Confident Trump: “I don’t need Jay Z” as battle for White House enters final weekend

As the US presidential election campaign enters its final weekend, Donald Trump says he does not need celebrities like Jay Z to appeal to voters.

The Republican candidate says his “old-fashioned” approach is all he needs to pack out arenas and insists that supporters are drawn to his message.

In dismissing the likes of Jay Z he is directly contrasting his approach with the more glitzy star-studded rallies favored by Democrat rival Hillary Clinton.

With election day just three days away, both candidates are making a final push for the White House in key battleground states.

Celebrity

Clinton has favored the celebrity factor with megastar couple Jay Z and Beyonce supporting the democratic candidate at an event in Cleveland, Ohio.

Beyonce said: “I want my daughter to grow up seeing a woman lead our country” while Jay Z dismissed The Donald as “divisive” adding that: “He cannot be my president.”

Speaking to adoring supporters who packed into an arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Trump was quick to contrast his campaigning style with that of Clinton.

He told the crowd: “I didn’t have to bring J-Lo or Jay Z – the only way she gets anybody. I’m here all by myself.”

Trump was not quite all by himself though as he silenced the crowd when he brought onstage the parents of teenager Riley Rone, 19, who was tragically killed in a Memorial Day motorcycle accident.

Honor

Rone’s mother Barbara Rone said: “I want you to please, please, please vote for Mr. Donald Trump in my son’s honor.”

The Trump campaign team feel that endorsements like that will strike the right chord with voters and give him the edge on Tuesday.

Upbeat Trump said: “We’re leading in Ohio, we’re leading in Iowa, we’re leading in North Carolina, we’re leading in New Hampshire, we’re leading in Florida.”

Both candidates are ramping up the gas in these final days with a packed schedule of engagements designed to both win over new voters and persuade their existing supporters to get out and vote.

LeBron James

Clinton has more big names lined up to support her with both President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden campaigning for her this weekend.

Then on Sunday NBA star LeBron James – regarded as the world’s best basketball player – is due to stand side-by-side with Clinton in Cleveland.

Trump would argue that he has substance over celebrity but neither candidate can afford to take it easy at this crucial time in what has been a long and bitter campaign.

They both must do all they can to bring their supporters out to vote and while their campaign styles are vastly different their ultimate goal is exactly the same.

This has been one of the most controversial American elections of all time and the world is waiting to see how the electorate will vote in just three days time.

The post Confident Trump: “I don’t need Jay Z” as battle for White House enters final weekend appeared first on Newsline.

Clinton Rallies and Secured Democratic Vote as Terror Attack Threats Intensifies

In the latest electoral survey, the Republican candidate Donald Trump gained more likely voters. However, the Democratic flag bearer, Hillary Clinton rallies in states which considered to safe for Democrats.

According to BBC, both parties concentrate on convincing their supporters to vote rather than influencing the ‘undecided’.

In an early election, 37 million voters cast their votes.

Threats of Terrorism

US Law enforcements received intelligent reports of any Al-Queda terrorism-related attack. The report “lacks specificity” according to a police spokesman.

However, authorities believed that New York, Texas and Virginia, amongst the potential targets for the attack. They constantly evaluate all possible terror threats prior to major national events

Possible terror attack news intensifies as both Clinton and Trump plan their final campaign march in battleground states across the country.

The two presidential candidates campaign in Ohio and Pennsylvania. According to poll surveys released on Tuesday, the two states are crucial battlegrounds for the election.

Two candidates battle out

In one of his campaign, Trump’s showed his downright opposition to Clinton’s foreign policy on Syria He told a group of supports that Clinton wants “550% increase” of refugees in Syria coming into the US.

The real estate mogul said, “Her plan would mean generations of terrorism, extremism, and radicalism spreading into our schools and communities”.

On the other hand, Clinton’s rebuttal for Trump’s attack on her is his temperament and judgmental comments about women and minority groups. She told her supporters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that Trump was “unfit” to be the next president because of his behavior.

John Podesta, the Democrats campaign head joined the heated rebuttal of the two presidentiables. Podesta said that Trump should ask the New Jersey’s Governor, Chris Christie to resign his post. Christie also acts as the head of the Republican candidate’s transition team.

Christie’s two aides were found guilty in scheming traffic jams in New Jersey. An act considered spreading political turmoil against a local Democratic mayor. Christie denied any participation in the deed.

Trump leads the way in Ohio, according to Real Clear Politics, the state polling agency. Meanwhile, Clinton leads the election in a small fringe in Pennsylvania.

Recent national polls indicate that the Republican candidate gained momentum in several battlegrounds in the last few weeks.

Clinton struggles

Clinton struggles within the last few weeks of the electoral race because of her rough relationship with the FBI. The agency presses on their investigation regarding Clinton’s private email used when she was still the Secretary of State during the Obama administration.

In July, the FBI looked into her private email use but did not charge her for any illegal misconduct. Clinton said she is sure that the new probe will not affect FBI’s original assessment on her.

Furthermore, Clinton’s camp questioned FBI’s ill timing of the announcement of their investigation. Two senior Democrats requested for an investigation of the former New York Mayor and Trump surrogate, Rudy Giuliani’s role in the FBI probe.

On Friday morning, Guiliani’s interview with Fox News indicated he knew about the probe even before FBI announced the news. He said, “I had no role in it. Did I hear about it? You’re darn right I heard about it.”

Later that day, Democratic Members, Elijah Cummings and John Conyers, requested the Justice Department to investigate Giuliani’s source of information. In the letter they wrote, “Leaking this information to former FBI officials as a conduit to the Trump campaign is equally intolerable”.

Guiliani told CNN that “No, I’ve spoken to no current FBI agents’, and denied all allegations that he had any knowledge of the investigation.

The post Clinton Rallies and Secured Democratic Vote as Terror Attack Threats Intensifies appeared first on Newsline.

Source: Takata considers bankruptcy for U.S. unit

Air bag maker Takata Corp of Japan is considering a bankruptcy filing for its U.S. unit. The company is currently looking for a sponsor to help pay for accountabilities connected to its faulty inflators, a person informed on the subject told Reuters.

Takata has been occupied in choosing a financial backer for its reversal as it faces enormous costs associated to the worldwide recall of millions of potentially defective inflators. A company-appointed steering committee has engaged investment bank Lazard Ltd as an consultant for the process.

The company is straining to supply replacement parts for the potentially faulty inflators, which have been linked to more than 16 deaths worldwide, mostly in the United States. The incidents have led to the industry’s largest ever recall, with about 100 million instructed to be withdrawn globally.

The source said a Chapter 11 filing for Michigan-based TK Holdings, its U.S. unit, was one option it was studying, although no filing was expected soon. The unit accounts for almost half of Takata’s global sales.

A filing would not be forthcoming because the company still had to pick a sponsor and finalize terms. Further, it would have to arrive at a settlement with automaker creditors, the source said.

On Friday, Takata recapped its willingness to finalize a deal with its automaker customers over the restructuring, ideally by year-end. It added though that any decision eventually would be made by the steering committee.

“Our preference would be to restructure debts through an out-of-court settlement with creditors. This has been our position since the start, and has not changed,” Takata CFO Yoichiro Nomura told reporters at a results briefing.

“Aside from that, we’re open to all options.”

He added that an out-of-court resolution would be desirable to a court-ordered bankruptcy for all of the company’s global operations. Allowing the company to continue operations would ensure a steady supply of inflator replacement parts involved in the recall.

Sources told Reuters last month that the struggle over bankruptcy is expected to defer by months the designation of a rescuer. Likewise, completion of Takata’s restructuring plans that were expected to be completed this year would have to be moved back.

Bidders for the company include Sweden’s Autoliv and Japanese inflator maker Daicel Corp, sources have said. On the other hand, its creditors include the world’s leading automakers including the Renault/Nissan alliance, Honda Motor Co, and Ford Motor Co.

