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German FM meets Netanyahu after talks canceled last year

JERUSALEM (AP) — German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel has met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem after talks were canceled last year when the diplomat met with an Israeli whistleblower group critical of the military. Standing alongside Netanyahu on Wednesday, Gabriel said: "Israel always can count on Germany as a fair partner to defend the security of Israel." Netanyahu abruptly canceled a meeting in April with Gabriel over his meeting with Breaking the Silence, a group of Israeli army veterans critical of the country's military actions in the West Bank and Gaza. Israeli leaders oppose the group's work, citing the anonymity of its claims and its outreach efforts abroad to foreign audiences. The incident sparked a rare diplomatic feud with Germany, one of Israel's closest and most important allies.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-01-31 18:45:00

German FM meets Netanyahu after talks canceled last year

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3354753

Strong 6-magnitude quake rocks western Iran

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian state TV says a 6-magnitude earthquake has jolted a western region near the border with Iraq. There were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage from the temblor, which struck Monday near the site of a 7.2-magnitude quake that caused more than 600 deaths in November. Iran is prone to near-daily quakes as it sits on major fault lines. In 2003, a 6.6-magnitude quake flattened the historic city of Bam, killing 26,000 people.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2017-12-11 23:44:00

Strong 6-magnitude quake rocks western Iran

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3318117

In adding Griffin, Detroit Pistons take a risk to add a star

DETROIT (AP) — With his team in a slump that threatened to derail a once-promising season, Stan Van Gundy boldly put the Detroit Pistons on a new path. Where it will lead is anyone's guess. The trade that brought Blake Griffin to the Pistons includes plenty of risk. The 6-foot-10 forward with an All-Star pedigree has a lengthy highlight reel and an injury history to match. But in his fourth season as Detroit's coach and team president, Van Gundy wasn't going to let this opportunity pass. If healthy, Griffin is the type of player who could lift this franchise significantly — and not just this season. "The hardest thing to do in this league is to get a proven star," Van Gundy said Tuesday. "You get very few opportunities to do it." Detroit has made the playoffs once under Van Gundy, but when the Pistons lost their eighth straight game Sunday, this season seemed to be slipping away. Detroit has looked lost without injured point guard Reggie Jackson, and although center Andre Drummond is signed long term, the future appeared murky at best. Guard Avery Bradley was on an expiring contract, and recent draft picks Luke Kennard and Stanley Johnson look more like role players than stars. The Pistons weren't in a clear rebuilding mode, but improving the roster wasn't going to be easy. So Detroit took a gamble, sending Bradley and leading scorer Tobias Harris to Los Angeles for Griffin in a six-player trade announced Tuesday morning. The deal also cost the Pistons a first-round draft pick. "It's a great addition," said Detroit forward Reggie Bullock, who once played with Griffin on the Clippers. "We're getting an All-Star-caliber player coming to a team to add onto the one that we already have." The upside is obvious. The Pistons have been mediocre for most of the past decade, but they've never picked higher than seventh in the draft during that period. Detroit isn't considered a major free agent destination, so if the Pistons were going to acquire a player like Griffin, this was one way to do it. Griffin agreed to a $171 million, five-year deal with the Clippers in July, so Detroit can keep him for a while, albeit at a prohibitive cost. "Everybody can view that differently. 'Oh wow, you're locked into 140 million dollars-plus.' Yeah, but he's locked into us too, as one of the best players in the league," Van Gundy said. The 28-year-old Griffin has averaged 21.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists in his career, and he and the 24-year-old Drummond could be a formidable frontcourt tandem. Van Gundy acknowledged that the NBA has become more perimeter oriented, but he says there is value in trying to build a different type of team. "Like the Tampa Bay Rays in baseball. Everybody wanted power hitting and on-base percentage. They couldn't get that. What did they go do? They went and built it on relief pitching and defense, and were very, very competitive for years," Van Gundy said. "So we're not in a situation where we can be that choosy, and we can't necessarily go and try to do it the same way as everybody else." The question is whether Griffin can stay healthy. The Clippers drafted him first overall in 2009, but he missed the 2009-10 season after surgery on his broken left kneecap. He also missed 21 games last season and 47 in 2015-16. If Griffin isn't able to stay on the court, that big contract will become quite a burden for the Pistons — and even if he is healthy, Detroit may need to be creative to build a capable supporting cast around him and Drummond. Van Gundy already suggested that it will be hard for the Pistons to make another major move before this year's trade deadline next week. "If you look at our roster, and the fact that we gave up a pick and the whole thing, we don't have a ton of assets now to really do anything major," he said. "But it doesn't mean something couldn't come up." No matter how this deal turns out, it feels like a tipping point for Van Gundy, the kind of trade that could define his tenure in Detroit. The Pistons will have a hard time withstanding any significant decline in Griffin's performance, but if he remains the star he's been for much of his career, his arrival could be a big step in the right direction. "Since we've gotten here, all of our discussions have talked about, you know, how do you get that guy? How do you get the real superior talents in this league?" Van Gundy said. "You've got to have one of those guys." ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball ___ Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-02-03 00:00:00

In adding Griffin, Detroit Pistons take a risk to add a star

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3354500

Review: American Aquarium singer BJ Barham gets personal

American Aquarium, "Things Change" (New West) American Aquarium is a most appropriate name for the band that made "Things Change," because frontman BJ Barham presents his life for all to see. Earnest and intense, the North Carolina native sings about marriage, parenthood and divorcing his former band. He quotes his wife, his father and Tom Petty. He delves into his drinking, his politics and his passion for writing songs and righting wrongs. The humor Barham shows in concert is mostly absent. But he's likable and literate, delivering heavily autobiographical heartland rock with heart on sleeve. Best is the anthemic opener, "The World Is On Fire," which recounts the reaction in the Barham household to the 2016 presidential election. Weepy pedal steel reflects the mood before Barham sings, "We must go boldly into the darkness and be the light." There's empathy for those who voted the other way, too. On "Tough Folks" Barham sings, "I saw firsthand what desperation makes good people do." The album's supporting cast — including producer John Fullbright — is fully invested in helping Barham explore his inner Springsteen, before power chords give way to twang down the stretch. On the closing "'Til the Final Curtain Falls," a lovely, gospel-tinged ballad of devotion, Barham sounds more relaxed but still fully committed, even as he leads the band out in a spacey coda.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-05-31 00:00:00

Review: American Aquarium singer BJ Barham gets personal

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3444432

Husband of ex-Senate leader pleads not guilty to sex charges

BOSTON (AP) — The estranged husband of former Massachusetts Senate President Stan Rosenberg has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault and other charges. Bryon Hefner was released on personal recognizance Tuesday after appearing in Suffolk Superior Court to face charges of sexual assault, distributing nude photos without consent and criminal lewdness. He was also ordered to stay away from the alleged victims and the Massachusetts State House. His trial was scheduled for March 2019. Several men have accused Hefner of misconduct, prompting Rosenberg to step down as Senate leader in December. The Amherst Democrat is still a member of the Senate, and the two have since separated. An independent investigation continues into whether Rosenberg violated Senate rules. Hefner's attorney has said his client intends to contest the evidence and witnesses against him.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-04-24 22:32:00

Husband of ex-Senate leader pleads not guilty to sex charges

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3413309

Upcoming Events in Taipei for June 1 to June 7

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The month of May has come to a close, as people throughout Taiwan prepare for the true summer heat to begin. But don’t let the high temperatures keep you indoors, because there is plenty to keep you occupied and entertained in the first week of June. Here is a list of events we think readers might enjoy around Taipei from June 1- June 8. Festivals and Exhibitions The Taipei Literature Film Festival begins on May 31 and continues until June 14. The festival will feature a variety of events and lectures on some of the most iconic performers, authors and directors of the 20 th century. In addition to an incredible list of films being screened there are also special lectures (in Chinese) planned for Saturday and Sunday. A celebration of art, music and creativity is taking place on Saturday June 2 and Sunday June 3. The ACID EFKT Festival will take place at the Grassroots space (120草原自治區 Grassroots) on Linsen North rd. There will be live music performances, along with opportunities to learn and practice arts and crafts at various skill workshops. If you’ve got the creative itch and want to join an exciting social event with like minds, be sure to check out the event, which is scheduled to run from Noon until midnight both days this weekend. The Graduate Institute of Fine Arts departments at Taipei National University of the Arts will be hosting an art exhibition from June 1 to June 10 entitle “Difference and Identity: Contemporary Cross Cultural Encounter through Arts.” The goal is to explore identity and cross-cultural communication through art. The exhibition is being held at the Beitou Public Assembly Hall (北投公民會館). An opening reception for the event will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday June 1. Check the Event page for more information. Food and Market Events Both days this weekend, June 2-3 the Carousel Market group (Carousell 旋轉拍賣) is hosting one of their amazing second hand market and auction events. Vendors will bring their used items, and collections of all sorts of goodies. Guests at the event can barter or trade with vendors or join special auction activities. The event starts at 1 p.m. on Saturday on Choushan rd. near the Library of National Taiwan University. If you are a photography buff, or just like exploring niche markets for vintage gear, then there is a must-go event for you happening in Taipei, Sunday, June 3 at the Wanjing Photo Gallery (萬鏡寫真館). A vintage photographer’s market (古寫真市) event is being held near Guting MRT station that will feature a variety of vendors selling classic cameras and components, various types of film, vintage prints, as well as an array of vintage books on photography and film. If photography is your thing, this event is for you. Music and Entertainment If you’re looking for a place to watch the NBA Finals in Taipei with other sports fans, consider joining the crowd at the Brass Monkey for live viewings of the Warriors Vs. Cavaliers. The first game is scheduled for 9 a.m. tomorrow morning, June 1. Pet lovers are invited to the PAINT SIP art space near Taipei 101 for an afternoon to Paint Your Pet on June 3. Pet owners are encouraged to bring their pets for a relaxing social afternoon of animal fun and creativity. The event is NT$1,600 per person (or NT$1,400) if you sign up as a group and starts at 1:00 p.m. For fans of stand-up comedy, don’t miss a great opportunity to check out some local talent this Friday night. The Taiwan Whackpats of Comedy and the Royal Art Café are hosting “Comedy Night Returns,” which is sure to be one of the “funniest Friday night in Taipei, featuring Taiwan’s best comedians.” The show starts at 9:30 p.m. prompt, entrance is NT$250. Check the event page for more info. If you’re looking for a relaxing Sunday night and an opportunity to make new friends, and maybe practice you Chinese of your English, then check out the Triple B Social (BBQ, Beer, and Board Games) at the Lab (众樂Lab). Food and board games will be available from Noon until 9 p.m on June 3. The organizers are planning to make the Triple B Social a regular monthly gathering. Go check it out! National Theater and Concert Hall Harry Potter fans, act quickly, because there are only a few seats left for the three performances of Harry Potter and the Philiosopher’s Stone in Concert which is being shown Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the National Concert Hall. If you’ve ever wanted to experience a Harry Potter adventure accompanied with a full orchestra, now is your chance. The Taiwanese theater group Storyworks is performing their work entitled “As you like it” (偽婚男女) a touching but comedic story about family, marriage and sexuality. The story follows two gay couples that attempt to make their family members happy by agreeing to marriage with each other’s partners. There are four performances of the show this weekend June 1 – June 3 at the National Concert Hall. Next week on Wednesday June 6, the Ukrainian National Ballet will have the first of three performances at the National Theater in Taipei. There are still tickets available for what are certain to be spectacular performances from the Kiev Ballet ensemble and the Ukrainian National Opera. Performances will also be held Thursday, June 7, and Friday, June 8. Visit the official event page for more info. Also on June 6 is the 50th anniversary performance of Taipei Civic Symphony Orchestra. It will be held at the National Concert Hall at 6:30 p.m. Tickets range from NT$300 to NT$1000. There are a variety of other performances happening at the National Theater and Concert Hall all the time. Check their calendar to see what else is happening. Regular Hangouts If you want to put your English to use and enjoy an open forum to discuss different topics and hear presentations in English, check out the iEnglish Club English Gathering every Saturday. If you're looking for a family friendly group to practice your English or your Chinese, consider checking out events with Language Exchange Taipei. They are having a free language exchange on Sunday afternoon at Lifehouse Taipei. The LEIT Language Exchange group regularly hosts a huge number of activities. Check their events page for friendly hangouts and language exchange opportunities. This Saturday, June 2 there is a social networking event at the EPL Steakhouse and Lounge. (Image from Rhythm & Soul Nights FB Event Page) Also at EPL Steak House, check out Rhythm and Soul Nights, a regular event planned for Wednesday evenings. A team of DJs will be bringing you the best sounds from the '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s and beyond, covering Motown, Stax, Northern Soul, '90s neo-soul and more. An open mic will also be available for those who want to share their own music, poetry, or spoken word performances. Check out it out on June 6. Music starts at 8:00 p.m. For those new to Taipei, or who have been here a while but still haven’t seen all the city has to offer, consider taking a walking tour with "Like it Formosa.” Tours happen regularly every week, with four different types of tours to choose from, depending on what you want to see. And depending on your interests, check this list of meet up groups regularly to see if there is anything up your alley.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-05-31 16:13:00

There are a whole slew of entertainment options coming up this week in Taipei.Here is a list of events we think readers might enjoy around Taipei from June 1- June 8.

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3444983

Philippines to back US fight vs terror 'if efforts coincide'

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippine defense chief reacted guardedly Wednesday to President Donald Trump's remarks on fighting terrorism in his first State of the Union address, saying Manila would lend its support whenever the efforts of the two nations coincide. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told The Associated Press it did not really matter that Trump failed to mention U.S. policy on the South China Sea disputes involving China, the Philippines and four other governments, saying "that's his call." "If our efforts against terrorists coincide, well and good, we cooperate," he said. "But in reality, each country will be addressing its own security problems by any legal means at its disposal." The U.S. deployed surveillance aircraft to help Philippine forces quell an Islamic State group-linked siege in southern Marawi city last year. Lorenzana did not comment on Trump's order to the Pentagon to keep the Guantanamo Bay detention center open in contrast to the failed efforts of former President Barack Obama to shut down the prison for high-profile terrorism suspects.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-01-31 14:10:00

Philippines to back US fight vs terror 'if efforts coincide'

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3354691

Ref holds up Cyprus club soccer game after fan trouble

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — A Cyprus first-division match between APOEL Nicosia and AEL Limassol was interrupted for more than an hour, attracted riot police, and finished amid near-empty stands on Monday. Referee Demetris Mashias halted play late into the first half in Limassol after a ballboy appeared to have been hurt. He was taken away by ambulance to a private clinic. The match resumed a half hour later until Mashias again whistled a stop when fans began showering the pitch with flares. Some opposing fans then made it to the edge of the pitch and began hurling objects at each other. Police in full riot gear moved in to keep them apart. After fans filed out, the match resumed to a nearly vacant Tsirion Stadium.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2017-12-12 04:30:00

Ref holds up Cyprus club soccer game after fan trouble

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3318204

Professor accused of assaulting disabled man pleads guilty

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A former Rutgers University professor whose conviction for sexually assaulting a disabled man was overturned has pleaded guilty to aggravated criminal sexual contact. Anna Stubblefield entered her plea Monday as part of a deal with Essex County prosecutors in New Jersey. They will recommend she receive a four-year prison term when she's sentenced May 7. Stubblefield had testified at trial that she and the man were in love. He has cerebral palsy and can't speak, but Stubblefield said he consented to the relationship by communicating on a keyboard. Prosecutors said Stubblefield used her position to take advantage of the then-29-year-old man. Stubblefield was convicted in 2015 and sentenced to 12 years in prison. But an appeals court ruled last July that she should get a new trial with a new judge.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-03-20 01:17:00

