Huge blow for Clinton as FBI dramatically reopens ‘secret server’ email probe

Hillary Clinton was dealt a potentially devastating blow to her presidential campaign today when the FBI dramatically re-opened their ‘secret server’ email probe.

With just 11 days to go before America votes for its next president, the news could hardly have come at a worse time.

The Clinton campaign said the decision to revisit the case so close to the election was “extraordinary,” and urged the FBI to provide more details.

This shock development has come after devices belonging to Clinton’s chief aide Huma Abedin and her estranged husband Anthony Weiner were seized.

FBI

The devices in question formed part of an FBI investigation into sex texts that Weiner allegedly sent to a 15-year-old girl.

FBI director James Comey told Congress that new emails “that appear to be pertinent to the [Clinton] investigation” have been discovered.

He said that an investigative team is seeking to determine whether classified information was contained in the emails and whether any of them were ‘significant’.

Clinton was apparently totally unaware of this breaking news story as she traveled by air to a rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa this morning.

The plane she was traveling in had no Internet coverage and she remained silent when reporters, waiting on the tarmac as her plane landed, shouted questions about the re-opened email investigation.

She simply smiled and waved to reporters as she disembarked from the aircraft and got into her Secret Service SUV.

Clinton’s running mate Tim Kaine, campaigning in Tallahassee, Tennessee, today would only say when asked to comment: “I’ve got to read a little more.”

“Bigger than Watergate” – Trump

President Obama also ignored reporters’ questions about the story as he left the White House to board Marine Force One today.

Republican rival Donald Trump was quick to seize on the news saying it was “bigger than Watergate.”

As he spoke in Manchester, New Hampshire, supporters would be heard chanting “lock her up!”

Trump told the rally: “The FBI has just sent a letter to Congress informing them that they have discovered new emails pertaining to the former secretary of state Hillary Clinton’s investigation

Criminal

“And they are reopening the case into her criminal and illegal conduct that threatens the security of the United States of America.

“Hillary Clinton’s corruption is on a scale we have never seen before. We must not let her take her criminal scheme into the Oval Office. This is bigger than Watergate.”

FBI chief Comey sent the letter to a number of people including  the heads of the of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, Judiciary Committees, the House’s Oversight Committee and the Senate’s Homeland Security Committee.

He wrote: “In connection with an unrelated case the FBI has learned of the existence of emails that appear to be pertinent to the investigation.

Classified

“[T]he FBI should take appropriate investigative steps designed to allow investigators to review these emails to determine whether they contain classified information, as well as to access their importance to our investigation.”

In Bensalem, Pennsylvania, Trump’s running mate Mike Pence was cheered as he told a rally: ‘We commend the FBI for having the courage to re-open this case because no-one is above the law.’

Pence later tweeted: ‘We call on the FBI to immediately release all emails pertinent to their investigation. Americans have the right to know before Election Day.’

BREAKING NEWS → The FBI is reopening its investigation into Secretary Hillary Clinton.

My full statement ⇩ http://pic.twitter.com/LHfyg46dWk

— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) October 28, 2016

House Speaker Paul Ryan said Clinton had “nobody but herself to blame” and added: “She was entrusted with some of our nation’s most important secrets, and she betrayed that trust by carelessly mishandling highly classified information.

Reckless

“This decision, long overdue, is the result of her reckless use of a private email server, and her refusal to be forthcoming with federal investigators.

“I renew my call for the Director of National Intelligence to suspend all classified briefings for Secretary Clinton until this matter is fully resolved.”

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy accused Clinton of a “fundamental lack of judgment and disregard for protecting and handling our nation’s highly classified secrets.”

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President Duterte Displays What Trump Foreign Policy Might Look Like

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been dubbed as the Donald Trump of Asia, as both politicians irked traditional allies and move closer to rivals.

Republican candidate Donald Trump has brought fear to some Americans as he showed his plans to build a wall between Mexico and United States, restricting immigrants entering the United States, and to force its allies to pay for American defense assistance.

World leaders slammed President Duterte because of his war against illegal drugs that caused the deaths of more than 3,600 suspected addicts and dealers. Further, he is revising the country’s foreign policies.

The two politicians may be different in so many ways, but have similarities in authoritarian leadership style. Duterte is a three-decade politician serving as mayor, prosecutor, congressman; while Trump is a billionaire who never held public office.

