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[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-28T15:02:12 | null | 2016-08-28T14:08:26 | Ride-hailing services Uber [UBER.UL] and Careem have suspended services in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, since Saturday and did not know when they could resume operations, they said on Sunday. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-emirates-uber-idUSKCN1130M9%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DtechnologyNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FtechnologyNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BTechnology%2BNews%2529.json | http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160828&t=2&i=1151351153&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7R0CO | en | null | Uber, Careem suspend services in UAE capital | null | null | www.reuters.com | An illustration picture shows the logo of car-sharing service app Uber on a smartphone next to the picture of an official German taxi sign September 15, 2014. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/Illustration/File Photo
ABU DHABI Ride-hailing services Uber [UBER.UL] and Careem have suspended services in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, since Saturday and did not know when they could resume operations, they said on Sunday.
“This is a temporary suspension and we will let you know of any further updates,” an Uber spokesman in Dubai said via email. He did not respond to a question on the reason for the suspension.
Christian Eid, vice-president of marketing and communications for Careem, a Dubai-based company, said many of its drivers were being stopped by authorities in Abu Dhabi, apparently over licensing issues, and as a result had become nervous and were staying off the roads. This had forced Careem to halt services there, he said.
The Abu Dhabi government's Centre for Regulation of Transport by Hire Cars, which manages the taxi and transport sector, did not respond to queries. The center oversees about seven taxi operators and 18 limousine operators, some of which are partly government owned.
Uber and Careem said they had not suspended operations in neighboring Dubai, the commercial and tourist hub of the UAE.
Uber, which launched services in Abu Dhabi in 2013, said last year the Middle East and North Africa contained some of its fastest-growing markets and that it planned to invest $250 million to expand in the region.
(Reporting By Stanley Carvalho and Celine Aswad; Editing by Andrew Torchia and Susan Thomas) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-emirates-uber-idUSKCN1130M9?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtechnologyNews+%28Reuters+Technology+News%29 | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/1b9e1a7a5d551356841a4a276fb904b1bae96ddbb6e0d3ffc568dcf201801ff9.json |
[
"Emily Stephenson"
] | 2016-08-26T16:59:05 | null | 2016-08-26T16:18:44 | Democrat Hillary Clinton called on Friday for voters to reject what she called the "bigotry" of Donald Trump's White House campaign, releasing a television ad criticizing his efforts to appeal to black voters and saying she was reaching out to people from all parties who are troubled by his candidacy. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-usa-election-idUSKCN1111YS%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DpoliticsNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2BReuters%252FPoliticsNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BPolitics%2BNews%2529.json | http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160826&t=2&i=1151195427&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7P18C | en | null | New Clinton ad attacks Trump's outreach to black voters | null | null | www.reuters.com | Dr. Ben Carson (L) and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump (C) and Pierry Benjamin (R) attend a round table with the Republican Leadership Initiative at Trump Tower in the Manhattan borough of New York,, U.S., August 25, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
WASHINGTON Democrat Hillary Clinton called on Friday for voters to reject what she called the "bigotry" of Donald Trump's White House campaign, releasing a television ad criticizing his efforts to appeal to black voters and saying she was reaching out to people from all parties who are troubled by his candidacy.
The ad shows video of Trump's controversial pitch to black voters, in which the Republican candidate urges them to support him by asking, "What do you have to lose?" It also shows headlines about a racial discrimination lawsuit the New York real estate mogul faced in the 1970s.
Clinton's presidential campaign said the ad, released a day after she gave a speech accusing Trump of fuelling America's "radical fringe," would air in the hotly contested states of Florida, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Clinton followed up her tough speech by saying on Friday that Trump's temperament and divisiveness made him unfit for the White House.
"I am reaching out to everyone, Republicans, Democrats, independents, everyone who is as troubled as I am by the bigotry and divisiveness of Donald Trump's campaign," she told MSNBC, adding she was asking "fair-minded Americans to repudiate this kind of divisive demagoguery."
Trump countered on Friday by releasing a video showing Clinton in the 1990s discussing a crime bill and referring to "super-predators," or at-risk youth she said needed to be brought under control. Trump's video also shows U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, Clinton's main opponent in the Democratic primary this year, calling that a "racist term."
Republican National Committee spokesman Sean Spicer told MSNBC on Friday that Clinton was trying to deflect attention from controversy around her family's charitable foundation and her use of private email address and server rather than a government one while she was secretary of state from 2009-2013.
In targeting what she terms Trump's bigotry, Clinton hopes to remind voters of controversial statements he has made over the course of the campaign. Those include describing some Mexican immigrants as criminals and rapists, suggesting a judge could not be fair because of his Mexican-American heritage, and proposing a temporary ban on Muslim immigrants to combat terrorism.
Trump also has been criticized for vowing to deport millions of people living in the United States illegally. In recent days, he had appeared to hold out the possibility of toning down his hardline stance, but on Thursday, he denied he would loosen his proposed immigration restrictions.
"I don't think it's a softening," Trump told CNN. "I've had many people say it's a hardening, actually." He said he was still weighing what would become of the 11 million people already in the country illegally.
(Reporting by Emily Stephenson and Susan Heavey; Editing by Frances Kerry) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-idUSKCN1111YS?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FPoliticsNews+%28Reuters+Politics+News%29 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/eb4bac3b2d539ad2b22ec2e8a0233d64ad24ea37a4286d0239be37a5422105da.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-26T16:52:08 | null | 2016-08-26T16:23:55 | The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a revised guidance on Friday recommending universal testing of donated blood for Zika virus in the U.S. and its territories. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-health-zika-blood-idUSKCN1111ZD%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DhealthNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FhealthNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BHealth%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160826&t=2&i=1151195995&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7P18Z | en | null | FDA advises Zika testing for all donated blood in the U.S. | null | null | www.reuters.com | The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a revised guidance on Friday recommending universal testing of donated blood for Zika virus in the U.S. and its territories.
The FDA recommended that all states and U.S. territories screen individual units blood with a screening test authorized for use by the FDA. (bit.ly/2bUxvjC)
The agency had recommended in February that blood should no longer be collected from regions where the Zika virus is circulating, and that blood needed for transfusions be obtained from areas of the country without active transmission.
The FDA has authorized the emergency use of several investigational Zika screening tests, including products made by Hologic Inc (HOLX.O) and Roche Holding AG (ROG.S).
Zika was detected in Brazil last year and has since spread across the Americas. The virus poses a risk to pregnant women because it can cause severe birth defects. It has been linked to more than 1,800 cases of microcephaly in Brazil.
(Reporting by Ankur Banerjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-zika-blood-idUSKCN1111ZD?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FhealthNews+%28Reuters+Health+News%29 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/ca7575c2ae2bd38b9bb1d7e9430456d6a9c237aaa1aef67d06de719019962fb7.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-30T02:52:15 | null | 2016-08-30T00:32:08 | Transeastern Power Trust | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2FidUSASC094SC%3Ftype%3DcompanyNews%26feedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DcompanyNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FcompanyNews%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BCompany%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | BRIEF-Transeastern Power Trust Q2 diluted net earnings per unit of $0.04 | null | null | www.reuters.com | GLOBAL MARKETS-Asia stocks bounce, dollar dips on Fed hike doubts
SYDNEY, Aug 30 Asian shares bounced on Tuesday as doubts the Federal Reserve really would hike rates as soon as September undermined the dollar, while investors continued to count on more policy stimulus elsewhere in the world. | http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSASC094SC?type=companyNews&feedType=RSS&feedName=companyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FcompanyNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Company+News%29 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/aa173c633f2045d7e851e7cfe05837a90464ef4cf8f46ce7181a9e1fba908ea4.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-29T12:52:13 | null | 2016-08-29T12:30:33 | BRP Inc | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2FidUSASC094NV%3Ftype%3DcompanyNews%26feedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DcompanyNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FcompanyNews%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BCompany%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | BRIEF-BRP welcomes a new member to its management committee | null | null | www.reuters.com | Aug 29 BRP Inc
* BRP welcomes a new member to its management committee and announces a new management structure for its European activities
* New organizational structure for management of its activities in Europe Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: | http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSASC094NV?type=companyNews&feedType=RSS&feedName=companyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FcompanyNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Company+News%29 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/7c3f4623f82ddfbf1d5b9294d3c17b6de537599169b82d8b67bc6af4bb60ae81.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-27T09:04:25 | null | 2016-08-27T07:37:42 | Taliban insurgents overran a district in eastern Afghanistan, killing and wounding dozens of police and soldiers and threatening strategically important road routes to Pakistan, officials said on Saturday. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-afghanistan-taliban-idUSKCN11205O%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DworldNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2BReuters%252FworldNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BWorld%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | Taliban fighters overrun district in eastern Afghanistan | null | null | www.reuters.com | GARDEZ, Afghanistan Taliban insurgents overran a district in eastern Afghanistan, killing and wounding dozens of police and soldiers and threatening strategically important road routes to Pakistan, officials said on Saturday.
Abdul Rahman Solamal, governor of Jani Khel district, in the eastern province of Paktia said that after heavy overnight fighting, security forces had pulled out of the district, which sits at an intersection linking eight districts and which connects Paktia with neighboring Khost province and Pakistan.
"Our district was surrounded by Taliban for almost five days," he told Reuters. "Hundreds of them attacked our check posts overnight.
"If we do not retake it soon then Taliban can easily move from one province to another and can undermine security in at least three provinces," he said.
The attack comes amid heavy fighting in other parts of Afghanistan, notably in the southern province of Helmand, where U.S. military advisers have been deployed to bolster the defenses, and around the northern city of Kunduz, which fell briefly to the insurgents last year.
More than 20 soldiers and police were killed and another 20 wounded in the fighting overnight, while some 200 Taliban insurgents were killed, Solamal said. There was no immediate means of verifying the claims of Taliban casualties.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement dozens of Afghan soldiers and police had been killed in Jani Khel and large amounts of equipment had been captured, including armored vehicles, light and heavy weapons and ammunition.
According to U.S. estimates reported in July by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), a Congressional oversight body, Afghan forces control or influence just under 66 percent of the national territory, down from just over 70 percent at the start of the year.
The reduction was partly due to security forces pulling back from exposed areas and concentrating their strength, but after a lull following the death of former leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour in May the Taliban have stepped up their summer offensive.
Some 36 of the 407 districts in the country were under insurgent control or influence, while another 104 were deemed "at risk", SIGAR said.
(Reporting by Samihullah Paiwand, additional reporting by Mirwais Harooni in Kabul; writing by James Mackenzie; Editing by Stephen Coates) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-taliban-idUSKCN11205O?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuters+World+News%29 | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/b96b95c45da3ecd14f078975af59ad752a0b56a419b6e9177ffa222bb31838d1.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-29T06:52:05 | null | 2016-08-29T05:37:26 | Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2FidUSS7N197013%3Ftype%3DcompanyNews%26feedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DcompanyNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FcompanyNews%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BCompany%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | BRIEF-TSMC orders machinery equipment from Ebara, ASML and Applied Materials | null | null | www.reuters.com | Australia's Woolworths says hardware JV partner Lowe's takes it to court
SYDNEY, Aug 29 Woolworths Ltd said on Monday the U.S. company with which it had a hardware retail joint venture had started legal proceedings, five days after Australia's No.1 grocery chain said it was exiting the business. | http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSS7N197013?type=companyNews&feedType=RSS&feedName=companyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FcompanyNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Company+News%29 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/9c6406f1be6c87466a71fbfa6fd1242c54ba7d037a2c78ef19900de4cda665f6.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-31T04:52:55 | null | 2016-08-31T03:31:21 | A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 struck off the town of Rabaul in Papua New Guinea on Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-quake-png-idUSKCN11609N%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DenvironmentNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252Fenvironment%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BEnvironment%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | Earthquake measuring 6.8 magnitude strikes off Rabaul in Papua New Guinea: USGS | null | null | www.reuters.com | First U.S.-Cuba scheduled flight in decades set to depart
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. The first regularly scheduled commercial flight between the United States and Cuba in more than half a century is set to depart on Wednesday, starting a new chapter in the Obama administration's bid to open trade and travel with the former Cold War foe. | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-quake-png-idUSKCN11609N?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2Fenvironment+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Environment%29 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/525a455227c06f912d13ddfba5bbdc95ca01404f7c30235c465da531dddce915.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-30T14:52:22 | null | 2016-08-30T14:04:18 | General Mills Inc : | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2FidUSFWN1BB0CN%3Ftype%3DcompanyNews%26feedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DcompanyNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FcompanyNews%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BCompany%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | BRIEF-General Mills makes leadership changes in U.S. Retail and Europe-Australasia businesses | null | null | www.reuters.com | Aug 30 General Mills Inc :
* General mills announces leadership changes in U.S. Retail and Europe-Australasia businesses
* Jon Nudi has been named senior vice president; president, U.S. Retail, one of company's three operating segments
* Says U.S. Retail role was previously held by Jeff Harmening
* Replacing Nudi in Europe will be Bethany Quam who has been promoted to senior vice president, president, Europe,Australasia region Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: | http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSFWN1BB0CN?type=companyNews&feedType=RSS&feedName=companyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FcompanyNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Company+News%29 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/6f9f791a4368f88344f058e7c5a0b029bf899d5b5c5eadd5ebf3e3a3aaac143a.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-28T12:51:31 | null | 2016-08-28T11:43:12 | China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation, or Sinopec Corp (0386.HK), said on Sunday its net profit fell 21.6 percent in the first half of 2016, hurt by a steep decline in international oil prices. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-sinopec-corp-results-idUSKCN1130EL.json | http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160828&t=2&i=1151342943&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7R07J | en | null | Profit at China's Sinopec slumps 21.6 percent in first half | null | null | www.reuters.com | A customer gets the tank of her car filled at a Sinopec gas station in Qingdao, Shandong province, China, September 11, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
BEIJING China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation, or Sinopec Corp (0386.HK), said on Sunday its net profit fell 21.6 percent in the first half of 2016, hurt by a steep decline in international oil prices.
The state-controlled energy firm, Asia's largest refiner, said in a separate statement that Dai Houliang had replaced Li Chunguang as company president and become vice chairman of the board. It said Chunguang had resigned due to his age.
During the first six months of the year, Sinopec posted a net profit of 19.9 billion yuan ($2.98 billion), down from 25.4 billion yuan a year earlier.
Sinopec's peers PetroChina (0857.HK) and CNOOC Ltd (0883.HK), both heavy on upstream oil and gas production, were hit badly by falls in crude oil and natural gas prices.
Sinopec's operating income in the first half was 35.1 billion yuan, according to IFRS accounting standard, 13.3 percent lower than a year ago.
The refiner said its oil and gas output fell 6 percent in the first six months on-year, with crude oil production down 11.4 percent, as it was forced to cut output at loss-making fields.
While fuel demand growth in China, the world's second-largest consumer, moderated along with the broader economy, domestic competition heated up after more than a dozen independent refineries were allowed to import crude oil for the first time since late 2015.
As these independents boosted refinery throughput, state majors came under pressure to reduce operations.
Sinopec said its first-half refinery operations fell 2.51 percent on-year. The firm, however, boosted total domestic refined fuel sales by 3.1 percent.
"China's economic growth is expected to be steady in the second half of 2016, which will drive the growth of domestic demand for refined oil products and petrochemical products," the company said in a statement,
It added, however, that over-supply in the international oil market is likely to persist and international oil prices will remain low.
"The consumption mix of oil products shall continue to change, and demand for chemical products shall be gradually going for more high-end products," the company said.
It said it plans to produce 147 million barrels of crude oil, of which domestic production will account for 125 million, in the second half of 2016.
($1 = 6.6690 Chinese yuan renminbi)
(Reporting by Chen Aizhu and Clare Jim; Editing by Stephen Coates and Helen Popper) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-sinopec-corp-results-idUSKCN1130EL | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/08bb5a57f38e3e181f0f19eb61c0ee87fb53fca2d0fc1ac0e219e5cc33bd4ca3.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-26T13:16:18 | null | 2016-08-26T00:40:41 | Paisley Park, the suburban Minneapolis estate and studio of late rock musician Prince, will be opened for public tours starting on Oct. 6, the administrator of the singer's estate said. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-people-prince-idUSKCN1101KP%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DpeopleNews.json | http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160826&t=2&i=1151105001&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7O0ZF | en | null | Home, studio of late U.S. rocker Prince to be opened to public | null | null | www.reuters.com | Singer Prince performs in a surprise appearance on the 'American Idol' television show finale at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, California in this May 24, 2006. REUTERS/Chris Pizzello/Files
U.S. music superstar Prince fan, Mona Shelton, 42, of Bloomington, Minnesota, and an unidentified employee (L) of Prince's estate Paisley Park place flowers on a fence in Chanhassen, Minnesota, U.S. April 21, 2016. REUTERS/Craig Lassig/File Photo
A sheriff's car leaves Paisley Park, U.S. music superstar Prince's estate, in Chanhassen, Minnesota, U.S. April 21, 2016. REUTERS/Craig Lassig/File photo
Paisley Park, the suburban Minneapolis estate and studio of late rock musician Prince, will be opened for public tours starting on Oct. 6, the administrator of the singer's estate said.
Prince, 57, collapsed and died at the 65,000-square-foot (6,040-square-meter) estate in April after an accidental overdose of the powerful opioid fentanyl.
“Opening Paisley Park is something that Prince always wanted to do and was actively working on," Tyka Nelson, his sister, said in a statement on Wednesday from Bremer Trust, which is administering his unresolved multi-million-dollar estate.
“Only a few hundred people have had the rare opportunity to tour the estate during his lifetime. Now, fans from around the world will be able to experience Prince’s world for
the first time as we open the doors to this incredible place.”
An application for development review and a business plan have been submitted to Chanhassen officials, the statement said.
Guided tours will include the main floor of Paisley Park,
including recording and mixing studios. Visitors also will be able to see video editing suites, rehearsal rooms, the private NPG Music Club, a soundstage and concert hall, and items from Prince's personal archives.
Tickets will go on sale at 2 p.m. CDT (1900 GMT) on Friday for tours starting Oct. 6. Information on tickets and tours is available at OfficialPaisleyPark.com.
Media reports on Monday said that pills containing fentanyl were seized from Prince's home after his death but they were mislabeled hydrocodone.
Prince's hits included "Purple Rain" and "When Doves Cry."
(Reporting by Ian Simpson in Washington; Editing by Bill Trott) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-prince-idUSKCN1101KP?feedType=RSS&feedName=peopleNews | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/7423d7880b0cf3a9360a8bd947f3e801a11b49367bb0881e8a83cd360b99fb41.json |
[
"Mark Miller"
] | 2016-08-26T13:19:19 | null | 2016-08-25T20:45:28 | The warning is posted in fine print at the bottom of all mutual fund advertisements: “Past performance does not guarantee future results.” The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission requires it. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-column-miller-funds-idUSKCN1102C8%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DPersonalFinance%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Bnews%252Fwealth%2B%2528Reuters%2BWealth%2BNews%2529.json | http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160825&t=2&i=1151081994&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7O1ID | en | null | Heed the warning label on mutual funds - passive is better | null | null | www.reuters.com | A screen displays The Dow Jones industrial average after the close of trading at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., June 27, 2016. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
CHICAGO The warning is posted in fine print at the bottom of all mutual fund advertisements: “Past performance does not guarantee future results.” The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission requires it.
But when it comes to actively managed mutual funds, that warning should perhaps be updated to: “Strong performance almost certainly guarantees worse performance in the future.”
Such a caveat would simply reflect what the data tells us about actively managed funds, which are managed by a person or team instead of being "passively" pegged to an index or other benchmark. It also explains why retirement investors have been shoveling billions of dollars into passive total-market index funds and exchange-traded funds.
The latest nail in the coffin for active funds comes from S&P Dow Jones Indices, which this month released a semi-annual scorecard that tracks consistency of top-performing mutual funds over time. The study concludes that very few equity funds consistently stay at the top, especially after five or more years.
Specifically:
Only 7.33 percent of domestic equity funds that were in the top quartile of performance in March 2014 were still there two years later.
Only 3.7 percent of large-cap funds maintained top-half performance over five consecutive 12-month periods. For mid-cap funds, the comparable figure was 5.79 percent, and for small-cap funds it was 7.82 percent.
Could the most astute investor jump in and out of hot funds at just the right time? In theory, yes - but that is not how most retirement investors handle their portfolios. Most do not even take the time to rebalance quarterly or adjust their contribution levels every year - much less try to time active funds.
EMBRACING PASSIVITY
The lion’s share of retirement dollars is going into passive funds these days - and investors are better off for it. Separate research by S&P Dow Jones finds that most fund managers in nearly every category have underperformed their respective benchmarks over the past five years. For example, 76.2 percent of retail mutual fund managers underperformed the S&P 500 over that time period.
Moreover, more than 80 percent of small-cap fund managers underperformed the S&P SmallCap 600. That finding runs contrary to fund company propaganda that the small-cap market is an inefficient asset class and hence requires active management.
Those numbers point to the importance of fees, said Aye Soe, S&P Dow Jones Indices' senior director of global research and design. Passive funds are far less expensive - which means the hurdles these funds need to clear to deliver superior return are much lower.
“Most active managers just cannot beat the benchmarks,” Soe said. “And even if you have found the one who can, the chance that he or she will do that consistently is very, very low.”
Another striking statistic in the S&P Dow Jones report is the high “death rate” among poorly performing active funds. Across all market cap categories, about one-third of equity funds in the fourth quartile were liquidated or merged over the last five years.
Fund deaths can cause problems for investors, notes Roger Wohlner, a financial adviser and writer based in Arlington Heights, Illinois. In a tax-deferred account, the investor likely is forced to sell at a depressed price. The results can be messier if the fund is held in a taxable account. “The investor could receive capital gains distributions, and owe taxes, even if the holdings were purchased before she ever owned the fund, and there could be liquidation expenses.”
Investors get it. Ten years ago, 20 percent of net assets in U.S. mutual funds were in passive vehicles, according to Morningstar data. At the end of 2015, that figure surpassed 40 percent for the first time - and it hit 42 percent in July.
Fixed-income active funds are doing a better job of holding their own - just 27 percent of fixed income fund assets are in passive vehicles, Morningstar reports. That reflects better performance. S&P Dow Jones reports that a couple of active fund categories - mortgage-backed securities and general municipal debt funds - have been able to stay in the top quartile over the past five years. A larger number have persistently shown up in the top half of funds, including government bond funds and high-yield funds.
But on the equity side, the message is clear, according to Soe. “The average investor is almost always better off with passive options.”
The writer is a Reuters columnist. The opinions expressed are his own.
(Editing by Matthew Lewis) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-column-miller-funds-idUSKCN1102C8?feedType=RSS&feedName=PersonalFinance&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+news%2Fwealth+%28Reuters+Wealth+News%29 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/aa40708000374050b3b50cd43555e83ac0cb54c0c078425f0d6fa733b07932ec.json |
[
"David Ljunggren"
] | 2016-08-29T17:04:53 | null | 2016-08-29T16:17:50 | Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits Beijing this week seeking deeper ties with China but a dispute over canola exports, government divisions over China policy and the case of a detained citizen look set to limit his gains. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-china-canada-idUSKCN1141SH%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DworldNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2BReuters%252FworldNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BWorld%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160829&t=2&i=1151465810&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7S0ZT | en | null | Trade dispute, policy divisions hang over Trudeau trip to China | null | null | www.reuters.com | Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to the crowds outside Rideau Hall after the Cabinet's swearing-in ceremony in Ottawa November 4, 2015. REUTERS/Blair Gable/File Photo
OTTAWA Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits Beijing this week seeking deeper ties with China but a dispute over canola exports, government divisions over China policy and the case of a detained citizen look set to limit his gains.
China welcomed last year's election victory by Trudeau's Liberals, recalling with fondness that his father Pierre Trudeau was prime minister when Canada formally established relations with Beijing in 1970.
But nostalgia will only go so far as the two sides discuss contentious issues.
China, the world's second largest economy, is expected to try to sell Trudeau, who left for China on Monday, on a free trade treaty similar to the pacts Beijing has sealed with Australia and New Zealand.
But there is no near-term chance of agreement, a senior Canadian government official told reporters last week.
"We're looking to deepen trade with China, though no decision has been made on any kind of formal free trade agreement at this point," the official said.
Well-placed sources said last month there were major divisions inside Ottawa as to how much Canada should open its markets and economy to China. One person directly involved in the matter said this was still the case.
"The government is effectively paralyzed over its China policy," the source said.
The two nations are also arguing about shipments of Canadian canola, with tougher Chinese inspection standards due to come into force on Sept. 1 that threaten C$2 billion ($1.5 billion) in annual exports.
Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland said last week that relations between the two nations could not deepen until the matter was resolved.
Trudeau, who officials said would raise the matter, says Canada wants more foreign investment while ensuring Canadian firms enjoy access to Chinese markets.
"These are the interests that we are going to be strongly and carefully balancing as we engage with the economic powerhouse that is China," he told reporters on Friday.
While in Beijing, Trudeau will sign a number of unspecified "high value commercial agreements," said the senior government official, who gave no details.
The two sides are set to announce annual high-level meetings, said another government source, describing this as an important symbolic gesture.
In a statement, China's embassy in Ottawa said "we expect the two sides can reach more consensus in the areas of political contacts, trade and economic cooperation."
Trudeau also said he would raise China's human rights record, an issue of great sensitivity in Beijing.
Although Ottawa is pressing the case of Canadian citizen Kevin Garratt, who was indicted in China on charges of spying and stealing state secrets earlier this year, the second government source said there was no sign he would be released soon.
($1=$1.30 Canadian)
(Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-canada-idUSKCN1141SH?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuters+World+News%29 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/da0a579d373dd28586915ab31536bd59ce3ce51a672cf47f24eaaa5dbfe98c63.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-29T18:52:00 | null | 2016-08-29T17:54:37 | China's state-owned railwayconstruction firm has been awarded a $1.85 billion contract tobuild a light railway line in the northern Nigerian state ofKano, it said on Monday. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fnigeria-railways-idUSL3N1BA436%3Ftype%3DcompanyNews%26feedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DcompanyNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FcompanyNews%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BCompany%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | REFILE-UPDATE 1-Chinese company wins $1.85 bln contract for railway in troubled Nigerian state | null | null | www.reuters.com | (Refiles to add dropped letter to 'troubled' in headline)
HONG KONG Aug 29 China's state-owned railway construction firm has been awarded a $1.85 billion contract to build a light railway line in the northern Nigerian state of Kano, it said on Monday.
Growth in Nigeria - an OPEC member whose economy, the largest in Africa, has been hammered by low oil prices - has been stunted for decades by a lack of investment in the road and rail network.
Development efforts have also been hampered by Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which has carried out bomb attacks on targets in northern Nigeria, including Kano state, during its seven-year insurgency.
Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun said earlier this month that 60 billion naira ($180 million) in additional spending would be allocated for capital projects as part of the 2016 budget to boost the economy.
Adeosun said Nigeria would tap partnerships with the private sector to boost investment and the government was also in talks with General Electric to develop and operate rail services to improve transport for goods.
China Railway Construction Corporation Ltd issued a statement saying two of its subsidiaries had been provisionally awarded the light railway project in Kano.
"The contract amount of the project is approximately $1.851 billion, accounting for approximately 2 percent of the operating revenue of the company for the year 2015," it said in the statement, issued to the Hong Kong stock exchange.
The contract is for four lines, totalling 74 km (46 miles) and capable of carrying trains travelling at a top speed of 100 km per hour.
"This award is subject to the fulfilment to all conditions spelled out in the letter of intent from the financing bank and the final approval by the presidency of Nigeria," it said. A spokesman for the president declined to comment.
A government source said contracts of this nature are usually passed to the cabinet for approval.
The company said it expected the first and second phases of construction to each last for two years, but did not give details of when work was expected to start if approved. (Reporting by Meg Shen; Additional reporting by Felix Onuah in Abuja; Writing by Alexis Akwagyiram; Editing by Chijioke Ohuocha/Ruth Pitchford) | http://www.reuters.com/article/nigeria-railways-idUSL3N1BA436?type=companyNews&feedType=RSS&feedName=companyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FcompanyNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Company+News%29 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/96304a76694d42408ddc8f81762ce8955a96e279e9e4c11f2ccbd1e527af24b5.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-30T09:02:58 | null | 2016-08-30T07:50:56 | U.S.-led coalition warplanes hit Islamic State targets near the Syrian frontier town of Jarablus overnight, the Turkish military said on Tuesday, as forces backed by Ankara pushed deeper into north Syria. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey-idUSKCN1150LL%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DtopNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FtopNews%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BTop%2BNews%2529.json | http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160830&t=2&i=1151542438&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7T09B | en | null | U.S.-led coalition planes hit Islamic State in north Syria: Turkish military | null | null | www.reuters.com | Free Syrian Army fighters gather on the outskirts of Jarablus, Syria, ahead of an offensive against Islamic State militants, August 24, 2016. Picture taken August 24, 2016. Revolutionary Forces of Syria Media Office/Handout via REUTERS
Turkish army tanks make their way towards the Syrian border town of Jarablus, Syria August 24, 2016. Picture taken August 24, 2016. Revolutionary Forces of Syria Media Office/Handout via REUTERS
Turkish army tanks and Turkish-backed Syrian fighters make their way in the Syrian border town of Jarablus as it is pictured from the Turkish town of Karkamis, in the southeastern Gaziantep province, Turkey. REUTERS/Stringer
Turkish army tanks and Turkish-backed Syrian fighters make their way in the Syrian border town of Jarablus as it is pictured from the Turkish town of Karkamis, in the southeastern Gaziantep province, Turkey. REUTERS/Stringer
ISTANBUL U.S.-led coalition warplanes hit Islamic State targets near the Syrian frontier town of Jarablus overnight, the Turkish military said on Tuesday, as forces backed by Ankara pushed deeper into north Syria.
Two A-10 planes hit and destroyed two Islamic State targets, the military said in a statement, without elaborating.
Turkey-backed forces seized Jarablus from Islamic State militants last week. They have since pushed into areas held by Kurdish-aligned militias that are supported by Washington.
Differences over Syria policy have long complicated the relationship between NATO allies Turkey and the United States.
While Turkey is a member of the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State, it is concerned about Washington's support for Syrian Kurdish fighters, which it sees as an extension of Kurdish militants who are waging an insurgency in Turkey.
The United States has scrambled to get its feuding allies, Turkey and the Kurdish YPG militia, to focus their firepower on Islamic State instead of each other after clashes that have threatened to unravel U.S. war strategy in Syria.