Professor accused of assaulting disabled man pleads guilty

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3385723

Global Forecast-Celsius

Global Forecast as of 12:00 GMT Wednesday, January 31, 2018 _____ City/Town, Country;Wednesday's Weather Condition;Wednesday's High Temp (C);Wednesday's Low Temp (C);Thursday's Weather Condition;Thursday's High Temp (C);Thursday's Low Temp (C);Thursday's Wind Direction;Thursday's Wind Speed (KPH);Thursday's Humidity (%);Thursday's Chance of Precip. (%);Thursday's UV Index Abidjan, Ivory Coast;Partly sunny;31;25;A shower;31;25;WSW;15;81%;66%;6 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates;Partly sunny, breezy;21;16;Partly sunny;22;16;NW;22;56%;2%;5 Aleppo, Syria;Mostly sunny;14;3;Mostly sunny;14;4;E;8;70%;5%;3 Algiers, Algeria;Turning out cloudy;17;11;Partly sunny, nice;18;9;NW;11;61%;55%;3 Amsterdam, Netherlands;Rain, mainly early;10;3;Cloudy with a shower;6;3;W;25;80%;81%;1 Anchorage, United States;Cold with sunshine;-8;-15;Mostly sunny, cold;-10;-16;NNE;11;64%;6%;1 Ashgabat, Turkmenistan;Mostly sunny, chilly;6;-3;Plenty of sunshine;14;2;NW;8;33%;25%;3 Astana, Kazakhstan;Turning cloudy;-9;-24;Partly sunny, colder;-14;-24;S;11;93%;10%;1 Asuncion, Paraguay;A stray thunderstorm;32;25;Mostly cloudy, humid;34;25;SE;10;65%;44%;5 Athens, Greece;Partly sunny, nice;17;8;Clouds and sun;16;8;SSW;9;66%;6%;3 Auckland, New Zealand;Windy this afternoon;26;21;Heavy rain, windy;23;19;W;38;85%;94%;2 Baghdad, Iraq;Plenty of sun;18;3;Plenty of sunshine;19;5;N;8;37%;0%;4 Banda Aceh, Indonesia;A heavy p.m. shower;34;23;A p.m. shower or two;31;22;ESE;8;72%;74%;9 Bangalore, India;Sunny and nice;29;13;Sunny and pleasant;30;13;E;11;31%;0%;8 Bangkok, Thailand;A few showers;33;23;Not as warm;28;20;ESE;11;58%;14%;3 Barcelona, Spain;Partly sunny;15;6;Rain tapering off;11;4;NW;16;74%;86%;2 Beijing, China;Plenty of sunshine;4;-8;Partly sunny;4;-7;NNW;14;18%;3%;3 Belgrade, Serbia;Partly sunny, mild;13;1;Partly sunny, mild;14;7;SSE;12;63%;27%;2 Berlin, Germany;A little rain;9;3;Periods of sun;6;1;SW;17;65%;56%;2 Bogota, Colombia;Mostly cloudy;21;7;Mostly cloudy;21;7;ESE;9;66%;44%;9 Brasilia, Brazil;Overcast, a t-storm;27;20;Showers and t-storms;26;19;NNW;16;77%;81%;4 Bratislava, Slovakia;Becoming cloudy;7;2;A little rain;7;2;NW;9;86%;88%;1 Brussels, Belgium;Rain tapering off;9;1;A passing shower;6;1;W;15;75%;81%;1 Bucharest, Romania;Sunshine;10;-3;Mostly sunny, mild;10;-1;W;8;72%;1%;2 Budapest, Hungary;Clearing;8;4;A touch of rain;11;4;WNW;16;66%;85%;1 Buenos Aires, Argentina;Partly sunny;30;22;Sunny;31;23;NNE;10;58%;1%;11 Bujumbura, Burundi;Variable cloudiness;31;18;Mostly cloudy;31;20;WNW;5;38%;44%;7 Busan, South Korea;Increasing clouds;6;-2;Plenty of sunshine;7;-3;NNW;11;33%;0%;3 Cairo, Egypt;Sun and some clouds;20;10;Mostly sunny;20;9;NNE;12;46%;0%;4 Cape Town, South Africa;Sunshine and nice;24;15;Sunny and pleasant;27;17;SSW;15;53%;2%;11 Caracas, Venezuela;Partly sunny;26;19;Sun and some clouds;25;19;ENE;6;65%;44%;8 Chennai, India;Sunny and nice;31;18;Sunny and pleasant;32;18;NE;9;55%;0%;7 Chicago, United States;Milder;7;-4;Periods of sun;-2;-14;NW;26;46%;14%;3 Colombo, Sri Lanka;A p.m. t-storm;31;23;A t-storm in spots;32;23;NE;14;65%;76%;8 Copenhagen, Denmark;A little rain;5;2;Spotty showers;4;1;SSW;24;73%;83%;0 Dakar, Senegal;Partly sunny, breezy;22;16;Breezy with some sun;21;16;N;26;78%;0%;7 Dallas, United States;Partly sunny, breezy;22;11;Partly sunny;18;4;NE;16;55%;2%;4 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania;Clouds and sun;32;24;A t-storm in spots;32;24;NE;18;72%;45%;10 Delhi, India;Partly sunny;24;11;Hazy sun;26;11;NW;8;58%;0%;4 Denver, United States;Partly sunny;12;-4;Morning flurries;4;-3;ENE;12;66%;58%;2 Dhaka, Bangladesh;Mostly sunny, nice;24;14;Hazy sunshine;27;16;N;7;52%;2%;5 Dili, East Timor;Cloudy with showers;32;25;Spotty showers;31;24;WSW;12;73%;80%;5 Dublin, Ireland;A shower or two;6;2;A brief shower;6;0;NW;33;75%;40%;2 Dushanbe, Tajikistan;Increasing clouds;9;-3;Mostly sunny;9;-4;N;7;28%;1%;3 Gibraltar, Gibraltar;Breezy with rain;16;13;Some sun, a shower;16;9;W;20;81%;66%;3 Hanoi, Vietnam;Cloudy;14;8;Mostly sunny;17;9;SE;8;46%;7%;5 Harare, Zimbabwe;Variable cloudiness;26;17;A shower or t-storm;25;18;ENE;11;72%;66%;9 Havana, Cuba;Partly sunny;24;17;Nice with some sun;26;20;E;15;55%;42%;5 Helsinki, Finland;Clouds and sun;-2;-3;Breezy with snow;-1;-4;SW;30;96%;91%;0 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam;Turning cloudy;32;24;Partly sunny;32;23;SSW;7;70%;12%;6 Hong Kong, China;Colder this morning;14;7;Mostly sunny;15;10;NE;14;51%;8%;5 Honolulu, United States;A touch of rain;27;23;Showers;28;23;S;24;73%;94%;2 Hyderabad, India;Sunny and nice;32;14;Sunny and nice;32;15;E;9;26%;0%;6 Islamabad, Pakistan;Mostly cloudy;21;9;Hazy sun;23;8;NNW;10;63%;0%;4 Istanbul, Turkey;Mostly sunny;11;5;Sunny and mild;15;10;SSW;13;68%;19%;3 Jakarta, Indonesia;A shower in the a.m.;31;24;Cloudy, a t-storm;31;25;W;14;75%;68%;7 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia;Mostly sunny;29;20;Sunshine, pleasant;29;20;N;10;55%;3%;5 Johannesburg, South Africa;A t-storm in spots;25;16;A shower or t-storm;28;17;NW;12;54%;66%;12 Kabul, Afghanistan;Mostly cloudy;5;-7;Plenty of sunshine;7;-8;WNW;8;28%;0%;4 Karachi, Pakistan;Mostly sunny, nice;28;15;Hazy sunshine;30;13;N;8;44%;0%;5 Kathmandu, Nepal;Sun and some clouds;16;6;Partly sunny;19;6;SSE;7;67%;16%;5 Khartoum, Sudan;Sunny and beautiful;29;14;Sunny and nice;31;17;N;19;21%;0%;7 Kiev, Ukraine;Mostly cloudy;4;-2;Partly sunny;5;1;S;15;67%;33%;1 Kingston, Jamaica;A shower;30;23;A shower or two;30;23;NE;13;63%;69%;5 Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo;Variable cloudiness;32;24;More clouds than sun;32;24;SW;8;67%;85%;8 Kolkata, India;Sunshine and nice;29;13;Hazy sun;27;14;NNE;10;53%;0%;5 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;A t-storm in spots;33;23;A heavy thunderstorm;33;23;ENE;4;78%;86%;7 La Paz, Bolivia;A t-storm in spots;14;6;Showers and t-storms;13;6;SE;10;77%;86%;9 Lagos, Nigeria;Mostly sunny;34;24;Mostly sunny;32;25;SSW;9;76%;1%;9 Lima, Peru;Clouds and sun;25;20;Sun and clouds;24;20;S;13;75%;44%;12 Lisbon, Portugal;Periods of sun;17;9;Sunny and breezy;14;8;N;26;66%;3%;3 London, United Kingdom;Clouds, then sun;9;3;A shower in spots;6;2;NW;23;68%;52%;2 Los Angeles, United States;Mostly sunny, warm;27;13;Partly sunny, warm;26;13;ENE;7;37%;1%;4 Luanda, Angola;Partly sunny;31;25;Partly sunny;31;25;SSW;9;70%;38%;12 Madrid, Spain;Mostly sunny;14;1;Showers around;11;0;NNE;8;57%;70%;3 Male, Maldives;A thick cloud cover;30;27;Couple of t-storms;30;27;NNE;19;76%;77%;3 Manaus, Brazil;Cloudy, a t-storm;30;25;A t-storm or two;30;25;N;11;80%;91%;5 Manila, Philippines;Partly sunny;30;23;An afternoon shower;32;23;E;6;68%;50%;7 Melbourne, Australia;Partly sunny, breezy;19;11;Partly sunny, nice;22;13;SSE;17;51%;15%;10 Mexico City, Mexico;Clouds and sun;21;7;Partly sunny;22;8;NE;6;35%;27%;7 Miami, United States;Partly sunny;23;19;Some sun, pleasant;25;18;E;16;61%;16%;3 Minsk, Belarus;Inc. clouds;0;-2;A little snow;3;0;SSW;17;81%;90%;0 Mogadishu, Somalia;Sunshine and breezy;30;23;Clouds and sunshine;30;24;ENE;22;64%;1%;7 Montevideo, Uruguay;Clouding up;29;19;Sunny and nice;30;21;NNE;9;63%;1%;11 Montreal, Canada;Snow this afternoon;-6;-7;A little snow;2;-11;WSW;7;76%;84%;1 Moscow, Russia;A thick cloud cover;-2;-13;Mostly cloudy;-8;-11;SSE;8;70%;71%;1 Mumbai, India;Partly sunny;36;17;Hazy sunshine;35;17;N;10;42%;0%;6 Nairobi, Kenya;A t-storm in spots;28;14;Sunshine;29;13;NE;21;43%;1%;12 New York, United States;Breezy and cold;1;-1;A touch of p.m. rain;8;-2;SW;12;54%;81%;1 Nicosia, Cyprus;Partly sunny;18;5;Partly sunny;18;6;SSE;8;70%;3%;3 Novosibirsk, Russia;Turning sunny;-14;-23;High clouds;-12;-21;ESE;7;83%;0%;1 Osaka-shi, Japan;Clouds and sun;6;0;Rain and drizzle;6;1;NNE;6;73%;80%;1 Oslo, Norway;Snow, some ice early;3;-2;A little snow;1;-6;NNE;7;80%;83%;0 Ottawa, Canada;Heavy snow;-7;-8;Showers of rain/snow;2;-14;W;17;81%;78%;1 Pago Pago, American Samoa;Inc. clouds;30;25;Cloudy with showers;29;25;NNW;12;82%;99%;4 Panama City, Panama;Spotty showers;32;25;An afternoon shower;33;25;NNW;18;66%;70%;8 Paramaribo, Suriname;Partly sunny;30;23;Brief a.m. showers;29;24;NE;13;81%;85%;7 Paris, France;Rain;10;2;A passing shower;7;1;WNW;17;59%;80%;1 Perth, Australia;Plenty of sunshine;31;20;Some sun;29;21;ENE;16;41%;1%;11 Phnom Penh, Cambodia;Sun and some clouds;34;23;Mostly sunny, nice;31;22;W;9;59%;10%;8 Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea;Cloudy with a shower;30;23;Downpours;26;21;N;26;87%;100%;3 Port-au-prince, Haiti;Partly sunny;32;21;Periods of sun;31;20;SE;10;47%;7%;6 Prague, Czech Republic;A little rain;9;4;Cloudy;6;1;SW;15;71%;38%;1 Pyongyang, North Korea;Clouds and sunshine;1;-17;Plenty of sun;-1;-14;N;5;38%;0%;3 Quito, Ecuador;A t-storm in spots;22;11;An afternoon shower;22;12;NNE;13;54%;83%;11 Rabat, Morocco;Variable cloudiness;16;6;Mostly sunny;16;9;WSW;7;73%;57%;4 Recife, Brazil;Showers around;31;26;A shower or two;31;26;ESE;14;68%;82%;7 Reykjavik, Iceland;Partly sunny, chilly;-1;-5;A bit of p.m. snow;1;0;SE;14;59%;85%;0 Riga, Latvia;Mostly cloudy;1;-1;Rain and snow;3;-1;SSW;13;93%;76%;0 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;A little a.m. rain;28;22;Spotty showers;28;23;NW;15;70%;82%;12 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;Mostly sunny;17;6;Sunny;20;6;ENE;8;23%;0%;5 Rome, Italy;A passing shower;13;8;Cloudy with a shower;15;11;S;16;72%;86%;1 Saint Petersburg, Russia;Some sun;-6;-14;A bit of p.m. snow;-5;-6;ESE;17;76%;88%;0 San Francisco, United States;Partly sunny;16;9;Periods of sunshine;18;10;WNW;9;69%;1%;3 San Jose, Costa Rica;Clouds and sun, nice;26;19;An afternoon shower;27;17;ENE;19;62%;41%;9 San Juan, Puerto Rico;Turning sunny;28;23;Mostly sunny;27;23;ENE;20;63%;42%;6 San Salvador, El Salvador;Sunshine, pleasant;25;17;Mostly sunny, nice;26;18;N;11;66%;6%;8 Sana'a, Yemen;Nice with sunshine;24;6;Mostly sunny, nice;23;7;E;8;43%;28%;8 Santiago, Chile;Plenty of sunshine;33;16;Plenty of sun;33;16;SW;9;35%;1%;11 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic;Mostly sunny;27;21;Sun and some clouds;26;20;NNE;12;67%;9%;6 Sao Paulo, Brazil;Mostly sunny;18;5;Sunny and cooler;13;3;NNW;16;71%;0%;3 Seattle, United States;A touch of rain;8;6;Occasional rain;9;7;SSE;11;84%;95%;0 Seoul, South Korea;Mostly cloudy;1;-9;Plenty of sunshine;1;-8;N;7;37%;0%;3 Shanghai, China;Cloudy and chilly;3;-1;Partly sunny, chilly;6;0;NW;13;62%;0%;4 Singapore, Singapore;Heavy p.m. showers;35;25;A t-storm in spots;32;26;N;20;75%;60%;8 Sofia, Bulgaria;Partly sunny, mild;10;-4;Clouds and sun, mild;10;-2;S;8;78%;2%;3 St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda;Mostly sunny, nice;26;23;A shower in spots;27;21;ENE;15;65%;66%;6 Stockholm, Sweden;Bit of rain, snow;2;0;Cloudy;2;-2;SSW;9;91%;59%;0 Sydney, Australia;Cooler;22;18;A morning shower;21;18;SSE;20;54%;75%;4 Taipei City, Taiwan;Rain and drizzle;16;11;A little a.m. rain;13;12;NE;17;74%;72%;1 Tallinn, Estonia;A snow shower;-1;-3;Periods of snow;2;-2;SW;20;83%;85%;0 Tashkent, Uzbekistan;Partly sunny;5;-4;Mostly sunny;9;-3;NNE;6;53%;1%;3 Tbilisi, Georgia;Partial sunshine;8;-1;Mostly sunny;5;-4;NNW;25;57%;0%;3 Tehran, Iran;Sunny and chilly;6;-3;Plenty of sunshine;8;-2;NNE;10;31%;0%;4 Tel Aviv, Israel;Mostly sunny;19;9;Plenty of sun;20;10;NE;9;62%;0%;4 Tirana, Albania;Partly sunny;16;4;Spotty showers;15;7;ESE;7;63%;84%;1 Tokyo, Japan;Partly sunny;9;1;Rain and drizzle;6;2;NNE;15;68%;88%;1 Toronto, Canada;Cloudy, not as cold;2;0;Partly sunny;3;-11;WNW;28;76%;31%;2 Tripoli, Libya;Sunshine;19;9;Mostly cloudy;21;14;SSE;5;52%;0%;3 Tunis, Tunisia;Mostly sunny, nice;19;8;A passing shower;19;11;S;11;55%;56%;1 Ulan Bator, Mongolia;Clouds and sun, cold;-17;-32;Mostly cloudy;-20;-33;NNW;10;68%;59%;2 Vancouver, Canada;A p.m. shower or two;6;3;Cloudy, rain;6;5;ENE;9;78%;94%;0 Vienna, Austria;Turning cloudy, mild;10;1;Periods of rain;8;2;W;9;74%;87%;1 Vientiane, Laos;Cloudy, not as warm;22;13;Cloudy;23;14;NE;7;44%;10%;2 Vilnius, Lithuania;Mostly cloudy;3;-1;A bit of rain;3;-1;W;21;87%;71%;0 Warsaw, Poland;Turning cloudy;6;2;Morning rain, cloudy;6;0;SSW;13;90%;75%;0 Wellington, New Zealand;Increasing clouds;24;21;Very windy, a shower;26;16;NNW;49;72%;69%;9 Yangon, Myanmar;Abundant sunshine;32;14;Sunny and pleasant;32;15;WSW;6;49%;0%;6 Yerevan, Armenia;Turning sunny;4;-3;Mostly sunny;4;-9;ESE;5;46%;10%;3 _____ Copyright 2018 AccuWeather _____ Keywords: Forecast, Global, Celsius

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-01-31 20:00:00

Global Forecast-Celsius

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3354778

Chesapeake Energy to boost drilling budget, rig count

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Chesapeake Energy Corp. has announced plans to increase its drilling budget and rig count in 2017, saying that confidence is growing in the hard-hit energy market. The Oklahoma City-based company said Tuesday that it would increase its capital expenditures to $1.9 billion to $2.5 billion this year. That's compared to 2016 numbers of $1.65 billion to $1.75 billion. Chesapeake CEO Doug Lawler said in a statement that the move will "position Chesapeake for significant production and earnings growth" in 2018. Chesapeake says it plans to operate an average of 17 rigs in 2017, compared to an average of 10 rigs in 2016. The company will release its fourth-quarter earnings report on Feb. 23. In November, Chesapeake reported a loss of $1.16 billion, or $1.54 per share, in its third-quarter results.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2017-02-15 23:09:00

Chesapeake Energy to boost drilling budget, rig count

http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3095851

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Swedes charge Uzbek man with terrorism in truck attack

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Swedish prosecutors on Tuesday charged an Uzbek man who rammed a stolen truck into a crowd in downtown Stockholm in April, killing five and injuring 14, with terrorism, attempts to carry out a terror act and causing others to be endangered. Rakhmat Akilov is the only suspect and has already confessed. Akilov was arrested hours after he drove a stolen beer truck into a crowd of shoppers on a busy pedestrian shopping street and crashed it into an upscale department store in Stockholm's city center on April 7. According to the charges obtained by The Associated Press, Akilov had offered to the Islamic State group that he would carry out an attack in Stockholm on behalf of IS, and had gathered information about possible targets. It was not clear whether they had accepted his offer. Investigators found a memory card with "material that can be connected to IS," including execution videos. Akilov also caused an explosion inside the truck he had stolen when a suspected bomb made of five gas canister with 38 screws, blades and smaller metal objects exploded. The blast caused "extensive damage to the vehicle," according to the charges. The Uzbek construction worker, who was 39 at the time of the attack, was subject to deportation from Sweden ahead of attack as his asylum application had been rejected. Swedish prosecutors and his defense lawyer plan separate news conference later Tuesday.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-01-30 17:42:00

Swedes charge Uzbek man with terrorism in truck attack

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3354137

The Latest: Seagal lawyer says sex assault allegations false

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Latest on sexual misconduct allegations against actor Steven Seagal (all times local): 1:15 p.m. A lawyer for Steven Seagal says the actor adamantly denies sexual assault allegations made by two women against the action star. Faviola Dadis said at a news conference Monday that Seagal toucher her sexually without her consent in 2002 when she was 17, and Regina Simons said Seagal assaulted her in 1995 when she was 18. Seagal's attorney Anthony Falangetti said later Monday that the accounts of both women are "completely fictitious and totally made up." He says the allegations are a disservice to women who are victimized because of real predators in the film industry. The women are the latest of several who have come forward in recent months to accuse the 65-year-old action actor of sexual misconduct. He has denied all of the allegations. ___ 11:30 a.m. An aspiring actress says she was 17 when actor Steven Seagal sexually assaulted her during a supposed casting session in 2002. Faviola Dadis said at a news conference Monday that she had recently moved to the U.S. from the Netherlands when she was invited to a Beverly Hills hotel room to audition for Seagal for a film he planned to make about Genghis Khan. The 33-year-old former model says only Seagal and his bodyguard were in the room when the actor reached under her bikini top and then grabbed her genitals. Dadis said she ended the audition and immediately left. She says she feared being blacklisted if she reported Seagal, and only recently filed a police report. Los Angeles County prosecutors say they are reviewing the case. Seagal's attorney Anthony Falangetti did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-03-20 00:00:00

The Latest: Seagal lawyer says sex assault allegations false

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3385794

BC-US--Cocoa, US

New York (AP) — Cocoa futures trading on the IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) Monday: (10 metric tons; $ per ton) Open High Low Settle Change May 2472 Down 75 May 2535 2568 2439 2445 Down 77 Jul 2555 2591 2465 2472 Down 75 Sep 2569 2602 2480 2487 Down 72 Dec 2565 2592 2481 2487 Down 70 Mar 2553 2575 2470 2476 Down 66 May 2558 2558 2478 2482 Down 63 Jul 2556 2556 2489 2491 Down 61 Sep 2568 2568 2496 2499 Down 60 Dec 2594 2594 2506 2509 Down 62

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-03-20 03:17:00

BC-US--Cocoa, US

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3385769

Fed is likely to hold rates steady at Yellen's final meeting

WASHINGTON (AP) — Janet Yellen's final Federal Reserve policy meeting will likely bring an uneventful end this week to her four-year tenure as Fed chair but perhaps offer hints of the central bank's approach to interest rates in the months to follow. Yellen, the first woman to lead the world's most influential central bank, will step down when her term expires at the end of this week. She will be succeeded by Jerome Powell, a Fed board member whose nomination as chairman the Senate approved 84-13 last week. Powell, who has served on the central bank's board since 2012, is a lawyer and investment manager by training and will be the first Fed leader in 30 years not to hold a Ph.D. in economics. President Donald Trump chose Powell for the post rather than offer Yellen a second term despite widespread praise for her performance as chair. The evidence so far suggests that a Powell-led Fed will generally follow the same cautious approach to raising interest rates that Yellen pursued during her tenure as Fed chair, at least in its early months. With the job market healthy and inflation tame, most economists say there is little reason for any abrupt change in Fed policy. "Chair Yellen gets to leave on a high note, with strong growth and low unemployment," said Diane Swonk, chief economist and a managing director at audit firm Grant Thornton. The unemployment rate is at a 17-year low of 4.1 percent, and the economy expanded at a solid 2.6 percent annual rate in the October-December quarter, helping lift growth for all of 2017 to a decent 2.3 percent. Synchronized growth in major regions across the global economy has helped energize the U.S. economy. And a sweeping tax overhaul that Trump pushed through Congress last month is expected to further support U.S. growth. Traders in the financial markets foresee a 96 percent chance that they Fed will leave rates alone when its meeting ends Wednesday, according to data tracked by the CME Group. The next rate increase is expected in March; traders see a 78 percent likelihood then. The March policy meeting will also be the first time that Powell is scheduled to hold a news conference, something the leader of the Fed does four times a year. Economists are roughly divided on whether they think Fed's policymakers will raise rates three times this year, as they did in 2017, or four times. The pivotal factor will likely be how inflation performs. For the past six years, inflation has been a no-show, running below even the Fed's target level of 2 percent. A tight job market, with pressure building for pay increases, and potentially higher consumer and business spending resulting from the Republican tax cuts, could accelerate inflation this year. "I think the Fed will end up moving rates up either three or four times, and it will depend on how the data comes in," said Sung Won Sohn, an economics professor at California State University, Channel Islands. "If the tax cuts lift business and consumer confidence and result in a much stronger economy, then we will see four rate hikes." Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, said he was foresees four rate increases this year beginning in March. Zandi expects the Fed to accelerate its pace of increases because he thinks unemployment will fall further, leading to wage increases and a pickup in inflation. "Everything is pointing to a more aggressive Fed this year," Zandi said. The Fed has modestly raised its benchmark rate five times since December 2015, when it began tightening for the first time since the height of the financial crisis in 2008. When the crisis erupted, the Fed cut its rate to a record low near zero to help rescue the financial system and the economy and then held it there for seven years. Because the Fed has raised rates only gradually over the past two years to avoid slowing the economy, its key rate remains in a still-low range 1.25 percent to 1.5 percent. With most analysts foreseeing a rate increase in March, the Fed may decide to signal that likelihood when it issues a statement after its meeting ends Wednesday. The lineup of Fed regional bank presidents who vote on the central bank's rate policy — a lineup that rotates each year — is expected to be somewhat more "hawkish" this year. Fed hawks are those who are less likely to favor low rates to maximize employment and more likely to back rate hikes to prevent future high inflation. With Yellen's departure, the seven-member Fed board will have four vacancies. Marvin Goodfriend, a conservative economist, has been nominated by Trump for one of the vacant board seats. Trump has yet to make nominations for the others.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-02-03 07:00:00

Fed is likely to hold rates steady at Yellen's final meeting

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3353956

Super Bowl week to feature Snoop Dogg, J. Lo, Pink, Cardi B

NEW YORK (AP) — Snoop Dogg will be celebrating Super Bowl week with two of his favorite things: worship and women, headlining BET's annual pre-Super Bowl gospel concert and the Playboy party. The busy week also features performances by Jennifer Lopez, Pink, Cardi B and the Chainsmokers. Super Bowl 52 will take place Sunday at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota, where the Philadelphia Eagles will take on the New England Patriots. The biggest of the stars, though, is Justin Timberlake: Before he headlines the halftime show, he will hold a listening party Thursday at Paisley Park for his new album, "Man of the Woods," to be released Friday. Pink will also play double duty: She will sing the National Anthem before the Big Game, and will perform a concert Friday night at Nomadic Live! at The Armory. Friday's events include a Rolling Stone magazine party with Migos, 21 Savage and T-Pain; Ellie Goulding and Kygo at Mystic Lake; and Golden Globe-nominated "Insecure" actress Issa Rae speaking at the NFL's third "In the Huddle" Women's Summit For Young Women. Rae's "Insecure" co-star, Yvonne Orji, will co-host BET's gospel concert with Pastor John Gray on Thursday, where performers include Faith Evans, Sheila E., Donnie McClurkin, Erica Campbell and Tye Tribbett. Thursday will also include the EA Sports Bowl with Imagine Dragons, Machine Gun Kelly and Mura Masa at The Armory, while The Chainsmokers will perform at Mystic Lake. Lopez will headline the DirecTV Super Saturday Night concert — a show Taylor Swift performed at last year. Maxim will hold a party Saturday with Cardi B and Post Malone, while Dave Matthews Band and Florida Georgia Line will also hold concerts that night. It's the same day Snoop Dogg will DJ Playboy's Big Game Weekend Party (he will also hold a screening Friday for his new Netflix show, "Coach Snoop.") Kelly Clarkson and Sheila E. will perform concerts ahead of the Super Bowl on Sunday, while Diddy, DJ Khaled, French Montana, Cardi B, G-Eazy and Busta Rhymes will perform at the first annual Players Ball Extravaganza after the game.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-01-30 03:49:00

Super Bowl week to feature Snoop Dogg, J. Lo, Pink, Cardi B

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3353933

WADA says possible issues with redesigned sample bottles

MONTREAL (AP) — The World Anti-Doping Agency is looking into possible integrity issues with urine-collection bottles that were redesigned after the Russian Olympic doping scandal. WADA said it learned on Jan. 19, less than a month before the start of the Pyeongchang Games, that the bottles could be susceptible to manual opening upon freezing of a sample. Investigators found that Russians were able to surreptitiously open bottles at the Sochi Olympics and exchange dirty urine samples with clean ones previously provided the same athlete. That led to a redesign of the bottles, and WADA said if there is, in fact, a flaw, it "will raise concerns and questions." Russia's Olympic committee has been banned from the Pyeongchang Games, and this weekend, the International Olympic Committee said it had approved 169 Russian athletes to compete as "Olympic Athletes from Russia."