Duterte’s actions in the past few months showed the Americans an insight on what Trump presidency might look like.

Bridget Welsh, an international relations expert at National Taiwan University said, “Trump and Duterte are similar in their vulgarity, misogyny and in-your-face politics”. She added, “they also capitalize on similar sentiment—shake the system up, challenge the status quo and basically move beyond the norms of rule of law.”

Duterte also showed more favor to Chinese’s President Xi Jinping, convinced that the country’s future depends on Beijing. He stated, “only China can help us.” Trump on the other hand aggressively challenged the Asian superpower, which he considers a threat to U.S. economy’s growth.

But the two leaders show common characteristics in their willingness to reform the relationships with longstanding allies.

The United States is a long-time ally of the Philippines and viewed by most Filipinos as a friend. Yet, Duterte has been denouncing the American government, even calling Barack Obama “son of a whore.”

Trump denounced Angela Merkel for “ruining Germany” about her stand on refugees. He also suggested that he would support NATO allies only if they pay the United States for military assistance.

Both leaders have a tendency to react sharply to criticism. Duterte even threatened to withdraw its alliance with U.S. and U.N. after they chastised him over his drug war. And Trump, as Hillary Clinton emphasized in the three presidential debates, has a famously thin skin.

Both Trump and Duterte displays the same characteristics on foreign policy.

American officials criticized Duterte’s recent move to split with the U.S. in favor of China.   Even his own mentor former President Fidel Ramos had things to say about it.

“Are we throwing away decades of military partnership, tactical proficiency, compatible weaponry, predictable logistics and soldier-to-soldier camaraderie, just like that?” asked Ramos in a recent editorial.

While Trump shows a strong stance over foreign policy, he proposed establishing safe zones in Syria. He also suggested meeting Russian “provocative” moves with military forces if necessary. “He and I haven’t spoken, and he and I disagree,” Trump said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin, in the second presidential debate.

“I expect there would be mass resignations from the State Department, from government if there’s a Trump presidency”. Welsh added, “He doesn’t have a foreign policy and he doesn’t have a foreign policy community with him. I think America would face a very significant crisis.”

Last, the biggest similarity between Trump and Duterte is their shoot-from-the-hip communication style. Both seems to say whatever comes to mind, and have a tendency to contradict their statements in the next.

Duterte’s recent contradicting statement leaves China, Japan, even the U.S. confused about where exactly he stands. If this happens to the President of the United States, every word he says would have a global significance especially on military and foreign affairs.

Uncertainty has its costs.

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FBI Director Tell Congress They are Reviewing New Emails in Clinton Probe

Newsline: FBI Director James Comey sent eight congressional committee chairmen a letter 11 days before the election.

“In connection with an unrelated case, the FBI has learned of the existence of emails that appear pertinent to the investigation,” Director Comey write the congressmen. “I am writing to inform you that the investigative team briefed me on this yesterday, and I agreed that the FBI should take appropriate investigative steps designed to allow investigators to review these emails to determine whether they contain classified information, as well as to assess their importance to our investigation.”

more to follow from Newsline

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Woman’s Vehicle Returned With Note And Gas Money After It Was Accidentally Stolen

Erin Hatzi’s husband came home on Tuesday and assumed she was out when he didn’t see her car in the garage or on the driveway.

He was surprised when he found her inside so he asked where she had parked.

Confused by his question, she said that she parked in the driveway.

“Nope!” he replied.

It was 9:30 p.m. and her red 2001 Subaru Impreza was missing. Panic started to set in.

The Portland, Oregon, couple anxiously examined security footage from a camera positioned outside of their garage. Sure enough, they saw a woman get into the car at around 7 p.m, back out of the driveway and took off.

So, they immediately called the police.

Hatzi told CBS News that they were pretty angry and flabbergasted that the car was taken directly from their driveway.

However, the car reappeared less than 24 hours later.

And it turns out, the whole thing seems to have been a huge mix-up.

They were able to make out the whole story after police barred a woman who drove up to the house in the missing car. Hatzi’s husband happened to head out the front door as police were making their stop.

Hatzi said that he told them that the car belonged to his wife and that it was taken from the driveway they were standing in front of.

As he inspected the car, he found a note and some cash inserted underneath the windshield wipers.