(Reporting by Asli Kandemir; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Edmund Blair) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey-idUSKCN1150LL?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtopNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Top+News%29 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/fdd31e4ea6da787f15d3a285827d3c177d72e1bed42d0c6701de78d3d51de1d9.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-26T15:02:24 | null | 2016-08-26T12:52:18 | Mazda Motor Corp (7261.T) will recall 190,000 of its CX-7 sport utility vehicles from model years 2007 to 2012 in the United States because of an issue that may cause a loss of steering control, U.S. safety regulators said on Friday. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-mazda-recall-idUSKCN1111H5%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DtopNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FtopNews%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BTop%2BNews%2529.json | http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160826&t=2&i=1151169307&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7P0UF | en | null | Mazda recalling 190,000 CX-7 vehicles in U.S. | null | null | www.reuters.com | The 2010 Mazda CX-7 is unveiled at the 2009 New York International Auto Show April 9, 2009. REUTERS/Eric Thayer
DETROIT Mazda Motor Corp (7261.T) will recall 190,000 of its CX-7 sport utility vehicles from model years 2007 to 2012 in the United States because of an issue that may cause a loss of steering control, U.S. safety regulators said on Friday.
"In the affected vehicles, water may enter the front suspension ball joint fittings," the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a statement on its website.
"If the water is contaminated with salt, such as from driving on snowy roads that have been treated, the ball joint may corrode and separate from the lower control arm, resulting in a loss of steering control."
Mazda told regulators it will work to fix CX-7s in cold-weather U.S. states first.
In July 2015, Mazda recalled about 193,000 of its larger CX-9 SUVs from model years 2007 to 2014, for a similar issue.
Mazda said it has gotten no reports of injuries or crashes in the CX-7 SUVs.
Mazda did not immediately respond to an inquiry on whether any vehicles outside of the U.S. market will be recalled.
(Reporting by Bernie Woodall; Editing by Frances Kerry) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mazda-recall-idUSKCN1111H5?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtopNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Top+News%29 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/c40846604d4e7abf8a78bffd36b580e08f250dbfaa4e6d567499548ba6727f9c.json |
[
"Wayne Cole"
] | 2016-08-30T02:52:24 | null | 2016-08-30T01:57:52 | Asian shares bounced on Tuesday as doubts the Federal Reserve really would hike rates as soon as September undermined the dollar, while investors continued to count on more policy stimulus elsewhere in the world. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-global-markets-idUSKCN11502J.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160830&t=2&i=1151512586&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7T00V | en | null | Asia stocks bounce, dollar dips on Fed hike doubts | null | null | www.reuters.com | A man is reflected in a stock quotation board outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan, June 27, 2016. REUTERS/Toru Hanai
SYDNEY Asian shares bounced on Tuesday as doubts the Federal Reserve really would hike rates as soon as September undermined the dollar, while investors continued to count on more policy stimulus elsewhere in the world.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS added 0.4 percent, recouping around half of Monday's loss. Stocks in South Korea .KS11 and Australia both rose around 0.6 percent.
Japan's Nikkei .N225 dipped 0.1 percent as the yen turned around and starting nudging higher once more.
A raft of Japanese data, from unemployment to retail sales, mostly beat analysts forecasts but did nothing to change expectations the Bank of Japan would eventually have to ease further.
Fed Chair Janet Yellen on Friday said the case for a rate increase was strengthening, but provided little detail on when the Fed would next move. Vice Chair Stanley Fischer suggested a hike as soon as next month was possible.
Yet while the initial market reaction was to push up the probability of a September hike to 44 percent, investors quickly had second thoughts and early Tuesday the implied chance was back at 36 percent <0#FF:>.
On Wall Street, the Dow .DJI ended Monday up 0.58 percent, while the S&P 500 .SPX added 0.52 percent and the Nasdaq .IXIC 0.26 percent.
Financials .SPSY was the best performer on the S&P 500, with Wells Fargo (WFC.N) up 2.2 percent.
The sector typically rises with talk of higher rates, on the expectation that banks' income could rise as they charge more for loans. However, the correlation is not direct as it requires the yield curve to steepen and, so far, it is not obliging.
Indeed, longer-term yields fell further than the short end on Monday, in part because much of the market suspects any Fed tightening would lead to even lower inflation over the long run.
Figures out Monday showed the Fed preferred measure of core inflation stuck at 1.6 percent for a fifth straight month.
The San Francisco Fed underlined the subdued outlook for inflation and rates in a research note.
The "natural" rate of interest - the real rate consistent with full use of economic resources and steady inflation near the Fed's target level - was near zero and would rise to only 1 percent over the next decade.
"If these projections are accurate, then a monetary policy designed to track the rise in r-star (natural rate) would imply a very gradual normalization of the federal funds rate," the note said.
The retreat in Treasury yields undid some of the dollar's gains and its index edged back to 95.575 from a two-week top of 95.834 .DXY.
The dollar likewise ebbed to 101.82 yen JPY= from a peak of 102.39, while the euro steadied at $1.1184 EUR=.
In commodity markets, oil steadied after falling by around 1 percent on Monday. Oversupply remained a major concern with U.S. crude stockpiles forecast to have risen by 1.3 million barrels last week, a Reuters poll showed. [O/R]
Brent crude futures LCOc1 were up 6 cents at $49.32 a barrel, while U.S. crude CLc1 added 9 cents to $47.0. | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-markets-idUSKCN11502J | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/e69c430677a2d3fd9194c2cb191c044daa51a6bb2cc9f0cd019e3665cf327bcf.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-26T23:01:35 | null | 2016-08-26T21:45:08 | New York-based developer Thor Equities has sold the historic Phelan building in San Francisco for $375 million to a member of the prominent Hotung family with deep roots in Hong Kong, sources said. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-usa-property-thorequities-phelan-idUSKCN1111XW%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DdomesticNews.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | Landmark Phelan building sold in San Francisco for $375 million | null | null | www.reuters.com | NEW YORK New York-based developer Thor Equities has sold the historic Phelan building in San Francisco for $375 million to a member of the prominent Hotung family with deep roots in Hong Kong, sources said.
A limited liability company, The Phelan Building LLC, has purchased the 11-story landmark at 760 Market Street, according to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Chinese investors pumped $17 billion into U.S. commercial property in the first five months of this year, on pace to surpass the record $21.4 billion in 2015, Cushman & Wakefield said. Half of the investment this year has been in office buildings and majority of the remainder in hotels, C&W said.
Cushman & Wakefield represented the buyer.
Thor Equities through one of its two urban property funds purchased the building in 2008 for $130 million and spent $40 million renovating the site by creating wide-open floor space from the small offices that jewelers had occupied.
The time was right to sell the building, said Thor Equities chief executive Joseph Sitt in a statement.
Office tenants at the building include online credit site Credit Karma and Medium, an online publishing platform founded by Twitter co-founder Evan Williams.
The triangular-shaped building is reminiscent of the Flatiron building in New York and was built after the original structure was destroyed by the fire in the 1906 earthquake.
(This story has been refiled to clarify that buyer only has historic ties to Hong Kong.)
(Reporting by Herbert Lash; Editing by Alistair Bell and Clive McKeef) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-property-thorequities-phelan-idUSKCN1111XW?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/c23d4bf0bb931869953fea83c019fbc0c3e5f41ce611efc42dd42afc2d7d76e5.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-29T21:01:57 | null | 2016-08-29T20:25:05 | Last year 35,092 people died in traffic crashes in the United States, a 7.2 percent year-on-year increase that runs counter to a five-decade trend of declining fatalities, the U.S. Transportation Department said. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-usa-traffic-casualties-idUSKCN11424F%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DdomesticNews.json | http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160829&t=2&i=1151481717&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7S17D | en | null | U.S. traffic deaths rose 7.2 percent in 2015: Transportation Dept. | null | null | www.reuters.com | A red traffic light stands in front of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington September 30, 2013. REUTERS/James Lawler Duggan
WASHINGTON Last year 35,092 people died in traffic crashes in the United States, a 7.2 percent year-on-year increase that runs counter to a five-decade trend of declining fatalities, the U.S. Transportation Department said.
U.S. officials said lower gasoline prices combined with job growth increased the number of miles driven last year by the highest rate in nearly 25 years. Distracted driving was cited in about a tenth of traffic fatalities in 2015, the U.S. DOT said.
Data "showed traffic deaths rising across nearly every segment of the population," the department said in a statement.
The number of fatalities was near preliminary estimates issued nearly two months ago.
The last time U.S. traffic fatalities rose at a greater rate was in 1966, when they went up 8.1 percent. That was two years before the federal government required seat belts in cars.
While the number of fatalities rose in 2015, driving is far safer now in the United States than it was in the past. In 1966, the fatality rate - measured as deaths per miles driven - was five times higher than today. In that year, nearly 51,000 people were killed on U.S. roads.
Almost half of passenger vehicle occupants killed last year were not wearing safety belts, although the belts are standard equipment in all cars and required to be worn in some U.S. states, the DOT said.
“Solving this problem will take teamwork, so we’re issuing a call to action and asking researchers, safety experts, data scientists, and the public to analyze the fatality data and help find ways to prevent these tragedies," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.
Almost one in three fatalities involved drunk drivers or speeding, the DOT said.
The number of vehicle miles traveled in the United States rose 3.5 percent in 2015 from a year earlier, the DOT said.
In 2005, U.S. traffic deaths were 22 percent higher, at 42,708.
(Reporting by Mohammad Zargham in Washington and Bernie Woodall in Detroit; Editing by Chris Reese and Steve Orlofsky) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-traffic-casualties-idUSKCN11424F?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/aec58620e84b8669ae3b01f79a1137cfcec21cda52761e44f14fb71d85d1aa8e.json |
[
"David Shepardson"
] | 2016-08-26T16:49:11 | null | 2016-08-26T15:30:33 | Alphabet Inc's Google self-driving car project took a step closer to market with the hire of a top executive from Airbnb, the online vacation home rental marketplace. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-google-selfdriving-idUSKCN1111U4%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DbusinessNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FbusinessNews%2B%2528Business%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160826&t=2&i=1151188485&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7P14S | en | null | Google hires Airbnb exec to commercialize self-driving cars | null | null | www.reuters.com | Visitors look at a self-driving car by Google displayed at the Viva Technology event in Paris, France, July 1, 2016. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
WASHINGTON Alphabet Inc's Google self-driving car project took a step closer to market with the hire of a top executive from Airbnb, the online vacation home rental marketplace.
Shaun Stewart is joining Google as a director of the self-driving car project, spokesman Johnny Luu said on Friday.
Stewart's role will be to help commercialize Google's self-driving technology, which has been in development for more than seven years and has seen an increased pace of activity over the last 12 months.
Stewart's hiring follows the departure earlier this month of Chris Urmson, chief technical officer of the project. Urmson was the project's team leader and chief public spokesman until ex-Hyundai executive John Krafcik was hired by Google in 2015 as the project's CEO.
Urmson last year predicted that Google's self-driving technology would be ready for production by 2020, and said Google was actively seeking partners among global automakers.
Stewart is an experienced technology executive specializing in building and scaling businesses. He joins Google from Airbnb where he set up the company's vacation rentals business. Prior to that, he was chief executive of Jetsetter, a company that was acquired by TripAdvisor.
Stewart will report to Krafcik, whose recent hires include Kevin Vosen, the project's first general counsel, and Tim Papandreou, a former San Francisco city official and expert in transportation policy.
Over the past 12 months, Google has expanded to four cities, signed a collaboration with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to double its fleet of autonomous vehicles and opened an engineering tech center in Michigan.
Google currently has almost 60 test vehicles on the road and has driven 1.8 million miles autonomously.
(Writing by Paul Lienert in Detroit; Editing by Alistair Bell) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-google-selfdriving-idUSKCN1111U4?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FbusinessNews+%28Business+News%29 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/4492039921e48aeb787391497f3d993c34e69de3fed0cbde0a86069f9c0cf0c4.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-30T18:52:18 | null | 2016-08-30T17:57:16 | Global ride-hailing service UberTechnologies Inc said it had hired Jeff Jones, chiefmarketing officer at Target Corp, to be president of itsflagship ride-sharing business. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fuber-tech-moves-target-idUSL3N1BB4QB%3Ftype%3DcompanyNews%26feedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DcompanyNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FcompanyNews%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BCompany%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | Uber hires senior Target executive | null | null | www.reuters.com | UPDATE 1-Gulf of Mexico oil, gas operations affected by storm
HOUSTON, Aug 30 Some U.S. oil and gas producers in the eastern parts of the Gulf of Mexico have shut production on nine platforms, moved drilling rigs and evacuated non-essential workers as Tropical Depression Nine disrupts operations. | http://www.reuters.com/article/uber-tech-moves-target-idUSL3N1BB4QB?type=companyNews&feedType=RSS&feedName=companyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FcompanyNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Company+News%29 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/8044c315946837cb83e943ec9807f64841005cbd21d8d4120b1f517c9fa344b6.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-29T23:02:02 | null | 2016-08-29T22:34:07 | California would become the first state in the United States to require farmers to pay overtime to field workers and fruit pickers under a bill approved by the legislature on Monday and sent to Democratic Governor Jerry Brown for his approval. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-california-farmworkers-overtime-idUSKCN1142EU%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DdomesticNews.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160829&t=2&i=1151502691&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7S1CS | en | null | California lawmakers send governor bill authorizing farmworker overtime | null | null | www.reuters.com | A farm worker takes a break while picking table grapes in Maricopa, California, United States, July 24, 2015. California is in their fourth year of a catastrophic drought. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
SACRAMENTO, Calif. California would become the first state in the United States to require farmers to pay overtime to field workers and fruit pickers under a bill approved by the legislature on Monday and sent to Democratic Governor Jerry Brown for his approval.
The bill, which passed on a mostly party-line vote, would phase in overtime pay for farmworkers gradually between 2019 and 2022. Small farms that employ 25 or fewer workers would have an additional three years to phase in the pay.
(Reporting by Sharon Bernstein; Editing by Bill Rigby) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-california-farmworkers-overtime-idUSKCN1142EU?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/3a21541989cbc109f7159dd07dfc1f4ae39141f0d7199279a990921e49cb47e6.json |
[
"Steve Holland"
] | 2016-08-27T23:02:34 | null | 2016-08-27T22:03:47 | U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump offered fresh details of how he would tackle illegal immigration on Saturday, saying he would crack down on those who overstay their visas as he sought to quiet criticism from conservatives. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-usa-election-trump-idUSKCN1120SF%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DtopNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FtopNews%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BTop%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160827&t=2&i=1151301826&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7Q0LV | en | null | Trump vows crackdown on immigrants who overstay visas if elected | null | null | www.reuters.com | DES MOINES, Iowa U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump offered fresh details of how he would tackle illegal immigration on Saturday, saying he would crack down on those who overstay their visas as he sought to quiet criticism from conservatives.
In a campaign speech in Des Moines, Iowa, Trump also cited the shooting death of a cousin of NBA star Dwyane Wade to urge African-American voters to rally behind him, calling it an example of violence that has to be addressed.
Trump, speaking on the Iowa State Fairgrounds with hay bales stacked behind him, sought to clarify his views on how to overhaul the U.S. immigration system after saying earlier in the week that he was softening on his plan to deport all 11 million illegal immigrants.
That stance drew fire from conservatives who wanted him to stand fast after he won the Republican presidential nomination in large part by a hardline stance that would include building a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico.
In his speech, Trump said he would seek to institute a tracking system to ensure illegal immigrants who overstay their visas are quickly removed, and would propose an e-verify system to prevent the illegal community from gaining access to welfare and other benefits.
"If we don’t enforce visa expiration dates, then we have an open border – it’s as simple as that," he said.
In outlining his views, Trump said addressing illegal immigration is important to helping Americans find jobs.
"Every time an African-American citizen, or any citizen, loses their job to an illegal immigrant, the rights of that American citizen have been violated," he said. "Equal protection under the law must include the consistent application of our immigration laws."
Trump said his first priority upon taking office next January would be the immediate deportation of thousands of illegal immigrants who remain in the United States despite having committed crimes.
"These international gangs and cartels will be a thing of the past. Their reign of terror will be over. In this task, we will always err on the side of protecting the American people – we will use immigration law to prevent crimes, and will not wait until some innocent American has been harmed or killed before taking action," he said.
He did not explain how his plan would affect many of the illegal community who have been in the United States for decades and obeyed U.S. laws.
Trump said the death in Chicago of Wade cousin Nykea Aldridge, 32, a mother of four, was an example of turmoil in U.S. inner cities. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, a former chief of staff to Democratic President Barack Obama, has struggled in particular to contain violence in his city.
The incident permitted Trump to bring up again his desire to be a "law and order" president and underscore his drive to appeal to African-American voters who traditionally vote Democratic and overwhelmingly support Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.
"It breaks all of our hearts to see it, it’s horrible," Trump said. "And it's only getting worse. This shouldn’t happen in our country. This shouldn’t happen in America. We send our thoughts and our prayers to the family, and we also promise to fight for a much, much better tomorrow."
Trump raised the subject after sending out tweets earlier in the day that prompted charges of insensitivity to the death and accusations he sought to exploit it for political purposes.
The New York businessman was the headline speaker at "Joni Ernst's Roast and Ride," a charity event for military veterans run by U.S. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican.
Ernst and most other speakers offered praise for Trump, a rarity at a time when many Republican political leaders have distanced themselves from his candidacy due to his incendiary rhetoric. Trump is running neck and neck with Clinton in polls in the state with 72 days until the Nov. 8 election.
(Editing by Matthew Lewis) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-trump-idUSKCN1120SF?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtopNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Top+News%29 | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/c367f39aa915a6b70d5f9d37e74dfb71ae04a61d8f36958089921a2a2594d7e2.json |
[
"Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss"
] | 2016-08-29T13:02:51 | null | 2016-08-29T11:34:53 | Dreyfuss | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-bitcoin-cyber-analysis-idUSKCN11411T%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DtopNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FtopNews%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BTop%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160829&t=2&i=1151435428&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7S0HV | en | null | Cyber threat grows for bitcoin exchanges | null | null | www.reuters.com | A Bitcoin (virtual currency) paper wallet with QR codes and a coin are seen in an illustration picture taken at La Maison du Bitcoin in Paris, France, May 27, 2015. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
NEW YORK When hackers penetrated a secure authentication system at a bitcoin exchange called Bitfinex earlier this month, they stole about $70 million worth of the virtual currency.
The cyber theft -- the second largest by an exchange since hackers took roughly $350 million in bitcoins at Tokyo's MtGox exchange in early 2014 -- is hardly a rare occurrence in the emerging world of crypto-currencies.
New data disclosed to Reuters shows a third of bitcoin trading platforms have been hacked, and nearly half have closed in the half dozen years since they burst on the scene.
This rising risk for bitcoin holders is compounded by the fact there is no depositor's insurance to absorb the loss, even though many exchanges act like virtual banks.
Not only does that approach cast the cyber security risk in stark relief, but it also exposes the fact that bitcoin investors have little choice but to do business with under-capitalized exchanges that may not have the capital buffer to absorb these losses the way a traditional and regulated bank or exchange would.
"There is a general sense in the bitcoin community that any centralized repository is at risk," said a U.S.-based professional trader who lost about $1,000 in bitcoins when Bitfinex was hacked. He declined to be named for this article.
"So when investing, you always have that expectation at the back of your head. I lost a small amount compared to the others, but I know of traders who lost millions of dollars worth of bitcoins," the trader said.
The security challenge for the bitcoin world does not appear to be letting up, according to experts in the currency.
"I am skeptical there's going to be any technological silver bullet that's going to solve security breach problems. No technology, crypto-currency, or financial mechanism can be made safe from hacks," said Tyler Moore, assistant professor of cyber security at the University of Tulsa's Tandy School of Computer Science who will soon publish the new research on the vulnerability of bitcoin exchanges.
His study, funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and shared with Reuters, shows that since bitcoin's creation in 2009 to March 2015, 33 percent of all bitcoin exchanges operational during that period were hacked. The figure represents one of the first estimates of the extent of security breaches in the bitcoin world.
In contrast, data from the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a non-profit organization, showed that of the 6,000 operational U.S. banks, only 67 banks experienced a publicly-disclosed data breach between 2009 and 2015. That's roughly 1 percent of U.S. banks.
Among the world's stock exchanges, however, security breaches are much higher, with hackers attracted to the large pools of cash moving in and out of these trading venues. The latest survey of 46 securities exchanges released three years ago by the International Organization of Securities Commissions and World Federation of Exchanges found that more than half had experienced a cyber attack.
Moore collaborated on the research with Nicolas Christin, associate research professor at Carnegie Mellon University and Janos Szurdi, a Ph.D. student also at Carnegie.
In 2013, Moore and Christin wrote a research paper on security risks surrounding bitcoin exchanges when Moore was still a professor at Southern Methodist University. That research entitled “Beware of the Middleman: Empirical Analysis of Bitcoin Exchange Risk” was peer-reviewed and presented at the 17th International Financial Cryptography and Data Security Conference in Okinawa, Japan in 2013.
In the most recent study, the rate of closure for bitcoin exchanges in Moore's research edged up to 48 percent among those operating from 2009 to March 2015. Hacking did not necessarily trigger the closure in each case.
"A 48 percent closure is not acceptable, but not surprising given that bitcoin is a new technology," said Richard Johnson, vice president of market structure and technology at Greenwich Associates. Johnson has written reports on risk and security issues in the crypto-currency world.
Profitability is a big problem for bitcoin exchanges, with many of them unable to generate enough volume to keep afloat.
Bitcoin exchanges overall could be launched for as low as $100,000 up to $1 million, said Erik Voorhees, founder and chief executive officer of digital currency exchange ShapeShift. That is a fraction of what U.S. forex exchanges' are required to put up.
Retail FX trading platform FXCM, for instance, is required by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have at least $25 million in capital at all times.
RECOVERING LOSSES
A key factor tied to the risk posed by exchanges is whether customers are reimbursed after closure or after the loss of bitcoins following a hack. Each closure and breach have been handled differently, but Tandy's Moore said the risk of losing funds stored in exchanges are real.
In the case of Bitfinex, which is now up and running after the hack August 2, customers lost 36 percent of the assets they had on the platform and were compensated for the losses with tokens of credit that would be converted into equity in the parent company.
At Tokyo's MtGox, customers have yet to recover their investments more than two years after closure.
Experts say trading venues acting like banks such as Bitfinex will remain vulnerable. These exchanges act as custodial wallets in which they control users' digital currencies like banks control customer deposits.
"The big exchanges that hold customer deposits are a big target for hackers," said ShapeShift's Voorhees, "and unfortunately most bitcoin exchanges store user funds."
When customers' checking accounts are hacked, there is always a third party at the bank that can step in to deal with the theft.
Not so with bitcoin, said Seattle-based Darin Stanchfield, chief executive officer at KeepKey, a hardware wallet provider. He expects more of these attacks to happen despite efforts to improve security at bitcoin exchanges.
"Unfortunately because of its irreversible nature, bitcoin requires near perfect security."
(Reporting by Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss; Editing by Edward Tobin) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-bitcoin-cyber-analysis-idUSKCN11411T?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtopNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Top+News%29 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/6885887a3b7160d37a47f9889d051da936c70f50f94ad8e2261c1cd74f07d673.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-26T18:50:17 | null | 2016-08-26T18:19:07 | The U.S. Department of Transportation on Friday fined Alaska Airlines, American Airlines (AAL.O), Southwest Airlines (LUV.N), and United Airlines (UAL.N) for providing inaccurate information to passengers about how much compensation they could potentially receive for being denied boarding against their will and for lost, damaged, or delayed baggage. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-usa-airlines-fines-idUSKCN11126F%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DbusinessNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FbusinessNews%2B%2528Business%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160826&t=2&i=1151208122&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7P1CY | en | null | Four U.S. airlines fined for inaccurate information about bumping compensation | null | null | www.reuters.com | WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Transportation on Friday fined Alaska Airlines, American Airlines (AAL.O), Southwest Airlines (LUV.N), and United Airlines (UAL.N) for providing inaccurate information to passengers about how much compensation they could potentially receive for being denied boarding against their will and for lost, damaged, or delayed baggage. | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-airlines-fines-idUSKCN11126F?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FbusinessNews+%28Business+News%29 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/8cc41ae0481aaa3f06611532426b7ea4ac9b94355c9f2461933c81dd1b6e65a8.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-29T00:51:48 | null | 2016-08-29T00:09:34 | The following are the top stories on the business pages ofBritish newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories anddoes not vouch for their accuracy. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fbritain-press-business-idUSL3N1B90P8%3Ftype%3DcompanyNews%26feedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DcompanyNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FcompanyNews%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BCompany%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | PRESS DIGEST- British Business - Aug 29 | null | null | www.reuters.com | The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
The Times
- Britain may be better off outside the European Union, the former governor of the Bank of England Mervyn King said, as he warned that interest rate cuts would have little impact on the country's prospects. bit.ly/2bSChQx
The Guardian
- Vincent de Rivaz, the chief executive of EDF Energy, said critics of the planned Somerset reactors risked "losing sight of bigger picture by overlooking the positive impact and importance of this investment for Britain." bit.ly/2bSCHGp
- A rise in consumer spending helped the UK economy power ahead in the months running up to the EU referendum, official statisticians have said. The Office for National Statistics confirmed a previous estimate that GDP growth picked up to 0.6 percent in the second quarter from 0.4 percent in the first quarter. bit.ly/2bSD7N0
Telegraph
- Chris Grayling, the new transport secretary has met with the bosses of Heathrow and Gatwick airports for the first time to hear their arguments for expansion, signalling the government is edging towards the controversial decision about where to build a new runway. bit.ly/2buMO09
Sky News
- Philip Green is seeking assurances that regulators will abandon a probe into BHS's vast pension deficit if he makes a "voluntary" financial contribution to the retirement pots of thousands of the collapsed chain's former employees. bit.ly/2bSDPcW
The Independent
- Fiat Chrysler's Chief Sergio Marchionne said he sees Samsung as a potential partner amid interest from several potential buyers of its Magneti Marelli auto-parts unit but he didn't confirm talks with the Korean company. ind.pn/2bSDreB
- Bahrain Islamic Bank is seeking to sell about 82 million dinars ($217.93 million) of unproductive assets such as land and shares as part of a five-year plan to boost growth. ind.pn/2bSD9o8 ($1 = 0.3763 Bahraini dinars) (Compiled by Sangameswaran S in Bengaluru; Editing by Bill Trott) | http://www.reuters.com/article/britain-press-business-idUSL3N1B90P8?type=companyNews&feedType=RSS&feedName=companyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FcompanyNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Company+News%29 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/624988602cc8eda7715b879023f670410c2806412798e1ac546ccc890bc43a4d.json |
[
"Keith Coffman"
] | 2016-08-26T13:20:48 | null | 2016-08-26T02:03:02 | Cold-case detectives seeking to solve the 1984 killing of three family members inside their Colorado home released on Thursday a computer-generated image of a suspect based on DNA left behind by the killer at the scene of the crime. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-colorado-crime-idUSKCN11104Z%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DdomesticNews.json | http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160826&t=2&i=1151110709&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7P02A | en | null | Colorado police use DNA to 'draw' killer in unsolved triple murder | null | null | www.reuters.com | A sketch of a murder suspect as he might have looked in 1984 based on DNA left behind by the killer at the crime scene is seen in an image released by the Aurora, Colorado, Police Department. Aurora Police Department/Handout via Reuters
A sketch of a murder suspect as he might look today based on DNA left behind by the killer at the crime scene in 1984 is seen in an image released by the Aurora, Colorado, Police Department. Aurora Police Department/Handout via Reuters
DENVER Cold-case detectives seeking to solve the 1984 killing of three family members inside their Colorado home released on Thursday a computer-generated image of a suspect based on DNA left behind by the killer at the scene of the crime.
Police in the Denver suburb of Aurora have been stymied for 32 years in their efforts to find the person responsible for the stabbing and beating deaths of Bruce Bennett, 27, his wife, Debra, 26, their 7-year-old daughter, Melissa, and the beating of their 3-year-old daughter, Vanessa, who survived.
Employing DNA phenotyping, a technology company crafted a rendering of the suspect as he likely would have appeared at about age 25. The company also developed an age-enhanced image of how he might look today, police said in a statement.
The traits derived from the DNA can predict a person's ancestry, eye color, hair color, skin color, freckling and face shape, police said.
"This is the first time we have had some idea of who we're looking for," Aurora Police Department Detective Steve Conner said. "He is no longer invisible."
Sometime between 9 p.m. on Jan. 15, 1984, and 10 a.m. the next day, the killer entered the Bennett home and bludgeoned the family with a hammer and knife.
The couple died of "blunt force trauma" from the hammer attack, and Bruce and Melissa Bennett also suffered multiple stab wounds, police said. The intruder sexually assaulted Melissa Bennett.
The assailant left DNA at the crime scene and Conner said samples had been submitted to national and international national databases. But no match that could identify a suspect has turned up.
The same person has been linked through DNA to the killing of a woman in the Denver suburb of Lakewood five days before the Aurora slayings, Conner said.
Conner said several other U.S. law enforcement agencies had used the technology developed by companies such as Virginia-based Parabon NanoLabs, which created the images for Aurora, to aid in identifying criminal suspects.
While the renderings can provide an approximation of a person's appearance, it cannot take into account things that could alter someone's looks, such as smoking and scarring.
(Reporting by Keith Coffman in Denver; Editing by Eric M. Johnson and Peter Cooney) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-colorado-crime-idUSKCN11104Z?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/92c6d9b26fa31adcb6adaa2df2cac048dce184f90b72cf7d5ada8fed41b011d5.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-31T00:52:30 | null | 2016-08-30T23:43:31 | Western Pacific Resources Corp | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2FidUSFWN1BB0NW%3Ftype%3DcompanyNews%26feedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DcompanyNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FcompanyNews%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BCompany%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | BRIEF-Western Pacific Resources announces settlement of debt | null | null | www.reuters.com | PRESS DIGEST- British Business - Aug 31
The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. | http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSFWN1BB0NW?type=companyNews&feedType=RSS&feedName=companyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FcompanyNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Company+News%29 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/a97da12f1ee5e9dab5b22e17b0560388db791cfb4da89cde25004488b5abadbf.json |
[
"Serajul Quadir"
] | 2016-08-28T11:04:35 | null | 2016-08-28T10:37:42 | One of the three militants killed by Bangladeshi security forces on Saturday in connection with July's Dhaka cafe attack came from a posh area of the city like some of the attackers and went to a prestigious foreign university, police said on Sunday. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-bangladesh-militant-idUSKCN1130CJ%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DworldNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2BReuters%252FworldNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BWorld%2BNews%2529.json | http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160828&t=2&i=1151339132&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7R05N | en | null | Bangladesh police identify dead militants linked to Dhaka cafe attack | null | null | www.reuters.com | Security personnel walk on a road leading to the site of a gunbattle with militants on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh, August 27, 2016. REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir Hossain
Security personnel block a road near the site of a gunbattle with militants on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh, August 27, 2016. REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir Hossain
View of a house where police says militants were killed after a gunbattle on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh, August 27, 2016. REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir Hossain
Security personnel are seen inside a house where police says militants were killed after a gunbattle on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh, August 27, 2016. REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir Hossain
DHAKA One of the three militants killed by Bangladeshi security forces on Saturday in connection with July's Dhaka cafe attack came from a posh area of the city like some of the attackers and went to a prestigious foreign university, police said on Sunday.
