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Governor Cuomo directs phase-out of climate change pollutants in New York

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Governor Cuomo directs phase-out of climate change pollutants in New York

(Reuters) – New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Monday directed the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation to promote regulations to phase out the use of climate change pollutants called hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

FILE PHOTO: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo speaks at the Democratic gubernatorial primary debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, U.S., August 29, 2018. J. Conrad Williams Jr./Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

The change, to be implemented from 2020-2024, is expected to reduce such emissions by more than 20 percent of projected levels by 2030, the statement said. “The regulations would prohibit specific substances for use in new consumer products.”

A group of U.S. states led by New York had, in June, sued the Environmental Protection Agency over a plan to roll back limits on the use of hydrofluorocarbons, which are used in air conditioning, refrigerants, aerosols and foam-blowing.

DEC will seek input on the proposal before drafting rules, with the intent of finalizing them in 2019.

New York’s Environmental Protection Fund includes nearly $10 million for projects to reduce HFCs and greenhouse gases.

Reporting by Eileen Soreng in Bengaluru; Editing by Richard Chang

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Djokovic rejoins 'Big 3'; Osaka jumps to No. 7

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Djokovic rejoins 'Big 3'; Osaka jumps to No. 7

Novak Djokovic moved up three spots to No. 3 in the ATP rankings on Monday, a day after claiming his 14th Grand Slam title at the 2018 U.S. Open.

Sept 9, 2018; New York, NY, USA; Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates a service break in the 3rd set against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina in the men’s final on day fourteen of the 2018 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Djokovic is behind Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, with the trio occupying the top three spots in the rankings again for the first time in more than three years.

Naomi Osaka vaulted 12 spots to a career-high No. 7 in the WTA rankings following her first career Grand Slam title. She beat Serena Williams in Saturday’s controversial women’s final, while Williams rose 10 spots to No. 16.

Djokovic underwent elbow surgery in February and fell as low as No. 22 in the rankings in May, which marked his first time out of the top 20 since 2006. However, he claimed the final two majors of 2018, adding the U.S. Open to his Wimbledon triumph earlier this summer.

Djokovic became the seventh player with at least three U.S. Open titles and has an opportunity to reclaim the No. 1 ranking before the end of the year. Nadal retained the top spot despite being forced to withdraw from his semifinal match in Flushing Meadows due to knee pain. Federer was knocked out in the fourth round.

Naomi Osaka of Japan poses with the championship trophy at the Top of the Rock Observatory the day after winning the Women’s Singles finals match against Serena Williams at the 2018 U.S. Open in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., September 9, 2018. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs

Federer holds the Open Era record with 20 major titles, followed by Nadal (17). Djokovic has equaled Pete Sampras with 14.

“Pete Sampras is one of the biggest legends ever to play the game,” Djokovic said Sunday. “He was my childhood idol. He was someone I was looking up to. The first actually thing I saw related to tennis on the TV was his first or second Wimbledon championship. That inspired me to start playing tennis.

“There is a lot of significance of me being now shoulder to shoulder in terms of Grand Slam wins with him.”

Simona Halep retained the top spot on the women’s side despite losing in the first round of the U.S. Open, followed by Caroline Wozniacki and Angelique Kerber. Caroline Garcia jumped two spots to No. 4.

Osaka, 20, is the youngest player in the Top 10. She vaulted ahead of 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens, who dropped six spots to No. 9.

—Field Level Media

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Pound gains on cautious Barnier Brexit deal comment

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Pound gains on cautious Barnier Brexit deal comment

BLED, Slovenia/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – A cautious comment by the EU Brexit negotiator that there could be a deal by November if unrealistic demands are taken off the table boosted sterling on Monday amid new optimism among investors.

FILE PHOTO: European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier listens to a translation during a news conference in Brussels, Belgium July 26, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo

Reports that Michel Barnier had told a public forum in Slovenia that it was “realistic” to expect a deal in six to eight weeks helped send the British currency to a five-week high of $1.3052, up around 1 percent on the day, rising also around 0.3 percent against the euro.