The woman wrote her name and phone number in it, and clarified:

“Hello, So sorry I stole your car. I sent my friend with my key to pick up my red subaru at 7802 SE Woodstock and she came back with your car. I did not see the car until this morning and I said, ‘that is not my car.’ There is some cash for gas and I more than apologize for the shock and upset this must have caused you. … So so sorry for this mistake.”

Initially, Hatzi thought this couldn’t possibly be true. However, following the police’s investigation, they confirmed that the woman’s story checked out.

An officer explained that the keys can be interchangeable in some older model Subarus. This explains how someone erroneously drove off with the wrong vehicle.

Hatzi said that she was very thankful and then it was mainly disbelief and amusement that something like this could happen,”.

Subaru of America has not immediately returned any request for comment on this matter.

 

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Mayor Killed in Shootout As Philippine War On Drugs Enters New Phase

As a new phase of a violent narcotics clampdown set its sights on high profile individuals, a mayor was killed along with nine of his body guards in a shootout on Friday (Local time). The mayor was on Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s wanted list for suspected drugs links.

The 10 men opened fire on officers who attempted to halt their two vehicles at a checkpoint in Mindanao before dawn. The men died of their wounds on the way to the hospital, police said.

Bernard Tayong of the North Cotabato police office said that the police operation was legitimate. No officers were hurt but a police vehicle was riddled with bullets, he added.

Tayong told reporters that they have information that the mayor and his men were carrying drugs. They tried to intercept them but the mayor and his men chose to shoot it out.

The incident happened far from Mayor Samsudin Dimaukom’s generally Muslim town of Datu Saudi Ampatuan.

It came as police modify tactics in the controversial war on drugs. Their sights are now trained at government officials, politicians, high-ranking army and police officials. Moreover, there are celebrities suspected of involvement in the trade.

Dubbed “Project Double Barrel Alpha”, the new plan seeks to reduce the bloodshed and increase arrests in a campaign that has claimed more than 2,300 lives since Duterte took office on June 30.

Duterte won the presidency on the assurances of killing criminals and ran under the logo of a clenched fist.

In a news conference late on Thursday following his return from a visit to Japan, Duterte waved a thick book he claimed had names of officials suspected of drug links. The book contains about 3,000 names.

More than 1,600 of those killed in the anti-drugs campaign died during police operations. It is a death toll that has gained international concern about extrajudicial killings.

Duterte has repeatedly torn into his critics as he aggressively defended the campaign.

In a recent poll, 94 percent of respondents said it was important that police take suspects alive. This shows the public’s unease over the crackdown.

After Friday’s shootout, seven guns, which include an Armalite rifle, and 13 small packs of suspected methamphetamines were retrieved from the mayor’s car, police investigators said

Dimaukom’s wife, who is also the town’s vice mayor, is also on Duterte’s watch list.

Shifting targets

National police spokesman Dionardo Carlos said on Thursday that the war on drugs had been magnified to go beyond poorer areas where low-level peddlers operate.

New targets were transport networks, wealthier neighborhoods, show business circles and nightclubs. The authorities aim to get rid of drugs like ecstasy and cocaine in these places.

Carlos denied there was an intentional endorsing of extrajudicial killings. He said casualties occurred when suspects refused to surrender. Police were keen to avoid violence, which is the reason why they are shifting to Alpha, he added.

Since late June, about 30,000 suspects were arrested and 750,000 drug users had surrendered. Of the “high value” targets, 201 had given up, 66 were arrested and 14 were killed.

He said 150,000 police had been tested for drug use. 164 of which returned positive results and would be dismissed.

 

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Trump Tags Clinton as “Corrupt”; Michelle Obama Backs Her Up

As the 2016 US election comes to a close, Republican Nominee Donald Trump condemned both Hillary and Bill Clinton as corrupt politicians that would use the presidential position to enrich themselves at the expense of hard working Americans.

Mrs. Clinton with the help of the first lady Michelle Obama rallied voters in North Carolina, a state that could deliver a landslide win to the Democrat team.

As new controversies arise every day, Mr. Trump seized newly made-public emails between Bill Clinton and aide Doug Band. The emails were among the thousands of hacked emails from top Clinton aide’s private account.

At a rally in Springfield, Ohio, Mr. Trump said, “Mr. Band called the arrangement ‘unorthodox.’ The rest of us call it outright corrupt,” he added, “If the Clintons were willing to play this fast and loose with their enterprise when they weren’t in the White House, just imagine what they’ll do in the Oval Office.”