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-01-29 09:10:00

WADA says possible issues with redesigned sample bottles

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3353819

Researcher finds Georgia voter records exposed on internet

HOUSTON (AP) — A security researcher disclosed a gaping security hole at the outfit that manages Georgia's election technology, days before the state holds a closely watched congressional runoff vote on June 20. The security failure left the state's 6.7 million voter records and other sensitive files exposed to hackers, and may have been left unpatched for seven months. The revealed files might have allowed attackers to plant malware and possibly rig votes or wreak chaos with voter rolls during elections. Georgia is especially vulnerable to such disruption, as the entire state relies on antiquated touchscreen voting machines that provide no hardcopy record of votes, making it all but impossible to tell if anyone has manipulated the tallies. The true dimensions of the failure were first reported Wednesday by Politico Magazine . The affected Center for Election Systems referred all questions to its host, Kennesaw State University, which declined comment. In March, the university had mischaracterized the flaw's discovery as a security breach. Logan Lamb, a 29-year-old Atlanta-based private security researcher formerly with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, made the discovery last August. He told The Associated Press he decided to go public after the publication last week of a classified National Security Agency report describing a sophisticated scheme, allegedly by Russian military intelligence, to infiltrate local U.S. elections systems using phishing emails. The NSA report offered the most detailed account yet of an attempt by foreign agents to probe the rickety and poorly funded U.S. elections system. The Department of Homeland Security had previously reported attempts last year to gain unauthorized access to voter registration databases in 20 states — one of which, in Illinois, succeeded, though the state says no harm resulted. It also emboldened Lamb to come forward with his findings. Lamb discovered the security hole — a misconfigured server — one day as he did a search of the Kennesaw State election-systems website. There, he found a directory open to the internet that contained not just the state voter database, but PDF files with instructions and passwords used by poll workers to sign into a central server used on Election Day, said Lamb. "It was an open invitation to anybody pretending to even know a little bit about computers to get into the system," said Marilyn Marks, an election-transparency activist whose Colorado-based foundation participated in a failed lawsuit that sought to bar the use of paperless voting machines in next week's election. The directory of files "was already indexed by Google," Lamb said in an interview — meaning that anyone could have found it with the right search. Lamb said he notified the center's director, Merle King, who assured him the hole would be patched and who asked to keep his discovery to himself. Politico reported that the center never notified the secretary of state's office, which oversees elections and contracts with Kennesaw State to manage the technology part. The Associated Press left a phone message and sent email to King seeking comment but he did not immediately respond. Lamb said he decided not to disclose the problem at the time — mostly because he "didn't want to needlessly escalate things" prior to the Nov. 8 general election. But in March, a security colleague Lamb had told about the flaw, checked out the center's website and discovered that the vulnerabilities had only been partially fixed. "We were both pretty floored," said Lamb. The researcher, Chris Grayson, said he, too, was able to access the same voter record database and other sensitive files in a publicly accessible directory. Grayson contacted a friend who is a professor at Kennesaw State. Two days later, the FBI was called in to investigate. It did not bring charges against either researcher, finding no evidence of illegal entry . "At the end of the day we were doing what we thought was in the best interest of the republic — informing the parties that needed to be privy to this sort of issue," said Grayson. The special election next Tuesday will fill the seat vacated by Republican Tom Price after he was named Health and Human Services Secretary. It has attracted national attention, including that of President Donald Trump, for whom it could be a bellwether. First-time candidate Jon Ossoff is a Democrat with a national security background. His GOP opponent is former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2017-06-15 13:25:00

Researcher finds Georgia voter records exposed on internet

http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3188430

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Column: Mayweather-McGregor should be fun up to opening bell

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The real fun will come before the fight, and what a spectacle it should be. Put Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor on a stage together to promote their fight and anything can happen. Put them together in a ring, though, and it's an absolute mismatch. That's the first thing to consider when all the talk begins about what a devastating puncher McGregor is. The first thing to think about when it's suggested that Mayweather may have lost some of his skills after two years of traveling the world in his private jet. If you thought you were snookered out of $100 when Mayweather fought a snoozer against Manny Pacquiao, you might keep a firm hand on your wallet. The greatest defensive fighter of his time against a guy who has never thrown a punch in a pro boxing match? Let the yawning begin. This could be 12 rounds of tedium on Aug. 26 in Las Vegas that makes Mayweather-Pacquiao look like Hagler-Hearns in comparison. It might be some kind of bizarre disqualification when McGregor finds out Mayweather doesn't stick his chin out to be hit the way some UFC fighters do or really does try to kick Mayweather when he's down. What it won't be is any kind of legitimate fight, no matter how much rabid UFC fans want desperately to believe it will be. That's no knock on McGregor, who is a ferocious puncher in the octagon with a personality to match his power. Indeed, he would likely be heavily favored over Mayweather had the two decided to do the fight under UFC rules. One of the great trash talkers, too, who was just warming up on Wednesday when he told UFC chief Dana White what his intentions are. "Conor told me this morning the McGregor clan has been taking over villages for 300 years," White said, "and that Floyd's village is next." Good stuff, and there's lots more to come. McGregor can turn a phrase as well as he can throw a punch or a water bottle at an opponent. If this was a reality show it would be a hit in the ratings. Just imagine the scene when McGregor rolls into Mayweather's new strip club in Las Vegas and mimics his propensity for throwing cash around. But this is a boxing match, and Mayweather is a masterful boxer. He was throwing punches before he could walk, and if he had elected to stay in retirement he'd still be considered one of the top 10 fighters ever. Two years out of the ring won't change that. Age won't be a factor, either, and Mayweather has never let himself get out of shape. Oddsmakers in this gambling city understand that, setting the initial line at a whopping 11-1 in Mayweather's favor. It would be even higher than that, but UFC fans will be lining up with $20 bills in hand to bet their man as an underdog. "Realistically if we were just putting up a number and didn't have to take bets on it, Floyd would be 100-1," said Nick Bogdanovich, oddsmaker for the William Hill chain. Mayweather was out on a run in Los Angeles when the fight was announced, training intensely already like he always does. Someone else will have to watch over the strip club for a few months while he focuses on the task at hand. There's huge money at stake, even for a fighter who made more than $200 million for beating Pacquiao. No one is making predictions, but it's likely the hybrid fight will at least end up in second place in pay-per-view sales behind the $400 million or so brought in by the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight. Balance that against the chance McGregor may ruin his brand — and that of the UFC — by being embarrassed by Mayweather in the ring, and the money wins out. Even White, who was initially skeptical about putting his star in a boxing match, seems ready now to push the idea that he could actually win. "I've stopped doubting this kid a long time ago," White said. "The reason he's such a superstar is this guy will fight anyone, anywhere, at any time." Give McGregor credit for doing that, but give him even more credit for what turned out to be a masterful plan to make the fight happen. It was two years ago that he first suggested he could beat Mayweather in a boxing ring, and he's trolled Mayweather ever since, jabbing at every opening until he finally got him to sign on the dotted line. Sure, it's a freak show of sorts, bordering on something you see in WWE. But both fighters know their roles, and they will play them well. So enjoy the ride, because it should be a wild one. Just understand that the fun almost surely ends when the opening bell rings. ___ Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at tdahlberg@ap.org or http:twitter.com//timdahlberg

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2017-06-15 15:10:00

Column: Mayweather-McGregor should be fun up to opening bell

http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3188511

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Japanese Navy helicopter carrier Kaga to head for Indian Ocean

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Japan will send its helicopter carrier the Kaga on a two-month journey to the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean next September, the Reuters news agency reported Wednesday. The move is seen as countering Chinese aspirations in the area, especially its aggressive posture on disputed islands in South East Asia. Reuters quoted two unnamed Japanese officials as saying the Kaga’s tour served to underline “a free and open Indo-Pacific,” with stops planned in Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka. The Kaga is a 248-meter-long helicopter carrier designed as a destroyer with anti-submarine capabilities. The ship, launched only last year, is as large as any Japanese aircraft carrier during the Second World War, Reuters reported. Tokyo reportedly wants to make the journey a regular annual occasion, as last year it sent the Kaga’s sister ship, the Izumo, on a similar tour. For this year’s event, an escort ship will accompany the helicopter carrier while joint drills with navies from regional countries were likely, Reuters said.

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2018-07-04 19:44:00

Joint drills with other countries are a possibility: Reuters report.Japan will send its helicopter carrier the Kaga on a two-month journey to the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean next September.

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3474187

'Killing' of Babchenko: A big show raises lots of questions

There were condolences and tears for nearly 24 hours. Politicians from around the world commented on the tragedy. Journalists have been working non-stop. Then it turns out that there was no assassination after all. Instead, it was a special operation conducted by Ukraine's security services that has left more questions than answers. Was it necessary for Ukraine's security services to fake the death of Russian journalist Arkady Babchenko in order to foil a genuine assassination attempt? Solving a crime does not require such a performance. Perhaps, Kyiv wanted a wider audience for what was planned and felt a staged assassination could ensure the international publicity it wanted. Kyiv can use the case to blame Russia for organizing Babchenko's murder, but, on the other hand, the Kremlin now is accusing Kyiv of manipulating the international community with a fake story. Can the Ukrainian authorities be trusted? How will the world react now if a tragedy in Ukraine really happens? Wait a day or two just in case? Kyiv is driving itself into a blind corner if it does not present solid evidence in the future. Even if there is comprehensive support for allegations against the alleged organizer of the planned crime on behalf of Russia, Ukraine runs the risk of losing whatever trust and credibility it has. Could Babchenko's wife had been kept in the dark? As stated at a press conference after the special operation, Babchenko'sfamily was not informed of the plan. The journalist apologized in a live broadcast to his wife: "Special apologies to my wife, Olechka, there was no other option." Earlier it was reported in a police statement that his wife has found Arkady wounded and called the police and an ambulance. This is a contradiction that needs to be clarified. How did Ukraine's security services manage to reach an agreement with the perpetrator of the crime? The man who allegedly killed a journalist collaborated with Ukraine's security services. According to Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko, after Ukraine's security services found out about the assassination plans, they managed to achieve cooperation with the perpetrator. But so far there have been no more additional details. That's not enough information to get the full picture of what really happened.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-05-31 06:02:00

It had all the makings of a Hollywood story in Ukraine. Well-known Russian war correspondent Arkady Babchenko was declared dead in Kyiv and then appeared on TV very much alive. Will the incident erode trust in Ukraine?

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3444575

Significant ash falls near erupting Philippine volcano

LEGAZPI, Philippines (AP) — A significant amount of ash has fallen on towns near the Philippines' most active volcano after energetic eruptions of lava from the crater. Mount Mayon in northeastern Albay province has been erupting more than two weeks, and 84,000 people who fled the danger zone are staying in schools and other crowded shelters. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said one large lava eruption lasted more than an hour and a half late Monday. The ash plume reached 1.5 kilometers (.9 miles) above the crater and caused significant ashfall in the towns of Camalig and Guinobatan. Mayon has been belching red-hot lava fountains, huge columns of ash and molten rocks into the sky and plunging communities into darkness with falling ash since Jan. 14. It has remained at alert level four on a scale of five, indicating a more violent eruption could be imminent. Scientists have warned that despite the repeated eruptions of lava, Mayon is still swollen with magma below the surface and could erupt explosively. No injuries have been reported in the current eruption, but authorities have struggled to keep people out of the danger zone 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the crater. They are worried the eruption may last months, disrupting the lives and livelihoods of people in Mayon's shadow. Provincial leaders say disaster funds are running low and have said supplies like facemasks will be depleted if the eruption lasts. The government has raised the possibility of creating a permanent "no man's land" around Mayon, a sensitive and complicated proposal that would affect tens and thousands of people living in the fertile farmlands nearby. One possibility is expanding a national park around the base of the volcano, where trees could grow and become a buffer against volcanic flows endangering villages and towns. Mayon has erupted about 50 times in the last 500 years, sometimes violently. In 2013, an ash eruption killed five climbers who had ventured near the summit despite warnings. The Philippines has about 22 active volcanoes. The explosion of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 was one of the biggest volcanic eruptions of the 20th century, killing hundreds. ___ Associated Press writer Jim Gomez in Manila contributed to this report.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-01-30 12:06:00

Significant ash falls near erupting Philippine volcano

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3354052

'Smallville' actress granted bail in alleged sex cult case

NEW YORK (AP) — Allison Mack, the TV actress who starred in The CW network's "Smallville," was bailed out of jail on Tuesday and met with a chaotic scene outside a courthouse where she's charged with helping recruit women as sex slaves for the leader of a self-improvement group in upstate New York. A federal judge in Brooklyn agreed to release Mack, who was arrested last week, on $5 million bond and place her under home detention in California. She'll be living with her parents at their home in Los Alamitos as she awaits trial. Mack, 35, appeared in tan jail smocks for a brief court appearance. She only spoke to answer "yes" when the judge asked her if she understood the bail conditions. Among those conditions: No contact with current or former members of the secretive group known as NXIVM. She'll also be subject to electronic monitoring and restrictions on computer and cellphone use. By the time Mack left the courthouse more than two hours later, she had switched into a jean jacket, gray slacks and sneakers. She stared straight ahead in silence as she and her lawyers fought through a media scrum to a waiting car, with at least three photographers tripping over each other and toppling to the sidewalk along the way. The actress played Chloe Sullivan, a teenage friend of Superman, on "Smallville." Since that series ended in 2011, she has played only minor roles. Prosecutors said she helped recruit women for NXIVM leader Keith Raniere by telling them that they were joining a purported female mentorship group, prosecutors said. Instead, the victims "were exploited, both sexually and for their labor," and even branded with Raniere's initials, prosecutors said. Federal authorities raided a residence near Albany where NXIVM was headquartered in March. The organization also ran programs in Mexico. Raniere, 57, was arrested in Mexico, brought to the U.S. on March 26 and is being held without bail in Brooklyn on sex-trafficking charges. At the time of Raniere's capture, Mack was living with him at a luxury villa in Puerto Vallarta, according to court papers.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-04-25 06:30:00

'Smallville' actress granted bail in alleged sex cult case

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3413715

Luongo gets 3rd shutout, Panthers beat Canadiens 2-0

MONTREAL (AP) — Roberto Luongo stopped 28 shots for his third shutout of the season and 76th of his career, leading the Florida Panthers to a 2-0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night. Aaron Ekblad and Aleksander Barkov scored to help the Panthers inch closer to a playoff position, pulling three points behind idle new Jersey for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. Florida has two games in hand on the Devils. Antti Niemi finished with 38 saves for Montreal, which was shut out for the second straight game and 12th time this season — including three against the Panthers. The Canadiens were coming off a 4-0 loss at Toronto on Saturday. The opening 10 minutes saw two fights, one of which had Ekblad sparring with Nicolas Deslauriers. It may have fired up the big defenseman because he stole a puck from Michael McCarron, deked past defenseman Jeff Petry and beat Niemi with a move to the backhand for an unassisted goal with 1:29 left in the opening period. Jacob De La Rose thought he had tied it for Montreal 17 seconds later, but a video review showed Alex Galchenyuk was offside by a toenail and it was waived off. Barkov got his 26th of the season at 6:23 of the third when his shot from the left side went in off Montreal forward Logan Shaw. Star goalie Carey Price returned to the Montreal lineup after concussion suffered Feb. 20. He backed up Niemi. UP NEXT: Panthers: At Ottawa on Tuesday night as they continue a stretch of seven of eight on the road. Canadiens: At Pittsburgh on Wednesday night.

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2018-03-20 10:37:00

Luongo gets 3rd shutout, Panthers beat Canadiens 2-0

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3385965

The Latest: Louisiana man walks free, cleared in 1979 rape

GRETNA, La. (AP) — The Latest on a Louisiana man whose conviction in a 1979 rape case was thrown out after he spent close to four decades behind bars (all times local): 2:35 p.m. A Louisiana man imprisoned for nearly four decades is free after being cleared in a 1979 rape. Fifty-eight-year-old Malcolm Alexander's conviction and life sentence were thrown out Tuesday by a state judge in Gretna, a New Orleans suburb. Prosecutors moved to dismiss the charge and, hours later, Alexander was released from the Jefferson Parish jail. Judge June Darensburg threw out the conviction after defense attorneys argued Alexander's trial lawyer had failed to point out that the victim had been doubtful when she identified Alexander as her attacker. According to lawyers with the New York-based Innocence Project, DNA evidence also bolstered the argument that Alexander was not the attacker. Alexander's relatives wept and applauded in the courtroom when Darensburg ordered his release. ___ 11:30 a.m. A Louisiana man imprisoned for nearly four decades has been cleared in a 1979 rape and is preparing to walk free. Fifty-eight-year-old Malcolm Alexander's conviction was thrown out Tuesday by a state judge in Jefferson Parish. Prosecutors moved to dismiss the charge. Alexander was expected to walk free after clearing paper work Tuesday afternoon. Judge June Darensburg threw out the conviction after defense attorneys argued Alexander's trial lawyer had failed to point out that the victim had been doubtful when she identified Alexander as her attacker. DNA evidence also played a role in the reversal. Lawyers from the New York-based Innocence Project handled the case. They thanked Jefferson Parish authorities for their cooperation. Alexander's relatives — including his 82-year-old mother — applauded and broke into tears in court.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-01-31 04:37:00

The Latest: Louisiana man walks free, cleared in 1979 rape

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3354442

Expanded Conference Glance

All Times EST EASTERN CONFERENCE GP W L OT Pts GF GA Home Away Div Tampa Bay 50 34 13 3 71 176 128 17-5-1 17-8-2 9-3-1 Boston 48 29 11 8 66 157 119 16-6-4 13-5-4 10-1-2 Washington 49 29 15 5 63 150 138 18-7-1 11-8-4 8-4-3 Toronto 51 28 18 5 61 162 146 13-8-2 15-10-3 6-4-1 Pittsburgh 52 28 21 3 59 156 155 18-7-1 10-14-2 10-4-0 New Jersey 49 25 16 8 58 147 147 13-8-3 12-8-5 5-6-1 Columbus 50 27 19 4 58 133 140 16-8-1 11-11-3 8-5-2 Philadelphia 49 24 17 8 56 141 141 13-9-4 11-8-4 5-2-4 N.Y. Rangers 50 25 20 5 55 153 151 17-8-3 8-12-2 7-6-3 N.Y. Islanders 51 25 21 5 55 173 184 13-8-3 12-13-2 7-7-1 Carolina 50 23 19 8 54 139 155 11-7-4 12-12-4 6-5-3 Florida 48 20 22 6 46 136 159 11-8-3 9-14-3 6-4-1 Detroit 48 19 21 8 46 126 146 10-10-7 9-11-1 6-9-2 Montreal 50 20 24 6 46 130 159 12-10-5 8-14-1 9-6-2 Ottawa 48 15 24 9 39 125 168 9-11-5 6-13-4 5-8-3 Buffalo 50 14 27 9 37 115 166 6-13-3 8-14-6 3-5-2 WESTERN CONFERENCE GP W L OT Pts GF GA Home Away Div Vegas 49 33 12 4 70 168 130 19-3-2 14-9-2 12-1-1 Winnipeg 51 30 13 8 68 167 137 18-3-1 12-10-7 7-5-2 Nashville 48 29 12 7 65 146 125 16-5-3 13-7-4 10-4-2 St. Louis 52 31 18 3 65 151 131 18-10-0 13-8-3 7-4-1 Dallas 51 28 19 4 60 155 137 17-8-1 11-11-3 7-10-0 San Jose 49 26 16 7 59 145 138 14-7-3 12-9-4 12-2-3 Los Angeles 50 27 18 5 59 142 121 12-9-3 15-9-2 6-9-3 Minnesota 50 27 18 5 59 147 142 17-4-4 10-14-1 8-8-0 Anaheim 51 25 17 9 59 144 142 14-9-3 11-8-6 8-5-5 Colorado 49 27 18 4 58 160 143 18-7-1 9-11-3 7-6-1 Calgary 50 25 17 8 58 139 139 12-12-3 13-5-5 8-6-3 Chicago 50 24 19 7 55 148 137 12-10-3 12-9-4 6-7-2 Edmonton 49 22 24 3 47 135 157 11-13-1 11-11-2 10-2-0 Vancouver 50 20 24 6 46 131 162 9-13-3 11-11-3 5-9-1 Arizona 50 12 29 9 33 118 172 6-15-3 6-14-6 1-7-5 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. Top three teams in each division and two wild cards per conference advance to playoffs. Monday's Games No games scheduled Tuesday's Games Minnesota 3, Columbus 2, SO Pittsburgh 5, San Jose 2 Florida 4, N.Y. Islanders 1 Anaheim 3, Boston 1 Carolina 2, Ottawa 1 New Jersey 3, Buffalo 1 Winnipeg 3, Tampa Bay 1 St. Louis 3, Montreal 1 Chicago 2, Nashville 1 Los Angeles 3, Dallas 0 Vegas 4, Calgary 2 Vancouver 4, Colorado 3, OT Wednesday's Games N.Y. Islanders at Toronto, 7:30 p.m. San Jose at Detroit, 8 p.m. Philadelphia at Washington, 8 p.m. Thursday's Games Toronto at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m. Montreal at Carolina, 7 p.m. St. Louis at Boston, 7 p.m. Florida at Buffalo, 7 p.m. Anaheim at Ottawa, 7 p.m. Philadelphia at New Jersey, 7 p.m. Vegas at Winnipeg, 8 p.m. Los Angeles at Nashville, 8:30 p.m. Tampa Bay at Calgary, 9 p.m. Dallas at Arizona, 9 p.m. Colorado at Edmonton, 9 p.m. Chicago at Vancouver, 10 p.m. Friday's Games Washington at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. Detroit at Carolina, 7 p.m. San Jose at Columbus, 7 p.m. Vegas at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-01-31 13:42:00

Expanded Conference Glance

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3354687

Special Education Pioneer, n2y, Wins Two 'Best of' Categories by Technology Industry Organization OHTec; Continues Stream of Product Awards

HURON, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 23, 2018--Ohio-based edtech company, n2y, won two categories at the OHTec 12th annual Best of Tech Awards. n2y, a pioneer in effective special education, was named the “Best Use of Tech for Social Good” and the “Best Tech Team.” These awards add to a stream of industry recognition that n2y has received over the past quarter, including EdTech Digest and a BESSIE that showcase the most effective and innovative technology offerings. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180423006473/en/ Ohio-based n2y - pioneer in special education - wins 2 "Best of" Awards by OHTec (Photo: Business Wire) “n2y was founded on a social mission: to serve the needs of students that are often overlooked,” explained company CEO Chrissy Wostmann. “Winning the ‘best of social good’ category is particularly rewarding since it recognizes the success we have had in serving n2y’s end-user, the students with special learning needs. The ‘best tech team’ award shows that our innovation in special education and our commitment to our customers continue to advance in both efficacies and in deployment. This is the winning combination that propels our growth and our work.” “n2y’s highly talented tech department designs and builds creative and innovative solutions for both its external and internal customers. The team is grateful for the recognition that comes with OHTec's ‘Tech Department of the Year’ award,” stated Steve Lubowicz, n2y’s Chief Technology Officer. OHTec is a technology industry advocate and support resource within the Greater Cleveland Partnership, that focuses on building relationships and a strong technology industry within Northeast Ohio. As a voice for the technology community, OHTec’s goal is to ensure a high level of engagement among the companies and individuals in the industry. “Being honored by our peer companies at OHTec with two ‘best of’ awards is a high point for n2y’s ongoing stream of recognition and awards,” CEO Wostmann continued. “The best reward for n2y and its nearly 100 employees is knowing that the student population we serve is successfully learning with our breakthrough product solutions.” More than 220 tech leaders from across Northeast Ohio gathered last week to celebrate the highest performing and most innovative technology companies in Greater Cleveland. About n2y n2y® is changing the way special education is taught by enabling students with special needs access to the general education curriculum through its award-winning curriculum, Unique Learning System® and with News-2-You®, a weekly current events newspaper where students are engaged with current and relevant news. SymbolStix PRIME®, a symbol database and creation platform, and newly-launched L3 Skills™ deliver resources specifically designed for learners outside the general education spectrum. With age-appropriate learning solutions, n2y is committed to impacting and advancing the lives of individuals with special needs. With n2y solutions, everyone can learn. For more information, visit n2y.com. View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180423006473/en/ CONTACT: n2y Margaret deBoer, 419-616-5228 VP, Marketing MDEBOER@N2Y.COM KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA OHIO INDUSTRY KEYWORD: EDUCATION PRIMARY/SECONDARY OTHER EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY SOFTWARE PRESCHOOL SOURCE: n2y Copyright Business Wire 2018. PUB: 04/23/2018 04:31 PM/DISC: 04/23/2018 04:31 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180423006473/en