Towsif Hossain was from Dhaka's leafy Dhanmondi neighborhood and was missing since February. Like Nibras Islam, one of the five young and affluent cafe attackers who was killed after a 12-hour siege on July 2, Hossain had also attended the Kuala Lumpur campus of Australia's prestigious Monash University, the head of the Dhaka police counterterrorism unit told reporters.
The other militant killed on Saturday morning was Fazle Rabbi from the Jessore district northwest of Dhaka, who was missing from last April, counter-terrorism head Monirul Islam said. Rabbi's family has fled, police said.
The cafe attack was claimed by Islamic State and killed 22 people, mostly foreigners. It alarmed security and political experts because of the profile of the perpetrators: educated youths from privileged backgrounds who had turned to radical Islamism only recently. Both Hossain and Rabbi were around 25, police said.
Malaysian police said last month that at least two of the militants behind the cafe attack had attended Monash, although they did not name them. The militants singled out non-Muslims and foreigners in the attack, killing Italians, Japanese, an American and an Indian.
The identity of Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, a 30-year-old Bangladeshi-born Canadian citizen suspected to be the mastermind of the cafe attack, was confirmed on Saturday itself.
The militants were cornered on Saturday in a hideout on the outskirts of Dhaka, and having refused to surrender, were killed in the ensuing gun battle.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said the police operation would uphold confidence and the image of her country, and came ahead of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's visit to Dhaka on Monday.
The government has denied the involvement of Islamic State in the attack and instead blamed Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, which has pledged allegiance to the group active in Syria and Iraq, for organizing the assault that has weighed on the poor South Asian economy's $28 billion garments export industry.
Analysts say Islamic State in April identified Chowdhury as its national commander in Bangladesh.
(Reporting by Serajul Quadir; Writing by Krishna N. Das; Editing by Christian Schmollinger) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-bangladesh-militant-idUSKCN1130CJ?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuters+World+News%29 | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/f892763c3476cd9d04081158a0ed8f50b74593fd4295caacfd17caf8710aa1a3.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-31T12:54:02 | null | 2016-08-31T12:27:23 | : A beauty pageant was organised for visually-impaired girls in India's eastern Orissa state on Tuesday (August 30).The pageant titled 'Miss India co | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-india-blind-contest-idUSKCN1161L5%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DlifestyleMolt.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | In India, a beauty pageant for the visually impaired | null | null | www.reuters.com | : A beauty pageant was organised for visually-impaired girls in India's eastern Orissa state on Tuesday (August 30).
The pageant titled 'Miss India contest' was organised by the National Association for the Blind (NAB) in Bhubaneshwar city. This is the first of its kind contest organized in India.
"This is happening for the first time in India and especially in Odisha. It is our effort to motivate blind girls to showcase their inner talent. We have organized this to strengthen their potentials. In all, four girls have been selected who will be sent to Mumbai for the competition," said Ajay Samal, state branch general secretary of the NAB.
The differently-abled girls were excited to participate in the contest, and prove their mettle by showcasing talent.
"We have never walked the ramp or worn such dresses before. This was the first time for us. We are very excited to come and yes we will go to Mumbai," said a participant Jhumri.
A total of 58 girls participated in the contest. Of these, 14 have been shortlisted for the next round. Only four out of them will go to Mumbai for the final contest where the first-ever Blind Miss India will be announced. | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-blind-contest-idUSKCN1161L5?feedType=RSS&feedName=lifestyleMolt | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/3d27a1e00347d5f4c84ba50177841f5eb6611b8f5de85c4c720e2c270b391c6a.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-30T11:02:07 | null | 2016-08-30T10:40:17 | An American businesswoman held in China since March last year has been charged with spying, China's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, the latest development in a case that has added to U.S.-China tension. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-china-rights-usa-idUSKCN115159%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DdomesticNews.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | China charges U.S. woman with espionage | null | null | www.reuters.com | BEIJING An American businesswoman held in China since March last year has been charged with spying, China's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, the latest development in a case that has added to U.S.-China tension.
Sandy Phan-Gillis, from Houston, Texas, who has Chinese ancestry and is a naturalized U.S. citizen, was arrested in March 2015 and had been held without charges since then.
"Based on our understanding, Phan-Gillis, because of her suspected crimes of espionage, has been charged according to law by the relevant Chinese department," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters at a regular briefing.
"China is a country ruled by law. The relevant Chinese department will handle the case strictly according to law," she said, without elaborating.
It is unclear what violations the charge covers.
The government has chided the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention for saying her detention violated international human rights norms.
The U.S. State Department has urged China to resolve the case "expeditiously".
The charge comes amid heightened tension in U.S.-China relations, dogged by issues from differences over territorial disputes in the South China Sea to the sentencing in the United States of a Chinese national for conspiracy to hack sensitive military information.
The Chinese man, Su Bin, 51, was jailed for 46 months in July after pleading guilty to conspiring to hack into the computer networks of major U.S. defense contractors.
U.S. President Barack Obama will arrive in China on Saturday for a G20 summit in the city of Hangzhou.
Phan-Gillis had said in a letter transcribed by a U.S. consular official in China that her detention was because of politics and not for any crime.
She visited China on a trade delegation from Houston and was detained while attempting to cross from the southern city of Zhuhai to Macau. Her husband, Jeff Gillis, has said she is not a spy or a thief.
China's state secret law is extremely broad, encompassing everything from industrial data to top leaders' birthdays. Information can also be declared a state secret retroactively.
There is no independent oversight of China's law enforcement authorities or courts, which answer to the ruling Communist Party.
(Reporting by Michael Martina; Editing by Robert Birsel) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-rights-usa-idUSKCN115159?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/c4b4e3efaa71319ebc4224532ded1a528d217839c3c77437c3c1b30ef1faf34d.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-26T14:59:03 | null | 2016-08-26T14:19:17 | U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said on Friday the Clinton Foundation was seeking other organizations to partner with as it looks to wind down some of its charitable work, but defended her work as secretary of state as independent from her family's foundation. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-usa-election-clinton-idUSKCN1111IL%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DpoliticsNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2BReuters%252FPoliticsNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BPolitics%2BNews%2529.json | http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160826&t=2&i=1151174215&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7P0WG | en | null | Hillary Clinton says her family's foundation is looking for partners | null | null | www.reuters.com | Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton waves to the crowd with her husband, former president Bill Clinton at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 30, 2016. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein
Clinton Foundation water bottles are seen for sale at the Clinton Museum Store in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States April 27, 2015. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton stands with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, after accepting the nomination on the final night of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. July 28, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo
WASHINGTON U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said on Friday the Clinton Foundation was seeking other organizations to partner with as it looks to wind down some of its charitable work, but defended her work as secretary of state as independent from her family's foundation.
Clinton has come under fire in recent days amid questions over the charity and its donors given her role heading the State Department from 2009 to early 2013. Critics have accused her of running a "pay-for-play" operation, a charge she and the foundation have denied. Even some supporters have said Clinton faces a perception problem over the issue.
"I know the foundation is looking for partners, but that's going to take some time to carry out," Clinton said in an interview on MSNBC. "Winding down some of these programs takes time. You don't just turn on and off ... a switch. Even trying to negotiate with partner groups takes a lot of serious effort."
"My work as secretary of state was not influenced by any outside forces. I made policy decisions based on what I thought was right to keep Americans safe and to protect our interests abroad. I believe my aides also acted appropriately," she said.
Several media editorial boards this week noted the foundation's philanthropic efforts in areas such as global health and HIV/AIDS, but urged the foundation - formally called the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation - to transfer the work to other large U.S. charities.
Former President Bill Clinton, who helped establish the global charity after serving two terms in the White House, would resign from the board if his wife wins the Nov. 8 election, the foundation announced last week. It also said it would stop accepting some foreign and corporate donations.
Hillary Clinton's Republican rival for the White House, Donald Trump, and other Republicans have called for a special prosecutor to probe the charity for possible corruption, an accusation her campaign has called a groundless political smear.
(Reporting by Susan Heavey, Mohammad Zargham and Tim Ahmann; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Frances Kerry) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-clinton-idUSKCN1111IL?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FPoliticsNews+%28Reuters+Politics+News%29 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/a5eb3b9936a9412527ce6685bf2a703036d171939420d6ec65c02b8e004a66d4.json |
[
"Roberta Rampton"
] | 2016-08-29T16:52:35 | null | 2016-08-29T15:59:05 | When President Barack Obama sets out this week to meet world leaders in China and Laos during his final presidential trip to Asia, he will make an unusual stop along the way. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-china-obama-climatechange-idUSKCN1141Q3%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DenvironmentNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252Fenvironment%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BEnvironment%2529.json | http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160829&t=2&i=1151460954&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7S0Y2 | en | null | Climate change looms large in Obama's final trip to Asia | null | null | www.reuters.com | U.S. President Barack Obama speaks about the National Park Service at Yosemite National Park, California, U.S., June 18, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo
WASHINGTON When President Barack Obama sets out this week to meet world leaders in China and Laos during his final presidential trip to Asia, he will make an unusual stop along the way.
With time running out for more action on climate change during his time in office, Obama will drop in to Midway Atoll, a far-flung and largely uninhabited coral reef that is a refuge for sharks, albatrosses and endangered turtles and seals.
The photo-rich stop is aimed at both raising awareness about the threat posed by climate change, and showcasing Obama's decision to protect a larger part of the ocean around Hawaii.
But the trip to the middle of the Pacific Ocean will also highlight the high stakes of climate change just before Obama meets world leaders in China.
"I think it's going to be an amazing sequence, and one that really matters," said Doug McCauley, a conservation biologist from University of California, Santa Barbara.
"Suddenly, you're sitting in a room with the leaders who will decide what the fate of that place is going to be," McCauley said.
The rare trip is both a signal of the importance Obama gives to climate change - and a sign of his focus in bliateral meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The two leaders have clashed on economic and security issues, but forged common ground on climate, which helped secure a global deal to cut carbon emissions at a Paris conference last year.
"We have to recognize that climate change and clean energy cooperation has really helped to create better overall stability in the U.S.-China relationship, writ large," said Andrew Light, a former senior climate official in Obama's State Department.
Light, now with the World Resources Institute think tank, said he expects Xi and Obama will try to push other G20 leaders to agree to timelines for implementing the Paris agreement and work on cutting other greenhouse gases like methane and hydrofluorocarbons.
Any progress on climate issues could be a rare bright spot in a trip otherwise dominated by concerns about the international economy, anti-globalization sentiments and global security problems.
With less than five months left in the White House, Obama is racing to cement his record through actions he can take without help from the gridlocked U.S. Congress.
For example, at Obama's final meeting with his Canadian and Mexican counterparts, the leaders set new goals for clean energy production.
Republicans in Congress have thwarted Obama's legislative efforts on climate, and mocked him for his focus on an issue they see as less pressing than the economy and defense.
Obama also has faced criticism from environmental groups for not doing more to limit U.S. oil and gas production.
"If we're going address the climate crisis or meet our climate commitments, the vast, vast majority of fossil fuels need to remain in the ground," said Brendan Cummings, conservation director with the Center for Biological Diversity.
But former Environmental Protection Agency director Carol Browner said Obama has done what he could on climate both through leadership on the international stage, and by using existing laws to kick-start the clean energy sector and cut emissions from vehicles and power plants.
"Nobody should ever be disappointed with this president on climate change," said Browner, who led the White House climate push in Obama's first term.
(Editing by Alistair Bell) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-obama-climatechange-idUSKCN1141Q3?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2Fenvironment+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Environment%29 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/7fe5818739de20e7dd91d2ddc1629eed24d77220beb730235acd9b1e275d6291.json |
[
"Matthew Miller",
"Shu Zhang"
] | 2016-08-26T13:18:34 | null | 2016-08-25T12:37:15 | Wang Jianlin, the billionaire Chinese property tycoon turned entertainment mogul, says his push into movies was entirely accidental. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-dalianwanda-chairman-idUSKCN1101CZ%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DentertainmentNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252Fentertainment%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BEntertainment%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160825&t=2&i=1151015929&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7O0TZ | en | null | Exclusive: Accidental mogul - China property billionaire's route to Hollywood | null | null | www.reuters.com | Wang Jianlin, chairman of the Wanda Group, poses for pictures after an interview in Beijing, China, August 23, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
Wang Jianlin, chairman of the Wanda Group, speaks during an interview in Beijing, China, August 23, 2016. Picture taken August 23, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
Wang Jianlin, chairman of the Wanda Group, speaks during an interview in Beijing, China, August 23, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
Wang Jianlin, chairman of the Wanda Group, speaks during an interview in Beijing, China, August 23, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
Wang Jianlin, chairman of the Wanda Group, speaks during an interview in Beijing, China, August 23, 2016. Picture taken August 23, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
Wang Jianlin, chairman of the Wanda Group, speaks during an interview in Beijing, China, August 23, 2016. Picture taken August 23, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
BEIJING Wang Jianlin, the billionaire Chinese property tycoon turned entertainment mogul, says his push into movies was entirely accidental.
"We didn't have a choice, we were forced into it," Wang, whose Dalian Wanda Group controls Hollywood studio Legendary Pictures and U.S. cinema chain AMC Entertainment Holdings (AMC.N), told Reuters in an exclusive interview this week.
In 2006, Dalian Wanda Group was looking for a partner to operate movie theaters at the massive shopping malls it was building around the country.
Wang first turned to Time Warner (TWX.N), but the U.S. media giant was forced to quit China because of foreign ownership restrictions. Shanghai Media Group, a state-owned conglomerate, abandoned a separate deal.
Today, Wanda is not only the world's biggest commercial property developer, with 149 signature Wanda Plazas in China, but also the largest cinema operator, controlling more than 13,000 screens on four continents once current deals are closed.
The acquisition in January of Legendary, co-producer of hits such as "Jurassic World" and "The Dark Knight", was the biggest U.S.-China movie deal to date and a step toward the Dalian Wanda chairman's ambition of becoming a major Hollywood player.
"Shanghai Media Group must really regret that they gave up such a good company that would have cost so little," said Wang, a former People's Liberation Army staff officer who took over a local construction firm 28 years ago and borrowed 1 million yuan to start building residential housing.
STUDIO AMBITIONS
Revenue from Wanda's cultural division, which also includes a rapidly growing tourism business, theme parks and sports, is expected grow at least 30 percent this year, and may reach 70 billion yuan ($10.5 billion), Wang said.
Wanda aims to more than double that to 150 billion yuan by 2020, a target Wang says may be reached early.
The company owns a stake in leading Spanish soccer club Atletico Madrid and Swiss sports marketing firm Infront Sports & Media AG, and is keen to add more sports events to its portfolio.
"The speed, particularly in these 3 or 4 years, has been beyond my expectation. It hadn't crossed my mind that consumer demand for entertainment, sports and tourism could be as strong even as China's economy slows," Wang told Reuters.
"If we maintain growth like this, I believe that Wanda will rank among the top three or top five entertainment companies in the world."
Box office revenue in China reached 44 billion yuan in 2015 and is projected to surpass the United States by the end of next year.
"Wang is riding the intersection of a few trends and playing it well," said Willy Shih, professor of management practice at Harvard Business School, who has written about Wang and his film ambitions.
Nowhere are those ambitions better reflected than at Wanda's Qingdao Oriental Movie Metropolis, an $8 billion movie studio, theme park and real estate development scheduled to launch in April 2018.
The studio will attract at least five films a year with production budgets of more than $100 million, alongside smaller Chinese productions, Wang said.
It should also provide a vehicle for Hollywood and other film producers to get around tight Chinese import restrictions and get access to the China market, said Harvard's Shih.
A total of 34 foreign films are allowed into China each year under a revenue-sharing model that gives 25 percent of box office receipts to foreign movie studios. Fourteen must be in "high-tech" formats such as 3D or IMAX.
Wang is even getting China Eastern Airlines (600115.SS) to launch a daily flight between Los Angeles and Qingdao, while subsidies will be offered to further entice producers to use Qingdao's planned 50 sound stages.
"That's my ace in the hole," he said.
BOLD BUYS
Wanda's global entertainment buying spree isn't likely to slow down anytime soon.
Wang said he was looking to announce two billion-dollar non-production film-related deals in the United States.
He is also setting his sights on making a bid for one of Hollywood's "Big Six" studios, with Paramount Pictures a possible target, while preparing to start movie co-investment next year.
Wang admitted that not everything he tries succeeds. In July, Wanda announced that it was closing for renovation its movie theme park in Wuhan, central China, part of a tourism and shopping development launched in 2014. Visitor numbers at the park had dwindled in recent months.
"This is a learning process," said Wang, who has made it clear he intends to challenge Disney (DIS.N) and other western theme park developers.
"We are newcomers to this business, and there are no reference points," he said. "Wanda is absolutely on its own, so we're making changes as we go along. This is the price of entry. We haven't seen a big real estate company successful transform into a services or culture enterprise."
But China's richest man says he can afford failure.
"If we buy one of the Big Six (movie studios), for $5 or $8 billion, and lose it all, Wanda wouldn't go bankrupt," Wang said.
"Without boldness, there will be no success," Wang said earlier.
(Reporting By Matthew Miller and Shu Zhang; Editing by Alex Richardson) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-dalianwanda-chairman-idUSKCN1101CZ?feedType=RSS&feedName=entertainmentNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2Fentertainment+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Entertainment%29 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/a65aad1ef753bf11c5bcaac0b9547de45a3678c37b868aafb73e98ef6ee34900.json |
[
"Amanda Cooper"
] | 2016-08-26T13:18:01 | null | 2016-08-26T11:51:29 | Oil fell on Friday and was set for its largest weekly decline in a month after the Saudi energy minister watered down expectations that the world's largest producers might agree next month to limit their output. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-global-oil-idUSKCN111048%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DbusinessNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FbusinessNews%2B%2528Business%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160826&t=2&i=1151108400&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7P01V | en | null | Oil prices fall as Saudi Arabia dampens prospects of output freeze | null | null | www.reuters.com | A fuel pump assistant stands next to an old fuel pump during the early hours near the village of Salwa at the Qatari-Saudi border, south of the eastern provience of Khobar, Saudi Arabia January 29, 2016. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
LONDON Oil fell on Friday and was set for its largest weekly decline in a month after the Saudi energy minister watered down expectations that the world's largest producers might agree next month to limit their output.
Brent crude oil futures LCOc1 were down 32 cents at $49.35 per barrel by 1144 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 was down 22 cents at $47.11 a barrel.
Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih told Reuters late on Thursday: "We don't believe any significant intervention in the market is necessary other than to allow the forces of supply and demand to do the work for us."
He said the "market is moving in the right direction" already.
Members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will meet on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum, which groups producers and consumers, in Algeria Sept. 26-28.
The Saudi minister's comments dampened expectations of a meaningful intervention into the market, which has been dogged by oversupply for more than two years.
The price of crude oil has fallen by more than 3 percent so far this week, putting it on course for its largest one-week slide in a month.
"This week has clearly been a tug of war between fundamentals and this continued 'verbal intervention' that we've seen from various OPEC members," Saxo Bank Senior Manager Ole Hansen said.
"All in all, it's left the market relatively close to the $50 mark, which in my opinion, is probably as much as OPEC can ask for at this point."
Iran said on Friday that it would cooperate with other producers to stabilize oil markets, but added that it expected others to respect its individual rights.
Many observers, however, interpreted that as Tehran saying it would continue to try to regain market share by raising output after the lifting of sanctions against it last January.
"I do not expect the OPEC meeting in September to agree any freeze or affect the oil market in any significant way. This is because it appears key OPEC members remain more concerned about market share," said Oystein Berentsen, managing director for crude at oil trading firm Strong Petroleum in Singapore.
Regarding the current oversupply weighing on oil prices, he said that he saw oil stocks globally "falling too slowly to sustain a higher price above $50 per barrel".
(Additional reporting by Henning Gloystein and Sarah Plattes in Singapore; editing by Jason Neely) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-oil-idUSKCN111048?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FbusinessNews+%28Business+News%29 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/3484e9584af3564c928bab2d87aafac10375a30124efd6c26f07a29dfca3a1ec.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-27T06:50:49 | null | 2016-08-27T05:05:49 | VTTI, the storage unit ofworld's largest oil trader Vitol, said late on Friday it hasresumed operations at its Malaysia terminal ATT Tanjung Bin(ATB). | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fmalaysia-oil-terminal-idUSL3N1B802S%3Ftype%3DcompanyNews%26feedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DcompanyNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FcompanyNews%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BCompany%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | VTTI says it resumes operations at Malaysia terminal | null | null | www.reuters.com | SINGAPORE Aug 27 VTTI, the storage unit of world's largest oil trader Vitol, said late on Friday it has resumed operations at its Malaysia terminal ATT Tanjung Bin (ATB).
"The suspension has been lifted. ATB will resume its operations as normal, with immediate effect," a company spokeswoman said in an e-mail.
The terminal suspended operations earlier on Friday after receiving a notice from the authorities following an oil spill.
ATB located at Tanjong Pelepas in Johor has a total storage capacity of 1.155 million cubic metres. It handles gasoline, jet fuel, gasoil, fuel oil and biofuels.
(Reporting by Florence Tan; Editing by Stephen Coates) | http://www.reuters.com/article/malaysia-oil-terminal-idUSL3N1B802S?type=companyNews&feedType=RSS&feedName=companyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FcompanyNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Company+News%29 | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/fcb6ad1a05aeba76bcdd9b317d6a5938eb31a4750c9379540796e1bf61cefc42.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-30T13:00:14 | null | 2016-08-30T12:24:24 | More than 100 Russian Paralympians have individually filed cases to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in order to be allowed to compete at next month's Games in Rio, Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) Vice President Pavel Rozhkov said on Tuesday. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-paralympics-russia-idUSKCN1151GN%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DsportsNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FsportsNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BSports%2BNews%2529.json | http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160830&t=2&i=1151573973&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7T0RG | en | null | Paralympics: Over 100 Russians file cases to compete in Rio Games | null | null | www.reuters.com | MOSCOW More than 100 Russian Paralympians have individually filed cases to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in order to be allowed to compete at next month's Games in Rio, Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) Vice President Pavel Rozhkov said on Tuesday.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) last week rejected an RPC appeal against the suspension which was handed out by the IPC because of Russia's state-sponsored sports doping program.
"More than 100 Russian sportsmen out of 266 who were selected for the 15th Paralympic Summer Games in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, which excludes those competing in team sports, have filed individual cases with the IPC about being allowed to compete in the 2016 Paralympics," Rozhkov told the RPC's website (www.paralymp.ru).
Russia has appealed against the CAS ruling to the Swiss Federal Court and the result is due to be released later this week.
(Reporting by Dmitriy Rogovitskiy, editing by Ed Osmond) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-paralympics-russia-idUSKCN1151GN?feedType=RSS&feedName=sportsNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FsportsNews+%28Reuters+Sports+News%29 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/7f91ed30e5852a5d5e7d17fedc35a564aafc2901007c6fe2ff6d9d379079f603.json |
[
"Renee Dudley",
"John Shiffman"
] | 2016-08-27T01:01:31 | null | 2016-08-27T00:52:11 | Federal agents searched the home of a former employee-turned-outspoken critic of the College Board, the standardized testing giant, as part of an investigation into the breach of hundreds of questions from the SAT college entrance exam. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-college-sat-fbi-idUSKCN112009%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DdomesticNews.json | http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160827&t=2&i=1151238408&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7Q005 | en | null | Exclusive: FBI raids home of ex-College Board official in probe of SAT leak | null | null | www.reuters.com | Thousands of tables are seen inside a hall at Asia-World Expo near Hong Kong Airport in Hong Kong, China October 2, 2015, one day before SAT examinations to be taken place. REUTERS/Bobby Yip
WASHINGTON Federal agents searched the home of a former employee-turned-outspoken critic of the College Board, the standardized testing giant, as part of an investigation into the breach of hundreds of questions from the SAT college entrance exam.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation seized computers and other material on Friday from Manuel Alfaro, who left his job as executive director of assessment design and development at the College Board in February 2015. The FBI is investigating alleged computer intrusion and theft against an unidentified “victim corporation” involving “confidential or proprietary information,” including tests, test forms and internal emails, according to a search warrant issued in the case.
Alfaro had contacted officials of seven state governments in recent months, accusing the College Board of making false claims about its tests when bidding for public contracts with the states. The College Board, he alleged, misled the states about the process it used to create questions for the new version of the SAT, resulting in an inferior exam. He also aired those allegations publicly, largely through postings on his LinkedIn account.
Lawyers for Alfaro could not be reached for comment. An FBI official confirmed that agents were present at Alfaro’s home in Maryland but declined to elaborate.
College Board spokesman Zach Goldberg said the leak of test questions constituted a crime. “We are pleased that this crime is being pursued aggressively,” he said. He dismissed Alfaro’s criticisms of the SAT test-making process as “patently false.”
The FBI raid comes after Reuters reported earlier this month (reut.rs/2b3gtyE) that the news agency had obtained about 400 unpublished questions from the newly redesigned SAT exam, which debuted in March. Some experts said the leak constituted one of the most serious breaches of security ever to come to light in the standardized testing industry.
Reuters reported previously that the SAT (reut.rs/1RL4ZSI) and its rival, the ACT, (reut.rs/2akY3uf) are being systematically gamed by test-prep operators in Asia. The SAT has proved particularly vulnerable to cheating because of its practice of reusing test questions. Test-preparation companies obtain previously administered questions that are scheduled for reuse and feed those questions to students, who can score higher by practicing on the exam items before the test.
BROADSIDES ON LINKEDIN
The SAT and ACT are taken by millions of students a year and are major criteria used by U.S. colleges in selecting applicants. The cheating rings and leaks, testing experts say, call into question the fairness and validity of the standardized exams.
Alfaro, who oversaw the development of parts of the new SAT, jolted the staid world of standardized testing in May with a barrage of criticism of the College Board.
In a series of posts on LinkedIn and Twitter, he charged the New York-based not-for-profit with skipping a crucial step in the test development process, which he says resulted in a lower-quality exam. He also alleged in a June 1 post that the shortcut may fail to comply with federal guidance on peer review for state testing programs.
Alfaro wrote to seven states that have granted public contracts to the College Board to use the SAT as an official tool for assessing high school students. In a May 7 email to the education chiefs for those states, Alfaro said that while he was a College Board employee, he "became aware of patterns of concealment, fabrication, and deception used by the College Board to misrepresent the SAT and PSAT.” He alleged that the College Board didn’t follow the process to develop the SAT and PSAT that it publicly says it uses.
The PSAT is a test primarily aimed at high school sophomores and juniors used as practice for the SAT and to screen applicants for tens of millions of dollars awarded by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
Alfaro emailed his complaints to the states of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Michigan and New Hampshire.
A spokesman for the Michigan Department of Education, Bill DiSessa, said the state “checked with the College Board” and decided not to look into Alfaro’s claims. Jeremy Meyer of the Colorado Department of Education said the state discussed Alfaro’s email with the College Board and was “satisfied with the response we received.”
Kelly Donnelly, spokesperson for the Connecticut State Department of Education, said the state considered Alfaro’s email to be “replete with hyperbole, but scant on actual facts. We did not take further action.” Donnelly said the state hadn’t reviewed Alfaro’s detailed posts on LinkedIn.
A New Hampshire official said the state had no immediate comment. Officials in Delaware, Illinois and Maine didn’t respond to requests for comment.
ALLEGATIONS OF SHORTCUTS
A member of Congress, meanwhile, has asked federal regulators to look into Alfaro's allegations. U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, a Democrat from Maryland, has "been in touch with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau," according to a July 28 letter she wrote to Alfaro.
Asked Friday about Alfaro’s criticisms of the new exam, College Board spokesman Goldberg said: “Mr. Alfaro does not speak with any authority about our tests. With the new SAT, we have made an unprecedented commitment to transparency and have published our test specifications, which include the test development process. Any claims that counter the published information are patently false.”
The document cited by Goldberg contains a nine-step process for developing the new SAT and ensuring that exams contain fair and valid questions. It’s the fourth of those steps that Alfaro says the College Board routinely skipped, according to his posts on LinkedIn. That step, known as “external content & fairness reviews prior to pretesting,” relates to the checks that new questions are supposed to undergo before they are included on an actual test.
According to the College Board document, newly written SAT questions are scrutinized by external, independent reviewers, who look for mistakes and potential bias. After that initial review, the questions are field tested on actual test-takers in an unscored section of a regular SAT exam.
The field testing helps determine whether questions are statistically valid and whether they should be included on a future, scored portion of the exam. After the field test, questions once again go through external reviews before they’re put on a live, scored section of the test.
The external reviews before field testing didn’t always happen, Alfaro alleged.
“The Content Advisory Committee reviewed the items for the first time, not before they were pretested, but after the items were assembled into operational SAT forms,” he wrote in a May 27 post on LinkedIn. In a June 9 post, he added: "We first implemented Step 4 in August of 2014, after thousands of items had already been developed and pretested without this crucial step."
An internal document from 2014 describes what the College Board called the “rigorous process of vetting new test items that could potentially become part of the Math Test in the redesigned SAT.” The document says changing items after pretesting was “rare.”
Alfaro said such changes were actually common. “I’m not talking about adding a missing comma here, fixing a typo there,” he wrote in a May 20 post. “Sometimes the revised items,” or questions, “are completely different than the version that was pretested.”
An outside attorney for the College Board wrote to Alfaro on May 10, three days after Alfaro contacted the states with his allegations, and requested a meeting. Alfaro declined to see the attorney. But he said he would be open to explaining his concerns to the organization’s Board of Trustees and to lawyers for the seven states, according to an email he sent the states. No such sessions took place.
Inside the organization, the College Board’s top attorney has called Alfaro a “disgruntled former employee” and told staff to avoid him.
“I am writing to alert you that the College Board is dealing with a disgruntled former employee who has expressed anger at the College Board in a very public way,” College Board general counsel Peter Schwartz wrote in an email to staff. “Please be aware that he has no reason to visit our offices, and in the event that he does, he should not be allowed in.”
Reached by phone on Friday, Schwartz declined to comment.
(Edited by Michael Williams) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-college-sat-fbi-idUSKCN112009?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/336e4c6cb37e5258c9ed23d45879d3c820db0e81ce1ef48b7ea07a1ce011f7bf.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-29T18:50:52 | null | 2016-08-29T18:19:38 | Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc (VRX.TO)(VRX.N) was sued on Monday by buyers of its drugs, who claimed they were forced to pay exorbitant prices stemming from the Canadian company's ties to a specialty pharmacy that helped boost sales. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-valeant-lawsuit-idUSKCN114230%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DbusinessNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FbusinessNews%2B%2528Business%2BNews%2529.json | http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160829&t=2&i=1151478175&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7S16L | en | null | Valeant is sued over Philidor ties, alleged racketeering | null | null | www.reuters.com | A sign for the headquarters of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc is seen in Laval, Quebec June 14, 2016. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi/File Photo
NEW YORK Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc (VRX.TO)(VRX.N) was sued on Monday by buyers of its drugs, who claimed they were forced to pay exorbitant prices stemming from the Canadian company's ties to a specialty pharmacy that helped boost sales.
