraying insurance industry predatory reptile ad call big appetite trial lawyers proclaim big insurance hmos lying weeds ready pounce innocent victims 160american trial lawyers association ad big appetite announcer lying weeds heading way big insurance hmos ready pounce theyve got eye price gouging record profits ignoring innocent victims medical negligence harming health care big insurance thinks youre easy prey call congress tell stop feeding insurance industry tell stand consumers smell rat ad claims record profits industry fact malpractice insurance industry losing money160for three recent years record160figures gathered national association insurance commissioners state officials oversee industry160medical malpractice insurers lost 47 percent net worth 2001 lost 74160percent net worth 2002 2003 nearly broke even still came behind losing 01 percent net worth160the trial lawyers say referring profits hmos malpractice insurers even though ad aimed defeating legislation would set caps medical malpractice awards otherwise the160lawyers ad virtually factfree playing prejudice stereotypes without actually stating anything concrete accuses industry price gouging subjective term simply means charging customer thinks justified fact according insurance commissioners 2003 medical malpractice insurers paid nearly 129 every 1 collected premiums counting reserves set aside future losses despite losses insurance operations the160industry nearly broke even year that160was mainly because160insurors160received income rising stock market hardly160constitutes evidence overcharging insurance advice lobbyists start using animal metaphors duck update april 26 2005 originally article referred reptile atla ad alligator gave name ad alligator incorrect changed references creature alligator crocodile misled script ad sent us atla carried ads title alligator160as well april 5160atla news160 release announcing ad atlas release said insurance companies portrayed alligators ad release also quoted atla 160president todd smith saying alligators live swamp hide prey theyve got late insurance industry hmos surface debate health care atlas public relations department informs us name ad actually big appetite animal shown fact crocodile happy clear confusion 160 ltiframe stylewidth 500px height300px frameborder0 allowfullscreen srchttpsvideofactcheckorgplaylegacy1361gtltiframegt ltiframe stylewidth 500px height300px frameborder0 allowfullscreen srchttpsvideofactcheckorgplaylegacy1362gtltiframegt tillinghasttowers perrin us tort costs 2004 update 12 january 2005 daniel kessler mark mcclellan doctors practice defensive medicine quarterly journal economics may 1996 353390 perry beider stuart hagen limiting tort liability medical malpractice congressional budget office160 8 jan 2004 us general accounting office medical malpractice effect varying laws district columbia maryland virginia 15 oct 1999 2003 profitability report medical malpractice national association insurance commissioners undated 2002 profitability report medical malpractice national association insurance commissioners oct 2003 2001 profitability report medical malpractice national association insurance commissioners 11 jan 2005
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<p>ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Serena Williams lost in her return to tennis after giving birth in September, beaten by French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in an exhibition Saturday and still unsure if she will defend her Australian Open title.</p>
<p>Williams called it a "wonderful" match despite the defeat — she took the second set in a score of 6-2, 3-6 and 10-5 in a super tiebreaker.</p>
<p>The Australian Open, the year's first Grand Slam tournament, begins Jan. 15.</p>
<p>"I don't know if I am totally ready to come back on the tour yet. I know that when I come back I definitely want to be competing for championships. I am definitely looking forward to getting back out there," Williams said.</p>
<p>"I am taking it one day at a time. I am going to assess everything with my team before deciding."</p>
<p>The 36-year-old Williams took time off after winning the Australian Open last January while pregnant. She gave birth to her first child, a girl named Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., on Sept. 1. She married Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian in November.</p>
<p>Williams struggled with her serve in the 67-minute match at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship. But, after nearly a year away from the game, she did win a set against the world's No. 7 player</p>
<p>"I don't think I am going to rate my performance," Williams said. "I have plenty of comebacks, from injuries, from surgeries, but I've never had a comeback after actually giving birth to a human being. So, in my eyes, I feel it was a wonderful, wonderful match for me."</p>
<p>Williams insisted she has a lot more tennis to play.</p>
<p>"Knowing that I have won 23 Grand Slam titles and several other titles, I don't think I have anything more left to prove," she said. "But I am not done yet."</p>
<p>Williams won her opening game, breaking Ostapenko. But she was nowhere near her best in the first set before fighting back and winning the second.</p>
<p>After the initial break, Ostapenko latched onto Williams' weak serves and capitalized on several unforced errors to go up 4-1 with two breaks.</p>
<p>Williams again struggled with her serve in the second set. But she went ahead 3-0 with a couple of early breaks and hit with more confidence, including several crowd-pleasing double-handed passing shots. Another break in the ninth game gave her the set.</p>
<p>"In the beginning, it felt a little tough. But as the match moved on, I was less afraid. I knew I was not going to fall over and break," she said. "The more I played, the more confident I felt that I would be able to go for shots that I was afraid to go for in the first set."</p>
<p>In the super tiebreaker, Ostapenko raced to an 8-2 lead before halting a brief recovery by Williams.</p>
<p>"For me, it is all about physical, how I am feeling physically. ... I am just proud being out here and playing in Abu Dhabi and to be able to just compete," Williams said. "I have had a tough few months and I am just excited to be able to play again."</p>
<p>It was the first time a women's match had been played in the traditionally men's only exhibition.</p>
<p>U.S. Open runner-up Kevin Anderson defeated Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 7-6 (0) in the men's final. The 14th-ranked Anderson immediately broke Bautista Agut and was never in danger of losing serve in the first set.</p>
<p>In the second set, Bautista Agut broke in the second game, but the South African broke back immediately. An aggressive Anderson swept the tiebreaker.</p>
<p>ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Serena Williams lost in her return to tennis after giving birth in September, beaten by French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in an exhibition Saturday and still unsure if she will defend her Australian Open title.</p>
<p>Williams called it a "wonderful" match despite the defeat — she took the second set in a score of 6-2, 3-6 and 10-5 in a super tiebreaker.</p>
<p>The Australian Open, the year's first Grand Slam tournament, begins Jan. 15.</p>
<p>"I don't know if I am totally ready to come back on the tour yet. I know that when I come back I definitely want to be competing for championships. I am definitely looking forward to getting back out there," Williams said.</p>
<p>"I am taking it one day at a time. I am going to assess everything with my team before deciding."</p>
<p>The 36-year-old Williams took time off after winning the Australian Open last January while pregnant. She gave birth to her first child, a girl named Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., on Sept. 1. She married Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian in November.</p>
<p>Williams struggled with her serve in the 67-minute match at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship. But, after nearly a year away from the game, she did win a set against the world's No. 7 player</p>
<p>"I don't think I am going to rate my performance," Williams said. "I have plenty of comebacks, from injuries, from surgeries, but I've never had a comeback after actually giving birth to a human being. So, in my eyes, I feel it was a wonderful, wonderful match for me."</p>
<p>Williams insisted she has a lot more tennis to play.</p>
<p>"Knowing that I have won 23 Grand Slam titles and several other titles, I don't think I have anything more left to prove," she said. "But I am not done yet."</p>
<p>Williams won her opening game, breaking Ostapenko. But she was nowhere near her best in the first set before fighting back and winning the second.</p>
<p>After the initial break, Ostapenko latched onto Williams' weak serves and capitalized on several unforced errors to go up 4-1 with two breaks.</p>
<p>Williams again struggled with her serve in the second set. But she went ahead 3-0 with a couple of early breaks and hit with more confidence, including several crowd-pleasing double-handed passing shots. Another break in the ninth game gave her the set.</p>
<p>"In the beginning, it felt a little tough. But as the match moved on, I was less afraid. I knew I was not going to fall over and break," she said. "The more I played, the more confident I felt that I would be able to go for shots that I was afraid to go for in the first set."</p>
<p>In the super tiebreaker, Ostapenko raced to an 8-2 lead before halting a brief recovery by Williams.</p>
<p>"For me, it is all about physical, how I am feeling physically. ... I am just proud being out here and playing in Abu Dhabi and to be able to just compete," Williams said. "I have had a tough few months and I am just excited to be able to play again."</p>
<p>It was the first time a women's match had been played in the traditionally men's only exhibition.</p>
<p>U.S. Open runner-up Kevin Anderson defeated Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 7-6 (0) in the men's final. The 14th-ranked Anderson immediately broke Bautista Agut and was never in danger of losing serve in the first set.</p>
<p>In the second set, Bautista Agut broke in the second game, but the South African broke back immediately. An aggressive Anderson swept the tiebreaker.</p>
| false | 2 |
abu dhabi united arab emirates ap serena williams lost return tennis giving birth september beaten french open champion jelena ostapenko exhibition saturday still unsure defend australian open title williams called wonderful match despite defeat took second set score 62 36 105 super tiebreaker australian open years first grand slam tournament begins jan 15 dont know totally ready come back tour yet know come back definitely want competing championships definitely looking forward getting back williams said taking one day time going assess everything team deciding 36yearold williams took time winning australian open last january pregnant gave birth first child girl named alexis olympia ohanian jr sept 1 married reddit cofounder alexis ohanian november williams struggled serve 67minute match mubadala world tennis championship nearly year away game win set worlds 7 player dont think going rate performance williams said plenty comebacks injuries surgeries ive never comeback actually giving birth human eyes feel wonderful wonderful match williams insisted lot tennis play knowing 23 grand slam titles several titles dont think anything left prove said done yet williams opening game breaking ostapenko nowhere near best first set fighting back winning second initial break ostapenko latched onto williams weak serves capitalized several unforced errors go 41 two breaks williams struggled serve second set went ahead 30 couple early breaks hit confidence including several crowdpleasing doublehanded passing shots another break ninth game gave set beginning felt little tough match moved less afraid knew going fall break said played confident felt would able go shots afraid go first set super tiebreaker ostapenko raced 82 lead halting brief recovery williams physical feeling physically proud playing abu dhabi able compete williams said tough months excited able play first time womens match played traditionally mens exhibition us open runnerup kevin anderson defeated spains roberto bautista agut 64 76 0 mens final 14thranked anderson immediately broke bautista agut never danger losing serve first set second set bautista agut broke second game south african broke back immediately aggressive anderson swept tiebreaker abu dhabi united arab emirates ap serena williams lost return tennis giving birth september beaten french open champion jelena ostapenko exhibition saturday still unsure defend australian open title williams called wonderful match despite defeat took second set score 62 36 105 super tiebreaker australian open years first grand slam tournament begins jan 15 dont know totally ready come back tour yet know come back definitely want competing championships definitely looking forward getting back williams said taking one day time going assess everything team deciding 36yearold williams took time winning australian open last january pregnant gave birth first child girl named alexis olympia ohanian jr sept 1 married reddit cofounder alexis ohanian november williams struggled serve 67minute match mubadala world tennis championship nearly year away game win set worlds 7 player dont think going rate performance williams said plenty comebacks injuries surgeries ive never comeback actually giving birth human eyes feel wonderful wonderful match williams insisted lot tennis play knowing 23 grand slam titles several titles dont think anything left prove said done yet williams opening game breaking ostapenko nowhere near best first set fighting back winning second initial break ostapenko latched onto williams weak serves capitalized several unforced errors go 41 two breaks williams struggled serve second set went ahead 30 couple early breaks hit confidence including several crowdpleasing doublehanded passing shots another break ninth game gave set beginning felt little tough match moved less afraid knew going fall break said played confident felt would able go shots afraid go first set super tiebreaker ostapenko raced 82 lead halting brief recovery williams physical feeling physically proud playing abu dhabi able compete williams said tough months excited able play first time womens match played traditionally mens exhibition us open runnerup kevin anderson defeated spains roberto bautista agut 64 76 0 mens final 14thranked anderson immediately broke bautista agut never danger losing serve first set second set bautista agut broke second game south african broke back immediately aggressive anderson swept tiebreaker
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<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p>Cities and states accelerated their plans to remove Confederate monuments from public property Tuesday as the violence over a Robert E. Lee statue in Charlottesville, Virginia, moved leaders across the country to plan to wipe away much of the remaining Old South imagery.</p>
<p>Only two statues were taken down immediately, in Gainesville, Florida, where the Daughters of the Confederacy removed a statue of a Confederate soldier known as “Ole Joe,” and in Durham, North Carolina, where protesters used a rope to pull down a Confederate monument dedicated in 1924.</p>
<p>But the anti-Confederate momentum seemed to ensure that other memorials would come down soon. Many local and state governments announced that they would remove statues and other imagery from public land, or consider doing so, in the aftermath of Saturday’s white nationalist rally that killed one person and injured dozens more.</p>
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<p>The changes were publicized as President Donald Trump defended Confederate statues in wide-ranging remarks.</p>
<p>“This week it’s Robert E. Lee. I notice that Stonewall Jackson’s coming down,” Trump said during a visit to Trump Tower in New York. “I wonder, is it George Washington next week, and is it Thomas Jefferson the week after? You know you really do have to ask yourself, where does it stop?”</p>
<p>Asked specifically whether Charlottesville’s Lee statue should come down, he said: “I would say that’s up to a local town, community or the federal government, depending on where it is located.”</p>
<p>All around the country, Republican and Democratic officials at the state and local levels moved swiftly to begin a process to remove the statues.</p>
<p>North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said he would ask the Legislature to reverse a 2015 law signed by his Republican predecessor, Pat McCrory, that prevents the removal or relocation of monuments, and to defeat a measure giving immunity to motorists who strike protesters. He also planned to ask state officials to determine the cost of moving Confederate statues and to give him options of where they could go.</p>
<p>“Our Civil War history is important, but it belongs in textbooks and museums?– not a place of allegiance on our Capitol grounds,” Cooper said in a statement.</p>
<p>In Maryland, GOP Gov. Larry Hogan said Tuesday he would push to remove the statue of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Taney, author of the infamous Dred Scott ruling in 1857 affirming slavery, from state land.</p>
<p>“While we cannot hide from our history, nor should we, the time has come to make clear the difference between properly acknowledging our past and glorifying the darkest chapters of our history,” said Hogan, who before had resisted calls to move the statue.</p>
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<p>Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings announced plans Tuesday to ask his city council to appoint a task force to study the fate of the city’s Confederate statues. Rawlings said he personally finds the monuments to be “dangerous totems,” but a task force would ensure a productive conversation.</p>
<p>Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, a Republican, called on state officials Monday to remove a bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Confederate cavalry general and an early leader of the Ku Klux Klan, from the Tennessee Capitol. Protesters earlier draped a black jacket over the head of the bust while cheering, “Tear it down!”</p>
<p>Similar plans were being made in Baltimore and San Antonio, as well as Lexington, Kentucky; Memphis, Tennessee; Jacksonville, Florida; and elsewhere.</p>
<p>In Durham, Sheriff Mike Andrews said protesters who toppled a nearly century-old Confederate statue in front of a North Carolina government building would face felony charges. The Confederate Soldiers Monument, dedicated in 1924, stood in front of an old courthouse that how houses local government offices. The crumpled and dented bronze figure has been taken to a warehouse for storage.</p>
<p>Deputies later arrested Takiyah Thompson, who identified herself Tuesday as the woman who tied the rope that was used to tear it down. She said her actions were justified because Confederate statues represent white supremacy.</p>
<p>A law professor and director of the Center for Terrorism Law at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio called removal a “slippery slope,” saying judging historical figures through a modern lens can be difficult.</p>
<p>“A healthy democracy and people within that democracy should be able to say, ‘This is our history.’ And history is made up of actions of human beings, and human beings aren’t perfect,” said Jeffrey F. Addicott, who stressed he was speaking for himself and not the law school.</p>
<p>Statues, he added, can be moved, but he’s opposed to them being “put in a warehouse never to be seen again because then you’re kind of erasing or rewriting history.”</p>
<p>The Sons of Confederate Veterans condemned attempts to take down Confederate statues around the country.</p>
<p>“These statues were erected over 100 year ago to honor the history of the United States,” added Thomas V. Strain Jr., the group’s commander in chief. “They’re just as important to the entire history of the U.S. as the monuments erected to our forefathers.”</p>
<p>Strain, who said his group did not participate in Charlottesville, condemned the Klan, white nationalist groups, neo-Nazis and other extremists.</p>
<p>“It’s painful to watch for lack of better words,” he said. “It was our family that fought, and it was our families that died, and now we have these knuckleheads hijacking the flag for their own purposes.”</p>
<p>But city and state officials said Charlottesville convinced them it’s time to move on from having Confederate imagery in prominent public places.</p>
<p>In Lexington, Kentucky, Mayor Jim Gray moved up his announcement by a day in reaction to the Charlottesville bloodshed. Memorials to John C. Breckinridge and John Hunt Morgan are perched outside a former courthouse that was the site of slave auctions before the Civil War.</p>
<p>“This is the right time,” Gray said Monday. “We accelerated that because of the events in Charlottesville, but I knew that it was the right thing to do.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press reporters Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar in Washington, Claudia Lauer in Dallas, Bruce Schreiner in Louisville, Kentucky; Erik Schelzig in Nashville, Tennessee; Jonathan Drew in Durham, North Carolina; and Jason Dearen in Gainesville, Florida, contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Jesse J. Holland covers race and ethnicity for The Associated Press in Washington. Contact him at jholland//www.twitter.com/jessejholland or on Facebook at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/jessejholland" type="external">http://www.facebook.com/jessejholland</a> .</p>
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cities states accelerated plans remove confederate monuments public property tuesday violence robert e lee statue charlottesville virginia moved leaders across country plan wipe away much remaining old south imagery two statues taken immediately gainesville florida daughters confederacy removed statue confederate soldier known ole joe durham north carolina protesters used rope pull confederate monument dedicated 1924 anticonfederate momentum seemed ensure memorials would come soon many local state governments announced would remove statues imagery public land consider aftermath saturdays white nationalist rally killed one person injured dozens advertisement changes publicized president donald trump defended confederate statues wideranging remarks week robert e lee notice stonewall jacksons coming trump said visit trump tower new york wonder george washington next week thomas jefferson week know really ask stop asked specifically whether charlottesvilles lee statue come said would say thats local town community federal government depending located around country republican democratic officials state local levels moved swiftly begin process remove statues north carolina gov roy cooper said would ask legislature reverse 2015 law signed republican predecessor pat mccrory prevents removal relocation monuments defeat measure giving immunity motorists strike protesters also planned ask state officials determine cost moving confederate statues give options could go civil war history important belongs textbooks museums place allegiance capitol grounds cooper said statement maryland gop gov larry hogan said tuesday would push remove statue former supreme court chief justice roger taney author infamous dred scott ruling 1857 affirming slavery state land hide history time come make clear difference properly acknowledging past glorifying darkest chapters history said hogan resisted calls move statue advertisement dallas mayor mike rawlings announced plans tuesday ask city council appoint task force study fate citys confederate statues rawlings said personally finds monuments dangerous totems task force would ensure productive conversation tennessee gov bill haslam republican called state officials monday remove bust nathan bedford forrest confederate cavalry general early leader ku klux klan tennessee capitol protesters earlier draped black jacket head bust cheering tear similar plans made baltimore san antonio well lexington kentucky memphis tennessee jacksonville florida elsewhere durham sheriff mike andrews said protesters toppled nearly centuryold confederate statue front north carolina government building would face felony charges confederate soldiers monument dedicated 1924 stood front old courthouse houses local government offices crumpled dented bronze figure taken warehouse storage deputies later arrested takiyah thompson identified tuesday woman tied rope used tear said actions justified confederate statues represent white supremacy law professor director center terrorism law st marys university san antonio called removal slippery slope saying judging historical figures modern lens difficult healthy democracy people within democracy able say history history made actions human beings human beings arent perfect said jeffrey f addicott stressed speaking law school statues added moved hes opposed put warehouse never seen youre kind erasing rewriting history sons confederate veterans condemned attempts take confederate statues around country statues erected 100 year ago honor history united states added thomas v strain jr groups commander chief theyre important entire history us monuments erected forefathers strain said group participate charlottesville condemned klan white nationalist groups neonazis extremists painful watch lack better words said family fought families died knuckleheads hijacking flag purposes city state officials said charlottesville convinced time move confederate imagery prominent public places lexington kentucky mayor jim gray moved announcement day reaction charlottesville bloodshed memorials john c breckinridge john hunt morgan perched outside former courthouse site slave auctions civil war right time gray said monday accelerated events charlottesville knew right thing ___ associated press reporters ricardo alonsozaldivar washington claudia lauer dallas bruce schreiner louisville kentucky erik schelzig nashville tennessee jonathan drew durham north carolina jason dearen gainesville florida contributed report ___ jesse j holland covers race ethnicity associated press washington contact jhollandwwwtwittercomjessejholland facebook httpwwwfacebookcomjessejholland
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<p />
<p>An administrative assistant in the Bernalillo County Human Resources Department claims she at times devoted up to 80 percent of her work week doing tasks on behalf of the Martin Luther King Jr. Multicultural Council, where until recently she also held the title of executive secretary.</p>
<p>The county has halted its involvement with the council after legal staff determined it was in violation of the anti-donation clause of the state Constitution, as well as the county’s employee code of conduct and conflict of interest regulations.</p>
<p>In addition, the county believes the employee may have used county funds to pay for MLK council office supplies.</p>
<p>Jewel Hall</p>
<p>Jewel Hall, a founder of the MLK council, past president and current director of communications, said there isn’t enough work to take up 80 percent of someone’s workweek – that, at most, an employee may have spent a total of 40 hours a year helping the council – and she was unaware of any supplies purchased for the nonprofit by the county.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>She was surprised when notified of the county’s decision, saying a cooperative arrangement between the county and the MLK council has been ongoing, in some form or another, for decades.</p>
<p>Julie Morgas Baca</p>
<p>Bernalillo County Manager Julie Morgas Baca told the Journal she was only recently made aware of the county’s involvement after the HR employee went to the county Compliance Office to discuss the matter.</p>
<p>After conferring with the county’s legal department, Morgas Baca said that, although she supports the mission of the council, she “immediately stopped the practice” and asked county officials to determine if there was a memorandum of understanding, written agreement, contract or procurement method used to justify why the county was providing the services. None could be found, she said.</p>
<p>Asked the value of the county employee’s contribution to the MLK council, Morgas Baca said it was difficult to determine, but the employee, who began working for the council last July, earns $13.73 an hour.</p>
<p>Clause not clear-cut</p>
<p>When informed that the county was discontinuing the arrangement, Hall responded with a letter to the County Commission in which she wrote: “It is very surprising that after 27 years and under six different county managers that Bernalillo County now cites the anti-donation clause as a reason to terminate what has been a very productive partnership.”</p>
<p>Under the anti-donation clause, the county cannot legally or financially subsidize or commit resources to private corporations or nonprofit organizations without anything in return, “no matter how noble or worthy the venture,” Morgas Baca said.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>According to the MLK Multicultural Council website, among those listed on the board of directors are Vice President Renetta M. Torres, who, following an internal nepotism investigation earlier this month, resigned as Bernalillo County’s director of human resources; and executive secretary Rhiannon Montoya, who works as an administrative assistant in the Bernalillo County Human Resources Department.</p>
<p>The county and other sponsor agencies who provide “in-kind services” receive recognition by the MLK council “in all of its publications, materials and on its website,” Hall said. “It has been the understanding of the council that the recognition of the sponsors is deemed to be the ‘consideration’ called for, and satisfies the provisions of the anti-donation clause.”</p>
<p>She pointed to another governmental sponsor, the Albuquerque City Council, which donated $15,000 for 2016 and $15,000 for 2017. According to a “Sponsorship Agreement,” the MLK council agreed to include “the City of Albuquerque City Council and logo on all signage, press releases, and conference programs as a sponsor.” A finance officer with the City Council said the agreement was vetted by the city’s legal department to make sure it was not in violation of the state’s anti-donation clause.</p>
<p>County spokeswoman Tia Bland said it was fair to acknowledge that “perhaps the anti-donation clause isn’t as clear-cut as it could be and finding the line to determine what’s appropriate and inappropriate might be challenging for some.”</p>
<p>However, “Bernalillo County believes assigning a full-time county employee to serve as executive secretary to a nonprofit crosses the line.”</p>
<p>Other in-kind sponsors, such as the University of New Mexico, Central New Mexico Community College and Albuquerque Public Schools, provide volunteers for the MLK scholarship reception, or help in screening scholarship applications, or reading and scoring the essays, Hall said.</p>
<p>All-volunteer organization</p>
<p>The mission of the MLK Multicultural Council is to educate the public on the ideals and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Each year, the organization sponsors a competition in which college-bound high school students submit essays detailing how King’s philosophy and works impacted their own lives. Last year, 29 students were each awarded $1,000 scholarships.</p>
<p>The council is an all-volunteer organization with no paid staff. The county employee in question “could not possibly have volunteered more than 40 hours for the entire year, and most of that time was probably attending monthly meetings and taking minutes,” Hall said. “We don’t have that kind of structure or workload – period.”</p>
<p>She added that she was unaware of any supply purchases paid for by the county and noted that the organization doesn’t have an office. “We meet once a month at Congregation Albert from 3 to 4:40 p.m.” Most communications are done via email by Hall.</p>
<p>Renetta Torres was assigned to the MLK council by then-County Manager Juan Vigil, replacing county employee-designate Richard Silva when he passed away, Hall said. Montoya was assigned to perform MLK duties by her then-supervisor, Dorothy Astorga, now an executive assistant at the Metropolitan Detention Center. Astorga told the Journal on Monday that she was simply “continuing a practice that had been going on for many years.”</p>
<p>Morgas Baca said there did not appear to be any criminal intent involved, “but as county manager I’m responsible to the taxpayers and have to make sure we follow procurement codes and make sure that taxpayer dollars are used in a fair and responsible manner, consistent with our obligation to the public and within the law.”</p>
<p>She also said that the county supports the mission of the MLK Multicultural Council. “We stand with them in the advancement of the ideals of Dr. King, and still desire to cultivate a positive relationship with them, and want to work with them in ways that are consistent with policy and law.”</p>
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administrative assistant bernalillo county human resources department claims times devoted 80 percent work week tasks behalf martin luther king jr multicultural council recently also held title executive secretary county halted involvement council legal staff determined violation antidonation clause state constitution well countys employee code conduct conflict interest regulations addition county believes employee may used county funds pay mlk council office supplies jewel hall jewel hall founder mlk council past president current director communications said isnt enough work take 80 percent someones workweek employee may spent total 40 hours year helping council unaware supplies purchased nonprofit county advertisement surprised notified countys decision saying cooperative arrangement county mlk council ongoing form another decades julie morgas baca bernalillo county manager julie morgas baca told journal recently made aware countys involvement hr employee went county compliance office discuss matter conferring countys legal department morgas baca said although supports mission council immediately stopped practice asked county officials determine memorandum understanding written agreement contract procurement method used justify county providing services none could found said asked value county employees contribution mlk council morgas baca said difficult determine employee began working council last july earns 1373 hour clause clearcut informed county discontinuing arrangement hall responded letter county commission wrote surprising 27 years six different county managers bernalillo county cites antidonation clause reason terminate productive partnership antidonation clause county legally financially subsidize commit resources private corporations nonprofit organizations without anything return matter noble worthy venture morgas baca said advertisement according mlk multicultural council website among listed board directors vice president renetta torres following internal nepotism investigation earlier month resigned bernalillo countys director human resources executive secretary rhiannon montoya works administrative assistant bernalillo county human resources department county sponsor agencies provide inkind services receive recognition mlk council publications materials website hall said understanding council recognition sponsors deemed consideration called satisfies provisions antidonation clause pointed another governmental sponsor albuquerque city council donated 15000 2016 15000 2017 according sponsorship agreement mlk council agreed include city albuquerque city council logo signage press releases conference programs sponsor finance officer city council said agreement vetted citys legal department make sure violation states antidonation clause county spokeswoman tia bland said fair acknowledge perhaps antidonation clause isnt clearcut could finding line determine whats appropriate inappropriate might challenging however bernalillo county believes assigning fulltime county employee serve executive secretary nonprofit crosses line inkind sponsors university new mexico central new mexico community college albuquerque public schools provide volunteers mlk scholarship reception help screening scholarship applications reading scoring essays hall said allvolunteer organization mission mlk multicultural council educate public ideals legacy dr martin luther king jr year organization sponsors competition collegebound high school students submit essays detailing kings philosophy works impacted lives last year 29 students awarded 1000 scholarships council allvolunteer organization paid staff county employee question could possibly volunteered 40 hours entire year time probably attending monthly meetings taking minutes hall said dont kind structure workload period added unaware supply purchases paid county noted organization doesnt office meet month congregation albert 3 440 pm communications done via email hall renetta torres assigned mlk council thencounty manager juan vigil replacing county employeedesignate richard silva passed away hall said montoya assigned perform mlk duties thensupervisor dorothy astorga executive assistant metropolitan detention center astorga told journal monday simply continuing practice going many years morgas baca said appear criminal intent involved county manager im responsible taxpayers make sure follow procurement codes make sure taxpayer dollars used fair responsible manner consistent obligation public within law also said county supports mission mlk multicultural council stand advancement ideals dr king still desire cultivate positive relationship want work ways consistent policy law
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<p />
<p>Above all, Obama’s ties to Africa were personal. On the first visit to his father’s homeland, Kenya, since winning the White House, he assured the cheering crowds: “I’ll be back.”</p>
<p>But many Africans with high hopes were left wishing for more.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>AT MANDELA’S MEMORIAL SERVICE, SHAKES RAUL CASTRO’S HAND</p>
<p>Like Nelson Mandela, Obama became the first black president of his country.</p>
<p>A rhetorical highlight of Obama’s connection with Africa came at the December 2013 memorial service for Mandela, the anti-apartheid figure who became South Africa’s leader after historic elections in 1994. Obama energized tens of thousands of mourners and nearly 100 visiting heads of state with a plea for the world to emulate Mandela, describing him as “the last great liberator of the 20th century.”</p>
<p>Mandela’s memorial was also the setting for a handshake between Obama and President Raul Castro of Cuba, a longtime U.S. adversary. While U.S. and Cuban officials said the handshake was a courtesy rather than a symbol of warming ties, Washington and Havana restored diplomatic relations in 2015.</p>
<p>— Christopher Torchia in Johannesburg</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>URGES AFRICAN LEADERS TO RESPECT DEMOCRACY</p>
<p>In his address to the African Union at its shiny, new headquarters built and funded by the Chinese government, Obama bluntly told African leaders not to cling to power. “When a leader tries to change the rules in the middle of the game just to stay in office, it risks instability and strife,” he said. “No one should be president for life.”</p>
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<p>Since Obama’s July 2015 address, a number of African leaders have nonetheless made efforts to stay in office, whether by extending term or age limits, saying election preparations would take longer than expected or simply, as in the current case in Gambia, refusing to step down.</p>
<p>Obama’s visit to Ethiopia, the seat of the African Union, was criticized by human rights groups, which said his trip lent legitimacy to an oppressive government.</p>
<p>— Elias Meseret in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>IS CRITICIZED FOR SUPPORTING GAY RIGHTS</p>
<p>Days before President-elect Donald Trump won election, some Ugandans were arrested outside the U.S. Embassy with placards in his support. They said Trump would be tougher on “dictators” like Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni — a criticism of Obama’s failure to deal more firmly with African strongmen.</p>
<p>Also baffling to some was the Obama administration’s support of gay rights in Africa, where many countries criminalize homosexual acts. “Under Obama, the definition of human rights really was gay rights, and many people ridiculed him for that,” said Nicholas Sengoba, an independent analyst and newspaper columnist.</p>
<p>Sengoba called Obama an “average president” in the eyes of many Africans who had high — sometimes impossible — expectations of the first African-American president. Some had hoped for more aid and visa relaxations because they are used to strongmen who make things happen, he said.</p>
<p>“Obama has mostly left Africa where he found it,” he said.</p>
<p>— Rodney Muhumuza in Kampala, Uganda</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>CELEBRATES CREATION OF SOUTH SUDAN, THEN WATCHES IT IMPLODE</p>
<p>Obama witnessed both the creation and disintegration of South Sudan, the world’s youngest country. The oil-rich East African nation declared independence in 2011 after decades of struggle and with significant U.S. support. Two years later, civil war erupted.</p>
<p>Today, South Sudan is at risk of genocide, according to the United Nations. The fighting has killed tens of thousands. The U.S. led talks to reach a peace deal in 2015, but it collapsed after fighting erupted in the capital, Juba, in July. A recent U.S.-led effort to impose a U.N. arms embargo failed and was met with hostility from South Sudan’s government.</p>
<p>Anti-American rhetoric remains high. Hours after Trump’s election win was announced, government spokesman Michael Makuei took a final jab at the outgoing president. “I really doubt President Obama had any clear policy to South Sudan other than to destroy it,” Makuei said.</p>
<p>— Justin Lynch in Kampala, Uganda</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>SENDS TROOPS TO FIGHT EBOLA OUTBREAK</p>
<p>In September 2014, as the world’s worst outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus surged in West Africa, Obama announced the deployment of about 3,000 troops and called for the U.S. to lead global efforts to end the epidemic, saying it was “the best way to keep Americans safe.”</p>
<p>Obama’s response came more than six months after the first Ebola cases were confirmed, and his administration was accused of moving too slowly and initially focusing too much on Liberia, a country with historic ties to the U.S. that ultimately recorded more than 4,800 deaths, the most of any country.</p>
<p>By early 2015, cases were declining considerably, and the White House said the work of U.S. military and civilian responders “dramatically bent the curve of the epidemic.”</p>
<p>— Robbie Corey-Boulet in Abidjan, Ivory Coast</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>VISITS HIS FATHER’S HOMELAND, WARNS AGAINST CORRUPTION</p>
<p>Kenya declared a public holiday when it became clear Obama had won the U.S. presidency, and many babies born that day were named for him. The news uplifted the East African country that had seen more than 1,000 people killed in recent election violence.</p>
<p>Obama’s visit in July 2015 was the first to his father’s homeland since winning the White House, as well as the first visit by a sitting U.S. president. Perhaps no one celebrated more than his Kenyan family, which included Obama’s step-grandmother and his half-brothers.</p>
<p>Obama also spoke passionately about rooting out corruption in Kenya — comments that the government received more diplomatically than on his first visit to the country as a state senator in 2006.</p>
<p>Obama remains loved in Kenya, and many will be saddened to see him leave office. “Obama is a sort of miracle of the century,” writer Ocheing Ogodo said.</p>
<p>— Tom Odula in Nairobi, Kenya</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>IN SOMALIA, INCREASES USE OF DRONES IN WAR ON TERROR</p>
<p>The use of drones for military purposes in the war on terror was a major theme in Obama’s presidency and it could be seen in Somalia, where the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group started threatening neighboring countries.</p>
<p>The U.S. deployed more drones across the Horn of Africa nation against al-Shabab leaders. One drone attack in 2014 killed the group’s spiritual leader Ahmed Abdi Godane, a year after he claimed responsibility for one of the group’s deadliest attacks outside Somalia, the assault on Westgate Mall in Kenya that killed at least 67.</p>
<p>Officials in Somalia say the killing of Godane and other al-Shabab leaders has dealt a serious blow to the group’s ability in coordinating high-profile attacks.</p>
<p>— Abdi Guled in Hargeisa, Somalia</p>
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obamas ties africa personal first visit fathers homeland kenya since winning white house assured cheering crowds ill back many africans high hopes left wishing ___ advertisement mandelas memorial service shakes raul castros hand like nelson mandela obama became first black president country rhetorical highlight obamas connection africa came december 2013 memorial service mandela antiapartheid figure became south africas leader historic elections 1994 obama energized tens thousands mourners nearly 100 visiting heads state plea world emulate mandela describing last great liberator 20th century mandelas memorial also setting handshake obama president raul castro cuba longtime us adversary us cuban officials said handshake courtesy rather symbol warming ties washington havana restored diplomatic relations 2015 christopher torchia johannesburg ___ urges african leaders respect democracy address african union shiny new headquarters built funded chinese government obama bluntly told african leaders cling power leader tries change rules middle game stay office risks instability strife said one president life advertisement since obamas july 2015 address number african leaders nonetheless made efforts stay office whether extending term age limits saying election preparations would take longer expected simply current case gambia refusing step obamas visit ethiopia seat african union criticized human rights groups said trip lent legitimacy oppressive government elias meseret addis ababa ethiopia ___ criticized supporting gay rights days presidentelect donald trump election ugandans arrested outside us embassy placards support said trump would tougher dictators like ugandan president yoweri museveni criticism obamas failure deal firmly african strongmen also baffling obama administrations support gay rights africa many countries criminalize homosexual acts obama definition human rights really gay rights many people ridiculed said nicholas sengoba independent analyst newspaper columnist sengoba called obama average president eyes many africans high sometimes impossible expectations first africanamerican president hoped aid visa relaxations used strongmen make things happen said obama mostly left africa found said rodney muhumuza kampala uganda ___ celebrates creation south sudan watches implode obama witnessed creation disintegration south sudan worlds youngest country oilrich east african nation declared independence 2011 decades struggle significant us support two years later civil war erupted today south sudan risk genocide according united nations fighting killed tens thousands us led talks reach peace deal 2015 collapsed fighting erupted capital juba july recent usled effort impose un arms embargo failed met hostility south sudans government antiamerican rhetoric remains high hours trumps election win announced government spokesman michael makuei took final jab outgoing president really doubt president obama clear policy south sudan destroy makuei said justin lynch kampala uganda ___ sends troops fight ebola outbreak september 2014 worlds worst outbreak deadly ebola virus surged west africa obama announced deployment 3000 troops called us lead global efforts end epidemic saying best way keep americans safe obamas response came six months first ebola cases confirmed administration accused moving slowly initially focusing much liberia country historic ties us ultimately recorded 4800 deaths country early 2015 cases declining considerably white house said work us military civilian responders dramatically bent curve epidemic robbie coreyboulet abidjan ivory coast ___ visits fathers homeland warns corruption kenya declared public holiday became clear obama us presidency many babies born day named news uplifted east african country seen 1000 people killed recent election violence obamas visit july 2015 first fathers homeland since winning white house well first visit sitting us president perhaps one celebrated kenyan family included obamas stepgrandmother halfbrothers obama also spoke passionately rooting corruption kenya comments government received diplomatically first visit country state senator 2006 obama remains loved kenya many saddened see leave office obama sort miracle century writer ocheing ogodo said tom odula nairobi kenya ___ somalia increases use drones war terror use drones military purposes war terror major theme obamas presidency could seen somalia alqaidalinked alshabab extremist group started threatening neighboring countries us deployed drones across horn africa nation alshabab leaders one drone attack 2014 killed groups spiritual leader ahmed abdi godane year claimed responsibility one groups deadliest attacks outside somalia assault westgate mall kenya killed least 67 officials somalia say killing godane alshabab leaders dealt serious blow groups ability coordinating highprofile attacks abdi guled hargeisa somalia
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<p>ALMATY (Reuters) - Kazakh businessman Kenges Rakishev, having bought a large stake in Petropavlovsk ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=POG.L" type="external">POG.L</a>) last month, says he wants to see Pavel Maslovskiy reinstated as chief executive of the Russian mid-sized gold producer.</p> FILE PHOTO: Kazakh businessman, Kenges Rakishev, attends the launch of Israeli start-up, Mobli Media Inc, in Tel Aviv, Israel June 15, 2015. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
<p>The unexpected deal, in which Rakishev purchased a 22 percent stake in the London-listed company from Russian billionaire Viktor Vekselberg for an undisclosed sum, was the latest twist in a row surrounding Petropavlovsk. Petropavlovsk witnessed shareholder conflict over control of the company that culminated in the resignation of Maslovskiy, one of its co-founders, as CEO in mid-2017.</p>
<p>“From my point of view, nobody came out of this (infighting) victorious,” Rakishev said in an interview with Reuters.</p>
<p>“Maslovskiy must complete the POX plant,” he added, referring to a major project aimed at boosting the company’s output. “I would like (to see him return).”</p>
<p>Asked whether he favored reinstating the second co-founder and ex-chairman of the firm, Peter Hambro, Rakishev said he had not yet considered that. Hambro had run the company since founding it in 1994 but left in 2017 amid the shareholder row. M&amp;A</p>
<p>Rakishev wants Petropavlovsk to look into potential acquisitions in Russia and Central Asia as he plans either to join its board or appoint a representative to it. He said he planned to meet Petropavlovsk’s board members and fellow shareholders soon to discuss his proposals.</p>
<p>“It would be logical to consider further M&amp;A in Russia itself,” he said. Petropavlovsk’s market capitalization is $370 million, according to Reuters data.</p>
<p>Rakishev did not identify any potential targets but said that during talks on the Petropavlovsk stake purchase, which started last September, he had also discussed a potential acquisition of Vekselberg’s other gold asset, Zoloto Kamchatki.</p>
<p>“I will also propose (acquisitions in) other countries, for example in Central Asia,” he said. “Geographic diversification wouldn’t be a bad thing.”</p>
<p>However, Kazakh gold mining assets, in some of which Rakishev had previously invested, are now too expensive compared with the Russian ones, he said. A replacement of short-term bank loans with long-term bonds by Petropavlovsk last year could allow the company to attract fresh financing, Rakishev said. In early December, Russian newspaper RBC cited two sources saying another Russian mid-sized gold producer, GV Gold, was buying Zoloto Kamchatki. Both sides have declined to comment.</p>
<p>Asked whether he would consider consolidation with GV Gold, Rakishev said he was open to all options.</p> BTA
<p>Rakishev’s past investments include Altynalmas, a Kazakh gold miner which he says he helped sell to celebrity investor Robert Friedland’s Ivanhoe Mines.</p>
<p>But his main business today is distressed asset management company BTA, formerly a bank, which is trying to collect billions of dollars from fugitive Kazakh tycoon Mukhtar Ablyazov.</p>
<p>Ablyazov was chairman of BTA, then Kazakhstan’s biggest lender, when the Astana government nationalized it in 2009, citing a need to prevent its collapse following the global financial crisis.</p>
<p>Ablyazov, who fled Kazakhstan, called the move politically motivated. The Kazakh government accused him of effectively channeling some $6 billion out of BTA and into his coffers. Ablyazov has denied the allegation.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=POG.L" type="external">Petropavlovsk PLC</a> 7.0 POG.L London Stock Exchange +0.02 (+0.29%) POG.L NOGN.L
<p>While Astana’s efforts to have Ablyazov detained and handed over have been futile - a French court set him free and canceled his extradition order in 2016 - BTA’s separate pursuit of his assets has yielded some results.</p>
<p>BTA has secured judgments for about $4.5 billion, which it is now trying to enforce. As part of those efforts, last year BTA obtained an order in the English High Court that froze a 13.2 percent stake in Kazakhstan-focused Nostrum Oil and Gas ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=NOGN.L" type="external">NOGN.L</a>) held by Claremont Holding Ltd.</p>
<p>Last June, BTA agreed to acquire from Claremont a 3.76 percent stake in Nostrum and secured the right to gain Claremont’s remaining 9.44 percent holding. The sides disclosed no financial details.</p>
<p>This week, Rakishev said that to avoid depressing Nostrum’s stock price, BTA, Claremont and Nostrum were finalizing a deal under which BTA would receive some cash and one of Nostrum’s Kazakh assets instead of the remaining shares, which it would have otherwise sold on the market.</p>
<p>BTA plans to sell the Kazakh asset, an oilfield, Rakishev said.</p>
<p>Nostrum, which was not involved in last year’s settlement between BTA and Claremont, said it did not comment on market speculation. Claremont owner and former Nostrum chairman Frank Monstrey could not be reached for comment.</p>
<p>Ablyazov, contacted by Reuters, said he had nothing to do with Nostrum or Claremont and described BTA’s claims against him as part of a government-orchestrated campaign.</p>
<p>Rakishev, who first invested in BTA in 2014 when the government decided to dispose of it, says he is driven by purely financial interest.</p>
<p>“We would like to enforce the $4.5 billion court judgment,” he said. “Unfortunately, no one knows to what degree this is possible and how much is still left in terms of real assets.”</p>
<p>Reporting by Olzhas Auyezov; Additional reporting by Polina Devitt in Moscow; Editing by Dale Hudson</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SAO PAULO (Reuters) - The European Union is likely to expand a ban on poultry imports processed by Brazil’s BRF SA ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=BRFS3.SA" type="external">BRFS3.SA</a>), the world’s largest chicken exporter, according to a local newspaper report on Saturday.</p> FILE PHOTO: European Union flags flutter outside the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, March 12, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
<p>The EU currently does not allow the entrance in the bloc of chicken processed in three of BRF plants in Brazil, that were targets of an investigation by Brazilian authorities related to alleged actions by BRF management to escape food safety checks.</p>
<p>According to the report in newspaper Folha de S.Paulo, European officials could expand that ban to all BRF plants in Brazil, following a meeting with Brazilian officials this week. A decision is expected next week.</p>
<p>Brazilian Senator Cidinho Santos, a member of the group that visited EU officials in Brussels, told the paper that the Europeans were threatening to ban exports from all BRF plants, even after explanations and guarantees given to them by Brazil’s Agriculture Minister Blairo Maggi.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=BRFS3.SA" type="external">BRF SA</a> 21.67 BRFS3.SA Sao Paulo Stock Exchange -1.04 (-4.58%) BRFS3.SA
<p>“We left the meeting pessimistic,” the senator said, according to the report.</p>
<p>BRF did not immediately return requests for comment. Calls to their office in Sao Paulo on Saturday were not answered.</p>
<p>The food safety scandal and operational difficulties have hurt BRF performance recently. The company lost 1 billion reais ($292.19 million) last year and shareholders are demanding a management reshuffle.</p>
<p>On Friday, the company said in a securities filing that shareholders would be entitled to multiple votes to chose the new members of the board in an assembly on April 26, after they failed to agree to a common proposed list.</p>
<p>Luiz Fernando Furlan, a former trade minister, is expected to replace Abilio Diniz, a prominent Brazilian investor, as chairman of BRF.</p>
<p>($1 = 3.4224 reais)</p>
<p>Reporting by Marcelo Teixeira; editing by Diane Craft</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>LONDON (Reuters) - Martin Sorrell, who built WPP into the world’s biggest advertising agency through 33 years of dealmaking, quit on Saturday after an allegation of personal misconduct.</p> FILE PHOTO: Sir Martin Sorrell, Chief Executive Officer of WPP, attends the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo
<p>The departure of the CEO who built a two-man outfit into one of Britain’s biggest companies with 200,000 staff in 112 countries leaves WPP without a boss at a pivotal time for the industry and when the group is under great strain.</p>
<p>WPP stunned the market last week when it said it had appointed lawyers to investigate alleged misconduct by Sorrell. He denied the allegations but in a letter to WPP staff published late on Saturday he said the “current disruption” was “putting too much unnecessary pressure on the business”.</p>
<p>He said he had decided that “in your interest, in the interest of our clients, in the interest of all shareowners, both big and small, and in the interest of all our other stakeholders, it is best for me to step aside”.</p>
<p>Chairman Roberto Quarta will become executive chairman until a new chief executive is found, while Mark Read, a WPP digital executive, and Andrew Scott, chief operating officer, Europe, have been appointed as joint chief operating officers.</p>
<p>Read, who previously sat on WPP’s main board, is well regarded in the industry while Scott was involved in its acquisition strategy and was not involved with clients.</p>
<p>The company will consider internal and external candidates for the top job in a process that could take several months.</p>
<p>“Obviously I am sad to leave WPP after 33 years,” Sorrell said in a statement. “It has been a passion, focus and source of energy for so long. However, I believe it is in the best interests of the business if I step down now.”</p>
<p>WPP said the investigation, which regarded financial impropriety, had concluded. It made no further comment but repeated a previous statement that the allegation did not involve amounts that were material to the company.</p>
<p>A source close to Sorrell said he had been unhappy with how the investigation was handled, leaving him uncertain whether he could work with the board again.</p>
<p>Analysts have speculated that the sprawling group, which was being restructured after a year of lower spending from some clients, could now sell off some assets if led by different management.</p> PASSION AND FOCUS
<p>The longest-serving CEO on the FTSE 100 blue chip index, Sorrell built WPP into one of Britain’s biggest companies by three decades of relentless dealmaking. He is one of the most high profile, and best paid, executives in the country.</p>
<p>In his time the group expanded to own top creative agencies including J. Walter Thompson and Young &amp; Rubicam, as well as media planners and buyers, market-research firms and public relations groups such as Finsbury.</p>
<p>Present in 112 countries, WPP serves clients including Ford, Unilever, P&amp;G and a string of major corporations around the world.</p>
<p>It largely outperformed its peers Omnicom, Publicis and IPG in the years that followed the financial crisis as the group pitched aggressively for new work. But it has been hit in the last 18 months by a downturn in spending from consumer goods groups Unilever and P&amp;G, and the loss of some big accounts.</p>
<p>The migration of advertising online and the encroachment into market research of consultancies such as Accenture have compounded the pressures. Its shares are down around 30 percent this year.</p>
<p>The company said Sorrell would be available to assist with the transition, and the man synonymous with the British marketing group told the staff they would come through this difficult time.</p>
<p>“As a founder, I can say that WPP is not just a matter of life or death, it was, is and will be more important than that,” Sorrell said. “Good fortune and Godspeed to all of you. Now back to the future.”</p>
<p>Reporting by Kate Holton; Editing by Kevin Liffey, Alistair Bell and Daniel Wallis</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>BERLIN (Reuters) - German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said on Saturday he would press for “reasonable results” in the next round of pay talks with more than two million public sector workers, but he rejected the Verdi union’s demand for a six percent increase.</p> FILE PHOTO: German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Justice Minister Katarina Barley and Interior Minister Horst Seehofer react as they pose for a group photo at the German government guesthouse Meseberg Palace in Meseberg, Germany, April 10, 2018. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch
<p>Wage talks are due to resume on Sunday after 150,000 public sector employees staged warning strikes and walkouts last week that left thousands of passengers stranded at airports, and hit hospitals, childcare centres and waste depots.</p>
<p>Seehofer, the federal government’s top negotiator in the talks, underscored the importance of public sector workers and said it was “self-evident” that they should benefit from the country’s economic growth.</p>
<p>However, he said Verdi’s demand was unreasonable.</p>
<p>“It is and remains clear that the union demand for a six percent increase is too high for one year,” he said in a statement issued by his ministry. “We will continue the negotiations in such a way that we can quickly achieve reasonable results.”</p>
<p>Verdi said 17,000 people participated in walkouts on Friday, bringing the total for the week’s labour actions to 150,000.</p>
<p>Verdi leader Frank Bsirske said last week he expected a breakthrough in the third round of talks that will begin on Sunday in Potsdam, near Berlin. He said public sector workers should benefit from surging German tax revenues.</p>
<p>The federal government and municipalities have rejected the union’s demands, but the head of the VKA association of local employer organisations last week said he expected an agreement to emerge from the next round of talks.</p>
<p>In the industrial sector, 3.9 million workers agreed on a pay and flexible working hours deal in February that amounted to a roughly 4 percent rise per year for 2018 and 2019. Inflation edged up to 1.5 percent in March.</p>
<p>Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, is in solid shape, with buoyant tax revenues and a record budget surplus. Falling unemployment, inflation-busting pay rises and low borrowing costs are fuelling a consumer-led upswing.</p>
<p>The European Central Bank (ECB) is keeping a close eye on the German pay talks for any sign that wage growth is picking up, potentially lifting inflation and giving the ECB added leeway to start winding down its massive stimulus programme.</p>
<p>Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Helen Popper</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Canadian government is looking into complaints that Restaurant Brands International ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=QSR.TO" type="external">QSR.TO</a>) ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=QSR.N" type="external">QSR.N</a>) is not meeting the terms set out by Ottawa when it allowed the takeover of coffee and doughnut chain Tim Hortons, a government spokesman said on Friday.</p> FILE PHOTO: Tim Hortons employees serve shareholders before the company's annual general meeting in Toronto, May 8, 2014. REUTERS/Peter Jones
<p>Lawyers representing a group of Tim Hortons franchisees sent a letter to Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains earlier this month alleging Restaurant Brands has not lived up to commitments including maintaining the rent and royalty structure of Canadian franchises.</p>
<p>The terms were part of the previous Conservative government’s agreement to clear the takeover of Tim Hortons, which is considered a Canadian icon.</p>
<p>The letter dated April 3 said franchisees are concerned Restaurant Brands is trying to increase its margins at their expense.</p>
<p>“‎The Minister is aware of the concerns raised by the franchisees and looking into them,” said Bains’s spokesman Karl Sasseville. “We are monitoring compliance with the undertakings, as we do with all investments.”</p>
<p>Restaurant Brands was formed in 2014 when 3G Capital-backed Burger King acquired Tim Hortons. The company also owns Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.</p>
<p>Patrick McGrade, Tim Hortons spokesman, said the company has been told there is no investigation underway.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=QSR.TO" type="external">Restaurant Brands International Inc</a> 69.42 QSR.TO Toronto Stock Exchange -1.27 (-1.80%) QSR.TO QSR.N .GSPTSE
<p>“Every year we have reported to the government on meeting our undertakings, without complaint. We have always been and remain committed to doing good business in Canada,” McGrade said.</p>
<p>The relationship between Tim Hortons and its franchisees has become increasingly contentious.</p>
<p>Tim Hortons has also been dealing with the fallout of bad publicity from its reaction to minimum wage increases in the country. Many Tim Hortons franchises cut back on employee perks and benefits when the province of Ontario raised minimum wages by 21 percent to C$14 ($11.11).</p>
<p>By Friday afternoon, the stock was down 1.3 percent, while the benchmark Canada share index <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.GSPTSE" type="external">.GSPTSE</a> was up 0.3 percent.</p>
<p>Reporting by Leah Schnurr; Editing by Bernadette Baum</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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almaty reuters kazakh businessman kenges rakishev bought large stake petropavlovsk pogl last month says wants see pavel maslovskiy reinstated chief executive russian midsized gold producer file photo kazakh businessman kenges rakishev attends launch israeli startup mobli media inc tel aviv israel june 15 2015 reutersbaz ratner unexpected deal rakishev purchased 22 percent stake londonlisted company russian billionaire viktor vekselberg undisclosed sum latest twist row surrounding petropavlovsk petropavlovsk witnessed shareholder conflict control company culminated resignation maslovskiy one cofounders ceo mid2017 point view nobody came infighting victorious rakishev said interview reuters maslovskiy must complete pox plant added referring major project aimed boosting companys output would like see return asked whether favored reinstating second cofounder exchairman firm peter hambro rakishev said yet considered hambro run company since founding 1994 left 2017 amid shareholder row mampa rakishev wants petropavlovsk look potential acquisitions russia central asia plans either join board appoint representative said planned meet petropavlovsks board members fellow shareholders soon discuss proposals would logical consider mampa russia said petropavlovsks market capitalization 370 million according reuters data rakishev identify potential targets said talks petropavlovsk stake purchase started last september also discussed potential acquisition vekselbergs gold asset zoloto kamchatki also propose acquisitions countries example central asia said geographic diversification wouldnt bad thing however kazakh gold mining assets rakishev previously invested expensive compared russian ones said replacement shortterm bank loans longterm bonds petropavlovsk last year could allow company attract fresh financing rakishev said early december russian newspaper rbc cited two sources saying another russian midsized gold producer gv gold buying zoloto kamchatki sides declined comment asked whether would consider consolidation gv gold rakishev said open options bta rakishevs past investments include altynalmas kazakh gold miner says helped sell celebrity investor robert friedlands ivanhoe mines main business today distressed asset management company bta formerly bank trying collect billions dollars fugitive kazakh tycoon mukhtar ablyazov ablyazov chairman bta kazakhstans biggest lender astana government nationalized 2009 citing need prevent collapse following global financial crisis ablyazov fled kazakhstan called move politically motivated kazakh government accused effectively channeling 6 billion bta coffers ablyazov denied allegation petropavlovsk plc 70 pogl london stock exchange 002 029 pogl nognl astanas efforts ablyazov detained handed futile french court set free canceled extradition order 2016 btas separate pursuit assets yielded results bta secured judgments 45 billion trying enforce part efforts last year bta obtained order english high court froze 132 percent stake kazakhstanfocused nostrum oil gas nognl held claremont holding ltd last june bta agreed acquire claremont 376 percent stake nostrum secured right gain claremonts remaining 944 percent holding sides disclosed financial details week rakishev said avoid depressing nostrums stock price bta claremont nostrum finalizing deal bta would receive cash one nostrums kazakh assets instead remaining shares would otherwise sold market bta plans sell kazakh asset oilfield rakishev said nostrum involved last years settlement bta claremont said comment market speculation claremont owner former nostrum chairman frank monstrey could reached comment ablyazov contacted reuters said nothing nostrum claremont described btas claims part governmentorchestrated campaign rakishev first invested bta 2014 government decided dispose says driven purely financial interest would like enforce 45 billion court judgment said unfortunately one knows degree possible much still left terms real assets reporting olzhas auyezov additional reporting polina devitt moscow editing dale hudson standards thomson reuters trust principles sao paulo reuters european union likely expand ban poultry imports processed brazils brf sa brfs3sa worlds largest chicken exporter according local newspaper report saturday file photo european union flags flutter outside eu commission headquarters brussels belgium march 12 2018 reutersyves hermanfile photo eu currently allow entrance bloc chicken processed three brf plants brazil targets investigation brazilian authorities related alleged actions brf management escape food safety checks according report newspaper folha de spaulo european officials could expand ban brf plants brazil following meeting brazilian officials week decision expected next week brazilian senator cidinho santos member group visited eu officials brussels told paper europeans threatening ban exports brf plants even explanations guarantees given brazils agriculture minister blairo maggi brf sa 2167 brfs3sa sao paulo stock exchange 104 458 brfs3sa left meeting pessimistic senator said according report brf immediately return requests comment calls office sao paulo saturday answered food safety scandal operational difficulties hurt brf performance recently company lost 1 billion reais 29219 million last year shareholders demanding management reshuffle friday company said securities filing shareholders would entitled multiple votes chose new members board assembly april 26 failed agree common proposed list luiz fernando furlan former trade minister expected replace abilio diniz prominent brazilian investor chairman brf 1 34224 reais reporting marcelo teixeira editing diane craft standards thomson reuters trust principles london reuters martin sorrell built wpp worlds biggest advertising agency 33 years dealmaking quit saturday allegation personal misconduct file photo sir martin sorrell chief executive officer wpp attends world economic forum wef annual meeting davos switzerland january 23 2018 reutersdenis balibousefile photo departure ceo built twoman outfit one britains biggest companies 200000 staff 112 countries leaves wpp without boss pivotal time industry group great strain wpp stunned market last week said appointed lawyers investigate alleged misconduct sorrell denied allegations letter wpp staff published late saturday said current disruption putting much unnecessary pressure business said decided interest interest clients interest shareowners big small interest stakeholders best step aside chairman roberto quarta become executive chairman new chief executive found mark read wpp digital executive andrew scott chief operating officer europe appointed joint chief operating officers read previously sat wpps main board well regarded industry scott involved acquisition strategy involved clients company consider internal external candidates top job process could take several months obviously sad leave wpp 33 years sorrell said statement passion focus source energy long however believe best interests business step wpp said investigation regarded financial impropriety concluded made comment repeated previous statement allegation involve amounts material company source close sorrell said unhappy investigation handled leaving uncertain whether could work board analysts speculated sprawling group restructured year lower spending clients could sell assets led different management passion focus longestserving ceo ftse 100 blue chip index sorrell built wpp one britains biggest companies three decades relentless dealmaking one high profile best paid executives country time group expanded top creative agencies including j walter thompson young amp rubicam well media planners buyers marketresearch firms public relations groups finsbury present 112 countries wpp serves clients including ford unilever pampg string major corporations around world largely outperformed peers omnicom publicis ipg years followed financial crisis group pitched aggressively new work hit last 18 months downturn spending consumer goods groups unilever pampg loss big accounts migration advertising online encroachment market research consultancies accenture compounded pressures shares around 30 percent year company said sorrell would available assist transition man synonymous british marketing group told staff would come difficult time founder say wpp matter life death important sorrell said good fortune godspeed back future reporting kate holton editing kevin liffey alistair bell daniel wallis standards thomson reuters trust principles berlin reuters german interior minister horst seehofer said saturday would press reasonable results next round pay talks two million public sector workers rejected verdi unions demand six percent increase file photo german chancellor angela merkel justice minister katarina barley interior minister horst seehofer react pose group photo german government guesthouse meseberg palace meseberg germany april 10 2018 reutersfabrizio bensch wage talks due resume sunday 150000 public sector employees staged warning strikes walkouts last week left thousands passengers stranded airports hit hospitals childcare centres waste depots seehofer federal governments top negotiator talks underscored importance public sector workers said selfevident benefit countrys economic growth however said verdis demand unreasonable remains clear union demand six percent increase high one year said statement issued ministry continue negotiations way quickly achieve reasonable results verdi said 17000 people participated walkouts friday bringing total weeks labour actions 150000 verdi leader frank bsirske said last week expected breakthrough third round talks begin sunday potsdam near berlin said public sector workers benefit surging german tax revenues federal government municipalities rejected unions demands head vka association local employer organisations last week said expected agreement emerge next round talks industrial sector 39 million workers agreed pay flexible working hours deal february amounted roughly 4 percent rise per year 2018 2019 inflation edged 15 percent march germany europes biggest economy solid shape buoyant tax revenues record budget surplus falling unemployment inflationbusting pay rises low borrowing costs fuelling consumerled upswing european central bank ecb keeping close eye german pay talks sign wage growth picking potentially lifting inflation giving ecb added leeway start winding massive stimulus programme reporting andrea shalal editing helen popper standards thomson reuters trust principles ottawa reuters canadian government looking complaints restaurant brands international qsrto qsrn meeting terms set ottawa allowed takeover coffee doughnut chain tim hortons government spokesman said friday file photo tim hortons employees serve shareholders companys annual general meeting toronto may 8 2014 reuterspeter jones lawyers representing group tim hortons franchisees sent letter innovation minister navdeep bains earlier month alleging restaurant brands lived commitments including maintaining rent royalty structure canadian franchises terms part previous conservative governments agreement clear takeover tim hortons considered canadian icon letter dated april 3 said franchisees concerned restaurant brands trying increase margins expense minister aware concerns raised franchisees looking said bainss spokesman karl sasseville monitoring compliance undertakings investments restaurant brands formed 2014 3g capitalbacked burger king acquired tim hortons company also owns popeyes louisiana kitchen patrick mcgrade tim hortons spokesman said company told investigation underway restaurant brands international inc 6942 qsrto toronto stock exchange 127 180 qsrto qsrn gsptse every year reported government meeting undertakings without complaint always remain committed good business canada mcgrade said relationship tim hortons franchisees become increasingly contentious tim hortons also dealing fallout bad publicity reaction minimum wage increases country many tim hortons franchises cut back employee perks benefits province ontario raised minimum wages 21 percent c14 1111 friday afternoon stock 13 percent benchmark canada share index gsptse 03 percent reporting leah schnurr editing bernadette baum standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>DETROIT (AP) — The Latest on the North American International Auto Show in Detroit (all times local):</p>
<p>9:45 a.m.</p>
<p>Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne says three new SUVs are in the works, including sporty versions from Alfa Romeo and Ferrari and a Chrysler based on the Pacifica minivan.</p>
<p>Marchionne told reporters after an updated Jeep Cherokee was unveiled that Alfa Romeo will add a three-row large SUV by 2022. It will be larger than the Stelvio, Alfa’s first SUV.</p>
<p>The company also has developed an SUV based on the Pacifica minivan underpinnings but hasn’t decided whether to produce it, he said. It could come in 18 to 20 months.</p>
<p>A new Jeep Wrangler pickup truck will debut early in 2019, and the Ferrari brand is working on an SUV that likely will go on sale around the start of 2020, he said.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>9:50 a.m.</p>
<p>Jeep relatively slow sales growth in Europe is “shameful” and needs to be improved, Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne says.</p>
<p>Marchionne says he’s “really ticked off” about it and is planning to push for faster growth this year.</p>
<p>For the first 11 months of 2017, Jeep sales rose 2.6 percent to 96,077 over the same period in 2016. That left market share in the European Union unchanged at 0.7 percent even though the overall market grew 4.1 percent, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.</p>
<p>Marchionne says he replaced the brand’s European manager and the company will campaign for stronger sales this year. “We need to get the machine started. It’s the laggard in the system,” Marchionne told reporters after the Jeep Cherokee compact SUV was unveiled.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>9 a.m.</p>
<p>When Fiat Chrysler’s Jeep brand unveiled a revamped Jeep Cherokee compact SUV Tuesday, it came toward the stage from about 10 feet above, with the driver making a perilous trek down a jagged set of stairs.</p>
<p>The bright-red Cherokee came to a stop at a precise angle to show it off to reporters, and the driver had the difficult task of bringing it to a halt without full view of the black steps. It was a maneuver also designed to show off the SUV’s off-road ability. It was far less risky than other auto show stunts over the years that included driving through glass walls and lowering trucks from the ceiling.</p>
<p>When asked how she knew when to stop, the driver replied: “It’s a secret.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>8:45 a.m.</p>
<p>The Jeep Cherokee compact SUV is getting a big update to better compete in the hottest part of the U.S. auto market.</p>
<p>The 2019 Cherokee unveiled Tuesday will get styling tweaks, a new engine, suspension improvements and engineering changes that save 200 pounds and improve gas mileage.</p>
<p>The updated version gets a new 2-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine with 270 horsepower and technology that shuts it down at stoplights to save fuel. A polymer tailgate is among the changes that help save 200 pounds.</p>
<p>Fiat Chrysler wouldn’t say the exact on-sale date for the revised Cherokee. Fuel mileage and pricing also will be released later.</p>
<p>DETROIT (AP) — The Latest on the North American International Auto Show in Detroit (all times local):</p>
<p>9:45 a.m.</p>
<p>Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne says three new SUVs are in the works, including sporty versions from Alfa Romeo and Ferrari and a Chrysler based on the Pacifica minivan.</p>
<p>Marchionne told reporters after an updated Jeep Cherokee was unveiled that Alfa Romeo will add a three-row large SUV by 2022. It will be larger than the Stelvio, Alfa’s first SUV.</p>
<p>The company also has developed an SUV based on the Pacifica minivan underpinnings but hasn’t decided whether to produce it, he said. It could come in 18 to 20 months.</p>
<p>A new Jeep Wrangler pickup truck will debut early in 2019, and the Ferrari brand is working on an SUV that likely will go on sale around the start of 2020, he said.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>9:50 a.m.</p>
<p>Jeep relatively slow sales growth in Europe is “shameful” and needs to be improved, Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne says.</p>
<p>Marchionne says he’s “really ticked off” about it and is planning to push for faster growth this year.</p>
<p>For the first 11 months of 2017, Jeep sales rose 2.6 percent to 96,077 over the same period in 2016. That left market share in the European Union unchanged at 0.7 percent even though the overall market grew 4.1 percent, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.</p>
<p>Marchionne says he replaced the brand’s European manager and the company will campaign for stronger sales this year. “We need to get the machine started. It’s the laggard in the system,” Marchionne told reporters after the Jeep Cherokee compact SUV was unveiled.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>9 a.m.</p>
<p>When Fiat Chrysler’s Jeep brand unveiled a revamped Jeep Cherokee compact SUV Tuesday, it came toward the stage from about 10 feet above, with the driver making a perilous trek down a jagged set of stairs.</p>
<p>The bright-red Cherokee came to a stop at a precise angle to show it off to reporters, and the driver had the difficult task of bringing it to a halt without full view of the black steps. It was a maneuver also designed to show off the SUV’s off-road ability. It was far less risky than other auto show stunts over the years that included driving through glass walls and lowering trucks from the ceiling.</p>
<p>When asked how she knew when to stop, the driver replied: “It’s a secret.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>8:45 a.m.</p>
<p>The Jeep Cherokee compact SUV is getting a big update to better compete in the hottest part of the U.S. auto market.</p>
<p>The 2019 Cherokee unveiled Tuesday will get styling tweaks, a new engine, suspension improvements and engineering changes that save 200 pounds and improve gas mileage.</p>
<p>The updated version gets a new 2-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine with 270 horsepower and technology that shuts it down at stoplights to save fuel. A polymer tailgate is among the changes that help save 200 pounds.</p>
<p>Fiat Chrysler wouldn’t say the exact on-sale date for the revised Cherokee. Fuel mileage and pricing also will be released later.</p>
| false | 2 |
detroit ap latest north american international auto show detroit times local 945 fiat chrysler ceo sergio marchionne says three new suvs works including sporty versions alfa romeo ferrari chrysler based pacifica minivan marchionne told reporters updated jeep cherokee unveiled alfa romeo add threerow large suv 2022 larger stelvio alfas first suv company also developed suv based pacifica minivan underpinnings hasnt decided whether produce said could come 18 20 months new jeep wrangler pickup truck debut early 2019 ferrari brand working suv likely go sale around start 2020 said ___ 950 jeep relatively slow sales growth europe shameful needs improved fiat chrysler ceo sergio marchionne says marchionne says hes really ticked planning push faster growth year first 11 months 2017 jeep sales rose 26 percent 96077 period 2016 left market share european union unchanged 07 percent even though overall market grew 41 percent according european automobile manufacturers association marchionne says replaced brands european manager company campaign stronger sales year need get machine started laggard system marchionne told reporters jeep cherokee compact suv unveiled ___ 9 fiat chryslers jeep brand unveiled revamped jeep cherokee compact suv tuesday came toward stage 10 feet driver making perilous trek jagged set stairs brightred cherokee came stop precise angle show reporters driver difficult task bringing halt without full view black steps maneuver also designed show suvs offroad ability far less risky auto show stunts years included driving glass walls lowering trucks ceiling asked knew stop driver replied secret ___ 845 jeep cherokee compact suv getting big update better compete hottest part us auto market 2019 cherokee unveiled tuesday get styling tweaks new engine suspension improvements engineering changes save 200 pounds improve gas mileage updated version gets new 2liter fourcylinder turbocharged engine 270 horsepower technology shuts stoplights save fuel polymer tailgate among changes help save 200 pounds fiat chrysler wouldnt say exact onsale date revised cherokee fuel mileage pricing also released later detroit ap latest north american international auto show detroit times local 945 fiat chrysler ceo sergio marchionne says three new suvs works including sporty versions alfa romeo ferrari chrysler based pacifica minivan marchionne told reporters updated jeep cherokee unveiled alfa romeo add threerow large suv 2022 larger stelvio alfas first suv company also developed suv based pacifica minivan underpinnings hasnt decided whether produce said could come 18 20 months new jeep wrangler pickup truck debut early 2019 ferrari brand working suv likely go sale around start 2020 said ___ 950 jeep relatively slow sales growth europe shameful needs improved fiat chrysler ceo sergio marchionne says marchionne says hes really ticked planning push faster growth year first 11 months 2017 jeep sales rose 26 percent 96077 period 2016 left market share european union unchanged 07 percent even though overall market grew 41 percent according european automobile manufacturers association marchionne says replaced brands european manager company campaign stronger sales year need get machine started laggard system marchionne told reporters jeep cherokee compact suv unveiled ___ 9 fiat chryslers jeep brand unveiled revamped jeep cherokee compact suv tuesday came toward stage 10 feet driver making perilous trek jagged set stairs brightred cherokee came stop precise angle show reporters driver difficult task bringing halt without full view black steps maneuver also designed show suvs offroad ability far less risky auto show stunts years included driving glass walls lowering trucks ceiling asked knew stop driver replied secret ___ 845 jeep cherokee compact suv getting big update better compete hottest part us auto market 2019 cherokee unveiled tuesday get styling tweaks new engine suspension improvements engineering changes save 200 pounds improve gas mileage updated version gets new 2liter fourcylinder turbocharged engine 270 horsepower technology shuts stoplights save fuel polymer tailgate among changes help save 200 pounds fiat chrysler wouldnt say exact onsale date revised cherokee fuel mileage pricing also released later
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<p />
<p>The announcement at the Shanghai auto show is among a flurry of automakers’ plans for electric models in China, their industry’s biggest market. The ruling Communist Party has the world’s most aggressive electric vehicle goals, both to clean up smog-shrouded cities and seeking the lead in an emerging industry.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, General Motors Co. said it will produce a gasoline-electric hybrid version of its Chevrolet Volt in China. Ford, Volkswagen AG, Nissan Motor Co. and other brands also intend to sell electric models in China, adding to competition in a market that has been dominated by lower-cost Chinese producers.</p>
<p>Volvo said its first pure-electric model will be based on the economy-size CMA platform it shares with Chinese automaker Geely, which bought the Swedish brand from Ford in 2010. It said the name, size and other details were yet to be decided.</p>
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<p>“It will be for global export. So it is built from the start to work all over the world,” said Henrik Green, Volvo’s senior vice president for research and development.</p>
<p>Volvo has three factories in China. In 2015 it became the first automaker to export Chinese-made cars to the United States.</p>
<p>Chinese buyers have shown little enthusiasm for electric cars due to concern about cost, reliability and limited range. But Chinese authorities are using a mix of incentives and penalties to push for electric models. Automakers are scrambling to develop models with consumer appeal.</p>
<p>“It’s clear that China wants to take a leading role globally in terms of the regulatory environment and electrification,” said David Schoch, Ford’s president for the Asia-Pacific.</p>
<p>Models on display at Auto Shanghai 2017, the global industry’s biggest marketing event of the year, reflect the conflict between Beijing’s ambitions for environmentally friendly cars and Chinese consumers’ love of hulking, fuel-hungry SUVs.</p>
<p>Nearly every automaker is displaying at least one electric concept vehicle, if not a market-ready model. They range from family-friendly SUVs to futuristic-looking, premium-priced electric muscle cars from Chinese startups such as NextEV and Qiantu.</p>
<p>South Korea’s Kia Motors Co. debuted an SUV-inspired crossover, the K2 Cross, designed for the Chinese market.</p>
<p>GM said its Velite 5 hybrid will be sold by Buick, which has modest sales elsewhere but is GM’s main brand in China. GM’s joint venture with a state-owned automaker, Shanghai Automotive Industries Corp., will make it. Prices will start at 265,800 yuan ($38,600).</p>
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<p>The Velite 5 will be able to travel 116 kilometers (72 miles) on one charge, with an added gasoline engine extending that to 768 kilometers (480 miles), GM said. It said the Velite 5 will be the Chinese market’s most energy-efficient hybrid to date and the first able to travel 100 kilometers (60 miles) on the equivalent of less than 1 liter of gasoline.</p>
<p>“Buick is committed to expanding its portfolio of new energy vehicles,” said a GM statement. “It will introduce additional new energy vehicles in China in the next two years, including hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and pure electric vehicles.”</p>
<p>On Tuesday, Volkwagen AG announced plans to launch a pure-electric car in China next year with a state-owned partner. It is to be the first in a full range of pure-electric vehicles for China.</p>
<p>Ford announced plans earlier to manufacture a hybrid sedan, the Mondeo Energi, with a state-owned Chinese partner, Chang’an Automobile Co. It is due to go on sale next year.</p>
<p>One brand still displaying only classic gasoline models was Italy’s Maserati, whose CEO, Reid Bigland, would not say if it might produce an electric or hybrid. China is the biggest market for Maserati’s top-of-the-line Quattroporte sedan and the brand’s total Chinese sales rose 90 percent last year to 12,250.</p>
<p>Regulators jolted the industry by proposing a requirement that electrics account for at least 8 percent of each brand’s production by next year, rising to 10 percent in 2019 and 12 percent in 2020. Automakers say they may be unable to meet those targets and regulators have suggested they might be reduced or postponed.</p>
<p>The government is expanding China’s network of charging stations to reduce “range anxiety,” or buyers’ fear of running out of power. The Cabinet’s planning agency announced a goal in February of having 100,000 public charging stations and 800,000 private stations operating by the end of this year.</p>
<p>Electric cars also are exempt from sales tax and license plate quotas Beijing, Shanghai and other cities use to curb congestion and smog. Still, sales of electric and gasoline-electric hybrids fell 4.4 percent from a year earlier in the first quarter to 55,929 vehicles while SUV purchases rose 21 percent to 2.4 million.</p>
<p>Ford’s Schoch said that as manufacturing volume of batteries — an electric car’s most expensive component — expands, costs should fall, making them competitive with combustion engines.</p>
<p>“That will create a market pull rather than the government forcing action,” he said.</p>
<p>The status of manufacturing electric cars in China is unclear for foreign brands, which are required to work through joint ventures with state-owned Chinese partners that assemble their vehicles.</p>
<p>Previous rules required foreign automakers to hand over key technology to a Chinese partner or pay import taxes even on models produced in China. Foreign companies balked at giving away expensive know-how that might help a potential competitor to develop.</p>
<p>Volvo’s status is unusual. Its Chinese ownership makes it exempt from a requirement to work with a local joint venture partner. But Geely chairman Li Shufu has said he wants its Swedish managers to operate independently.</p>
<p>Volvo has said it hopes to sell a total of 1 million electric and gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles by 2025. The company says it plans to develop plug-in hybrid versions of all its models.</p>
<p>Regulators have eased some regulations in an effort to encourage foreign companies to play a bigger role in developing the Chinese industry but manufacturers say they are waiting to see the final requirements.</p>
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announcement shanghai auto show among flurry automakers plans electric models china industrys biggest market ruling communist party worlds aggressive electric vehicle goals clean smogshrouded cities seeking lead emerging industry tuesday general motors co said produce gasolineelectric hybrid version chevrolet volt china ford volkswagen ag nissan motor co brands also intend sell electric models china adding competition market dominated lowercost chinese producers volvo said first pureelectric model based economysize cma platform shares chinese automaker geely bought swedish brand ford 2010 said name size details yet decided advertisement global export built start work world said henrik green volvos senior vice president research development volvo three factories china 2015 became first automaker export chinesemade cars united states chinese buyers shown little enthusiasm electric cars due concern cost reliability limited range chinese authorities using mix incentives penalties push electric models automakers scrambling develop models consumer appeal clear china wants take leading role globally terms regulatory environment electrification said david schoch fords president asiapacific models display auto shanghai 2017 global industrys biggest marketing event year reflect conflict beijings ambitions environmentally friendly cars chinese consumers love hulking fuelhungry suvs nearly every automaker displaying least one electric concept vehicle marketready model range familyfriendly suvs futuristiclooking premiumpriced electric muscle cars chinese startups nextev qiantu south koreas kia motors co debuted suvinspired crossover k2 cross designed chinese market gm said velite 5 hybrid sold buick modest sales elsewhere gms main brand china gms joint venture stateowned automaker shanghai automotive industries corp make prices start 265800 yuan 38600 advertisement velite 5 able travel 116 kilometers 72 miles one charge added gasoline engine extending 768 kilometers 480 miles gm said said velite 5 chinese markets energyefficient hybrid date first able travel 100 kilometers 60 miles equivalent less 1 liter gasoline buick committed expanding portfolio new energy vehicles said gm statement introduce additional new energy vehicles china next two years including hybrid electric vehicles plugin hybrid electric vehicles pure electric vehicles tuesday volkwagen ag announced plans launch pureelectric car china next year stateowned partner first full range pureelectric vehicles china ford announced plans earlier manufacture hybrid sedan mondeo energi stateowned chinese partner changan automobile co due go sale next year one brand still displaying classic gasoline models italys maserati whose ceo reid bigland would say might produce electric hybrid china biggest market maseratis topoftheline quattroporte sedan brands total chinese sales rose 90 percent last year 12250 regulators jolted industry proposing requirement electrics account least 8 percent brands production next year rising 10 percent 2019 12 percent 2020 automakers say may unable meet targets regulators suggested might reduced postponed government expanding chinas network charging stations reduce range anxiety buyers fear running power cabinets planning agency announced goal february 100000 public charging stations 800000 private stations operating end year electric cars also exempt sales tax license plate quotas beijing shanghai cities use curb congestion smog still sales electric gasolineelectric hybrids fell 44 percent year earlier first quarter 55929 vehicles suv purchases rose 21 percent 24 million fords schoch said manufacturing volume batteries electric cars expensive component expands costs fall making competitive combustion engines create market pull rather government forcing action said status manufacturing electric cars china unclear foreign brands required work joint ventures stateowned chinese partners assemble vehicles previous rules required foreign automakers hand key technology chinese partner pay import taxes even models produced china foreign companies balked giving away expensive knowhow might help potential competitor develop volvos status unusual chinese ownership makes exempt requirement work local joint venture partner geely chairman li shufu said wants swedish managers operate independently volvo said hopes sell total 1 million electric gasolineelectric hybrid vehicles 2025 company says plans develop plugin hybrid versions models regulators eased regulations effort encourage foreign companies play bigger role developing chinese industry manufacturers say waiting see final requirements
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<p>(Photo: Business Wire)</p>
<p>For more than 30 years, Shell Eco-marathon competitions have challenged future automotive engineers and scientists to push the limits — drive the farthest distance using the least energy. Student-built prototype vehicles have achieved more than 3,500 miles per gallon in the Americas challenge.</p>
<p>This year marks the ninth edition of Shell Eco-marathon Americas and the first ever in the auto industry capital. One hundred schools plan to send 144 teams to Detroit April 10 – 12, competing in vehicles they have designed, built and tested over the past year.</p>
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<p>“Shell Eco-marathon is an invaluable program, shaping the industry leaders who will drive future automotive innovation,” said Niel Golightly, Shell Vice President External Relations for the Americas. “Beyond hands-on design and engineering experience, the students practice teamwork and problem solving on the fly – all important for future success.”</p>
<p>This event will see the return of veteran teams such as Université Laval from Quebec, Canada, which took first place last year, and broke the Americas mileage record in 2013 with an astonishing 3,587 mpg. The University of Toronto is also back, hoping the lessons learned from its second place finish in 2014, and hard work on a new car, will finally wrest the title from its Quebec rival. Shell also welcomes several new teams for 2015, including an expanded roster from the Motor City and Brazil.</p>
<p>While many teams are under pressure to finalize their vehicles and ensure they are ready for the start line at Cobo Center in Detroit in April, one veteran student team from Cedarville University got a chance to showcase their car to visitors at the Shell Innovation Track at Detroit’s North American International Auto Show. While at the track, the students met with Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, Lt. Governor Brian Calley as well as Team Penske executives.</p>
<p>“I think what Shell is doing is great,” said Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. “Encouraging these young engineers to look at opportunities to be more environmentally sound and more energy efficient can bring industry benefits to Michigan and the nation.”</p>
<p>While there, Shell and Team Penske announced an exciting three-year technical support program that will help all student teams. In addition to providing online video conference support, Team Penske will also provide on-site judging for Shell Eco-marathon Americas vehicle entries for the off-track awards, as well as opportunities for behind-the-scenes tours at Team Penske offices.</p>
<p>“I’m pleased that Shell has committed to having this event in our city, which is terrific for Detroit and for Michigan,” said Bud Denker, Penske Corporation Senior Vice President. “We want these students to attend Michigan universities and to work for Michigan-based companies. So, we have committed to providing Team Penske technical support to Shell Eco-marathon Americas teams for the next three years and to provide related support to ensure the success of the program.”</p>
<p>Team Penske NASCAR drivers Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski took to the Shell Innovation Track inside Cobo Center to test drive the Cedarville team’s UrbanConcept vehicle, “Urbie”, which currently gets about 550 miles per gallon. Student-built UrbanConcept vehicle entries can achieve as much as 1,000 miles per gallon and include features such as headlights, windshield wipers and room for a passenger.</p>
<p>“Shell Eco-marathon offers a great opportunity to apply some of the things you learn in the classroom,” said Tyler Dicks, a Cedarville University junior. “You learn some specialized skills that you wouldn’t necessarily get in an academic setting.”</p>
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<p>The public is invited to watch the young competitors on the streets downtown, and join the fun inside Cobo Center for free. Covering more than half a million square feet indoors, the multi-sensory journey into the world’s energy future and seeing what the student teams are doing behind the scenes of the competition is both exciting and educational for all ages. Free tickets for Shell Eco-marathon Americas are available at <a href="http://www.shellecomarathon.us." type="external">www.shellecomarathon.us.</a> For more information about all 2015 events across the globe, including additional details on vehicle class requirements, official rules and details on prizes, please visit the Shell Eco-marathon website at <a href="http://www.shell.com/ecomarathon." type="external">www.shell.com/ecomarathon.</a></p>
<p>About Shell Oil Company</p>
<p>Shell Oil Company is an affiliate of the Royal Dutch Shell plc, a global group of energy and petrochemical companies with 93,000 employees in more than 90 countries. We deliver a diverse range of energy solutions and petrochemicals to customers worldwide. These include transporting and trading oil and gas, marketing natural gas, producing and selling fuel for ships and planes, generating electricity and providing energy efficiency advice.</p>
<p>We also produce and sell petrochemical building blocks to industrial customers globally, and we are investing in making renewable and lower-carbon energy sources competitive for large-scale use. In the U.S., we operate in 50 states and employ more than 20,000 people delivering energy in a responsible manner.</p>
<p>About Shell Eco-marathon</p>
<p>Shell Eco-marathon is a global program that challenges high school and college student teams to design, build and test the most energy-efficient vehicles. With annual events in the Americas, Europe and Asia, this innovation competition pushes future scientists and engineers to travel the farthest distance using the least amount of energy. Shell Eco-marathon Americas 2015 will take place April 10th-12th on the streets of Downtown Detroit and is free and open to the public. Visit</p>
<p>to learn more about this weekend of free programs for all ages.</p>
<p>Cautionary Note</p>
<p>The companies in which Royal Dutch Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate entities. In this press release “Shell”, “Shell group” and “Royal Dutch Shell” are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies. “Subsidiaries”, “Shell subsidiaries” and “Shell companies” as used in this press release refer to companies in which Royal Dutch Shell either directly or indirectly has control, by having either a majority of the voting rights or the right to exercise a controlling influence. The companies in which Shell has significant influence but not control are referred to as “associated companies” or “associates” and companies in which Shell has joint control are referred to as “jointly controlled entities”. In this press release, associates and jointly controlled entities are also referred to as “equity-accounted investments”. The term “Shell interest” is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect (for example, through our 23% shareholding in Woodside Petroleum Ltd.) ownership interest held by Shell in a venture, partnership or company, after exclusion of all third-party interest.</p>
<p>This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Royal Dutch Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Royal Dutch Shell to market risks and statements expressing management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “could”, “estimate”, “expect”, “goals”, “intend”, “may”, “objectives”, “outlook”, “plan”, “probably”, “project”, “risks”, “seek”, “should”, “target”, “will” and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Royal Dutch Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this press release, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell’s products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; and (m) changes in trading conditions. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional factors that may affect future results are contained in Royal Dutch Shell’s 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2013 (available at&#160; <a href="http://www.shell.com/investor" type="external">www.shell.com/investor</a> &#160;and&#160; <a href="http://www.sec.gov" type="external">www.sec.gov</a> ). These factors also should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this press release, February 17, 2015. Neither Royal Dutch Shell nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.</p>
<p>We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this press release that United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. U.S. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website <a href="http://www.sec.gov." type="external">www.sec.gov.</a> You can also obtain these forms from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.</p>
<p>Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: <a href="http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20150217005332/en/" type="external">http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20150217005332/en/</a></p>
<p>CONTACT: MEDIA INQUIRIES:</p>
<p>Shell US Media Line, +1 (713) 241-4544</p>
<p>KEYWORD: UNITED STATES BRAZIL MEXICO NORTH AMERICA CENTRAL AMERICA SOUTH AMERICA CANADA MICHIGAN GUATEMALA TEXAS</p>
<p>INDUSTRY KEYWORD: EDUCATION PRIMARY/SECONDARY UNIVERSITY MOTOR SPORTS ENERGY ALTERNATIVE ENERGY OIL/GAS ENTERTAINMENT MANUFACTURING AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING OTHER MANUFACTURING ALTERNATIVE VEHICLES/FUELS AUTOMOTIVE PHILANTHROPY PERFORMANCE &amp; SPECIAL INTEREST ENVIRONMENT OTHER AUTOMOTIVE RESEARCH OTHER SCIENCE EVENTS/CONCERTS OTHER PHILANTHROPY GENERAL AUTOMOTIVE SPORTS SCIENCE</p>
<p>SOURCE: Shell Oil Company</p>
<p>Copyright Business Wire 2015</p>
<p>PUB: 02/17/2015 09:00 AM/DISC: 02/17/2015 09:00 AM</p>
<p><a href="http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150217005332/en" type="external">http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150217005332/en</a></p>
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photo business wire 30 years shell ecomarathon competitions challenged future automotive engineers scientists push limits drive farthest distance using least energy studentbuilt prototype vehicles achieved 3500 miles per gallon americas challenge year marks ninth edition shell ecomarathon americas first ever auto industry capital one hundred schools plan send 144 teams detroit april 10 12 competing vehicles designed built tested past year advertisement shell ecomarathon invaluable program shaping industry leaders drive future automotive innovation said niel golightly shell vice president external relations americas beyond handson design engineering experience students practice teamwork problem solving fly important future success event see return veteran teams université laval quebec canada took first place last year broke americas mileage record 2013 astonishing 3587 mpg university toronto also back hoping lessons learned second place finish 2014 hard work new car finally wrest title quebec rival shell also welcomes several new teams 2015 including expanded roster motor city brazil many teams pressure finalize vehicles ensure ready start line cobo center detroit april one veteran student team cedarville university got chance showcase car visitors shell innovation track detroits north american international auto show track students met michigan governor rick snyder lt governor brian calley well team penske executives think shell great said michigan governor rick snyder encouraging young engineers look opportunities environmentally sound energy efficient bring industry benefits michigan nation shell team penske announced exciting threeyear technical support program help student teams addition providing online video conference support team penske also provide onsite judging shell ecomarathon americas vehicle entries offtrack awards well opportunities behindthescenes tours team penske offices im pleased shell committed event city terrific detroit michigan said bud denker penske corporation senior vice president want students attend michigan universities work michiganbased companies committed providing team penske technical support shell ecomarathon americas teams next three years provide related support ensure success program team penske nascar drivers joey logano brad keselowski took shell innovation track inside cobo center test drive cedarville teams urbanconcept vehicle urbie currently gets 550 miles per gallon studentbuilt urbanconcept vehicle entries achieve much 1000 miles per gallon include features headlights windshield wipers room passenger shell ecomarathon offers great opportunity apply things learn classroom said tyler dicks cedarville university junior learn specialized skills wouldnt necessarily get academic setting advertisement public invited watch young competitors streets downtown join fun inside cobo center free covering half million square feet indoors multisensory journey worlds energy future seeing student teams behind scenes competition exciting educational ages free tickets shell ecomarathon americas available wwwshellecomarathonus information 2015 events across globe including additional details vehicle class requirements official rules details prizes please visit shell ecomarathon website wwwshellcomecomarathon shell oil company shell oil company affiliate royal dutch shell plc global group energy petrochemical companies 93000 employees 90 countries deliver diverse range energy solutions petrochemicals customers worldwide include transporting trading oil gas marketing natural gas producing selling fuel ships planes generating electricity providing energy efficiency advice also produce sell petrochemical building blocks industrial customers globally investing making renewable lowercarbon energy sources competitive largescale use us operate 50 states employ 20000 people delivering energy responsible manner shell ecomarathon shell ecomarathon global program challenges high school college student teams design build test energyefficient vehicles annual events americas europe asia innovation competition pushes future scientists engineers travel farthest distance using least amount energy shell ecomarathon americas 2015 take place april 10th12th streets downtown detroit free open public visit learn weekend free programs ages cautionary note companies royal dutch shell plc directly indirectly owns investments separate entities press release shell shell group royal dutch shell sometimes used convenience references made royal dutch shell plc subsidiaries general likewise words us also used refer subsidiaries general work expressions also used useful purpose served identifying particular company companies subsidiaries shell subsidiaries shell companies used press release refer companies royal dutch shell either directly indirectly control either majority voting rights right exercise controlling influence companies shell significant influence control referred associated companies associates companies shell joint control referred jointly controlled entities press release associates jointly controlled entities also referred equityaccounted investments term shell interest used convenience indicate direct andor indirect example 23 shareholding woodside petroleum ltd ownership interest held shell venture partnership company exclusion thirdparty interest press release contains forwardlooking statements concerning financial condition results operations businesses royal dutch shell statements statements historical fact may deemed forwardlooking statements forwardlooking statements statements future expectations based managements current expectations assumptions involve known unknown risks uncertainties could cause actual results performance events differ materially expressed implied statements forwardlooking statements include among things statements concerning potential exposure royal dutch shell market risks statements expressing managements expectations beliefs estimates forecasts projections assumptions forwardlooking statements identified use terms phrases anticipate believe could estimate expect goals intend may objectives outlook plan probably project risks seek target similar terms phrases number factors could affect future operations royal dutch shell could cause results differ materially expressed forwardlooking statements included press release including without limitation price fluctuations crude oil natural gas b changes demand shells products c currency fluctuations drilling production results e reserves estimates f loss market share industry competition g environmental physical risks h risks associated identification suitable potential acquisition properties targets successful negotiation completion transactions risk business developing countries countries subject international sanctions j legislative fiscal regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change k economic financial market conditions various countries regions l political risks including risks expropriation renegotiation terms contracts governmental entities delays advancements approval projects delays reimbursement shared costs changes trading conditions forwardlooking statements contained press release expressly qualified entirety cautionary statements contained referred section readers place undue reliance forwardlooking statements additional factors may affect future results contained royal dutch shells 20f year ended december 31 2013 available at160 wwwshellcominvestor 160and160 wwwsecgov factors also considered reader forwardlooking statement speaks date press release february 17 2015 neither royal dutch shell subsidiaries undertake obligation publicly update revise forwardlooking statement result new information future events information light risks results could differ materially stated implied inferred forwardlooking statements contained press release may used certain terms resources press release united states securities exchange commission sec strictly prohibits us including filings sec us investors urged consider closely disclosure form 20f file 132575 available sec website wwwsecgov also obtain forms sec calling 1800sec0330 photosmultimedia gallery available httpwwwbusinesswirecommultimediahome20150217005332en contact media inquiries shell us media line 1 713 2414544 keyword united states brazil mexico north america central america south america canada michigan guatemala texas industry keyword education primarysecondary university motor sports energy alternative energy oilgas entertainment manufacturing automotive manufacturing engineering manufacturing alternative vehiclesfuels automotive philanthropy performance amp special interest environment automotive research science eventsconcerts philanthropy general automotive sports science source shell oil company copyright business wire 2015 pub 02172015 0900 amdisc 02172015 0900 httpwwwbusinesswirecomnewshome20150217005332en
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<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Illegal shipments of the powerful and addictive opioid fentanyl are pouring into the United States by mail from China and the U.S. Postal Service must step up the use of high-tech detection methods to fight the problem, according to a congressional report unveiled on Wednesday.</p> FILE PHOTO: A used needle sits on the ground in a park in Lawrence, Massachusetts, U.S., May 30, 2017. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo
<p>A year-long probe by a Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs investigations subcommittee found there is easy access for buyers in the United States to purchase fentanyl, often in relatively large quantities, through the internet.</p>
<p>The drugs are mailed by “labs” in China to individuals who consume them or to middlemen who dilute them for resale.</p>
<p>Investigators refused to divulge the names of the labs.</p>
<p>According to the report, the U.S. Postal Service has failed to widely deploy a system to capture advanced electronic data (AED) about packages destined for American ports, which would help identify suspicious mail to be turned over to U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents.</p>
<p>The U.S. Postal Service said in a statement it was “working aggressively with law enforcement and key trading partners to stem the flow of illegal drugs entering the United States.”</p>
<p>USPS is “prioritizing obtaining AED from the largest volume foreign posts, which collectively account for over 90 percent of inbound volumes,” the statement said.</p>
<p>Asked about the probe, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular briefing that she was unaware of the specifics, but said that prevention of drug production, possession and sale is a “brightspot” in China-U.S. relations.</p> EXPRESS MAIL
<p>Staff of the Permanent Investigations Subcommittee said they focused on six “very responsive” providers in China, out of hundreds of pages of websites offering fentanyl for sale.</p>
<p>The result was the identification of 500 online transactions involving fentanyl, mainly in powder form, with a street value of about $766 million.</p>
<p>U.S. fatalities linked to opioids including fentanyl have been rising dramatically and totaled more than 42,000 in 2016, according to government data.</p>
<p>Online sales from China tracked by the Senate investigators were linked to seven confirmed synthetic opioid-related deaths in the United States, they said.</p>
<p>The investigation was overseen by Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio, the subcommittee chairman, and Senator Tom Carper of Delaware, the panel’s senior Democrat.</p>
<p>Investigators said the Chinese sellers were eager to ship the fentanyl using Express Mail Service, which operates worldwide through each country’s postal operations, including the U.S. Postal Service.</p>
<p>Surcharges are applied, the investigators said, for customers demanding shipment through private delivery services, such as FedEx, DHL and United Parcel Service, because of the greater likelihood the goods would be seized.</p>
<p>The Senate investigation concluded that the U.S. Postal Service received advanced electronic data on 36 percent of all international packages, meaning about 318 million parcels last year were not monitored.</p>
<p>“We now know the depth to which drug traffickers exploit our mail system to ship fentanyl and other synthetic drugs into the United States,” Portman said in a statement.</p>
<p>The Senate panel scheduled a hearing for Thursday to question postal, border protection, State Department and other officials.</p>
<p>The report recommended tighter monitoring of international shipments, increased inspections and other steps.</p>
<p>Reporting by Richard Cowan; Additional reporting by Christian Shepherd in Beijing; Editing by Tom Brown and Neil Fullick</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - Bankrupt Toys ‘R’ Us Inc is preparing to sell or close all 885 stores in its U.S. chain, risking up to 33,000 jobs, after failing to reach a deal to restructure billions of dollars in debt, a person familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.</p> People pass by the Toys R Us store at Times Square in New York, U.S., March 9, 2018. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
<p>In Britain, its 75 remaining shops will close within six weeks, joint administrators for the retailer said earlier on Wednesday after they were unable to find a buyer for all or part of the business, resulting in the loss of about 3,000 jobs.</p>
<p>Creditors decided they can get more from liquidating assets of the toy seller, the largest in the United States and one of the best known in the world, rather than finding a way to keep the business alive, the person said on condition of anonymity to discuss the private negotiations.</p>
<p>A Toys ‘R’ Us spokeswoman declined to comment on internal meetings or their content.</p>
<p>The planned closure in coming months is a blow to generations of consumers and hundreds of toy makers that sold products at the chain, including Barbie maker Mattel Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=MAT.O" type="external">MAT.O</a>), board game company Hasbro Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=HAS.O" type="external">HAS.O</a>) and other large vendors such as Lego.</p>
<p>With shoppers flocking to online platforms like Amazon.com Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AMZN.O" type="external">AMZN.O</a>) and children choosing electronic gadgets over toys, Toys ‘R’ Us has struggled to service debt from a $6.6 billion leveraged buyout by private equity firms KKR &amp; Co LP ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=KKR.N" type="external">KKR.N</a>) and Bain Capital and real estate investor Vornado Realty Trust ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=VNO.N" type="external">VNO.N</a>) in 2005.</p>
<p>The Wall Street Journal earlier on Wednesday reported that Toys ‘R’ Us Chief Executive David Brandon told staff about the likely closures on a conference call.</p>