Escalating air bag-related costs have battered Takata’s profits. Last year, the company booked its third annual loss in four years. Moreover, its share price has dropped 90 percent since 2014.

The company said on Friday that the threat of soaring air bag-related costs meant that it would not issue a dividend for the first half.

Still, Takata raised its full-year profit projection to 20.0 billion yen ($193.87 million) from the earlier estimate of 13.0 billion. The company is banking on a boost from asset sales in the first half.

This forecast mostly leaves out the impact of the recalls as the company has only delineated a small number of related liabilities.

If Takata were found to be exclusively liable for the inflator defect, it could face a bill of about $13 billion for recalls announced so far, according to estimates from experts and automakers including General Motors.

It would also encounter U.S. lawsuits.

These impending liabilities would dwarf Takata’s war chest of around 72.4 billion yen as of the end of September. To this point, automakers have paid most of the recall costs while Takata and its customers resolve how to divide responsibility.

Trading in Takata shares was temporarily suspended on Friday following the Nikkei business daily’s initial report that it was preparing for a potential bankruptcy filing.

The post Source: Takata considers bankruptcy for U.S. unit appeared first on Newsline.

Arrested Philippine Mayor Killed in Prison Shootout

On Saturday, a mayor imprisoned for drug-related charges at a jail in the central Philippines was killed along with another inmate in a shootout, police said.

Mayor Rolando Espinosa of Albuera town in Leyte surrendered to the national police chief in August. This was after President Rodrigo Duterte’s request for him and his son, Kerwin, to stop their participation in the drug trade.

The mayor was detained again on October 5 after he was allowed to go home ealier. He is the second local government official on Duterte’s supposed “narco-list” slain during police operations.

The shootout happened after Espinosa and inmate Raul Yap shot at a team from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). Police said the team was on an assignment to serve a search warrant against the convicts.

“As a matter of procedure, this incident will undergo investigation to establish the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident,” said Superintendent Elmer Beltejar, Eastern Visayas Regional Police Chief.

Police said they retrieved a .38 Super pistol and a .45 caliber pistol from the cells of Espinosa and Yap. A small sachet holding suspected methamphetamine and assorted drug accouterments were also unearthed inside Espinosa’s cell, police said.

The presidential palace called Espinosa’s death as “unfortunate”. Further, it said that an investigation was underway.

Espinosa had publicly denied any role in the drug trade. However, he said his son was selling “shabu” (methamphetamine), which he secures from a jailed Chinese drug trader.

Last month, Abu Dhabi police arrested Kerwin. Purportedly he was among the largest illegal drug operators in the Eastern Visayas region, according to Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa.

Mayor Samsudin Dimaukom, in October, was killed alongside nine of his guards in a shootout, according to police. Dimaukom was a powerful mayor in the Duterte’s problematic home province of Mindanao,.

War on Drugs taking Effect

Police operations as well as suspected vigilantes have killed more than 2,300 people. This is in connection with the anti-illegal drugs campaign since Duterte took office on June 30.

On Friday, Duterte said his campaign against drugs had curtailed the supply to “very low” levels. He also thanked China for supporting his crackdown, but cursed constantly at ally the United States for condemning it.

 

The post Arrested Philippine Mayor Killed in Prison Shootout appeared first on Newsline.

3 Million Samsung Washing Machines to be Recalled In US

In another stunning setback for one of the world’s top consumer brands, U.S. authorities issued a recall Friday of close to 3 million Samsung washing machines. The recall was announced after numerous injuries – including a broken jaw –caused by “excessive vibration” were reported.

The recall comes a month after the South Korean manufacturer issued a recall to its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones. The Note 7 recall was due to a problem that set off the phones’ batteries to overheat and catch fire. Since then, the company discontinued production of the device completely. Meanwhile, it was estimated that the debacle would cost it $5.3 billion.

Furthermore, its washing machine recall would cover models sold in Canada. No injuries had been reported in that country, Samsung said Friday

The company issued a separate recall of washing machines in Australia in 2013. It stems from reports of electrical problems in certain models that caused fires. Last year, Australian authorities called that problem “a major safety failure,” after getting complaints that the company was offering repairs but not a replacement or refund, as required by Australian law.

The current recall comes following weeks of deliberations between Samsung and U.S. authorities about statements that the drums in certain top-loading washing machine models can become unstable and cause severe vibrations. This shuddering, in some cases, causes the top of the machine to disengage from the chassis.

Attorneys representing consumers in Georgia, Texas and Indiana, who say their washing machines “exploded” while being used, hit Samsung with a lawsuit over the summer.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in a statement Friday, cited 733 reports of Samsung appliances that experienced “excessive” vibration. Nine of them recounted injuries, including a broken jaw and a busted shoulder.

Samsung said the problem happened when a high-speed spin cycle was used to wash bedcovers or other large items. The company’s U.S. subsidiary said in a statement that it is working with retailers and the commission to notify consumers about the problem.

Initial Action from Samsung

“Our priority is to reduce any safety risks in the home and to provide our customers with easy and simple choices in response to the recall,” said Samsung senior vice president John Herrington in the statement.

In the recent recall, the company is offering consumers an option between a free repair and a rebate just before the purchase of a new washing machine. A full refund is being offered to consumers who bought an affected model in the last 30 days.

The recall involves 34 models of top-loading washing machines produced between 2011 and this year. They were sold at Sears, Best Buy, The Home Depot, Lowes and other stores for prices between $450 and $1,500.

 

The post 3 Million Samsung Washing Machines to be Recalled In US appeared first on Newsline.

Clinton Draws on Celebrity Support As Trump Goes It Alone

In what has become an increasingly competitive race, Hillary Clinton sent celebrities from politics and the music industry across battleground states Friday to try to revitalize Democrats. Meanwhile, Donald Trump preserved his go-it-alone approach.

The Democratic presidential nominee concluded a day of campaign stops at a crowded, star-studded concert in Cleveland. Clinton showered praise on rapper Jay Z and his wife, singer Beyonce, asking thousands of cheering fans for their votes as she stood beside the celebrity couple on a brilliantly lit stage at the Wolstein Center.

“Please take this energy out with you,” she said. “Help us win Ohio.”

On the other hand, Trump boasted that he didn’t need stars to lure thousands to his events.

He told a packed rally Friday night in Hershey, Pennsylvania that he didn’t have to bring J-Lo or Jay Z. “I am here all by myself. Just me. No guitar, no piano, no nothing.”

Trump’s campaign has been a contentious one and has split the Republican Party. He has appeared with a ragtag group of backers including former Indiana University basketball coach Bobby Knight. A scheduled event with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for Saturday was canceled after a couple of his top aides were found guilty Friday on all counts for their roles in the “Bridgegate” scandal.

On Saturday, Trump and Clinton will be campaigning in Florida. Both are on last-ditch efforts to win support in a state where early voting have already surpassed 2012 levels. Strong Latino numbers, particularly around Miami, boosted Clinton’s team. However, the Democrats have seen their odds drop in Ohio, a crucial battleground state that’s been tilting toward Trump. Clinton’s numbers are also weakening in New Hampshire.

Clinton’s campaign has held a succession of free concerts intended to create enthusiasm for her bid, particularly among minority and millennial voters. While singer/actress Jennifer Lopez took the stage in Miami, R&B singer Ne-Yo and rocker Bon Jovi rallied voters in North Carolina. Steve Wonder was performing in Philadelphia.

Clinton will host a concert on Saturday night with pop star Katy Perry in Philadelphia. After the event, she would return to the city on Monday for a collaborative rally with her husband Bill Clinton, President Barack Obama, and first lady Michelle Obama. Pennsylvania is a state where Clinton has sustained a solid lead; In six presidential elections, it has not voted for a Republican.

Clinton’s celebrity supporters complement an already deep line-up of political backups eager to campaign for Clinton. On Friday, President Obama in campaigned in North Carolina, Vice President Joe Biden in Wisconsin and Sen. Bernie Sanders in Iowa.