In a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan, the plaintiffs accused Valeant of violating the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, and sought compensatory and triple damages.
The defendants include Andrew Davenport, who had been chief executive of the specialty pharmacy, Philidor RX Services LLC, according to the complaint.
(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-valeant-lawsuit-idUSKCN114230?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FbusinessNews+%28Business+News%29 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/651a90709a4b1b50a71881e8be017cc4f1abf67c0548c8af14988a52b9f5408d.json |
[
"Kathryn Doyle"
] | 2016-08-30T20:53:05 | null | 2016-08-30T20:17:12 | By Kathryn Doyle(Reuters Health) - Parental politics may influence whether teens get recommended vaccinations, according to a U.S. study. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-health-vaccination-teens-politics-idUSKCN1152N2%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DhealthNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FhealthNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BHealth%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | More teens get needed vaccines in ‘blue states’ | null | null | www.reuters.com | (Reuters Health) - Parental politics may influence whether teens get recommended vaccinations, according to a U.S. study.
Dividing states into red and blue based on how they voted in the 2012 presidential elections, researchers found that in that year, adolescents in blue states were significantly more likely to have received three important vaccines recommended for 11 to 12 year olds.
“These associations are important because they demonstrate that there are broader forces associated with political affiliation that may influence acceptance of immunizations for adolescent children,” said senior author Linda M. Niccolai of the Yale School of Public Health in New Haven. “The decision to immunize a child does not occur in vacuum and is not as straightforward as simply accepting a preventive medical intervention or not.”
Current recommendations include human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, tetanus-diphtheria-acellar pertussis (Tdap) and meningococcal conjugate (MCV4) for boys and girls aged 11 to 12. The researchers used the 2012 National Immunization Survey-Teen to estimate how many teens in each state got at least one dose of these vaccines.
The HPV vaccine, which was recommended for girls in 2006 and boys in 2011, protects against cancers caused by HPV infection, which affects about one in four Americans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends boys and girls get all three shots of the HPV vaccine series.
The Tdap vaccine booster helps protect preteens from infections they were vaccinated against as children. The MCV4 vaccine protects against a rare but dangerous bacterial infection of the brain.
“The HPV, Tdap, and MCV4 vaccines that we have in the U.S. have very strong safety records and effectively prevent several important diseases,” Niccolai told Reuters Health by email. “They are recommended for all adolescents, so there is no downside to these vaccinations,” and they are covered by insurance or the federal vaccine program for nearly all children.
The researchers adjusted for factors that could influence vaccination patterns, including income, education, race and ethnicicty and insurance coverage. Then they calculated the median vaccination rates among blue and red states – meaning half of states had rates above the median for their group.
In 2012, Democratic-voting “blue states” had a median of 63 percent coverage for girls and 47 percent coverage for boys for the HPV shot, compared to 56 of girls and 34 percent of boys in Republican-voting “red states.”
For Tdap, blue states had a median of 90 percent vaccine coverage for teens, compared to 85 percent in red states. For MCV4, almost 80 percent of teens in half of blue states had been vaccinated compared to 73 percent in red states, as reported in the American Journal of Public Health.
“We hypothesized there would be differences for HPV, a sexually transmitted infection, perhaps due to social conservatism found in many Republican states,” Niccolai said. “But we also found differences for MCV4 and Tdap, suggesting something else, perhaps related to political affiliation more broadly, that is important.”
Preference for a smaller role of government in personal decision making, typically associated with more Republican views, could lead to individuals rejecting vaccinations that are recommended by federal agencies, she said. But this study alone can’t explain why differences exist between states.
Underlying preferences may drive differences in voting patterns and vaccine behavior between states, said W. David Bradford, the Busbee Chair in Public Policy at the University of Georgia in Atlanta.
“Remember that Democratic-leaning states tend to be on the coasts and by and large have higher incomes,” Bradford said. “The surprising part is that the authors actually control for many of the things that one would first think of as explaining differences in healthy behaviors (median income, education levels, and insurance, for example) and yet even then the impact of political preferences still mattered.” | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-vaccination-teens-politics-idUSKCN1152N2?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FhealthNews+%28Reuters+Health+News%29 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/3bde6c24d00ffaa4a4ddf7ba907167543c1b60e02d26cf966587b977ed75d97b.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-27T05:04:21 | null | 2016-08-27T04:51:42 | The UN Security Council late on Friday condemned a series of missile launches by North Korea after failing to do so earlier this month when China had wanted a statement also to oppose the planned deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-northkorea-missiles-un-idUSKCN11203I%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DworldNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2BReuters%252FworldNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BWorld%2BNews%2529.json | http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160827&t=2&i=1151248949&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7Q01L | en | null | U.N. Security Council condemns North Korea missile launches | null | null | www.reuters.com | Passengers watch a TV screen broadcasting a news report on North Korea's submarine-launched ballistic missile fired from North Korea's east coast port of Sinpo, at a railway station in Seoul, South Korea, August 24, 2016 REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
SEOUL The UN Security Council late on Friday condemned a series of missile launches by North Korea after failing to do so earlier this month when China had wanted a statement also to oppose the planned deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea.
North Korea test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile on Wednesday which flew about 500 km (300 miles) in the direction of Japan, the latest in a series of launches by the isolated nation in defiance of UN resolutions.
"The members of the Security Council deplore all Democratic People's Republic of Korea ballistic missile activities," the statement said, referring to North Korea by its formal name.
The statement referred to Wednesday's launch as well as other North Korean ballistic missile launches since July 9.
"Such activities contribute to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's development of nuclear weapons delivery systems and increase tension," it said.
As in past statements, the Council went on to say that it "would continue to closely monitor the situation and take further significant measures in line with the Council's previously expressed determination."
Earlier this month, the 15-member council had been unable to agree on a U.S.-drafted statement to condemn North Korea's Aug. 3 launch of a ballistic missile that landed in or near Japanese-controlled waters.
China had wanted the statement to oppose deploying "any new anti-ballistic missile stronghold in Northeast Asia with an excuse of dealing with threats of the DPRK nuclear and missile programs."
Friday's statement did not include such language.
China strongly opposes the planned basing of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system in South Korea, which it says would worsen tension on the Korean peninsula.
Beijing worries that THAAD's radar system has a range that could extend into China. The United States says the system is defensive and intended to counter North Korea's missile threat.
North Korea has been under U.N. sanctions since 2006. In March, the Security Council imposed harsh new sanctions in response to North Korea's fourth nuclear test in January and the launch of a long-range rocket in February.
(Reporting by Tony Munroe; Additional reporting by Michelle Nichols in New York; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-missiles-un-idUSKCN11203I?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuters+World+News%29 | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/71586eb2871c01467ecb87613e1a358ad8b860eb30f678573cea47e753e11199.json |
[
"Piya Sinha-Roy"
] | 2016-08-29T20:57:55 | null | 2016-08-29T20:32:55 | Roy | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-people-genewilder-idUSKCN11428I%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DpeopleNews.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160829&t=2&i=1151486669&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7S19Z | en | null | Gene Wilder, star of 'Willy Wonka,' 'Blazing Saddles,' dead at 83 | null | null | www.reuters.com | Actor and author Gene Wilder poses as he autographs his new book 'The Woman Who Wouldn't' during a book signing session in New York March 26, 2008. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
Actor Gene Wilder and his wife Karen Boyer watch the match between Rafael Nadal of Spain and Mikhail Youzhny of Russia during the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, September 11, 2010. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo
American actor Gene Wilder (L) performs alongside compatriot Rolf Saxon, October 2, during the rehearsal of a scene from Neil Simon's 'Laughter on the 23rd Floor'.
LOS ANGELES Gene Wilder, whose kinky curls and startling blue eyes brought a frantic air to roles in the movies "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," "Young Frankenstein" and "Blazing Saddles," died on Monday at the age of 83, his family said.
Wilder, whose best work came in collaborations with director-writer Mel Brooks and actor Richard Pryor, died at his home in Stamford, Connecticut, from complications of Alzheimer's disease, the family said in a statement.
Wilder's nephew, Jordan Walker-Pearlman, said the actor had chosen to keep his illness secret so that children who knew him as Willy Wonka would not equate the whimsical character with an adult disease.
Wilder's barely contained hysteria made him a go-to lead for director-writer Mel Brooks, who cast him in "Blazing Saddles," "Young Frankenstein" and "The Producers" in the 1960s and '70s.
Besides his classic collaborations with Brooks, Wilder paired memorably with comedian Richard Pryor in hits "Silver Streak" and "Stir Crazy."
Wilder also was active in promoting ovarian cancer awareness and treatment after his wife, "Saturday Night Live" comedienne Gilda Radner, whom he married in 1984, died of the disease in 1989.
He helped found the Gilda Radner Ovarian Cancer Detection Center in Los Angeles and co-founded Gilda's Club, a support organization that has branches throughout the United States.
Brooks noted Wilder's death by tweeting, "Gene Wilder-One of the truly great talents of our time. He blessed every film we did with his magic & he blessed me with his friendship."
Born Jerome Silberman to Russian immigrants in Milwaukee, Wilder studied at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre in Bristol, England, and then studied method acting at the Actors Studio.
A leading role in a play that also starred Anne Bancroft, who was dating her future husband Brooks, led to Wilder becoming a top member of Brooks' stock company of crazies, some of whom branched out with Wilder into other film ventures.
Wilder's first movie role was a small part as a terrified undertaker who was abducted by Bonnie and Clyde in Arthur Penn's 1967 film of the same name.
The following year he was panic-stricken Leo Bloom to Zero Mostel's conniving Max Bialystock in Brooks' "The Producers," picking up an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor.
While it initially got a tepid response, the movie with its over-the-top song "Springtime for Hitler," went on to become a cult favorite and, years later with a different cast, a monster hit on Broadway.
Wilder was a last-minute fill-in as the "Waco Kid" in Brooks' "Blazing Saddles" in 1974, and with Brooks wrote the screenplay for "Young Frankenstein" released later that year, also to big box office returns.
The two were nominated for best screenplay Oscars, but lost to Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo for "The Godfather Part II."
With Brooks alumni Madeline Kahn and Marty Feldman, Wilder made his directorial debut with 1975's "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother," and directed several other movies with uneven results.
Wilder's title role in "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" earned him a Golden Globe nomination in 1971, and he was nominated again in that category in 1976 for "Silver Streak."
He won an Emmy in 2003 for outstanding guest actor in a comedy series for appearances on "Will and Grace."
Wilder's memoir, "Kiss Me Like a Stranger: My Search for Love and Art," was released in 2005 and he collaborated with oncologist Steven Piver on the book "Gilda's Disease" in 1998.
He was hospitalized in 1999 with non-Hodgkin lymphoma but was said to be in complete remission in 2005.
Wilder lived in Stamford in a house built in 1734 that he had shared with Radner, writing and painting watercolors with his wife Karen Boyer, whom he married in 1991.
(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Bill Trott and James Dalgleish) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-genewilder-idUSKCN11428I?feedType=RSS&feedName=peopleNews | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/91022f4ed956862bbf40148c99de05d890b58b4b60698fc5e714dcbdfd5fb705.json |
[
"Toni Clarke",
"Ransdell Pierson"
] | 2016-08-26T13:18:51 | null | 2016-08-25T21:39:07 | Mylan NV said on Thursday it would reduce the out-of-pocket costs of its emergency EpiPen allergy injection for some patients amid a wave of criticism from lawmakers and the public over the product's rapidly escalating price. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-mylan-nl-pricing-idUSKCN11017J%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DhealthNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FhealthNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BHealth%2BNews%2529.json | http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160825&t=2&i=1151051007&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7O0O0 | en | null | Mylan offers discounts on EpiPen amid wave of criticism | null | null | www.reuters.com | Mylan NV said on Thursday it would reduce the out-of-pocket costs of its emergency EpiPen allergy injection for some patients amid a wave of criticism from lawmakers and the public over the product's rapidly escalating price.
The list price of the drug will remain the same, but the company said it would increase the maximum copay assistance program to $300 from $100 for patients who pay for the 2-pak in cash or who are covered by a commercial health insurer.
The price of EpiPen has skyrocketed to $600 from $100 since it was acquired by Mylan in 2007.
Mylan also said it is doubling the eligibility for its patient assistance program, which will eliminate out-of-pocket costs for uninsured and under-insured patients and families.
Government paid programs are not eligible for the copay assistance program.
Ronny Gal, an analyst with Bernstein, said when all is said and done he estimates a total price reduction for EpiPen of 32 percent. The price rose 27 percent in the second quarter of 2016 versus the same quarter a year ago.
"Thus we are basically rolling back the increase of the past year," he said. "In all, we estimate that today's news results in a 20-25 percent hit on EpiPen revenues." He expects that to translate into a 3-4 percent hit to Mylan's earnings per share over the next few years.
He estimates the company will earn $4.77 a share in 2016 and $5.58 in 2017.
Mylan is the latest company to be caught up in the growing outrage at apparently egregious drug price increases. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc and Turing Pharmaceuticals have both been publicly excoriated for similar price increases.
Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who has spoken out against escalating drug prices, "welcomes the fact that Mylan is now apparently open to taking steps to lower some of the cost sharing burdens imposed on families," Tyrone Gayle, a campaign spokesman, said in a statement.
However, he added, "discounts for selected customers without lowering the overall price of EpiPens are insufficient, because the excessive price will likely be passed on through higher insurance premiums."
Clinton's view was echoed by Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Elijah Cummings, who said Mylan's move is nothing but a public relations stunt that does nothing to help the majority of patients who need the drug.
"Offering a meager discount only after widespread bipartisan criticism is exactly the same tactic used by drug companies across the industry to distract from their exorbitant price increases," he said in a statement. "Nobody is buying this PR move any more."
Mylan Chief Executive Heather Bresch, defending the price in an interview on Thursday on CNBC, said her company had spent hundreds of millions of dollars improving EpiPen, including making its needle invisible, since acquiring the device from German generic drugmaker Merck KGaA.
"When we picked up this product, they (Merck) weren't spending a dollar on it," said Bresch,
Bresch said Mylan recoups less than half of EpiPen's list price because pharmacy benefit managers, which often require discounted prices or rebates from drugmakers, are involved, along with insurers and others.
Democratic U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar said Mylan's action was a "welcome relief" to many who are struggling to afford the medication, but said it does not address the root of the problem of rising drug costs.
Earlier this year, Clinton chastised drug companies for exorbitant pricing and unveiled a plan that she said would cut costs, making the issue not only a hot election discussion topic but potentially an issue that could have policy implications if she is elected. On Wednesday, Clinton pressed Mylan to voluntarily cut the EpiPen price, sending the company's share price lower and pushing down biotech stocks.
Mylan shares fell more than 10 percent this week before rising 3.2 percent on Thursday after announcement of the discount program.
EpiPens are preloaded injections of epinephrine (adrenaline) used in case of a dangerous allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis that could cause death if untreated.
Anaphylaxis can occur in as little as a couple of minutes of exposure to the allergen, which can come in the form of food such as peanuts or insects such as bees. Certain medications or latex can also cause a severe reaction.
Symptoms include itching, swelling of the lips, tongue and roof of the mouth, tight chestedness and difficulty breathing. People who are susceptible to such reactions are frequently advised to carry an EpiPen, which can deliver an immediate emergency jolt of adrenaline to reverse the symptoms.
A group of lawmakers said on Wednesday they had written the U.S. Food and Drug Administration asking about its approval process for alternatives to the EpiPen.
FDA spokeswoman Theresa Eisenman said in a statement the agency is reviewing the questions posed in the letter "and will respond directly to the Congressional members." She noted that the FDA does not have the authority to review or approve drug prices.
Bresch, daughter of Democratic U.S. Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, said she contacted members of Congress over the past two days and asked to meet with them to discuss what she called an "unsustainable" drug pricing system.
She said one of the calls was to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who recently wrote a letter to Mylan asking for an explanation of big EpiPen price increases.
(Reporting by Ransdell Pierson in New York, Ankur Banerjee in Bengaluru, Toni Clarke and Susan Heavey in Washington; Editing by Marguerita Choy, Alan Crosby and Bernard Orr) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mylan-nl-pricing-idUSKCN11017J?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FhealthNews+%28Reuters+Health+News%29 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/57c77bb3433468e2a27cc9724e8a7ac2f78ee8cd8d26a2eed498f02971c36185.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-26T13:19:55 | null | 2016-08-17T19:15:36 | A Maryland woman who won widespread praise for publicly scolding her teenage son during last year's riots in Baltimore was made homeless by a house fire, but a flood of donations had poured in to help her by Wednesday. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-maryland-mother-idUSKCN10S20O%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DoddlyEnoughNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FoddlyEnoughNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BOddly%2BEnough%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160817&t=2&i=1150064010&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7G17Y | en | null | Donations pour in for Baltimore 'Mom of Year' after house fire | null | null | www.reuters.com | Baltimore mother Toya Graham who famously waded into a riot to retrieve her son Michael Singleton (L) stands with him after they joined U.S. President Barack Obama in a televised town hall about trust and safety in our communities in Washington July 14, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo
A Maryland woman who won widespread praise for publicly scolding her teenage son during last year's riots in Baltimore was made homeless by a house fire, but a flood of donations had poured in to help her by Wednesday.
Video of Toya Graham's reprimand of her 16-year-old son Michael for joining the riots went viral online after it was captured by a local news station.
Graham was hailed by the city's police commissioner and heralded on social media as "Mom of the Year" for the incident, in which she chased her son, smacked him around the head and pulled him away from a group of young rioters.
On Saturday, Graham and her family were displaced by an accidental fire at their home, she said in a statement posted online.
Michael, now 17, was frying a snack when a grease fire started in the pan, the statement said. The teenager, who was home alone at the time, mistakenly threw water on the flames, which intensified the blaze.
No one was hurt in the incident, but a large area of the home was destroyed.
A GoFundMe online fundraising page for the Grahams was launched on Monday, with the goal of raising $5,000. By Wednesday afternoon it had received more than $30,000 in donations, the website showed.
Baltimore's violent unrest erupted in April 2015 after the funeral for Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who was fatally injured while in police custody.
The Baltimore television news station that originally videotaped Graham said she saw her son throwing rocks while watching coverage of the mayhem and ran out to stop him.
(Reporting by Laila Kearney; Editing by Alan Crosby) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-maryland-mother-idUSKCN10S20O?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FoddlyEnoughNews+%28Reuters+Oddly+Enough%29 | en | 2016-08-17T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/8267143875f8b7378f661946cb031cb8595b431fa1ac02a62daee8b1e5318267.json |
[
"Ju-Min Park"
] | 2016-08-31T07:03:12 | null | 2016-08-31T06:01:06 | min Park | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-northkorea-execution-idUSKCN11605I%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DtopNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FtopNews%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BTop%2BNews%2529.json | http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160831&t=2&i=1151678711&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7U08J | en | null | North Korea executes vice premier in latest purge: South | null | null | www.reuters.com | North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is pictured during a test-fire of strategic submarine-launched ballistic missile in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang August 25, 2016. REUTERS/KCNA
SEOUL North Korea has executed its vice premier for education and rebuked two high-ranking officials, South Korea said on Wednesday, which, if true, would mark a new series of measures by leader Kim Jong Un to discipline top aides.
Kim took power in 2011 after the death of his father, Kim Jong Il, and his consolidation of power has included purges and executions of top officials, South Korean officials have said.
South Korea's Unification Ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-hee said the government had confirmed the execution of the education official, Kim Yong Jin, "through various channels" but declined to provide details.
Kim Yong Chol, the influential head of the North's United Front Department which handles inter-Korean relations, was made to undergo "revolutionary measures," Jeong told a briefing.
Another ruling party official in the propaganda department was also reprimanded, Jeong said.
It is difficult to independently verify news about top officials in the North or the inner circle around the leader. Some previous reports of executions and purges in the reclusive state have proven inaccurate.
Vice Premier Kim Yong Jin was executed for not keeping his posture upright at a public event, a South Korean government official later told Reuters. Kim Yong Chol was punished for his overbearing demeanor, the official added, but gave no details.
The execution, by firing squad, took place in July and Kim Yong Chol was re-educated at a rural farm for a month until mid-August, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency said.
The South's comments follow a news report on Tuesday that the North had executed two high-ranking officials for disobeying leader Kim Jong Un.
Kim Yong Jin was promoted to vice premier in 2012 after serving as education minister, according to a South Korean government database on key officials of the North.
Army general Kim Yong Chol headed the North Korean intelligence agency before taking his current position this year.
News of the reclusive state's new purges comes after the South said North Korea's deputy ambassador in London had defected and arrived in the South with his family, dealing an embarrassing blow to Kim's regime.
North Korea rarely announces purges or executions, although state media confirmed the 2012 execution of Kim's uncle, Jang Song Thaek, widely considered the country's second most powerful man, for factionalism and crimes damaging to the economy.
A former defense minister, Hyun Yong Chol, is also believed to have been executed last year for treason, according to the South's spy agency.
(Reporting by Ju-min Park; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-execution-idUSKCN11605I?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtopNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Top+News%29 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/543d632ba2b1ea0a4f8ed1ec5caf3e8cd048b6f57661377552156f816cbd5228.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-26T13:20:27 | null | 2016-08-26T06:46:31 | The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired Carlos Ruiz from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for A.J. Ellis, the teams announced on Thursday. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-baseball-dodgers-ruiz-idUSKCN1110IA%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DsportsNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FsportsNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BSports%2BNews%2529.json | http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160826&t=2&i=1151130880&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7P093 | en | null | Dodgers land Ruiz in catcher swap with Phillies | null | null | www.reuters.com | Mar 1, 2016; Clearwater, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz (51) gets a base hit in the second inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Bright House Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired Carlos Ruiz from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for A.J. Ellis, the teams announced on Thursday.
The Dodgers also received $1 million while the Phillies got one minor league pitcher along with a player to be named later or cash considerations in the deal.
Ellis, 35, is a longtime Dodgers player who is beloved in the clubhouse, but is batting just .194 and played only sporadically.
"Obviously, it was tough decision on a personal level," said Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman.
"We felt like from a baseball standpoint, Carlos fit our team extremely well. I could go on and on about A.J. and his attributes and what he brings to a team. And if Carlos didn't possess similar things, we wouldn't have made the move.” Ruiz, 37, is hitting .261 and brings World Series experience. He helped lead the Phillies to the title in 2008 and was an All Star in 2012.
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; editing by Amlan Chakraborty) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-baseball-dodgers-ruiz-idUSKCN1110IA?feedType=RSS&feedName=sportsNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FsportsNews+%28Reuters+Sports+News%29 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/6d251e8de7a04474ea0830660e9ae298c0dbc9b686bfd8cb842bfa4c60a96b5b.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-30T22:59:51 | null | 2016-08-30T22:26:07 | The successful conclusion of the Trans Pacific Partnership trade talks remains the top legislative item for the United States, a top economic adviser to President Barack Obama said on Tuesday. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-g20-china-trade-idUSKCN1152TO%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DpoliticsNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2BReuters%252FPoliticsNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BPolitics%2BNews%2529.json | http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160830&t=2&i=1151646523&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7T1LO | en | null | Pacific trade pact remains top issue for Obama administration | null | null | www.reuters.com | Delegates protesting against the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement hold up signs during the first sesssion at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 25, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
WASHINGTON The successful conclusion of the Trans Pacific Partnership trade talks remains the top legislative item for the United States, a top economic adviser to President Barack Obama said on Tuesday.
White House National Security Council adviser Christina Segal-Knowles told a news conference ahead of the Sept. 4-5 G20 summit in China that talks on a trade pact with Europe were still in progress, despite comments from France and Germany that they were in doubt.
The Asian talks are stalled in Congress and both Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump have said they would not approve the deal in its current form, if elected president in November.
Segal-Knowles said corporate tax issues would be on the G20's agenda in China, although when asked whether the European Union's tax ruling on Apple Inc's deal with Ireland would be discussed, she did not directly address the issue facing the company.
(Reporting by David Chance; Editing by Peter Cooney) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-g20-china-trade-idUSKCN1152TO?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FPoliticsNews+%28Reuters+Politics+News%29 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/33c1f928452d650c63b40aba61785464281b129acfc02c56ee63d3a075a6c1f9.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-27T18:50:54 | null | 2016-08-27T17:02:38 | One day after a short seller claimed thatSt. Jude Medical Inc's heart implants are vulnerable todeadly cyber attacks, investors appear most concerned aboutwhether the accusation will derail St. Jude's $24 billionplanned deal for Abbott Labs to buy it. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fst-jude-medical-cyber-investors-idUSL1N1B80BY%3Ftype%3DcompanyNews%26feedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DcompanyNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FcompanyNews%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BCompany%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | RPT-Whiplashed investors stay skittish about St. Jude | null | null | www.reuters.com | (Repeats to fix formatting. No changes to text)
By Carl O'Donnell and Lauren Hirsch
Aug 26 One day after a short seller claimed that St. Jude Medical Inc's heart implants are vulnerable to deadly cyber attacks, investors appear most concerned about whether the accusation will derail St. Jude's $24 billion planned deal for Abbott Labs to buy it.
St. Jude's stock at one point fell around 3 percent on Friday, though it ended the day slightly up, following a drop of around 5 percent on Thursday after Muddy Waters Capital leveled the accusation against St. Jude. The stock continues to trade well below its price on Wednesday of around $82 per share.
St. Jude called the allegations "false and misleading."
St. Jude in April agreed to sell itself to Abbott, and the deal was widely considered a slam dunk before the cyber security concerns were raised.
"It's hard to imagine that this could scuttle the deal," said one investor, who asked to remain anonymous because he wasn't authorized to speak with the press. "But there are a few paths that could lead to problems."
Abbott could decide to back out of the St. Jude deal or push for a lower valuation "if they were to conclude remediation steps must be taken with St. Jude's technology," Jason Mills, an analyst at Canaccord Genuity, said in a note.
One concern being voiced is that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration could demand a full-scale product recall, which in turn could trigger a "material adverse change" clause in St. Jude's merger agreement.
That would give Abbott the ability to walk away from the deal, according to investors and analysts interviewed by Reuters.
If the deal were called off due to an adverse event, St. Jude would probably fall below the approximately $60 per share that it was trading at before the Abbott deal was announced, investors said.
A forced recall, though, is unlikely, according to Mills. The FDA issued its first guidance on managing cybersecurity in medical devices only eight months ago, and is still seen primarily as playing an advisory role in the area.
The more likely solution to any concerns about cyber security would be a software update, which is relatively inexpensive, said another investor, who asked not to be named because he wasn't authorized to speak with the press. (Reporting by Carl O'Donnell in New York; Additional reporting by Mike Erman in New York; Editing by Eric Effron and James Dalgleish) | http://www.reuters.com/article/st-jude-medical-cyber-investors-idUSL1N1B80BY?type=companyNews&feedType=RSS&feedName=companyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FcompanyNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Company+News%29 | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/e34673ed250e9b512f9a9cc625daad4e8c2cb9c34ba736cbd439e4f59ab9d289.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-26T13:18:25 | null | 2016-08-26T12:10:50 | By Steve SlaterLONDON, Aug 26 (IFR) - Brewers Anheuser-Busch InBev andSABMiller will pay almost US$2bn in fees to banks, lawyers, PRfirms and other | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fabinbev-mergers-fees-idUSL8N1B72P6%3Ftype%3DcompanyNews%26feedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DcompanyNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FcompanyNews%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BCompany%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | Bumper US$2bn payday for advisers on SABMiller deal | null | null | www.reuters.com | LONDON, Aug 26 (IFR) - Brewers Anheuser-Busch InBev and SABMiller will pay almost US$2bn in fees to banks, lawyers, PR firms and others advisers to complete the largest ever consumer products takeover.
Shareholder documents released on Friday showed the US$104bn takeover by AB InBev of SABMiller will herald some of the biggest fees ever for bankers and other advisers for a single deal.
The documents showed AB InBev and the new company will pay US$1.735bn in fees and expenses and SABMiller will pay US$202m. That amounts to 1.9% of the value of the deal.
The firms said they would pay US$248m for financial and broking advice.
AB InBev will pay US$135m of that to its advisers, which include lead adviser Lazard and also Deutsche Bank, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and Standard Bank.
SABMiller will pay US$113m to its advisers, which include Robey Warshaw, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and Centerview Partners.
AB InBev said its fees include US$725m for financing arrangements.
It secured a record US$75bn syndicated loan to back the deal. The financing was provided by 21 banks from Europe, the US, Japan, Australia and Canada.
The two companies will pay US$261m in legal advice, with recipients including Linklaters.
The fees paid to advisers and lawyers are likely to have been bloated by some complex aspects to the deal, including anti-trust reviews, the need for some divestments and a complex scheme of arrangement.
AB InBev and SABMiller are also paying US$29m for public relations advice and US$17m for accounting advice.
AB InBev will also pay US$180m for other professional services, including to management consultants, actuaries and specialist valuers.
It said it will pay an additional US$475m in transaction taxes and other costs and expenses.
Disclosures of such hefty fees could stoke controversy as they were released on the same day AB InBev said it expects to cut 3% of its combined workforce, or 5,500 jobs, after the takeover is completed.
AB InBev is aiming to achieve pre-tax savings of at least US$1.4bn per year within four years after completion of the deal through increased efficiency, sharing best practices and the removal of overlaps in corporate and regional headquarters.
The maker of Budweiser, Stella Artois and Corona expects the potential job losses to take place over a three-year period.
The world's largest brewer still needs backing from SABMiller shareholders for its £45 per share offer, along with a cash-and-share alternative, which values its target at £78.4bn (US$103.6bn). Those shareholders will vote at a meeting on September 28. (Reporting by Steve Slater) | http://www.reuters.com/article/abinbev-mergers-fees-idUSL8N1B72P6?type=companyNews&feedType=RSS&feedName=companyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FcompanyNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Company+News%29 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/b02870347b38cbe153523ff1f1d57bff16b73308d1c0c6731fdecbe7b4abce9b.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-27T12:51:26 | null | 2016-08-27T12:29:57 | A fire severely damaged a set for the "Knightfall" television series at studios in Prague overnight, causing damage worth about $4 million, Czech media reported on Saturday. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-czech-film-knightfall-idUSKCN1120DE%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DentertainmentNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252Fentertainment%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BEntertainment%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | Fire severely damages 'Knightfall' set in Prague: media | null | null | www.reuters.com | PRAGUE A fire severely damaged a set for the "Knightfall" television series at studios in Prague overnight, causing damage worth about $4 million, Czech media reported on Saturday.
Firefighters brought the fire under control late on Friday after they used helicopters to dump water on the blaze at the Barrandov Studios from the nearby Vltava river, CTK news agency reported.
Shooting of the series, depicting the final days of the Knights Templar in the 14th century, was due to start in the Czech Republic this weekend after initial work in Croatia. "Avengers" Jeremy Renner is an executive producer.
The Barrandov studios, established by late Czech President Vaclav Havel's uncle in the 1930s, are one of the largest in Europe. Films such as "Mission Impossible" or "Hart's War" were shot there.