“Michel Barnier … said realistically we can expect to reach the Brexit agreement in the next 6-8 weeks,” the British embassy in Slovenia said from the forum in Bled.

However, what Barnier actually did was to repeat a standard recent line that if negotiators — meaning particularly Prime Minister Theresa May’s government — compromise further, then it would be possible to complete divorce terms on schedule.

“I think that if we are realistic, we are able to reach an agreement on the first stage of the negotiation, which is the Brexit treaty, within six or eight weeks,” he said.

“Taking into account the time necessary for the ratification process … we must reach an agreement before the beginning of November. I think it is possible.”

But, he said, a major sticking point remains managing the Irish border, where Brussels has said London’s proposals to avoid undermining either peace in Northern Ireland or the EU’s single market regulations have so far been unrealistic.

The pound slid back in late afternoon to stand 0.77 percent higher on the dollar.

BREXIT SCHEDULE

Barnier has regularly said that he wants a deal by November to ensure parliamentary ratification by March, when Britain must leave, with or without a deal. He has routinely said that this timetable is a realistic one if negotiators find compromises.

He stressed He was neither optimistic nor pessimistic.

Currency traders have interpreted other Barnier comments this month as indicating a diminishing chance of Britain crashing out of the EU without a deal to clarify legal issues, although EU officials and diplomats have echoed his public comments that there remain major differences on Ireland.

May is under attack from members of her own party over her proposals for a separate declaration on how trade would work in future after a 21-month status-quo transition period. EU officials say that raises a risk that May could struggle to win parliamentary backing for any deal.

For that reason, they expect EU leaders to go on trying to be helpful to May’s cause, including by offering conciliatory messages when they meet her next Thursday at a summit in Austria. However, few diplomats see significant signs of a softening in the EU line on future trade or Ireland.

Few expect the next Brussels summit on Oct. 18-19 to see a breakthrough and talks are under way among EU governments to set a special Brexit summit for mid-November.

Some EU officials say a deal with Britain in December, even January, could leave just about enough time to ratify by March. Some EU diplomats also speak of Britain asking to prolong the talks beyond the current exit date of March 29, despite huge opposition to such an idea from many of May’s supporters.

Writing by Alastair Macdonald; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Peter Graff

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Snap chief strategy officer leaves in latest executive departure

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Snap chief strategy officer leaves in latest executive departure

(Reuters) – Snap Inc (SNAP.N), the parent of Snapchat messaging, said on Monday Chief Strategy Officer Imran Khan will step down, the latest top-level exit amid pressure to stem a drop in users following a controversial redesign of the app.

FILE PHOTO – Snap Inc. chief strategy officer, Imran Khan, takes a photograph on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) while waiting for Snap Inc. to post their IPO in New York, U.S., March 2, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Khan, 41, whose last day has not been determined, was named to the role in 2015 and played a key part in taking Snap public in March of 2017.

A former investment banker with Credit Suisse and a top-paid Snap executive, Khan received stock worth about $145 million at the time of joining, according to media reports.

“With Khan as the chief strategy officer and the head of all its business operations it seems that he has likely fallen on his proverbial sword because of the poor underlying performance of metrics this year,” said Neil Campling, co-head of global thematic group, Mirabaud Securities.

“The initial plan to reach profitability by the end of this year now looks like a long way off,” he said.

The company’s shares were down 2.6 percent at $9.67 in afternoon trading. The stock has lost 41.5 percent of its value since its market debut.

In August, Snap reported its first-ever drop in daily users, largely due to the redesign, but beat quarterly revenue estimates on a shift to primarily selling ads through self-service.

“The company has struggled – commercially and in terms of users and usage – relative to earlier much more optimistic expectations that were widely held,” said Pivotal Research Group analyst Brian Wieser.

While user and usage trends are Chief Executive Officer Evan Spiegel’s responsibility, commercial matters are Khan’s, said Wieser.