On the other side of the campaign trail, Trump spent Friday on a visit of rural areas. He hopes to encourage turnout among the voters attracted to his pledge to bring back a lost America. He started his day in Atkinson, New Hampshire, wherein according to the Census Bureau, has a population 6,800 and nearly 98 percent white. From there, he was bound for Wilmington, Ohio, another predominantly white community where only 13 percent of its 12,500 inhabitants have a college degree.

In a rally more than 2,000 miles from the Mexican border, Trump elicited loud cheers in Atkinson. This was when he promised to build an immense wall between the U.S. and Mexico. The crowd jeered when he argued that Clinton supports open borders.

“Her plans would mean generations of terrorism, extremism and radicalism spreading into your schools and through your communities,” Trump proclaimed.

Nearing the Finish Line

Despite a close race in national polling, Trump’s road to victory remains slim. His campaign seems to be more and more about making up for losses among suburban voters, specifically college-educated women, by enticing new voters in remote places.

However, Democrats are taking little for granted with polls tightening across battleground states. On Friday, Hillary Clinton made an afternoon stop in Detroit, Bill Clinton worked to raise turnout in Colorado, and Vice President Joe Biden was heading to Wisconsin — all states Clinton was assumed to have a sure win weeks ago.

 

The post Clinton Draws on Celebrity Support As Trump Goes It Alone appeared first on Newsline.

Retailers Hold Back on Black Friday Participation

The long-standing essence of discounts and promos during Black Friday seems to be weakening in the past, more so this year. JDA Consumer Survey conducted its own observation; found out that there will be lesser promo offers this coming Black Friday.

JDA Consumer Survey constitutes 1,000 shoppers, in which 47% said they plan to skip this year’s Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Furthermore, 73% of the respondents prefer to go shopping after the holiday season, waiting for better deals such as Amazon Prime Day. Another 34% said they change their mind in joining the 2016 Black Friday, even though they participated last year.

Responses from the survey indicate a decreasing trend of shoppers during the sale event that started last year. The obvious mindset of the shoppers affects the overall relevance of Black Friday.

According to Paula Rosenblum, the managing partner at RSR research and Forbes contributor said, “The basis of Black Friday is long since dead — the kick-off to the holiday season on a four-day weekend”.

The head of Your Retail Authority, Lee Kent said that “The only thing that makes Black Friday is the deals”. Shoppers come in for the discounts, Lee added, “If you offer them, consumers will come, but if you offer them on other days, the consumer has choices. It’s that simple!”

Online shopping factors in

Online shopping contributes in the diminishing Black Friday’s shoppers. Furthermore, retail stores started offering pre-holiday sales which grab more attention. This instance takes the focus off from the highly anticipated holiday retail sale.

Last week, in an online discussion of industry heads of the Retailwire Brain Trust, believed that e-commerce is not the only aspect affecting Black Friday.

As what Rosenblum stated, “E-commerce wounded the goose that laid that golden egg, but the year that retailers opened on Thanksgiving, they killed it once and for all.”

The CEO of Black Monk Consulting, Ryan Mathews thought otherwise. He said, “It isn’t online shopping that is killing Black Friday, it’s the fact that consumers have caught on to the hustle. Look how many people do their ‘holiday shopping’ after the holidays or even the New Year to capture real discounts.”

Bob Phibbs, the President, and CEO of The Retail Doctor believed that the widely available discounted sales of the retailer spoiled the essence of Black Friday. He said, “With the always-discounted retailer always available, the substance of Black Friday is gone, even if the marketing is still around,”

For employee’s sake

Apple, on the other hand, ignored last year’s Black Friday promotion in all of its stores. The company toned down the significance of the anticipated holiday season sale.

They want to eliminate ‘door busters’ stress and focus their attention on caring for their employee’s welfare during holidays.

BrainTrust members share Apple’s empathy towards their employees.

Rainmaker Solutions CEO ED Rosenbaum said, “It’s almost like the meal is over and the dishes are done so let’s get in line. This is what I object strenuously to. Retail employees deserve to spend the holiday with their family.”

He added that “If retailers learned to forget the greed and fear of being outdone by the competition, Black Friday could become a sales day with none of these openings before the sun comes up”.

Retailers amass a huge amount of profit during Black Friday promotions but “have a deleterious effect on associates”, according to Richard J. George, a Professor of Food Marketing at Saint Joseph’s University. For the Ph.D. graduate, Black Friday promotions can somehow label as one of the “failed retail experiments”.

The post Retailers Hold Back on Black Friday Participation appeared first on Newsline.

Pacquiao Returns to Ring to Fight for WBO Welterweight Title

On Saturday, Senator Manny Pacquiao battles Jessie Vargas for the WBO welterweight title at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas as he takes a brief break from his political duties.

Pacquiao said he was going into retirement from boxing and focus on his political career. His announcement was made after his unanimous decision over Timothy Bradley in April.

Despite winning the election to the senate in the Philippines in May, Pacquiao, 37, decided on another challenge in the ring and found it against Vargas. The American pugilist is 10 years younger and enjoys a 4-inch advantage in reach and a 4 1/2 inch height advantage.

Senator Pacquiao (58-6-2), boxing’s only eight-division world champion, is contending to become a three-time WBO welterweight champion.

During the run-up to the bout, Pacquiao said that he feels he still has a lot to prove. “I am not done with boxing. I will continue to keep fighting as long as I love boxing and boxing still loves me. And I do not feel old.”

Furthermore, Manny is fighting for history. He was the first active congressman to win a world title. He wants to be the first senator to become world champion.

According to Pacquiao, it took discipline to manage his time efficiently and to balance his senatorial duties and his training camp. He ran every morning and did his strength and conditioning. He worked with Freddie Roach every evening at the gym after work. “Between the two ‘jobs’ I was averaging 14-hour workdays.”

Vargas on a Mission

Vargas is confident that whipping boxing legend Pacquiao would place him on another level. He would defend the title for the first time after winning it in March.

“It would definitely put me on the world-wide stage, make me that boxing star that I have been looking forward to being,” said Vargas (27-1).

The only fighters to defeat Manny Pacquiao have become legends themselves, he said. Vargas plans to become one of the few to beat Manny Pacquiao.

 

The post Pacquiao Returns to Ring to Fight for WBO Welterweight Title appeared first on Newsline.

‘Phenomenal Super Moon’ to Appear After 70 Years

GorPro Aims to Bounce Back After Q3 Revenue Loss

Suspect in custody following Rutgers University stabbing

A suspect is in custody following reports of a stabbing at Rutgers University, New Jersey, this afternoon.

The incident sparked a lockdown of the university’s Business School in New Brunswick while the emergency services raced to the scene.

Just a few moments ago the University issued a brief statement saying that ‘three people, including the suspect, are being treated for injuries” following the incident.

Initial reports said there had been multiple stabbings reported but few details about the incident are immediately available.

Initially the University tweeted an alert to avoid the area following the stabbing.

RU ALERT: Stabbing at Rutgers Business School (New Brunswick). Avoid the area and/or take shelter. 11/04/2016 14:45:32 EDT

— Rutgers University (@RutgersU) November 4, 2016

The incident began at 2.45pm and the lockdown was later lifted around 45 minutes later with the University tweeting that a suspect had been arrested.

RU ALERT: Suspect in custody. Area is safe. Police investigation ongoing. 11/04/2016 15:29:35 EDT

— Rutgers University (@RutgersU) November 4, 2016

Initial reports from the scene say that between three and five people have been injured.

As yet no motive has been established for the attacks and it unclear how seriously hurt the stabbing victims are.

Rutgers is a leading national research university which is this year celebrating its 250th anniversary, having being established in 1766.

It is the eighth oldest higher education institution in the United States.

According to the University website more than 69,000 students and 22,000 faculty and staff learn, work, and serve the public at Rutgers locations across New Jersey and around the world.

more follows…

The post Suspect in custody following Rutgers University stabbing appeared first on Newsline.