(Reporting by Robert Muller; editing by David Clarke) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-czech-film-knightfall-idUSKCN1120DE?feedType=RSS&feedName=entertainmentNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2Fentertainment+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Entertainment%29 | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/4e7ddafc946baaad2775678db4c1de53b42bdb02396ef736efc0693551af47b3.json |
[
"Dave Lucas"
] | 2016-08-29T12:57:00 | null | 2016-08-29T12:25:06 | Coffins of some of the victims of the earthquake in central Italy are seen inside a gym in Ascoli Piceno, August 26, 2016. REUTERS/Adamo Di Loreto | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Fnews%2Fpicture%2Feditors-choice%3FarticleId%3DUSRTX2NFW4.json | http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160829&t=2&i=1151440872&w=&fh=545&fw=810&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=2016-08-29T122506Z_23970_S1BETXSSVFAB_RTRMADP_0_ITALY-QUAKE | en | null | Editor's Choice | null | null | www.reuters.com | A man swipes grease after slipping off the "gostra", a pole covered in grease, during the religious feast of St Julian, patron of the town of St Julian's, outside Valletta, Malta, August 28, 2016. In the traditional "gostra", a game stretching back to the Middle Ages, young men, women and children have to make their way to the top and try to uproot one of the flags to win prizes. From May to September in Malta, there is hardly any...more
A man swipes grease after slipping off the "gostra", a pole covered in grease, during the religious feast of St Julian, patron of the town of St Julian's, outside Valletta, Malta, August 28, 2016. In the traditional "gostra", a game stretching back to the Middle Ages, young men, women and children have to make their way to the top and try to uproot one of the flags to win prizes. From May to September in Malta, there is hardly any weekend when a town or a village is not celebrating the feast of its patron saint or other saints revered in different churches. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi
Close | http://www.reuters.com/news/picture/editors-choice?articleId=USRTX2NFW4 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/5dca61fdb1b6cad1dca8faf10e331de895548c0fd16f7d0f80caae0129f5d90b.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-26T18:51:06 | null | 2016-08-26T18:19:07 | The U.S. Department of Transportation on Friday fined Alaska Airlines, American Airlines (AAL.O), Southwest Airlines (LUV.N), and United Airlines (UAL.N) for providing inaccurate information to passengers about how much compensation they could potentially receive for being denied boarding against their will and for lost, damaged, or delayed baggage. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-usa-airlines-fines-idUSKCN11126F.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160826&t=2&i=1151208122&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7P1CY | en | null | Four U.S. airlines fined for inaccurate information about bumping compensation | null | null | www.reuters.com | WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Transportation on Friday fined Alaska Airlines, American Airlines (AAL.O), Southwest Airlines (LUV.N), and United Airlines (UAL.N) for providing inaccurate information to passengers about how much compensation they could potentially receive for being denied boarding against their will and for lost, damaged, or delayed baggage. | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-airlines-fines-idUSKCN11126F | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/eae72a84ec79d0db40243819867d5341c0b4a2e9828ca34222065cb05ea8c6e6.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-31T09:05:20 | null | 2016-08-31T07:44:53 | Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said on Wednesday the Iranian-allied Houthi movement would not be allowed to take over Yemen, as he accused Iran of seeking to sow unrest around the region. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-yemen-security-saudi-idUSKCN1160OV%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DworldNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2BReuters%252FworldNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BWorld%2BNews%2529.json | http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160831&t=2&i=1151686367&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7U0C4 | en | null | Saudi Arabia says Houthis will not be allowed to take over Yemen | null | null | www.reuters.com | A car sits next to a salvage yard hit by a Houthi rocket in an industrial area in eastern Najran city, Saudi Arabia August 27, 2016. REUTERS/Katie Paul
BEIJING Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said on Wednesday the Iranian-allied Houthi movement would not be allowed to take over Yemen, as he accused Iran of seeking to sow unrest around the region.
The head of a Houthi-backed ruling council pledged readiness on Monday to resume negotiations on ending Yemen's war but reserved the right to resist attacks by a Saudi-backed exiled government seeking to unseat it.
U.N.-sponsored talks to try to end 18 months of fighting collapsed in failure this month and the Houthi movement and allied forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh resumed shelling into neighboring Saudi Arabia.
The talks foundered after the Houthis and Saleh's General People's Congress (GPC) announced the formation of the 10-member governing council on Aug 6., ignoring a warning by U.N. Yemen envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed that such a move would violate U.N. Security Council resolutions on how to solve the conflict.
Speaking to Reuters in Beijing, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said the ball was in the Houthis' court as to whether peace talks resumed.
"What is certain, not questionable, certain, they will not be allowed to take over Yemen. Period. So the legitimate government will be defended," al-Jubeir said.
"The chance they have is to enter the political process, reach an agreement ... for the benefit of all Yemenis including the Houthis," he said.
Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies accuse the Houthis of being pawns of Iran and have launched a military intervention to restore Hadi to power.
The Houthis have held on, having made an alliance with Saleh, who enjoys the support of most of the military.
The Houthis and the GPC hold most of Yemen's northern half, while forces working for the exiled government share control of the rest of the country with tribes.
At least 10,000 people have been killed in Yemen's 18-month-old civil war, the United Nations on Tuesday, approaching double the estimates of more than 6,000 cited by officials and aid workers for much of 2016.
Speaking earlier to students at a Beijing university, al-Jubeir lambasted Iran.
"We see Iran supporting Houthis in Yemen and trying to take over the government, supply weapons to the Houthis, smuggle explosives to Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia," he said.
"We wish we could be as good neighbors like before the 1979 revolution," al-Jubeir said.
"It's up to Iran to mend its behavior."
(Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Robert Birsel) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-saudi-idUSKCN1160OV?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuters+World+News%29 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/f4efb03717be617cd0b7daa014f208d84d44487d4bda58a17f062bf03fbb3881.json |
[
"Mayank Bhardwaj",
"Krishna N. Das"
] | 2016-08-26T13:20:42 | null | 2016-08-25T13:30:01 | A government panel has cleared commercial use of what would be India's first genetically modified (GM) food crop, but politicians still have to give final approvals amid wide-spread public opposition. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-india-gmo-idUSKCN11010R%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DscienceNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FscienceNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BScience%2BNews%2529.json | http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160825&t=2&i=1150996064&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7O0JQ | en | null | GM mustard clears hurdle in India but more remain | null | null | www.reuters.com | An Indian scientist holds a genetically modified (GM) rapeseed crop under trial in New Delhi, India February 13, 2015. REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee/File photo
NEW DELHI A government panel has cleared commercial use of what would be India's first genetically modified (GM) food crop, but politicians still have to give final approvals amid wide-spread public opposition.
Technical clearance for indigenously developed GM mustard seeds was given on Aug. 11 by the panel of government and independent experts, following multiple reviews of crop trial data generated over almost a decade, said two sources with direct knowledge of the matter.
The decision to go ahead is likely to be made public soon by the environment ministry's Genetic Engineering Approval Committee, and is expected eventually to move to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's desk via Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave.
Dave could not immediately be reached for comment.
The environment ministry said in a statement late on Thursday that no final decision has been taken yet and that its Genetic Engineering Approval Committee will put up a 'safety document' on the issue on its website seeking comments from the public.
The news of the technical approval comes when U.S. seed maker Monsanto - which dominates the GM cotton market in India - faces heightened government regulation that has forced it to consider quitting a country it has operated in for decades.
Reuters reported on Wednesday that Monsanto had withdrawn an application seeking approval for its next generation GM cotton seeds in India, escalating a long-running dispute between New Delhi and the world's biggest seed maker.
Top India executives of multinationals like Monsanto, Bayer Biosciences, Dow AgroSciences, DuPont Pioneer and Syngenta have called a joint news conference on Friday to make an "important announcement", following what they called difficult times that have impacted operations of seed companies.
Permitting GM food crops is a big call for India, which spends tens of billions of dollars importing edible oils and other food items every year. Farmers are stuck with old technology, yields are at a fraction of world levels, cultivable land is shrinking and weather patterns have become less predictable, experts say.
But political and public opposition to lab-altered food remains strong amid fears that GM crops could compromise food safety and biodiversity.
Some grassroots groups associated with Modi's nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party have also opposed GM crops because of the reliance on seeds patented by multi-nationals like Monsanto, DuPont, Dow Chemical and Syngenta, which is to be taken over by a Chinese company.
India placed a moratorium on GM eggplant in 2010, also after an experts panel had given its clearance, effectively bringing the regulatory system to a deadlock.
Modi, however, who was instrumental in making Gujarat state India's leading user of GM cotton when he was chief minister there, cleared several field trials for GM crops soon after taking office in New Delhi in 2014.
The GM mustard developed by Delhi University scientists makes use of three genes already incorporated in rapeseed hybrids in Canada, the United States and Australia.
Extensive biosafety tests have revealed no cause for concern, according to a field trial report submitted to the government and seen by Reuters.
(Reporting by Krishna N. Das; Editing by Tom Hogue, William Hardy and Alexandra Hudson) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-gmo-idUSKCN11010R?feedType=RSS&feedName=scienceNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FscienceNews+%28Reuters+Science+News%29 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/84af89e95d5949abc34bb881ccf0e29d01660b9c3ba28df5c7b10d98aae74fd1.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-27T14:59:39 | null | 2016-08-27T14:18:14 | A Brazilian court said on Saturday it has authorized the release of Ireland's Kevin James Mallon, a director of international sports hospitality company THG who was arrested on Aug. 5 for the alleged illegal scalping of Olympic tickets. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-olympics-rio-tickets-idUSKCN1120EF%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DsportsNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FsportsNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BSports%2BNews%2529.json | http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160827&t=2&i=1151270780&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7Q0A7 | en | null | Brazil court frees Ireland's Mallon arrested in Rio Olympic ticket scam | null | null | www.reuters.com | SAO PAULO A Brazilian court said on Saturday it has authorized the release of Ireland's Kevin James Mallon, a director of international sports hospitality company THG who was arrested on Aug. 5 for the alleged illegal scalping of Olympic tickets.
Mallon was being held along with the former head of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) Patrick Hickey, who is still detained in a Rio prison.
Brazilian police said earlier in August they uncovered emails between Hickey and THG executives discussing tickets they planned to sell at inflated prices, which would earn them as much as 10 million reais ($3.09 million) in profit.
On Friday, a source in the Rio state security services told Reuters that a Rio de Janeiro court will return the passports of three members of the OCI who will be allowed to leave Brazil.
(Reporting by Reese Ewing; Editing by Daniel Flynn) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-rio-tickets-idUSKCN1120EF?feedType=RSS&feedName=sportsNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FsportsNews+%28Reuters+Sports+News%29 | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/84193bb487e193aa18ea5303a818ff79f9a47ea14fd0b4df0d7025cf703d82aa.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-26T13:19:00 | null | 2016-08-26T10:21:41 | The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has pulled up a former Sun Pharmaceutical drug factory for "knowingly" releasing 27 lots of the hypertension drug clonidine last year, despite proof that the raw materials used may have been contaminated. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-sun-pharm-usa-regulator-idUSKCN111122%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DhealthNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FhealthNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BHealth%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160826&t=2&i=1151152957&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7P0JY | en | null | FDA warns former Sun Pharma U.S. drug factory over quality concerns | null | null | www.reuters.com | The corporate logo of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is shown in Silver Spring, Maryland, November 4, 2009. REUTERS/Jason Reed
MUMBAI The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has pulled up a former Sun Pharmaceutical drug factory for "knowingly" releasing 27 lots of the hypertension drug clonidine last year, despite proof that the raw materials used may have been contaminated.
This is one of a series of quality concerns tied to the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania factory that the FDA highlighted in an Aug. 15 "warning letter" issued to the site's current owner, U.S. firm Frontida BioPharm Inc.
The plant was sold to Frontida in June by Sun, India's No. 1 drugmaker, which said the move was "a part of its manufacturing consolidation in the U.S."
Sun did not mention at the time that the FDA had inspected the plant a year earlier, between June 15 and July 17, 2015, or that it expressed serious concerns with its quality standards.
Details of the inspection were released in the warning letter posted on the FDA site this week. bit.ly/2bl9djf
Sun declined to comment on the FDA letter, while Frontida was not immediately reachable for comment on Friday.
India supplies more than 30 percent of the drugs sold in the United States, and Sun is one of several Indian companies that are under the FDA's scanner for quality issues, after the agency increased the frequency of foreign inspections over the past two years.
At least five of Sun's plants are barred from U.S. exports due to quality issues, and the company has said it is working on improving its quality systems to get back U.S. approval to supply from them.
The FDA letter is addressed to Frontida Chief Executive Sung Li, and does not mention Sun or any of its executives.
In the letter, the U.S. regulator also outlined "multiple discrepancies" that it said cast doubt on the accuracy of the quality-related records maintained at the factory.
In another observation, the FDA said that factory staff was aware by April 2015 that the chemical benzophenone had leached into some tablets of the hypertension drug felodipine from the ink and varnish on the container label, but the lots were not recalled until the FDA inspection in July 2015.
(Reporting by Zeba Siddiqui in Mumbai; Editing by Euan Rocha and Sunil Nair) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-sun-pharm-usa-regulator-idUSKCN111122?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FhealthNews+%28Reuters+Health+News%29 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/74e09cc195d36701c4dc80dbadef4ebede5aa7f5450d9a9141d4b22fd0392fc2.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-29T17:04:52 | null | 2016-08-29T16:51:31 | Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson announced on Monday that he directed his advisory council to evaluate whether the agency should continue to contract with private prison companies. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-usa-prisons-immigration-idUSKCN1141W7%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DworldNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2BReuters%252FworldNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BWorld%2BNews%2529.json | http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160829&t=2&i=1151468804&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7S11E | en | null | U.S. Department of Homeland Security evaluating use of private prison companies | null | null | www.reuters.com | U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson testifies before a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S. July 14, 2016. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
WASHINGTON Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson announced on Monday that he directed his advisory council to evaluate whether the agency should continue to contract with private prison companies.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a division of DHS, currently uses private prison groups like Corrections Corporation of America to run some of its detention facilities for migrants.
The announcement follows the Justice Department's decision to phase out its contracts with private prisons on Aug. 18.
(Reporting by Julia Edwards; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-prisons-immigration-idUSKCN1141W7?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuters+World+News%29 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/9ef3a8d1f144e52c6315aaba52b677676fc0b283ee708dd540c0bfe9fd1bdadd.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-30T04:52:01 | null | 2016-08-30T03:43:11 | KKR & Co has namedMing Lu as the sole head of its Asia private equity business, asother co-head David Liu has decided to leave the firm, the U.S.buyout firm said in a statement on Tuesday. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fkkr-asia-managementchanges-idUSL3N1BB1JU%3Ftype%3DcompanyNews%26feedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DcompanyNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FcompanyNews%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BCompany%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | KKR names Ming Lu as sole head for Asia private equity | null | null | www.reuters.com | HONG KONG Aug 30 KKR & Co has named Ming Lu as the sole head of its Asia private equity business, as other co-head David Liu has decided to leave the firm, the U.S. buyout firm said in a statement on Tuesday.
Julian Wolhardt, another senior KKR executive in Asia, is also leaving the firm at the end of the year, and together with David will set up a new China-focused investment firm, KKR said.
KKR, which has completed $10 billion worth of transactions in Asia since starting in the region in 2005, also named four new hires, including Ashish Shastry, to head Southeast Asia, Zhen Ji and Rob Yang as managing directors in China, and Hyoung Seok Lim as managing director in South Korea.
Ming Lu will continue to report to Joseph Bae, who heads KKR's Asian operations. (Reporting by Denny Thomas; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman) | http://www.reuters.com/article/kkr-asia-managementchanges-idUSL3N1BB1JU?type=companyNews&feedType=RSS&feedName=companyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FcompanyNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Company+News%29 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/ad204a23c956c9ea96426b39fde57ed8f4bbf850cb62771c63e104eff6957bf0.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-31T02:52:23 | null | 2016-08-31T00:47:07 | Asian shares eased on Wednesday following modest losses on Wall Street, but were still on track for a monthly rise as investors waited to see if upcoming job data could prod the Federal Reserve into raising interest rates as soon as September. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-global-markets-idUSKCN11602D.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160831&t=2&i=1151656808&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7U019 | en | null | Asian shares ease, taking cue from Wall Street, oil slips | null | null | www.reuters.com | A pedestrian looks at an electronic board showing the various stock prices outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan, September 4, 2015. REUTERS/Yuya Shino/File Photo
TOKYO Asian shares eased on Wednesday following modest losses on Wall Street, but were still on track for a monthly rise as investors waited to see if upcoming job data could prod the Federal Reserve into raising interest rates as soon as September.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS was down 0.1 percent as traders awaited Friday's job report, but looked set for a near 2 percent gain in August.
Japan's Nikkei stock index .N225 added 0.9 percent, poised to rise 1.8 percent for the month, as it got a boost from a weaker yen after upbeat U.S. data lifted the dollar overnight.
The dollar was steady at 102.93 yen JPY= after rising as high as 103.14 yen overnight, its strongest since July 29. It was up 0.9 percent for the month.
Data released earlier on Wednesday showed Japanese industrial output was flat in July from June, underscoring fragility in factory activity and falling short of economists' median forecast for a 0.8 percent rise.
Along with weak household spending data on Tuesday, Japan's latest gloomy data are reinforcing expectations the Bank of Japan will ease policy further in September even if many economists and businessmen think it won't do much good.
"While the latest string of Japanese data has been decent with the jobless rate improving and retail sales rising strongly in July, Japanese officials are clearly still frustrated with the weak growth in the economy," said Kathy Lien, managing director of FX strategy at BK Asset Management.
If the U.S. unit breaks 103.50 yen, its next stop would be 104, Lien wrote in a note.
The euro was steady at $1.1146 EUR=, down 0.2 percent for August.
The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six major counterparts, edged down slightly on the day to 96.010 .DXY but remained not far from its overnight high of 96.143, its highest since early August. It was on track to rise 0.5 percent for the month.
On Wall Street overnight, markets logged losses, dragged down by shares of Apple Inc (AAPL.O) after antitrust regulators ordered the company to pay about $14.5 billion in back taxes to the Irish government.
The S&P 500 .SPX fell for the fourth time in five sessions, but was still within 1 percent of its record closing high set earlier this month.
Friday's jobs report is expected to show employers added 180,000 jobs in August, according to the median estimate of 89 economists polled by Reuters. [ECONUS]
Fed Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer said in a television interview on Tuesday that the U.S. job market is nearly at full strength and the pace of the central bank's interest rate increases will depend on how well the economy is doing.
Markets were pricing in a 27 percent chance of a U.S. rate hike next month as of Tuesday, according to CME Group's FedWatch tool. That probability would rise if the jobless figures were stronger than expected, showing U.S. employers continued their strong pace of hiring seen in recent months.
U.S. consumer confidence rose to an 11-month high in August, with households more upbeat about the labor market, data showed overnight.
Crude oil futures continued to slip after ending down for a second straight day on worries of oversupply and a strong dollar. [O/R]
Brent crude LCOc1 was down 0.1 percent at $48.31 per barrel after shedding 1.8 percent on Tuesday. U.S. crude CLc1 was down 0.2 percent at $46.24 after losing 1.3 percent overnight.
Spot gold XAU= edged up 0.1 percent to $1,311.66 an ounce after tumbling as low as $1,308.65 on Tuesday, its lowest since late June, pressured by the stronger dollar and growing expectations of higher U.S. interest rates.
(Reporting by Lisa Twaronite; Editing by Kim Coghill) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-markets-idUSKCN11602D | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/7d5861f86c7be8a438935d61c6874ebcb2261479ca9726ee26ceea52e5c52b0e.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-27T06:51:43 | null | 2016-08-27T06:15:10 | Tropical storm Madeline has formed in the northern Pacific ocean, well east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in an advisory on Friday. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-storm-madeline-idUSKCN11204B%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DenvironmentNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252Fenvironment%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BEnvironment%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | Tropical Storm Madeline forms east-southeast of Hawaiian: NHC | null | null | www.reuters.com | Tropical storm Madeline has formed in the northern Pacific ocean, well east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in an advisory on Friday.
The storm, with maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour (65 km per hour), is about 1,235 miles (1,990 km) east-southeast of the Big Island of Hawaii, the Miami-based weather forecaster said.
There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect as the storm headed west at 12 miles per hour (19 km per hour), the NHC said.
(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by Stephen Coates) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-storm-madeline-idUSKCN11204B?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2Fenvironment+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Environment%29 | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/65180beb4997c82ce6c07dcb13de900e525b6ca244208e1aa3f74be408d3fca4.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-26T13:18:42 | null | 2016-08-26T12:13:42 | Major international seed companies formed an alliance on Friday to oppose a proposal by India that would force them to share their genetically modified crop technology with local players. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-india-gmo-regulation-idUSKCN11111R%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DenvironmentNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252Fenvironment%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BEnvironment%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160826&t=2&i=1151152265&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7P0JR | en | null | Foreign seed firms team up to oppose new India GM crop rules | null | null | www.reuters.com | Monsanto logo is displayed on a screen where the stock is traded on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S. on May 9, 2016. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo
NEW DELHI Major international seed companies formed an alliance on Friday to oppose a proposal by India that would force them to share their genetically modified crop technology with local players.
Executives from the India businesses of Monsanto, Bayer, Dow, Dupont Pioneer and Syngenta, which have formed the alliance, said seed prices should be set by the market rather than by regulation.
The show of solidarity comes after Monsanto, which pioneered the use of GM cotton in India, pulled an application for its next-generation product from the approvals process on concerns over the security of its intellectual property.
An executive from Bayer India said nobody would invest in research if the proposed introduction of compulsory licensing - which would force a company to share its intellectual property if the government so orders - is implemented.
India does not yet allow GM food crops, whose introduction could help reduce heavy import bills for items like edible oils that it needs to feed its huge and growing population. A domestically developed GM mustard product is, however, inching its way through the approvals process.
But political and public opposition to lab-altered food remains strong amid fears that GM crops could compromise food safety and biodiversity.
(Reporting by Krishna N. Das and Mayank Bhardwaj; Writing by Malini Menon; Editing by Douglas Busvine) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-gmo-regulation-idUSKCN11111R?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2Fenvironment+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Environment%29 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/a049eaa072fb3279d0a3c407868c389d8707c374aaddd627ef6a10308afa494b.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-26T14:56:57 | null | 2016-08-26T14:34:06 | Three men have been charged with fraud for allegedly selling horsemeat as beef in Britain in 2012, prosecutors said on Friday. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-britain-horsemeat-idUSKCN1111PY%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DoddlyEnoughNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FoddlyEnoughNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BOddly%2BEnough%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | Three charged with selling horsemeat as beef in Britain | null | null | www.reuters.com | LONDON Three men have been charged with fraud for allegedly selling horsemeat as beef in Britain in 2012, prosecutors said on Friday.
Eating horsemeat is culturally taboo in Britain and in 2013 the country's food industry was rocked by scandal when it emerged that horsemeat was being sold in some imported beef products.
Investigations at the time found that companies including Britain's biggest supermarket Tesco and fast-food chain Burger King were selling beef products that contained horsemeat.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Ulrik Nielsen, Alex Ostler-Beech and Andronicos Sideras are accused of conspiring together and with others to sell as beef a mixture of what was in fact horsemeat and beef.
The charges relate to activities between January and October of 2012 and follow an investigation by City of London Police.
"After carefully considering evidence from the UK and overseas, the CPS has decided that there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to charge these three men," the CPS said a statement.
They will appear at City of London Magistrates Court on Sept. 27.
(Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by Stephen Addison) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-horsemeat-idUSKCN1111PY?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FoddlyEnoughNews+%28Reuters+Oddly+Enough%29 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/f4086bb048f39202b9f1153b3df5e3532487127d095a197c363d68fbc2472c36.json |
[
"Trevor Hunnicutt"
] | 2016-08-29T05:01:52 | null | 2016-08-29T02:53:02 | Nearly a third of U.S. counties will likely be served by only one insurer that participates in an Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace in 2017, according to an analysis published Sunday by the Kaiser Family Foundation. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-usa-healthcare-idUSKCN11406O%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DdomesticNews.json | http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160829&t=2&i=1151394528&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7S036 | en | null | More U.S. counties to see Obamacare marketplace monopoly: analysis | null | null | www.reuters.com | U.S. President Barack Obama delivers remarks about health insurance marketplace enrollments and the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin March 3, 2016. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
NEW YORK Nearly a third of U.S. counties will likely be served by only one insurer that participates in an Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace in 2017, according to an analysis published Sunday by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
The 31 percent of U.S. counties that will have just a single option of insurers within the ACA's exchanges would represent an increase from 7 percent this year, the nonpartisan group found.
UnitedHealth Group Inc (UNH.N) and Aetna Inc (AET.N) have decided to largely exit government-run online marketplaces in 2017 that sell subsidized plans created under President Barack Obama's national healthcare reform law, citing low enrollment and high service costs.
The bulk of the decrease in counties with a choice of insurers is due to UnitedHealth's pullback, which was announced in April.
The data underscores the degree to which industry retrenchment is curtailing individual's options within the marketplaces. Insurer departures may lead to higher costs within that market, analysts have said.
One county - Pinal County, Arizona - risks having no insurer options at all within the marketplace, the analysis found.
However, the study's authors said another plan offered elsewhere in the state could expand to serve the county. The foundation also said it could take more months and more data for the full impact of the changes for 2017 to become clear.
A spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services was not immediately available for comment, but the agency has said that the ACA has helped increase the number of options available to individuals.
(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Paul Tait) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-healthcare-idUSKCN11406O?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/95b39fd2b25a6b345f77b2f577fe42d1a68701f6b89293f90343d73c6ce0cc48.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-28T17:02:43 | null | 2016-08-28T16:26:19 | A former top adviser to President Barack Obama on Sunday labeled Donald Trump a "psychopath", saying the Republican presidential nominee met the clinical definition of the personality disorder. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-usa-election-plouffe-psychopath-idUSKCN1130Q4%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DtopNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FtopNews%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BTop%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160828&t=2&i=1151359519&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7R0FS | en | null | Former Obama aide calls Trump a 'psychopath' | null | null | www.reuters.com | Then White House senior adviser David Plouffe walks to the Marine One helicopter to depart with U.S. President Barack Obama for a day trip to Ohio and New York, from the White House in Washington, June 14, 2012. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
WASHINGTON A former top adviser to President Barack Obama on Sunday labeled Donald Trump a "psychopath", saying the Republican presidential nominee met the clinical definition of the personality disorder.
With a little more than two months to go before the Nov. 8 U.S. election, the comments by David Plouffe, a former senior adviser to President Barack Obama and manager of his 2008 presidential campaign, mark another escalation in a series of blows exchanged between Trump's camp and that of his Democrat rival Hillary Clinton.
"Basically, you have a psychopath running for president. I mean, he meets the clinical definition," Plouffe said in an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press".
When challenged, Plouffe acknowledged he had no degree in psychology but rattled off what he said were the New York businessman's symptoms: "grandiose notion of self-worth; pathological lying; lack of empathy and remorse."
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Last week, Clinton accused Trump of fueling America's "radical fringe" with racist rhetoric, while Trump said Clinton was letting down black Americans with failed policies and called her a "bigot who sees people of color only as votes, not as human beings."
Obama has also lambasted Trump, saying of him: "Somebody who makes those kinds of statements doesn't have the judgment, the temperament, the understanding to occupy the most powerful position in the world."
(Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-plouffe-psychopath-idUSKCN1130Q4?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtopNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Top+News%29 | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/be5e1f4a0a0a8403fe17172f1c07df96c45521b7196b89bb1da0c7f0044085a4.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-30T16:52:45 | null | 2016-08-30T15:13:28 | Tropical Depression Nine, now located about 340 miles (550 kilometers) west of Key West, Florida, is expected to strengthen to a tropical storm on Tuesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-storm-atlantic-nhc-idUSKCN1151ZZ%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DenvironmentNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252Fenvironment%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BEnvironment%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | Tropical Depression Nine may intensify into storm, says NHC | null | null | www.reuters.com | Tropical Depression Nine, now located about 340 miles (550 kilometers) west of Key West, Florida, is expected to strengthen to a tropical storm on Tuesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
The center of the depression will continue to move slowly away from western Cuba, and move over the eastern Gulf of Mexico during the next 48 hours, the NHC said, adding that a tropical storm watch could be issued for a portion of the Florida Gulf Coast later on Tuesday.
(Reporting by Vijaykumar Vedala in Bengaluru; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-storm-atlantic-nhc-idUSKCN1151ZZ?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2Fenvironment+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Environment%29 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/60e6d7c800e2fc9097dc737bfef6c8ade791b16fb5ebf2c527df42e0eb737420.json |
[
"Jon Herskovitz"
] | 2016-08-29T20:53:41 | null | 2016-08-29T18:37:41 | Lucy, one of the best known ancestors of humans to ever roam the earth, may have died after a fall from a tree, University of Texas researchers said on Monday after studying her 3.18-million-year-old fossilized remains. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-usa-fossil-texas-idUSKCN11422S%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DlifestyleMolt.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160829&t=2&i=1151480289&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7S16Z | en | null | Fall from a tree may have caused death of 'Lucy' the famed fossil | null | null | www.reuters.com | Lucy, a 3.18 million year old fossil specimen of Australopithecus afarensis. Lucy, one of the best known ancestors of humans to ever roam the earth, may have died after a fall from a tree, University of Texas researchers said on August 29, 2016, after studying her 3.18-million-year-old fossilized remains. John Kappelman/The University of Texas at Austin/Handout via Reuters
UT Austin professor John Kappelman with 3D printouts of Lucy’s skeleton illustrating the compressive fractures in her right humerus that she suffered at the time of her death 3.18 million years ago. Marsha Miller/The University of Texas at Austin/Handout via Reuters
Lucy’s distal radius undergoes computed tomographic scanning. Lucy, one of the best known ancestors of humans to ever roam the earth, may have died after a fall from a tree, University of Texas researchers said on August 29, 2016, after studying her 3.18-million-year-old fossilized remains. Marsha Miller/The University of Texas at Austin/Handout via Reuters
AUSTIN, Texas Lucy, one of the best known ancestors of humans to ever roam the earth, may have died after a fall from a tree, University of Texas researchers said on Monday after studying her 3.18-million-year-old fossilized remains.
A high resolution X-ray CT (computed tomography) study of Lucy, a female hominid, indicates she suffered fractures to her right humerus not typically seen in fossils. There were also less severe fractures on the left shoulder and other compressive fractures throughout the skeleton, they said.
The injuries were consistent with those "caused by a fall from considerable height when the conscious victim stretched out an arm in an attempt to break the fall," according to the research from John Kappelman, a University of Texas anthropology and geological sciences professor, who consulted with Stephen Pearce, an orthopedic surgeon at Austin Bone and Joint Clinic.
"This compressive fracture results when the hand hits the ground during a fall, impacting the elements of the shoulder against one another to create a unique signature on the humerus,” Kappelman said in a statement.
