The Ongoing Saga 80: News, Updates, & More

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Anti-trust law, Clive nuclear waste dump, comment deadline, double stranded DNA, Doug Kimmelman, economics of nuclear power, EDF, Energy Solutions, Fillon, French elections, High Level Nuclear Waste, Le Pen, Melenchon, Mexican wall, Mexico, news, nuclear power, nuclear waste, nuclear weapons states, Putin, radiation damage, ROS, Texas waste dump, Toshiba Westinghouse, Trump, US NRC, Waste Control Specialists, WCS

This post ran from 25 April 2017 to 17 May 2017. Most recent updates are on top. It continues here: https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2017/05/24/the-ongoing-saga-81-news-updates-more It is a continuation of: https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2017/03/20/the-ongoing-saga-79-news-updates-tidbits-trivia

Scientists keep discovering that nuclear is more deadly than initially thought. Based on the Oct. 2015 multi-government funded study of nuclear workers, cancer risk appears around 15 times worse than even BEIR VII (ca 2005) concluded, maybe even higher: https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2015/12/19/another-look-at-the-recent-low-dose-radiation-exposure-study-inworks. There are well-known risks of heart disease and cataracts, too. Cataract-heart disease damage occurs at lower doses than previously admitted, as well.

While it has become popular to talk about ROS damage from radiation (e.g. Timothy Mousseau), ROS occurs in everyday life in contrast to radiation induced clustered DNA damage which is unique to radiation-damage and nearly impossible to correctly repair: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactive_oxygen_species. Clustered DNA damage, which is (nearly) impossible to properly repair, is considered a signature of ionizing radiation: “clustered DNA damage sites, which may be considered as a signature of ionising radiation, underlie the deleterious biological consequences of ionising radiation…ionising radiation creates significant levels of clustered DNA damage, including complex double-strand breaks (DSB)” See: “Biological Consequences of Radiation-induced DNA Damage: Relevance to Radiotherapy“, by M.E. Lomax et. al. Clinical Oncology 25 (2013) 578-585. “The formation of clustered damage distinguishes ionising radiation-induced damage from normal endogenous damage: https://cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp5-euratom/docs/non_dsb_lesions_projrep_en.pdf More here: https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2016/12/24/on-the-unique-dna-damage-done-by-ionizing-radiation-nuclear-materials-and-on-metting-hultgren-et-al-misleading-the-us-congress-in-this-matter
See too: “DNA Damage Response and Immune Defense: Links and Mechanisms” Rania Nakad and Björn Schumacher “DNA damage plays a causal role in numerous human pathologies including cancer,premature aging, and chronic inflammatory conditions…” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4977279/pdf/fgene-07-00147.pdf

NUCLEAR WASTE ANTI-TRUST CASE INVOLVING TRUMP DONOR-FUNDRAISER NEEDS WATCHING Energy Solutions, owned by Trump large donor Doug Kimmelman, is trying to take-over competitor WCS in clear violation of anti-trust law: “The United States of America, acting under the direction of the Attorney General of the United States, brings this civil antitrust action to enjoin EnergySolutions, Inc. (“ES”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Rockwell Holdco, Inc. (“Rockwell”), from acquiring Waste Control Specialists LLC (“WCS”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Andrews County Holdings, Inc.” https://www.justice.gov/atr/case-document/file/911051/download https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-sues-block-energysolutions-acquisition-waste-control-specialists
Kimmelman-Trump fund-raiser image: https://twitter.com/vosdscott/status/746402445010493440 “Donald Trump hopes to cure cash woes with $449,400-per-ticket fundraiser” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jul/11/donald-trump-campaign-donations-california-fundraiser-clinton.
Energy Solutions Clive Nuclear Waste Dump :
(San Onofre Nuclear steam generators were sent to Clive.)
https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2016/12/20/why-is-large-trump-donor-nuclear-waste-king-kimmelman-charging-so-much-to-bury-nuclear-waste-probably-because-hes-a-goldman-sachs-alumnus-duh-comment-on-high-cost-of-burial-of-nuclear-waste/ Makan Delrahim, a veteran lobbyist on President Donald Trump’s transition team, is expected to be nominated to head the U.S. Justice Department’s Antitrust Division“. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/DTQwJPYH-bI/us-usa-trump-antitrust-exclusive-idUSKBN16O2O2

TOSHIBA-WESTINGHOUSE BANKRUPTCY-SALE NEEDS TO BE WATCHED: Russian government owned Rosatom offered to bail-out Areva. Up to $8.3 billion US taxpayer money may be lost since they declared bankruptcy. If they sell it, who would buy it? Nuclear power is bad economics so most likely the purchase would be geostrategic. It could be Russia’s Rosatom, controlled by the Executive (i.e. Putin), or possibly UAE or perhaps Kazahkstan (Kazatomprom). Maybe a China State owned company or Korean. China and Korea have their own reactor designs.

A Rosatom subsidiary is trying to get an exemption to use its nuclear fuel in US reactors. It doesn’t want to tell what the fuel rods are made of, either, which matters for operating and waste safety. https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2017/04/04/putins-nuclear-fuel-co-wants-exemption-to-fuel-illinois-reactors-with-help-of-exelon-ge-toshiba-hitachi-and-us-nrc/

May 17, 2017 Update

U.S. lawmakers want Trump to explain giving intelligence to Russia
Posted:Tue, 16 May 2017 14:34:23 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump came under pressure on Tuesday from U.S. lawmakers, including his fellow Republicans, to explain why he shared highly sensitive intelligence information with senior Russian officials at a meeting in the Oval Office last week. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/8q5O4dUGZV0/us-usa-trump-russia-tweets-idUSKCN18C19Y

Russia’s response to Trump leak reports: don’t read U.S. newspapers
Posted:Tue, 16 May 2017 07:26:11 -0400
(Reuters) – A Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman on Tuesday advised that people don’t read American newspapers, in response to U.S. media reports that President Donald Trump had disclosed classified intelligence at a meeting with Russian officials.
http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/auuYKod7aDc/us-usa-trump-russia-zakharova-idUSKCN18C17Z

More Americans want ‘independent’ investigation of Trump: Reuters/Ipsos poll Posted:Tue, 16 May 2017 03:53:57 -0400
NEW YORK (Reuters) – A majority of Americans, including a growing number of Republicans, want to see an “independent investigation” sort out any connections between Russia and President Donald Trump during the 2016 election campaign, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Monday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/SwX6TRtcXk8/us-usa-trump-poll-idUSKCN18B2LN

Trump asked Comey to end investigation of Michael Flynn: source
Posted:Tue, 16 May 2017 22:08:59 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump asked then-FBI Director James Comey to end the agency’s investigation into ties between former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn and Russia, according to a source who has seen a memo written by Comey. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/8q5O4dUGZV0/us-usa-trump-russia-tweets-idUSKCN18C19Y

Democrats in U.S. Senate try to slow Republican deregulation
Posted:Tue, 16 May 2017 14:32:33 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Democrats are striking back at the U.S. Congress and White House over their push to cut regulations, as Republicans ratchet up attacks on rules they say hurt business and give bureaucrats too much power. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/BjujVrbikkA/us-usa-congress-regulation-exclusive-idUSKCN18C1T5

Dakota Access Pipeline spilled oil 84 gallons of oil in South Dakota
Posted:Wed, 10 May 2017 18:46:43 -0400
NEW YORK (Reuters) – The Dakota Access Pipeline leaked 84 gallons of crude oil at a pump station in South Dakota last month, according to state documents, just weeks before the pipeline is set to start commercial service. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/LL6aLxb4yec/us-north-dakota-pipeline-spill-idUSKBN1862VP

Following advice, potential FBI chiefs steer clear of job under Trump
Posted:Tue, 16 May 2017 17:37:27 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Trump administration’s search for a new FBI director hit roadblocks on Tuesday when two high-profile potential candidates, a moderate judge and a conservative senator, signaled they did not want the job. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/6aN2ESGKe4Y/us-usa-trump-fbi-idUSKCN18C2PI

U.S. stock futures, dollar fall on rising concerns on Trump
Posted:Tue, 16 May 2017 20:40:41 -0400
TOKYO (Reuters) – U.S. share futures and the dollar slipped in early Asian trade on Wednesday after reports that President Donald Trump asked then-FBI Director James Comey to end a probe into his former security adviser. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/lv7IiC9lP_c/us-global-markets-idUSKCN18D01B

EU to launch legal case against Italy over Fiat emissions: sources
Posted:Tue, 16 May 2017 15:10:41 -0400
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union will launch legal action against Italy on Wednesday for failing to police allegations of emissions-test cheating by Fiat Chrysler properly following the Volkswagen dieselgate scandal, EU sources said.
http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/RmU00Fl5As4/us-fiat-chrysler-emissions-idUSKCN18C2AR

Trump trade officials prefer tri-lateral NAFTA deal: U.S. senators
Posted:Tue, 16 May 2017 18:44:35 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Trump administration’s top trade officials hope to keep the North American Free Trade Agreement as a trilateral deal in negotiations with Canada and Mexico to revamp the 23-year-old pact, senators said on Tuesday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/A44UdYLHQ9w/us-usa-trade-nafta-idUSKCN18C2IR

JPMorgan’s Dimon defends Trump advisory role, deregulation
Posted:Tue, 16 May 2017 16:09:52 -0400
NEW YORK (Reuters) – JPMorgan Chase & Co Chief Executive Jamie Dimon on Tuesday responded to criticism from angry shareholders of his role advising President Donald Trump on economic matters, saying he would help “any president” in office. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/8rej9wYCtWo/us-jpmorgan-meeting-idUSKCN18C1ZB

PRESS DIGEST- British Business – May 17
Posted:Tue, 16 May 2017 20:03:17 -0400
May 17 (Reuters) – The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/companyNews/~3/e1ik_c–SeI/britain-press-business-idUSL2N1II26Z

Seven banks focus of Mexico bond collusion probe -report
Posted:Tue, 16 May 2017 19:52:50 -0400
MEXICO CITY, May 16 (Reuters) – Seven banks are at the center of a probe by Mexico’s antitrust regulator COFECE looking into possible collusion to manipulate bond prices, U.S. news agency Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing a person with knowledge of the matter. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/companyNews/~3/rAlzhxjxRAQ/mexico-banks-idUSL2N1II1HE