African-American Historic Church Burned and Marked with “Vote Trump”

The Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church in Mississippi set on fire with “Vote Trump” painted on its wall. Police officials considered it as an arson case as what appears to be an election-related hate crime.

On Wednesday afternoon, Ruben Brown Sr., the Greenville Fire Chief said at a news conference that the 111-year-old African-America historic church was “intentionally set.” The Fire Chief told reporters that “Samples and evidence have been collected from inside the church and are being analyzed to determine the accelerant or ignition source”.

Fortunately, no one was injured during the fire on Tuesday night but the church was severely damaged.

Hate Crime

The Greenville Police Chief Delando Wilson released a statement on Wednesday morning that they are “investigating this as a hate crime”. He added, “We feel that the quote on the church is intimidating. It tries to push your beliefs on someone else, and this is a predominantly black church and no one has a right to try to influence the way someone votes in this election.”

Police authorities interviewed a “person of interest” on Wednesday night regarding the fire. According to Chief Wilson, the police did not charge the individual.

The post African-American Historic Church Burned and Marked with “Vote Trump” appeared first on Newsline.

Recent Discovery Show Smoking Cause Permanent DNA Mutation

Scientists recently discovered that smoking creates an “archaeological record” of hundreds of DNA mutations. Unfortunately, the study reveals that the genetic mutations are permanent even if the individual has already stopped smoking.

A smoker who consumes 20 cigarettes a day can produce an average of 150 mutations in each lung every year. Scientist discovered the findings after sequencing thousands of tumor genomes.

Cause of Cancer

Analyzing DNA tumor may help researchers to find out the underlying origin of several cancers.

Pamela Pugh started smoking when she was 17 and quit during her early 50s. Sadly, the 69-year-old, doctors diagnosed her with lung cancer in 2013.

Pugh said that she never thought smoking can affect her even though she gave it up a long time ago. She added that “Had I known as a teenager that smoking caused mutations which would stay with me for life then I would never had started”.

Genetic Mutation

The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Cambridgeshire and the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico along with other international group conducted the study. The journal Science published the research.

The study presents a direct link of the mutation in the tumor DNA and the total number of cigarettes smoked.

Scientist found out that an average pack smoked a day can lead to 150 mutations in each lung every year. This includes 97 in the larynx, 23 in the mouth, 18 in bladder and 6 in the liver mutations.

Prof Sir Mike Stratton, of Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and the lead author said, “The more mutations there are, the higher the chance that these will occur in the key genes that we call cancer genes, which convert a normal cell into a cancer cell.”

Researchers discovered that in lung tissues, they found at least 60 carcinogens of the mutational signature chemicals in the tobacco smoke. The lungs are directly exposed to smoke.

However, the scientist did not find the same mutational pattern in the bladders tissues. Since the bladders are not directly exposed to smoke.

The exact event on how the organs react to smoking remains “mysterious and complex”. According to Prof Stratton, smoking contributes to the acceleration of the ordinary mutational sequences. He added that further studies of the investigative methodology can identify other underlying causes of cancer, those that are less known.

Prof Stratton said, “By looking in the genomes of the cancers, we will find the archaeological traces of past exposures which have been responsible for generating the cancers and that may potentially lead to prevention”.

Genetic disruption

A consultant oncologist at the Papworth Hospital and Roy Castle Lung Foundation, Dr. David Gilligan said, “For every 150 mutations in the cell each year that is 150 opportunities for lung cancer to develop. Lung cancer has been at the bottom of the survival league for many years, but there are many exciting developments, including immunotherapy and genetically targeted drug treatments.”

Pugh received a treatment of a trial drug for six months at Papworth and Addenbrooke’s Hospitals in Cambridgeshire. The drug aims to interrupt the contributing genes that make lung cancer progress.

Experts examined DNA tumors in the participants of the Matrix trial to see how the genes respond to the treatment. However, in Pugh’s case, a scan showed that the tumor in her right lung had grown. She needs to leave the experiment to undergo chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

In the UK alone, lung cancer partakes to 35,000 deaths annually. However, with proper medical care, experts estimated 9 out of 10 cases are treatable.

The post Recent Discovery Show Smoking Cause Permanent DNA Mutation appeared first on Newsline.

New Heavy Rocket Launch Advances China’s Space Program

China’s state media said that the country has launched its new Long March-5 heavy rocket sending its cargo into orbit. It is the country’s latest move in progressing its space exploration program.

The launch comes following China’s commencement of its longest manned space mission last month, transporting two astronauts to spend a month on board a space laboratory. The manned space mission is a part of a general plan to have a permanent manned space station by 2022.

The rocket is bigger than the earlier versions of the Long-March carrier rockets. State news agency Xinhua said it lifted off on Thursday night from a launch pad in the southern province of Hianan. The launch was aimed at verifying the rockets performance and design.

“Its successful launch has propelled China to the forefront of the world in terms of rocket carrying capacity, and marks a milestone in China’s transition from a major player in space to a major power in space,” Xinhua mentioned the ruling Communist Party’s Central Committee and powerful Central Military Commission as stating in a letter.

The two-stage rocket’s capability to put 25 tonnes of cargo into low-Earth orbit and 14 tonnes to geostationary transfer orbit renders its carrying capacity 2.5 times larger than previous models, Xinhua said.

The news agency said that the heavy-lift carrier rocket provides China the ability to build a permanent manned space station and explore the moon and Mars.

Developing China’s space program, which China insists is for peaceful purposes, is a priority for Beijing.

The U.S. Defense Department has underlined China’s improving space capabilities. It said that China was engaging on activities meant at keeping other nations from using space-based assets in a crisis.

Despite its advancements for commercial, scientific and military purposes, China’s space program is still behind Russia and the United States.

In late 2013, China’s Jade Rabbit moon rover landed on the moon to great fanfare. However, it developed severe technical problems soon after.

The moon rover and the Chan’e 3 probe that transported it there were first landing on the moon since 1976. Both Russia and the United States had accomplished the feat earlier.

US firms such as Blue Origin and SpaceX are currently developing space flight capabilities. Both companies are developing reusable rockets. SpaceX has gone as far as disclosing their ambitious plan of a manned mission to Mars as soon as 2024.

The post New Heavy Rocket Launch Advances China’s Space Program appeared first on Newsline.

UNESCO Says One Journalist Dead Every 4.5 days

On Wednesday, UNESCO announced a disturbing report about journalist killings statistics. According to the institution, one journalist is killed every four and a half days. 39 members of the Intergovernmental Council of UNESCO requested the report. In which Syria tops the list as the worst country for a journalist killed in the line of duty.

According to the report from the Director-General, 827 journalists died while on the job within the past 10 years. The report said, “The extent of the risks faced by journalists is demonstrated by the 827 killings recorded by UNESCO over the course of ten years,”

Worst Countries

In the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity report, the worst countries belong to the Arab Nations. Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Libya, the four countries with the highest journalist fatalities top the list. Latin America followed next as the worst affected nation.

The report indicates that in the last two years of 2006 to 2015, 59% of the deaths occurred in conflicted zones. Throughout those years, 78 out of the 213 correspondents killed in the Arab Nation. It’s a staggering 36.5% ratio of the journalist casualties.

The most shocking surge of journalist slayings occurred in Western Europe and North America. In 2014, no journalist died in the line of duty, the number drastically increased to 11 journalists killed in 2015.

Local Journalist more vulnerable

The report also revealed that local journalists are more vulnerable to danger than foreign correspondent, amounting to 90% of the fatalities. However, a huge spike of deaths recorded for foreign correspondents in 2014. On the same year, 17 journalists killed compare to an average of 4 correspondents in the past years.

Online Journalist

Similarly, online journalist falls victims to the killings. A huge increase in fatalities with a total count of 21 from 2 in 2014, Syrian bloggers reckoned half of them.