Mrs. Clinton did not comment nor mention anything about the hacked emails as she campaigned alongside Mrs. Obama. The first lady, one of Clinton’s most powerful allies branded Trump as too divisive and thin-skinned for the White House.

“We want someone who is a unifying force in this country, someone who sees our differences not as a threat but as a blessing,” the first lady said as she addressed 11,000 enthusiastic supporters.

Mrs. Obama also accused Trump of manipulating voter’s turnout on Nov. 8 by his statement that the general election might be rigged.

“Just for the record, in this country, the United States of America, the voters decide elections,” the first lady said. “They’ve always decided.”

A Recent poll shows Clinton with a huge lead for weeks. However, her campaign team is concerned that her advantage could prompt some of her supporters to stay home on November 8. They might also cast votes for a third-party candidate.

As the candidates enter the final stage of the election campaign, Clinton showed more cash advantage over Trump. Almost $153 million campaign funds have been raised to back Clinton’s presidential run, more than double on what Trump’s side had available.

Recently a GOP house member released a TV ad, saying Trump has “disqualified himself” to be president. Rep. Robert Dold of Illinois calls Trump as an “independent voice,” first time for the committee to discredit a Republican Presidential nominee.

Issues about hacked emails and “Obamacare” premium hike have appeared. These provide Trump potent weapons in the campaign’s final stretch.

Mr. Trump described the premium hike “making it impossible for parents to pay their bills and support their families.”

While campaigning in Ohio, the Republican nominee criticized Clinton for being too tough on Russian President Vladimir Putin. This was another surprisingly favorable comment for the Russian leader.

“She speaks very badly of Putin, and I don’t think that’s smart,” he said.

Frustration grew as his own Republican party criticized him for failing to denounce Putin. He also refused to answer questions regarding the hacked emails’ source, although intelligence agencies have pinned the blame on Moscow.

Last Thursday, Trump said in a statement that Captain Humayun Khan, a Muslim-American soldier killed in Iraq, would be alive if he had been president during the war.

Khan’s family has been backing Clinton and has harshly condemned Trump’s call for temporarily banning Muslims entering the United States.

“I don’t understand how anyone would want to rub salt in the wounds of a grieving family,” the fist lady said.

The day ended with the plane of Mike Pence, Trump’s running mate, sliding off the slippery runway at New York’s La Guardia Airport. Fortunately, there were no casualties.

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Yemen Insurgents Launch Missile Toward Mecca – Saudi Arabia

In the midst of Yemen’s stalemate civil war, Shiite rebels in the country launched a ballistic missile in the direction of the holy Muslim city of Mecca overnight, Saudi Arabia said on Friday. It was the rebel’s deepest attack yet into the kingdom.

Mecca is home to the cube-shaped Kaaba that the world’s Muslims pray toward five times a day. According to Rebel media in Yemen, the missile targeted an international airport in Jeddah. However, Saudi Arabia countered that the projectile was intercepted and destroyed 65 kilometers (40 miles) from Mecca.

The missile attack drew the immediate rage of Saudi citizens. For them, the security of Mecca is a fundamental pillar of the Saudi royal family’s stature and the country’s national identity. Further, the missile strike shows the capability of Yemen’s Shiite rebels, or Houthis, and their allies to persist in attacking Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi military said the missile caused no damage. It was fired Thursday night from Yemen’s northwestern Saada province neighboring the kingdom. The Saudi military has a stock of U.S.-made surface-to-air Patriot missile batteries it previously has fired at Houthi-launched missiles.

The military said in a statement transmitted by the state-run Saudi Press Agency that it immediately sent airstrikes that targeted the area where the missile was fired.

The Houthis are backed by forces loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. They have a supply of Soviet-era Scud missiles and locally designed variants.

‘Direct hit’ on airport

A published bulletin was circulated by the Houthi-controlled satellite news channel Al-Masirah. It said its forces had launched a Volcano-1 variant missile at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport, without citing Mecca. That airport is located 75 kilometers (45 miles) northwest of Mecca.

The Houthi-controlled SABA news agency stated that the missile “directly hit” the airport and produced substantial destruction. But there were no immediate diversions or delays involving the airport Friday.