<p>Toys ‘R’ Us had been closing one-fifth of its stores as part of efforts to emerge from one of the largest ever bankruptcies by a specialty retailer.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=MAT.O" type="external">Mattel Inc</a> 14.18 MAT.O Nasdaq -0.29 (-2.00%) MAT.O HAS.O AMZN.O KKR.N VNO.N
<p>Those efforts collapsed this month after lenders decided, absent a clear reorganization plan, they could recover more by closing stores and raising money from merchandise sales, sources with knowledge of the matter said.</p>
<p>The retailer is likely to liquidate in France, Spain, Poland and Australia, Brandon said, according to the Wall Street Journal. He added that Toys ‘R’ Us also planned to sell operations in Canada, Central Europe and Asia.</p>
<p>Toys ‘R’ Us is trying to package its Canadian business with 200 U.S. stores and find a buyer, the CEO said, according to the Journal.</p>
<p>The company had already been working with liquidators Tiger Capital Group LLC, Great American Group LLC, Hilco Merchant Resources LLC and Gordon Brothers Retail Partners LLC on previously announced store closures, and the four are expected to continue with the additional closings, sources said.</p>
<p>Reporting by Ismail Shakil and Sangameswaran S in Bengaluru and Tracy Rucinski in Chicago; Editing by Sai Sachin Ravikumar and Richard Chang</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is to kick out 23 Russian diplomats, the biggest such expulsion since the Cold War, over a chemical attack on a former Russian double agent in England that Prime Minister Theresa May blamed on Moscow, an assessment backed by the United States.</p>
<p>May pointed the finger firmly at Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday as she outlined retaliatory measures in parliament.</p>
<p>Russia denies any involvement in the attack on ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, who have been critical in hospital since they were found unconscious on March 4 on a bench in the city of Salisbury.</p>
<p>May announced the potential freezing of Russian state assets that pose a security threat, new laws to counter hostile state activity and a downgrading of Britain’s attendance at the soccer World Cup in Russia this summer.</p>
<p>She had given Moscow until midnight on Tuesday to explain how the Soviet-made Novichok nerve agent came to be deployed on the streets of Salisbury, saying either the Russian state was responsible or had lost control of a stock of the substance.</p>
<p>“Their response demonstrated complete disdain for the gravity of these events,” May said in her statement to parliament. “They have treated the use of a military-grade nerve agent in Europe with sarcasm, contempt and defiance.”</p>
<p>The only possible conclusion was that the Russian state was behind the attempted murder of the Skripals and the harm that befell Nick Bailey, a police officer who is in a serious condition after being exposed to the nerve agent, May said.</p>
<p>“This represents an unlawful use of force by the Russian state against the United Kingdom,” she said.</p>
<p>The Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow would swiftly retaliate against the British measures which had been undertaken for “short-sighted political ends”.</p>
<p>“The British government has made a choice in favor of confrontation with Russia,” it said.</p>
<p>Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, repeated Moscow’s denial that it had anything to do with the poisoning and called for proof of its involvement.</p> MAY DENOUNCES PUTIN
<p>The two governments blamed each other for the crisis.</p>
<p>“Many of us looked at a post-Soviet Russia with hope. We wanted a better relationship and it is tragic that President Putin has chosen to act in this way,” said May.</p>
<p>Britain, which has received statements of support from the United States, the European Union and NATO, has said it would seek to coordinate an international response to the attack.</p>
<p>The White House issued a statement saying it shared Britain’s assessment that Russia was responsible and supported May’s decision to expel the diplomats “as a just response.” It was the White House’s most unequivocal statement to date blaming Russia for the poisoning.</p>
<p>At the United Nations, U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley blamed Russia for the attack and urged the Security Council to take “immediate, concrete measures to address this now.”</p> Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May addresses the House of Commons on her government's reaction to the poisoning of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, in London, March 14, 2018. Parliament TV handout via REUTERS
<p>In a phone call between May and U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, the two leaders agreed that Russia must provide “unambiguous answers” about how a Russian-developed chemical agent came to be used in the attack.</p>
<p>German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she took the British findings seriously and there would be a common European stance, although “we must still talk responsibly” with Russia despite differences of opinion.</p>
<p>A French government spokesman said Paris was awaiting proof before deciding if it would act in solidarity with London.</p>
<p>Skripal betrayed dozens of Russian agents to Britain before being arrested in Moscow and later jailed in 2006. He was freed under a spy swap deal in 2010 and took refuge in Britain.</p>
<p>The attack on him was likened in Britain to the killing of ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko, a critic of Putin, who died in London in 2006 after drinking green tea laced with radioactive polonium 210. Russia refused to extradite the two Russians identified by Britain as the killers.</p> Slideshow (15 Images)
<p>Britain’s response to the Litvinenko affair, which included the expulsion of four Russian diplomats, was criticized domestically as too weak, and many in British politics and media have called for a much tougher response to the Skripal attack.</p>
<p>Some Russia experts cast doubt over whether May’s actions met that test.</p>
<p>“This is certainly not a strong response from Britain - it is a mild response,” said Mathieu Boulegue, a Russia expert at Chatham House think-tank in London. “It will not deter Russia because Britain is showing too little steel.”</p>
<p>May said the 23 diplomats, identified as undeclared intelligence officers, had one week to leave and Russian intelligence capabilities in Britain would be damaged for years.</p>
<p>May also said Britain would revoke an invitation to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to visit and suspend planned high level bilateral contacts between London and Moscow. The Foreign Ministry in Moscow said Lavrov had not accepted the invitation to visit Britain anyway.</p>
<p>On the soccer World Cup, which Russia is hosting in June and July, May said no ministers or members of the British royal family would attend.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-britain-russia-usa-haley/u-s-ambassador-haley-tells-u-n-russia-responsible-for-chemical-attack-idUSKCN1GQ2YR" type="external">U.S. Ambassador Haley tells U.N. Russia responsible for chemical attack</a>
<a href="/article/us-britain-russia-response-factbox/factbox-britain-to-freeze-russian-state-assets-and-expel-23-diplomats-after-nerve-attack-idUSKCN1GQ1TN" type="external">Factbox: Britain to freeze Russian state assets and expel 23 diplomats after nerve attack</a>
<a href="/article/us-britain-russia-france-ledrian/france-to-coordinate-response-to-uk-spy-attack-at-the-highest-level-idUSKCN1GQ32L" type="external">France to coordinate response to UK spy attack at the highest level</a> ‘CORRUPT ELITES’
<p>But unlike when the United States and European Union imposed sanctions on Russia in response to its annexation of Crimea, May did not name Russian people or companies that would be specifically targeted by sanctions.</p>
<p>She said checks on private flights, customs and freight would be stepped up to better track those traveling to Britain who could represent a security threat.</p>
<p>London has been a venue of choice for many rich Russian to buy property and the in-flow of Russian money has led to the capital being nicknamed “Londongrad”.</p>
<p>Russian gas giant Gazprom will cut hundreds of jobs at its overseas trading and export offices, including Britain where it has its largest such office by far, and move them to St Petersburg, as part of a drive by Putin to repatriate capital to reduce exposure to sanctions, according to two sources familiar with the plan.</p>
<p>In a separate development, British media regulator Ofcom said it could strip Russia Today, a Kremlin-funded TV channel, of its UK licence. Russia has said British media would be expelled in retaliation should that happen.</p>
<p>Reporting by Costas Pitas, Estelle Shirbon, Guy Faulconbridge, Michael Holden, Alistair Smout, Elizabeth Piper and William James in London, Christian Lowe in Moscow, writing by Estelle Shirbon; Editing by Grant McCool and Alistair Bell</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - President Donald Trump’s move to block a Singapore-based company’s takeover of U.S. rival Qualcomm Inc threatens to stunt crucial Chinese investment in the country’s startup capital, according to Silicon Valley venture capitalists and tech executives.</p> A sign to the campus offices of chip maker Broadcom Ltd is shown in Irvine, California, U.S., November 6, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake
<p>The administration’s heightened regulatory scrutiny on foreign investments, designed to safeguard U.S. companies, could in fact diminish their ability to compete in the global technology industry.</p>
<p>“Asian entities have become sources of capital and relationships for U.S. companies,” said Jeff Richards, a managing partner at GGV Capital, which invests in the United States and China. “This deal getting blocked is not going to go unnoticed around the world.”</p>
<p>Chinese companies have been important investors in, and occasionally buyers of, U.S. startups. Internet giants Tencent Holdings and Alibaba Group have made big investments in U.S. private companies including augmented-reality headset creator Magic Leap, ride-services firms Lyft Inc and Uber Technologies Inc, and prior to its initial public offering, messaging app maker Snap Inc.</p>
<p>Trump’s order on Monday focused on national security concerns that chipmaker Broadcom’s proposed acquisition of San Diego-based Qualcomm would weaken Qualcomm and hand an advantage to Chinese companies looking to build next-generation wireless networks in the United States.</p>
<p>It was also the latest in a series of actions by Trump’s administration, including tariffs on steel and aluminum, to establish a more protectionist stance in an effort to tamp down Chinese imports while raising the regulatory bar on what deals get approved.</p>
<p>“There is a very thin line between national security and economic protectionism and the use of an executive order to block this merger traverses this line very delicately,” said Venky Ganesan, an investing partner at Menlo Ventures.</p>
<p>Trump’s move was based on a review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), an inter-agency panel that has never before blocked a deal before it has been signed.</p>
<p>The broadening reach of CFIUS has chilled Silicon Valley, where startups often turn to Chinese investors not just for cash but for help connecting with supply chains and entering Asian markets.</p>
<p>Stopping Broadcom’s deal was a “broad litmus test (that) will likely cut off market opportunities, strategic alliances, key sources of financing and exits for U.S. tech companies in the future,” said David Sullivan, managing director of Alliance Development Group, a firm that helps U.S. tech companies enter the Chinese market.</p>
<p>There were 165 Chinese investor-backed&#160;deals in U.S. tech startups last year. That is a drop from a high of 188 deals in 2015, reflecting increased U.S. regulatory pressure and tighter capital controls in China, according to data firm CB Insights.</p>
<p>The total of financing rounds into U.S. startups last year that involved Chinese entities was $9.3 billion, or 11 percent of the total, according to data firm PitchBook Inc.</p>
<p>U.S. venture capital funds are also raising more money from Chinese family offices and investment firms, but legislation introduced last year in Congress that aims to strengthen CFIUS could change that. Language in the bill could require venture funds that have raised money from foreign investors to get government approval for the startup investments they make, a proposition the startup community has called untenable.</p>
<p>Any sort of retaliation by China to such measures could sever the relationship between U.S. tech firms and the world’s second-largest economy.</p>
<p>“We don’t want to go down the path where they use ‘national security’ as a reason to get us out of their market,” said Steve Hoffman, chief executive of Founders Space, a startup incubator based in San Francisco that has locations in China.</p>
<p>Reporting by Heather Somerville in San Francisco; Additional reporting by Salvador Rodriguez in San Francisco and Diane Bartz in Washington; Editing by Chris Sanders</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - Singapore-based Broadcom Ltd withdrew its $117 billion bid to acquire Qualcomm Inc on Wednesday, two days after U.S. President Donald Trump blocked the attempt citing national security concerns.</p>
<p>The company said it has also withdrawn its slate of independent director nominees for Qualcomm’s annual shareholder meeting.</p>
<p>Broadcom, however, expects to continue with its plan to redomicile to the United States.</p>
<p>“Although we are disappointed with this outcome, Broadcom will comply with the order,” the chipmaker said.</p> Slideshow (3 Images)
<p>Sources had told Reuters on Tuesday that Broadcom was ready to scrap its bid for Qualcomm.</p>
<p>Broadcom’s board met late on Tuesday to formalize plans to move its base to the United States, at a cost of about $500 million a year under a higher tax rate, the sources said.</p>
<p>Being based in the United States as opposed to Singapore should make it easier for Broadcom to make acquisitions of U.S. companies without falling under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).</p>
<p>Shares of Broadcom were untraded, while those of Qualcomm were up marginally before the opening bell.</p>
<p>Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
washington reuters illegal shipments powerful addictive opioid fentanyl pouring united states mail china us postal service must step use hightech detection methods fight problem according congressional report unveiled wednesday file photo used needle sits ground park lawrence massachusetts us may 30 2017 reutersbrian snyderfile photo yearlong probe senate homeland security government affairs investigations subcommittee found easy access buyers united states purchase fentanyl often relatively large quantities internet drugs mailed labs china individuals consume middlemen dilute resale investigators refused divulge names labs according report us postal service failed widely deploy system capture advanced electronic data aed packages destined american ports would help identify suspicious mail turned us customs border protection agents us postal service said statement working aggressively law enforcement key trading partners stem flow illegal drugs entering united states usps prioritizing obtaining aed largest volume foreign posts collectively account 90 percent inbound volumes statement said asked probe chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman hua chunying told regular briefing unaware specifics said prevention drug production possession sale brightspot chinaus relations express mail staff permanent investigations subcommittee said focused six responsive providers china hundreds pages websites offering fentanyl sale result identification 500 online transactions involving fentanyl mainly powder form street value 766 million us fatalities linked opioids including fentanyl rising dramatically totaled 42000 2016 according government data online sales china tracked senate investigators linked seven confirmed synthetic opioidrelated deaths united states said investigation overseen republican senator rob portman ohio subcommittee chairman senator tom carper delaware panels senior democrat investigators said chinese sellers eager ship fentanyl using express mail service operates worldwide countrys postal operations including us postal service surcharges applied investigators said customers demanding shipment private delivery services fedex dhl united parcel service greater likelihood goods would seized senate investigation concluded us postal service received advanced electronic data 36 percent international packages meaning 318 million parcels last year monitored know depth drug traffickers exploit mail system ship fentanyl synthetic drugs united states portman said statement senate panel scheduled hearing thursday question postal border protection state department officials report recommended tighter monitoring international shipments increased inspections steps reporting richard cowan additional reporting christian shepherd beijing editing tom brown neil fullick standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters bankrupt toys r us inc preparing sell close 885 stores us chain risking 33000 jobs failing reach deal restructure billions dollars debt person familiar matter said wednesday people pass toys r us store times square new york us march 9 2018 reuterseduardo munoz britain 75 remaining shops close within six weeks joint administrators retailer said earlier wednesday unable find buyer part business resulting loss 3000 jobs creditors decided get liquidating assets toy seller largest united states one best known world rather finding way keep business alive person said condition anonymity discuss private negotiations toys r us spokeswoman declined comment internal meetings content planned closure coming months blow generations consumers hundreds toy makers sold products chain including barbie maker mattel inc mato board game company hasbro inc haso large vendors lego shoppers flocking online platforms like amazoncom inc amzno children choosing electronic gadgets toys toys r us struggled service debt 66 billion leveraged buyout private equity firms kkr amp co lp kkrn bain capital real estate investor vornado realty trust vnon 2005 wall street journal earlier wednesday reported toys r us chief executive david brandon told staff likely closures conference call toys r us closing onefifth stores part efforts emerge one largest ever bankruptcies specialty retailer mattel inc 1418 mato nasdaq 029 200 mato haso amzno kkrn vnon efforts collapsed month lenders decided absent clear reorganization plan could recover closing stores raising money merchandise sales sources knowledge matter said retailer likely liquidate france spain poland australia brandon said according wall street journal added toys r us also planned sell operations canada central europe asia toys r us trying package canadian business 200 us stores find buyer ceo said according journal company already working liquidators tiger capital group llc great american group llc hilco merchant resources llc gordon brothers retail partners llc previously announced store closures four expected continue additional closings sources said reporting ismail shakil sangameswaran bengaluru tracy rucinski chicago editing sai sachin ravikumar richard chang standards thomson reuters trust principles london reuters britain kick 23 russian diplomats biggest expulsion since cold war chemical attack former russian double agent england prime minister theresa may blamed moscow assessment backed united states may pointed finger firmly russian president vladimir putin wednesday outlined retaliatory measures parliament russia denies involvement attack exspy sergei skripal daughter yulia critical hospital since found unconscious march 4 bench city salisbury may announced potential freezing russian state assets pose security threat new laws counter hostile state activity downgrading britains attendance soccer world cup russia summer given moscow midnight tuesday explain sovietmade novichok nerve agent came deployed streets salisbury saying either russian state responsible lost control stock substance response demonstrated complete disdain gravity events may said statement parliament treated use militarygrade nerve agent europe sarcasm contempt defiance possible conclusion russian state behind attempted murder skripals harm befell nick bailey police officer serious condition exposed nerve agent may said represents unlawful use force russian state united kingdom said russian foreign ministry said moscow would swiftly retaliate british measures undertaken shortsighted political ends british government made choice favor confrontation russia said russias ambassador united nations vassily nebenzia repeated moscows denial anything poisoning called proof involvement may denounces putin two governments blamed crisis many us looked postsoviet russia hope wanted better relationship tragic president putin chosen act way said may britain received statements support united states european union nato said would seek coordinate international response attack white house issued statement saying shared britains assessment russia responsible supported mays decision expel diplomats response white houses unequivocal statement date blaming russia poisoning united nations us ambassador nikki haley blamed russia attack urged security council take immediate concrete measures address britains prime minister theresa may addresses house commons governments reaction poisoning former russian intelligence officer sergei skripal daughter yulia salisbury london march 14 2018 parliament tv handout via reuters phone call may us president donald trump tuesday two leaders agreed russia must provide unambiguous answers russiandeveloped chemical agent came used attack german chancellor angela merkel said took british findings seriously would common european stance although must still talk responsibly russia despite differences opinion french government spokesman said paris awaiting proof deciding would act solidarity london skripal betrayed dozens russian agents britain arrested moscow later jailed 2006 freed spy swap deal 2010 took refuge britain attack likened britain killing exkgb agent alexander litvinenko critic putin died london 2006 drinking green tea laced radioactive polonium 210 russia refused extradite two russians identified britain killers slideshow 15 images britains response litvinenko affair included expulsion four russian diplomats criticized domestically weak many british politics media called much tougher response skripal attack russia experts cast doubt whether mays actions met test certainly strong response britain mild response said mathieu boulegue russia expert chatham house thinktank london deter russia britain showing little steel may said 23 diplomats identified undeclared intelligence officers one week leave russian intelligence capabilities britain would damaged years may also said britain would revoke invitation russian foreign minister sergei lavrov visit suspend planned high level bilateral contacts london moscow foreign ministry moscow said lavrov accepted invitation visit britain anyway soccer world cup russia hosting june july may said ministers members british royal family would attend related coverage us ambassador haley tells un russia responsible chemical attack factbox britain freeze russian state assets expel 23 diplomats nerve attack france coordinate response uk spy attack highest level corrupt elites unlike united states european union imposed sanctions russia response annexation crimea may name russian people companies would specifically targeted sanctions said checks private flights customs freight would stepped better track traveling britain could represent security threat london venue choice many rich russian buy property inflow russian money led capital nicknamed londongrad russian gas giant gazprom cut hundreds jobs overseas trading export offices including britain largest office far move st petersburg part drive putin repatriate capital reduce exposure sanctions according two sources familiar plan separate development british media regulator ofcom said could strip russia today kremlinfunded tv channel uk licence russia said british media would expelled retaliation happen reporting costas pitas estelle shirbon guy faulconbridge michael holden alistair smout elizabeth piper william james london christian lowe moscow writing estelle shirbon editing grant mccool alistair bell standards thomson reuters trust principles san francisco reuters president donald trumps move block singaporebased companys takeover us rival qualcomm inc threatens stunt crucial chinese investment countrys startup capital according silicon valley venture capitalists tech executives sign campus offices chip maker broadcom ltd shown irvine california us november 6 2017 reutersmike blake administrations heightened regulatory scrutiny foreign investments designed safeguard us companies could fact diminish ability compete global technology industry asian entities become sources capital relationships us companies said jeff richards managing partner ggv capital invests united states china deal getting blocked going go unnoticed around world chinese companies important investors occasionally buyers us startups internet giants tencent holdings alibaba group made big investments us private companies including augmentedreality headset creator magic leap rideservices firms lyft inc uber technologies inc prior initial public offering messaging app maker snap inc trumps order monday focused national security concerns chipmaker broadcoms proposed acquisition san diegobased qualcomm would weaken qualcomm hand advantage chinese companies looking build nextgeneration wireless networks united states also latest series actions trumps administration including tariffs steel aluminum establish protectionist stance effort tamp chinese imports raising regulatory bar deals get approved thin line national security economic protectionism use executive order block merger traverses line delicately said venky ganesan investing partner menlo ventures trumps move based review committee foreign investment united states cfius interagency panel never blocked deal signed broadening reach cfius chilled silicon valley startups often turn chinese investors cash help connecting supply chains entering asian markets stopping broadcoms deal broad litmus test likely cut market opportunities strategic alliances key sources financing exits us tech companies future said david sullivan managing director alliance development group firm helps us tech companies enter chinese market 165 chinese investorbacked160deals us tech startups last year drop high 188 deals 2015 reflecting increased us regulatory pressure tighter capital controls china according data firm cb insights total financing rounds us startups last year involved chinese entities 93 billion 11 percent total according data firm pitchbook inc us venture capital funds also raising money chinese family offices investment firms legislation introduced last year congress aims strengthen cfius could change language bill could require venture funds raised money foreign investors get government approval startup investments make proposition startup community called untenable sort retaliation china measures could sever relationship us tech firms worlds secondlargest economy dont want go path use national security reason get us market said steve hoffman chief executive founders space startup incubator based san francisco locations china reporting heather somerville san francisco additional reporting salvador rodriguez san francisco diane bartz washington editing chris sanders standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters singaporebased broadcom ltd withdrew 117 billion bid acquire qualcomm inc wednesday two days us president donald trump blocked attempt citing national security concerns company said also withdrawn slate independent director nominees qualcomms annual shareholder meeting broadcom however expects continue plan redomicile united states although disappointed outcome broadcom comply order chipmaker said slideshow 3 images sources told reuters tuesday broadcom ready scrap bid qualcomm broadcoms board met late tuesday formalize plans move base united states cost 500 million year higher tax rate sources said based united states opposed singapore make easier broadcom make acquisitions us companies without falling jurisdiction committee foreign investment united states cfius shares broadcom untraded qualcomm marginally opening bell reporting supantha mukherjee bengaluru editing arun koyyur standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Demonstrations in support of female empowerment are scheduled in cities across the country Sunday, a day after hundreds of thousands of people across the globe marched, chanted and protested.</p>
<p>Marches are scheduled in several cities, including Miami, Melbourne and Munich.</p>
<p>On Saturday, many not only supported women’s rights, but also denounced President Donald Trump’s views on immigration, abortion, LGBT rights and women’s rights on the anniversary of his inauguration.</p>
<p>The 2017 rally in Washington, D.C., and hundreds of similar marches, created solidarity for those opposing Trump’s views, words and actions. Millions of people around the world marched during last year’s rallies. Participants on Saturday talked about the news avalanche of politics and gender issues in the past year. They said they were galvanized by the #MeToo movement, which has been credited as countering widespread sexual abuse and misconduct.</p>
<p>Critics of the weekend’s marches said the demonstrations were really a protest against Trump.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Trump on Saturday tweeted that it was a “perfect day” for women to march to celebrate the “economic success and wealth creation” that’s happened during his first year in office.</p>
<p>People participated in women’s marches nationally with a message of taking action. Last year the marchers voiced their discontent. This year, they are pledging to vote, run for office, and elect new politicians in the 2018 midterms. (Jan. 20)</p>
<p>“Get out there now to celebrate the historic milestones and unprecedented economic success and wealth creation that has taken place over the last 12 months,” the Republican wrote. “Lowest female unemployment in 18 years!”</p>
<p>Demonstrators on Saturday denounced Trump’s views with colorful signs and even saltier language.</p>
<p>Oklahoma City protesters chanted “We need a leader, not a creepy tweeter!” One woman donned a T-shirt with the likeness of social justice icon Woody Guthrie, who wrote “This Land Is Your Land.”</p>
<p>Members of the group Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women of Seattle burned sage and chanted in front of Seattle’s rainy march.</p>
<p>In Richmond, Virginia, the crowd burst into cheers when a woman ran down the middle of the street carrying a pink flag with the word “Resist.”</p>
<p>The march in Washington, D.C., on Saturday took on the feel of a political rally when U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, both Democrats, urged women to run for office and vote to oppose Trump and the Republicans’ agenda.</p>
<p>“We march, we run, we vote, we win,” Pelosi said, to applause.</p>
<p>People gathered from Montpelier to Milwaukee, from Shreveport to Seneca Falls.</p>
<p>“I think right now with the #MeToo movement, it’s even more important to stand for our rights,” said Karen Tordivo, who marched in Cleveland with her husband and 6-year-old daughter.</p>
<p>In Palm Beach, Florida, home to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, several hundred people gathered carrying anti-Trump signs before marching. A group of women wearing red cloaks and white hats like the characters in the book and TV show “The Handmaid’s Tale” marched in formation, their heads bowed.</p>
<p>Cathy Muldoon, a high school librarian from Dallas, Pennsylvania, took her two teenage daughters to the New York rally and said marching gives people hope. She said this year’s action is set against the backdrop of the Trump presidency, which “turned out to be as scary as we thought it would be.”</p>
<p>“I’ve not seen any checks and balances,” she said. “Everything is moving toward the right, and we have a president who seems to have no decency.”</p>
<p>In Los Angeles, Eva Longoria, Natalie Portman, Viola Davis, Alfre Woodard, Scarlett Johansson, Constance Wu, Adam Scott and Rob Reiner were among the celebrities who addressed a crowd of hundreds of thousands of demonstrators at a women’s march.</p>
<p>Longoria, who starred in TV’s “Desperate Housewives,” told marchers their presence matters, “especially when those in power seem to have turned their backs on reason and justice.”</p>
<p>Portman, an Academy Award winner, talked about feeling sexualized by the entertainment industry from the time her first film, “Leon: The Professional,” was released when she was 13 and suggested it’s time for “a revolution of desire.” In the 1994 film, Portman played a young girl taken in by a hit man after her family is killed.</p>
<p>Woodard urged everyone to register and vote, saying, “the 2018 midterms start now,” echoing many speakers at marches across the country, who urged women to vote.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Cohen reported from Los Angeles, and Dobnik reported from New York.</p>
<p>ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Demonstrations in support of female empowerment are scheduled in cities across the country Sunday, a day after hundreds of thousands of people across the globe marched, chanted and protested.</p>
<p>Marches are scheduled in several cities, including Miami, Melbourne and Munich.</p>
<p>On Saturday, many not only supported women’s rights, but also denounced President Donald Trump’s views on immigration, abortion, LGBT rights and women’s rights on the anniversary of his inauguration.</p>
<p>The 2017 rally in Washington, D.C., and hundreds of similar marches, created solidarity for those opposing Trump’s views, words and actions. Millions of people around the world marched during last year’s rallies. Participants on Saturday talked about the news avalanche of politics and gender issues in the past year. They said they were galvanized by the #MeToo movement, which has been credited as countering widespread sexual abuse and misconduct.</p>
<p>Critics of the weekend’s marches said the demonstrations were really a protest against Trump.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Trump on Saturday tweeted that it was a “perfect day” for women to march to celebrate the “economic success and wealth creation” that’s happened during his first year in office.</p>
<p>People participated in women’s marches nationally with a message of taking action. Last year the marchers voiced their discontent. This year, they are pledging to vote, run for office, and elect new politicians in the 2018 midterms. (Jan. 20)</p>
<p>“Get out there now to celebrate the historic milestones and unprecedented economic success and wealth creation that has taken place over the last 12 months,” the Republican wrote. “Lowest female unemployment in 18 years!”</p>
<p>Demonstrators on Saturday denounced Trump’s views with colorful signs and even saltier language.</p>
<p>Oklahoma City protesters chanted “We need a leader, not a creepy tweeter!” One woman donned a T-shirt with the likeness of social justice icon Woody Guthrie, who wrote “This Land Is Your Land.”</p>
<p>Members of the group Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women of Seattle burned sage and chanted in front of Seattle’s rainy march.</p>
<p>In Richmond, Virginia, the crowd burst into cheers when a woman ran down the middle of the street carrying a pink flag with the word “Resist.”</p>
<p>The march in Washington, D.C., on Saturday took on the feel of a political rally when U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, both Democrats, urged women to run for office and vote to oppose Trump and the Republicans’ agenda.</p>
<p>“We march, we run, we vote, we win,” Pelosi said, to applause.</p>
<p>People gathered from Montpelier to Milwaukee, from Shreveport to Seneca Falls.</p>
<p>“I think right now with the #MeToo movement, it’s even more important to stand for our rights,” said Karen Tordivo, who marched in Cleveland with her husband and 6-year-old daughter.</p>
<p>In Palm Beach, Florida, home to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, several hundred people gathered carrying anti-Trump signs before marching. A group of women wearing red cloaks and white hats like the characters in the book and TV show “The Handmaid’s Tale” marched in formation, their heads bowed.</p>
<p>Cathy Muldoon, a high school librarian from Dallas, Pennsylvania, took her two teenage daughters to the New York rally and said marching gives people hope. She said this year’s action is set against the backdrop of the Trump presidency, which “turned out to be as scary as we thought it would be.”</p>
<p>“I’ve not seen any checks and balances,” she said. “Everything is moving toward the right, and we have a president who seems to have no decency.”</p>
<p>In Los Angeles, Eva Longoria, Natalie Portman, Viola Davis, Alfre Woodard, Scarlett Johansson, Constance Wu, Adam Scott and Rob Reiner were among the celebrities who addressed a crowd of hundreds of thousands of demonstrators at a women’s march.</p>
<p>Longoria, who starred in TV’s “Desperate Housewives,” told marchers their presence matters, “especially when those in power seem to have turned their backs on reason and justice.”</p>
<p>Portman, an Academy Award winner, talked about feeling sexualized by the entertainment industry from the time her first film, “Leon: The Professional,” was released when she was 13 and suggested it’s time for “a revolution of desire.” In the 1994 film, Portman played a young girl taken in by a hit man after her family is killed.</p>
<p>Woodard urged everyone to register and vote, saying, “the 2018 midterms start now,” echoing many speakers at marches across the country, who urged women to vote.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Cohen reported from Los Angeles, and Dobnik reported from New York.</p>
| false | 2 |
st petersburg fla ap demonstrations support female empowerment scheduled cities across country sunday day hundreds thousands people across globe marched chanted protested marches scheduled several cities including miami melbourne munich saturday many supported womens rights also denounced president donald trumps views immigration abortion lgbt rights womens rights anniversary inauguration 2017 rally washington dc hundreds similar marches created solidarity opposing trumps views words actions millions people around world marched last years rallies participants saturday talked news avalanche politics gender issues past year said galvanized metoo movement credited countering widespread sexual abuse misconduct critics weekends marches said demonstrations really protest trump meanwhile trump saturday tweeted perfect day women march celebrate economic success wealth creation thats happened first year office people participated womens marches nationally message taking action last year marchers voiced discontent year pledging vote run office elect new politicians 2018 midterms jan 20 get celebrate historic milestones unprecedented economic success wealth creation taken place last 12 months republican wrote lowest female unemployment 18 years demonstrators saturday denounced trumps views colorful signs even saltier language oklahoma city protesters chanted need leader creepy tweeter one woman donned tshirt likeness social justice icon woody guthrie wrote land land members group missing murdered indigenous women seattle burned sage chanted front seattles rainy march richmond virginia crowd burst cheers woman ran middle street carrying pink flag word resist march washington dc saturday took feel political rally us sen kirsten gillibrand us rep nancy pelosi democrats urged women run office vote oppose trump republicans agenda march run vote win pelosi said applause people gathered montpelier milwaukee shreveport seneca falls think right metoo movement even important stand rights said karen tordivo marched cleveland husband 6yearold daughter palm beach florida home trumps maralago estate several hundred people gathered carrying antitrump signs marching group women wearing red cloaks white hats like characters book tv show handmaids tale marched formation heads bowed cathy muldoon high school librarian dallas pennsylvania took two teenage daughters new york rally said marching gives people hope said years action set backdrop trump presidency turned scary thought would ive seen checks balances said everything moving toward right president seems decency los angeles eva longoria natalie portman viola davis alfre woodard scarlett johansson constance wu adam scott rob reiner among celebrities addressed crowd hundreds thousands demonstrators womens march longoria starred tvs desperate housewives told marchers presence matters especially power seem turned backs reason justice portman academy award winner talked feeling sexualized entertainment industry time first film leon professional released 13 suggested time revolution desire 1994 film portman played young girl taken hit man family killed woodard urged everyone register vote saying 2018 midterms start echoing many speakers marches across country urged women vote ___ cohen reported los angeles dobnik reported new york st petersburg fla ap demonstrations support female empowerment scheduled cities across country sunday day hundreds thousands people across globe marched chanted protested marches scheduled several cities including miami melbourne munich saturday many supported womens rights also denounced president donald trumps views immigration abortion lgbt rights womens rights anniversary inauguration 2017 rally washington dc hundreds similar marches created solidarity opposing trumps views words actions millions people around world marched last years rallies participants saturday talked news avalanche politics gender issues past year said galvanized metoo movement credited countering widespread sexual abuse misconduct critics weekends marches said demonstrations really protest trump meanwhile trump saturday tweeted perfect day women march celebrate economic success wealth creation thats happened first year office people participated womens marches nationally message taking action last year marchers voiced discontent year pledging vote run office elect new politicians 2018 midterms jan 20 get celebrate historic milestones unprecedented economic success wealth creation taken place last 12 months republican wrote lowest female unemployment 18 years demonstrators saturday denounced trumps views colorful signs even saltier language oklahoma city protesters chanted need leader creepy tweeter one woman donned tshirt likeness social justice icon woody guthrie wrote land land members group missing murdered indigenous women seattle burned sage chanted front seattles rainy march richmond virginia crowd burst cheers woman ran middle street carrying pink flag word resist march washington dc saturday took feel political rally us sen kirsten gillibrand us rep nancy pelosi democrats urged women run office vote oppose trump republicans agenda march run vote win pelosi said applause people gathered montpelier milwaukee shreveport seneca falls think right metoo movement even important stand rights said karen tordivo marched cleveland husband 6yearold daughter palm beach florida home trumps maralago estate several hundred people gathered carrying antitrump signs marching group women wearing red cloaks white hats like characters book tv show handmaids tale marched formation heads bowed cathy muldoon high school librarian dallas pennsylvania took two teenage daughters new york rally said marching gives people hope said years action set backdrop trump presidency turned scary thought would ive seen checks balances said everything moving toward right president seems decency los angeles eva longoria natalie portman viola davis alfre woodard scarlett johansson constance wu adam scott rob reiner among celebrities addressed crowd hundreds thousands demonstrators womens march longoria starred tvs desperate housewives told marchers presence matters especially power seem turned backs reason justice portman academy award winner talked feeling sexualized entertainment industry time first film leon professional released 13 suggested time revolution desire 1994 film portman played young girl taken hit man family killed woodard urged everyone register vote saying 2018 midterms start echoing many speakers marches across country urged women vote ___ cohen reported los angeles dobnik reported new york
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<p>WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Tuesday threw the weight of the U.S. government behind the protesters taking to the streets of Iran, rooting them on despite the risk of helping Iranian authorities dismiss a week of major demonstrations as the product of American instigation.</p>
<p>As Iran’s supreme leader accused “enemies of Iran” of trying to destabilize his country, the State Department pressed Tehran to unblock social media sites used by the protesters. It even offered advice to tech-savvy Iranians on circumventing state internet controls.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump declared it was “time for change” in Iran, and other officials floated the possibility of additional sanctions. At the United Nations, Ambassador Nikki Haley sought a Security Council meeting to show support for those protesting in the Islamic Republic.</p>
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<p>“We want to help amplify the voices of the Iranian people,” said Haley, who appeared before cameras to recite the chants of protesters across Iran. She said Iran’s claim that other countries were fomenting the unrest was “complete nonsense,” describing the dissent as homegrown.</p>
<p>Borrowing from a response playbook it has used before, Iran’s government blamed the U.S., Saudi Arabia and Britain for the protests. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the 78-year-old supreme leader, said Iran’s enemies were using money, weapons, politics and spies “to create problems for the Islamic system, the Islamic Republic and the Islamic Revolution.”</p>
<p>Trump was undeterred, praising Iranians for “finally acting against the brutal and corrupt Iranian regime.” In an allusion to possible sanctions in response to human rights violations, Trump said the United States would closely monitor the situation.</p>
<p>“The U.S. is watching!” the president tweeted.</p>
<p>Beyond rhetoric, though, it wasn’t clear what the Trump administration could do substantively to empower the protesters, who are railing against corruption, mismanagement and economic woes including higher food prices. His support also sets up a potential test of his presidential leadership if the protests — already deadly — grow more violent.</p>
<p>At least 21 people have died and hundreds have been arrested over six days of demonstrations, the largest in Iran since the “Green Movement” that erupted in 2009 following a disputed presidential election. The new outbreak started in Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city, and has expanded to many others.</p>
<p>Iranian authorities have sought to suppress the protests in part by shutting down key social media sites protesters use to communicate, including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and the messaging app Telegram. On Tuesday, Undersecretary of State Steve Goldstein urged Iran’s government to unblock the sites.</p>
<p>“They are legitimate avenues for communication,” Goldstein said. He said the U.S. has an “obligation not to stand by.”</p>
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<p>Iranians seeking to evade the blocks can use virtual private networks, Goldstein said. Known as VPNs, the services create encrypted data “tunnels” between computers and can be used to access overseas websites blocked by the local government.</p>
<p>The primary U.S. goal is to ensure enough global attention to deter Iranian authorities from violently cracking down on protesters with impunity, said a senior State Department official involved in Iran policy. The official wasn’t authorized to comment by name and demanded anonymity.</p>
<p>For Trump, the protests have served as an unexpected but welcome opportunity to rally the world against Iran, and U.S. officials said the administration was actively encouraging other countries to back the protests. Early U.S. attempts to get European allies to coordinate their messaging with the U.S. ran into obstacles, but several countries including France and Italy have joined in expressing concerns.</p>
<p>In the U.S., Trump’s full-throated support for the protesters has renewed the debate about how best to encourage change in Iran, whose government Trump deems a top national security threat.</p>
<p>Under President Barack Obama, the U.S. took a more cautious approach during the last major wave of anti-government protests. It was concerned about enabling Iranian authorities to exploit longstanding suspicions of the U.S., dating back to American and British support for a 1953 coup toppling Iran’s elected prime minister.</p>
<p>Ben Rhodes, Obama’s former deputy national security adviser, said “too much ownership” of the protests by Trump would likely be counterproductive.</p>
<p>“I can’t imagine that the people marching in the streets of Iran are looking to Donald Trump for inspiration or support,” Rhodes said. “I just don’t think it helps things for the White House to make this into a U.S.-versus-the-Iranian-government circumstance.”</p>
<p>But former Sen. Joe Lieberman, a staunch Iran critic, said it’s a given Tehran will portray dissent as externally provoked.</p>
<p>“That’s a very weak excuse for American inaction and inconsistency with our own interests and values. I’m glad President Trump is not following that advice,” Lieberman said in an interview.</p>
<p>It wasn’t immediately clear what effect Trump’s support was having on the protests, although Iran’s state TV reported his tweets and some Iranians shared them online.</p>
<p>When it comes to supporting the Iranian aspirations, Trump’s credibility may be dented by his hostility to the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement and his inclusion of Iranians in his travel bans.</p>
<p>Trump’s insistence in an October speech on using the term “Arabian Gulf” in place of the Persian Gulf also riled the Iranian public. There also was criticism of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson for saying America was working with people in Iran for a “peaceful transition of that government.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Reach Josh Lederman on Twitter at <a href="http://twitter.com/joshledermanAP" type="external">http://twitter.com/joshledermanAP</a></p>
| false | 2 |
washington trump administration tuesday threw weight us government behind protesters taking streets iran rooting despite risk helping iranian authorities dismiss week major demonstrations product american instigation irans supreme leader accused enemies iran trying destabilize country state department pressed tehran unblock social media sites used protesters even offered advice techsavvy iranians circumventing state internet controls president donald trump declared time change iran officials floated possibility additional sanctions united nations ambassador nikki haley sought security council meeting show support protesting islamic republic advertisement want help amplify voices iranian people said haley appeared cameras recite chants protesters across iran said irans claim countries fomenting unrest complete nonsense describing dissent homegrown borrowing response playbook used irans government blamed us saudi arabia britain protests ayatollah ali khamenei 78yearold supreme leader said irans enemies using money weapons politics spies create problems islamic system islamic republic islamic revolution trump undeterred praising iranians finally acting brutal corrupt iranian regime allusion possible sanctions response human rights violations trump said united states would closely monitor situation us watching president tweeted beyond rhetoric though wasnt clear trump administration could substantively empower protesters railing corruption mismanagement economic woes including higher food prices support also sets potential test presidential leadership protests already deadly grow violent least 21 people died hundreds arrested six days demonstrations largest iran since green movement erupted 2009 following disputed presidential election new outbreak started mashhad irans secondlargest city expanded many others iranian authorities sought suppress protests part shutting key social media sites protesters use communicate including instagram facebook twitter messaging app telegram tuesday undersecretary state steve goldstein urged irans government unblock sites legitimate avenues communication goldstein said said us obligation stand advertisement iranians seeking evade blocks use virtual private networks goldstein said known vpns services create encrypted data tunnels computers used access overseas websites blocked local government primary us goal ensure enough global attention deter iranian authorities violently cracking protesters impunity said senior state department official involved iran policy official wasnt authorized comment name demanded anonymity trump protests served unexpected welcome opportunity rally world iran us officials said administration actively encouraging countries back protests early us attempts get european allies coordinate messaging us ran obstacles several countries including france italy joined expressing concerns us trumps fullthroated support protesters renewed debate best encourage change iran whose government trump deems top national security threat president barack obama us took cautious approach last major wave antigovernment protests concerned enabling iranian authorities exploit longstanding suspicions us dating back american british support 1953 coup toppling irans elected prime minister ben rhodes obamas former deputy national security adviser said much ownership protests trump would likely counterproductive cant imagine people marching streets iran looking donald trump inspiration support rhodes said dont think helps things white house make usversustheiraniangovernment circumstance former sen joe lieberman staunch iran critic said given tehran portray dissent externally provoked thats weak excuse american inaction inconsistency interests values im glad president trump following advice lieberman said interview wasnt immediately clear effect trumps support protests although irans state tv reported tweets iranians shared online comes supporting iranian aspirations trumps credibility may dented hostility 2015 iran nuclear agreement inclusion iranians travel bans trumps insistence october speech using term arabian gulf place persian gulf also riled iranian public also criticism secretary state rex tillerson saying america working people iran peaceful transition government ___ associated press writer jon gambrell dubai united arab emirates contributed report ___ reach josh lederman twitter httptwittercomjoshledermanap
| 564 |
<p>INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Former sports doctor Larry Nassar likely still would be sexually assaulting girls if not for the work of an Indiana newspaper that helped to expose the abuse, a Michigan prosecutor said Wednesday.</p>
<p>“We as a society need investigative journalists more than ever,” Assistant Attorney General Angela Povilaitis told the judge at Nassar’s sentencing hearing.</p>
<p>Nassar, 54, admitted sexually assaulting athletes under the guise of medical treatment when he was employed by Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics, which trains Olympians. Judge Rosemarie Aquilina sentenced him Wednesday to 40 to 175 years in prison in a case involving seven victims, and he faces sentencing next week in a neighboring Michigan county where he abused girls at a gymnastics club. He already had been sentenced to 60 years in prison for child pornography.</p>
<p>The case began with a <a href="http://interactives.indystar.com/news/standing/OutOfBalanceSeries/index2.html" type="external">2016 Indianapolis Star investigation</a> of how USA Gymnastics handled sexual abuse allegations against coaches. That prompted former gymnast Rachael Denhollander to alert the newspaper to Nassar’s abuse.</p>
<p>“After that article, I knew this was the time,” Denhollander told The Associated Press. “This is always what I knew had to be done ... (and) I was 100 percent confident there were other victims speaking up and being silenced.”</p>
<p>After the Star investigation, the number of victims coming forward grew, getting another jolt with the sentencing that began last week. Originally, fewer than 90 women and girls were expected to give statements, but more than 150 ended up giving them.</p>
<p>Povilaitis told the judge that without Denhollander and the newspaper, Nassar “would still be practicing medicine, treating athletes and abusing kids.” Among the honors the newspaper received for its reporting was the top award for criminal justice reporting from the Investigative Reporters &amp; Editors.</p>
<p>“We know federal law enforcement did not stop him, nor did trainers or coaches or dean or medical supervisors. ... But thank God we have these journalists and that they exposed this truth and that they continued to cover the story,” Povilaitis said.</p>
<p>The praise comes as newspaper readership overall is declining and amid increased attacks on the credibility of news organizations by President Donald Trump, who often derides news he doesn’t like as “fake.”</p>
<p>Star reporter Tim Evans, who worked with colleagues Mark Alesia and Marisa Kwiatkowski to uncover the scandal, said they knew of three Nassar victims at first and “never in our wildest dreams thought it would blow up as it has.”</p>
<p>“I’m proud that real journalism matters in this day and age,” he said, noting that some readers accused the Star at first of making up the story to sell newspapers. “It’s humbling that three reporters at a ... mid-market newspaper were able to take on a story of that scope and ride it through to this amazing conclusion.”</p>
<p>Aquilina offered her own praise for the media, saying: “I do believe in the First Amendment.”</p>
<p>__</p>
<p>Eggert reported from Lansing, Michigan.</p>
<p>__</p>
<p>Follow Webber at <a href="https://twitter.com/twebber02" type="external" /> <a href="https://twitter.com/twebber02" type="external">https://twitter.com/twebber02</a> and Eggert at <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00" type="external" /> <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00" type="external">https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00</a></p>
<p>INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Former sports doctor Larry Nassar likely still would be sexually assaulting girls if not for the work of an Indiana newspaper that helped to expose the abuse, a Michigan prosecutor said Wednesday.</p>
<p>“We as a society need investigative journalists more than ever,” Assistant Attorney General Angela Povilaitis told the judge at Nassar’s sentencing hearing.</p>
<p>Nassar, 54, admitted sexually assaulting athletes under the guise of medical treatment when he was employed by Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics, which trains Olympians. Judge Rosemarie Aquilina sentenced him Wednesday to 40 to 175 years in prison in a case involving seven victims, and he faces sentencing next week in a neighboring Michigan county where he abused girls at a gymnastics club. He already had been sentenced to 60 years in prison for child pornography.</p>
<p>The case began with a <a href="http://interactives.indystar.com/news/standing/OutOfBalanceSeries/index2.html" type="external">2016 Indianapolis Star investigation</a> of how USA Gymnastics handled sexual abuse allegations against coaches. That prompted former gymnast Rachael Denhollander to alert the newspaper to Nassar’s abuse.</p>
<p>“After that article, I knew this was the time,” Denhollander told The Associated Press. “This is always what I knew had to be done ... (and) I was 100 percent confident there were other victims speaking up and being silenced.”</p>
<p>After the Star investigation, the number of victims coming forward grew, getting another jolt with the sentencing that began last week. Originally, fewer than 90 women and girls were expected to give statements, but more than 150 ended up giving them.</p>
<p>Povilaitis told the judge that without Denhollander and the newspaper, Nassar “would still be practicing medicine, treating athletes and abusing kids.” Among the honors the newspaper received for its reporting was the top award for criminal justice reporting from the Investigative Reporters &amp; Editors.</p>
<p>“We know federal law enforcement did not stop him, nor did trainers or coaches or dean or medical supervisors. ... But thank God we have these journalists and that they exposed this truth and that they continued to cover the story,” Povilaitis said.</p>
<p>The praise comes as newspaper readership overall is declining and amid increased attacks on the credibility of news organizations by President Donald Trump, who often derides news he doesn’t like as “fake.”</p>
<p>Star reporter Tim Evans, who worked with colleagues Mark Alesia and Marisa Kwiatkowski to uncover the scandal, said they knew of three Nassar victims at first and “never in our wildest dreams thought it would blow up as it has.”</p>
<p>“I’m proud that real journalism matters in this day and age,” he said, noting that some readers accused the Star at first of making up the story to sell newspapers. “It’s humbling that three reporters at a ... mid-market newspaper were able to take on a story of that scope and ride it through to this amazing conclusion.”</p>
<p>Aquilina offered her own praise for the media, saying: “I do believe in the First Amendment.”</p>
<p>__</p>
<p>Eggert reported from Lansing, Michigan.</p>
<p>__</p>
<p>Follow Webber at <a href="https://twitter.com/twebber02" type="external" /> <a href="https://twitter.com/twebber02" type="external">https://twitter.com/twebber02</a> and Eggert at <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00" type="external" /> <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00" type="external">https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00</a></p>
| false | 2 |
indianapolis ap former sports doctor larry nassar likely still would sexually assaulting girls work indiana newspaper helped expose abuse michigan prosecutor said wednesday society need investigative journalists ever assistant attorney general angela povilaitis told judge nassars sentencing hearing nassar 54 admitted sexually assaulting athletes guise medical treatment employed michigan state university usa gymnastics trains olympians judge rosemarie aquilina sentenced wednesday 40 175 years prison case involving seven victims faces sentencing next week neighboring michigan county abused girls gymnastics club already sentenced 60 years prison child pornography case began 2016 indianapolis star investigation usa gymnastics handled sexual abuse allegations coaches prompted former gymnast rachael denhollander alert newspaper nassars abuse article knew time denhollander told associated press always knew done 100 percent confident victims speaking silenced star investigation number victims coming forward grew getting another jolt sentencing began last week originally fewer 90 women girls expected give statements 150 ended giving povilaitis told judge without denhollander newspaper nassar would still practicing medicine treating athletes abusing kids among honors newspaper received reporting top award criminal justice reporting investigative reporters amp editors know federal law enforcement stop trainers coaches dean medical supervisors thank god journalists exposed truth continued cover story povilaitis said praise comes newspaper readership overall declining amid increased attacks credibility news organizations president donald trump often derides news doesnt like fake star reporter tim evans worked colleagues mark alesia marisa kwiatkowski uncover scandal said knew three nassar victims first never wildest dreams thought would blow im proud real journalism matters day age said noting readers accused star first making story sell newspapers humbling three reporters midmarket newspaper able take story scope ride amazing conclusion aquilina offered praise media saying believe first amendment __ eggert reported lansing michigan __ follow webber httpstwittercomtwebber02 eggert httpstwittercomdavideggert00 indianapolis ap former sports doctor larry nassar likely still would sexually assaulting girls work indiana newspaper helped expose abuse michigan prosecutor said wednesday society need investigative journalists ever assistant attorney general angela povilaitis told judge nassars sentencing hearing nassar 54 admitted sexually assaulting athletes guise medical treatment employed michigan state university usa gymnastics trains olympians judge rosemarie aquilina sentenced wednesday 40 175 years prison case involving seven victims faces sentencing next week neighboring michigan county abused girls gymnastics club already sentenced 60 years prison child pornography case began 2016 indianapolis star investigation usa gymnastics handled sexual abuse allegations coaches prompted former gymnast rachael denhollander alert newspaper nassars abuse article knew time denhollander told associated press always knew done 100 percent confident victims speaking silenced star investigation number victims coming forward grew getting another jolt sentencing began last week originally fewer 90 women girls expected give statements 150 ended giving povilaitis told judge without denhollander newspaper nassar would still practicing medicine treating athletes abusing kids among honors newspaper received reporting top award criminal justice reporting investigative reporters amp editors know federal law enforcement stop trainers coaches dean medical supervisors thank god journalists exposed truth continued cover story povilaitis said praise comes newspaper readership overall declining amid increased attacks credibility news organizations president donald trump often derides news doesnt like fake star reporter tim evans worked colleagues mark alesia marisa kwiatkowski uncover scandal said knew three nassar victims first never wildest dreams thought would blow im proud real journalism matters day age said noting readers accused star first making story sell newspapers humbling three reporters midmarket newspaper able take story scope ride amazing conclusion aquilina offered praise media saying believe first amendment __ eggert reported lansing michigan __ follow webber httpstwittercomtwebber02 eggert httpstwittercomdavideggert00
| 582 |
<p>CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Gov. Jim Justice on Wednesday called for pay raises for West Virginia's jail guards, teachers and other workers in the next fiscal year with the state's economy and tax revenues now on the upswing.</p>
<p>Addressing the Legislature, the now Republican governor told the GOP-controlled House and Senate the state isn't facing budget deficits now as it was last year. His revenue and budget staff said none are forecast for the next six years in their plan.</p>
<p>"We now have the money to give every single person in state government a raise," Justice said. His budget proposes 1 percent raises for teachers, who also get annual step raises, and for service personnel and all other state workers. Jail and prison staff would get an additional $2,000 increase annually for three years.</p>
<p>In his second State of the State Address, Justice called for no tax increases, which got a standing ovation from a crowd of lawmakers, other state officials and guests. He also proposed cutting taxes on industrial inventory, machinery and equipment by $134 million, which would require approvals from the Legislature and voters.</p>
<p>He wants to increase state tourism promotion spending from $6 million to $20 million in the fiscal year that starts July 1 and boost Commerce Department economic development spending by $35 million to market the state.</p>
<p>Justice announced initiatives by state agencies to stop child sex abuse, which he said afflicts one in 10 children in West Virginia, and to ensure state contractors pay all taxes they owe.</p>
<p>"Education, I think it needs to be the centerpiece of everything we do," he said. Proposals include enabling high school students studying trades to earn a college associate's degree and making community and technical colleges less expensive or free.</p>
<p>House Speaker Tim Armstead said later they'll have to look at the numbers for raises to teachers and all state workers. "I think we're open to discussing that," he said.</p>
<p>Armstead said cutting industrial inventory taxes would eliminate what he considers a roadblock to the state economy and job growth. A pending proposal would cut them out over seven years and maintain related revenue for counties and schools, he said.</p>
<p>Justice, who last year brought cow manure to a press conference to describe his budget disagreements with lawmakers, on Wednesday brought covered platters for the legislative leaders that instead held giant chocolate kisses. He also brought the Greenbrier East High School girls' basketball team he coaches, and suggested West Virginians call him coach instead of governor.</p>
<p>Republican legislative leaders also have voiced support for authorizing "co-tenancy," which would permit drilling for natural gas when most owners of a land parcel — 75 percent under one proposal — want it.</p>
<p>The House Democratic Caucus has called for increasing tourism promotion funding to help create jobs, helping students with more affordable community and technical college and protecting seniors by exempting Social Security benefits from state income taxes.</p>
<p>With West Virginia facing what Justice called "this terrible drug epidemic," a dozen senators on Wednesday introduced legislation that would generally limit initial doctor and dentist prescriptions of opiates for acute, or short-term, pain to seven days.</p>
<p>The bill would limit those painkiller prescriptions to three days for minors and for emergency-room outpatients.</p>
<p>Sen. Ryan Weld, a Brooke County Republican and prosecutor, said many drug cases involve stolen leftover drugs and this would limit that supply.</p>
<p>On abortion, some House Republicans planned to introduce legislation Thursday that would redefine "medical necessity" intended to limit Medicaid-funded abortions. That followed state data showing the total increased from to 1,560 last year from 677 eight years earlier.</p>
<p>CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Gov. Jim Justice on Wednesday called for pay raises for West Virginia's jail guards, teachers and other workers in the next fiscal year with the state's economy and tax revenues now on the upswing.</p>
<p>Addressing the Legislature, the now Republican governor told the GOP-controlled House and Senate the state isn't facing budget deficits now as it was last year. His revenue and budget staff said none are forecast for the next six years in their plan.</p>
<p>"We now have the money to give every single person in state government a raise," Justice said. His budget proposes 1 percent raises for teachers, who also get annual step raises, and for service personnel and all other state workers. Jail and prison staff would get an additional $2,000 increase annually for three years.</p>
<p>In his second State of the State Address, Justice called for no tax increases, which got a standing ovation from a crowd of lawmakers, other state officials and guests. He also proposed cutting taxes on industrial inventory, machinery and equipment by $134 million, which would require approvals from the Legislature and voters.</p>
<p>He wants to increase state tourism promotion spending from $6 million to $20 million in the fiscal year that starts July 1 and boost Commerce Department economic development spending by $35 million to market the state.</p>
<p>Justice announced initiatives by state agencies to stop child sex abuse, which he said afflicts one in 10 children in West Virginia, and to ensure state contractors pay all taxes they owe.</p>
<p>"Education, I think it needs to be the centerpiece of everything we do," he said. Proposals include enabling high school students studying trades to earn a college associate's degree and making community and technical colleges less expensive or free.</p>
<p>House Speaker Tim Armstead said later they'll have to look at the numbers for raises to teachers and all state workers. "I think we're open to discussing that," he said.</p>
<p>Armstead said cutting industrial inventory taxes would eliminate what he considers a roadblock to the state economy and job growth. A pending proposal would cut them out over seven years and maintain related revenue for counties and schools, he said.</p>
<p>Justice, who last year brought cow manure to a press conference to describe his budget disagreements with lawmakers, on Wednesday brought covered platters for the legislative leaders that instead held giant chocolate kisses. He also brought the Greenbrier East High School girls' basketball team he coaches, and suggested West Virginians call him coach instead of governor.</p>
<p>Republican legislative leaders also have voiced support for authorizing "co-tenancy," which would permit drilling for natural gas when most owners of a land parcel — 75 percent under one proposal — want it.</p>
<p>The House Democratic Caucus has called for increasing tourism promotion funding to help create jobs, helping students with more affordable community and technical college and protecting seniors by exempting Social Security benefits from state income taxes.</p>
<p>With West Virginia facing what Justice called "this terrible drug epidemic," a dozen senators on Wednesday introduced legislation that would generally limit initial doctor and dentist prescriptions of opiates for acute, or short-term, pain to seven days.</p>
<p>The bill would limit those painkiller prescriptions to three days for minors and for emergency-room outpatients.</p>
<p>Sen. Ryan Weld, a Brooke County Republican and prosecutor, said many drug cases involve stolen leftover drugs and this would limit that supply.</p>
<p>On abortion, some House Republicans planned to introduce legislation Thursday that would redefine "medical necessity" intended to limit Medicaid-funded abortions. That followed state data showing the total increased from to 1,560 last year from 677 eight years earlier.</p>
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charleston wva ap gov jim justice wednesday called pay raises west virginias jail guards teachers workers next fiscal year states economy tax revenues upswing addressing legislature republican governor told gopcontrolled house senate state isnt facing budget deficits last year revenue budget staff said none forecast next six years plan money give every single person state government raise justice said budget proposes 1 percent raises teachers also get annual step raises service personnel state workers jail prison staff would get additional 2000 increase annually three years second state state address justice called tax increases got standing ovation crowd lawmakers state officials guests also proposed cutting taxes industrial inventory machinery equipment 134 million would require approvals legislature voters wants increase state tourism promotion spending 6 million 20 million fiscal year starts july 1 boost commerce department economic development spending 35 million market state justice announced initiatives state agencies stop child sex abuse said afflicts one 10 children west virginia ensure state contractors pay taxes owe education think needs centerpiece everything said proposals include enabling high school students studying trades earn college associates degree making community technical colleges less expensive free house speaker tim armstead said later theyll look numbers raises teachers state workers think open discussing said armstead said cutting industrial inventory taxes would eliminate considers roadblock state economy job growth pending proposal would cut seven years maintain related revenue counties schools said justice last year brought cow manure press conference describe budget disagreements lawmakers wednesday brought covered platters legislative leaders instead held giant chocolate kisses also brought greenbrier east high school girls basketball team coaches suggested west virginians call coach instead governor republican legislative leaders also voiced support authorizing cotenancy would permit drilling natural gas owners land parcel 75 percent one proposal want house democratic caucus called increasing tourism promotion funding help create jobs helping students affordable community technical college protecting seniors exempting social security benefits state income taxes west virginia facing justice called terrible drug epidemic dozen senators wednesday introduced legislation would generally limit initial doctor dentist prescriptions opiates acute shortterm pain seven days bill would limit painkiller prescriptions three days minors emergencyroom outpatients sen ryan weld brooke county republican prosecutor said many drug cases involve stolen leftover drugs would limit supply abortion house republicans planned introduce legislation thursday would redefine medical necessity intended limit medicaidfunded abortions followed state data showing total increased 1560 last year 677 eight years earlier charleston wva ap gov jim justice wednesday called pay raises west virginias jail guards teachers workers next fiscal year states economy tax revenues upswing addressing legislature republican governor told gopcontrolled house senate state isnt facing budget deficits last year revenue budget staff said none forecast next six years plan money give every single person state government raise justice said budget proposes 1 percent raises teachers also get annual step raises service personnel state workers jail prison staff would get additional 2000 increase annually three years second state state address justice called tax increases got standing ovation crowd lawmakers state officials guests also proposed cutting taxes industrial inventory machinery equipment 134 million would require approvals legislature voters wants increase state tourism promotion spending 6 million 20 million fiscal year starts july 1 boost commerce department economic development spending 35 million market state justice announced initiatives state agencies stop child sex abuse said afflicts one 10 children west virginia ensure state contractors pay taxes owe education think needs centerpiece everything said proposals include enabling high school students studying trades earn college associates degree making community technical colleges less expensive free house speaker tim armstead said later theyll look numbers raises teachers state workers think open discussing said armstead said cutting industrial inventory taxes would eliminate considers roadblock state economy job growth pending proposal would cut seven years maintain related revenue counties schools said justice last year brought cow manure press conference describe budget disagreements lawmakers wednesday brought covered platters legislative leaders instead held giant chocolate kisses also brought greenbrier east high school girls basketball team coaches suggested west virginians call coach instead governor republican legislative leaders also voiced support authorizing cotenancy would permit drilling natural gas owners land parcel 75 percent one proposal want house democratic caucus called increasing tourism promotion funding help create jobs helping students affordable community technical college protecting seniors exempting social security benefits state income taxes west virginia facing justice called terrible drug epidemic dozen senators wednesday introduced legislation would generally limit initial doctor dentist prescriptions opiates acute shortterm pain seven days bill would limit painkiller prescriptions three days minors emergencyroom outpatients sen ryan weld brooke county republican prosecutor said many drug cases involve stolen leftover drugs would limit supply abortion house republicans planned introduce legislation thursday would redefine medical necessity intended limit medicaidfunded abortions followed state data showing total increased 1560 last year 677 eight years earlier
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<p>New data suggest at least some of that worry was misplaced. Millennials - especially the oldest ones - are these days buying cars in big numbers. They just had a late start.</p>
<p>Now the largest generation in the U.S., millennials bought 4 million cars and trucks in the U.S. last year, second only to the baby boomers, according to J.D. Power's Power Information Network, which defines millennials as those between 21 and 38 in 2015. Millennials' share of the new car market jumped to 28 percent. In the country's biggest car market, California, millennials outpaced boomers for the first time.</p>
<p>Industry watchers say it's been hard to get a read on millennials because the generation is big and diverse, ranging from recent college graduates to settled-down suburbanites. Automakers were also unsure about the impact of new transportation choices, like ZipCar and Uber, which helped millennials delay car buying. But as they got jobs and started families, millennials headed into car dealerships just like previous generations.</p>
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<p>"This whole idea that they're not going to need cars is absolutely ridiculous," said Steven Szakaly, the chief economist for the National Automobile Dealers Association. "The new car buyer age is just happening much later."</p>
<p>It's a very different story from 2010, when millennials - who make up around 30 percent of the population - bought just 17 percent of new cars. Auto executives wondered aloud if the trend would be permanent.</p>
<p>In 2011, a University of Michigan study showed a steady decline in the number of young people getting their driver's licenses. In 1983, the survey found, 87 percent of 19-year-olds had a license. By 2010, that had fallen to 69 percent. Millennials told the study's authors that they were too busy to get licenses and were happy to hitch rides from others.</p>
<p>But there was more to the story. The advent of graduated licensing laws - which make teens practice driving in stages before granting a full license - was one reason millennials were getting their licenses later. An even bigger reason? The economy.</p>
<p>For many millennials, the Great Recession hit just as they were getting their first job or graduating from college. By 2010, millennials' unemployment rate reached 13 percent - four percentage points higher than the national average - according to a report by the White House Council of Economic Advisers. For teens, things were even worse. The teen unemployment rate rose from 15 percent to 26 percent between 2006 and 2012.</p>
<p>Millennials' unemployment rate has improved to around 8 percent. Add low interest rates and low gas prices to the mix and the car market suddenly looks more enticing to young buyers.</p>
<p>Lucy Mueller, 26, lived in Los Angeles for eight years without a car. She took buses and trains, hitched rides with friends and used ride-sharing services like Lyft. Her commutes lasted more than an hour each way. Finally, last July, she bought a slightly used 2015 Fiat 500.</p>
<p>"Now that I have a car, it's almost bewildering to me. I feel like a grown-up," said Mueller, a project manager and video producer for financial software maker Intuit.</p>
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<p>Several things kept Mueller out of the car market. She didn't have a credit card until a year ago; without any credit history, financing a car would have been difficult. Also, like many recession-weary millennials, Mueller wanted to avoid accruing debt, so she saved enough for a substantial down payment.</p>
<p>Szakaly says it will take millennials another four to five years to match the spending power of boomers. According to government data, the median household income for people ages 25-34 is $54,243. For those ages 55-64, it's more than $60,000. In addition, the average 25-year-old has more than $20,000 in student debt, according to Goldman Sachs. That's enough to buy a new Kia Optima sedan.</p>
<p>Bret Hyde, a cameraman with Access Hollywood in New York, waited until he was 37 to buy his first car. He and his wife used to rent ZipCars or take buses to visit friends and family. It was tiresome and expensive, he said, but there wasn't much parking in their old neighborhood. After moving to a new neighborhood and renting a garage last spring, the couple bought a 2015 Nissan Rogue SUV.</p>
<p>Sheryl Connelly, a futurist with Ford Motor Co. who studies buying trends, said even as millennials start buying cars in bigger numbers, their attitudes are different than previous generations. Owning a car and getting a driver's license aren't the milestones they once were, and that may be a permanent change.</p>
<p>"The sense of freedom and independence that used to come with getting a vehicle has been arguably displaced by the cellphone," she said.</p>
<p>Automakers have taken note. They're improving in-car technology to make it easier for young drivers to stay connected to their friends and music while they're driving. They're forming partnerships with ride-hailing and car-sharing services and conducting mobility experiments of their own. And they're ditching things that don't appeal to millennials. Toyota Motor Corp. is axing its youth-oriented Scion brand, for example, after finding that millennials prefer the Toyota brand.</p>
<p>"Millennials are going to be the main generation we will cater to as an industry," says John Humphrey, J.D. Power's senior vice president of global automotive operations.</p>
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new data suggest least worry misplaced millennials especially oldest ones days buying cars big numbers late start largest generation us millennials bought 4 million cars trucks us last year second baby boomers according jd powers power information network defines millennials 21 38 2015 millennials share new car market jumped 28 percent countrys biggest car market california millennials outpaced boomers first time industry watchers say hard get read millennials generation big diverse ranging recent college graduates settleddown suburbanites automakers also unsure impact new transportation choices like zipcar uber helped millennials delay car buying got jobs started families millennials headed car dealerships like previous generations advertisement whole idea theyre going need cars absolutely ridiculous said steven szakaly chief economist national automobile dealers association new car buyer age happening much later different story 2010 millennials make around 30 percent population bought 17 percent new cars auto executives wondered aloud trend would permanent 2011 university michigan study showed steady decline number young people getting drivers licenses 1983 survey found 87 percent 19yearolds license 2010 fallen 69 percent millennials told studys authors busy get licenses happy hitch rides others story advent graduated licensing laws make teens practice driving stages granting full license one reason millennials getting licenses later even bigger reason economy many millennials great recession hit getting first job graduating college 2010 millennials unemployment rate reached 13 percent four percentage points higher national average according report white house council economic advisers teens things even worse teen unemployment rate rose 15 percent 26 percent 2006 2012 millennials unemployment rate improved around 8 percent add low interest rates low gas prices mix car market suddenly looks enticing young buyers lucy mueller 26 lived los angeles eight years without car took buses trains hitched rides friends used ridesharing services like lyft commutes lasted hour way finally last july bought slightly used 2015 fiat 500 car almost bewildering feel like grownup said mueller project manager video producer financial software maker intuit advertisement several things kept mueller car market didnt credit card year ago without credit history financing car would difficult also like many recessionweary millennials mueller wanted avoid accruing debt saved enough substantial payment szakaly says take millennials another four five years match spending power boomers according government data median household income people ages 2534 54243 ages 5564 60000 addition average 25yearold 20000 student debt according goldman sachs thats enough buy new kia optima sedan bret hyde cameraman access hollywood new york waited 37 buy first car wife used rent zipcars take buses visit friends family tiresome expensive said wasnt much parking old neighborhood moving new neighborhood renting garage last spring couple bought 2015 nissan rogue suv sheryl connelly futurist ford motor co studies buying trends said even millennials start buying cars bigger numbers attitudes different previous generations owning car getting drivers license arent milestones may permanent change sense freedom independence used come getting vehicle arguably displaced cellphone said automakers taken note theyre improving incar technology make easier young drivers stay connected friends music theyre driving theyre forming partnerships ridehailing carsharing services conducting mobility experiments theyre ditching things dont appeal millennials toyota motor corp axing youthoriented scion brand example finding millennials prefer toyota brand millennials going main generation cater industry says john humphrey jd powers senior vice president global automotive operations
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<p>TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Already winter-weary parts of the Midwest and East Coast are dealing with a mounting number of weather-related headaches, from highway pileups to frozen pipes and a rash of car thefts. And there's more to come.</p>
<p>Bitter temperatures and snow squalls have been blamed for a handful of deaths and canceled a long list of New Year's celebrations.</p>
<p>Icy roads in central Michigan caused more than 30 crashes Friday on highways near Flint while a chain-reaction crash involving about 40 vehicles in the southwestern part of the state left three hurt.</p>
<p>Coastal South Carolina saw a rare bout of freezing rain and drizzle on Friday that forced bridges from Charleston to Myrtle Beach to shut down for de-icing.</p>
<p>Police in the Cincinnati area say a half-dozen cars have been stolen in recent days after being left running unattended by owners trying to warm them up. Cincinnati police warned in a tweet that leaving your car running means "the only person who will be warm is the thief who stole your car."</p>
<p>More snow is on the way in Erie, Pennsylvania, where 65 inches have fallen since Christmas Eve. Now parts of the surrounding county could get up to 16 inches of more snow by Sunday.</p>
<p>A call center set up to help people dig out has been overwhelmed. "The phones have been ringing off the hook," said Josh Jaeger, a coordinator for the center told the Erie Times-News.</p>
<p>Cleanup continued inside Michigan State University's basketball arena after a frozen water pipe burst and flooded a hallway, but the mess wasn't expected to interrupt a game Friday.</p>
<p>Diann Wears, of Toledo, said she was already fed up with winter as she stood along a slush-covered sidewalk while waiting for a bus.</p>
<p>"And it's just the beginning," she said Friday. "I'm sure it will get worse."</p>
<p>Frigid conditions in Boston took their toll on the nation's fifth-largest transit system.</p>
<p>The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has spent heavily to winterize what's known as the "T'' since it was crippled by record-breaking snowfall in 2015. But the agency reported "severe delays" on one of its lines Friday, citing a broken piece of track and a disabled train, among other problems.</p>
<p>Several deaths have been linked to the wintry weather during the past week.</p>
<p>In South Dakota, an 83-year-old woman died from exposure to the cold after she crashed her car and then got out to look for help. Search crews found her body in a ditch on Sunday. Three people were found dead in a canal along Lake Erie earlier this week after their car slid off an icy road.</p>
<p>The National Weather Service predicts another blast of arctic air will chill much of the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. through the weekend and into 2018.</p>
<p>Temperatures could fall into the single digits as far south as Oklahoma and sink to zero or below Friday night in Nebraska and Iowa and remain there for at least three days.</p>
<p>"It's pretty unusual to get that long of a streak where it's completely below zero," said Iowa's State Climatologist Harry Hillaker. "Historically, that doesn't happen very often in Des Moines."</p>
<p>The Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies braced for storms forecasters warned could bring several feet of mountain snow and freezing rain.</p>
<p>With the bitter cold expected to stick around, many New Year's Eve plans are being scuttled.</p>
<p>Shore towns in New Jersey canceled plans for polar bear plunges in the Atlantic Ocean and organizers pulled the plug on the annual light bulb drop in Sunbury, Pennsylvania.</p>
<p>In Boston, organizers of the L Street Brownies plunge scoffed when asked if they were scared off by the weather.</p>
<p>"It's a go. It's always a go. We never give up," Dan Monahan told the Boston Herald about the event that attracts more than 600 swimmers each year and has gone on for more than a century. "We're stubborn people in Boston. We're about tradition."</p>
<p>Fireworks shows have been called off in Omaha and at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. And New York City's Coney Island says it will be too cold for free rides on the Wonder Wheel and Thunderbolt roller coaster.</p>
<p>Animal advocates urged people to protect their pets from the cold. Wild animals weren't immune from the dangers of winter, either.</p>
<p>In Ohio, wildlife officers mulled how to rescue a deer stuck on an ice-covered river. They managed to lasso the deer with a rope and pull it to shore Friday, but they had to euthanize the injured animal.</p>
<p>TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Already winter-weary parts of the Midwest and East Coast are dealing with a mounting number of weather-related headaches, from highway pileups to frozen pipes and a rash of car thefts. And there's more to come.</p>
<p>Bitter temperatures and snow squalls have been blamed for a handful of deaths and canceled a long list of New Year's celebrations.</p>
<p>Icy roads in central Michigan caused more than 30 crashes Friday on highways near Flint while a chain-reaction crash involving about 40 vehicles in the southwestern part of the state left three hurt.</p>
<p>Coastal South Carolina saw a rare bout of freezing rain and drizzle on Friday that forced bridges from Charleston to Myrtle Beach to shut down for de-icing.</p>
<p>Police in the Cincinnati area say a half-dozen cars have been stolen in recent days after being left running unattended by owners trying to warm them up. Cincinnati police warned in a tweet that leaving your car running means "the only person who will be warm is the thief who stole your car."</p>
<p>More snow is on the way in Erie, Pennsylvania, where 65 inches have fallen since Christmas Eve. Now parts of the surrounding county could get up to 16 inches of more snow by Sunday.</p>
<p>A call center set up to help people dig out has been overwhelmed. "The phones have been ringing off the hook," said Josh Jaeger, a coordinator for the center told the Erie Times-News.</p>
<p>Cleanup continued inside Michigan State University's basketball arena after a frozen water pipe burst and flooded a hallway, but the mess wasn't expected to interrupt a game Friday.</p>
<p>Diann Wears, of Toledo, said she was already fed up with winter as she stood along a slush-covered sidewalk while waiting for a bus.</p>
<p>"And it's just the beginning," she said Friday. "I'm sure it will get worse."</p>
<p>Frigid conditions in Boston took their toll on the nation's fifth-largest transit system.</p>
<p>The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has spent heavily to winterize what's known as the "T'' since it was crippled by record-breaking snowfall in 2015. But the agency reported "severe delays" on one of its lines Friday, citing a broken piece of track and a disabled train, among other problems.</p>
<p>Several deaths have been linked to the wintry weather during the past week.</p>
<p>In South Dakota, an 83-year-old woman died from exposure to the cold after she crashed her car and then got out to look for help. Search crews found her body in a ditch on Sunday. Three people were found dead in a canal along Lake Erie earlier this week after their car slid off an icy road.</p>
<p>The National Weather Service predicts another blast of arctic air will chill much of the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. through the weekend and into 2018.</p>
<p>Temperatures could fall into the single digits as far south as Oklahoma and sink to zero or below Friday night in Nebraska and Iowa and remain there for at least three days.</p>
<p>"It's pretty unusual to get that long of a streak where it's completely below zero," said Iowa's State Climatologist Harry Hillaker. "Historically, that doesn't happen very often in Des Moines."</p>
<p>The Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies braced for storms forecasters warned could bring several feet of mountain snow and freezing rain.</p>
<p>With the bitter cold expected to stick around, many New Year's Eve plans are being scuttled.</p>
<p>Shore towns in New Jersey canceled plans for polar bear plunges in the Atlantic Ocean and organizers pulled the plug on the annual light bulb drop in Sunbury, Pennsylvania.</p>
<p>In Boston, organizers of the L Street Brownies plunge scoffed when asked if they were scared off by the weather.</p>
<p>"It's a go. It's always a go. We never give up," Dan Monahan told the Boston Herald about the event that attracts more than 600 swimmers each year and has gone on for more than a century. "We're stubborn people in Boston. We're about tradition."</p>
<p>Fireworks shows have been called off in Omaha and at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. And New York City's Coney Island says it will be too cold for free rides on the Wonder Wheel and Thunderbolt roller coaster.</p>
<p>Animal advocates urged people to protect their pets from the cold. Wild animals weren't immune from the dangers of winter, either.</p>
<p>In Ohio, wildlife officers mulled how to rescue a deer stuck on an ice-covered river. They managed to lasso the deer with a rope and pull it to shore Friday, but they had to euthanize the injured animal.</p>
| false | 2 |
toledo ohio ap already winterweary parts midwest east coast dealing mounting number weatherrelated headaches highway pileups frozen pipes rash car thefts theres come bitter temperatures snow squalls blamed handful deaths canceled long list new years celebrations icy roads central michigan caused 30 crashes friday highways near flint chainreaction crash involving 40 vehicles southwestern part state left three hurt coastal south carolina saw rare bout freezing rain drizzle friday forced bridges charleston myrtle beach shut deicing police cincinnati area say halfdozen cars stolen recent days left running unattended owners trying warm cincinnati police warned tweet leaving car running means person warm thief stole car snow way erie pennsylvania 65 inches fallen since christmas eve parts surrounding county could get 16 inches snow sunday call center set help people dig overwhelmed phones ringing hook said josh jaeger coordinator center told erie timesnews cleanup continued inside michigan state universitys basketball arena frozen water pipe burst flooded hallway mess wasnt expected interrupt game friday diann wears toledo said already fed winter stood along slushcovered sidewalk waiting bus beginning said friday im sure get worse frigid conditions boston took toll nations fifthlargest transit system massachusetts bay transportation authority spent heavily winterize whats known since crippled recordbreaking snowfall 2015 agency reported severe delays one lines friday citing broken piece track disabled train among problems several deaths linked wintry weather past week south dakota 83yearold woman died exposure cold crashed car got look help search crews found body ditch sunday three people found dead canal along lake erie earlier week car slid icy road national weather service predicts another blast arctic air chill much eastern twothirds us weekend 2018 temperatures could fall single digits far south oklahoma sink zero friday night nebraska iowa remain least three days pretty unusual get long streak completely zero said iowas state climatologist harry hillaker historically doesnt happen often des moines pacific northwest northern rockies braced storms forecasters warned could bring several feet mountain snow freezing rain bitter cold expected stick around many new years eve plans scuttled shore towns new jersey canceled plans polar bear plunges atlantic ocean organizers pulled plug annual light bulb drop sunbury pennsylvania boston organizers l street brownies plunge scoffed asked scared weather go always go never give dan monahan told boston herald event attracts 600 swimmers year gone century stubborn people boston tradition fireworks shows called omaha six flags great adventure new jersey new york citys coney island says cold free rides wonder wheel thunderbolt roller coaster animal advocates urged people protect pets cold wild animals werent immune dangers winter either ohio wildlife officers mulled rescue deer stuck icecovered river managed lasso deer rope pull shore friday euthanize injured animal toledo ohio ap already winterweary parts midwest east coast dealing mounting number weatherrelated headaches highway pileups frozen pipes rash car thefts theres come bitter temperatures snow squalls blamed handful deaths canceled long list new years celebrations icy roads central michigan caused 30 crashes friday highways near flint chainreaction crash involving 40 vehicles southwestern part state left three hurt coastal south carolina saw rare bout freezing rain drizzle friday forced bridges charleston myrtle beach shut deicing police cincinnati area say halfdozen cars stolen recent days left running unattended owners trying warm cincinnati police warned tweet leaving car running means person warm thief stole car snow way erie pennsylvania 65 inches fallen since christmas eve parts surrounding county could get 16 inches snow sunday call center set help people dig overwhelmed phones ringing hook said josh jaeger coordinator center told erie timesnews cleanup continued inside michigan state universitys basketball arena frozen water pipe burst flooded hallway mess wasnt expected interrupt game friday diann wears toledo said already fed winter stood along slushcovered sidewalk waiting bus beginning said friday im sure get worse frigid conditions boston took toll nations fifthlargest transit system massachusetts bay transportation authority spent heavily winterize whats known since crippled recordbreaking snowfall 2015 agency reported severe delays one lines friday citing broken piece track disabled train among problems several deaths linked wintry weather past week south dakota 83yearold woman died exposure cold crashed car got look help search crews found body ditch sunday three people found dead canal along lake erie earlier week car slid icy road national weather service predicts another blast arctic air chill much eastern twothirds us weekend 2018 temperatures could fall single digits far south oklahoma sink zero friday night nebraska iowa remain least three days pretty unusual get long streak completely zero said iowas state climatologist harry hillaker historically doesnt happen often des moines pacific northwest northern rockies braced storms forecasters warned could bring several feet mountain snow freezing rain bitter cold expected stick around many new years eve plans scuttled shore towns new jersey canceled plans polar bear plunges atlantic ocean organizers pulled plug annual light bulb drop sunbury pennsylvania boston organizers l street brownies plunge scoffed asked scared weather go always go never give dan monahan told boston herald event attracts 600 swimmers year gone century stubborn people boston tradition fireworks shows called omaha six flags great adventure new jersey new york citys coney island says cold free rides wonder wheel thunderbolt roller coaster animal advocates urged people protect pets cold wild animals werent immune dangers winter either ohio wildlife officers mulled rescue deer stuck icecovered river managed lasso deer rope pull shore friday euthanize injured animal
| 888 |
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Thursday the U.S. government “could very well” shut down and that would be very harmful to the military.</p>
<p>“If the country shuts down, which could very well be, the budget should be handled a lot differently than it has been handled for the last long period of time,” Trump said in answer to reporters’ questions as he arrived for a visit at the Pentagon. “If for any reason it shuts down, the worst thing is what happens to our military.”</p>
<p>Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by David Alexander</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A six-month budget truce stitched together by Congress in March could unravel if Republican leaders vying to replace U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan indulge party conservatives who want to renege on critical parts of the pact.</p>
<p>At issue is a resurgent move by conservative Republicans to rescind, or cut about $60 billion in non-defense domestic spending increases that were key to winning Democratic votes.</p>
<p>That deal also significantly raised U.S. military spending this year as demanded by Republicans.</p>
<p>Those seeking the cuts would need the support of Republican House leaders, such as Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise, both seen as potential rivals to replace Ryan as the No. 1 House Republican and - if the party retains its majority in November elections - as speaker.</p>
<p>McCarthy, the House majority leader, talked up the provocative spending cuts on Thursday. In a statement, he said Republicans were “looking at other tools to cut spending” and added: “We have nothing to lose by making big changes.”</p>
<p>One of several Republicans who will have a say in the budding battle, McCarthy explicitly mentioned using a procedural tool known as rescissions in which President Donald Trump could team up with Republicans to kill off the non-military spending increases.</p>
<p>Allowing that to happen could rekindle the budget battles that consumed Congress for much of 2017 and early 2018, a scenario lawmakers had hoped the $1.3 trillion March spending bill had averted through November’s congressional elections.</p>
<p>Both Democrats and moderate Republicans warned against such an outcome. “Bad idea,” said Republican Representative Charlie Dent.</p>
<p>“If they want to go down this path, which won’t be successful ... we wouldn’t be able to pass an appropriations bill” for the fiscal year beginning on Oct. 1, he said.</p>
<p>More broadly, he added, trashing the spending deal would “have a chilling effect” on all sorts of future legislation.</p>
<p>Ryan and enough rank-and-file Republicans could link arms with Democrats to defend the spending deal enacted into law on March 23 and prevent a resumption of hostilities over the budget.</p>
<p>Doing so, however, could risk alienating Republican conservatives such as Representative Jim Jordan, a leading member of the right-wing House Freedom Caucus, at a politically delicate time given the looming leadership shake-up in the House and November’s elections that have Republicans struggling to persuade voters of their fiscal conservatism.</p>
<p>“Let’s get aggressive,” Jordan told reporters just hours after Ryan said on Wednesday that he would quit Congress at the end of 2018, setting up an internal struggle to replace him.</p> House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) leaves after a weekly news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., April 12, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas
<p>Jordan urged pushing for the cuts to Democrats’ domestic priorities, along with welfare changes and tougher oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which has investigated Russia’s role in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.</p>
<p>Any ambitious House leader could help his or her cause by agreeing to the conservatives’ demands, in part a response to the huge deficit expansion created by the spending deal and December’s Republican tax overhaul package.</p>
<p>Reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Peter Cooney</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Republican-led House of Representatives committee wrote to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt on Friday to demand interviews with five top aides, including his security chief.</p> U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt listens as U.S. President Donald Trump holds a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 9, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
<p>The letter from Representative Trey Gowdy, chairman of the House oversight panel, ordered the agency to make appointments for the aides for interviews by April 27.</p>
<p>It also asked for a wide range of documents related to the EPA administrator’s travel and security arrangements, following written requests for other material earlier this week and in February.</p>
<p>There was no immediate response from the EPA to a request for comment.</p>
<p>Pruitt has been under fire by Democrats and some Republicans for frequent first-class air travel, including a trip to Italy that cost $43,000, not including security detail.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump has supported Pruitt, but said he would take a look into the allegations.</p>
<p>The letter from Gowdy ordered Pruitt’s Chief of Staff Ryan Jackson, Deputy Chief of Staff Kevin Chmielewski, security chief Pasquale “Nino” Perrotta; Millian Hupp, the director of scheduling and advance; and Sarah Greenwalt, senior counsel, to schedule interviews with committee investigators.</p>
<p>On Wednesday, Gowdy sent a letter to Pruitt complaining that despite earlier requests, the EPA had not provided requested documents about expensive air travel, including documents related to any threats that had been made on Pruitt.</p>
<p>Gowdy also asked Pruitt in the Wednesday letter to provide documents on a lease for a condo that he rented from Vicki Hart, the wife of a lobbyist who works for companies regulated by the EPA, which has been criticized for the low rate of $50 per day charged to Pruitt when he stayed there.</p>
<p>Reporting by Eric Walsh; Editing by Leslie Adler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump will lift his administration’s plans for a possible crackdown on states that have legalized marijuana after talks with a Colorado senator, the White House said on Friday, an action that undercuts U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.</p> FILE PHOTO: U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) speaks at a town hall meeting in Lakewood, Colorado, U.S., August 15, 2017. REUTERS/Rick Wilking
<p>Senator Cory Gardner, Trump’s fellow Republican whose state has some of the most permissive marijuana laws in the country, had blocked Senate confirmation of Justice Department nominations to force the change.</p>
<p>Sessions on Jan. 4 rescinded a policy begun under Democratic former President Barack Obama that had eased enforcement of federal marijuana laws in states that legalized it. In doing so, Sessions, who has taken a hard line against marijuana, gave federal prosecutors wide latitude to pursue criminal charges.</p> FILE PHOTO: U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) smiles after he was ceremonially sworn-in by Vice President Joseph Biden in the Old Senate Chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, U.S., January 6, 2015. REUTERS/Larry Downing
<p>Gardner said on Friday he received a commitment from Trump that the rescission “will not impact Colorado’s legal marijuana industry.” Gardner said Trump assured him he would support legislation “to fix this states’ rights issue once and for all.”</p>
<p>White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders confirmed the president’s action.</p>
<p>“We’re always consulting Congress about issues, including states’ rights, of which the president is a firm believer. And the statement that the senator put out earlier today is accurate,” Sanders added.</p> FILE PHOTO: Different strains of marijuana are seen for sale at Harborside, one of California's largest and oldest dispensaries of medical marijuana, on the first day of legalized recreational marijuana in Oakland, California, U.S., January 1, 2018. REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage/File Photo
<p>While more than half of the U.S. states have approved marijuana for medical or recreational use, it is still illegal under federal law.</p>
<p>The president has frequently criticized Sessions, particularly over his decision to recuse himself from oversight of the federal investigation into potential collusion between Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and Russia.</p>
<p>Gardner said he had earlier allowed some Justice Department nominations to proceed after having “positive discussions” with the department, and will now allow the remaining blocked nominations to move forward.</p>
<p>Democratic U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, another state with permissive marijuana laws, expressed skepticism, saying, “Trump changes his mind constantly.”</p>
<p>“We should hope for the best, but not take anything for granted,” Blumenauer, a founder of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, said in a statement.</p>
<p>During the 2016 campaign, Trump broke with his party and supported giving states the right to set their own policies on marijuana. He then appeared to change his position last year by saying he has a constitutional responsibility to faithfully execute federal laws.</p>
<p>Bob Ferguson, the Democratic attorney general of Washington state, which permits marijuana use, said Gardner’s announcement made him “cautiously optimistic” but until there is a formal agreement or law on the issue he stands ready to defend “Washington’s well-regulated marijuana industry.”</p>
<p>Reporting by Lisa Lambert; Editing by Will Dunham</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer arranged for a $1.6 million payment to a Playboy Playmate to keep secret her sexual relationship with Republican fundraiser and Trump ally Elliott Broidy, during which she became pregnant, a person familiar with the matter said on Friday.</p> U.S. President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Michael Cohen exits a hotel in New York City, U.S., April 11, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
<p>Michael Cohen, whose home and office were raided this week by FBI agents searching in part for information about payoffs to women alleging sexual encounters with Trump, handled the matter on behalf of Broidy.</p>
<p>The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity, was confirming a report by the Wall Street Journal.</p>
<p>The woman’s name has not been made public and the source declined to disclose it.</p>
<p>Cohen has been at the center of a controversy over a $130,000 payment he has admitted making shortly before the 2016 election to porn star Stormy Daniels, who has said that she had sex once with Trump in 2006 and was paid to keep quiet about it.</p>
<p>A former Playboy model, Karen McDougal, has described having a 10-month affair with Trump, which the White House has said Trump denies. McDougal said her lawyer at the time secretly negotiated with Cohen on a deal with American Media Inc, publisher of the National Enquirer, which paid her $150,000 in 2016 to keep quiet.</p>
<p>Broidy acknowledged in an emailed statement on Friday that he had a relationship with a Playboy Playmate and offered to help her financially after she told him she was pregnant.</p>
<p>“She alone decided that she did not want to continue with the pregnancy and I offered to help her financially during this difficult period. We have not spoken since that time,” Broidy said in the statement.</p>
<p>Broidy, a former national vice chair of the Trump campaign, resigned on Friday as deputy finance chair of the Republican National Committee, according to a person familiar with that matter.</p>
<p>Broidy said Cohen reached out to him after being contacted by the woman’s attorney, Keith Davidson. Broidy said he retained Cohen because Cohen had a prior relationship with Davidson.</p>
<p>Cohen and Davidson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.</p>
<p>Cohen used the same pseudonyms in a non-disclosure agreement between Broidy and the Playmate that he used in a similar agreement that involved Trump and Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.</p>
<p>In this case, Broidy was known as David Dennison and the Playboy model was described as Peggy Peterson.</p>
<p>Broidy agreed to pay the $1.6 million over two years, and completed the first installment in December, the person said.</p>
<p>The news is the latest damaging revelation about Broidy.</p>
<p>He filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles federal court last month, accusing the Gulf nation of Qatar of stealing and leaking emails to reporters in retribution for Broidy’s attempts to influence the Trump administration in favor of regional rivals of Qatar.</p>
<p>Broidy pleaded guilty in 2009 in New York as part of a “pay-to-play” scheme involving the state pension fund.</p>
<p>In that case, he admitted he made nearly $1 million in gifts for New York state pension fund officials. Markstone Capital Partners, a private equity firm he founded, received $250 million of pension fund money to manage.</p>
<p>His felony was later reduced to a misdemeanor, and he was spared jail time, but paid $18 million to the state in restitution.</p>
<p>Reporting by Karen Freifeld, Nathan Layne and Steve Holland in Washington; Editing by David Gregorio and Alistair Bell</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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washington reuters president donald trump said thursday us government could well shut would harmful military country shuts could well budget handled lot differently handled last long period time trump said answer reporters questions arrived visit pentagon reason shuts worst thing happens military reporting roberta rampton writing doina chiacu editing david alexander standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters sixmonth budget truce stitched together congress march could unravel republican leaders vying replace us house representatives speaker paul ryan indulge party conservatives want renege critical parts pact issue resurgent move conservative republicans rescind cut 60 billion nondefense domestic spending increases key winning democratic votes deal also significantly raised us military spending year demanded republicans seeking cuts would need support republican house leaders kevin mccarthy steve scalise seen potential rivals replace ryan 1 house republican party retains majority november elections speaker mccarthy house majority leader talked provocative spending cuts thursday statement said republicans looking tools cut spending added nothing lose making big changes one several republicans say budding battle mccarthy explicitly mentioned using procedural tool known rescissions president donald trump could team republicans kill nonmilitary spending increases allowing happen could rekindle budget battles consumed congress much 2017 early 2018 scenario lawmakers hoped 13 trillion march spending bill averted novembers congressional elections democrats moderate republicans warned outcome bad idea said republican representative charlie dent want go path wont successful wouldnt able pass appropriations bill fiscal year beginning oct 1 said broadly added trashing spending deal would chilling effect sorts future legislation ryan enough rankandfile republicans could link arms democrats defend spending deal enacted law march 23 prevent resumption hostilities budget however could risk alienating republican conservatives representative jim jordan leading member rightwing house freedom caucus politically delicate time given looming leadership shakeup house novembers elections republicans struggling persuade voters fiscal conservatism lets get aggressive jordan told reporters hours ryan said wednesday would quit congress end 2018 setting internal struggle replace house speaker paul ryan rwi leaves weekly news conference capitol hill washington us april 12 2018 reutersyuri gripas jordan urged pushing cuts democrats domestic priorities along welfare changes tougher oversight federal bureau investigation investigated russias role 2016 us presidential election ambitious house leader could help cause agreeing conservatives demands part response huge deficit expansion created spending deal decembers republican tax overhaul package reporting richard cowan editing kevin drawbaugh peter cooney standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters republicanled house representatives committee wrote environmental protection agency administrator scott pruitt friday demand interviews five top aides including security chief us environmental protection agency administrator scott pruitt listens us president donald trump holds cabinet meeting white house washington us april 9 2018 reuterskevin lamarque letter representative trey gowdy chairman house oversight panel ordered agency make appointments aides interviews april 27 also asked wide range documents related epa administrators travel security arrangements following written requests material earlier week february immediate response epa request comment pruitt fire democrats republicans frequent firstclass air travel including trip italy cost 43000 including security detail president donald trump supported pruitt said would take look allegations letter gowdy ordered pruitts chief staff ryan jackson deputy chief staff kevin chmielewski security chief pasquale nino perrotta millian hupp director scheduling advance sarah greenwalt senior counsel schedule interviews committee investigators wednesday gowdy sent letter pruitt complaining despite earlier requests epa provided requested documents expensive air travel including documents related threats made pruitt gowdy also asked pruitt wednesday letter provide documents lease condo rented vicki hart wife lobbyist works companies regulated epa criticized low rate 50 per day charged pruitt stayed reporting eric walsh editing leslie adler standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters president donald trump lift administrations plans possible crackdown states legalized marijuana talks colorado senator white house said friday action undercuts us attorney general jeff sessions file photo us senator cory gardner rco speaks town hall meeting lakewood colorado us august 15 2017 reutersrick wilking senator cory gardner trumps fellow republican whose state permissive marijuana laws country blocked senate confirmation justice department nominations force change sessions jan 4 rescinded policy begun democratic former president barack obama eased enforcement federal marijuana laws states legalized sessions taken hard line marijuana gave federal prosecutors wide latitude pursue criminal charges file photo us senator cory gardner rco smiles ceremonially swornin vice president joseph biden old senate chamber capitol hill washington dc us january 6 2015 reuterslarry downing gardner said friday received commitment trump rescission impact colorados legal marijuana industry gardner said trump assured would support legislation fix states rights issue white house spokeswoman sarah sanders confirmed presidents action always consulting congress issues including states rights president firm believer statement senator put earlier today accurate sanders added file photo different strains marijuana seen sale harborside one californias largest oldest dispensaries medical marijuana first day legalized recreational marijuana oakland california us january 1 2018 reuterselijah nouvelagefile photo half us states approved marijuana medical recreational use still illegal federal law president frequently criticized sessions particularly decision recuse oversight federal investigation potential collusion trumps 2016 presidential campaign russia gardner said earlier allowed justice department nominations proceed positive discussions department allow remaining blocked nominations move forward democratic us representative earl blumenauer oregon another state permissive marijuana laws expressed skepticism saying trump changes mind constantly hope best take anything granted blumenauer founder congressional cannabis caucus said statement 2016 campaign trump broke party supported giving states right set policies marijuana appeared change position last year saying constitutional responsibility faithfully execute federal laws bob ferguson democratic attorney general washington state permits marijuana use said gardners announcement made cautiously optimistic formal agreement law issue stands ready defend washingtons wellregulated marijuana industry reporting lisa lambert editing dunham standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters us president donald trumps personal lawyer arranged 16 million payment playboy playmate keep secret sexual relationship republican fundraiser trump ally elliott broidy became pregnant person familiar matter said friday us president donald trumps personal lawyer michael cohen exits hotel new york city us april 11 2018 reutersbrendan mcdermid michael cohen whose home office raided week fbi agents searching part information payoffs women alleging sexual encounters trump handled matter behalf broidy person spoke condition anonymity confirming report wall street journal womans name made public source declined disclose cohen center controversy 130000 payment admitted making shortly 2016 election porn star stormy daniels said sex trump 2006 paid keep quiet former playboy model karen mcdougal described 10month affair trump white house said trump denies mcdougal said lawyer time secretly negotiated cohen deal american media inc publisher national enquirer paid 150000 2016 keep quiet broidy acknowledged emailed statement friday relationship playboy playmate offered help financially told pregnant alone decided want continue pregnancy offered help financially difficult period spoken since time broidy said statement broidy former national vice chair trump campaign resigned friday deputy finance chair republican national committee according person familiar matter broidy said cohen reached contacted womans attorney keith davidson broidy said retained cohen cohen prior relationship davidson cohen davidson immediately respond requests comment cohen used pseudonyms nondisclosure agreement broidy playmate used similar agreement involved trump daniels whose real name stephanie clifford case broidy known david dennison playboy model described peggy peterson broidy agreed pay 16 million two years completed first installment december person said news latest damaging revelation broidy filed lawsuit los angeles federal court last month accusing gulf nation qatar stealing leaking emails reporters retribution broidys attempts influence trump administration favor regional rivals qatar broidy pleaded guilty 2009 new york part paytoplay scheme involving state pension fund case admitted made nearly 1 million gifts new york state pension fund officials markstone capital partners private equity firm founded received 250 million pension fund money manage felony later reduced misdemeanor spared jail time paid 18 million state restitution reporting karen freifeld nathan layne steve holland washington editing david gregorio alistair bell standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>Jan 18 (Reuters) - S&amp;P:</p>