The company also said that Khan would leave Snap to pursue other opportunities.

“The term ‘pursuing other opportunities’ is typically a euphemism for ‘not wanted here anymore’. I cannot know for sure, but he is clearly not leaving for another immediate job opportunity,” said Michael Pachter, an analyst with Wedbush Securities.

Khan’s departure was not related to any disagreement with the company and he would continue to serve as chief strategy office for an interim period, Snap said.

Khan’s exit follows finance head Andrew Vollero and vice president of monetization engineering Stuart Bowers in May. Bowers joined Tesla Inc (TSLA.O).

Reporting by Akanksha Rana in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila

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DeLorean film drives back to the futuristic '70s to close Venice festival

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DeLorean film drives back to the futuristic '70s to close Venice festival

VENICE, Italy (Reuters) – The DeLorean sports car entered movie legend as the time machine in the “Back to the Future” films and returns to the big screen in “Driven”, a comedy thriller about the downfall of its creator, which closed the Venice Film Festival on Saturday.

The 75th Venice International Film Festival – Screening of the closing film “Driven”, Out of Competition – Venice, Italy, September 8, 2018 – Actors Jason Sudeikis and Lee Pace pose next to a DeLorean on the red carpet. REUTERS/Tony Gentile

John DeLorean, who designed muscle cars for General Motors before striking out on his own with the futuristic, gull-winged sports car that bore his own name, has gone down in history for his company’s spectacular collapse.

“Driven” recounts his last desperate effort to save it, getting involved in a cocaine smuggling deal that turned out to be an FBI sting, set up with the help of neighbor Jim Hoffman, a star-turn for Jason Sudeikis, best known for “Horrible Bosses” and “We’re the Millers”.

The 75th Venice International Film Festival – Screening of the closing film “Driven”, Out of Competition – Venice, Italy, September 8, 2018 – A DeLorean model is seen on the red carpet. REUTERS/Tony Gentile

Director Nick Hamm grew up in Northern Ireland where the British government had lured DeLorean to build his factory in a bid to bring economic prosperity to a depressed area riven by deadly sectarian violence.

While the story has a dark underbelly, Hamm said it had to be a comedy.

“If you’re going to take people on a story of entrapment, coke deals, models, cars – fast cars in a retro ‘70s world – do it in a humorous way,” Hamm told Reuters in an interview, adding that he had taken inspiration from ‘70s-period movies such as “Boogie Nights” and “American Hustle”.

Played by Lee Pace, star of ABC fantasy comedy series “Pushing Daisies”, DeLorean comes over as a huckster, selling a hollow version of the American Dream, something Hamm said had contemporary relevance in a world where “buffoonery is somehow celebrated”.

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“Somehow the egotist, the entertaining politician, the one that has the greatest, quickest, fastest line, the one that is best on television, is somehow the best one for you in your life,” he said.

“This is a movie that shows you that these people are not what they (say they) are, and if you’re sucker enough to fall for that then more fool you.” 

Filmed in Puerto Rico “because it looks like California in 1970s”, the movie was almost derailed by Hurricane Maria which devastated the island last year.

“We didn’t know whether we, physically, could actually go back,” Hamm said.

“But we had a massive local crew, probably 400 or 500 people that, if we didn’t go back, wouldn’t get a paycheck. So really there’s no option. In the end you go back, you make the movie to the best of your ability, you give people a paycheck and you build an infrastructure or an industry.”

“Driven” played out of competition as the closing movie at the Venice Film Festival.

Writing by Robin Pomeroy; editing by Jason Neely

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Ebola fight has new science but faces old hurdles in restive Congo

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Ebola fight has new science but faces old hurdles in restive Congo

BENI, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) – When Esperance Nzavaki heard she was cured of Ebola after three weeks of cutting-edge care at a medical center in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, she raised her arms to the sky with joy and praised the Lord.

Her recovery is testament to the effectiveness of a new treatment, which isolates patients in futuristic cube-shaped mobile units with transparent walls and gloved access, so health workers no longer need to don cumbersome protective gear.