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-04-24 04:31:00

Special Education Pioneer, n2y, Wins Two 'Best of' Categories by Technology Industry Organization OHTec; Continues Stream of Product Awards

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3413604

Golden age of ocean travel celebrated at London museum

LONDON (AP) — Visitors to London will soon be able to enjoy the golden age of ocean travel at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The "Ocean Liners: Speed and Style" exhibit is billed as the first ever to explore the design and cultural impact of the great passenger ships that linked the United States and Europe. Among the items on display are a Cartier tiara recovered from the Lusitania, which sank in 1915, and a panel fragment from the Titanic's first class lounge. There is also an Art Deco interior panel from the famed French liner Normandie. Director Tristram Hunt said the museum has been collecting ship-related objects for more than a century. The exhibit opens Saturday and will run until June 10.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-02-01 00:45:00

Golden age of ocean travel celebrated at London museum

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3354856

Judge says Trump made 'vicious' anti-immigrant statements

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge in New York hearing two lawsuits challenging the cancellation of a program protecting some young immigrants from deportation has accused President Donald Trump of making "extreme" and "vicious" anti-immigrant statements. U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis told Justice Department lawyers Tuesday he could not ignore Trump's "drumbeat" of statements and tweets about immigrants from Mexico and other countries. Garaufis is hearing lawsuits seeking to overturn the administration's decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The plaintiffs say the decision to end the program was motivated by racial animus against Latinos. Lawyers for the administration strongly deny the Republican president's decision was motivated by hatred. They say the DACA program was legally flawed. Trump has expressed sympathy for immigrants covered by the DACA program.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-01-31 03:56:00

Judge says Trump made 'vicious' anti-immigrant statements

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3354411

Aho, Hurricanes beat Senators 2-1

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Sebastian Aho and Victor Rask scored in the third period, helping the Carolina Hurricanes top the slumping Ottawa Senators 2-1 on Tuesday night. Cam Ward made 29 saves for Carolina in the opener of a season-long eight-game homestand. The Hurricanes returned from the All-Star break with their second straight win after dropping six of eight. Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored and Craig Anderson made 37 saves for the Senators, who have lost six in a row.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-02-03 00:00:00

Aho, Hurricanes beat Senators 2-1

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3354585

Armenian-Americans march in LA for genocide recognition

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Thousands of Armenian-Americans took to the streets of Los Angeles on Tuesday to commemorate the deaths of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians under the Ottoman Empire a century ago. The demonstrations came hours after Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan resigned following 10 days of large anti-government protests in that country. Marchers in Los Angeles are demanding that the 1.5 million deaths starting in 1915 be recognized by Turkey as genocide. A separate protest was planned outside the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles. Although Armenians and many historians consider it to be genocide, Turkey — successor of the Ottoman Empire — contends those who died were victims of civil war and unrest. Los Angeles demonstrators waving Armenian and American flags carried signs that read "1915 never again" and "Turkish denial must end." "We're here to commemorate what happened and remember the victims but also to send a message to the Turkish government," said Dickran Khodanian, an organizer with the Armenian National Committee of America. Marie Keshishian, an 18-year-old student at Glendale College, said all four of her great-great grandparents were killed in the genocide and that she was marching in their honor. "I'm out here today to march for justice, to march for recognition, to march for the people — my ancestors, my great-great grandparents who lost their lives ... to hopefully get more people to recognize and accept that there was a genocide," Keshishian said. Andrew Antaramian, a 32-year-old Pasadena attorney, said his ancestors were able to flee Armenia safely and that he joins in the marches every year. "It's important to always commemorate what our ancestors have gone through because if this is not going to occur again, we have to remind the world what our people went through," he said. Kim Kardashian West, one of the most famous Armenian-Americans in the U.S., tweeted an old photo of herself in Armenia and praised global demonstrations calling for the genocide to be recognized. "It's so inspiring to see all Armenians united in peaceful protests making a difference," she said. "It's a historic day for Armenia."

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-04-25 04:00:00

Armenian-Americans march in LA for genocide recognition

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3413453

Mom of Utah man jailed in Venezuela airs tape on his health

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The mother of Utah man imprisoned in Venezuela for nearly 1½ years is circulating a new audio recording of her son talking about how he's suffering without medical care. Laurie Holt said Monday that she's sharing the recording Joshua Holt sent by cellphone so people can hear how dire the situation is. She's calling on Venezuela to release him on humanitarian grounds. In the short recording, he talks about throwing up all night, feeling dizzy and struggling to think. The 25-year-old traveled to Venezuela in June 2016 to marry a woman. The couple was arrested at her family's Caracas apartment by police who alleged Holt was stockpiling weapons. Their families say they're innocent. Joshua Holt has a hearing scheduled Tuesday in Caracas, but most of his previous hearings have been canceled.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2017-12-12 09:13:00

Mom of Utah man jailed in Venezuela airs tape on his health

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3318295

How major US stock indexes fared Monday

Facebook plunged to its worst loss in four years Monday and led a rout in technology companies. The social media company's stock fell following reports that a data mining firm working for the Trump campaign improperly obtained data on 50 million Facebook users. On Monday: The S&P 500 index lost 39.09 points, or 1.4 percent, to 2,712.92. The Dow Jones industrial average slid 335.60 points, or 1.3 percent, to 24,610.91. The Nasdaq composite retreated 137.74 points, or 1.8 percent, to 7,344.24. The Russell 2000 index of smaller-company stocks skidded 15.49 points, or 1 percent, to 1,570.56. For the year: The S&P 500 is up 39.31 points, or 1.5 percent. The Dow is down 108.31 points, or 0.4 percent. The Nasdaq is up 440.85 points, or 6.4 percent. The Russell 2000 is up 35.05 points, or 2.3 percent.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-03-20 04:36:00

How major US stock indexes fared Monday

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3385803

Trump: 'The state of our union is strong because our people are strong.'

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump: 'The state of our union is strong because our people are strong.'

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-01-31 10:22:00

Trump: 'The state of our union is strong because our people are strong.'

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3354563

Court: Questioning of Bullock's accused stalker unlawful

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An appeals court says Los Angeles police violated the rights of a man arrested inside Sandra Bullock's home when they obtained his consent to search his home and recovered illegal automatic firearms. The 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled Tuesday that police detectives violated Joshua James Corbett's rights to remain silent during a police interrogation, and his right against an unlawful search of his home. Corbett was arrested in June 2014 inside Bullock's home, and he has been charged with felony stalking. Corbett was unarmed at the Oscar winner's home, but police later found several automatic weapons and illegal tracer ammunition in his home. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge threw out evidence supporting the weapons charges last year after determining Corbett didn't give officers permission to search his home.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2017-02-15 08:30:00

Court: Questioning of Bullock's accused stalker unlawful

http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3095177

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Facebook and Newell Brands skid while Orbotech climbs

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Monday: Facebook Inc., down $12.53 to $172.56 The social media company faced new criticism after reports a data mining firm working for the Trump campaign improperly obtained and then kept data on tens of millions of users. CACI International Inc., down $11.85 to $145.60 The defense contractor offered to buy CSRA for $7.2 billion, challenging a deal between CSRA and General Dynamics. Orbotech Ltd., up $4.09 to $63.99 KLA-Tencor agreed to buy the company, which makes equipment for electronics manufacturers, for about $1.88 billion. Stewart Information Services Corp., up $1.89 to $42.61 The title insurance and real estate services company said it will be bought by Fidelity National Financial for about $1.2 billion. GGP Inc., down 20 cents to $21.52 Reuters reported that Brookfield Property Partners made a new offer for the shopping mall operator. Universal Display Corp., down $15 to $109 Bloomberg News reported that Apple is designing and making display screens and may stop buying them from other companies. Newell Brands Inc., down $1.87 to $26.79 The consumer products company announced a deal with activist investor Carl Icahn, who will nominate four directors to its board. Alphabet Inc., down $34.35 to $1,100.07 Technology companies fared worse than the rest of the market Monday.

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2018-03-20 04:35:00

Facebook and Newell Brands skid while Orbotech climbs

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3385806

Student from Zambia performs in national poetry contest

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Maine high school student who fled his native Zambia says the experience of participating in a national spoken poetry competition was "heaven" even though he didn't advance. Deering High School junior Allan Monga had to go to court to become one of 53 participants Tuesday in the national Poetry Out Loud competition in Washington, D.C. U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, who championed his cause, said the asylum seeker learned about "persisting through challenges to chase your dreams." A federal judge allowed the 19-year-old Monga to participate in the competition hosted by the National Endowment for the Arts. The NEA originally prohibited Monga from competing because he hasn't been granted legal asylum. Monga told the Portland Press Herald that, "Just being here and experiencing this was like heaven."

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-04-25 00:00:00

Student from Zambia performs in national poetry contest

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3413424

'Black Panther' presales outpacing previous superhero movies

NEW YORK (AP) — Advance ticket sales to Marvel's "Black Panther" are outpacing all superhero movies on Fandango. The online ticket service said Wednesday that "Black Panther" is currently outselling its previous record-holder for presale, 2016's "Batman v Superman." Following gushing early reaction from Monday night's premiere, Ryan Coogler's film is the top daily ticket-seller on Fandango. "Black Panther" doesn't open until Feb. 26, but anticipation is especially strong for the first superhero movie in years starring a black lead character. The premiere in Los Angeles was attended by the film's cast decked in regal African-themed attire. Analysts are forecasting a President's Day weekend debut for "Black Panther" of at least $100 million in North America.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-02-01 03:11:00

'Black Panther' presales outpacing previous superhero movies

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3354916

Reports: DOJ, SEC probe Apple for slowing older iPhones

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — U.S. authorities are investigating Apple's slowing of older iPhones, according to published reports. The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg reported Tuesday that the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission are probing whether Apple violated securities laws. In December, Apple apologized for the slowdown after a blogger's tests revealed the secretive practice. Apple has previously been rebuked by lawmakers, and faces a French probe and a slew of lawsuits that allege the company aimed to juice sales of newer models. Apple shares fell 0.6 percent to close at $166.97 and are down 7 percent since Thursday. Wall Street is also worried about weak demand for its flagship iPhone X. The Justice Department and SEC declined comment. Apple did not respond to a request for comment.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-01-31 07:32:00

Reports: DOJ, SEC probe Apple for slowing older iPhones

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3354518

Flu widespread across US for third straight week

NEW YORK (AP) — Sick with the flu? You've got a lot of company. The flu blanketed the U.S. again last week for the third straight week. Only Hawaii has been spared. The government doesn't track every flu case but comes up with estimates. One measure is how many people seek medical care. Last week, 1 in 15 doctor visits were for symptoms of the flu. That's the highest level since the swine flu pandemic in 2009. Thirty-nine states reported high flu traffic last week, up from 32 the week before. Some good news, at least so far: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that hospital stays and deaths from the flu among the elderly so far haven't been as high as in some other recent flu seasons. However, hospitalization rates for people 50 to 64 — Baby Boomers, mostly — has been unusually high, CDC officials said. The CDC reported what was seen across the nation for the week ending January 20. Flu is a contagious respiratory illness, spread by a virus. It can cause a miserable but relatively mild illness in many people, but more a more severe illness in others. Young children and the elderly are at greatest risk from flu and its complications. In a bad season, there are as many as 56,000 deaths connected to the flu. In the U.S., annual flu shots are recommended for everyone age 6 months or older. Health officials say this year's correctly shot targets the strains that are making Americans sick, including one causing most of the illness, a Type A H3N2 flu virus. But exactly well it is working won't be known until next month. The same virus was the dominant flu bug last winter, when the flu season wasn't so bad. It's not clear why this season — led by the same bug — is so much more intense, some experts said. "That's the kicker. This virus really doesn't look that different from what we saw last year," said Richard Webby, a flu researcher at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. It may be that many of the people getting sick this year managed to avoid infection last year. Or there may be some degree of mutation in the virus that hasn't been detected yet, said the CDC's Dr. Dan Jernigan, in a call with reporters Friday. Based on patterns from past seasons, it's likely flu season will start to wane soon, experts say. There are some places, like California, where flu season already seems to be easing, CDC officials said. "If I was a betting man, I'd put money on it going down," Webby said. "But I've lost money on bets before." Jennifer Manton got sick with the flu about two weeks ago, hit by high fever and body aches. She missed two days of work, and felt bad for about 10 days. "I had not had the flu since 1996," said Manton, 48, a chief marketing officer for a law firm in New York City. "It's been 22 years since I felt that badly."

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-01-27 10:05:00

Flu widespread across US for third straight week

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3353781

India, Cambodia to expand ties in IT, infrastructure sectors

NEW DELHI (AP) — The leaders of India and Cambodia on Saturday agreed to work toward a bilateral investment treaty that could see tens of millions of dollars pour into the Southeast Asian nation. The meeting between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi saw Cambodia invite Indian investment in information technology, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and horticulture, infrastructure and small and medium enterprises. A broader treaty will take time but India agreed to provide lines of credit, including nearly $37 million to finance a Cambodian water project. India also offered lines of credit for setting up specialty hospitals, expanding road, rail and digital connectivity and construction of a high-powered electric line. A joint statement said Modi also offered to train Cambodian youth in information technology. The leaders held talks in New Delhi at the end of a summit attended by 10 Southeast Asian leaders commemorating the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-India ties. India is seeking to deepen bonds with Southeast Asia amid wariness over China's growing influence in the region. Modi also reaffirmed India's commitment to undertake restoration and conservation work at the ancient temple of Lord Shiva at Preah Vihear in Cambodia. The two sides expressed satisfaction over the ongoing restoration work at Ta Prohm temple being carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India. The Cambodian prime minister will conclude his visit to India on Sunday.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-01-27 19:44:00

India, Cambodia to expand ties in IT, infrastructure sectors

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3353790

Country Leaders Inspired by ABB’s Breakthrough E-Mobility Technologies

HANNOVER, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 23, 2018--The two leaders, along with ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer, were shown a demonstration of the company’s new high power fast charging solution: the Terra HP EV charging station with a power output of up to 350 kW recharges a car battery in just eight minutes for 200 km reach. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180423005618/en/ From left to right: German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer, First Lady Mrs. Angélica Rivera, Managing Director of ABB Germany Hans-Georg Krabbe, Managing Director of ABB Mexico Vicente Magana (Photo: Business Wire) “This high-power fast charger provides electric vehicles with up to seven times more range in the same charging time than with previous models,” Spiesshofer said. “Together with our comprehensive ABB Ability TM digital offering, we easily connect chargers to back offices, payment platforms or smart grid systems and offer our customers leading functionality.” As a technology leader in sustainable electric mobility, ABB’s product portfolio includes charging technologies for electric cars, buses and trucks, as well as solutions for the electrification of ships, railways and cable ways. With more than 6,500 DC fast charging stations installed in 60 countries, ABB is a global leader in DC fast charging. ABB’s e-mobility leadership is also demonstrated by its partnership with Formula E, the world’s first fully electric international FIA motorsport series. ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a pioneering technology leader in electrification products, robotics and motion, industrial automation and power grids, serving customers in utilities, industry and transport & infrastructure globally. Continuing a history of innovation spanning more than 130 years, ABB today is writing the future of industrial digitalization with two clear value propositions: bringing electricity from any power plant to any plug and automating industries from natural resources to finished products. As title partner of Formula E, the fully electric international FIA motorsport class, ABB is pushing the boundaries of e-mobility to contribute to a sustainable future. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 135,000 employees. www.abb.com View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180423005618/en/ CONTACT: ABB Ltd Media Relations Phone: +41 43 317 71 11 Email:media.relations@ch.abb.com KEYWORD: MEXICO EUROPE NORTH AMERICA CENTRAL AMERICA CANADA GERMANY SWITZERLAND INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MOTOR SPORTS ENERGY ALTERNATIVE ENERGY TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE TRANSPORT SEMICONDUCTOR OTHER TRANSPORT MANUFACTURING AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING AUTOMOTIVE OTHER AUTOMOTIVE SPORTS SOURCE: ABB Copyright Business Wire 2018. PUB: 04/23/2018 07:06 AM/DISC: 04/23/2018 07:06 AM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180423005618/en

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-04-23 19:06:00

Country Leaders Inspired by ABB’s Breakthrough E-Mobility Technologies

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3413497

Buckle Up, Prime Members: Amazon Launches In-Car Delivery

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 24, 2018--(NASDAQ:AMZN) – Amazon today announced that Amazon Key, the service that already enables in-home delivery and keyless guest access, now gives customers an option to receive deliveries inside their vehicle. With Amazon Key In-Car, Prime members with compatible vehicles now have the convenience of having packages delivered inside their cars when parked in a publicly accessible area, typically at their home or workplace. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180424005509/en/ In-car delivery is available at no extra cost for Prime members and is available today in 37 cities and surrounding areas across the U.S. with more cities rolling out over time. Delivery is available on tens of millions of items sold on Amazon.com and works with Same Day, Two-Day and Standard Shipping. Amazon gave a select number of customers from across the country early access to Amazon Key In-Car; view a video of them sharing their experience here: https://youtu.be/w4akHn0jQCc “The in-car delivery option is another way Amazon helps ensure that my order is delivered safely and conveniently. Setup was super easy for my OnStar-equipped car—I granted Amazon Key permission to open my car’s trunk and the ability to relock my car when done, and that was it,” said Scott L. from Miami, one of the Amazon Prime members who received early access to the service. “I can’t wait to check my car’s trunk to see what’s delivered next!” To get started, customers download the Amazon Key App and then link their Amazon account with their connected car service account. Once setup is complete and the delivery location has been registered, customers can shop on Amazon.com and select the “In-Car” delivery option at checkout. On delivery day, the Amazon Key App lets customers check if they’ve parked within range of the delivery location, and provides notifications with the expected 4-hour delivery time window. The App also notifies customers when the delivery is on its way, and the package has been delivered. Customers can track when their car was unlocked and relocked in the App’s activity feed, and rate their in-car delivery. “Since launching Amazon Key last November, we’ve safely delivered everything from cameras to collectable coins inside the home. Customers have also told us they love features like keyless guest access and being able to monitor their front door from anywhere with the Amazon Key App,” said Peter Larsen, Vice President of Delivery Technology, Amazon. “In-car delivery gives customers that same peace of mind and allows them to take the Amazon experience with them. And, with no additional hardware or devices required, customers can start ordering in-car delivery today.” In-car delivery is available to customers with a compatible 2015 or newer Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac vehicle with an active OnStar account, and customers with a 2015 or newer Volvo vehicle with an active Volvo On Call account. Support for even more vehicle makes and models will be added over time. “Unlocking Amazon Key In-Car delivery for more than 7 million Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac owners is another great example of how we are leveraging the embedded connectivity in our vehicles to provide our customers with services that make their ownership experience more valuable,” said Alan Batey, president, General Motors North America. Amazon uses multiple layers of verification to ensure the security of in-car deliveries. Each time a delivery driver requests access to a customer’s vehicle, Amazon verifies that an authorized driver is at the right location with the right package, through an encrypted authentication process. Once this process is successfully completed, the car is then unlocked. Customers receive a notification via the Amazon Key App after the delivery is completed and the vehicle is relocked. No special codes or keys are ever provided to delivery drivers. For added peace of mind, in-car delivery is backed by Amazon’s Happiness Guarantee. “Simplification of experience for our consumers is central to Volvo’s digital vision. Receiving a package securely and reliably in your car, without you having to be there, is something we think many people will appreciate. Our partnership with Amazon now makes this possible for a majority of our customers in the US,” said Atif Rafiq, Chief Digital Officer at Volvo Cars. “This intersection between transportation and commerce could very well be the next wave of innovation, and we intend to be at the forefront.” In addition to enabling in-car delivery, Amazon Key is a smart entry solution that offers customers keyless entry, remote lock and unlock, and guest access, as well as the option to have packages delivered inside the home. To check eligibility and to sign up for Amazon Key In-Car, visit www.amazon.com/keyincar. About Amazon Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews. View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180424005509/en/ CONTACT: Amazon.com, Inc. Media Hotline Amazon-pr@amazon.com www.amazon.com/pr KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA WASHINGTON INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TECHNOLOGY ONLINE RETAIL TRANSPORT MOBILE/WIRELESS LOGISTICS/SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT AUTOMOTIVE RETAIL GENERAL AUTOMOTIVE SOURCE: Amazon.com, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2018. PUB: 04/24/2018 07:00 AM/DISC: 04/24/2018 07:01 AM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180424005509/en

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-04-24 19:01:00

Buckle Up, Prime Members: Amazon Launches In-Car Delivery

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3413648

Zimbabwe-Pakistan Twenty20 Result

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the Twenty20 tri-series match at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday: ___ Pakistan 163-3 in 19.1 overs (Fakhar Zaman 47, Hussain Talat 44) def. Zimbabwe 162-4 (Solomon Mire 94, Tarisai Musakanda 33) by 7 wickets.