Men vs Women

The UNESCO report also uncovered that men were 10 times more susceptible to killings than women. A total of 195 to 18 deaths recorded from 2014 up to 2015. TV journalists serve main targets than the print journalists.

Findings of the report indicated that death is not the only danger journalist have to face.

The report stated for the world to understand, “To this, one needs to add the countless other violations endured by journalists, which include kidnappings, arbitrary detention, torture, intimidation, and harassment, both offline and online, and seizure or destruction of material.”

The post UNESCO Says One Journalist Dead Every 4.5 days appeared first on Newsline.

Incidence of Suicide Surpasses Number Car Crash Deaths Among Middle School Students in US

A federal report issued on Thursday said that the suicide rate among US middle school students doubled from 2007 to 2014. It is the first time the tally surpassed the incidence of youngsters aged 10 to 14 who died in car accidents.

The consistent seven-year increase in suicide among middle school students, from an annual rate of middle school suicides is 0.9 to 2.1 per 100,000, came as traffic casualties among the same age group decreased to 1.9 per 100,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta.

The motor vehicle mortality rate reported for 2014 indicated a 60 percent drop from 1999. 2014 was the latest year for which such data was available, while 1999 was when the government started monitoring such figures.

In cumulative numbers, 425 young individuals 10 to 14 years of age took their own lives in 2014. On the other hand, 384 individuals from the same age group died in car accidents that same year, according to the CDC.

Those figures contrasted sharply with numbers from 1999. The rate of middle school students killed in car crashes that year was four times higher than the rate among those who died from suicide.

Commenting on the findings, Mark Kaplan, a professor of social welfare at the University of California reiterated that any increase in youth suicides should be of concern.

“In time we might uncover some reasons, but a cautionary note is not to rush to any conclusions from this,” Kaplan said.

The primary causes of suicide are highly complex. This makes it tough to explain the trends documented by the CDC, he added.

Accidents in General on the Rise

According to the CDC, the leading general cause of death for Americans aged 10 to 14 remains accidents of all kinds, including car crashes. This accounted for 750 fatalities in that age group in 2014,.

Mortality rates from traffic collisions among all age groups have declined over several decades in the United States. Observers attribute this, in part, to improved safety features in cars, such as airbags.

The post Incidence of Suicide Surpasses Number Car Crash Deaths Among Middle School Students in US appeared first on Newsline.

Driver in School Bus Crash Shouldn’t Have Been at the Wheel

The school bus driver who was implicated in a deadly crash with a commuter bus in Baltimore this week should not have been behind the wheel since his commercial driver’s license was suspended two months ago.

Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration spokesman Chuck Brown said in a statement that they did not receive an updated Medical Examiner’s Certificate from Glenn R. Chappell. The driver’s one-year certificate expired in August 31 and federal law requires an updated one for holders of commercial driver’s licenses. These licenses are mandatory for school bus drivers in Maryland.

Brown presented copies of two cautionary letters the agency sent Chappell. One, dated July 17, prompted him that his certificate would soon expire. The other, dated Sept. 8, informed Chappell that he is no longer authorized to operate a commercial motor vehicle.

He was advised to either present updated information or have his permit demoted to a noncommercial driver’s license.

Another reason that could have prevented Chappell from driving: He pleaded guilty in 2012 to second-degree assault. A State Board of Education ruling says a school system “may not” allow someone condemned of a violent crime to operate a school vehicle.

Neither Baltimore City Public Schools nor AA Affordable Transportation, Chappell’s employer, responded to inquiries posed by The Associated Press in emails and calls.

In a statement obtained by WJZ-TV from AA Affordable, the transport company offered condolences to the victims’ families. Further, it said that the company is cooperating entirely with investigators and cannot comment while the investigation is underway.

Brown said that to renew a certification, drivers must disclose whether they have suffered a seizure, brain injury, dizziness or high blood pressure. Drivers should also submit to measurements of other standard health indicators. However, the resulting certificate doesn’t contain this detail so the agency is unaware about any medical conditions a driver might have.

The agency forwards warning letters only to commercial driver’s license holders, not their employers, Brown said. But federal regulations oblige companies to maintain the certificates for all of their drivers with commercial licenses.

The accident on Tuesday killed Chappell, 67, along with a Maryland Transit Administration bus driver and four mass transit passengers. Chappell’s school bus crossed the centerline and crashed into the commuter bus in southwest Baltimore. No children were onboard when the crash occurred.

Chappell’s son Moses said family members, as well as investigators, are awaiting his father’s autopsy results. It could reveal the probability that Chappell suffered a medical emergency. Investigators are also exploring whether speed played a role in the crash.

Moses said he never saw his father drink alcohol. He claimed that his father maintained a healthy lifestyle and that he didn’t appear to have any health issues.

His father drove trucks, buses and taxi cabs over the years, and loved driving, Moses added.

“It’s been the toughest 48 hours of my life,” he said.

Discretion that Could Have Prevented the Crash

A close reading of the board of education rules indicates that Glenn Chappell’s assault conviction wouldn’t have automatically prohibited him from driving a school bus; the wording seems to provide authorities some discretion.

The local school district would have been liable for making sure Chappell met state requirements.

 

The post Driver in School Bus Crash Shouldn’t Have Been at the Wheel appeared first on Newsline.

Garth Brooks wins Entertainer of the Year; Beyonce ruled 50th Annual CMA night

Presented by Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks were among the top awardees, BUT Brooks is the 50th Annual Country Music Award ‘Entertainer of the Year’, which is the highest award of the night.

Surprisingly, the Pop R&B Queen Beyonce took the spotlight, sporting a glittered, beaded gown, she ruled the audience as she performed country blues “Daddy Lesson” from her latest album “Lemonade” alongside was the Texas born star Dixie Chicks.

However, some fans expressed their frustration thru social media on why CMA allowed Beyonce to perform on the prestigious night.

“Tim McGraw on point with that diversity theme performing “Humble And Kind,” wrote one Twitter user, while another posted “This the first time black twitter has live tweeted the CMAs. Hilarious.”

Lifetime Achievement Award

Meanwhile, Dolly Parton earned the ‘Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award’, she said, “I would cry, but I didn’t want to mess up my eyelashes.”

Parton added, Willie Nelson Award “is an absolute high, for me,”

Kenny Chesney won the special Pinnacle Award, this is only the third time this award has been presented at the CMA Awards

Carrie Underwood named Female Vocalist of the Year Award for the fourth time. Underwood was so overwhelmed and at loss for words, saying “I’ve just become suddenly stupid.”

Chris Stapleton received male vocalist of the year award for the second time and ended his message saying “It takes a village,” a famous line often linked with U.S president candidate Hilary Clinton.

Paisley and Underwood also told jokes about the presidential campaign in opening remarks that included the lines “this show is rigged,” as well as.  “will you accept tonight’s results?” and “You’re a nasty woman.”

This was also a night to remember for Maren Morris who won for new artist, noting “Last year I sat across the street in a bar and watched this show.”

Eric Church received album of the year for “Mr. Misunderstood.”

Other awards went to Little Big Town for vocal group of the year and the Brothers Osborne, won vocal due of the year, Thomas Rhett for “Die a Happy Man,” won Single of the Year and Lori McKenna’s “Humble and King,” named song of the year.

CMA has been televised live from Nashville on ABC and aired more than three hours.

The post Garth Brooks wins Entertainer of the Year; Beyonce ruled 50th Annual CMA night appeared first on Newsline.

Experts Pointed Out Safety Risk to SpaceX Fuel Proposal

A group of industry experts that advises NASA has told the U.S space agency about the danger of Elon Musk’s SpaceX proposal – to fuel its rockets while astronauts are on board. The team raised serious concerns after the fatal explosion incident while fueling the unmanned rocket last September. The incident is still under investigation.

In a conference call on Monday, Space Station Advisory Committee Chairman Thomas Stafford said, “This is a hazardous operation.”