<p>* S&amp;P SAYS PHILIPPINES' PROPOSED SENIOR UNSECURED NOTES ASSIGNED 'BBB' LONG-TERM FOREIGN CURRENCY RATING Source: <a href="http://bit.ly/2ERJUkM" type="external">bit.ly/2ERJUkM</a></p> Our Standards:
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<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former FBI director James Comey said in an ABC News interview on Sunday that U.S. President Donald Trump is a dangerous, “morally unfit” leader doing “tremendous damage” to institutional and cultural norms.</p>
<p>Comey, fired by Trump in May last year, was worried the president may be open to blackmail by Russia given claims he was present when prostitutes urinated on each other during a 2013 Moscow visit.</p>
<p>Comey’s firing came as the Federal Bureau of Investigation was probing possible connections between Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and Russia’s meddling in the U.S. election.</p>
<p>Russia has denied interfering in the election and Trump has denied any collusion or improper activity.</p>
<p>Comey said in the exclusive interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos, which aired at 10 p.m. on Sunday (0200 GMT on Monday), that it is “possible, but I don’t know” whether Russia has evidence to back up the allegations about Trump’s Moscow trip.</p>
<p>Trump told Comey that he had not stayed overnight in the Moscow hotel and that the claims related to the prostitutes were not true, Comey said.</p>
<p>“A person ... who talks about and treats women like they’re pieces of meat, who lies constantly about matters big and small and insists the American people believe it, that person’s not fit to be president of the United States, on moral grounds. And that’s not a policy statement,” Comey said.</p>
<p>“He is morally unfit to be president,” he added.</p>
<p>Comey has a tell-all book, “Higher Loyalty,” due out on Tuesday.</p>
<p>The book’s imminent release - and the slated ABC News interview - prompted Trump to hurl a new set of insults at Comey earlier on Sunday, challenging accusations made in the book, and insisting that he never pressed Comey to be loyal to him.</p>
<p>“Slippery James Comey, a man who always ends up badly and out of whack (he is not smart!), will go down as the WORST FBI Director in history, by far!” Trump wrote early on Sunday in one of five Twitter posts aimed directly at Comey.</p>
<p>Reuters and other news outlets have obtained copies of Comey’s book before its formal release. In it, Comey wrote that Trump, in a private meeting, pressed the then-FBI director for his loyalty.</p>
<p>Comey told ABC News that the title of the book came from that “bizarre conversation” he had with Trump at the White House in January 2017, shortly after his inauguration.</p>
<p>“He asked for my loyalty personally as the F.B.I. director. My loyalty’s supposed to be to the American people and to the institution,” Comey said in the interview.</p>
<p>The FBI has long tried to operate as an independent law enforcement agency.</p>
<p>“I never asked Comey for Personal Loyalty. I hardly even knew this guy. Just another of his many lies,” Trump said on Twitter.</p> A copy of former FBI director James Comey's book "A Higher Loyalty" is seen in New York City, New York, U.S. April 13, 2018. REUTERS/Soren Larson
<p>Comey is now a crucial witness for Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into whether Trump has tried to obstruct the Russia probe.</p>
<p>Comey told ABC News that he believes there is “certainly some evidence of obstruction of justice.”</p>
<p>Comey also defended his decision to publicly disclose the FBI’s re-opening of its investigation into Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s handling of email when she was secretary of state.</p>
<p>The Clinton probe was already public, Comey said, whereas the FBI’s examination of possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia was in its early stages. It did not become publicly known until after the 2016 presidential election.</p>
<p>Despite his myriad of reservations about Trump, Comey told ABC News that he did not believe the U.S. Congress should impeach him, as it would let the American people “off the hook” for something “they’re duty bound to do directly.”</p>
<p>“People in this country need to stand up and go to the voting booth and vote their values,” he said.</p> Slideshow (2 Images)
<p>U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, interviewed on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday morning, expressed qualified support for Comey. Asked whether Comey was a man of integrity, the Republican speaker said: “As far as I know,” but added that he did not know him well.</p>
<p>Asked about Trump’s use last week of the words “slime ball” to describe Comey, Ryan said: “I don’t use words like that.”</p>
<p>Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said the ABC interview reaffirms that Comey’s “higher loyalty is to himself.”</p>
<p>“He has no credibility and President Trump was right to follow through on the bipartisan calls for him to be fired,” McDaniel said in a statement.</p>
<p>Reporting by Amanda Becker and Sarah Lynch; Additional reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Peter Cooney</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>ATLANTA (Reuters) - Deadly slow-moving storms generated record or near-record snowfall and low temperatures in the U.S. Midwest and tornadoes further east on Sunday, leaving airline travelers stranded and thousands without power.</p>
<p>In Michigan, where snowfall was expected to reach 18 inches in some areas, about 310,000 homes and businesses were without power because of an ice storm, most of them in the southeast of the state.</p>
<p>Large areas of Detroit were without power and customers were not expected to have it back on Sunday night, utility DTE Energy ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=DTE.N" type="external">DTE.N</a>) said. It was working to have 90 percent of outages restored by Tuesday, DTE spokeswoman Carly Getz said in a statement.</p>
<p>The weight of ice on power lines, coupled with high winds, caused more than 1,000 power lines to fall in Detroit and Wayne County, DTE said.</p>
<p>The worst of the snow was focused on the upper Great Lakes, with Green Bay, Wisconsin, seeing its second largest snowstorm ever after 23.2 inches fell as of Sunday afternoon, the National Weather Service said.</p>
<p>For the twin cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, the April monthly record for snowfall of 21.8 inches (55 cm) was surpassed on Saturday, the National Weather Service said.</p>
<p>Two tornadoes tore up trees and ripped apart homes in Greensboro and Reidsville, North Carolina, killing a motorist who was hit by a tree, according to Greensboro’s city manager, local media reported.</p> Slideshow (2 Images)
<p>The storms stretched from the Gulf Coast to the Midwest and were moving into the Northeast and New England.</p>
<p>Record low temperatures for the date were expected in Oklahoma City on Monday at 30 degrees F (-1 C), and in Kansas City, Missouri, at 25 F (-4 C), Hurley said.</p>
<p>On Friday, the weather system produced 17 reports of tornadoes in Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Texas, with four people injured and 160 buildings damaged in a possible tornado in northwest Arkansas, local media reported.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=DTE.N" type="external">DTE Energy Co</a> 102.44 DTE.N New York Stock Exchange +0.34 (+0.33%) DTE.N
<p>The weather was blamed for two traffic deaths in western Nebraska and Wisconsin, according to National Public Radio.</p>
<p>The storms also killed a one-year-old girl when a tree fell on a recreational vehicle where she was sleeping, the sheriff’s office in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, said.</p>
<p>By Sunday night, 1,804 flights had been canceled into or out of U.S. airports, the website flightaware.com reported, including 148 flights in or out of the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport.</p>
<p>Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Additional reporting by Bernie Woodall in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and Andrew Hay in Taos, N.M.; Editing by Adrian Croft and Peter Cooney</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Taro Kono and his Chinese counterpart have pledged to improve ties between their nations and affirmed a commitment to stick with U.N. resolutions aimed at forcing North Korea to abandon nuclear weapons.</p> Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) and Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono gesture at their meeting in Tokyo, Japan April 15, 2018. Behrouz Mehri/Pool via Reuters
<p>Kono met the Chinese government’s top diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi, in Tokyo on Sunday, having made his own official visit to Beijing earlier this year.</p>
<p>Wang is the first Chinese foreign minister to visit Japan in a bilateral context in the nine years. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping last year promised to reset the sometimes fraught relations between Asia’s two largest economies.</p> Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (2nd L) and Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono (2nd R) meet in Tokyo, Japan April 15, 2018. Behrouz Mehri/Pool via Reuters
<p>“Through mutual visits between our two leaders we agreed to pursue wide-reaching cooperation and improved ties,” Kono said after Sunday’s meeting.</p>
<p>Economic ties between Japan and China are close, led by corporate investment. The neighbors remain at odds, however, over China’s growing military presence in the South China Sea, through which much of the region’s sea-borne trade sails, and a dispute over ownership of uninhabited islets in the East China Sea, known as the Senkaku in Tokyo and the Diaoyu in Beijing.</p>
<p>Wang said his visit was in response to Japan’s positive attitude towards China.</p> Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) shakes hands with Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono at their meeting in Tokyo, Japan April 15, 2018. Behrouz Mehri/Pool via Reuters
<p>“Since last year Japan has, in relations with China, displayed a positive message and friendly attitude,” he said.</p>
<p>The talks came ahead of a summit between the two Koreas this month and a meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jon Un and U.S. President Donald Trump. The U.S-North Korea talks are aimed at ending a stand-off over Pyongyang’s development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.</p>
<p>“To establish a complete, irreversible and verifiable denuclearization of North Korea we agreed to continue to fully implement all relevant U.N. resolutions and to work closely together,” Kono said.</p>
<p>Wang, who spent eight years in Japan as a diplomat, including three as China’s ambassador, is scheduled to hold further talks with Kono and other Japanese Cabinet ministers on Monday.</p>
<p>On Tuesday Japanese Self Defense Force officers will meet counterparts from China’s People’s Liberation Army at a reception hosted by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation in an effort to build trust between the military rivals.</p>
<p>(Changes to Japan and China pledged relationship reset last year.)</p>
<p>Reporting by Nobuhiro Kubo; Writing by Tim Kelly and Ritsuko Ando; Editing by Sam Holmes and David Goodman</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>
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jan 18 reuters sampp sampp says philippines proposed senior unsecured notes assigned bbb longterm foreign currency rating source bitly2erjukm standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters former fbi director james comey said abc news interview sunday us president donald trump dangerous morally unfit leader tremendous damage institutional cultural norms comey fired trump may last year worried president may open blackmail russia given claims present prostitutes urinated 2013 moscow visit comeys firing came federal bureau investigation probing possible connections trumps 2016 presidential campaign russias meddling us election russia denied interfering election trump denied collusion improper activity comey said exclusive interview abc news george stephanopoulos aired 10 pm sunday 0200 gmt monday possible dont know whether russia evidence back allegations trumps moscow trip trump told comey stayed overnight moscow hotel claims related prostitutes true comey said person talks treats women like theyre pieces meat lies constantly matters big small insists american people believe persons fit president united states moral grounds thats policy statement comey said morally unfit president added comey tellall book higher loyalty due tuesday books imminent release slated abc news interview prompted trump hurl new set insults comey earlier sunday challenging accusations made book insisting never pressed comey loyal slippery james comey man always ends badly whack smart go worst fbi director history far trump wrote early sunday one five twitter posts aimed directly comey reuters news outlets obtained copies comeys book formal release comey wrote trump private meeting pressed thenfbi director loyalty comey told abc news title book came bizarre conversation trump white house january 2017 shortly inauguration asked loyalty personally fbi director loyaltys supposed american people institution comey said interview fbi long tried operate independent law enforcement agency never asked comey personal loyalty hardly even knew guy another many lies trump said twitter copy former fbi director james comeys book higher loyalty seen new york city new york us april 13 2018 reuterssoren larson comey crucial witness special counsel robert muellers investigation whether trump tried obstruct russia probe comey told abc news believes certainly evidence obstruction justice comey also defended decision publicly disclose fbis reopening investigation democratic presidential candidate hillary clintons handling email secretary state clinton probe already public comey said whereas fbis examination possible collusion trump campaign russia early stages become publicly known 2016 presidential election despite myriad reservations trump comey told abc news believe us congress impeach would let american people hook something theyre duty bound directly people country need stand go voting booth vote values said slideshow 2 images us house representatives speaker paul ryan interviewed nbcs meet press sunday morning expressed qualified support comey asked whether comey man integrity republican speaker said far know added know well asked trumps use last week words slime ball describe comey ryan said dont use words like republican national committee chairwoman ronna mcdaniel said abc interview reaffirms comeys higher loyalty credibility president trump right follow bipartisan calls fired mcdaniel said statement reporting amanda becker sarah lynch additional reporting richard cowan editing lisa shumaker peter cooney standards thomson reuters trust principles atlanta reuters deadly slowmoving storms generated record nearrecord snowfall low temperatures us midwest tornadoes east sunday leaving airline travelers stranded thousands without power michigan snowfall expected reach 18 inches areas 310000 homes businesses without power ice storm southeast state large areas detroit without power customers expected back sunday night utility dte energy dten said working 90 percent outages restored tuesday dte spokeswoman carly getz said statement weight ice power lines coupled high winds caused 1000 power lines fall detroit wayne county dte said worst snow focused upper great lakes green bay wisconsin seeing second largest snowstorm ever 232 inches fell sunday afternoon national weather service said twin cities minneapolisst paul minnesota april monthly record snowfall 218 inches 55 cm surpassed saturday national weather service said two tornadoes tore trees ripped apart homes greensboro reidsville north carolina killing motorist hit tree according greensboros city manager local media reported slideshow 2 images storms stretched gulf coast midwest moving northeast new england record low temperatures date expected oklahoma city monday 30 degrees f 1 c kansas city missouri 25 f 4 c hurley said friday weather system produced 17 reports tornadoes arkansas louisiana missouri texas four people injured 160 buildings damaged possible tornado northwest arkansas local media reported dte energy co 10244 dten new york stock exchange 034 033 dten weather blamed two traffic deaths western nebraska wisconsin according national public radio storms also killed oneyearold girl tree fell recreational vehicle sleeping sheriffs office bossier parish louisiana said sunday night 1804 flights canceled us airports website flightawarecom reported including 148 flights minneapolisst paul airport reporting rich mckay atlanta additional reporting bernie woodall fort lauderdale fla andrew hay taos nm editing adrian croft peter cooney standards thomson reuters trust principles tokyo reuters japanese foreign affairs minister taro kono chinese counterpart pledged improve ties nations affirmed commitment stick un resolutions aimed forcing north korea abandon nuclear weapons chinese state councilor foreign minister wang yi l japans foreign minister taro kono gesture meeting tokyo japan april 15 2018 behrouz mehripool via reuters kono met chinese governments top diplomat state councillor wang yi tokyo sunday made official visit beijing earlier year wang first chinese foreign minister visit japan bilateral context nine years japanese prime minister shinzo abe chinese president xi jinping last year promised reset sometimes fraught relations asias two largest economies chinese state councilor foreign minister wang yi 2nd l japans foreign minister taro kono 2nd r meet tokyo japan april 15 2018 behrouz mehripool via reuters mutual visits two leaders agreed pursue widereaching cooperation improved ties kono said sundays meeting economic ties japan china close led corporate investment neighbors remain odds however chinas growing military presence south china sea much regions seaborne trade sails dispute ownership uninhabited islets east china sea known senkaku tokyo diaoyu beijing wang said visit response japans positive attitude towards china chinese state councilor foreign minister wang yi l shakes hands japans foreign minister taro kono meeting tokyo japan april 15 2018 behrouz mehripool via reuters since last year japan relations china displayed positive message friendly attitude said talks came ahead summit two koreas month meeting north korean leader kim jon un us president donald trump usnorth korea talks aimed ending standoff pyongyangs development nuclear weapons ballistic missiles establish complete irreversible verifiable denuclearization north korea agreed continue fully implement relevant un resolutions work closely together kono said wang spent eight years japan diplomat including three chinas ambassador scheduled hold talks kono japanese cabinet ministers monday tuesday japanese self defense force officers meet counterparts chinas peoples liberation army reception hosted sasakawa peace foundation effort build trust military rivals changes japan china pledged relationship reset last year reporting nobuhiro kubo writing tim kelly ritsuko ando editing sam holmes david goodman 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
| 1,420 |
<p>North Korea suddenly making nice for the duration of next month’s Olympic Games in South Korea, putting seven decades of enmity on hold for 16 days with its offers to send athletes and entertainers across their heavily militarized border, won’t fundamentally change what happens next.</p>
<p>When the Olympic flame has been extinguished, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will continue to use every tool at his disposal, including his gulags and thought police, to maintain his iron grip on power, demanding unfailing loyalty from each and every North Korean, just as his grandfather and father did before him.</p>
<p>To preserve the dynasty they handed down, one where the Kims and their trusted lieutenants ruled across decades when millions starved, he will continue the North’s push for an arsenal of nuclear-tipped missiles that could strike faraway cities — to make sure that world leaders think thrice about any scheme to topple him.</p>
<p>So, when the medals have all been won, the world will almost certainly find itself back at square one: Worrying again about whether Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump are just a misstep or an angry tweet away from reaching for those nuclear buttons they’ve bragged about.</p>
<p>Because North Korea has been so closed for so long, trying to determine the intentions of Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il and now Kim Jong Un has often been an exercise in guesswork. But it’s safe to say they all shared the same priority: the survival of themselves and their regime. Kim’s unexpected offer earlier this month to send a delegation to the games in Pyeongchang must be seen through that lens. From his perspective, an Olympic truce is a low-risk gambit that helps the No. 1 purpose of his regime: buying more time for Kim.</p>
<p>Having no part at all in the Feb. 9-25 games just 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of the heavily mined border that divides the Korean peninsula would have been worse for Kim. It would have made the North appear even more isolated, not only targeted by U.S.-led international sanctions but cut off from the far more forgiving sporting world, too. That takes some doing.</p>
<p>Instead, by sending singers, dancers, an orchestra and a cheering squad, the North gets to whoop it up at the South’s Olympic party, ditches its pariah costume for a couple of weeks, and temporarily confuses and distracts the world from its stated goal of perfecting and growing its nuclear arsenal. Not a bad trade-off.</p>
<p>The few athletes the North is likely to send will almost certainly return home empty-handed. But Kim can lean on his mouthpieces in the North’s entirely state-controlled media to pen fawning paeans anyway.</p>
<p>In sports, North Korea barely makes a dent, despite Kim’s supposed love of the NBA and occasional visits from Dennis Rodman. But Kim has favored winter sports, and one of his big showcase projects — a ski resort three hours outside Pyongyang — attests to that.</p>
<p>The South, for its part, would have looked churlish by refusing Kim’s outstretched hand, even as he holds missiles in the other one. Should this thaw, like previous ones, again fail to produce a broader, more enduring melt of frosty ties between the Koreas, it should at least reassure Olympic athletes and visitors that they won’t be risking their lives by putting themselves within range of Kim’s troops.</p>
<p>The International Olympic Committee stands to gain from this, too. Before the Koreas started talking again, Russia was shaping up as the dark cloud over the first Winter Olympics since its armada of doped athletes, helped by state officials and a lab director later turned whistleblower, topped the medal table in Sochi in 2014, only to lose that spot when medals were later stripped.</p>
<p>IOC President Thomas Bach will still face tough questions in Pyeongchang about why Russian athletes are being allowed to compete again so soon after the Sochi scandal. But thanks to the Koreas, he’ll also be able to crow that the Olympics are a force for human cooperation, even peace.</p>
<p>Kim, for one, would like us to believe it — however true or untrue the reality might be.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>John Leicester is an international sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at [email protected] or follow him at <a href="http://twitter.com/johnleicester" type="external">http://twitter.com/johnleicester</a></p>
<p>North Korea suddenly making nice for the duration of next month’s Olympic Games in South Korea, putting seven decades of enmity on hold for 16 days with its offers to send athletes and entertainers across their heavily militarized border, won’t fundamentally change what happens next.</p>
<p>When the Olympic flame has been extinguished, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will continue to use every tool at his disposal, including his gulags and thought police, to maintain his iron grip on power, demanding unfailing loyalty from each and every North Korean, just as his grandfather and father did before him.</p>
<p>To preserve the dynasty they handed down, one where the Kims and their trusted lieutenants ruled across decades when millions starved, he will continue the North’s push for an arsenal of nuclear-tipped missiles that could strike faraway cities — to make sure that world leaders think thrice about any scheme to topple him.</p>
<p>So, when the medals have all been won, the world will almost certainly find itself back at square one: Worrying again about whether Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump are just a misstep or an angry tweet away from reaching for those nuclear buttons they’ve bragged about.</p>
<p>Because North Korea has been so closed for so long, trying to determine the intentions of Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il and now Kim Jong Un has often been an exercise in guesswork. But it’s safe to say they all shared the same priority: the survival of themselves and their regime. Kim’s unexpected offer earlier this month to send a delegation to the games in Pyeongchang must be seen through that lens. From his perspective, an Olympic truce is a low-risk gambit that helps the No. 1 purpose of his regime: buying more time for Kim.</p>
<p>Having no part at all in the Feb. 9-25 games just 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of the heavily mined border that divides the Korean peninsula would have been worse for Kim. It would have made the North appear even more isolated, not only targeted by U.S.-led international sanctions but cut off from the far more forgiving sporting world, too. That takes some doing.</p>
<p>Instead, by sending singers, dancers, an orchestra and a cheering squad, the North gets to whoop it up at the South’s Olympic party, ditches its pariah costume for a couple of weeks, and temporarily confuses and distracts the world from its stated goal of perfecting and growing its nuclear arsenal. Not a bad trade-off.</p>
<p>The few athletes the North is likely to send will almost certainly return home empty-handed. But Kim can lean on his mouthpieces in the North’s entirely state-controlled media to pen fawning paeans anyway.</p>
<p>In sports, North Korea barely makes a dent, despite Kim’s supposed love of the NBA and occasional visits from Dennis Rodman. But Kim has favored winter sports, and one of his big showcase projects — a ski resort three hours outside Pyongyang — attests to that.</p>
<p>The South, for its part, would have looked churlish by refusing Kim’s outstretched hand, even as he holds missiles in the other one. Should this thaw, like previous ones, again fail to produce a broader, more enduring melt of frosty ties between the Koreas, it should at least reassure Olympic athletes and visitors that they won’t be risking their lives by putting themselves within range of Kim’s troops.</p>
<p>The International Olympic Committee stands to gain from this, too. Before the Koreas started talking again, Russia was shaping up as the dark cloud over the first Winter Olympics since its armada of doped athletes, helped by state officials and a lab director later turned whistleblower, topped the medal table in Sochi in 2014, only to lose that spot when medals were later stripped.</p>
<p>IOC President Thomas Bach will still face tough questions in Pyeongchang about why Russian athletes are being allowed to compete again so soon after the Sochi scandal. But thanks to the Koreas, he’ll also be able to crow that the Olympics are a force for human cooperation, even peace.</p>
<p>Kim, for one, would like us to believe it — however true or untrue the reality might be.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>John Leicester is an international sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at [email protected] or follow him at <a href="http://twitter.com/johnleicester" type="external">http://twitter.com/johnleicester</a></p>
| false | 2 |
north korea suddenly making nice duration next months olympic games south korea putting seven decades enmity hold 16 days offers send athletes entertainers across heavily militarized border wont fundamentally change happens next olympic flame extinguished north korean leader kim jong un continue use every tool disposal including gulags thought police maintain iron grip power demanding unfailing loyalty every north korean grandfather father preserve dynasty handed one kims trusted lieutenants ruled across decades millions starved continue norths push arsenal nucleartipped missiles could strike faraway cities make sure world leaders think thrice scheme topple medals world almost certainly find back square one worrying whether kim us president donald trump misstep angry tweet away reaching nuclear buttons theyve bragged north korea closed long trying determine intentions kim il sung kim jong il kim jong un often exercise guesswork safe say shared priority survival regime kims unexpected offer earlier month send delegation games pyeongchang must seen lens perspective olympic truce lowrisk gambit helps 1 purpose regime buying time kim part feb 925 games 80 kilometers 50 miles south heavily mined border divides korean peninsula would worse kim would made north appear even isolated targeted usled international sanctions cut far forgiving sporting world takes instead sending singers dancers orchestra cheering squad north gets whoop souths olympic party ditches pariah costume couple weeks temporarily confuses distracts world stated goal perfecting growing nuclear arsenal bad tradeoff athletes north likely send almost certainly return home emptyhanded kim lean mouthpieces norths entirely statecontrolled media pen fawning paeans anyway sports north korea barely makes dent despite kims supposed love nba occasional visits dennis rodman kim favored winter sports one big showcase projects ski resort three hours outside pyongyang attests south part would looked churlish refusing kims outstretched hand even holds missiles one thaw like previous ones fail produce broader enduring melt frosty ties koreas least reassure olympic athletes visitors wont risking lives putting within range kims troops international olympic committee stands gain koreas started talking russia shaping dark cloud first winter olympics since armada doped athletes helped state officials lab director later turned whistleblower topped medal table sochi 2014 lose spot medals later stripped ioc president thomas bach still face tough questions pyeongchang russian athletes allowed compete soon sochi scandal thanks koreas hell also able crow olympics force human cooperation even peace kim one would like us believe however true untrue reality might ___ john leicester international sports columnist associated press write jleicesteraporg follow httptwittercomjohnleicester north korea suddenly making nice duration next months olympic games south korea putting seven decades enmity hold 16 days offers send athletes entertainers across heavily militarized border wont fundamentally change happens next olympic flame extinguished north korean leader kim jong un continue use every tool disposal including gulags thought police maintain iron grip power demanding unfailing loyalty every north korean grandfather father preserve dynasty handed one kims trusted lieutenants ruled across decades millions starved continue norths push arsenal nucleartipped missiles could strike faraway cities make sure world leaders think thrice scheme topple medals world almost certainly find back square one worrying whether kim us president donald trump misstep angry tweet away reaching nuclear buttons theyve bragged north korea closed long trying determine intentions kim il sung kim jong il kim jong un often exercise guesswork safe say shared priority survival regime kims unexpected offer earlier month send delegation games pyeongchang must seen lens perspective olympic truce lowrisk gambit helps 1 purpose regime buying time kim part feb 925 games 80 kilometers 50 miles south heavily mined border divides korean peninsula would worse kim would made north appear even isolated targeted usled international sanctions cut far forgiving sporting world takes instead sending singers dancers orchestra cheering squad north gets whoop souths olympic party ditches pariah costume couple weeks temporarily confuses distracts world stated goal perfecting growing nuclear arsenal bad tradeoff athletes north likely send almost certainly return home emptyhanded kim lean mouthpieces norths entirely statecontrolled media pen fawning paeans anyway sports north korea barely makes dent despite kims supposed love nba occasional visits dennis rodman kim favored winter sports one big showcase projects ski resort three hours outside pyongyang attests south part would looked churlish refusing kims outstretched hand even holds missiles one thaw like previous ones fail produce broader enduring melt frosty ties koreas least reassure olympic athletes visitors wont risking lives putting within range kims troops international olympic committee stands gain koreas started talking russia shaping dark cloud first winter olympics since armada doped athletes helped state officials lab director later turned whistleblower topped medal table sochi 2014 lose spot medals later stripped ioc president thomas bach still face tough questions pyeongchang russian athletes allowed compete soon sochi scandal thanks koreas hell also able crow olympics force human cooperation even peace kim one would like us believe however true untrue reality might ___ john leicester international sports columnist associated press write jleicesteraporg follow httptwittercomjohnleicester
| 810 |
<p>Jan 24 (Reuters) - Consilium Ab:</p>
<p>* 2017 NET SALES SEK 1.65‍​ BILLION VERSUS SEK 1.64 BILLION YEAR AGO</p>
<p>* 2017 ORDER INTAKE SEK 1.82 ‍​ BILLION VERSUS SEK 1.65 BILLION YEAR AGO Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel’s 2007 bombing of a suspected Syrian nuclear reactor was a message to Iran that Israel would not allow it to obtain nuclear weaponry, the Israeli intelligence minister said on Wednesday.</p> A screen grab from a video of an undated material released by the Israeli military on March 21, 2018 shows the site during what the military describes is an Israeli air strike on a suspected Syrian nuclear reactor site near Deir al-Zor on Sept 6, 2007. IDF/Handout via Reuters TV
<p>“The operation and its success made clear that Israel will never allow nuclear weaponry to be in the hands of those who threaten its existence - Syria then, and Iran today,” Minister Israel Katz said on Twitter after Israel officially admitted for the first time that it carried out a 2007 air strike on the Al-Kubar site in Deir al-Zor.</p>
<p>Writing by Dan Williams</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>CEO Alexander Nix’s 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 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>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>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>Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Christopher Wylie told the Washington Post on Tuesday that in 2014 conservative strategist Steve Bannon, who would go on to be Trump's White House adviser, oversaw the firm's early efforts to collect Facebook data to build detailed profiles on millions of American voters. ( <a href="http://wapo.st/2HOTQNu" type="external">wapo.st/2HOTQNu</a>)</p>
<p>Bannon approved spending nearly $1 million to acquire data, including Facebook profiles, in 2014, Wylie told the Post. It is unclear whether Bannon knew how Cambridge Analytica was obtaining the Facebook data, the Post reported.</p>
<p>Bannon, who served on Cambridge Analytica’s board, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.</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> People walk past the building housing the offices of Cambridge Analytica in central London, Britain, March 20, 2018. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
<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>
<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> Slideshow (6 Images) 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>
<p>A Congressional official said House Intelligence Committee Democrats plan to interview Cambridge Analytica whistleblower 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> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-facebook-cambridge-analytica-academic/academic-behind-facebook-breach-says-he-is-a-scapegoat-bbc-idUSKBN1GX0KK" type="external">Academic behind Facebook breach says he is a 'scapegoat': BBC</a>
<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-factbox/factbox-who-is-cambridge-analytica-and-what-did-it-do-idUSKBN1GW07F" type="external">Factbox: Who is Cambridge Analytica and what did it do?</a> 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>
<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 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 data from 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>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 and Lisa Shumaker; Editing by Nick Zieminski, Bill Rigby and Michael Perry</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>LONDON (Reuters) - A Cambridge University academic who harvested data on millions of Facebook users said he had been made a scapegoat by the social network and a UK-based political consultancy, and that the accuracy of the dataset had been exaggerated.</p> FILE PHOTO: A Facebook logo is seen at the Facebook Gather conference in Brussels, Belgium, January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
<p>Facebook has been rocked this week by a whistleblower who said that Cambridge Analytica, a UK-based political firm hired by Donald Trump, had improperly accessed information on 50 million Facebook users to sway public opinion.</p>
<p>Facebook has said the data was harvested by Aleksandr Kogan, a psychology academic.</p>
<p>“The events of the past week have been a total shell shock,” he told the BBC. “My view is that I’m being basically used as a scapegoat by both Facebook and Cambridge Analytica when... we thought we were doing something that was really normal.”</p>
<p>He said the accuracy of the dataset had been “exaggerated” by Cambridge Analytica, and said the dataset was more likely to hurt Trump’s campaign.</p>
<p>Reporting by Kate Holton; editing by Guy Faulconbridge</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>CARACAS/BEIJING (Reuters) - China is likely to extend an agreement providing crisis-stricken Venezuela with favorable loans repayment terms but will not lend fresh funds to President Nicolas Maduro’s government, according to sources in Caracas and Beijing familiar with the situation.</p> FILE PHOTO: Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro talks to the media after a meeting for signing an agreement on guarantees for the vote at the National Electoral Council (CNE) headquarters in Caracas, Venezuela March 2, 2018. REUTERS/Marco Bello/File Photo
<p>During a decade, China plowed more than $50 billion into the OPEC member’s coffers through oil-for-loan agreements that helped Beijing secure energy supplies for its fast-growing economy while bolstering an anti-Washington ally in Latin America.</p>
<p>But the flow of cash halted nearly three years ago when Venezuela asked for a change of payment terms when a fall in oil prices and declining crude output pushed its state-led economy into a hyperinflationary collapse.</p>
<p>Though unwilling to throw Venezuela a financial lifeline, the state-run China Development Bank (CDB) will likely extend next month a grace period begun in 2016 that allows Venezuela to make only interest payments on its loans, the sources said.</p>
<p>However, China has ignored several requests for new funding.</p>
<p>“Given Venezuela’s falling oil production, it’s natural for Chinese banks not to renew loans,” said one Chinese oil industry source who asked not to be identified.</p>
<p>A second oil industry source, asked if the conditions would be tightened, cited a Chinese proverb, saying China would not “drop stones on somebody who has fallen into a well.”</p>
<p>Venezuela still owes China $19.3 billion, according to one Venezuelan finance industry source who has tracked the information via contacts in both countries.</p>
<p>Some $10.4 billion of that is owed under the $20 billion Large Volume Long Term fund signed in 2010. A further $8.4 billion remains outstanding under the Joint China Venezuela Fund via three tranches of $4 billion to $5 billion each, according to the source.</p>
<p>China’s policy is not to lend new funds until old loans have been paid off - which cannot happen under the interest-only scheme created in April 2016 because the outstanding balance does not change.</p>
<p>CDB President Zheng Zhijie, asked by Reuters if the bank was having second thoughts about financing Venezuela given its situation,&#160;said: “We’ve done our assessment of its political and economic situation. We’re just monitoring now.”</p>
<p>However, one Beijing-based diplomatic source familiar with Chinese thinking on Venezuela said China increasingly sees Maduro as similar to former Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, who was pushed out after 40 years in power that dragged his once-prosperous country into hyperinflation and economic crisis.</p>
<p>China would have no concern about abandoning Maduro as it did Mugabe when he was ousted, the source said, but does not expect China to take an active role in pushing him out.</p>
<p>“China looks at Venezuela as another Zimbabwe: a poor return on its investment,” he said.</p> CHINA EYES ‘PRAGMATIC COOPERATION’
<p>Venezuela’s Information Ministry did not reply to a request for comment.</p>
<p>China’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that bilateral cooperation was proceeding smoothly at present, adding that: “China will continue to carry out pragmatic cooperation with Venezuela.”</p>
<p>Prominent Chinese ratings agency Dagong Global Credit Rating Co in November put Venezuela’s sovereign debt on negative watch in a scathing review that warned of high default risks on bonds, which are not linked to financing arrangements with Beijing.</p>
<p>“Venezuela lacks the ability to create wealth on its own while debt repayment sources are highly fragile, thus a low solvency,” Dagong wrote.</p>
<p>Sanctions levied by the government of U.S. President Donald Trump have left Venezuela unable to refinance its crippling debt burden and left it struggling to import basic goods such as food.</p>
<p>Beijing has also declined to renew financing to state oil company PDVSA that is tied to oil industry investment, according to Venezuelan finance industry sources, in contrast to other loans that are used for a broader range of expenditures.</p>
<p>PDVSA in December paid off a $1.5 billion loan that it received in 2014, but was unable to renew it. The loan is paid off in cash rather than in oil, which made it less attractive, the source said.</p>
<p>Venezuela has in recent months proposed different arrangements under which China would put in new cash, including renewing part of the $20 billion Large Volume Fund, according to Venezuelan finance industry sources.</p>
<p>Those requests have been ignored, the sources said.</p>
<p>But despite China’s discontent, halting the grace period would have little practical benefit because it would most likely lead Caracas to get behind on payments - something it has done in the past.</p>
<p>In order to enforce its claims, China would have to open a cumbersome commercial dispute and engage in an unfriendly process of forcibly collecting on the loans, embarrassing a government that it actively supported for years.</p>
<p>Venezuela as of last year had fallen behind on oil shipments to China as well as Russia, another ally that has been providing financing, according to internal documents seen by Reuters.</p>
<p>(This story has been refiled to correct lead paragraph to say “providing” not “proving”)</p>
<p>Reporting by Corina Pons in Caracas and Chen Aizhu in Beijing; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Beijing, and Brian Ellsworth in Caracas; Editing by Lisa Shumaker</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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jan 24 reuters consilium ab 2017 net sales sek 165 billion versus sek 164 billion year ago 2017 order intake sek 182 billion versus sek 165 billion year ago source text eikon company coverage gdynia newsroom standards thomson reuters trust principles jerusalem reuters israels 2007 bombing suspected syrian nuclear reactor message iran israel would allow obtain nuclear weaponry israeli intelligence minister said wednesday screen grab video undated material released israeli military march 21 2018 shows site military describes israeli air strike suspected syrian nuclear reactor site near deir alzor sept 6 2007 idfhandout via reuters tv operation success made clear israel never allow nuclear weaponry hands threaten existence syria iran today minister israel katz said twitter israel officially admitted first time carried 2007 air strike alkubar site deir alzor writing dan williams 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 ceo alexander nixs 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 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 cambridge analytica denied media claims said deleted data learning information adhere data protection rules 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 cambridge analytica whistleblower christopher wylie told washington post tuesday 2014 conservative strategist steve bannon would go trumps white house adviser oversaw firms early efforts collect facebook data build detailed profiles millions american voters wapost2hotqnu bannon approved spending nearly 1 million acquire data including facebook profiles 2014 wylie told post unclear whether bannon knew cambridge analytica obtaining facebook data post reported bannon served cambridge analyticas board immediately respond request comment reuters 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 people walk past building housing offices cambridge analytica central london britain march 20 2018 reutershenry nicholls 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 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 slideshow 6 images 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 congressional official said house intelligence committee democrats plan interview cambridge analytica whistleblower 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 related coverage academic behind facebook breach says scapegoat bbc social media stocks tumble wall street fears regulation factbox cambridge analytica 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 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 bannon facebook says data harvested british academic aleksandr kogan created app platform downloaded 270000 people providing access personal data also data 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 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 lisa shumaker editing nick zieminski bill rigby michael perry standards thomson reuters trust principles london reuters cambridge university academic harvested data millions facebook users said made scapegoat social network ukbased political consultancy accuracy dataset exaggerated file photo facebook logo seen facebook gather conference brussels belgium january 23 2018 reutersyves hermanfile photo facebook rocked week whistleblower said cambridge analytica ukbased political firm hired donald trump improperly accessed information 50 million facebook users sway public opinion facebook said data harvested aleksandr kogan psychology academic events past week total shell shock told bbc view im basically used scapegoat facebook cambridge analytica thought something really normal said accuracy dataset exaggerated cambridge analytica said dataset likely hurt trumps campaign reporting kate holton editing guy faulconbridge standards thomson reuters trust principles caracasbeijing reuters china likely extend agreement providing crisisstricken venezuela favorable loans repayment terms lend fresh funds president nicolas maduros government according sources caracas beijing familiar situation file photo venezuelas president nicolas maduro talks media meeting signing agreement guarantees vote national electoral council cne headquarters caracas venezuela march 2 2018 reutersmarco bellofile photo decade china plowed 50 billion opec members coffers oilforloan agreements helped beijing secure energy supplies fastgrowing economy bolstering antiwashington ally latin america flow cash halted nearly three years ago venezuela asked change payment terms fall oil prices declining crude output pushed stateled economy hyperinflationary collapse though unwilling throw venezuela financial lifeline staterun china development bank cdb likely extend next month grace period begun 2016 allows venezuela make interest payments loans sources said however china ignored several requests new funding given venezuelas falling oil production natural chinese banks renew loans said one chinese oil industry source asked identified second oil industry source asked conditions would tightened cited chinese proverb saying china would drop stones somebody fallen well venezuela still owes china 193 billion according one venezuelan finance industry source tracked information via contacts countries 104 billion owed 20 billion large volume long term fund signed 2010 84 billion remains outstanding joint china venezuela fund via three tranches 4 billion 5 billion according source chinas policy lend new funds old loans paid happen interestonly scheme created april 2016 outstanding balance change cdb president zheng zhijie asked reuters bank second thoughts financing venezuela given situation160said weve done assessment political economic situation monitoring however one beijingbased diplomatic source familiar chinese thinking venezuela said china increasingly sees maduro similar former zimbabwe president robert mugabe pushed 40 years power dragged onceprosperous country hyperinflation economic crisis china would concern abandoning maduro mugabe ousted source said expect china take active role pushing china looks venezuela another zimbabwe poor return investment said china eyes pragmatic cooperation venezuelas information ministry reply request comment chinas foreign ministry said statement bilateral cooperation proceeding smoothly present adding china continue carry pragmatic cooperation venezuela prominent chinese ratings agency dagong global credit rating co november put venezuelas sovereign debt negative watch scathing review warned high default risks bonds linked financing arrangements beijing venezuela lacks ability create wealth debt repayment sources highly fragile thus low solvency dagong wrote sanctions levied government us president donald trump left venezuela unable refinance crippling debt burden left struggling import basic goods food beijing also declined renew financing state oil company pdvsa tied oil industry investment according venezuelan finance industry sources contrast loans used broader range expenditures pdvsa december paid 15 billion loan received 2014 unable renew loan paid cash rather oil made less attractive source said venezuela recent months proposed different arrangements china would put new cash including renewing part 20 billion large volume fund according venezuelan finance industry sources requests ignored sources said despite chinas discontent halting grace period would little practical benefit would likely lead caracas get behind payments something done past order enforce claims china would open cumbersome commercial dispute engage unfriendly process forcibly collecting loans embarrassing government actively supported years venezuela last year fallen behind oil shipments china well russia another ally providing financing according internal documents seen reuters story refiled correct lead paragraph say providing proving reporting corina pons caracas chen aizhu beijing additional reporting ben blanchard beijing brian ellsworth caracas editing lisa shumaker standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p />
<p>That’s the goal anyway.</p>
<p>When she’s not overseeing the operations at Molina Health Care of New Mexico, the Albuquerque grandmother might very well be pumping iron. She’s been hitting the gym pretty hard for the last few months and is proud to say she can now pop off 45 straight pushups.</p>
<p />
<p>POSITION: President of Molina Health Care of New Mexico; formerly vice president of health-care services at Molina; spent 20 years as a nurse.</p>
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<p>WHAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW: Kehoe has been fascinated by flight since she was a little girl and her pilot uncle would take her and her sister out in his small plane. But her adventures are not limited to the sky.</p>
<p>“When I went to Tahiti one time, I swam with the sharks and rays,” she says.</p>
<p>She’s hoping it will lead to something bigger, specifically competitive bodybuilding. Kehoe would like to enter events – muscle-baring getup, fake tanner and all – by 2014.</p>
<p>“It’s just one of those things,” Kehoe says from her Albuquerque office, where family snapshots and her various craft projects lend a homey feel. “(I thought) maybe it would be something different and fun.”</p>
<p>Kehoe is an adventurous spirit, a fun-loving mother of four who likes to try new things. Her bucket list presently includes a blimp ride which, when you think about it, is a logical next step: She’s already traversed the sky aboard a glider, hot-air balloon, helicopter and biplane.</p>
<p>Her live-life-to-the-fullest style was born, in part, from childhood illness. Severe asthma had a young Kehoe in and out of emergency rooms and hospitals.</p>
<p>Back then, oxygen tents were a common treatment.</p>
<p>“One of my birthdays, my first Barbie doll was (passed) through a hole in an oxygen tent,” Kehoe remembers.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Breathing problems limited her activity as a child, but medical advances gave her a little more leeway as a teenager.</p>
<p>She joined the basketball team at Highland High School, and hasn’t sat still much since.</p>
<p>In fact, she lists weight lifting as one of her favorite ways to relax.</p>
<p>“I know that sounds funny,” she says with a laugh.</p>
<p>Asthma influenced Kehoe in another key way: After all those days and nights in the hospital, she says she realized she wanted to go into health care. There were no medical professionals in her family – her dad was a salesman, her mom an accountant – but her own childhood experience was all the inspiration she needed.</p>
<p>“(While in the hospital) I saw other children, and as I grew up and my asthma became more controlled and medicine advanced, I thought ‘I need to help others,'” she says. “I didn’t want to really be a doctor, but I wanted to be a nurse where I was actually helping people and children through hard situations.”</p>
<p>That realization happened around age 10, she says. By high school, she was spending her summers as a candy striper at St. Joe’s.</p>
<p>She moved to Colorado for college and spent the first decade of her career at a Denver hospital. When she and her family moved to Albuquerque – “I wanted my children to be around (extended) family,” she says – Kehoe worked another 10 years mostly as a home health-care nurse.</p>
<p>She then made the jump to administration. Molina of New Mexico, which provides managed care to Medicaid beneficiaries, has about 200 employees and 90,000 members in New Mexico. Kehoe says heading the operation allows her to “impact a population instead of just an individual.”</p>
<p>But there are things she definitely misses about those day-to-day nursing shifts.</p>
<p>“I’m a touchy-feely person and that touch I think is healing to people, which is why I still have to do it,” she says. “I can’t give it up completely.”</p>
<p>She puts her nursing skills to use with the Wheels for the World ministry, an organization that sends teams to developing nations to deliver wheelchairs and other ambulatory devices. Kehoe had already taken some medical mission trips to Mexico when she first heard about Wheels for the World. She decided to join the organization on a trip to Peru a few years ago, not knowing what she was in for.</p>
<p>“I was the busiest person there,” she says.</p>
<p>Kehoe treated horrific wounds but also some more-commonplace conditions that had spiraled out of control simply because the patient hadn’t received care or even basic medicine. After four trips to Peru, she says one case in particular stands out: The young son of a wheelchair user showed up to the outreach area with severe eye infections.</p>
<p>“He was actually going blind from them and all he needed was antibiotic eye drops, which I happened to have that trip,” Kehoe says. “When I went (back) last year … he was much better and he wasn’t losing his vision.</p>
<p>“It’s the simple things that really touch you.”</p>
<p>Q: If you had to start your career over, would you do anything differently?</p>
<p>A: I love nursing. I’ve done so many different types of nursing, I don’t think I would’ve (changed anything). … I have loved nursing. It’s been gratifying, it’s taught our family a lot, and I can travel with it. … I so much enjoy what I do. I don’t think I’d do anything else.</p>
<p>Q: Was there a particular nurse you had along the way (as a child with severe asthma) that inspired you?</p>
<p>A: I had a great nurse (while living) in Greeley (Colo.) – compassionate, would sit with me when my family wasn’t there, just talked calmly. When you have asthma and struggle to breathe, it causes some panic and she taught me how to try to work through those. … She was awesome. And then throughout my career, of course, I’ve met more and more amazing nurses.</p>
<p>Q: What was your first job?</p>
<p>A: Dunkin’ Donuts in high school on Gibson, close to Highland. We’d have to make doughnuts and work the counter. And you could eat all the doughnuts you wanted on break. (Laughs). I still love doughnuts.</p>
<p>Q: What do you think you learned from your parents?</p>
<p>A: My dad is a very honest, high-integrity, personable man, and I’m not saying my mom is not, but I think what I learned from him is to be respectful and honest and have integrity when you meet new people. He was meeting new people all the time as a salesman. Those are core values that have helped me throughout my whole life, and he wasn’t afraid of new situations, so that helped me a lot. And my mom is the math whiz, so I’m good with numbers. She always taught us to do that. She’s very methodical, which has helped me. Even in nursing, you have to be methodical and solve problems. Both of those together has been a nice combination.</p>
<p>Q: Do you have any guilty pleasures?</p>
<p>A: Hot Tamales. Yes! If they’re around, I’ll eat them regularly. I try not to have them around; my dentist tells me ‘What are you doing?’ I’m not a chocolate person, but those Hot Tamales …</p>
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thats goal anyway shes overseeing operations molina health care new mexico albuquerque grandmother might well pumping iron shes hitting gym pretty hard last months proud say pop 45 straight pushups position president molina health care new mexico formerly vice president healthcare services molina spent 20 years nurse advertisement didnt know kehoe fascinated flight since little girl pilot uncle would take sister small plane adventures limited sky went tahiti one time swam sharks rays says shes hoping lead something bigger specifically competitive bodybuilding kehoe would like enter events musclebaring getup fake tanner 2014 one things kehoe says albuquerque office family snapshots various craft projects lend homey feel thought maybe would something different fun kehoe adventurous spirit funloving mother four likes try new things bucket list presently includes blimp ride think logical next step shes already traversed sky aboard glider hotair balloon helicopter biplane livelifetothefullest style born part childhood illness severe asthma young kehoe emergency rooms hospitals back oxygen tents common treatment one birthdays first barbie doll passed hole oxygen tent kehoe remembers advertisement breathing problems limited activity child medical advances gave little leeway teenager joined basketball team highland high school hasnt sat still much since fact lists weight lifting one favorite ways relax know sounds funny says laugh asthma influenced kehoe another key way days nights hospital says realized wanted go health care medical professionals family dad salesman mom accountant childhood experience inspiration needed hospital saw children grew asthma became controlled medicine advanced thought need help others says didnt want really doctor wanted nurse actually helping people children hard situations realization happened around age 10 says high school spending summers candy striper st joes moved colorado college spent first decade career denver hospital family moved albuquerque wanted children around extended family says kehoe worked another 10 years mostly home healthcare nurse made jump administration molina new mexico provides managed care medicaid beneficiaries 200 employees 90000 members new mexico kehoe says heading operation allows impact population instead individual things definitely misses daytoday nursing shifts im touchyfeely person touch think healing people still says cant give completely puts nursing skills use wheels world ministry organization sends teams developing nations deliver wheelchairs ambulatory devices kehoe already taken medical mission trips mexico first heard wheels world decided join organization trip peru years ago knowing busiest person says kehoe treated horrific wounds also morecommonplace conditions spiraled control simply patient hadnt received care even basic medicine four trips peru says one case particular stands young son wheelchair user showed outreach area severe eye infections actually going blind needed antibiotic eye drops happened trip kehoe says went back last year much better wasnt losing vision simple things really touch q start career would anything differently love nursing ive done many different types nursing dont think wouldve changed anything loved nursing gratifying taught family lot travel much enjoy dont think id anything else q particular nurse along way child severe asthma inspired great nurse living greeley colo compassionate would sit family wasnt talked calmly asthma struggle breathe causes panic taught try work awesome throughout career course ive met amazing nurses q first job dunkin donuts high school gibson close highland wed make doughnuts work counter could eat doughnuts wanted break laughs still love doughnuts q think learned parents dad honest highintegrity personable man im saying mom think learned respectful honest integrity meet new people meeting new people time salesman core values helped throughout whole life wasnt afraid new situations helped lot mom math whiz im good numbers always taught us shes methodical helped even nursing methodical solve problems together nice combination q guilty pleasures hot tamales yes theyre around ill eat regularly try around dentist tells im chocolate person hot tamales
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<p>LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - She waited 90 years and saw a trail of men and Disney princesses get there before her, but on Monday Minnie Mouse finally got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.</p>
<p>Minnie Mouse made her movie debut in the 1928 film “Steamboat Willie,” and her co-star and beau Mickey Mouse got his bronze plaque on Hollywood Boulevard back in 1978.</p>
<p>But it took another 40 years for Minnie, who appeared in more than 70 animated movies, to join him on the Walk of Fame.</p>
<p>“In true Hollywood fashion, she delivered a memorable performance but Mickey got all the credit,” Walt Disney Co Chief Executive Bob Iger said at the ceremony unveiling the 2,627th star.</p>
<p>“After 90 years in show business, it’s certainly about time you got your star,” Iger said.</p>
<p>Minnie has been celebrated as a fashion icon, pop culture staple and a character who brings joy to children worldwide, and an actor dressed as the cartoon character waved and batted her eyelashes throughout Monday’s ceremony.</p>
<p>“This is the best day ever. Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she squeaked from the red and white polka dot stage.</p>
<p>Pop star Katy Perry, also dressed in red and white polka dots for the occasion, said she had been a fan of Minnie since the age of two or three.</p>
<p>“Minnie and Mickey printed diapers - that was my first memory ever and it turned into a lifelong devotion,” the “Firework” singer said.</p>
<p>“No one rocks a bow, or the color red, quite like her,” Perry added.</p> The character of Minnie Mouse poses on her star after it was unveiled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 22, 2018. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
<p>Walk of Fame honorees are selected by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.</p>
<p>Women have stepped up their campaign in recent years for equal pay in Hollywood and better representation behind and in front of the camera.</p>
<p>It took Minnie much longer than her boyfriend to receive Monday’s accolade because Disney only nominated her last year, Walk of Fame producer Ana Martinez told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.</p>
<p>“Maybe he was more popular back in the day,” Martinez said.</p> Slideshow (10 Images)
<p>Donald Duck, Tinker Bell, Snow White and other Disney characters were immortalized on the Walk of Fame before Minnie.</p>
<p>Reporting by Jill Serjeant, Sebastien Malo and Reuters Television; Editing by Tom Brown</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - Rap artist and actor DMX was sentenced to one year in prison on Wednesday after he pleaded guilty in a federal case accusing him of dodging $1.7 million in taxes.</p> FILE PHOTO: Earl Simmons, also known as the rapper DMX, exits the U.S. Federal Court in Manhattan following his presentment on income tax evasion charges in New York City, U.S., July 14, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
<p>DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan. He pleaded guilty to one count of tax fraud in November.</p>
<p>Rakoff said he believed Simmons was “a good man” and that the sentence should be modest, explaining why he gave less than the five years sought by prosecutors.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, the judge said, “It cannot go unpunished.”</p>
<p>Before being sentenced, Simmons said he was sorry for having failed to pay taxes. His lawyer also played part of Simmons’ 1998 song “Slippin’” in the courtroom, describing difficulties he has faced.</p>
<p>“They put me in a situation forcing me to be a man/ When I was just learning to stand without a helping hand,” Simmons raps in the song.</p>
<p>His lawyers had argued in court filings that a difficult upbringing left Simmons unprepared to deal with the responsibility that came with financial success.</p>
<p>Prosecutors said he avoided taxes between 2000 to 2005 by shifting money among accounts belonging to managers and associates, hiding millions of dollars he earned from hit songs, including “X Gon’ Give it to Ya” and “Where the Hood At.”</p>
<p>Simmons, 47, was arrested in July. He has been in jail since January, when Rakoff revoked his bail after he failed a drug test and traveled to St. Louis without a court-mandated drug counselor.</p>
<p>Prosecutors said Simmons avoided taxes for years by living a cash-only lifestyle, depositing royalty checks in various bank accounts belonging to other people. When he pleaded guilty, Simmons said that those accounts were held by multiple managers, his ex-wife and one of his children’s mothers.</p>
<p>Simmons has 15 children by multiple women.</p>
<p>Before the tax charges, Simmons had an arrest record including charges of animal cruelty, reckless driving, drug possession, weapons possession and probation violations. He has had several felony convictions and served prison time in Arizona.</p>
<p>Along with his rap career, Simmons has starred in such films as the 1998 crime drama “Belly,” the 2000 action movie “Romeo Must Die” and the 2003 heist film “Cradle 2 The Grave.”</p>
<p>Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Cynthia Osterman</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>PARIS (Reuters) - A landscape painting by Dutch impressionist Vincent Van Gogh that went on display in Paris on Wednesday is expected to fetch between 3-5 million euros ($3.7-$6.1 million) when it is auctioned in June.</p> Artcurial's employee poses as he holds the painting "Raccommodeuses de filets dans les dunes, 1882" (Women Mending Nets in the Dunes) by painter Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) during a preview for media at Artcurial Auction House in Paris, France March 28, 2018. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
<p>The auction of the oil painting, entitled “Fishing Net Menders in the Dunes”, will be the first time Van Gogh’s work has been sold in France in more than two decades.</p>
<p>Painted in 1882, early in the artist’s career, it was inspired by the countryside around The Hague, where Van Gogh passed a short but formative period in terms of his artistic style.</p>
<p>Auctioneer Bruno Jaubert told Reuters the painting’s significance was underlined by the fact that it has spent the past 25 years hanging in some of the world’s most prestigious art museums.</p>
<p>“Why? Because it is a painting which marks an important period in the development of Vincent Van Gogh. It’s the start of his career. And it’s when he discovers all the possibilities of painting, and notably how to create paintings in oil,” he said.</p>
<p>As the only landscape painted by the Dutch artist during this period in his career, it contains many elements that would later become emblematic of Van Gogh’s work, including heavy skies and crows, motifs which would resurface in his masterpiece “Wheatfield with Crows” in 1890.</p>
<p>In a letter to his brother Theo, Van Gogh recounted how struck he was by the spectacle of female peasants, who feature prominently in the painting, moving round the fields, their heads covered in white cloths.</p>
<p>The auction will take place in Paris from June 4.</p>
<p>Reporting by Feyi Adegbite; Writing by Mark Hanrahan in London; Editing by Gareth Jones</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actress, writer and producer Lena Waithe is enjoying a breakout moment in Hollywood.</p>
<p>The 33-year-old made history last year as the first black woman to win an Emmy for comedy writing for an episode of Netflix series “Master of None” that was inspired by her own coming-out story. Waithe also created Showtime series “The Chi” and stars in Steven Spielberg’s “Ready Player One,” a film about a digital world called the Oasis. In the movie, Waithe portrays a woman named Helen, a part-man, part-machine avatar named Aech, and a larger-than-life robot.</p>
<p>Waithe spoke to Reuters about “Ready Player One,” virtual reality and women in Hollywood. The following are edited excerpts.</p>
<p>Q: What was your favorite part about this character?</p>
<p>A: The fact that she is masculine and feminine. I can be a guy and do things that guys do, behave in a way that maybe a guy would, in the Oasis. In the real, live-action world, I’m not that different. I just happen to be a girl. People may look at me and judge me differently, but my personality is pretty much the same. I can be a guy or a chick, but the personality is just as confident.</p>
<p>Q: Are you a fan of virtual reality now?</p>
<p>A: It is really cool. It’s a little scary too. It can be addictive. You can leave that thing on all day. But I definitely think it’s where we’re going.</p> FILE PHOTO : Actress Lena Waithe arrives at the 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., March 4, 2018. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok/File Photo
<p>Q: What will people learn about VR from this movie?</p>
<p>A: At the beginning of the film, everybody has their (VR) visors on. People are just going on about their day, but no one is looking at each other. No one’s talking to each other. It’s a really interesting metaphor for social media. They are communicating with each other, but in a virtual reality, so there is very little hand-on-hand contact. I think as humans we need that. We need to look at each other. We need to shake hands. There needs to be a bit of balance.</p>
<p>Q: In Hollywood, TV seems ahead of film in promoting women in front of and behind the camera. Why is that?</p> FILE PHOTO: Actor Lena Waithe attends the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) and InStyle celebration of the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards season at Catch LA in West Hollywood, California, U.S. November 15, 2017. REUTERS/Patrick T. Fallon/File Photo
<p>A: The movie business is an old one. (In TV), we feel like we can move a little bit faster and we can make changes quicker. If we hear there’s a problem, we can quickly go to set and make sure things are fine.</p>
<p>Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Richard Chang</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - “Roseanne,” the 1990s television comedy about a working-class American family, scored monster ratings on its return to ABC after 20 years, attracting more than 18 million viewers.</p> FILE PHOTO: Actress Roseanne Barr reacts as she arrives at the 75th Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., January 7, 2018. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo
<p>Ratings data on Wednesday showed that the premiere of the rebooted series starring original cast members Roseanne Barr and John Goodman was the most-watched show on U.S. television on Tuesday night with an audience of 18.2 million Americans.</p>
<p>The original “Roseanne” aired from 1988 to 1997. It featured a blue-collar family, the Conners, with overweight parents struggling to get by in the fictional town of Lanford, Illinois, and was praised for its realistic portrayal of working-class life.</p>
<p>The revival will deal with politics, topical issues such as opioid addiction and access to healthcare, and features Roseanne’s grown-up daughter Darlene, played again by Sara Gilbert, whose young son is gender fluid.</p>
<p>Barr, who says she voted for U.S. President Donald Trump, has said she wants the revival, in which she is a grandmother who voted for Trump in the 2016 elections, to portray a United States in which half the voters chose him.</p>
<p>Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. was among those congratulating Barr on the success of the premiere, which poked fun at both the left and the right.</p>
<p>“If you’re not too busy already maybe work in a late night show too ... seems there’s some demand for an alternate viewpoint,” Trump Jr. tweeted.</p>
<p>Barr, who live tweeted during the premiere, thanked fans on Wednesday.</p>
<p>“I am so grateful to the fans of the Roseanne show for giving it a good Premiere rating. You are all wonderful-here is to making America laugh &amp; talk again! LOVE U,” she tweeted.</p>
<p>Walt Disney-owned ABC said the two back-to-back opening episodes drew some 1.5 million viewers more than the finale of “Roseanne” in May 1997 - an era before Americans had wider viewing choices offered by streaming platforms such as Netflix and Amazon.</p>
<p>It was also the most watched comedy broadcast on U.S. television since an episode of “Big Bang Theory” in September 2014.</p>
<p>“Roseanne” is the latest hit show from the 1980s and 199Os to be revived. It follows NBC comedy “Will &amp; Grace” and Showtime’s supernatural crime drama “Twin Peaks,” both of which returned to television in 2017.</p>
<p>“Will &amp; Grace,” about a gay lawyer and his three friends, also proved a hit, although the September 2017 premiere attracted just 10.2 million American viewers.</p> 'Roseanne' star says revived show reflects Trump's America
<p>ABC said the success of “Roseanne” boosted audiences for its other programs, delivering the network its strongest Tuesday since September 2013.</p>
<p>Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Tom Brown</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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los angeles reuters waited 90 years saw trail men disney princesses get monday minnie mouse finally got star hollywood walk fame minnie mouse made movie debut 1928 film steamboat willie costar beau mickey mouse got bronze plaque hollywood boulevard back 1978 took another 40 years minnie appeared 70 animated movies join walk fame true hollywood fashion delivered memorable performance mickey got credit walt disney co chief executive bob iger said ceremony unveiling 2627th star 90 years show business certainly time got star iger said minnie celebrated fashion icon pop culture staple character brings joy children worldwide actor dressed cartoon character waved batted eyelashes throughout mondays ceremony best day ever thank thank thank squeaked red white polka dot stage pop star katy perry also dressed red white polka dots occasion said fan minnie since age two three minnie mickey printed diapers first memory ever turned lifelong devotion firework singer said one rocks bow color red quite like perry added character minnie mouse poses star unveiled hollywood walk fame los angeles california us january 22 2018 reutersmario anzuoni walk fame honorees selected hollywood chamber commerce women stepped campaign recent years equal pay hollywood better representation behind front camera took minnie much longer boyfriend receive mondays accolade disney nominated last year walk fame producer ana martinez told thomson reuters foundation maybe popular back day martinez said slideshow 10 images donald duck tinker bell snow white disney characters immortalized walk fame minnie reporting jill serjeant sebastien malo reuters television editing tom brown standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters rap artist actor dmx sentenced one year prison wednesday pleaded guilty federal case accusing dodging 17 million taxes file photo earl simmons also known rapper dmx exits us federal court manhattan following presentment income tax evasion charges new york city us july 14 2017 reutersbrendan mcdermid dmx whose real name earl simmons sentenced us district judge jed rakoff manhattan pleaded guilty one count tax fraud november rakoff said believed simmons good man sentence modest explaining gave less five years sought prosecutors nonetheless judge said go unpunished sentenced simmons said sorry failed pay taxes lawyer also played part simmons 1998 song slippin courtroom describing difficulties faced put situation forcing man learning stand without helping hand simmons raps song lawyers argued court filings difficult upbringing left simmons unprepared deal responsibility came financial success prosecutors said avoided taxes 2000 2005 shifting money among accounts belonging managers associates hiding millions dollars earned hit songs including x gon give ya hood simmons 47 arrested july jail since january rakoff revoked bail failed drug test traveled st louis without courtmandated drug counselor prosecutors said simmons avoided taxes years living cashonly lifestyle depositing royalty checks various bank accounts belonging people pleaded guilty simmons said accounts held multiple managers exwife one childrens mothers simmons 15 children multiple women tax charges simmons arrest record including charges animal cruelty reckless driving drug possession weapons possession probation violations several felony convictions served prison time arizona along rap career simmons starred films 1998 crime drama belly 2000 action movie romeo must die 2003 heist film cradle 2 grave reporting brendan pierson new york editing cynthia osterman standards thomson reuters trust principles paris reuters landscape painting dutch impressionist vincent van gogh went display paris wednesday expected fetch 35 million euros 3761 million auctioned june artcurials employee poses holds painting raccommodeuses de filets dans les dunes 1882 women mending nets dunes painter vincent van gogh 18531890 preview media artcurial auction house paris france march 28 2018 reutersgonzalo fuentes auction oil painting entitled fishing net menders dunes first time van goghs work sold france two decades painted 1882 early artists career inspired countryside around hague van gogh passed short formative period terms artistic style auctioneer bruno jaubert told reuters paintings significance underlined fact spent past 25 years hanging worlds prestigious art museums painting marks important period development vincent van gogh start career discovers possibilities painting notably create paintings oil said landscape painted dutch artist period career contains many elements would later become emblematic van goghs work including heavy skies crows motifs would resurface masterpiece wheatfield crows 1890 letter brother theo van gogh recounted struck spectacle female peasants feature prominently painting moving round fields heads covered white cloths auction take place paris june 4 reporting feyi adegbite writing mark hanrahan london editing gareth jones standards thomson reuters trust principles los angeles reuters actress writer producer lena waithe enjoying breakout moment hollywood 33yearold made history last year first black woman win emmy comedy writing episode netflix series master none inspired comingout story waithe also created showtime series chi stars steven spielbergs ready player one film digital world called oasis movie waithe portrays woman named helen partman partmachine avatar named aech largerthanlife robot waithe spoke reuters ready player one virtual reality women hollywood following edited excerpts q favorite part character fact masculine feminine guy things guys behave way maybe guy would oasis real liveaction world im different happen girl people may look judge differently personality pretty much guy chick personality confident q fan virtual reality really cool little scary addictive leave thing day definitely think going file photo actress lena waithe arrives 2018 vanity fair oscar party beverly hills california us march 4 2018 reutersdanny moloshokfile photo q people learn vr movie beginning film everybody vr visors people going day one looking ones talking really interesting metaphor social media communicating virtual reality little handonhand contact think humans need need look need shake hands needs bit balance q hollywood tv seems ahead film promoting women front behind camera file photo actor lena waithe attends hollywood foreign press association hfpa instyle celebration 75th annual golden globe awards season catch la west hollywood california us november 15 2017 reuterspatrick fallonfile photo movie business old one tv feel like move little bit faster make changes quicker hear theres problem quickly go set make sure things fine reporting lisa richwine editing richard chang standards thomson reuters trust principles los angeles reuters roseanne 1990s television comedy workingclass american family scored monster ratings return abc 20 years attracting 18 million viewers file photo actress roseanne barr reacts arrives 75th golden globe awards beverly hills california us january 7 2018 reutersmario anzuonifile photo ratings data wednesday showed premiere rebooted series starring original cast members roseanne barr john goodman mostwatched show us television tuesday night audience 182 million americans original roseanne aired 1988 1997 featured bluecollar family conners overweight parents struggling get fictional town lanford illinois praised realistic portrayal workingclass life revival deal politics topical issues opioid addiction access healthcare features roseannes grownup daughter darlene played sara gilbert whose young son gender fluid barr says voted us president donald trump said wants revival grandmother voted trump 2016 elections portray united states half voters chose trumps son donald trump jr among congratulating barr success premiere poked fun left right youre busy already maybe work late night show seems theres demand alternate viewpoint trump jr tweeted barr live tweeted premiere thanked fans wednesday grateful fans roseanne show giving good premiere rating wonderfulhere making america laugh amp talk love u tweeted walt disneyowned abc said two backtoback opening episodes drew 15 million viewers finale roseanne may 1997 era americans wider viewing choices offered streaming platforms netflix amazon also watched comedy broadcast us television since episode big bang theory september 2014 roseanne latest hit show 1980s 199os revived follows nbc comedy amp grace showtimes supernatural crime drama twin peaks returned television 2017 amp grace gay lawyer three friends also proved hit although september 2017 premiere attracted 102 million american viewers roseanne star says revived show reflects trumps america abc said success roseanne boosted audiences programs delivering network strongest tuesday since september 2013 reporting jill serjeant editing tom brown standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p />
<p>Here are some of the buzz-worthy new cars and trucks at the show.</p>
<p>HONDA CIVIC HATCHBACK: Honda says the hatch is making a comeback in small U.S. cars. The automaker shows off a five-door Civic hatchback, and Senior Vice President Jeff Conrad says it will cater mainly to Generation Y (ages 21-35), which likes hatchback utility and sporty performance. The hot hatch gets a 174-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. It's the first U.S. Civic hatch since 1995. Price wasn't announced, but it's due out in the fall.</p>
<p>DEMI LOVATO CIVIC: Singers Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas will headline the Civic concert tour this year, and keeping with tradition, Lovato got a chance to design and autograph her own Civic sedan exterior. Jonas, meanwhile, did the same with a Honda Grom motorcycle. Fans can enter a sweepstakes to win both vehicles.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>TOYOTA PRIUS PRIME: The cult car for the environmentally-conscious got a makeover last year. Now, live from New York, it's the Prius Prime, a plug-in electric version that can go 22 miles on battery power alone, about double the previous plug-in model. Toyota says the new car handles much better than the old Prius and can drive up to 84 miles per hour without leaving electric vehicle mode. The electric range meets the daily commuting distance of more than half of U.S. drivers, according to Toyota. Price wasn't announced. It's due out in late fall.</p>
<p>TOYOTA HIGHLANDER: Toyota's three-row SUV gets some upgrades for 2017. Base models still have a four-cylinder engine and six-speed transmission, but drivers can upgrade to a new 3.5-liter V6 with a new eight-speed transmission. Toyota says the new combination has more power and is more fuel efficient. All V6 models will come with stop-start technology, which automatically turns off the engine at a stop light. Automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection and lane departure warning will be standard on the 2017 model. The Highlander goes on sale in the fall.</p>
<p>MAZDA MX-5 RF: If you want to ride with the wind, Mazda has a car for you. The RF stands for "retractable fastback," a new version of the Miata sports car with smooth mechanics that fold the roof panel above the seating area into a spot behind the passenger compartment. Masa Moro, Mazda's North American CEO, says it's a brother to the MX-5 "but dressed in a little more sophisticated stylish suit." No price was given for the new version, which goes on sale in the late summer.</p>
<p>BUICK ENCORE: After three years of surprisingly strong sales, General Motors? Buick brand is protecting its franchise by freshening the Encore tiny SUV. It gets a new front end and interior. With 66,000 sales last year, the Encore is Buick's top seller. SUVs are now almost two-thirds of Buick's sales. Buyers can opt for a new 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that has 14 more horsepower than the base model. Stop-start technology gives the Encore better gas mileage. Available in the fall.</p>
<p>NISSAN GT-R: Godzilla, as it's known to fans, gets its first big makeover in a decade. The 2017 GT-R has a bigger grille for engine cooling, and the car has a higher line below the windows in the rear to make it look wider and more aggressive. Handling is improved. Under the hood, the 3.8-liter V6 twin-turbocharged engine has been tweaked to deliver 565 horsepower, a 20-horsepower improvement over the 2016 GT-R. The car gets an improved six-speed dual-clutch transmission. The interior is simplified, with fewer switches and paddle shifters. Goes on sale this summer.</p>
<p>ACURA MDX: Acura's best-seller, the three-row MDX SUV, gets a new pentagonal grille and a chiseled hood, narrowed headlights and LED fog lights and twin tailpipes. The Sport Hybrid powertrain pairs a 3.0-liter V6 engine and three electric motors that power the front and rear wheels. The motors help the SUV accelerate faster and drive more sharply around bends. Acura expects the MDX Sport Hybrid to get 26 miles per gallon in city and highway driving, or 7 mpg more than a non-hybrid MDX. MDX goes on sale this summer, with the Sport Hybrid version later this year.</p>
<p>HYUNDAI IONIQ: Here's a triple play: The Ioniq is designed to handle three methods for making it move - battery power, gas and electric hybrid, and a plug-in hybrid that can travel over 25 miles on battery alone. And it looks normal, not much different from the popular gas-powered midsize Sonata. The hybrid versions have a 1.6-liter, 104-horsepower engine made specifically for hybrid use. Hyundai paired it with a 6-speed automatic transmission to give the car better acceleration and driving performance. The electric Ioniq can go up to 110 miles per charge. It's expected to be in showrooms in the fall.</p>
<p>SUBARU IMPREZA: Subaru debuts two Imprezas: the four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback. Both are slightly longer and wider than outgoing models, which gives them more interior space. They also sit lower to improve aerodynamics. The Impreza is built on a new, stiffer platform for improved handling and better crash resistance. Inside, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now standard. One new safety option is reverse automatic braking, which can halt the car if it's about to back into something. Goes on sale later this year.</p>
<p>____</p>
<p>Durbin reported from Detroit.</p>
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buzzworthy new cars trucks show honda civic hatchback honda says hatch making comeback small us cars automaker shows fivedoor civic hatchback senior vice president jeff conrad says cater mainly generation ages 2135 likes hatchback utility sporty performance hot hatch gets 174horsepower turbocharged 15liter fourcylinder engine first us civic hatch since 1995 price wasnt announced due fall demi lovato civic singers demi lovato nick jonas headline civic concert tour year keeping tradition lovato got chance design autograph civic sedan exterior jonas meanwhile honda grom motorcycle fans enter sweepstakes win vehicles advertisement toyota prius prime cult car environmentallyconscious got makeover last year live new york prius prime plugin electric version go 22 miles battery power alone double previous plugin model toyota says new car handles much better old prius drive 84 miles per hour without leaving electric vehicle mode electric range meets daily commuting distance half us drivers according toyota price wasnt announced due late fall toyota highlander toyotas threerow suv gets upgrades 2017 base models still fourcylinder engine sixspeed transmission drivers upgrade new 35liter v6 new eightspeed transmission toyota says new combination power fuel efficient v6 models come stopstart technology automatically turns engine stop light automatic emergency braking pedestrian detection lane departure warning standard 2017 model highlander goes sale fall mazda mx5 rf want ride wind mazda car rf stands retractable fastback new version miata sports car smooth mechanics fold roof panel seating area spot behind passenger compartment masa moro mazdas north american ceo says brother mx5 dressed little sophisticated stylish suit price given new version goes sale late summer buick encore three years surprisingly strong sales general motors buick brand protecting franchise freshening encore tiny suv gets new front end interior 66000 sales last year encore buicks top seller suvs almost twothirds buicks sales buyers opt new 14liter fourcylinder engine 14 horsepower base model stopstart technology gives encore better gas mileage available fall nissan gtr godzilla known fans gets first big makeover decade 2017 gtr bigger grille engine cooling car higher line windows rear make look wider aggressive handling improved hood 38liter v6 twinturbocharged engine tweaked deliver 565 horsepower 20horsepower improvement 2016 gtr car gets improved sixspeed dualclutch transmission interior simplified fewer switches paddle shifters goes sale summer acura mdx acuras bestseller threerow mdx suv gets new pentagonal grille chiseled hood narrowed headlights led fog lights twin tailpipes sport hybrid powertrain pairs 30liter v6 engine three electric motors power front rear wheels motors help suv accelerate faster drive sharply around bends acura expects mdx sport hybrid get 26 miles per gallon city highway driving 7 mpg nonhybrid mdx mdx goes sale summer sport hybrid version later year hyundai ioniq heres triple play ioniq designed handle three methods making move battery power gas electric hybrid plugin hybrid travel 25 miles battery alone looks normal much different popular gaspowered midsize sonata hybrid versions 16liter 104horsepower engine made specifically hybrid use hyundai paired 6speed automatic transmission give car better acceleration driving performance electric ioniq go 110 miles per charge expected showrooms fall subaru impreza subaru debuts two imprezas fourdoor sedan fivedoor hatchback slightly longer wider outgoing models gives interior space also sit lower improve aerodynamics impreza built new stiffer platform improved handling better crash resistance inside apple carplay android auto standard one new safety option reverse automatic braking halt car back something goes sale later year ____ durbin reported detroit
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<p>&#160;Q: Did Congress slip a $150 to $250 monthly tax into the new health care law to pay for home care for the elderly?</p>
<p>&#160;A: No. The new CLASS Act program is voluntary. Premiums are estimated to be $123 per month for workers who choose to participate. It covers home care for those who become disabled at any age, not just those over age 65.</p>
<p>FULL QUESTION</p>
<p>Dear FactCheck Editor,</p>
<p>Is the email below legitmate? If so, it’s insane. My wife and I may not be able to retire.</p>
<p>There’s a surprise in the Reconciliation Bill.</p>
<p>We will all be taxed $150-$250 PER MONTH beginning in 2011 for the NEW Community Living Assistance Services and Support Act (CLASS Act) that was added to the Reconciliation Bill on Friday night, Mar 19, 2010, before Congress voted on Sunday, Mar. 21, 2010. It will help pay for long-term home-care for the elderly. Isn’t that nice?</p>
<p>[EET ]</p>
<p>In January of 2011, the government will start taking between $150-$250 out of our paychecks every month. And, not to worry, there is no discrimination here. ALL of us will be taxed on this one. Rich, poor, everyone except people who don’t have a job, is included. If you have a job and get a pay check, the government will take this tax from you. Just to clarify, this is not a fee per household. It is a payroll tax deduction PER PERSON</p>
<p>And there’s more to this surprise! The program won’t begin for five years, and they don’t expect to pay out anything for at least 10 years. So we get a head start on paying for it. Isn’t that great? The government will take our money and put it in their savings account for at least 10 years, and then they will start giving it to other people. What a great idea!</p>
<p>The CLASS Act, (isn’t that a great name for it?) was apparently a pet project of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, who was never able to get support for it because it was just to costly. What a wonderful tribute to Senator Kennedy! I know he would be so proud of Nancy for getting this done for him.</p>
<p>Beneficiaries will include anyone age 65 and older who have paid into the program for at least five years, but they have to wait until they are old enough to require home health care. I know it’s a little confusing, but I’m sure Nancy and the boys in Washington really do know what they are doing. So, it’s all good.</p>
<p>Gee, I need to start budgeting for this now. I don’t have an extra $150-$250 per month, and neither does my husband. So we’ll need to figure out how we can cut our expenses by $500 by next January… Either that, or we could each get another job… No, that won’t work. There are no jobs. Hmmmmm… Hopefully we’ll figure something out.</p>
<p>No wonder Mrs. Pelosi was in such a big hurry to get that silly little Reconciliation Bill passed. She wanted it to be a big SURPRISE! Isn’t she a stinker?</p>
<p>I can’t wait to find out what other surprises are in that bill. Thanks, Nancy!</p>
<p>PS: Just punched some numbers into the calculator… If I put $200/month in an interest bearing account of some kind, earning, let’s say at 5% interest (I know that’s a little high for these times, but it’s a nice round number) for five years, I’d have about $14,000 at the end of that time period. Double that if Joe did it too. I could buy one heck of a health insurance policy with that kind of money. Oh well. The government is going to take care of me so I don’t have to worry about it. What was I thinking?</p>
<p>[/EET]</p>
<p>FULL ANSWER</p>
<p>This widely circulating e-mail message contains several false claims. Here are the facts:</p>
<p>The CLASS Act is Title VIII of the new health care law. It is spelled out starting on <a href="http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&amp;docid=f:h3590enr.txt.pdf" type="external">page 710 of the measure as it was passed by both Senate and House</a>. (CLASS stands for "Community Living Assistance Services and Supports.) The law specifies that it is "a national voluntary insurance program," the key word being "voluntary." Section 3204(a) requires employers to enroll workers automatically, but Section 3204(b) then says workers may choose to waive coverage "at any time."</p>
<p>Far from being a last-minute "surprise," the <a href="http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&amp;session=1&amp;vote=00396" type="external">Senate passed the bill Dec. 24, 2009</a>, and the <a href="http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll165.xml" type="external">House approved it March 21, 2010</a>. President <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-and-vice-president-signing-health-insurance-reform-bill" type="external">Obama signed it into law March 23</a>. Contrary to the claim in the chain e-mail, the <a href="http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&amp;docid=f:h4872enr.txt.pdf" type="external">reconciliation bill</a> that was passed later and <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-and-dr-jill-biden-signing-health-care-and-education-reconciliatio" type="external">became law on March 30</a> did not mention the CLASS Act program or make any changes to it.</p>
<p>The law sets premiums at $5 per month for those below the official poverty line and for students. That will be adjusted each year in line with inflation. For others, the Secretary of Health and Human Services is required to calculate a level of premiums that will keep the system solvent for 75 years, without any subsidy from the government. The <a href="http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/107xx/doc10769/CLASS_Additional_Information_Miller_letter.pdf" type="external">Congressional Budget Office estimated</a> last year that the Senate version of the CLASS Act (the one which later became law) would be $123 per month to start, and that even by the year 2019, fewer than 10 million persons would choose to enroll — about 3.5 percent of the adult population.</p>
<p>The program starts to take effect in 2011. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is <a href="http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/8069.pdf" type="external">expected to set benefits by October 2012</a>, and then to begin enrolling workers. Benefits will depend on a person’s degree of impairment, but can’t average less than $50 per day. <a href="http://dpc.senate.gov/healthreformbill/healthbill71.pdf" type="external">Democratic sponsors</a> of the legislation say benefits are expected to average roughly $75 per day.</p>
<p>One smidgen of truth in the message is that persons must pay premiums for at least five years before they qualify for benefits. As a result, the government will be bringing in extra revenue for years before it must start making any payments. According to <a href="http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/113xx/doc11379/AmendReconProp.pdf" type="external">CBO’s most recent estimate</a> (Table 5, page 32) the program would act to reduce the deficit by a total of $70.2 billion during the nine years ending in 2019 — including savings to the Medicaid program brought about by fewer persons entering nursing homes.</p>
<p>CBO said earlier, in its <a href="http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/107xx/doc10769/CLASS_Additional_Information_Miller_letter.pdf" type="external">estimate given last year</a>, that the program probably would reduce the deficit during the decade starting in 2020 as well, though not by as much as during the first nine years. After that, CBO said, "the sum of benefit payments and administrative costs would probably exceed premium income and savings to the Medicaid program. Therefore, the programs would add to budget deficits in the third decade—and in succeeding decades—by amounts on the order of tens of billions of dollars for each 10-year period."</p>
<p>— Brooks Jackson</p>
<p>United States. Cong. 111th Congress, 2nd Session. H. R. 3590 " <a href="http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&amp;docid=f:h3590enr.txt.pdf" type="external">The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act</a>" Enrolled Bill [Final as Passed Both House and Senate]. 21 Mar 2010.</p>
<p>United States. Cong. 111th Congress, 2nd Session. H.R. 4872 " <a href="http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&amp;docid=f:h4872enr.txt.pdf" type="external">Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010</a>" Enrolled Bill [Final as Passed Both House and Senate]. 25 Mar 2010.</p>
<p>Elmendorf, Douglas W. <a href="http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/107xx/doc10769/CLASS_Additional_Information_Miller_letter.pdf" type="external">letter to Chairman George Miller, U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor</a>. Congressional Budget Office. 25 Nov 2009.</p>
<p>" <a href="http://dpc.senate.gov/healthreformbill/healthbill71.pdf" type="external">Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS)</a>" undated fact sheet posted by the U.S. Senate Democratic Policy Committee. Accessed 17 Jun 2010.</p>
<p>Elmendorf, Douglas W. <a href="http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/113xx/doc11379/AmendReconProp.pdf" type="external">Letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, U.S. House of Representatives</a>. Congressional Budget Office. 20 Mar 2010.</p>
<p>" <a href="http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/8069.pdf" type="external">Health Care Reform and the CLASS Act</a>." Kaiser Family Foundation. Apr 2010.</p>
<p>Meyer, Harris. " <a href="http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2010/April/15/CLASS-act-long-term-care-insurance.aspx" type="external">New Long-Term Care Insurance Will Provide Flexible Cash Benefits</a>." Kaiser Health News. 15 Apr 2010.</p>
<p>Vestal, Christine. " <a href="http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=477299" type="external">Hope for the long term</a>." Stateline.org. 15 Apr 2010.</p>
| false | 2 |
160q congress slip 150 250 monthly tax new health care law pay home care elderly 160a new class act program voluntary premiums estimated 123 per month workers choose participate covers home care become disabled age age 65 full question dear factcheck editor email legitmate insane wife may able retire theres surprise reconciliation bill taxed 150250 per month beginning 2011 new community living assistance services support act class act added reconciliation bill friday night mar 19 2010 congress voted sunday mar 21 2010 help pay longterm homecare elderly isnt nice eet january 2011 government start taking 150250 paychecks every month worry discrimination us taxed one rich poor everyone except people dont job included job get pay check government take tax clarify fee per household payroll tax deduction per person theres surprise program wont begin five years dont expect pay anything least 10 years get head start paying isnt great government take money put savings account least 10 years start giving people great idea class act isnt great name apparently pet project late sen ted kennedy never able get support costly wonderful tribute senator kennedy know would proud nancy getting done beneficiaries include anyone age 65 older paid program least five years wait old enough require home health care know little confusing im sure nancy boys washington really know good gee need start budgeting dont extra 150250 per month neither husband well need figure cut expenses 500 next january either could get another job wont work jobs hmmmmm hopefully well figure something wonder mrs pelosi big hurry get silly little reconciliation bill passed wanted big surprise isnt stinker cant wait find surprises bill thanks nancy ps punched numbers calculator put 200month interest bearing account kind earning lets say 5 interest know thats little high times nice round number five years id 14000 end time period double joe could buy one heck health insurance policy kind money oh well government going take care dont worry thinking eet full answer widely circulating email message contains several false claims facts class act title viii new health care law spelled starting page 710 measure passed senate house class stands community living assistance services supports law specifies national voluntary insurance program key word voluntary section 3204a requires employers enroll workers automatically section 3204b says workers may choose waive coverage time far lastminute surprise senate passed bill dec 24 2009 house approved march 21 2010 president obama signed law march 23 contrary claim chain email reconciliation bill passed later became law march 30 mention class act program make changes law sets premiums 5 per month official poverty line students adjusted year line inflation others secretary health human services required calculate level premiums keep system solvent 75 years without subsidy government congressional budget office estimated last year senate version class act one later became law would 123 per month start even year 2019 fewer 10 million persons would choose enroll 35 percent adult population program starts take effect 2011 secretary health human services expected set benefits october 2012 begin enrolling workers benefits depend persons degree impairment cant average less 50 per day democratic sponsors legislation say benefits expected average roughly 75 per day one smidgen truth message persons must pay premiums least five years qualify benefits result government bringing extra revenue years must start making payments according cbos recent estimate table 5 page 32 program would act reduce deficit total 702 billion nine years ending 2019 including savings medicaid program brought fewer persons entering nursing homes cbo said earlier estimate given last year program probably would reduce deficit decade starting 2020 well though much first nine years cbo said sum benefit payments administrative costs would probably exceed premium income savings medicaid program therefore programs would add budget deficits third decadeand succeeding decadesby amounts order tens billions dollars 10year period brooks jackson united states cong 111th congress 2nd session h r 3590 patient protection affordable care act enrolled bill final passed house senate 21 mar 2010 united states cong 111th congress 2nd session hr 4872 health care education reconciliation act 2010 enrolled bill final passed house senate 25 mar 2010 elmendorf douglas w letter chairman george miller us house committee education labor congressional budget office 25 nov 2009 community living assistance services supports class undated fact sheet posted us senate democratic policy committee accessed 17 jun 2010 elmendorf douglas w letter speaker nancy pelosi us house representatives congressional budget office 20 mar 2010 health care reform class act kaiser family foundation apr 2010 meyer harris new longterm care insurance provide flexible cash benefits kaiser health news 15 apr 2010 vestal christine hope long term statelineorg 15 apr 2010
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<p />
<p>Out on Laguna Pueblo land, in Rio Puerco country south and west of Albuquerque, on the tops of two islands of rock 100 feet high, Gilkey found the ruins of old Indian structures.</p>
<p>“They were two sister cities, about a half mile apart,” Gilkey said. “I just has no idea they were there. There are a lot of places in New Mexico, thousands of weird, little spires; secret pools; hidden canyons and ruins that people don’t even know about.”</p>
<p>But Gilkey knows about, has seen and photographed a lot of them.</p>
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<p>Of course it helps to find these natural and archaeological treasures if, as is the case with Gilkey, you fly thousands of feet above the ground in an ultralight trike with a 30-foot wingspan and an 80-horsepower motor. That’s how he discovered those ruins on the Laguna land; incredible gaps in rock formations on the Mount Taylor plateau; gaping, almost perfectly round vents or holes on Zia Pueblo; remnants of volcanic chimneys up and down the Rio Puerco.</p>
<p>“Most of these places you can’t get to on foot,” Gilkey said. “They are on Indian land, or there are chains across the gates. But you can fly over these places. Trespassing doesn’t apply to flying.”</p>
<p>Jumping off cliffs</p>
<p>Since he started flying ultralights in 2004, Gilkey, 61, has logged more than 1,600 hours in his Aerotrike Cobra, soaring over most of New Mexico and into Colorado, Arizona, Utah and Texas. He uses both video and point-and-shoot still cameras to record the fascinating things he finds as he flies.</p>
<p>His photographs and video have provided the jaw-dropping core of several presentations he has done at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science in Albuquerque. His fifth such presentation, “Secrets of New Mexico: Views From An Ultralight Pilot,” will take place at the museum’s five-story Dynatheater screen from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. This program will focus on those hidden places and obscure ruins Gilkey prizes so much.</p>
<p>Ultralight pilot and aerial photographer Jeff Gilkey approaches Shiprock. (Courtesy of Jeff Gilkey)</p>
<p>“The museum (programs are) great fun because a lot of people come and are just amazed, and the kids get excited and want to learn to fly,” Gilkey said.</p>
<p>For Gilkey, whose childlike enthusiasm, easy smile and quick laugh make him seem much younger than he is, all this started because he wanted to learn how to fly.</p>
<p>He grew up in El Paso, earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1978 and was introduced to New Mexico during a summer internship at Sandia National Laboratories. He got his first taste of flying when he took up hang gliding while doing graduate work at Stanford University.</p>
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<p>After earning a master’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1979 and a doctorate in the same field in 1984, both from Stanford, Gilkey started a career at Sandia Labs.</p>
<p>“I was a control engineer for a bunch of rocket projects,” he said. “The rockets all have computers on them that need to be programmed.”</p>
<p>The move to Albuquerque also meant hang gliding out of the Sandia Mountains for about eight years, experience he said proved useful years later when he turned to ultralights.</p>
<p>“Hang gliding is a lot like flying the trike without the gas pedals,” he said. “You are learning to turn and read the thermals over the mountains. The difference with the trike is that you are taking off from an airport instead of jumping off a cliff. And with the trike, I can fly forever and land on wheels instead of on my feet.”</p>
<p>Very memorable</p>
<p>Gilkey retired last year after more than 30 years at Sandia Labs. He and his wife, Amy, live in a Northeast Heights home with three dogs, including Holly, a 12-year-old golden retriever who snored contentedly at his feet as Gilkey used a Google Earth computer program to show a visitor routes he has flown in his ultralight over the years. He keeps extensive written and video accounts of his high-flying adventures, which can be found at jeffsflightlog.com.</p>
<p>Ultralight pilot Jeff Gilkey flies over the Manzano Mountains at sunset. (Courtesy of Jeff Gilkey)</p>
<p>Gilkey and his wife are the parents of two daughters, both adults now. When the girls were little, however, he gave up hang gliding to spend more time with them. His kids were in high school when Gilkey, during a vacation in Hawaii, saw a man giving tours in an ultralight and thought, “Hey, I can do this.”</p>
<p>He spent a year with an Albuquerque ultralight club learning about the aircraft that would become his passion. He has a sport pilot license that permits him to fly at an altitude of 10,000 feet or 2,000 feet above the terrain.</p>
<p>“If I were flying over the Sandias, which are 10,000 feet, I could fly at 12,000 feet,” he said.</p>
<p>Gilkey said his ultralight is capable of flying at speeds between 40 and 75 mph, but seems happiest at about 55 mph. He can get more than&#160; 350 miles or seven hours in the air with the ultralight’s 21-gallon fuel tank. His longest flight to date, 6 hours and 10 minutes, happened just two weeks ago when he flew from Bluff, Utah, to the Belen Municipal Airport, where he keeps the ultralight.</p>
<p>Gilkey said ultralights are exceptionally stable, but if you were to get blindsided by a fierce thermal the aircraft could go into a bad stall and drop 500 feet.</p>
<p>“Usually, they recover within 100 feet, but you don’t want to do any stalls down low,” he said. “In November 2011, I was flying on the backside of Mount Taylor and dropped for a couple of hundred feet. My stomach was up in my throat. It was very memorable.”</p>
<p>No Charles Lindbergh</p>
<p>Gilkey has come to understand that what started for him as the thrill of flying has evolved over the years into the excitement of exploration.</p>
<p>“All my trips now are focused on what I am going to see,” he said. And what he is going to show others at his museum programs or on his website.</p>
<p>“I’d thought I was going to fly around the world,” he said. “But I’m no Charles Lindbergh. I just got started in this country. I’ll just fly around the U.S. in my trike and have enough adventures to fill out my life.”</p>
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laguna pueblo land rio puerco country south west albuquerque tops two islands rock 100 feet high gilkey found ruins old indian structures two sister cities half mile apart gilkey said idea lot places new mexico thousands weird little spires secret pools hidden canyons ruins people dont even know gilkey knows seen photographed lot advertisement course helps find natural archaeological treasures case gilkey fly thousands feet ground ultralight trike 30foot wingspan 80horsepower motor thats discovered ruins laguna land incredible gaps rock formations mount taylor plateau gaping almost perfectly round vents holes zia pueblo remnants volcanic chimneys rio puerco places cant get foot gilkey said indian land chains across gates fly places trespassing doesnt apply flying jumping cliffs since started flying ultralights 2004 gilkey 61 logged 1600 hours aerotrike cobra soaring new mexico colorado arizona utah texas uses video pointandshoot still cameras record fascinating things finds flies photographs video provided jawdropping core several presentations done new mexico museum natural history science albuquerque fifth presentation secrets new mexico views ultralight pilot take place museums fivestory dynatheater screen 630 8 pm wednesday program focus hidden places obscure ruins gilkey prizes much ultralight pilot aerial photographer jeff gilkey approaches shiprock courtesy jeff gilkey museum programs great fun lot people come amazed kids get excited want learn fly gilkey said gilkey whose childlike enthusiasm easy smile quick laugh make seem much younger started wanted learn fly grew el paso earned bachelors degree aerospace engineering university texas austin 1978 introduced new mexico summer internship sandia national laboratories got first taste flying took hang gliding graduate work stanford university advertisement earning masters degree mechanical engineering 1979 doctorate field 1984 stanford gilkey started career sandia labs control engineer bunch rocket projects said rockets computers need programmed move albuquerque also meant hang gliding sandia mountains eight years experience said proved useful years later turned ultralights hang gliding lot like flying trike without gas pedals said learning turn read thermals mountains difference trike taking airport instead jumping cliff trike fly forever land wheels instead feet memorable gilkey retired last year 30 years sandia labs wife amy live northeast heights home three dogs including holly 12yearold golden retriever snored contentedly feet gilkey used google earth computer program show visitor routes flown ultralight years keeps extensive written video accounts highflying adventures found jeffsflightlogcom ultralight pilot jeff gilkey flies manzano mountains sunset courtesy jeff gilkey gilkey wife parents two daughters adults girls little however gave hang gliding spend time kids high school gilkey vacation hawaii saw man giving tours ultralight thought hey spent year albuquerque ultralight club learning aircraft would become passion sport pilot license permits fly altitude 10000 feet 2000 feet terrain flying sandias 10000 feet could fly 12000 feet said gilkey said ultralight capable flying speeds 40 75 mph seems happiest 55 mph get than160 350 miles seven hours air ultralights 21gallon fuel tank longest flight date 6 hours 10 minutes happened two weeks ago flew bluff utah belen municipal airport keeps ultralight gilkey said ultralights exceptionally stable get blindsided fierce thermal aircraft could go bad stall drop 500 feet usually recover within 100 feet dont want stalls low said november 2011 flying backside mount taylor dropped couple hundred feet stomach throat memorable charles lindbergh gilkey come understand started thrill flying evolved years excitement exploration trips focused going see said going show others museum programs website id thought going fly around world said im charles lindbergh got started country ill fly around us trike enough adventures fill life
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<p>GREENSBURG, Pa. (AP) — When Mt. Lebanon manager Steve Feller quit in 2015 to take a job with a nonprofit, one of the people who took on some of his responsibilities was Ian McMeans, who had been an assistant manager in neighboring Dormont, then manager in Homestead before coming back to an assistant position in the larger town.</p>
<p>In December, Tarentum hired away Jeannette’s manager, Michael Nestico, offering him a $9,000 pay bump to $65,000 a year and citing his background in law and finance.</p>
<p>Just months after moving up from an assistant manager position in Wilkinsburg, Cindy Bahn left Blawnox to become West Homestead’s manager in March.</p>
<p>And in North Huntingdon, Robinson manager Jeff Silka was hired in October for $110,000 a year, with a unanimous vote from commissioners praising his experience overseeing economic development.</p>
<p>The task of running a city, borough or township can be a complicated one, but the sheer number of municipalities in the area, constantly changing local politics and the relatively small talent pool means managers can — and sometimes must — hop from town to town as they climb the career ladder.</p>
<p>“We have mobility, but we also have to be nomads because of the market for managers,” said Silka, 50, of Monroeville, whose career has included management jobs in Indian Lake Borough; Shinnston, W.Va.; Londonderry Township; Johnstown; and Monroeville. “Some people are fortunate; they get to walk in the door and retire there 20 years later. The norm, nationwide, (for managers) is five years.”</p>
<p>Pay can surpass glory</p>
<p>Depending on the size of the community, municipal managers can be directly responsible for planning and zoning, budgeting, hiring staff and negotiating contracts, public works and public safety. In larger communities, they’ll oversee other employees who handle those specific tasks, but they all report to their community’s governing board or council.</p>
<p>There are no official, professional certifications for municipal managers, but most town and city governments are looking for managers with at least a master’s degree in public administration, public affairs or business administration, Silka said.</p>
<p>The job can pay well, depending on a manager’s experience, even among townships and smaller boroughs. The average manager for second-class townships made almost $85,000 a year in 2016, according to the most recently published surveys by the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors.</p>
<p>“It doesn’t come with a lot of glory. It’s a really tough gig, and you have to be really passionate about it. A little kid growing up isn’t going to say, ‘I’m going to be the manager of Heidelberg,’ ” said Kristen Maser Michaels, executive director of the University of Pittsburgh’s Congress of Neighboring Communities.</p>
<p>A constant job shuffle</p>
<p>Michaels said the shuffle of managers among local municipalities is a by-product of a small group of qualified managers and a large number of communities in the area. Often, fresh graduates will start as assistant managers or managers in smaller communities, then work their way up to larger communities and bigger salaries.</p>
<p>“We have so many municipalities, and so many manager-strong governments, so I can see a council being reluctant to bring people in from somewhere else because they’d have to teach them how governments work here,” Michaels said.</p>
<p>David Kraynik, president of the Association of Pennsylvania Municipal Managers, agreed, noting that having so many communities tightly packed into the urbanized areas of the state means that managers — particularly ones with families — could have many options for jobs without moving their residence.</p>
<p>“There are a lot of local governments in the area, so there are opportunities to move from one job to another and not necessarily have to uproot a family ... assuming (the employers) don’t have a residency requirement,” Kraynik said. “There could be dozens of towns within an hour’s drive.”</p>
<p>McMeans took a job as Dormont’s assistant manager in 2010 after getting his master’s degree in public policy from Carnegie Mellon. He jumped over to the top manager job in Homestead, then went back to an assistant manager/municipal planner position in Mt. Lebanon in 2016. For the past six years, he and his family have lived in Mt. Lebanon.</p>
<p>“I saw it as an opportunity to move up, being as I lived in Mt. Lebanon,” McMeans said. “Mt. Lebanon is about 10 times bigger than Homestead across the board. ... There are a lot more services we’re able to provide.”</p>