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2018-07-04 19:49:00

Zimbabwe-Pakistan Twenty20 Result

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3474201

Johnson hopes timing is right for another US Open title

ERIN, Wis. (AP) — Dustin Johnson wrapped up his final day practice round for the U.S. Open just as the sky began to rumble and the horn sounded to stop play at Erin Hills. The timing couldn't have been better for the world's No. 1 player, as it has been the past two weeks. As much as he hates missing cuts, the Memorial two weeks ago was a good time for Johnson to have a weekend off. It allowed him to spend two days in Wisconsin getting to know the longest course in U.S. Open history, realizing that he would be a late arrival to Erin Hills because of some important family matters. River Jones Johnson, his second son, was born on Monday. He finds out Thursday whether his game is in shape for Johnson to become the first back-to-back U.S. Open champion in 28 years, but his mood couldn't be better. About the only thing to fear, outside of the thick fescue that frames the fairways at Erin Hills, is the house where he is staying. It has a double-spiral staircase. "I sit down when I go down the stairs now," Johnson said with a smile. "I slide down on my butt." Stairs were the only thing that could stop him earlier this year. A winner of three straight tournaments — against the strongest fields of the year — Johnson slipped in his socks going downstairs to move his car in the rain on the eve of the Masters and bruised his back so badly that he had to withdraw the next day. He hasn't won in four starts since then, and his game hasn't looked as sharp as it once did. He concedes he lost some momentum. Even so, he is the betting favorite at the 117th U.S. Open on a course that would appear to suit his game perfectly, especially with more rain Wednesday afternoon and a forecast for occasional storms on Friday and Saturday. The greens are soft enough that Johnson is getting yardages to the hole, knowing his shots won't bounce away too far. "I hope they play it all the way back on every hole," he said. "Why not? It's going to be soft. I hope it's windy. I hope it's long, but it doesn't matter." Johnson isn't one to feel much pressure — he doesn't show much, anyway — even playing his first major as the No. 1 player in the world. If anything, the pressure is on the USGA in how they set up the golf course, and the meteorologist to give an accurate forecast of the wind. There are a few holes at Erin Hills where if the tees are all the way back and the wind shifts into the players, some won't be able to reach the fairway or will face blind shots. "It's nerve-wracking, honestly, more than most Open sites," USGA executive director Mike Davis said. Johnson isn't the only long hitter whom Erin Hills favors. Rory McIlroy, who crushed U.S. Open scoring records on a rain-softened course at Congressional in 2011, was delighted to feel the soft turf under his feet. Jason Day is starting to turn his game around, finally. Along with his power, Day is an expert with the short game, which should come in handy around the greens that feature shaved slopes instead of dense rough. Johnson, however, is such an intimidating figure that even Curtis Strange is a little nervous. Strange, who now works for Fox Sports as the on-course analyst, won the 1989 U.S. Open at Oak Hill to become the first player since Ben Hogan (1950-51) to win the U.S. Open in consecutive years. "Move over, Ben," Strange famously said after his second title. "I've got to tell you, it's tailor-made for Dustin Johnson," Strange said after his first look at the course. The Masters (three times) and the PGA Championship in stroke play (twice, by Tiger Woods) have fewer back-to-back winners than the U.S. Open, but it's the major that has gone the longest without a repeat winner. The closest call for Strange was in 2005 when defending champion Retief Goosen had a three-shot lead at Pinehurst No. 2. He shot 81 in the final round. Four-time champion Jack Nicklaus never went back-to-back. Neither did Woods. "You've got to be lucky, have it be the right time," Strange said. "Dustin is more dominant than anybody who has ever done it back-to-back because of his length and the whole bit. But you still have to do it." Johnson starts out Thursday morning with the last two U.S. Open champions, Martin Kaymer and Jordan Spieth. It's a comfortable group, especially with Spieth, a close friend, his partner from the Presidents Cup and his regular pro partner in recent years at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Plus, he has the personality for the U.S. Open. It's a mental test, and Johnson's brain is not very cluttered. Paulina Gretzky gave birth to their second child on Monday in Los Angeles. He flew to Wisconsin on Tuesday and got in 18 holes. He played nine holes Wednesday. Asked how he handled the range of emotions for such a whirlwind week, Johnson shrugged. "You just do it," he said. "I wish I had an explanation on how I do it, but I don't. ... But now I've got to play golf. This is why I'm here. I'm here to play golf. I'm here to compete."

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2017-06-15 01:00:00

Johnson hopes timing is right for another US Open title

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Government condemns anti-Semitic incidents at Berlin protest

BERLIN (AP) — The German government is condemning anti-Semitic incidents that took place during protests in cities across Germany in recent days. The demonstrations were called in response to President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and the announced move of the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump's decision has been widely condemned as undermining efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said on Monday that the burning of Israeli flags and anti-Semitic insults directed at Israel and Jews were "shameful." Seibert said Germany feels a close affinity to Israel and Jews around the world, and will therefore counter anti-Semitic incitement whenever it occurs. Anti-Semitism was a core part of Nazi ideology that led to the killing of over 6 million Jews in the Holocaust.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2017-12-11 19:58:00

Government condemns anti-Semitic incidents at Berlin protest

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3317985

Greek soccer hero helps refugees win battle against boredom

SKARAMANGAS, Greece (AP) — Soccer fans of a certain age may still remember Antonis Nikopolidis for his resemblance to American actor George Clooney and as the goalkeeper who helped Greece become surprise European Champions in 2004. Now the country's national youth team coach, Nikopolidis is helping refugees stranded in Greece regain a sense of purpose. The soccer team he helped build, named Hope (Elpida in Greek), is made up of players who fled warzones in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Afghanistan. Most of Hope's players live in Skaramangas, an industrial zone west of Athens where metal containers have been turned into shoebox-shaped homes. They compete in an amateur league on Sundays, facing teams made up of lawyers, telecom workers and accountants. Nikopolidis, a soft-spoken 46-year-old whose hair has turned silver in retirement, says team practices and matches provide a welcome distraction for young men facing uncertain futures in the European Union's slow-moving relocation program. "We're helping people who are at a difficult moment in their lives," he said. "They are guests in our country, and we are trying with this team to give them a few hours of happiness." Soccer is the main source of entertainment for many of the 60,000 refugees and economic migrants living in camps around Greece while they wait for asylum applications to be processed and a possible move elsewhere in Europe. "You have to spend your time (doing something) because it's very boring," Hozaifa Hajdepo, 23, a Hope player from Syria, said. "If you stay in your home and you don't have work, you will be like — you will die." The Union of European Football Associations, the governing body for soccer in Europe, has awarded grants to assist refugees in 15 countries. Some of the money that went to Greece is being used to sponsor Nikopolidis' team. Nearly 9,000 refugees have been moved from Greece to other European Union countries, and the coach already has lost several players. But with the pace of relocations still at just over half the target rate, most of the team expects to be in Greece for a while. "It's a joy for me to do this," Nikopolidis said. "The main thing is that they enjoy it, that they have fun ... We have created a group of friends, with bonds of friendship, a family." ___ Theodora Tongas and Srdjan Nedeljkovic in Athens contributed. Follow Stavrakis at http://www.twitter.com/TStavrak and Gatopoulos at http://www.twitter.com/dgatopoulos

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2017-02-15 16:06:00

Greek soccer hero helps refugees win battle against boredom

http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3095505

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Senator warns bankers that Dodd-Frank relief could stall

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia is warning bankers that legislation rolling back financial rules put in place after the 2008 economic crisis could stall. Warner says legislation revamping the law known as Dodd-Frank "will not pass if it comes back to the Senate" for another vote. Warner's comments are a warning shot to House Republicans. They want to amend Senate-passed legislation that would provide regulatory relief for banks. But Warner tells members of the American Bankers Association that 17 Democrats who voted for the Senate bill have taken "an awful lot of heat." They're not anxious to revisit the debate. The bankers are in Washington for a conference. Warner tells them the Senate bill contains several House provisions and "we've stretched this about as far as we can go."

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-04-25 00:39:00

Senator warns bankers that Dodd-Frank relief could stall

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3413376

Croatia to fulfil 2015 stadium ban by UEFA at England game

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Croatia will host England in an empty stadium for its home Nations League game in October to fulfil a ban imposed in 2015. UEFA says the closure on Oct. 12 completes a two-game stadium ban ordered after fans marked a swastika on the pitch in Split ahead of a 2016 European Championship qualifier against Italy. In 2015, UEFA also deducted one point from Croatia and fined the national federation 100,000 euros ($124,000). Some Croatian media reported the swastika was a fan protest against federation leaders intending to embarrass them by forcing UEFA to impose punishments. Croatia and England were drawn last Wednesday in a Nations League group with Spain. Croatia host Spain on Nov. 15.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-01-30 23:01:00

Croatia to fulfil 2015 stadium ban by UEFA at England game

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3354269

Greece sees borrowing rate drop in short-term debt sale

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece's government borrowing rates have continued to drop ahead of an expected bond market test in early February. The country's Public Debt Management Agency said an auction Tuesday raised 812.5 million euros ($1 billion) from the sale 26-week treasury bills at a rate of 1.13 percent. The rate was down from 1.65 percent in an auction on Jan. 3. It had been as high as 4.96 percent in June 2011. Greece maintained regular T-Bill auctions after losing full market access and during three successive international bailouts, but is seeking a return to the full bond market this year as the country's latest bailout program ends in August. The government is expected to test that return with a seven-year bond issue as early as next week.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-02-01 01:12:00

Greece sees borrowing rate drop in short-term debt sale

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3354871

The Latest: High-level North Korean official arrives in NY

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on diplomacy between the United States and North Korea (all times local): 2:50 p.m. A North Korean official has arrived in New York for talks with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ahead of what the White House says is an "expected" summit between President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un. Kim Yong Chol is a former military intelligence chief and one of the North Korean leader's most trusted aides. He is the highest-level representative from the North to set foot in the United States since 2000. South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that Kim landed shortly after 2 p.m. on an Air China flight from Beijing. Associated Press journalists saw the plane touch down at New York's JFK International Airport and the North Korean delegation get off the plane. The visit comes ahead of a summit planned for June 12, which Trump canceled but now says may take place after all.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-05-31 03:00:00

The Latest: High-level North Korean official arrives in NY

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3444487

Warriors, Cavs earned fourth straight Finals the hard way

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Cleveland and Golden State were stretched to their limits in the conference finals this time around, leaving little time to recoup and prepare for their latest date in the NBA Finals. "Splintered" is how Stephen Curry described what he feared could happen in the second quarter of Game 7 at Houston with the Warriors pushed to the brink by the Rockets in a thrilling West showdown. So, Golden State held a serious team chat and got it together at last. LeBron James willed his Cavaliers back to the big stage with another spectacular performance as Kevin Love sat out. "It was a special moment for us. And I think one that we'll look back, if we get the job done over these next two weeks, where, again, as an appreciation of all that goes into winning a championship," Curry said Wednesday, "and doing it by committee and making sure every guy, whether you're playing well or not, or things are going your way or not, that we all bring something to the fold that have gotten us to four straight Finals. "And we've done it by appreciating everybody that's a part of that group. I think that two and a half minutes was a special moment for us, and it should give us great momentum going into the series." Now, James and the Cavs and Curry and the defending champions find themselves in familiar territory facing off in a fourth straight NBA Finals — just with far less prep time given both faced new, daunting challenges and played furious Game 7s on the road to get back here. Cavs-W's, Act IV is a little bit different, indeed. King James stands in the way of a Warriors repeat, just as he did in spoiling that quest for Golden State and leading the Cavs to a championship two years ago with a Game 7 win on the Warriors' home court, where they have currently won 17 of the last 18 postseason games. James never counted out Golden State. "Just going against the Warriors in the last three years in the Finals, I kind of figured or thought that they could get it done," he said. "Just because of the 18 of a possible 21 Finals games that I've played against them in the last three years, I figured out that they could make it happen." Here are some things to watch for heading into Game 1: JAMES' SHOT: James isn't ready to make any bold predictions about how great he might be in his eighth straight Finals. There's no doubt in his mind he will be ready when the ball tips. "The level that I can play at is to be seen, but the level that I put into the game and put into my craft is who I am," James said. "So numbers and things like that kind of take care of itself. But for me, I understand and I know how much I put into the game. So everything else is OK." NO REST FOR THE WEARY: With only two days between games after the Warriors eliminated the Rockets 101-92 on Monday night, Draymond Green is happy to have an opponent in Cleveland he knows so well. "In recent years we've been kind of having a week off, at most, to prepare for the Finals. It's almost a day to prepare this time," he said. "So it definitely helps knowing the opponent, knowing, obviously, everything stops and starts with LeBron, and trying to do what we can to make things tough on him, but also take other guys out of the game." The Cavs finished their series Sunday at Boston, so James spent a relaxing Memorial Day Monday with family having a barbecue. INJURY WOES: Both teams face significant injury concerns: Golden State defensive stopper and 2015 Finals MVP Andre Iguodala was ruled out for Game 1 with a bone bruise in his left knee, while Love remains in the NBA's concussion protocol with his status uncertain. GOLDEN STATE AMONG GREATEST: James considers Golden State among the greatest teams ever, and insists each side has earned this. James is ignoring the critics who say this annual matchup might be bad for basketball. "Teams have had their opportunities to beat the Cavs over the last four years and teams have had opportunities to beat the Warriors over the last four years," James said. "If you want to see somebody else in the postseason then you've got to beat 'em." ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

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2018-05-31 00:00:00

Warriors, Cavs earned fourth straight Finals the hard way

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3444603

SugarHouse Casino Welcomes KC and The Sunshine Band

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 23, 2018--Famous for blending pop, reggae and Latin genres, KC and The Sunshine Band will bring its unique sound found in hits — such as “Get Down Tonight” and “That’s the Way (I Like It)” — to The Event Center at SugarHouse Casino on Saturday, August 11, at 8 p.m. Tickets for the band’s show will go on sale on Friday, April 27, and cost from $59 to $79. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180423006286/en/ KC and The Sunshine Band will perform at The Event Center at SugarHouse Casino on Saturday, August 11, at 8 p.m. (Photo: Business Wire) Delivering feel-good music for more than 37 years, the “sunshine sound” that originated from the lead singer’s Florida roots earned KC and The Sunshine Band four No. 1 records and multiple Grammy, People’s Choice and American Music awards. Other infectious tracks from the band include “Boogie Shoes,” “Rock Your Baby” and “Sound Your Funky Horn.” KC and The Sunshine Band was an immediate success with the release of its first studio album in 1973, “Blow Your Whistle,” which landed a spot in the top 15 on the R&B charts. Two years later, the band released its second album, “KC and The Sunshine Band,” which went triple platinum and won an American Music Award for Best R&B Artist. Throughout the band’s many years of making music, it has sold more than 100 million records, sharing its fusion of music genres with fans worldwide. KC and The Sunshine Band continues to keep the 1970s disco era alive with its timeless classics that reach many generations. Find more information about KC and The Sunshine Band on its official website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Tickets for KC and The Sunshine Band’s show and for all SugarHouse performances — including Night Ranger (April 27), Cheech and Chong (May 5), The B-52s (June 1), Vic DiBitetto (June 2; limited tickets available), Supertramp’s Roger Hodgson (July 13) and Cedric “The Entertainer” & Friends (July 21) — can be purchased on the SugarHouse Casino headliner events page. In addition to live performances and concerts, The Event Center at SugarHouse Casino can be reserved for a variety of occasions, including weddings, corporate receptions, seminars, trade shows and more. The space features floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic views of the Delaware River waterfront and the Ben Franklin Bridge. Parking is always free. ABOUT SUGARHOUSE CASINO SugarHouse, which opened in September 2010 as Philly’s casino, features 1,891 slots, 103 table games, a 28-table poker room, fun and unique dining options, riverfront views, and free on-site parking. The casino employs approximately 1,500 people and has been voted a “Best Place to Work” by the Philadelphia Business Journal for seven consecutive years and a “Top Workplace” by Philly.com for six straight years. For more information, visit SugarHouseCasino.com. View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180423006286/en/ CONTACT: For SugarHouse Casino Jeff Shurilla, 267-932-8760, ext. 304 jeff@hornercom.com KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA PENNSYLVANIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ENTERTAINMENT CASINO/GAMING MUSIC CELEBRITY GENERAL ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS/CONCERTS SOURCE: SugarHouse Casino Copyright Business Wire 2018. PUB: 04/23/2018 02:33 PM/DISC: 04/23/2018 02:33 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180423006286/en

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-04-24 02:33:00

SugarHouse Casino Welcomes KC and The Sunshine Band

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3413584

The Latest: Crews try to keep wildfire out of Colorado town

GUINDA, Calif. (AP) — The Latest on wildfires in the western United States (all times local): 10:20 a.m. A southern Colorado wildfire that has destroyed more than 100 homes is still growing. Officials said Wednesday that the fire has burned 147 square miles (381 square kilometers) since it began June 27. Officials estimated that the fire about 205 miles (329.9 kilometers) southwest of Denver is still just 5 percent contained. They say preventing the fire from spreading further south toward the small mountain town of Cuchara is a priority Wednesday. Crews are watching for small fires inside neighborhoods as unpredictable winds persist. Nearly 1,000 firefighters are in the area. ___ 8:45 a.m. Crews are making progress against a Northern California wildfire that threatens hundreds of buildings but say wind and dry vegetation could still fuel the blaze. California officials said the fire in rural counties northwest of Sacramento was 25 percent contained as of Wednesday morning. That's up from 15 percent the previous day. It has burned through 129 square miles (334 square kilometers) after igniting Saturday. Some areas have been under evacuation orders for days. It's among the massive wildfires burning in the Western United States and putting some Fourth of July plans on hold.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-07-05 01:21:00

The Latest: Crews try to keep wildfire out of Colorado town

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3474375

Push to better track living kidney donors' long-term health

WASHINGTON (AP) — The big unknown when someone donates a kidney: The long-term health consequences. Now the U.S. is taking a step toward finally tracking how living donors fare over decades — just as candidates are getting some new cautions to consider. Specialists insist the surgery seldom brings serious complications for the donor. What happens later in life is less certain. British researchers reported Monday that living kidney donors are more likely to develop later kidney failure than non-donors — and female donors may experience a pregnancy complication, problematic high blood pressure Overall, the chances of trouble still are pretty low, according to the analysis of international donor studies published in Annals of Internal Medicine. But there hasn't been enough research to advise donor candidates — especially younger ones — about who's really most at risk and if there are protective steps they could take. "For those of us who counsel potential donors, there is reason for pessimism that we will soon be able to estimate individual risk with any precision," Drs. Peter Reese of the University of Pennsylvania and Emilio Poggio of the Cleveland Clinic wrote in an accompanying editorial. Until there's better information, it might be safer to accept donations from middle-aged donors than younger ones, the duo proposed. For example, the best studies of how the remaining kidney functions have tracked donors for eight to 15 years, which "should not be particularly reassuring when advising a 25-year-old donor," they wrote. Meanwhile, the United Network for Organ Sharing, which oversees the U.S. transplant system, has added the cautions in Monday's report to the risk information given to would-be donors. And 10 transplant centers are about to pilot-test a new Living Donor Collective — an attempt to track donors' health for the remainder of their lives, instead of the mere two years of monitoring now required. The goal is to eventually expand to all U.S. transplant programs. "The more we understand risk, and disclose it transparently, the more we're ensuring public trust," said Dr. Krista Lentine of Saint Louis University, one of the pilot sites, who also directs UNOS' living donor committee. More than 95,000 people are on the national waiting list for a kidney. Of 19,848 transplants performed last year, 5,811 were thanks to living donors, according to UNOS. Living donations shorten the yearslong wait, and those transplants tend to last longer. Surgery always brings risks, but donor deaths from the operation are rare — three deaths for every 10,000 donors, according to the most-cited estimate. About 8 percent of donors experience surgical complications such as bleeding or blood clots, according to another study. What about later? University of Cambridge researchers examined dozens of international studies that tracked donors for varying lengths of time. Two concerns emerged: —One study found for every 10,000 people tracked over 15 years, 31 living donors experienced kidney failure compared to four non-donors. —Among post-donation pregnancies, high blood pressure known as preeclampsia occurred in 11 percent of donors in one study, about twice the rate of non-donors. Lentine said such information can help would-be donors understand the need to avoid later damage to their remaining kidney — like developing high blood pressure or obesity. She points to a new online tool doctors can use to predict if a candidate's possible risk is OK for donation. Far more follow-up still is needed, said Vicky Young, a psychology professor in Arizona who suffered painful nerve damage and chronic kidney disease after donating nearly 14 years ago. She doesn't regret donating, but as a former UNOS board member she pushed for better risk disclosure — nerve injuries now are on the list. And Young, 64, still wonders about her kidney, "Will I deteriorate as I age?"

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-01-30 07:29:00

Push to better track living kidney donors' long-term health

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3353991

Finland: Coast guard gives unsteady fawn a hand off ice

HELSINKI (AP) — A fawn that became stranded on a patch of ice in Finland's Inkoo archipelago has gotten a hand from members of the Finnish coast guard. They spotted the unsteady animal from their hovercraft during a regular patrol on Saturday. Senior Coast Guard officer Sebastian von Bruun filmed colleague Kristian Rasted pulling the "helpless white-tailed deer on the slippery ice" back to shore. Rasted gave a thumbs-up after the fawn rushed into the woods. Von Brunn said: "The mother deer was very happy and grateful to get her baby back." The Coast Guard said while animal rescue missions are not part of its personnel's normal duties, they do occur from time to time. The Finnish Border Guard, of which the coast guard is past, posted the rescue video on social media.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-03-20 01:48:00

Finland: Coast guard gives unsteady fawn a hand off ice

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3385736

Greek island blocks ship with container homes for migrants

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Authorities on the Greek island of Lesbos say they have blocked a ship carrying container homes for refugees and other migrants in protest at the refusal of the government and the European Union to move more people to Greece's mainland. A government-chartered ship carrying the containers remained anchored at the island's main town Monday after municipal vehicles were used to block port facilities. The island's municipal board was due to meet later Monday to decide on whether to lift the blockade following talks with the government, state-run TV said. The mayors of five Greek islands facing the coast of Turkey are demanding that the government and EU end a policy of containment for migrants — introduced last year as a deterrent against illegal migration — because living facilities are severely overcrowded.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2017-12-11 23:18:00

Greek island blocks ship with container homes for migrants

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3318102

Mary Blige, Mariah Carey, Nick Jonas get Golden Globe nods

NEW YORK (AP) — Pop stars are invading the Golden Globe Awards again this year with nominees such as Mariah Carey, Nick Jonas and Mary J. Blige, who is up for two awards. Blige earned nominations Monday for her role in "Mudbound." She's up for best supporting actress in a motion picture and best original song for "Mighty River." Carey is nominated for the Christmas tune "The Star," from the animated movie of the same name. Jonas is nominated for "Home" from "Ferdinand." Other best original song nominees include Oscar-winning composers. Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, the duo behind "Let It Go" from "Frozen," are nominated for "Remember Me" from "Coco," while Benj Pasek and Justin Paul — who earned an Oscar this year for "La La Land," are up for "This Is Me" from "The Greatest Showman."