Earlier this month, a Houthi ballistic missile targeted Taif. This is where Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd Air Base is located, which also is close to Mecca.

Yemen is on the southern periphery of the Arabian Peninsula. It has been in the midst of a civil war since September 2014 when the Iranian-backed Houthis seized the capital of Sanaa. The then deposed the country’s internationally recognized government.

A Saudi-led alliance of Arab countries began a military campaign against the Houthi forces in March 2015. They claim that part of their mission is to counterbalance Iran’s influence after its nuclear agreement with world powers.

U.S. backs down amidst mounting civilian casualties

At the outset, the Saudi-led campaign had the intelligence and logistical backing of the U.S. However, escalating civilian fatalities from its airstrikes forced America to back off. Earlier this month some 140 people died and over 600 were wounded in a Saudi attack on a funeral in Sanaa.

The U.S. also launched Tomahawk missiles at mobile Houthi radar sites. The US’ response was executed following reports that its warships came under fire in the Red Sea near the crucial Bab al-Mandeb strait.

 

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Yemen Insurgents Launch Missile Toward Mecca – Saudi Arabia

In the midst of Yemen’s stalemate civil war, Shiite rebels in the country launched a ballistic missile in the direction of the holy Muslim city of Mecca overnight, Saudi Arabia said on Friday. It was the rebel’s deepest attack yet into the kingdom.

Mecca is home to the cube-shaped Kaaba that the world’s Muslims pray toward five times a day. According to Rebel media in Yemen, the missile targeted an international airport in Jeddah. However, Saudi Arabia countered that the projectile was intercepted and destroyed 65 kilometers (40 miles) from Mecca.

The missile attack drew the immediate rage of Saudi citizens. For them, the security of Mecca is a fundamental pillar of the Saudi royal family’s stature and the country’s national identity. Further, the missile strike shows the capability of Yemen’s Shiite rebels, or Houthis, and their allies to persist in attacking Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi military said the missile caused no damage. It was fired Thursday night from Yemen’s northwestern Saada province neighboring the kingdom. The Saudi military has a stock of U.S.-made surface-to-air Patriot missile batteries it previously has fired at Houthi-launched missiles.

The military said in a statement transmitted by the state-run Saudi Press Agency that it immediately sent airstrikes that targeted the area where the missile was fired.

The Houthis are backed by forces loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. They have a supply of Soviet-era Scud missiles and locally designed variants.

‘Direct hit’ on airport

A published bulletin was circulated by the Houthi-controlled satellite news channel Al-Masirah. It said its forces had launched a Volcano-1 variant missile at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport, without citing Mecca. That airport is located 75 kilometers (45 miles) northwest of Mecca.

The Houthi-controlled SABA news agency stated that the missile “directly hit” the airport and produced substantial destruction. But there were no immediate diversions or delays involving the airport Friday.

Earlier this month, a Houthi ballistic missile targeted Taif. This is where Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd Air Base is located, which also is close to Mecca.

Yemen is on the southern periphery of the Arabian Peninsula. It has been in the midst of a civil war since September 2014 when the Iranian-backed Houthis seized the capital of Sanaa. The then deposed the country’s internationally recognized government.

A Saudi-led alliance of Arab countries began a military campaign against the Houthi forces in March 2015. They claim that part of their mission is to counterbalance Iran’s influence after its nuclear agreement with world powers.

U.S. backs down amidst mounting civilian casualties

At the outset, the Saudi-led campaign had the intelligence and logistical backing of the U.S. However, escalating civilian fatalities from its airstrikes forced America to back off. Earlier this month some 140 people died and over 600 were wounded in a Saudi attack on a funeral in Sanaa.

The U.S. also launched Tomahawk missiles at mobile Houthi radar sites. The US’ response was executed following reports that its warships came under fire in the Red Sea near the crucial Bab al-Mandeb strait.

 

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Protecting the Ross Sea, Antarctica’s ‘Last Ocean’

An International Commission plans to safeguard the massive section of the Ross Sea, home to marine animals such as petrels and killer whales.

The Marine Protected Area (MPA) will ban fishing and drilling in the said region.

The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) established in 1980, consists of 24 countries and the European Union, Its mission is to protect the common resources of the Southern Ocean.

UK made its first attempt to limit activities in the Ross Sea. It proposed the creation of the South Orkney Marine Protected Area at CCAMLR in 2009.