U.S. finds Japanese, Turkish rebar exports dumped
Posted:Tue, 16 May 2017 19:48:16 -0400
WASHINGTON, May 16 (Reuters) – U.S. Commerce Department Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Tuesday the department had made a final finding of dumping of steel concrete reinforcing bar (rebar) exports from Japan and Turkey, and subsidization by Turkey. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/companyNews/~3/iusfgYIrUfk/usa-steel-rebar-idUSL2N1II25S

Brazil farm lobby seeks to dismantle indigenous affairs agency
Posted:Tue, 16 May 2017 19:58:43 -0400
BRASILIA (Reuters) – A congressional panel backed by Brazil’s powerful farm lobby recommended on Tuesday dismantling Indian affairs agency Funai, a move critics said would leave indigenous tribes unprotected from an advancing agricultural frontier.
http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/b2MD26FRXtU/us-brazil-indigenouspeople-idUSKCN18C2UM

Southern Co to manage construction of Georgia nuclear plant
Posted:Sat, 13 May 2017 01:09:50 -0400
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Southern Co’s Georgia Power and Toshiba Corp’s Westinghouse have reached a tentative deal to transfer project management of the expansion of a Georgia nuclear power plant to units of Southern Co, Georgia Power said in a statement on Friday.” http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/t34Zr1lL_dY/us-toshiba-accounting-westinghouse-south-idUSKBN18903T

Carmaker Nissan says UK plant hit by cyber attack
Posted:Sat, 13 May 2017 09:56:24 -0400
LONDON (Reuters) – Nissan’s manufacturing plant in Sunderland, northeast England, has been affected by a cyber attack that has hit nearly 100 countries, a spokesman for the Japanese carmaker said on Saturday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/inVMeQL3eGg/us-cyber-attack-nissan-idUSKBN1890EK

Renault stops production at some sites after cyber attack
Posted:Sat, 13 May 2017 08:10:28 -0400
PARIS (Reuters) – French carmaker Renault stopped production at several sites on Saturday to prevent the spread of a global cyber attack that hit its computer systems, a spokesman said. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/buBElu0-goM/us-renault-cybercrime-idUSKBN1890AK

High-profile Snap stakeholders revealed in filings
Posted:Fri, 12 May 2017 18:54:10 -0400
NEW YORK/BOSTON (Reuters) – Some of the biggest U.S. mutual and hedge funds, including Daniel Loeb’s Third Point and Daniel Och’s Och-Ziff Capital Management , owned stakes in Snap Inc , parent of the wildly popular Snapchat messaging app, at the end of March, regulatory filings on Friday showed. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/bB-gpIkU_mA/us-investment-funds-idUSKBN18830X

In blow to Trump, GE backs NAFTA and voices support for Mexico
Posted:Fri, 12 May 2017 19:08:32 -0400
MONTERREY, Mexico (Reuters) – General Electric on Friday praised Mexico as a big part of its future and said the company is “very supportive” of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that U.S President Donald Trump has threatened to ditch. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/iiFYnXQk6gY/us-usa-trade-mexico-ge-idUSKBN18829I

Wells Fargo bogus accounts balloon to 3.5 million: lawyers
Posted:Fri, 12 May 2017 18:13:29 -0400
(Reuters) – Wells Fargo & Co may have opened as many as 3.5 million unauthorized customer accounts, far more than previously estimated, according to lawyers seeking approval of a $142 million settlement over the practice. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/vWEgajfXCXA/us-wells-fargo-accounts-idUSKBN1882UV

“Was he fired? You’re kidding”: Lavrov on Comey
Posted:Wed, 10 May 2017 08:46:00 -0400
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson welcomes Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to the State Department in Washington, D.C. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/USVideoPolitics/~3/DkrFhlFkhB4/was-he-fired-youre-kidding-lavrov-on-com

Health improving for rescued albino orangutan in Indonesia
Posted:Wed, 10 May 2017 06:53:12 -0400
CENTRAL KALIMANTAN, Indonesia (Reuters) – The health of a rare albino orangutan saved from captivity by environmentalists less than two weeks ago is improving, said Indonesian veterinarians at the quarantine facility where the five-year-old is being kept. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/HeJ_Vh2NqPU/us-indonesia-orangutan-idUSKBN1861CY

Lavrov acknowledges Comey fracas by quipping ‘Was he fired?’
Posted:Wed, 10 May 2017 09:41:47 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Russia’s foreign minister sarcastically acknowledged the abrupt dismissal of FBI director James Comey by saying ‘Was he fired? You’re kidding. You’re kidding’ as he posed on Wednesday for photographs with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/iC0nLu3-vEo/us-usa-russia-idUSKBN1861V4

NSA gave French a “heads up” on Russian cyber-meddling: Rogers
Posted:Tue, 09 May 2017 13:02:00 -0400
National Security Agency Director Mike Rogers, testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, says the U.S. is working with its allies to prevent Russian interference in upcoming elections. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/USVideoPolitics/~3/Nqg1lkJukE8/nsa-gave-french-a-heads-up-on-russian-cy

“In shock move, Trump fires FBI Director Comey
Posted:Tue, 09 May 2017 19:44:15 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday abruptly fired FBI Director James Comey, who had been leading his agency’s investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign and possible collusion with Trump’s campaign.” http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/yL7Kg9v3rFU/us-usa-trump-co

May 9, 2017 Update

Hearings link: https://www.c-span.org/video/?427577-1/white-house-warned-general-flynn-compromised

Maxine Waters Tweets: https://twitter.com/MaxineWaters

France appears to have spared itself its own presidential Russiagate since Macron won by 66 % vs slightly under 34 % for Le Pen. But US Russiagate continues. [Our comment about the importance of the French elections has been moved to right below today’s Reuters news update – after it says “Reuters Ends”. ]

Congressman Cummings had already warned Pence in mid-November:
“Nov 18, 2016 Press Release
Washington, D.C. (Nov, 18, 2016)—Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter to Vice President-Elect Mike Pence requesting information about the apparent conflicts of interest of the Vice Chairman of the Presidential Transition team, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who was reportedly offered the job of National Security Advisor: “… I am writing to raise questions about the apparent conflicts of interest of the Vice Chairman of the Presidential Transition Team, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who reportedly has been selected by the President-elect to be his National Security Advisor… Read more here: https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2017/03/10/trumps-1st-national-security-advisor-flynn-forgot-his-lobbying-supported-the-agenda-of-turkeys-president/

Russia has recently put in place anti-blasphemy laws prohibiting people from hurting the religious feelings of Orthodox Christians. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blasphemy_law

Reuters News Feed Selection

Macron wins French presidency, to European allies’ relief
Posted:Mon, 08 May 2017 06:22:18 -0400
PARIS (Reuters) – Emmanuel Macron was elected French president on Sunday with a business-friendly vision of European integration, defeating Marine Le Pen, a far-right nationalist who threatened to take France out of the European Union. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/Bt2WFydmhvY/us-france-election-idUSKBN1840GT

Jakarta’s Christian governor jailed for blasphemy against Islam
Posted:Tue, 09 May 2017 10:08:27 -0400
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Jakarta’s Christian governor has been sentenced to two years in jail for blasphemy, a harsher-than-expected ruling critics fear will embolden hardline Islamist forces to challenge secularism in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/4PByd8yT44U/us-indonesia-politics-idUSKBN1842GE

Liberal Moon Jae-in wins South Korean election: exit polls
Posted:Tue, 09 May 2017 10:49:02 -0400
SEOUL (Reuters) – Liberal politician Moon Jae-in won South Korea’s presidential election on Tuesday, an exit poll showed, an expected victory that would end nearly a decade of conservative rule and bring a more conciliatory approach toward North Korea http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/5NY768pLvT8/us-southkorea-election-idUSKBN18425S

Islamic State says it beheads Russian officer in Syria: SITE
Posted:Tue, 09 May 2017 08:51:17 -0400
MOSCOW/DUBAI (Reuters) – Islamic State has issued a video showing the beheading of a man it described as a Russian intelligence officer captured in Syria, the U.S.-based SITE monitoring website reported on Tuesday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/PrpSIs-yXuM/us-mideast-crisis-syria-russia-colonel-idUSKBN1850OA

Chinese military conducts live-fire drills, weapons tests
Posted:Tue, 09 May 2017 08:29:12 -0400
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s military has conducted live-fire drills and weapons tests in the northeastern Bohai Sea close to the Korean peninsula, the country’s defense ministry said on Tuesday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/sX3vJtDtta8/us-china-military-northkorea-idUSKBN1851FW

Explosion at Mexico fireworks depot kills at least 12
Posted:Tue, 09 May 2017 11:00:19 -0400
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – At least 12 people were killed, including five children, and 30 were injured in an explosion at a house where fireworks were stored in central Mexico’s Puebla state, authorities said on Tuesday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/nkkadKqAwfY/us-mexico-blast-idUSKBN1851N6

Iraqi forces chip away at last Islamic State-held districts in Mosul
Posted:Tue, 09 May 2017 10:56:37 -0400
MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) – Fly-blown corpses of Islamic State militants (IS) littered the streets of a district in Mosul on Tuesday as U.S.-backed Iraqi forces chipped away at the last remaining handful of districts under the jihadists’ control. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/GMSztQbo4Vc/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-mosul-idUSKBN1851NS

Italy builds new detention centers to speed up migrant deportations
Posted:Tue, 09 May 2017 10:57:28 -0400
ROME (Reuters) – Italy will open new detention centers across the country in the next few months as part of its push to speed up deportations of illegal migrants, despite critics saying that the centers are not only inhumane but also do not produce the desired result. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/kwhcdP3FqpQ/us-europe-migrants-italy-deportations-idUSKBN1851T7

French ex-prime minister Valls offers to back Macron in June elections
Posted:Tue, 09 May 2017 11:07:55 -0400
PARIS (Reuters) – French president-elect Emmanuel Macron won an offer of support from Socialist ex-prime minister Manuel Valls on Tuesday as he and his aides worked on strategy ahead of parliamentary elections that will be crucial to his ambitious reform plans. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/lpnv55_z8sU/us-france-election-idUSKBN1850HU

Gunmen attack South Sudan vice president’s convoy, injuring bodyguards
Posted:Tue, 09 May 2017 10:55:07 -0400
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Gunmen attacked the vice president’s convoy in South Sudan on Tuesday and wounded three of his bodyguards, a government official said, underscoring worsening insecurity in the oil-rich nation. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/8NLYe1QO_50/us-southsudan-security-idUSKBN1851M7