<p>Some stay put</p>
<p>Mary Ellen Ramage is at the opposite end of the spectrum, having worked her way up from secretary to borough manager in Etna during a period of about 40 years, she said. Her personal connections to the people of the borough, along with a good relationship with the elected officials, has kept her rooted where her counterparts might wander.</p>
<p>“It was a job I took because it was close to home and I could save on travel expenses,” Ramage said. “I just fell in love with the community, and I just kept moving up in the ranks.”</p>
<p>Serving at a town government’s pleasure can be another factor in the shuffle, as council majorities can shift with each election and change the community’s priorities or attitudes toward a sitting manager.</p>
<p>Council elections typically are held every two years, and it’s no coincidence that most managers’ contracts also run for two years, Michaels said.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Online:</p>
<p><a href="http://bit.ly/2Fb1kcl" type="external">http://bit.ly/2Fb1kcl</a></p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Information from: Tribune-Review, <a href="http://triblive.com" type="external" /> <a href="http://triblive.com" type="external">http://triblive.com</a></p>
<p>GREENSBURG, Pa. (AP) — When Mt. Lebanon manager Steve Feller quit in 2015 to take a job with a nonprofit, one of the people who took on some of his responsibilities was Ian McMeans, who had been an assistant manager in neighboring Dormont, then manager in Homestead before coming back to an assistant position in the larger town.</p>
<p>In December, Tarentum hired away Jeannette’s manager, Michael Nestico, offering him a $9,000 pay bump to $65,000 a year and citing his background in law and finance.</p>
<p>Just months after moving up from an assistant manager position in Wilkinsburg, Cindy Bahn left Blawnox to become West Homestead’s manager in March.</p>
<p>And in North Huntingdon, Robinson manager Jeff Silka was hired in October for $110,000 a year, with a unanimous vote from commissioners praising his experience overseeing economic development.</p>
<p>The task of running a city, borough or township can be a complicated one, but the sheer number of municipalities in the area, constantly changing local politics and the relatively small talent pool means managers can — and sometimes must — hop from town to town as they climb the career ladder.</p>
<p>“We have mobility, but we also have to be nomads because of the market for managers,” said Silka, 50, of Monroeville, whose career has included management jobs in Indian Lake Borough; Shinnston, W.Va.; Londonderry Township; Johnstown; and Monroeville. “Some people are fortunate; they get to walk in the door and retire there 20 years later. The norm, nationwide, (for managers) is five years.”</p>
<p>Pay can surpass glory</p>
<p>Depending on the size of the community, municipal managers can be directly responsible for planning and zoning, budgeting, hiring staff and negotiating contracts, public works and public safety. In larger communities, they’ll oversee other employees who handle those specific tasks, but they all report to their community’s governing board or council.</p>
<p>There are no official, professional certifications for municipal managers, but most town and city governments are looking for managers with at least a master’s degree in public administration, public affairs or business administration, Silka said.</p>
<p>The job can pay well, depending on a manager’s experience, even among townships and smaller boroughs. The average manager for second-class townships made almost $85,000 a year in 2016, according to the most recently published surveys by the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors.</p>
<p>“It doesn’t come with a lot of glory. It’s a really tough gig, and you have to be really passionate about it. A little kid growing up isn’t going to say, ‘I’m going to be the manager of Heidelberg,’ ” said Kristen Maser Michaels, executive director of the University of Pittsburgh’s Congress of Neighboring Communities.</p>
<p>A constant job shuffle</p>
<p>Michaels said the shuffle of managers among local municipalities is a by-product of a small group of qualified managers and a large number of communities in the area. Often, fresh graduates will start as assistant managers or managers in smaller communities, then work their way up to larger communities and bigger salaries.</p>
<p>“We have so many municipalities, and so many manager-strong governments, so I can see a council being reluctant to bring people in from somewhere else because they’d have to teach them how governments work here,” Michaels said.</p>
<p>David Kraynik, president of the Association of Pennsylvania Municipal Managers, agreed, noting that having so many communities tightly packed into the urbanized areas of the state means that managers — particularly ones with families — could have many options for jobs without moving their residence.</p>
<p>“There are a lot of local governments in the area, so there are opportunities to move from one job to another and not necessarily have to uproot a family ... assuming (the employers) don’t have a residency requirement,” Kraynik said. “There could be dozens of towns within an hour’s drive.”</p>
<p>McMeans took a job as Dormont’s assistant manager in 2010 after getting his master’s degree in public policy from Carnegie Mellon. He jumped over to the top manager job in Homestead, then went back to an assistant manager/municipal planner position in Mt. Lebanon in 2016. For the past six years, he and his family have lived in Mt. Lebanon.</p>
<p>“I saw it as an opportunity to move up, being as I lived in Mt. Lebanon,” McMeans said. “Mt. Lebanon is about 10 times bigger than Homestead across the board. ... There are a lot more services we’re able to provide.”</p>
<p>Some stay put</p>
<p>Mary Ellen Ramage is at the opposite end of the spectrum, having worked her way up from secretary to borough manager in Etna during a period of about 40 years, she said. Her personal connections to the people of the borough, along with a good relationship with the elected officials, has kept her rooted where her counterparts might wander.</p>
<p>“It was a job I took because it was close to home and I could save on travel expenses,” Ramage said. “I just fell in love with the community, and I just kept moving up in the ranks.”</p>
<p>Serving at a town government’s pleasure can be another factor in the shuffle, as council majorities can shift with each election and change the community’s priorities or attitudes toward a sitting manager.</p>
<p>Council elections typically are held every two years, and it’s no coincidence that most managers’ contracts also run for two years, Michaels said.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Online:</p>
<p><a href="http://bit.ly/2Fb1kcl" type="external">http://bit.ly/2Fb1kcl</a></p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Information from: Tribune-Review, <a href="http://triblive.com" type="external" /> <a href="http://triblive.com" type="external">http://triblive.com</a></p>
| false | 2 |
greensburg pa ap mt lebanon manager steve feller quit 2015 take job nonprofit one people took responsibilities ian mcmeans assistant manager neighboring dormont manager homestead coming back assistant position larger town december tarentum hired away jeannettes manager michael nestico offering 9000 pay bump 65000 year citing background law finance months moving assistant manager position wilkinsburg cindy bahn left blawnox become west homesteads manager march north huntingdon robinson manager jeff silka hired october 110000 year unanimous vote commissioners praising experience overseeing economic development task running city borough township complicated one sheer number municipalities area constantly changing local politics relatively small talent pool means managers sometimes must hop town town climb career ladder mobility also nomads market managers said silka 50 monroeville whose career included management jobs indian lake borough shinnston wva londonderry township johnstown monroeville people fortunate get walk door retire 20 years later norm nationwide managers five years pay surpass glory depending size community municipal managers directly responsible planning zoning budgeting hiring staff negotiating contracts public works public safety larger communities theyll oversee employees handle specific tasks report communitys governing board council official professional certifications municipal managers town city governments looking managers least masters degree public administration public affairs business administration silka said job pay well depending managers experience even among townships smaller boroughs average manager secondclass townships made almost 85000 year 2016 according recently published surveys pennsylvania state association township supervisors doesnt come lot glory really tough gig really passionate little kid growing isnt going say im going manager heidelberg said kristen maser michaels executive director university pittsburghs congress neighboring communities constant job shuffle michaels said shuffle managers among local municipalities byproduct small group qualified managers large number communities area often fresh graduates start assistant managers managers smaller communities work way larger communities bigger salaries many municipalities many managerstrong governments see council reluctant bring people somewhere else theyd teach governments work michaels said david kraynik president association pennsylvania municipal managers agreed noting many communities tightly packed urbanized areas state means managers particularly ones families could many options jobs without moving residence lot local governments area opportunities move one job another necessarily uproot family assuming employers dont residency requirement kraynik said could dozens towns within hours drive mcmeans took job dormonts assistant manager 2010 getting masters degree public policy carnegie mellon jumped top manager job homestead went back assistant managermunicipal planner position mt lebanon 2016 past six years family lived mt lebanon saw opportunity move lived mt lebanon mcmeans said mt lebanon 10 times bigger homestead across board lot services able provide stay put mary ellen ramage opposite end spectrum worked way secretary borough manager etna period 40 years said personal connections people borough along good relationship elected officials kept rooted counterparts might wander job took close home could save travel expenses ramage said fell love community kept moving ranks serving town governments pleasure another factor shuffle council majorities shift election change communitys priorities attitudes toward sitting manager council elections typically held every two years coincidence managers contracts also run two years michaels said ___ online httpbitly2fb1kcl ___ information tribunereview httptriblivecom greensburg pa ap mt lebanon manager steve feller quit 2015 take job nonprofit one people took responsibilities ian mcmeans assistant manager neighboring dormont manager homestead coming back assistant position larger town december tarentum hired away jeannettes manager michael nestico offering 9000 pay bump 65000 year citing background law finance months moving assistant manager position wilkinsburg cindy bahn left blawnox become west homesteads manager march north huntingdon robinson manager jeff silka hired october 110000 year unanimous vote commissioners praising experience overseeing economic development task running city borough township complicated one sheer number municipalities area constantly changing local politics relatively small talent pool means managers sometimes must hop town town climb career ladder mobility also nomads market managers said silka 50 monroeville whose career included management jobs indian lake borough shinnston wva londonderry township johnstown monroeville people fortunate get walk door retire 20 years later norm nationwide managers five years pay surpass glory depending size community municipal managers directly responsible planning zoning budgeting hiring staff negotiating contracts public works public safety larger communities theyll oversee employees handle specific tasks report communitys governing board council official professional certifications municipal managers town city governments looking managers least masters degree public administration public affairs business administration silka said job pay well depending managers experience even among townships smaller boroughs average manager secondclass townships made almost 85000 year 2016 according recently published surveys pennsylvania state association township supervisors doesnt come lot glory really tough gig really passionate little kid growing isnt going say im going manager heidelberg said kristen maser michaels executive director university pittsburghs congress neighboring communities constant job shuffle michaels said shuffle managers among local municipalities byproduct small group qualified managers large number communities area often fresh graduates start assistant managers managers smaller communities work way larger communities bigger salaries many municipalities many managerstrong governments see council reluctant bring people somewhere else theyd teach governments work michaels said david kraynik president association pennsylvania municipal managers agreed noting many communities tightly packed urbanized areas state means managers particularly ones families could many options jobs without moving residence lot local governments area opportunities move one job another necessarily uproot family assuming employers dont residency requirement kraynik said could dozens towns within hours drive mcmeans took job dormonts assistant manager 2010 getting masters degree public policy carnegie mellon jumped top manager job homestead went back assistant managermunicipal planner position mt lebanon 2016 past six years family lived mt lebanon saw opportunity move lived mt lebanon mcmeans said mt lebanon 10 times bigger homestead across board lot services able provide stay put mary ellen ramage opposite end spectrum worked way secretary borough manager etna period 40 years said personal connections people borough along good relationship elected officials kept rooted counterparts might wander job took close home could save travel expenses ramage said fell love community kept moving ranks serving town governments pleasure another factor shuffle council majorities shift election change communitys priorities attitudes toward sitting manager council elections typically held every two years coincidence managers contracts also run two years michaels said ___ online httpbitly2fb1kcl ___ information tribunereview httptriblivecom
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<p>SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jimmy Buffett knows all about hurricanes and sailing, so it's appropriate that the singer-songwriter has been enlisted to help promote a regatta on the Caribbean island of St. Barts and show that life is returning to normal after a direct hit from Hurricane Irma in September.</p>
<p>Buffett will serve as U.S. ambassador for the Les Voiles de Saint-Barth, April 8-14, a mainstay on the Caribbean yacht racing circuit.</p>
<p>"I sailed into the harbor in 1978 and it's always kind of been my second Caribbean home, after Florida," Buffett said by phone from New York, where he's getting ready for the Broadway premiere of his musical, "Escape to Margaritaville." ''My kids all kind of grew up down there. I have a fond attachment from those early days. I've seen it in a lot of phases and I think it's one of the most unique spots on the planet."</p>
<p>Buffett grew up on the Gulf Coast and said he was "a child of hurricanes." Besides writing songs such as "Son of a Son of a Sailor," ''One Particular Harbor" and "A Pirate Looks at Forty," he also wrote "Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season."</p>
<p>Buffett owns a villa on St. Barts that was undamaged by the storm. He said he's impressed with how the island residents are bouncing back and he's eager to help.</p>
<p>"They're pretty resilient people there. They always have been," he said. "They did an amazing job, I thought, in getting the place in any way presentable."</p>
<p>Buffett played a free concert on the main dock in Gustavia on Dec. 27 to give locals a break from the recovery work and attract visitors to the island.</p>
<p>"People know St. Barts as a ritzy place, but what makes it so unique is the people in the service industry, the working people on the island," he said. "They don't live in mansions on the hill. They live in houses that took the brunt of storm. Everyone has worked together to get back to normal.</p>
<p>"It was a relief for those people to have a night out. We couldn't do a full show but we did whatever we could. The monitors went out on the second song but I didn't let anyone know. I've done this before."</p>
<p>Buffett held the honorary ambassador position for Les Voiles — it means "the sails" in French — in 2011.</p>
<p>Buffett will be onsite for the regatta but won't be sailing and isn't scheduled to play a concert. But he has done impromptu sets at local bars.</p>
<p>"It's been known to happen," he said, adding: "It's always fun. It's always been a sailing community. Sailors sing, sailors sing in bars and all the accouterments that go along with it are there."</p>
<p>Buffett's love affair with St. Barts began when he was moving a boat to the Caribbean. "I had a romantic infatuation about an old movie, and there's some French culture in my family, so it kind of resonated with me. I wanted to go visit a French island. There was no internet then. I read about it in a sailing magazine. It was the coolest place we saw."</p>
<p>Buffett has a connection to big-time sailing. Before the 1987 America's Cup in Australia, he wrote "Take It Back," a fight song for Dennis Conner and his Stars &amp; Stripes crew. Sure enough, Conner regained the silver trophy he had lost to an Australian crew four years earlier.</p>
<p>"Escape to Margaritaville," taking its name from Buffett's classic hit, "Margaritaville," begins previews on Feb. 16 at New York's Marquis Theatre.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Bernie Wilson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/berniewilson</p>
<p>SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jimmy Buffett knows all about hurricanes and sailing, so it's appropriate that the singer-songwriter has been enlisted to help promote a regatta on the Caribbean island of St. Barts and show that life is returning to normal after a direct hit from Hurricane Irma in September.</p>
<p>Buffett will serve as U.S. ambassador for the Les Voiles de Saint-Barth, April 8-14, a mainstay on the Caribbean yacht racing circuit.</p>
<p>"I sailed into the harbor in 1978 and it's always kind of been my second Caribbean home, after Florida," Buffett said by phone from New York, where he's getting ready for the Broadway premiere of his musical, "Escape to Margaritaville." ''My kids all kind of grew up down there. I have a fond attachment from those early days. I've seen it in a lot of phases and I think it's one of the most unique spots on the planet."</p>
<p>Buffett grew up on the Gulf Coast and said he was "a child of hurricanes." Besides writing songs such as "Son of a Son of a Sailor," ''One Particular Harbor" and "A Pirate Looks at Forty," he also wrote "Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season."</p>
<p>Buffett owns a villa on St. Barts that was undamaged by the storm. He said he's impressed with how the island residents are bouncing back and he's eager to help.</p>
<p>"They're pretty resilient people there. They always have been," he said. "They did an amazing job, I thought, in getting the place in any way presentable."</p>
<p>Buffett played a free concert on the main dock in Gustavia on Dec. 27 to give locals a break from the recovery work and attract visitors to the island.</p>
<p>"People know St. Barts as a ritzy place, but what makes it so unique is the people in the service industry, the working people on the island," he said. "They don't live in mansions on the hill. They live in houses that took the brunt of storm. Everyone has worked together to get back to normal.</p>
<p>"It was a relief for those people to have a night out. We couldn't do a full show but we did whatever we could. The monitors went out on the second song but I didn't let anyone know. I've done this before."</p>
<p>Buffett held the honorary ambassador position for Les Voiles — it means "the sails" in French — in 2011.</p>
<p>Buffett will be onsite for the regatta but won't be sailing and isn't scheduled to play a concert. But he has done impromptu sets at local bars.</p>
<p>"It's been known to happen," he said, adding: "It's always fun. It's always been a sailing community. Sailors sing, sailors sing in bars and all the accouterments that go along with it are there."</p>
<p>Buffett's love affair with St. Barts began when he was moving a boat to the Caribbean. "I had a romantic infatuation about an old movie, and there's some French culture in my family, so it kind of resonated with me. I wanted to go visit a French island. There was no internet then. I read about it in a sailing magazine. It was the coolest place we saw."</p>
<p>Buffett has a connection to big-time sailing. Before the 1987 America's Cup in Australia, he wrote "Take It Back," a fight song for Dennis Conner and his Stars &amp; Stripes crew. Sure enough, Conner regained the silver trophy he had lost to an Australian crew four years earlier.</p>
<p>"Escape to Margaritaville," taking its name from Buffett's classic hit, "Margaritaville," begins previews on Feb. 16 at New York's Marquis Theatre.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Bernie Wilson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/berniewilson</p>
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san diego ap jimmy buffett knows hurricanes sailing appropriate singersongwriter enlisted help promote regatta caribbean island st barts show life returning normal direct hit hurricane irma september buffett serve us ambassador les voiles de saintbarth april 814 mainstay caribbean yacht racing circuit sailed harbor 1978 always kind second caribbean home florida buffett said phone new york hes getting ready broadway premiere musical escape margaritaville kids kind grew fond attachment early days ive seen lot phases think one unique spots planet buffett grew gulf coast said child hurricanes besides writing songs son son sailor one particular harbor pirate looks forty also wrote trying reason hurricane season buffett owns villa st barts undamaged storm said hes impressed island residents bouncing back hes eager help theyre pretty resilient people always said amazing job thought getting place way presentable buffett played free concert main dock gustavia dec 27 give locals break recovery work attract visitors island people know st barts ritzy place makes unique people service industry working people island said dont live mansions hill live houses took brunt storm everyone worked together get back normal relief people night couldnt full show whatever could monitors went second song didnt let anyone know ive done buffett held honorary ambassador position les voiles means sails french 2011 buffett onsite regatta wont sailing isnt scheduled play concert done impromptu sets local bars known happen said adding always fun always sailing community sailors sing sailors sing bars accouterments go along buffetts love affair st barts began moving boat caribbean romantic infatuation old movie theres french culture family kind resonated wanted go visit french island internet read sailing magazine coolest place saw buffett connection bigtime sailing 1987 americas cup australia wrote take back fight song dennis conner stars amp stripes crew sure enough conner regained silver trophy lost australian crew four years earlier escape margaritaville taking name buffetts classic hit margaritaville begins previews feb 16 new yorks marquis theatre ___ follow bernie wilson twitter httptwittercomberniewilson san diego ap jimmy buffett knows hurricanes sailing appropriate singersongwriter enlisted help promote regatta caribbean island st barts show life returning normal direct hit hurricane irma september buffett serve us ambassador les voiles de saintbarth april 814 mainstay caribbean yacht racing circuit sailed harbor 1978 always kind second caribbean home florida buffett said phone new york hes getting ready broadway premiere musical escape margaritaville kids kind grew fond attachment early days ive seen lot phases think one unique spots planet buffett grew gulf coast said child hurricanes besides writing songs son son sailor one particular harbor pirate looks forty also wrote trying reason hurricane season buffett owns villa st barts undamaged storm said hes impressed island residents bouncing back hes eager help theyre pretty resilient people always said amazing job thought getting place way presentable buffett played free concert main dock gustavia dec 27 give locals break recovery work attract visitors island people know st barts ritzy place makes unique people service industry working people island said dont live mansions hill live houses took brunt storm everyone worked together get back normal relief people night couldnt full show whatever could monitors went second song didnt let anyone know ive done buffett held honorary ambassador position les voiles means sails french 2011 buffett onsite regatta wont sailing isnt scheduled play concert done impromptu sets local bars known happen said adding always fun always sailing community sailors sing sailors sing bars accouterments go along buffetts love affair st barts began moving boat caribbean romantic infatuation old movie theres french culture family kind resonated wanted go visit french island internet read sailing magazine coolest place saw buffett connection bigtime sailing 1987 americas cup australia wrote take back fight song dennis conner stars amp stripes crew sure enough conner regained silver trophy lost australian crew four years earlier escape margaritaville taking name buffetts classic hit margaritaville begins previews feb 16 new yorks marquis theatre ___ follow bernie wilson twitter httptwittercomberniewilson
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<p>SANTA CATERINA VALFURVA, Italy (AP) — Marcel Hirscher earned his 36th career win on the World Cup circuit Wednesday, edging Norwegian rival Henrik Kristoffersen by 0.21 seconds in a men's slalom.</p>
<p>The four-time overall champion from Austria was third after the opening leg but posted the fastest second-run time to finish in 1 minute, 54.54 seconds.</p>
<p>It was the third time in three slaloms this season that Hirscher and Kristoffersen shared the top-two spots — though the first time with the Austrian on top.</p>
<p>"It's super cool," Hirscher said about his rivalry with the 21-year-old Norwegian. "It gives me new motivation, new strength. Also in training I try to make another step forward."</p>
<p>Kristoffersen still led Hirscher by 0.07 toward the end of his final run but had a costly mistake in the last few gates before the finish.</p>
<p>"That is ski racing. But one mistake is OK," the Norwegian said. "I am satisfied. It was a good run. I heard Marcel was incredibly fast in the lower section."</p>
<p>Kristoffersen was reluctant to speculate about a duel with Hirscher for this year's World Cup slalom title, which the Austrian won the past three seasons.</p>
<p>"It's still a long way until (the final races in) St. Moritz," he said. "Now I think Marcel is the best, and I am close behind him."</p>
<p>Kristoffersen remained in the lead of the discipline standings with 280 points, 20 clear of Hirscher. Aleksander Khoroshilov of Russia is third with 114 points.</p>
<p>Eyeing his second victory after winning in Schladming a year ago, Khoroshilov led Hirscher by 0.10 after the opening run. However, he was already half a second behind the Austrian at the first split of his second run and finally came third, 0.32 off the winning time.</p>
<p>"The feeling was pretty good, especially in the second run," Hirscher said. "Henrik and Aleksander did an amazing job as well so it was pretty close as it's been all season so far."</p>
<p>Hirscher matched retired Benjamin Raich's total of 36 World Cup wins. They are runners-up to Austrian record holder Hermann Maier, who won 54 times.</p>
<p>It also was the Austrian's 17th slalom win, which put him third on the all-time list. Only Ingemar Stenmark of Sweden (40) and Alberto Tomba of Italy (35) had more wins in the discipline.</p>
<p>"It is nice. I am skiing a couple of years more so we will see at the end how far I can (go in) the rankings," Hirscher said. "Anyway, records are only for retired athletes, who are sitting in their seat and drinking a glass of red wine."</p>
<p>Hirscher went top of the overall standings again, leading Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway by 85 points. Svindal doesn't compete in slaloms.</p>
<p>World slalom champion Jean-Baptiste Grange of France finished 2.60 behind Hirscher in 18th. David Chodounsky, who was third in the discipline standings before the race, failed to finish his first run while none of his five American teammates managed to qualify for the final run either.</p>
<p>The race was moved from Zagreb because of a lack of snow. It was the first in a series of five slaloms within three weeks.</p>
<p>This weekend, a giant slalom and a slalom will be contested in Adelboden, with further slaloms to follow in Wengen, Kitzbuehel and Schladming.</p>
<p>SANTA CATERINA VALFURVA, Italy (AP) — Marcel Hirscher earned his 36th career win on the World Cup circuit Wednesday, edging Norwegian rival Henrik Kristoffersen by 0.21 seconds in a men's slalom.</p>
<p>The four-time overall champion from Austria was third after the opening leg but posted the fastest second-run time to finish in 1 minute, 54.54 seconds.</p>
<p>It was the third time in three slaloms this season that Hirscher and Kristoffersen shared the top-two spots — though the first time with the Austrian on top.</p>
<p>"It's super cool," Hirscher said about his rivalry with the 21-year-old Norwegian. "It gives me new motivation, new strength. Also in training I try to make another step forward."</p>
<p>Kristoffersen still led Hirscher by 0.07 toward the end of his final run but had a costly mistake in the last few gates before the finish.</p>
<p>"That is ski racing. But one mistake is OK," the Norwegian said. "I am satisfied. It was a good run. I heard Marcel was incredibly fast in the lower section."</p>
<p>Kristoffersen was reluctant to speculate about a duel with Hirscher for this year's World Cup slalom title, which the Austrian won the past three seasons.</p>
<p>"It's still a long way until (the final races in) St. Moritz," he said. "Now I think Marcel is the best, and I am close behind him."</p>
<p>Kristoffersen remained in the lead of the discipline standings with 280 points, 20 clear of Hirscher. Aleksander Khoroshilov of Russia is third with 114 points.</p>
<p>Eyeing his second victory after winning in Schladming a year ago, Khoroshilov led Hirscher by 0.10 after the opening run. However, he was already half a second behind the Austrian at the first split of his second run and finally came third, 0.32 off the winning time.</p>
<p>"The feeling was pretty good, especially in the second run," Hirscher said. "Henrik and Aleksander did an amazing job as well so it was pretty close as it's been all season so far."</p>
<p>Hirscher matched retired Benjamin Raich's total of 36 World Cup wins. They are runners-up to Austrian record holder Hermann Maier, who won 54 times.</p>
<p>It also was the Austrian's 17th slalom win, which put him third on the all-time list. Only Ingemar Stenmark of Sweden (40) and Alberto Tomba of Italy (35) had more wins in the discipline.</p>
<p>"It is nice. I am skiing a couple of years more so we will see at the end how far I can (go in) the rankings," Hirscher said. "Anyway, records are only for retired athletes, who are sitting in their seat and drinking a glass of red wine."</p>
<p>Hirscher went top of the overall standings again, leading Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway by 85 points. Svindal doesn't compete in slaloms.</p>
<p>World slalom champion Jean-Baptiste Grange of France finished 2.60 behind Hirscher in 18th. David Chodounsky, who was third in the discipline standings before the race, failed to finish his first run while none of his five American teammates managed to qualify for the final run either.</p>
<p>The race was moved from Zagreb because of a lack of snow. It was the first in a series of five slaloms within three weeks.</p>
<p>This weekend, a giant slalom and a slalom will be contested in Adelboden, with further slaloms to follow in Wengen, Kitzbuehel and Schladming.</p>
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santa caterina valfurva italy ap marcel hirscher earned 36th career win world cup circuit wednesday edging norwegian rival henrik kristoffersen 021 seconds mens slalom fourtime overall champion austria third opening leg posted fastest secondrun time finish 1 minute 5454 seconds third time three slaloms season hirscher kristoffersen shared toptwo spots though first time austrian top super cool hirscher said rivalry 21yearold norwegian gives new motivation new strength also training try make another step forward kristoffersen still led hirscher 007 toward end final run costly mistake last gates finish ski racing one mistake ok norwegian said satisfied good run heard marcel incredibly fast lower section kristoffersen reluctant speculate duel hirscher years world cup slalom title austrian past three seasons still long way final races st moritz said think marcel best close behind kristoffersen remained lead discipline standings 280 points 20 clear hirscher aleksander khoroshilov russia third 114 points eyeing second victory winning schladming year ago khoroshilov led hirscher 010 opening run however already half second behind austrian first split second run finally came third 032 winning time feeling pretty good especially second run hirscher said henrik aleksander amazing job well pretty close season far hirscher matched retired benjamin raichs total 36 world cup wins runnersup austrian record holder hermann maier 54 times also austrians 17th slalom win put third alltime list ingemar stenmark sweden 40 alberto tomba italy 35 wins discipline nice skiing couple years see end far go rankings hirscher said anyway records retired athletes sitting seat drinking glass red wine hirscher went top overall standings leading aksel lund svindal norway 85 points svindal doesnt compete slaloms world slalom champion jeanbaptiste grange france finished 260 behind hirscher 18th david chodounsky third discipline standings race failed finish first run none five american teammates managed qualify final run either race moved zagreb lack snow first series five slaloms within three weeks weekend giant slalom slalom contested adelboden slaloms follow wengen kitzbuehel schladming santa caterina valfurva italy ap marcel hirscher earned 36th career win world cup circuit wednesday edging norwegian rival henrik kristoffersen 021 seconds mens slalom fourtime overall champion austria third opening leg posted fastest secondrun time finish 1 minute 5454 seconds third time three slaloms season hirscher kristoffersen shared toptwo spots though first time austrian top super cool hirscher said rivalry 21yearold norwegian gives new motivation new strength also training try make another step forward kristoffersen still led hirscher 007 toward end final run costly mistake last gates finish ski racing one mistake ok norwegian said satisfied good run heard marcel incredibly fast lower section kristoffersen reluctant speculate duel hirscher years world cup slalom title austrian past three seasons still long way final races st moritz said think marcel best close behind kristoffersen remained lead discipline standings 280 points 20 clear hirscher aleksander khoroshilov russia third 114 points eyeing second victory winning schladming year ago khoroshilov led hirscher 010 opening run however already half second behind austrian first split second run finally came third 032 winning time feeling pretty good especially second run hirscher said henrik aleksander amazing job well pretty close season far hirscher matched retired benjamin raichs total 36 world cup wins runnersup austrian record holder hermann maier 54 times also austrians 17th slalom win put third alltime list ingemar stenmark sweden 40 alberto tomba italy 35 wins discipline nice skiing couple years see end far go rankings hirscher said anyway records retired athletes sitting seat drinking glass red wine hirscher went top overall standings leading aksel lund svindal norway 85 points svindal doesnt compete slaloms world slalom champion jeanbaptiste grange france finished 260 behind hirscher 18th david chodounsky third discipline standings race failed finish first run none five american teammates managed qualify final run either race moved zagreb lack snow first series five slaloms within three weeks weekend giant slalom slalom contested adelboden slaloms follow wengen kitzbuehel schladming
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<p>From left, Tommy Lee Jones, director Ron Shelton and Morgan Freeman on the set of “Villa Capri,” now called “Just Getting Started.” (Lewis Jacobs / Broad Green Pictures)</p>
<p>In August 2016, some heavy hitters filmed in New Mexico.</p>
<p>Morgan Freeman, Tommy Lee Jones and Rene Russo began filming the project, “Villa Capri.”</p>
<p>And then most people heard nothing.</p>
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<p>Flash forward to Friday, Dec. 8, and moviegoers will get to see what the trio of actors were up to when “Just Getting Started” opens in theaters nationwide.</p>
<p>Of course, the name change could have thrown people off, but New Mexicans will get to see many local locations stand in for Palm Springs, Calif.</p>
<p>Morgan Freeman stars as Duke in “Just Getting Started,” which was filmed in New Mexico. (Brandy Menefee / Broad Green Pictures)</p>
<p>The film follows Freeman as Duke Diver, the freewheeling manager of the luxury Palm Springs resort, the Villa Capri. Diver has a mysterious past, but he’s a pro at making sure that life for the high-spirited residents is one big, non-stop party. But the status quo is challenged when ex-military charmer Leo, played by Jones, checks in, triggering a competition between Duke and Leo for the top spot of Alpha male, as well as for the affections of the newly-arrived Suzie, played by Russo.</p>
<p>When Diver’s past suddenly catches up with him, the rivals put aside their differences to save Villa Capri.</p>
<p>From left, director Ron Shelton, Tommy Lee Jones and Morgan Freeman on the set of “Just Getting Started,” (Lewis Jacobs / Broad Green Pictures)</p>
<p>“I always thought it would be a fun idea to stage a film set during Christmas in a very un-Christmas-like atmosphere,” says Ron Shelton, director and writer. “One holiday, I was driving through Palm Springs, Dinah Shore Drive and Bob Hope Drive, and plastic icicles were bobbing in the wind. Dust storms were coming through, an inflatable snowman was blowing down the street and Dean Martin was being piped in, singing ‘Let It Snow.’ That always stuck in my mind as a delicious background for a story.”</p>
<p>Filming in the California desert was out of the question due to the heat.</p>
<p>According to the New Mexico Film Office, production employed approximately 120 New Mexico crew members, 12 New Mexico principal actors and 650 background talent.</p>
<p>Filmmakers opted for the more temperate high deserts of New Mexico, where they were lucky to find the perfect place for their Villa Capri.</p>
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<p>The Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado in Santa Fe cooperated fully with production and, as it was also the hotel of choice for most of the cast, actors could stroll down an air-conditioned hallway to work.</p>
<p>“When you think about creating a fictional place like Villa Capri, the idea that a Four Seasons Resort could double for it was perfect,” says producer Steve Richards in a release. “It matched the level of sophistication and luxury that we wanted. They were amazing in allowing us full access, and worked beautifully with us to schedule scenes all around the resort.”</p>
<p>Rene Russo stars as Suzie in “Just Getting Started.”(Lewis Jacobs / Broad Green Pictures)</p>
<p>Shelton continues, “It was bizarre that we could actually shut down a Four Seasons. But it turned out there was one week at the end of summer where it was their slow week, so if we moved in, in late August, put up Christmas decorations and brought in camels, we could actually use it for Palm Springs. We were very fortunate and they were very accommodating. During the filming of the nativity sequence, where the animals all break loose and make a run for it, we had camel wranglers steering them away from the high-paying guests. In the end, I think it all worked out.”</p>
<p>Initially envisioned for 40 days of shooting, under Shelton’s organization “Just Getting Started” wound up in the can with 28 days of principal photography.</p>
<p>To mimic the open California vistas, production chose locations in and around Albuquerque, with director of photography Barry Peterson and Shelton “carefully choosing frames,” which were later augmented with drop-in exterior shots from Palm Springs.</p>
<p>From left, Elizabeth Ashley stars as Lily, Sheryl Lee Ralph as Roberta and Glenne Headly as Marguerite in the NM filmed, “Just Getting Started.” (Lewis Jacobs / Broad Green Pictures)</p>
<p>For the golfing scenes, production filmed at the University of New Mexico golf course, which was constructed in 1967.</p>
<p>Despite his appearance on film, Jones had never swung a club prior to being cast.</p>
<p>“I never played golf in my life,” Jones says. “So, to get ready for this movie, I bought some clubs and started taking lessons. It’s a sport that never had any appeal for me, but I’m getting to learn some things about it, and it’s been very enjoyable, highly enjoyable. I can hit the ball a long way, but I don’t always know where it’s going to come down.”</p>
<p>In addition to unfamiliar sports and new accents, some cast members also had to deal with dangerous wildlife.</p>
<p>“There are two sequences with real rattlesnakes — we hired a venomous snake handler, who actually runs the rattlesnake museum,” Shelton says. “Around here, we didn’t have any trouble actually finding snakes. When we were shooting in the desert, we sent the handlers out ahead to track any down, so we wouldn’t step on them — they would just go out, retrieve them and put them in a bucket. It’s just a feature of shooting in New Mexico.”</p>
<p>Jane Seymour on the set of “Just Getting Started,” which filmed in New Mexico. (Credit: Brandy Menefee / Broad Green Pictures)</p>
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left tommy lee jones director ron shelton morgan freeman set villa capri called getting started lewis jacobs broad green pictures august 2016 heavy hitters filmed new mexico morgan freeman tommy lee jones rene russo began filming project villa capri people heard nothing advertisement flash forward friday dec 8 moviegoers get see trio actors getting started opens theaters nationwide course name change could thrown people new mexicans get see many local locations stand palm springs calif morgan freeman stars duke getting started filmed new mexico brandy menefee broad green pictures film follows freeman duke diver freewheeling manager luxury palm springs resort villa capri diver mysterious past hes pro making sure life highspirited residents one big nonstop party status quo challenged exmilitary charmer leo played jones checks triggering competition duke leo top spot alpha male well affections newlyarrived suzie played russo divers past suddenly catches rivals put aside differences save villa capri left director ron shelton tommy lee jones morgan freeman set getting started lewis jacobs broad green pictures always thought would fun idea stage film set christmas unchristmaslike atmosphere says ron shelton director writer one holiday driving palm springs dinah shore drive bob hope drive plastic icicles bobbing wind dust storms coming inflatable snowman blowing street dean martin piped singing let snow always stuck mind delicious background story filming california desert question due heat according new mexico film office production employed approximately 120 new mexico crew members 12 new mexico principal actors 650 background talent filmmakers opted temperate high deserts new mexico lucky find perfect place villa capri advertisement four seasons resort rancho encantado santa fe cooperated fully production also hotel choice cast actors could stroll airconditioned hallway work think creating fictional place like villa capri idea four seasons resort could double perfect says producer steve richards release matched level sophistication luxury wanted amazing allowing us full access worked beautifully us schedule scenes around resort rene russo stars suzie getting startedlewis jacobs broad green pictures shelton continues bizarre could actually shut four seasons turned one week end summer slow week moved late august put christmas decorations brought camels could actually use palm springs fortunate accommodating filming nativity sequence animals break loose make run camel wranglers steering away highpaying guests end think worked initially envisioned 40 days shooting sheltons organization getting started wound 28 days principal photography mimic open california vistas production chose locations around albuquerque director photography barry peterson shelton carefully choosing frames later augmented dropin exterior shots palm springs left elizabeth ashley stars lily sheryl lee ralph roberta glenne headly marguerite nm filmed getting started lewis jacobs broad green pictures golfing scenes production filmed university new mexico golf course constructed 1967 despite appearance film jones never swung club prior cast never played golf life jones says get ready movie bought clubs started taking lessons sport never appeal im getting learn things enjoyable highly enjoyable hit ball long way dont always know going come addition unfamiliar sports new accents cast members also deal dangerous wildlife two sequences real rattlesnakes hired venomous snake handler actually runs rattlesnake museum shelton says around didnt trouble actually finding snakes shooting desert sent handlers ahead track wouldnt step would go retrieve put bucket feature shooting new mexico jane seymour set getting started filmed new mexico credit brandy menefee broad green pictures
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<p>LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May slapped down her foreign minister on Tuesday after he demanded more funding for Britain’s public health service, telling him any discussion of money saved from Brexit should be kept private.</p> FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May sits next to Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson as she holds the first Cabinet meeting following the general election at 10 Downing Street, in London June 12, 2017. REUTERS/Leon Neal/Pool
<p>Boris Johnson, whose promises that Britain’s departure from the European Union would boost funds for the National Health Service helped persuade many voters to back Brexit, raised his demands at a regular meeting of her top ministers after publicly calling for an extra 100 million pounds ($140 million) a week.</p>
<p>But the response was swift. May, trying to reassert her authority, said any money saved from Brexit would be spent on her priorities, including health, and that ministers should not air discussions outside her cabinet meetings.</p>
<p>“The prime minister and a large number of cabinet ministers made the point that cabinet discussions should take place in private,” her spokesman told reporters, describing the hour-long discussion on the NHS as “constructive”.</p>
<p>“As regards the future, and how the return of any EU contribution would be spent, the prime minister reminded cabinet that the government has consistently said that we will spend money on our priorities such as housing, schools and the NHS.”</p>
<p>May is under pressure over the state of the health service from the opposition Labour Party, which says healthcare is being put “recklessly” at risk by ministers unable to tackle bed shortages and thousands of canceled operations.</p>
<p>Under fire from some lawmakers in her own party for lacking direction on some of the most pressing concerns in Britain, May is also trying to keep the warring factions of her cabinet of top ministers united as she negotiates Brexit.</p>
<p>But divisions over the so-called Brexit dividend - the funds that will be freed up when Britain stops paying into EU coffers - are deepening, with the ministers for health, education and defense and others bidding for more funds for their departments.</p> “DULL DULL DULL”
<p>Shortly after Johnson made his demand, finance minister Philip Hammond fought back by saying he had already increased payments to the NHS. May has repeatedly said that funding is at record levels.</p> Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson walks out of Downing Street in London, January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Toby Melville
<p>“Mr Johnson is the foreign secretary,” Hammond told reporters in Brussels.</p>
<p>“I gave the health secretary an extra 6 billion pounds at the recent budget and we’ll look at departmental allocations again at the spending review when that takes place.”</p>
<p>The row is yet another headache for May, whose weakness since losing her party’s majority at an election last June was underlined by a botched reshuffle of her top team of ministers earlier this month.</p> Slideshow (3 Images)
<p>With the Conservatives increasingly concerned that Labour is setting the political agenda in Britain by focusing on health, housing and education, many members of the ruling party say it needs to show more clearly what they hold to be the benefits of Brexit.</p>
<p>Johnson and other Brexit supporters said during the campaign for the 2016 referendum on leaving the European Union that Britain pays 350 million pounds a week to the bloc and promised to spend the money on the NHS instead if Britain voted to leave.</p>
<p>The figure was challenged by critics who said it did not reflect Britain’s rebate and payments made into Britain by the EU.</p>
<p>Mindful of that promise, some Conservatives are calling for the government to increase funding.</p>
<p>“We have to deliver Brexit and deliver for the NHS,” Andrew Bridgen, a pro-Brexit lawmaker, told Reuters.</p>
<p>Others went further, saying May had to do a lot more to win over younger voters and challenge Labour’s leftist leader Jeremy Corbyn, who has a loyal following in many cities.</p>
<p>“They must have really sound reasons to vote Conservative. We really need to get on with this #wherestheboldandbrave sofaritsdulldulldull,” Conservative lawmaker Nicholas Soames said on Twitter.</p>
<p>additional reporting by Philip Blekinstop in Brussels and Guy Faulconbridge, editing by Ralph Boulton</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>ROME (Reuters) - Italy’s anti-establishment 5-Star Movement hooked up with conservative parties on Saturday to elect the speakers of both houses of parliament, but there was no sign yet they might extend this pact and form a government.</p> The new elected Senate president Forza Italia party's Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati speaks during the second session day since the March 4 national election in Rome, Italy March 24, 2018. REUTERS/Remo Casilli
<p>The March 4 national election ended in a hung parliament, with the 5-Star becoming the largest party and a rightist alliance, including ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party and the anti-migrant League, emerging as the biggest bloc.</p>
<p>After days of behind-the-scenes talks, the two factions joined forces to elect 5-Star heavyweight Roberto Fico president of the lower house and Forza Italia veteran Elisabetta Casellati president of the Senate - both highly prestigious posts.</p>
<p>The conservative alliance came close to collapse on Friday after the League sided with 5-Star to reject Forza Italia’s first choice for the Senate position, but hasty overnight negotiations patched up the row, at least for now.</p>
<p>“I am very happy, moved and proud that parliament has started to work and that the centre-right has held together,” League leader Matteo Salvini said after Saturday’s twin votes.</p>
<p>The election of the speakers opens the way for formal government consultations, which will be led by President Sergio Mattarella and are expected to start early next month.</p>
<p>Later on Saturday Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni officially handed in his resignation and that of his government to Mattarella, as normally happens in Italy when a newly-elected parliament appoints its speakers.</p>
<p>Gentiloni, however, will remain in place to take care of day-to-day operations until a new government is formed, the secretary of the president said in an emailed statement.</p> The new elected Senate president Forza Italia party's Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati speaks during the second session day since the March 4 national election in Rome, Italy March 24, 2018. REUTERS/Remo Casilli FLEXIBILITY
<p>The 5-Star and the right have enough seats in parliament to govern Italy, but there are many impediments to such a deal in terms of policy mismatches and personality clashes.</p>
<p>“Here we have seen that there are (parliamentary) forces which carry considerable weight. But for us, government is something different,” said Giorgia Meloni, head of the far-right Brothers of Italy party which is in the conservative alliance.</p>
<p>“For us, 5-Star absolutely does not represent any sort of guarantee, just like the Democratic Party,” she added, referring to the centre-left PD which lost power in the March 4 election.</p> Slideshow (7 Images)
<p>Nonetheless, Saturday’s ballots showed that the 5-Star is evolving. It used to excoriate such parliamentary deal-making as old-style politics, so by agreeing to a deal in both houses it suggested it might prove more flexible in future.</p>
<p>The election of the speakers also represented a blow to Berlusconi, who dominated Italy’s centre-right for almost 25 years but must now play second fiddle to Salvini after the League overtook his Forza Italia party in the March 4 vote.</p>
<p>He accused Salvini of betrayal on Friday after the League sided with the 5-Star over the speaker nominations. On Saturday Berlusconi altered his tone, saying he still trusted Salvini and promised to work for the good of Italy, the euro zone’s third largest economy.</p>
<p>Post-election opinion polls have shown support for Forza Italia collapse further in favor of the League, which has promised a fierce clampdown on illegal immigration and a hefty reduction in both business and personal taxes.</p>
<p>Backing for the 5-Star has also climbed further over the past three weeks, with the movement promising to introduce a generous “Citizen’s Wage” to help the poor and jobless.</p>
<p>Both the League and 5-Star have voiced fierce hostility to EU budget rules and markets are likely to be spooked by any sign they might form a coalition. However, their divergent economic platforms represent a serious hurdle to alliance deals.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Francesca Landini; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Andrew Bolton</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>ZAGREB (Reuters) - Thousands of Croat conservatives protested on Saturday against the proposed ratification of a European treaty that describes gender as a “social role,” fearing it could undermine traditional family values in the predominantly Catholic country.</p> People walk during the protest against the ratification of the Istanbul Convention in Zagreb, Croatia, March 24, 2018. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic
<p>The protesters marched down the main streets of the capital Zagreb, carrying a huge banner reading “Stop the Istanbul (Convention) for Sovereign Croatia,” waving national flags and singing patriotic songs.</p>
<p>Earlier this week, Croatia’s conservative government adopted the treaty, designed to combat violence against women, despite opposition from within its own ranks, conservative groups and the local Catholic Church.</p>
<p>While supporting the protection of women, opponents object to the treaty’s definition of gender, which they say paves way for introducing transsexual or transgender as separate categories, which they oppose.</p>
<p>Last month, the same treaty was rejected in two other eastern European Union countries, Bulgaria and Slovakia, for similar objections about the definition of gender as “social roles, behaviors, activities and characteristics that a particular society considers appropriate for women and men.”</p>
<p>The Croatian government has urged the parliament to ratify the treaty, known as the Istanbul Convention, and also adopted a separate statement saying the treaty will not change Croatia’s legal definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman.</p> People are seen during the protest against the ratification of the Istanbul Convention in Zagreb, Croatia, March 24, 2018. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic
<p>But protesters said the ratification was unacceptable.</p>
<p>“This is betrayal!”, “Plenkovic, leave!”, the protesters chanted, calling for Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic to step down.</p> Slideshow (7 Images)
<p>“I think this is a turning point for Croatia when we must decide whether Croatia will choose a preservation of family and traditional values or we will go another way imposed from outside, from Brussels or like what we see in Canada where there will be a parent 1 and parent 2 instead of mother and father,” said Kristina Pavlovic, a protest organiser.</p>
<p>Treaty opponents have said they will push for a referendum on the issue. But according to a poll conducted for the government this week, two thirds of Croatians back ratifying the treaty.</p>
<p>A small counter-rally was organized in support of the treaty, and police had to divide the two groups after they verbally clashed.</p>
<p>The treaty’s supporters said many protesters, including war veterans, were brought by buses from other towns and outside of Croatia to attend the rally, which they said was politically-motivated.</p>
<p>“I protest for my grandchild, grand-grandchild and all those who gave their lives for Croatia,” an elderly man told the N1 television. “I am a grandfather, I am not going to be a parent 1 nor a parent 2.”</p>
<p>Reporting by Igor Ilic and Daria Sito-Sucic in Sarajevo; Editing by Mark Potter</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>YEKATERINBURG/MOSCOW (Reuters) - As Russia hurries to spruce up its venues for this year’s soccer World Cup, the Urals city of Yekaterinburg on Saturday blew up its most famous landmark — a rusty, half-finished Soviet-era television tower.</p> The unfinished and abandoned TV tower collapses during a controlled demolition in Yekaterinburg, Russia March 24, 2018. REUTERS/Alexei Kolchin
<p>Local authorities in 11 host cities including Moscow, St Petersburg, Sochi and Yekaterinburg are working hard on preparations for the June 14-July 15 tournament, but not all residents are happy with their beautifying efforts.</p>
<p>In Yekaterinburg, hundreds of people opposed to the television tower’s demolition by controlled explosion took part in a “Hug the Tower” rally earlier this week.</p>
<p>Ivan Volkov, a 39-year-old lawyer and head of a committee opposing the tower’s destruction, said the 220-metre (720 feet) high concrete structure had been a symbol of the city’s identity.</p> Slideshow (4 Images)
<p>“Now it’s the symbol of the people’s humiliation at the hands of the authorities because the decision was made behind-the-scenes. It shouldn’t be done this way”, Volkov, told Reuters.</p>
<p>The tower’s construction started in 1983 but it was never completed due to the collapse of the Soviet Union.</p>
<p>Local governor Eugene Kuivashev defended the decision to demolish it.</p>
<p>“No one seriously believes that the city needs such a symbol,” he said in a radio interview.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Natalia Shurmina; Editing by Helen Popper</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgaria’s Interior Ministry said on Saturday it had suspended 13 border officers over accusations that dozens of people arriving from France this week had passed through passport control at Sofia airport without having documents checked.</p>
<p>The action follows calls from Prime Minister Boyko Borissov for stern punishment over the March 20 incident that highlights challenges Bulgaria faces in convincing the European Union that it is addressing shortfalls in applying the rule of law.</p>
<p>Bulgaria, an EU member since 2007 and holder since January of the six-month EU presidency for the first time, has had its application to join the EU’s Schengen free-movement area rejected.</p>
<p>EU officials have said the government has not done enough to tackle organized crime, corruption and security shortcomings.</p>
<p>Interior Minister Valentin Radev said the border officers could be sacked or face disciplinary sanctions, depending on the outcome of the investigation.</p>
<p>Of the 13, seven officers were part of a team on a shift at the airport who left their posts for about 15 minutes, allowing about 40 passengers flying in from Paris to pass through without having their passport checks.</p>
<p>“It is good that the flight was from Paris,” Radev told reporters. “Passengers had been already checked at a European airport and this guarantees no terrorists have entered.”</p>
<p>Reporting by Angel Krasimirov; Editing by Edmund Blair</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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london reuters prime minister theresa may slapped foreign minister tuesday demanded funding britains public health service telling discussion money saved brexit kept private file photo britains prime minister theresa may sits next britains foreign secretary boris johnson holds first cabinet meeting following general election 10 downing street london june 12 2017 reutersleon nealpool boris johnson whose promises britains departure european union would boost funds national health service helped persuade many voters back brexit raised demands regular meeting top ministers publicly calling extra 100 million pounds 140 million week response swift may trying reassert authority said money saved brexit would spent priorities including health ministers air discussions outside cabinet meetings prime minister large number cabinet ministers made point cabinet discussions take place private spokesman told reporters describing hourlong discussion nhs constructive regards future return eu contribution would spent prime minister reminded cabinet government consistently said spend money priorities housing schools nhs may pressure state health service opposition labour party says healthcare put recklessly risk ministers unable tackle bed shortages thousands canceled operations fire lawmakers party lacking direction pressing concerns britain may also trying keep warring factions cabinet top ministers united negotiates brexit divisions socalled brexit dividend funds freed britain stops paying eu coffers deepening ministers health education defense others bidding funds departments dull dull dull shortly johnson made demand finance minister philip hammond fought back saying already increased payments nhs may repeatedly said funding record levels britains foreign secretary boris johnson walks downing street london january 23 2018 reuterstoby melville mr johnson foreign secretary hammond told reporters brussels gave health secretary extra 6 billion pounds recent budget well look departmental allocations spending review takes place row yet another headache may whose weakness since losing partys majority election last june underlined botched reshuffle top team ministers earlier month slideshow 3 images conservatives increasingly concerned labour setting political agenda britain focusing health housing education many members ruling party say needs show clearly hold benefits brexit johnson brexit supporters said campaign 2016 referendum leaving european union britain pays 350 million pounds week bloc promised spend money nhs instead britain voted leave figure challenged critics said reflect britains rebate payments made britain eu mindful promise conservatives calling government increase funding deliver brexit deliver nhs andrew bridgen probrexit lawmaker told reuters others went saying may lot win younger voters challenge labours leftist leader jeremy corbyn loyal following many cities must really sound reasons vote conservative really need get wherestheboldandbrave sofaritsdulldulldull conservative lawmaker nicholas soames said twitter additional reporting philip blekinstop brussels guy faulconbridge editing ralph boulton standards thomson reuters trust principles rome reuters italys antiestablishment 5star movement hooked conservative parties saturday elect speakers houses parliament sign yet might extend pact form government new elected senate president forza italia partys maria elisabetta alberti casellati speaks second session day since march 4 national election rome italy march 24 2018 reutersremo casilli march 4 national election ended hung parliament 5star becoming largest party rightist alliance including expremier silvio berlusconis forza italia party antimigrant league emerging biggest bloc days behindthescenes talks two factions joined forces elect 5star heavyweight roberto fico president lower house forza italia veteran elisabetta casellati president senate highly prestigious posts conservative alliance came close collapse friday league sided 5star reject forza italias first choice senate position hasty overnight negotiations patched row least happy moved proud parliament started work centreright held together league leader matteo salvini said saturdays twin votes election speakers opens way formal government consultations led president sergio mattarella expected start early next month later saturday prime minister paolo gentiloni officially handed resignation government mattarella normally happens italy newlyelected parliament appoints speakers gentiloni however remain place take care daytoday operations new government formed secretary president said emailed statement new elected senate president forza italia partys maria elisabetta alberti casellati speaks second session day since march 4 national election rome italy march 24 2018 reutersremo casilli flexibility 5star right enough seats parliament govern italy many impediments deal terms policy mismatches personality clashes seen parliamentary forces carry considerable weight us government something different said giorgia meloni head farright brothers italy party conservative alliance us 5star absolutely represent sort guarantee like democratic party added referring centreleft pd lost power march 4 election slideshow 7 images nonetheless saturdays ballots showed 5star evolving used excoriate parliamentary dealmaking oldstyle politics agreeing deal houses suggested might prove flexible future election speakers also represented blow berlusconi dominated italys centreright almost 25 years must play second fiddle salvini league overtook forza italia party march 4 vote accused salvini betrayal friday league sided 5star speaker nominations saturday berlusconi altered tone saying still trusted salvini promised work good italy euro zones third largest economy postelection opinion polls shown support forza italia collapse favor league promised fierce clampdown illegal immigration hefty reduction business personal taxes backing 5star also climbed past three weeks movement promising introduce generous citizens wage help poor jobless league 5star voiced fierce hostility eu budget rules markets likely spooked sign might form coalition however divergent economic platforms represent serious hurdle alliance deals additional reporting francesca landini editing mark heinrich andrew bolton standards thomson reuters trust principles zagreb reuters thousands croat conservatives protested saturday proposed ratification european treaty describes gender social role fearing could undermine traditional family values predominantly catholic country people walk protest ratification istanbul convention zagreb croatia march 24 2018 reutersantonio bronic protesters marched main streets capital zagreb carrying huge banner reading stop istanbul convention sovereign croatia waving national flags singing patriotic songs earlier week croatias conservative government adopted treaty designed combat violence women despite opposition within ranks conservative groups local catholic church supporting protection women opponents object treatys definition gender say paves way introducing transsexual transgender separate categories oppose last month treaty rejected two eastern european union countries bulgaria slovakia similar objections definition gender social roles behaviors activities characteristics particular society considers appropriate women men croatian government urged parliament ratify treaty known istanbul convention also adopted separate statement saying treaty change croatias legal definition marriage union man woman people seen protest ratification istanbul convention zagreb croatia march 24 2018 reutersantonio bronic protesters said ratification unacceptable betrayal plenkovic leave protesters chanted calling prime minister andrej plenkovic step slideshow 7 images think turning point croatia must decide whether croatia choose preservation family traditional values go another way imposed outside brussels like see canada parent 1 parent 2 instead mother father said kristina pavlovic protest organiser treaty opponents said push referendum issue according poll conducted government week two thirds croatians back ratifying treaty small counterrally organized support treaty police divide two groups verbally clashed treatys supporters said many protesters including war veterans brought buses towns outside croatia attend rally said politicallymotivated protest grandchild grandgrandchild gave lives croatia elderly man told n1 television grandfather going parent 1 parent 2 reporting igor ilic daria sitosucic sarajevo editing mark potter standards thomson reuters trust principles yekaterinburgmoscow reuters russia hurries spruce venues years soccer world cup urals city yekaterinburg saturday blew famous landmark rusty halffinished sovietera television tower unfinished abandoned tv tower collapses controlled demolition yekaterinburg russia march 24 2018 reutersalexei kolchin local authorities 11 host cities including moscow st petersburg sochi yekaterinburg working hard preparations june 14july 15 tournament residents happy beautifying efforts yekaterinburg hundreds people opposed television towers demolition controlled explosion took part hug tower rally earlier week ivan volkov 39yearold lawyer head committee opposing towers destruction said 220metre 720 feet high concrete structure symbol citys identity slideshow 4 images symbol peoples humiliation hands authorities decision made behindthescenes shouldnt done way volkov told reuters towers construction started 1983 never completed due collapse soviet union local governor eugene kuivashev defended decision demolish one seriously believes city needs symbol said radio interview additional reporting natalia shurmina editing helen popper standards thomson reuters trust principles sofia reuters bulgarias interior ministry said saturday suspended 13 border officers accusations dozens people arriving france week passed passport control sofia airport without documents checked action follows calls prime minister boyko borissov stern punishment march 20 incident highlights challenges bulgaria faces convincing european union addressing shortfalls applying rule law bulgaria eu member since 2007 holder since january sixmonth eu presidency first time application join eus schengen freemovement area rejected eu officials said government done enough tackle organized crime corruption security shortcomings interior minister valentin radev said border officers could sacked face disciplinary sanctions depending outcome investigation 13 seven officers part team shift airport left posts 15 minutes allowing 40 passengers flying paris pass without passport checks good flight paris radev told reporters passengers already checked european airport guarantees terrorists entered reporting angel krasimirov editing edmund blair standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>Boarding homes that cater to patients discharged from the state mental hospital in Las Vegas, N.M., must be licensed by the New Mexico Health Department if they provide services that qualify them as assisted living facilities.</p>
<p>But only one boarding home in Las Vegas – the Loving Care Shelter Home – is licensed by the Health Department as an assisted living facility, and the department hasn’t conducted a full inspection of the home since 2007.</p>
<p>The home also doesn’t have an active state Board of Pharmacy permit to store and dispense residents’ medications, as required by the department’s rules for assisted living facilities, according to Board of Pharmacy records.</p>
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<p>The inspection of the boarding home in 2007 found several licensing compliance problems, including too many residents for its license, lack of staff training, lack of individual service plans for residents, failure to have residents’ medication regimens reviewed by a pharmacist, failure to have the heating system tested and lack of criminal history checks for staff. The home said at the time that it would correct the problems.</p>
<p>A discarded mattress outside the Loving Care Shelter Home in Las Vegas, N.M. A state inspection of the boarding home in 2007 found several licensing compliance problems. (Eddie Moore/Journal)</p>
<p>A Health Department spokesman declined to respond when asked why the home hadn’t been inspected for nine years. He also declined to say when it would be inspected, saying the department doesn’t announce when it plans to make inspections. The operator of the home didn’t respond to repeated requests to be interviewed.</p>
<p>Although the Loving Care Shelter Home is the only boarding home classified as an assisted living facility in Las Vegas, the area has several other boarding homes that cater to patients discharged from the state’s only public psychiatric hospital, the Behavioral Health Institute.</p>
<p>The Health Department says it doesn’t have the authority under state law to regulate those boarding homes because they don’t qualify as assisted living facilities, although some state legislators, advocates for people with mental illness and others disagree with that position.</p>
<p>A Journal investigation found that residents of some boarding homes live in crowded conditions and may go hungry because of inadequate meals provided by operators. There also have been reports of verbal and physical abuse and financial exploitation by operators, as well as violence and drug abuse by residents.</p>
<p>Sondra Everhart, former state long-term care ombudsman, says the state needs new regulations tailored to boarding homes because the homes generally don’t provide the kind of health care services found in assisted living facilities.</p>
<p>The advocacy group Disability Rights New Mexico also says the department is allowing some boarding homes to operate as assisted living facilities without seeking licenses.</p>
<p>Possible rules</p>
<p>The state Legislative Health and Human Services Committee held hearings last summer on whether or how to regulate boarding homes that aren’t assisted living facilities. But there is a concern among some lawmakers, advocates and guardians for people with mental illness and others that burdensome rules could force homes out of business and their residents out on the street.</p>
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<p>It is at least the third time in six years that state policymakers have considered re-regulation of boarding homes with no consensus to move forward.</p>
<p>Concern about the lack of regulation was heightened in 2013 when two men who had been discharged from the Behavioral Health Institute died of carbon monoxide poisoning in a backyard shed without plumbing. The men paid a total of $1,100 a month to live there.</p>
<p>After the deaths, representatives of the Health Department and other agencies held meetings over several months to consider oversight of boarding homes, but the department held to its position that it lacks the legal authority under current law to impose boarding home regulations.</p>
<p>“For years, we’ve seen a flurry of activity after something bad happens – and then things die down. It is likely because these individuals (with mental illness) have no power and no voice,” says Nancy Koenigsberg, senior attorney at the nonprofit advocacy group Disability Rights New Mexico.</p>
<p>A study of boarding homes in 2010 requested by the Legislature and headed by the Health Department recommended the department work with home operators to develop minimum standards. The study also said the department could oversee boarding home conditions through contracts. Neither recommendation was acted on.</p>
<p>Daily help</p>
<p>Under Health Department regulations, a facility must be licensed by the state as an assisted living facility if it provides residents with assistance with one or more activities of daily living, which are defined as eating, dressing, oral hygiene, bathing, grooming, mobility or toilet use. “Assistance” means prompting or encouraging, in addition to hands-on help.</p>
<p>Before 2000, the Health Department had specific regulations for boarding homes in Las Vegas and elsewhere around the state, and those rules prohibited the homes from accepting residents needing assistance in daily living activities. The boarding home rules set minimum statewide standards for living conditions and staffing, and required annual checks by health and fire inspectors.</p>
<p>The department says it investigates if it receives information that a facility is operating as an assisted living facility without a license.</p>
<p>But in a 2014 letter to a legislative committee, Lynn Gallagher, then deputy health secretary and now head of the department, said she was concerned about the agency being forced to close a boarding home that was required to seek licensure as an assisted living facility but didn’t come into compliance with regulations for such facilities.</p>
<p>“If the Department shuts down a home, we must have a place for those individuals to go,” Gallagher wrote.</p>
<p>Housing needs</p>
<p>There is widespread agreement that New Mexico has a shortage of suitable housing for people with mental illness and that housing is critical, allowing those with mental illness to focus on their health rather than where they will sleep or find their next meal.</p>
<p>John Barnum, president of the Albuquerque affiliate of the nonprofit National Alliance on Mental Illness, told the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee at a hearing in July in Las Vegas that regulations are needed to ensure boarding homes are safe but the state shouldn’t overburden operators with compliance costs and force them out of business.</p>
<p>Disability Rights New Mexico says that fire inspections need to be required for boarding homes and that the Behavioral Health Institute and other hospitals that discharge people to boarding homes should require documentation of minimum health and safety standards.</p>
<p>Troy Jones, before leaving this year as executive director of the state mental hospital, said the facility is in the behavioral health business and doesn’t have the resources to assess living conditions in boarding homes.</p>
<p>“I’ll leave that to the experts in that area,” he said.</p>
<p>Possible legislation</p>
<p>Luciano Garcia of Las Vegas, who along with his wife works as a guardian for people with mental illness, says he favors state oversight of boarding homes but without a heavy hand.</p>
<p>Garcia says that 90 percent of boarding homes are excellent and that the other 10 percent, despite their problems, still provide housing for people with mental illness that other homes won’t take and otherwise would be homeless.</p>
<p>Others don’t share Garcia’s view.</p>
<p>Cheryl Yerby, owner of an Albuquerque company that provides guardianship services, says she has about a half-dozen clients in Las Vegas with mental illness. Of the boarding homes she’s seen, Yerby says, “I haven’t found one I consider to be appropriate.”</p>
<p>Roberta Abreu, who has run a boarding home for women in Las Vegas for about 35 years, says she would close if the homes were regulated because she can’t afford the cost of compliance.</p>
<p>“They’re just going to end up in homeless shelters,” Abreu says.</p>
<p>Las Vegas Mayor Tonita Gurule-Giron declined to be interviewed for this story.</p>
<p>Rep. Deborah Armstrong, D-Albuquerque, who previously headed the state Department of Aging and Long-Term Services under Gov. Bill Richardson, says the state needs to adopt basic safety and quality-of-care standards for boarding homes and at a minimum inspect homes in response to complaints about conditions.</p>
<p>“It would be a huge step up from what we have now,” Armstrong says.</p>
<p>She says she believes the Health Department currently has the legal authority to regulate boarding homes but says she is considering proposing legislation to make that clear.</p>
<p>Armstrong is a member of the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee, which will consider possible boarding home legislation in November.</p>
<p>“We’ll be glad to make any changes they (Health Department officials) believe necessary,” says committee Chairman Gerald Ortiz y Pino, an Albuquerque Democratic senator. But for such legislation to be successful, the department must want to regulate boarding homes, he says.</p>
<p>A Health Department spokesman declined to say whether the agency would support legislation giving it the explicit authority to regulate boarding homes.</p>
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boarding homes cater patients discharged state mental hospital las vegas nm must licensed new mexico health department provide services qualify assisted living facilities one boarding home las vegas loving care shelter home licensed health department assisted living facility department hasnt conducted full inspection home since 2007 home also doesnt active state board pharmacy permit store dispense residents medications required departments rules assisted living facilities according board pharmacy records advertisement inspection boarding home 2007 found several licensing compliance problems including many residents license lack staff training lack individual service plans residents failure residents medication regimens reviewed pharmacist failure heating system tested lack criminal history checks staff home said time would correct problems discarded mattress outside loving care shelter home las vegas nm state inspection boarding home 2007 found several licensing compliance problems eddie moorejournal health department spokesman declined respond asked home hadnt inspected nine years also declined say would inspected saying department doesnt announce plans make inspections operator home didnt respond repeated requests interviewed although loving care shelter home boarding home classified assisted living facility las vegas area several boarding homes cater patients discharged states public psychiatric hospital behavioral health institute health department says doesnt authority state law regulate boarding homes dont qualify assisted living facilities although state legislators advocates people mental illness others disagree position journal investigation found residents boarding homes live crowded conditions may go hungry inadequate meals provided operators also reports verbal physical abuse financial exploitation operators well violence drug abuse residents sondra everhart former state longterm care ombudsman says state needs new regulations tailored boarding homes homes generally dont provide kind health care services found assisted living facilities advocacy group disability rights new mexico also says department allowing boarding homes operate assisted living facilities without seeking licenses possible rules state legislative health human services committee held hearings last summer whether regulate boarding homes arent assisted living facilities concern among lawmakers advocates guardians people mental illness others burdensome rules could force homes business residents street advertisement least third time six years state policymakers considered reregulation boarding homes consensus move forward concern lack regulation heightened 2013 two men discharged behavioral health institute died carbon monoxide poisoning backyard shed without plumbing men paid total 1100 month live deaths representatives health department agencies held meetings several months consider oversight boarding homes department held position lacks legal authority current law impose boarding home regulations years weve seen flurry activity something bad happens things die likely individuals mental illness power voice says nancy koenigsberg senior attorney nonprofit advocacy group disability rights new mexico study boarding homes 2010 requested legislature headed health department recommended department work home operators develop minimum standards study also said department could oversee boarding home conditions contracts neither recommendation acted daily help health department regulations facility must licensed state assisted living facility provides residents assistance one activities daily living defined eating dressing oral hygiene bathing grooming mobility toilet use assistance means prompting encouraging addition handson help 2000 health department specific regulations boarding homes las vegas elsewhere around state rules prohibited homes accepting residents needing assistance daily living activities boarding home rules set minimum statewide standards living conditions staffing required annual checks health fire inspectors department says investigates receives information facility operating assisted living facility without license 2014 letter legislative committee lynn gallagher deputy health secretary head department said concerned agency forced close boarding home required seek licensure assisted living facility didnt come compliance regulations facilities department shuts home must place individuals go gallagher wrote housing needs widespread agreement new mexico shortage suitable housing people mental illness housing critical allowing mental illness focus health rather sleep find next meal john barnum president albuquerque affiliate nonprofit national alliance mental illness told legislative health human services committee hearing july las vegas regulations needed ensure boarding homes safe state shouldnt overburden operators compliance costs force business disability rights new mexico says fire inspections need required boarding homes behavioral health institute hospitals discharge people boarding homes require documentation minimum health safety standards troy jones leaving year executive director state mental hospital said facility behavioral health business doesnt resources assess living conditions boarding homes ill leave experts area said possible legislation luciano garcia las vegas along wife works guardian people mental illness says favors state oversight boarding homes without heavy hand garcia says 90 percent boarding homes excellent 10 percent despite problems still provide housing people mental illness homes wont take otherwise would homeless others dont share garcias view cheryl yerby owner albuquerque company provides guardianship services says halfdozen clients las vegas mental illness boarding homes shes seen yerby says havent found one consider appropriate roberta abreu run boarding home women las vegas 35 years says would close homes regulated cant afford cost compliance theyre going end homeless shelters abreu says las vegas mayor tonita gurulegiron declined interviewed story rep deborah armstrong dalbuquerque previously headed state department aging longterm services gov bill richardson says state needs adopt basic safety qualityofcare standards boarding homes minimum inspect homes response complaints conditions would huge step armstrong says says believes health department currently legal authority regulate boarding homes says considering proposing legislation make clear armstrong member legislative health human services committee consider possible boarding home legislation november well glad make changes health department officials believe necessary says committee chairman gerald ortiz pino albuquerque democratic senator legislation successful department must want regulate boarding homes says health department spokesman declined say whether agency would support legislation giving explicit authority regulate boarding homes
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<p>MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — LaMarcus Aldridge took a night off to rest, and the San Antonio Spurs replaced his 22.5-point average with a balanced attack.</p>
<p>Pau Gasol ended an assist short of a triple-double, Patty Mills scored 15 points and San Antonio beat the Memphis Grizzlies 108-85 on Wednesday night, with eight Spurs finishing in double figures.</p>
<p>“We shared the ball, it was great ball movement, 29 assists, a lot of guys in double figures,” said Gasol, who finished with 14 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. “When (Aldridge is) not in the lineup, we just try to maybe create more ball movement, more motion, more flow and then the offense balances itself out.”</p>
<p>Bryn Forbes and Danny Green also finished with 14 points each. Davis Bertans and Dejounte Murray each had 11 points. Memphis led only once in the game, after scoring the opening basket, and the Spurs led by 17 early in the fourth.</p>
<p>Memphis cut the advantage to single-digits only once the rest of the way, with about eight minutes left. The Spurs answered with the next six points, including four from Tony Parker to take the lead to 91-76 with about six minutes to go.</p>
<p>Memphis was playing short-handed with several players dealing with injuries and illness, meaning more playing time for the Grizzlies younger players. They got a firsthand look at the Spurs character.</p>
<p>“It’s a clinic on how to play the game the right way,” Memphis interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “When you watch them play, it’s amazing that it is so unique to our league. ... The ball moves, they move. Doesn’t matter who shoots it, they just throw the ball to the open man.</p>
<p>“It sounds so simple, but it’s the way the game is supposed to be played.”</p>
<p>Marc Gasol led the Grizzlies with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Deyonta Davis added 12 points. Dillon Brooks finished with 10 points as the Grizzlies were hampered by 43 percent shooting, including 2 of 18 from outside the arc, and 18 turnovers.</p>
<p>“We weren’t following the game plan,” Brooks said. “... We didn’t compete hard enough on both ends. Very lackadaisical out there. Need to change that around.”</p>
<p>Spurs: Joffrey Lauvergne made his first four shots and finished with 10 points. His eight rebounds were a season high. ... Rudy Gay, Manu Ginobili and Kawhi Leonard also sat out for San Antonio, each dealing with long-term injuries. ... Bertans started his second game of the season. ... Pau Gasol is 17-10 in games against his younger brother Marc. ... Spurs are 28-1 when outshooting their opponents. ... Have won five straight against the Grizzlies.</p>
<p>Grizzlies: Ivan Rabb, a rookie out of California, made his first career start. His six rebounds were a career high. ... Saw their streak of five straight games with at least 10 3-pointers snapped. The two 3-ponters was a season low. ... Missed all 11 of their 3-pointers in the second half.</p>
<p>CHANGING OF THE GUARDS</p>
<p>Murray, who had a career-high seven assists, started his third straight game after replacing veteran Tony Parker in the lineup. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich spoke highly of the way Parker handled the change.</p>
<p>“He was great,” Popovich said of Parker. “He thought it was good for the team, and giving Dejounte a chance to see what he could do. He was mature, and really made it easy on me to make a decision like that. He was fantastic.”</p>
<p>RISING STAR</p>
<p>Before the game, it was announced that Brooks, the Grizzlies rookie forward, was named to the Rising Stars World Team for All-Star weekend. Brooks is a native of Canada.</p>
<p>“It feels amazing,” he said, later adding: “It feels good to be recognized with all the best rookies.”</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Spurs: Host the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night.</p>
<p>Grizzlies: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For more NBA coverage: <a href="" type="internal">https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball</a></p>
<p>MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — LaMarcus Aldridge took a night off to rest, and the San Antonio Spurs replaced his 22.5-point average with a balanced attack.</p>
<p>Pau Gasol ended an assist short of a triple-double, Patty Mills scored 15 points and San Antonio beat the Memphis Grizzlies 108-85 on Wednesday night, with eight Spurs finishing in double figures.</p>
<p>“We shared the ball, it was great ball movement, 29 assists, a lot of guys in double figures,” said Gasol, who finished with 14 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. “When (Aldridge is) not in the lineup, we just try to maybe create more ball movement, more motion, more flow and then the offense balances itself out.”</p>
<p>Bryn Forbes and Danny Green also finished with 14 points each. Davis Bertans and Dejounte Murray each had 11 points. Memphis led only once in the game, after scoring the opening basket, and the Spurs led by 17 early in the fourth.</p>
<p>Memphis cut the advantage to single-digits only once the rest of the way, with about eight minutes left. The Spurs answered with the next six points, including four from Tony Parker to take the lead to 91-76 with about six minutes to go.</p>
<p>Memphis was playing short-handed with several players dealing with injuries and illness, meaning more playing time for the Grizzlies younger players. They got a firsthand look at the Spurs character.</p>
<p>“It’s a clinic on how to play the game the right way,” Memphis interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “When you watch them play, it’s amazing that it is so unique to our league. ... The ball moves, they move. Doesn’t matter who shoots it, they just throw the ball to the open man.</p>
<p>“It sounds so simple, but it’s the way the game is supposed to be played.”</p>
<p>Marc Gasol led the Grizzlies with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Deyonta Davis added 12 points. Dillon Brooks finished with 10 points as the Grizzlies were hampered by 43 percent shooting, including 2 of 18 from outside the arc, and 18 turnovers.</p>
<p>“We weren’t following the game plan,” Brooks said. “... We didn’t compete hard enough on both ends. Very lackadaisical out there. Need to change that around.”</p>
<p>Spurs: Joffrey Lauvergne made his first four shots and finished with 10 points. His eight rebounds were a season high. ... Rudy Gay, Manu Ginobili and Kawhi Leonard also sat out for San Antonio, each dealing with long-term injuries. ... Bertans started his second game of the season. ... Pau Gasol is 17-10 in games against his younger brother Marc. ... Spurs are 28-1 when outshooting their opponents. ... Have won five straight against the Grizzlies.</p>
<p>Grizzlies: Ivan Rabb, a rookie out of California, made his first career start. His six rebounds were a career high. ... Saw their streak of five straight games with at least 10 3-pointers snapped. The two 3-ponters was a season low. ... Missed all 11 of their 3-pointers in the second half.</p>
<p>CHANGING OF THE GUARDS</p>
<p>Murray, who had a career-high seven assists, started his third straight game after replacing veteran Tony Parker in the lineup. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich spoke highly of the way Parker handled the change.</p>
<p>“He was great,” Popovich said of Parker. “He thought it was good for the team, and giving Dejounte a chance to see what he could do. He was mature, and really made it easy on me to make a decision like that. He was fantastic.”</p>
<p>RISING STAR</p>
<p>Before the game, it was announced that Brooks, the Grizzlies rookie forward, was named to the Rising Stars World Team for All-Star weekend. Brooks is a native of Canada.</p>
<p>“It feels amazing,” he said, later adding: “It feels good to be recognized with all the best rookies.”</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Spurs: Host the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night.</p>
<p>Grizzlies: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For more NBA coverage: <a href="" type="internal">https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball</a></p>
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memphis tenn ap lamarcus aldridge took night rest san antonio spurs replaced 225point average balanced attack pau gasol ended assist short tripledouble patty mills scored 15 points san antonio beat memphis grizzlies 10885 wednesday night eight spurs finishing double figures shared ball great ball movement 29 assists lot guys double figures said gasol finished 14 points 15 rebounds nine assists aldridge lineup try maybe create ball movement motion flow offense balances bryn forbes danny green also finished 14 points davis bertans dejounte murray 11 points memphis led game scoring opening basket spurs led 17 early fourth memphis cut advantage singledigits rest way eight minutes left spurs answered next six points including four tony parker take lead 9176 six minutes go memphis playing shorthanded several players dealing injuries illness meaning playing time grizzlies younger players got firsthand look spurs character clinic play game right way memphis interim coach jb bickerstaff said watch play amazing unique league ball moves move doesnt matter shoots throw ball open man sounds simple way game supposed played marc gasol led grizzlies 18 points seven rebounds deyonta davis added 12 points dillon brooks finished 10 points grizzlies hampered 43 percent shooting including 2 18 outside arc 18 turnovers werent following game plan brooks said didnt compete hard enough ends lackadaisical need change around spurs joffrey lauvergne made first four shots finished 10 points eight rebounds season high rudy gay manu ginobili kawhi leonard also sat san antonio dealing longterm injuries bertans started second game season pau gasol 1710 games younger brother marc spurs 281 outshooting opponents five straight grizzlies grizzlies ivan rabb rookie california made first career start six rebounds career high saw streak five straight games least 10 3pointers snapped two 3ponters season low missed 11 3pointers second half changing guards murray careerhigh seven assists started third straight game replacing veteran tony parker lineup spurs coach gregg popovich spoke highly way parker handled change great popovich said parker thought good team giving dejounte chance see could mature really made easy make decision like fantastic rising star game announced brooks grizzlies rookie forward named rising stars world team allstar weekend brooks native canada feels amazing said later adding feels good recognized best rookies next spurs host philadelphia 76ers friday night grizzlies host los angeles clippers friday night ___ nba coverage httpsapnewscomtagnbabasketball memphis tenn ap lamarcus aldridge took night rest san antonio spurs replaced 225point average balanced attack pau gasol ended assist short tripledouble patty mills scored 15 points san antonio beat memphis grizzlies 10885 wednesday night eight spurs finishing double figures shared ball great ball movement 29 assists lot guys double figures said gasol finished 14 points 15 rebounds nine assists aldridge lineup try maybe create ball movement motion flow offense balances bryn forbes danny green also finished 14 points davis bertans dejounte murray 11 points memphis led game scoring opening basket spurs led 17 early fourth memphis cut advantage singledigits rest way eight minutes left spurs answered next six points including four tony parker take lead 9176 six minutes go memphis playing shorthanded several players dealing injuries illness meaning playing time grizzlies younger players got firsthand look spurs character clinic play game right way memphis interim coach jb bickerstaff said watch play amazing unique league ball moves move doesnt matter shoots throw ball open man sounds simple way game supposed played marc gasol led grizzlies 18 points seven rebounds deyonta davis added 12 points dillon brooks finished 10 points grizzlies hampered 43 percent shooting including 2 18 outside arc 18 turnovers werent following game plan brooks said didnt compete hard enough ends lackadaisical need change around spurs joffrey lauvergne made first four shots finished 10 points eight rebounds season high rudy gay manu ginobili kawhi leonard also sat san antonio dealing longterm injuries bertans started second game season pau gasol 1710 games younger brother marc spurs 281 outshooting opponents five straight grizzlies grizzlies ivan rabb rookie california made first career start six rebounds career high saw streak five straight games least 10 3pointers snapped two 3ponters season low missed 11 3pointers second half changing guards murray careerhigh seven assists started third straight game replacing veteran tony parker lineup spurs coach gregg popovich spoke highly way parker handled change great popovich said parker thought good team giving dejounte chance see could mature really made easy make decision like fantastic rising star game announced brooks grizzlies rookie forward named rising stars world team allstar weekend brooks native canada feels amazing said later adding feels good recognized best rookies next spurs host philadelphia 76ers friday night grizzlies host los angeles clippers friday night ___ nba coverage httpsapnewscomtagnbabasketball
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<p>For any doctor brave enough to try, now is the time to do it. We are at the peak of apple season, and the orchards and markets are laden with America’s second most popular fruit (after bananas).</p>
<p>Now is when they are at their freshest and best. The apples you buy next spring and summer will have been picked now, or maybe in the next couple of months, and kept refrigerated until they are sold. And although apples stay fresh and good for a long time, there is no comparison between an apple you buy next June and one you buy now.</p>
<p>The only question is: which variety to get? More than 7,000 varieties of apple grow around the world, with 2,500 types that grow in the United States. Of those, about 100 are grown commercially and find their way to your produce store.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>With those guidelines in mind, I made three apple-based dishes – one savory, two sweet. Knowing the right type to use for each dish made them even better.</p>
<p>APPLE FRITTERS</p>
<p>Yield: 12 fritters</p>
<p>1 tablespoon butter</p>
<p>2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cut into ¼-inch dice (precision is not required)</p>
<p>¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, divided</p>
<p>Chris Lee/TNSApple Fritters use the same spices you’d find in apple pie — cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg, with additional apple flavor courtesy of apple cider in the dough.</p>
<p>1¼ cups all-purpose flour</p>
<p>1½ teaspoons baking powder</p>
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<p>½ teaspoon salt</p>
<p>½ teaspoon ground cinnamon</p>
<p>¼ teaspoon ground ginger</p>
<p>1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg</p>
<p>1 large egg</p>
<p>1 tablespoon melted butter</p>
<p>½ cup apple cider</p>
<p>Vegetable oil, for frying</p>
<p>½ cup powdered sugar</p>
<p>1 tablespoon milk</p>
<p>In skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat and cook until it turns golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add apples and cook until apples just begin to soften around the edges, 3 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle in 1 tablespoon of the granulated sugar and continue cooking 2 more minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain in a strainer and allow to come to room temperature.</p>
<p>Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg; whisk until well-combined. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together egg, the remaining ¼ cup granulated sugar and the 1 tablespoon of melted butter. Stir in the cooled apple pieces and the cider. Add the flour mixture and stir until just incorporated.</p>
<p>Heat oil in deep fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees. Spoon about 2 tablespoons batter per fritter into hot oil, slightly flattening them. Cook in batches, no more than 2 or 3 at a time. Cook until golden brown on bottom and small bubbles appear on top, about 2 minutes. Flip fritters over and fry on the other side until richly browned, about 2 minutes more.</p>
<p>Transfer with a slotted spoon to a paper-towel-lined plate. Cool slightly before glazing.</p>
<p>To make glaze, stir together powdered sugar and milk until smooth and just runny enough to drizzle over the fritters. If too runny, add a little more powdered sugar; if not runny enough, add a little more milk. Use a spoon to drizzle glaze over the fritters.</p>
<p>PER SERVING: 323 calories; 24 g fat; 4 g saturated fat; 18 mg cholesterol; 2 g protein; 25 g carbohydrate; 14 g sugar; 1 g fiber; 165 mg sodium; 43 mg calcium</p>
<p>– Adapted from Allrecipes.com</p>
<p>APPLE CUSTARD PIE</p>
<p>Yield: 8 servings</p>
<p>1 pie crust</p>
<p>2 sticks butter</p>
<p>1 vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract</p>
<p>Melted butter subs for the cream, taking this rich and elegant Apple Custard Pie over the top.</p>
<p>4 eggs</p>
<p>1 cup granulated sugar</p>
<p>½ cup all-purpose flour</p>
<p>½ teaspoon kosher salt</p>
<p>3 semi-tart apples, such as Granny Smith, Baldwin, Cortland or Idared</p>
<p>Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pierce inside of pie crust all over with a fork, line with parchment paper or foil and weigh down with pie weights or dry beans. Bake until crust is a light golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove pie weights and parchment. Keep the oven on.</p>
<p>Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. If using a vanilla bean, split the bean lengthwise with a sharp knife, spread each half open and use the knife to scrape out the seeds from both sides into the melted butter; add the vanilla bean pod halves.</p>
<p>Continue to cook, swirling the pan often, until the butter foam subsides and it becomes golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside 10 minutes to cool.</p>
<p>Whisk together the eggs, sugar and vanilla extract, if using. If using vanilla bean, remove the pod halves from the butter. Slowly add all the butter to the egg-sugar mixture, whisking constantly. Add the flour and salt and whisk until smooth.</p>
<p>Peel and core the apples; slice into ¼-inch slices. Arrange them in a slightly overlapping circle around the edge of the pie crust, with a few slices in the center when the outer ring is complete. This may not take all of the apples. Slowly pour the filling over the apples, giving it time to seep down into the crevasses between the slices. Add enough filling to come within ¼ inch of the top of the crust. This may not take all of the filling.</p>
<p>Bake until the apples are a deep golden brown and the filling is set in the center, about 50 minutes to 1 hour. Transfer pie to a wire rack and cool for 2 hours. Serve warm or at room temperature.</p>
<p>PER SERVING: 518 calories; 32 g fat; 17 g saturated fat; 79 mg cholesterol; 6 g protein; 55 g carbohydrate; 34 g sugar; 3 g fiber; 441 mg sodium; 32 mg calcium</p>
<p>– Adapted from Tasting Table, by Mika Paredes</p>
<p>PORK CHOPS WITH APPLE</p>
<p>Yield: 4 servings</p>
<p>4 pork chops</p>
<p>Salt and pepper</p>
<p>½ cup apple cider</p>
<p>Sliced onions, caraway seeds and Dijon mustard are added to the classic combination of pork and apples. The flavors blend into a rich and hearty melange.</p>
<p>½ cup chicken broth</p>
<p>1 teaspoon Dijon mustard</p>
<p>2 tablespoons vegetable oil</p>
<p>½ small onion, sliced thin</p>
<p>1 tart apple, such as Jonathan or Granny Smith, sliced</p>
<p>¼ teaspoon caraway seeds</p>
<p>1/8 teaspoon (2 pinches) salt</p>
<p>1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar</p>
<p>Season pork chops with salt and pepper. Combine apple cider and chicken broth, and whisk in mustard until thoroughly mixed; set aside.</p>
<p>Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chops until golden brown on both sides; remove to a plate. Add onion and cook, stirring often, for 1 minute. Add the cider mixture and deglaze pan by scraping up any brown bits on the bottom. Cook until liquid reduces by half.</p>
<p>Return pork chops to the pan; add apple slices, caraway seeds and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Reduce heat to medium low, cover and cook until pork is done, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in vinegar, test for seasonings and serve.</p>
<p>PER SERVING: 273 calories; 17 g fat; 4 g saturated fat; 75 mg cholesterol; 23 g protein; 6 g carbohydrate; 4 g sugar; 1 g fiber; 482 mg sodium; 31 mg calcium</p>
<p />
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doctor brave enough try time peak apple season orchards markets laden americas second popular fruit bananas freshest best apples buy next spring summer picked maybe next couple months kept refrigerated sold although apples stay fresh good long time comparison apple buy next june one buy question variety get 7000 varieties apple grow around world 2500 types grow united states 100 grown commercially find way produce store advertisement guidelines mind made three applebased dishes one savory two sweet knowing right type use dish made even better apple fritters yield 12 fritters 1 tablespoon butter 2 large granny smith apples peeled cored cut ¼inch dice precision required ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar divided chris leetnsapple fritters use spices youd find apple pie cinnamon ginger nutmeg additional apple flavor courtesy apple cider dough 1¼ cups allpurpose flour 1½ teaspoons baking powder advertisement ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon ground ginger 18 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 large egg 1 tablespoon melted butter ½ cup apple cider vegetable oil frying ½ cup powdered sugar 1 tablespoon milk skillet melt 1 tablespoon butter mediumhigh heat cook turns golden brown 2 3 minutes add apples cook apples begin soften around edges 3 4 minutes sprinkle 1 tablespoon granulated sugar continue cooking 2 minutes stirring occasionally drain strainer allow come room temperature sift together flour baking powder salt cinnamon ginger nutmeg whisk wellcombined separate medium bowl whisk together egg remaining ¼ cup granulated sugar 1 tablespoon melted butter stir cooled apple pieces cider add flour mixture stir incorporated heat oil deep fryer large saucepan 350 degrees spoon 2 tablespoons batter per fritter hot oil slightly flattening cook batches 2 3 time cook golden brown bottom small bubbles appear top 2 minutes flip fritters fry side richly browned 2 minutes transfer slotted spoon papertowellined plate cool slightly glazing make glaze stir together powdered sugar milk smooth runny enough drizzle fritters runny add little powdered sugar runny enough add little milk use spoon drizzle glaze fritters per serving 323 calories 24 g fat 4 g saturated fat 18 mg cholesterol 2 g protein 25 g carbohydrate 14 g sugar 1 g fiber 165 mg sodium 43 mg calcium adapted allrecipescom apple custard pie yield 8 servings 1 pie crust 2 sticks butter 1 vanilla bean 1 teaspoon vanilla extract melted butter subs cream taking rich elegant apple custard pie top 4 eggs 1 cup granulated sugar ½ cup allpurpose flour ½ teaspoon kosher salt 3 semitart apples granny smith baldwin cortland idared preheat oven 350 degrees pierce inside pie crust fork line parchment paper foil weigh pie weights dry beans bake crust light golden brown 12 15 minutes remove pie weights parchment keep oven melt butter small saucepan medium heat using vanilla bean split bean lengthwise sharp knife spread half open use knife scrape seeds sides melted butter add vanilla bean pod halves continue cook swirling pan often butter foam subsides becomes golden brown 2 3 minutes remove heat set aside 10 minutes cool whisk together eggs sugar vanilla extract using using vanilla bean remove pod halves butter slowly add butter eggsugar mixture whisking constantly add flour salt whisk smooth peel core apples slice ¼inch slices arrange slightly overlapping circle around edge pie crust slices center outer ring complete may take apples slowly pour filling apples giving time seep crevasses slices add enough filling come within ¼ inch top crust may take filling bake apples deep golden brown filling set center 50 minutes 1 hour transfer pie wire rack cool 2 hours serve warm room temperature per serving 518 calories 32 g fat 17 g saturated fat 79 mg cholesterol 6 g protein 55 g carbohydrate 34 g sugar 3 g fiber 441 mg sodium 32 mg calcium adapted tasting table mika paredes pork chops apple yield 4 servings 4 pork chops salt pepper ½ cup apple cider sliced onions caraway seeds dijon mustard added classic combination pork apples flavors blend rich hearty melange ½ cup chicken broth 1 teaspoon dijon mustard 2 tablespoons vegetable oil ½ small onion sliced thin 1 tart apple jonathan granny smith sliced ¼ teaspoon caraway seeds 18 teaspoon 2 pinches salt 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar season pork chops salt pepper combine apple cider chicken broth whisk mustard thoroughly mixed set aside heat oil large skillet mediumhigh heat sear chops golden brown sides remove plate add onion cook stirring often 1 minute add cider mixture deglaze pan scraping brown bits bottom cook liquid reduces half return pork chops pan add apple slices caraway seeds 18 teaspoon salt reduce heat medium low cover cook pork done 3 5 minutes stir vinegar test seasonings serve per serving 273 calories 17 g fat 4 g saturated fat 75 mg cholesterol 23 g protein 6 g carbohydrate 4 g sugar 1 g fiber 482 mg sodium 31 mg calcium
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<p />
<p>A corrected version of the story is below:</p>
<p>Federal government blocks Dakota Access oil pipeline route</p>
<p>The U.S. Army says it won’t grant an easement for the Dakota Access oil pipeline under a Missouri River reservoir in North Dakota</p>
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<p>By JAMES MacPHERSON</p>
<p>Associated Press</p>
<p>CANNON BALL, N.D. — The U.S. Army said Sunday that it won’t grant an easement for the Dakota Access oil pipeline in southern North Dakota, handing a victory to the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and its supporters, who argued the project would threaten the tribe’s water source and cultural sites.</p>
<p>North Dakota’s leaders criticized the decision, with Gov. Jack Dalrymple calling it a “serious mistake” that “prolongs the dangerous situation” of having several hundred protesters who are camped out on federal land during cold, wintry weather. U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer said it’s a “very chilling signal” for the future of infrastructure in the United States.</p>
<p>The four-state, $3.8 billion project is largely complete except for the now-blocked segment underneath Lake Oahe, a Missouri River reservoir. Assistant Army Secretary for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy said in a news release that her decision was based on the need to “explore alternate routes” for the pipeline’s crossing. Her full decision doesn’t rule out that it could cross under the reservoir or north of Bismarck.</p>
<p>“Although we have had continuing discussion and exchanges of new information with the Standing Rock Sioux and Dakota Access, it’s clear that there’s more work to do,” Darcy said. “The best way to complete that work responsibly and expeditiously is to explore alternate routes for the pipeline crossing.”</p>
<p>The company constructing the pipeline, Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners, released a statement Sunday night slamming the decision as politically motivated and alleging that President Obama’s administration was determined to delay the matter until he leaves office.</p>
<p>“The White House’s directive today to the (U.S. Army) Corps for further delay is just the latest in a series of overt and transparent political actions by an administration which has abandoned the rule of law in favor of currying favor with a narrow and extreme political constituency,” the company said.</p>
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<p>President-elect Donald Trump, a pipeline supporter, will take office in January, although it wasn’t immediately clear what steps his administration would be able to take to reverse the latest decision or how quickly that could happen.</p>
<p>The decision came a day before the government’s deadline for the several hundred people at the Oceti Sakowin, or Seven Council Fires, encampment to leave the federal land. But demonstrators say they’re prepared to stay, and authorities say they won’t forcibly remove them.</p>
<p>As the news spread Sunday, cheers and chants of “mni wichoni” — “water is life” in Lakota Sioux — broke out among the protesters. Some in the crowd banged drums. Miles Allard, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux, said he was pleased but remained cautious, saying, “We don’t know what Trump is going to do.”</p>
<p>“The whole world is watching,” Allard added. “I’m telling all our people to stand up and not to leave until this is over.”</p>
<p>Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Sunday that the Department of Justice will “continue to monitor the situation” and stands “ready to provide resources to help all those who can play a constructive role in easing tensions.”</p>
<p>“The safety of everyone in the area – law enforcement officers, residents and protesters alike – continues to be our foremost concern,” she added.</p>
<p>Carla Youngbear of the Meskwaki Potawatomi tribe made her third trip from central Kansas to be at the protest site.</p>
<p>“I have grandchildren, and I’m going to have great grandchildren,” she said. “They need water. Water is why I’m here.”</p>
<p>Standing Rock Sioux tribal chairman Dave Archambault didn’t immediately respond to messages left seeking comment.</p>
<p>Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier, whose department has done much of the policing for the protests, said that “local law enforcement does not have an opinion” on the easement and that his department will continue to “enforce the law.”</p>
<p>U.S. Secretary for the Interior Sally Jewell said in a statement that the “thoughtful approach … ensures that there will be an in-depth evaluation of alternative routes for the pipeline and a closer look at potential impacts.”</p>
<p>Earlier Sunday, an organizer with Veterans Stand for Standing Rock said tribal elders had asked the military veterans not to have confrontations with law enforcement officials, adding the group is there to help out those who’ve dug in against the project.</p>
<p>About 250 veterans gathered about a mile from the main camp for a meeting with organizer Wes Clark Jr., the son of former Democratic presidential candidate Gen. Wesley Clark. The group had said about 2,000 veterans were coming, but it wasn’t clear how many actually arrived.</p>
<p>“We have been asked by the elders not to do direct action,” Wes Clark Jr. said. He added that the National Guard and law enforcement have armored vehicles and are armed, warning: “If we come forward, they will attack us.”</p>
<p>Instead, he told the veterans, “If you see someone who needs help, help them out.”</p>
<p>Authorities moved a blockade from the north end of the Backwater Bridge with the conditions that protesters stay south of it and come there only if there is a prearranged meeting. Authorities also asked protesters not to remove barriers on the bridge, which they have said was damaged in the late October conflict that led to several people being hurt, including a serious arm injury.</p>
<p>“That heavy presence is gone now and I really hope in this de-escalation they’ll see that, and in good faith . the leadership in those camps will start squashing the violent factions,” Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney said in a statement, reiterating that any violation will “will result in their arrest.”</p>
<p>Veterans Stand for Standing Rock’s GoFundMe.com page had raised more than $1 million of its $1.2 million goal by Sunday — money due to go toward food, transportation and supplies. Cars waiting to get into the camp Sunday afternoon were backed up for more than a half-mile.</p>
<p>“People are fighting for something, and I thought they could use my help,” said Navy veteran and Harvard graduate student Art Grayson. The 29-year-old from Cambridge, Massachusetts, flew the first leg of the journey, then rode from Bismarck in the back of a pickup truck. He has finals this week, but told professors, “I’ll see you when I get back.”</p>
<p>Steven Perry, a 66-year-old Vietnam veteran who’s a member of the Little Traverse Bay band of Odawa Indians in Michigan, spoke of one of the protesters’ main concerns: that the pipeline could pollute drinking water. “This is not just a native issue,” he said, “This is an issue for everyone.”</p>
<p>Art Woodson and two other veterans drove 17 hours straight from Flint, Michigan, a city whose lead-tainted water crisis parallels with the tribe’s fight over water, he said.</p>
<p>“We know in Flint that water is in dire need,” the 49-year-old disabled Gulf War Army veteran said. “In North Dakota, they’re trying to force pipes on people. We’re trying to get pipes in Flint for safe water.”</p>
<p>Some veterans will take part in a prayer ceremony Monday, during which they’ll apologize for historical detrimental conduct by the military toward Native Americans and ask for forgiveness, Clark said. He also called the veterans’ presence “about right and wrong and peace and love.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Jeff Baenen in Minneapolis and Jamie Stengle in Dallas contributed to this report.</p>
| false | 2 |
corrected version story federal government blocks dakota access oil pipeline route us army says wont grant easement dakota access oil pipeline missouri river reservoir north dakota advertisement james macpherson associated press cannon ball nd us army said sunday wont grant easement dakota access oil pipeline southern north dakota handing victory standing rock sioux tribe supporters argued project would threaten tribes water source cultural sites north dakotas leaders criticized decision gov jack dalrymple calling serious mistake prolongs dangerous situation several hundred protesters camped federal land cold wintry weather us rep kevin cramer said chilling signal future infrastructure united states fourstate 38 billion project largely complete except nowblocked segment underneath lake oahe missouri river reservoir assistant army secretary civil works joellen darcy said news release decision based need explore alternate routes pipelines crossing full decision doesnt rule could cross reservoir north bismarck although continuing discussion exchanges new information standing rock sioux dakota access clear theres work darcy said best way complete work responsibly expeditiously explore alternate routes pipeline crossing company constructing pipeline dallasbased energy transfer partners released statement sunday night slamming decision politically motivated alleging president obamas administration determined delay matter leaves office white houses directive today us army corps delay latest series overt transparent political actions administration abandoned rule law favor currying favor narrow extreme political constituency company said advertisement presidentelect donald trump pipeline supporter take office january although wasnt immediately clear steps administration would able take reverse latest decision quickly could happen decision came day governments deadline several hundred people oceti sakowin seven council fires encampment leave federal land demonstrators say theyre prepared stay authorities say wont forcibly remove news spread sunday cheers chants mni wichoni water life lakota sioux broke among protesters crowd banged drums miles allard member standing rock sioux said pleased remained cautious saying dont know trump going whole world watching allard added im telling people stand leave attorney general loretta lynch said sunday department justice continue monitor situation stands ready provide resources help play constructive role easing tensions safety everyone area law enforcement officers residents protesters alike continues foremost concern added carla youngbear meskwaki potawatomi tribe made third trip central kansas protest site grandchildren im going great grandchildren said need water water im standing rock sioux tribal chairman dave archambault didnt immediately respond messages left seeking comment morton county sheriff kyle kirchmeier whose department done much policing protests said local law enforcement opinion easement department continue enforce law us secretary interior sally jewell said statement thoughtful approach ensures indepth evaluation alternative routes pipeline closer look potential impacts earlier sunday organizer veterans stand standing rock said tribal elders asked military veterans confrontations law enforcement officials adding group help whove dug project 250 veterans gathered mile main camp meeting organizer wes clark jr son former democratic presidential candidate gen wesley clark group said 2000 veterans coming wasnt clear many actually arrived asked elders direct action wes clark jr said added national guard law enforcement armored vehicles armed warning come forward attack us instead told veterans see someone needs help help authorities moved blockade north end backwater bridge conditions protesters stay south come prearranged meeting authorities also asked protesters remove barriers bridge said damaged late october conflict led several people hurt including serious arm injury heavy presence gone really hope deescalation theyll see good faith leadership camps start squashing violent factions cass county sheriff paul laney said statement reiterating violation result arrest veterans stand standing rocks gofundmecom page raised 1 million 12 million goal sunday money due go toward food transportation supplies cars waiting get camp sunday afternoon backed halfmile people fighting something thought could use help said navy veteran harvard graduate student art grayson 29yearold cambridge massachusetts flew first leg journey rode bismarck back pickup truck finals week told professors ill see get back steven perry 66yearold vietnam veteran whos member little traverse bay band odawa indians michigan spoke one protesters main concerns pipeline could pollute drinking water native issue said issue everyone art woodson two veterans drove 17 hours straight flint michigan city whose leadtainted water crisis parallels tribes fight water said know flint water dire need 49yearold disabled gulf war army veteran said north dakota theyre trying force pipes people trying get pipes flint safe water veterans take part prayer ceremony monday theyll apologize historical detrimental conduct military toward native americans ask forgiveness clark said also called veterans presence right wrong peace love ___ associated press writers jeff baenen minneapolis jamie stengle dallas contributed report