So far the commission is successful on limiting fishing activities around the South Orkneys. It now attempts to give protection to much larger bodies of water surrounding the Antarctica continent.

Last year, Russia was seen as the one country holding out against a consensus on the Ross Sea, just right after the negotiations.

The commission proposed expanding the MPA into East Antarctica and the Weddell Sea. However, there is a belief that Russia would support the Ross Sea option this time around.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has designated 2017 as the year of ecology and has expanded the MPA around Franz Josef Land in the Arctic.

“People have come into it feeling very positive that this could be the year,” said Cassandra Brookes, a Ph.D. student at Stanford University.

“Despite the US and Russian tensions in other parts of the world, historically countries have worked wonders in the Antarctic and I hope this will be a case where we see science and diplomacy working,” she added.

The Ross Sea which makes 2% of the Southern Ocean which homes to 38% of the world’s Adelie penguins, 30% of the world’s Antarctic Petrels and 6% world’s population of the Antarctic minke whales.

Concerns are rising as overfishing and climate change have significantly impacted the numbers of Krill. The small crustaceans are a staple food for species like whales and seals.

New Zealand and the United States proposed a “no-take” protection zone. This is an area  where no one can remove marine life and minerals in the area.

They also proposed a special zone where fishing from krill and toothfish would be allowed for “research purposes”

Mike Walker, from the Antarctic Ocean Alliance, said, “Right now, 24 countries and the EU are negotiating what could be the first-ever large-scale marine sanctuary in international waters.”

“An agreement would be a historic move to protect the ocean.”
One question remains – how long would the MPA last?

20 years may not be enough

China believes 20 years is long enough, but many conservationists said this is far too short. Especially, if one takes the lifespan of the animals that lives in the Ross Sea into consideration.

“We’ll see what it is,” said Cassandra Brooks.

“It will have value for the times it’s in place. But can it meet its objectives in such a short duration? That’s something that a lot of people are worried about.”

As concerns rise over the Artic, the UN attempted to develop a New Marine Biodiversity Treaty. One that could probably halt the Ross Sea proposal.

“For some states, it comes down to economics, for others, it is about setting a precedent,” added Brooks.

“For others, it might be cultural. A lot of people might say that MPAs are a very western thing so there could be some breakdown there.

“I am optimistic, sometimes it just takes time and the political window of opportunity – are we in that? It remains to be seen.”

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‘Nasty Woman’, ‘Bad Hombre’ and Ken Bone Tops Halloween Costume

Move over ghost and ghouls, Halloween just got new stars as it turned its inspiration on famous electoral events this year.  The US election is just a few days away; Americans can expect to see a lot of Democratic flag bearer, Hillary Clinton’s “nasty woman” depiction.  Of course, there will be the Republican candidate, Donald Trump’s “Bad Hombres” Mexican immigrant comment. Along with the “basket of deplorables”, knocking on doors for the traditional trick or treat.

The November 8 election inspires Revelers to create election campaign costumes. They aim to put humor on the otherwise vicious fight for the presidency. In the past months, the Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton desperately pursue the White house position.

Joining the bandwagon

A marketing executive from Atlanta, Ted Wright aged 45, said he is planning to dress as a “bad hombre” while his wife will don the “nasty woman”. The two costumes were based on the October 19 debate, referring to Trump’s comment pertaining to his opponent, Clinton and his controversial remarks about Mexican immigrants.

Although Wright is a Republican, he will not vote for Trump. He said, “This is one of those elections where it’s very difficult to discuss [it] in polite company. That is why we’re going ‘bad hombre’ and we’re going ‘nasty woman.'”

The 22-year-old college student from Chicago, Hannah Hemperly also planned to dress up as a ‘nasty woman”. She said, “When (Trump) was calling (Clinton) a ‘nasty woman,’ I think I just felt solidarity with Hillary”. The college student added that she will be voting for the democratic candidate.

Some will get their inspiration from Clinton’s notorious remark of Trump’s supporters. Jake West, 43, an associate of a Chicago-area architecture firm, said that he and his friends are planning to dress a “basket of deplorables because that word, that phrase, ‘basket of deplorables’ has been flying around so much.”

Another unusual choice of costume is to dress up like Ken Bone. He is the famous mustached man wearing a red sweater during the October 19 presidential debate. Bone cut into the campaign rebuttals to ask a sincere question about the energy policy of the two candidates.