U.S. suspends aid to Kenyan health ministry over corruption concerns
Posted:Tue, 09 May 2017 10:46:50 -0400
NAIROBI (Reuters) – The U.S. government has suspended $21 million in direct aid to Kenya’s Ministry of Health amid concern over corruption, the embassy said on Tuesday, giving emphasis to an issue that is a growing liability for the government before August elections. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/5f9xFZwkjYI/us-kenya-health-corruption-idUSKBN1851RY

Fire in Okefenokee wildlife refuge forces evacuations in Georgia
Posted:Sun, 07 May 2017 20:05:40 -0400
(Reuters) – A wildfire in Georgia’s Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has forced dozens of nearby residents to leave their homes, authorities said on Sunday, adding the blaze might not be fully contained for months. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/wXPF3y7yQpI/us-usa-georgia-fire-idUSKBN1830N7

Earnings gap over U.S. workers grows for S&P 500 CEOs: union report
Posted:Tue, 09 May 2017 11:02:03 -0400
BOSTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) – The average S&P 500 chief executive made $13.1 million last year, 347 times more than the average U.S. worker, according to a labor group analysis released on Tuesday, up from 335 times as much in the previous year. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/zth7ETB2HpQ/us-usa-compensation-ceos-idUSKBN1851SV

Oil buckles as concern grows over battle of OPEC vs shale
Posted:Tue, 09 May 2017 10:16:11 -0400
LONDON (Reuters) – Oil prices fell on Tuesday, surrendering earlier gains, rattled by concern over slowing demand and the rise in U.S. crude output that has shaken investors’ faith in the ability of OPEC to rebalance the market. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/EBlvl-aHIfw/us-global-oil-idUSKBN185033

Hermes urges VW shareholders to not discharge management, sup board
Posted:Tue, 09 May 2017 05:35:50 -0400
BERLIN (Reuters) – Investment advisory firm Hermes EOS has urged Volkswagen shareholders not to clear the carmaker’s management and supervisory boards from responsibility for actions taken in 2016, citing VW’s failure to resolve long-standing corporate governance and transparency issues. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/DHxMXrHLeg4/us-volkswagen-emissions-hermes-idUSKBN1850ZJ

UK PM May reaffirms aim to bring down net immigration to ‘tens of thousands’ per year
Posted:Mon, 08 May 2017 06:14:41 -0400
LONDON (Reuters) – Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday her Conservative Party would keep its pledge to bring down net immigration to the United Kingdom down to “tens of thousands” per year if it wins an election next month. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/2_3jvJrhthk/us-britain-election-immigration-idUSKBN18410P

Ex-Obama administration officials to testify in Trump-Russia probe
Posted:Mon, 08 May 2017 06:20:06 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Two officials in former President Barack Obama’s administration will testify on Monday in a Senate investigation into allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election and possible collusion between President Donald Trump’s campaign and Moscow. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/E0yoRlmlU9o/us-usa-trump-russia-idUSKBN1840D5

Reporters barred from Kushner Companies’ event in China
Posted:Mon, 08 May 2017 02:01:04 -0400
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Organizers barred journalists on Sunday from a publicly advertised event in Shanghai that offered Chinese investors the chance to get U.S. immigrant visas if they put money in a real estate project linked to the family of President Donald Trump’s son-in-law. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/4ma9HkhjD08/us-china-kushner-idUSKBN1830E7

U.S. environmental chief to recuse himself from court cases
Posted:Sat, 06 May 2017 19:13:18 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt has recused himself from several court cases that he pursued against the agency when he was Oklahoma attorney general, according to a recusal statement. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/Vrv2Y0iNzdg/us-usa-environment-epa-idUSKBN1820R6

Police slowly reopen Paris train station after security alert
Posted:Mon, 08 May 2017 20:41:01 -0400
PARIS (Reuters) – Police gradually began reopening Paris’ Gare du Nord train station early on Tuesday morning after earlier evacuating the platforms and cordoning off the area because of a security alert, local police authorities said. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/Wp95V7Ux1Ys/us-france-security-station-idUSKBN1842IO

France’s victorious Macron reminded of huge, immediate challenges
Posted:Mon, 08 May 2017 15:21:54 -0400
PARIS (Reuters) – Emmanuel Macron was confronted on Monday with pressing reminders of the challenges facing him as France’s next president, even as allies and some former rivals signaled their willingness to work closely with him. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/Bt2WFydmhvY/us-france-election-idUSKBN1840GT

Police search for toddler, stepfather swept away in Quebec floods
Posted:Mon, 08 May 2017 17:16:36 -0400
(Reuters) – Debris-filled choppy waters on Monday kept divers from searching for a toddler and her stepfather who were swept away in a swollen Quebec river as the military battled to protect the flooded province. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/-kRGKq79WoE/us-canada-quebec-floods-idUSKBN1841PX

Philippines’ new environment minister says can allow responsible mining
Posted:Tue, 09 May 2017 00:09:32 -0400
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines’ new Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said on Tuesday he can allow mining in the country as long as it is done responsibly, taking a more moderate stance than his dismissed predecessor who ordered over half the country’s mines shut. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/fNmd8Xgvzuo/us-philippines-mining-env-idUSKBN185083

Exclusive: Barrick faces sanctions for Argentina cyanide spills, judge says
Posted:Mon, 08 May 2017 09:34:23 -0400
SAN JUAN, Argentina(Reuters) – Barrick Gold Corp failed to complete improvements to the Veladero mine in Argentina that could have prevented the third spill of cyanide solution in 18 months, leading to eventual sanctions for the world’s biggest gold miner, a judge told Reuters. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/9zaAdNd2U3U/us-barrick-gold-mine-argentina-exclusive-idUSKBN1841BK

U.S. vows commitment to Arctic climate change research
Posted:Mon, 08 May 2017 17:01:59 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States will participate in advancing climate change research in the Arctic, a State Department official said on Monday, ahead of a summit of Arctic nations later this week where Washington’s commitment to tackling climate change will likely be questioned. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/_HSWFIxTWuQ/us-usa-climatechange-arctic-idUSKBN1842BM

Some Chase branches in Seattle closed by protests over pipeline loans
Posted:Mon, 08 May 2017 20:58:18 -0400
SEATTLE (Reuters) – Native American leaders and climate activists protested at several Chase branches in Seattle on Monday, forcing them to close temporarily as demonstrators demanded the bank not lend to projects like the Keystone XL oil pipeline. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/C_aGKd3X8wQ/us-usa-pipeline-protests-idUSKBN18502Q

Former Trump security aide was Russia blackmail risk: ex-U.S. official
Posted:Mon, 08 May 2017 20:11:03 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Former Acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates said on Monday she warned the White House in January that then-national security adviser Michael Flynn had been compromised and could have been vulnerable to blackmail by Russia. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/w5pNDF_St28/us-usa-trump-russia-flynn-idUSKBN1841UO

Obama warned Trump against Flynn as national security adviser: ex-official
Posted:Mon, 08 May 2017 14:03:58 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Former U.S. President Barack Obama warned then-President-elect Donald Trump not to give the post of national security adviser in his administration to Michael Flynn who was eventually fired in a controversy about ties to Russia, a former Obama aide said. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/w5pNDF_St28/us-usa-trump-russia-flynn-idUSKBN1841UO

Former Trump aide might have been open to Russia blackmail: ex-U.S. official
Posted:Mon, 08 May 2017 16:29:45 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A former senior U.S. law enforcement figure said on Monday she warned President Donald Trump’s White House in January about then-national security adviser Michael Flynn because she feared he could have been open to blackmail by Russia. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/w5pNDF_St28/us-usa-trump-russia-flynn-idUSKBN1841UO

Three thousand migrants rescued in the Mediterranean: coast guard
Posted:Sat, 06 May 2017 17:55:46 -0400
MILAN (Reuters) – Around 3,000 migrants were rescued in the Mediterranean on Saturday as they tried to reach Europe, Italy’s coast guard said in a statement. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/PmywXkKmQu0/us-italy-migrants-idUSKBN1820Q6

Macron favorite in opinion polls as France elects new president
Posted:Sun, 07 May 2017 04:15:21 -0400
PARIS (Reuters) – After a tumultuous election campaign filled with scandal and surprises, the French public began to vote on Sunday on whether a pro-European Union centrist or an anti-EU, anti-immigration far-rightist will lead them for the next five years. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/PbJ62a6No1c/us-france-election-idUSKBN183003

Pentagon to lease privately owned Trump Tower apartment for nuclear ‘football’: letter
Posted:Fri, 05 May 2017 18:37:28 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Defense Department is finalizing a lease on a privately owned apartment in New York’s Trump Tower for the White House Military Office to use for supporting President Donald Trump without providing any benefit to Trump or his organization, according to a Pentagon letter seen by Reuters.
http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/Ls191o12LSw/us-usa-pentagon-trumptower-idUSKBN1812B5

Planned Parenthood protests aimed at House Republicans’ offices
Posted:Fri, 05 May 2017 14:20:48 -0400
(Reuters) – Planned Parenthood, the U.S. medical services provider that could lose federal funding under the Republican-controlled House of Representatives’ healthcare overhaul bill, said it would hold dozens of demonstrations outside the local offices of members of Congress across the country on Friday and Saturday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/t-BRZte1Aek/us-usa-healthcare-planned-parenthood-idUSKBN181206

U.S. Navy SEAL killed in Somalia raid on militant compound
Posted:Fri, 05 May 2017 14:45:20 -0400
WASHINGTON/MOGADISHU (Reuters) – A U.S. Navy SEAL was killed and two troops wounded in a raid on an al Shabaab militant compound in Somalia, U.S. officials said on Friday, in what appeared to be the first U.S. combat death in the African country since the 1993 “Black Hawk Down” disaster. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/W0loKW26f9w/us-somalia-security-usa-idUSKBN1811DV

France’s Macron accuses presidential rival Le Pen of spreading lies
Posted:Thu, 04 May 2017 08:43:34 -0400
PARIS (Reuters) – French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron accused his far-right rival Marine Le Pen on Thursday of spreading lies by suggesting he had an undisclosed offshore fund.
http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/N6em6pCVPrc/us-france-election-idUSKBN18014H

Germany: Kremlin to decide whether to use hacked data to influence election
Posted:Thu, 04 May 2017 07:49:06 -0400
BERLIN (Reuters) – The head of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency said it would ultimately be up the Kremlin to decide whether data gleaned from cyber attacks directed at German lawmakers and political parties would be used to try to affect the Sept. 24 national election. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/Tg7n0aFjmWY/us-germany-security-cyber-russia-idUSKBN1801CA
Reuters Ends

Our April 25, 2017 comment about French elections, which was initially at top of blog post:

People cannot afford to be complacent about the French elections. On May 7th, French voters will choose between Macron and Le Pen. If Le Pen wins then Putin will seemingly control all western nuclear weapons states. The US and UK via Trump, since the US-UK share nuclear weapons (assuming that Putin owns Trump). The UK nuclear power sector via French government owned EDF. Putin can control China and India through energy exports. He appears to have influence in Israel, as well, due to the large Russian presence there. Will Pakistan protect the west? North Korea certainly won’t! If Le Pen-Putin win then Russian gov owned Rosatom, which answers to Putin, almost certainly will be imposed all over and we never be able to get rid of nuclear. Nuclear power can’t survive in free enterprise capitalism, even with huge government subsidies. Even the billions of loan guarantees given by the US government for new nuclear power stations couldn’t keep Westinghouse from bankruptcy.