“I started to feel sick, with a fever and pain all over my body. I thought it was typhoid. I took medicine but it didn’t work,” Nzavaki told Reuters in Beni, a city of several hundred thousand, where officials are racing to contain the virus.

“Then an ambulance came and brought me to hospital for Ebola treatment. Now I praise God I’m healed.”

The fight against Ebola has advanced more in recent years than in any since it was discovered near the Congo River in 1976. When the worst outbreak killed 11,300 people in West Africa in 2013-2016, there was no vaccine and treatment amounted to little more than keeping patients comfortable and hydrated.

Now there’s an experimental vaccine manufactured by Merck which already this year helped quash an earlier outbreak of this strain of the virus on the other side of the country in under three months. And there are the cube treatment centers, pioneered by the Senegal-based medical charity, ALIMA.

“With this system … where there are not people donning masks, the patients feel reassured and perceive that there is life here,” said Claude Mahoudeau, ALIMA’s coordinator for the Ebola outbreak in Beni.

In addition, three experimental treatments have been rolled out for the first time, offering patients additional reason to hope that their diagnosis is not a death sentence.

Yet even the smartest science can do little about the marauding rebel groups and widespread fear and mistrust that could yet scupper efforts to contain Congo’s tenth outbreak of the deadly hemorrhagic fever.

The latest outbreak is so far believed to have killed 90 people since July and infected another 40.

The stakes are high, not just for health reasons. Ebola could complicate Congo’s first democratic change of power, the holding of a Dec. 23 election to replace President Joseph Kabila that is already two years late.

Esperance Nzavaki is seen at The Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA) treatment center in Beni, North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo September 6, 2018. Picture taken September 6, 2018. REUTERS/Fiston Mahamba

REBELLION, FEAR, MISTRUST

The affected North Kivu and Ituri provinces have been a tinder box of armed rebellion and ethnic killing since two civil wars in the late 1990s. Some areas near the epicenter require armed escorts to reach because of insecurity. Two South African peacekeepers there were wounded in a rebel ambush last week.

And last week, authorities confirmed the first death from Ebola in the major trading hub of Butembo, a city of almost a million people near the border with Uganda, dampening hopes that the virus was being brought under control.

On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said more than 60 of its experts had arrived in the city and that a mobile laboratory had started testing samples.

Insecurity aside, the biggest challenges the government faces could be panic and downright denial, as they were during the catastrophic West Africa outbreak.

“Ebola does not exist in Beni,” resident Tresor Malala said, shaking his head. “For a long time, people got sick with fever, diarrhea, vomiting and they healed. Now someone gets a fever, they get sent to the Ebola treatment center and then they die.”

Taxi driver Mosaste Kala was equally skeptical: “The only people dying are the ones going to the … treatment center.”

Tackling these perceptions will be crucial if authorities are to halt the epidemic.

At a news conference on Saturday, Health Minister Oly Ilunga Kalenga acknowledged that “community resistance is the first challenge to the response to the epidemic”.

In the district of Ndindi, in Beni, Ebola is spreading due to the community’s reluctance to cooperate with health workers, the ministry says. Some locals have hidden sick relatives or refused to be vaccinated.

The problem, says school teacher Alain Mulonda, many of whose pupils were being kept at home by anxious parents, is that locals have little understanding of Ebola.

“If the population of Beni continues to show this distrust,” he said, “this disease will consume the whole town.”

Slideshow (9 Images)

Additional reporting by Amedee Mwarabu in Kinshasa and Aaron Ross in Dakar; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Tim Cocks, David Evans and Peter Graff

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CBS CEO Moonves resigns amid new allegations of sexual misconduct

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CBS CEO Moonves resigns amid new allegations of sexual misconduct

(Reuters) – Leslie Moonves, the top executive at CBS Corp since 2006 and a major figure at the broadcast network and media company for more than two decades, resigned on Sunday amid a new wave of allegations against him of sexual assault and harassment.