Lucy's skeleton was unearthed in 1974 in Ethiopia and since then researchers around the world have been looking at the fossil of the hominid to find its links to modern humans.
Kappelman speculated Lucy, who was about 3 feet, 6 inches (107 cms) in height, foraged and sought nightly refuge in trees. Her injuries indicate she fell from a height of about of more than 40 feet (12 meters).
University of Texas researchers, including Kappelman, in 2009 completed the first high resolution CT scan of Lucy when the fossil toured the United States. The study resulted in some 35,000 CT electronic slices, which were then studied by university researchers.
"When the extent of Lucy's multiple injuries first came into focus, her image popped into my mind's eye, and I felt a jump of empathy across time and space,” Kappelman said.
"Lucy was no longer simply a box of bones but in death became a real individual: a small, broken body lying helpless at the bottom of a tree.”
(Reporting by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by David Gregorio) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-fossil-texas-idUSKCN11422S?feedType=RSS&feedName=lifestyleMolt | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/df09b2363f31b2b340f8e9bb8becd68600c4eb575b4bf9422ef3fabca59e5292.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-28T10:52:24 | null | 2016-08-28T09:43:13 | Singapore has confirmed 41 cases of locally-transmitted Zika virus, local media reported on Sunday, citing the city-state's health ministry. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-health-zika-idUSKCN11308Z%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DhealthNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FhealthNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BHealth%2BNews%2529.json | http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160828&t=2&i=1151335939&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7R03I | en | null | Singapore confirms 41 cases of locally-transmitted Zika virus: media | null | null | www.reuters.com | Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are seen inside Oxitec laboratory in Campinas, Brazil, February 2, 2016. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker/File Photo - RTSK9OS
SINGAPORE Singapore has confirmed 41 cases of locally-transmitted Zika virus, local media reported on Sunday, citing the city-state's health ministry.
The cases include 36 foreign construction workers employed at a site in Aljunied, in the southeast of the island, the Straits Times newspaper and Channel News Asia television reported.
On Saturday, the health ministry confirmed Singapore's first case of a local transmission of the virus, which in Brazil has been linked to microcephaly, a rare birth defect.
That case was also in the Aljunied area.
Authorities have tested 124 people, primarily construction workers. Seventy-eight have tested negative and five cases are pending, the reports said. In all, 34 patients have fully recovered.
(Reporting by Marius Zaharia; Editing by Ian Geoghegan) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-zika-idUSKCN11308Z?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FhealthNews+%28Reuters+Health+News%29 | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/430f54715c081294651c34ea9f9016e4951acacb235a6983b973092539405cb2.json |
[
"Andrés González",
"Alexander Hübner"
] | 2016-08-30T18:52:27 | null | 2016-08-30T17:44:13 | Siemens (SIEGn.DE) and Gamesa (GAM.MC) have rejected a non-binding offer from General Electric (GE.N) for assets belonging to a wind power venture between Gamesa and Areva (AREVA.PA), sources close to the talks told Reuters on Tuesday. Spain's Gamesa is merging with Siemen's wind power division to create the world's biggest builder of wind farms in a 10 billion euro ($11 billion) deal, but the Adwen venture between Gamesa and Areva has been a sticking point. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-gamesa-m-a-siemens-areva-idUSKCN1152EG.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160830&t=2&i=1151617112&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7T1EY | en | null | Gamesa, Siemens reject GE's offer for Adwen JV: sources | null | null | www.reuters.com | The company logo of Siemens is pictured after an annual news conference in Berlin November 7, 2013. REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz/File Photo
MADRID/FRANKFURT Siemens (SIEGn.DE) and Gamesa (GAM.MC) have rejected a non-binding offer from General Electric (GE.N) for assets belonging to a wind power venture between Gamesa and Areva (AREVA.PA), sources close to the talks told Reuters on Tuesday. Spain's Gamesa is merging with Siemen's wind power division to create the world's biggest builder of wind farms in a 10 billion euro ($11 billion) deal, but the Adwen venture between Gamesa and Areva has been a sticking point.
Germany's Siemens does not need the technology from Areva, which is majority owned by the French state, because it has developed its own offshore wind turbines.
Siemens and Gamesa said when they agreed their merger in June that Areva had three months to decide whether it wanted to buy out Gamesa's 50-percent stake in the venture, or sell it to them. This opened the door for an offer from General Electric (GE.N), which wants to become a major player in the offshore wind industry and has said it was in talks with the companies involved about buying Adwen if France consented. "General Electric has made an offer for (Adwen's) assets, which is impossible to accept," one source said.
Representatives for Siemens, Areva and General Electric declined to comment.
A spokeswoman for Gamesa said the sale process was on track and there was no final decision made about it.
If Areva does not find a buyer before the mid-September deadline, the most likely outcome would be for Gamesa to exercise its purchase option and take over Areva's 50-percent stake, the source said.
Gamesa values its current stake in Adwen at 60.6 million euros, and the option gives the same value to Areva's half. Another source said although the offer was not sufficient, General Electric could still improve it before the deadline. ($1 = 0.8974 euros)
(Additional reporting by Georgina Prodhan in London and Bate Felix in Paris; editing by David Clarke) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-gamesa-m-a-siemens-areva-idUSKCN1152EG | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/07de267b3102a593ecf4b28097c7d7f6dcf634763ca63b927fdb018f9b3c842b.json |
[
"Harry Pearl"
] | 2016-08-27T12:50:46 | null | 2016-08-27T10:50:48 | An Iranian refugee held at an Australian-funded detention center in Papua New Guinea has won a political cartooning award for his work depicting life inside the camp. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-australia-refugees-papua-idUSKCN1120BH%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DartsNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Bnews%252Fartsculture%2B%2528Reuters%2BArts%2B%2526%2BCulture%2B%2529.json | http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160827&t=2&i=1151263476&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7Q06M | en | null | Iranian refugee detained in Papua New Guinea wins cartooning award | null | null | www.reuters.com | A cartoon by Ali, an Iranian refugee held at Papua New Guinea's Manus Island detention centre whose pen name is Eaten Fish, is seen in this image supplied to Reuters on August 27, 2016. Eaten Fish/Handout via REUTERS
A cartoon by Ali, an Iranian refugee held at Papua New Guinea's Manus Island detention centre whose pen name is Eaten Fish, is seen in this image supplied to Reuters on August 27, 2016. Eaten Fish/Handout via REUTERS
A cartoon by Ali, an Iranian refugee held at Papua New Guinea's Manus Island detention centre whose pen name is Eaten Fish, is seen in this image supplied to Reuters on August 27, 2016. Eaten Fish/Handout via REUTERS
A cartoon by Ali, an Iranian refugee held at Papua New Guinea's Manus Island detention centre whose pen name is Eaten Fish, is seen in this image supplied to Reuters on August 27, 2016. Eaten Fish/Handout via REUTERS
A cartoon by Ali, an Iranian refugee held at Papua New Guinea's Manus Island detention centre whose pen name is Eaten Fish, is seen in this image supplied to Reuters on August 27, 2016. Eaten Fish/Handout via REUTERS
SYDNEY An Iranian refugee held at an Australian-funded detention center in Papua New Guinea has won a political cartooning award for his work depicting life inside the camp.
Ali, a 25-year-old whose pen name is Eaten Fish, has chronicled his three-year detention on Manus Island as he struggles with obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and debilitating panic attacks.
Under Australia's hardline immigration policy, anyone intercepted trying to reach the country by boat is sent for processing to camps on Manus or Nauru in the South Pacific. They are not eligible to be resettled in Australia.
Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI) said Ali was recognized for his courage in documenting life under Australia's offshore detention program - which drew thousands of protesters onto streets across the country on Saturday calling for its closure.
"Eaten Fish has been able to keep up a stream of cartoons documenting the unspeakable abuses and excesses of the guards and administrators of the camp," Joel Pett, president of CRNI's board of directors, said in a statement on Friday.
"For this he has been the subject of beatings, deprivation of food, and even worse degrading treatment by the guards."
Ali’s Australian-based advocate, Janet Galbraith, said the award meant a lot to the young cartoonist - whose work has been published in The Guardian newspaper - but it was also an indictment of Australia’s detention program.
Previous winners have included cartoonists jailed or disappeared for their work.
Galbraith said Ali, who fled Iran due to fears of government persecution, was sick and needed specialist medical assistance.
Australia's Department of Immigration and Border Protection denied the claims made by CRNI and defended the care provided at the facility.
"The department currently has no evidence that any of these allegations are true," a spokesman said in an email to Reuters.
Australia and Papua New Guinea said earlier this month the Manus center would be shut but they gave no date for the closure, leaving the fate of about 800 refugees unclear.
(Reporting by Harry Pearl; Editing by Stephen Coates) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-refugees-papua-idUSKCN1120BH?feedType=RSS&feedName=artsNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+news%2Fartsculture+%28Reuters+Arts+%26+Culture+%29 | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/c3f34d07950f1e2498764b1d05a42ac7f529ad2d342963e659ccc310a9b1fc6e.json |
[
"Julie Steenhuysen"
] | 2016-08-29T22:52:48 | null | 2016-08-29T21:16:47 | Adult female mosquitoes can pass the Zika virus along to their offspring, U.S. researchers said on Monday, a finding that makes clear the need for pesticide programs that kill both adult mosquitoes and their eggs. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-health-zika-mosquitoes-idUSKCN1142CD%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DhealthNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FhealthNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BHealth%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160829&t=2&i=1151495992&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7S1BR | en | null | Adult mosquitoes can pass Zika to their offspring: U.S. study | null | null | www.reuters.com | CHICAGO Adult female mosquitoes can pass the Zika virus along to their offspring, U.S. researchers said on Monday, a finding that makes clear the need for pesticide programs that kill both adult mosquitoes and their eggs.
The findings, published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, show that as with many related viruses, including dengue and yellow fever, Zika can be transmitted from female mosquitoes to their offspring.
Dr. Robert Tesh of the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, a study co-author, said the fact that the virus can be passed along to mosquito offspring makes Zika harder to control.
"Spraying affects adults, but it does not usually kill the immature forms - the eggs and larvae. Spraying will reduce transmission, but it may not eliminate the virus," he said.
Although Zika generally causes mild disease in adults, it is a major threat to pregnant women because it has been shown to cause the severe birth defect known as microcephaly and other brain abnormalities.
The ongoing Zika outbreak was first detected last year in Brazil, where it has been linked to more than 1,800 cases of microcephaly, and has since spread rapidly through the Americas.
Aedes aegypti, the mosquitoes that carry Zika, lay eggs in small containers of water. Homeowners have been advised to dump out containers of water on their properties. When the water is dumped, the eggs cling in a ring around the water line, where they remain dormant until the next rain, when they can hatch.
Scientists studying Zika wanted to find out whether some of the offspring from these tropical mosquitoes might carry the virus, helping to perpetuate an outbreak during dry seasons.
To find out, researchers injected female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes raised in a laboratory with Zika. They were then fed, and within a week, they laid eggs. The team collected and cared for the eggs until they hatched into adult mosquitoes, and counted the ones that carried the Zika virus.
They found the virus present in one out of every 290 mosquitoes tested.
"The ratio may sound low," Tesh said, "but when you consider the number of Aedes aegypti in a tropical urban community, it is likely high enough to allow some virus to persist, even when infected adult mosquitoes are killed."
Tesh said the next step is to show that mosquitoes are actually passing Zika to their offspring in the wild.
Experts fighting Zika in the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami have announced aerial spraying campaigns using pesticides that kill both adult mosquitoes and mosquito larvae.
For homeowners in affected areas, Tesh advised people to dump standing water from containers on their property and scrub them thoroughly to remove eggs and larvae. They should also remove any objects from their yards that could collect water.
(Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen; Editing by Bernard Orr) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-zika-mosquitoes-idUSKCN1142CD?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FhealthNews+%28Reuters+Health+News%29 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/735b8896da99038089121c46999ff325fc8c89e5d12f27a7491452926ddc1ca3.json |
[
"Umit Bektas"
] | 2016-08-27T14:50:54 | null | 2016-08-27T14:17:53 | A group allied to Kurdish-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said it was bombarded by Turkish warplanes on Saturday, after Turkey's military launched an incursion this week into northern Syria against both Islamic State and Kurdish forces. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-mideast-crisis-syria-village-idUSKCN112094.json | http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160827&t=2&i=1151276576&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7Q0DD | en | null | Kurdish-aligned group in north Syria says targeted by Turkish warplanes | null | null | www.reuters.com | Kurdish fighters from the People's Protection Units (YPG) carry their weapons as they take positions in the northeastern city of Hasaka, Syria, August 20, 2016. Picture taken August 20, 2016. REUTERS/Rodi Said
A Turkish soldier on an armoured personnel carrier waves as they drive from the border back to their base in Karkamis on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern Gaziantep province, Turkey, August 27, 2016. REUTERS/Umit Bektas
A Turkish army convoy drive from the border back to their base in Karkamis on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern Gaziantep province, Turkey, August 27, 2016. REUTERS/Umit Bektas
A Turkish soldier on an armoured personnel carrier waves as they drive from the border back to their base in Karkamis on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern Gaziantep province, Turkey, August 27, 2016. REUTERS/Umit Bektas
Smoke rises from the Syrian border town of Jarablus as it is pictured from the Turkish town of Karkamis, in the southeastern Gaziantep province, Turkey, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Stringer
Civil defence members and men carry an injured man in a damaged site after double airstrikes on the rebel held Bab al-Nairab neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, August 27, 2016. REUTERS/Abdalrhman Ismail
An injured man reacts in a damaged site after double airstrikes on the rebel held Bab al-Nairab neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, August 27, 2016. REUTERS/Abdalrhman Ismail
A man carries an injured girl in a damaged site after double airstrikes on the rebel held Bab al-Nairab neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, August 27, 2016. REUTERS/Abdalrhman Ismail
KARKAMIS, Turkey A group allied to Kurdish-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said it was bombarded by Turkish warplanes on Saturday, after Turkey's military launched an incursion this week into northern Syria against both Islamic State and Kurdish forces.
Turkish military sources said planes had hit an ammunition store south of Jarablus, but they did not give details.
If the jets struck targets linked to the Kurdish-aligned group, it would signal Turkey's action against Kurdish-backed forces in Syria was being ratcheted up a notch.
The Jarablus Military Council, a group that is part of the Kurdish-backed SDF, said the jets hit a village south of the strategic town of Jarablus, causing civilian casualties. It called the action "a dangerous escalation".
A Reuters witness in Karkamis, a Turkish town on the other side of the border from Syria's Jarablus, saw warplanes flying from Turkish air space early on Saturday into Syria and then heard several blasts. The identity of the planes was not clear.
Syrian rebels backed by Turkish special forces, tanks and warplanes entered Jarablus this week, seizing the frontier town that had been an Islamic State stronghold. The rebel force backed by Turkey were largely Arab and Turkmen.
The Turkish campaign pre-empted action by Kurdish-backed forces which had sought to get to Jarablus first.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and other senior officials have made clear that the incursion is as much about pushing away Islamic State as it is about preventing Kurdish forces filling the void left as the Islamists withdraw.
Turkey wants to stop Kurdish forces gaining control of a continuous stretch of territory along its southern border, which Ankara fears could be used to support the Kurdish militant group PKK that is fighting an insurgency on Turkish soil.
Turkish-backed Syrian rebels have extended their control beyond Jarablus, seizing five nearby villages from Islamic State, Turkish security sources said. The Turkish Red Crescent has distributed food in Jarablus since Friday, the sources said.
RIVALRIES AND ALLIANCES
The Jarablus Military Council said the village of al-Amarna, which lies a few km south of Jarablus, was hit by the warplanes. In response to the Turkish strike, it said: "If they do not attack our forces, then we will keep the border strip secure."
The newly formed Jarablus Military Council has said it was made up of people from the area with the aim of capturing the town and the surrounding region from Islamic State militants. However, the Turkish-backed rebels seized Jarablus first.
The Jarablus Military Council has aligned itself with the SDF, which encompasses several militias including Arabs and the Kurdish YPG group.
The SDF alliance is backed by the United States, putting Ankara at odds with NATO ally Washington in the engagement in Syria, where a multi-faceted conflict has raged for five years. A complex web of rivalries and alliances has emerged from what began with an uprising against Syrian President Bashar al Assad, drawing in world powers and regional states.
On Thursday, a day after Turkey began its cross-border offensive, Turkish troops fired on U.S.-backed YPG forces, which is part of the SDF. Turkey's state news agency described that salvo as warning shots. The use of Turkish warplanes against an SDF-aligned group would point to tougher action.
A Reuters witness in Karkamis heard blasts and smoke rising from the nearby Syrian village of Kivircik.
Several militias under the SDF banner pledged support to Jarablus Military Council after it reported the Turkish bombing.
The Northern Sun Battalion, an SDF faction, said in a statement it was heading to "Jarablus fronts" to help the council against "threats made by factions belonging to Turkey".
Tension has mounted in Syria's Aleppo region in the past year between the U.S-backed Kurdish YPG force and its allies on one hand and Turkish-backed rebel groups on the other. The two sides have clashed on several occasions.
(Additional reporting by Ece Toksabay and Orhan Coskun in Ankara and Tom Perry in Beirut; Writing by Edmund Blair; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Ros Russell) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-village-idUSKCN112094 | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/d22a22d6720504695254d3b1b4dd7a7dcaab5bceb1e140fcd5c5495d8d365c79.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-26T13:18:15 | null | 2016-08-23T12:56:46 | Like many other young artists her age, 16-year-old Robaba Mohammadi dreams of holding international art exhibitions.The only difference -- she draws | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-afghanistan-disabled-artist-idUSKCN10Y0VZ%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DartsNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Bnews%252Fartsculture%2B%2528Reuters%2BArts%2B%2526%2BCulture%2B%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | Disabled Afghan girl painter dreams of international fame | null | null | www.reuters.com | Like many other young artists her age, 16-year-old Robaba Mohammadi dreams of holding international art exhibitions.
The only difference -- she draws not with her fingers but with her mouth.
She was born with partial paralysis of her limbs and is unable to control her hands and feet, except for a few toes.
Mohammadi came from a poor family in Ghazni province who moved to Kabul when she was three after they realized her disability. They hoped to get medical help for her condition, to no avail.
"Before I starting drawing I was hopeless and when my sisters and brothers were going to school I always said to myself 'See, they are younger than me but they have gained lots of knowledge, such as writing and studying but me, I am not even able to write my own name'. I was so depressed I was even crying two or three times a day," Mohammadi said.
Less than two years ago, she started drawing and now she dreams of holding her art exhibition at Aga Khan museum in Canada. She even drew life-like sketches of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Afghan-born Canadian politician, Maryam Monsef.
"My dream is to hold my art exhibition in Aga Khan Museum which is one of the biggest museums in Canada, and I'm requesting my people to help me in order to reach my dream which is having my art exhibition in Canada," Mohammadi said.
Decades of conflict, poverty and neglect prevents many disabled Afghans from reaching their goals. They are often unemployed and face discrimination in a society where disability is perceived as a weakness.
"When you want to make any kind of art but you don't have hands or feet, you have nothing at all, especially when you want to do something but you can't. Sometimes when I need something and I ask my sisters for help, they say 'we don't have time we are busy with writing or something else' then it really hurts me. I have asked my sisters so many times to leave me alone inside the room," Mohammadi, who has three sisters and two brothers, said.
She said she also dreams of one day going to school to acquire knowledge.
"Robaba doesn't have hands for drawing but God has granted her the ability to draw with her mouth. She is doing a very impossible task and before, we didn't think she could do it. Now we are hopeful she can improve a lot in her career," said 13-year-old Shakila Mohammadi, Robaba's sister.
Robaba Mohammadi said she hopes her art will provide a different picture of Afghanistan which has struggled with decades of conflict and war. | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-disabled-artist-idUSKCN10Y0VZ?feedType=RSS&feedName=artsNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+news%2Fartsculture+%28Reuters+Arts+%26+Culture+%29 | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/bcf9bb0cdd4e9e526961885b44473f3094b69a9464d3c538bc30e27ebaad3eb1.json |
[
"Daniel Ramos"
] | 2016-08-26T15:04:16 | null | 2016-08-26T14:21:02 | Bolivian miners lifted the roadblock where violent protests had taken place this week, a day after a government deputy minister was beaten to death, with President Evo Morales calling Friday a day of "deep pain" for the country. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-bolivia-minister-idUSKCN11100X%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DworldNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2BReuters%252FworldNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BWorld%2BNews%2529.json | http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160826&t=2&i=1151178812&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7P0YL | en | null | Bolivian miners lift roadblock after official beaten to death | null | null | www.reuters.com | Bolivia's President Evo Morales speaks during a news conference at the presidential palace in La Paz, Bolivia, August 26, 2016. Courtesy of Bolivian Presidency/Handout via REUTERS
Riot policemen gather at a blocked main highway during a protest against Bolivia's President Evo Morales' government policies, in Panduro south of La Paz, Bolivia, August 25, 2016. REUTERS/David Mercado
Bolivia's Minister of Government Carlos Romero makes an announcement regarding the death of Bolivian Deputy Interior Minister Rodolfo Illanes after Illanes was kidnapped by striking mineworkers, in La Paz, Bolivia, August 25, 2016. REUTERS/David Mercado
Independent miners block a main highway during a protest against Bolivia's President Evo Morales' government policies, in Panduro south of La Paz, Bolivia, August 25, 2016. REUTERS/David Mercado
Relatives of Bolivian Deputy Interior Minister Rodolfo Illanes are seen in La Paz, Bolivia, August 26, 2016. REUTERS/David Mercado
Bolivian Deputy Interior Minister Rodolfo Illanes is seen in this undated picture. REUTERS/APG Agency
An independent miner returns a tear gas capsule during clashes with riot police during a protest against Bolivia's President Evo Morales' government policies, in Panduro south of La Paz, Bolivia, August 25, 2016. REUTERS/APG Agency
Independent miners are seen among tear gas cloud during clashes with riot police during a protest against Bolivia's President Evo Morales' government policies, in Panduro south of La Paz, Bolivia, August 25, 2016. REUTERS/APG Agency
An independent miner returns a tear gas capsule during clashes with riot police during a protest against Bolivia's President Evo Morales' government policies, in Panduro south of La Paz, Bolivia, August 25, 2016. REUTERS/APG Agency
LA PAZ Bolivian miners lifted the roadblock where violent protests had taken place this week, a day after a government deputy minister was beaten to death, with President Evo Morales calling Friday a day of "deep pain" for the country.
Deputy Interior Minister Rodolfo Illanes, 56, was killed on Thursday after being taken hostage by workers who had blocked a major highway in Panduro, around 160 km (100 miles) from capital city La Paz. Officials said he died of blows to the head.
The workers were demanding more mining concessions with less stringent environmental rules.
"Our natural resources belong to the people, which is why I call brother Illanes a hero in the defense of our natural resources," Morales told local media, calling for a three-day period of mourning.
Illanes had traveled to Panduro to negotiate with the miners. His body was found in the early morning by the side of the highway that connects La Paz with the city of Oruro, wrapped in a blanket, said Edwin Blanco, the prosecutor in charge of the investigation.
"The cause of death was basically bleeding in the brain. Ribs were also broken," Blanco told reporters.
Morales said the protests and Illanes' death looked to be part of a "political conspiracy rather than a legitimate social claim" made by the miners.
Morales, an ex-coca grower, nationalized Bolivia's resources sector after taking power in 2006, initially winning plaudits for plowing the profits into welfare programs.
But his government has been dogged by accusations of cronyism and authoritarianism in recent years. Some labor unions have soured on him as falling commodity prices have crimped spending.
The Panduro protest turned violent this week after a highway was blockaded. Two workers were killed on Wednesday after police fired shots. The government said 17 police officers had been wounded.
Bolivia's Panduro area has zinc, gold and silver mines. Most of the country's miners, including those involved in the protests, work in cooperatives. Unlike neighboring Peru and Chile, there are few foreign-owned mining companies.
(Reporting by Daniel Ramos; Editing by Phil Berlowitz) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-bolivia-minister-idUSKCN11100X?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuters+World+News%29 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/2fa06525951ce6c3e44b4fcb755bcc638e6fc18b72f8bf23dc3f0bdc40e8479e.json |
[
"Jim Finkle",
"Dustin Volz"
] | 2016-08-29T16:59:37 | null | 2016-08-29T14:59:32 | The FBI is urging U.S. election officials to increase computer security after it uncovered evidence that hackers have targeted two state election databases in recent weeks, according to a confidential advisory. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-usa-election-cybersecurity-idUSKCN1141L4%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DpoliticsNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2BReuters%252FPoliticsNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BPolitics%2BNews%2529.json | http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160829&t=2&i=1151455681&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7S0UO | en | null | FBI detects breaches against two state voter systems | null | null | www.reuters.com | A padlock is displayed at the Alert Logic booth during the 2016 Black Hat cyber-security conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. August 3, 2016. REUTERS/David Becker
WASHINGTON The FBI is urging U.S. election officials to increase computer security after it uncovered evidence that hackers have targeted two state election databases in recent weeks, according to a confidential advisory.
The warning was in an Aug. 18 flash alert from the FBI's Cyber Division. Reuters obtained a copy of the document.
Yahoo News first reported the story Monday, citing unnamed law enforcement officials who said they believed foreign hackers caused the intrusions.
U.S. intelligence officials have become increasingly worried that hackers sponsored by Russia or other countries may attempt to disrupt the November presidential election.
Officials and cyber security experts say recent breaches at the Democratic National Committee and elsewhere in the Democratic Party were likely carried out by people within the Russian government. Kremlin officials have denied the allegations of Moscow's involvement.
Concerns about election computer security prompted Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson to convene a conference call with state election officials earlier this month, when he offered the department's help in making their voting systems more secure.
The FBI warning did not identify the two states targeted by cyber intruders, but Yahoo News said sources familiar with the document said it referred to Arizona and Illinois, whose voter registration systems were penetrated.
Citing a state election board official, Yahoo News said the Illinois voter registration system was shut down for 10 days in late July after hackers downloaded personal data on up to 200,000 voters.
The Arizona attack was more limited and involved introducing malicious software into the voter registration system, Yahoo News quoted a state official as saying. No data was removed in that attack, the official said.
(Writing by David Alexander; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-cybersecurity-idUSKCN1141L4?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FPoliticsNews+%28Reuters+Politics+News%29 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/0c9a14c1700a2035dca7cf5ca4ba4c03dfbf6a9db30c324b2b03680f7f1a83fe.json |
[
"Narottam Medhora"
] | 2016-08-26T14:50:24 | null | 2016-08-26T13:55:25 | Apollo Global Management LLC (APO.N) said on Friday it would buy cloud services provider Rackspace Hosting Inc (RAX.N) in a deal valued at $4.3 billion, as the private-equity firm increases its investments in the technology sector. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-rackspace-m-a-apollo-idUSKCN1111JK%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DbusinessNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FbusinessNews%2B%2528Business%2BNews%2529.json | http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160826&t=2&i=1151172938&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7P0W3 | en | null | Apollo Global to buy Rackspace Hosting in $4.3 billion deal | null | null | www.reuters.com | Active Ownership says has no aim to break up Stada
FRANKFURT Stada shareholder Active Ownership Capital (AOC) has no intention of trying to break up the German generic drugmaker in which it holds 7 percent and sees itself as a long-term investor, it said on Friday. | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-rackspace-m-a-apollo-idUSKCN1111JK?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FbusinessNews+%28Business+News%29 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/0c9280a73eb1626e99c4defa37465ac1b9df7070a6911a50dc8492650723cc24.json |
[
"Steve Holland"
] | 2016-08-31T05:03:15 | null | 2016-08-31T03:58:50 | U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said he plans to meet Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto on Wednesday, hours before outlining his proposals for cracking down on illegal immigration. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-usa-election-trump-mexico-idUSKCN116049%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DtopNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FtopNews%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BTop%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160831&t=2&i=1151670346&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7U05Y | en | null | Trump to meet Mexican president ahead of immigration speech | null | null | www.reuters.com | Republican nominee Donald Trump arrives to speak at 'Joni's Roast and Ride' in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., August 27, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
WASHINGTON U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said he plans to meet Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto on Wednesday, hours before outlining his proposals for cracking down on illegal immigration.
The hastily arranged trip will be Trump's second significant appearance on the world stage during his presidential campaign. A June visit to his golf courses in Scotland was dominated by his reaction to Britain's vote to leave the European Union.
The Mexico trip looked to be the type of dramatic, Trump-style event to ensure he dominates the headlines as he tries to further close a gap in national opinion polls that now favors his opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton.
"I have accepted the invitation of President Enrique Pena Nieto, of Mexico, and look very much forward to meeting him tomorrow," Trump said on Twitter on Tuesday.
The Mexican government also confirmed the meeting in a tweet on Tuesday, saying Trump had accepted an invitation to meet Pena Nieto in private.
Pena Nieto later tweeted about the meeting, then added:
"I believe in dialogue to promote Mexico's interests in the world, and chiefly, to protect Mexicans wherever they are."
Trump has said, if elected on Nov. 8, he would carry out a pledge to build a wall along the U.S. southern border with Mexico to prevent illegal crossings into the United States.
He has steadfastly demanded that Mexico pay for the wall, a position that Trump supporters cheer but which Mexican officials have scoffed at.
Talks between the Trump campaign and the Mexican government on the trip began after Trump decided last weekend to take Pena Nieto up on an offer to meet, a source familiar with the situation said.
Trump is expected to meet the Mexican leader in Mexico in between fundraising events he has scheduled in California and his immigration speech in Phoenix, Arizona, on Wednesday night.
Pena Nieto has publicly voiced skepticism about Trump.
At a June 29 news conference with U.S. President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa, Pena Nieto warned of the dangers of populism in a globalized world and defended comments earlier this year in which he likened Trump to Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.
"Hitler, Mussolini, we all know the result," he said when asked to explain the comparison. "It was only a call for reflection and for recognition, so that we bear in mind what we have achieved and the great deal still to achieve."
In his speech in Arizona, Trump will detail where he stands on illegal immigration after worrying some conservative allies when he said last week he was "softening" his stance on mass deportations.
Trump aides said he would reaffirm his determination to build the border wall to curtail new illegal crossings and quickly deport illegal immigrants who have committed crimes in the United States.
However, the central question facing Trump was how he would treat the majority of the 11 million illegal immigrants who have set down roots in their communities and obeyed U.S. laws, an issue that has bedeviled the immigration debate for years.
(Additional reporting by Dave Graham in Mexico City; Writing by Eric Beech; Editing by Paul Tait and Clarence Fernandez) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-trump-mexico-idUSKCN116049?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtopNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Top+News%29 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/d22e03faca763d92cf5138a17567e45c8cc7b954dedf8369556c068ad5d4216d.json |
[
"Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss"
] | 2016-08-29T12:50:39 | null | 2016-08-29T11:34:53 | Dreyfuss | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-bitcoin-cyber-analysis-idUSKCN11411T%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DbusinessNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FbusinessNews%2B%2528Business%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160829&t=2&i=1151435428&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7S0HV | en | null | Cyber threat grows for bitcoin exchanges | null | null | www.reuters.com | A Bitcoin (virtual currency) paper wallet with QR codes and a coin are seen in an illustration picture taken at La Maison du Bitcoin in Paris, France, May 27, 2015. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
NEW YORK When hackers penetrated a secure authentication system at a bitcoin exchange called Bitfinex earlier this month, they stole about $70 million worth of the virtual currency.