While Putin is apparently less popular in France than in the US, several candidates appear to have been pro-Putin and no one knows how their voters will vote the second round. Those with good jobs cannot continue to ignore the working poor and unemployed. It’s a no brainer why they don’t want immigrants to take jobs away. Immigrants do take jobs away. A fact that many still don’t get.

First Czech Russian Bank was closed last July by the Russian government and its debts called back ca December 2016. Did something similar happen to Trump? Marine Le Pen borrowed 9 million euros (almost the same as US$) from this bank. And, another $2 million from an entity with reported KGB and Russian Orthodox extremist connections. The Le Pen family has ties to the most extremist of Putin Russian Orthodox (Christian) followers for at least 20 years.

Re former candidate Melenchon’s position on Russia: “Djordje Kuzmanovic, l’éminence grise pro-Poutine de Mélenchon” 5 AOÛT 2016 PAR LANCETRE BLOG : https://blogs.mediapart.fr/lancetre/blog/050816/djordje-kuzmanovic-leminence-grise-pro-poutine-de-melenchon
Fillon also pulled in a large percentage of the vote: “Francois Fillon is a former prime minister who struck up a friendship with Putin while he was in power… Once the front-runner, the 63-year-old’s campaign has been hurt by reports that he received 50,000 euros ($53,600) for setting up a meeting between a Lebanese billionaire, a French oil executive, and Putin in 2015.” https://www.rferl.org/a/france-election-macron-le-pen-fillon-melenchon-putin-russia/28445679.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/francois-fillon-vladimir-putin-meeting-payment-claim-france-presidential-election-a7642316.html While most articles require a small subscription, Media Part appears the best way to research-keep up to date. If you don’t read French, google translate is suprisingly good. Some article are in English. See: https://www.mediapart.fr

Tuesday, 2 May 2017 Update

Reuters News Feed Selection

Trump suggests Republicans use ‘nuclear option’ to pass laws
Posted:Tue, 02 May 2017 10:29:27 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday Republicans should consider changing Senate rules to make it easier to pass legislation without any Democratic support, as they have already done to get a Supreme Court nominee approved. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/tNyaEOVy-3Q/us-usa-trump-congress-idUSKBN17Y1J0

North Korea says U.S. bomber flights push peninsula to brink of nuclear war Posted:Tue, 02 May 2017 09:47:23 -0400 SEOUL/BEIJING (Reuters) – North Korea accused the United States on Tuesday of pushing the Korean peninsula to the brink of nuclear war after a pair of strategic U.S. bombers flew training drills with the South Korean and Japanese air forces in another show of strength. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/WToovHEDOT8/us-northkorea-usa-idUSKBN17W04T

UPDATE 2- Sales tax creditors kick off deluge of lawsuits against Puerto Rico Posted:Tue, 02 May 2017 12:02:51 -0400 NEW YORK, May 2 (Reuters) – Hours after a deadline to negotiate a debt restructuring passed without a deal, Puerto Rico faced a smattering of lawsuits from financial stakeholders that could ultimately push it into bankruptcy. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/companyNews/~3/raJ22VbMVL4/puertorico-debt-lawsuit-idUSL1N1I40E8

Kremlin says Putin, Trump to speak by phone on Tuesday: RIA
Posted:Tue, 02 May 2017 01:49:09 -0400
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump will speak by phone on Tuesday, RIA news agency quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/0UScNLXFjjg/us-usa-trump-putin-idUSKBN17Y03W

The property manager and Putin’s friends
Posted:Thu, 31 Mar 2016 10:58:14 -0400
LONDON/MOSCOW (Reuters) – A little-known Russian businessman from St Petersburg has provided properties to multiple women who share one common theme: President Vladimir Putin.
http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/MostRead/~3/VJKIEIeRVl4/us-russia-capitalism-propertymanager-idUSKCN0WX1MU

Indonesian activists rescue albino orangutan
Posted:Tue, 02 May 2017 10:16:23 -0400
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesian environmentalists have rescued a rare albino orangutan from captivity on the island of Kalimantan, a conservation charity said on Tuesday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/DiVVz9CmT3Q/us-indonesia-orangutan-idUSKBN17Y1OE

Rwanda brings rhinos back to boost tourism
Posted:Tue, 02 May 2017 11:57:21 -0400
KIGALI (Reuters) – A decade after poachers wiped out its native population of rhinos, Rwanda has reintroduced the animals to its national parks after flying up a group of 10 from South Africa on Tuesday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/U_LRZMfVCUw/us-rwanda-tourism-idUSKBN17Y1YR

UK seaside towns fight back against seagull attacks
Posted:Tue, 02 May 2017 09:52:34 -0400
LONDON (Reuters) – Fed up with holidaymakers being divebombed by greedy seagulls in “horror movie” scenes, one British costal area is fighting back by making it an offence to feed the birds. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/eyLo3Mgw9vc/us-britain-seagulls-idUSKBN17Y1L8

German minister to try to persuade U.S. to remain in climate pact
Posted:Tue, 02 May 2017 08:40:15 -0400
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks said on Tuesday she would seek to convince the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to remain part of the Paris Climate Agreement during her trip to the United States later this month. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/TFSOcAy1q2c/us-usa-trump-germany-climatechange-idUSKBN17Y1E5

UK will not appeal court ruling on air pollution plan: PM May’s spokesman
Posted:Tue, 02 May 2017 06:45:02 -0400
LONDON (Reuters) – The British government will not appeal a court ruling on its plans to tackle air pollution and will meet a deadline for May 9 to detail its efforts to improve air quality, Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokesman said on Tuesday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/tSp2hLRCoWk/us-britain-emissions-delay-idUSKBN17Y12J

Twin polar bear cubs born at Sea World in Australia
Posted:Tue, 02 May 2017 08:24:20 -0400
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Two polar bear cubs born a week ago at Sea World in Australia’s Gold Coast are expected to make their public debut in three months time, but staff have seen the blind and toothless pair suckling milk from their mother inside their den. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/T_sNQ0RXP_s/us-australia-animals-idUSKBN17Y1CP

Powerful storm front that killed 16 threatens eastern United States
Posted:Mon, 01 May 2017 14:22:16 -0400
(Reuters) – A powerful storm system bore down on the eastern United States on Monday after spawning tornadoes and torrential rains that killed at least 16 people and shut down hundreds of roads over the weekend, forecasters said. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/oH993Eot4sM/us-usa-weather-idUSKBN17X26J

Fire in Georgia wildlife refuge could take months to fight: U.S. officials
Posted:Tue, 02 May 2017 11:53:26 -0400
(Reuters) – A wildfire that has burned more than 100,000 acres (40,469 hectares) at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in southern Georgia could take until November before it is put out, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said on Monday.
http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/pYfZBOlxQas/us-usa-georgia-fire-idUSKBN17X2H2

Mississippi River likely to close at St. Louis as waters rise: Coast Guard
Posted:Mon, 01 May 2017 17:25:25 -0400
CHICAGO (Reuters) – The Mississippi River was expected to be closed to boat traffic at St. Louis on Tuesday as waters rose to moderate flood level due to heavy precipitation, a U.S. Coast Guard spokesman said on Monday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/cpwfa6OZpXM/us-usa-weather-mississippiriver-idUSKBN17X2FC

Philippine lawmaker says ’50-50 chance’ of Lopez losing environment minister job
Posted:Tue, 02 May 2017 05:47:45 -0400
MANILA (Reuters) – There is a 50 percent chance that Philippines Environment Secretary Regina Lopez may lose her confirmation vote after holding the position for nearly a year, said the head of the country’s Senate environment committee on Tuesday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/G2Yn_f5hYtY/us-philippines-mining-idUSKBN17Y0XE

BRIEF-General Moly says co’s CEO Bruce Hansen appointed as CFO – SEC Filing
Posted:Tue, 02 May 2017 11:59:13 -0400
* General Moly says on April 27 board appointed Bruce Hansen, company’s CEO, as chief financial officer of company, effective May 12, 2017 – SEC Filing Source text: (http://bit.ly/2pC2JlI) Further company coverage:
http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/companyNews/~3/BW0KYXd3sIg/brief-general-moly-says-cos-ceo-bruce-ha-idUSFWN1I40ON

GM writes down Venezuela operations after authorities seize plant
Posted:Tue, 02 May 2017 11:31:10 -0400
(Reuters) – General Motors Co said on Tuesday it would take a charge of up to $100 million after a judge ordered the seizure of its plant in Valencia last month, a move that prompted the halting of its operations in Venezuela. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/s4_qzfM0kjc/us-gm-venezuela-idUSKBN17Y1R0

New York girds itself for Trump’s first visit as president
Posted:Tue, 02 May 2017 10:07:28 -0400
NEW YORK (Reuters) – New York is bracing for President Donald Trump’s first trip back to his hometown since taking office in January in a Thursday visit that is expected to draw protests and snarl traffic in the United States’ most populous city. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/cqkvvlnm9oc/us-usa-trump-new-york-idUSKBN17Y0Z3