NASA’s eight members including rockets Gemini, Apollo and space shuttle gets fueled before the astronaut’s board to the launch pad.

“Everybody there, and particularly the people who had experience over the years, said nobody is ever near the pad when they fuel a booster,” Stafford said
SpaceX launch system needs NASA approval before it can fully operate and send astronauts into space.

In a statement released last Tuesday, NASA said, “continuing its evaluation of the SpaceX concept for fueling the Falcon 9 for commercial crew launches. The results of the company’s Sept. 1 mishap investigation will be incorporated into NASA’s evaluation.”

SpaceX and NASA are working “hand-in-hand” developing its human launch operations, reports said; they have spent 18 months finding out potential hazards and how to manage it properly.

Meanwhile, Tesla Motors Inc CEO Musk, who owned SpaceX said, “It would re-evaluate its fueling system and launch processes depending on results of the accident investigation.”

SpaceX said on Friday, that the explosion incident happened last September 1 was due to fueling error – a pressurized container of helium inside the rocket’s upper stage exploded which destroyed a $200 million Israeli Communication Satellite and the booster itself

Rocket engine uses super-chilled liquid propellants to increase the rocket’s efficiency to turn around and fly back to earth and be reused.
NASA stopped its Space Shuttle Program in 2011, then hired SpaceX and Boeing Co to fly its crew to the space stations.

Future of Space Travel

SpaceX is expecting to launch its passenger spaceship on 2018. The spaceship will include an emergency escape system. It will incorporate the a flight system for the main cabin capsule to fly away from a failing rocket before and after the launch.

The post Experts Pointed Out Safety Risk to SpaceX Fuel Proposal appeared first on Newsline.

U.S. Senators: Wells Fargo Sales Scandal Includes Brokerage Unit

Wells Fargo broadened the scope of a scandal as it fired hundreds of brokerage workers for improper sales practices, three US senators said on Thursday. The fourth-biggest US bank has so far defined the controversy as a retail banking problem.

Senators Elizabeth Warren, Robert Menendez and Ron Wyden, in a letter to Wells Fargo Chief Executive Tim Sloan, questioned the bank’s revelations about those employee’s terminations in mandatory regulatory filings.

The letter is the first sign that clients of the brokerage business  ‘Wells Fargo Advisors’, may have also been affected.

Wells Fargo would pay $5 million to customers and $185 million in penalties. This is for opening up to 2 million credit card and deposit accounts in customers’ names without their knowledge.

The San Francisco-based bank said it dismissed 5,300 employees for inappropriate sales practices over a period of five years.

In October, Reuters reported that thousands of small business customers have also been affected.

“It would appear that Wells Fargo concealed key information from regulators that may have revealed the bank’s misdeeds long before the September 2016 settlement,” the senators wrote, requesting more information.

FINRA on the Case

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) informed congressional staff that it had received dismissal documents, or Form U5s, for at least 600 of those fired Wells Fargo employees. But only 207 of them have information indicating they were fired for practices that led to fake accounts.

FINRA is a non-government organization that regulates member brokerage firms and securities dealers.

The senators said that the incomplete U5 filings may have held back information from regulators that could have helped them to discover and stop the illegal activity sooner.

Spokeswoman Nancy Condon said that FINRA takes seriously the accuracy and integrity of all filings made by firms.

She disclosed that FINRA last week started a review of sales programs for all firms it administers.

Several investigations, including an internal review, were ongoing, Wells Fargo spokeswoman Jennifer Greeson Dunn said. She added that that the bank has been working for years to halt wrongful sales practices. She will be taking steps to mend the damage.

Sloan said at a conference on Thursday that he had not aware of issues outside the retail bank.

Wells Fargo’s retail branches include workers from other businesses who offer products other than bank accounts.

The post U.S. Senators: Wells Fargo Sales Scandal Includes Brokerage Unit appeared first on Newsline.

Two Australians Pose as Pro Golfers Bluffed Their Way to North Korea’s Golf Tournament

Two Australian pose as professional golfers and bluff their way into the 18-hole international tournament in North Korea.

Morgan Ruig and Evan Shay, both 28 pulled of one of the craziest sports prank ever. The two were in a Polo trip in Beijing when they heard about the competition.

The two Australians emailed their application to North Korea, posing as professional Australian Team and wore fake green blazers bearing the National Logo. After the event, Ruig and Shay left two day tournament in North Korea without any problems.

85 participants flew from various parts of the world, to compete in the only golf course in North Korea, the Pyongyang Golf Course.

In 1987, late leader Kim Jong-il opened the Pyongyang Golf Complex; there are stories that the leader shot 11 holes-in-ones on first attempt.

The Australians were guarded by North Korean officials throughout their five-day trip. They were also given a tour of Pyongyang, where they offered flowers at a monument of the country’s infamous leaders.

Performance at the Green

Morgan Ruig told the Courier-Mail newspapaer, “We were very nervous handing our passports over at the border. There are stories of people not coming home.”
“I hit 120 and my caddy told me I had bought great shame to my family.”

“We played very poorly… but we met some very interesting people,” he added.
In an interview with Yahoo Sports, Ruig said the officials thought it’s “quite funny.”

Despite their poor performance at the tournament, he said the experience was “character building.”

“I wouldn’t recommend it to a light-hearted traveller. It was pretty hardcore but it was an amazing experience.”

The post Two Australians Pose as Pro Golfers Bluffed Their Way to North Korea’s Golf Tournament appeared first on Newsline.

Fear of Leaks Pushed FBI Decision on Emails Connected to Clinton

Law enforcement sources said on Thursday FBI Director James Comey was compelled in part by a fear of leaks from within his agency when he decided to inform Congress the FBI was investigating newly found emails related to Hillary Clinton,.

The analysis of the email traffic is now being done under the tightest secrecy by a team at the FBI headquarters in Washington, the sources said, requesting anonymity due to the inquiry’s sensitivity.

Several sources said it was not clear whether the FBI would make any further public releases about its latest evaluation prior to Tuesday’s presidential and congressional elections. A couple of sources said such releases were unlikely.

Another source said that it would depend on how the investigation goes and what the FBI finds. The source added that, as of Thursday, nobody really knows whether the FBI will have anything more to say before the election.

Last Friday, Comey sent a letter to senior lawmakers regarding the newly discovered emails. His disclosure just days before the elections elicited questions about his intentions and drew criticism from some over his timing.

Comey revealed that the FBI was looking at emails as part of an investigation into Clinton’s use of an unauthorized server while secretary of state. The FBI director did not describe the emails’ content or how long the probe might take. The FBI normally does not comment on ongoing investigations.

The new emails came to light as FBI investigators were inspecting electronic devices used by former congressman Anthony Weiner in connection with an apparent “sexting” scandal. Weiner’s estranged wife, Huma Abedin, is a Clinton confidante.

According to law enforcement sources, the FBI has made initial inquiries into Clinton Foundation activities and supposed contacts between Trump and accomplices with factions in Russia. However, these inquests were swung into low gear weeks ago because the FBI wanted to avoid any effect on the election.

Clinton had used unauthorized server at her residence in Chappaqua, New York, instead of the secure State Department system. The FBI beforehand had spent close to a year probing Clinton’s use of the private server after classified government secrets were discovered in some of her emails.

Comey had stated in July that while there was “evidence of potential violations of the statutes regarding the handling of classified information, our judgment is that no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case.”

 

 

The post Fear of Leaks Pushed FBI Decision on Emails Connected to Clinton appeared first on Newsline.

Keith Fairman and the amazing acts of kindness which left hospice staff in stunned disbelief

“I’m Staying” says Manchester United Boss José Mourinho

Manchester United boss José Mourinho has warned critics not to write him off as he insists he is staying put at Old Trafford.

With Manchester United in eighth place in the Premiership – and eight points behind leaders and local rivals Manchester City – Mourinho has come in for a lot of criticism recently.

I want to stay until the end of my contract.