The cyber theft -- the second largest by an exchange since hackers took roughly $350 million in bitcoins at Tokyo's MtGox exchange in early 2014 -- is hardly a rare occurrence in the emerging world of crypto-currencies.
New data disclosed to Reuters shows a third of bitcoin trading platforms have been hacked, and nearly half have closed in the half dozen years since they burst on the scene.
This rising risk for bitcoin holders is compounded by the fact there is no depositor's insurance to absorb the loss, even though many exchanges act like virtual banks.
Not only does that approach cast the cyber security risk in stark relief, but it also exposes the fact that bitcoin investors have little choice but to do business with under-capitalized exchanges that may not have the capital buffer to absorb these losses the way a traditional and regulated bank or exchange would.
"There is a general sense in the bitcoin community that any centralized repository is at risk," said a U.S.-based professional trader who lost about $1,000 in bitcoins when Bitfinex was hacked. He declined to be named for this article.
"So when investing, you always have that expectation at the back of your head. I lost a small amount compared to the others, but I know of traders who lost millions of dollars worth of bitcoins," the trader said.
The security challenge for the bitcoin world does not appear to be letting up, according to experts in the currency.
"I am skeptical there's going to be any technological silver bullet that's going to solve security breach problems. No technology, crypto-currency, or financial mechanism can be made safe from hacks," said Tyler Moore, assistant professor of cyber security at the University of Tulsa's Tandy School of Computer Science who will soon publish the new research on the vulnerability of bitcoin exchanges.
His study, funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and shared with Reuters, shows that since bitcoin's creation in 2009 to March 2015, 33 percent of all bitcoin exchanges operational during that period were hacked. The figure represents one of the first estimates of the extent of security breaches in the bitcoin world.
In contrast, data from the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a non-profit organization, showed that of the 6,000 operational U.S. banks, only 67 banks experienced a publicly-disclosed data breach between 2009 and 2015. That's roughly 1 percent of U.S. banks.
Among the world's stock exchanges, however, security breaches are much higher, with hackers attracted to the large pools of cash moving in and out of these trading venues. The latest survey of 46 securities exchanges released three years ago by the International Organization of Securities Commissions and World Federation of Exchanges found that more than half had experienced a cyber attack.
Moore collaborated on the research with Nicolas Christin, associate research professor at Carnegie Mellon University and Janos Szurdi, a Ph.D. student also at Carnegie.
In 2013, Moore and Christin wrote a research paper on security risks surrounding bitcoin exchanges when Moore was still a professor at Southern Methodist University. That research entitled “Beware of the Middleman: Empirical Analysis of Bitcoin Exchange Risk” was peer-reviewed and presented at the 17th International Financial Cryptography and Data Security Conference in Okinawa, Japan in 2013.
In the most recent study, the rate of closure for bitcoin exchanges in Moore's research edged up to 48 percent among those operating from 2009 to March 2015. Hacking did not necessarily trigger the closure in each case.
"A 48 percent closure is not acceptable, but not surprising given that bitcoin is a new technology," said Richard Johnson, vice president of market structure and technology at Greenwich Associates. Johnson has written reports on risk and security issues in the crypto-currency world.
Profitability is a big problem for bitcoin exchanges, with many of them unable to generate enough volume to keep afloat.
Bitcoin exchanges overall could be launched for as low as $100,000 up to $1 million, said Erik Voorhees, founder and chief executive officer of digital currency exchange ShapeShift. That is a fraction of what U.S. forex exchanges' are required to put up.
Retail FX trading platform FXCM, for instance, is required by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have at least $25 million in capital at all times.
RECOVERING LOSSES
A key factor tied to the risk posed by exchanges is whether customers are reimbursed after closure or after the loss of bitcoins following a hack. Each closure and breach have been handled differently, but Tandy's Moore said the risk of losing funds stored in exchanges are real.
In the case of Bitfinex, which is now up and running after the hack August 2, customers lost 36 percent of the assets they had on the platform and were compensated for the losses with tokens of credit that would be converted into equity in the parent company.
At Tokyo's MtGox, customers have yet to recover their investments more than two years after closure.
Experts say trading venues acting like banks such as Bitfinex will remain vulnerable. These exchanges act as custodial wallets in which they control users' digital currencies like banks control customer deposits.
"The big exchanges that hold customer deposits are a big target for hackers," said ShapeShift's Voorhees, "and unfortunately most bitcoin exchanges store user funds."
When customers' checking accounts are hacked, there is always a third party at the bank that can step in to deal with the theft.
Not so with bitcoin, said Seattle-based Darin Stanchfield, chief executive officer at KeepKey, a hardware wallet provider. He expects more of these attacks to happen despite efforts to improve security at bitcoin exchanges.
"Unfortunately because of its irreversible nature, bitcoin requires near perfect security."
(Reporting by Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss; Editing by Edward Tobin) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-bitcoin-cyber-analysis-idUSKCN11411T?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FbusinessNews+%28Business+News%29 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/5b6c900328a49fc37f23f9c14de54171e2f57cd31f9a011a36231ac5f8503fcf.json |
[
"Alisa Tang"
] | 2016-08-30T12:52:56 | null | 2016-08-30T12:11:07 | By Alisa TangBANGKOK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Child malnutrition cost the Philippines $7 billion or nearly 3 percent of its GDP in one year in | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-philippines-economy-malnutrition-idUSKCN1151FE%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DhealthNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FhealthNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BHealth%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | A growing problem, child malnutrition costs Philippines $7billion in a year | null | null | www.reuters.com | BANGKOK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Child malnutrition cost the Philippines $7 billion or nearly 3 percent of its GDP in one year in terms of education spending and lost productivity, while hunger-related stunting is on the rise among children, a global aid agency said on Tuesday.
A report by Save the Children found that the combined losses, calculated with data from 2013, are more than triple the cost of damage inflicted by 15 natural disasters that hit the Southeast Asian country last year.
"Stunting costs are a drag on the economy and impacts all of us, not just the child and the family. It keeps the Filipino economy poorer by 3 percent. If you add that up over time - it's an anchor to progress," said Ned Olney, head of Save the Children in the Philippines, by Skype from Manila.
Stunting is defined as low height-for-age and is measured by comparing the height of a child against the international benchmark for a child of the same age.
Caused by a poor diet in a child's first 1,000 days of life, stunting has severe, irreversible consequences on physical health and cognitive functioning.
The report, citing government data, said that after 25 years of steady improvement, the prevalence of stunting among Filipino children under five increased to 33 percent in 2015 from 30 percent in 2013.
"That's a 10 percent increase in a two-year period, so that is devastating. We're going in the wrong direction," Olney said.
"Even though you have an economy that's humming along at 6 to 7 percent a year, you have an increase in poverty from 24 to 25 percent of all families, and you haven't addressed the issue of access to food."
The report said of the estimated 49,000 students who had to repeat a grade level in school, 15 percent repeated as a result of under-five stunting. It estimated that $27 million was required to cover the costs of grade repetitions for these stunted children.
It calculated lost productivity at $7 billion based on reduced productivity among stunted workers and complete loss of productivity due to premature under-five child deaths linked to hunger.
Meanwhile, urban poverty and hunger are worsening, Olney said. In the past, Save the Children had focused feeding programmers on rural areas but this year started providing emergency food therapy for "starving, skeletal children" in urban areas.
Yet the hardest hit area remains the conflict-plagued island of Mindanao, where 40 percent of children are stunted - an average seen in sub-Saharan Africa, he said.
Save the Children called for more investment in nutrition programs for pregnant and lactating mothers and babies in their first 1,000 days.
Olney also urged the government to address issues such as water and sanitation, agriculture, education and investment in overall productivity.
"Malnutrition is seen as disease burden to be handled by the department of health. We know that doesn't work," he said.
"That's treating the sick child, rather than understanding why the child is malnourished. Countries that address poverty and access to food have made progress in reducing malnutrition."
(Reporting by Alisa Tang @alisatang, editing by Katie Nguyen. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women’s rights, corruption and climate change. Visit news.trust.org to see more stories) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-economy-malnutrition-idUSKCN1151FE?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FhealthNews+%28Reuters+Health+News%29 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/b43b82b5cb57f2d217f364702a925228458fee11886fdb2754d661fdb5b69961.json |
[
"Abhishek Takle"
] | 2016-08-28T20:59:49 | null | 2016-08-28T20:28:50 | FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (Reuters) - A weekend that began at the top of the timesheets for Max Verstappen ended with the Dutchman out of the points and in a war of words with Ferrari rivals after a nightmare Belgian Formula One Grand Prix. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-motor-f1-belgium-verstappen-idUSKCN1130UU%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DsportsNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FsportsNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BSports%2BNews%2529.json | http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160828&t=2&i=1151372560&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7R0K7 | en | null | Ferrari drivers criticize Verstappen aggression | null | null | www.reuters.com | Belgium Formula One - F1 - Belgian Grand Prix 2016 - Francorchamps, Belgium - 28/8/16 - Red Bull's Max Verstappen of the Netherlands during the Belgian F1 Grand Prix. REUTERS/Olivier Matthys/Pool
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium A weekend that began at the top of the timesheets for Max Verstappen ended with the Dutchman out of the points and in a war of words with Ferrari rivals after a nightmare Belgian Formula One Grand Prix.
The 18-year-old began Sunday's race alongside pole-sitter Nico Rosberg in the first front-row start of his fledgling career.
But any hopes he had of converting his qualifying display into a strong showing in front of legions of his orange-clad supporters, in a race that is the closest he has to a home event, quickly vanished.
Verstappen was leapfrogged by Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel off the line but attempted to make the places up on a tight first corner only for the three cars to collide.
"I think it was a very bold move trying to recover those two places in one corner diving down the inside," said German Vettel who was on the outside and collided with Raikkonen before the Finn and Verstappen's Red Bull made contact.
All three were forced to pit with damage to their cars, Raikkonen nearly losing a lap as mechanics rushed to extinguish flames emerging from beneath his Ferrari.
Raikkonen and Verstappen clashed twice more later in the race, including another collision, and the Finn was more upset about the Red Bull driver changing direction at high-speed as he chased him down the flat-out Kemmel straight.
"If I would not have braked we would have had a massive accident," said Raikkonen who criticized Verstappen over the radio during the race. "I'm sure it will happen sooner or later if this doesn't change."
Verstappen has impressed with his racecraft and overtaking skills but his driving has at times been called a bit too aggressive, especially in last month's Hungarian Grand Prix where he also clashed with Raikkonen.
The son of former racer Jos, though, said his racecraft had been fair.
"I'm just defending my position and if somebody doesn't like it, it's his own problem," added Verstappen who was fastest on the opening day of practice.
(Editing by Tony Jimenez) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-motor-f1-belgium-verstappen-idUSKCN1130UU?feedType=RSS&feedName=sportsNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FsportsNews+%28Reuters+Sports+News%29 | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/d915510b10b36d819da2b0cfabd5c49f0470279154e4f49c284b8f0bae27a174.json |
[
"David Morgan"
] | 2016-08-29T10:59:31 | null | 2016-08-29T10:12:35 | Outside political money is pouring into a race in Nevada to replace U.S. Democratic Senator Harry Reid, who is retiring and who told Reuters that the main reason his favored successor isn't winning easily is cash from beyond the state's borders. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-usa-election-nevada-senate-idUSKCN1140WF%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DpoliticsNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2BReuters%252FPoliticsNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BPolitics%2BNews%2529.json | http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160829&t=2&i=1151427644&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7S0F7 | en | null | U.S. Senate's Reid, in last round, jabs outside money in Nevada succession fight | null | null | www.reuters.com | Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (C) and his wife Landra (L) listen to Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton during a rally at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 357, union hall in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Thursday, August 4, 2016. Democratic senate candidate Catherine Cortez Masto (R) is running for Reid's seat. Reid is not seeking reelection. REUTERS/Steve Marcus
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) speaks on the third day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. July 27, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar
LAS VEGAS Outside political money is pouring into a race in Nevada to replace U.S. Democratic Senator Harry Reid, who is retiring and who told Reuters that the main reason his favored successor isn't winning easily is cash from beyond the state's borders.
In a race that underscores the rise of outside money in U.S. campaign finance, as well as a key demographic challenge facing the Republican Party, Catherine Cortez Masto and Joe Heck are in a dead heat to replace the Senate's No. 1 Democrat.
Democrat Cortez Masto, 52, was a two-term Nevada attorney general. If she wins, she will be the first Latina elected to the U.S Senate. Republican Heck, 54, is a three-term House of Representatives member, physician and U.S. Army Reserve general.
Polls show a tight race, with the two tied at 37 percent of likely voters in a mid-August Suffolk University survey.
The seat they are contesting is the only one in the Senate this year that Republicans have a truly good chance of flipping to their control from the Democrats. Doing so would shield Republicans' Senate majority, which is under threat elsewhere.
Saying in an interview that Heck's campaign is fueled by outside money, Reid, a former boxer, lashed out at the Koch brothers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Karl Rove.
"The Chamber of Commerce is nothing more than a front anymore for the Koch brothers. Karl Rove, he doesn't raise that money. He just goes to the Koch brothers. They're all fronts for the Koch brothers," said Reid, 76.
"Catherine's going to win. And if the Koch brothers weren't involved, she'd win by 15 points," Reid said.
Charles and David Koch are wealthy industrialists who spend millions of dollars supporting libertarian-leaning candidates, mostly Republicans, through a network of groups, some operating under a law that lets them keep their donors' identities secret.
Reid, who now walks with a cane and often appears in dark sunglasses, has long warred with the Kochs.
"We've certainly seen our fair share of criticism from Senator Reid. But we want to talk about the issues and he moves toward the politics of personal attacks," said James Davis, spokesman for the Koch-aligned Freedom Partners Action Fund.
OUTSIDERS IN NEVADA
The Supreme Court, in its 2010 Citizens United decision, opened the door to a tidal wave of political spending by corporations and labor unions on political causes and candidates, reshaping U.S. campaign finance.
More than 20 political groups, including two Koch-aligned organizations and the Reid-aligned Senate Majority PAC, have poured well over $20 million into the Nevada Senate race so far, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks campaign spending.
Overall, the spending favors Heck over Cortez Masto by nearly 2-to-1.
Freedom Partners and another Koch-aligned group, Concerned Veterans for America, have spent nearly $6 million, mostly on ads portraying Cortez Masto as captive to special interests.
Rove, formerly an adviser to Republican President George W. Bush, is now a Republican activist. He co-founded Republican Super PAC American Crossroads. Spokesman Ian Prior called Reid's accusations about Rove and the Kochs "funny."
Prior said, "Look, if Harry Reid is looking for a bogeyman to star in his dark fantasy movie, he should just cast himself.”
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the largest lobbying group for corporations in Washington and closely aligned with the Republican Party. On Reid's allegations that it is a front for the Kochs, Chamber spokesman Blair Latoff Holmes said, "This is not true, but it's certainly not the first time Senator Reid has made unsubstantiated allegations."
DEMOGRAPHIC CHALLENGE
Nevada's biggest city is Las Vegas and nearly three-quarters of the state's population lives in or near the casino capital.
Nevada reflects the United States' growing racial diversity. In 1970, Nevadans were 87 percent white and 6 percent Latino; by 2010, that ratio was 54 percent white and 26 percent Latino.
Heck, who is white, has managed to get elected to Congress from an ethnically diverse congressional district split evenly between Republicans and Democrats. But Democrats have a 72,000-vote registration advantage over Republicans in Nevada and Latinos helped elect President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has angered many Latinos with his vow to build a wall on the Mexican border and to deport undocumented aliens. Heck has endorsed Trump.
While Trump's popularity has crumbled in some other states, he has stayed within 2 percentage points of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in Nevada.
Cortez Masto has been keen to link Heck to Trump. She said in an interview that Heck has followed Trump's example of "mud-slinging, dirty campaigning."
Heck spokesman Brian Baluta said Cortez Masto has distorted Heck’s record. "She talks about Joe more than she talks about herself and it’s always in the most vile and negative way,” Baluta said.
(Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and James Dalgleish) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-nevada-senate-idUSKCN1140WF?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FPoliticsNews+%28Reuters+Politics+News%29 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/1ad078d2d9915c092e55e702207dbc2ccf47a1001082a2c6e387550fe5a7d86b.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-29T16:52:04 | null | 2016-08-29T16:40:21 | Northern Vertex Mining Corp : | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2FidUSASC094OY%3Ftype%3DcompanyNews%26feedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DcompanyNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FcompanyNews%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BCompany%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | BRIEF-Northern Vertex appoints Christopher Park as new CFO | null | null | www.reuters.com | UPDATE 2-S.African rand weakens as U.S. rate hike expectations strengthen
JOHANNESBURG, Aug 29 South Africa's rand weakened against the dollar on Monday as the greenback rose on expectations that U.S. interest rates would rise soon, adding pressure on the currency which has been knocked by concerns over the finance minister's future. | http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSASC094OY?type=companyNews&feedType=RSS&feedName=companyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FcompanyNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Company+News%29 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/133af362c7aa7e6ec395577997c30ed41815ce6a309590d2232d57006c50f445.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-29T20:52:07 | null | 2016-08-29T20:29:22 | The U.S. Commerce Department said on Monday truck and bus tires from China were being dumped in the United States at below-market prices, a potential step toward the imposition of duties. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-usa-trade-tires-idUSKCN1142AS.json | http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160829&t=2&i=1151490776&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7S1B0 | en | null | U.S. moves toward anti-dumping duties on truck and bus tires from China | null | null | www.reuters.com | WASHINGTON The U.S. Commerce Department said on Monday truck and bus tires from China were being dumped in the United States at below-market prices, a potential step toward the imposition of duties.
In a preliminary determination, the department said the tires were being dumped at margins ranging from 20.87 percent to 22.57 percent. In a related preliminary finding in June, it said China was also unfairly subsidizing the products.
The department said it would announce its final determination in the anti-dumping case no later than Jan. 17, 2017. It had previously said it would announce a final finding in the companion anti-subsidy case on or about Nov. 10.
Any duties would be contingent on a final determination by the U.S. International Trade Commission that the domestic industry was being harmed. An estimated $1.07 billion worth of truck and bus tires were imported from China in 2015.
(Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Mohammad Zargham) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-tires-idUSKCN1142AS | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/7faa8fb31f351ae5602e0d95d881f35bc66623345963c9062829a934663f3385.json |
[
"Guillermo Parra-Bernal",
"Tatiana Bautzer"
] | 2016-08-29T20:54:39 | null | 2016-08-29T19:23:32 | Bernal and Tatiana Bautzer | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-tcp-brasil-m-a-idUSKCN11426P%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DPersonalFinance%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Bnews%252Fwealth%2B%2528Reuters%2BWealth%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | Advent hires banks to sell control of Brazil port: sources | null | null | www.reuters.com | SAO PAULO Buyout firm Advent International Corp has hired Morgan Stanley & Co and Grupo BTG Pactual SA to advise on the sale of a controlling stake in TCP Terminal de Contêineres de Paranaguá SA, Brazil's second-busiest container port, according to two people with direct knowledge of the plans.
Earlier this year, Boston-based Advent had announced plans to sell the 50 percent stake it has in TCP, which can handle about 1.5 million tonnes of cargo containers annually. BTG Pactual (BBTG11.SA) joined Morgan Stanley as advisor to Advent at the start of July, the people said.
The sources, who spoke with Reuters in recent days, asked for anonymity because the plan remained confidential.
According to one of the people, Advent wants to fetch a price for the stake that values TCP around at least 3.5 billion reais ($1.1 billion.) The other person said other Advent partners in TCP, which include three Brazilian investment firms and Spanish companies Group Maritim TCB SL and Galigrain SA, could join the sale.
The people declined to elaborate further on a timetable for the deal or name potential bidders. The second person said three Asian port operators, two of which are China-based, have shown preliminary interest in TCP.
The transaction could also include a potential fundraising effort by TCP, possibly through the sale of notes in the domestic debt markets, the second person said. Advent paid about $500 million for the TCP stake five years ago.
The TCP stake sale has failed to gain traction rapidly, as potential buyers monitor developments in Brazil, which is struggling with the harshest recession in eight decades and political turmoil, the people said.
Steelmaker Cia Siderúrgica Nacional SA's (CSNA3.SA) planned sale of container terminal operator Sepetiba Tecon SA has also been slow, even as a number of bidders - including Advent - have shown interest.
TCP, Advent and the port operator's other shareholders declined to comment, as did BTG Pactual. Morgan Stanley did not immediately have a comment.
($1 = 3.2433 Brazilian reais)
(Editing by David Gregorio) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-tcp-brasil-m-a-idUSKCN11426P?feedType=RSS&feedName=PersonalFinance&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+news%2Fwealth+%28Reuters+Wealth+News%29 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/778d2188d35634b3ede1b43f6a756e196e120c075e1588931e907cfab0288de0.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-31T06:52:36 | null | 2016-08-31T06:18:15 | South African furnitureretailer Steinhoff reported an almost one-third rise infull-year operating profit on Wednesday, boosted by a strongshowing at its European business. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fsteinhoff-intlnl-results-idUSL8N1BC0VY%3Ftype%3DcompanyNews%26feedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DcompanyNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FcompanyNews%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BCompany%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | South Africa's Steinhoff operating profit up 32 percent | null | null | www.reuters.com | JOHANNESBURG Aug 31 South African furniture retailer Steinhoff reported an almost one-third rise in full-year operating profit on Wednesday, boosted by a strong showing at its European business.
Steinhoff, which is in middle of buying the United States' Mattress Firm and Britain's Poundland, said in trading update operating profit rose to 1.5 billion euros ($1.7 billion) in the year ended June from 1.1 billion euros a year earlier.
($1 = 0.8969 euros) (Reporting by Tiisetso Motsoeneng; Editing by Mark Potter) | http://www.reuters.com/article/steinhoff-intlnl-results-idUSL8N1BC0VY?type=companyNews&feedType=RSS&feedName=companyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FcompanyNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Company+News%29 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/a43b86ae816a0564c83bcaf4ef108a12af9d9d7a9761c74c81eafae48550bdbc.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-26T13:21:00 | null | 2016-08-25T15:48:31 | Ride-hailing giant Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL] lost at least $1.27 billion before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in the first six months of 2016, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-uber-results-idUSKCN1101J5%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DtechnologyNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FtechnologyNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BTechnology%2BNews%2529.json | http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160825&t=2&i=1151044964&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7O0XN | en | null | Uber lost at least $1.27 billion in first half of 2016: Bloomberg | null | null | www.reuters.com | An illustration picture shows the logo of car-sharing service app Uber on a smartphone next to the picture of an official German taxi sign September 15, 2014. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/Illustration/File Photo
Ride-hailing giant Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL] lost at least $1.27 billion before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in the first six months of 2016, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The subsidies Uber grants its drivers was the main reason for the loss, finance head Gautam Gupta told investors in a quarterly conference call, Bloomberg said, citing sources. (bloom.bg/2bDGGI4)
Uber, whose investors include Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Amazon.com Inc Chief Executive Jeff Bezos, could not immediately be reached for comment.
The company lost about $520 million in the first quarter of the year and another $750 million in the second quarter, Bloomberg said.
Uber, which is now valued at roughly $69 billion, lost at least $2 billion in 2015, the report said.
The company's net revenue increased to about $1.1 billion in the second quarter from $960 million in the first quarter, while bookings rose to more than $5 billion from more than $3.8 billion in the prior quarter, Bloomberg said.
(Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-uber-results-idUSKCN1101J5?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtechnologyNews+%28Reuters+Technology+News%29 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/ad7bd609cd403a713c84f856a8a7a4910d5d753f945cee34b7c41370b7bdb00f.json |
[
"Asad Hashim"
] | 2016-08-29T09:04:45 | null | 2016-08-29T08:40:10 | Pakistan's Supreme Court on Monday upheld verdicts and death sentences in the cases of 16 civilians convicted of terrorism-related offences by military courts, the first time the highest court has ruled on the legality of cases tried by the military. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-pakistan-military-court-idUSKCN1140O4%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DworldNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2BReuters%252FworldNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BWorld%2BNews%2529.json | http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160829&t=2&i=1151418986&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7S0C2 | en | null | Pakistan Supreme Court dismisses civilian appeals against military convictions | null | null | www.reuters.com | ISLAMABAD Pakistan's Supreme Court on Monday upheld verdicts and death sentences in the cases of 16 civilians convicted of terrorism-related offences by military courts, the first time the highest court has ruled on the legality of cases tried by the military.
A five-member bench ruled that the appellants had not proved the military violated their constitutional rights or failed to follow procedure, in a blow to some activists who contend the courts routinely violate people's rights.
Pakistan's government empowered military courts to try civilian terrorism suspects in January 2015, following an attack by Pakistani Taliban militants on a school in Peshawar that killed more than 130 pupils.
The military has so far convicted 104 civilians in the secret tribunals. Of those, 100 have been sentenced to death, and four to life imprisonment. All but six are said by the military to have confessed.
Those whose appeals were dismissed on Monday included nine members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and two al-Qaeda members, according to Pakistan's military. Two convicts are said to have been involved in the Peshawar school killings.
Pakistan has been battling the TTP, an umbrella organization of militant groups fighting to impose strict Islamic law, and its allies including al-Qaeda since 2007.
Lawyers for all 16 convicts contended their clients had been tried in secret, without access to legal counsel of their choice, and that their confessions had been recorded illegally. They also claimed they were denied access to military court records when preparing their appeals.
The complaints echoed those made by lawyers and families of those convicted by the courts to Reuters. Two families and one lawyer said they had been threatened after filing appeals. Several told Reuters that confessions were "coerced" by the military.
Sajid Ilyas Bhatti, the deputy attorney general representing the government, denied the appellants' claims, saying they had been accorded their rights.
He argued that military court proceedings were "immune from challenge on the ground of any alleged violation of the fundamental rights".
In its 182-page judgment, the court concluded that the appellants failed to prove wrongdoing on the part of the military authorities.
(Writing by Asad Hashim; Editing by Nick Macfie) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-military-court-idUSKCN1140O4?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuters+World+News%29 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/6e7736e116e7d9c5b107127ba26c123da68579e70cbf9374fa034fbab4cd5408.json |
[
"Dave Lucas"
] | 2016-08-26T13:21:32 | null | 2016-08-19T12:00:02 | Syrian refugee girl Housaida rests inside the Spanish rescue vessel Astral after being rescued by the Spanish NGO Proactiva off the Libyan coast in the Mediterranean Sea August 18, 2016. REUTERS/Giorgos Moutafis | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Fnews%2Fpicture%2Feditors-choice%3FarticleId%3DUSRTX2M0F5.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160819&t=2&i=1150303564&w=&fh=545&fw=810&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=2016-08-19T120002Z_23754_S1AETWEGEWAC_RTRMADP_0_EUROPE-MIGRANTS | en | null | Editor's Choice | null | null | www.reuters.com | A boy is offered milk as he participates in a parade to mark the Gaijatra festival, also known as "cow festival," in Kathmandu, Nepal, August 19, 2016. Hindus in Kathmandu celebrate the festival to ask for salvation and peace for their departed loved ones. Cows are regarded as holy animals in Nepal which help departed souls to reach heaven. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar | http://www.reuters.com/news/picture/editors-choice?articleId=USRTX2M0F5 | en | 2016-08-19T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/b75cb9ecca4ce8d4397d187b76de84095c1488616a0a47438fda6a22f9b0f55b.json |
[
"Tom Polansek"
] | 2016-08-27T00:51:09 | null | 2016-08-26T23:48:16 | Minnesota's governor on Friday ordered the broadest restrictions yet in a U.S. state on the use of agricultural pesticides that have been blamed for hurting bees, fueling concerns that farmers there will not be able to protect crops from insects. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-usa-minnesota-bees-idUSKCN1112HS.json | http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160826&t=2&i=1151234942&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7P1HF | en | null | Minnesota sets broadest U.S. limits on chemicals blamed for bee declines | null | null | www.reuters.com | Minnesota's governor on Friday ordered the broadest restrictions yet in a U.S. state on the use of agricultural pesticides that have been blamed for hurting bees, fueling concerns that farmers there will not be able to protect crops from insects.
Gov. Mark Dayton issued an executive order that requires farmers to verify that they face "an imminent threat of significant crop loss" before using the chemicals, called neonicotinoids.
Details of how farmers would prove their need have not yet been determined.
Minnesota, the country's third-largest soybean producer, carried out a special review of neonicotinoids that prompted the new limits, the first U.S. state to do so.
Honey bees have been in serious decline in the United States for three decades, threatening billions of dollars in crops. In recent years, their death rate has become economically unsustainable, according to the U.S. government.
A survey of more than 20,000 honey beekeepers conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and released in May showed there were 2.59 million or 8 percent fewer honey bee colonies on January 1, 2016 than the 2.82 million a year earlier for beekeeper operations with five or more colonies.
Honey bees pollinate plants that produce about a quarter of the food consumed by Americans.
"Minnesota just became the national leader in protecting pollinators," said Lex Horan, an organizer for Pesticide Action Network, a U.S. activist group.
EU LED THE WAY
Restrictions on neonicotinoids come two years after the European Union limited use of the chemicals, made and sold by companies including Bayer CropScience and Syngenta, after research pointed to the risks for bees.
Neonicotinoids are used worldwide in a range of crops and have been shown in lab-based studies to be harmful to certain species of bee, notably commercial honeybees and bumblebees.
The chemicals can be sprayed on crops to fight insects, but it is more common for U.S. farmers to plant seeds treated with neonicotinoids to keep pests, such as aphids, off crops.
State officials said they want Minnesota lawmakers to grant them the authority to regulate the sale and use of such seeds, a power that now lies with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Removing the pesticides would leave farmers more dependent on a smaller number of chemicals to control bugs, said Seth Naeve, an extension soybean agronomist for the University of Minnesota, thereby making it more likely that pests would develop resistance to those chemicals.
"We're concerned about losing tools and a lack of flexibility to address issues," said David Kee, director of research for Minnesota Soybean Growers Association.
Farmers said they hoped other U.S. states would not follow Minnesota's lead.
Paul Schlegel, director of environment and energy policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the governor was "restricting the ability of farmers to use all the tools the EPA has said they can use."
"I don't think that we're aware of any other state that's going to start taking away tools from farmers," Schlegel said.
(Reporting by Tom Polansek; Editing by Toni Reinhold) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-minnesota-bees-idUSKCN1112HS | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/877845d7a8d777386bf4b2e7d2227b72cafcf1819dc8c61101891999badd6140.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-30T01:02:00 | null | 2016-08-29T23:16:21 | The Federal Bureau of Investigation on Monday offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the capture of a Utah-based polygamous faith leader who escaped from home confinement ahead of his trial over food stamp fraud. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-utah-polygamous-idUSKCN1142H3%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DdomesticNews.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | FBI offers $50,00 reward for capture of escaped polygamous sect leader | null | null | www.reuters.com | The Federal Bureau of Investigation on Monday offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the capture of a Utah-based polygamous faith leader who escaped from home confinement ahead of his trial over food stamp fraud.