Trump’s nominee for China ambassador takes tough line on South China Sea
Posted:Tue, 02 May 2017 10:57:13 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the U.S. ambassador to China took a tough line on Tuesday on China’s development of “artificial islands” in the South China Sea. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/_q1Nv6Rgrbs/us-usa-trump-china-islands-idUSKBN17Y1R5

Budget deal may map U.S. Congress road ahead, via Trump bypass
Posted:Mon, 01 May 2017 19:27:34 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Congress, bitterly divided for years along party lines, may be mapping a bipartisan path forward that skirts around President Donald Trump when he refuses to engage constructively with lawmakers, Democrats and some lobbyists said on Monday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/K5MYScpxNsk/us-usa-budget-idUSKBN17X0YF

Trump questions why U.S. Civil War had to happen
Posted:Mon, 01 May 2017 22:11:30 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Donald Trump has shown a fascination with populist 19th-century U.S. president Andrew Jackson since he has occupied the Oval Office, hanging “Old Hickory’s” portrait in the Oval Office, visiting his plantation in Tennessee and placing a wreath at his tomb. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/FIvBf14QjgI/us-usa-trump-jackson-idUSKBN17X20W

New Jersey’s Christie vetoes bill seeking Trump’s tax returns
Posted:Mon, 01 May 2017 17:43:59 -0400
(Reuters) – New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on Monday vetoed a bill that would have required President Donald Trump to release his tax returns in order to run for re-election in the state, calling it “politics at its worst.” http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/45yYiqXuD3U/us-new-jersey-trump-tax-idUSKBN17X2EM

White House seeks quick vote on healthcare overhaul but hurdles remain
Posted:Mon, 01 May 2017 18:21:31 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Top aides to President Donald Trump on Monday predicted the House of Representatives would move this week to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system, though Republicans remained divided on how to protect sick Americans from insurance price hikes. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/eC_qubpyXZM/us-usa-healthcare-idUSKBN17X1Q2

Maine governor sues state’s attorney general in Trump policy tussle
Posted:Mon, 01 May 2017 18:48:21 -0400
(Please note: Story contains strong language in final paragraph) http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/w6U_nat-rYc/us-maine-politics-idUSKBN17X2FV

Philippines says Trump recognized ‘great job’ Duterte is doing
Posted:Tue, 02 May 2017 08:58:16 -0400
MANILA (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump was aware of the criticism Philippine counterpart Rodrigo Duterte had received over his controversial war on drugs, but praised him for doing a “great job” when they spoke, Duterte’s spokesman said on Tuesday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/pP9NgHEJL5o/us-philippines-usa-idUSKBN17Y1B3

Putin, Merkel struggle to move past differences in tense meeting
Posted:Tue, 02 May 2017 11:08:29 -0400
SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel, on a rare visit to Russia, said that Berlin and Moscow had to keep talking despite their disagreements, but those same differences overshadowed her talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/RWZbdBvP4as/us-russia-germany-putin-syria-idUSKBN17Y1JC

Generation Macron: Young liberal EU leaders rally behind French ‘Kennedy’
Posted:Tue, 02 May 2017 12:17:26 -0400
BRUSSELS/PARIS (Reuters) – If Emmanuel Macron wins Sunday’s French presidential run-off, Europe’s pro-EU liberals will finally have their champion. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/MCF2_0OD5oU/us-france-election-eu-benelux-idUSKBN17Y1XT

Israeli strikes raise stakes in face-off with Hezbollah
Posted:Tue, 02 May 2017 12:42:23 -0400
JERUSALEM/BEIRUT (Reuters) – Two Israeli air strikes against Hezbollah targets in Syria in recent weeks seem to mark a more openly assertive stance toward the group after years of shadow boxing, requiring careful calibration to avoid escalation into a war that neither wants.

One third of Melenchon faithful to vote Macron in French presidentials round two
Posted:Tue, 02 May 2017 11:37:21 -0400
PARIS (Reuters) – About a third of members of far-left politician Jean-Luc Melenchon’s political movement will cast their second round French presidential election vote for centrist Emmanuel Macron, results showed, with the remainder planning to cast a blank vote or abstain. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/6Vo23AZZ5i0/us-france-election-melenchon-idUSKBN17Y1WG

Venezuelan opposition blocks streets to protest Maduro’s power shakeup
Posted:Tue, 02 May 2017 10:52:37 -0400
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s opposition blocked streets in Caracas on Tuesday to denounce a decision by unpopular leftist President Nicolas Maduro to create a new super-body known as a “constituent assembly,” a move critics say is a veiled attempt to cling to power by avoiding elections. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/GBzBRyQATSU/us-venezuela-politics-idUSKBN17Y19B

German minister cools on support for migrant camps in Libya
Posted:Tue, 02 May 2017 12:36:31 -0400
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – A deal between Italy and Libya to hold migrants in camps in the north African country ignores “catastrophic conditions” in Libya and would not curb migration, Germany’s foreign minister said on Tuesday, contradicting Berlin’s previous support for the plan.

Russia’s ambitious housing resettlement plan stirs discontent among some
Posted:Tue, 02 May 2017 12:30:57 -0400
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia proposes resettling millions of citizens from decrepit Soviet-era apartment blocks into modern high-rise flats, but concerns about quality, a lack of services and infrastructure could upset voters ahead of a presidential election in 2018. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/7_sctqQ6Nb0/us-russia-housing-conflict-idUSKBN17Y1RO

Brazil prosecutors charge former Lula chief of staff with corruption
Posted:Tue, 02 May 2017 12:30:00 -0400
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – Brazilian prosecutors on Tuesday said they leveled new corruption charges against a one-time chief of staff for former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is already serving long jail sentences on prior graft convictions. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/IhSyKONlFrc/us-brazil-corruption-dirceu-idUSKBN17Y20G

Sweden ends ID checks on Denmark travelers imposed as migration peaked
Posted:Tue, 02 May 2017 12:11:40 -0400
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden is to lift identity checks on people entering the country from Denmark imposed at the height of the migration crisis, it said on Tuesday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/_r0rLgZ-ZD8/us-sweden-migration-minister-idUSKBN17Y1TC

Macron, Le Pen exchange May Day blows on day of rallies and protests
Posted:Mon, 01 May 2017 15:19:42 -0400
PARIS (Reuters) – Centrist presidential frontrunner Emmanuel Macron and his far-right rival Marine Le Pen attacked each other’s visions of France and the role it should play in Europe on Monday against a background of May Day rallies and protests. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/xBaT_4aM3v8/us-france-election-idUSKBN17X1OG

Trump to continue talking to Netanyahu about settlements: White House
Posted:Mon, 01 May 2017 14:48:10 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump will continue to talk to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about Israeli settlement activity, the White House said on Monday following reports that Israel plans to build 15,000 new settlement homes in East Jerusalem. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/6fu2pgAqXxs/us-israel-palestinians-settlements-usa-idUSKBN17X27P

Rights group accuses Syria of several likely nerve agent attacks
Posted:Mon, 01 May 2017 14:25:29 -0400
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Human Rights Watch on Monday accused Syrian government forces of likely dropping bombs containing nerve agents at least three times elsewhere in the country before an April 4 attack that killed dozens of people and sparked a retaliatory U.S. strike. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/QG4JGoxzDWo/us-mideast-crisis-syria-chemicalweapons-idUSKBN17X261

Shootout leaves eight dead near Mexico’s Los Cabos tourist hub
Posted:Mon, 01 May 2017 14:52:37 -0400
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – A shootout near the Mexican beach resort of Los Cabos early on Monday between suspected gang members and navy forces has left eight dead, including one soldier. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/RPZpHcDAoYA/us-mexico-violence-idUSKBN17X28A

On May Day, workers of the world unite – and protest
Posted:Mon, 01 May 2017 14:10:48 -0400
LONDON (Reuters) – Europeans took to the streets on Monday, celebrating the international workers’ holiday of May Day with an assortment of rallies and demonstrations, which in France turned violent as protesters threw petrol bombs at police. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/ng5qM0E-TQ8/us-may-day-protests-idUSKBN17X23W

Brazil indigenous attacked, hands severed in land dispute: advocates
Posted:Mon, 01 May 2017 15:15:29 -0400
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – More than a dozen members of an indigenous tribe were injured in a dispute over land in northern Brazil, including at least one whose hands were hacked off, according to reports from indigenous rights groups on Monday.
http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/guBHMZkJ234/us-brazil-indians-idUSKBN17X29G

Twenty-First Century Fox in talks with Blackstone to buy Tribune
Posted:Sun, 30 Apr 2017 21:21:41 -0400
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Twenty-First Century Fox Inc is in talks with Blackstone Group LP about submitting an offer to buy Tribune Media Co , one of the largest U.S. television station operators, sources familiar with the matter said on Sunday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/atIO13WtgUc/us-tribune-media-m-a-idUSKBN17X0VV

Trump could target ‘carried interest’ tax loophole: official
Posted:Sun, 30 Apr 2017 17:08:42 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Trump administration’s push to overhaul tax laws might soon target a loophole used by some financial managers to lower their tax rates, White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said on Sunday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/Q7ps-qgn8U8/us-usa-tax-idUSKBN17W0ON

Japan final April PMI shows manufacturing activity accelerating, export orders solid
Posted:Sun, 30 Apr 2017 20:35:37 -0400
TOKYO, (Reuters) – – Japanese manufacturing activity expanded at a stronger pace in April than the previous month as export orders increased, a revised survey showed on Monday, suggesting firms’ output remains on track to rise thanks to overseas demand. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/XSKByCEQmM0/us-japan-autos-usa-idUSKBN17X12G

UPS air maintenance workers threaten strike ahead of shareholders meeting
Posted:Sun, 30 Apr 2017 14:47:11 -0400
(Reuters) – A union representing 1,200 U.S. air maintenance workers at United Parcel Service Inc turned up pressure on the company on Sunday to settle a three-year contract dispute, saying it would seek clearance to strike. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/0CHf4iyyYx4/us-united-parcel-strike-idUSKBN17W0LG

Siemens, SAP sign cooperation deals with Saudi Arabia: officials
Posted:Sun, 30 Apr 2017 11:15:42 -0400
JEDDAH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia wants German companies Siemens and SAP to play an important role in furthering the kingdom’s “digital transformation”, company officials said on Sunday during German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to the country. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/23ody_hPCnI/us-saudi-germany-merkel-business-idUSKBN17W0KL