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<p />
<p>Former University of New Mexico athletic director Paul Krebs acknowledged in a draft retirement letter he wrote in early May that he initially withheld information about UNM paying for donors’ expenses for a controversial Scotland golf fundraiser to protect the donors.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Krebs forwarded a reporter’s questions in April regarding the school’s search for a basketball coach to Gov. Susana Martinez’s top political adviser at the same time Krebs said Santa Fe did not have any involvement in the search.</p>
<p>Those are some of the details that emerged from emails recently obtained by the Journal from the final few months Krebs was athletic director.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>According to the emails the Journal obtained as part of an inspection of public records request, Krebs also:</p>
<p>■ Told those who worked in the athletic department he wanted WisePies Pizza “protected” from the media and instructed his department to say as little as possible to reporters about the former naming rights holder of the Pit,</p>
<p>■ Began drafting his retirement letter to UNM Interim President Chaouki Abdallah in March, the same week now-former men’s basketball coach Craig Neal was fired,</p>
<p>■&#160;Used the word “mistake” seven times in the draft of a retirement letter, originally dated March 28 and written through on May 7. In the letter he said he needed to be held accountable for the Scotland golf trip and misled people asking about the trip “in order to protect our Athletic Department donors.”</p>
<p>The draft was vastly different from his final, official retirement letter dated June 1 (he stepped down then, but used vacation and remained on payroll through June 30), which did not mention Scotland, any mistakes he should be held accountable for or men’s basketball.</p>
<p>Portions of emails by former UNM AD Paul Krebs. In the top, he forwards a Journal reporter’s questions to Gov. Susana Martinez’s top adviser. The bottom two are portion of a draft retirement letter he wrote in early May and discussed mistakes he made in relation to a 2015 Scotland golfing trip. (Email images via records request from UNM)</p>
<p />
<p>Nor did it mention the ongoing special audit by the state auditor’s office or the investigation by the state attorney general’s office, both of which were launched as news reports of the Scotland trip were published.</p>
<p>Krebs told the Journal via email last week he won’t discuss the draft version of his retirement letter about the Scotland trip until after those investigations are complete.</p>
<p>“I have received your e-mail,” Krebs wrote. “Until the audit is released, I will have no comment.”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Abdallah said Monday he was not aware of Krebs’ previous drafts of the retirement letter that spoke of being held accountable for mistakes or about protecting donors, and further comment would be reserved for after the audit’s findings are released.</p>
<p>“We’ve wrapped up the field work and are now analyzing the data to develop the findings and recommendations,” State Auditor Tim Keller told the Journal on Monday about the audit into athletics. “When the investigation is complete, we will release the report publicly.”</p>
<p>His deputy chief of staff, Justine Freeman, said the audit is expected to be done in October.</p>
<p>James Hallinan, communications director for Attorney General Hector Balderas, said that office’s investigation into whether there was a violation of law in the handling of public money for the Scotland trip is ongoing.</p>
<p>UNM fired coach Craig Neal on March 31. Soon rumors circulated that the governor’s office was involved in the search for Neal’s replacement, a rumor the governor’s office denied.</p>
<p>Days after the Journal reported there were concerns around the Lobo basketball coaching search having political influence from Santa Fe, the Journal asked Krebs again in an email April 10 if that was the case.</p>
<p>Among the questions in the Journal’s email: “The infighting about who is calling the shots on this search is something I want to flush out for a story. Are you making this hire? If not you, who all is in on the decision?”</p>
<p>Krebs forwarded that email about an hour later to Jay McCleskey, Martinez’s political adviser, and asked: “Thoughts on a response. I am tempting to say I will address at a press conference. (sic)”</p>
<p>The following day, Paul Weir was hired as Lobo basketball coach and Krebs told the Journal at the introductory press conference Santa Fe did not influence the search in any way.</p>
<p>Last week, regarding the email he sent to McCleskey, Krebs told the Journal he “sought Jay’s opinion about how to respond as a friend and a media strategist, and that was the extent of the conversation. I stand by my comments at the April 11 press conference that Santa Fe had zero influence in the coaching search and the ultimate decision to hire Coach Weir.”</p>
<p>McCleskey did not return an email or voicemail left by the Journal seeking comment.</p>
<p>In an email dated May 7, the week news reports of the 2015 Scotland trip surfaced, with an attachment titled “5-8-2017 Krebs retirement Letter,” Krebs said he thought the news was worthy of his stepping down.</p>
<p>The retirement letter was actually dated March 28, the week Krebs was recommending that Neal be fired, but the May 7 draft had the earlier content written over and updated to cover the Scotland trip. Those emails were sent to his own email account and to another individual not affiliated with UNM.</p>
<p>A week earlier, Krebs admitted using public money for UNM employees to travel to Scotland in June 2015 with boosters on a fundraising trip but he did not reveal that the total bill of about $65,000 included money to pay for three boosters to attend the trip — which apparently violates the state’s anti-donation clause.</p>
<p>It wasn’t until May 23 that an official statement released on Krebs’ behalf by UNM’s main campus communications director stated, “In reviewing notes from the trip, we discovered internally that the outings for three donors were paid for via UNM athletics. … The original plan was to have this reimbursed back, but in reviewing documents, it was noticed that this didn’t happen.”</p>
<p>In his May 7 retirement draft letter, Krebs wrote: “As a leader of young people I am held to a higher standard. … I’ve made some mistakes and for that I have to be held accountable.”</p>
<p>He also wrote that his mistakes were always “done to make things better for UNM athletics and UNM student-athletes.”</p>
<p>But he also said his aim was to protect donors even over disclosure of how public money was used.</p>
<p>“In order to protect our Athletic Department donors, I did not reveal (to media) the additional $____ spent to pay donor expenses. … I stand by my actions to protect our donors. … Did I handle the reporting out about this trip inappropriately? Yes.”</p>
<p>He later wrote, in an apparent reference to the media scrutiny surrounding WisePies Pizza, which had purchased naming rights to the Pit,&#160; “I have seen what happens to people who have stepped up and donated money to UNM Athletics, and that has never been more clear than in the last 24 months with the negative criticism and scrutiny that donors have endured. I wanted to protect our donors from that.”</p>
<p>Since that time, revelations that some luxury sky boxes in the Pit had gone uncollected for years and totalled as much as about $400,000 owed to UNM from high dollar boosters and donors.</p>
<p>The Journal emailed Krebs April 6 asking if WisePies was up to date on payments and if “UNM received the entire $800,000 WisePies had agreed to pay up to this point in the agreement?”</p>
<p>Krebs forwarded the email to multiple people in the department instructing them not to say too much. In one email, he instructed Sports Information Director Frank Mercogliano, “Get with brad (Hutchins) and season (Elliott)&#160; on this. Less said the better but want to protect wisepies.”</p>
<p>Since then, Dreamstyle Remodeling has stepped up and pledged $10 million to UNM for naming rights at the Pit, now officially Dreamstyle Arena, and UNM’s football stadium, now Dreamstyle Stadium.</p>
<p>Both UNM and WisePies said it was current on its payments.</p>
| false | 2 |
former university new mexico athletic director paul krebs acknowledged draft retirement letter wrote early may initially withheld information unm paying donors expenses controversial scotland golf fundraiser protect donors meanwhile krebs forwarded reporters questions april regarding schools search basketball coach gov susana martinezs top political adviser time krebs said santa fe involvement search details emerged emails recently obtained journal final months krebs athletic director advertisement according emails journal obtained part inspection public records request krebs also told worked athletic department wanted wisepies pizza protected media instructed department say little possible reporters former naming rights holder pit began drafting retirement letter unm interim president chaouki abdallah march week nowformer mens basketball coach craig neal fired 160used word mistake seven times draft retirement letter originally dated march 28 written may 7 letter said needed held accountable scotland golf trip misled people asking trip order protect athletic department donors draft vastly different final official retirement letter dated june 1 stepped used vacation remained payroll june 30 mention scotland mistakes held accountable mens basketball portions emails former unm ad paul krebs top forwards journal reporters questions gov susana martinezs top adviser bottom two portion draft retirement letter wrote early may discussed mistakes made relation 2015 scotland golfing trip email images via records request unm mention ongoing special audit state auditors office investigation state attorney generals office launched news reports scotland trip published krebs told journal via email last week wont discuss draft version retirement letter scotland trip investigations complete received email krebs wrote audit released comment advertisement abdallah said monday aware krebs previous drafts retirement letter spoke held accountable mistakes protecting donors comment would reserved audits findings released weve wrapped field work analyzing data develop findings recommendations state auditor tim keller told journal monday audit athletics investigation complete release report publicly deputy chief staff justine freeman said audit expected done october james hallinan communications director attorney general hector balderas said offices investigation whether violation law handling public money scotland trip ongoing unm fired coach craig neal march 31 soon rumors circulated governors office involved search neals replacement rumor governors office denied days journal reported concerns around lobo basketball coaching search political influence santa fe journal asked krebs email april 10 case among questions journals email infighting calling shots search something want flush story making hire decision krebs forwarded email hour later jay mccleskey martinezs political adviser asked thoughts response tempting say address press conference sic following day paul weir hired lobo basketball coach krebs told journal introductory press conference santa fe influence search way last week regarding email sent mccleskey krebs told journal sought jays opinion respond friend media strategist extent conversation stand comments april 11 press conference santa fe zero influence coaching search ultimate decision hire coach weir mccleskey return email voicemail left journal seeking comment email dated may 7 week news reports 2015 scotland trip surfaced attachment titled 582017 krebs retirement letter krebs said thought news worthy stepping retirement letter actually dated march 28 week krebs recommending neal fired may 7 draft earlier content written updated cover scotland trip emails sent email account another individual affiliated unm week earlier krebs admitted using public money unm employees travel scotland june 2015 boosters fundraising trip reveal total bill 65000 included money pay three boosters attend trip apparently violates states antidonation clause wasnt may 23 official statement released krebs behalf unms main campus communications director stated reviewing notes trip discovered internally outings three donors paid via unm athletics original plan reimbursed back reviewing documents noticed didnt happen may 7 retirement draft letter krebs wrote leader young people held higher standard ive made mistakes held accountable also wrote mistakes always done make things better unm athletics unm studentathletes also said aim protect donors even disclosure public money used order protect athletic department donors reveal media additional ____ spent pay donor expenses stand actions protect donors handle reporting trip inappropriately yes later wrote apparent reference media scrutiny surrounding wisepies pizza purchased naming rights pit160 seen happens people stepped donated money unm athletics never clear last 24 months negative criticism scrutiny donors endured wanted protect donors since time revelations luxury sky boxes pit gone uncollected years totalled much 400000 owed unm high dollar boosters donors journal emailed krebs april 6 asking wisepies date payments unm received entire 800000 wisepies agreed pay point agreement krebs forwarded email multiple people department instructing say much one email instructed sports information director frank mercogliano get brad hutchins season elliott160 less said better want protect wisepies since dreamstyle remodeling stepped pledged 10 million unm naming rights pit officially dreamstyle arena unms football stadium dreamstyle stadium unm wisepies said current payments
| 766 |
<p>CLARKSDALE, Miss. (AP) — Blues. Jazz. Country. Rock n’ roll. Gospel. Southern Gospel. Cajun-zydeco. Soul/ R&amp;B. Bluegrass.</p>
<p>Nine of America’s most well-known music genres now have their own road map.</p>
<p>Led by Nashville preservationist Aubrey Preston, a group of historians and music lovers have come up with the “Americana Music Triangle.”</p>
<p>Stretching from Nashville to Memphis to New Orleans — and encompassing points in between — the triangle includes locations in the South that contributed to the birth of the musical genres, from Clarksdale, Mississippi, the home of blues masters Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker, to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, site of the famed music studio where Aretha Franklin, the Rolling Stones and many others recorded songs.</p>
<p>Destinations are connected by the so-called “Gold Record Road,” a 1,500-mile stretch of highway made up of Interstate 40 from Nashville to Memphis, Highway 61 —the Blues Trail — from Memphis to New Orleans, and the Natchez Trace Parkway from Nashville to Natchez, Mississippi. Travelers planning road trips can use a flashy website, or web “guide,” pinpointing destinations in the triangle and describing points of interest in more than 30 communities in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas.</p>
<p>Preston hopes the triangle gives traveling music lovers, both foreign and domestic, a multi-state, Internet-based, interactive guide of the cradle of America’s music, while also spurring enough interest for community leaders to preserve these spots for future educational and tourism opportunities. State and local tourism officials hope much-needed dollars flow into their towns from travelers with cash to spend on restaurants, music shows, shops, and even gas stations and car washes.</p>
<p>“We’re giving an anchor, a cloud of information ... that’s easily accessible and connects places, stories, people and music to information that people can get from any place in the world,” said Preston, whose last-minute purchase of Nashville’s legendary RCA Studio A in October 2014 saved it from being torn down.</p>
<p>Events scheduled on Monday and throughout next week in six cities will launch the Americana Music Triangle.</p>
<p>Historian Colin Escott says the triangle accurately spotlights locations that will draw people to the South: The jazz halls of New Orleans, the rock n’ roll and soul studios of Memphis, the cotton plantations of the Mississippi Delta.</p>
<p>“People do seem to want to touch something that’s real,” said Escott, co-writer of the book and musical “Million Dollar Quartet” and contributor to the triangle project. “They love this music throughout the world, and it is like a universal currency.”</p>
<p>A city of about 17,200 about 1 ½ hours’ drive south of Memphis, Clarksdale has seen its share of population loss, poverty, troubled schools and blight, like other small towns in the triangle.</p>
<p>But, in recent years, the city has tried to boost its agriculture-driven economy with tourist spending and the sales taxes it generates. Downtown has seen an increase in restaurants and accommodations like loft apartments, and population appears to be growing. Tourists from overseas are making more frequent treks to Clarksdale, according to Mayor Bill Luckett and co-owner of Ground Zero Blues Club.</p>
<p>“Pulling this project off will be a tremendous help to this whole region,” Luckett said. “It puts money in this economy that wasn’t here before.”</p>
<p>Luckett says promoting tourism does not exploit the city’s more disadvantaged residents, some of whom may resent that so much attention is being paid to tourists while they struggle.</p>
<p>“There are some people who are going to express some resentment. I read it, I hear it,” Luckett said. “Frankly, it’s unfair and untrue.”</p>
<p>Tourism and civic leaders in each location are encouraged to direct tourists to other spots on the trail, even if they are in another state. This sets the project apart from government-run initiatives that won’t promote tourism experiences outside their purview.</p>
<p>The project’s supporters hope that, as more people are drawn to these locations, governments, philanthropists and nonprofits will move to preserve the sites and increase opportunities for musicians.</p>
<p>“If you have more regular (visitor) traffic, then you can start to have more music,” said Roger Stolle, owner of the Cat Head Delta Blues &amp; Folk Art store in Clarksdale. “It not only means that venue is going to be there for a long time, but it gives a reason for musicians to be there.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>www.AmericanaMusicTriangle.com</p>
<p>CLARKSDALE, Miss. (AP) — Blues. Jazz. Country. Rock n’ roll. Gospel. Southern Gospel. Cajun-zydeco. Soul/ R&amp;B. Bluegrass.</p>
<p>Nine of America’s most well-known music genres now have their own road map.</p>
<p>Led by Nashville preservationist Aubrey Preston, a group of historians and music lovers have come up with the “Americana Music Triangle.”</p>
<p>Stretching from Nashville to Memphis to New Orleans — and encompassing points in between — the triangle includes locations in the South that contributed to the birth of the musical genres, from Clarksdale, Mississippi, the home of blues masters Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker, to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, site of the famed music studio where Aretha Franklin, the Rolling Stones and many others recorded songs.</p>
<p>Destinations are connected by the so-called “Gold Record Road,” a 1,500-mile stretch of highway made up of Interstate 40 from Nashville to Memphis, Highway 61 —the Blues Trail — from Memphis to New Orleans, and the Natchez Trace Parkway from Nashville to Natchez, Mississippi. Travelers planning road trips can use a flashy website, or web “guide,” pinpointing destinations in the triangle and describing points of interest in more than 30 communities in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas.</p>
<p>Preston hopes the triangle gives traveling music lovers, both foreign and domestic, a multi-state, Internet-based, interactive guide of the cradle of America’s music, while also spurring enough interest for community leaders to preserve these spots for future educational and tourism opportunities. State and local tourism officials hope much-needed dollars flow into their towns from travelers with cash to spend on restaurants, music shows, shops, and even gas stations and car washes.</p>
<p>“We’re giving an anchor, a cloud of information ... that’s easily accessible and connects places, stories, people and music to information that people can get from any place in the world,” said Preston, whose last-minute purchase of Nashville’s legendary RCA Studio A in October 2014 saved it from being torn down.</p>
<p>Events scheduled on Monday and throughout next week in six cities will launch the Americana Music Triangle.</p>
<p>Historian Colin Escott says the triangle accurately spotlights locations that will draw people to the South: The jazz halls of New Orleans, the rock n’ roll and soul studios of Memphis, the cotton plantations of the Mississippi Delta.</p>
<p>“People do seem to want to touch something that’s real,” said Escott, co-writer of the book and musical “Million Dollar Quartet” and contributor to the triangle project. “They love this music throughout the world, and it is like a universal currency.”</p>
<p>A city of about 17,200 about 1 ½ hours’ drive south of Memphis, Clarksdale has seen its share of population loss, poverty, troubled schools and blight, like other small towns in the triangle.</p>
<p>But, in recent years, the city has tried to boost its agriculture-driven economy with tourist spending and the sales taxes it generates. Downtown has seen an increase in restaurants and accommodations like loft apartments, and population appears to be growing. Tourists from overseas are making more frequent treks to Clarksdale, according to Mayor Bill Luckett and co-owner of Ground Zero Blues Club.</p>
<p>“Pulling this project off will be a tremendous help to this whole region,” Luckett said. “It puts money in this economy that wasn’t here before.”</p>
<p>Luckett says promoting tourism does not exploit the city’s more disadvantaged residents, some of whom may resent that so much attention is being paid to tourists while they struggle.</p>
<p>“There are some people who are going to express some resentment. I read it, I hear it,” Luckett said. “Frankly, it’s unfair and untrue.”</p>
<p>Tourism and civic leaders in each location are encouraged to direct tourists to other spots on the trail, even if they are in another state. This sets the project apart from government-run initiatives that won’t promote tourism experiences outside their purview.</p>
<p>The project’s supporters hope that, as more people are drawn to these locations, governments, philanthropists and nonprofits will move to preserve the sites and increase opportunities for musicians.</p>
<p>“If you have more regular (visitor) traffic, then you can start to have more music,” said Roger Stolle, owner of the Cat Head Delta Blues &amp; Folk Art store in Clarksdale. “It not only means that venue is going to be there for a long time, but it gives a reason for musicians to be there.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>www.AmericanaMusicTriangle.com</p>
| false | 2 |
clarksdale miss ap blues jazz country rock n roll gospel southern gospel cajunzydeco soul rampb bluegrass nine americas wellknown music genres road map led nashville preservationist aubrey preston group historians music lovers come americana music triangle stretching nashville memphis new orleans encompassing points triangle includes locations south contributed birth musical genres clarksdale mississippi home blues masters muddy waters john lee hooker muscle shoals alabama site famed music studio aretha franklin rolling stones many others recorded songs destinations connected socalled gold record road 1500mile stretch highway made interstate 40 nashville memphis highway 61 blues trail memphis new orleans natchez trace parkway nashville natchez mississippi travelers planning road trips use flashy website web guide pinpointing destinations triangle describing points interest 30 communities tennessee alabama mississippi louisiana arkansas preston hopes triangle gives traveling music lovers foreign domestic multistate internetbased interactive guide cradle americas music also spurring enough interest community leaders preserve spots future educational tourism opportunities state local tourism officials hope muchneeded dollars flow towns travelers cash spend restaurants music shows shops even gas stations car washes giving anchor cloud information thats easily accessible connects places stories people music information people get place world said preston whose lastminute purchase nashvilles legendary rca studio october 2014 saved torn events scheduled monday throughout next week six cities launch americana music triangle historian colin escott says triangle accurately spotlights locations draw people south jazz halls new orleans rock n roll soul studios memphis cotton plantations mississippi delta people seem want touch something thats real said escott cowriter book musical million dollar quartet contributor triangle project love music throughout world like universal currency city 17200 1 ½ hours drive south memphis clarksdale seen share population loss poverty troubled schools blight like small towns triangle recent years city tried boost agriculturedriven economy tourist spending sales taxes generates downtown seen increase restaurants accommodations like loft apartments population appears growing tourists overseas making frequent treks clarksdale according mayor bill luckett coowner ground zero blues club pulling project tremendous help whole region luckett said puts money economy wasnt luckett says promoting tourism exploit citys disadvantaged residents may resent much attention paid tourists struggle people going express resentment read hear luckett said frankly unfair untrue tourism civic leaders location encouraged direct tourists spots trail even another state sets project apart governmentrun initiatives wont promote tourism experiences outside purview projects supporters hope people drawn locations governments philanthropists nonprofits move preserve sites increase opportunities musicians regular visitor traffic start music said roger stolle owner cat head delta blues amp folk art store clarksdale means venue going long time gives reason musicians ___ wwwamericanamusictrianglecom clarksdale miss ap blues jazz country rock n roll gospel southern gospel cajunzydeco soul rampb bluegrass nine americas wellknown music genres road map led nashville preservationist aubrey preston group historians music lovers come americana music triangle stretching nashville memphis new orleans encompassing points triangle includes locations south contributed birth musical genres clarksdale mississippi home blues masters muddy waters john lee hooker muscle shoals alabama site famed music studio aretha franklin rolling stones many others recorded songs destinations connected socalled gold record road 1500mile stretch highway made interstate 40 nashville memphis highway 61 blues trail memphis new orleans natchez trace parkway nashville natchez mississippi travelers planning road trips use flashy website web guide pinpointing destinations triangle describing points interest 30 communities tennessee alabama mississippi louisiana arkansas preston hopes triangle gives traveling music lovers foreign domestic multistate internetbased interactive guide cradle americas music also spurring enough interest community leaders preserve spots future educational tourism opportunities state local tourism officials hope muchneeded dollars flow towns travelers cash spend restaurants music shows shops even gas stations car washes giving anchor cloud information thats easily accessible connects places stories people music information people get place world said preston whose lastminute purchase nashvilles legendary rca studio october 2014 saved torn events scheduled monday throughout next week six cities launch americana music triangle historian colin escott says triangle accurately spotlights locations draw people south jazz halls new orleans rock n roll soul studios memphis cotton plantations mississippi delta people seem want touch something thats real said escott cowriter book musical million dollar quartet contributor triangle project love music throughout world like universal currency city 17200 1 ½ hours drive south memphis clarksdale seen share population loss poverty troubled schools blight like small towns triangle recent years city tried boost agriculturedriven economy tourist spending sales taxes generates downtown seen increase restaurants accommodations like loft apartments population appears growing tourists overseas making frequent treks clarksdale according mayor bill luckett coowner ground zero blues club pulling project tremendous help whole region luckett said puts money economy wasnt luckett says promoting tourism exploit citys disadvantaged residents may resent much attention paid tourists struggle people going express resentment read hear luckett said frankly unfair untrue tourism civic leaders location encouraged direct tourists spots trail even another state sets project apart governmentrun initiatives wont promote tourism experiences outside purview projects supporters hope people drawn locations governments philanthropists nonprofits move preserve sites increase opportunities musicians regular visitor traffic start music said roger stolle owner cat head delta blues amp folk art store clarksdale means venue going long time gives reason musicians ___ wwwamericanamusictrianglecom
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<p>* SSEC +0.1 pct, CSI300 -0.1 pct, HSI -0.3 pct</p>
<p>* HK-&gt;Shanghai Connect daily quota used -7.1 pct, Shanghai-&gt;HK daily quota used +16.8 pct</p>
<p>* FTSE China A50 +0.1 pct, BNY Mellon ADR China Select Index +0.4 pct</p>
<p>SHANGHAI, Jan 24 (Reuters) - China stocks were little changed by midday after edging up to touch their best levels in more than two years on Wednesday, with gains in banks offset by losses in consumer firms. ** At 04:06 GMT, the Shanghai Composite index was up 5.08 points or 0.14 percent at 3,551.58, after earlier hitting its highest since December 2015. ** China’s blue-chip CSI300 index was down 0.06 percent, pulling back after earlier edging up to its firmest since July 2015. Its financial sector sub-index was higher by 0.42 percent, the consumer staples sector down 1.27 percent , the real estate index down 0.4 percent and healthcare sub-index up 0.16 percent. ** Chinese H-shares listed in Hong Kong rose 0.05 percent at 13,497.51, while the Hang Seng Index was down 0.28 percent at 32,837.80. ** The smaller Shenzhen index was up 0.14 percent and the start-up board ChiNext Composite index was higher by 1.94 percent. ** Around the region, MSCI’s Asia ex-Japan stock index was weaker by 0.18 percent while Japan’s Nikkei index was down 0.58 percent . ** The yuan was quoted at 6.39 per U.S. dollar, 0.29 percent firmer than the previous close of 6.4084. ** The largest percentage gainers in the main Shanghai Composite index were Anhui Expressway Co Ltd up 6.78 percent, followed by Shandong Lukang Pharmaceutical Co Ltd gaining 6.38 percent and Sinoma International Engineering Co Ltd up by 6.37 percent. ** The largest percentage losses in the Shanghai index were Tibet Tourism Co Ltd down 5.87 percent, followed by Shanxi Lanhua Sci-Tech Venture Co Ltd losing 5.26 percent and Jiangsu Protruly Vision Technology Group Co Ltd down by 5.06 percent. ** So far this year, the Shanghai stock index is up 7.24 percent, while China’s H-share index is up 15.2 percent. ** The top gainers among H-shares were PetroChina Co Ltd up 4.07 percent, followed by China Petroleum &amp; Chemical Corp gaining 3.05 percent and Agricultural Bank of China Ltd up by 2.39 percent. ** The three biggest H-shares percentage decliners were China Vanke Co Ltd which has fallen 2.86 percent, Byd Co Ltd which has lost 2.8 percent and Dongfeng Motor Group Co Ltd down by 2.6 percent. ** About 14.37 billion shares have traded so far on the Shanghai exchange, roughly 80.6 percent of the market’s 30-day moving average of 17.82 billion shares a day. The volume traded was 23.87 billion as of the last full trading day. ** As of 04:06 GMT, China’s A-shares were trading at a premium of 29.20 percent over the Hong Kong-listed H-shares. ** The Shanghai stock index is above its 50-day moving average and above its 200-day moving average. ** The price-to-earnings ratio of the Shanghai index was 16.14 as of the last full trading day while the dividend yield was 1.8 percent. ** So far this week, the market capitalisation of the Shanghai stock index has risen by 1.87 percent to 31.21 trillion yuan. ** In Hong Kong, the sub-index of the Hang Seng index tracking energy shares rose 2.2 percent while the IT sector fell 0.9 percent. The top gainer on Hang Seng was PetroChina Co Ltd up 4.07 percent, while the biggest loser was Ping An Insurance Group Co of China Ltd which was down 2.28 percent.</p>
<p>Reporting by Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by Jacqueline Wong</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives approved a $1.3 trillion spending bill on Thursday to fund federal agencies and avert a government shutdown ahead of a midnight Friday deadline, sending it to the Senate despite a revolt by fiscal conservatives worried by what they called runaway spending.</p>
<p>The Republican-led House backed the measure 256-167, but 90 of the 238 House Republicans ignored pleas for support from House Speaker Paul Ryan and voted against it.</p>
<p>Coupled with recently enacted tax cuts, the bill to fund the government through Sept. 30 is projected to lead to budget deficits of more than $800 billion for this year. Conservatives balked and warned it could create problems for Republicans running for re-election in November.</p>
<p>“This omnibus doesn’t just forget the promises we made to voters - it flatly rejects them,” Representative Mark Meadows, head of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, said after the vote. “This is wrong. This is not the limited government conservatism our voters demand.”</p>
<p>The Senate, controlled by Republicans but with a narrow majority, is expected to vote late on Thursday or Friday. The White House said President Donald Trump will sign the bill, which significantly boosts defense funding but scales back spending requests on some of his other priorities.</p>
<p>“I’m confident it will pass the Senate by a comfortable margin,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer told reporters.</p>
<p>Passage of the bill would end several months of intense bickering between Republicans and Democrats over spending priorities, which led to two short government shutdowns earlier this year.</p>
<p>SCALED-BACK TRUMP PROPOSALS</p>
<p>It also would include setbacks for Trump, who did not receive all of the funding he sought in the negotiations for his long-promised wall along the U.S. border with Mexico, and whose proposals for severe cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency, State Department and other federal agencies would also be scaled back.</p>
<p>Democrats complained that in the rush to pass the bill, few if any lawmakers had time to read through the 2,232-page tome to see what it actually contained. The bill was unveiled late on Wednesday.</p>
<p>White House budget director Mick Mulvaney told reporters the White House did not get everything it wanted in the massive spending package but the president planned to support it.</p>
<p>“It does a lot of what we wanted – not everything we wanted – but a lot of what we wanted on immigration,” he told reporters.</p>
<p>Trump said on Twitter the bill will allow him to start building the wall, which he calls an essential part of efforts to reduce illegal immigration. “Got $1.6 Billion to start Wall on Southern Border, rest will be forthcoming,” he wrote.</p> Slideshow (10 Images)
<p>But Democrats, who have long opposed the wall, argued the added funds will help build or restore a range of other barriers, including existing fencing, but not a concrete edifice.</p>
<p>Trump’s original assertion that Mexico would finance the wall has been met with solid resistance by the Mexican government. In the budget negotiations at home, he at one stage wanted $25 billion included to fully fund construction of the wall, but negotiations with Democrats on that point fell apart early this week, according to congressional aides.</p>
<p>Instead, Trump would get nearly $1.6 billion more for border security this year. More border patrol agents could be hired, but there would not be a significant increase in immigration agents working the interior of the country.</p>
<p>The Department of Homeland Security had sought a big buildup in those officers to boost deportation of undocumented immigrants.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=ABI.BR" type="external">Anheuser Busch Inbev NV</a> 89.09 ABI.BR Brussels Stock Exchange -1.18 (-1.31%) ABI.BR FIGHTING RUSSIAN HACKING
<p>Besides an $80 billion boost in military spending, the largest in 15 years, the measure includes new money for improvements to the country’s infrastructure, and to counter Russian election hacking.</p>
<p>In response to public anger and frustration over mass shootings, including a Feb. 14 massacre at a Florida high school, the bill also contains modest improvements to background checks for gun sales and grants to help schools prevent gun violence.</p>
<p>These provisions were far short of steps many Democrats and gun control groups say are needed to prevent repeats of mass killings of school children, concert-goers, church worshipers and others.</p>
<p>A so-called “grain glitch” included in a tax law enacted at the end of last year would be repaired by the legislation.</p>
<p>Big grain buyers, such as Anheuser Busch Inbev NV ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=ABI.BR" type="external">ABI.BR</a>), Cargill Inc and the ethanol industry, have complained the glitch gives lucrative tax breaks to grain producers for selling to farming cooperatives, and a lesser break for selling to agriculture companies.</p>
<p>The bill will provide a $307 million increase above the administration’s request for counter-intelligence efforts to fight Russian cyber attacks in 2018, when U.S. mid-term congressional elections will be held, and $380 million for grants to states to secure their election systems.</p>
<p>Among the spending increases for non-defense programs are substantial healthcare investments, including a $414 million increase for Alzheimer’s disease research, $40 million more for research on developing a universal flu vaccine and $17 million more for antibiotic-resistance bacteria research – all at the National Institutes of Health.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-usa-fiscal-congress-tipping/u-s-spending-bill-would-stop-employers-from-pocketing-workers-tips-idUSKBN1GY2L2" type="external">U.S. spending bill would stop employers from pocketing workers' tips</a>
<a href="/article/us-usa-fiscal-congress-whitehouse/trump-will-sign-spending-bill-into-law-if-it-passes-white-house-idUSKBN1GY2GK" type="external">Trump will sign spending bill into law if it passes: White House</a>
<a href="/article/us-usa-fiscal-congress-freedomcaucus/house-freedom-caucus-rejects-1-3-trillion-u-s-spending-bill-idUSKBN1GY1K4" type="external">House Freedom Caucus rejects $1.3 trillion U.S. spending bill</a>
<p>Other components of the bill include $10 billion in infrastructure spending for highways, airports, railroads and broadband, and a $2.8 billion increase to fund treatment and prevention of opioid addiction and research into the subject.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Amanda Becker and Susan Heavey; Writing by John Whitesides; Editing by Bernadette Baum, Bill Trott and Frances Kerry</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks slumped on Thursday as President Donald Trump’s move to impose tariffs on up to $60 billion of Chinese imports drove fears about the impact on the global economy, fueling the biggest percentage declines in Wall Street’s three major indexes since they entered correction territory six weeks ago.</p>
<p>Trump signed a presidential memorandum that will target the Chinese imports only after a consultation period. China will have space to respond, reducing the risk of immediate retaliation from Beijing.</p>
<p>But after equities recovered somewhat from earlier lows, selling pressure resumed on Wall Street heading into the close as investors fretted over the potential scale of U.S tariffs and possible impact on global trade.</p>
<p>“There’s too much negative sentiment right now,” said John Carey, portfolio manager at Amundi Pioneer Asset Management in Boston. “It’s possible that it will be rough sledding for a while. I don’t see anything on the horizon that will reassure people that things are just great.”</p>
<p>Major industrials slumped. Plane maker Boeing Co lost 5.2 percent, Caterpillar Inc dropped 5.7 and 3M Co lost 4.7. The three were among the biggest drags on the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The S&amp;P industrials sector plunged 3.28 percent.</p>
<p>The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 724.42 points, or 2.93 percent, to 23,957.89, the S&amp;P 500 lost 68.24 points, or 2.52 percent, to 2,643.69, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 178.61 points, or 2.43 percent, to 7,166.68.</p>
<p>The losses marked the biggest daily percentage drop for each of the major indexes since Feb. 8, when the Dow and S&amp;P confirmed a market correction from their Jan. 26 highs.</p>
<p>Selling was broad, with only the defensive utilities 0.44on the plus side, up 0.44 percent, out of 11 major S&amp;P sectors.</p> Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange shortly after the opening bell in New York, U.S., March 21, 2018. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
<p>The CBOE Volatility Index, the most widely followed barometer of expected near-term volatility in the S&amp;P 500, finished up 5.48 points at 23.34, its highest close since Feb. 13.23.34</p>
<p>U.S. treasury prices gained as investors sought out safe havens. Benchmark 10-year notes last rose 23/32 in price to yield 2.8244 percent, from 2.907 percent late on Wednesday.</p>
<p>The drop in yields weighed on financial stocks, which were down 3.70 percent, making them the worst performing of the major sectors.</p>
<p>Another decline in shares of Facebook Inc, down 2.7 percent, continued to weigh on the broader market and the tech sector, the best performing S&amp;P group for this year. The S&amp;P technology index fell 2.69 percent on fears of greater regulation in the wake of the Facebook data leak.</p>
<p>Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said he was open to additional government regulation and happy to testify before the U.S. Congress.</p>
<p>AbbVie Inc tumbled 12.8 percent after the drugmaker said it would not seek accelerated approval for its experimental lung cancer treatment based on results from a mid-stage study.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-usa-stocks-analysts-instantview/instant-view-u-s-stocks-tumble-on-trade-worries-idUSKBN1GY2E9" type="external">Instant View: U.S. stocks tumble on trade worries</a>
<p>Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones on the NYSE by a 4.51-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 4.09-to-1 ratio favored decliners.</p>
<p>The S&amp;P 500 posted three new 52-week highs and 19 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 36 new highs and 59 new lows.</p>
<p>Volume on U.S. exchanges was 7.77 billion shares, compared to the 7.17 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by April Joyner; Editing by Leslie Adler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU leaders on Thursday urged social networks to guarantee transparent practices and fully protect personal information as pressure piled on Facebook after allegations that data from 50 million of its users was mishandled.</p> FILE PHOTO: A figurine is seen in front of the Facebook logo in this illustration taken, March 20, 2018. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo
<p>More than $50 billion has been wiped off Facebook’s market value on reports that British political consultancy Cambridge Analytica improperly accessed data to build profiles on American voters and influence the 2016 presidential election.</p>
<p>“Social networks and digital platforms need to guarantee transparent practices and full protection of citizens’ privacy and personal data,” the European Union heads of state said in after meeting in Brussels. “EU and national legislation must be respected and enforced.”</p>
<p>The harvesting of user data happened before a new EU data protection law comes into force under which companies could be fined up to 4 percent of global turnover for violating.</p>
<p>“We cannot apply the sanctions which are coming with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) from May onwards,” EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova told reporters on Thursday.</p>
<p>In Britain, which is leading the investigation from the European side, the maximum sanction is 500,000 pounds ($705,000), Jourova said, an insignificant amount compared to Facebook’s $40.65 billion in revenue for 2017.</p>
<p>European Parliament head Antonio Tajani invited Facebook’s Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg to come to the legislature to explain “how Cambridge Analytica came to use the personal data of millions of people to influence the... U.S. presidential elections and the Brexit referendum.”</p>
<p>On Wednesday Zuckerberg apologized for mistakes his company made and promised to restrict developers’ access to user information as part of a plan to improve privacy protection.</p>
<p>Jourova said more than one announcement would be needed to renew people’s trust in Facebook. “This is much more serious because here we witness the threat to democracy, to democratic plurality. It is endangering the free electoral choices of the people in Europe,” she said.</p>
<p>Reporting by Julia Fioretti</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON/LONDON (Reuters) - Facebook Inc came under further pressure from lawmakers, investors, advertisers and users on Thursday, the day after Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg admitted the social media network made mistakes in letting 50 million users’ data get into the hands of political consultancy Cambridge Analytica.</p>
<p>U.S. lawmakers demanded Zuckerberg personally testify in Washington to explain his company’s actions.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, advertisers Mozilla and Commerzbank suspended ads on the service and the hashtag #DeleteFacebook remained popular online, although it was hard to tell how many users are abandoning Facebook.</p>
<p>In light of those concerns, investors continued to sell off Facebook shares.</p>
<p>The company has lost more than $50 billion in market value since allegations this week that political consultancy Cambridge Analytica improperly accessed data to build profiles on American voters and influence the 2016 presidential election.</p>
<p>Five days after the scandal broke, Zuckerberg apologized on Wednesday for mistakes his company made and promised to restrict developers’ access to user information as part of a plan to improve privacy protection.</p>
<p>On Thursday, Facebook executives were still saying sorry. “It was a mistake,” Campbell Brown, head of news partnerships at Facebook, said at The Financial Times FT Future of News Conference in New York City.</p>
<p>Zuckerberg’s apology and promises were not enough to ease political pressure on the world’s largest social media company.</p>
<p>“It shouldn’t be for a company to decide what is the appropriate balance between privacy and innovation and use of data. Those rules should be set by society as a whole and so by parliament,” British minister for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Matt Hancock, told BBC Radio.</p>
<p>Zuckerberg’s media rounds did little to satisfy Washington lawmakers in either political party who have demanded this week that the billionaire testify before Congress.</p>
<p>The Republican chairman and top Democrat of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee said they will in coming days formally ask Zuckerberg to testify.</p>
<p>The request came a day after company executives briefed committee aides for nearly two hours and left with a list of at least 60 questions they were unable to answer, according to two aides.</p>
<p>Zuckerberg said in media interviews on Thursday he would be willing to testify if he is the right person at the company to speak to lawmakers.</p>
<p>“My message to Mark Zuckerberg is you are right person. There’s no question you are the right person,” Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, told reporters after Facebook executives briefed Senate staff on Thursday.</p> A 3D-printed Facebook logo is seen in front of displayed stock graph in this illustration photo March 20, 2018. Picture taken March 20. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic
<p>Facebook said it had no further comment beyond what Zuckerberg had already said.</p>
<p>Facebook executives also briefed another House committee on Thursday, and while they answered many questions about Cambridge Analytica they were unprepared to address broader questions about Facebook’s data privacy policies, according to a staffer who was present</p> REPUTATIONAL COSTS
<p>Wall Street analysts expressed relief that there were no signs so far of a more fundamental shift in the company’s advertising-driven revenue model, but some said there would be costs to shore up its reputation.</p> Slideshow (4 Images)
<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>Several analysts cut price targets and Facebook shares were down 2.2 percent on Thursday in heavy trading. Technology stocks have fallen along with Facebook this week as investors worried about tighter scrutiny of global platforms like Alphabet’s Google, Twitter and Snapchat.</p>
<p>Analysts said that Zuckerberg’s promises to investigate thousands of apps, and to give members a tool that lets them turn off access, would not substantially reduce advertisers’ ability to use Facebook data - the company’s lifeblood.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, open-source browser and app developer Mozilla said it was “pressing pause” on its Facebook advertising after the revelations prompted it to take a closer look at the site’s default privacy settings.</p>
<p>“We found that its current default settings leave access open to a lot of data – particularly with respect to settings for third-party apps,” Mozilla said in a blog post.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-facebook-cambridge-analytica-eu/eu-leaders-tell-social-networks-to-guarantee-users-privacy-idUSKBN1GY31E" type="external">EU leaders tell social networks to guarantee users' privacy</a>
<a href="/article/us-facebook-cambridge-analytica-kogan/senate-subcommittee-seeks-information-on-facebook-data-idUSKBN1GY2LS" type="external">Senate subcommittee seeks information on Facebook data</a>
<a href="/article/us-facebook-cambridge-analytica-warrants/cambridge-analytica-london-search-warrant-delayed-by-court-idUSKBN1GY1DW" type="external">Cambridge Analytica London search warrant delayed by court</a>
<p>Commerzbank paused its campaign on Facebook. “Brand safety and data security are very important to us,” head of brand strategy Uwe Hellmann told newspaper Handelsblatt. The comments were confirmed by a spokesman for the bank.</p>
<p>British advertising group ISBA, which represents thousands of brands, threatened to withdraw ads if investigations show user data has been misused.</p>
<p>“We think this issue is more likely to snowball than recede and that advertisers are reaching a tipping point at which spending on not only Facebook and other online platforms, is re-evaluated,” brokerage Liberum said in a note.</p>
<p>But Sharon Rowlands, president of USA Today Network Marketing Solutions, said it was unlikely a flood of brands would stop advertising on Facebook because it is good at targeting their customers and generating a return on investment.</p>
<p>“The challenge is that the platform performs,” Rowlands said.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Dustin Volz and David Shepardson in Washington, Jessica Toonkel in New York, Munsif Vengattil in Bangalore and Paul Sandle in London; Writing by Susan Thomas, Editing by Nick Zieminski</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
ssec 01 pct csi300 01 pct hsi 03 pct hkgtshanghai connect daily quota used 71 pct shanghaigthk daily quota used 168 pct ftse china a50 01 pct bny mellon adr china select index 04 pct shanghai jan 24 reuters china stocks little changed midday edging touch best levels two years wednesday gains banks offset losses consumer firms 0406 gmt shanghai composite index 508 points 014 percent 355158 earlier hitting highest since december 2015 chinas bluechip csi300 index 006 percent pulling back earlier edging firmest since july 2015 financial sector subindex higher 042 percent consumer staples sector 127 percent real estate index 04 percent healthcare subindex 016 percent chinese hshares listed hong kong rose 005 percent 1349751 hang seng index 028 percent 3283780 smaller shenzhen index 014 percent startup board chinext composite index higher 194 percent around region mscis asia exjapan stock index weaker 018 percent japans nikkei index 058 percent yuan quoted 639 per us dollar 029 percent firmer previous close 64084 largest percentage gainers main shanghai composite index anhui expressway co ltd 678 percent followed shandong lukang pharmaceutical co ltd gaining 638 percent sinoma international engineering co ltd 637 percent largest percentage losses shanghai index tibet tourism co ltd 587 percent followed shanxi lanhua scitech venture co ltd losing 526 percent jiangsu protruly vision technology group co ltd 506 percent far year shanghai stock index 724 percent chinas hshare index 152 percent top gainers among hshares petrochina co ltd 407 percent followed china petroleum amp chemical corp gaining 305 percent agricultural bank china ltd 239 percent three biggest hshares percentage decliners china vanke co ltd fallen 286 percent byd co ltd lost 28 percent dongfeng motor group co ltd 26 percent 1437 billion shares traded far shanghai exchange roughly 806 percent markets 30day moving average 1782 billion shares day volume traded 2387 billion last full trading day 0406 gmt chinas ashares trading premium 2920 percent hong konglisted hshares shanghai stock index 50day moving average 200day moving average pricetoearnings ratio shanghai index 1614 last full trading day dividend yield 18 percent far week market capitalisation shanghai stock index risen 187 percent 3121 trillion yuan hong kong subindex hang seng index tracking energy shares rose 22 percent sector fell 09 percent top gainer hang seng petrochina co ltd 407 percent biggest loser ping insurance group co china ltd 228 percent reporting shanghai newsroom editing jacqueline wong standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters us house representatives approved 13 trillion spending bill thursday fund federal agencies avert government shutdown ahead midnight friday deadline sending senate despite revolt fiscal conservatives worried called runaway spending republicanled house backed measure 256167 90 238 house republicans ignored pleas support house speaker paul ryan voted coupled recently enacted tax cuts bill fund government sept 30 projected lead budget deficits 800 billion year conservatives balked warned could create problems republicans running reelection november omnibus doesnt forget promises made voters flatly rejects representative mark meadows head conservative house freedom caucus said vote wrong limited government conservatism voters demand senate controlled republicans narrow majority expected vote late thursday friday white house said president donald trump sign bill significantly boosts defense funding scales back spending requests priorities im confident pass senate comfortable margin senate democratic leader chuck schumer told reporters passage bill would end several months intense bickering republicans democrats spending priorities led two short government shutdowns earlier year scaledback trump proposals also would include setbacks trump receive funding sought negotiations longpromised wall along us border mexico whose proposals severe cuts environmental protection agency state department federal agencies would also scaled back democrats complained rush pass bill lawmakers time read 2232page tome see actually contained bill unveiled late wednesday white house budget director mick mulvaney told reporters white house get everything wanted massive spending package president planned support lot wanted everything wanted lot wanted immigration told reporters trump said twitter bill allow start building wall calls essential part efforts reduce illegal immigration got 16 billion start wall southern border rest forthcoming wrote slideshow 10 images democrats long opposed wall argued added funds help build restore range barriers including existing fencing concrete edifice trumps original assertion mexico would finance wall met solid resistance mexican government budget negotiations home one stage wanted 25 billion included fully fund construction wall negotiations democrats point fell apart early week according congressional aides instead trump would get nearly 16 billion border security year border patrol agents could hired would significant increase immigration agents working interior country department homeland security sought big buildup officers boost deportation undocumented immigrants anheuser busch inbev nv 8909 abibr brussels stock exchange 118 131 abibr fighting russian hacking besides 80 billion boost military spending largest 15 years measure includes new money improvements countrys infrastructure counter russian election hacking response public anger frustration mass shootings including feb 14 massacre florida high school bill also contains modest improvements background checks gun sales grants help schools prevent gun violence provisions far short steps many democrats gun control groups say needed prevent repeats mass killings school children concertgoers church worshipers others socalled grain glitch included tax law enacted end last year would repaired legislation big grain buyers anheuser busch inbev nv abibr cargill inc ethanol industry complained glitch gives lucrative tax breaks grain producers selling farming cooperatives lesser break selling agriculture companies bill provide 307 million increase administrations request counterintelligence efforts fight russian cyber attacks 2018 us midterm congressional elections held 380 million grants states secure election systems among spending increases nondefense programs substantial healthcare investments including 414 million increase alzheimers disease research 40 million research developing universal flu vaccine 17 million antibioticresistance bacteria research national institutes health related coverage us spending bill would stop employers pocketing workers tips trump sign spending bill law passes white house house freedom caucus rejects 13 trillion us spending bill components bill include 10 billion infrastructure spending highways airports railroads broadband 28 billion increase fund treatment prevention opioid addiction research subject additional reporting amanda becker susan heavey writing john whitesides editing bernadette baum bill trott frances kerry standards thomson reuters trust principles new york reuters us stocks slumped thursday president donald trumps move impose tariffs 60 billion chinese imports drove fears impact global economy fueling biggest percentage declines wall streets three major indexes since entered correction territory six weeks ago trump signed presidential memorandum target chinese imports consultation period china space respond reducing risk immediate retaliation beijing equities recovered somewhat earlier lows selling pressure resumed wall street heading close investors fretted potential scale us tariffs possible impact global trade theres much negative sentiment right said john carey portfolio manager amundi pioneer asset management boston possible rough sledding dont see anything horizon reassure people things great major industrials slumped plane maker boeing co lost 52 percent caterpillar inc dropped 57 3m co lost 47 three among biggest drags dow jones industrial average sampp industrials sector plunged 328 percent dow jones industrial average fell 72442 points 293 percent 2395789 sampp 500 lost 6824 points 252 percent 264369 nasdaq composite dropped 17861 points 243 percent 716668 losses marked biggest daily percentage drop major indexes since feb 8 dow sampp confirmed market correction jan 26 highs selling broad defensive utilities 044on plus side 044 percent 11 major sampp sectors traders work floor new york stock exchange shortly opening bell new york us march 21 2018 reuterslucas jackson cboe volatility index widely followed barometer expected nearterm volatility sampp 500 finished 548 points 2334 highest close since feb 132334 us treasury prices gained investors sought safe havens benchmark 10year notes last rose 2332 price yield 28244 percent 2907 percent late wednesday drop yields weighed financial stocks 370 percent making worst performing major sectors another decline shares facebook inc 27 percent continued weigh broader market tech sector best performing sampp group year sampp technology index fell 269 percent fears greater regulation wake facebook data leak facebook chief executive mark zuckerberg said open additional government regulation happy testify us congress abbvie inc tumbled 128 percent drugmaker said would seek accelerated approval experimental lung cancer treatment based results midstage study related coverage instant view us stocks tumble trade worries declining issues outnumbered advancing ones nyse 451to1 ratio nasdaq 409to1 ratio favored decliners sampp 500 posted three new 52week highs 19 new lows nasdaq composite recorded 36 new highs 59 new lows volume us exchanges 777 billion shares compared 717 billion average full session last 20 trading days additional reporting april joyner editing leslie adler standards thomson reuters trust principles brussels reuters eu leaders thursday urged social networks guarantee transparent practices fully protect personal information pressure piled facebook allegations data 50 million users mishandled file photo figurine seen front facebook logo illustration taken march 20 2018 reutersdado ruvicfile photo 50 billion wiped facebooks market value reports british political consultancy cambridge analytica improperly accessed data build profiles american voters influence 2016 presidential election social networks digital platforms need guarantee transparent practices full protection citizens privacy personal data european union heads state said meeting brussels eu national legislation must respected enforced harvesting user data happened new eu data protection law comes force companies could fined 4 percent global turnover violating apply sanctions coming gdpr general data protection regulation may onwards eu justice commissioner vera jourova told reporters thursday britain leading investigation european side maximum sanction 500000 pounds 705000 jourova said insignificant amount compared facebooks 4065 billion revenue 2017 european parliament head antonio tajani invited facebooks chief executive mark zuckerberg come legislature explain cambridge analytica came use personal data millions people influence us presidential elections brexit referendum wednesday zuckerberg apologized mistakes company made promised restrict developers access user information part plan improve privacy protection jourova said one announcement would needed renew peoples trust facebook much serious witness threat democracy democratic plurality endangering free electoral choices people europe said reporting julia fioretti standards thomson reuters trust principles washingtonlondon reuters facebook inc came pressure lawmakers investors advertisers users thursday day chief executive mark zuckerberg admitted social media network made mistakes letting 50 million users data get hands political consultancy cambridge analytica us lawmakers demanded zuckerberg personally testify washington explain companys actions meanwhile advertisers mozilla commerzbank suspended ads service hashtag deletefacebook remained popular online although hard tell many users abandoning facebook light concerns investors continued sell facebook shares company lost 50 billion market value since allegations week political consultancy cambridge analytica improperly accessed data build profiles american voters influence 2016 presidential election five days scandal broke zuckerberg apologized wednesday mistakes company made promised restrict developers access user information part plan improve privacy protection thursday facebook executives still saying sorry mistake campbell brown head news partnerships facebook said financial times ft future news conference new york city zuckerbergs apology promises enough ease political pressure worlds largest social media company shouldnt company decide appropriate balance privacy innovation use data rules set society whole parliament british minister digital culture media sport matt hancock told bbc radio zuckerbergs media rounds little satisfy washington lawmakers either political party demanded week billionaire testify congress republican chairman top democrat us house energy commerce committee said coming days formally ask zuckerberg testify request came day company executives briefed committee aides nearly two hours left list least 60 questions unable answer according two aides zuckerberg said media interviews thursday would willing testify right person company speak lawmakers message mark zuckerberg right person theres question right person senator richard blumenthal democrat connecticut told reporters facebook executives briefed senate staff thursday 3dprinted facebook logo seen front displayed stock graph illustration photo march 20 2018 picture taken march 20 reutersdado ruvic facebook said comment beyond zuckerberg already said facebook executives also briefed another house committee thursday answered many questions cambridge analytica unprepared address broader questions facebooks data privacy policies according staffer present reputational costs wall street analysts expressed relief signs far fundamental shift companys advertisingdriven revenue model said would costs shore reputation slideshow 4 images facebook 2 billion monthly active users made almost 406 billion revenue last year advertising several analysts cut price targets facebook shares 22 percent thursday heavy trading technology stocks fallen along facebook week investors worried tighter scrutiny global platforms like alphabets google twitter snapchat analysts said zuckerbergs promises investigate thousands apps give members tool lets turn access would substantially reduce advertisers ability use facebook data companys lifeblood nevertheless opensource browser app developer mozilla said pressing pause facebook advertising revelations prompted take closer look sites default privacy settings found current default settings leave access open lot data particularly respect settings thirdparty apps mozilla said blog post related coverage eu leaders tell social networks guarantee users privacy senate subcommittee seeks information facebook data cambridge analytica london search warrant delayed court commerzbank paused campaign facebook brand safety data security important us head brand strategy uwe hellmann told newspaper handelsblatt comments confirmed spokesman bank british advertising group isba represents thousands brands threatened withdraw ads investigations show user data misused think issue likely snowball recede advertisers reaching tipping point spending facebook online platforms reevaluated brokerage liberum said note sharon rowlands president usa today network marketing solutions said unlikely flood brands would stop advertising facebook good targeting customers generating return investment challenge platform performs rowlands said additional reporting dustin volz david shepardson washington jessica toonkel new york munsif vengattil bangalore paul sandle london writing susan thomas editing nick zieminski standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>Although Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has repeatedly voiced concern about rigged elections and has encouraged his supporters to “go out and watch the polls,” in New Mexico the Trump campaign missed the Oct. 31 deadline to register poll watchers with the Secretary of State’s Office, said state Elections Director Kari Fresquez.</p>
<p>Likewise for Democrat Hillary Clinton’s campaign.</p>
<p>Although the presidential candidates will not have eyes in the form of poll watchers, in New Mexico they can still monitor the process through the use of “challengers,” who need only a signed affidavit from the county party chairman to present to the polling site’s presiding judge. With that, they can challenge a person’s eligibility to vote – at least, technically.</p>
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<p>In reality, voters have little to fear about someone interfering with their right to vote, said Bernalillo County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver, who is also the Democratic candidate for secretary of state.</p>
<p>“I’ve never had a challenge in a polling place in the almost 10 years since I’ve been county clerk,” she said. “We feel very confident that we have a fair and honest process here, and one of the benefits of having challengers and poll watchers from both political parties in the polling places, as well as poll workers from all political parties, is to make sure that there is always eyes on the process. The current statutes provide for a lot of transparency.”</p>
<p>Frank Ruvolo, Republican Party chairman for Bernalillo County, agreed that challenging a voter in Bernalillo County is nearly impossible.</p>
<p>In smaller counties and communities, where people tend to know their neighbors, it’s easier to identify someone who may be ineligible to vote if, for example, the person uses a different name or incorrect address. In Bernalillo County, with its enormous population and the freedom for people to vote at any of the 69 voting centers, “there’s no way for a challenger to know if a person is eligible or not.”</p>
<p>Still, it’s good for challengers to be in polling places “to watch the process and make sure the poll workers don’t goof up,” he said. “In my experience, poll workers have been trained well, and it’s highly unusual for a problem to occur at a voting location.”</p>
<p>Tucker Keene, communications director for the Republican Party of New Mexico, said he did not expect problems at the polling sites, but he noted that Trump and his team have “every right to look at the results on Election Day and make the determination for themselves whether the results are from a fair and open election process, as has every presidential candidate in the past.”</p>
<p>Tom Solomon, first vice chairman of the Democratic Party of Bernalillo County, also said challenges are practically nonexistent, though he is more concerned about this election than past elections because of the controversy stirred up by Trump.</p>
<p>That unease is shared by Joe Kabourek, executive director of the Democratic Party of New Mexico. Trump, he said, is the “only nominee in this election who has complained about the results even before a single vote has been cast, and what those factless claims might inspire his supporters to do.”</p>
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<p>Whatever happens, it will be under the watchful eyes of poll workers and others. Ruvolo said he has signed off on 20 letters authorizing polling place challengers; Solomon said he expects to have one challenger from his party at each voting site in the county; and Common Cause, the only organization to register poll watchers with the Secretary of State’s Office, will place 100 of them at voting sites throughout the state, 45 of them in Bernalillo County, Fresquez said.</p>
<p>Should Trump supporters, or anyone not registered with the Secretary of State’s Office, show up at a voting site and claim to be a poll watcher, “the presiding judge of the polling site will ask that person to leave,” she said, and law enforcement can be called on those who refuse to comply.</p>
<p>Of course, supporters of any given candidate can, like any member of the public, stand outside a polling place as long as they are not being disruptive or obstructing access, and they can conduct formal or informal exit polls, she said. They cannot, however, campaign on behalf of a candidate unless they are 100 feet from the door.</p>
<p>There is a great deal of overlap in the duties that poll watchers and challengers perform, and both are given training about what types of problems to look for and when to sound the alarm. Both can move about from polling site to polling site within that county, and must be registered voters in that county.</p>
<p>Each sponsoring political party, candidate or organization can have no more than one poll watcher and one challenger in a polling place at the same time, Fresquez said.</p>
<p>In monitoring the polling sites, they:</p>
<p>• Observe that the election is being conducted in accordance with the state Election Code.</p>
<p>• Look at the voter list to determine whether a person who has signed in has cast a ballot.</p>
<p>• Confirm there were zero votes on tabulator machines at the beginning of the day.</p>
<p>• Ascertain whether the number of people on the voter list at the end of the day is equal to the number in the tabulating machine.</p>
<p>• Make notes of any questionable actions or omissions on the part of polling site workers.</p>
<p>Election rigging and voter fraud have not been problems in the past and are not likely to be problems during Tuesday’s general election, Secretary of State Brad Winter said.</p>
<p>“Our system is based on a paper ballot, so there is documentation,” he said. “Tabulator machines tabulate the votes from paper ballots, so we can re-create the vote. Everything can be checked, audited and recounted.”</p>
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although republican presidential candidate donald trump repeatedly voiced concern rigged elections encouraged supporters go watch polls new mexico trump campaign missed oct 31 deadline register poll watchers secretary states office said state elections director kari fresquez likewise democrat hillary clintons campaign although presidential candidates eyes form poll watchers new mexico still monitor process use challengers need signed affidavit county party chairman present polling sites presiding judge challenge persons eligibility vote least technically advertisement reality voters little fear someone interfering right vote said bernalillo county clerk maggie toulouse oliver also democratic candidate secretary state ive never challenge polling place almost 10 years since ive county clerk said feel confident fair honest process one benefits challengers poll watchers political parties polling places well poll workers political parties make sure always eyes process current statutes provide lot transparency frank ruvolo republican party chairman bernalillo county agreed challenging voter bernalillo county nearly impossible smaller counties communities people tend know neighbors easier identify someone may ineligible vote example person uses different name incorrect address bernalillo county enormous population freedom people vote 69 voting centers theres way challenger know person eligible still good challengers polling places watch process make sure poll workers dont goof said experience poll workers trained well highly unusual problem occur voting location tucker keene communications director republican party new mexico said expect problems polling sites noted trump team every right look results election day make determination whether results fair open election process every presidential candidate past tom solomon first vice chairman democratic party bernalillo county also said challenges practically nonexistent though concerned election past elections controversy stirred trump unease shared joe kabourek executive director democratic party new mexico trump said nominee election complained results even single vote cast factless claims might inspire supporters advertisement whatever happens watchful eyes poll workers others ruvolo said signed 20 letters authorizing polling place challengers solomon said expects one challenger party voting site county common cause organization register poll watchers secretary states office place 100 voting sites throughout state 45 bernalillo county fresquez said trump supporters anyone registered secretary states office show voting site claim poll watcher presiding judge polling site ask person leave said law enforcement called refuse comply course supporters given candidate like member public stand outside polling place long disruptive obstructing access conduct formal informal exit polls said however campaign behalf candidate unless 100 feet door great deal overlap duties poll watchers challengers perform given training types problems look sound alarm move polling site polling site within county must registered voters county sponsoring political party candidate organization one poll watcher one challenger polling place time fresquez said monitoring polling sites observe election conducted accordance state election code look voter list determine whether person signed cast ballot confirm zero votes tabulator machines beginning day ascertain whether number people voter list end day equal number tabulating machine make notes questionable actions omissions part polling site workers election rigging voter fraud problems past likely problems tuesdays general election secretary state brad winter said system based paper ballot documentation said tabulator machines tabulate votes paper ballots recreate vote everything checked audited recounted
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<p>He could work out at the gym to prepare for the upcoming Ivy League basketball season. He could slog downstairs for another dining hall breakfast with his roommates. Or he could head over to Harvard Square to eat instead with civil rights activist Harry Edwards, sportscaster James Brown, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and philosopher Cornel West.</p>
<p>Towns chose to stretch his mind instead of his muscles.</p>
<p>“It’s the kind of thing you come to Harvard for,” the 6-foot-7 forward for the Crimson basketball team said. “Growing up, I would have never thought that I’d have these people to look up to and talk to. I’m just acting as a sponge, and taking it all in.”</p>
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<p>At a monthly event dubbed the “Breakfast Club,” tucked away in the private dining room of a Harvard Square hotel restaurant, Towns and senior Chris Egi joined coach Tommy Amaker this week to mingle with a few dozen leaders in the city’s financial, political and intellectual communities.</p>
<p>Later that afternoon, Edwards spoke to the whole basketball team about a life at the intersection of sports and activism, from John Carlos and Tommie Smith — not to mention Malcolm X — to Colin Kaepernick.</p>
<p>Amaker arranged the talk for a simple but somewhat quaint reason: As long as his paycheck comes from Harvard, he plans to take his role as an educator seriously.</p>
<p>“We’re teaching, we’re engaging, we’re exposing. We’re hopefully enlightening,” Amaker said. “I’m not sure how much they know about Dr. Harry Edwards. But we’re going to give them an education about that. I promise you that.”</p>
<p>The oldest and most prestigious university in the United States, Harvard has produced more than its share of U.S. presidents and Nobel laureates, along with national champions in sports like hockey and crew. But the highlight of the athletic year has always been the football team’s century-old rivalry with Yale known as The Game.</p>
<p>The Crimson basketball team had never won an Ivy League title, beaten a ranked team or cracked The Associated Press Top 25 before Amaker arrived in 2007. But the former Duke point guard, who previously coached at Seton Hall and Michigan, knew he had something else going for him.</p>
<p>“How amazingly powerful the brand and the calling card of Harvard is,” he said. “It’s a powerful pull.”</p>
<p>While other schools built barbershops or miniature golf courses for their athletes, Amaker name-dropped Harvard’s academic credentials to attract top talent, landing a 2016 recruiting class that was ranked in the top 10 nationally — unheard-of for an Ivy school. He has also used it to lure politicians, Hall of Fame basketball players and coaches, and business and thought leaders to speak to his players on issues more important than bounce passes or boxing out.</p>
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<p>“I tell them, ‘You’ll forever be able to say you lectured at Harvard,'” he said, half-joking. “They all like that.”</p>
<p>Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar spoke to the team last year, two weeks before the presidential election — not about his basketball records or titles, but about the rising tide of racism that concerned him. Edwards’ talk on Wednesday put Kaepernick’s national anthem protest in the context of athlete activism over the decades.</p>
<p>Amaker also shuttles his team to local plays with social justice themes. At an annual “Faculty, Food and Fellowship” dinner, they might hear from a cabinet secretary, a presidential candidate or a dean. And the Breakfast Club allows them to connect with prominent Bostonians and others with Harvard ties, many of them African-American.</p>
<p>“Their motivation is the full-rounded commitment to the people who play ball for them,” said Clifford Alexander, who played freshman basketball at Harvard and went on to serve as the first black Secretary of the Army.</p>
<p>“(Amaker) does not think that just because you can shoot and pass, that’s the end of his responsibility,” he said. “If you can find three other places in the country where the football or basketball team gets that kind of talk, I’ll buy you dinner.”</p>
<p>At last week’s breakfast, Towns sat down to eggs and French toast served family style a few seats away from orthopedic surgeon Gus White, the first black graduate of Stanford’s medical school, who this June gave the commencement address there 56 years after he spoke at his own graduation.</p>
<p>To Brown, the arrangement was a formula for success : “The teams I’ve seen that are successful are a mix of veterans and younger players,” he said.</p>
<p>Along with Harvard Law School professor Charles Ogletree, Amaker started the Breakfast Club as a sort of “kitchen cabinet” of advisers when he first arrived on campus as the only black head coach among Harvard’s 32 varsity teams.</p>
<p>But Amaker has also turned the mostly — but not entirely — African-American gathering into a network for his players, inviting them to meet potential mentors in law and business and medicine and politics, as well as authors and occasionally an athlete with something interesting to say.</p>
<p>“It’s one thing to read about riding a bicycle or swimming. It’s another thing to get in the pool,” Edwards told the group last week. Towns watched the luminaries file out after breakfast and said: “I’m in the pool right now.”</p>
<p>Then-Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas spoke last year, and two Massachusetts governors have dropped by the gathering. Egi said he met a professor at the Breakfast Club that led to an independent study and a research project that is now in its second year.</p>
<p>“Just being exposed to people who’ve done important things, and getting to hear about their life stories — it’s an inspiration,” the senior forward from Canada said.</p>
<p>And that, Amaker said, pays off on the court.</p>
<p>Too often, he said, colleges are forced into a false choice between education and athletics, between grades and winning games. But creating well-rounded, thinking citizens also makes them better players, he said.</p>
<p>“This isn’t something that’s happened because we’ve won a few games,” Amaker said. “I’m saying to you: This is how we won those games.”</p>
<p>And the wins have come.</p>
<p>In Amaker’s tenure, the school earned the first five Ivy League titles in its history, making four trips to the NCAA tournament and twice advancing as a double-digit seed. Harvard grad Jeremy Lin became an NBA star (though somewhat meteorically).</p>
<p>Amaker himself now occupies an endowed coaching position and is a special assistant to Harvard President Drew Faust. The school’s basketball arena, first built in 1926, is being renovated at a cost of $12 million, according to the architectural firm.</p>
<p>More importantly, there are off-the-court success stories, too.</p>
<p>Corbin Miller, who came to Harvard from Utah, said a faculty talk with Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen led him to a tech startup where he’s worked since graduating last spring.</p>
<p>Like Towns, he had options.</p>
<p>“You could kind of look around and see that each person in there had been affected in there in a pretty deep way,” Miller said. “Apart from the athletics and apart from the academics, it was a life lesson. It’s really a setup for the rest of your life, whether it’s basketball immediately after or not.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For more AP college basketball coverage: <a href="http://collegebasketball.ap.org/abqjournal" type="external">http://collegebasketball.ap.org/abqjournal</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/AP_Top25" type="external">http://twitter.com/AP_Top25</a></p>
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could work gym prepare upcoming ivy league basketball season could slog downstairs another dining hall breakfast roommates could head harvard square eat instead civil rights activist harry edwards sportscaster james brown boston mayor marty walsh philosopher cornel west towns chose stretch mind instead muscles kind thing come harvard 6foot7 forward crimson basketball team said growing would never thought id people look talk im acting sponge taking advertisement monthly event dubbed breakfast club tucked away private dining room harvard square hotel restaurant towns senior chris egi joined coach tommy amaker week mingle dozen leaders citys financial political intellectual communities later afternoon edwards spoke whole basketball team life intersection sports activism john carlos tommie smith mention malcolm x colin kaepernick amaker arranged talk simple somewhat quaint reason long paycheck comes harvard plans take role educator seriously teaching engaging exposing hopefully enlightening amaker said im sure much know dr harry edwards going give education promise oldest prestigious university united states harvard produced share us presidents nobel laureates along national champions sports like hockey crew highlight athletic year always football teams centuryold rivalry yale known game crimson basketball team never ivy league title beaten ranked team cracked associated press top 25 amaker arrived 2007 former duke point guard previously coached seton hall michigan knew something else going amazingly powerful brand calling card harvard said powerful pull schools built barbershops miniature golf courses athletes amaker namedropped harvards academic credentials attract top talent landing 2016 recruiting class ranked top 10 nationally unheardof ivy school also used lure politicians hall fame basketball players coaches business thought leaders speak players issues important bounce passes boxing advertisement tell youll forever able say lectured harvard said halfjoking like hall famer kareem abduljabbar spoke team last year two weeks presidential election basketball records titles rising tide racism concerned edwards talk wednesday put kaepernicks national anthem protest context athlete activism decades amaker also shuttles team local plays social justice themes annual faculty food fellowship dinner might hear cabinet secretary presidential candidate dean breakfast club allows connect prominent bostonians others harvard ties many africanamerican motivation fullrounded commitment people play ball said clifford alexander played freshman basketball harvard went serve first black secretary army amaker think shoot pass thats end responsibility said find three places country football basketball team gets kind talk ill buy dinner last weeks breakfast towns sat eggs french toast served family style seats away orthopedic surgeon gus white first black graduate stanfords medical school june gave commencement address 56 years spoke graduation brown arrangement formula success teams ive seen successful mix veterans younger players said along harvard law school professor charles ogletree amaker started breakfast club sort kitchen cabinet advisers first arrived campus black head coach among harvards 32 varsity teams amaker also turned mostly entirely africanamerican gathering network players inviting meet potential mentors law business medicine politics well authors occasionally athlete something interesting say one thing read riding bicycle swimming another thing get pool edwards told group last week towns watched luminaries file breakfast said im pool right thenceltics point guard isaiah thomas spoke last year two massachusetts governors dropped gathering egi said met professor breakfast club led independent study research project second year exposed people whove done important things getting hear life stories inspiration senior forward canada said amaker said pays court often said colleges forced false choice education athletics grades winning games creating wellrounded thinking citizens also makes better players said isnt something thats happened weve games amaker said im saying games wins come amakers tenure school earned first five ivy league titles history making four trips ncaa tournament twice advancing doubledigit seed harvard grad jeremy lin became nba star though somewhat meteorically amaker occupies endowed coaching position special assistant harvard president drew faust schools basketball arena first built 1926 renovated cost 12 million according architectural firm importantly offthecourt success stories corbin miller came harvard utah said faculty talk harvard business school professor clayton christensen led tech startup hes worked since graduating last spring like towns options could kind look around see person affected pretty deep way miller said apart athletics apart academics life lesson really setup rest life whether basketball immediately ___ ap college basketball coverage httpcollegebasketballaporgabqjournal httptwittercomap_top25
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<p>FILE - Workers assemble Volkswagen Passat sedans at the German automakers plant in Chattanooga, Tenn. Lured by low wages and tax-saving free trade agreements, auto companies from the U.S. and overseas are accelerating plans to build new factories and add jobs in Mexico. AP Photo/ Erik Schelzig, file)</p>
<p>DETROIT - Mexico has become the most attractive place in North America to build new automobile factories, a shift that has siphoned jobs from the U.S. and Canada, yet helped keep car and truck prices in check for consumers.</p>
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<p>In the past two years, eight automakers have opened or announced new plants or expansions in Mexico. Just last week, Toyota announced a new plant in Guanajuato to build the popular Corolla, work now done in Canada, while Ford unveiled plans for Mexican engine and transmission factories.</p>
<p>Low labor costs and fewer tariffs are the swing factors. A worker in Mexico costs car companies an average of $8 an hour, including wages and benefits. That compares with $58 in the U.S. for General Motors and $38 at Volkswagen's factory in Tennessee, the lowest hourly cost in the U.S., according to the Center for Automotive Research, an industry think tank in Ann Arbor, Michigan. German auto workers cost about $52 an hour.</p>
<p>Mexico also trumps the U.S. on free trade. It has agreements with 45 countries, meaning low tariffs for exporting globally. That, along with low labor costs, convinced Audi to build an SUV factory in the state of Puebla. The German automaker will save $6,000 per vehicle in tariffs when it ships a Q5 to Europe, compared with building the same vehicle in the U.S., says Sean McAlinden, chief economist at CAR.</p>
<p>Audi also sells the Q5 in the U.S., where tariffs on cars built in Mexico were dropped under the North American Free Trade Agreement.</p>
<p>The cost savings also should allow automakers to add expensive fuel-saving features to meet stricter U.S. government gas mileage requirements without raising car prices. Two-thirds of cars made in Mexico are shipped to the U.S.</p>
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<p>While Mexico's auto industry booms and workers welcome the above-average wages, they are speaking out more loudly about working conditions.</p>
<p>Mexican auto production more than doubled in the past 10 years. The consulting firm IHS Automotive expects it to rise another 50 percent to just under 5 million by 2022. U.S. production is expected to increase only 3 percent, to 12.2 million vehicles, in the next 7 years.</p>
<p>Automakers now have 18 factories in Mexico, many built in the past 10 years. In four years, five more will be built, moving the country from the world's seventh-biggest auto producer to fifth.</p>
<p>The shift means jobs that could have gone to the U.S. or Canada went south. The number of auto-making jobs in Mexico has risen almost 40 percent since 2008, from 490,000 to 675,000 last year, according to government and industry statistics. During the same period, U.S. auto manufacturing employment grew 15 percent to nearly 903,000.</p>
<p>Toyota's new plant will create 2,000 new jobs, while Ford's $2.5 billion investment will add 3,800 jobs.</p>
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<p>For Mexican workers, the plants "originally appear like marvelous places because you can earn a salary in exchange for good work," says Huberto Juarez, a professor at the Center for the Study of Economic and Social Development at the Autonomous University of Puebla.</p>
<p>Some Japanese automaker plants start workers at 90 to 150 pesos per day, or $6 to $10, Juarez says. Others, such as Volkswagen, have paid more than double that. Juarez says Mexico's auto-making wages are now below China, but better than Mexico's minimum wage of $4.50 per day.</p>
<p>There is pressure to improve working conditions at Mexican factories. Last week, three former Mazda factory workers publicly complained of injuries and of being worked longer than legally allowed. A union official announced protests in support.</p>
<p>Even so, Juarez says workers probably will stay put. "The big threat is always going to be unemployment. That's why they stay. Because you leave there and where are you going to go?"</p>
<p>Initially, automakers with Mexican factories faced quality problems due to an unskilled work force. But companies with longtime factories in Mexico, such as Ford and Nissan, have resolved those issues, according to McAlinden.</p>
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<p>Despite shipping costs, it's still cheaper to build cars for the U.S. in Mexico, McAlinden says.</p>
<p>A U.S.-built Chevrolet Sonic subcompact costs about $700 more to make than a comparable Mexican-built Ford Fiesta, McAlinden says. That's even with a labor agreement at the Sonic factory in Michigan that allows 40 percent of the workers to be paid lower wages than longtime union employees.</p>
<p>The United Auto Workers complain that companies building in Mexico are taking advantage of "slave-like" wages. "American manufacturing workers could have had good paying jobs that respect basic human dignity," says UAW President Dennis Williams.</p>
<p>Still, the auto industry's investments aren't limited to Mexico. Automakers poured $46 billion into improving U.S. factories from 2010 to 2014. U.S. auto-making employment grew 37 percent during that time.</p>
<p>Ford pointed out that 80 percent of its annual North American investments are in the U.S., where spending "will continue at about the same sizeable level going forward."</p>
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<p>Car buyers should see benefits from lower costs in Mexico. U.S. government fuel-economy requirements call for raising mileage of the new car fleet to average 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. The technologies needed, including turbocharged engines and multi-speed transmissions, are costly. And with gasoline just over $2 per gallon, buyers don't want to pay extra. So McAlinden says moving engine and transmission production to Mexico makes sense.</p>
<p>"There's no room for labor costs," he says.</p>
<p>____</p>
<p>Sherman reported from Mexico City. David McHugh in Frankfurt, Germany contributed.</p>
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file workers assemble volkswagen passat sedans german automakers plant chattanooga tenn lured low wages taxsaving free trade agreements auto companies us overseas accelerating plans build new factories add jobs mexico ap photo erik schelzig file detroit mexico become attractive place north america build new automobile factories shift siphoned jobs us canada yet helped keep car truck prices check consumers advertisement past two years eight automakers opened announced new plants expansions mexico last week toyota announced new plant guanajuato build popular corolla work done canada ford unveiled plans mexican engine transmission factories low labor costs fewer tariffs swing factors worker mexico costs car companies average 8 hour including wages benefits compares 58 us general motors 38 volkswagens factory tennessee lowest hourly cost us according center automotive research industry think tank ann arbor michigan german auto workers cost 52 hour mexico also trumps us free trade agreements 45 countries meaning low tariffs exporting globally along low labor costs convinced audi build suv factory state puebla german automaker save 6000 per vehicle tariffs ships q5 europe compared building vehicle us says sean mcalinden chief economist car audi also sells q5 us tariffs cars built mexico dropped north american free trade agreement cost savings also allow automakers add expensive fuelsaving features meet stricter us government gas mileage requirements without raising car prices twothirds cars made mexico shipped us advertisement mexicos auto industry booms workers welcome aboveaverage wages speaking loudly working conditions mexican auto production doubled past 10 years consulting firm ihs automotive expects rise another 50 percent 5 million 2022 us production expected increase 3 percent 122 million vehicles next 7 years automakers 18 factories mexico many built past 10 years four years five built moving country worlds seventhbiggest auto producer fifth shift means jobs could gone us canada went south number automaking jobs mexico risen almost 40 percent since 2008 490000 675000 last year according government industry statistics period us auto manufacturing employment grew 15 percent nearly 903000 toyotas new plant create 2000 new jobs fords 25 billion investment add 3800 jobs advertisement mexican workers plants originally appear like marvelous places earn salary exchange good work says huberto juarez professor center study economic social development autonomous university puebla japanese automaker plants start workers 90 150 pesos per day 6 10 juarez says others volkswagen paid double juarez says mexicos automaking wages china better mexicos minimum wage 450 per day pressure improve working conditions mexican factories last week three former mazda factory workers publicly complained injuries worked longer legally allowed union official announced protests support even juarez says workers probably stay put big threat always going unemployment thats stay leave going go initially automakers mexican factories faced quality problems due unskilled work force companies longtime factories mexico ford nissan resolved issues according mcalinden advertisement despite shipping costs still cheaper build cars us mexico mcalinden says usbuilt chevrolet sonic subcompact costs 700 make comparable mexicanbuilt ford fiesta mcalinden says thats even labor agreement sonic factory michigan allows 40 percent workers paid lower wages longtime union employees united auto workers complain companies building mexico taking advantage slavelike wages american manufacturing workers could good paying jobs respect basic human dignity says uaw president dennis williams still auto industrys investments arent limited mexico automakers poured 46 billion improving us factories 2010 2014 us automaking employment grew 37 percent time ford pointed 80 percent annual north american investments us spending continue sizeable level going forward advertisement car buyers see benefits lower costs mexico us government fueleconomy requirements call raising mileage new car fleet average 545 miles per gallon 2025 technologies needed including turbocharged engines multispeed transmissions costly gasoline 2 per gallon buyers dont want pay extra mcalinden says moving engine transmission production mexico makes sense theres room labor costs says ____ sherman reported mexico city david mchugh frankfurt germany contributed
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<p>JEMEZ SPRINGS – Tom Swetnam was pumping gas at the station across from Los Ojos bar in the summer of 1971 when he saw the mushroom cloud of smoke boiling up over the walls of Jemez Canyon. The 15-year-old’s first thought: “Oh, my gosh, Los Alamos just got nuked.”</p>
<p>It took a moment for him to realize it was in the wrong direction. No Los Alamos nuke. Wildfire.</p>
<p>The son of the National Forest Service’s Jemez district ranger, Swetnam grew up with a hand-cranked phone in the front bedroom, hardwired to the fire tower. “All through the early 20th century Forest Service, their mission was to put fire out, and I grew up with that,” Swetnam said.</p>
<p>“Our life, especially in the summertime, was looking out for fire,” Swetnam said. “Fire was bad.”</p>
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<p>Today, Swetnam knows better, though the view four decades later is complicated. Healthy forests need fire. The kind of conflagrations we are seeing on New Mexico’s landscape can be devastating, but low-intensity fires are essential.</p>
<p>Driving north out of the village of Jemez Springs recently, Swetnam pointed to canyon walls overgrown with Ponderosa pine thick as the hairs on a dog’s back. Past the little enclave of La Cueva, Swetnam turned his Toyota Tundra, chainsaw in the back, onto a jarring dirt road through the woods. To the east, smoke curled into light afternoon winds, rising from Redondo Peak, as the Thompson Ridge Fire spent an afternoon creeping through the forests of Swetnam’s youth.</p>
<p>Without the precise aerial imagery and mapping software used by the 21st century wildfire community, it is impossible to say with precision how much the Cebollita burned in its 1971 trek across the Jemez mesas. The best estimates put it at between 3,000 and 4,000 acres, small by the standards of today’s Southwestern wildfires. This year alone, New Mexico has already seen four fires larger, the nearby Thompson Ridge among them.</p>
<p>But in 1971, the inferno of Cebollita left a much larger mark on the Jemez. At the time, it was the largest fire the mountain range had seen since firefighters began snuffing out blazes in the early 20th century. Fire was returning to the mountains with a vengeance.</p>
<p>In a contemporary newspaper account, Swetnam’s dad, Ranger Fred Swetnam, called it a “fire storm.”</p>
<p>“It was like a monstrous serpent writhing and twisting in the air,” the elder Swetnam told a reporter.</p>
<p>On his recent return, the younger Swetnam recalled the chaos as the Cebollita crested a ridge above La Cueva. Busloads of firefighters filled the camp, and helicopters and slurry bombers filled the sky.</p>
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<p>“It was like a war scene,” he recalled.</p>
<p>The ten o’clock rule</p>
<p>In the wildland fire community, they called it “the ten o’clock rule.” At the first sign of a spark, firefighters would swoop in, with the goal of putting out every fire by 10 a.m. the day after it was spotted. It dominated U.S. forest policy for much of the 20th century.</p>
<p>That’s what Swetnam signed up for back in 1978 when, after getting his degree in biology and ecology from the University of New Mexico, he signed on to a “helitack” team on the Gila National Forest in southwest New Mexico. Sweeping in from the air, the crews became part of that war scene that so impressed him as a teenager – air assault, putting out fires fast.</p>
<p>But by his third season as a member of the Gila Hotshots, Swetnam was beginning to see change. Forest managers saw problems created by their enthusiasm for fighting fires. Overgrown woods began burning with increasing ferocity once they did catch fire.</p>
<p>At first tentatively, managers began looking for opportunities to let fires burn. Instead of rushing in to put it out, Swetnam’s crew in some cases now just watched. “I got to go out on horseback and monitor the fire that was burning in the wilderness,” he said. “That was fantastic.”</p>
<p>University of Arizona forest fire expert Tom Swetnam, who grew up in the Jemez Mountains, returns to a changing landscape. (Pat Vasquez-Cunningham/Journal)</p>
<p>Growth of ‘doghair’</p>
<p>The chainsaw in the back of the Tundra is one of the tools of Swetnam’s trade. The Arizona license plate on his truck reads DENDRO, short for “dendrochronology,” the use of tree rings to tell stories about the history of ancient forests.</p>
<p>Tromping through an overgrown thicket of spindly Ponderosa pines on the edge of a fire scar atop Virgin mesa, Swetnam expertly flipped over an old downed tree and pointed to fire scars burned into the bottom of its trunk.</p>
<p>After three years as a firefighter, Swetnam and his young family moved to Tucson, where he began working on his doctorate at the University of Arizona, studying the fire history of the Gila.</p>
<p>Today, Swetnam is a professor at the University of Arizona and director of its Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, where he has been one of the pioneers in the use of trees like this to reconstruct the history of fire in the forests of the Southwest.</p>
<p>What the scientists have found in the years since a young Swetnam watched Cebollita Mesa burn was at first surprising.</p>
<p>On the base of the downed log, Swetnam pointed to the marks left on the old tree, where fires had repeatedly burned around its base, scarring it without killing it. Slices of downed trees like this, chainsawed in the field and hauled back to the scientists’ Tucson lab, reveal a story of a landscape that in centuries past burned frequently, once or twice a decade.</p>
<p>The fires burned along the ground, with flames a foot or two high, clearing out the little stuff. Left behind were big, hardened, fire-adapted trees in open, parklike settings.</p>
<p>After a millennia of that, the fire record for the Jemez Mountains stops around 1900, with the only fires after that tiny dots on the landscape as the ten o’clock rule took hold.</p>
<p>“Really frequent surface fire was the norm in these Ponderosa pine landscapes,” Swetnam said. “And then, right around 1900, they stop.”</p>
<p>Unhindered by fire, trees grew to fill in the gaps. Forest hands call such thickets “doghair,” and they are everywhere in the mountains of New Mexico. Instead of burning lightly across the ground, fire easily rises in doghair into the trees’ upper branches, their “crowns,” where it can explode into a widespread, forest-killing blaze.</p>
<p>Mapping the fires</p>
<p>Kay Beeley, part of a research team based at Bandelier National Monument, has built a series of historical maps of fire in the Jemez Mountains. Early in the 20th century, her maps show little more than a splotch here and there, the result of fire suppression stopping fires before they spread.</p>
<p>By the 1970s, firefighters start losing ground. Cebollita, the fire that so impressed a young Tom Swetnam, is one of three good-sized blazes that decade, but they look tiny compared to what came after. The 1980s were a wet decade, with little fire. But then, as you flip through Beeley’s maps decade by decade, the mountains seem to explode.</p>
<p>“Now, in the last 20 years or so, 30 years, we’re getting these conflagrations, these big, high-intensity crown fires,” Swetnam said.</p>
<p>And it is not just that more acreage is touched by fire, Swetnam said. The buildup of fuel, combined with drought and rising temperatures in a warming world, have turned fire in the mountains where he grew up into something completely different.</p>
<p>Las Conchas, the 2011 fire that at the time was the largest in recorded New Mexico history, marked a turning point. In its first day, it burned 10 times the area in the entire Cebollita fire of 1971. It spread so hot and so destructively that, after a post-fire visit, Swetnam described the landscape as “nuked.”</p>
<p>“No firefighter, I think, in the Southwest has seen that kind of fire behavior,” Swetnam said.</p>
<p>And that, Swetnam suggests, poses the central dilemma. The only way to prevent huge, destructive fires, he said, is to find a way to return natural fire to the system, clearing doghair where we can and finding ways to allow more natural, low-intensity fire to coexist in the woods with the people around them.</p>
<p>As Swetnam spoke, the Thompson Ridge Fire burning on Redondo Peak behind him captured the dilemma. Some dense, unhealthy patches of forest burned catastrophically, with fire destroying everything in its path, Swetnam said. In other places, including some areas where forests had been cleared, the fire dropped down to the ground and crews had to merely surround it and let it burn itself out.</p>
<p>“Is fire good? Is fire bad?” Swetnam asked. “Yes. Both.”</p>
<p />
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jemez springs tom swetnam pumping gas station across los ojos bar summer 1971 saw mushroom cloud smoke boiling walls jemez canyon 15yearolds first thought oh gosh los alamos got nuked took moment realize wrong direction los alamos nuke wildfire son national forest services jemez district ranger swetnam grew handcranked phone front bedroom hardwired fire tower early 20th century forest service mission put fire grew swetnam said life especially summertime looking fire swetnam said fire bad advertisement today swetnam knows better though view four decades later complicated healthy forests need fire kind conflagrations seeing new mexicos landscape devastating lowintensity fires essential driving north village jemez springs recently swetnam pointed canyon walls overgrown ponderosa pine thick hairs dogs back past little enclave la cueva swetnam turned toyota tundra chainsaw back onto jarring dirt road woods east smoke curled light afternoon winds rising redondo peak thompson ridge fire spent afternoon creeping forests swetnams youth without precise aerial imagery mapping software used 21st century wildfire community impossible say precision much cebollita burned 1971 trek across jemez mesas best estimates put 3000 4000 acres small standards todays southwestern wildfires year alone new mexico already seen four fires larger nearby thompson ridge among 1971 inferno cebollita left much larger mark jemez time largest fire mountain range seen since firefighters began snuffing blazes early 20th century fire returning mountains vengeance contemporary newspaper account swetnams dad ranger fred swetnam called fire storm like monstrous serpent writhing twisting air elder swetnam told reporter recent return younger swetnam recalled chaos cebollita crested ridge la cueva busloads firefighters filled camp helicopters slurry bombers filled sky advertisement like war scene recalled ten oclock rule wildland fire community called ten oclock rule first sign spark firefighters would swoop goal putting every fire 10 day spotted dominated us forest policy much 20th century thats swetnam signed back 1978 getting degree biology ecology university new mexico signed helitack team gila national forest southwest new mexico sweeping air crews became part war scene impressed teenager air assault putting fires fast third season member gila hotshots swetnam beginning see change forest managers saw problems created enthusiasm fighting fires overgrown woods began burning increasing ferocity catch fire first tentatively managers began looking opportunities let fires burn instead rushing put swetnams crew cases watched got go horseback monitor fire burning wilderness said fantastic university arizona forest fire expert tom swetnam grew jemez mountains returns changing landscape pat vasquezcunninghamjournal growth doghair chainsaw back tundra one tools swetnams trade arizona license plate truck reads dendro short dendrochronology use tree rings tell stories history ancient forests tromping overgrown thicket spindly ponderosa pines edge fire scar atop virgin mesa swetnam expertly flipped old downed tree pointed fire scars burned bottom trunk three years firefighter swetnam young family moved tucson began working doctorate university arizona studying fire history gila today swetnam professor university arizona director laboratory treering research one pioneers use trees like reconstruct history fire forests southwest scientists found years since young swetnam watched cebollita mesa burn first surprising base downed log swetnam pointed marks left old tree fires repeatedly burned around base scarring without killing slices downed trees like chainsawed field hauled back scientists tucson lab reveal story landscape centuries past burned frequently twice decade fires burned along ground flames foot two high clearing little stuff left behind big hardened fireadapted trees open parklike settings millennia fire record jemez mountains stops around 1900 fires tiny dots landscape ten oclock rule took hold really frequent surface fire norm ponderosa pine landscapes swetnam said right around 1900 stop unhindered fire trees grew fill gaps forest hands call thickets doghair everywhere mountains new mexico instead burning lightly across ground fire easily rises doghair trees upper branches crowns explode widespread forestkilling blaze mapping fires kay beeley part research team based bandelier national monument built series historical maps fire jemez mountains early 20th century maps show little splotch result fire suppression stopping fires spread 1970s firefighters start losing ground cebollita fire impressed young tom swetnam one three goodsized blazes decade look tiny compared came 1980s wet decade little fire flip beeleys maps decade decade mountains seem explode last 20 years 30 years getting conflagrations big highintensity crown fires swetnam said acreage touched fire swetnam said buildup fuel combined drought rising temperatures warming world turned fire mountains grew something completely different las conchas 2011 fire time largest recorded new mexico history marked turning point first day burned 10 times area entire cebollita fire 1971 spread hot destructively postfire visit swetnam described landscape nuked firefighter think southwest seen kind fire behavior swetnam said swetnam suggests poses central dilemma way prevent huge destructive fires said find way return natural fire system clearing doghair finding ways allow natural lowintensity fire coexist woods people around swetnam spoke thompson ridge fire burning redondo peak behind captured dilemma dense unhealthy patches forest burned catastrophically fire destroying everything path swetnam said places including areas forests cleared fire dropped ground crews merely surround let burn fire good fire bad swetnam asked yes
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<p>* Trump, Schumer meet to avert shutdown</p>
<p>* 10-year Treasury yields highest since Sep 2014</p>
<p>* Euro zone stock index hits 10-yr high (Updates with U.S. market open, changes byline, dateline; previous LONDON)</p>
<p>By Chuck Mikolajczak</p>
<p>NEW YORK, Jan 19 (Reuters) - World equity markets scaled to a record on Friday as the U.S. dollar languished near three-year lows and a U.S. government shutdown loomed, while U.S. Treasury yields continued their ascent to hit their highest levels since September 2014.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump postponed plans to go to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida and met at the White House with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer to try to avert the shutdown, a source familiar with the situation said.</p>
<p>Legislation to stave off an imminent federal government shutdown encountered obstacles in the Senate on Thursday night, despite the passage of a month-long funding bill by the House of Representatives hours earlier.</p>
<p>Without an infusion of new money, no matter how temporary, hundreds of thousands of “non-essential” federal workers may be put on furlough, while “essential” employees, dealing with public safety and national security, would continue working.</p>
<p>“The market is really just looking past this whole worry of government shutdown, which looks like we are getting closer and closer to,” said Lindsey Bell, investment strategist at CFRA Research in New York.</p>
<p>Shares of Wall Street rose modestly, with each of the major Wall Street indexes on track for their third straight weekly gain.</p>
<p>The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 54.87 points, or 0.21 percent, to 25,962.94, the S&amp;P 500 gained 3.73 points, or 0.13 percent, to 2,801.76 and the Nasdaq Composite added 22.56 points, or 0.31 percent, to 7,318.61.</p>
<p>The trade-weighted dollar index was last up 0.13 percent, but was on pace for its fifth straight weekly drop, and is down nearly 2 percent so far in 2018. The euro was down 0.14 percent to $1.222.</p>
<p>“That is going probably going to persist through the first half, if not all of 2018, and that is going to be something that will benefit corporate profitability,” said Bell.</p>
<p>European shares closed higher as confidence grew about corporate earnings and the strength of the global economy. The euro zone’s STOXX benchmark index closed up 0.73 percent at 402.95 points, its highest level in 10 years and the pan-regional STOXX 600 benchmark rose 0.5 percent to 400.71 points, a 2-1/2 year peak.</p>
<p>The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 0.49 percent, also a 2-1/2 year high, and MSCI’s gauge of stocks across the globe gained 0.30 percent. MSCI’s index was poised for its ninth straight week of gains.</p>
<p>Yields on the 10-year U.S. government bond hit their highest level in three years on Friday as weakness in overnight trading pushed the debt through key technical support levels, which resulted in further selling.</p>
<p>The benchmark 10-year yield hit its highest level since September 2014 at 2.646 percent, breaking the 2017 high of 2.64 percent that the market had been flirting with all week.</p>
<p>Benchmark 10-year notes last fell 8/32 in price to yield 2.6388 percent, from 2.611 percent late on Thursday.</p>
<p>Oil prices retreated and were on course to snap a four-week streak of gains, as a bounce-back in U.S. production outweighed ongoing declines in crude inventories.</p>
<p>U.S. crude fell 0.94 percent to $63.35 per barrel and Brent was last at $68.67, down 0.92 percent on the day.</p>
<p>Reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak; Editing by Nick Zieminski</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. trade deficit increased to a near 9-1/2-year high in February, with both imports and exports rising to record highs in a sign of strong domestic and global demand.</p>
<p>News on Thursday of the worsening trade deficit came as the United States and China were embroiled in tit-for-tat tariffs which escalated trade war fears and rattled financial markets.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump’s administration is pursuing import duties to eradicate the deficit and protect domestic industries from what he says is unfair foreign competition. But economists say the trade penalties will not reverse the deficit.</p>
<p>“The U.S. continues to expand faster than most other industrialized countries, so it should not surprise anyone that the trade deficit is worsening,” said Joel Naroff, chief economist at Naroff Economic Advisors in Holland, Pennsylvania.”Tariffs may sound like a good way to change the pattern of trade, but they tend to raise prices rather than modify the trade fundamentals.”</p>
<p>The Commerce Department said the trade gap increased 1.6 percent to $57.6 billion in February, the highest level since October 2008. The deficit has now increased for six straight months. Most of the rise in the trade deficit in February reflected commodity price increases.</p>
<p>Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the trade gap widening to $56.8 billion in February. The goods trade deficit was the highest since July 2008 and the surplus on services was the lowest since December 2012.</p>
<p>While the politically sensitive goods trade deficit with China fell 18.6 percent to $29.3 billion in February, it has increased 20.2 percent so far this year.</p>
<p>The Trump administration on Tuesday targeted 25 percent tariffs on some 1,300 Chinese industrial technology, transport and medical products, to force changes in Beijing’s intellectual property practices. China swiftly retaliated on Wednesday with a list of similar duties on key American imports including soybeans, planes, cars, beef and chemicals</p>
<p>Trump, who claims the United States is being taken advantage of by its trading partners, has already imposed broad tariffs on imported solar panels and large washing machines. He has also slapped 25 percent import duties on steel and 10 percent on aluminum.</p>
<p>While these actions may prove politically popular with Trump’s working class political base, especially in states hard-hit by factory closures and import competition, analysts warn they could undercut economic growth and raise prices for both consumers and producers.</p>
<p>The dollar rose to a two-week high against a currency basket amid signs the United States was looking to resolve the trade dispute with China. Stocks on Wall Street were trading higher while prices for U.S. Treasuries fell.</p> DEFICIT WILL WORSEN
<p>The trade deficit is expected to widen further, thanks to an accommodative fiscal policy stance at a time when the economy is operating very close to full capacity. A $1.5 trillion income tax cut package came into effect in January and government spending will increase this year.</p>
<p>The economy’s strong fundamentals were underscored by a report from the Labor Department on Thursday showing the number of Americans on unemployment benefits falling to its lowest level since December 1973 during the week ending March 24.</p>
<p>When adjusted for inflation, the trade deficit slipped to $69.11 billion from $69.96 billion in January. The so-called real trade deficit average for the first two months of 2018 is above the fourth-quarter average of $66.8 billion.</p>
<p>This suggests trade would subtract from first-quarter gross domestic product. Trade sliced 1.16 percentage points from fourth-quarter GDP growth. The economy grew at a 2.9 percent annualized rate during that period. Growth estimates for the first quarter are mostly below a 2 percent rate.</p>
<p>“We suspect widening trade deficits and resulting subtractions from GDP growth will be a persistent feature of GDP this year as domestic demand outpaces the economy’s supply potential,” said John Ryding, chief economist at RDQ Economics in New York. “Tariffs will do nothing to lessen this trade imbalance, unless there is a retaliatory escalation that leads to an economic downturn.”</p>
<p>In February, exports of goods increased 2.3 percent to $137.2 billion, boosted by shipments of crude oil, natural gas, motor vehicles, civilian aircraft, and drilling and oilfield equipment. Exports to China were unchanged in February.</p>
<p>Goods imports jumped 1.6 percent to $214.2 billion in February, lifted by food, civilian aircraft, computers and crude oil. Imports of services rose to a record $47.8 billion from $46.8 billion in January, boosted by royalties and broadcast license fees related to the Winter Olympics.</p> Shipping containers are being loaded onto Xin Da Yang Zhou ship from Shanghai, China at Pier J at the Port of Long Beach in Long Beach, California, U.S., April 4, 2018. REUTERS/Bob Riha Jr.