A Virginia resident, Corey Campbell who is leaning towards Trump said he will shave his beard to look like Bone. He said, “I think the only way you could not have a little campaign fatigue after this cycle is if you haven’t been paying attention.” Campbell also said that Bone is Bone “a bright moment in this crazy campaign cycle.”

Similarly, other election-related costumes proved to be popular for fancy dress parties and parades in preparation for the Halloween on October 31.

According to a spokeswoman of Spirit Halloween, the Clinton and Trump foam masks priced at $12.99 are their best sellers. The company specializes in costumes and party supplies indicated that on Wednesday, the Clinton mask had sold out online.

 

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Pacquiao: I Do Not Underestimate Vargas

Manny Pacquiao is considered as one of the greatest ever in the boxing world. However, the pugilist says he will not be taking his opponent lightly next week when he faces World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Jessie Vargas in a title bout.

The fight will bring the Filipino southpaw back in the ring seven months after defeating Timothy Bradley in his much proclaimed exit to the sport. He will go up against American Vargas at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Nov. 5.

Pacquiao, 37, told reporters, “I do not underestimate Jessie Vargas,” after beginning his training camp in Los Angeles this week. He trains under the watchful eye of his Hall of Famer trainer Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Boxing Club.

“He is a good strong champion. Every opponent gets my full attention and respect. I respect Jessie and that is why I trained hard. This is the most important fight because it will determine the direction of my boxing career.”

The 27-year-old Vargas (27-1) trounced fellow American Sadam Ali in March to receive the WBO welterweight crown. He has won 10 of his fights thru stoppage or knockout, with his only setback coming via a points loss to Bradley in June 2015.

Pacquiao said he needs to win convincingly. He has three distinctive plans for Jessie Vargas, but his primary concern is for the fans. He wants the people watching the fight, happy and pleased.

Pacquiao is an eight-division world champion. The fight represents his first since May when he won a seat in the Philippines’ senate. The prospect of adding another title to his expanding career resume excites him, he said.

The Filipino boxer, known for his lightning fast hands and foot speed, said that he is fighting for history. He has amassed a 58-6-2 career record and was the first sitting congressman to earn a world title.

For this fight, it is not enough for him to be the first active senator to fight for a world title. He intends to be the first senator to become world champion. It would be quite an achievement for him if that happens.

“I want to prove that I am still one of the best pound-for-pound fighters. I’m not done with boxing. I will continue to keep fighting as long as I love boxing and boxing still loves me. I do not feel old and I feel like I am still 27.”

 

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Samsung Targets a Big Comeback after Note 7 Disastrous Failure

Samsung Electronics Co LTD vowed to recover from the recent disastrous withdrawal of its Galaxy Note 7 that dragged their earnings to the lowest level in nearly eight years.

The technology giant has released statements about expanding its investigation about Note 7’s exploding battery and assured its investors they would get to the bottom of one of the worst technological failure in history.

Co-Chief Executive J.K. Shin said at a general meeting in Seoul, “We know we must work hard to earn back your trust and we are committed to doing just that.”

Investors voted on Thursday to make Samsung Group’s de facto chief, Jay Y. Lee, as Samsung Electronics director in response to the Note 7 battery failure.

Jay Lee, son of the infamous Lee Kun-hee will now play a bigger role at the group’s flagship company. He also plays a public role in setting strategy.

Chief Executive Kwon Oh-hyun said at the shareholder meeting that they would assign a new role only after the investigation is finished.

Samsung, the world’s top smartphone maker plunged 96% in their third-quarter earnings, a loss of almost 100 billion won ($87.63 million). This is their lowest level since 2008.

The mass pull out of Galaxy Note 7 resulted to -0.1% to -0.2% points from South Korea’s third-quarter GDP growth in quarterly terms, a finance ministry official told Reuters on Tuesday.

The company blames Samsung SDI Co Ltd, who supplied batteries for the first Note 7 recall. The subsidiary reported an 110 billion won operations loss for the third quarter.

Apple Inc, Samsung’s main rival aimed to achieve a fourth-quarter profit close to October-December of 2015, on the back of sales of Galaxy S7 phones and lower-tier models.

“Looking ahead to the fourth quarter, the company expects earnings to improve (from a year earlier) driven by strong performance in the components business,” Samsung said in a statement.