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2017-12-11 22:57:00

Mary Blige, Mariah Carey, Nick Jonas get Golden Globe nods

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3318093

KIFS and Tranzmute Partner to Address Business Transformation and Restructuring Needs in India

MUMBAI, India--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 31, 2018--KKR India Financial Services (“KIFS”), KKR’s alternative credit business in India, and Narayan K. Seshadri of Tranzmute Capital & Management (“Tranzmute”) today announced the formation of a partnership to provide business management and transformation services to latent but high-potential businesses in India in addition to restructuring and turnaround services to stressed companies. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180531005517/en/ The partners primarily look to provide their services to mid-market companies with the aim of enhancing their business strategies, capital structures and organizational and operational capabilities. It will leverage Tranzmute’s business model, established by Mr. Seshadri, of helping companies achieve their growth ambitions by aligning economic incentives with the delivery of successful business outcomes. The partnership will adopt an open architecture model servicing third-party businesses as well as select companies within KIFS’ credit portfolio. Mr. Seshadri assumes the role of Managing Partner and will oversee the day-to-day activities of the partnership. Tranzmute’s operating management team will additionally be brought in to service companies, and experienced senior professionals will lead long-term transformational projects. Mr. Seshadri said, “Given the complexities of today’s operating environment — which include rapidly changing technologies and increasingly stringent regulations and customer demands — companies often require comprehensive transformational changes to grow and enhance their resilience. My team and I are delighted by the opportunity to work with both KIFS’ credit portfolio and other companies across India. This partnership enables us to expand our team, bring in highly talented, experienced professionals with entrepreneurial aspirations, and where possible, work with KIFS to extend innovative financing solutions to businesses. Together, we aim to launch a truly unique partnership that provides holistic solutions to businesses across India.” BV Krishnan, Member of KKR and CEO of KIFS, said, “We have known and respected Narayan and his team at Tranzmute for years, and we are pleased to elevate our relationship with the launch of this new partnership. KIFS has a market-leading alternative credit financing franchise, and with Narayan and his team, we will have the ability to work with KIFS’ portfolio companies to better help them minimize risks and add measurable value. Additionally, today’s market presents significant opportunities for business transformation, particularly as mid-market companies look to create robust business models and scale. This partnership is designed to help these companies on an open-architecture basis.” KIFS and Narayan K. Seshadri expect to launch the partnership in the third quarter of 2018. Further details were not disclosed. About KKR KKR is a leading global investment firm that manages multiple alternative asset classes, including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate and credit, with strategic manager partnerships that manage hedge funds. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns for its fund investors by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and driving growth and value creation with KKR portfolio companies. KKR invests its own capital alongside the capital it manages for fund investors and provides financing solutions and investment opportunities through its capital markets business. References to KKR's investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds. For additional information about KKR & Co. L.P. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR's website at www.kkr.com and on Twitter @KKR_Co. About KKR India Financial Services KKR India Financial Services (“KIFS”) is KKR’s alternative credit business in India that provides flexible financing to companies via a unique business model that comprises balance sheet — via a non-bank finance company —alternative asset management, and capital markets. As of May 31, 2018, KIFS has executed over 110 transactions in India worth more than US$5 billion. About Tranzmute Tranzmute works with businesses with the aim of transforming them into high growth entities creating disproportionate value for all stakeholders. A proprietary business selection process, equity investment, deep and wide managerial interventions and a success based model aligns Tranzmute’s interests with all stakeholders enabling rapid transformation and growth of businesses. Deploying strong business managers with deep industry knowledge who focus, inter alia, on cash flows, asset utilisation, management, metric driven performance, substantially improves return on capital to create wealth for all stakeholders. View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180531005517/en/ CONTACT: Media: KKR Asia Pacific: Anita Davis, +852 3602 7335 Anita.Davis@KKR.com or KKR Americas: Kristi Huller / Cara Kleiman, +1 212-750-8300 Media@KKR.com or Edelman (For KKR India): Siddharth Panicker, +91-9820-857-522 Siddharth.Panicker@Edelman.com or Tranzmute: Sean Desouza, +91 98207 34869 Sean.Desouza@Tranzmute.com or Ashok Rajgopal, +91 98202 14603 Ashok.Rajgopal@Tranzmute.com KEYWORD: ASIA PACIFIC INDIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BANKING FINANCE OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SOURCE: KKR India Financial Services Copyright Business Wire 2018. PUB: 05/31/2018 04:01 AM/DISC: 05/31/2018 04:01 AM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180531005517/en

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-05-31 16:01:00

KIFS and Tranzmute Partner to Address Business Transformation and Restructuring Needs in India

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3444969

Davis Cup: Kyrgios plays Struff 1st day, Australia-Germany

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Australia No. 1 Nick Kyrgios will play Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff on the opening day of singles in the Davis Cup World Group's first round beginning Friday. The draw held Thursday has Germany's top player, Alexander Zverev, playing Alex de Minaur in the opening match on hard courts at Pat Rafter Arena. De Minaur will be making his Davis Cup debut. The No. 139-ranked de Minaur is the lowest-ranked singles player in Australia's squad, but de Minaur made the Sydney International final and the Brisbane International semifinals in early January. In both tournaments, he was cheered on by Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt. Australia's Matt Ebden and John Peers are scheduled to play doubles on Saturday against Tim Puetz and Peter Gojowczyk. The reverse singles are scheduled for Sunday.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-02-01 10:53:00

Davis Cup: Kyrgios plays Struff 1st day, Australia-Germany

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3355105

Insurers: We're off the hook, Duke Energy knew coal ash risk

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Dozens of insurance companies say they're not obligated to help pay for Duke Energy Corp.'s multi-billion dollar coal ash cleanup because the nation's largest electric company long knew about but did nothing to reduce the threat of potentially toxic pollutants. The claim is in a filing by lawyers for nearly 30 international and domestic insurance companies that were sued by Duke Energy in March to force them to cover part of the utility's coal ash cleanup costs in the Carolinas. The 57 policies generally promise to help Duke pay what it's legally obligated to pay for property damage "caused by an occurrence," even if liability for an incident doesn't become known until decades later, the Charlotte-based company said in the same filing last week in the state court that hears complex business cases. Both sides filed the document in describing a litigation timeline that would lead to trial in mid-2019. The insurers counter they're not on the hook to pay. They say that because Duke Energy stored its coal ash in unlined pits as part of its normal practices, any property damage "was caused intentionally, by or at Duke's direction" and there weren't any distinct pollution events that triggered coverage. They note that Duke was well aware that burning coal to generate electricity leaves byproducts containing toxic substances that can contaminate groundwater. They say Duke's ash ponds were built without safeguards to prevent groundwater pollution, and some ash ponds placed the ash in direct contact with groundwater. "Duke continued to dispose of (coal ash) in unlined ash ponds long after it knew it had environmental problems. By the 1990s Duke submitted insurance claims to some of the defendants and other insurers for the same ash ponds that are now at issue in this action. Although Duke was aware of these issues, it continued to operate its unlined ash ponds for decades," the companies' lawyers said. Duke Energy has estimated its liability for cleanup and storage efforts at $5.1 billion for 14 North Carolina coal ash sites and one in South Carolina. The utility had spent more than $725 million through November. Money recovered from insurers would reduce the price tag for consumers, the company has said. The utility earlier this month asked North Carolina regulators for rate increases starting next year that include passing along to customers about $977 million over five years. South Carolina's utilities commission allowed Duke Energy Progress to start recouping coal ash cleanup costs as part of a $56 million rate increase approved in December. Coal ash contains arsenic, lead, mercury and other elements that may be hazardous in sufficient concentrations. Environmentalists and state regulators have alleged those heavy metals have been draining through the unlined bottoms of pits where liquefied coal ash has been stored for decades. A pit at a Duke Energy plant in North Carolina ruptured in 2014, coating miles of the Dan River in gray sludge. Duke Energy said it stored coal ash in line with industry practices and regulations that were in place over preceding decades. Duke Energy delivers electricity to about 7.4 million customers in the Carolinas, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Florida. ___ Follow Emery P. Dalesio at http://twitter.com/emerydalesio. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/emery-p-dalesio.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2017-06-15 01:41:00

Insurers: We're off the hook, Duke Energy knew coal ash risk

http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3188053

http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/images/category/580888eb17740.jpg

Mississippi's only abortion clinic sues state after governor signs nation's most restrictive abortion law

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi's only abortion clinic sues state after governor signs nation's most restrictive abortion law.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-03-20 05:57:00

Mississippi's only abortion clinic sues state after governor signs nation's most restrictive abortion law

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3385831

Bolivian cardinal-elect denies having secret wife, children

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — A retired Bolivian bishop tapped by Pope Francis to be a cardinal is furiously denying suggestions that he has a wife and children and is threatening legal action. Toribio Ticona said Wednesday that he "has nothing to do" with the alleged actions and said he would bring a legal complaint if the claims continue. Francis named the 81-year-old cardinal last week. Ticona says the accusations were disproven after they first emerged in 2011 and have "resurfaced as slander in an attempt to attack" the pope by "sectors that are hostile" to the pontiff. The accusations recently appeared in the Catholic blog "Adelanto en la Fe" — "Forward in the Faith." It cites a 2011 complaint to local Catholic authorities that says Ticona had a family in a rural town.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-05-31 02:28:00

Bolivian cardinal-elect denies having secret wife, children

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3444474

Leganes salvages Copa draw with Sevilla goalkeeper's mistake

MADRID (AP) — Leganes boosted its chances of reaching the Copa del Rey final for the first time by salvaging a 1-1 draw against Sevilla on Wednesday, netting the equalizer after a mistake by Sevilla goalkeeper Sergio Rico. Sevilla opened the scoring in the first leg with Luis Muriel after a counterattack midway through the first half at Butarque Stadium, but the hosts evened the match shortly after halftime. Rico missed the ball while trying to punch it away just in front of goal, allowing defender Dimitrios Siovas to easily find the net with a header. Rico complained of a foul after apparent contact with Siovas. Leganes, a club based just south of Madrid, eliminated Real Madrid in the quarterfinals. It had never reached the last eight of the Copa in the team's 89-year history. Sevilla, a five-time Copa winner, is trying to return to the final for the first time since it was beaten by Barcelona in 2016. ___ More AP Spanish soccer coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/LaLiga

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-02-01 06:55:00

Leganes salvages Copa draw with Sevilla goalkeeper's mistake

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3355040

The Latest: Schwarzenegger upbeat on tackling climate change

PARIS (AP) — The Latest on the French president's climate change grants (all times local): 6:15 p.m. Arnold Schwarzenegger is arguing that U.S. President Donald Trump's rejection of the Paris climate accord doesn't matter, because companies, scientists and other governments can "pick up the slack" to reduce global emissions. The Hollywood star and former California governor took a spin on a Parisian electric bike Monday as part of events leading up to an international climate summit Tuesday hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. Schwarzenegger said "Donald Trump pulled Donald Trump out of the Paris agreement," but many in the private sector, cities and state governments, engineers and universities remain committed to fighting climate change. A prominent environmental campaigner, Schwarzenegger acknowledged that many people "don't understand what global warming or climate change really means," and urged environmental activists to focus on efforts to fight pollution instead because of its health risks. ___ 11:20 a.m. French President Emmanuel Macron's "Make Our Planet Great Again" grants initially were aimed at American climate change researchers, but competition has been expanded to other non-French climate scientists. Macron is unveiling the first winners Monday evening at a startup incubator in Paris called Station F, where Microsoft and smaller tech companies are announcing projects to finance activities aimed at reducing emissions. French national research agency CNRS says the applicant list was whittled down to 90 finalists in September, the majority of them Americans or based in the U.S. About 50 projects will be chosen overall, and funded with 60 million euros ($70 million) from the state and French research institutes. Some French researchers have complained that Macron is showering money on foreign scientists while they are pleading for more support for domestic higher education. ___ 9:40 a.m. Several U.S.-based climate scientists are about to win multi-year, all-expenses-paid grants to relocate to France. The "Make Our Planet Great Again" grants are an effort by French President Emmanuel Macron to counter U.S. President Donald Trump on the climate change front. Macron announced a competition for the grants hours after Trump declared he would withdraw the U.S. from the global accord reached in Paris in 2015 to reduce climate-damaging emissions. Macron is unveiling the winners Monday evening ahead of a climate summit Tuesday aimed at giving new impetus to the Paris accord and finding new funding to help governments and businesses meet its goals. More than 50 world leaders are expected in Paris for the "One Planet Summit," co-hosted by the U.N. and the World Bank. Trump was not invited.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2017-12-11 00:00:00

The Latest: Schwarzenegger upbeat on tackling climate change

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3318146

Thousands of fans give Patriots a super sendoff

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Tom Brady praised the Philadelphia Eagles, dropped the microphone and then walked off stage Monday to lead the New England Patriots on the road to the Super Bowl. "It's going to be fun, it's going to be a lot of hard work, we're playing a great team, but I tell you what, we've got a locker room full of guys that are ready for the challenge," the Patriots' 40-year-old quarterback said at a sendoff rally outside Gillette Stadium attended by thousands of fans, some of whom arrived in the pre-dawn hours. Brady, the last of several players to speak, praised the fans for their support all season. "We got one more to go. We're going to go out there are try to win it for you guys. We love you. Patriots out!" he shouted to raucous cheers. One fan dressed as a snowman while one wore a giant replica of a Super Bowl ring on his head. One woman carried a sign that read "Just like Tom Brady, this never gets old.' After the rally, the team boarded buses for a short trip to T.F. Green Airport in Rhode Island for the flight to Minneapolis for Sunday's Super Bowl. Dozens more fans gathered at the airport to see the team board the Patriots' plane, known as Air Kraft after team owner Bob Kraft. The Boeing 767 is painted with the team's logo and its five Lombardi trophies. In Foxborough, the fans also heard from coach Bill Belichick, and several other players including receiver Danny Amendola and defensive back Duron Harmon, who prompted the crowd into chanting "MVP!" before introducing Brady. Tight end Rob Gronkowski also appeared on stage, although he didn't speak. Fans hope that he'll be able to play in the Super Bowl after suffering a concussion in the AFC championship game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The crowd was kept entertained while waiting for the rally to start by the team's radio crew Bob Socci and Scott Zolak, as well as former player Jermaine Wiggins, a member of the 2001 championship team. Fans also shared in 16-foot-by-12-foot Boston cream pie decorated with the words "Not Done," the team's motto for this Super Bowl made by Montilio's Baking Co., and cut into 4,000 pieces.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-01-30 02:11:00

Thousands of fans give Patriots a super sendoff

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3353909

Two earthquakes hit Hualien

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — According to an earthquake report by the Central Weather Bureau (CWB), two earthquakes struck Hualien County this morning before dawn. The earthquakes hit roughly a minute apart, first at 3:30 a.m. then at 3:31 a.m. and measured 4.6 and 4.3 respectively on the Richter scale. The quakes hit at the depth of 15.2km (9.4 mi) and 11.2km, respectively, according to CNA. (Image from Central Weather Bureau) The greatest seismic intensity, or severity of the ground shaking, recorded from the 4.6 magnitude earthquake was as follows: Taroko Gorge level 5, Nan’ao level 4, Hualien City level 2, Hehuan Mountain level 2, and Techi level 2. The greatest seismic intensity for the 4.3 magnitude earthquake was as follows: Taroko Gorge level 5, Hualien City level 1, Techi level 1, and Yilan City level 1.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-02-04 09:50:00

Early morning earthquakes in Hualien exceed level 4 on Richter scale.Two earthquakes over a level 4 magnitude hit Hualien early this morning.

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3354994

Homeless, but not voiceless, at Carnegie Hall

NEW YORK (AP) — They're homeless, but a group of men and women from Texas has made it to Carnegie Hall. The storied New York City concert hall is the venue Wednesday evening for a performance by the Dallas Street Choir, all singers recruited from urban streets and homeless shelters that have been performing since 2015. About 20 members of the choir were to be joined by 17 residents of a Manhattan homeless shelter. Concert proceeds benefit homeless services charities. Dallas Street Choir conductor Jonathan Palant has also brought in some world-class musical luminaries for the performance. They include mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, soprano Harolyn Blackwell and composers Jake Heggie and Stephen Schwartz. Carnegie Hall archivist Gino Francesconi says it is the first time the hall has featured a musical ensemble of homeless performers.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2017-06-15 03:29:00

Homeless, but not voiceless, at Carnegie Hall

http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3188099

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Ohio zoo's polar bear moves to Chicago to find romance

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio zoo's polar bear is off to Chicago to find love. The Toledo Zoo says its 21-year-old female bear named Nan has been moved to the Brookfield Zoo near Chicago to see if she will breed with the zoo's male bear. Nan moved into her new home this week where she's separated by a fence from her potential mate named Hudson. The Brookfield Zoo says the bears will spend a little time getting to know each other before moving in together. The move was arranged by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and its polar bear species survival program. Keepers at the Toledo Zoo say Nan is genetically important because she was born in the wild and discovered as an orphan cub near Barrow, Alaska.

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2017-02-15 19:26:00

Ohio zoo's polar bear moves to Chicago to find romance

http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3095689

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LEADING OFF: Astros head home to face red-hot Red Sox

A look at what's happening around baseball today: TEST OF THE CHAMPION After wrapping up a series at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night, Jose Altuve and the World Series champion Astros return home to face another 2017 playoff opponent in Boston. Including a four-game series at Cleveland last weekend, that makes three straight foes for Houston that participated in last year's postseason. Lance McCullers Jr. (6-3, 3.98 ERA) starts the opener of a four-game set against Red Sox lefty Drew Pomeranz (1-2, 6.75 ERA). BACK ON THE MOUND Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is scheduled to return to the rotation at home against the Philadelphia Phillies. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner has been on the disabled list for nearly a month with left biceps tendinitis. He is 1-4 with a 2.86 ERA this season. Aaron Nola (6-2, 2.27 ERA) pitches for the Phillies. BEASTS OF THE NL EAST The Nationals and Braves, in a tight race with the Phillies for the top spot in the NL East, begin a four-game series in Atlanta. Tanner Roark (2-4, 3.17 ERA) starts for Washington against Atlanta's Sean Newcomb (5-1, 2.75 ERA). 'ROCK BOTTOM' IN QUEENS Entering Wednesday night, the New York Mets have been reeling, and first-year manager Mickey Callaway is looking for a way out. Almost nothing has gone right since New York won its fourth straight game on May 21. The Mets are 16-25 since starting the season 11-1. Though the Mets did earn a split of their series in Atlanta with a 4-1 win on Wednesday. "We've hit rock bottom the last few days and we have to come out of it," Callaway said before the game. New York has 11 players on the disabled list, including sluggers Yoenis Cespedes and Todd Frazier, reliever Anthony Swarzak and catcher Travis d'Arnaud. STILL NOT MILLER TIME Andrew Miller has been cleared to start a throwing program as the Indians' All-Star reliever battles inflammation in his right knee. Miller, who is on the disabled list for the third time in the past year because of soreness in his knee, visited a specialist in New York on Tuesday. The club said Dr. David Altchek confirmed a previous diagnosis and the left-hander can "begin a gradual progression back to mound activity." While there is no timetable for Miller to return, the fact that he doesn't need surgery and can resume throwing is good news for the Indians. ___ More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

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2018-05-31 00:00:00

LEADING OFF: Astros head home to face red-hot Red Sox

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3444968

Supreme Court declines gay rights work discrimination case

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is leaving in place a lower court ruling that a federal employment discrimination law doesn't protect a person against discrimination based on their sexual orientation. The court on Monday declined to take up the question of whether a law that bars workplace discrimination "because of...sex" covers discrimination against someone because of their sexual orientation. President Barack Obama's Equal Employment Opportunity Commission took the view that it does. But President Donald Trump's administration has argued that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 bars discrimination based on gender but doesn't cover sexual orientation. Federal appeals courts are split on the issue. That means the issue is likely to come to the court again.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2017-12-11 22:37:00

Supreme Court declines gay rights work discrimination case

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3318090

Ether Capital Launches on NEO

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 24, 2018--The NEO Exchange (“ NEO ”) is pleased to announce that Ether Capital Corporation (“ Ether Capital ”) has launched in the public markets on NEO, trading under the symbol ETHC. Ether Capital is a Toronto-based technology company whose objective is to become the central business and investment hub for the Ethereum ecosystem. The Company’s common shares began trading on NEO on April 19, 2018. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180424006107/en/ Ether Capital, including CEO Michael Conn and Board Director John Ruffolo, joined Jos Schmitt, President and CEO, NEO Exchange, to open the market and celebrate the launch of Ether Capital on NEO. Ether Capital common shares began trading on NEO on April 19, 2018 under the symbol ETHC. (Photo: Business Wire) “We are proud to launch on the public markets and begin executing our business plan to initially invest in Ethereum’s native utility token ‘Ether’ as a strategic asset and then subsequently identify strategic acquisitions in Ethereum based businesses,” said Som Seif, Executive Chairman and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Ether Capital. “As the first publicly listed company focused solely on the Ethereum ecosystem, we are excited to provide investors with the opportunity to invest in one of the foundational building blocks of the blockchain space. To help drive this industry-shifting disruptive technology, it is important for us to have an innovative partner in the public markets and we are pleased to work with NEO as we bridge the gap with the financial industry. ” “As a publicly traded company, we will have the liquidity and transparency we need to maintain the permanent source of capital that will fuel our growth, and subsequently the growth of Ethereum-based businesses,” added Michael H. Conn, Chief Executive Officer, Ether Capital. “As we prepare to implement our strategic vision as a regulated entity, we know that coupled with the unique insights of our leadership in financial services and blockchain technology, we will benefit from NEO’s expansive investor reach programs and liquidity provision services.” Investors can trade shares of Ether Capital through their usual investment channels, including discount brokerage platforms and full-service dealers. “We are exceptionally happy to launch Ether Capital as a publicly-listed company on NEO, and proud to partner with a company that has the same commitment to innovation and disruption as we do,” stated Jos Schmitt, President and CEO, NEO. “Ethereum is poised to become the backbone of ‘Web 3.0’ and Canada is the leader in this space. I truly believe our country will continue to be a blockchain hub for many years to come as we have the skills, the industry expertise, the desire to drive transformation and the governments and regulatory bodies keen to take an active role in supporting innovation. We look forward to enabling Ether Capital as they seize this immense opportunity to transform how companies do business.” About Ether Capital Corporation Ether Capital is a Toronto-based technology company whose objective is to become the central business and investment hub for the Ethereum ecosystem. Ether Capital will invest in Ethereum’s native utility token “Ether” as a strategic asset, and selectively invest in or acquire Ethereum-based businesses. Founded by a highly experienced Board of Directors and management team, Ether Capital has the resources, experience and relationships to support businesses and invest in industry-shifting disruptive technologies. For more information, visit http://ethcap.co/. About NEO Exchange Aequitas NEO Exchange Inc. is Canada’s next generation stock exchange, putting the needs of investors, businesses looking to raise capital and dealers first. Launched in March 2015, the NEO Exchange currently offers an innovative trading venue to trade all Canadian securities. It also has a value added listing platform for capital raising companies and investment products, offering unique liquidity, transparency and efficiency benefits. For more information, please visit: NEOstockexchange.com Join us on social media: twitter | linkedin | facebook View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180424006107/en/ CONTACT: NEO Exchange Media Contact: Adam Bornstein, 905.505.2540 adam@NEOstockexchange.com KEYWORD: NORTH AMERICA CANADA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: OTHER CONSUMER EDUCATION OTHER EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY CONSUMER ELECTRONICS TELECOMMUNICATIONS OTHER TECHNOLOGY PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT OTHER GOVERNMENT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FINANCE OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES COMMUNICATIONS OTHER COMMUNICATIONS CONSUMER SOURCE: NEO Exchange Copyright Business Wire 2018. PUB: 04/24/2018 11:21 AM/DISC: 04/24/2018 11:21 AM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180424006107/en