<p>Imports from China declined 14.7 percent in February.</p>
<p>Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Andrea Ricci</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar gained and equity markets around the world jumped on Thursday as fears eased of a trade war between China and the United States after Washington expressed a willingness to negotiate.</p>
<p>The dollar rose to a three-week high against the Japanese yen and a 10-week peak versus the Swiss franc, two safe-haven assets that investors buy in times of market uncertainty.</p>
<p>U.S. Treasury yields rose to one-week highs as risk appetite returned on the reduced fear of a trade war and on expectations a growing economy will be confirmed on Friday when the closely watched U.S. employment report for March is released.</p>
<p>Major European stock indexes surged 2 percent or more, with Germany's exporter-heavy DAX <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.GDAXI" type="external">.GDAXI</a>, the market most exposed to China, climbing 2.90 percent.</p>
<p>MSCI’s all-country world stock index .MIWD00000PUS, which tracks shares in 47 countries, gained 0.95 percent, led by Amazon.com Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AMZN.O" type="external">AMZN.O</a>) and Facebook Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">FB.O</a>).</p>
<p>“Markets seem to be in relief rally mode and part of this is really driven by the fact we’re not really in a trade war yet,” said Charlie Ripley, senior investment strategist at Allianz Investment Management in Minneapolis.</p>
<p>“This is quite small in terms of the impact to the economy, we still have the runway of tax reform that’s coming along,” Ripley said, referring to the boost that U.S. President Donald Trump’s new tax code is delivering to corporate earnings.</p>
<p>The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.FTEU3" type="external">.FTEU3</a> of leading regional shares closed up 2.48 percent.</p>
<p>On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.DJI" type="external">.DJI</a> closed up 240.92 points, or 0.99 percent, to 24,505.22. The S&amp;P 500 <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.SPX" type="external">.SPX</a> gained 18.15 points, or 0.69 percent, to 2,662.84 and the Nasdaq Composite <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.IXIC" type="external">.IXIC</a> added 34.45 points, or 0.49 percent, to 7,076.55.</p>
<p>MSCI’s emerging market index .MSCIEF rose 0.94 percent.</p>
<p>Signs the United States is looking to resolve the trade dispute with China lifted the dollar but limited an advance in oil prices because crude is priced in dollars and a stronger greenback makes oil purchases in other currencies more expensive.</p>
<p>White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said he expects the United States and China to work out differences and trade barriers likely “will come down on both sides.”</p>
<p>The dollar index .DXY rose 0.34 percent, with the euro <a href="/finance/currencies/quote?srcCurr=EUR&amp;destCurr=USD" type="external">EUR=</a> down 0.32 percent to $1.2238. The Japanese yen <a href="/finance/currencies/quote?srcCurr=JPY&amp;destCurr=USD" type="external">JPY=</a> weakened 0.56 percent at 107.38 per dollar.</p>
<p>Joe Manimbo, senior market analyst at Western Union Business Solutions in Washington, said the dollar was boosted by a view that “Washington and Beijing might broker a trade deal that doesn’t torpedo global commerce or damage the world economy.”</p>
<p>U.S. crude CLcv1 settled up 17 cents to $63.54 per barrel and Brent LCOcv1 gained 31 cents to settle at $68.33.</p>
<p>Treasury yields rose as investors awaited Friday’s U.S. jobs report, which will be evaluated for accelerating jobs gains and wage pressures.</p> Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., April 5, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
<p>Benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury notes US10YT=RR fell 11/32 in price to yield 2.8320 percent.</p>
<p>In Europe, most government bond yields were up 2 to 6 basis points. Germany’s benchmark 10-year bund yield was trading at 0.524 percent, up 3 basis points on the day DE10YT=RR.</p>
<p>Gold prices fell as the apparent willingness to resolve a trade dispute reduced demand for bullion as a place to park money. The stronger dollar also crimped gold as it is more expensive for users of other currencies.</p>
<p>U.S. gold futures GCcv1 for June delivery settled down $11.70 at $1,328.50 per ounce.</p>
<p>Many suspect Washington will likely back down on some fronts after Beijing threatened tariffs on soybeans, the top U.S. agricultural export to China. Threats to such exports are a powerful weapon for Beijing given the potential impact on Iowa and other farming states that backed Trump in the presidential election.</p>
<p>U.S. soybeans Sc1 and corn Cc1 regained ground, following losses of around 2 percent the previous day.</p>
<a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.GDAXI" type="external">Deutsche Boerse AG</a> 12305.19 .GDAXI Xetra +347.29 (+2.90%) .GDAXI AMZN.O FB.O .FTEU3 .DJI
<p>(GRAPHIC: World Equity Index Valuations - <a href="https://reut.rs/2JlwdOj" type="external">reut.rs/2JlwdOj</a>)</p>
<a href="https://reut.rs/2JlwdOj" type="external" />
<p>Reporting by Herbert Lash; Additional reporting by Hideyuki Sano in Tokyo; Editing by Leslie Adler and James Dalgleish</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - As a stock rebound on Thursday put the S&amp;P 500 on track for its strongest three-day performance since 2016, a look at the recent performance of most of the index’s components paints a different picture, illustrating signs of weakness in Wall Street’s health.</p> Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., April 5, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
<p>Cooling fears that Trump is starting a trade war with China helped the S&amp;P 500 rebound 0.8 percent on Thursday and 2.9 percent over the past three sessions. But the S&amp;P 500's <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.SPX" type="external">.SPX</a> recent volatility has left the index trading down 7 percent from its record high on Jan 26, and most of its components have fallen even further from their own recent highs as investors worry about high valuations and likely interest rate hikes.</p>
<p>Nearly 18 percent of S&amp;P 500 components have fallen 20 percent or more from their own one-year highs, according to Thomson Reuters data, putting them in bear-market territory. Another 41 percent of S&amp;P 500 stocks are down between 10 and 20 percent from their year highs, a range that investor consider correction territory.</p>
<p>(GRAPHIC: S&amp;P 500 Bears - <a href="https://reut.rs/2JnINfK" type="external">reut.rs/2JnINfK</a>)</p>
<a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.SPX" type="external">Standard &amp; Poor's Corp</a> 2662.84 .SPX Chicago Board Options Exchange +18.15 (+0.69%) .SPX GE.N WMT.N AAPL.O MSFT.O
<a href="https://reut.rs/2JnINfK" type="external" />
<p>Within the Dow Jones Industrial Average <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.DJI" type="external">.DJI</a>, General Electric ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GE.N" type="external">GE.N</a>) has slumped 56 percent from its year high in April 2017, while Walmart ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=WMT.N" type="external">WMT.N</a>) is down 20 percent from its year high in January. Another 12 of the Dow's 30 components have declined between 10 and 20 percent from their year highs.</p>
<p>(GRAPHIC: Dow Bears - <a href="https://reut.rs/2JnINwg" type="external">reut.rs/2JnINwg</a>)</p>
<a href="https://reut.rs/2JnINwg" type="external" />
<p>The two largest U.S. companies by stock market value weathered Wall Street’s recent volatility better than most, helping limit the S&amp;P 500’s loss in 2018 to under 1 percent. Apple ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AAPL.O" type="external">AAPL.O</a>) and Microsoft ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=MSFT.O" type="external">MSFT.O</a>) are down 2.6 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively since the end of February, better than the S&amp;P 500’s 6 percent loss in that time. The two technology behemoths are down about 5 percent each from their own previous record highs.</p>
<p>Amazon.com ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AMZN.O" type="external">AMZN.O</a>) has fallen 5 percent in the past month but remains up 24 percent year to date, as investors continue to bet the online retailer and cloud computing behemoth will expand further into food retail and other markets.</p>
<p>Reporting by Noel Randewich</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Permian basin in Texas is leading the way as U.S. oil production has reached an all-time high, but the prolific output is causing bottlenecks as pipelines transporting the crude have filled up more quickly than expected.</p> FILE PHOTO: An oil pump is seen operating in the Permian Basin near Midland, Texas, U.S. on May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo
<p>That has depressed prices there, posing a threat to future production, while providing a boost to pipeline companies as the lines have filled to near-capacity.</p>
<p>With few new pipeline projects scheduled for this year, producers may be forced to slow drilling, or even shut in active production.</p>
<p>The problem illustrates the snags that can arise in transporting crude to the U.S. Gulf Coast as oil prices have rebounded to more than $60 a barrel and companies have reduced costs to make drilling more profitable in the Permian.</p>
<p>Production there is estimated to have hit a record 3.08 million bpd in March, nearly a third of overall U.S. production of 10.4 million bpd, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Permian drillers are branching out into relatively less-profitable areas of the region, said John Zanner, energy analyst for RBN Energy.</p>
<p>“As these fringe areas begin to get exploited, we are seeing more and more crude that needs to find a pipeline to Cushing or the Gulf Coast,” he said.</p>
<p>Most analysts estimated pipelines out of the Permian would fill completely by mid-2018, but this may already be happening. According to market intelligence firm Genscape, pipeline utilization from the Permian to the Gulf Coast averaged about 89 percent this year and 96 percent in the last four weeks.</p>
<p>U.S. crude for delivery in Midland, Texas WTC-WTM traded at $5.50/barrel under the price of benchmark futures on Wednesday, weakest since October 2014. West Texas Sour WTC-WTS, the sour grade delivered into Midland, traded as much as $6.25 a barrel below futures.</p>
<p>Midland light sweet crude currently trades at more than $8 a barrel below West Texas Intermediate at East Houston, a key delivery spot for export markets - the biggest discount on record.</p>
<p>(GRAPHIC: Texas oil output surge - <a href="https://reut.rs/2EmL4nN" type="external">reut.rs/2EmL4nN</a>)</p> Slideshow (3 Images)
<a href="https://reut.rs/2EmL4nN" type="external" />
<p>“What the spreads are telling you is that these pipelines are full going to the Gulf Coast,” said Kendrick Rhea at energy consultancy East Daley Capital.</p>
<p>The wide spreads mean pipeline operators are now seeing a surge in demand and throughput, traders and analysts said.</p>
<p>Spreads have even widened enough to cover spot shipping rates, which are typically higher than long-term committed rates offered by pipeline companies.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=EPD.N" type="external">Enterprise Products Partners LP</a> 24.42 EPD.N New York Stock Exchange +0.12 (+0.49%) EPD.N ETP.N PAA.N
<p>For midstream companies, this could show up in earnings reports for several quarters. Analysts’ revenue projections for Permian pipeline companies Enterprise Products Partners LP ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=EPD.N" type="external">EPD.N</a>), Energy Transfer Partners LP ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=ETP.N" type="external">ETP.N</a>) and Plains All American Pipeline LP ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=PAA.N" type="external">PAA.N</a>) have been revised higher over the last 90 days, according to Thomson Reuters data.</p>
<p>All three rank in the top 10 percent in terms of upward revisions for North American companies in the Thomson Reuters universe, and the same model projects all three will exceed revenue projections in the first quarter.</p>
<p>“They’re going to see record flows coming out, they’re going to see record margins on marketing and on walk-up tariffs for the rest of the year,” Rhea said.</p>
<p>As of March 2018, the Permian had a total of 3.175 million bpd of outgoing pipeline, rail and local refining capacity, according to Genscape, of which outgoing pipeline capacity accounts for 2.725 million bpd.</p>
<p>The next boost will be the expansion of Permian Express 3, which will add 200 million barrels of daily capacity in late 2018. The Enterprise Midland-to-Sealy line could also expand capacity to bring it to 450,000 bpd from 330,000 bpd late last year.</p>
<p>By mid-to-late 2019, projects including the Cactus Pipeline 2 and EPIC lines will add more than 1.5 million bpd of additional capacity.</p>
<p>Reporting by Devika Krishna Kumar in New York; Editing by Tom Brown</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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trump schumer meet avert shutdown 10year treasury yields highest since sep 2014 euro zone stock index hits 10yr high updates us market open changes byline dateline previous london chuck mikolajczak new york jan 19 reuters world equity markets scaled record friday us dollar languished near threeyear lows us government shutdown loomed us treasury yields continued ascent hit highest levels since september 2014 president donald trump postponed plans go maralago resort florida met white house senate democratic leader chuck schumer try avert shutdown source familiar situation said legislation stave imminent federal government shutdown encountered obstacles senate thursday night despite passage monthlong funding bill house representatives hours earlier without infusion new money matter temporary hundreds thousands nonessential federal workers may put furlough essential employees dealing public safety national security would continue working market really looking past whole worry government shutdown looks like getting closer closer said lindsey bell investment strategist cfra research new york shares wall street rose modestly major wall street indexes track third straight weekly gain dow jones industrial average fell 5487 points 021 percent 2596294 sampp 500 gained 373 points 013 percent 280176 nasdaq composite added 2256 points 031 percent 731861 tradeweighted dollar index last 013 percent pace fifth straight weekly drop nearly 2 percent far 2018 euro 014 percent 1222 going probably going persist first half 2018 going something benefit corporate profitability said bell european shares closed higher confidence grew corporate earnings strength global economy euro zones stoxx benchmark index closed 073 percent 40295 points highest level 10 years panregional stoxx 600 benchmark rose 05 percent 40071 points 212 year peak paneuropean ftseurofirst 300 index rose 049 percent also 212 year high mscis gauge stocks across globe gained 030 percent mscis index poised ninth straight week gains yields 10year us government bond hit highest level three years friday weakness overnight trading pushed debt key technical support levels resulted selling benchmark 10year yield hit highest level since september 2014 2646 percent breaking 2017 high 264 percent market flirting week benchmark 10year notes last fell 832 price yield 26388 percent 2611 percent late thursday oil prices retreated course snap fourweek streak gains bounceback us production outweighed ongoing declines crude inventories us crude fell 094 percent 6335 per barrel brent last 6867 092 percent day reporting chuck mikolajczak editing nick zieminski standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters us trade deficit increased near 912year high february imports exports rising record highs sign strong domestic global demand news thursday worsening trade deficit came united states china embroiled titfortat tariffs escalated trade war fears rattled financial markets president donald trumps administration pursuing import duties eradicate deficit protect domestic industries says unfair foreign competition economists say trade penalties reverse deficit us continues expand faster industrialized countries surprise anyone trade deficit worsening said joel naroff chief economist naroff economic advisors holland pennsylvaniatariffs may sound like good way change pattern trade tend raise prices rather modify trade fundamentals commerce department said trade gap increased 16 percent 576 billion february highest level since october 2008 deficit increased six straight months rise trade deficit february reflected commodity price increases economists polled reuters forecast trade gap widening 568 billion february goods trade deficit highest since july 2008 surplus services lowest since december 2012 politically sensitive goods trade deficit china fell 186 percent 293 billion february increased 202 percent far year trump administration tuesday targeted 25 percent tariffs 1300 chinese industrial technology transport medical products force changes beijings intellectual property practices china swiftly retaliated wednesday list similar duties key american imports including soybeans planes cars beef chemicals trump claims united states taken advantage trading partners already imposed broad tariffs imported solar panels large washing machines also slapped 25 percent import duties steel 10 percent aluminum actions may prove politically popular trumps working class political base especially states hardhit factory closures import competition analysts warn could undercut economic growth raise prices consumers producers dollar rose twoweek high currency basket amid signs united states looking resolve trade dispute china stocks wall street trading higher prices us treasuries fell deficit worsen trade deficit expected widen thanks accommodative fiscal policy stance time economy operating close full capacity 15 trillion income tax cut package came effect january government spending increase year economys strong fundamentals underscored report labor department thursday showing number americans unemployment benefits falling lowest level since december 1973 week ending march 24 adjusted inflation trade deficit slipped 6911 billion 6996 billion january socalled real trade deficit average first two months 2018 fourthquarter average 668 billion suggests trade would subtract firstquarter gross domestic product trade sliced 116 percentage points fourthquarter gdp growth economy grew 29 percent annualized rate period growth estimates first quarter mostly 2 percent rate suspect widening trade deficits resulting subtractions gdp growth persistent feature gdp year domestic demand outpaces economys supply potential said john ryding chief economist rdq economics new york tariffs nothing lessen trade imbalance unless retaliatory escalation leads economic downturn february exports goods increased 23 percent 1372 billion boosted shipments crude oil natural gas motor vehicles civilian aircraft drilling oilfield equipment exports china unchanged february goods imports jumped 16 percent 2142 billion february lifted food civilian aircraft computers crude oil imports services rose record 478 billion 468 billion january boosted royalties broadcast license fees related winter olympics shipping containers loaded onto xin da yang zhou ship shanghai china pier j port long beach long beach california us april 4 2018 reutersbob riha jr imports china declined 147 percent february reporting lucia mutikani editing andrea ricci standards thomson reuters trust principles new york reuters us dollar gained equity markets around world jumped thursday fears eased trade war china united states washington expressed willingness negotiate dollar rose threeweek high japanese yen 10week peak versus swiss franc two safehaven assets investors buy times market uncertainty us treasury yields rose oneweek highs risk appetite returned reduced fear trade war expectations growing economy confirmed friday closely watched us employment report march released major european stock indexes surged 2 percent germanys exporterheavy dax gdaxi market exposed china climbing 290 percent mscis allcountry world stock index miwd00000pus tracks shares 47 countries gained 095 percent led amazoncom inc amzno facebook inc fbo markets seem relief rally mode part really driven fact really trade war yet said charlie ripley senior investment strategist allianz investment management minneapolis quite small terms impact economy still runway tax reform thats coming along ripley said referring boost us president donald trumps new tax code delivering corporate earnings paneuropean ftseurofirst 300 index fteu3 leading regional shares closed 248 percent wall street dow jones industrial average dji closed 24092 points 099 percent 2450522 sampp 500 spx gained 1815 points 069 percent 266284 nasdaq composite ixic added 3445 points 049 percent 707655 mscis emerging market index mscief rose 094 percent signs united states looking resolve trade dispute china lifted dollar limited advance oil prices crude priced dollars stronger greenback makes oil purchases currencies expensive white house economic adviser larry kudlow said expects united states china work differences trade barriers likely come sides dollar index dxy rose 034 percent euro eur 032 percent 12238 japanese yen jpy weakened 056 percent 10738 per dollar joe manimbo senior market analyst western union business solutions washington said dollar boosted view washington beijing might broker trade deal doesnt torpedo global commerce damage world economy us crude clcv1 settled 17 cents 6354 per barrel brent lcocv1 gained 31 cents settle 6833 treasury yields rose investors awaited fridays us jobs report evaluated accelerating jobs gains wage pressures traders work floor new york stock exchange nyse new york us april 5 2018 reutersbrendan mcdermid benchmark 10year us treasury notes us10ytrr fell 1132 price yield 28320 percent europe government bond yields 2 6 basis points germanys benchmark 10year bund yield trading 0524 percent 3 basis points day de10ytrr gold prices fell apparent willingness resolve trade dispute reduced demand bullion place park money stronger dollar also crimped gold expensive users currencies us gold futures gccv1 june delivery settled 1170 132850 per ounce many suspect washington likely back fronts beijing threatened tariffs soybeans top us agricultural export china threats exports powerful weapon beijing given potential impact iowa farming states backed trump presidential election us soybeans sc1 corn cc1 regained ground following losses around 2 percent previous day deutsche boerse ag 1230519 gdaxi xetra 34729 290 gdaxi amzno fbo fteu3 dji graphic world equity index valuations reutrs2jlwdoj reporting herbert lash additional reporting hideyuki sano tokyo editing leslie adler james dalgleish standards thomson reuters trust principles san francisco reuters stock rebound thursday put sampp 500 track strongest threeday performance since 2016 look recent performance indexs components paints different picture illustrating signs weakness wall streets health traders work floor new york stock exchange nyse new york us april 5 2018 reutersbrendan mcdermid cooling fears trump starting trade war china helped sampp 500 rebound 08 percent thursday 29 percent past three sessions sampp 500s spx recent volatility left index trading 7 percent record high jan 26 components fallen even recent highs investors worry high valuations likely interest rate hikes nearly 18 percent sampp 500 components fallen 20 percent oneyear highs according thomson reuters data putting bearmarket territory another 41 percent sampp 500 stocks 10 20 percent year highs range investor consider correction territory graphic sampp 500 bears reutrs2jninfk standard amp poors corp 266284 spx chicago board options exchange 1815 069 spx gen wmtn aaplo msfto within dow jones industrial average dji general electric gen slumped 56 percent year high april 2017 walmart wmtn 20 percent year high january another 12 dows 30 components declined 10 20 percent year highs graphic dow bears reutrs2jninwg two largest us companies stock market value weathered wall streets recent volatility better helping limit sampp 500s loss 2018 1 percent apple aaplo microsoft msfto 26 percent 15 percent respectively since end february better sampp 500s 6 percent loss time two technology behemoths 5 percent previous record highs amazoncom amzno fallen 5 percent past month remains 24 percent year date investors continue bet online retailer cloud computing behemoth expand food retail markets reporting noel randewich standards thomson reuters trust principles new york reuters permian basin texas leading way us oil production reached alltime high prolific output causing bottlenecks pipelines transporting crude filled quickly expected file photo oil pump seen operating permian basin near midland texas us may 3 2017 reutersernest scheyderfile photo depressed prices posing threat future production providing boost pipeline companies lines filled nearcapacity new pipeline projects scheduled year producers may forced slow drilling even shut active production problem illustrates snags arise transporting crude us gulf coast oil prices rebounded 60 barrel companies reduced costs make drilling profitable permian production estimated hit record 308 million bpd march nearly third overall us production 104 million bpd according energy information administration eia permian drillers branching relatively lessprofitable areas region said john zanner energy analyst rbn energy fringe areas begin get exploited seeing crude needs find pipeline cushing gulf coast said analysts estimated pipelines permian would fill completely mid2018 may already happening according market intelligence firm genscape pipeline utilization permian gulf coast averaged 89 percent year 96 percent last four weeks us crude delivery midland texas wtcwtm traded 550barrel price benchmark futures wednesday weakest since october 2014 west texas sour wtcwts sour grade delivered midland traded much 625 barrel futures midland light sweet crude currently trades 8 barrel west texas intermediate east houston key delivery spot export markets biggest discount record graphic texas oil output surge reutrs2eml4nn slideshow 3 images spreads telling pipelines full going gulf coast said kendrick rhea energy consultancy east daley capital wide spreads mean pipeline operators seeing surge demand throughput traders analysts said spreads even widened enough cover spot shipping rates typically higher longterm committed rates offered pipeline companies enterprise products partners lp 2442 epdn new york stock exchange 012 049 epdn etpn paan midstream companies could show earnings reports several quarters analysts revenue projections permian pipeline companies enterprise products partners lp epdn energy transfer partners lp etpn plains american pipeline lp paan revised higher last 90 days according thomson reuters data three rank top 10 percent terms upward revisions north american companies thomson reuters universe model projects three exceed revenue projections first quarter theyre going see record flows coming theyre going see record margins marketing walkup tariffs rest year rhea said march 2018 permian total 3175 million bpd outgoing pipeline rail local refining capacity according genscape outgoing pipeline capacity accounts 2725 million bpd next boost expansion permian express 3 add 200 million barrels daily capacity late 2018 enterprise midlandtosealy line could also expand capacity bring 450000 bpd 330000 bpd late last year midtolate 2019 projects including cactus pipeline 2 epic lines add 15 million bpd additional capacity reporting devika krishna kumar new york editing tom brown standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — In massive group celebrations and in quieter individual ceremonies, gay couples in Minnesota and Rhode Island began exchanging vows today as the roster of places where same-sex couples can wed grew to more than a quarter of U.S. states.</p>
<p>Gay couples began getting hitched at the stroke of midnight in Minnesota, where an estimated 1,000 people packed into Minneapolis City Hall to celebrate 46 same-sex weddings officiated by Mayor R.T. Rybak, as several Hennepin County judges performed another 21 in the City Council’s chambers.</p>
<p>Massive floral bouquets flanked a makeshift altar set up on a white marble staircase under the city’s Father of Waters sculpture, with crowds of spectators peering down from balconies and applauding.</p>
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<p>“I didn’t expect to cry quite that hard,” said a beaming Cathy ten Broeke, who with Margaret Miles was the first gay couple to be wed at City Hall.</p>
<p>Those in attendance burst into applause as Rybak pronounced Miles and ten Broeke married. The couple stood nearby embracing their 5-year-old son, Louie.</p>
<p>“We do,” all three said to more cheers as they promised to be a family.</p>
<p>Hours later in Rhode Island, local officials began issuing the state’s first marriage licenses to same-sex couples. While states such as Massachusetts and California saw long lines and scores of weddings on the day gay marriages began, Rhode Island officials were predicting a relatively calm day because same-sex marriage was already an option everywhere else in New England.</p>
<p>Federico Santi and John Gacher, who have been together for 41 years and who were already in a civil union, got married right after the Newport city clerk’s office opened at 8:30 a.m.</p>
<p>“It’s certainly not going to change our lives, but it’s going to change the lives of lots of young people, and that’s what we are really proud of: that now they have the opportunity to get married if they choose to,” Santi said.</p>
<p>City Clerk Kathleen Silvia, who issued the license and has known Santi for 28 years, called Thursday “a day of smooching” in Rhode Island.</p>
<p>Rhode Island and Minnesota became the 12th and 13th states to allow gay marriage, meaning it is now legal in more than a quarter of U.S. states, as well as in Washington, D.C. The national gay rights group Freedom to Marry estimates that about 30 percent of the U.S. population now lives in places where gay marriage is legal.</p>
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<p>In Minnesota, budget officials estimated that about 5,000 gay couples would marry in the first year. Its enactment capped a fast turnabout on the issue in just over two years. After voters rejected a constitutional ban on gay marriage last fall, the state Legislature this spring moved to make it legal.</p>
<p>“I don’t think either of us ever thought we’d see this day,” said Mike Bolin, of the Minneapolis suburb of Richfield, who was marrying Jay Resch, his partner of six years, at Minneapolis City Hall.</p>
<p>Rhode Island became the latest Northeast state to allow same-sex marriage. Lawmakers in the heavily Catholic state passed the marriage law this spring, after more than 16 years of efforts by same-sex marriage supporters. Both Minnesota and Rhode Island will automatically recognize marriages performed in other states.</p>
<p>Bolin and Resch celebrated Wednesday night with several hundred others at Wilde Roast Cafe along the Mississippi River north of downtown Minneapolis. Many at the event planned to walk to City Hall for the mass nuptials.</p>
<p>Dayton proclaimed Aug. 1 to be “Freedom to Marry Day” in Minnesota.</p>
<p>Golden Valley-based General Mills Inc. donated Betty Crocker cakes for the event, which was also to feature performances by local musicians and services donated by wedding photographers, florists and other businesses.</p>
<p>Weddings were not limited to the Twin Cities. In St. Cloud, Stearns County court administrator Tim Roberts planned to marry a couple at 12:01 a.m. at the courthouse. “It feels historic. It’s an honor to be a part of it,” Roberts said. Midnight weddings were also planned for courthouses in Clay County, Polk County and elsewhere.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Ngowi reported from Newport, R.I. Associated Press writers Jeff Baenen in Minneapolis and David Klepper in Providence, R.I., contributed to this report.</p>
<p>6:06am — Gay couples wed in Minn., R.I. next</p>
<p>MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Gay couples began tying the knot at Minneapolis City Hall early today and preparing to do so once town clerks’ offices opened in Rhode Island, as the two states became the latest to allow same-sex marriage.</p>
<p>The Minnesota law allowed weddings to begin just after midnight Wednesday, and 42 couples were to be married by Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and several Hennepin County judges in the hours before dawn.</p>
<p>“I didn’t expect to cry quite that hard,” said a beaming Cathy ten Broeke, who with Margaret Miles was the first gay couple to be wed at City Hall.</p>
<p>The attending crowd burst into applause as Rybak pronounced Miles and ten Broeke married. The couple stood nearby embracing their 5-year-old son, Louie.</p>
<p>“We do,” all three said to more cheers as they promised to be a family.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, town clerks were to begin issuing Rhode Island’s first marriage licenses to same-sex couples later Thursday morning. While states such as Massachusetts and California saw long lines and scores of weddings on the day gay marriages began, Rhode Island officials were predicting a relatively calm day, as their state was the last in New England to legalize same-sex marriage.</p>
<p>Rhode Island and Minnesota became the 12th and 13th states to allow gay marriage, along with Washington, D.C. The national gay rights group Freedom to Marry estimates that about 30 percent of the U.S. population now lives in places where gay marriage is legal.</p>
<p>In Minnesota, budget officials estimated that about 5,000 gay couples would marry in the first year. Its enactment capped a fast turnabout on the issue in just over two years. After voters rejected a constitutional ban on gay marriage last fall, the state Legislature this spring moved to make it legal.</p>
<p>“I don’t think either of us ever thought we’d see this day,” said Mike Bolin, of the Minneapolis suburb of Richfield, who was marrying Jay Resch, his partner of six years, at Minneapolis City Hall.</p>
<p>Rhode Island became the latest Northeast state to allow same-sex marriage. Lawmakers in the heavily Catholic state passed the marriage law this spring, after more than 16 years of efforts by same-sex marriage supporters. Both Minnesota and Rhode Island will automatically recognize marriages performed in other states.</p>
<p>Bolin and Resch celebrated Wednesday night with several hundred others at Wilde Roast Cafe along the Mississippi River north of downtown Minneapolis. Many at the event planned to walk to City Hall for the mass nuptials.</p>
<p>Dayton proclaimed Aug. 1 to be “Freedom to Marry Day” in Minnesota.</p>
<p>Golden Valley-based General Mills Inc. donated Betty Crocker cakes for the event, which was also to feature performances by local musicians and services donated by wedding photographers, florists and other businesses.</p>
<p>Weddings were not limited to the Twin Cities. In St. Cloud, Stearns County court administrator Tim Roberts planned to marry a couple at 12:01 a.m. at the courthouse. “It feels historic. It’s an honor to be a part of it,” Roberts said. Midnight weddings were also planned for courthouses in Clay County, Polk County and elsewhere.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Jeff Baenen in Minneapolis and David Klepper in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report.</p>
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minneapolis ap massive group celebrations quieter individual ceremonies gay couples minnesota rhode island began exchanging vows today roster places samesex couples wed grew quarter us states gay couples began getting hitched stroke midnight minnesota estimated 1000 people packed minneapolis city hall celebrate 46 samesex weddings officiated mayor rt rybak several hennepin county judges performed another 21 city councils chambers massive floral bouquets flanked makeshift altar set white marble staircase citys father waters sculpture crowds spectators peering balconies applauding advertisement didnt expect cry quite hard said beaming cathy ten broeke margaret miles first gay couple wed city hall attendance burst applause rybak pronounced miles ten broeke married couple stood nearby embracing 5yearold son louie three said cheers promised family hours later rhode island local officials began issuing states first marriage licenses samesex couples states massachusetts california saw long lines scores weddings day gay marriages began rhode island officials predicting relatively calm day samesex marriage already option everywhere else new england federico santi john gacher together 41 years already civil union got married right newport city clerks office opened 830 certainly going change lives going change lives lots young people thats really proud opportunity get married choose santi said city clerk kathleen silvia issued license known santi 28 years called thursday day smooching rhode island rhode island minnesota became 12th 13th states allow gay marriage meaning legal quarter us states well washington dc national gay rights group freedom marry estimates 30 percent us population lives places gay marriage legal advertisement minnesota budget officials estimated 5000 gay couples would marry first year enactment capped fast turnabout issue two years voters rejected constitutional ban gay marriage last fall state legislature spring moved make legal dont think either us ever thought wed see day said mike bolin minneapolis suburb richfield marrying jay resch partner six years minneapolis city hall rhode island became latest northeast state allow samesex marriage lawmakers heavily catholic state passed marriage law spring 16 years efforts samesex marriage supporters minnesota rhode island automatically recognize marriages performed states bolin resch celebrated wednesday night several hundred others wilde roast cafe along mississippi river north downtown minneapolis many event planned walk city hall mass nuptials dayton proclaimed aug 1 freedom marry day minnesota golden valleybased general mills inc donated betty crocker cakes event also feature performances local musicians services donated wedding photographers florists businesses weddings limited twin cities st cloud stearns county court administrator tim roberts planned marry couple 1201 courthouse feels historic honor part roberts said midnight weddings also planned courthouses clay county polk county elsewhere ___ ngowi reported newport ri associated press writers jeff baenen minneapolis david klepper providence ri contributed report 606am gay couples wed minn ri next minneapolis ap gay couples began tying knot minneapolis city hall early today preparing town clerks offices opened rhode island two states became latest allow samesex marriage minnesota law allowed weddings begin midnight wednesday 42 couples married minneapolis mayor rt rybak several hennepin county judges hours dawn didnt expect cry quite hard said beaming cathy ten broeke margaret miles first gay couple wed city hall attending crowd burst applause rybak pronounced miles ten broeke married couple stood nearby embracing 5yearold son louie three said cheers promised family meanwhile town clerks begin issuing rhode islands first marriage licenses samesex couples later thursday morning states massachusetts california saw long lines scores weddings day gay marriages began rhode island officials predicting relatively calm day state last new england legalize samesex marriage rhode island minnesota became 12th 13th states allow gay marriage along washington dc national gay rights group freedom marry estimates 30 percent us population lives places gay marriage legal minnesota budget officials estimated 5000 gay couples would marry first year enactment capped fast turnabout issue two years voters rejected constitutional ban gay marriage last fall state legislature spring moved make legal dont think either us ever thought wed see day said mike bolin minneapolis suburb richfield marrying jay resch partner six years minneapolis city hall rhode island became latest northeast state allow samesex marriage lawmakers heavily catholic state passed marriage law spring 16 years efforts samesex marriage supporters minnesota rhode island automatically recognize marriages performed states bolin resch celebrated wednesday night several hundred others wilde roast cafe along mississippi river north downtown minneapolis many event planned walk city hall mass nuptials dayton proclaimed aug 1 freedom marry day minnesota golden valleybased general mills inc donated betty crocker cakes event also feature performances local musicians services donated wedding photographers florists businesses weddings limited twin cities st cloud stearns county court administrator tim roberts planned marry couple 1201 courthouse feels historic honor part roberts said midnight weddings also planned courthouses clay county polk county elsewhere ___ associated press writers jeff baenen minneapolis david klepper providence rhode island contributed report
| 790 |
<p>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The way Creighton let a road win slip away at Seton Hall last month surely provided motivation for the Bluejays for Wednesday night's rematch. If that weren't enough, the Bluejays also had redemption on their minds after an ugly 22-point loss at Xavier last weekend.</p>
<p>With Marcus Foster scoring 25 points and reserve Ronnie Harrell Jr. adding a career-high 18, Creighton unleashed some pent-up fury in an 80-63 win over No. 19 Seton Hall.</p>
<p>The Bluejays built an early 16-point lead, and after a lull before halftime they went on a 17-9 run that put away the Pirates.</p>
<p>"Proud of the way our team responded coming off a game in which we weren't ourselves at Xavier," Creighton coach Greg McDermott said. "We needed to refocus, maybe a little bit more commitment to the fundamentals of the defensive end and offensive end and the importance of communication. When we watched film on Monday, I think the guys understood my message and what needed to change. To their credit, they changed it."</p>
<p>The Bluejays (15-4, 5-2 Big East) split the season series with the Pirates (15-4, 4-2), avenging a 90-84 road loss last month in which they blew a double-digit lead and failed to score the last 3 1/2 minutes.</p>
<p>"That was definitely motivation for us just because of how close we were to winning that game," Foster said. "It was little mistakes that made us lose that game. As you saw tonight, we fixed those mistakes and were able to win by (almost) 20."</p>
<p>Harrell scored seven of Creighton's 17 points during its decisive run, and he later brought the sellout crowd to its feet with a behind-the-back move as he drove to the basket.</p>
<p>"I was going to pass it, and then I saw (the defender) commit toward me, so something cool happened after that," Harrell said, referring to his slick play.</p>
<p>A moment later, Foster waved his arms urging fans to make more noise when Seton Hall star Angel Delgado elbowed Toby Hegner for a flagrant-1 foul on the other end. It was Delgado's fourth personal, and Hegner made the free throws for a 67-47 lead with 8 minutes to play.</p>
<p>Delgado, who came into the game off seven straight double-doubles and had 18 points and 14 rebounds in the first meeting with Creighton, was in foul trouble all night as Creighton played aggressive defense against him. He was limited to four points and four rebounds in 20 minutes.</p>
<p>"The best thing about it is that he'll bounce back," Pirates coach Kevin Willard said.</p>
<p>Desi Rodriguez, the Pirates' season scoring leader, missed all six of his shots from the floor. He didn't play in the second half and finished with four points.</p>
<p>"Des has logged a ton of minutes and has been grinding and playing great," Willard said. "Just one of those nights I think he's a little worn out."</p>
<p>Willard had all of his starters out of the game with 6 minutes left. Myles Powell led the Pirates with 19 points.</p>
<p>"When you're down 20 and you have Xavier coming in and those guys are playing hard," Willard said, "it was more or less let's rest those guys and get ready for Saturday"</p>
<p>BIG PICTURE</p>
<p>Seton Hall: This was a debacle from the beginning. The Pirates shot a season-low 38.1 percent, committed 17 turnovers and had their lowest scoring output of the season. Time to forget this one and get ready for the showdown with Xavier.</p>
<p>Creighton: The Bluejays bounced back from the loss to Xavier in resounding fashion. They shot 51.7 percent, making them the first Seton Hall opponent to hit more than half its shots. They're a half-game behind first-place Villanova.</p>
<p>KRAMPELJ CONCERN</p>
<p>Creighton lost starting forward Martin Krampelj late in the first half to a knee injury. McDermott said he wouldn't know Krampelj's status until Thursday.</p>
<p>QUOTABLE</p>
<p>"When you come here in this building, the way they're playing, if you don't have your 'A' game you're going to struggle. We didn't have our 'A' game and we struggled." — Willard.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Seton Hall: hosts No. 11 Xavier on Saturday.</p>
<p>Creighton: visits Providence on Saturday.</p>
<p>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The way Creighton let a road win slip away at Seton Hall last month surely provided motivation for the Bluejays for Wednesday night's rematch. If that weren't enough, the Bluejays also had redemption on their minds after an ugly 22-point loss at Xavier last weekend.</p>
<p>With Marcus Foster scoring 25 points and reserve Ronnie Harrell Jr. adding a career-high 18, Creighton unleashed some pent-up fury in an 80-63 win over No. 19 Seton Hall.</p>
<p>The Bluejays built an early 16-point lead, and after a lull before halftime they went on a 17-9 run that put away the Pirates.</p>
<p>"Proud of the way our team responded coming off a game in which we weren't ourselves at Xavier," Creighton coach Greg McDermott said. "We needed to refocus, maybe a little bit more commitment to the fundamentals of the defensive end and offensive end and the importance of communication. When we watched film on Monday, I think the guys understood my message and what needed to change. To their credit, they changed it."</p>
<p>The Bluejays (15-4, 5-2 Big East) split the season series with the Pirates (15-4, 4-2), avenging a 90-84 road loss last month in which they blew a double-digit lead and failed to score the last 3 1/2 minutes.</p>
<p>"That was definitely motivation for us just because of how close we were to winning that game," Foster said. "It was little mistakes that made us lose that game. As you saw tonight, we fixed those mistakes and were able to win by (almost) 20."</p>
<p>Harrell scored seven of Creighton's 17 points during its decisive run, and he later brought the sellout crowd to its feet with a behind-the-back move as he drove to the basket.</p>
<p>"I was going to pass it, and then I saw (the defender) commit toward me, so something cool happened after that," Harrell said, referring to his slick play.</p>
<p>A moment later, Foster waved his arms urging fans to make more noise when Seton Hall star Angel Delgado elbowed Toby Hegner for a flagrant-1 foul on the other end. It was Delgado's fourth personal, and Hegner made the free throws for a 67-47 lead with 8 minutes to play.</p>
<p>Delgado, who came into the game off seven straight double-doubles and had 18 points and 14 rebounds in the first meeting with Creighton, was in foul trouble all night as Creighton played aggressive defense against him. He was limited to four points and four rebounds in 20 minutes.</p>
<p>"The best thing about it is that he'll bounce back," Pirates coach Kevin Willard said.</p>
<p>Desi Rodriguez, the Pirates' season scoring leader, missed all six of his shots from the floor. He didn't play in the second half and finished with four points.</p>
<p>"Des has logged a ton of minutes and has been grinding and playing great," Willard said. "Just one of those nights I think he's a little worn out."</p>
<p>Willard had all of his starters out of the game with 6 minutes left. Myles Powell led the Pirates with 19 points.</p>
<p>"When you're down 20 and you have Xavier coming in and those guys are playing hard," Willard said, "it was more or less let's rest those guys and get ready for Saturday"</p>
<p>BIG PICTURE</p>
<p>Seton Hall: This was a debacle from the beginning. The Pirates shot a season-low 38.1 percent, committed 17 turnovers and had their lowest scoring output of the season. Time to forget this one and get ready for the showdown with Xavier.</p>
<p>Creighton: The Bluejays bounced back from the loss to Xavier in resounding fashion. They shot 51.7 percent, making them the first Seton Hall opponent to hit more than half its shots. They're a half-game behind first-place Villanova.</p>
<p>KRAMPELJ CONCERN</p>
<p>Creighton lost starting forward Martin Krampelj late in the first half to a knee injury. McDermott said he wouldn't know Krampelj's status until Thursday.</p>
<p>QUOTABLE</p>
<p>"When you come here in this building, the way they're playing, if you don't have your 'A' game you're going to struggle. We didn't have our 'A' game and we struggled." — Willard.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Seton Hall: hosts No. 11 Xavier on Saturday.</p>
<p>Creighton: visits Providence on Saturday.</p>
| false | 2 |
omaha neb ap way creighton let road win slip away seton hall last month surely provided motivation bluejays wednesday nights rematch werent enough bluejays also redemption minds ugly 22point loss xavier last weekend marcus foster scoring 25 points reserve ronnie harrell jr adding careerhigh 18 creighton unleashed pentup fury 8063 win 19 seton hall bluejays built early 16point lead lull halftime went 179 run put away pirates proud way team responded coming game werent xavier creighton coach greg mcdermott said needed refocus maybe little bit commitment fundamentals defensive end offensive end importance communication watched film monday think guys understood message needed change credit changed bluejays 154 52 big east split season series pirates 154 42 avenging 9084 road loss last month blew doubledigit lead failed score last 3 12 minutes definitely motivation us close winning game foster said little mistakes made us lose game saw tonight fixed mistakes able win almost 20 harrell scored seven creightons 17 points decisive run later brought sellout crowd feet behindtheback move drove basket going pass saw defender commit toward something cool happened harrell said referring slick play moment later foster waved arms urging fans make noise seton hall star angel delgado elbowed toby hegner flagrant1 foul end delgados fourth personal hegner made free throws 6747 lead 8 minutes play delgado came game seven straight doubledoubles 18 points 14 rebounds first meeting creighton foul trouble night creighton played aggressive defense limited four points four rebounds 20 minutes best thing hell bounce back pirates coach kevin willard said desi rodriguez pirates season scoring leader missed six shots floor didnt play second half finished four points des logged ton minutes grinding playing great willard said one nights think hes little worn willard starters game 6 minutes left myles powell led pirates 19 points youre 20 xavier coming guys playing hard willard said less lets rest guys get ready saturday big picture seton hall debacle beginning pirates shot seasonlow 381 percent committed 17 turnovers lowest scoring output season time forget one get ready showdown xavier creighton bluejays bounced back loss xavier resounding fashion shot 517 percent making first seton hall opponent hit half shots theyre halfgame behind firstplace villanova krampelj concern creighton lost starting forward martin krampelj late first half knee injury mcdermott said wouldnt know krampeljs status thursday quotable come building way theyre playing dont game youre going struggle didnt game struggled willard next seton hall hosts 11 xavier saturday creighton visits providence saturday omaha neb ap way creighton let road win slip away seton hall last month surely provided motivation bluejays wednesday nights rematch werent enough bluejays also redemption minds ugly 22point loss xavier last weekend marcus foster scoring 25 points reserve ronnie harrell jr adding careerhigh 18 creighton unleashed pentup fury 8063 win 19 seton hall bluejays built early 16point lead lull halftime went 179 run put away pirates proud way team responded coming game werent xavier creighton coach greg mcdermott said needed refocus maybe little bit commitment fundamentals defensive end offensive end importance communication watched film monday think guys understood message needed change credit changed bluejays 154 52 big east split season series pirates 154 42 avenging 9084 road loss last month blew doubledigit lead failed score last 3 12 minutes definitely motivation us close winning game foster said little mistakes made us lose game saw tonight fixed mistakes able win almost 20 harrell scored seven creightons 17 points decisive run later brought sellout crowd feet behindtheback move drove basket going pass saw defender commit toward something cool happened harrell said referring slick play moment later foster waved arms urging fans make noise seton hall star angel delgado elbowed toby hegner flagrant1 foul end delgados fourth personal hegner made free throws 6747 lead 8 minutes play delgado came game seven straight doubledoubles 18 points 14 rebounds first meeting creighton foul trouble night creighton played aggressive defense limited four points four rebounds 20 minutes best thing hell bounce back pirates coach kevin willard said desi rodriguez pirates season scoring leader missed six shots floor didnt play second half finished four points des logged ton minutes grinding playing great willard said one nights think hes little worn willard starters game 6 minutes left myles powell led pirates 19 points youre 20 xavier coming guys playing hard willard said less lets rest guys get ready saturday big picture seton hall debacle beginning pirates shot seasonlow 381 percent committed 17 turnovers lowest scoring output season time forget one get ready showdown xavier creighton bluejays bounced back loss xavier resounding fashion shot 517 percent making first seton hall opponent hit half shots theyre halfgame behind firstplace villanova krampelj concern creighton lost starting forward martin krampelj late first half knee injury mcdermott said wouldnt know krampeljs status thursday quotable come building way theyre playing dont game youre going struggle didnt game struggled willard next seton hall hosts 11 xavier saturday creighton visits providence saturday
| 814 |
<p>BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — The leading opposition candidate in Argentina's presidential election took a razor-thin lead over President Cristina Fernandez's chosen successor early Monday, a surprise that months of national polls failed to anticipate.</p>
<p>With 72 percent of polling places reporting from Sunday's election, Mauricio Macri had 36 percent of the votes, compared to 35 percent for ruling party candidate Daniel Scioli. Sergio Massa, a former Fernandez loyalist who broke away to form his own political movement, had 21 percent.</p>
<p>The tight race means that a Nov. 22 runoff between Macri and Scioli is certain. To win, a candidate needed 45 percent of the votes or 40 percent and a 10-point advantage over the nearest competitor.</p>
<p>Scioli had been viewed as the easy front-runner thanks to the support of Fernandez, who won admirers for rewriting Argentina's social contract but also drew sharp criticism for her brash tactics. Numerous polls had predicted Scioli would win by more than 10 points, indicating the only question was whether he could gain enough votes to avoid a runoff.</p>
<p>The strong showing by Macri, the mayor of Buenos Aires, underscored that many voters are ready for change after 12 years of Kirchnerismo, the political movement founded by Fernandez and her late husband and predecessor as president, Nestor Kirchner.</p>
<p>"What happened today changes the politics of this country," Macri told supporters late Sunday, adding that he would work to gain the confidence of those who had not voted for him this round.</p>
<p>Scioli, the governor of the Buenos Aires province and a former vice president, presented himself as the continuation of Fernandez's policies who would also fix anything broken.</p>
<p>Even before any results were released, Scioli seemed to be hinting that there would be a runoff.</p>
<p>"I invite undecided and independent (voters) to join me in this great celebration of Argentine development," Scioli told a gathering of supporters.</p>
<p>Macri presented himself as the candidate to put Argentina's economy in order, promising to resolve a fight with U.S. creditors and lift unpopular currency restrictions.</p>
<p>But he also tailored his campaign to the millions who receive some form of government support. He promised to maintain popular programs for the poor and increase spending in some areas. He even inaugurated a statue of Juan Peron, a three-time former president who founded the ideological movement to which Fernandez adheres.</p>
<p>While those moves raised eyebrows and drew sharp criticism from Scioli, they likely helped Macri capture undecided voters.</p>
<p>Many Argentines are worried about high government spending and inflation around 30 percent as well as being concerned about the long-running legal fight with creditors in the U.S. that has kept the country out of international credit markets.</p>
<p>"With Cristina, we are outside the world community," said Beatriz Garcia Tunon, a retired teacher. "This government has been a disaster."</p>
<p>Still Argentines have a nightmarish reference point for a truly bad economy: the financial collapse of 2001-2002, when the country defaulted on $100 billion in debt and overnight millions of middle class people were impoverished.</p>
<p>"The economy is OK. It's not great," said Maria Victoria Murillo, an expert on Argentine politics at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. "But for Argentina, OK is pretty good."</p>
<p>Fernandez and her late husband are widely credited with lifting the nation after the collapse. Fernandez sharply increased spending on social welfare programs, which range from work training to stipends for single mothers. Her government was the first in Latin America to legalize gay marriage, and it nationalized airline Aerolineas Argentinas and the YPF oil company while strengthening ties with Russia and China.</p>
<p>Scioli, a former boat racer who lost his right arm in an accident in 1989, bristled at suggestions that Fernandez would continue to dominate behind the scenes.</p>
<p>"What Scioli would do in office is a mystery," said Maria Fernandez, who owns a real estate company. "Will he take orders from Cristina or do something else?"</p>
<p>"I don't want to find out," added Fernandez, who was voting for Macri.</p>
<p>BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — The leading opposition candidate in Argentina's presidential election took a razor-thin lead over President Cristina Fernandez's chosen successor early Monday, a surprise that months of national polls failed to anticipate.</p>
<p>With 72 percent of polling places reporting from Sunday's election, Mauricio Macri had 36 percent of the votes, compared to 35 percent for ruling party candidate Daniel Scioli. Sergio Massa, a former Fernandez loyalist who broke away to form his own political movement, had 21 percent.</p>
<p>The tight race means that a Nov. 22 runoff between Macri and Scioli is certain. To win, a candidate needed 45 percent of the votes or 40 percent and a 10-point advantage over the nearest competitor.</p>
<p>Scioli had been viewed as the easy front-runner thanks to the support of Fernandez, who won admirers for rewriting Argentina's social contract but also drew sharp criticism for her brash tactics. Numerous polls had predicted Scioli would win by more than 10 points, indicating the only question was whether he could gain enough votes to avoid a runoff.</p>
<p>The strong showing by Macri, the mayor of Buenos Aires, underscored that many voters are ready for change after 12 years of Kirchnerismo, the political movement founded by Fernandez and her late husband and predecessor as president, Nestor Kirchner.</p>
<p>"What happened today changes the politics of this country," Macri told supporters late Sunday, adding that he would work to gain the confidence of those who had not voted for him this round.</p>
<p>Scioli, the governor of the Buenos Aires province and a former vice president, presented himself as the continuation of Fernandez's policies who would also fix anything broken.</p>
<p>Even before any results were released, Scioli seemed to be hinting that there would be a runoff.</p>
<p>"I invite undecided and independent (voters) to join me in this great celebration of Argentine development," Scioli told a gathering of supporters.</p>
<p>Macri presented himself as the candidate to put Argentina's economy in order, promising to resolve a fight with U.S. creditors and lift unpopular currency restrictions.</p>
<p>But he also tailored his campaign to the millions who receive some form of government support. He promised to maintain popular programs for the poor and increase spending in some areas. He even inaugurated a statue of Juan Peron, a three-time former president who founded the ideological movement to which Fernandez adheres.</p>
<p>While those moves raised eyebrows and drew sharp criticism from Scioli, they likely helped Macri capture undecided voters.</p>
<p>Many Argentines are worried about high government spending and inflation around 30 percent as well as being concerned about the long-running legal fight with creditors in the U.S. that has kept the country out of international credit markets.</p>
<p>"With Cristina, we are outside the world community," said Beatriz Garcia Tunon, a retired teacher. "This government has been a disaster."</p>
<p>Still Argentines have a nightmarish reference point for a truly bad economy: the financial collapse of 2001-2002, when the country defaulted on $100 billion in debt and overnight millions of middle class people were impoverished.</p>
<p>"The economy is OK. It's not great," said Maria Victoria Murillo, an expert on Argentine politics at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. "But for Argentina, OK is pretty good."</p>
<p>Fernandez and her late husband are widely credited with lifting the nation after the collapse. Fernandez sharply increased spending on social welfare programs, which range from work training to stipends for single mothers. Her government was the first in Latin America to legalize gay marriage, and it nationalized airline Aerolineas Argentinas and the YPF oil company while strengthening ties with Russia and China.</p>
<p>Scioli, a former boat racer who lost his right arm in an accident in 1989, bristled at suggestions that Fernandez would continue to dominate behind the scenes.</p>
<p>"What Scioli would do in office is a mystery," said Maria Fernandez, who owns a real estate company. "Will he take orders from Cristina or do something else?"</p>
<p>"I don't want to find out," added Fernandez, who was voting for Macri.</p>
| false | 2 |
buenos aires argentina ap leading opposition candidate argentinas presidential election took razorthin lead president cristina fernandezs chosen successor early monday surprise months national polls failed anticipate 72 percent polling places reporting sundays election mauricio macri 36 percent votes compared 35 percent ruling party candidate daniel scioli sergio massa former fernandez loyalist broke away form political movement 21 percent tight race means nov 22 runoff macri scioli certain win candidate needed 45 percent votes 40 percent 10point advantage nearest competitor scioli viewed easy frontrunner thanks support fernandez admirers rewriting argentinas social contract also drew sharp criticism brash tactics numerous polls predicted scioli would win 10 points indicating question whether could gain enough votes avoid runoff strong showing macri mayor buenos aires underscored many voters ready change 12 years kirchnerismo political movement founded fernandez late husband predecessor president nestor kirchner happened today changes politics country macri told supporters late sunday adding would work gain confidence voted round scioli governor buenos aires province former vice president presented continuation fernandezs policies would also fix anything broken even results released scioli seemed hinting would runoff invite undecided independent voters join great celebration argentine development scioli told gathering supporters macri presented candidate put argentinas economy order promising resolve fight us creditors lift unpopular currency restrictions also tailored campaign millions receive form government support promised maintain popular programs poor increase spending areas even inaugurated statue juan peron threetime former president founded ideological movement fernandez adheres moves raised eyebrows drew sharp criticism scioli likely helped macri capture undecided voters many argentines worried high government spending inflation around 30 percent well concerned longrunning legal fight creditors us kept country international credit markets cristina outside world community said beatriz garcia tunon retired teacher government disaster still argentines nightmarish reference point truly bad economy financial collapse 20012002 country defaulted 100 billion debt overnight millions middle class people impoverished economy ok great said maria victoria murillo expert argentine politics columbia universitys school international public affairs argentina ok pretty good fernandez late husband widely credited lifting nation collapse fernandez sharply increased spending social welfare programs range work training stipends single mothers government first latin america legalize gay marriage nationalized airline aerolineas argentinas ypf oil company strengthening ties russia china scioli former boat racer lost right arm accident 1989 bristled suggestions fernandez would continue dominate behind scenes scioli would office mystery said maria fernandez owns real estate company take orders cristina something else dont want find added fernandez voting macri buenos aires argentina ap leading opposition candidate argentinas presidential election took razorthin lead president cristina fernandezs chosen successor early monday surprise months national polls failed anticipate 72 percent polling places reporting sundays election mauricio macri 36 percent votes compared 35 percent ruling party candidate daniel scioli sergio massa former fernandez loyalist broke away form political movement 21 percent tight race means nov 22 runoff macri scioli certain win candidate needed 45 percent votes 40 percent 10point advantage nearest competitor scioli viewed easy frontrunner thanks support fernandez admirers rewriting argentinas social contract also drew sharp criticism brash tactics numerous polls predicted scioli would win 10 points indicating question whether could gain enough votes avoid runoff strong showing macri mayor buenos aires underscored many voters ready change 12 years kirchnerismo political movement founded fernandez late husband predecessor president nestor kirchner happened today changes politics country macri told supporters late sunday adding would work gain confidence voted round scioli governor buenos aires province former vice president presented continuation fernandezs policies would also fix anything broken even results released scioli seemed hinting would runoff invite undecided independent voters join great celebration argentine development scioli told gathering supporters macri presented candidate put argentinas economy order promising resolve fight us creditors lift unpopular currency restrictions also tailored campaign millions receive form government support promised maintain popular programs poor increase spending areas even inaugurated statue juan peron threetime former president founded ideological movement fernandez adheres moves raised eyebrows drew sharp criticism scioli likely helped macri capture undecided voters many argentines worried high government spending inflation around 30 percent well concerned longrunning legal fight creditors us kept country international credit markets cristina outside world community said beatriz garcia tunon retired teacher government disaster still argentines nightmarish reference point truly bad economy financial collapse 20012002 country defaulted 100 billion debt overnight millions middle class people impoverished economy ok great said maria victoria murillo expert argentine politics columbia universitys school international public affairs argentina ok pretty good fernandez late husband widely credited lifting nation collapse fernandez sharply increased spending social welfare programs range work training stipends single mothers government first latin america legalize gay marriage nationalized airline aerolineas argentinas ypf oil company strengthening ties russia china scioli former boat racer lost right arm accident 1989 bristled suggestions fernandez would continue dominate behind scenes scioli would office mystery said maria fernandez owns real estate company take orders cristina something else dont want find added fernandez voting macri
| 812 |
<p>MAYS LANDING, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey doctor accused of having his wife killed to protect an illegal prescription drug ring he was running with an outlaw biker gang has been moved to a different jail nearly 100 miles away due to an alleged plot by a co-defendant to kill him.</p>
<p>James Kauffman, 68, of Linwood, New Jersey, is charged with numerous offenses, including murder, racketeering and weapons offenses.</p>
<p>Kauffman and co-defendant Ferdinand Augello, 61, of Petersburg, New Jersey, are charged in the death of Kauffman’s 47-year-old wife, April, a radio talk show host who was fatally shot in her home in May 2012.</p>
<p>The charges, including those relating to April Kauffman’s shooting as well as the alleged plot to kill James Kauffman, were announced Tuesday after more than five years of investigation.</p>
<p>On Thursday, following brief initial court appearances via video links, prosecutors said Kauffman has been moved from the Atlantic County Jail in Mays Landing to the Hudson County Jail in Kearney, nearly 100 miles away, for his protection.</p>
<p>“We don’t think it would be prudent for those two to be lodged together,” Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner said.</p>
<p>The prosecutor said Augello discussed a plan to have Kauffman killed before he could come to trial. Scott Sherwood, a public defender representing Augello, declined to comment Thursday.</p>
<p>Kauffman has long maintained his innocence, a stance his attorney, Louis Barbone, repeated Thursday.</p>
<p>“We’re saying what we’ve been saying for the past few years: He’s not guilty,” Barbone said.</p>
<p>On a video link with the judge, Kauffman did not speak other than to reply “yes” several times when asked if he understood his legal rights.</p>
<p>April Kauffman was a businesswoman who hosted weekly radio talk shows and advocated for military veterans. She had received a governor’s award for outstanding community service a few days before her death.</p>
<p>Authorities say Kauffman arranged for his wife’s murder to keep her from divorcing him in 2011 and exposing a lucrative drug distribution ring he was running with the Pagans Outlaw Motorcycle Gang through his endocrinology practice in the suburbs outside Atlantic City.</p>
<p>Tyner said Kauffman told Augello about his wife’s threats and solicited him to have her killed. After about a year, a man who agreed to do it, Francis Mullholland, was driven to the home, where the doors were left open, and was given a gun, authorities said. April Kauffman was shot twice, and her body was found by a handyman.</p>
<p>Tyner said Mullholland, who got about $20,000 in cash, was later found dead of a drug overdose.</p>
<p>Prosecutors said the drug empire lasted until June 2017, when Kauffman was arrested on weapons charges at his Egg Harbor Township office. Authorities said he brandished a handgun as agents executed a search warrant and said, “I’m not going to jail for this!” A hostage negotiator persuaded him to surrender.</p>
<p>Kauffman’s license was suspended after his arrest.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>This story has been corrected to show prosecutors revealed the alleged murder plot against Kauffman on Tuesday, not Thursday.</p>
<p>Follow Wayne Parry at <a href="http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC" type="external" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC" type="external">http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC</a></p>
<p>MAYS LANDING, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey doctor accused of having his wife killed to protect an illegal prescription drug ring he was running with an outlaw biker gang has been moved to a different jail nearly 100 miles away due to an alleged plot by a co-defendant to kill him.</p>
<p>James Kauffman, 68, of Linwood, New Jersey, is charged with numerous offenses, including murder, racketeering and weapons offenses.</p>
<p>Kauffman and co-defendant Ferdinand Augello, 61, of Petersburg, New Jersey, are charged in the death of Kauffman’s 47-year-old wife, April, a radio talk show host who was fatally shot in her home in May 2012.</p>
<p>The charges, including those relating to April Kauffman’s shooting as well as the alleged plot to kill James Kauffman, were announced Tuesday after more than five years of investigation.</p>
<p>On Thursday, following brief initial court appearances via video links, prosecutors said Kauffman has been moved from the Atlantic County Jail in Mays Landing to the Hudson County Jail in Kearney, nearly 100 miles away, for his protection.</p>
<p>“We don’t think it would be prudent for those two to be lodged together,” Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner said.</p>
<p>The prosecutor said Augello discussed a plan to have Kauffman killed before he could come to trial. Scott Sherwood, a public defender representing Augello, declined to comment Thursday.</p>
<p>Kauffman has long maintained his innocence, a stance his attorney, Louis Barbone, repeated Thursday.</p>
<p>“We’re saying what we’ve been saying for the past few years: He’s not guilty,” Barbone said.</p>
<p>On a video link with the judge, Kauffman did not speak other than to reply “yes” several times when asked if he understood his legal rights.</p>
<p>April Kauffman was a businesswoman who hosted weekly radio talk shows and advocated for military veterans. She had received a governor’s award for outstanding community service a few days before her death.</p>
<p>Authorities say Kauffman arranged for his wife’s murder to keep her from divorcing him in 2011 and exposing a lucrative drug distribution ring he was running with the Pagans Outlaw Motorcycle Gang through his endocrinology practice in the suburbs outside Atlantic City.</p>
<p>Tyner said Kauffman told Augello about his wife’s threats and solicited him to have her killed. After about a year, a man who agreed to do it, Francis Mullholland, was driven to the home, where the doors were left open, and was given a gun, authorities said. April Kauffman was shot twice, and her body was found by a handyman.</p>
<p>Tyner said Mullholland, who got about $20,000 in cash, was later found dead of a drug overdose.</p>
<p>Prosecutors said the drug empire lasted until June 2017, when Kauffman was arrested on weapons charges at his Egg Harbor Township office. Authorities said he brandished a handgun as agents executed a search warrant and said, “I’m not going to jail for this!” A hostage negotiator persuaded him to surrender.</p>
<p>Kauffman’s license was suspended after his arrest.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>This story has been corrected to show prosecutors revealed the alleged murder plot against Kauffman on Tuesday, not Thursday.</p>
<p>Follow Wayne Parry at <a href="http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC" type="external" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC" type="external">http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC</a></p>
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mays landing nj ap new jersey doctor accused wife killed protect illegal prescription drug ring running outlaw biker gang moved different jail nearly 100 miles away due alleged plot codefendant kill james kauffman 68 linwood new jersey charged numerous offenses including murder racketeering weapons offenses kauffman codefendant ferdinand augello 61 petersburg new jersey charged death kauffmans 47yearold wife april radio talk show host fatally shot home may 2012 charges including relating april kauffmans shooting well alleged plot kill james kauffman announced tuesday five years investigation thursday following brief initial court appearances via video links prosecutors said kauffman moved atlantic county jail mays landing hudson county jail kearney nearly 100 miles away protection dont think would prudent two lodged together atlantic county prosecutor damon tyner said prosecutor said augello discussed plan kauffman killed could come trial scott sherwood public defender representing augello declined comment thursday kauffman long maintained innocence stance attorney louis barbone repeated thursday saying weve saying past years hes guilty barbone said video link judge kauffman speak reply yes several times asked understood legal rights april kauffman businesswoman hosted weekly radio talk shows advocated military veterans received governors award outstanding community service days death authorities say kauffman arranged wifes murder keep divorcing 2011 exposing lucrative drug distribution ring running pagans outlaw motorcycle gang endocrinology practice suburbs outside atlantic city tyner said kauffman told augello wifes threats solicited killed year man agreed francis mullholland driven home doors left open given gun authorities said april kauffman shot twice body found handyman tyner said mullholland got 20000 cash later found dead drug overdose prosecutors said drug empire lasted june 2017 kauffman arrested weapons charges egg harbor township office authorities said brandished handgun agents executed search warrant said im going jail hostage negotiator persuaded surrender kauffmans license suspended arrest ___ story corrected show prosecutors revealed alleged murder plot kauffman tuesday thursday follow wayne parry httptwittercomwayneparryac mays landing nj ap new jersey doctor accused wife killed protect illegal prescription drug ring running outlaw biker gang moved different jail nearly 100 miles away due alleged plot codefendant kill james kauffman 68 linwood new jersey charged numerous offenses including murder racketeering weapons offenses kauffman codefendant ferdinand augello 61 petersburg new jersey charged death kauffmans 47yearold wife april radio talk show host fatally shot home may 2012 charges including relating april kauffmans shooting well alleged plot kill james kauffman announced tuesday five years investigation thursday following brief initial court appearances via video links prosecutors said kauffman moved atlantic county jail mays landing hudson county jail kearney nearly 100 miles away protection dont think would prudent two lodged together atlantic county prosecutor damon tyner said prosecutor said augello discussed plan kauffman killed could come trial scott sherwood public defender representing augello declined comment thursday kauffman long maintained innocence stance attorney louis barbone repeated thursday saying weve saying past years hes guilty barbone said video link judge kauffman speak reply yes several times asked understood legal rights april kauffman businesswoman hosted weekly radio talk shows advocated military veterans received governors award outstanding community service days death authorities say kauffman arranged wifes murder keep divorcing 2011 exposing lucrative drug distribution ring running pagans outlaw motorcycle gang endocrinology practice suburbs outside atlantic city tyner said kauffman told augello wifes threats solicited killed year man agreed francis mullholland driven home doors left open given gun authorities said april kauffman shot twice body found handyman tyner said mullholland got 20000 cash later found dead drug overdose prosecutors said drug empire lasted june 2017 kauffman arrested weapons charges egg harbor township office authorities said brandished handgun agents executed search warrant said im going jail hostage negotiator persuaded surrender kauffmans license suspended arrest ___ story corrected show prosecutors revealed alleged murder plot kauffman tuesday thursday follow wayne parry httptwittercomwayneparryac
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<p>Jan 22 (Reuters) - REAL ESTATE EGYPTIAN CONSORTIUM :</p>
<p>* FY STANDALONE NET PROFIT AFTER TAX EGP 27.8 ‍​MILLION VERSUS EGP 37.7 ‍​MILLION YEAR AGO</p>
<p>* FY STANDALONE REVENUE EGP 17.3 MILLION VERSUS EGP 29.7 MILLION YEAR AGO Source: ( <a href="http://bit.ly/2BiF1zb" type="external">bit.ly/2BiF1zb</a>) Further company coverage: )</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> 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>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> North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju watch South Korean K-pop singers perform in a concert under the title "Spring is Coming" at the Pyongyang Taekwondo Hall in North Korea in this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang April 2, 2018. KCNA/via Reuters
<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 (5 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>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>
<p>BEIJING (Reuters) - China has slapped extra tariffs of up to 25 percent on 128 U.S. products including frozen pork, as well as on wine and certain fruits and nuts, in response to U.S. duties on imports of aluminum and steel, China’s 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>The list of tariffs, to take effect on Monday, was released late on Sunday and matches a list of potential tariffs on up to $3 billion in U.S. goods published by China on March 23.</p>
<p>China has imposed the tariffs amid escalating trade tension between Beijing and Washington.</p>
<p>U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to impose tariffs of more than $50 billion on Chinese goods intended to punish Beijing over U.S. allegations that China systematically misappropriated American intellectual property.</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>Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Tony Munroe; Editing by Eric Meijer</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China’s Tiangong-1 space station is forecast to re-enter the earth’s atmosphere over a remote part of the South Atlantic between 8:11 a.m. and 9:33 a.m. (0011-0133 GMT) on Monday, the country’s space authority said.</p> FILE PHOTO: A model of the Tiangong-1 space lab module (L), the Shenzhou-9 manned spacecraft (R) and three Chinese astronauts is displayed during a news conference at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, in Gansu province, China June 15, 2012. REUTERS/Jason Lee/File Photo
<p>The craft is expected to re-enter in an area around 19.4 degrees west, 10.2 degrees south, the authority said on its website, giving it a position southwest of the tiny British South Atlantic island of Ascension.</p>
<p>Beijing said on Friday it was unlikely any large pieces would reach the ground.</p>
<p>The 10.4-metre-long (34.1-foot) Tiangong-1, or “Heavenly Palace 1”, was launched in 2011 to carry out docking and orbit experiments as part of China’s ambitious space program, which aims to place a permanent station in orbit by 2023.</p>
<p>It was originally planned to be decommissioned in 2013 but its mission was repeatedly extended.</p>
<p>China had said its re-entry would occur in late 2017 but that process was delayed, leading some experts to suggest the space laboratory is out of control.</p>
<p>The Chinese tabloid Global Times said on Monday worldwide media hype about the re-entry reflected overseas “envy” of China’s space industry.</p>
<p>“It’s normal for spacecraft to re-enter the atmosphere, yet Tiangong-1 received so much attention partly because some Western countries are trying to hype and sling mud at China’s fast-growing aerospace industry,” it said.</p>
<p>Reporting by David Stanway and Wang Jing; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in BEIJING; Editing by Paul Tait</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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jan 22 reuters real estate egyptian consortium fy standalone net profit tax egp 278 million versus egp 377 million year ago fy standalone revenue egp 173 million versus egp 297 million year ago source bitly2bif1zb company coverage 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 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 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 north korean leader kim jong un wife ri sol ju watch south korean kpop singers perform concert title spring coming pyongyang taekwondo hall north korea photo released north koreas korean central news agency kcna pyongyang april 2 2018 kcnavia reuters 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 5 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 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 beijing reuters china slapped extra tariffs 25 percent 128 us products including frozen pork well wine certain fruits nuts response us duties imports aluminum steel chinas finance ministry said file photo butcher cuts piece pork market beijing china march 25 2016 reutersjason leefile photo list tariffs take effect monday released late sunday matches list potential tariffs 3 billion us goods published china march 23 china imposed tariffs amid escalating trade tension beijing washington us president donald trump preparing impose tariffs 50 billion chinese goods intended punish beijing us allegations china systematically misappropriated american intellectual property 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 reporting ben blanchard tony munroe editing eric meijer standards thomson reuters trust principles shanghai reuters chinas tiangong1 space station forecast reenter earths atmosphere remote part south atlantic 811 933 00110133 gmt monday countrys space authority said file photo model tiangong1 space lab module l shenzhou9 manned spacecraft r three chinese astronauts displayed news conference jiuquan satellite launch center gansu province china june 15 2012 reutersjason leefile photo craft expected reenter area around 194 degrees west 102 degrees south authority said website giving position southwest tiny british south atlantic island ascension beijing said friday unlikely large pieces would reach ground 104metrelong 341foot tiangong1 heavenly palace 1 launched 2011 carry docking orbit experiments part chinas ambitious space program aims place permanent station orbit 2023 originally planned decommissioned 2013 mission repeatedly extended china said reentry would occur late 2017 process delayed leading experts suggest space laboratory control chinese tabloid global times said monday worldwide media hype reentry reflected overseas envy chinas space industry normal spacecraft reenter atmosphere yet tiangong1 received much attention partly western countries trying hype sling mud chinas fastgrowing aerospace industry said reporting david stanway wang jing additional reporting ben blanchard beijing editing paul tait standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>“Her constant admonition was to be kind,” Santa Fe real estate agent Bob Cardinale said Monday.</p>
<p>Cook died at age 95 of congestive heart failure about 6:30 a.m. Monday at the Bee Hive assisted living home in Santa Fe.</p>
<p>Cook’s long list of community activities touched many parts of the Santa Fe community.</p>
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<p>She co-founded both the Greer Garson Theatre and the Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety. She created the popular “Black Kindness” bracelet with the word “kindness” printed in 17 languages.</p>
<p>A busy “weddingmeister” as a minister in the Eternal Life Church – she oversaw as many as 90 weddings or commitment ceremonies in a year’s time – Cook also was one of the first artists at the Shidoni Foundry.</p>
<p>She was state chairman of the 2004 Dennis Kucinich campaign for president, creating a book of Kucinich quotes, and a longtime advocate for a state Department of Peace. She wrote or co-wrote numerous other books, including “The Book of Kindness” and “Open Endings: After Divorce and Other Changes.”</p>
<p>An easily recognizable local icon as an inveterate hat-wearer, Cook bought a new broomstick skirt at the Santa Fe Indian Market every summer.</p>
<p>In the 1980s, she was the city’s official calligrapher, even providing the lettering to the seal of the city of Santa Fe. She also practiced and wrote a book about “pastecraft” – the use of paste, fabric and shellac to cover solid objects.</p>
<p>Cook herself was named a Santa Fe Living Treasure by the organization she founded, the Santa Fe Network for the Common Good, when she turned 70.</p>
<p>“They all ganged up and made me a treasure,” she said in 2008, when all of Santa Fe was invited to her 90th birthday party at the Museum of International Folk Art.</p>
<p>New Mexico Supreme Court Justice Barbara Vigil met Cook when Cook was teaching a class on “How to Organize Your Life” at Santa Fe Community College. Cook also taught at St. John’s College and the College of Santa Fe.</p>
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<p>“We became friends,” Vigil said. “She’s just a very remarkable person. Her whole philosophy in life was ‘You have a choice to live in peace or fear. I choose peace.’ ”</p>
<p>Vigil and Cook had been working on a book called “The Little Book of Secrets for Girls” filled with advice on how to become empowered young women.</p>
<p>“I haven’t finished it,” Vigil said. Cook had a hard time working on it the last two months as she became weaker and weaker.</p>
<p>“She’s just one of those people who gets life and who understands what it means to struggle and turns that into availability to inspire,” Vigil continued. “She was an inspiration to me. She never criticized anyone. She always saw the best in people.”</p>
<p>Mayor’s proclamation</p>
<p>Earlier this month, Santa Fe Mayor David Coss declared a “Mary Lou Cook Day.”</p>
<p>“Her friends had asked,” Coss said Monday. “She has done so much for Santa Fe. When you think of kindness and compassion, you thought of Mary Lou.”</p>
<p>Coss said he had known Cook since the 1990s and that he will miss her words of encouragement.</p>
<p>“She was very kind to us politicians,” he said. “She’d tell us we were doing great.”</p>
<p>Born in a Chicago elevator, Cook spent her early years in El Paso, then moved from Kansas City to Des Moines and Milwaukee before settling in Santa Fe in 1969. She studied calligraphy in London with Donald Jackson, scribe to Queen Elizabeth. She and her late husband Sam had three children: Courtney, Caren and Sam. Cardinale met Cook at a local copy shop in 1992. Cook was copying pages from “A Course in Miracles,” a self-help curriculum aimed at personal transformation. Soon he was attending weekly meetings about the course in her home.</p>
<p>“She was like the spiritual mother of Santa Fe,” he said. “She really carried the light, not in an intellectual way, but in a very emotional and spiritual way. There was a special quality about her that attracted people.”</p>
<p>As Cook’s health deteriorated and she was forced to sell her home, course members drove her to meetings or came to visit her in the nursing home, he said.</p>
<p>Santa Fe psychotherapist Leslie Nathanson was another member of Cook’s “A Course in Miracles” study group.</p>
<p>“She had it in her home for 25 years,” Nathanson said. “She had the capacity to tune into a person and make them feel like they were the most special, interesting and important person in the world. It was a very deep gift.”</p>
<p>Fought leukemia</p>
<p>Cook was fearless when she was diagnosed with a form of leukemia in her 50s, a disease she fought three times, Nathanson continued.</p>
<p>“She bounced right back,” Nathanson said. “She’s kind of like the (Energizer) Bunny. It was, ‘This is what’s happening.’ … She invested completely in the healing power of love.”</p>
<p>As one of the first artists and eventual president of the Shidoni Foundry, she helped convert a former chicken ranch into an arts center. “You can’t make this stuff up,” Nathanson said. “She got on her hands and knees scrubbing the chicken (poop) out of the coop to use as her calligraphy studio.”</p>
<p>Cook had been in hospice for some time, according to Nathanson.</p>
<p>“She was really ready,” Nathanson said. “She’d say to her friends, ‘You know, I’m 94; it’s been a lot of years. It’s been a good life.’ She was happy with what was.”</p>
<p>Even at the end, she still asked her friends how they were doing.</p>
<p>“She even asked me if I’d read the paper,” Nathanson said. “She was, ‘How are you?’ I’m happy; I’m peaceful.”</p>
<p>Services will be scheduled for a later date, Cook’s daughter Caren said. “People will be coming from all over the world,” she said. “You can’t just make a plane reservation in a day.”</p>
<p>Admirers were drawn to Cook because they sensed her graciousness was genuine, her daughter said.</p>
<p>“It was so real to her,” she said. “It was just who she was.”</p>
<p>from PAGE 1</p>
<p />
<p />
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constant admonition kind santa fe real estate agent bob cardinale said monday cook died age 95 congestive heart failure 630 monday bee hive assisted living home santa fe cooks long list community activities touched many parts santa fe community advertisement cofounded greer garson theatre concerned citizens nuclear safety created popular black kindness bracelet word kindness printed 17 languages busy weddingmeister minister eternal life church oversaw many 90 weddings commitment ceremonies years time cook also one first artists shidoni foundry state chairman 2004 dennis kucinich campaign president creating book kucinich quotes longtime advocate state department peace wrote cowrote numerous books including book kindness open endings divorce changes easily recognizable local icon inveterate hatwearer cook bought new broomstick skirt santa fe indian market every summer 1980s citys official calligrapher even providing lettering seal city santa fe also practiced wrote book pastecraft use paste fabric shellac cover solid objects cook named santa fe living treasure organization founded santa fe network common good turned 70 ganged made treasure said 2008 santa fe invited 90th birthday party museum international folk art new mexico supreme court justice barbara vigil met cook cook teaching class organize life santa fe community college cook also taught st johns college college santa fe advertisement became friends vigil said shes remarkable person whole philosophy life choice live peace fear choose peace vigil cook working book called little book secrets girls filled advice become empowered young women havent finished vigil said cook hard time working last two months became weaker weaker shes one people gets life understands means struggle turns availability inspire vigil continued inspiration never criticized anyone always saw best people mayors proclamation earlier month santa fe mayor david coss declared mary lou cook day friends asked coss said monday done much santa fe think kindness compassion thought mary lou coss said known cook since 1990s miss words encouragement kind us politicians said shed tell us great born chicago elevator cook spent early years el paso moved kansas city des moines milwaukee settling santa fe 1969 studied calligraphy london donald jackson scribe queen elizabeth late husband sam three children courtney caren sam cardinale met cook local copy shop 1992 cook copying pages course miracles selfhelp curriculum aimed personal transformation soon attending weekly meetings course home like spiritual mother santa fe said really carried light intellectual way emotional spiritual way special quality attracted people cooks health deteriorated forced sell home course members drove meetings came visit nursing home said santa fe psychotherapist leslie nathanson another member cooks course miracles study group home 25 years nathanson said capacity tune person make feel like special interesting important person world deep gift fought leukemia cook fearless diagnosed form leukemia 50s disease fought three times nathanson continued bounced right back nathanson said shes kind like energizer bunny whats happening invested completely healing power love one first artists eventual president shidoni foundry helped convert former chicken ranch arts center cant make stuff nathanson said got hands knees scrubbing chicken poop coop use calligraphy studio cook hospice time according nathanson really ready nathanson said shed say friends know im 94 lot years good life happy even end still asked friends even asked id read paper nathanson said im happy im peaceful services scheduled later date cooks daughter caren said people coming world said cant make plane reservation day admirers drawn cook sensed graciousness genuine daughter said real said page 1
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<p>MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Even by Australian Open standards, back-to-back shockers have resulted in a most unexpected quarterfinal.</p>
<p>The season-opening Grand Slam has a tendency to be unpredictable, but losing six-time champion Novak Djokovic and fifth-ranked Dominic Thiem within a few hours on Monday leaves Hyeon Chung and Tennys Sandgren playing for a spot in the semifinals.</p>
<p>The 58th-ranked Chung relentlessly attacked a clearly injured Djokovic in a 7-6 (4), 7-5, 7-6 (3) fourth-round victory, becoming the first South Korean to reach the last eight at a Grand Slam.</p>
<p>Then there’s Tennys. The 26-year-old from Tennessee had never won a Grand Slam match or beaten a top-10 player until last week. The 97th-ranked Sandgren beat Thiem 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (7), 6-3, following up on his earlier victory over 2014 Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka.</p>
<p>He’s only the second man in 20 years to reach the quarterfinals in his debut at Melbourne Park.</p>
<p>The bespectacled Chung ripped 47 winners, including a forehand on the slide and at full stretch that put him within two points of victory, and credited Djokovic as his inspiration.</p>
<p>“When I’m young, I’m just trying to copy Novak because he’s my idol,” Chung said. “I can’t believe this tonight. Dreams come true tonight.”</p>
<p>Djokovic was playing his first competitive tennis since Wimbledon last July, and had to remodel his service swing to take some load off his injured right elbow.</p>
<p>He winced and grimaced throughout the match, particularly when stretching for backhands, and needed a medical timeout in the second set for massage on his injured elbow.</p>
<p>The 12-time major champion said he would need to reassess the injury, but didn’t want his pain to detract from Chung’s win.</p>
<p>“Amazing. Amazing performance,” said Djokovic, who was seeded 14th after his ranking slid in 2017 while he was off the tour. “Whenever he was in trouble, he came up with some unbelievable shots. Just from the back of the court, you know, he was like a wall.”</p>
<p>Chung was coming off a win over fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev, and is on a roll.</p>
<p>Djokovic wasn’t even sure until the last minute that he would be able to play at Melbourne Park, but was fit enough to beat Donald Young, Gael Monfils and No. 21 Albert Ramos-Vinolas. Chung was a different proposition.</p>
<p>“I had similar situations in the past where I found myself struggling a little bit with some injuries during the match, then I managed to win,” Djokovic said. “I felt the level of pain was not that high that I need to stop the match, even though it was obviously compromising my serve.</p>
<p>“That’s life. I have to move on.”</p>
<p>The 26-year-old Sandgren missed a match point in the fourth set but held on to beat Thiem.</p>
<p>“I don’t know if this is a dream or not — all you guys are here, so maybe it’s not,” Sandgren said in an on-court TV interview after his win. “I’m not in my underwear, so maybe it’s not a dream.”</p>
<p>He described it later has “a real ‘pinch-me’ moment.”</p>
<p>Sandgren converted half of his eight break-point chances, and fended off 10 of the 12 he faced against Thiem. He hit 63 winners against 38 unforced errors.</p>
<p>“Trying to keep riding the wave,” said Sandgren, who was given his first name in memory of his great-grandfather.</p>
<p>Defending champion Roger Federer, meanwhile, had no real difficulties in reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals for the 14th time.</p>
<p>He beat Marton Fucsovics 6-4, 7-6 (3), 6-2 and will next renew a lengthy rivalry against Tomas Berdych, who had a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win over Fabio Fognini.</p>
<p>The win over Fucsovics was Federer’s first day match of the 2018 tournament, and he joked about needing sunglasses and a towel for the beach but said really the only change was to set the alarm for a different time.</p>
<p>Angelique Kerber, the only Grand Slam singles champion remaining in the women’s draw, was up earlier than Federer, and got a serious wakeup call.</p>
<p>For a while it appeared former the Australian and U.S. Open champion’s tournament could unravel against No. 88 Hsieh Su-wei, a former top-ranked doubles player with a double-handed grip on both sides.</p>
<p>Kerber recovered for a 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 win that earned her a quarterfinal spot against U.S. Open finalist Madison Keys, who beat No. 8 Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-2.</p>
<p>“Credit to her. She played an unbelievable match,” said Kerber, who is on a 13-match winning streak. “I was feeling I was running everywhere.”</p>
<p>Top-seeded Simona Halep, who had to rally from triple match point down to advance through the third round, beat Naomi Osaka 6-3, 6-2.</p>
<p>Halep will next play sixth-seeded Karolina Pliskova, who rounded off Day 8 with a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2 win over No. 20 Barbora Strycova.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP coverage: <a href="" type="internal">www.apnews.com/tag/AustralianOpen</a></p>
<p>MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Even by Australian Open standards, back-to-back shockers have resulted in a most unexpected quarterfinal.</p>
<p>The season-opening Grand Slam has a tendency to be unpredictable, but losing six-time champion Novak Djokovic and fifth-ranked Dominic Thiem within a few hours on Monday leaves Hyeon Chung and Tennys Sandgren playing for a spot in the semifinals.</p>
<p>The 58th-ranked Chung relentlessly attacked a clearly injured Djokovic in a 7-6 (4), 7-5, 7-6 (3) fourth-round victory, becoming the first South Korean to reach the last eight at a Grand Slam.</p>
<p>Then there’s Tennys. The 26-year-old from Tennessee had never won a Grand Slam match or beaten a top-10 player until last week. The 97th-ranked Sandgren beat Thiem 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (7), 6-3, following up on his earlier victory over 2014 Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka.</p>
<p>He’s only the second man in 20 years to reach the quarterfinals in his debut at Melbourne Park.</p>
<p>The bespectacled Chung ripped 47 winners, including a forehand on the slide and at full stretch that put him within two points of victory, and credited Djokovic as his inspiration.</p>
<p>“When I’m young, I’m just trying to copy Novak because he’s my idol,” Chung said. “I can’t believe this tonight. Dreams come true tonight.”</p>
<p>Djokovic was playing his first competitive tennis since Wimbledon last July, and had to remodel his service swing to take some load off his injured right elbow.</p>
<p>He winced and grimaced throughout the match, particularly when stretching for backhands, and needed a medical timeout in the second set for massage on his injured elbow.</p>
<p>The 12-time major champion said he would need to reassess the injury, but didn’t want his pain to detract from Chung’s win.</p>
<p>“Amazing. Amazing performance,” said Djokovic, who was seeded 14th after his ranking slid in 2017 while he was off the tour. “Whenever he was in trouble, he came up with some unbelievable shots. Just from the back of the court, you know, he was like a wall.”</p>
<p>Chung was coming off a win over fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev, and is on a roll.</p>
<p>Djokovic wasn’t even sure until the last minute that he would be able to play at Melbourne Park, but was fit enough to beat Donald Young, Gael Monfils and No. 21 Albert Ramos-Vinolas. Chung was a different proposition.</p>
<p>“I had similar situations in the past where I found myself struggling a little bit with some injuries during the match, then I managed to win,” Djokovic said. “I felt the level of pain was not that high that I need to stop the match, even though it was obviously compromising my serve.</p>
<p>“That’s life. I have to move on.”</p>
<p>The 26-year-old Sandgren missed a match point in the fourth set but held on to beat Thiem.</p>
<p>“I don’t know if this is a dream or not — all you guys are here, so maybe it’s not,” Sandgren said in an on-court TV interview after his win. “I’m not in my underwear, so maybe it’s not a dream.”</p>
<p>He described it later has “a real ‘pinch-me’ moment.”</p>
<p>Sandgren converted half of his eight break-point chances, and fended off 10 of the 12 he faced against Thiem. He hit 63 winners against 38 unforced errors.</p>
<p>“Trying to keep riding the wave,” said Sandgren, who was given his first name in memory of his great-grandfather.</p>
<p>Defending champion Roger Federer, meanwhile, had no real difficulties in reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals for the 14th time.</p>
<p>He beat Marton Fucsovics 6-4, 7-6 (3), 6-2 and will next renew a lengthy rivalry against Tomas Berdych, who had a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win over Fabio Fognini.</p>
<p>The win over Fucsovics was Federer’s first day match of the 2018 tournament, and he joked about needing sunglasses and a towel for the beach but said really the only change was to set the alarm for a different time.</p>
<p>Angelique Kerber, the only Grand Slam singles champion remaining in the women’s draw, was up earlier than Federer, and got a serious wakeup call.</p>
<p>For a while it appeared former the Australian and U.S. Open champion’s tournament could unravel against No. 88 Hsieh Su-wei, a former top-ranked doubles player with a double-handed grip on both sides.</p>
<p>Kerber recovered for a 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 win that earned her a quarterfinal spot against U.S. Open finalist Madison Keys, who beat No. 8 Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-2.</p>
<p>“Credit to her. She played an unbelievable match,” said Kerber, who is on a 13-match winning streak. “I was feeling I was running everywhere.”</p>
<p>Top-seeded Simona Halep, who had to rally from triple match point down to advance through the third round, beat Naomi Osaka 6-3, 6-2.</p>
<p>Halep will next play sixth-seeded Karolina Pliskova, who rounded off Day 8 with a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2 win over No. 20 Barbora Strycova.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP coverage: <a href="" type="internal">www.apnews.com/tag/AustralianOpen</a></p>
| false | 2 |
melbourne australia ap even australian open standards backtoback shockers resulted unexpected quarterfinal seasonopening grand slam tendency unpredictable losing sixtime champion novak djokovic fifthranked dominic thiem within hours monday leaves hyeon chung tennys sandgren playing spot semifinals 58thranked chung relentlessly attacked clearly injured djokovic 76 4 75 76 3 fourthround victory becoming first south korean reach last eight grand slam theres tennys 26yearold tennessee never grand slam match beaten top10 player last week 97thranked sandgren beat thiem 62 46 76 4 67 7 63 following earlier victory 2014 australian open champion stan wawrinka hes second man 20 years reach quarterfinals debut melbourne park bespectacled chung ripped 47 winners including forehand slide full stretch put within two points victory credited djokovic inspiration im young im trying copy novak hes idol chung said cant believe tonight dreams come true tonight djokovic playing first competitive tennis since wimbledon last july remodel service swing take load injured right elbow winced grimaced throughout match particularly stretching backhands needed medical timeout second set massage injured elbow 12time major champion said would need reassess injury didnt want pain detract chungs win amazing amazing performance said djokovic seeded 14th ranking slid 2017 tour whenever trouble came unbelievable shots back court know like wall chung coming win fourthseeded alexander zverev roll djokovic wasnt even sure last minute would able play melbourne park fit enough beat donald young gael monfils 21 albert ramosvinolas chung different proposition similar situations past found struggling little bit injuries match managed win djokovic said felt level pain high need stop match even though obviously compromising serve thats life move 26yearold sandgren missed match point fourth set held beat thiem dont know dream guys maybe sandgren said oncourt tv interview win im underwear maybe dream described later real pinchme moment sandgren converted half eight breakpoint chances fended 10 12 faced thiem hit 63 winners 38 unforced errors trying keep riding wave said sandgren given first name memory greatgrandfather defending champion roger federer meanwhile real difficulties reaching australian open quarterfinals 14th time beat marton fucsovics 64 76 3 62 next renew lengthy rivalry tomas berdych 61 64 64 win fabio fognini win fucsovics federers first day match 2018 tournament joked needing sunglasses towel beach said really change set alarm different time angelique kerber grand slam singles champion remaining womens draw earlier federer got serious wakeup call appeared former australian us open champions tournament could unravel 88 hsieh suwei former topranked doubles player doublehanded grip sides kerber recovered 46 75 61 win earned quarterfinal spot us open finalist madison keys beat 8 caroline garcia 63 62 credit played unbelievable match said kerber 13match winning streak feeling running everywhere topseeded simona halep rally triple match point advance third round beat naomi osaka 63 62 halep next play sixthseeded karolina pliskova rounded day 8 67 5 63 62 win 20 barbora strycova ___ ap coverage wwwapnewscomtagaustralianopen melbourne australia ap even australian open standards backtoback shockers resulted unexpected quarterfinal seasonopening grand slam tendency unpredictable losing sixtime champion novak djokovic fifthranked dominic thiem within hours monday leaves hyeon chung tennys sandgren playing spot semifinals 58thranked chung relentlessly attacked clearly injured djokovic 76 4 75 76 3 fourthround victory becoming first south korean reach last eight grand slam theres tennys 26yearold tennessee never grand slam match beaten top10 player last week 97thranked sandgren beat thiem 62 46 76 4 67 7 63 following earlier victory 2014 australian open champion stan wawrinka hes second man 20 years reach quarterfinals debut melbourne park bespectacled chung ripped 47 winners including forehand slide full stretch put within two points victory credited djokovic inspiration im young im trying copy novak hes idol chung said cant believe tonight dreams come true tonight djokovic playing first competitive tennis since wimbledon last july remodel service swing take load injured right elbow winced grimaced throughout match particularly stretching backhands needed medical timeout second set massage injured elbow 12time major champion said would need reassess injury didnt want pain detract chungs win amazing amazing performance said djokovic seeded 14th ranking slid 2017 tour whenever trouble came unbelievable shots back court know like wall chung coming win fourthseeded alexander zverev roll djokovic wasnt even sure last minute would able play melbourne park fit enough beat donald young gael monfils 21 albert ramosvinolas chung different proposition similar situations past found struggling little bit injuries match managed win djokovic said felt level pain high need stop match even though obviously compromising serve thats life move 26yearold sandgren missed match point fourth set held beat thiem dont know dream guys maybe sandgren said oncourt tv interview win im underwear maybe dream described later real pinchme moment sandgren converted half eight breakpoint chances fended 10 12 faced thiem hit 63 winners 38 unforced errors trying keep riding wave said sandgren given first name memory greatgrandfather defending champion roger federer meanwhile real difficulties reaching australian open quarterfinals 14th time beat marton fucsovics 64 76 3 62 next renew lengthy rivalry tomas berdych 61 64 64 win fabio fognini win fucsovics federers first day match 2018 tournament joked needing sunglasses towel beach said really change set alarm different time angelique kerber grand slam singles champion remaining womens draw earlier federer got serious wakeup call appeared former australian us open champions tournament could unravel 88 hsieh suwei former topranked doubles player doublehanded grip sides kerber recovered 46 75 61 win earned quarterfinal spot us open finalist madison keys beat 8 caroline garcia 63 62 credit played unbelievable match said kerber 13match winning streak feeling running everywhere topseeded simona halep rally triple match point advance third round beat naomi osaka 63 62 halep next play sixthseeded karolina pliskova rounded day 8 67 5 63 62 win 20 barbora strycova ___ ap coverage wwwapnewscomtagaustralianopen