Off target in 2016, global elite regroup at Milken conference
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (Reuters) – Titans of U.S. industry and Wall Street gather in Beverly Hills this week to discuss how to navigate – and profit from – hot topics such as U.S. tax reform, the upcoming French election and Chinese economic growth. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/0vVXfwHEMIk/us-milken-conference-preview-idUSKBN17W045

Sudden collapse of Alitalia would be a shock to Italy’s economy-minister
Posted:Sun, 30 Apr 2017 11:01:22 -0400
ROME (Reuters) – A sudden collapse of loss-making national airline Alitalia [CAITLA.UL] would be a great shock for Italy’s economy, Industry Minister Carlo Calenda said on Sunday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/sZxtZH1Yz0U/us-alitalia-minister-idUSKBN17W0I7

China April manufacturing growth slows faster than expected
Posted:Sat, 29 Apr 2017 23:21:23 -0400
BEIJING (Reuters) – Growth in China’s manufacturing sector slowed faster than expected in April, an official survey showed on Sunday, as producer price inflation cooled and policymakers’ efforts to reduce financial risks in the economy weighed on demand. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/h2W_qsjlTmE/us-china-economy-pmi-factory-official-idUSKBN17W00F

BRIEF-Questerre Energy updates on Jordan project
Posted:Mon, 01 May 2017 02:22:21 -0400
* Questerre Energy says finding a way to commercialize this significant oil shale project in a $50 to $70 per barrel environment is main focus Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/companyNews/~3/dnk6j8bXojM/brief-questerre-energy-updates-on-jordan-idUSFWN1I2079

Macau gambling revenue rises 16.3 pct in April
Posted:Mon, 01 May 2017 01:50:20 -0400
HONG KONG, May 1(Reuters) – Revenue at the world’s biggest casino hub of Macau rose 16.3 percent in April, as new resorts helped draw high rollers and casual gamblers to the country’s only legal casino hub. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/companyNews/~3/1tjEOgS1yTg/macau-gambling-revenues-idUSL4N1I02LE

PRESS DIGEST- New York Times business news – May 1
Posted:Mon, 01 May 2017 01:13:33 -0400
May 1 (Reuters) – The following are the top stories on the New York Times business pages. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/companyNews/~3/bvEM20Q98-8/press-digest-nyt-idUSL4N1I31IV

Storage wars: New U.S. potash player K+S faces warehouse squeeze
Posted:Mon, 01 May 2017 01:00:00 -0400
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, May 1 (Reuters) – Germany’s K+S AG will crack into the U.S. fertilizer market this spring when it opens the first new western Canadian potash mine in nearly five decades. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/companyNews/~3/_iJ8LtDHu_A/usa-fertilizers-ks-idUSL1N1HP0WH

Former Trump adviser Flynn likely broke law with Russia trip: lawmakers
Posted:Tue, 25 Apr 2017 19:17:49 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn likely broke the law by failing to get permission to be paid for a trip to Russia in 2015, the leaders of a House of Representatives committee said on Tuesday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/lC5Bu1KDjo8/us-usa-trump-russia-flynn-idUSKBN17R2B0

Trump order aims to allow drilling at national monuments
Posted:Wed, 26 Apr 2017 12:21:02 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday to identify national monuments that can be rescinded or resized – part of a broader push to open up more federal lands to drilling, mining and other development. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/iNV3Wfj2Ggk/us-usa-interior-monuments-idUSKBN17S1MH

Exclusive: A New York hotel deal shows how some public pension funds help to enrich Trump
Posted:Wed, 26 Apr 2017 10:58:30 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Public pension funds in at least seven U.S. states have invested millions of dollars in an investment fund that owns a New York hotel and pays one of President Donald Trump’s companies to run it, according to a Reuters review of public records. That arrangement could put Trump at risk of violating an obscure constitutional clause, some legal experts say. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/HSk6hoQ2KHo/us-usa-trump-hotel-exclusive-idUSKBN17S13O

Study finds how polluting nanoparticles get into blood and damage hearts
Posted:Wed, 26 Apr 2017 08:11:18 -0400
LONDON (Reuters) – Inhaled nanoparticles like those pumped out in vehicle exhausts can work their way through the lungs and into the bloodstream where they can raise the risk of heart attack and stroke, scientists said on Wednesday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/3X0n34TcxOc/us-health-air-pollution-idUSKBN17S1J9

Trump to order broad review of national monuments
Posted:Wed, 26 Apr 2017 08:34:33 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on Wednesday to identify national monuments that can be rescinded or resized – part of a push to open up more federal lands to drilling, mining and other development. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/So1FF7FZyko/us-usa-interior-monuments-idUSKBN17S1MH

State prosecutors urge Trump not to withdraw from Paris accord
Posted:Tue, 25 Apr 2017 16:50:23 -0400
NEW YORK (Reuters) – More than a dozen state prosecutors urged President Donald Trump in a letter on Tuesday not to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, which commits the United States, along with 200 other countries, to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions in an attempt to slow global warming.
http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/EUcuqE7p4P4/us-usa-environment-paris-accord-idUSKBN17R2RU

Wind turbine maker Vestas eyes end to green power subsidies
Posted:Wed, 26 Apr 2017 08:59:11 -0400
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – Electricity generation from wind turbines could become profitable even without government subsidies in the next decade if more large-scale developments are allowed, the world’s top turbine maker Vestas said on Wednesday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/3UEcrWFLulk/us-vestas-wind-denmark-idUSKBN17S1PH

India government think-tank backs local GM crop policy: document
Posted:Wed, 26 Apr 2017 09:25:27 -0400
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India could prevent foreign firms monopolizing the market for genetically modified (GM) seeds by allowing the sale of only locally developed varieties, a government think-tank has said, in a boost for transgenic mustard produced by a Delhi group. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/2xcjO1V-mgg/us-india-gmo-idUSKBN17S1SW

U.S. lawmakers push Yucca nuclear dump facing transport crunch
Posted:Wed, 26 Apr 2017 11:48:08 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday debated resurrecting the stalled Yucca Mountain spent nuclear fuel dump in Nevada, a project critics say is hindered by the lack of an easy transport route. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/9hCSdoi1NoQ/us-usa-nuclearpower-yucca-idUSKBN17S08J

Exclusive: S. Africa considers strategic grain reserve as possible El Nino looms -minister Posted:Wed, 26 Apr 2017 08:05:14 -0400
POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa (Reuters) – South Africa, the continent’s biggest maize producer and hard hit by an El Nino-triggered drought last year, is considering a strategic grain reserve as a buffer against future shortages, its agriculture minister told Reuters. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/EJ_7_muYKlY/us-safrica-grains-idUSKBN17S1JP

Horny male seeks mate: Kenya’s last northern white rhino joins Tinder
Posted:Wed, 26 Apr 2017 03:25:48 -0400
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Like many guys using the Tinder dating app, Sudan loves the outdoors and travels widely. The catch: he’s the world’s last male white northern rhino and desperately needs to mate. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/YVi_sm5K_CE/us-kenya-rhino-idUSKBN17R1UX

Warmer weather seen for May-July in most of Europe, except UK
Posted:Wed, 26 Apr 2017 07:47:17 -0400
LONDON (Reuters) – Most of Europe should experience above-normal temperatures from May to July, except Britain, coastal Norway, and northwestern areas of Iberia and France, the Weather Company said on Wednesday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/f6C7K4JEVEU/us-europe-weather-idUSKBN17S1H7

Sarkozy camp eyes power-sharing role under France’s Macron
Posted:Wed, 26 Apr 2017 15:09:02 +0000
PARIS (Reuters) – France’s centre-right party, seeking to rebound after the defeat of its presidential candidate, said on Wednesday it could share power with Emmanuel Macron if he is elected, as pollsters predict, on May 7. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/AFRICAWorldNews/~3/w7KbTyoFCBE/idAFKBN17S1B2

U.S. moves THAAD anti-missile to South Korean site, sparking protests
Posted:Wed, 26 Apr 2017 14:38:34 +0000
SEOUL (Reuters) – The U.S. military started moving parts of an anti-missile defence system to a deployment site in South Korea on Wednesday, triggering protests from villagers and criticism from China, amid tension over North Korea’s weapons development. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/AFRICAWorldNews/~3/vBNizrFqn8E/idAFKBN17R32R

French intelligence says Assad forces carried out sarin attack
Posted:Wed, 26 Apr 2017 14:52:19 +0000
PARIS (Reuters) – French intelligence has concluded that forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad carried out a sarin nerve gas attack on April 4 in northern Syria and that Assad or members of his inner circle ordered the strike, a declassified report showed. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/AFRICAWorldNews/~3/h5fEMSDRdKs/idAFKBN17S0RU

Macron campaign confirms phishing attempts, says no data stolen
Posted:Wed, 26 Apr 2017 12:17:05 +0000
PARIS/FRANKFURT (Reuters) – French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron’s campaign team confirmed on Wednesday that his party had been the target of a series of attempts to steal email credentials since January but that they had failed to compromise any campaign data. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/AFRICAWorldNews/~3/F048I2-_sLo/idAFKBN17S12J

Italy’s 5-Star builds policies and poll lead as rivals struggle
Posted:Wed, 26 Apr 2017 15:01:53 +0000
ROME (Reuters) – The anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, already Italy’s most popular party, is stealing a march on its divided rivals by drawing up its policy programme a year ahead of elections. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/AFRICAWorldNews/~3/aoVDfB52y0o/idAFKBN17S237

EU ponders stronger social protection as populist wave rises
Posted:Wed, 26 Apr 2017 13:41:23 +0000
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission proposed on Wednesday to strengthen social protection across the bloc as the European Union struggles with a wave of populism triggered by globalisation and a migration crisis. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/AFRICAWorldNews/~3/erVpT_2mbsg/idAFKBN17S1MK

EU opens legal case against Hungary over Soros university
Posted:Wed, 26 Apr 2017 14:00:45 +0000
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission opened a legal case against Hungary on Wednesday over a new higher education law that threatens to shut down a Budapest university founded by U.S. financier and liberal philanthropist George Soros. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/AFRICAWorldNews/~3/9Cx17t-Ddag/idAFKBN17S1BK