However he has insisted that he is determined to complete his contract at the club and remains confident that the much-needed goals will come.

Mourinho told The Sun newspaper: “I am at the club I want to be at and I am so happy to be here. I want to stay here until the end of my contract and then who knows?

“But I will be here for many years. I am a football man and I am still young. Sometimes people think I am 75 but I am 53 and I have a passion for the game.”

He was speaking after a run of poor results in the Premiership which has continued in the Europa League where United have just lost 2-1 away to Fenerbahce.

Defeat

Excluding qualifiers, it was United’s eighth defeat in their last nine games in Europe.

Striker Moussa Sow gave Fenerbahce the lead in the second minute of the game and Jeremain Lens followed up with a brilliant second half free-kick.

While United captain Wayne Rooney scored a consolation goal in the 89th minute it was not enough and United are now in danger of being eliminated from the Europa League.

Behind

United are now third in Group A – one point behind leaders Feyenoord and Fenerbahce – and with two games left they still have a lot of work to do.

It is a similar story in the Premiership where United have failed to score in the last three league games and could only manage a draw in the game before that.

Last weekend’s 0-0 draw against Burnley at Old Trafford was particularly frustrating for the players and fans as Mourinho’s men had 37 attempts on goal but failed to convert a single one.

The good results have to arrive sooner or later.

Despite this Mourinho remains upbeat saying that the goal drought cannot last forever.

He said: “I’m excited. I’m not happy with the results, what I’m happy with is the performances.

“Sometimes you win but feel that period cannot last forever as the team is not playing so well.

“Other times you don’t have such good results but feel the way the team plays, the good results have to arrive sooner or later. So I have a very good feeling towards the players.

Incredible

The number of shots we had in the last match is something absolutely incredible, is an example of what the team tried to have a different result.”

With United beset with injury problems right now the immediate future is not looking great and Mourinho will have his work cut out in the crucial run up to Christmas and the New Year.

The post “I’m Staying” says Manchester United Boss José Mourinho appeared first on Newsline.

US Defense Department, Lockheed Wrap Up Discussions on Ninth Lot of F-35 Jets

The Pentagon said on Wednesday that after 14 months of negotiations on the more than $6.1 billion deal, the U.S. Department of Defense and Lockheed Martin Corp ended talks on their ninth contract for F-35 fighter jets.

The unilateral agreement on the deal for 57 of the new warplanes will provide profit margin certainty to Lockheed and its partners. They have been producing the jet under a placeholder arrangement known as an “undefinitized contract action”.

People acquainted with the contract discussions who spoke under condition of anonymity said the tenth production contract, which is a 94-plane deal, was still under negotiation.

Lockheed said in a statement that the contract was not a mutually agreed upon contract. It was a unilateral contract action, which requires them to perform under standard terms and conditions, and earlier agreed-to items. Moreover, they said that they are disheartened with the decision by the government to declare a unilateral contract action.

However, people familiar with the purchasing process said that the unilateral resolution was uncommon.

The prior lot of 43 planes, lot 8, had an average unit price of $108 million per plane. Planes in lot 9 are about $107 million per plane, 3.7 percent lower. Hence, it is the lowest price per jet thus far.

The F-35 is the Pentagon’s most expensive arms program. The U.S. Department of Defense looks to spend $391 billion to develop the plane. It plans to buy 2,443 of the stealthy, supersonic warplanes, in the coming decades.

The ninth batch of jets includes 42 F-35 A-model jets for the U.S. Air Force, Japan, Israel and Norway; and 13 F-35 B-model jets, which can manage short takeoffs and vertical landings, for the Marine Corps and the British navy. This is in addition to two carrier-variant F-35C jets for the U.S. Navy.

Lockheed, and its key partners including Northrop Grumman, Pratt & Whitney and BAE Systems, have been building and developing F-35s for the U.S. military and 10 allies.

The price of the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing version of the jet would fall to under $100 million per plane in the 10th low-rate production batch, Jeff Babione, Lockheed’s F-35 program manager, had earlier said.

 

The post US Defense Department, Lockheed Wrap Up Discussions on Ninth Lot of F-35 Jets appeared first on Newsline.

Chicago Cubs Broke the “Curse of Billy Goat” by Winning the World Series

After 108 years, the “Curse of Billy Goat” has ended after Chicago Cubs finally won the World Series beating the Cleveland Indians on early Thursday.

With an 8-7 victory that took 10 innings, the Cubs beat the Indians in their home stadium. Celebration filled the streets of the Windy City after fans waited for over a century since their last Major League Baseball championship in 1908.

Kris Bryant, Cubs 3rd baseman described the game as “one of the best games anybody will ever see.”

“This trumps everything. I’m out here crying. I can’t really put into words what this means,” he added.

Ben Zoborist who was named MVP of the World Series, hit an RBI double and batted .357 in with two double and a triple.

The win sets a historical comeback for the Chicago Cubs, from a 3-1 deficit in the best of seven game.

This will be the third World Series crown for the Cubs, while the Indians replaced them as having the longest drought in the World Series.

First baseman Anthony Rizzo added, “I don’t know but it happened, Chicago, it happened. We did it we’re world champions.”

After winning 9-3 in game six, the Cubs picked up where they left off, delivering three home runs in front of a heavily crowded, raucous blue-clad audience.

The fans filled the Progressive Field with “Let’s Go Cubbies” chants, as Chicago Cubs make a 5-1 lead and carried a 6-3 advantage.

As rain began falling in the field, Cubs manager Joe Maddon summoned Cuban player Aroldis Chapman. He pitched 2-2/3 innings on Sunday and another inning and third on Tuesday. Then the game was halted before the start of the 10th to cover the field before extra innings resumed after 17 minutes.

With Cleveland reliever Bryant Shaw on the mound, Zobrist slapped a shot past diving Jose Ramirez and then Miguel Montero singled home a run to make it 8-6.

The historic win fired up the Progressive Field, with thousands of Cubs supporters singing the “Go Cubs Go” team song after the 4hrs and 28minutes game. The losing team could only watch from the dugout steps.

Cleveland manager Terry Francona said it was an “incredible game.”

“It’s going to hurt. It hurts because we care, but they need to walk with their head held high because they left nothing on the field,” he added.

The post Chicago Cubs Broke the “Curse of Billy Goat” by Winning the World Series appeared first on Newsline.

Trump Positive of Winning Florida

Orlando, Florida – The Republican presidential candidate assured his supporters that he will win the White House position on the November 8 election. Trump addressed thousands of cheering supporters in his two-day rally in the crucial battleground state of Florida.

He said, “It’s going to happen”.

In the latest survey of Quinnipiac University, the results were considerably surprising. The Democratic presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton leads Trump with just 1% point. The total tally shows Clinton at 46% while Trump is at 45%, a connotation well within the 3.9% marginal error.

The recent poll indicates Trump won a huge amount of likely voters. Given that the last Quinnipiac poll conducted on October 17, showed Clinton is 4% points above Trump.

Meanwhile, the combined tally for the alternative candidates, Gary Johnson and Jill Stein is at 4% points of likely voters.

On Wednesday, Trump believed he will win against all odds in the presidential election. He said, “Our magnificent, historic movement has surprised the world and defied expectations at every single turn. And now next Tuesday, we will have one last glorious surprise for the pundits, the politicians and the special interests when we win and return the power back to the people”.

Trump’s political strategy

The real estate mogul stayed on his standpoint that he will win the battleground state of Florida; his turning point factor for the Presidential position.

Trump played on the recent controversy surrounding Clinton’s email woes when she was still the Secretary of the State. In his speech in the Pensacola rally, he pointed out the legal troubles of his opponent.

He also condemns Obama for campaigning for Clinton. He said, “He’s campaigning right now for Crooked Hillary. Why is he campaigning? She’s under federal investigation — and you’ve got a president campaigning for her”.