Samsung sees another $3.1 billion hit to profit with the Note 7 withdrawal through the first quarter of 2017.

Software issues may also exist

The company is still investigating what caused the Note 7 fire.  This is because replacements for the initial 2.5 million Note 7’s it recalled was due to fire-prone batteries.
Co-CEO Shin said the battery might not be the only problem. Consequently, they are now looking into software issues to determine the root cause.

Rattled investors now want a concrete plan on how to revive the company’s earnings, repair its major brand, and boost shareholder returns.

LS Asset Management fund manager Kim Sung-soo said, “The key is whether Samsung will be able to remove the uncertainty surrounding the Note 7 and maintain its leading position in the smartphone market.”

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Barber Provides Free Makeovers to Homeless People

MANCHESTER – Barber Ged King, for years, has been passing some of his off days working, but not in his shop, as one might presume.

Rather, the proprietor of the Skullfades Barber Shop in Sale, England, has been roaming the streets to attend to the homeless.

“I can’t really explain it for you. It’s amazing to give somebody whose feeling low in life and make them feel better,” King told CBS News.

It’s an honor and a privilege to work with the homeless. He thinks he gets a lot more out of it than they do at times, he added

With a small but strong group, King visits different parts of town, homeless shelters and sometimes even hospitals to cut people’s hair for free. He also invites them to drop by his shop anytime when they want to be freshened up.

And there’s more.

King said that it’s a group effort. The team is filled with lunch packs and other items. A counselor even tags along to offer services.

Photos and videos of King’s act of kindness are getting a ton of attention on social media.

A video of a makeover the barber provided had a viewership count of up to 2 million at one point.

King said that the world and the news are full of bad things. Every time the news is turned on there’s a war somewhere or someone’s in jail. It’s all doom and gloom.

He added that what he is doing is different, it shows kindness. It shows people helping each other, which is what we are all supposed to do.

More offers of help

A number of people have messaged King since he began promoting his homeless project, asking how they can help.

“Nobody knows what to do,” he said. “It’s nice to be able to tell people to give them some change, some food. Anybody can do anything.”

King has a full schedule with a wife who’s eight months pregnant and a full-time job. But for now, he goes out every other Sunday. When he gets the chance, he sometimes heads out on Mondays.

He plans to increase his outreach schedule one day. However, he’s satisfied for now, as his customers are.

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16 Arrested in Clear-Out Operation On North Dakota Pipeline Protesters’ Camp

Police arrested sixteen Native Americans and other protesters in North Dakota on Thursday. It was the latest clash between police and demonstrators trying to stop construction of a disputed oil pipeline.

According to the Morton County Sheriff’s Department, the arrests occurred as police redeployed to clear a camp on private property. Authorities said the property sits in the path of the proposed $3.8 billion Dakota Access Pipeline.

Protesters had occupied the area since Monday. Native Americans say they were the land’s lawful owners under an 1851 treaty with the U.S. government.

A footage posted on social media showed two armored vehicles and several armed police deliberately approaching one group of protesters during the skirmish. Some protesters claim that police tried to chase them out of the camp using beanbag guns.

A statement from the sheriff’s department said that deputies used pepper spray on a number of the projected 330 demonstrators.

“This is not about the pipeline. It is not about those who wish to legally protest. This is about the rule of law,” Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said in a statement.

North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple said that private property is not the place to conduct a peaceful protest. He said that police were successful in clearing the camp.

A consortium of companies headed by Energy Transfer Partners LP builds the 1,172-mile (1,885-km) pipeline. It promises to be the fastest and most direct route to carry Bakken shale oil from North Dakota to U.S. Gulf Coast refineries.

It would also be more cost-effective and safer than moving the oil by rail or road, supporters say.

However, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and environmental activists say that the pipeline endangers the sacred tribal sites and the water supply. Authorities already arrested several in their months-long protest.

No reaction from Hillary Clinton

On Thursday, members of the Native American tribe called for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to dispute the pipeline. So far, she has not assumed a public stance on the matter.

In September, the U.S. government ceased construction on part of the line. The area involved includes property under Lake Oahe. The land is a culturally significant reservoir found on the Missouri River in southern North Dakota where the line was expected to cross.

Environmental activists protested against the Keystone XL line that the Obama administration disallowed, as opposition to the pipeline construction has risen in recent years.

 

 

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