Israel’s ‘Checkpoint Q’ – a daily hurdle for Palestinians
Posted:Wed, 26 Apr 2017 15:05:46 +0000
QALANDIYA, West Bank (Reuters) – To one side loom towers manned by Israeli soldiers who keep watch from behind bulletproof glass. To the other stand concrete walls charred by fire bombs, pitted with bullet holes and scrawled with Palestinian graffiti. In between, barriers and steel fences block traffic or corral vehicles and pedestrians. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/AFRICAWorldNews/~3/9c7l0b6IHzY/idAFKBN17S23L

Russia says U.S. missile strike on Syria was a threat to its forces
Posted:Wed, 26 Apr 2017 13:56:40 +0000
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu complained on Wednesday that a U.S. missile strike on a Syrian air base earlier this month had posed a threat to Russian troops and was forcing Moscow to take extra measures to protect them. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/AFRICAWorldNews/~3/LhMmRl9krhM/idAFKBN17S1SS

Two white farmers arrested over death of black South African boy
Posted:Wed, 26 Apr 2017 15:13:09 +0000
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Two white South African farmers were arrested on suspicion of murdering a black boy in a farming community in North West province, police said on Wednesday, as racial violence persists two decades after the end of apartheid. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/AFRICAWorldNews/~3/iIjknM6Zxfs/idAFKBN17S1U7

Tuesday, 25 April 2017

Related to Trump threat to hold the US government hostage to pay for the wall with Mexico, and the Mexican murders (Reuters) news title: https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2017/04/24/violence-in-mexico-linked-to-mining-as-well-as-drugs/

“According to a report released in advance of DeVos’ visit, since the 2012-2013 school year, $3,744,988 in state funding originally meant for children attending Van Wert County’s local public schools “has instead gone to privately run brick-and-mortar and online charter schools.” In turn, said the report from Innovation Ohio, “local taxpayers in Van Wert…have had to subsidize these larger state payments to charter schools to the tune of $1.4 million—money that should have supplemented the larger state aid amount but is now being used to subsidize poorer performing, privately run charter schools.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/04/24/dennis-kucinich-back-his-sights-set-profit-education

“I can’t shake the feeling that Ledell’s execution was lost in the fray of the eight scheduled executions and that his claims of innocence, for DNA testing, and of intellectual disability were ignored because of it. (ACLU: https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/24/its-rush-kill-arkansas-may-have-executed-innocent-man )

“Prior presidents have embellished the truth and on occasion have lied about a particular important thing, such as the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. But before Trump we have never had a president who chronically lies, whose lies have become an integral part of his presidency even in the first 100 days.” (Robert Reich: https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/24/first-100-days-trump-and-degradation-presidency )

Parking of high level nuclear fuel in Texas, as proposed by WCS, to the US NRC

Spent nuclear fuel conceptual drawing for WCS as presented to the US NRC

WCS wants to park high level nuclear waste casks from around the country, uncovered, in west Texas. The comment deadline is on April 28th, in less than a week: Comment Deadline April 28th, 11.59 pm Eastern: https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=NRC-2016-0231. Comment is easy and can be anonymous. See more: https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2017/04/06/webinar-tonight-on-high-level-nuclear-waste-interim-parking-lot-storage-in-texas-environmental-impact-statement-scoping-7-10-pm-eastern-daylight-time-comment-to-april-28th While WCS asked the NRC to halt the licensing process, for now, the US NRC may not re-open the comment period later, so it’s best to comment. https://www.texastribune.org/2017/04/19/west-texas-nuclear-waste-project-hold-now

If you think it can’t be, check this out at North Anna Nuclear Power Station near Washington DC.

Reuters News Selection

Norway’s Statoil plays down risks ahead of Arctic drilling
Posted:Mon, 24 Apr 2017 10:46:19 -0400
OSLO (Reuters) – Norway’s Statoil on Monday played down concerns that drilling in the Arctic is risky, days before it kickstarts its drilling campaign in the Barents Sea, where the country believes around half of its remaining resources could be located. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/-h0rLwGNy8M/us-statoil-exploration-arctic-idUSKBN17Q1K8

CEO to go after LafargeHolcim admits paying Syrian groups
Posted:Mon, 24 Apr 2017 06:41:07 -0400
ZURICH (Reuters) – LafargeHolcim Chief Executive Eric Olsen will leave the company in July after the world’s largest cement maker admitted on Monday it had paid armed groups to keep a factory operating in war-ravaged Syria. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/MirX8vRpIys/us-lafargeholcim-syria-olsen-idUSKBN17Q0E4

Exclusive: Putin-linked think tank drew up plan to sway 2016 U.S. election – documents
Posted:Wed, 19 Apr 2017 16:18:58 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A Russian government think tank controlled by Vladimir Putin developed a plan to swing the 2016 U.S. presidential election to Donald Trump and undermine voters’ faith in the American electoral system, three current and four former U.S. officials told Reuters. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/_o-tkrmed4s/us-usa-russia-election-exclusive-idUSKBN17L2N3

Opponents seek to annul Turkish vote as Erdogan’s new powers become reality
Posted:Tue, 18 Apr 2017 08:12:26 -0400
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey’s main opposition began a battle on Tuesday to annul a referendum handing President Tayyip Erdogan sweeping new powers, while the bar association and an international monitor said an illegal move by electoral authorities may have swung the vote. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/GEeJ10Izi1Y/us-turkey-politics-idUSKBN17J0PY

At least 35 killed in drug violence across Mexico: officials
Posted:Sun, 23 Apr 2017 23:55:19 -0400
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – At least 35 people were killed over the weekend in Mexico, according to local officials, amid a widespread surge in drug gang violence that has driven murders to a level not seen since 2011. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/VbV-MN-ybg0/us-mexico-violence-idUSKBN17P0UG

Kremlin says Abe to meet Putin in Russia on April 27
Posted:Tue, 25 Apr 2017 12:46:45 +0530
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during a visit to Russia on April 27, the Kremlin said in a statement on Tuesday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/INworldNews/~3/8Dzrm0QOeKE/russia-japan-abe-putin-visit-idINKBN17R0NF

East Coast refiners eye Texas oil as North Dakota alternative
Posted:Tue, 25 Apr 2017 01:13:17 -0400
NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. East Coast refiners are looking to buy increasing volumes of domestic crude oil from the Gulf Coast, two sources said, the latest twist in a trade flow upheaval in the wake of the opening of the Dakota Access pipeline. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/topNews/~3/q0XuYFy_yew/us-usa-refineries-dakota-idUSKBN17R0CE

U.S.-Russian crew reaches space station with ‘awesomeness’
Posted:Thu, 20 Apr 2017 13:20:34 -0400
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) – A two-man U.S.-Russian crew floated into the International Space Station on Thursday, hours after blasting off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, a NASA TV broadcast showed. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/scienceNews/~3/dvBHR6mUyLs/us-space-station-crew-idUSKBN17M0R4

Trump to set new executive orders on environment, energy this week
Posted:Mon, 24 Apr 2017 05:46:20 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump this week will sign new executive orders before he completes his first 100 days in office, including two on energy and the environment, which would make it easier for the United States to develop energy on and offshore, a White House official said on Sunday. https://www.voanews.com/a/trump-executive-orders-energy-environment/3822369.html

EU mergers and takeovers (April 24)
Posted:Mon, 24 Apr 2017 09:05:55 -0400
BRUSSELS, April 24 (Reuters) – The following are mergers under review by the European Commission and a brief guide to the EU merger process: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/companyNews/~3/TIP_Fv9T0Eg/eu-ma-idUSL8N1HW2JY

Deals of the day-Mergers and acquisitions
Posted:Mon, 24 Apr 2017 09:03:11 -0400
April 24 (Reuters) – The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 1300 GMT on Monday: ** Government-controlled Dubai Aerospace Enterprise Ltd (DAE) is acquiring Dublin-based AWAS, the world’s tenth biggest aircraft lessor, in a deal that will add over 200 planes to its fleet and more than double the size of its current business. ** Goals Soccer Centres Plc, the five-a-side football pitch operator, confirmed that it was in early discussions with privately-owned Powerle http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/companyNews/~3/2u0pjzlfpQM/deals-day-idUSL4N1HW3KO

Trump condemns anti-Semitism on Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day
Posted:Sun, 23 Apr 2017 21:04:23 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said anti-Semitism should be defeated and called the Holocaust the “darkest chapter of human history” in a video address on Sunday, following two missteps by his administration regarding statements about genocide during World War Two. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/SEabKemCr_o/us-usa-trump-holocaust-idUSKBN17P11A

Arctic thaw quickening threatens trillion-dollar costs – report
Posted:Mon, 24 Apr 2017 21:04:08 -0400
OSLO, April 25 (Reuters) – The Arctic’s quickening thaw is melting the permafrost under buildings and roads from Siberia to Alaska, raising world sea levels and disrupting temperature patterns further south, an international study said on Tuesday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/oFBEH5GbfLQ/us-china-wto-idUSKBN17Q1T4

French prosecutors open Peugeot diesel-cheating probe
Posted:Mon, 24 Apr 2017 14:01:32 -0400
PARIS (Reuters) – French prosecutors have opened a formal investigation into suspected diesel emissions test-cheating by carmaker PSA Group, a court official said on Monday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/tA0JVOVpynE/us-peugeot-diesel-idUSKBN17Q1S0

Germany opposes EU emissions testing overhaul: Sueddeutsche
Posted:Mon, 24 Apr 2017 17:03:11 -0400
FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Germany is against European Commission plans to overhaul a vehicle emissions testing scheme, Sueddeutsche Zeitung said, citing European Council documents submitted by Germany.