| 950 |
<p>Michigan State was passed by Villanova for the No. 1 ranking after Duke and Kansas lost three weeks ago. The Spartans were No. 3 at the time, but voters moved the fourth-ranked Wildcats to the top spot.</p>
<p>Look who's No. 1 now.</p>
<p>Michigan State (14-1) moved up to No. 1 in the poll released on Monday, receiving 43 of 65 first-place votes following previously top-ranked Villanova's loss to Butler on Saturday.</p>
<p>No. 2 Duke, up two spots, received 21 first-place votes and No. 3 Villanova had one.</p>
<p>Michigan State won both of its games last week and hasn't lost since Nov. 14, when Duke beat the Spartans 88-81 at the Champions Classic in Chicago. The Spartans are No. 1 for the first time since the 2015-16 season, the 12th time overall.</p>
<p>"Any time we can be ranked No. 1 is a good thing," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said after the Spartans beat Savannah State 108-52. "I also think there are five or six teams that could be No. 1."</p>
<p>One thing there certainly isn't: An undefeated team left in college basketball.</p>
<p>No. 3 Arizona State lost to No. 17 Arizona and No. 10 TCU lost to No. 12 Oklahoma on the same day as Villanova, leaving the 1976 Indiana Hoosiers as the last team to finish a season undefeated.</p>
<p>The Sun Devils (12-1) dropped to No. 4 and the Horned Frogs fell from the program's highest ranking to No. 16.</p>
<p>No. 5 Xavier, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Virginia, Wichita State and Kansas rounded out the top 10.</p>
<p>SOONERS RISE</p>
<p>Oklahoma has made a steady climb since debuting in the poll this season at No. 17 on Dec. 18. Now the Sooners are up to No. 7, their highest ranking since reaching No. 1 and finishing the 2015-16 season at No. 7.</p>
<p>Trae Young has been the biggest reason for Oklahoma's rise.</p>
<p>The freshman point guard leads the nation in both scoring (29.5) and assists (10.7) while leading the Sooners to nine straight wins. Young had 39 points, hit the tiebreaking free throws with 7.9 seconds left and had 14 assists in Oklahoma's 90-88 win over previously-unbeaten TCU on Saturday.</p>
<p>The Sooners had the biggest climb in this week's poll, moving up five spots.</p>
<p>AGGIES FALL</p>
<p>Texas A&amp;M recovered nicely from a neutral-site loss to Arizona with five straight wins, moving up to No. 5 in the AP poll. An ugly, 79-57 loss to unranked Alabama sent the Aggies out of the top 10 to No. 11. Texas A&amp;M had the second-biggest drop in this week's poll.</p>
<p>MOVING IN</p>
<p>No. 22 Arkansas is back in the AP Top 25 for the first time since finishing the 2014-15 season at No. 21. The Razorbacks beat Cal State-Bakersfield and No. 19 Tennessee last week.</p>
<p>No. 25 Clemson moved into the poll for the first time since reaching No. 17 in 2009-10. The Tigers rolled over North Carolina State 78-62 last week.</p>
<p>MOVING OUT</p>
<p>Baylor took the biggest fall in the poll, from No. 18 to all the way out after losing to Texas Tech 77-53 last week.</p>
<p>Creighton dropped out from No. 25 after losing to No. 23 Seton Hall and beating Providence.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For more AP college basketball coverage: <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://twitter.com/AP_Top25" type="external" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/AP_Top25" type="external">http://twitter.com/AP_Top25</a></p>
<p>___</p>
<p>This story has been corrected to reflect that Texas A&amp;M lost to Alabama, not Florida.</p>
<p>Michigan State was passed by Villanova for the No. 1 ranking after Duke and Kansas lost three weeks ago. The Spartans were No. 3 at the time, but voters moved the fourth-ranked Wildcats to the top spot.</p>
<p>Look who's No. 1 now.</p>
<p>Michigan State (14-1) moved up to No. 1 in the poll released on Monday, receiving 43 of 65 first-place votes following previously top-ranked Villanova's loss to Butler on Saturday.</p>
<p>No. 2 Duke, up two spots, received 21 first-place votes and No. 3 Villanova had one.</p>
<p>Michigan State won both of its games last week and hasn't lost since Nov. 14, when Duke beat the Spartans 88-81 at the Champions Classic in Chicago. The Spartans are No. 1 for the first time since the 2015-16 season, the 12th time overall.</p>
<p>"Any time we can be ranked No. 1 is a good thing," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said after the Spartans beat Savannah State 108-52. "I also think there are five or six teams that could be No. 1."</p>
<p>One thing there certainly isn't: An undefeated team left in college basketball.</p>
<p>No. 3 Arizona State lost to No. 17 Arizona and No. 10 TCU lost to No. 12 Oklahoma on the same day as Villanova, leaving the 1976 Indiana Hoosiers as the last team to finish a season undefeated.</p>
<p>The Sun Devils (12-1) dropped to No. 4 and the Horned Frogs fell from the program's highest ranking to No. 16.</p>
<p>No. 5 Xavier, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Virginia, Wichita State and Kansas rounded out the top 10.</p>
<p>SOONERS RISE</p>
<p>Oklahoma has made a steady climb since debuting in the poll this season at No. 17 on Dec. 18. Now the Sooners are up to No. 7, their highest ranking since reaching No. 1 and finishing the 2015-16 season at No. 7.</p>
<p>Trae Young has been the biggest reason for Oklahoma's rise.</p>
<p>The freshman point guard leads the nation in both scoring (29.5) and assists (10.7) while leading the Sooners to nine straight wins. Young had 39 points, hit the tiebreaking free throws with 7.9 seconds left and had 14 assists in Oklahoma's 90-88 win over previously-unbeaten TCU on Saturday.</p>
<p>The Sooners had the biggest climb in this week's poll, moving up five spots.</p>
<p>AGGIES FALL</p>
<p>Texas A&amp;M recovered nicely from a neutral-site loss to Arizona with five straight wins, moving up to No. 5 in the AP poll. An ugly, 79-57 loss to unranked Alabama sent the Aggies out of the top 10 to No. 11. Texas A&amp;M had the second-biggest drop in this week's poll.</p>
<p>MOVING IN</p>
<p>No. 22 Arkansas is back in the AP Top 25 for the first time since finishing the 2014-15 season at No. 21. The Razorbacks beat Cal State-Bakersfield and No. 19 Tennessee last week.</p>
<p>No. 25 Clemson moved into the poll for the first time since reaching No. 17 in 2009-10. The Tigers rolled over North Carolina State 78-62 last week.</p>
<p>MOVING OUT</p>
<p>Baylor took the biggest fall in the poll, from No. 18 to all the way out after losing to Texas Tech 77-53 last week.</p>
<p>Creighton dropped out from No. 25 after losing to No. 23 Seton Hall and beating Providence.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For more AP college basketball coverage: <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://twitter.com/AP_Top25" type="external" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/AP_Top25" type="external">http://twitter.com/AP_Top25</a></p>
<p>___</p>
<p>This story has been corrected to reflect that Texas A&amp;M lost to Alabama, not Florida.</p>
| false | 2 |
michigan state passed villanova 1 ranking duke kansas lost three weeks ago spartans 3 time voters moved fourthranked wildcats top spot look whos 1 michigan state 141 moved 1 poll released monday receiving 43 65 firstplace votes following previously topranked villanovas loss butler saturday 2 duke two spots received 21 firstplace votes 3 villanova one michigan state games last week hasnt lost since nov 14 duke beat spartans 8881 champions classic chicago spartans 1 first time since 201516 season 12th time overall time ranked 1 good thing michigan state coach tom izzo said spartans beat savannah state 10852 also think five six teams could 1 one thing certainly isnt undefeated team left college basketball 3 arizona state lost 17 arizona 10 tcu lost 12 oklahoma day villanova leaving 1976 indiana hoosiers last team finish season undefeated sun devils 121 dropped 4 horned frogs fell programs highest ranking 16 5 xavier west virginia oklahoma virginia wichita state kansas rounded top 10 sooners rise oklahoma made steady climb since debuting poll season 17 dec 18 sooners 7 highest ranking since reaching 1 finishing 201516 season 7 trae young biggest reason oklahomas rise freshman point guard leads nation scoring 295 assists 107 leading sooners nine straight wins young 39 points hit tiebreaking free throws 79 seconds left 14 assists oklahomas 9088 win previouslyunbeaten tcu saturday sooners biggest climb weeks poll moving five spots aggies fall texas aampm recovered nicely neutralsite loss arizona five straight wins moving 5 ap poll ugly 7957 loss unranked alabama sent aggies top 10 11 texas aampm secondbiggest drop weeks poll moving 22 arkansas back ap top 25 first time since finishing 201415 season 21 razorbacks beat cal statebakersfield 19 tennessee last week 25 clemson moved poll first time since reaching 17 200910 tigers rolled north carolina state 7862 last week moving baylor took biggest fall poll 18 way losing texas tech 7753 last week creighton dropped 25 losing 23 seton hall beating providence ___ ap college basketball coverage httpcollegebasketballaporg httptwittercomap_top25 ___ story corrected reflect texas aampm lost alabama florida michigan state passed villanova 1 ranking duke kansas lost three weeks ago spartans 3 time voters moved fourthranked wildcats top spot look whos 1 michigan state 141 moved 1 poll released monday receiving 43 65 firstplace votes following previously topranked villanovas loss butler saturday 2 duke two spots received 21 firstplace votes 3 villanova one michigan state games last week hasnt lost since nov 14 duke beat spartans 8881 champions classic chicago spartans 1 first time since 201516 season 12th time overall time ranked 1 good thing michigan state coach tom izzo said spartans beat savannah state 10852 also think five six teams could 1 one thing certainly isnt undefeated team left college basketball 3 arizona state lost 17 arizona 10 tcu lost 12 oklahoma day villanova leaving 1976 indiana hoosiers last team finish season undefeated sun devils 121 dropped 4 horned frogs fell programs highest ranking 16 5 xavier west virginia oklahoma virginia wichita state kansas rounded top 10 sooners rise oklahoma made steady climb since debuting poll season 17 dec 18 sooners 7 highest ranking since reaching 1 finishing 201516 season 7 trae young biggest reason oklahomas rise freshman point guard leads nation scoring 295 assists 107 leading sooners nine straight wins young 39 points hit tiebreaking free throws 79 seconds left 14 assists oklahomas 9088 win previouslyunbeaten tcu saturday sooners biggest climb weeks poll moving five spots aggies fall texas aampm recovered nicely neutralsite loss arizona five straight wins moving 5 ap poll ugly 7957 loss unranked alabama sent aggies top 10 11 texas aampm secondbiggest drop weeks poll moving 22 arkansas back ap top 25 first time since finishing 201415 season 21 razorbacks beat cal statebakersfield 19 tennessee last week 25 clemson moved poll first time since reaching 17 200910 tigers rolled north carolina state 7862 last week moving baylor took biggest fall poll 18 way losing texas tech 7753 last week creighton dropped 25 losing 23 seton hall beating providence ___ ap college basketball coverage httpcollegebasketballaporg httptwittercomap_top25 ___ story corrected reflect texas aampm lost alabama florida
| 682 |
<p>LONDON (Reuters) - British premium car service Addison Lee said customers will be able to book journeys using their app in over 100 cities from Wednesday as it invests in $90 million worth of new vehicles in a global expansion drive, rivaling the likes of Uber.</p> An Addison Lee minicab drives through central London, Britain September 22, 2017. REUTERS/Toby Melville
<p>The firm, which catered mainly for business customers in the British capital just a few years ago, has sought to widen its appeal and began operating cars under its own name in New York last year as it branches out from being a London operator.</p>
<p>Just five months ago, customers could only use the app to book journeys in London but the firm has been adding cities to reach the more than 100 locations available including Paris, Berlin and Beijing, focused on Britons traveling abroad.</p>
<p>“We’ve effectively taken a high-quality network of affiliates around the world in 100 cities and we’ve digitized them,” Chief Executive Andy Boland told Reuters.</p>
<p>“That really talks to an international traveler demographic who wants to be able to join up car services,” he said.</p>
<p>Addison Lee competes with UberBLACK [UBER.UL], the taxi app’s luxury service, transfer service Blacklane and in New York with executive transport firms such as Carey.</p>
<p>The company will invest in over 2,000 vehicles as it increases the number of drivers it has in London by around 20 percent to 6,000 by the end of the year and reach 1,000 in New York by Easter.</p>
<p>The firm, London’s second-biggest private hire operator, had its license renewed until the end of February 2023 earlier this month, whilst Uber was deemed unfit to run a taxi service by the city’s regulator, a decision which it is appealing.</p>
<p>Reporting by Costas Pitas; editing by Stephen Addison</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is investigating whether Facebook did enough to protect data after a whistleblower said a London-based political consultancy hired by Donald Trump improperly accessed information on 50 million Facebook users to sway public opinion.</p>
<p>Facebook ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">FB.O</a>) shares closed down nearly 7 percent on Monday, wiping nearly $40 billion off its market value as investors worried that damage to the reputation of the world’s largest social media network would deter users and advertisers.</p>
<p>Elizabeth Denham, the head of Britain’s Information Commission, is seeking a warrant to search the offices of consultancy Cambridge Analytica after a whistleblower revealed it had harvested the private information of millions of people to support Trump’s 2016 U.S. presidential campaign.</p>
<p>“We are looking at whether or not Facebook secured and safeguarded personal information on the platform and whether when they found out about the loss of the data they acted robustly and whether or not people were informed,” Denham told BBC Radio.</p>
<p>U.S. and European lawmakers have demanded an explanation of how the consulting firm gained access to the data in 2014 and why Facebook failed to inform its users, raising broader industry questions about consumer privacy.</p>
<p>In Washington, the Republican chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee sent a letter on Monday to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg requesting information and a briefing on the Facebook user data.</p>
<p>“The possibility that Facebook has either not been transparent with consumers or has not been able to verify that third party app developers are transparent with consumers is troubling,” read the letter which was also addressed to Nigel Oakes, chief executive of Cambridge Analytica’s affiliate SCL.</p>
<p>Bloomberg reported that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission is investigating Facebook. Its shares fell a further 1.8 percent.</p>
<p>In London, the head of Britain’s cross-party Media parliamentary committee also wrote to Zuckerberg asking for more information. “We would like to receive your response by Monday 26 March,” lawmaker Damian Collins wrote.</p>
<p>In Dublin, Ireland’s privacy watchdog said it was following up with Facebook to clarify its oversight. The Irish body is the lead regulator for Facebook in the European Union because the network’s European headquarters are in Dublin.</p>
<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.</p>
<p>Kogan says he changed the terms and conditions of his personality-test app on Facebook from academic to commercial part way through the project, according to an email to Cambridge University colleagues obtained and cited by CNN.</p> Slideshow (9 Images)
<p>Kogan says Facebook made no objection, but Facebook says it was not informed of the change, CNN reported. Kogan was not immediately reachable for comment.</p> GRAVE VIOLATION
<p>“If this data still exists, it would be a grave violation of Facebook’s policies and an unacceptable violation of trust and the commitments these groups made,” Facebook said.</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>On Tuesday people were seen carrying multiple plastic storage containers into and out of the building that houses Cambridge Analytica’s London office, among other companies. It was not clear which firm they were going to.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">Facebook Inc</a> 168.15 FB.O Nasdaq +0.00 (+0.00%) FB.O
<p>“We are not alone in using data from social media sites to extract user information,” Cambridge Analytica said. “No Facebook data was used by our data science team in the 2016 presidential campaign.”</p>
<p>Denham, head of the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said on Monday she was seeking a warrant to access the offices of Cambridge Analytica after seeing an investigation by Britain’s Channel 4 news which secretly recorded its executives boasting of their ability to sway elections.</p>
<p>She said it would not take long to obtain the warrant.</p>
<p>“We have offered to share with the ICO all the information that it asked for and for the ICO to attend our office voluntarily, subject to our agreeing the scope of the inspection,” Cambridge Analytica said.</p>
<p>Facebook said it had hired forensic auditors from the firm Stroz Friedberg to investigate and determine whether Cambridge Analytica still had the data. The auditors were in Cambridge Analytica’s offices on Monday night but left at the request of the British authorities.</p>
<p>The Information Commissioner can currently impose fines of up to 500,000 pounds ($700,000) but will gain the power to fine an organization up to 4 percent of its global turnover when new data protection legislation comes into force in May.</p>
<p>The criticism of Cambridge Analytica presents a new threat to Facebook, which is already under attack over Russia’s alleged use of Facebook tools to sway U.S. voters with divisive and false news posts before and after the 2016 election.</p>
<p>“This story comes on the back of increasing scrutiny and societal unease with FB’s potential impact on kids as well as increasing concerns around the power of mega cap Internet names, setting the stage for deeper investigation,” Deutsche Bank analyst Lloyd Walmsley wrote in a note, keeping his “buy” rating on Facebook stock.</p>
<p>Walmsley said he was worried “about how scrutiny could ultimately impact Facebook’s ability to gather and deploy data for ad targeting, which has been critical to ad efficacy and budget growth”.</p>
<p>The company said last month it had 1.4 billion active daily users, up 14 percent from a year earlier. But the number of daily users in the United States and Canada fell for the first time in its history, dipping in the company’s home market by 700,000 from a quarter earlier to 184 million.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-facebook-cambridge-analytica-funds/index-provider-msci-says-it-is-reviewing-facebook-data-privacy-issue-idUSKBN1GW22H" type="external">Index provider MSCI says it is reviewing Facebook data privacy issue</a>
<a href="/article/us-facebook-cambridgeanalytica-malaysia/malaysia-says-never-hired-british-data-firm-at-center-of-scrutiny-idUSKBN1GW1YU" type="external">Malaysia says never hired British data firm at center of scrutiny</a>
<a href="/article/us-facebook-cambridge-analytica-kogan/uks-cambridge-university-questions-facebook-about-academics-role-in-data-breach-idUSKBN1GW1YR" type="external">UK's Cambridge University questions Facebook about academic's role in data breach</a>
<p>($1 = 0.7136 pounds)</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu in Washington; editing by David Stamp; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and David Stamp</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>Good morning. The tech sector is experiencing blows from all sides today as Facebook faces calls to explain a data misuse scandal and an&#160;Uber self-driving car kills a pedestrian in Arizona.</p> A picture illustration shows a Facebook logo reflected in a person's eye, in Zenica, March 13, 2015. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic
<p>For&#160;all the news you need to start your day,&#160; <a href="" type="internal">subscribe to the News Now newsletter</a>.&#160;The best of Reuters news delivered right into your inbox absolutely free.</p>
<p>Highlights</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Mark Zuckerberg has handed users one more reason to quit Facebook.</a> Newspaper reports that political consultancy Cambridge Analytica <a href="" type="internal">used millions of user profiles</a> creates fresh risks at the social network he founded. People are already spending less time on Facebook. The danger is that members may unfriend it altogether.</p>
<p>An Uber self-driving car hit and killed a woman crossing the street in Arizona, police said yesterday, marking the <a href="" type="internal">first fatality</a> involving an autonomous vehicle and a potential blow to the technology expected to transform transportation.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump will soon make it easier to export some types of lethal U.S.-made drones to potentially dozens more allies and partners, according to people familiar with the plan. Trump is expected to ease rules for such foreign sales under a long-delayed new policy on unmanned military aircraft due to be rolled out as early as this month, the first phase of a <a href="" type="internal">broader overhaul</a> of arms export regulations.</p>
<p>A package bomb containing nails and shrapnel that was destined for an address in Austin, Texas, exploded at a FedEx distribution center in San Antonio, injuring one employee, <a href="" type="internal">San Antonio fire officials said.</a></p>
<p>U.S. film and TV studio The Weinstein Company, whose ex-Chairman Harvey Weinstein has been accused of sexual harassment and assault, said it <a href="" type="internal">filed for bankruptcy</a> and was ending all non-disclosure agreements that may have silenced some women.</p>
<p>World</p>
<p>Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was held in custody and questioned by magistrates investigating whether late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi <a href="" type="internal">helped finance his 2007 election campaign</a>, an official in the French judiciary said.</p>
<p>North Korea’s growing missile arsenal might be the most obvious and immediate military threat facing Japan, but defense planners in Tokyo are focused on a much larger and more challenging foe as they prepare for the years ahead: China's activities in the <a href="" type="internal">South China Sea.</a></p>
<p>The world’s last male northern white rhino has died, the Kenyan conservancy taking care of it said, leaving only two females of its subspecies alive in the world although scientists <a href="" type="internal">still hope</a> they can save it from extinction.</p>
<p>Commentary</p>
<p>As Ukraine's struggle against Russia continues, Kiev must also address the growing problem of violent ultranationalist and neo-Nazi vigilantes — who often act with the tacit approval of law enforcement agencies." Despite his weak position, Poroshenko still has some options for reducing the threat from the far right," <a href="" type="internal">writes Josh Cohen</a>.</p>
<p>Business</p>
<p>Global equities <a href="" type="internal">trod water</a> ahead of a U.S. Federal Reserve policy meeting, while investors reassessed their views of tech stocks following a slump in Facebook’s shares after reports of data misuse.</p>
<p>Most Android phones will have to wait until 2019 to duplicate the 3D sensing feature behind Apple’s Face ID security, three major parts producers have <a href="" type="internal">told Reuters</a>, handicapping Samsung and others on a technology that is set to be worth billions in revenue over the next few years.</p>
<p>Ten years after the start of the financial crisis, what was once the province of shady stoners and drug cartels is now a <a href="" type="internal">thriving industry</a>, with recreational marijuana legal in states ranging from California to Massachusetts.</p>
<p>Amazon.com is making a push for merchants on its website to sell goods into other countries, setting the stage for <a href="" type="internal">greater competition</a> with rival marketplaces run by eBay and potentially Alibaba.</p>
<p>Reuters TV</p>
<p>From a stern warning to Taiwan to a pledge to open up trade, Xi gave insight into a new China under his leadership. And as Reuters’ Ben Blanchard reports, there was also an unspoken message running through the summit.</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - British privacy regulators are seeking a warrant to search the offices of the political consultancy Cambridge Analytica late Monday following reports that the company may have improperly gained access to data on 50 million Facebook users, according to a Channel 4 television report.</p>
<p>The move came as U.S. and European lawmakers demanded an explanation of how the consulting firm, which worked on President Donald Trump's election campaign, gained access to the data. In the U.S., members of Congress called on Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to testify about Facebook's actions. ( <a href="http://reut.rs/2pn8btD" type="external">reut.rs/2pn8btD</a>)</p>
<p>Facebook said on Monday it had hired forensic auditors from the firm Stroz Friedberg to investigate and determine whether Cambridge Analytica still had the data.</p>
<p>“Auditors from Stroz Friedberg were on site at Cambridge Analytica’s London office this evening,” the company said in a statement late Monday. “At the request of the UK Information Commissioner’s Office, which has announced it is pursuing a warrant to conduct its own on-site investigation, the Stroz Friedberg auditors stood down.”</p>
<p>Facebook shares closed down nearly 7.0 percent on Monday, wiping nearly $40 billion off its market value as investors worried that new legislation could damage the company’s advertising business.</p>
<p>“The lid is being opened on the black box of Facebook data practices, and the picture is not pretty,” said Frank Pasquale, a University of Maryland law professor who has written about Silicon Valley’s use of data.</p>
<p>Also on Monday, a source said that Facebook head of security, Alex Stamos, plans to leave the company over disagreements about the company’s policies on misinformation. He had been a strong advocate for an aggressive approach to alleged Russian activity on the platform aimed at manipulating elections. His departure was first reported by the New York Times. Facebook declined immediate comment.</p>
<p>In a tweet, Stamos did not deny he was leaving but said: “Despite the rumors, I’m still fully engaged with my work at Facebook. It’s true that my role did change.”</p>
<p>The criticism of Cambridge Analytica presents a new threat to Facebook’s reputation, which is already under attack over Russia’s alleged use of Facebook tools to sway U.S. voters with divisive and false news posts before and after the 2016 election.</p>
<p>London-based Cambridge Analytica said it strongly denied the media claims, and that it deleted all Facebook data it obtained from a third-party application in 2014 after learning the information did not adhere to data protection rules.</p>
<p>However, further allegations about the firm’s tactics were reported late Monday by British broadcaster Channel 4 which said it secretly taped interviews with senior Cambridge Analytica executives in which they boasted of their ability to sway elections in countries around the world with digital manipulation and traditional political trickery.</p>
<p>Cambridge Analytica rejected the allegations, saying in a statement that the Channel 4 report “is edited and scripted to grossly misrepresent the nature of those conversations and how the company conducts its business.”</p>
<p>Facebook was already facing calls on Saturday for regulation from the U.S. Congress after the reports in the New York Times and London’s Observer over the weekend.</p> FILE PHOTO: A picture illustration shows a Facebook logo reflected in a person's eye, in Zenica, March 13, 2015. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
<p>Republican Senator John Kennedy called on Zuckerberg to testify before Congress, and Democratic Senator Ron Widen sent a letter to Zuckerberg asking about company policies for sharing user data with third parties.</p>
<p>Facebook usually sends lawyers to testify to Congress, or allows trade organizations to represent it and other technology companies in front of lawmakers.</p>
<p>Facebook and other social media companies including Twitter Inc and Alphabet Inc’s YouTube have taken voluntary steps to restrict possible foreign interference and combat false news, but they have not been forced by law or regulation to make changes and legislation on the issue has stalled.</p>
<p>Late on Monday, the Connecticut Attorney General said the office will initiate an inquiry into Facebook data policies.</p>
<p>The Senate was expected to move forward on Monday with a bill that would chip away at the internet industry’s legal shield, a decades-old law known as Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, with a bill intended to address online sex trafficking. The measure has already passed the House and is expected to soon become law.</p> A 3D-printed Facebook logo are seen in front of displayed binary digits in this illustration taken, March 18, 2018. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
<p>Facebook said on Friday it had learned in 2015 that a Cambridge University psychology professor lied to the company and violated its policies by passing data to Cambridge Analytica from a psychology testing application he had built.</p>
<p>Facebook said it suspended the firms and researchers involved and said the data had been misused but not stolen, because users gave permission.</p>
<p>Facebook shares fell 6.8 percent to $172.56, dragging the U.S. S&amp;P 500 technology sector index down 2.1 percent and broadly weighing on U.S. equities. Fears of increased regulation also weighed on shares of Twitter, Google parent Alphabet and Snapchat parent Snap Inc.</p>
<p>“(Tech companies) are going to get a lot more scrutiny over what data they are collecting and how they are using it,” said Shawn Cruz, senior trading specialist at TD Ameritrade in Chicago.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-facebook-cambridge-analytica-funds-an/socially-responsible-investors-reassess-facebook-ownership-idUSKBN1GV318" type="external">'Socially responsible' investors reassess Facebook ownership</a>
<a href="/article/us-facebook-privacy-costs-analysis/privacy-issues-emerge-as-major-business-risk-for-facebook-idUSKBN1GW01F" type="external">Privacy issues emerge as major business risk for Facebook</a>
<a href="/article/us-facebook-executives-stamos/facebooks-security-chief-to-depart-source-says-idUSKBN1GV2Z2" type="external">Facebook's security chief to depart, source says</a> ‘VERY CONCERNING’
<p>European officials, who have been more willing to regulate Silicon Valley companies than their U.S. counterparts, were strident in criticism of Facebook.</p>
<p>The revelations about Cambridge Analytica were “horrifying, if confirmed,” said EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova. “We don’t want this in the EU and will take all possible legal measures” including stricter rules under the bloc’s General Data Protection Regulation that takes effect in May, she said.</p>
<p>A spokesman for British Prime Minister Theresa May said the allegations were “clearly very concerning.”</p>
<p>The head of the European Parliament said EU lawmakers will investigate possible data misuse, calling the allegations an unacceptable violation of citizens’ privacy rights.</p>
<p>(This version of the story refiles to fix spell check errors of proper names and ticker symbol)</p>
<p>Reporting by Dustin Volz and Munsif Vengattil; Additional reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak, Sruthi Shankar, David Ingram and Julia Fioretti; Editing by Nick Zieminski</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - British data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica is at the center of controversy in the United States and Britain after two newspapers reported on Sunday that the company harvested personal data about Facebook users beginning in 2014.</p> FILE PHOTO: CEO of Cambridge Analytica, Alexander Nix, speaks during the Web Summit, Europe's biggest tech conference, in Lisbon, Portugal, November 9, 2017. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes/File Photo
<p>Best known for assisting the 2016 presidential campaign of U.S. President Donald Trump, Cambridge Analytica is now facing a government search of its London office, questions from U.S. state authorities, and a demand by Facebook that it submit to a forensic audit.</p>
<p>Here is some of what is known about the company.</p> HOW DID IT START?
<p>Cambridge Analytica is an offshoot of SCL Group, a government and military contractor that says it works on everything from food security research to counter-narcotics to political campaigns. SCL was founded more than 25 years ago, according to its website.</p>
<p>Cambridge Analytica was created around 2013 initially with a focus on U.S. elections, with $15 million in backing from billionaire Republican donor Robert Mercer and a name chosen by future Trump White House adviser Steve Bannon, the New York Times reported.</p>
<p>The company, which the New York Times reported was staffed by mostly British workers then, assisted Republican Senator Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign before helping Trump’s.</p> WHAT DO THEY DO?
<p>Cambridge Analytica markets itself as providing consumer research, targeted advertising and other data-related services to both political and corporate clients.</p>
<p>It does not list its corporate clients but on its website describes them as including a daily newspaper that wanted to know more about its subscribers, a women’s clothing brand that sought research on its customers and a U.S. auto insurer interested in marketing itself.</p>
<p>Britain’s Channel 4 News reported on Monday, based on secretly recorded video, that Cambridge Analytica secretly stage-managed Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta’s campaigns in the hotly contested 2013 and 2017 elections. Cambridge Analytica denied the report.</p>
<p>The company’s website lists five office locations in New York, Washington, London, Brazil and Malaysia.</p> WHEN DID IT FIRST GET ATTENTION?
<p>After Trump won the White House in 2016, in part with the firm’s help, Cambridge Analytica CEO Alexander Nix went to more clients to pitch his services, the Times reported last year. The company boasted it could develop psychological profiles of consumers and voters which was a “secret sauce” it used to sway them more effectively than traditional advertising could.</p>
<p>Rival consultants and campaign aides, though, expressed doubts about the company’s claims. Brad Parscale, who ran Trump’s digital operations in 2016, said the campaign did not use Cambridge Analytica’s data, relying instead on voter data from a Republican National Committee operation.</p> WHAT IS IT ACCUSED OF?
<p>Cambridge Analytica beginning in 2014 obtained data on 50 million Facebook users via means that deceived both the users and Facebook, the New York Times and London’s Observer reported on Saturday.</p>
<p>The data was harvested by an application developed by a British academic, Aleksandr Kogan, the newspapers said. Some 270,000 people downloaded the application and logged in with their Facebook credentials, according to Facebook. The application gathered their data and data about their friends, and then Kogan passed the data to Cambridge Analytica, according to both Cambridge Analytica and Facebook.</p>
<p>Cambridge Analytica said on Saturday that it did not initially know Kogan violated Facebook’s terms, and that it deleted the data once it found out in 2015. Kogan could not be reached for comment.</p>
<p>The data, though, was not deleted, the two newspapers reported on Saturday. Cambridge Analytica said that the allegation was not true. Facebook said it was investigating to verify the accuracy of the claim.</p> Related Video WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
<p>Facebook said it was pressing Cambridge Analytica for answers, after getting assurances from the firm in 2015 that it had deleted all data. Facebook has hired forensic auditors from the firm Stroz Friedberg to help.</p>
<p>While Facebook investigates, the social network said it was suspending Cambridge Analytica, its parent SCL, Kogan and another man, Christopher Wylie, formerly of Cambridge Analytica, from its platform for violating Facebook rules.</p>
<p>Facebook’s probe, though, may have to wait until government authorities complete their investigation. The UK Information Commissioner’s Office is pursuing a warrant to search Cambridge Analytica’s office and asked Facebook’s auditors to stand down in the meantime, according to Facebook.</p>
<p>Attorneys general from the U.S. states of Massachusetts and Connecticut have launched investigations into how the Facebook data was handled, and the attorney general’s office in California, where Facebook is based, said it had concerns.</p>
<p>Reporting by David Ingram</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
london reuters british premium car service addison lee said customers able book journeys using app 100 cities wednesday invests 90 million worth new vehicles global expansion drive rivaling likes uber addison lee minicab drives central london britain september 22 2017 reuterstoby melville firm catered mainly business customers british capital years ago sought widen appeal began operating cars name new york last year branches london operator five months ago customers could use app book journeys london firm adding cities reach 100 locations available including paris berlin beijing focused britons traveling abroad weve effectively taken highquality network affiliates around world 100 cities weve digitized chief executive andy boland told reuters really talks international traveler demographic wants able join car services said addison lee competes uberblack uberul taxi apps luxury service transfer service blacklane new york executive transport firms carey company invest 2000 vehicles increases number drivers london around 20 percent 6000 end year reach 1000 new york easter firm londons secondbiggest private hire operator license renewed end february 2023 earlier month whilst uber deemed unfit run taxi service citys regulator decision appealing reporting costas pitas editing stephen addison standards thomson reuters trust principles london reuters britain investigating whether facebook enough protect data whistleblower said londonbased political consultancy hired donald trump improperly accessed information 50 million facebook users sway public opinion facebook fbo shares closed nearly 7 percent monday wiping nearly 40 billion market value investors worried damage reputation worlds largest social media network would deter users advertisers elizabeth denham head britains information commission seeking warrant search offices consultancy cambridge analytica whistleblower revealed harvested private information millions people support trumps 2016 us presidential campaign looking whether facebook secured safeguarded personal information platform whether found loss data acted robustly whether people informed denham told bbc radio us european lawmakers demanded explanation consulting firm gained access data 2014 facebook failed inform users raising broader industry questions consumer privacy washington republican chairman senate commerce science transportation committee sent letter monday facebook ceo mark zuckerberg requesting information briefing facebook user data possibility facebook either transparent consumers able verify third party app developers transparent consumers troubling read letter also addressed nigel oakes chief executive cambridge analyticas affiliate scl bloomberg reported us federal trade commission investigating facebook shares fell 18 percent london head britains crossparty media parliamentary committee also wrote zuckerberg asking information would like receive response monday 26 march lawmaker damian collins wrote dublin irelands privacy watchdog said following facebook clarify oversight irish body lead regulator facebook european union networks european headquarters dublin 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 says changed terms conditions personalitytest app facebook academic commercial part way project according email cambridge university colleagues obtained cited cnn slideshow 9 images kogan says facebook made objection facebook says informed change cnn reported kogan immediately reachable comment grave violation data still exists would grave violation facebooks policies unacceptable violation trust commitments groups made facebook said cambridge analytica denied media claims said deleted data learning information adhere data protection rules tuesday people seen carrying multiple plastic storage containers building houses cambridge analyticas london office among companies clear firm going facebook inc 16815 fbo nasdaq 000 000 fbo alone using data social media sites extract user information cambridge analytica said facebook data used data science team 2016 presidential campaign denham head information commissioners office ico said monday seeking warrant access offices cambridge analytica seeing investigation britains channel 4 news secretly recorded executives boasting ability sway elections said would take long obtain warrant offered share ico information asked ico attend office voluntarily subject agreeing scope inspection cambridge analytica said facebook said hired forensic auditors firm stroz friedberg investigate determine whether cambridge analytica still data auditors cambridge analyticas offices monday night left request british authorities information commissioner currently impose fines 500000 pounds 700000 gain power fine organization 4 percent global turnover new data protection legislation comes force may criticism cambridge analytica presents new threat facebook already attack russias alleged use facebook tools sway us voters divisive false news posts 2016 election story comes back increasing scrutiny societal unease fbs potential impact kids well increasing concerns around power mega cap internet names setting stage deeper investigation deutsche bank analyst lloyd walmsley wrote note keeping buy rating facebook stock walmsley said worried scrutiny could ultimately impact facebooks ability gather deploy data ad targeting critical ad efficacy budget growth company said last month 14 billion active daily users 14 percent year earlier number daily users united states canada fell first time history dipping companys home market 700000 quarter earlier 184 million related coverage index provider msci says reviewing facebook data privacy issue malaysia says never hired british data firm center scrutiny uks cambridge university questions facebook academics role data breach 1 07136 pounds additional reporting doina chiacu washington editing david stamp editing guy faulconbridge david stamp standards thomson reuters trust principles good morning tech sector experiencing blows sides today facebook faces calls explain data misuse scandal an160uber selfdriving car kills pedestrian arizona picture illustration shows facebook logo reflected persons eye zenica march 13 2015 reutersdado ruvic for160all news need start day160 subscribe news newsletter160the best reuters news delivered right inbox absolutely free highlights mark zuckerberg handed users one reason quit facebook newspaper reports political consultancy cambridge analytica used millions user profiles creates fresh risks social network founded people already spending less time facebook danger members may unfriend altogether uber selfdriving car hit killed woman crossing street arizona police said yesterday marking first fatality involving autonomous vehicle potential blow technology expected transform transportation president donald trump soon make easier export types lethal usmade drones potentially dozens allies partners according people familiar plan trump expected ease rules foreign sales longdelayed new policy unmanned military aircraft due rolled early month first phase broader overhaul arms export regulations package bomb containing nails shrapnel destined address austin texas exploded fedex distribution center san antonio injuring one employee san antonio fire officials said us film tv studio weinstein company whose exchairman harvey weinstein accused sexual harassment assault said filed bankruptcy ending nondisclosure agreements may silenced women world former french president nicolas sarkozy held custody questioned magistrates investigating whether late libyan leader muammar gaddafi helped finance 2007 election campaign official french judiciary said north koreas growing missile arsenal might obvious immediate military threat facing japan defense planners tokyo focused much larger challenging foe prepare years ahead chinas activities south china sea worlds last male northern white rhino died kenyan conservancy taking care said leaving two females subspecies alive world although scientists still hope save extinction commentary ukraines struggle russia continues kiev must also address growing problem violent ultranationalist neonazi vigilantes often act tacit approval law enforcement agencies despite weak position poroshenko still options reducing threat far right writes josh cohen business global equities trod water ahead us federal reserve policy meeting investors reassessed views tech stocks following slump facebooks shares reports data misuse android phones wait 2019 duplicate 3d sensing feature behind apples face id security three major parts producers told reuters handicapping samsung others technology set worth billions revenue next years ten years start financial crisis province shady stoners drug cartels thriving industry recreational marijuana legal states ranging california massachusetts amazoncom making push merchants website sell goods countries setting stage greater competition rival marketplaces run ebay potentially alibaba reuters tv stern warning taiwan pledge open trade xi gave insight new china leadership reuters ben blanchard reports also unspoken message running summit standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters british privacy regulators seeking warrant search offices political consultancy cambridge analytica late monday following reports company may improperly gained access data 50 million facebook users according channel 4 television report move came us european lawmakers demanded explanation consulting firm worked president donald trumps election campaign gained access data us members congress called facebook ceo mark zuckerberg testify facebooks actions reutrs2pn8btd facebook said monday hired forensic auditors firm stroz friedberg investigate determine whether cambridge analytica still data auditors stroz friedberg site cambridge analyticas london office evening company said statement late monday request uk information commissioners office announced pursuing warrant conduct onsite investigation stroz friedberg auditors stood facebook shares closed nearly 70 percent monday wiping nearly 40 billion market value investors worried new legislation could damage companys advertising business lid opened black box facebook data practices picture pretty said frank pasquale university maryland law professor written silicon valleys use data also monday source said facebook head security alex stamos plans leave company disagreements companys policies misinformation strong advocate aggressive approach alleged russian activity platform aimed manipulating elections departure first reported new york times facebook declined immediate comment tweet stamos deny leaving said despite rumors im still fully engaged work facebook true role change criticism cambridge analytica presents new threat facebooks reputation already attack russias alleged use facebook tools sway us voters divisive false news posts 2016 election londonbased cambridge analytica said strongly denied media claims deleted facebook data obtained thirdparty application 2014 learning information adhere data protection rules however allegations firms tactics reported late monday british broadcaster channel 4 said secretly taped interviews senior cambridge analytica executives boasted ability sway elections countries around world digital manipulation traditional political trickery cambridge analytica rejected allegations saying statement channel 4 report edited scripted grossly misrepresent nature conversations company conducts business facebook already facing calls saturday regulation us congress reports new york times londons observer weekend file photo picture illustration shows facebook logo reflected persons eye zenica march 13 2015 reutersdado ruvicillustrationfile photo republican senator john kennedy called zuckerberg testify congress democratic senator ron widen sent letter zuckerberg asking company policies sharing user data third parties facebook usually sends lawyers testify congress allows trade organizations represent technology companies front lawmakers facebook social media companies including twitter inc alphabet incs youtube taken voluntary steps restrict possible foreign interference combat false news forced law regulation make changes legislation issue stalled late monday connecticut attorney general said office initiate inquiry facebook data policies senate expected move forward monday bill would chip away internet industrys legal shield decadesold law known section 230 communications decency act bill intended address online sex trafficking measure already passed house expected soon become law 3dprinted facebook logo seen front displayed binary digits illustration taken march 18 2018 reutersdado ruvicillustration facebook said friday learned 2015 cambridge university psychology professor lied company violated policies passing data cambridge analytica psychology testing application built facebook said suspended firms researchers involved said data misused stolen users gave permission facebook shares fell 68 percent 17256 dragging us sampp 500 technology sector index 21 percent broadly weighing us equities fears increased regulation also weighed shares twitter google parent alphabet snapchat parent snap inc tech companies going get lot scrutiny data collecting using said shawn cruz senior trading specialist td ameritrade chicago related coverage socially responsible investors reassess facebook ownership privacy issues emerge major business risk facebook facebooks security chief depart source says concerning european officials willing regulate silicon valley companies us counterparts strident criticism facebook revelations cambridge analytica horrifying confirmed said eu justice commissioner vera jourova dont want eu take possible legal measures including stricter rules blocs general data protection regulation takes effect may said spokesman british prime minister theresa may said allegations clearly concerning head european parliament said eu lawmakers investigate possible data misuse calling allegations unacceptable violation citizens privacy rights version story refiles fix spell check errors proper names ticker symbol reporting dustin volz munsif vengattil additional reporting chuck mikolajczak sruthi shankar david ingram julia fioretti editing nick zieminski standards thomson reuters trust principles san francisco reuters british data analytics firm cambridge analytica center controversy united states britain two newspapers reported sunday company harvested personal data facebook users beginning 2014 file photo ceo cambridge analytica alexander nix speaks web summit europes biggest tech conference lisbon portugal november 9 2017 reuterspedro nunesfile photo best known assisting 2016 presidential campaign us president donald trump cambridge analytica facing government search london office questions us state authorities demand facebook submit forensic audit known company start cambridge analytica offshoot scl group government military contractor says works everything food security research counternarcotics political campaigns scl founded 25 years ago according website cambridge analytica created around 2013 initially focus us elections 15 million backing billionaire republican donor robert mercer name chosen future trump white house adviser steve bannon new york times reported company new york times reported staffed mostly british workers assisted republican senator ted cruzs presidential campaign helping trumps cambridge analytica markets providing consumer research targeted advertising datarelated services political corporate clients list corporate clients website describes including daily newspaper wanted know subscribers womens clothing brand sought research customers us auto insurer interested marketing britains channel 4 news reported monday based secretly recorded video cambridge analytica secretly stagemanaged kenya president uhuru kenyattas campaigns hotly contested 2013 2017 elections cambridge analytica denied report companys website lists five office locations new york washington london brazil malaysia first get attention trump white house 2016 part firms help cambridge analytica ceo alexander nix went clients pitch services times reported last year company boasted could develop psychological profiles consumers voters secret sauce used sway effectively traditional advertising could rival consultants campaign aides though expressed doubts companys claims brad parscale ran trumps digital operations 2016 said campaign use cambridge analyticas data relying instead voter data republican national committee operation accused cambridge analytica beginning 2014 obtained data 50 million facebook users via means deceived users facebook new york times londons observer reported saturday data harvested application developed british academic aleksandr kogan newspapers said 270000 people downloaded application logged facebook credentials according facebook application gathered data data friends kogan passed data cambridge analytica according cambridge analytica facebook cambridge analytica said saturday initially know kogan violated facebooks terms deleted data found 2015 kogan could reached comment data though deleted two newspapers reported saturday cambridge analytica said allegation true facebook said investigating verify accuracy claim related video happens next facebook said pressing cambridge analytica answers getting assurances firm 2015 deleted data facebook hired forensic auditors firm stroz friedberg help facebook investigates social network said suspending cambridge analytica parent scl kogan another man christopher wylie formerly cambridge analytica platform violating facebook rules facebooks probe though may wait government authorities complete investigation uk information commissioners office pursuing warrant search cambridge analyticas office asked facebooks auditors stand meantime according facebook attorneys general us states massachusetts connecticut launched investigations facebook data handled attorney generals office california facebook based said concerns reporting david ingram standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p />
<p>But the city’s Environmental Planning Commission — deliberating into the early-morning hours today — voted 5-2 against plans for a Walmart at Coors and Montaño.</p>
<p>The marathon hearing lumbered to an end well after midnight, as the commission ultimately rejected the approvals needed for the project to move forward. Its decision can be appealed to the City Council.</p>
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<p>City planning staff had also recommended denial of the project.</p>
<p>At least 400 people filled a ballroom at the Albuquerque Convention Center to watch or testify at the hearing, which began at 1 p.m. The crowd often cheered opponents of the project and chuckled at presentations from supporters.</p>
<p>About 50 people were left about midnight, and the vote came about 12:45 a.m.</p>
<p>The proposed 98,900-square-foot store would be located southeast of the Coors and Montaño intersection.</p>
<p>One of the key debates was whether the Walmart would have adequate access to a major roadway. The city’s 2007 “big box” ordinance requires “full access” to a major four-lane road, meaning traffic can flow either way when entering or leaving the site.</p>
<p>In this case, the Walmart building itself doesn’t appear to have full access to Coors, but the larger subdivision in which it would be built has full access through Learning Road and Coors, where there is a traffic light.</p>
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<p>The city’s staff planners for the project recommended denial because, they said, the tract on which the Walmart would sit “does not have primary and full access to either” Coors or Montaño.</p>
<p>They also said the project isn’t pedestrian friendly as required in design standards. They cited its proximity to the bosque, too.</p>
<p>Ron Bohannan, an engineer working with the Walmart development team, said the project would include plazas, a sidewalk network and a bicycle hub. He said the Walmart would be 400 feet away from the bosque and that the store could adjust its truck delivery schedule to accommodate the morning rush of students to the Bosque School, which is nearby.</p>
<p>The building would be about the size of a Target, not as big as the Walmart at West Bluff near Interstate 40.</p>
<p>“People keep thinking this is a large supercenter,” Bohannan said, but it isn’t.</p>
<p>The EPC also heard from Timothy Flynn-O’Brien, an attorney for the Taylor Ranch Neighborhood Association. He said the proposal doesn’t comply with design standards already approved for the site calling for pedestrian-friendly, village-like development.</p>
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<p>Flynn-O’Brien questioned whether the plazas mentioned by Bohannan would actually attract residents. A Walmart parking lot, he said, isn’t a community gathering place the way the fountain at ABQ Uptown or the plaza at Old Town are.</p>
<p>Flynn-O’Brien also questioned whether the site has the required access to major roads.</p>
<p>“This will result in excessive traffic on local streets,” Flynn-O’Brien said.</p>
<p>Walmart customers leaving the store would have to travel a short distance to the south and through at least one roundabout to get to Learning Road. Apartments and residential uses are planned for the area.</p>
<p>About 10 students from Bosque School testified against the Walmart and answered questions from the planning commissioners.</p>
<p>Planning Commissioner Ron O. Garcia asked one student about the need for economic development.</p>
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<p>“We’re hurting for jobs out there,” Garcia said.</p>
<p>Sara Blanchfield, a senior at Bosque School, wasn’t convinced the Walmart would be good for economic development.</p>
<p>She said local businesses bring culture and color to the area.</p>
<p>“As a result of this Walmart,” she said, “many small businesses would struggle and many would close.”</p>
<p>But some residents said the Walmart would add shopping opportunities and relieve congestion at other West Side Walmarts.</p>
<p>“The general public supports this store,” said Wayland Strickland, who identified himself as one of 15,000 people who signed petitions in favor of the project.</p>
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<p>The site is owned by the Daskalos family, who’ve been involved in development all over town.</p>
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<p>4:12 p.m. —&#160;About 400 people turned out for today’s hearing about the Walmart proposed at Coors and Montaño. Some 70 of them are signed up to testify before the Environmental Planning Commission, which has so far heard presentations from city planning staff, the development team and Taylor Ranch Neighborhood Association.</p>
<p>General public comment was just getting underway about 4 p.m.</p>
<p>One of the key questions before the EPC is whether the proposed Walmart meets the road-access requirements of Albuquerque’s “big box” ordinance.</p>
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<p>City planners recommended denial of the project because, they say, the tract on which the Walmart itself sits doesn’t have full access to either Coors or Montaño.</p>
<p>But they also noted that the larger subdivision in which the Walmart sits does have full access to Coors, at Learning Road. That means that if the EPC determines that it’s the overall subdivision that needs access — not the Walmart building itself — then the project meets the big-box ordinance requirement, staffers said.</p>
<p>Ron Bohannan, an engineer representing the Walmart team, said the project would include plazas, a sidewalk network and a bicycle hub. He said the Walmart would be 400 feet away from the bosque and that the store could adjust its truck delivery schedule to accommodate the morning rush of students to the Bosque School.</p>
<p>Timothy Flynn-O’Brien, an attorney for the Taylor Ranch Neighborhood Association, said the proposal doesn’t comply with design standards for the site that call for pedestrian-friendly, village-like development. He questioned the plazas mentioned by Bohannan and said a Walmart parking lot isn’t the type of gathering place intended by the design standards.</p>
<p>Flynn-O’Brien also questioned whether the site has the required access to major roads.</p>
<p>“This will result in excessive traffic on local streets,” he said.</p>
<p>The city’s&#160;Environmental Planning Commission is currently meeting to discuss the proposed controversial Walmart project at Coors and&#160;Montaño. The commission is expected to hear testimony from the public about the project, which received a <a href="" type="internal">recommended denial from city planners earlier this week</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/mckaydan" type="external">Journal reporter Dan McKay</a> is at the meeting. We’ll have his full story later today.</p>
<p>Stay with <a href="" type="internal">ABQJournal.com</a> for updates about this story.</p>
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citys environmental planning commission deliberating earlymorning hours today voted 52 plans walmart coors montaño marathon hearing lumbered end well midnight commission ultimately rejected approvals needed project move forward decision appealed city council advertisement city planning staff also recommended denial project least 400 people filled ballroom albuquerque convention center watch testify hearing began 1 pm crowd often cheered opponents project chuckled presentations supporters 50 people left midnight vote came 1245 proposed 98900squarefoot store would located southeast coors montaño intersection one key debates whether walmart would adequate access major roadway citys 2007 big box ordinance requires full access major fourlane road meaning traffic flow either way entering leaving site case walmart building doesnt appear full access coors larger subdivision would built full access learning road coors traffic light advertisement citys staff planners project recommended denial said tract walmart would sit primary full access either coors montaño also said project isnt pedestrian friendly required design standards cited proximity bosque ron bohannan engineer working walmart development team said project would include plazas sidewalk network bicycle hub said walmart would 400 feet away bosque store could adjust truck delivery schedule accommodate morning rush students bosque school nearby building would size target big walmart west bluff near interstate 40 people keep thinking large supercenter bohannan said isnt epc also heard timothy flynnobrien attorney taylor ranch neighborhood association said proposal doesnt comply design standards already approved site calling pedestrianfriendly villagelike development advertisement flynnobrien questioned whether plazas mentioned bohannan would actually attract residents walmart parking lot said isnt community gathering place way fountain abq uptown plaza old town flynnobrien also questioned whether site required access major roads result excessive traffic local streets flynnobrien said walmart customers leaving store would travel short distance south least one roundabout get learning road apartments residential uses planned area 10 students bosque school testified walmart answered questions planning commissioners planning commissioner ron garcia asked one student need economic development advertisement hurting jobs garcia said sara blanchfield senior bosque school wasnt convinced walmart would good economic development said local businesses bring culture color area result walmart said many small businesses would struggle many would close residents said walmart would add shopping opportunities relieve congestion west side walmarts general public supports store said wayland strickland identified one 15000 people signed petitions favor project advertisement site owned daskalos family whove involved development town 160 160 412 pm 160about 400 people turned todays hearing walmart proposed coors montaño 70 signed testify environmental planning commission far heard presentations city planning staff development team taylor ranch neighborhood association general public comment getting underway 4 pm one key questions epc whether proposed walmart meets roadaccess requirements albuquerques big box ordinance advertisement city planners recommended denial project say tract walmart sits doesnt full access either coors montaño also noted larger subdivision walmart sits full access coors learning road means epc determines overall subdivision needs access walmart building project meets bigbox ordinance requirement staffers said ron bohannan engineer representing walmart team said project would include plazas sidewalk network bicycle hub said walmart would 400 feet away bosque store could adjust truck delivery schedule accommodate morning rush students bosque school timothy flynnobrien attorney taylor ranch neighborhood association said proposal doesnt comply design standards site call pedestrianfriendly villagelike development questioned plazas mentioned bohannan said walmart parking lot isnt type gathering place intended design standards flynnobrien also questioned whether site required access major roads result excessive traffic local streets said citys160environmental planning commission currently meeting discuss proposed controversial walmart project coors and160montaño commission expected hear testimony public project received recommended denial city planners earlier week journal reporter dan mckay meeting well full story later today stay abqjournalcom updates story
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<p>NEW ORLEANS — The Latest on severe weather on the Gulf Coast (all times local):</p>
<p>5:30 p.m.</p>
<p>NASA says its Michoud (MEE-shoo) Assembly Facility in eastern New Orleans remains closed while security and emergency operations crews assess damage from Tuesday’s tornado.</p>
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<p>A news release says there’s some electrical damage to a substation at the building where major hardware is welded for a rocket designed to explore deep space.</p>
<p>NASA notes that the most recently welded Space Launch System part had been moved out of that building last week.</p>
<p>The statement says about 40 percent to 50 percent of the facility’s buildings were damaged, and four or five buildings have severe damage.</p>
<p>It says Wednesday’s work concentrated on finishing damage assessments and restoring power to buildings in the best condition. It says those include the main NASA administration building, boiler house and U.S. Coast Guard facilities.</p>
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<p>5 p.m.</p>
<p>The National Weather Service has confirmed that a small tornado touched ground just outside New Orleans, making at least five that hit Louisiana on Tuesday.</p>
<p>A storm report says an EF0 tornado hit Jefferson, about 5 miles west of New Orleans in Jefferson Parish. It says that tornado knocked down big branches and did minor roof damage, with estimated winds around 80 mph.</p>
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<p>It left a mile-long path, with a maximum width of 25 yards.</p>
<p>The one that hit New Orleans had 140-mph winds and left a track a half-mile wide and about 2 miles long.</p>
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<p>4:30 p.m.</p>
<p>The National Weather Service says Tuesday’s tornado was the first EF-3 twister ever to hit New Orleans.</p>
<p>Ken Graham, meteorologist-in-charge of the local weather service office, says it had winds about 140 mph.</p>
<p>He says other EF-3 tornadoes have hit southeastern Louisiana. They include two on Feb. 25, 2016, in Convent, about 45 miles west of New Orleans.</p>
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<p>4:15 p.m.</p>
<p>New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says he has not spoken with President Trump about getting a federal disaster declaration for New Orleans, but Trump’s office called his on Tuesday, the day an EF-3 tornado hit the city.</p>
<p>Landrieu says city officials think the damage is severe enough for a federal disaster declaration. That would open the way for federal money to help people and public agencies, and for cleanup money.</p>
<p>Landrieu told a news conference that a preliminary assessment indicates that about 300 buildings were destroyed and another 640 seriously damaged.</p>
<p>He says the storm’s path was two miles long and a half-mile wide. Landrieu says search and rescue crews checked more than 5,100 buildings to be sure nobody was inside and in danger, and then checked them all again, to be sure.</p>
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<p>4 p.m.</p>
<p>The president of a parish north of New Orleans has declared a parish-wide disaster in response to the tornado that hit Tuesday.</p>
<p>A news release from St. Tammany Parish President Pat Brister asks any homeowner, business, church or school with damage to report it to the parish.</p>
<p>He says the disaster declaration is “a procedural process” that lets the local government better coordinate resources for public safety and recovery.</p>
<p>St. Tammany Parish was among seven hit by tornadoes Tuesday. The National Weather Service says at least four tornadoes hit Louisiana, and there may have been more.</p>
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<p>3:30 p.m.</p>
<p>New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says a tornado that hit New Orleans injured about three dozen people and damaged about 300 properties along a 2- to 2 1/2-mile path.</p>
<p>He says in a news release that two people remain hospitalized but the rest have been treated and released.</p>
<p>Landrieu says 78 people spent Tuesday night in a shelter.</p>
<p>The news release says 10,400 Entergy customers lost power but it has been restored to about 6,700 customers. Entergy says it could be several days before everyone has power.</p>
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<p>1 p.m.</p>
<p>A woman who lives in eastern New Orleans credits God and her best friend for her survival as a tornado struck her house.</p>
<p>Rocqueisha (rock-EE-shuh) Williams says she was sitting on her bed and it wasn’t even raining outside when the friend called her Tuesday, warning that a tornado was in her neighborhood.</p>
<p>While hauling a mattress into the bathroom to hunker down, she looked out her front window at a world gone grey, shot through with turquoise lightning.</p>
<p>When the storm passed, she found all her bedrooms damaged and her bed covered with glass. She ran to a nearby school and found it damaged, but her two sons there were safe. Her other two children also were safe at other schools.</p>
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<p>11:45 a.m.</p>
<p>A New Orleans man had just finished restoring a blighted house for sale in the city when a tornado hit.</p>
<p>Dwight Powell parked his 2014 Lexus in the garage to avoid hail damage, but then garage fell onto it.</p>
<p>He figured his truck was safely being repaired 60 miles away in Donaldsonville, but then his friend called — that truck also was hit, by another tornado.</p>
<p>The twisters were among at least four that hit Louisiana on Wednesday, injuring about 40 people, destroying homes and businesses and flipping cars and trucks. Another twister hit in Mississippi.</p>
<p>Powell says at least his wife and daughter were not home, and he and an employee escaped unharmed. He says he has to pick up the pieces and walk in faith.</p>
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<p>11:10 a.m.</p>
<p>National Weather Service teams are out getting information about at least four tornadoes that hit Louisiana and one that hit Mississippi on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Meteorologist Christopher Bannan says there may have been more than four in Louisiana, but it may take a day or two to check everything out.</p>
<p>He says crews confirmed that at least an EF2 tornado hit eastern New Orleans, and are checking to see if it was more powerful. A second crew is in Killian, east of Baton Rouge, where a tornado hit and headed north into Tangipahoa Parish. A third crew is near Donaldsonville, southeast of Baton Rouge. Bannon says a fourth confirmed tornado hit near Watson, northeast of Baton Rouge.</p>
<p>In Jackson, Mississippi, meteorologist Shannon Hefferan says a tornado hit Scott and Jasper counties.</p>
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<p>2:30 a.m.</p>
<p>Officials say tornadoes that struck parts of southeastern Louisiana injured about 40 people, destroyed homes and businesses, flipped cars and trucks, and left thousands without power, but no deaths were reported.</p>
<p>Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards took an aerial tour and made a disaster declaration before meeting with officials in New Orleans. The worst damage was in the same 9th Ward that was so heavily flooded in 2005’s Hurricane Katrina.</p>
<p>Edwards says he was heartbroken to see some of the same people suffering again, and promised that the state will provide the affected residents with the resources they need as quickly as possible.</p>
<p>He says seven parishes were hit by tornadoes.</p>
<p>The wall of severe weather also delivered heavy rain and hail to Mississippi and Alabama.</p>
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new orleans latest severe weather gulf coast times local 530 pm nasa says michoud meeshoo assembly facility eastern new orleans remains closed security emergency operations crews assess damage tuesdays tornado advertisement news release says theres electrical damage substation building major hardware welded rocket designed explore deep space nasa notes recently welded space launch system part moved building last week statement says 40 percent 50 percent facilitys buildings damaged four five buildings severe damage says wednesdays work concentrated finishing damage assessments restoring power buildings best condition says include main nasa administration building boiler house us coast guard facilities ___ 5 pm national weather service confirmed small tornado touched ground outside new orleans making least five hit louisiana tuesday storm report says ef0 tornado hit jefferson 5 miles west new orleans jefferson parish says tornado knocked big branches minor roof damage estimated winds around 80 mph advertisement left milelong path maximum width 25 yards one hit new orleans 140mph winds left track halfmile wide 2 miles long ___ 430 pm national weather service says tuesdays tornado first ef3 twister ever hit new orleans ken graham meteorologistincharge local weather service office says winds 140 mph says ef3 tornadoes hit southeastern louisiana include two feb 25 2016 convent 45 miles west new orleans ___ 415 pm new orleans mayor mitch landrieu says spoken president trump getting federal disaster declaration new orleans trumps office called tuesday day ef3 tornado hit city landrieu says city officials think damage severe enough federal disaster declaration would open way federal money help people public agencies cleanup money landrieu told news conference preliminary assessment indicates 300 buildings destroyed another 640 seriously damaged says storms path two miles long halfmile wide landrieu says search rescue crews checked 5100 buildings sure nobody inside danger checked sure ___ 4 pm president parish north new orleans declared parishwide disaster response tornado hit tuesday news release st tammany parish president pat brister asks homeowner business church school damage report parish says disaster declaration procedural process lets local government better coordinate resources public safety recovery st tammany parish among seven hit tornadoes tuesday national weather service says least four tornadoes hit louisiana may ___ 330 pm new orleans mayor mitch landrieu says tornado hit new orleans injured three dozen people damaged 300 properties along 2 2 12mile path says news release two people remain hospitalized rest treated released landrieu says 78 people spent tuesday night shelter news release says 10400 entergy customers lost power restored 6700 customers entergy says could several days everyone power ___ 1 pm woman lives eastern new orleans credits god best friend survival tornado struck house rocqueisha rockeeshuh williams says sitting bed wasnt even raining outside friend called tuesday warning tornado neighborhood hauling mattress bathroom hunker looked front window world gone grey shot turquoise lightning storm passed found bedrooms damaged bed covered glass ran nearby school found damaged two sons safe two children also safe schools ___ 1145 new orleans man finished restoring blighted house sale city tornado hit dwight powell parked 2014 lexus garage avoid hail damage garage fell onto figured truck safely repaired 60 miles away donaldsonville friend called truck also hit another tornado twisters among least four hit louisiana wednesday injuring 40 people destroying homes businesses flipping cars trucks another twister hit mississippi powell says least wife daughter home employee escaped unharmed says pick pieces walk faith ___ 1110 national weather service teams getting information least four tornadoes hit louisiana one hit mississippi tuesday meteorologist christopher bannan says may four louisiana may take day two check everything says crews confirmed least ef2 tornado hit eastern new orleans checking see powerful second crew killian east baton rouge tornado hit headed north tangipahoa parish third crew near donaldsonville southeast baton rouge bannon says fourth confirmed tornado hit near watson northeast baton rouge jackson mississippi meteorologist shannon hefferan says tornado hit scott jasper counties ___ 230 officials say tornadoes struck parts southeastern louisiana injured 40 people destroyed homes businesses flipped cars trucks left thousands without power deaths reported louisiana gov john bel edwards took aerial tour made disaster declaration meeting officials new orleans worst damage 9th ward heavily flooded 2005s hurricane katrina edwards says heartbroken see people suffering promised state provide affected residents resources need quickly possible says seven parishes hit tornadoes wall severe weather also delivered heavy rain hail mississippi alabama
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<p>Lista de nominados a la 90na entrega anual de los Premios de la Academia, según se anunció el martes. Los Premios de la Academia se entregarán el domingo 4 de marzo en el Teatro Dolby en Los Ángeles.</p>
<p>Mejor película: “Call Me By Your Name”, “Darkest Hour”, “Dunkirk”, “Get Out”, Lady Bird”, “Phantom Thread”, “The Post”, “The Shape of Water”, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri”.</p>
<p>Dirección: “Dunkirk”, Christopher Nolan; “Get Out”, Jordan Peele; “Lady Bird”, Greta Gerwig; “Phantom Thread”, Paul Thomas Anderson; “The Shape of Water”, Guillermo del Toro.</p>
<p>Actor: Timothée Chalamet, “Call Me By Your Name”; Daniel Day-Lewis, “Phantom Thread”; Daniel Kaluuya, “Get Out”; Gary Oldman, “Darkest Hour”; Denzel Wasington “Roman J. Israel, Esq.”</p>
<p>Actriz: Sally Hawkins, “The Shape of Water”; Frances McDormand, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri”; Margot Robbie, “I, Tonya”; Saoirse Ronan, “Lady Bird”; Meryl Streep, “The Post”.</p>
<p>Actor de reparto: Willem Dafoe, “The Florida Project”; Woody Harrelson, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri”; Richard Jenkins, “The Shape of Water”; Christopher Plummer, “All the Money in the World”; Sam Rockwell, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri”.</p>
<p>Actriz de reparto: Mary J. Blige, “Mudbound”; Allison Janney, “I, Tonya”; Lesley Manville, “Phantom Thread”; Laurie Metcalf, “Lady Bird”; Octavia Spencer, “The Shape of Water”.</p>
<p>Película en lengua extranjera: “Una mujer fantástica” (Chile), “El insulto” (Líbano), “Sin amor” (Rusia), "La herida" (Suráfrica), “The Square” (Suecia).</p>
<p>Guion adaptado: “Call Me By Your Name”, “The Disaster Artist”, “Logan”, “Molly’s Game”, Mudbound”.</p>
<p>Guion original: “The Big Sick”, “Get Out”, “Lady Bird”, “The Shape of Water”, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri”.</p>
<p>Cinta animada: “The Boss Baby”, “The Breadwinner”, “Coco”, “Ferdinand”, “Loving Vincent”.</p>
<p>Corto animado: “Dear Basketball”, “Garden Party Lou”, “Negative Space”, “Revolting Rhymes”.</p>
<p>Diseño de producción: “Beauty and the Beast”, “Blade Runner 2049”, “Darkest Hour”, “Dunkirk”, “The Shape of Water”.</p>
<p>Cinematografía: “Blade Runner 2049”, “Darkest Hour”, “Dunkirk”, “Mudbound”, “The Shape of Water”.</p>
<p>Mezcla de sonido: “Baby Driver”, “Blade Runner 2049”, “Dunkirk”, “The Shape of Water”, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”.</p>
<p>Edición de sonido: “Baby Driver”, “Blade Runner 2049”, “Dunkirk”, “The Shape of Water”, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”.</p>
<p>Música original: “Dunkirk”, “Phantom Thread”, “The Shape of Water”, “Star Wars”, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri”.</p>
<p>Canción original: “Mighty River”, de “Mudbound”; “Mystery of Love”, de “Call Me By Your Name”; “Remember Me”, de “Coco”; “Stand Up for Something”, de “Marshall”; “This Is Me”, de “The Greatest Showman”.</p>
<p>Diseño de vestuario: “Beauty and the Beast”, “Darkest Hour”, “Phantom Thread”, “The Shape of Water”, “Victoria &amp; Abdul”.</p>
<p>Documental (largometraje): "Abacus: Small Enough to Jail", “Faces Places”, “Icarus”, "Last Men in Aleppo", “Strong Island”.</p>
<p>Documental (cortometraje): “Edith+Eddie”, “Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405”, “Heroin(e)”, “Kayayo: The Living Shopping Baskets”, “Knife Skills”, “Traffic Stop”.</p>
<p>Edición: “Baby Driver”, “Dunkirk”, “I, Tonya”, “The Shape of Water”, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri”.</p>
<p>Maquillaje y peinado: “Darkest Hour”, “Victoria &amp; Abdul”, “Wonder”.</p>
<p>Cortometraje: “DeKalb Elementary”, “The Eleven O’Clock”, “My Nephew Emmett”, “The Silent Child”, “Watu Wote / All of Us”.</p>
<p>Efectos visuales: “Blade Runner 2049”, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”, “Kong: Skull Island”, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”, “War for the Planet of the Apes”.</p>
<p>Lista de nominados a la 90na entrega anual de los Premios de la Academia, según se anunció el martes. Los Premios de la Academia se entregarán el domingo 4 de marzo en el Teatro Dolby en Los Ángeles.</p>
<p>Mejor película: “Call Me By Your Name”, “Darkest Hour”, “Dunkirk”, “Get Out”, Lady Bird”, “Phantom Thread”, “The Post”, “The Shape of Water”, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri”.</p>
<p>Dirección: “Dunkirk”, Christopher Nolan; “Get Out”, Jordan Peele; “Lady Bird”, Greta Gerwig; “Phantom Thread”, Paul Thomas Anderson; “The Shape of Water”, Guillermo del Toro.</p>
<p>Actor: Timothée Chalamet, “Call Me By Your Name”; Daniel Day-Lewis, “Phantom Thread”; Daniel Kaluuya, “Get Out”; Gary Oldman, “Darkest Hour”; Denzel Wasington “Roman J. Israel, Esq.”</p>
<p>Actriz: Sally Hawkins, “The Shape of Water”; Frances McDormand, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri”; Margot Robbie, “I, Tonya”; Saoirse Ronan, “Lady Bird”; Meryl Streep, “The Post”.</p>
<p>Actor de reparto: Willem Dafoe, “The Florida Project”; Woody Harrelson, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri”; Richard Jenkins, “The Shape of Water”; Christopher Plummer, “All the Money in the World”; Sam Rockwell, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri”.</p>
<p>Actriz de reparto: Mary J. Blige, “Mudbound”; Allison Janney, “I, Tonya”; Lesley Manville, “Phantom Thread”; Laurie Metcalf, “Lady Bird”; Octavia Spencer, “The Shape of Water”.</p>
<p>Película en lengua extranjera: “Una mujer fantástica” (Chile), “El insulto” (Líbano), “Sin amor” (Rusia), "La herida" (Suráfrica), “The Square” (Suecia).</p>
<p>Guion adaptado: “Call Me By Your Name”, “The Disaster Artist”, “Logan”, “Molly’s Game”, Mudbound”.</p>
<p>Guion original: “The Big Sick”, “Get Out”, “Lady Bird”, “The Shape of Water”, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri”.</p>
<p>Cinta animada: “The Boss Baby”, “The Breadwinner”, “Coco”, “Ferdinand”, “Loving Vincent”.</p>
<p>Corto animado: “Dear Basketball”, “Garden Party Lou”, “Negative Space”, “Revolting Rhymes”.</p>
<p>Diseño de producción: “Beauty and the Beast”, “Blade Runner 2049”, “Darkest Hour”, “Dunkirk”, “The Shape of Water”.</p>
<p>Cinematografía: “Blade Runner 2049”, “Darkest Hour”, “Dunkirk”, “Mudbound”, “The Shape of Water”.</p>
<p>Mezcla de sonido: “Baby Driver”, “Blade Runner 2049”, “Dunkirk”, “The Shape of Water”, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”.</p>
<p>Edición de sonido: “Baby Driver”, “Blade Runner 2049”, “Dunkirk”, “The Shape of Water”, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”.</p>
<p>Música original: “Dunkirk”, “Phantom Thread”, “The Shape of Water”, “Star Wars”, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri”.</p>
<p>Canción original: “Mighty River”, de “Mudbound”; “Mystery of Love”, de “Call Me By Your Name”; “Remember Me”, de “Coco”; “Stand Up for Something”, de “Marshall”; “This Is Me”, de “The Greatest Showman”.</p>
<p>Diseño de vestuario: “Beauty and the Beast”, “Darkest Hour”, “Phantom Thread”, “The Shape of Water”, “Victoria &amp; Abdul”.</p>
<p>Documental (largometraje): "Abacus: Small Enough to Jail", “Faces Places”, “Icarus”, "Last Men in Aleppo", “Strong Island”.</p>
<p>Documental (cortometraje): “Edith+Eddie”, “Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405”, “Heroin(e)”, “Kayayo: The Living Shopping Baskets”, “Knife Skills”, “Traffic Stop”.</p>
<p>Edición: “Baby Driver”, “Dunkirk”, “I, Tonya”, “The Shape of Water”, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri”.</p>
<p>Maquillaje y peinado: “Darkest Hour”, “Victoria &amp; Abdul”, “Wonder”.</p>
<p>Cortometraje: “DeKalb Elementary”, “The Eleven O’Clock”, “My Nephew Emmett”, “The Silent Child”, “Watu Wote / All of Us”.</p>
<p>Efectos visuales: “Blade Runner 2049”, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”, “Kong: Skull Island”, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”, “War for the Planet of the Apes”.</p>
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lista de nominados la 90na entrega anual de los premios de la academia según se anunció el martes los premios de la academia se entregarán el domingo 4 de marzo en el teatro dolby en los Ángeles mejor película call name darkest hour dunkirk get lady bird phantom thread post shape water three billboards outside ebbing missouri dirección dunkirk christopher nolan get jordan peele lady bird greta gerwig phantom thread paul thomas anderson shape water guillermo del toro actor timothée chalamet call name daniel daylewis phantom thread daniel kaluuya get gary oldman darkest hour denzel wasington roman j israel esq actriz sally hawkins shape water frances mcdormand three billboards outside ebbing missouri margot robbie tonya saoirse ronan lady bird meryl streep post actor de reparto willem dafoe florida project woody harrelson three billboards outside ebbing missouri richard jenkins shape water christopher plummer money world sam rockwell three billboards outside ebbing missouri actriz de reparto mary j blige mudbound allison janney tonya lesley manville phantom thread laurie metcalf lady bird octavia spencer shape water película en lengua extranjera una mujer fantástica chile el insulto líbano sin amor rusia la herida suráfrica square suecia guion adaptado call name disaster artist logan mollys game mudbound guion original big sick get lady bird shape water three billboards outside ebbing missouri cinta animada boss baby breadwinner coco ferdinand loving vincent corto animado dear basketball garden party lou negative space revolting rhymes diseño de producción beauty beast blade runner 2049 darkest hour dunkirk shape water cinematografía blade runner 2049 darkest hour dunkirk mudbound shape water mezcla de sonido baby driver blade runner 2049 dunkirk shape water star wars last jedi edición de sonido baby driver blade runner 2049 dunkirk shape water star wars last jedi música original dunkirk phantom thread shape water star wars three billboards outside ebbing missouri canción original mighty river de mudbound mystery love de call name remember de coco stand something de marshall de greatest showman diseño de vestuario beauty beast darkest hour phantom thread shape water victoria amp abdul documental largometraje abacus small enough jail faces places icarus last men aleppo strong island documental cortometraje editheddie heaven traffic jam 405 heroine kayayo living shopping baskets knife skills traffic stop edición baby driver dunkirk tonya shape water three billboards outside ebbing missouri maquillaje peinado darkest hour victoria amp abdul wonder cortometraje dekalb elementary eleven oclock nephew emmett silent child watu wote us efectos visuales blade runner 2049 guardians galaxy vol 2 kong skull island star wars last jedi war planet apes lista de nominados la 90na entrega anual de los premios de la academia según se anunció el martes los premios de la academia se entregarán el domingo 4 de marzo en el teatro dolby en los Ángeles mejor película call name darkest hour dunkirk get lady bird phantom thread post shape water three billboards outside ebbing missouri dirección dunkirk christopher nolan get jordan peele lady bird greta gerwig phantom thread paul thomas anderson shape water guillermo del toro actor timothée chalamet call name daniel daylewis phantom thread daniel kaluuya get gary oldman darkest hour denzel wasington roman j israel esq actriz sally hawkins shape water frances mcdormand three billboards outside ebbing missouri margot robbie tonya saoirse ronan lady bird meryl streep post actor de reparto willem dafoe florida project woody harrelson three billboards outside ebbing missouri richard jenkins shape water christopher plummer money world sam rockwell three billboards outside ebbing missouri actriz de reparto mary j blige mudbound allison janney tonya lesley manville phantom thread laurie metcalf lady bird octavia spencer shape water película en lengua extranjera una mujer fantástica chile el insulto líbano sin amor rusia la herida suráfrica square suecia guion adaptado call name disaster artist logan mollys game mudbound guion original big sick get lady bird shape water three billboards outside ebbing missouri cinta animada boss baby breadwinner coco ferdinand loving vincent corto animado dear basketball garden party lou negative space revolting rhymes diseño de producción beauty beast blade runner 2049 darkest hour dunkirk shape water cinematografía blade runner 2049 darkest hour dunkirk mudbound shape water mezcla de sonido baby driver blade runner 2049 dunkirk shape water star wars last jedi edición de sonido baby driver blade runner 2049 dunkirk shape water star wars last jedi música original dunkirk phantom thread shape water star wars three billboards outside ebbing missouri canción original mighty river de mudbound mystery love de call name remember de coco stand something de marshall de greatest showman diseño de vestuario beauty beast darkest hour phantom thread shape water victoria amp abdul documental largometraje abacus small enough jail faces places icarus last men aleppo strong island documental cortometraje editheddie heaven traffic jam 405 heroine kayayo living shopping baskets knife skills traffic stop edición baby driver dunkirk tonya shape water three billboards outside ebbing missouri maquillaje peinado darkest hour victoria amp abdul wonder cortometraje dekalb elementary eleven oclock nephew emmett silent child watu wote us efectos visuales blade runner 2049 guardians galaxy vol 2 kong skull island star wars last jedi war planet apes
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<p>US Secretary of State John Kerry, center right, delivers a speech as United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, center left, looks on during the Caring for Climate Business Forum event as part of the COP 21 United Nations conference on climate change, Tuesday Dec. 8, 2015 in Le Bourget, on the outskirts of Paris. The Paris conference is the 21st time world governments have met to seek a joint solution to climate change - and is aiming at the most ambitious, long-lasting accord yet. (Mandel Ngan/Pool Photo via AP)</p>
<p>PARIS - The latest news related to the U.N. climate conference in Paris, which runs through Dec. 11. All times local:</p>
<p>4:35 p.m.</p>
<p>Major developing countries taking part in climate talks outside Paris are calling on wealthy nations to increase their financial support to help poor countries to cope with global warming.</p>
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<p>In a joint statement, the delegations of China, India, Brazil and South Africa urged rich nations to "progressively and substantially scale up their support" beyond their collective pledge of $100 billion in annual climate financing by 2020.</p>
<p>Indian Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters that rich countries "have not made much headway" toward the $100 billion that they pledged in 2009.</p>
<p>Rich countries say they are on track to fulfill that pledge, pointing to an OECD report this year which said climate finance for developing countries reached $62 billion last year.</p>
<p>The rich nations are also encouraging some major developing nations including China to join the donors. China has pledged more than $3 billion in climate finance but stresses it's a voluntary contribution.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>3:45 p.m.</p>
<p>U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has praised business leaders in Paris for taking effective action against climate change but urged them to do more to help decision-makers reach the 2 degree target.</p>
<p>At a side event at the Paris climate talks, Kerry addressed business owners and promised the U.S. administration was "looking for ways to facilitate (their) choices. Not to stand in the way of them."</p>
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<p>Kerry went on to say companies' efforts to curb energy, water and fossil fuel consumption and fight deforestation were key to reaching the 2 degree challenge that "governments are incapable, for political or ideological reasons, of doing on their own."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>3:30 p.m.</p>
<p>The head of China's delegation at U.N. climate talks says that the heavy smog in Beijing in recent days shows how important it is for the country to transition to clean sources of energy.</p>
<p>Xie Zhenhua, China's special representative for climate change, told reporters that it's normal for countries in the process of industrialization "to be suffering from pollution problems."</p>
<p>He pointed to London, which had serious problems with smog linked to pollution from coal plants in the 20th century.</p>
<p>"That's why we are stressing a low-carbon development in a transition to a green economy," Xie said.</p>
<p>The latest bout of pollution in Beijing was the first to trigger a red alert under a two-year-old system. The smog has persisted despite the Chinese government's stated priority of cleaning up the legacy of pollution left from years of full-tilt economic growth. Most of the smog is blamed on coal-fired power plants, along with vehicle emissions, construction and factory work.</p>
<p>China is the world's top consumer of coal but has also become a leader in renewable energy, with rapid expansion of wind and solar power.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>3:15 p.m.</p>
<p>U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says he conferred with UN chief Ban ki-Moon on the state of global climate change talks Tuesday.</p>
<p>Kerry is in Paris to attend U.N. climate talks aimed at producing an agreement by the end of the week to fight global warming.</p>
<p>Speaking after his meeting with Ban, Kerry said they "talked about where we are in the negotiations and the steps we need to take to be successful."</p>
<p>Ban "made some suggestions on things we are already focused on and trying to resolve," Kerry said.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>10:25 a.m.</p>
<p>U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is mocking climate change doubters who downplay the effect of rising sea levels.</p>
<p>Speaking to a U.N. Foundation meeting in Paris on the health of the world's oceans, Kerry took his criticism a step further Tuesday, saying the refusal to recognize the threat is "insane" and "insulting to everything we learned in high school about science."</p>
<p>"We have people who still deny this: Members of the flat earth society who seem to believe that the ocean rise won't be a problem because the water will just spill over the edge," Kerry said to appreciative laughter from the audience that included U.N. Foundation founder Ted Turner.</p>
<p>Kerry is in Paris to attend U.N. climate talks aimed at producing an agreement by the end of the week to fight global warming.</p>
<p>While most scientists say man-made emissions are warming the planet and causing increasingly extreme weather, many Republicans in the U.S. Congress doubt climate change is a serious problem, and worry that cutting emissions would hurt U.S. industry and jobs.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>9:15 a.m.</p>
<p>The Vatican is lending itself to environmentalism with a special public art installation timed to coincide with the final stretch of climate negotiations in Paris.</p>
<p>On Tuesday night, the facade of St. Peter's Basilica will be turned into a massive backdrop for a photo light show about nature organized by several humanitarian organizations.</p>
<p>The initiative, featuring images by National Geographic and well-known photographers including Sebastiao Salgado, is similar to ones that used the U.N. headquarters and the Empire State Building in New York as backdrops.</p>
<p>Pope Francis has strongly backed the environmental cause, issuing a landmark encyclical in which he blasted the fossil-fuel-based economy for impoverishing much of humanity and destroying the planet.</p>
<p>Organizers offered the installation as a gift to Francis to mark his Holy Year of Mercy, which began Tuesday.</p>
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us secretary state john kerry center right delivers speech united nations secretary general ban kimoon center left looks caring climate business forum event part cop 21 united nations conference climate change tuesday dec 8 2015 le bourget outskirts paris paris conference 21st time world governments met seek joint solution climate change aiming ambitious longlasting accord yet mandel nganpool photo via ap paris latest news related un climate conference paris runs dec 11 times local 435 pm major developing countries taking part climate talks outside paris calling wealthy nations increase financial support help poor countries cope global warming advertisement joint statement delegations china india brazil south africa urged rich nations progressively substantially scale support beyond collective pledge 100 billion annual climate financing 2020 indian environment minister prakash javadekar told reporters rich countries made much headway toward 100 billion pledged 2009 rich countries say track fulfill pledge pointing oecd report year said climate finance developing countries reached 62 billion last year rich nations also encouraging major developing nations including china join donors china pledged 3 billion climate finance stresses voluntary contribution ___ 345 pm us secretary state john kerry praised business leaders paris taking effective action climate change urged help decisionmakers reach 2 degree target side event paris climate talks kerry addressed business owners promised us administration looking ways facilitate choices stand way advertisement kerry went say companies efforts curb energy water fossil fuel consumption fight deforestation key reaching 2 degree challenge governments incapable political ideological reasons ___ 330 pm head chinas delegation un climate talks says heavy smog beijing recent days shows important country transition clean sources energy xie zhenhua chinas special representative climate change told reporters normal countries process industrialization suffering pollution problems pointed london serious problems smog linked pollution coal plants 20th century thats stressing lowcarbon development transition green economy xie said latest bout pollution beijing first trigger red alert twoyearold system smog persisted despite chinese governments stated priority cleaning legacy pollution left years fulltilt economic growth smog blamed coalfired power plants along vehicle emissions construction factory work china worlds top consumer coal also become leader renewable energy rapid expansion wind solar power ___ 315 pm us secretary state john kerry says conferred un chief ban kimoon state global climate change talks tuesday kerry paris attend un climate talks aimed producing agreement end week fight global warming speaking meeting ban kerry said talked negotiations steps need take successful ban made suggestions things already focused trying resolve kerry said ___ 1025 us secretary state john kerry mocking climate change doubters downplay effect rising sea levels speaking un foundation meeting paris health worlds oceans kerry took criticism step tuesday saying refusal recognize threat insane insulting everything learned high school science people still deny members flat earth society seem believe ocean rise wont problem water spill edge kerry said appreciative laughter audience included un foundation founder ted turner kerry paris attend un climate talks aimed producing agreement end week fight global warming scientists say manmade emissions warming planet causing increasingly extreme weather many republicans us congress doubt climate change serious problem worry cutting emissions would hurt us industry jobs ___ 915 vatican lending environmentalism special public art installation timed coincide final stretch climate negotiations paris tuesday night facade st peters basilica turned massive backdrop photo light show nature organized several humanitarian organizations initiative featuring images national geographic wellknown photographers including sebastiao salgado similar ones used un headquarters empire state building new york backdrops pope francis strongly backed environmental cause issuing landmark encyclical blasted fossilfuelbased economy impoverishing much humanity destroying planet organizers offered installation gift francis mark holy year mercy began tuesday
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<p>ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — 1. Do you support or oppose including student achievement as part of teacher evaluations?</p>
<p>2. Do you support or oppose changes to the workers compensation system to reduce payments to workers impaired by drugs or alcohol when injured?</p>
<p>3. Do you support or oppose raising New Mexico’s minimum wage, currently set at $7.50 per hour? If so, by how much?</p>
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<p>4. Do you support or oppose repeal of the 2003 New Mexico law that allows immigrants in the country illegally to obtain state-issued driver’s licenses?</p>
<p>5. Do you support or oppose legalizing recreational marijuana use in New Mexico, as has been done in Colorado and Washington?</p>
<p>6. Given the national debate about gun control, do you support or oppose requiring private sellers to have background checks for prospective buyers at gun shows and elsewhere?</p>
<p>7. Coupled with reading intervention efforts, do you support or oppose legislation that would require third-graders without adequate reading skills to repeat the grade level, ending the practice known as “social promotion”?</p>
<p>8. To provide more money for early childhood programs, do you support or oppose taking more money out of the state’s largest permanent fund on an annual basis?</p>
<p>9. Would you support or oppose “scholarships” to families of poor kids to enroll their kids in any high-performing pre-kindergarten program, including faith based programs?</p>
<p>10. Would you support or oppose a measure to allow utilities to offer lower electrical rates to companies as an economic development tool, even if it meant slightly higher rates for other customers?</p>
<p>11. In the wake of several high-profile child-abuse cases, do you support or oppose the state requiring that parents or guardians participate in counseling or treatment programs in cases where there is evidence of child abuse or neglect?</p>
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<p>12. Would you support or oppose a law providing that court and police records for people arrested but not convicted of a crime could be removed from public view? (This would not include crimes against children, sex offenses and drunken driving).</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>14. Have you ever been involved in a personal or business bankruptcy proceeding?</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><a href="" type="internal" />G. Andres Romero</p>
<p>POLITICAL PARTY: Democratic</p>
<p>OCCUPATION: Graduate teaching assistant/graduate student, University of New Mexico history department</p>
<p>RESIDENCE: Albuquerque</p>
<p>RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: Graduate teaching assistant, UNM history department; president, Los Padillas Neighborhood Association; volunteer assistant coach, youth basketball teams; community volunteer</p>
<p>EDUCATION: Bachelor’s in history and philosophy, University of New Mexico, 2010. Working on master’s in history at UNM.</p>
<p>CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: <a href="http://Facebook.com/RomeroForDistrict10" type="external">Facebook.com/RomeroForDistrict10</a></p>
<p>CANDIDATE STATEMENT: As a lifelong resident of District 10, I am committed to cultivating and enhancing the quality of life in each and every community within the district and working families throughout New Mexico. While meeting and visiting with residents throughout District 10 I have gained great insight as to their ideas, concerns and vision for our State, particularly with regard to education, the economy and the environment. As District 10’s state representative, I would work diligently to re-engage our communities at the state level by ensuring that District 10 residents’ voices are once again heard in the “People’s House.”</p>
<p>1. Teacher evaluations should always include student achievement. However, I do not believe 50 percent of a teacher’s evaluation should be based on high-stakes testing as it penalizes poor students and English-as-a-Second-Language learners.</p>
<p>2. There are too many variables in determining whether workers may or may not be impaired at the time of injury. Legislation has thus far not been voted upon by the full Legislature.</p>
<p>3. A raise in the state’s minimum wage is necessary for New Mexico families and the economy at large. More money for working families means an increase in their buying power. It is also important that any minimum wage increase be tied to CPI and inflation. Since the U.S. economy is a consumer economy, increased buying power and consumer spending will provide an instant stimulus to our local economy.</p>
<p>4. Driver’s licenses for immigrants has been effective at ensuring all New Mexican drivers have automobile insurance and that insurance rates remain stable. The law also gives law enforcement the ability to track and apprehend criminals. Above all, the current law makes roads safer for New Mexicans.</p>
<p>5. The decriminalization of marijuana would ease the burden on our already crowded jail and prison population. We should provide our citizens with community-based rehabilitation sites, instead of utilizing the prison system.</p>
<p>6. We must ensure felons, fugitives, domestic violence offenders and the mentally incompetent are restricted from obtaining guns. The way to ensure that these individuals are not allowed to obtain weapons is to require private, non-licensed vendors to have background checks for prospective buyers at gun shows.</p>
<p>7. Retention has not proven effective at helping New Mexico children. New Mexico’s current retention law does not set a timetable for student learning. Rather, retention is a collaborative effort between on-site experts: educators, school personnel and parents who can evaluate whether retention would benefit or harm the student.</p>
<p>8. Early childhood programs are an important part to the future of New Mexico’s children. Other states have supported early childhood programs and have had great results. Utilizing a small percentage of the permanent fund will be a worthy and wise investment in our children’s and New Mexico’s future.</p>
<p>9. The New Mexico Constitution does not allow for public money to be used for religious schooling. New Mexico’s open enrollment policy allows for parents to enroll their child in any school they choose. There are numerous choices for parents already available in New Mexico.</p>
<p>10. Growing the New Mexican economy is crucial at this time. However, we must not place undo costs on small businesses and individual utility customers. This cost increase will ultimately harm our most cherished small businesses and middle and working class families.</p>
<p>11. I support treatment programs for parents and guardians in cases of child abuse and neglect.</p>
<p>12. Yes, I believe arrest information should be removed when one is not convicted of the offense. I believe that people should not have this long shadow cast upon them that may harm their future employment opportunities.</p>
<p>13. No.</p>
<p>14. No.</p>
<p>15. A speeding ticket, I paid the fine.</p>