Obama addressed the Florida crowd on Friday and will revisit on Sunday. For the Republican candidate that indicates, “All he does is campaign”. He then added, “He ought to be working on your jobs that are leaving and going to Mexico, and your military”.

Trump itinerary includes a rally in Jacksonville before heading to Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

In his campaign at the Orlando Amphitheater, he urged the residents to vote, citing the recent poll of Quinnipiac showing Clinton’s lead of 4% with a marginal error of 4 points either way.

Trump promised the crowd that he will replace Obamacare, which for him is “a total catastrophe”. The attendees answered him with roars of “Trump” and “USA” while denouncing Clinton as “Lock Her Up” and “Liar”. A plane circled the campaign grounds while pulling a banner which reads “FL Chinese Americans for Trump”.

Meanwhile, outside the amphitheater, vendors made a lot of money in Trump’s merchandise selling T-shirts, caps, flags, buttons, and the likes.

Trump’s supporters

A senior mechanical engineer graduate of The University of Central Florida, Ryan Smith gathered attention in wearing a Clinton mask, an orange shirt with “Crooked Hillary” while in handcuffs. Smith’s shirt bears the numbers 11082916 in reference to the November 8 election day.

He said, “Everyone wants to see her in prison. I can’t walk 5 feet without somebody stopping and taking pictures’.

Another Trump supporter, Kara Elvidge said she believed that Clinton is a liar. Elvidge resides in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and a registered nurse. She stands against Clinton’s abortion policy. Elvidge said, “The abortion issue is a big issue for me with Hillary’s views on abortion. I also believe that we need to close the borders. That’s something important for me with Trump.”

Marie Maxime, a native Haitian and lifelong Democrat said she will vote for Trump. For the stay at home mother, “I think Trump can do the job. I think he’s a man of integrity and honor. And I think he can stand on his word.”

The post Trump Positive of Winning Florida appeared first on Newsline.

Mosul; ISIS Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi “Confident in Victory”

As Iraqi Counter Terrorist forces entered Mosul, Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi delivered a message to boost the morale of the ISIS fighters. He also expressed his confidence in victory.

Furthermore, the jihadist leader urged his fighters to attack the neighboring country, Turkey.

“This raging battle and total war, and the great jihad that the state of Islam is fighting today only increases our firm belief, God willing, and our conviction that all this is a prelude to victory,” Baghdadi said in an audio recording.

Baghdadi also called on the people of Mosul to fight the “enemies of God”. He added that they should not “weaken in the jihad.”

He addressed the ISIS suicide fighters to “turn the nights of the unbelievers into days, to wreak havoc in their land and make their blood flow as rivers.”

The city of Mosul, home to 1.5 million people was captured by the Islamic State two years ago. They then declared it as an ISIS ‘caliphate.’

Baghdadi also instructed his fighters to “unleash the fire of their anger” on Turkish forces fighting them in Syria.

Turkey today entered your range of action and the aim of your jihad … invade it and turn its safety into fear,” he added.

Iraqi counter-terrorism forces together with Kurdish troops and some Shi’ite militias have been attacking ISIS forces for months.

Baghdadi instructed his forces to launch “attack after attack” in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, he urged them to target security forces, government officials, media news offices, and members of the Al Saud family.

Baghdadi said Saudi Arabia has sided with “infidel nations in the war on Islam and the Sunna (Sunni Muslims) in Iraq and Syria.”

ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi said the caliphate was not affected by the death of its 2 senior commanders named Abu Muhammad al-Adnani and Abu Muhammad al-Furqan. Both commanders were killed this year in a U.S. airstrike.

The post Mosul; ISIS Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi “Confident in Victory” appeared first on Newsline.

Amnesty International Thrown Out of Moscow Office

Last Wednesday, Amnesty International, a human rights campaign group has been evicted from its Moscow Office.

According to the Amnesty Staff’s, they found that the office door’s lock has been changed. Moreover, power has been shut down and a notice from the city government has been placed on the front door.

A statement released by Moscow City Government, from whom Amnesty rented the office said that the group violated the rental agreement and failed to pay on the agreed time. However, Amnesty said they were up to date with payments and have documents to support it.

“The eviction may be part of an official crackdown on civil society groups that criticize the Kremlin, but he said there were other possible explanations.” John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International’s Europe director said.

The Moscow City Government answered, that they sent numerous warning notices about the said payment delays and because of this terms violation, the Amnesty Contract Lease has been voided.

“This complaint was ignored by the unscrupulous tenant,” Moscow City Government said.

“In this connection, the premises were closed and sealed off,” the statement said.
Amnesty group responded back saying that they have not received any notices from the government. They  also said they have documents to prove that they are paid up to October.

Amnesty’s Dalhuisen said: “This bizarre claim is simply not true.”

Amnesty Civil Society Issues

In a phone Interview, Dalhuisen said, “As an organization, along with others, that has criticized the Russian authorities, it is possible this fits into the context of the squeeze on civil society,”

“It is equally possible, however, that this is a genuine administrative mix-up, or that other interests are at play within the municipality. At this stage, I do not want to speculate until we have had the opportunity to try to resolve this with the municipal authorities.”

Meanwhile, Dmitry Peskov Kremlin spokesperson said that he is not aware of the issues going on with Amnesty’s Office.

John Kirby, U.S State Department Spokesman said, “He had seen reports about the eviction, and “obviously we’re concerned about it.”

Washington is now investigating the issue and we’ll see how it goes, He added.

Amnesty International was founded in London. The group castigated Russian authorities and its allies for violating humanitarian laws. This was due to Russia’s airstrikes in the Syrian City of Aleppo that killed hundreds of people. Moscow rebuffed the accusations.

President Putin’s administration accused some civil rights groups as being funded by some western countries to criticize the Kremlin. These civil rights groups are also responsible for provoking revolution to unseat pro-Russian leaders in several ex-Soviet states.

Part of the Kremlin’s move was to suppress these western funded groups. They have specified some non-government organizations as ‘foreign agents,’ which makes them subject to intense investigation from the authorities.

The post Amnesty International Thrown Out of Moscow Office appeared first on Newsline.

From snoring to arguments: Four reasons British couples sleep apart

Sleep is one of the most important things in our lives and many people have many different sleeping habits.

Most British couples will choose to sleep with their partners – but for some, sleeping apart is the preferred option (at least some of the time.)

A recent survey undertaken by sofa company DistinctiveChesterfields.com has uncovered six factors that determine whether UK couples sleeping separately or together…how many of them do you recognise?

Geography

People in Yorkshire are most likely to not share a bed with their partner – 14% of those questioned said they chose to sleep separately.

Couples in Wales were very close behind – 13% of those surveyed opted for separate beds and those living in East Anglia (12%) came a close third.

Just over 9% of Scottish couples don’t sleep together while the figure is just 6% for Northern Ireland.

Snoring

No matter how much we love our other halves, there are some things we just can’t take and snoring is a huge turn off for many British couples.

One quarter of those surveyed said that their partner’s snoring was so bad that it drove them to choose separate beds in order to get a full night’s sleep.

Arguments

Even if you love someone dearly there will be times that you don’t see eye to eye.

Almost 40% of Brits argue with their partner at least once a week or more.

The average argument lasts for two hours and five minutes with one fifth of couples deciding to sleep apart for at least two days while they calm down.

Age

Couples of all ages argue from time to time but their ages can determine whether they will need time apart following a row.

Over 55s were the most likely to let bad blood linger with one in six sleeping alone for 3 nights or longer, whereas the 18-24 year olds were more likely to have made up before bed time.

The most common reasons to argue was due to tidiness around the house, followed by money, driving and family.

Location

Rather strangely perhaps, 7.5% of those surveyed said that they chose to sleep in the bath following an argument while another 7% opted for the kitchen instead.

The spare room was the most common choice (35.7%), followed by on the sofa (32.1%) and other options included staying with a friend or at a hotel.

The post From snoring to arguments: Four reasons British couples sleep apart appeared first on Newsline.