Lyle Jeffs, 56, fled confinement in Salt Lake City sometime over the weekend of June 18 - 19 and an arrest warrant was issued by a federal judge that Sunday afternoon, authorities said.
Prosecutors allege Jeffs and other leaders of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS) in Arizona and South Dakota diverted money from the federal government food assistance program for the poor.
Jeffs pleaded not guilty to the two-count indictment in February and was released from jail on June 9 ahead of his October trial. Jeffs is the de facto leader of the (FLDS), an unacknowledged offshoot of the Mormon Church.
In all, the indictment charged 11 defendants with conspiring to defraud the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps, and conspiring to commit money laundering.
Prosecutors allege that in about 2011, the church leaders directed adherents to funnel food bought with SNAP money to an FLDS storehouse to feed the greater church community.
Money also was diverted to other leaders to pay bills, according to the charges. One spent $30,236 on a 2012 Ford F-350 truck and another paid $16,978 for paper products, prosecutors said.
Jeffs is the brother of Warren Jeffs, who is considered the prophet of the faith and is serving a sentence of up to life in prison plus 20 years in Texas for illegally marrying and sexually abusing underage girls.
The sect is based in the twin cities of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona. It is an offshoot of the Salt Lake City-based mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which renounced polygamy in 1890 and has no affiliation with the FLDS.
(Reporting by Curtis Skinner in San Francisco; Editing by Alan Crosby) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-utah-polygamous-idUSKCN1142H3?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/b29eb6e512d2bb79c5004ed5fa77675c2a43ea6f6c48675f63caf575b0b1b339.json |
[
"Jonathan Stempel"
] | 2016-08-29T17:02:23 | null | 2016-08-29T15:44:05 | Apple Inc (AAPL.O) has been sued by owners of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus smartphones who say a design defect causes the phones' touchscreens to become unresponsive, making them unusable. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-apple-lawsuit-touchscreens-idUSKCN1141OJ%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DtechnologyNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FtechnologyNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BTechnology%2BNews%2529.json | http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160829&t=2&i=1151460502&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7S0WL | en | null | Apple is sued over unresponsive iPhone 6 touchscreens | null | null | www.reuters.com | A man holds an iPhone 6 in a mobile phone shop in Moscow, Russia, September 26, 2014. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo
Apple Inc (AAPL.O) has been sued by owners of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus smartphones who say a design defect causes the phones' touchscreens to become unresponsive, making them unusable.
According to a proposed nationwide class-action lawsuit filed on Saturday, Apple has long been aware of the defect, which often surfaces after a flickering gray bar appears atop the touchscreens, but has refused to fix it.
The plaintiffs linked the problem to Apple's decision not to use a metal "shield" or "underfill" to protect the relevant parts, as it did on versions of the iPhone 5.
"The iPhones are not fit for the purpose of use as smartphones because of the touchscreen defect," according to the complaint filed in federal court in San Jose, California.
Todd Cleary of California, Jun Bai of Delaware and Thomas Davidson of Pennsylvania are the named plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which accuses Apple of fraud and violating California consumer protection laws. They seek unspecified damages.
Apple did not immediately respond on Monday to a request for comment.
Problems with iPhone 6 touchscreens were described online last week by iFixit, which labeled the issue "Touch Disease."
That company sells repair parts and has previously analyzed other Apple products.
Apple, based in Cupertino, California, sold 166.4 million iPhones, generating $108.5 billion of net sales, in the first nine months of its current fiscal year.
The case is Davidson et al v. Apple Inc, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 16-04942.
(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Dan Grebler) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-lawsuit-touchscreens-idUSKCN1141OJ?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtechnologyNews+%28Reuters+Technology+News%29 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/0843a5833bc8457c2a22c60897b6d0e438dee38bbed59e2f495497616f4c4bc2.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-29T10:52:00 | null | 2016-08-29T10:24:40 | The following FTSE 100 companies will goex-dividend on Thursday, after which investors will no longer qualify for thelatest dividend payout. According to Reuters calculations at current market prices, the effect ofthe resulting adjustment to prices by market-makers would take 1.33 points offthe index. COMPANY (RIC) DIVIDEND STOCK IMPACT (pence) OPTION BHP Billiton 14 (U.S. cents) 0.87 Hikma 8.4 0.04 Intercontinental Hotels Grouop 22.6 0.17 St James's Place 12.33 0.25 Among FTSE 250 companies going ex-dividend are: COMPANY (RIC) DIVIDEND (pence) Acacia Mining 2.8 (U.S. cents) Aggreko 9.38 Auto Trader Group 1 Carillion 5.8 G4S 3.59 Hochschild 1.38 (U.S. cents) International Personal Finance 4.6 Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group 11.6 Keller Group 9.25 LondonMetric Property 1.44 Micro Focus 37.4 NCC Group 3.15 National Express Group 3.87 Perpetual Income & Growth Investment Trust 3 Personal Assets Trust 1.4 Polymetal International 0.09 (USD) Stagecoach Group 7.9 Tullett Prebon 5.6 Ultra Electronics Holdings 14.2 (Reporting by Kit Rees) | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fbritain-stocks-exdiv-idUSL8N1BA1NB%3Ftype%3DcompanyNews%26feedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DcompanyNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FcompanyNews%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BCompany%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | Ex-divs to take 1.3 points off FTSE 100 on Sept.1 | null | null | www.reuters.com | LONDON, Aug 29 The following FTSE 100 companies will go ex-dividend on Thursday, after which investors will no longer qualify for the latest dividend payout. According to Reuters calculations at current market prices, the effect of the resulting adjustment to prices by market-makers would take 1.33 points off the index. COMPANY (RIC) DIVIDEND STOCK IMPACT (pence) OPTION BHP Billiton 14 (U.S. cents) 0.87 Hikma 8.4 0.04 Intercontinental Hotels Grouop 22.6 0.17 St James's Place 12.33 0.25 Among FTSE 250 companies going ex-dividend are: COMPANY (RIC) DIVIDEND (pence) Acacia Mining 2.8 (U.S. cents) Aggreko 9.38 Auto Trader Group 1 Carillion 5.8 G4S 3.59 Hochschild 1.38 (U.S. cents) International Personal Finance 4.6 Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group 11.6 Keller Group 9.25 LondonMetric Property 1.44 Micro Focus 37.4 NCC Group 3.15 National Express Group 3.87 Perpetual Income & Growth Investment Trust 3 Personal Assets Trust 1.4 Polymetal International 0.09 (USD) Stagecoach Group 7.9 Tullett Prebon 5.6 Ultra Electronics Holdings 14.2 (Reporting by Kit Rees) | http://www.reuters.com/article/britain-stocks-exdiv-idUSL8N1BA1NB?type=companyNews&feedType=RSS&feedName=companyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FcompanyNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Company+News%29 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/e0cb713ad13823a49a8aa7f0888babbe820ee0849962da9c30a5804e58d9768f.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-28T19:04:34 | null | 2016-08-28T18:43:01 | At least 28 Libyan fighters were killed and more than 180 wounded on Sunday as they advanced on the final Islamic State militant holdouts in the coastal city of Sirte, according to a hospital casualty list. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-libya-security-idUSKCN1130TH%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DworldNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2BReuters%252FworldNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BWorld%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160828&t=2&i=1151367367&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7R0IY | en | null | At least 28 Libyan troops killed in Sirte battle against Islamic State: hospital | null | null | www.reuters.com | Members of Libyan forces allied with the UN-backed government distribute drinks and snacks during a battle with Islamic State militants in neighbourhood Number One in central Sirte, Libya, August 28, 2016. REUTERS/Ismail Zitouny
A member of Libyan forces allied with the UN-backed government fires a weapon towards Islamic State militants in neighbourhood Number One in central Sirte, Libya August 28, 2016. REUTERS/Ismail Zitouny
A member of Libyan forces allied with the UN-backed government fires a weapon towards Islamic State militants in neighbourhood Number One in central Sirte, Libya August 28, 2016. REUTERS/Ismail Zitouny
Members of Libyan forces allied with the UN-backed government fire a weapon towards Islamic State militants in neighbourhood Number One in central Sirte, Libya August 28, 2016. REUTERS/Ismail Zitouny
SIRTE, Libya At least 28 Libyan fighters were killed and more than 180 wounded on Sunday as they advanced on the final Islamic State militant holdouts in the coastal city of Sirte, according to a hospital casualty list.
Forces aligned with Libya's U.N.-backed government, supported since Aug. 1 by U.S. air strikes, have pushed militants back into a small residential area in central Sirte during a three month campaign. Heavy fighting resumed on Sunday after a one-week lull.
(Writing by Aidan Lewis; editing by Patrick Markey) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-security-idUSKCN1130TH?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuters+World+News%29 | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/cad9de137a4741a747e706230eba7e9203115fa29fdc9a4a99153d07ec4aa913.json |
[
"John Chalmers"
] | 2016-08-31T03:04:59 | null | 2016-08-31T02:59:07 | As he heads toward the end of his second year as Indonesia's president, Joko Widodo has never looked stronger: a crowd of political parties backs him, he is riding high in opinion polls and the economy is beginning to bounce off the bottom. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-indonesia-president-idUSKCN11607X%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DworldNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2BReuters%252FworldNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BWorld%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160831&t=2&i=1151665965&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7U03X | en | null | Indonesia's Widodo masters the politics, but reform agenda fades | null | null | www.reuters.com | Indonesian President Joko Widodo (L) takes a picture with a member of the House of Representatives after Widodo delivered the budget to parliament in Jakarta, Indonesia, August 16, 2016. REUTERS/Beawiharta
Indonesian President Joko Widodo salutes during celebrations for Indonesia's 71st Independence Day at the presidential palace in Jakarta, Indonesia August 17, 2016. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside
Indonesia's President Joko Widodo (C) walks between parliament members as he arrives at the House of Representatives building in Jakarta, Indonesia, August 16, 2016. REUTERS/Beawiharta/File Photo
Indonesian President Joko Widodo gestures during an interview with Reuters at the presidential palace in Jakarta, Indonesia February 10, 2016. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside/File Photo
Indonesian President Joko Widodo salutes during celebrations for Indonesia's 71st Independence Day at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia August 17, 2016. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside/File Photo
JAKARTA As he heads toward the end of his second year as Indonesia's president, Joko Widodo has never looked stronger: a crowd of political parties backs him, he is riding high in opinion polls and the economy is beginning to bounce off the bottom.
After a terrible first year when the rupiah currency plummeted and critics questioned his ability to govern, aides and politicians close to Widodo told Reuters he now feels firmly in control and is already considering re-election in 2019.
But Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, appears to have managed his recovery by soft-pedalling on the political and economic reforms that he had promised in the world's fourth-most populous nation when he stood for election in 2014.
Instead, he has concentrated on building alliances to bolster his authority, an echo of former strongman Suharto, whose mastery of political dealmaking kept him in power for more than three decades.
"He's turning into a new Suharto," said one senior official, pointing to the "disciplined, cool-headed calculation" of a cabinet reshuffle in July in which Widodo handed positions to parties across the political spectrum.
Presidential spokesman Johan Budi said Widodo was "not yet thinking" about the 2019 election. "He is focused on this period and on working for the prosperity of the people," Budi said.
Analysts say Widodo's political maneuvering probably means he will be less inclined to pursue radical change in Southeast Asia's largest economy, whose over-dependence on resource exports has been painfully exposed by the recent slump in commodity prices.
That was not in the script when the former furniture salesman, who grew up in a riverside slum of central Java, won the presidency.
The first leader of modern Indonesia not to come from the military or political elite, Widodo was widely expected to shake up the establishment. Supporters said he would root out corruption, promote people based on merit rather than connections and create an environment for investment to flow into the stalling economy.
"Instead of changing the game, as he promised voters, Jokowi has begun to master it," said Aaron Connelly, a research fellow at the Lowy Institute for International Affairs in Sydney.
Marcus Mietzner, an associate professor at the Australian National University's College of Asia and the Pacific, added:
"He has - sadly but correctly - established for himself that these issues will not win or lose elections, so he ignores them."
POLITICAL SURVIVAL
Aides said Widodo was hamstrung when he came to office because he did not have a parliamentary majority to push through reforms and because he was held back by former president Megawati Sukarnoputri, the domineering head of his political party, the Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
They say that the 55-year-old president is difficult to read, but after several run-ins with Megawati it was clear he had decided to bring the PDI-P to heel and win the backing of other parties.
His big break came in January this year when Golkar, the country's second-largest party with nearly 15 percent of parliament's seats, agreed to support Widodo's coalition.
With last month's cabinet picks, he drew several parties closer to him, cementing support from about two-thirds of parliament's members and ensuring that he no longer relied on one party for his political survival.
"These parties have each pushed their own agenda with Jokowi, but he has made sure to get what he needs from them too," said Eva Kusuma Sundari, a senior PDI-P lawmaker.
After more than a year of being undermined by ministers speaking out of turn and at cross-purposes, there was no doubt that Widodo was asserting his control with the latest reshuffle.
From now on ministers will not be allowed to have a "vision and mission" of their own, he told his new team after their inauguration. "No more going it alone."
TIMID REFORM
The senior official said that with a recent opinion poll showing popular support for the president at 68 percent, the highest since he took office, and with so much cross-party support, he can now push ahead with difficult economic reforms such as opening up long-protected industries.
However, analysts say that after nearly two years it is still not clear if Widodo favors the free market or protectionism because his policies have been so inconsistent.
"Largely it's nibbling at the edges, so when people use language like reform, I don't think it's appropriate," said Matthew Busch, a lecturer in Southeast Asian Studies at Australia's Murdoch University.
Aides say that Widodo doesn't have a grand vision for Indonesia as much as a workmanlike drive to make it function better, which is why he focuses on stability and infrastructure development and sometimes micro manages processes.
Mietzner at the Australian National University said Widodo's appointment in the reshuffle of Wiranto, a controversial ex-general, as his security chief was evidence that political expediency come first.
Wiranto, army chief when President Suharto quit amid protests in 1998, was indicted by a U.N. panel over the bloodshed surrounding East Timor's 1999 independence vote. The former general has denied any wrongdoing in East Timor.
"There was no strong reason to appoint Wiranto, yet he proceeded because the move conveniently fit his cabinet calculations," said Mietzner. "He simply does not care enough about human rights issues to find Wiranto's selection problematic."
(Additional reporting by Fergus Jensen and Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-indonesia-president-idUSKCN11607X?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuters+World+News%29 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/9d07edf6c674e5bfba19c90a580430018643165f8fb9214d31519632533b4f1b.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-31T04:59:54 | null | 2016-08-31T04:34:50 | The Arizona sheriff famous for his tough stance on illegal immigration and keeping jail inmates in tents was easily on his way to a primary victory over three fellow Republicans on Tuesday. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-arizona-election-sheriff-idUSKCN1160CR%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DpoliticsNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2BReuters%252FPoliticsNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BPolitics%2BNews%2529.json | http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160831&t=2&i=1151673496&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7U06I | en | null | Veteran Arizona sheriff easily wins Republican primary: local results | null | null | www.reuters.com | The Arizona sheriff famous for his tough stance on illegal immigration and keeping jail inmates in tents was easily on his way to a primary victory over three fellow Republicans on Tuesday.
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who is seeking election to a seventh term as the top lawman for the area around Phoenix, had about 66 percent of the vote, well ahead of ex-police chief and three-time opponent Dan Saban and two others in the Republican primary, according to online results showing more than half of the vote counted.
(Reporting by David Schwartz; Editing by Michael Perry) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-arizona-election-sheriff-idUSKCN1160CR?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FPoliticsNews+%28Reuters+Politics+News%29 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/4fbea135a758652b2a46c30f7f76447374d47f4ae37d02bef2c546185713dcf4.json |
[
"Thorsten Severin"
] | 2016-08-29T17:02:25 | null | 2016-08-29T16:13:50 | The German government wants Facebook to be more proactive in monitoring and, if necessary, removing forbidden as well as offensive content from its social network platform. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-germany-facebook-idUSKCN1141S6%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DtechnologyNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FtechnologyNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BTechnology%2BNews%2529.json | http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160829&t=2&i=1151464994&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7S0ZA | en | null | Germany wants Facebook to take initiative in fight against online hate | null | null | www.reuters.com | German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere speaks to the media after a vistit at the Facebook office in Berlin, Germany August 29, 2016. REUTERS/Stefanie Loos
(L-R) German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere, Eva- Maria Kirschsieper, Facebook head of public policy D-A-CH and Martin Ott, Facebook managing director central Europe, walk during a vistit at the Facebook office in Berlin, Germany August 29, 2016. REUTERS/Stefanie Loos
German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere (C), Eva- Maria Kirschsieper, Facebook head of public policy D-A-CH (R) and Martin Ott, Facebook managing director central Europe, pose during a vistit at the Facebook office in Berlin, Germany August 29, 2016. REUTERS/Stefanie Loos
German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere (L) and Eva- Maria Kirschsieper, Facebook head of public policy D-A-CH, speak to the media after a vistit at the Facebook office in Berlin, Germany August 29, 2016. REUTERS/Stefanie Loos
German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere talks to an employee during a vistit at the Facebook office in Berlin, Germany August 29, 2016. REUTERS/Stefanie Loos
(L-R) German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere, Eva- Maria Kirschsieper, Facebook head of public policy D-A-CH and Martin Ott, Facebook managing director central Europe, walk during a vistit at the Facebook office in Berlin, Germany August 29, 2016. REUTERS/Stefanie Loos
BERLIN The German government wants Facebook to be more proactive in monitoring and, if necessary, removing forbidden as well as offensive content from its social network platform.
Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere visited Facebook's offices in Berlin and said the company had done well in cooperating with authorities when help was requested but it needed to do more on its own to thwart racist comments, outlawed symbols and appeals for terror.
"Facebook has an immensely important economic position and just like every other large enterprise it has a immensely important social responsibility," said de Maiziere before urging Facebook to do more to remove such content without being asked.
The government has been critical of Facebook in the past. Political leaders and regulators have complained the world's largest social network, with 1.6 billion monthly users, had been slow to respond to hate speech and anti-immigrant messages.
Last year Justice Minister Heiko Maas told Reuters that Facebook must abide by stricter German laws banning racist sentiment even if it might be allowed in the United States under freedom of speech.
Maas said that Germany, because of its Nazi past, has zero tolerance for racist and hate posts and expected Facebook to be more vigilant.
De Maiziere recognized Facebook's efforts to develop software that can better identify outlawed content, praised its efforts to fight child pornography, and said it was right to warn users in its terms against the dissemination of illegal content.
"But it's up to the company to ensure those terms are upheld," he said. "A company with a good reputation for innovation will have to earn a good reputation in this area."
Eva-Maria Kirschsieper, Facebook's head of Public Policy in Germany, told reporters during de Maiziere's visit that the discussions between political leaders and companies in social media would continue.
"We see ourselves as part of German society and part of the German economy," she said. "And we know that we have a major responsibility and we want to live up to this responsibility. We take this issue very seriously indeed."
Earlier this year, Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg came to Berlin to respond to the criticism. He said he had learned from Facebook's experience in Germany that migrants were a group of people who also needed to be protected from hate speech online.
(Writing by Erik Kirschbaum; Editing by Toby Chopra) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-facebook-idUSKCN1141S6?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtechnologyNews+%28Reuters+Technology+News%29 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/5b4936a776f251499a4a2da498ccb38029eba29912f3e1b4d6663a1bd26cba2d.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-31T06:52:44 | null | 2016-08-31T06:00:01 | (Repeats Aug 30 story with no changes)* Shell lines up large North Sea asset sale* In talks to sell out of Gabon, NZealand, Thailand, Tunisia | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fshell-ma-idUSL8N1BB4A9%3Ftype%3DcompanyNews%26feedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DcompanyNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FcompanyNews%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BCompany%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | RPT-Shell's U.S deal to unlock global oil asset disposals | null | null | www.reuters.com | (Repeats Aug 30 story with no changes)
* Shell lines up large North Sea asset sale
* In talks to sell out of Gabon, NZealand, Thailand, Tunisia
* Gulf of Mexico deal sets deal value at $60/bbl
* Shell seeks to sell $6-$8 bln of assets in 2016
By Ron Bousso
LONDON, Aug 30 Royal Dutch Shell's first oil field sale after its $54 billion BG Group acquisition bodes well for its disposal talks in the North Sea, Gabon and New Zealand, according to sources, signalling buyers will meet its expectations on value.
The $425 million deal in the Gulf of Mexico is welcome news for the Anglo-Dutch oil and gas giant which has struggled to kick off its plan to dispose of $30 billion of assets by 2018 or so in order to pay for the February deal and maintain a generous dividend policy amid soaring debt.
The sale of the Brutus/Glider fields to U.S. independent oil and gas company EnVen Energy Corp has an implied oil price of around $60 a barrel, more than $10 above today's prices, according to analysts at UBS.
"With oil prices appearing to have bottomed at the start of 2016 and a pathway towards higher levels into 2017/18 we may now be entering a period where both buyer and seller can see acceptable relative value - unlocking the A&D (acquisition and divestiture) market," the UBS analysts added.
Shell's Chief Financial Officer Simon Henry told Reuters earlier this year Shell would not sell oil and gas fields at $48 a barrel in order to meet its target.
Further deals might prove harder to clinch however, as activity in the U.S. market picked up faster than other areas after more than two years of oil price declines and volatility led to a sharp slowdown in activity, industry sources said.
Shell is currently in advanced talks to sell a large portfolio of fields in the UK North Sea, an ageing basin with high production costs and strict regulatory requirements.
The company, which plans to exit operations in 5 to 10 countries, is also in talks to sell its portfolio in Gabon, New Zealand, Thailand and Tunisia, according to several sources.
The North Sea portfolio is a mix of mature fields and more attractive new developments such as BG's non-operating stake in Buzzard north of Aberdeen, a relatively new field that feeds into the global Brent oil benchmark.
Shell is also selling a share in its 55 percent holding in the BP-operated Schiehallion oilfield development some 110 miles (180 km) west of the Shetland Islands.
Other assets include the Nelson, Armada, Everest, Lomond and J Block fields, and Shell's stake in the Statoil-led Bressay development, sources close to the company said.
Potential buyers include Neptune, a venture headed by industry veteran Sam Laidlaw and backed by private equity funds Carlyle Group and CVC Partners, as well as Siccar Point Energy, backed by Blue Water Energy and Blackstone.
A Shell spokesman declined to comment.
The Anglo-Dutch company, like its peers, has struggled to dispose of upstream assets, focusing instead on refining and storage assets which are less exposed to oil price volatility.
So far this year, Shell has sold $2 billion of assets, leaving relatively little time to hit its $6-$8 billion target.
"I think the $6 billion target is highly realistic," said Oswald Clint, senior analyst at Bernstein, which has an 'outperform' rating on Shell.
"If you track the last 5 years of divestments by oil majors, all of them met them. Shell have a $30 billion target and I believe they can do it." (Reporting by Ron Bousso; Editing by Alexandra Hudson) | http://www.reuters.com/article/shell-ma-idUSL8N1BB4A9?type=companyNews&feedType=RSS&feedName=companyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FcompanyNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Company+News%29 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/d7d358d6338ed812b5d34ae1805385c8e3465fc8711c7c0700fdbe6f68b7031d.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-29T10:59:57 | null | 2016-08-29T09:57:25 | Manchester United's unbeaten start to the Premier League has helped the club build momentum before the derby clash against Manchester City, striker Wayne Rooney has said. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-soccer-england-mun-rooney-idUSKCN1140UX%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DsportsNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FsportsNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BSports%2BNews%2529.json | http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160829&t=2&i=1151426133&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7S0EI | en | null | Winning run ahead of Manchester derby important for United: Rooney | null | null | www.reuters.com | Manchester United's unbeaten start to the Premier League has helped the club build momentum before the derby clash against Manchester City, striker Wayne Rooney has said.
Marcus Rashford slotted in a winner in stoppage time against Hull City last weekend to ensure that Jose Mourinho's side were tied at the top of the Premier League on nine points after three league games.
However, Rooney, who scored in United's 3-1 victory against Bournemouth in their opening league game, urged his team not to take their foot of the pedal against City, who also remain unbeaten this season.
"It's early but you want to try to build momentum and especially going into the international break," Rooney told British media.
"To go there with three wins is important and with the next game being Man City it was a big win for us, even though it's so early in the season.
"We know whatever happens against City isn't going to define the season but it's always nice to go into that break with the three wins."
Mourinho and City manager Pep Guardiola will renew their rivalry when the two Manchester clubs meet on Sept. 10 at Old Trafford, and Rooney said there was an air of excitement ahead of the eagerly anticipated clash.
"It's a game players, staff, media, fans, everyone will be looking forward to," he added. "It's a Manchester derby but also with Jose and Pep Guardiola at Man City.
"It's exciting for everyone and exciting to play in."
(Reporting by Nivedita Shankar in Bengaluru; editing by Sudipto Ganguly) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-soccer-england-mun-rooney-idUSKCN1140UX?feedType=RSS&feedName=sportsNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FsportsNews+%28Reuters+Sports+News%29 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/5b4b855b53942a36cf081e15dcfb900294d77cc6c7eae20a8be84f0f7a2a62b6.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-31T12:52:52 | null | 2016-08-31T11:59:36 | Sina Corp : | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2FidUSFWN1BC059%3Ftype%3DcompanyNews%26feedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DcompanyNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Breuters%252FcompanyNews%2B%2528News%2B%252F%2BUS%2B%252F%2BCompany%2BNews%2529.json | http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/rcom-default.png | en | null | BRIEF-Sina announces distribution of Weibo shares | null | null | www.reuters.com | Aug 31 Sina Corp :
* Sina announces distribution of Weibo shares
* Sina will distribute one Weibo class A ordinary share to holder of each ten Sina ordinary shares
* Holders of Sina ordinary shares that are settled through DTC will receive class A ordinary shares represented by WEIBO ADSs
* Authorized and approved company's distribution of shares of Weibo to company's shareholders on a pro rata basis
* Following distribution of Weibo shares, Sina's equity stake in Weibo will decrease from about 54 percent currently to approximately 51 percent Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: | http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSFWN1BC059?type=companyNews&feedType=RSS&feedName=companyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FcompanyNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Company+News%29 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/e8f3dc7caf752199471bb771b33ee445fdcef3ca76ea85b34a34bdb26488ddb7.json |
[
"Ahmed Elumami"
] | 2016-08-30T23:04:56 | null | 2016-08-30T21:25:23 | A Libyan navy boat fired warning shots at a search and rescue vessel operated by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) earlier this month because it thought it was involved in smuggling, a spokesman said on Tuesday. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-libya-security-migrants-idUSKCN1152Q6%3FfeedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DworldNews%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2BReuters%252FworldNews%2B%2528Reuters%2BWorld%2BNews%2529.json | http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160830&t=2&i=1151640860&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7T1KJ | en | null | Libya navy thought migrant rescuers were smugglers, fired warning shots: spokesman | null | null | www.reuters.com | A migrant holds onto a railing at the stern of the Medecins Sans Frontiere (MSF) rescue ship Bourbon Argos somewhere between Libya and Sicily August 8, 2015. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi
TRIPOLI A Libyan navy boat fired warning shots at a search and rescue vessel operated by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) earlier this month because it thought it was involved in smuggling, a spokesman said on Tuesday.
MSF says the Bourbon Argos, which has long been conducting rescue missions for migrants trying to cross from Libya to Europe, was fired on and boarded by unidentified assailants on Aug. 17.
It said some of the shots hit the boat, which was patrolling about 24 nautical miles off the Libyan coast, and that armed men spent about 50 minutes aboard as the crew sheltered in a safe area. There were no migrants on the boat that day, MSF said.
Libyan navy spokesman Ayoub Qassem said the navy patrol boat had taken action after the Bourbon Argos failed to respond to calls and tried to change its route.
"The boat was spotted in international waters and it's known to be an oil smuggling route, so that's why our costal guards had to intercept it," Qassem said. "But the crew tried to flee to the north."
"The guards shot in the air to warn them but because our boat is small and was swaying due to heavy waves there might have been a hit to their boat. I confirm that it was not directly targeted."
MSF said there was no "clear identification and communication or any radio answer" from the Libyan boat and that it had found out 10 days later about the navy's involvement from Libyan media.
"MSF is currently engaging with the Libyan authorities in order to clarify what happened exactly during the incident and to ensure that similar events, that can put people in physical danger, do not occur in the future," the humanitarian group said in a statement issued on Saturday.
Tens of thousands of migrants have crossed the central Mediterranean to Europe this year, most of them leaving from Libya.
Traffickers generally provide flimsy rubber boats, and more than 2,700 have died attempting the journey. In recent days there has been a surge in departures.
Qassem said the incident involving the Bourbon Argos took place off the coast near the western Libyan towns of Sabratha and Zuwara, an area where many boats have left in recent months. Fuel smuggling is also reported to be rife in the area.
Libyan coastguard or naval vessels sometimes stop boats before they reach international waters and return migrants to Libya. The European Union is preparing to train Libyan coastguards in an attempt to help stem the flow crossings.
(Reporting by Ahmed Elumami; Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by James Dalgleish) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-security-migrants-idUSKCN1152Q6?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuters+World+News%29 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/941998bdc0c5e264ea5ecfc72b940fb95c8aa0c27126971d9c379c44d0a9e0a7.json |
[
"Reuters Editorial"
] | 2016-08-31T06:52:47 | null | 2016-08-31T06:16:07 | Telecoms network maker Nokia said on Wednesday the president of its Nokia Technologies unit, Ramzi Haidamus, is leaving the company. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-nokia-corp-managementchanges-idUSKCN1160I8.json | http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160831&t=2&i=1151680445&w=&fh=545px&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7U09D | en | null | Head of Technologies unit to leave Nokia | null | null | www.reuters.com | Headquarters of Finnish telecommunication network company Nokia are pictured in Espoo, Finland August 4, 2016. Lehtikuva/Irene Stachon/via REUTERS
HELSINKI Telecoms network maker Nokia said on Wednesday the president of its Nokia Technologies unit, Ramzi Haidamus, is leaving the company.
Haidamus was in charge of the firm's patent business and the recent licensing deal with Finnish company HMD Global, which aims to bring Nokia branded mobile devices back to the market.
Nokia said it has started a search for Haidamus' successor. Brad Rodrigues, currently head of strategy and business development in Nokia Technologies, will assume the role of acting president.
(Reporting by Tuomas Forsell, editing by Terje Solsvik) | http://www.reuters.com/article/us-nokia-corp-managementchanges-idUSKCN1160I8 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.reuters.com/a1126b40d39bc8ee95c1ee68f15379f538bed30e50b1dcc5c63b9f8023376ddb.json |
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