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-04-24 23:21:00

Ether Capital Launches on NEO

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3413714

Kentucky will play 4 games during trip to Bahamas in August

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky will play in the Bahamas for the first time since 2014 during an eight-day August trip featuring four games against professional teams. The Wildcats will arrive Aug. 6 at Atlantis on Paradise Island to train before facing the Bahamas' national team and San Lorenzo de Almagra on Aug. 8-9 respectively. They will also play Mega Bemax and Team Toronto on Aug. 11-12. It will mark their first preseason foreign trip since going 5-1 in the islands before winning their first 38 games and reaching the Final Four. Kentucky coach John Calipari is trying to fill his roster but said in a release Tuesday that taking another young squad to practice and play pro teams in the Bahamas "will give our guys an early idea of how hard this is going to be." ___ For more AP college basketball coverage: http://collegebasketball.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_Top25

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-04-25 02:14:00

Kentucky will play 4 games during trip to Bahamas in August

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3413409

Ex-strongman's son in Peru to form own bloc in congress

LIMA, Peru (AP) — The son of former Peruvian strongman Alberto Fujimori is forming his own bloc in congress after being kicked out of the party led his sister. Kenji Fujimori announced Wednesday that he and nine other lawmakers from the Popular Will party will henceforth support President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. Fujimori abstained from voting for Kuczynski's impeachment in December, bucking a drive led by Popular Will leaders to remove the unpopular president from office. Days later, Kuczynski pardoned Fujimori's father, former President Alberto Fujimori, from a 25-year jail sentence in what many Peruvians believe was a quid pro quo deal. Both Kuczynski and Kenji Fujimori have denied that. Popular Will is led by Kenji Fujimori's older sister Keiko, who narrowly lost to Kuczynski in the 2016 presidential election.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-02-03 03:00:00

Ex-strongman's son in Peru to form own bloc in congress

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3354959

Nielsen's top programs for Jan. 22-28

NEW YORK (AP) — Prime-time viewership numbers compiled by Nielsen for Jan. 22-28. Listings include the week's ranking and viewership. 1. "Grammy Awards," CBS, 19.8 million. 2. "NCIS," CBS, 13.97 million. 3. "Bull," CBS, 11.08 million. 4. "The Good Doctor," ABC, 9.61 million. 5. "This is Us," NBC, 9.38 million. 6. "NCIS: New Orleans," CBS, 9.31 million. 7. "Grey's Anatomy," ABC, 8.62 million. 8. "Ellen's Game of Games," NBC, 7.57 million. 9. "Kevin Can Wait," CBS, 7.37 million. 10. "Grammy Awards Red Carpet," CBS, 6.96 million. 11. "The Big Bang Theory," 6.9 million. 12. "Chicago Med," NBC, 6.85 million. 13. "Blue Bloods," CBS, 6.848 million. 14. "Man With a Plan," CBS, 6.74 million. 15. "911," Fox, 6.57 million. 16. "Young Sheldon," CBS, 6.54 million. 17. "The Bachelor," ABC, 6.37 million. 18. "The Amazing Race," CBS, 6.18 million. 19. "America's Funniest Home Videos," ABC, 6.17 million. 20. "The Goldbergs," ABC, 6.09 million. ___ ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Co.; CBS is a division of CBS Corp.; Fox is owned by 21st Century Fox; NBC is owned by NBC Universal.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-01-31 04:44:00

Nielsen's top programs for Jan. 22-28

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3354441

N. Korea says it freed US student over humanitarian reasons

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea says it released an American university student over what it calls humanitarian reasons in its first official comment since he was returned to his home state of Ohio in a coma. The state-run Korean Central News Agency on Thursday said Otto Warmbier had been sentenced to hard labor but didn't comment on his medical condition. The 22-year-old Warmbier, a University of Virginia undergraduate, was convicted and sentenced in a one-hour trial in North Korea's Supreme Court in March 2016. He got 15 years in prison with hard labor for subversion after he tearfully confessed that he had tried to steal a propaganda banner. His father, Fred Warmbier, told Fox News that his son was "terrorized and brutalized" and has been in a coma for more than a year.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2017-06-15 12:35:00

N. Korea says it freed US student over humanitarian reasons

http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3188395

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The Latest: Mississippi governor lauds abortion restrictions

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Latest on a Mississippi law banning most abortions after 15 weeks (all times local): 4:30 p.m. Mississippi's governor says that by enacting a law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks of gestation, the state is "saving more of the unborn than any state in America, and what better thing can we do?" Republican Gov. Phil Bryant made the comments while he signed the law Monday in a closed ceremony, according to a video his office posted to social media. House Speaker Philip Gunn was present for Bryant's signing. He told The Associated Press he is proud Mississippi is taking steps to protect "the most vulnerable of human life:" the unborn. House Bill 1510 became law immediately upon Bryant's signature. Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves said in an emailed statement that the law is a major step toward accomplishing Mississippi's goal to protect the lives of the unborn. Echoing a phrase Bryant often uses, Reeves added that he is committed to making the state "the safest place in America for an unborn child." 3:50 p.m. Mississippi's governor has signed the nation's tightest abortion restrictions into law. Republican Gov. Phil Bryant signed House Bill 1510 on Monday afternoon. It becomes law immediately and bans most abortions after 15 weeks of gestation. Bryant has frequently said he wants Mississippi to be the "safest place in America for an unborn child." The law's only exceptions are if a fetus has health problems making it "incompatible with life" outside of the womb at full term, or if a pregnant woman's life or a "major bodily function" is threatened by pregnancy. Pregnancies resulting from rape and incest aren't exempted. Abortion rights advocates are calling the law unconstitutional because it limits abortion before fetuses can live outside the womb. The owner of Mississippi's only abortion clinic opposes the law and has pledged to sue.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-03-20 05:37:00

The Latest: Mississippi governor lauds abortion restrictions

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3385824

Global Allergy Immunotherapies Market - Industry Analysis and Forecast

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 30, 2018--Market research firm has announced the release of their latest report on the . This new report will provide expert market insights for the forecast period 2018-2022. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180530005988/en/ Technavio has published a new market research report on the global allergy immunotherapies market from 2018-2022. (Graphic: Business Wire) The report will follow up on Technavio’s previous allergy immunotherapies research, offering an up-to-date analysis of the market concerning the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall global environment. The report will also provide new predictions for the forecast period based on an in-depth analysis of the market. The upgraded research report on the global allergy immunotherapies market is an integral part of Technavio’s portfolio. Technavio covers an extensive range of market research reports on the infectious and rare diseases market, covering different regions and top industry segments. Some of the topics include conjunctivitis, gaucher disease, animal wound care, and veterinary clostridium vaccine. This report is available at a USD 1,000 discount for a limited time only: Save more with Technavio. Buy2 reports and get the third for FREE: Global market growth opportunities Technavio’s previous report on the global market projected that in terms of geography, Europe dominated the global immunotherapies market. During 2015, around 90 million individuals were reported with respiratory allergies in Europe. In the previous report, a senior research analyst at Technavio stated , “Although the existing therapies are highly effective in relieving and controlling allergy symptoms, the market still requires drugs that not only reduce inflammation but also prevent irreversible airway remodeling. Globally, only 55% of all allergic rhinitis cases have been diagnosed. Additionally, allergic rhinitis and asthma are chronic diseases that cannot be cured completely, so most patients need lifelong treatment and lifestyle adjustments.” Technavio’s new report on the global market will evaluate the key geographical regions and their behavior over the past four years, introducing new data and observations and providing new predictions. Looking for the latest information on the global allergy immunotherapies market? Technavio’s sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report such as the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Detailed analysis at your fingertips Some of the topics that will be revisited in the new report include: Market size and growth rate through 2022 Top factors driving the market growth Competitive landscape and market share analysis of the key players Market opportunities and factors impeding growth Technavio’s report on the global allergy immunotherapies market for the period 2018-2022 is available to order now and will be delivered within one week of purchase. About Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio’s report library consists of more than 10,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio’s comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at . View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180530005988/en/ CONTACT: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 www.technavio.com KEYWORD: INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HEALTH INFECTIOUS DISEASES RESEARCH SCIENCE GENERAL HEALTH SOURCE: Technavio Research Copyright Business Wire 2018. PUB: 05/30/2018 11:07 AM/DISC: 05/30/2018 11:07 AM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180530005988/en

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-05-30 23:07:00

Global Allergy Immunotherapies Market - Industry Analysis and Forecast | Technavio

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3444398

UN envoy: Gaza escalation shows we are on the 'brink of war'

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Mideast envoy says the latest escalation in Gaza between its Hamas rulers and Israel is a warning of "how close to the brink of war we are every day." Nikolay Mladenov told an emergency Security Council meeting on Wednesday that the international community should "unequivocally condemn" Hamas' rocket and mortar attack against Israel. But he said "the dangerous escalation" can't be divorced from two months of protests at the Gaza fence in which some 110 Palestinians were killed and large numbers injured by Israeli fire. The Security Council remained paralyzed, unable to agree on any action. U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who called the meeting, said a proposed statement to condemn the Hamas attacks was blocked. The U.S. previously blocked three statements to condemn Israeli killings during the protests.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-05-31 05:45:00

UN envoy: Gaza escalation shows we are on the 'brink of war'

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3444569

Fort Lee Film Commission honors black trailblazer

FORT LEE, N.J. (AP) — The Fort Lee Film Commission in New Jersey celebrated Black History Month by honoring a pioneering African-American filmmaker with ties to the area. The Record reports (http://bit.ly/2l7a4Yd) that film and history enthusiasts gathered at the Fort Lee Museum to highlight the works of director Oscar Micheaux on Tuesday night. The film commission has honored the director annually since the group's inception in 2002. The group discussed Micheaux's opposition of hate groups and his positive portrayals of African-Americans throughout the event. Micheaux produced and directed five films in Fort Lee between 1920 and 1948. He is also credited with making the first African-American-produced sound film with an entirely black cast. Fort Lee Film Commission Executive Director Tom Meyers says the group would like to expand the event to discuss more black filmmakers with an entire exhibit. ___ Information from: The Record (Woodland Park, N.J.), http://www.northjersey.com

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2017-02-15 18:52:00

Fort Lee Film Commission honors black trailblazer

http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3095658

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Brady practices without glove as Gronk returns to practice

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Two of the New England Patriots' most important players are getting healthier as they prepare to head to Minneapolis for Super Bowl week. After getting stitches in his right hand and thumb prior to the AFC championship game last week, quarterback Tom Brady was on the practice field Saturday, gripping the ball without a glove on his throwing hand. Tight end Rob Gronkowski also was at practice, returning to workouts after starting the week in the NFL's concussion protocol. Both are positive signs for New England, which has just one practice remaining in Foxborough before the team heads to Minnesota to resume its Super Bowl preparations. Defensive lineman Deatrich Wise, who also missed practice time this week with a concussion, joined Gronk in the team stretching period that is open to reporters. Gronkowski hadn't been on the practice field since his second-quarter exit from the AFC title game following a helmet-to-helmet hit from Jaguars safety Barry Church. "It's always great to have him out there. He's a great player, a great person, a great teammate and a big part of what we do," Brady said of Gronkowski. "It obviously hurts when he's not out there for a lot of reasons. But he's doing the best he can do and we're all hopeful." While Gronkowski and Wise were on the field, it's unclear whether they have been officially cleared from the protocol. The team isn't required to file its next injury report until Wednesday. Gronk played just eight games last season and missed the Patriots' entire playoff run after undergoing season-ending back surgery. Since the start of last season, New England is 12-1 without Gronk. But last season it had Martellus Bennett to fill in the gap without him. Bennett signed with Green Bay in the offseason, before being released by the Packers in November. He then re-signed with the Patriots, but only appeared in two games before being placed on season-ending injured reserve. Brady said he wants to spend the rest of the time leading up to the Super Bowl avoiding all possible distractions. That includes not talking about a new series that debuted on Facebook recently and provides viewers a rare glimpse at his life off the field. "What? Let's talk about distractions," Brady joked when he was asked about the series Saturday. "We'll stick to football this week, too. I like that no distractions part." Though this will be Brady's eighth trip to the Super Bowl, the 40-year-old said he still has an appreciation for what it takes to be playing at this point of the season. "I've never taken anything like this for granted, and I think we're all very fortunate to be in this game," he said. "Being a part of a couple of these losses, those are pretty tough to swallow, but I think you realize how much effort you have to put in to prepare. It's a very unique environment, unique game, and you have to be at your best. But in order to do that, you have to prepare as well as you possibly can." ___ More AP NFL: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ___ Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightower

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-02-03 00:00:00

Brady practices without glove as Gronk returns to practice

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3353768

Brazil police search Philips office in fraud probe

SAO PAULO (AP) — Police have searched the offices of Philips in Brazil and are executing arrest warrants for two people linked to the Dutch electronics company. Wednesday's operation is part of an investigation into suspected fraud in the supply of medical equipment to the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics and the Rio de Janeiro Health Department. Prosecutors allege that several companies formed a cartel to win and inflate contracts. In all, 22 arrest warrants were issued and 44 addresses searched. Prosecutors say two warrants are for people linked to Philips. The company says one had been an executive who has left the company, while the other works in sales. It says the current employee was brought in for questioning and that the company is cooperating with the authorities.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-07-04 23:18:00

Brazil police search Philips office in fraud probe

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3474336

AP source: Ex-FBI No. 2 official wrote memo on Comey firing

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe drafted a memo on circumstances leading up to the firing of his onetime boss, James Comey, a person familiar with the situation said Wednesday night. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press to discuss a secret document that has been turned over to special counsel Robert Mueller. His team is investigating whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia during the 2016 presidential election and whether the president sought to obstruct that inquiry through actions including the firing of Comey last May. The memo concerns a conversation that McCabe had with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein about Rosenstein's preparations for Comey's firing. Rosenstein played an important role in that episode, having authored a memo faulting Comey for his handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation that the White House held up as justification for President Donald Trump's decision to fire the FBI director. Rosenstein has said he wrote a memo laying out his concerns with Comey after learning that the White House intended to fire him. According to McCabe's memo, Rosenstein indicated to him that he was initially asked to reference the Russia investigation in his own memo on Comey. But the final version didn't include discussion of Russia and focused instead on the Clinton email case. Rosenstein appointed Mueller special counsel one week after Comey was fired. He has said he would recuse himself if necessary if his actions became relevant to Mueller's investigation. The AP reported in March that McCabe had drafted multiple memos, including about his interactions with Trump. Comey also drafted a series of memos about his own encounters with Trump that unnerved him. The New York Times first reported on the content of this particular memo. McCabe became FBI acting director following Comey's firing last May. He was fired as deputy director in March, just days before his scheduled retirement, amid an inspector general finding that he had misled internal investigators about his role in an October 2016 disclosure to The Wall Street Journal. ___ Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-05-31 12:53:00

AP source: Ex-FBI No. 2 official wrote memo on Comey firing

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3444830

Guy, Jerome lead No. 2 Virginia past Louisville, 74-64

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Kyle Guy scored 22 points and No. 2 Virginia held off hot-shooting Louisville to win its 13th straight, 74-64 on Wednesday night. Ty Jerome added 16 points and Devon Hall 12 for the Cavaliers (21-1, 10-0 Atlantic Coast Conference). Virginia's start is its best in ACC play since the 1980-81 team won its first 12 games. The winning streak is its longest since winning 19 in a row to begin the 2014-15 season. Ray Spalding scored 16 points and Deng Adel had 15 points for the Cardinals (16-6, 6-3). Louisville made nine of 10 shots at one point down the stretch, closing to within 62-57 on a long 3-pointer by Ryan McMahon with 3:44 left, but Jerome answered with back-to-back 3s for the Cavaliers. The victory gave Virginia a three-game lead in the conference. BIG PICTURE Louisville: The Cardinals continue to have trouble with Virginia's Pack-Line defense, even while shooting 50 percent (25-50). They committed 13 turnovers and were outscored 22-6 off those mistakes. The loss was also the fifth straight for Louisville against Virginia, and sixth in seven games since the Cardinals joined the ACC. Virginia: A three-game suspension for reserve guard Nigel Johnson provided a rare opportunity for freshman Marco Anthony and he made the most of it, hitting a pair of 3-pointers and scoring 10 points in 18 minutes. It was only the fourth ACC game that Anthony has gotten into and his point total doubled his career high. He scored five against Savannah State on Dec. 19. UP NEXT Louisville is at home against Florida State on Saturday. Virginia is on the road at Syracuse on Saturday. ___ More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-02-01 10:00:00

Guy, Jerome lead No. 2 Virginia past Louisville, 74-64

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3355077

The Latest: Korea experts see confidence in Trump comments

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The Latest on reactions to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address (all times local): 6:50 p.m. South Korean analysts say President Donald Trump's fiery comments on North Korea reflected confidence that his campaign of pressure and sanctions on the country is working. Experts say it also means Washington will continue to deny Pyongyang meaningful dialogue unless it's willing to discuss serious changes to its nuclear weapons program and human rights conditions. Du Hyeogn Cha, a visiting scholar at Seoul's Asan Institute for Policy Studies, says for North Korea, it has to hurt that Trump declared the country as a regime that cannot co-exist with the founding values of the United States. Koh Yu-hwan, a North Korea expert at Seoul's Dongguk University and a security adviser to South Korea's presidential office, says Trump likely saw North Korea's outreach over the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics as a clear sign that pressure and sanctions are working.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-01-31 17:55:00

The Latest: Korea experts see confidence in Trump comments

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3354742

More than 4,000 students and teachers to be compensated for Taiwan food safety scandal

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A total of 4,048 students and teachers can soon expect to receive between NT$3,000 (US$98) and NT$9,000 each as compensation for the consumption of tainted cooking oil from Chang Guann (強冠企業). Starting in 2013, Taiwan fell into the grip of a series of food safety scandals, most of them centering on companies passing off oil products of lower quality or even unfit for human consumption as high-grade cooking oil. Last September, Chang Guann Chairman Yeh Wen-hsiang (葉文祥) attempted suicide after receiving a final sentence of 22 years in prison for selling tainted lard to more than 200 food companies. The Consumer Protection Association of Taiwan (CPAT, 台灣消費者保護協會) filed a class action suit on behalf of pupils, teachers and other staff at 22 schools, from kindergartens to senior high schools across the nation, where food had been served containing ingredients supplied by Chang Guann, the Central News Agency reported. At a news conference Wednesday, CPAT announced that following three years of legal procedures, a total of more than NT$24.4 million (US$800,500) had been wired into its accounts. The plaintiffs would receive their compensation by the end of the month, the group said. A total of 3,811 plaintiffs had agreed to a settlement, which provided them with NT$6,000 each, while 160 people accepted a court verdict and received from NT$6,000 to NT$9,000 per person. A final group of 77 people continued the court case until the end and received NT$3,000 per person, CNA reported. CPAT said that even though the outcome was a far cry from the NT$90,000 (US$2,950) per person it had originally demanded, it was still satisfied that the victims of the scandal were able to receive compensation.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-07-04 14:36:00

Tainted oil from Chang Guann turned up in food at 22 schools in 2014.A total of 4,048 students and teachers can soon expect to receive between NT$3,000 (US$98) and NT$9,000 each as compensation for the consumption of tainted cooking oil from Chang Guann.

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3473912

Mahle loses no-hitter in 7th, Reds beat Braves 9-7 in 12

CINCINNATI (AP) — Tyler Mahle lost his no-hit bid on Freddie Freeman's homer in the seventh, and the Cincinnati Reds blew a big late lead before Scooter Gennett connected in the 12th inning for a 9-7 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night. Gennett hit his second homer of the game off left-hander Max Fried (0-1) for his first career game-ending shot. Freeman started the Braves' late seven-run surge with his homer off Mahle, only the third ball the Braves managed to get out of the infield against the rookie right-hander. Freeman connected again as Atlanta scored four times in the ninth. Jared Hughes (1-2) escaped a two-on threat in the 10th and got the last eight outs. Off to their worst start since the Great Depression, the 5-18 Reds rallied for their first set of back-to-back wins since last September — a span of 34 games — and got an encouraging performance from their most promising young starter. The 23-year-old Mahle fanned a career-high 11 with a tailing fastball that caught the Braves gawking. Atlanta leads the majors in runs, but managed only two balls beyond the infield through six innings. Freeman led off the seventh with a homer on the rookie's 90th pitch — Mahle turned his head and muttered a word in frustration as the ball left the bat. Kurt Suzuki had a two-run homer later in the inning. Mahle drew attention on his way to the majors by throwing a no-hitter in Single-A in 2016 and a perfect game last April 22 at Double-A. Freeman homered again in the ninth inning off Amir Garrett, starting a four-run rally. Ender Inciarte's bases-loaded, two-out single against Raisel Iglesias deflected off Gennett at second base for a 7-7 tie. Joey Votto and Gennett hit their first homers — back-to-back solo shots in the fifth off Brandon McCarthy — as the Reds' sluggish offense showed signs of coming around. TRAINER'S ROOM Braves: Manager Brian Snitker plans to give RH reliever Sam Freeman a couple days off. Freeman has made a team-high 14 appearances and struggled during a 10-4 loss on Monday. "This is probably the most he's been used early in a season in his career," Snitker said. "It's a new area for him to navigate through." Reds: C Devin Mesoraco was scratched with a stiff neck. ... 3B Eugenio Suarez began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville. He has been sidelined since April 8, when he was hit by Jameson Taillon's pitch and broke his right thumb. UP NEXT Braves: Matt Wisler (1-0, 1.29 ERA) is 1-1 career against the Reds in two starts and two relief appearances, allowing eight runs in 15 2/3 innings. Reds: LH Brandon Finnegan (0-2, 11.05) makes his third start. He opened the season on the DL with a strained left biceps. He's given up nine runs in 7 1/3 innings. ___ More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

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2018-04-25 10:57:00

Mahle loses no-hitter in 7th, Reds beat Braves 9-7 in 12

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3413859

England crashes out of CT in latest disappointment

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Even with its best team in a generation, England won't be ending its trophy drought in global 50-over competitions this year. Favorite to beat Pakistan in the Champions Trophy semifinal on Wednesday, England went down to an embarrassing eight-wicket defeat at Sophia Gardens. "Every partnership we had started behind the rate, which put us under the pump a little bit, and none of our batsmen seemed to get away," England captain Eoin Morgan said. "It's a big frustration because I think we've played some great cricket in this tournament so far, and we weren't anywhere close to it today." Morgan, who called it a "pretty dull" game, denied his team may have been over-confident with England widely touted to be on course for ending its record of five defeats in five 50-over finals, including runners-up in the 2004 and 2013 Champions Trophy. "We played against some really good sides recently, and we've managed to beat them. Certainly that hasn't gone to our heads at all," Morgan said. England endured a shock elimination in the group stage of the 2015 Cricket World Cup and, looking ahead to the 2019 edition in England, Morgan said the experience of this Champions Trophy wouldn't change the attacking stance of his team. "You know, one of the huge contributing factors towards topping our table and playing very good cricket in the group stages is that we've stayed true to what we believe in and what's worked for us the last couple of years, and I think that's the continued formula for the future. "I think it will have to evolve in whatever manner the game does over the next two years in the lead-in to the World Cup, but certainly I think we're moving in the right direction." England didn't get much right on Wednesday, except perhaps recalling Jonny Bairstow. Bairstow justified the switch by scoring 43, almost as much as the dropped Jason Roy managed in eight innings this summer. Bairstow's 57-ball knock was all the more impressive since it marked the first time he has opened for England — and he took the strike. He needed some luck to survive, however. That included an extremely close leg-before-wicket appeal by Pakistan in the first over from left-arm quick Junaid Khan. More good fortune was to come for the 27-year-old Bairstow. On 27, he was dropped by Azhar Ali, leaping at short midwicket off Rumman Raes. On 42, Bairstow was dropped after falling victim to a field change by Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed, who brought in a slip for Shadab Khan. Bairstow immediately nicked the ball to Babar Azam at slip but he couldn't hold it and nor could nearby Hasan Ali. Bairstow's luck ran out in the 17th over with a misjudged pull shot to Mohammad Hafeez at deep square leg off Hasan. ___ AP Sports Writer Steve Douglas contributed to this report.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2017-06-14 05:00:00