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albuquerque nm 1 support oppose including student achievement part teacher evaluations 2 support oppose changes workers compensation system reduce payments workers impaired drugs alcohol injured 3 support oppose raising new mexicos minimum wage currently set 750 per hour much advertisement 4 support oppose repeal 2003 new mexico law allows immigrants country illegally obtain stateissued drivers licenses 5 support oppose legalizing recreational marijuana use new mexico done colorado washington 6 given national debate gun control support oppose requiring private sellers background checks prospective buyers gun shows elsewhere 7 coupled reading intervention efforts support oppose legislation would require thirdgraders without adequate reading skills repeat grade level ending practice known social promotion 8 provide money early childhood programs support oppose taking money states largest permanent fund annual basis 9 would support oppose scholarships families poor kids enroll kids highperforming prekindergarten program including faith based programs 10 would support oppose measure allow utilities offer lower electrical rates companies economic development tool even meant slightly higher rates customers 11 wake several highprofile childabuse cases support oppose state requiring parents guardians participate counseling treatment programs cases evidence child abuse neglect advertisement 12 would support oppose law providing court police records people arrested convicted crime could removed public view would include crimes children sex offenses drunken driving 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 g andres romero political party democratic occupation graduate teaching assistantgraduate student university new mexico history department residence albuquerque relevant experience graduate teaching assistant unm history department president los padillas neighborhood association volunteer assistant coach youth basketball teams community volunteer education bachelors history philosophy university new mexico 2010 working masters history unm campaign website facebookcomromerofordistrict10 candidate statement lifelong resident district 10 committed cultivating enhancing quality life every community within district working families throughout new mexico meeting visiting residents throughout district 10 gained great insight ideas concerns vision state particularly regard education economy environment district 10s state representative would work diligently reengage communities state level ensuring district 10 residents voices heard peoples house 1 teacher evaluations always include student achievement however believe 50 percent teachers evaluation based highstakes testing penalizes poor students englishasasecondlanguage learners 2 many variables determining whether workers may may impaired time injury legislation thus far voted upon full legislature 3 raise states minimum wage necessary new mexico families economy large money working families means increase buying power also important minimum wage increase tied cpi inflation since us economy consumer economy increased buying power consumer spending provide instant stimulus local economy 4 drivers licenses immigrants effective ensuring new mexican drivers automobile insurance insurance rates remain stable law also gives law enforcement ability track apprehend criminals current law makes roads safer new mexicans 5 decriminalization marijuana would ease burden already crowded jail prison population provide citizens communitybased rehabilitation sites instead utilizing prison system 6 must ensure felons fugitives domestic violence offenders mentally incompetent restricted obtaining guns way ensure individuals allowed obtain weapons require private nonlicensed vendors background checks prospective buyers gun shows 7 retention proven effective helping new mexico children new mexicos current retention law set timetable student learning rather retention collaborative effort onsite experts educators school personnel parents evaluate whether retention would benefit harm student 8 early childhood programs important part future new mexicos children states supported early childhood programs great results utilizing small percentage permanent fund worthy wise investment childrens new mexicos future 9 new mexico constitution allow public money used religious schooling new mexicos open enrollment policy allows parents enroll child school choose numerous choices parents already available new mexico 10 growing new mexican economy crucial time however must place undo costs small businesses individual utility customers cost increase ultimately harm cherished small businesses middle working class families 11 support treatment programs parents guardians cases child abuse neglect 12 yes believe arrest information removed one convicted offense believe people long shadow cast upon may harm future employment opportunities 13 14 15 speeding ticket paid fine
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<p>ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Annapolis photographer Jay Fleming thought he’d get a few shots on Tangier Island and be on his way back home. Instead, he found himself stuck on the ice-locked 1.2-square-mile Tangier in the middle of a National Guard emergency supply drop and the island’s old ice tradition.</p>
<p>Fleming said he took a charter plane on Jan. 3 into the island 12 miles off the coast of Virginia to see the icy Chesapeake Bay surrounding it. Upon landing, he learned ice had locked the island off from land, making it inaccessible to boats. With no charter planes heading out until the next week, Fleming was stuck with only two things to do: point and shoot.</p>
<p>On Saturday, Fleming captured the Virginia National Guard picking up and delivering food, mail and medicine to the island via two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. Six aviation crew soldiers picked up supplies from Crisfield, Maryland, two times to make deliveries to the island, according to National Guard spokesman A.A. “Cotton” Puryear.</p>
<p>The last time the National Guard had to send Black Hawks with supplies to Tangier was February 2015 after the island became ice-locked in the wake of Winter Storm Octavia, according to Puryear.</p>
<p>Fleming captured the silhouette of Tangier Island Mayor James “Ooker” Eskridge being handed supplies from a National Guard officer as the sun set over the ice behind them. He also shot tugboat captain and Tangier native Jeff Crockett unloading supplies from the Black Hawks. Fleming said Crockett came back to the island specifically to be iced-in and hunt waterfowl.</p>
<p>Fleming also witnessed the revival of a Tangier tradition he says islanders hadn’t seen for at least 40 years. More than 100 people ice skated, sledded and socialized as old boat parts burned in a bonfire atop the ice at Jobs Cove Sunday night.</p>
<p>Fleming reported winds more than 60 miles per hour on Thursday, and shot drifts of dry snow blanketing cars. He also said that watermen’s work boats were “locked in” and unable to get out to dredge oysters, putting those who make Tangier’s main source of income out of work for more than a week. Fellow photographer Carol Pruitt Moore, who housed Fleming, said she remembers the freeze of 2015 that brought in the National Guard, but says the 2018 freeze has been much more intense. She said she walked half a mile on the ice on Monday.</p>
<p>“I don’t think it (2015) was to this extent. The ice is very thick and hard. It’s pretty solid,” Moore said. “I’m ready for this party to end. My grandchildren got to experience something they may never experience again, and they had a blast. But I’m over the snow. I’m over the ice. I’m over it.”</p>
<p>Moore said that while the ice surrounding the island is thick, so is the skin of its people.</p>
<p>“This is not a crisis. There’s plenty of food in Tangier,” she said. “The grocery store was running out of milk, bread and eggs, but we learn to prepare for such times like this. Neighbors help each other out. I have three freezers full of food.”</p>
<p>Fleming said that while he was initially stuck, he decided to spend a couple more days on the island after charters started flying out on Sunday.</p>
<p>“I was here without a way of leaving, but I didn’t really want to leave,” he said. “I wouldn’t say ‘stranded’ would be a good word to describe my situation. I’ve been staying with my friends here and probably eating better than I do at home.”</p>
<p>He’ll fly out on Tuesday, and says boats are expected to get out of their slips on Wednesday. He says the shots from his stay will be part of his new book, “Island Life,” which is set to release in 2020. The second printing of his first book, Working the Water, is nearly sold out, according to Fleming.</p>
<p>“Island Life” will be a photographic illustration of life on Smith and Tangier Islands. Both of the Chesapeake Bay’s inhabited offshore islands are only accessible by boat or plane.</p>
<p>“As the crow flies, Tangier and Smith Island aren’t really that far from Annapolis, but they maintain different ways of life as offshore islands,” Fleming said. “People really have to plan ahead to get through times like this. These islands have been inhabited for hundreds of years and the residents have unique ways of life that do not exist anywhere else.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Information from: The Capital, <a href="http://www.capitalgazette.com/" type="external" /> <a href="http://www.capitalgazette.com/" type="external">http://www.capitalgazette.com/</a></p>
<p>ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Annapolis photographer Jay Fleming thought he’d get a few shots on Tangier Island and be on his way back home. Instead, he found himself stuck on the ice-locked 1.2-square-mile Tangier in the middle of a National Guard emergency supply drop and the island’s old ice tradition.</p>
<p>Fleming said he took a charter plane on Jan. 3 into the island 12 miles off the coast of Virginia to see the icy Chesapeake Bay surrounding it. Upon landing, he learned ice had locked the island off from land, making it inaccessible to boats. With no charter planes heading out until the next week, Fleming was stuck with only two things to do: point and shoot.</p>
<p>On Saturday, Fleming captured the Virginia National Guard picking up and delivering food, mail and medicine to the island via two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. Six aviation crew soldiers picked up supplies from Crisfield, Maryland, two times to make deliveries to the island, according to National Guard spokesman A.A. “Cotton” Puryear.</p>
<p>The last time the National Guard had to send Black Hawks with supplies to Tangier was February 2015 after the island became ice-locked in the wake of Winter Storm Octavia, according to Puryear.</p>
<p>Fleming captured the silhouette of Tangier Island Mayor James “Ooker” Eskridge being handed supplies from a National Guard officer as the sun set over the ice behind them. He also shot tugboat captain and Tangier native Jeff Crockett unloading supplies from the Black Hawks. Fleming said Crockett came back to the island specifically to be iced-in and hunt waterfowl.</p>
<p>Fleming also witnessed the revival of a Tangier tradition he says islanders hadn’t seen for at least 40 years. More than 100 people ice skated, sledded and socialized as old boat parts burned in a bonfire atop the ice at Jobs Cove Sunday night.</p>
<p>Fleming reported winds more than 60 miles per hour on Thursday, and shot drifts of dry snow blanketing cars. He also said that watermen’s work boats were “locked in” and unable to get out to dredge oysters, putting those who make Tangier’s main source of income out of work for more than a week. Fellow photographer Carol Pruitt Moore, who housed Fleming, said she remembers the freeze of 2015 that brought in the National Guard, but says the 2018 freeze has been much more intense. She said she walked half a mile on the ice on Monday.</p>
<p>“I don’t think it (2015) was to this extent. The ice is very thick and hard. It’s pretty solid,” Moore said. “I’m ready for this party to end. My grandchildren got to experience something they may never experience again, and they had a blast. But I’m over the snow. I’m over the ice. I’m over it.”</p>
<p>Moore said that while the ice surrounding the island is thick, so is the skin of its people.</p>
<p>“This is not a crisis. There’s plenty of food in Tangier,” she said. “The grocery store was running out of milk, bread and eggs, but we learn to prepare for such times like this. Neighbors help each other out. I have three freezers full of food.”</p>
<p>Fleming said that while he was initially stuck, he decided to spend a couple more days on the island after charters started flying out on Sunday.</p>
<p>“I was here without a way of leaving, but I didn’t really want to leave,” he said. “I wouldn’t say ‘stranded’ would be a good word to describe my situation. I’ve been staying with my friends here and probably eating better than I do at home.”</p>
<p>He’ll fly out on Tuesday, and says boats are expected to get out of their slips on Wednesday. He says the shots from his stay will be part of his new book, “Island Life,” which is set to release in 2020. The second printing of his first book, Working the Water, is nearly sold out, according to Fleming.</p>
<p>“Island Life” will be a photographic illustration of life on Smith and Tangier Islands. Both of the Chesapeake Bay’s inhabited offshore islands are only accessible by boat or plane.</p>
<p>“As the crow flies, Tangier and Smith Island aren’t really that far from Annapolis, but they maintain different ways of life as offshore islands,” Fleming said. “People really have to plan ahead to get through times like this. These islands have been inhabited for hundreds of years and the residents have unique ways of life that do not exist anywhere else.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Information from: The Capital, <a href="http://www.capitalgazette.com/" type="external" /> <a href="http://www.capitalgazette.com/" type="external">http://www.capitalgazette.com/</a></p>
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annapolis md ap annapolis photographer jay fleming thought hed get shots tangier island way back home instead found stuck icelocked 12squaremile tangier middle national guard emergency supply drop islands old ice tradition fleming said took charter plane jan 3 island 12 miles coast virginia see icy chesapeake bay surrounding upon landing learned ice locked island land making inaccessible boats charter planes heading next week fleming stuck two things point shoot saturday fleming captured virginia national guard picking delivering food mail medicine island via two uh60 black hawk helicopters six aviation crew soldiers picked supplies crisfield maryland two times make deliveries island according national guard spokesman aa cotton puryear last time national guard send black hawks supplies tangier february 2015 island became icelocked wake winter storm octavia according puryear fleming captured silhouette tangier island mayor james ooker eskridge handed supplies national guard officer sun set ice behind also shot tugboat captain tangier native jeff crockett unloading supplies black hawks fleming said crockett came back island specifically icedin hunt waterfowl fleming also witnessed revival tangier tradition says islanders hadnt seen least 40 years 100 people ice skated sledded socialized old boat parts burned bonfire atop ice jobs cove sunday night fleming reported winds 60 miles per hour thursday shot drifts dry snow blanketing cars also said watermens work boats locked unable get dredge oysters putting make tangiers main source income work week fellow photographer carol pruitt moore housed fleming said remembers freeze 2015 brought national guard says 2018 freeze much intense said walked half mile ice monday dont think 2015 extent ice thick hard pretty solid moore said im ready party end grandchildren got experience something may never experience blast im snow im ice im moore said ice surrounding island thick skin people crisis theres plenty food tangier said grocery store running milk bread eggs learn prepare times like neighbors help three freezers full food fleming said initially stuck decided spend couple days island charters started flying sunday without way leaving didnt really want leave said wouldnt say stranded would good word describe situation ive staying friends probably eating better home hell fly tuesday says boats expected get slips wednesday says shots stay part new book island life set release 2020 second printing first book working water nearly sold according fleming island life photographic illustration life smith tangier islands chesapeake bays inhabited offshore islands accessible boat plane crow flies tangier smith island arent really far annapolis maintain different ways life offshore islands fleming said people really plan ahead get times like islands inhabited hundreds years residents unique ways life exist anywhere else ___ information capital httpwwwcapitalgazettecom annapolis md ap annapolis photographer jay fleming thought hed get shots tangier island way back home instead found stuck icelocked 12squaremile tangier middle national guard emergency supply drop islands old ice tradition fleming said took charter plane jan 3 island 12 miles coast virginia see icy chesapeake bay surrounding upon landing learned ice locked island land making inaccessible boats charter planes heading next week fleming stuck two things point shoot saturday fleming captured virginia national guard picking delivering food mail medicine island via two uh60 black hawk helicopters six aviation crew soldiers picked supplies crisfield maryland two times make deliveries island according national guard spokesman aa cotton puryear last time national guard send black hawks supplies tangier february 2015 island became icelocked wake winter storm octavia according puryear fleming captured silhouette tangier island mayor james ooker eskridge handed supplies national guard officer sun set ice behind also shot tugboat captain tangier native jeff crockett unloading supplies black hawks fleming said crockett came back island specifically icedin hunt waterfowl fleming also witnessed revival tangier tradition says islanders hadnt seen least 40 years 100 people ice skated sledded socialized old boat parts burned bonfire atop ice jobs cove sunday night fleming reported winds 60 miles per hour thursday shot drifts dry snow blanketing cars also said watermens work boats locked unable get dredge oysters putting make tangiers main source income work week fellow photographer carol pruitt moore housed fleming said remembers freeze 2015 brought national guard says 2018 freeze much intense said walked half mile ice monday dont think 2015 extent ice thick hard pretty solid moore said im ready party end grandchildren got experience something may never experience blast im snow im ice im moore said ice surrounding island thick skin people crisis theres plenty food tangier said grocery store running milk bread eggs learn prepare times like neighbors help three freezers full food fleming said initially stuck decided spend couple days island charters started flying sunday without way leaving didnt really want leave said wouldnt say stranded would good word describe situation ive staying friends probably eating better home hell fly tuesday says boats expected get slips wednesday says shots stay part new book island life set release 2020 second printing first book working water nearly sold according fleming island life photographic illustration life smith tangier islands chesapeake bays inhabited offshore islands accessible boat plane crow flies tangier smith island arent really far annapolis maintain different ways life offshore islands fleming said people really plan ahead get times like islands inhabited hundreds years residents unique ways life exist anywhere else ___ information capital httpwwwcapitalgazettecom
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<p>Escalante’s Cody Casados carries the ball for a touchdown against McCurdy on Saturday. Escalante won the state semifinal game 41-34 to advance to the Class 1A finals against Capitan next Saturday. (EDDIE MOORE/JOURNAL)</p>
<p>SANTA FE, N.M. — In a regular-season shootout loss to McCurdy, Escalante came back from a staggering 33 points down and cut the deficit to one point before losing. If there’s such a thing as a two-week carryover, the Lobos used that defeat as fuel going into the Class 1A semifinals Saturday.</p>
<p>Escalante, seeded third, will make its first appearance in a state football championship after beating second-seed McCurdy, 41-34, in Española.</p>
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<p>“I think that was a big momentum swing even though we came up a little bit short. I do think that momentum carried over from that game,” Escalante coach Dusty Giles said.</p>
<p>Said McCurdy coach Eric Vigil after the game: “Both teams are pretty evenly matched and it was exciting to the end.”</p>
<p>All of the scoring for Escalante (11-1) came through rushing touchdowns from quarterback Reynaldo Atencio and running back Cody Casados. Giles also credited big plays to C.J. Deyapp, who returned an interception for a touchdown just before intermission, and to offensive tackle Brandon Gonzales.</p>
<p>“I thought he handled (McCurdy lineman Manny Jaramillo) pretty well and opened up some lanes for the running game,” Giles said.</p>
<p>It was the first loss on the field for McCurdy (8-2), which had to forfeit a regular season game to Fort Sumner. The Bobcats narrowed the Escalante lead to a touchdown with a minute to go, but the Lobos recovered an onside kick to seal the victory.</p>
<p>“We’re really happy with the season,” Vigil said. “Obviously we would have liked going to the championship but I was really happy with the effort from the boys.”</p>
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<p>Escalante will travel to face Capitan next Saturday.</p>
<p>ROBERTSON 40, PORTALES 26: In Las Vegas, N.M., the host Cardinals rallied from a 14-0 early hole to win an opening round contest against the Rams.</p>
<p>It was a rough start for sixth-seeded Robertson (7-4) when 11th-seed Portales (2-8) picked off a Cards’ pass attempt and returned it for a touchdown. The visitors added a second touchdown before Robertson running back James Gonzales tallied a pair of scoring runs in the second quarter.</p>
<p>After the halftime break, the Cardinals added to their lead. Another Gonzales touchdown was followed by a 40-yard halfback pass from Nick Archuleta to Joe Armijo for a 28-14 advantage. Eventually Portales fell behind 34-14 before sporting its own comeback, trimming the margin to eight points.</p>
<p>But with five minutes remaining, Robertson running back Dominic Lucero broke off a 65-yard touchdown run to seal the win. Robertson will play third-seeded Ruidoso in a state quarterfinal next week.</p>
<p>“We played them tough in the regular season (a 26-21 Ruidoso victory),” Robertson coach Leroy Gonzales said. “They had some injuries and we gave up a lead with four minutes to go. They’re a good team.”</p>
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<p>HOPE CHRISTIAN 50, TAOS 9: In Taos, the Tigers (7-4), as the eighth seed, were ranked one spot higher than visiting Hope Christian on Saturday. But it turned into a no-contest in favor of the underdog Huskies as Hope moves into the Class 3A quarterfinals against top-seeded St. Michael’s next week.</p>
<p>“We shot ourselves in the foot at the beginning of the game,” said Taos coach Flavio Lopez.</p>
<p>Hope Christian (5-6) took advantage as the Huskies scooped up a Tigers’ fumble and ran the ball in for a touchdown on the third play of the game.</p>
<p>Lopez said that an intentional grounding penalty, on his team’s third possession, stunted that offensive drive and his squad never recovered.</p>
<p>“They showed up to play,” Lopez said of the Huskies, whom Taos had defeated 19-14 in the second game of the regular season.</p>
<p>“Offensively we couldn’t get going. We’d be moving the ball and something would happen,” Lopez said. “Defensively, we played better than what the score said.”</p>
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<p>LOVINGTON 36, POJOAQUE VALLEY 0: A trip to two-time defending 3A champ Lovington was a tall order for the 12th-seeded Elks, but matters were made worse when Pojoaque (5-6) got off to a bad start against the Wildcats.</p>
<p>Lovington, the fifth-seed, picked off a Pojoaque pass and returned it for a touchdown and then grabbed an Elks’ fumble on the next possession to go up 14-0 quickly.</p>
<p>“It was kind of disappointing. We didn’t play well enough to win,” said Pojoaque coach John Ainsworth, whose team committed five turnovers in the loss.</p>
<p>The Elks were without their usual starting quarterback (Ainsworth’s son, John, out with a shoulder injury) for the majority of the contest. The Pojoaque coach though credited senior Ryan Koller for filling in as the signal caller for the day.</p>
<p>“I can’t say enough about him. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do this year – play tight end, wide receiver, free safety, strong safety, quarterback,” Ainsworth said.</p>
<p>The game marked the end of the first year as head coach for Ainsworth.</p>
<p>“We’re further along with what we’re trying to implement,” he said. “A trip down to Lovington, I hope it was a good thing for our younger kids.”</p>
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escalantes cody casados carries ball touchdown mccurdy saturday escalante state semifinal game 4134 advance class 1a finals capitan next saturday eddie moorejournal santa fe nm regularseason shootout loss mccurdy escalante came back staggering 33 points cut deficit one point losing theres thing twoweek carryover lobos used defeat fuel going class 1a semifinals saturday escalante seeded third make first appearance state football championship beating secondseed mccurdy 4134 española advertisement think big momentum swing even though came little bit short think momentum carried game escalante coach dusty giles said said mccurdy coach eric vigil game teams pretty evenly matched exciting end scoring escalante 111 came rushing touchdowns quarterback reynaldo atencio running back cody casados giles also credited big plays cj deyapp returned interception touchdown intermission offensive tackle brandon gonzales thought handled mccurdy lineman manny jaramillo pretty well opened lanes running game giles said first loss field mccurdy 82 forfeit regular season game fort sumner bobcats narrowed escalante lead touchdown minute go lobos recovered onside kick seal victory really happy season vigil said obviously would liked going championship really happy effort boys advertisement escalante travel face capitan next saturday robertson 40 portales 26 las vegas nm host cardinals rallied 140 early hole win opening round contest rams rough start sixthseeded robertson 74 11thseed portales 28 picked cards pass attempt returned touchdown visitors added second touchdown robertson running back james gonzales tallied pair scoring runs second quarter halftime break cardinals added lead another gonzales touchdown followed 40yard halfback pass nick archuleta joe armijo 2814 advantage eventually portales fell behind 3414 sporting comeback trimming margin eight points five minutes remaining robertson running back dominic lucero broke 65yard touchdown run seal win robertson play thirdseeded ruidoso state quarterfinal next week played tough regular season 2621 ruidoso victory robertson coach leroy gonzales said injuries gave lead four minutes go theyre good team advertisement hope christian 50 taos 9 taos tigers 74 eighth seed ranked one spot higher visiting hope christian saturday turned nocontest favor underdog huskies hope moves class 3a quarterfinals topseeded st michaels next week shot foot beginning game said taos coach flavio lopez hope christian 56 took advantage huskies scooped tigers fumble ran ball touchdown third play game lopez said intentional grounding penalty teams third possession stunted offensive drive squad never recovered showed play lopez said huskies taos defeated 1914 second game regular season offensively couldnt get going wed moving ball something would happen lopez said defensively played better score said advertisement lovington 36 pojoaque valley 0 trip twotime defending 3a champ lovington tall order 12thseeded elks matters made worse pojoaque 56 got bad start wildcats lovington fifthseed picked pojoaque pass returned touchdown grabbed elks fumble next possession go 140 quickly kind disappointing didnt play well enough win said pojoaque coach john ainsworth whose team committed five turnovers loss elks without usual starting quarterback ainsworths son john shoulder injury majority contest pojoaque coach though credited senior ryan koller filling signal caller day cant say enough hes done everything weve asked year play tight end wide receiver free safety strong safety quarterback ainsworth said game marked end first year head coach ainsworth along trying implement said trip lovington hope good thing younger kids
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<p>Jan 17 (Reuters) - C3 IOT :</p>
<p>* C3 IOT SAYS RAISES $100 MILLION; NEW ROUND OF FINANCING BY EXISTING INVESTORS, JOINING THE ROUND IS THE RISE FUND Source text for Eikon:</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian army began preparatory shelling for an assault on the last area outside its control near Damascus on Tuesday, a commander in the pro-government alliance said, building on its recent capture of the major suburb of eastern Ghouta.</p> Members of Syrian police sit at a damaged building at the city of Douma, Damascus, Syria April 16, 2018. REUTERS/Ali Hashisho
<p>Recovering the Yarmouk camp and neighboring areas located south of the city would give President Bashar al-Assad complete control over Syria's capital, further consolidating his grip on power.</p>
<p>Yarmouk, Syria's biggest camp for Palestinian refugees since the mid-20th century, has been under the control of Islamic State fighters for several years. Although the vast majority of residents have fled, the United Nations says thousands remain.</p>
<p>Assad has benefited from Russian air power since 2015 to regain large swathes of Syria, putting him in his strongest position since the early months of the seven-year-old war.</p>
<p>The war has killed more than 500,000 people and has drawn in regional and global powers. The United States, Britain and France launched their first coordinated strikes against Assad's government on Saturday in retaliation for what they say was a poison gas attack on April 7 that killed scores of residents in Douma, the last town in the eastern Ghouta to fall.</p>
<p>The Western missiles destroyed three targets that had been evacuated in advance, but did nothing to alter the wider course of the war, leaving Assad's Russian-backed forces still on the offensive with the goal of recapturing the entire country.</p>
<p>Damascus and Moscow have both denied using poison gas and have broadcast statements from hospital workers in Douma - which medical aid groups operating in rebel areas have dismissed as propaganda - saying that no chemical attack took place.</p>
<p>A team of international chemical weapons inspectors that arrived in Damascus on Friday has still not visited Douma to gather evidence, though Russia said it would do so on Wednesday.</p>
<p>Syrian state media reported that missiles had again targeted an airbase overnight, but a commander in the regional military alliance backing the government later told Reuters it was a false alarm.</p>
<p>The commander, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the new offensive would target Islamic State and Nusra Front militants in Yarmouk camp and al-Hajar al-Aswad district. Rebels in the adjoining Beit Sahm area would withdraw on buses through an agreement with the government, the commander said.</p> ASSAULT
<p>A government media tour on Monday of Douma, the biggest town in the former rebel enclave of eastern Ghouta just outside Damascus, revealed severe destruction and the plight of residents who had survived years of siege.</p>
<p>The assault on eastern Ghouta began in February and ended in government victory on Saturday when rebels withdrew from the town, hours after the Western countries were finished with their air strikes on buildings they said were used to research or store chemical weapons and equipment.</p>
<p>Each of the rebel groups controlling areas of eastern Ghouta eventually agreed surrender deals that involved withdrawal to opposition-held areas of northwestern Syria including Idlib.</p>
<p>After the recapture of eastern Ghouta, Assad still has several smaller pockets of ground to recover from rebels, as well as two major areas they hold in the northwest and southwest.</p>
<p>Besides the pocket south of Damascus, rebels still hold besieged enclaves in the town of Dumayr northeast of Damascus, in the Eastern Qalamoun mountains nearby, and around Rastan north of Homs.</p>
<p>The pro-government commander said the army had prepared for military action in the Eastern Qalamoun, but that Russia was working on the militants' withdrawal without a battle. State television said on Tuesday that rebels in Dumayr had also agreed to withdraw.</p>
<p>In northwest Syria, the largest area still held by rebels, a government assault could bring Damascus into confrontation with Turkey, which has set up a string of military observation posts in the area.</p>
<p>Ali Akbar Velayati, a top Iranian official, said during a visit to Damascus last week that he hoped that the army would soon regain Idlib and areas of eastern Syria now held by an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias backed by Washington.</p>
<p>Reporting by Laila Bassam, additional reporting by Dahlia Nehme; Writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by Peter Graff</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>PARIS (Reuters) - France's foreign ministry on Tuesday said it was very likely that proof has disappeared from the site of a suspected poison gas attack in Syria, adding it was essential that international inspectors be given full access to the site.</p>
<p>Inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) traveled to Syria last week to inspect the site, but have yet to gain access to Douma, which is now under government control after the rebels withdrew.</p>
<p>"As of today, Russia and Syria still refuse to give inspectors access to the site of the attack," the foreign ministry said in a statement.</p>
<p>"It is very likely that proof and essential elements are disappearing from this site," it said.</p>
<p>Reporting by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>DAMASCUS/THE HAGUE (Reuters) - The United States accused Russia on Monday of blocking international inspectors from reaching the site of a suspected poison gas attack in Syria and said Russians or Syrians may have tampered with evidence on the ground.</p>
<p>Moscow denied the charge and blamed delays on retaliatory U.S.-led missile strikes on Syria on Saturday.</p>
<p>British Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron faced criticism from political opponents over their decisions to take part in the air strikes.</p>
<p>Syria and Russia deny unleashing poison gas on April 7 during their offensive on Douma, which ended with the recapture of the town that had been the last rebel stronghold near the capital, Damascus.</p>
<p>Relief organizations say dozens of men, women and children were killed. Footage of young victims foaming at the mouth and weeping in agony has thrust Syria's civil war - in which half a million people have been killed in the past seven years - to the forefront of world concern again.</p>
<p>Inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) traveled to Syria last week to inspect the site, but have yet to gain access to Douma, which is now under government control after the rebels withdrew.</p>
<p>"It is our understanding the Russians may have visited the attack site," U.S. Ambassador Kenneth Ward said at an OPCW meeting in The Hague on Monday.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-chemicalweapons/factbox-chemical-weapons-inspectors-how-do-they-work-idUSKBN1HN2DB" type="external">Factbox: Chemical weapons inspectors - how do they work?</a>
<a href="/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-germany/germany-can-mediate-with-moscow-over-syria-foreign-minister-says-idUSKBN1HO19M" type="external">Germany can mediate with Moscow over Syria, foreign minister says</a>
<a href="/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-france/france-says-proof-likely-disappearing-from-douma-inspectors-must-have-full-access-idUSKBN1HO1HE" type="external">France says proof likely disappearing from Douma, inspectors must have full access</a>
<p>"It is our concern that they may have tampered with it with the intent of thwarting the efforts of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission to conduct an effective investigation," he said. His comments at the closed-door meeting were obtained by Reuters.</p>
<p>Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denied Moscow had interfered with any evidence. "I can guarantee that Russia has not tampered with the site," he told the BBC.</p>
<p>Increasing regional jitters, Syrian anti-aircraft defenses shot down missiles fired at the air base of Shayrat in Homs province late on Monday and at another base northeast of the capital, Damascus, Syrian state television and pro-Iranian Hezbollah media said.</p>
<p>The Pentagon said there was no U.S. military activity in that area "at this time."</p>
<p>An Israeli military spokesman said: "We don't comment on such reports".</p>
<p>The U.N. Security Council is due to be briefed on Tuesday, at the request of Russia, on the situation in Syria's northern city of Raqqa, where Islamic State was defeated last year by U.S.-backed forces, and the Rubkan camp for displaced Syrians near the country's border with Jordan and Iraq.</p> TRUMP WANTS U.S. TROOPS HOME
<p>Two days after the missile strikes that he hailed as a well-executed military operation, President Donald Trump still wants to bring the small number of U.S. troops in northern Syria home, the White House said.</p>
<p>But spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said he had not set a timeline for a pullout. Trump was also willing to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, she added, while indicating that no such encounter was imminent.</p>
<p>Britain's delegation to the OPCW accused Russia and the Assad government of stopping inspectors from reaching Douma.</p>
<p>"Unfettered access is essential," it said in a statement. "Russia and Syria must cooperate."</p>
<p>The team aims to collect samples, interview witnesses and document evidence to determine whether banned toxic munitions were used, although it is not permitted to assign blame for the attack.</p>
<p>British Ambassador Peter Wilson said in The Hague that the United Nations had cleared the inspectors to go but they had been unable to reach Douma because Syria and Russia had been unable to guarantee their safety.</p>
<p>Moscow blamed the delay on the air strikes, in which the United States, France and Britain targeted what the Pentagon said were three chemical weapons facilities.</p>
<p>"We called for an objective investigation. This was at the very beginning after this information (of the attack) appeared. Therefore allegations of this towards Russia are groundless," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.</p>
<p>A Russian defense ministry official said later the OPCW experts would travel to Douma on Wednesday.</p>
<p>The inspectors met Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad in the presence of Russian officers and a senior Syrian security official in Damascus for about three hours on Sunday.</p>
<p>OPCW inspectors have been attacked on two previous missions to the sites of chemical weapons attacks in Syria.</p>
<p>Syrian flags flew in Douma on Monday, security forces stood on street corners and Russian military police patrolled the streets. State aid trucks handed out bread, rice and pasta to people who had lived under siege for years.</p> Members of the Syrian police hold their weapons as they sit on a back of a truck at the city of Douma, Damascus, Syria April 16, 2018. REUTERS/Ali Hashisho
<p>A government-organized media tour did not include the building where, according to rescue workers and medics who were in town at the time, dozens of people were killed by poison gas.</p>
<p>Doctors at the hospital where suspected victims were treated told reporters on the tour that none of the patients that night had suffered chemical weapons injuries - they were asphyxiated by dust and smoke in a bombardment.</p>
<p>Medical aid groups and the White Helmets rescue organization have said such statements - already aired on state television in recent days - were made under duress.</p> ?RIGHT THING TO DO?
<p>The U.S.-led strikes did nothing to alter the strategic balance or dent Assad's supremacy, and the Western allies have said the aim was to prevent the further use of chemical weapons, not to intervene in the civil war or topple Assad.</p>
<p>At a meeting in Luxembourg, the 28 EU foreign ministers endorsed the missile strikes and considered steps to deepen Assad's isolation.</p>
<p>Britain's May told parliament the decision to conduct air strikes against Syria was in the British national interest and not as a result of pressure from Trump.</p> Slideshow (13 Images)
<p>"We have not done this because President Trump asked us to, we have done it because we believed it was the right thing to do, and we are not alone. There is broad-based international support for the action we have taken," May said.</p>
<p>May has said she did not seek a green light from parliament for the attacks, citing the need to act quickly.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Jack Stubbs and Andrey Ostroukh in Moscow, Jeff Mason, Susan Cornwell, Leslie Wroughton, Yara Bayoumy and Steve Holland in Washington, Michelle Nichols in New York, Samia Nakhoul, Tom Perry, 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 and Suleiman Al-Khalidi in Amman; Writing by Angus MacSwan and Richard Balmforth; Editing by Alistair Bell and Peter Cooney</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>HAVANA (Reuters) - President Raul Castro's efforts to modernize Cuba's Soviet-style centrally planned economy have borne mixed results, with some initiatives moving forward, others stalled and still others either scuttled or yet to begin.</p> Cuba's President Raul Castro addresses the audience during a ceremony where he decorated leaders of the Cuban revolution with the honorary title of Hero of Labour of the Republic of Cuba, at the Capitol in Havana, Cuba February 24, 2018. Omara Garcia Mederos/ACN/Handout via REUTERS
<p>The effort can best be viewed as building on policy changes Cuba initiated after the fall of the Soviet Union, for example allowing foreign investment and some mom-and-pop businesses.</p>
<p>Late former President Fidel Castro termed these changes "concessions to the enemy" while Raul Castro has cast them in a more positive light and said they are an indispensable part of Cuba's future.</p>
<p>The ruling Communist Party says the process has been harder than expected and most of the reforms, which were first adopted at a Party congress in 2011 and then ratified in 2016, are still a work in progress.</p>
<p>Some of the changes that are under way, for example the development of a private sector, have been subject to constant tinkering and increasing complaints about both growing social inequality and tighter regulation.</p>
<p>While the 2011 reform plan prohibited the accumulation of private property, the 2016 version added a ban on "accumulation of wealth."</p>
<p>Following are highlights of the most important economic changes to date:</p> AGRICULTURE
<p>The government began leasing fallow state-owned land to prospective farmers in 2008. Since then the length, size and terms of leases have improved, although farmers must agree to cultivate certain crops or raise livestock for sale to the state.</p>
<p>Currently 151,000 people hold leases covering 1.2 million hectares (3 million acres) of land, similar to five years ago.</p>
<p>A sweeping agriculture reform began in 2010 and included loosening regulations on farmers to favor market forces and prices. The market reforms were reversed and the state dominated system restored in 2015 on the grounds that speculation was inflating prices.</p> SMALL BUSINESS
<p>Regulations around small businesses were liberalized in 2010 as part of an effort to cut bloated state payrolls. Entrepreneurs were still categorized as self-employed rather than as business owners, however they were authorized for the first time since 1968 to hire non-family labor.</p>
<p>Simultaneously the state began shedding small service outlets such as barber shops and snack shops in favor of arrangements where employees would lease the premises. A pilot program authorizing non-agricultural cooperatives began in 2013.</p>
<p>There are 580,000 self-employed license holders, including cab drivers, tradesmen and the employees of thousands of private eateries, bed and breakfasts, and construction contractors. The private sector includes 429 cooperatives, many of them former state establishments.</p> STATE COMPANIES
<p>The government began reorganizing and merging thousands of companies in 2011, even as it moved them out of the direct control of government ministries. The government aimed to make the companies more autonomous and competitive and said it would regulate and tax businesses, not manage them.</p>
<p>There have been numerous adjustments to regulations aimed at giving the companies, which account for some 70 percent of Cuba's economic activity, more authority over day-to-day operations, as well as how they handle excess production after meeting their production quotas and after-tax profit.</p>
<p>However, the government still exercises strict control through levers such as centralized planning and a monopoly on foreign trade.</p> PRIVATE PROPERTY
<p>The government authorized the buying and selling of homes and cars in 2011 after a ban dating from soon after the 1959 revolution. Owners were also authorized to rent their premises. However, citizens remain restricted to ownership of one home and a vacation home and the sale of new cars, which are all imported, remains in state hands at a mark-up of on average 800 percent of the factory price.</p> TAXES
<p>In 2012 Cuba adopted its first comprehensive tax code since all personal taxes were abolished after the revolution. Levies on income, property, inheritance, and fallow farmland were among those included, in addition to various contributions and fees, for example to social security.</p>
<p>The taxes are being gradually implemented. The majority of state workers still do not pay income tax. The self-employed, farmers and workers making more than 2,500 pesos per month, the equivalent of just over $100 and three times the average wage, do.</p> FOREIGN INVESTMENT
<p>A new foreign investment law in 2014 opened up most of the economy, cut taxes by around 50 percent and provided greater flexibility in terms of majority ownership by foreign investors in ventures partnering with the state, compared with a previous law adopted in the 1990s.</p>
<p>In 2017 the country signed new ventures valued at more than $2 billion, around twice the amount signed during any previous year.</p>
<p>A China-style special development zone also opened at Mariel, just west of Havana, with further tax and customs breaks and where most projects are fully owned by investors.</p>
<p>Reporting by Marc Frank; Editing by Frances Kerry</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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jan 17 reuters c3 iot c3 iot says raises 100 million new round financing existing investors joining round rise fund source text eikon standards thomson reuters trust principles beirut reuters syrian army began preparatory shelling assault last area outside control near damascus tuesday commander progovernment alliance said building recent capture major suburb eastern ghouta members syrian police sit damaged building city douma damascus syria april 16 2018 reutersali hashisho recovering yarmouk camp neighboring areas located south city would give president bashar alassad complete control syrias capital consolidating grip power yarmouk syrias biggest camp palestinian refugees since mid20th century control islamic state fighters several years although vast majority residents fled united nations says thousands remain assad benefited russian air power since 2015 regain large swathes syria putting strongest position since early months sevenyearold war war killed 500000 people drawn regional global powers united states britain france launched first coordinated strikes assads government saturday retaliation say poison gas attack april 7 killed scores residents douma last town eastern ghouta fall western missiles destroyed three targets evacuated advance nothing alter wider course war leaving assads russianbacked forces still offensive goal recapturing entire country damascus moscow denied using poison gas broadcast statements hospital workers douma medical aid groups operating rebel areas dismissed propaganda saying chemical attack took place team international chemical weapons inspectors arrived damascus friday still visited douma gather evidence though russia said would wednesday syrian state media reported missiles targeted airbase overnight commander regional military alliance backing government later told reuters false alarm commander speaking condition anonymity said new offensive would target islamic state nusra front militants yarmouk camp alhajar alaswad district rebels adjoining beit sahm area would withdraw buses agreement government commander said assault government media tour monday douma biggest town former rebel enclave eastern ghouta outside damascus revealed severe destruction plight residents survived years siege assault eastern ghouta began february ended government victory saturday rebels withdrew town hours western countries finished air strikes buildings said used research store chemical weapons equipment rebel groups controlling areas eastern ghouta eventually agreed surrender deals involved withdrawal oppositionheld areas northwestern syria including idlib recapture eastern ghouta assad still several smaller pockets ground recover rebels well two major areas hold northwest southwest besides pocket south damascus rebels still hold besieged enclaves town dumayr northeast damascus eastern qalamoun mountains nearby around rastan north homs progovernment commander said army prepared military action eastern qalamoun russia working militants withdrawal without battle state television said tuesday rebels dumayr also agreed withdraw northwest syria largest area still held rebels government assault could bring damascus confrontation turkey set string military observation posts area ali akbar velayati top iranian official said visit damascus last week hoped army would soon regain idlib areas eastern syria held alliance kurdish arab militias backed washington reporting laila bassam additional reporting dahlia nehme writing angus mcdowall editing peter graff standards thomson reuters trust principles paris reuters frances foreign ministry tuesday said likely proof disappeared site suspected poison gas attack syria adding essential international inspectors given full access site inspectors organisation prohibition chemical weapons opcw traveled syria last week inspect site yet gain access douma government control rebels withdrew today russia syria still refuse give inspectors access site attack foreign ministry said statement likely proof essential elements disappearing site said reporting ingrid melander editing sudip kargupta standards thomson reuters trust principles damascusthe hague reuters united states accused russia monday blocking international inspectors reaching site suspected poison gas attack syria said russians syrians may tampered evidence ground moscow denied charge blamed delays retaliatory usled missile strikes syria saturday british prime minister theresa may french president emmanuel macron faced criticism political opponents decisions take part air strikes syria russia deny unleashing poison gas april 7 offensive douma ended recapture town last rebel stronghold near capital damascus relief organizations say dozens men women children killed footage young victims foaming mouth weeping agony thrust syrias civil war half million people killed past seven years forefront world concern inspectors organisation prohibition chemical weapons opcw traveled syria last week inspect site yet gain access douma government control rebels withdrew understanding russians may visited attack site us ambassador kenneth ward said opcw meeting hague monday related coverage factbox chemical weapons inspectors work germany mediate moscow syria foreign minister says france says proof likely disappearing douma inspectors must full access concern may tampered intent thwarting efforts opcw factfinding mission conduct effective investigation said comments closeddoor meeting obtained reuters russian foreign minister sergei lavrov denied moscow interfered evidence guarantee russia tampered site told bbc increasing regional jitters syrian antiaircraft defenses shot missiles fired air base shayrat homs province late monday another base northeast capital damascus syrian state television proiranian hezbollah media said pentagon said us military activity area time israeli military spokesman said dont comment reports un security council due briefed tuesday request russia situation syrias northern city raqqa islamic state defeated last year usbacked forces rubkan camp displaced syrians near countrys border jordan iraq trump wants us troops home two days missile strikes hailed wellexecuted military operation president donald trump still wants bring small number us troops northern syria home white house said spokeswoman sarah sanders said set timeline pullout trump also willing meet russian president vladimir putin added indicating encounter imminent britains delegation opcw accused russia assad government stopping inspectors reaching douma unfettered access essential said statement russia syria must cooperate team aims collect samples interview witnesses document evidence determine whether banned toxic munitions used although permitted assign blame attack british ambassador peter wilson said hague united nations cleared inspectors go unable reach douma syria russia unable guarantee safety moscow blamed delay air strikes united states france britain targeted pentagon said three chemical weapons facilities called objective investigation beginning information attack appeared therefore allegations towards russia groundless kremlin spokesman dmitry peskov said russian defense ministry official said later opcw experts would travel douma wednesday inspectors met syrian deputy foreign minister faisal mekdad presence russian officers senior syrian security official damascus three hours sunday opcw inspectors attacked two previous missions sites chemical weapons attacks syria syrian flags flew douma monday security forces stood street corners russian military police patrolled streets state aid trucks handed bread rice pasta people lived siege years members syrian police hold weapons sit back truck city douma damascus syria april 16 2018 reutersali hashisho governmentorganized media tour include building according rescue workers medics town time dozens people killed poison gas doctors hospital suspected victims treated told reporters tour none patients night suffered chemical weapons injuries asphyxiated dust smoke bombardment medical aid groups white helmets rescue organization said statements already aired state television recent days made duress right thing usled strikes nothing alter strategic balance dent assads supremacy western allies said aim prevent use chemical weapons intervene civil war topple assad meeting luxembourg 28 eu foreign ministers endorsed missile strikes considered steps deepen assads isolation britains may told parliament decision conduct air strikes syria british national interest result pressure trump slideshow 13 images done president trump asked us done believed right thing alone broadbased international support action taken may said may said seek green light parliament attacks citing need act quickly additional reporting jack stubbs andrey ostroukh moscow jeff mason susan cornwell leslie wroughton yara bayoumy steve holland washington michelle nichols new york samia nakhoul tom perry ellen francis angus mcdowall beirut kinda makieh barzeh syria elizabeth piper michael holden guy faulconbridge london laurence frost michel rose ingrid melander paris suleiman alkhalidi amman writing angus macswan richard balmforth editing alistair bell peter cooney standards thomson reuters trust principles havana reuters president raul castros efforts modernize cubas sovietstyle centrally planned economy borne mixed results initiatives moving forward others stalled still others either scuttled yet begin cubas president raul castro addresses audience ceremony decorated leaders cuban revolution honorary title hero labour republic cuba capitol havana cuba february 24 2018 omara garcia mederosacnhandout via reuters effort best viewed building policy changes cuba initiated fall soviet union example allowing foreign investment momandpop businesses late former president fidel castro termed changes concessions enemy raul castro cast positive light said indispensable part cubas future ruling communist party says process harder expected reforms first adopted party congress 2011 ratified 2016 still work progress changes way example development private sector subject constant tinkering increasing complaints growing social inequality tighter regulation 2011 reform plan prohibited accumulation private property 2016 version added ban accumulation wealth following highlights important economic changes date agriculture government began leasing fallow stateowned land prospective farmers 2008 since length size terms leases improved although farmers must agree cultivate certain crops raise livestock sale state currently 151000 people hold leases covering 12 million hectares 3 million acres land similar five years ago sweeping agriculture reform began 2010 included loosening regulations farmers favor market forces prices market reforms reversed state dominated system restored 2015 grounds speculation inflating prices small business regulations around small businesses liberalized 2010 part effort cut bloated state payrolls entrepreneurs still categorized selfemployed rather business owners however authorized first time since 1968 hire nonfamily labor simultaneously state began shedding small service outlets barber shops snack shops favor arrangements employees would lease premises pilot program authorizing nonagricultural cooperatives began 2013 580000 selfemployed license holders including cab drivers tradesmen employees thousands private eateries bed breakfasts construction contractors private sector includes 429 cooperatives many former state establishments state companies government began reorganizing merging thousands companies 2011 even moved direct control government ministries government aimed make companies autonomous competitive said would regulate tax businesses manage numerous adjustments regulations aimed giving companies account 70 percent cubas economic activity authority daytoday operations well handle excess production meeting production quotas aftertax profit however government still exercises strict control levers centralized planning monopoly foreign trade private property government authorized buying selling homes cars 2011 ban dating soon 1959 revolution owners also authorized rent premises however citizens remain restricted ownership one home vacation home sale new cars imported remains state hands markup average 800 percent factory price taxes 2012 cuba adopted first comprehensive tax code since personal taxes abolished revolution levies income property inheritance fallow farmland among included addition various contributions fees example social security taxes gradually implemented majority state workers still pay income tax selfemployed farmers workers making 2500 pesos per month equivalent 100 three times average wage foreign investment new foreign investment law 2014 opened economy cut taxes around 50 percent provided greater flexibility terms majority ownership foreign investors ventures partnering state compared previous law adopted 1990s 2017 country signed new ventures valued 2 billion around twice amount signed previous year chinastyle special development zone also opened mariel west havana tax customs breaks projects fully owned investors reporting marc frank editing frances kerry standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>BEIJING (AP) — Tonhe Electronics is a casualty of Beijing's frantic effort to stop a stock market bust.</p>
<p>The maker of electrical equipment, part of a technology industry the ruling Communist Party wants to promote, hoped to raise 200 million yuan ($32 million) from an initial public offering of stock to build a research and development center.</p>
<p>Then share prices collapsed and Beijing canceled stock sales by Tonhe and more than two dozen other companies as part of its desperate effort to stem the slide. Now the company in the central city of Shijiazhuang is in limbo.</p>
<p>"We have no other fundraising plans," said a Tonhe investor relations representative who would give only her surname, Zhuang. "What we can do now is just wait for the notice to get the IPO started again."</p>
<p>Beijing's scramble to put a floor under free-falling share prices came at a cost China has yet to tally. The boom and bust passed so fast it had little impact on consumer spending. But on top of the public money plowed into buying shares, the intervention disrupted fundraising for small companies and set back efforts to make the stock market a tool for economic reform.</p>
<p>State agencies and companies charged with buying shares to prop up prices has yet to announce what it bought or how much it spent. In a report last month, Goldman Sachs estimated that group, dubbed the "National Team" by financial analysts, spent 860-900 billion yuan ($135-$140 billion) in June and July.</p>
<p>That led to state -owned companies amassing a mountain of shares in other government enterprises, many bought from private investors. That reversed an official campaign to encourage the public to buy shares in hopes "diverse ownership" of state companies will prod them to become competitive and efficient.</p>
<p>"The state, through its rescue, has further increased its ownership of the stock market," said economist Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics. "They have gone directly against their longer-term reform goals."</p>
<p>The collapse that saw China's main stock index plunge 30 percent after hitting a peak June 12 prompted ruling party leaders under President Xi Jinping to set aside repeated pledges to give market forces a bigger role in the economy.</p>
<p>Regulators canceled IPOs planned by 28 private companies in electronics, food processing and other industries. The 21 that had disclosed details were planning to raise a total of about 8.8 billion yuan ($1.4 billion).</p>
<p>The industries affected play a leading role in the ruling party's plans to transform China from a low-wage factory into a creator of technology and consumer brands with higher-paying jobs and environmentally friendly growth.</p>
<p>Thinker Automation Ltd., a maker of control systems for railways and other industries in the central province of Henan, planned to raise 1.3 billion yuan ($205 million) to expand operations.</p>
<p>Many are in areas away from the prosperous east coast where communist leaders are eager to spur development.</p>
<p>Toly Bread Ltd. In Shenyang, the biggest city in the rust-belt northeast, wanted 620 million yuan ($99 million) to expand production and sales of baked goods.</p>
<p>Regulators have begun allowing companies that already are traded to raise money through sales of additional shares but there has been no word on when IPOs might resume.</p>
<p>Analysts saw no "wealth effect" or uptick in consumer spending when the market index more than doubled in value between November and June. They said that should mean little change as share prices sagged. After the first major market fall, July's growth in retail spending held steady at June's 10.5 percent rate.</p>
<p>Wang Pinyue, a piano teacher in the northeastern city of Harbin, said he lost 75 to 80 percent of the 5,000 yuan ($800) he invested. Even though that was equal to half of last year's income, Wang said it hasn't affected his spending.</p>
<p>"But if I had invested more and lost more, I sure would be in a bad mood and short of money. I might cancel a trip or something," said Wang, 26.</p>
<p>One reason for the limited effect is the nascent popularity of investing among China's public.</p>
<p>Even after a rush of novice investors into the market this year, only 7 to 8 percent of Chinese households own stocks, compared with up to one-third in the United States and Europe. Far more own real estate: The average urban Chinese family has 40 to 50 percent of its net worth in housing, which has risen in value this year.</p>
<p>Jing Ran, who operates a coffee shop in Deyang, a blue-collar city in Sichuan, said her profit has fallen by 30 percent from a year ago, but she blames the slowing economy, not the stock price slide. Deyang is home to factories that make construction and factory equipment. Both industries that have suffered as investment and manufacturing weakened.</p>
<p>"I hear customers complain about the stock market, but I don't think it affects my business," said Jing, 27. "When the economy gets worse, the factory workers spend less. So this affects my business more."</p>
<p>The stock-trading frenzy pushed up the financial industry's contribution to economic growth in the second quarter, helping to keep it at 7 percent, while other industries cooled.</p>
<p>In the second half of the year, forecasters expect the decline in stock market activity to shave 0.5 percentage points off China's growth. That could make the economy look weaker, even if other industries hold steady.</p>
<p>"Fears of an economic hard landing due to stock market gyrations are exaggerated," UBS economists Donna Kwok and Tao Wang said in a report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>AP researchers Fu Ting in Shanghai and Dong Tongjian in Beijing contributed.</p>
<p>BEIJING (AP) — Tonhe Electronics is a casualty of Beijing's frantic effort to stop a stock market bust.</p>
<p>The maker of electrical equipment, part of a technology industry the ruling Communist Party wants to promote, hoped to raise 200 million yuan ($32 million) from an initial public offering of stock to build a research and development center.</p>
<p>Then share prices collapsed and Beijing canceled stock sales by Tonhe and more than two dozen other companies as part of its desperate effort to stem the slide. Now the company in the central city of Shijiazhuang is in limbo.</p>
<p>"We have no other fundraising plans," said a Tonhe investor relations representative who would give only her surname, Zhuang. "What we can do now is just wait for the notice to get the IPO started again."</p>
<p>Beijing's scramble to put a floor under free-falling share prices came at a cost China has yet to tally. The boom and bust passed so fast it had little impact on consumer spending. But on top of the public money plowed into buying shares, the intervention disrupted fundraising for small companies and set back efforts to make the stock market a tool for economic reform.</p>
<p>State agencies and companies charged with buying shares to prop up prices has yet to announce what it bought or how much it spent. In a report last month, Goldman Sachs estimated that group, dubbed the "National Team" by financial analysts, spent 860-900 billion yuan ($135-$140 billion) in June and July.</p>
<p>That led to state -owned companies amassing a mountain of shares in other government enterprises, many bought from private investors. That reversed an official campaign to encourage the public to buy shares in hopes "diverse ownership" of state companies will prod them to become competitive and efficient.</p>
<p>"The state, through its rescue, has further increased its ownership of the stock market," said economist Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics. "They have gone directly against their longer-term reform goals."</p>
<p>The collapse that saw China's main stock index plunge 30 percent after hitting a peak June 12 prompted ruling party leaders under President Xi Jinping to set aside repeated pledges to give market forces a bigger role in the economy.</p>
<p>Regulators canceled IPOs planned by 28 private companies in electronics, food processing and other industries. The 21 that had disclosed details were planning to raise a total of about 8.8 billion yuan ($1.4 billion).</p>
<p>The industries affected play a leading role in the ruling party's plans to transform China from a low-wage factory into a creator of technology and consumer brands with higher-paying jobs and environmentally friendly growth.</p>
<p>Thinker Automation Ltd., a maker of control systems for railways and other industries in the central province of Henan, planned to raise 1.3 billion yuan ($205 million) to expand operations.</p>
<p>Many are in areas away from the prosperous east coast where communist leaders are eager to spur development.</p>
<p>Toly Bread Ltd. In Shenyang, the biggest city in the rust-belt northeast, wanted 620 million yuan ($99 million) to expand production and sales of baked goods.</p>
<p>Regulators have begun allowing companies that already are traded to raise money through sales of additional shares but there has been no word on when IPOs might resume.</p>
<p>Analysts saw no "wealth effect" or uptick in consumer spending when the market index more than doubled in value between November and June. They said that should mean little change as share prices sagged. After the first major market fall, July's growth in retail spending held steady at June's 10.5 percent rate.</p>
<p>Wang Pinyue, a piano teacher in the northeastern city of Harbin, said he lost 75 to 80 percent of the 5,000 yuan ($800) he invested. Even though that was equal to half of last year's income, Wang said it hasn't affected his spending.</p>
<p>"But if I had invested more and lost more, I sure would be in a bad mood and short of money. I might cancel a trip or something," said Wang, 26.</p>
<p>One reason for the limited effect is the nascent popularity of investing among China's public.</p>
<p>Even after a rush of novice investors into the market this year, only 7 to 8 percent of Chinese households own stocks, compared with up to one-third in the United States and Europe. Far more own real estate: The average urban Chinese family has 40 to 50 percent of its net worth in housing, which has risen in value this year.</p>
<p>Jing Ran, who operates a coffee shop in Deyang, a blue-collar city in Sichuan, said her profit has fallen by 30 percent from a year ago, but she blames the slowing economy, not the stock price slide. Deyang is home to factories that make construction and factory equipment. Both industries that have suffered as investment and manufacturing weakened.</p>
<p>"I hear customers complain about the stock market, but I don't think it affects my business," said Jing, 27. "When the economy gets worse, the factory workers spend less. So this affects my business more."</p>
<p>The stock-trading frenzy pushed up the financial industry's contribution to economic growth in the second quarter, helping to keep it at 7 percent, while other industries cooled.</p>
<p>In the second half of the year, forecasters expect the decline in stock market activity to shave 0.5 percentage points off China's growth. That could make the economy look weaker, even if other industries hold steady.</p>
<p>"Fears of an economic hard landing due to stock market gyrations are exaggerated," UBS economists Donna Kwok and Tao Wang said in a report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>AP researchers Fu Ting in Shanghai and Dong Tongjian in Beijing contributed.</p>
| false | 2 |
beijing ap tonhe electronics casualty beijings frantic effort stop stock market bust maker electrical equipment part technology industry ruling communist party wants promote hoped raise 200 million yuan 32 million initial public offering stock build research development center share prices collapsed beijing canceled stock sales tonhe two dozen companies part desperate effort stem slide company central city shijiazhuang limbo fundraising plans said tonhe investor relations representative would give surname zhuang wait notice get ipo started beijings scramble put floor freefalling share prices came cost china yet tally boom bust passed fast little impact consumer spending top public money plowed buying shares intervention disrupted fundraising small companies set back efforts make stock market tool economic reform state agencies companies charged buying shares prop prices yet announce bought much spent report last month goldman sachs estimated group dubbed national team financial analysts spent 860900 billion yuan 135140 billion june july led state owned companies amassing mountain shares government enterprises many bought private investors reversed official campaign encourage public buy shares hopes diverse ownership state companies prod become competitive efficient state rescue increased ownership stock market said economist julian evanspritchard capital economics gone directly longerterm reform goals collapse saw chinas main stock index plunge 30 percent hitting peak june 12 prompted ruling party leaders president xi jinping set aside repeated pledges give market forces bigger role economy regulators canceled ipos planned 28 private companies electronics food processing industries 21 disclosed details planning raise total 88 billion yuan 14 billion industries affected play leading role ruling partys plans transform china lowwage factory creator technology consumer brands higherpaying jobs environmentally friendly growth thinker automation ltd maker control systems railways industries central province henan planned raise 13 billion yuan 205 million expand operations many areas away prosperous east coast communist leaders eager spur development toly bread ltd shenyang biggest city rustbelt northeast wanted 620 million yuan 99 million expand production sales baked goods regulators begun allowing companies already traded raise money sales additional shares word ipos might resume analysts saw wealth effect uptick consumer spending market index doubled value november june said mean little change share prices sagged first major market fall julys growth retail spending held steady junes 105 percent rate wang pinyue piano teacher northeastern city harbin said lost 75 80 percent 5000 yuan 800 invested even though equal half last years income wang said hasnt affected spending invested lost sure would bad mood short money might cancel trip something said wang 26 one reason limited effect nascent popularity investing among chinas public even rush novice investors market year 7 8 percent chinese households stocks compared onethird united states europe far real estate average urban chinese family 40 50 percent net worth housing risen value year jing ran operates coffee shop deyang bluecollar city sichuan said profit fallen 30 percent year ago blames slowing economy stock price slide deyang home factories make construction factory equipment industries suffered investment manufacturing weakened hear customers complain stock market dont think affects business said jing 27 economy gets worse factory workers spend less affects business stocktrading frenzy pushed financial industrys contribution economic growth second quarter helping keep 7 percent industries cooled second half year forecasters expect decline stock market activity shave 05 percentage points chinas growth could make economy look weaker even industries hold steady fears economic hard landing due stock market gyrations exaggerated ubs economists donna kwok tao wang said report ___ ap researchers fu ting shanghai dong tongjian beijing contributed beijing ap tonhe electronics casualty beijings frantic effort stop stock market bust maker electrical equipment part technology industry ruling communist party wants promote hoped raise 200 million yuan 32 million initial public offering stock build research development center share prices collapsed beijing canceled stock sales tonhe two dozen companies part desperate effort stem slide company central city shijiazhuang limbo fundraising plans said tonhe investor relations representative would give surname zhuang wait notice get ipo started beijings scramble put floor freefalling share prices came cost china yet tally boom bust passed fast little impact consumer spending top public money plowed buying shares intervention disrupted fundraising small companies set back efforts make stock market tool economic reform state agencies companies charged buying shares prop prices yet announce bought much spent report last month goldman sachs estimated group dubbed national team financial analysts spent 860900 billion yuan 135140 billion june july led state owned companies amassing mountain shares government enterprises many bought private investors reversed official campaign encourage public buy shares hopes diverse ownership state companies prod become competitive efficient state rescue increased ownership stock market said economist julian evanspritchard capital economics gone directly longerterm reform goals collapse saw chinas main stock index plunge 30 percent hitting peak june 12 prompted ruling party leaders president xi jinping set aside repeated pledges give market forces bigger role economy regulators canceled ipos planned 28 private companies electronics food processing industries 21 disclosed details planning raise total 88 billion yuan 14 billion industries affected play leading role ruling partys plans transform china lowwage factory creator technology consumer brands higherpaying jobs environmentally friendly growth thinker automation ltd maker control systems railways industries central province henan planned raise 13 billion yuan 205 million expand operations many areas away prosperous east coast communist leaders eager spur development toly bread ltd shenyang biggest city rustbelt northeast wanted 620 million yuan 99 million expand production sales baked goods regulators begun allowing companies already traded raise money sales additional shares word ipos might resume analysts saw wealth effect uptick consumer spending market index doubled value november june said mean little change share prices sagged first major market fall julys growth retail spending held steady junes 105 percent rate wang pinyue piano teacher northeastern city harbin said lost 75 80 percent 5000 yuan 800 invested even though equal half last years income wang said hasnt affected spending invested lost sure would bad mood short money might cancel trip something said wang 26 one reason limited effect nascent popularity investing among chinas public even rush novice investors market year 7 8 percent chinese households stocks compared onethird united states europe far real estate average urban chinese family 40 50 percent net worth housing risen value year jing ran operates coffee shop deyang bluecollar city sichuan said profit fallen 30 percent year ago blames slowing economy stock price slide deyang home factories make construction factory equipment industries suffered investment manufacturing weakened hear customers complain stock market dont think affects business said jing 27 economy gets worse factory workers spend less affects business stocktrading frenzy pushed financial industrys contribution economic growth second quarter helping keep 7 percent industries cooled second half year forecasters expect decline stock market activity shave 05 percentage points chinas growth could make economy look weaker even industries hold steady fears economic hard landing due stock market gyrations exaggerated ubs economists donna kwok tao wang said report ___ ap researchers fu ting shanghai dong tongjian beijing contributed
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<p>Jan 23 (Reuters) - Accrelist Ltd:</p> * ANNOUNCES PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF COMPANIES
<p>* DEAL FOR S$4 MILLION Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Chanting “never again,” 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 on Saturday to demand tighter gun laws.</p>
<p>In some of the biggest U.S. youth demonstrations for decades, protesters called on lawmakers and President Donald Trump to confront the issue. Voter registration activists fanned out in the crowds, signing up thousands of the nation’s newest voters.</p>
<p>At the largest March For Our Lives protest, demonstrators jammed Washington’s Pennsylvania Avenue where they listened to speeches from survivors of the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.</p>
<p>There were sobs as one teenage survivor, Emma Gonzalez, read the names of the 17 victims and then stood in silence. Tears ran down her cheeks as she stared out over the crowd for the rest of a speech that lasted six minutes and 20 seconds, the time it took for the gunman to slaughter them.</p>
<p>The massive March For Our Lives rallies aimed to break legislative gridlock that has long stymied efforts to increase restrictions on firearms sales in a nation where mass shootings like the one in Parkland have become frighteningly common.</p>
<p>“Politicians: either represent the people or get out. Stand with us or beware, the voters are coming,” Cameron Kasky, a 17-year-old junior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, told the crowd.</p>
<p>Another survivor, David Hogg, said it was a new day.</p>
<p>“We’re going to make sure the best people get in our elections to run not as politicians, but as Americans. Because this - this - is not cutting it,” he said, pointing at the white-domed Capitol behind the stage.</p>
<p>Youthful marchers filled streets in cities including Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, San Diego and St. Louis.</p>
<p>More than 800 demonstrations were scheduled in the United States and overseas, according to coordinators, with events as far afield as London, Mauritius, Stockholm and Sydney.</p> ‘TAKE THEIR LIBERTY AWAY’
<p>Underlining sharp differences among the American public over the issue, counter-demonstrators and supporters of gun rights were also in evidence in many U.S. cities.</p>
<p>Organizers of the anti-gun rallies want Congress, many of whose members are up for re-election in November, to ban the sale of assault weapons like the one used in the Florida rampage and to tighten background checks for gun buyers.</p>
<p>On the other side of the debate, gun rights advocates cite constitutional guarantees of the right to bear arms.</p>
<p>“All they’re doing is asking the government to take their liberty away from them without due process,” Brandon Howard, a 42-year-old Trump supporter, said of the protesters in the capital. He had a sign saying: “Keep your hands off my guns.”</p> Daisy Hernandez, age 22, joins students and gun control advocates for the "March for Our Lives" event demanding gun control after recent school shootings at a rally in Washington, U.S., March 24, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
<p>Wearing a red “Make America Great Again” sweatshirt, 16-year-old Connor Humphrey of San Luis Obispo, California, said: “Guns don’t kill people. People kill people.”</p>
<p>Humphrey, who was visiting Washington with his family for spring break, said he owns guns for target shooting and hunting and uses them responsibly. His school had a lockdown exercise last week.</p>
<p>“I think teachers should have guns,” he said, echoing a proposal made by Trump after the Parkland killings.</p>
<p>Still, rallies for tighter firearm restrictions also sprang up in rural, Republican-leaning communities ranging from Lewiston, Idaho to Logan, Utah where there is strong support for the Second Amendment constitutional right to own guns.</p> Slideshow (30 Images) CELEBRITIES BACK STUDENTS
<p>Among those marching next to New York’s Central Park to call for tighter gun controls was pop star Paul McCartney, who said he had a personal stake in the debate.</p>
<p>“One of my best friends was shot not far from here,” he told CNN, referring to Beatles bandmate John Lennon, who was gunned down near the park in 1980.</p>
<p>Taking aim at the National Rifle Association gun lobby, teenagers chanted, “Hey, hey, NRA, how many kids have you killed today?”</p>
<p>The young U.S. organizers have won kudos and cash from dozens of celebrities, with singers Demi Lovato and Ariana Grande, as well as “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, among those performing in Washington. Actor George Clooney and his human rights attorney wife, Amal, donated $500,000 and said they would be at the Washington rally.</p>
<p>The U.S. football team the New England Patriots loaned its plane to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students and their families to travel to Washington.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-usa-guns-voters/vote-them-out-thousands-register-to-vote-at-u-s-gun-control-marches-idUSKBN1H00RY" type="external">'Vote them out!': Thousands register to vote at U.S. gun-control marches</a>
<p>At the march in Washington, an elementary school student from Virginia, Naomi Wadler, 11, captivated demonstrators when she spoke up for African American girls who were victims of gun violence but whose stories “don’t make the front page.”</p>
<p>White House deputy press secretary Lindsay Walters said the administration applauded “the many courageous young Americans” who exercised their free-speech rights.</p>
<p>“Keeping our children safe is a top priority of the president’s,” said Walters, noting that on Friday the Justice Department proposed rule changes that would effectively ban “bump stock” devices that let semi-automatic weapons fire like a machine gun.</p>
<p>Also on Friday, Trump signed a $1.3-trillion spending bill including modest improvements to background checks for gun sales and grants to help schools prevent gun violence.</p>
<p>Former President Barack Obama said on Twitter that he and his wife Michelle were inspired by all the young people who made the marches happen.</p>
<p>“Keep at it. You’re leading us forward. Nothing can stand in the way of millions of voices calling for change,” Obama said.</p>
<p>Reporting by Ian Simpson, Lacey Johnson, Katanga Johnson and Lauren Young in Washington, Alice Popovici in New York, Phoenix Tso in Los Angeles, Zachary Fagenson in Parkland, Robert Chiarito in Chicago, Jim Oliphant in West Palm Beach and Andrew Hay in Taos; Editing by Daniel Wallis, James Dalgleish and Nick Zieminski</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - The 23-year-old Texan blamed for a deadly Austin bombing spree described himself as a psychopath and showed no remorse in a confession he taped before blowing himself up as police closed in to arrest him, a U.S. congressman said on Saturday.</p> Law enforcement personnel investigate the home where Austin serial bomber Mark Anthony Conditt lived in Pflugerville, Texas, U.S., March 22, 2018. REUTERS/Loren Elliott
<p>Authorities had not previously disclosed details of the cellphone video in which Mark Conditt admitted being behind the string of bombings that began on March 2, killing two people and wounding five others, beyond saying that it showed a troubled young man.</p>
<p>“I think the best evidence we have at this point in time is the confession itself ... He did refer to himself as a psychopath. He did not show any remorse, in fact questioning himself for why he didn’t feel any remorse for what he did,” U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul told a news conference in Austin when asked about Conditt’s motive.</p>
<p>“It’s hard to imagine someone whose mind is so sick that they could commit bombings like this and feel absolutely no remorse,” he said.</p>
<p>McCaul said there did not appear to be anything in Conditt’s confession “that was sort of racially motivated, but I know that is still part of the ongoing investigation.”</p> Texas blast suspect Mark Anthony Conditt is seen in this undated handout photo released by Austin Community College in Austin, Texas, U.S. March 21, 2018. Austin Community College/Handout via REUTERS
<p>The first several bombing victims, including the two who died, were either African-American or Hispanic.</p>
<p>Federal investigators have been hunting clues about what drove Conditt, who was unemployed and lived with roommates in the Austin suburb of Pflugerville. They also want to know whether he had help building or planting the bombs.</p>
<p>Three of the devices were left as parcels outside victims’ homes, while another was placed on a sidewalk and attached to a trip-wire mechanism. Two more were shipped as FedEx parcels, which helped investigators unmask the bomber’s identity.</p>
<p>The second and third bombs went off while the Texas state capital was hosting its annual South by Southwest music, movies and tech festival, which draws about half a million people.</p>
<p>Conditt died after detonating a explosive device early on Wednesday as police ran toward his vehicle in an Austin suburb.</p>
<p>Reporting by Daniel Wallis in New York</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SYDNEY (Reuters) - Almost a month after a deadly earthquake, Papua New Guinea is struggling to get aid to desperate survivors, having allocated just a fraction of its relief funds, while a rent dispute left disaster officials briefly locked out of their offices.</p> FILE PHOTO - A supplied image shows a landslide and damage to a road located near the township of Tabubil after an earthquake that struck Papua New Guinea's Southern Highlands, February 26, 2018. Jerome Kay/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
<p>The scale of the emergency is testing the finances and capacity of one of the world’s poorest countries, disaster and relief officials say, after the magnitude 7.5 quake rocked its remote mountainous highlands on Feb. 26, killing 100 people.</p>
<p>(For a graphic on 'Papua New Guinea quake' click <a href="http://tmsnrt.rs/2ow1YLR" type="external">tmsnrt.rs/2ow1YLR</a>)</p>
<p>Thousands of survivors have walked to remote airstrips and jungle clearings, awaiting helicopters bringing supplies of food, water and medicines, aid agencies and authorities say.</p>
<p>“To date, we do not have any money to do all the necessary things,” Tom Edabe, the disaster coordinator for the hardest-hit province of Hela, said by telephone from Tari, its capital.</p>
<p>“(The) government is trying to assist and have budgeted some money, but to date we have not received anything...we have only been given food, and non-food items supplied by other NGOs.”</p>
<p>Continuing aftershocks rattle residents, who have to collect water brought by daily rainstorms to ensure adequate supplies, Edabe, the disaster coordinator, said.</p>
<p>“The biggest thing that people need, apart from food, is water,” said James Pima, a helicopter pilot and flight manager at aviation firm HeliSolutions in the Western Highlands capital of Mt. Hagen, about 170 km (100 miles) from the disaster zone.</p>
<p>“They don’t have clean water to cook or drink ... they are standing there staring. The expression on their faces is blank.”</p>
<p>His firm’s three helicopters fly relief missions “fully flat-out every day,” Pima added.</p>
<p>Destruction to roads and runways means authorities must rely on helicopters to fly in relief. But while nimble, the craft can only carry smaller loads than fixed-wing aircraft and cannot fly during the afternoon thunderstorms.</p>
<p>The logistics problems wind all the way to PNG’s disaster center, where officials told Reuters they had been locked out of their office in Port Moresby, the capital, for two days last week after the government missed a rental payment.</p>
<p>“That was correct, Monday and Tuesday,” a spokeswoman said.</p>
<p>In a joint report with the United Nations published on Friday, the agency cited “lack of quality data” about food shortages, limited aircraft assets and “significant gaps” in sanitation support as being the biggest problems it faced.</p> Damage caused by an earthquake in Papua New Guinea is seen in this handout image released March 7, 2018. MAF International/Handout via REUTERS.
<p>The office of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill did not respond to emailed questions from Reuters.</p>
<p>On his website, O’Neill has previously said, “There will be no quick fix, the damage from this disaster will take months and years to be repaired.”</p> ‘POLITICAL GAMES’
<p>The government had approved relief funds amounting to 450 million kina ($130 million), O’Neill said initially, but a later statement mentioned only 3 million kina in initial relief - or less than 1 percent - had been allocated to the worst-hit areas.</p>
<p>In its November budget, the government made plans to rein in spending and trim debt projected to stand at 25.8 billion kina in 2018.</p> FILE PHOTO - A supplied image shows locals inspecting a landslide and damage to a road located near the township of Tabubil after an earthquake that struck Papua New Guinea's Southern Highlands, February 26, 2018. Jerome Kay/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
<p>The impoverished country is also missing its largest revenue earner, after the quake forced a shutdown of Exxon Mobil Corp’s liquefied natural gas project, which has annual sales of $3 billion at current LNG prices. The firm is still assessing quake damage at its facilities.</p>
<p>O’Neill last week hit out at critics of the aid effort for playing “political games,” while thanking Australia and New Zealand for military aircraft that provided assistance beyond the capacity of PNG’s own defense forces.</p>
<p>His political opponent, former Prime Minister Mekere Morauta, had called the government’s response “tardy” and inadequate.</p>
<p>“Relief sources say mobile medical centers and operating theaters are needed urgently, and that only international partners can supply them,” Morauta said last week.</p>
<p>Foreign aid pledges of about $49 million have come in from Australia, China, the European Union, Japan, New Zealand and the United States, says the United Nations, most of it provided by private companies.</p>
<p>Exxon and its partner, Oil Search Ltd, say they have provided $6 million in cash and kind for quake relief.</p>
<p>Local officials say the scale of destruction, with villages buried by landslides and provincial towns flattened, has overwhelmed authorities in Papua New Guinea, which straddles the geologically active Pacific Ring of Fire.</p>
<p>“Policemen are still struggling because there is no support flying in and out,” said Naring Bongi of the quake-damaged police station in the Southern Highlands capital of Mendi.</p>
<p>“There is not enough food to supply care centers, they need fresh water,” he added.</p>
<p>(For an interactive graphic on 'Aftermath of Papua New Guinea's earthquake' click <a href="http://tmsnrt.rs/2Fdu74B" type="external">tmsnrt.rs/2Fdu74B</a>)</p>
<p>Reporting by Tom Westbrook in SYDNEY; Editing by Clarence Fernandez</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Voter registration activists fanned out among young Americans who marched for tighter gun laws on Saturday, signing up thousands of first-time voters who vowed to eject lawmakers who oppose gun controls.</p> High school students carry a banner during a "March for Our Lives" demonstration demanding gun control in Seattle, Washington, U.S. March 24, 2018. REUTERS/Jason Redmond
<p>With mid-term Congressional elections eight months away, the activists flocked to some 800 marches across the country to enroll young voters likely to back Democratic and independent candidates who tend to favor tougher firearms laws.</p>
<p>In Washington, volunteers for the HeadCount voter-registration effort raised their fists and chanted “demonstration without registration leads to frustration” before heading out with clipboards to sign up some of the nation’s newest voters.</p>
<p>“Parkland’s Emma Gonzalez called for more Americans to vote and that is why Headcount is here today,” volunteer Aaron Ghitelman, 26, said of the student who along with classmates forged a national, youth gun control movement following the Feb. 14 massacre at her high school in Parkland, Florida.</p>
<p>Hugh Williams from Ypsilanti, Michigan, was among many 18-year-olds who answered her call.</p>
<p>“The more I see people marching and standing up for a cause I believe in, I want my voice to matter, too,” he said at the Washington march, adding that gun violence was a menace in his community.</p>
<p>A student survivor of the Parkland massacre had a simple message for lawmakers.</p>
<p>“If there is no assault weapons ban passed, then we will vote them out,” Delaney Tarr, a senior at the school, told marchers in Washington.</p>
<p>Organizers of the registration drive hoped to sign up at least 25,000 people on Saturday, a potential boost for Democrats who back stronger controls on assault-style weapons, bump stocks that let semiautomatic rifles fire like automatic weapons, and tighter access to guns for young people and the mentally ill.</p> People demonstrate during a "March For Our Lives" demonstration demanding gun control in Seattle, Washington, U.S. March 24, 2018. REUTERS/Jason Redmond
<p>By 8:30 p.m. ET (0030 GMT) they had signed up 4,000 nationwide, with the number climbing as groups across the country reported.</p>
<p>At a rally in Chicago, 17-year-old Kara Sharp from Island Lake, Illinois, carried a sign reading “Protect students not guns - 2020 Voter” after traveling to the event with her father, a 53-year-old machinist.</p>
<p>Volunteers from a local chapter of lobbying group Indivisible435, which backs progressive political candidates, told her how to register to vote once she got home, as she did not have her driver’s license with her.</p> Slideshow (2 Images)
<p>“It’s time to disarm hate. I’ll be looking at NRA ratings of politicians and also how they treat LGBQ issues,” said Sharp, a junior at Wauconda High School, referring to the grade the National Rife Association gives members of the U.S. Congress for their voting record on gun rights.</p> ‘TOOLS TO MAKE A CHANGE’
<p>Participation in U.S. elections by young voters is often low. Registration activists are targeting the four million Americans turning 18 this year, as well as many 19- to 21-year-olds who have never voted.</p>
<p>In Parkland, Florida, Sari Kaufman was among students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School — where the mass shooting took place — who urged peers to get involved in politics, register to vote and turf out lawmakers who did not protect them.</p>
<p>“With this movement, we will ensure record-breaking turnout not just in the next presidential election, not in the next midterm election, but in all elections,” Kaufman told a crowd of thousands at a rally in Parkland.</p>
<p>“We’re here today to give you the tools to make a change.”</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Robert Chiarito in Chicago and Zachary Fagenson in Parkland, Florida; Writing by Andrew Hay; Editing by Daniel Wallis, Nick Zieminski and Sandra Maler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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jan 23 reuters accrelist ltd announces proposed acquisition companies deal s4 million source text eikon company coverage standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters chanting never hundreds thousands young americans supporters answered call action survivors last months florida high school massacre rallied across united states saturday demand tighter gun laws biggest us youth demonstrations decades protesters called lawmakers president donald trump confront issue voter registration activists fanned crowds signing thousands nations newest voters largest march lives protest demonstrators jammed washingtons pennsylvania avenue listened speeches survivors feb 14 mass shooting marjory stoneman douglas high school parkland florida sobs one teenage survivor emma gonzalez read names 17 victims stood silence tears ran cheeks stared crowd rest speech lasted six minutes 20 seconds time took gunman slaughter massive march lives rallies aimed break legislative gridlock long stymied efforts increase restrictions firearms sales nation mass shootings like one parkland become frighteningly common politicians either represent people get stand us beware voters coming cameron kasky 17yearold junior marjory stoneman douglas told crowd another survivor david hogg said new day going make sure best people get elections run politicians americans cutting said pointing whitedomed capitol behind stage youthful marchers filled streets cities including atlanta baltimore boston chicago los angeles miami minneapolis new york san diego st louis 800 demonstrations scheduled united states overseas according coordinators events far afield london mauritius stockholm sydney take liberty away underlining sharp differences among american public issue counterdemonstrators supporters gun rights also evidence many us cities organizers antigun rallies want congress many whose members reelection november ban sale assault weapons like one used florida rampage tighten background checks gun buyers side debate gun rights advocates cite constitutional guarantees right bear arms theyre asking government take liberty away without due process brandon howard 42yearold trump supporter said protesters capital sign saying keep hands guns daisy hernandez age 22 joins students gun control advocates march lives event demanding gun control recent school shootings rally washington us march 24 2018 reutersjonathan ernst wearing red make america great sweatshirt 16yearold connor humphrey san luis obispo california said guns dont kill people people kill people humphrey visiting washington family spring break said owns guns target shooting hunting uses responsibly school lockdown exercise last week think teachers guns said echoing proposal made trump parkland killings still rallies tighter firearm restrictions also sprang rural republicanleaning communities ranging lewiston idaho logan utah strong support second amendment constitutional right guns slideshow 30 images celebrities back students among marching next new yorks central park call tighter gun controls pop star paul mccartney said personal stake debate one best friends shot far told cnn referring beatles bandmate john lennon gunned near park 1980 taking aim national rifle association gun lobby teenagers chanted hey hey nra many kids killed today young us organizers kudos cash dozens celebrities singers demi lovato ariana grande well hamilton creator linmanuel miranda among performing washington actor george clooney human rights attorney wife amal donated 500000 said would washington rally us football team new england patriots loaned plane marjory stoneman douglas high school students families travel washington related coverage vote thousands register vote us guncontrol marches march washington elementary school student virginia naomi wadler 11 captivated demonstrators spoke african american girls victims gun violence whose stories dont make front page white house deputy press secretary lindsay walters said administration applauded many courageous young americans exercised freespeech rights keeping children safe top priority presidents said walters noting friday justice department proposed rule changes would effectively ban bump stock devices let semiautomatic weapons fire like machine gun also friday trump signed 13trillion spending bill including modest improvements background checks gun sales grants help schools prevent gun violence former president barack obama said twitter wife michelle inspired young people made marches happen keep youre leading us forward nothing stand way millions voices calling change obama said reporting ian simpson lacey johnson katanga johnson lauren young washington alice popovici new york phoenix tso los angeles zachary fagenson parkland robert chiarito chicago jim oliphant west palm beach andrew hay taos editing daniel wallis james dalgleish nick zieminski standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters 23yearold texan blamed deadly austin bombing spree described psychopath showed remorse confession taped blowing police closed arrest us congressman said saturday law enforcement personnel investigate home austin serial bomber mark anthony conditt lived pflugerville texas us march 22 2018 reutersloren elliott authorities previously disclosed details cellphone video mark conditt admitted behind string bombings began march 2 killing two people wounding five others beyond saying showed troubled young man think best evidence point time confession refer psychopath show remorse fact questioning didnt feel remorse us rep michael mccaul told news conference austin asked conditts motive hard imagine someone whose mind sick could commit bombings like feel absolutely remorse said mccaul said appear anything conditts confession sort racially motivated know still part ongoing investigation texas blast suspect mark anthony conditt seen undated handout photo released austin community college austin texas us march 21 2018 austin community collegehandout via reuters first several bombing victims including two died either africanamerican hispanic federal investigators hunting clues drove conditt unemployed lived roommates austin suburb pflugerville also want know whether help building planting bombs three devices left parcels outside victims homes another placed sidewalk attached tripwire mechanism two shipped fedex parcels helped investigators unmask bombers identity second third bombs went texas state capital hosting annual south southwest music movies tech festival draws half million people conditt died detonating explosive device early wednesday police ran toward vehicle austin suburb reporting daniel wallis new york standards thomson reuters trust principles sydney reuters almost month deadly earthquake papua new guinea struggling get aid desperate survivors allocated fraction relief funds rent dispute left disaster officials briefly locked offices file photo supplied image shows landslide damage road located near township tabubil earthquake struck papua new guineas southern highlands february 26 2018 jerome kayhandout via reutersfile photo scale emergency testing finances capacity one worlds poorest countries disaster relief officials say magnitude 75 quake rocked remote mountainous highlands feb 26 killing 100 people graphic papua new guinea quake click tmsnrtrs2ow1ylr thousands survivors walked remote airstrips jungle clearings awaiting helicopters bringing supplies food water medicines aid agencies authorities say date money necessary things tom edabe disaster coordinator hardesthit province hela said telephone tari capital government trying assist budgeted money date received anythingwe given food nonfood items supplied ngos continuing aftershocks rattle residents collect water brought daily rainstorms ensure adequate supplies edabe disaster coordinator said biggest thing people need apart food water said james pima helicopter pilot flight manager aviation firm helisolutions western highlands capital mt hagen 170 km 100 miles disaster zone dont clean water cook drink standing staring expression faces blank firms three helicopters fly relief missions fully flatout every day pima added destruction roads runways means authorities must rely helicopters fly relief nimble craft carry smaller loads fixedwing aircraft fly afternoon thunderstorms logistics problems wind way pngs disaster center officials told reuters locked office port moresby capital two days last week government missed rental payment correct monday tuesday spokeswoman said joint report united nations published friday agency cited lack quality data food shortages limited aircraft assets significant gaps sanitation support biggest problems faced damage caused earthquake papua new guinea seen handout image released march 7 2018 maf internationalhandout via reuters office prime minister peter oneill respond emailed questions reuters website oneill previously said quick fix damage disaster take months years repaired political games government approved relief funds amounting 450 million kina 130 million oneill said initially later statement mentioned 3 million kina initial relief less 1 percent allocated worsthit areas november budget government made plans rein spending trim debt projected stand 258 billion kina 2018 file photo supplied image shows locals inspecting landslide damage road located near township tabubil earthquake struck papua new guineas southern highlands february 26 2018 jerome kayhandout via reutersfile photo impoverished country also missing largest revenue earner quake forced shutdown exxon mobil corps liquefied natural gas project annual sales 3 billion current lng prices firm still assessing quake damage facilities oneill last week hit critics aid effort playing political games thanking australia new zealand military aircraft provided assistance beyond capacity pngs defense forces political opponent former prime minister mekere morauta called governments response tardy inadequate relief sources say mobile medical centers operating theaters needed urgently international partners supply morauta said last week foreign aid pledges 49 million come australia china european union japan new zealand united states says united nations provided private companies exxon partner oil search ltd say provided 6 million cash kind quake relief local officials say scale destruction villages buried landslides provincial towns flattened overwhelmed authorities papua new guinea straddles geologically active pacific ring fire policemen still struggling support flying said naring bongi quakedamaged police station southern highlands capital mendi enough food supply care centers need fresh water added interactive graphic aftermath papua new guineas earthquake click tmsnrtrs2fdu74b reporting tom westbrook sydney editing clarence fernandez standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters voter registration activists fanned among young americans marched tighter gun laws saturday signing thousands firsttime voters vowed eject lawmakers oppose gun controls high school students carry banner march lives demonstration demanding gun control seattle washington us march 24 2018 reutersjason redmond midterm congressional elections eight months away activists flocked 800 marches across country enroll young voters likely back democratic independent candidates tend favor tougher firearms laws washington volunteers headcount voterregistration effort raised fists chanted demonstration without registration leads frustration heading clipboards sign nations newest voters parklands emma gonzalez called americans vote headcount today volunteer aaron ghitelman 26 said student along classmates forged national youth gun control movement following feb 14 massacre high school parkland florida hugh williams ypsilanti michigan among many 18yearolds answered call see people marching standing cause believe want voice matter said washington march adding gun violence menace community student survivor parkland massacre simple message lawmakers assault weapons ban passed vote delaney tarr senior school told marchers washington organizers registration drive hoped sign least 25000 people saturday potential boost democrats back stronger controls assaultstyle weapons bump stocks let semiautomatic rifles fire like automatic weapons tighter access guns young people mentally ill people demonstrate march lives demonstration demanding gun control seattle washington us march 24 2018 reutersjason redmond 830 pm et 0030 gmt signed 4000 nationwide number climbing groups across country reported rally chicago 17yearold kara sharp island lake illinois carried sign reading protect students guns 2020 voter traveling event father 53yearold machinist volunteers local chapter lobbying group indivisible435 backs progressive political candidates told register vote got home drivers license slideshow 2 images time disarm hate ill looking nra ratings politicians also treat lgbq issues said sharp junior wauconda high school referring grade national rife association gives members us congress voting record gun rights tools make change participation us elections young voters often low registration activists targeting four million americans turning 18 year well many 19 21yearolds never voted parkland florida sari kaufman among students marjory stoneman douglas high school mass shooting took place urged peers get involved politics register vote turf lawmakers protect movement ensure recordbreaking turnout next presidential election next midterm election elections kaufman told crowd thousands rally parkland today give tools make change additional reporting robert chiarito chicago zachary fagenson parkland florida writing andrew hay editing daniel wallis nick zieminski sandra maler standards thomson reuters trust principles
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