France’s Macron appears set for Elysee in runoff with Le Pen
Posted:Mon, 24 Apr 2017 02:17:44 -0400
PARIS/HENIN-BEAUMONT, France (Reuters) – Centrist Emmanuel Macron took a big step towards the French presidency on Sunday by winning the first round of voting and qualifying for a May 7 runoff alongside far-right leader Marine Le Pen. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/xYtZuHsa5qE/us-france-election-idUSKBN17O0DG

Carrier group heads for Korean waters, China calls for restraint
Posted:Mon, 24 Apr 2017 01:17:23 -0400
BEIJING/SEOUL (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping called for all sides to exercise restraint on Monday in a call with U.S. President Donald Trump, as a nervous South Korea and Japan sought to join drills with a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group headed for Korean waters. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/zKB4YqAPEfI/us-northkorea-usa-idUSKBN17Q06N

American member of watchdog OSCE killed in Ukraine
Posted:Sun, 23 Apr 2017 22:03:17 -0400
(Reuters) – An American paramedic working for European security watchdog OSCE’s monitoring mission in eastern Ukraine was killed and two others were injured on Sunday when their vehicle struck a mine, triggering a U.S. call for a transparent, timely investigation. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/m_URmUwasBE/us-ukraine-crisis-osce-idUSKBN17P0CZ

Al Qaeda chief urges jihadists to use guerrilla tactics in Syria
Posted:Sun, 23 Apr 2017 16:51:04 -0400
AMMAN (Reuters) – Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri has called on Syrian Sunni jihadists to wage guerrilla war against enemies ranging from Syrian President Bashar al Assad and his Iranian-backed allies to Western powers. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/OiXT3Kj2uG0/us-mideast-crisis-qaeda-syria-idUSKBN17P0WI

Macron must win big now to have a chance of fulfilling pledges
Posted:Sun, 23 Apr 2017 20:18:49 -0400
PARIS (Reuters) – Emmanuel Macron’s camp should perhaps keep the champagne on ice a little longer. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/Tx00RPOEygA/us-france-election-macron-analysis-idUSKBN17Q00M

‘Australia first’ fortifies position of country’s prime minister
Posted:Sun, 23 Apr 2017 23:07:24 -0400
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has recorded a rise in voter support just days after tightening rules for foreigners seeking work and citizenship under an “Australia first” policy, a newspaper poll showed on Monday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/nvKvSRpUjqo/us-australia-politics-idUSKBN17Q061

Eight North Korean defectors in China at risk of deportation: Human Rights Watch
Posted:Mon, 24 Apr 2017 00:44:19 -0400
SEOUL (Reuters) – Eight North Korean defectors in China face involuntary repatriation after being detained by Chinese police last month, the Human Rights Watch group and a pastor who have been assisting them said on Monday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/CLYqH4fUH3c/us-northkorea-defectors-china-idUSKBN17Q0BK

Afghan Taliban’s brazen attack eclipses Trump’s ‘mother of all bombs’
Posted:Sun, 23 Apr 2017 14:35:26 -0400
KABUL (Reuters) – Eight days after the U.S. military dropped its largest ever conventional bomb on suspected Islamic State fighters in eastern Afghanistan, Taliban militants breached an army base in the north of the country and killed scores of local soldiers. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/bX_F-oe6bM4/us-afghanistan-taliban-analysis-idUSKBN17P0RJ

Conservatives hold 22-point lead ahead of UK election: ICM poll
Posted:Sun, 23 Apr 2017 14:30:57 -0400
(Reuters) – British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservatives have a 22 point lead over Labour, an ICM poll said on Sunday ahead of a general election on June 8. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/eq0h9RK5p7A/us-britain-election-poll-idUSKBN17P0R5

Florida evacuation orders lifted as rain quells wildfires
Posted:Sun, 23 Apr 2017 16:05:56 -0400
(Reuters) – Florida officials on Sunday lifted evacuation orders for about 2,000 homes threatened by wildfires in drought-stricken central and southwestern parts of the state, after rainfall helped firefighters battle the blazes.

March for Science draws big crowds, clever signs across U.S.
Posted:Sat, 22 Apr 2017 20:42:19 -0400
WASHINGTON/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of people turned out in cities across the United States and beyond on Saturday for Earth Day events billed as a “celebration of science” to counter what organizers say is a growing disregard for evidence-based knowledge in Washington.

On Earth Day, an environment-minded Republican turns to birds
Posted:Sat, 22 Apr 2017 15:27:23 -0400
NEW HOPE, Pa. (Reuters) – In his white dress shirt and black pin-striped pants, U.S. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick stood out from the other birdwatchers gathered near a grove of bud-studded trees in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, on Saturday morning.

Canary Islands battles two-mile oil slick after ferry crash
Posted:Sat, 22 Apr 2017 08:11:00 -0400
MADRID (Reuters) – Emergency teams in the Canary Islands raced on Saturday to contain a three-kilometer oil slick caused by a ferry crashing into underwater fuel pipes, the regional government said in a statement.

Ukraine cuts power supply to separatist region, blaming unpaid debts
Posted:Tue, 25 Apr 2017 07:02:25 +0000
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine’s national power company said on Tuesday it had cut electricity to parts of an eastern region controlled by pro-Russian separatists because they had run up large debts. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/AFRICAWorldNews/~3/n6Wfpuwc_Q0/idAFKBN17R0M1

Japan’s ruling party heavyweight to attend China’s New Silk Road summit
Posted:Tue, 25 Apr 2017 06:47:46 +0000
TOKYO (Reuters) – The secretary-general of Japan’s ruling party said on Tuesday he will attend China’s New Silk Road summit in May, a sign Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to improve ties with Beijing amid tensions over North Korea’s missile and nuclear programmes. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/AFRICAWorldNews/~3/24ot-x8HZGw/idAFKBN17R0KB

U.S. judge sentences Volkswagen to three years probation, oversight
Posted:Fri, 21 Apr 2017 22:39:57 -0400
DETROIT (Reuters) – A federal judge in Detroit on Friday sentenced Volkswagen AG to three years’ probation and independent oversight for the German automaker’s diesel emissions scandal as part of a $4.3 billion settlement announced in January. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/feDso8eReKY/us-volkswagen-emissions-idUSKBN17N1SD

California rains muddy farm fields, higher vegetable prices soak shoppers
Posted:Fri, 21 Apr 2017 19:08:50 -0400
SALINAS, Calif. (Reuters) – Record rains are a double-edged sword for California’s Salinas Valley: While the recent deluge virtually ended the state’s historic drought, it also created muddy, unworkable fields – sending prices for everything from kale to cauliflower soaring. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/IZ6fiRd5tIs/us-california-produce-supply-idUSKBN17N2LX

Vietnam punishes officials over Formosa incident
Posted:Fri, 21 Apr 2017 13:03:45 -0400
HANOI (Reuters) – Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party Secretariat said on Friday it was punishing four high-ranking government officials over the so-called Formosa incident, the government said in a statement on Facebook. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/3_CixCHKTfc/us-vietnam-formosa-idUSKBN17N26K

North Dakota’s ‘water protectors’ bring their pipeline story to film
Posted:Fri, 21 Apr 2017 19:46:32 -0400
NEW YORK (Reuters) – They call themselves “water protectors” and describe the Dakota Access pipeline ferrying crude oil across America as “the black snake.” http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/wDWmJyToxQM/us-filmfestival-tribeca-standingrock-idUSKBN17N1TK

EU to propose linking CO2 emissions for trucks, cars to road toll charges
Posted:Fri, 21 Apr 2017 09:10:07 -0400
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission is to propose making cars, trucks, buses and vans pay higher road toll charges the more CO2 they emit as it seeks to cut road transport’s carbon footprint, two EU officials said. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/ZWXPHoFMumU/us-eu-carbon-tolls-idUSKBN17N1JW

China urges closer ties with non-government bodies, media in war on water pollution
Posted:Fri, 21 Apr 2017 05:23:02 -0400
BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) – China must work more closely with journalists and non-government bodies to expose incidents of water pollution, an official said on Friday, after activists this week discovered two untreated cesspits filled with hazardous industrial waste. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/NDu-9vR6ZmU/us-china-pollution-water-idUSKBN17N0YP

Exxon probe is unconstitutional, Republican prosecutors say
Posted:Fri, 21 Apr 2017 05:10:28 -0400
NEW YORK (Reuters) – A group of 11 Republican state attorneys general are protesting an investigation into whether Exxon Mobil Corp. violated consumer protection laws when selling fossil fuel products, according to a court filing. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/1fXpUBcSg_0/us-usa-environment-lawsuit-idUSKBN17M2OY

Exclusive: Vomitoxin makes nasty appearance for U.S. farm sector
Posted:Fri, 21 Apr 2017 19:45:16 -0400
CHICAGO (Reuters) – A fungus that causes “vomitoxin” has been found in some U.S. corn harvested last year, forcing poultry and pork farmers to test their grain, and giving headaches to grain growers already wrestling with massive supplies and low prices.http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/utYBhoAvmws/us-usa-corn-toxins-exclusive-idUSKBN17N2M5

Top U.S. officials to testify in Trump-Russia probe reboot
Posted:Fri, 21 Apr 2017 15:38:06 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee said on Friday it had invited FBI, NSA and Obama administration officials to testify as it restarts its investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election.
http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/vZK2bzejl7w/us-usa-trump-russia-congress-idUSKBN17N23C

U.S. will not give Exxon permission to drill in Russia
Posted:Fri, 21 Apr 2017 19:37:46 -0400
WASHINGTON/SPRING, Tx. (Reuters) – The United States will not make an exception for American companies, including oil major Exxon Mobil Corp, seeking to drill in areas prohibited by U.S. sanctions on Russia, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Friday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/2k7kJIV8AKA/us-exxon-mobil-sanctions-russia-usa-idUSKBN17N2B5

U.S. Homeland Security probes possible abuse in Twitter summons case
Posted:Fri, 21 Apr 2017 20:53:28 -0400
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – The U.S. Homeland Security Department’s inspector general said on Friday he was investigating possible abuse of authority in a case that triggered a lawsuit against the department by Twitter Inc .http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/io4FKU_ANzY/us-twitter-privacy-idUSKBN17N2IY

Arctic seas called ‘dead end’ for plastic floating from U.S., Europe
Posted:Wed, 19 Apr 2017 14:12:01 -0400
OSLO (Reuters) – The Arctic is a dead end for floating plastic waste dumped in the Atlantic Ocean off Europe and the United States and swept north by ocean currents to a polar graveyard, scientists said on Wednesday. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/YILwi8ei8RQ/us-environment-plastic-idUSKBN17L2G4

Trump and Cuba should start dialogue: Mississippi governor says
Posted:Wed, 19 Apr 2017 21:41:09 -0400
HAVANA (Reuters) – The Trump administration and the Cuban government need to start a dialogue, the Republican governor of Mississippi said on Wednesday during a trip to the Communist-led island to scout trade opportunities for his state. http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/VQytsvvOU0M/us-cuba-usa-idUSKBN17M067
Reuters News Ends

Just As Above Ground Nuclear Testing was Stopped, So Too Must Leaking of Radionuclides from the Nuclear Fuel Chain Be Stopped.

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The Ongoing Saga 80: News, Updates, & More

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