England crashes out of CT in latest disappointment

http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3188086

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US agent goes on trial in Mexican teen cross-border killing

PHOENIX (AP) — A U.S. border Patrol agent accused of shooting across the border into Mexico and killing a teenager five years ago will go on trial Tuesday on a charge of second-degree murder in a rare Justice Department prosecution of a fatal cross-border shooting. The agent, Lonnie Swartz, is accused of killing 16-year-old Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez, who was on the street in Nogales, in the Mexican state of Sonora, just across the border from Nogales, Arizona. An autopsy showed the unarmed teen was hit 10 times, mostly from behind. The trial in U.S. District Court in Tucson comes amid President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown and his pledge to build a "big, beautiful wall" along the 2,000-mile (3,200-kilometer) U.S.-Mexico boundary. Swartz opened fire at about 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 10, 2012 through the metal poles of a 20-foot (6-meter) fence that sits on a 25-foot (about 7.6-meter) embankment above Mexico's Calle Internacional, a street lined with homes and small businesses. The killing shocked the two communities of Nogales. About 20,000 people live on the Arizona side and about 300,000 live on the Mexico side, but the two communities linked by family members, trade and culture have long been referred to locally as "Ambos Nogales" — "Both Nogales" in Spanish. Swartz's defense lawyers have said Elena Rodriguez threw rocks just before he was shot as an attempt to create a distraction for a drug smuggling attempt and that the officer was justified in using lethal force. They want jurors to visit the site at night to experience the area after dark. Witnesses from the Mexico side of the border said they did not see the teen throw rocks and his relatives have denied he was helping drug smugglers, saying he was walking home after playing basketball. The U.S. Attorney's Office has said it won't dispute that the boy was throwing rocks, but it's unknown if he had any link to drug smugglers and the point is irrelevant because an unreasonable amount of force was used. Swartz pleaded not guilty after being indicted by a federal grand jury in 2015 and is currently on administrative leave and free on his own recognizance. The Border Patrol has not said if he is continuing to receive his salary. Defense attorney Sean Chapman last week (March 15) declined to comment while the trial is ongoing and a spokesman for the agents' union, the National Border Patrol Council, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. The case is expected to last more than a month and activists who support immigrants have said they will protest outside the court. "For so long, prosecutors have been reluctant to charge Border Patrol agents with violent crimes," said John Fife, a retired Presbyterian minister who was active in the sanctuary movement that sheltered citizens of Central American countries who came to the U.S. in the 1980s fleeing civil war. "Now we will see if they can be held accountable." The Border Patrol came under close scrutiny during the Obama administration for allegations of excessive use of force. Customs and Border Protection, its parent agency, reported 55 incidents in which employees used firearms from Oct. 1, 2011 to Sept. 30, 2012. The number of incidents fell to 17 for the period from Oct. 1, 2016 to Sept. 30, 2017. Lee Gelernt, a New York-based lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union, said he believes Swartz will be the first border agent prosecuted by the Department of Justice in a fatal shooting across the international line. Gelernt is handling a parallel civil case, now before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, which the teen's mother filed against Swartz seeking monetary damages. The civil case argues that Elena Rodriguez was protected by U.S. constitutional guarantees for due process when he was shot dead in Mexico because the two communities of Nogales are part of a unique cross-border community.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-03-20 03:44:00

US agent goes on trial in Mexican teen cross-border killing

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3385777

BC-US--Gold, US

New York (AP) — Gold futures trading on the NY Merc Monday: (100 troy oz.; dollars per troy oz.)

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-03-20 03:17:00

BC-US--Gold, US

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3385765

Court orders judge to free rapper Meek Mill on bail

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Pennsylvania's highest court has ordered a judge to free rapper Meek Mill on bail while he appeals decade-old gun and drug convictions. The Supreme Court directed a Philadelphia judge who had jailed him to immediately issue an order releasing him on unsecured bail. Mill was sentenced in November to 2-4 years in prison for violating probation. Mill issued a statement saying his five months in jail have been "a nightmare" and thanking all his supporters. A team of lawyers and public relations consultants had waged an all-out battle to get him freed on bail. Prosecutors say they believe Mill should get a new trial because of questions raised about the credibility of his arresting officer.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-04-16 00:00:00

Court orders judge to free rapper Meek Mill on bail

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3413464

Tisch Fund gives $10 million for arts-mental health

NEW YORK (AP) — The Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund has pledged $10 million to fund arts programs focused on mental health issues in New York City. The New York Times reports that the goals include improving the lives of those with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. They also aim to fight the stigma around mental illnesses and help people overcome trauma. Tisch says the initiative will likely grow, especially after her foundation is bolstered by the proceeds of a Christie's auction of her parents' $80 million art collection next month. Her father was Preston Robert Tisch, the investor who bought half of the New York Giants in 1991. Her mother was the philanthropist Joan Tisch. ___ Information from: The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-04-24 23:45:00

Tisch Fund gives $10 million for arts-mental health

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3413357

1st batch of fuel rods for 4th Nuclear Power Plant likely has been transported out of Taiwan

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)—A first batch of unused fuel rods purchased for the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant has likely been transported out of Taiwan on Wednesday morning, but authorities have refused to confirm, according to a CNA report. The report said eight cargo vehicles allegedly carrying fuel rods were waiting at Keelung Harbor in northern Taiwan for the goods to be lifted onto a cargo ship, as people concerned with the operation looking on. A person wearing a vest bearing the words “radiation protection unit” refused to make a comment when asked by a CNA reporter whether fuel rods were being transported out of the country, the report said. Another wearing a “Lungmen Power Plant” (another name for the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant) helmet waved his hands, signaling that he didn’t want to make a comment either, according to the report. Seven or eight police officers from Keelung Harbor Police Department were at the wharf to secure the operation, and none of them was willing to talk about the operation, according to the report. A yellow van bearing the words “Lungmen Nuclear Power Plant” was parked beside the wharf, and inside the vehicle were a few yellow strips among other stuff printed with nuclear logos and the words “UN3328 radioactive material," CNA reported. After the loading was completed, the ship left the port. State-run Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) didn’t want to confirm that the operation was about shipping out the first batch of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant’s fuel rods citing confidentiality agreement, according to the report. Liu Wen-chung (劉文忠), head of the radioactive waste management department under the Atomic Energy Council, said his office had approved Taipower’s application to transport the fuel rods overseas, the report said. Taipower plans to transform the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant into a comprehensive power park, and ship the 1,744 fuel rods in the plant out of the country by the end of 2020, a move the company said would reduce manpower and save NT$100 million asset management fee a year.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-07-04 21:22:00

A first batch of unused fuel rods purchased for the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant has likely been transported out of Taiwan on Wednesday morning, but authorities have refused to confirm, according to a CNA report

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3474254

What comes after commission's report on college basketball?

After seven months, the NCAA's Commission on College Basketball has completed its work and is ready to issue a report Wednesday on how to fix the sport. Here's what happens next: — Former Sec. of State Condoleezza Rice will present the commission's report to university presidents of the NCAA Board of Governors and Division I Board of Directors on Wednesday morning at NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis. — The boards will convene after the presentation to consider adoption of all, parts or none of the commission's recommendations. Adoption is a small step toward implementation. — If adopted, the boards will then direct the Division I Council, a group mostly composed of athletic directors, to craft legislation to implement the proposals. — NCAA President Mark Emmert has said the council has already begun creating subcommittees to work on legislation in particular areas the commission is expected to address, such as the NBA's so-called one-and-done rule, enforcement of rules and the relationship between players and agents. — Legislation is expected to be presented back to the board by August so reform can be implemented before the next basketball season begins. ___ For more AP college basketball coverage: http://collegebasketball.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_Top25

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-04-25 03:29:00

What comes after commission's report on college basketball?

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3413435

Short-side goals on the rise as shooters adjust to goalies

It's the kind of goal that makes fans groan because, man, he probably should've stopped that. A shooter skating down the wing or even behind the net fires the puck between a goaltender and the near post for a short-side goal. It looks like it shouldn't go in, but it has been happening a lot more this season as players figure out what goalies are doing ... or at least trying to do. "Those goals, they don't look good, but I think if people knew how hard it was to do that maneuver, they might be a little less quick to jump to judgment on the goalies," Chicago Blackhawks goalie Scott Darling said. That maneuver is called the "Reverse VH" and it's the most widespread way for goalies to cover the post and not allow soft goals to be scored. An opposite of the previously-used "VH" stance, it means a goalie's pad against the post is horizontal along the ice while the back leg is vertical. The Reverse VH is more effective than its predecessor, but as NHL Network analyst and former goaltender Kevin Weekes has said : Short side has become the new five hole. And everyone in hockey knows it. Brian Boucher, another retired goalie turned analyst, said you can't go two or three nights without seeing a short-side goal somewhere around the league . As recently as Thursday night, Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog went short side on Stanley Cup-winning Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Matt Murray on a textbook sharp-angle shot that looks like a bad goal but is more the product of shooters understanding techniques. "Guys are realizing that the sharp-angle shots are extremely difficult to stop," Vezina Trophy-winning goalie Braden Holtby of the Washington Capitals said. "You do see more and more guys trying it because it's a high-quality scoring chance. Guys figure out trends now. They kind of figure them out a little quicker than they used to, which isn't great for us." Jonathan Quick led the Los Angeles Kings to two Cups by using the Reverse VH and taking advantage of his Gumby-like athleticism. The stance, which originated in Sweden a few years before, took off in the NHL after Quick won the Cup in 2012 and now it's a go-to for most goalies. Goaltending analyst Justin Goldman points out that when a skater is coming down the ice, there's actually more room for the puck on the short side than the far side because there's less distance for it to travel. More short-side goals isn't a result of the Reverse VH being a bad stance, but instead he believes it's goalies overusing it and losing the cat-and-mouse game between them and shooters. Too often goalies drop to their knees into the Reverse VH and become sitting ducks for Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Joe Pavelski and some of the best snipers around. "The shooter knows the goalie's going to drop into this stance, which means he can release a puck a half a second or a half a step sooner than usual and he knows what his target is before he even looks up and sees where the goalie is," Goldman said. "They're almost over-anticipating what a shooter is going to do before he actually does it and the shooter has the capacity now, he has the wherewithal and he has the accuracy to pick that spot." Darling thinks some goalies are still mastering the relatively new Reverse VH, and 2006 Cup-winner Cam Ward of the Carolina Hurricanes acknowledged he still uses the old VH style because he's more comfortable in it. Ward looks at Tuukka Rask of the Boston Bruins as someone who can push side-to-side with power out of the Reverse VH, and Goldman called 2013 Vezina winner Sergei Bobrovsky of the Columbus Blue Jackets the "posterchild" for doing it right. "It's a tough position to get fully square, but when the puck's behind the net it gives you good coverage for pass outs and things like that," Philadelphia goaltender Steven Mason said. "It's complicated, but I think sometimes it can be overused." Flyers teammate Jakub Voracek said he just shoots "wherever it's open," but that's often the short side nowadays. When the best shooters can anticipate a goalie going down early and putting the puck where he isn't, Goldman said it's so difficult to get back up that the key is being patient and staying upright longer. "The problem is because goalies rely on this stance so often, they're dropping down into it before the puck is actually off the shooter's stick," Goldman said. "You want the shooter to make the first move. You want to hold your feet. You want to keep yourself as patient as possible so you read what the shooter does first and then you react." Easier said than done, perhaps, even for the best in the game. A lot has changed since Boucher set the consecutive shutout record in 2003, and he doesn't even know if he'd be able to perfect the Reverse VH and deal with the expectations of goaltenders today. "You've got to be in position to make the second and third saves because at the end of the day it's about keeping the puck out of the net," Boucher said. "Whether it's your fault or it's not your fault, if you don't keep it out of the net you're going to have a tough time winning games and you're going to have a tough time having a job." MUSICAL COACHES Michel Therrien became the fifth coach fired this season when the Montreal Canadiens canned him Tuesday and replaced him with Claude Julien, who was fired by Boston last week. Julien took five more days to get a new job than Bruce Boudreau did when fired by Washington on a November Monday in 2011 and joining the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday. MILESTONE WATCH After registering a point Tuesday in the Penguins' win over Vancouver, Crosby is one away from 1,000 for his career . He's at 756 games now and will soon become the second-fastest active player to hit 1,000 after the ageless Jaromir Jagr. GAME OF THE WEEK The Blue Jackets host the Penguins on Friday in what very well could be a first-round playoff preview. LEADERS Points: Crosby (Pittsburgh), Connor McDavid (Edmonton), 61; Goals: Crosby, 30; Defenseman points: Brent Burns (San Jose), 59; Goals-against average: Devan Dubnyk (Minnesota), 1.97; Save percentage: Dubnyk, .933. ___ Follow Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/SWhyno .

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2017-02-15 00:00:00

Short-side goals on the rise as shooters adjust to goalies

http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3095470

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UN says farming should be at heart of Syria reconstruction

BRUSSELS (AP) — International efforts to rebuild Syria once the civil war is over should center on agriculture to kick start the economy and quickly improve the livelihoods of the people, a high-level United Nations official said Tuesday. In an interview with The Associated Press ahead of an international Syria donors conference, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization's Deputy Director General Daniel Gustafson said that in case of a return to peace the impact of funding farming would yield almost immediate results. "If you invest in that, you are going to get a quick return," he said. Despite seven years of warfare through much of the Middle Eastern nation which also blighted farmland and destroyed facilities, farming still accounts for about a quarter of Syria's gross domestic product. UN figures show that some $16 billion in production has been lost because of the war and it will take about as much to get the recovery of farming going again. At the two-day Syria conference opening Tuesday, donors from across the globe hope to commit several billion in assistance to alleviate the pressing needs of Syrians. Over $5 billion was committed last year. Farming in Syria goes back many thousands of years and the nation was long a breadbasket for the area. When the war started almost half the population was still employed in farming. And despite the horrific war that ravaged orchards and fields, cut the availability of seeds and fertilizers and sent many millions fleeing, half the output survives to this day. "The resilience of the agriculture sector is an astonishing story. You still have half the production of wheat of what you had before the war" — two million tons, instead of 4 million before the war, Gustafson said. Still, some 6.5 million people are in urgent need of immediate assistance because they face a lack of food, said Gustafson. While most of the attention goes to shocking events like bombings or even gas attacks, war in the countryside often has a more creeping effect. "It is this continuous deterioration of their livelihoods. You cannot get seeds, you cannot sell stuff, you cannot trade, you cannot get spare parts," Gustafson said. "The whole thing just kind of grinds down." He said that fortunately, the situation can also pick up again soon once the conditions are right, once the right seeds come in again and people and goods are again free to move around the country.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-04-24 00:00:00

UN says farming should be at heart of Syria reconstruction

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3413339

Philanthropist Allen announces discovery of USS Juneau

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has announced that wreckage of a sunken military ship on which five brothers died in World War II has been discovered in the South Pacific. A spokeswoman for Allen confirms wreckage from the USS Juneau was found Saturday off the coast of the Solomon Islands. The ship was hit by Japanese torpedoes in 1942, killing hundreds of men, including the five Sullivan brothers from Waterloo, Iowa. Allen has an expedition team that has reported finding wreckage of other ships, including the aircraft carrier USS Lexington, also sunk during World War II. The expedition team says in a statement it first identified the USS Juneau on Saturday using sonar technology and used a remotely operated underwater vehicle to verify the wreckage on Sunday.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-03-20 09:07:00

Philanthropist Allen announces discovery of USS Juneau

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3385886

Correction: China-Missing Bookseller story

BEIJING (AP) — In a story Jan. 28 about Swedish bookseller Gui Minhai, who was taken away by people who appeared to be Chinese police while traveling to Beijing by in the company of Swedish diplomats, the headline erroneously referred to Gui as a Chinese citizen. Gui is a naturalized Swedish citizen. A corrected version of the story is below. US calls for release of missing Swedish bookseller BEIJING (AP) — President Donald Trump's administration has joined European governments in urging China to release a Swedish citizen who sold gossipy books about Chinese leaders. A U.S. State Department spokeswoman called on China to disclose Gui Minhai's location and allow him to leave China if he wishes. "We call on Chinese authorities to explain the reasons and legal basis for Mr. Gui's arrest and detention, disclose his whereabouts, and allow him freedom of movement and the freedom to leave China," spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement. The U.S. "will continue to coordinate with our partners, allies and regional organizations on promoting greater respect for human rights in China," Nauert said. Around 10 Chinese police officers surrounded Gui and Swedish diplomats on Jan. 20 as they traveled by train to Beijing. Gui, a naturalized Swedish citizen, was seized and his whereabouts remain unknown. Gui had disappeared from his home in Thailand in 2015 and reappeared months later in China after being sentenced for a decade-old traffic violation. In a videotaped confession that supporters believe was coerced, Gui stated that he had turned himself in to mainland authorities over a hit-and-run accident. That spurred suspicions that he had been abducted by the Chinese security services. He remained closely supervised even after his release from prison. His latest detention has particularly rattled Western governments after it unfolded in the presence of diplomats. The Chinese Foreign Ministry says it has no information about Gui's whereabouts, but has suggested that he may have been breaking the terms of his release. The ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday. Gui was one of five Hong Kong booksellers whose disappearances symbolized China's determination to enforce its hard line on squelching political dissent and a free press __ despite international criticism. He was released into house arrest in October in the eastern city of Ningbo, living in what his daughter Angela called a police-managed apartment. Under Chinese law, those convicted of a crime generally have their civil rights suspended for a period of time, although it wasn't clear whether that applied in Gui's case. The prohibitions, which are often not made public, can also include restrictions on travel. The office of EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has said it "fully supports the public statement and efforts of the Swedish government" on Gui's behalf.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-01-30 18:07:00

Correction: China-Missing Bookseller story

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3354154

In response to Trump, Democrats argue for middle class

WASHINGTON (AP) — Soaring stock prices under President Donald Trump have boosted investor portfolios and corporate profits but have not eased the economic anxieties of middle-class families, Massachusetts Rep. Joe Kennedy III said Tuesday night in the Democratic response to Trump's first State of the Union address. In calling on Americans to reject the "chaos" of the Trump era, Kennedy also outlined a Democratic vision that promises a "better deal for all who call this country home." Democrats support a higher minimum wage, paid leave for employees and affordable child care, among other priorities, Kennedy said. "We choose pensions that are solvent, trade pacts that are fair, roads and bridges that won't rust away, and good education you can afford," he said in a speech from a vocational high school in Fall River, Massachusetts, a onetime manufacturing hub now struggling with high unemployment and other problems. Kennedy, 37, a three-term congressman and grandson of former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, has argued that Democrats should focus on the economic concerns of working-class voters who bolted the party in the 2016 elections. Fall River, home to many blue-collar workers, "has faced its share of storms," Kennedy said. "But people here are tough. They fight for each other. They pull for their city." In an apparent reference to Trump, Kennedy said that "bullies may land a punch" and leave a mark but that they have "never managed to match the strength and spirit of a people united in defense of their future." In a hard-hitting speech for a political newcomer, Kennedy decried a rollback of civil rights protections, noting proposals that target Muslims, transgender people and others. The Trump administration "isn't just targeting the laws that protect us — they are targeting the very idea that we are all worthy of protection," Kennedy said. Trump's record is "a rebuke of our highest American ideal: the belief that we are all worthy, we are all equal and we all count — in the eyes of our law and our leaders, our God and our government," Kennedy said. The red-haired Kennedy was elected to the House in 2012, returning the family to Congress two years after the retirement of Rhode Island Rep. Patrick Kennedy, the son of Joe Kennedy III's great-uncle Ted. Known mostly for his famous last name, Kennedy's selection has been criticized by some as tone-deaf at a time when sexual harassment of women and the Black Lives Matter movement are at the forefront of American politics. Speaking without a suit coat in front of a rebuilt car and an enthusiastic audience, Kennedy tried to defuse that Tuesday by citing the #MeToo movement and declaring, "Black lives matter." In a nod to "Dreamers," the 700,000 young immigrants brought here as children and now here illegally, Kennedy spoke in Spanish as he said Dreamers are a part of America's story and promised that Democrats will not walk away from them. Kennedy said Trump and his administration were breaking a core promise of America — that everyone will be treated equally under the law. He accused the administration of "callously" appraising Americans' worth and deciding "who makes the cut and who can be bargained away." Under the leadership of Trump and congressional Republicans, Americans are "bombarded with one false choice after another," Kennedy said. "Coal miners or single moms. Rural communities or inner cities. The coast or the heartland." Democrats "choose both," Kennedy said. A former Peace Corps volunteer, Kennedy was an assistant district attorney in two Massachusetts districts before being elected to Congress. He has focused on economic and social justice in Congress and has advocated on behalf of vocational schools and community colleges and championed issues such as transgender rights and marriage equality. To illustrate that message, Kennedy invited U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Patricia King, a transgender woman, as his guest to the State of the Union. King, an infantry squad leader at Fort Lewis, Washington, was the first person to have gender reassignment surgery paid for by the military. Kennedy's speech was one of several Democratic responses. Elizabeth Guzman, one of the first Latinas elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, delivered a Spanish-language response, while former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders spoke on Facebook Live and Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., spoke on BET.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2018-01-31 15:02:00

In response to Trump, Democrats argue for middle class

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3354701

UK leader says there's new optimism in Brexit talks

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Theresa May says there is a new sense of optimism in the talks to secure Britain's departure from the European Union. May is set to address the House of Commons on Monday, updating lawmakers on the negotiations just days after hammering out a deal with the EU on the so-called divorce issues, including the Irish border and Britain's financial obligations. Brexit talks are now expected to move onto trade and security cooperation. But Britain's argument that nothing is settled until all is agreed upon is causing unease among other countries involved in the decision. Irish officials have rejected assertions that the deal is merely a "statement of intent" rather than legally binding. The Irish government branded the view "bizarre" and insisted that an agreement is binding.

www.taiwannews.com.tw

2017-12-11 17:54:00

UK leader says there's new optimism in Brexit talks

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3317896