His departure as chairman, CEO and president was confirmed by the company in a statement coinciding with its announcement of a deal to end litigation against majority CBS shareholder Shari Redstone and National Amusements Inc for control of CBS.

Chief Operating Officer Joe Ianniello will take over as interim CEO as the board searches for a replacement, according to the announcement. The settlements end years of uncertainty over the future of CBS and could potentially open the door to future deals.

The announcement came after six more women accused Moonves of sexual assault and harassment in a report published on Sunday in the New Yorker magazine. The newly disclosed incidents, which the women said occurred between the 1980s and early 2000s, included claims of forced sex, Moonves exposing himself and his alleged use of physical violence and intimidation.

“Untrue allegations from decades ago are now being made against me that are not consistent with who I am. Effective immediately I will no longer be Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CBS,” Moonves said in a statement on Sunday.

Moonves, who turned CBS from an aging radio and TV broadcaster into a successful provider of shows to digital platforms, was expected to reap an estimated $100 million in severance. But Moonves, 68, could end up with nothing pending an investigation into the allegations of violence against women conducted by law firms hired by an independent committee of the CBS board of directors.

CBS said it and Moonves will donate $20 million of Moonves’ severance to organizations supporting the #MeToo movement.

“Today’s resolution will benefit all shareholders, allowing us to focus on the business of running CBS – and transforming it for the future,” Redstone said in a statement. “We are confident in Joe’s ability to serve as acting CEO and delighted to welcome our new directors, who bring valuable and diverse expertise and a strong commitment to corporate governance.”

National Amusements agreed to avoid pressing for a merger of CBS and Viacom, which is also controlled by National Amusements, for at least two years.

In earlier court filings, NAI had dropped support for a deal before it was sued in May by CBS for control of the company. The settlement does not preclude other parties from suggesting a merger or bringing other potential transactions to the board, one source said.

Five current independent directors and one National Amusements-affiliated director have stepped down from the board of directors and six new directors have been elected, the company said.

FILE PHOTO: Leslie Moonves, Chairman and CEO, CBS Corporation, speaks during the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo

Three of the new board members are women, each considered a trailblazer in their respective fields, bringing the total to six on the 13-member board. They are: Candace Beinecke, a senior partner at international law firm Hughes Hubbard & Reed; Barbara Byrne, a retired vice chairman of investment banking at Barclays, and Susan Schuman, CEO of SYPartners, a business consultancy.

Also new to the board are: Richard Parsons, former chairman of Citigroup and Time Warner; Brian Goldner, CEO of Hasbro; and Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive TTWO.O.

CBS said the board will schedule its annual shareholders meeting no later than Nov. 30.

‘DAMAGE DONE’

Reports of a potential big payout to Moonves drew fire from advocacy groups.

“CBS, as you sit in a room debating next steps to rectify the damage done, remember that the world is watching. We will accept nothing less than full transparency of the investigation’s findings, a commitment to real change across all levels of CBS management and no reward for Les Moonves,” Time’s Up, a campaign against workplace sexual misconduct, said in a statement.

CBS said details of the litigation settlement and the Moonves agreement will be disclosed in an upcoming regulatory filing.

In a statement to the New Yorker, Moonves acknowledged three of the newly described encounters, but said they were consensual. (Full Story)

“The appalling accusations in this article are untrue,” Moonves told the New Yorker. “What is true is that I had consensual relations with three of the women some 25 years ago before I came to CBS. And I have never used my position to hinder the advancement or careers of women.”

CBS said on Sunday it takes such allegations very seriously.

“The CBS Board of Directors is committed to a thorough and independent investigation of the allegations, and that investigation is actively underway,” the media company’s board said in a statement.

(This version of the story has been refiled to correct last name of Chief Operating Officer to Ianniello from Ianiello in paragraph 3)

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Reporting by Kenneth Li in New York; Additional Reporting by Mekhla Raina in Bengaluru; Editing by Will Dunham and Sam Holmes

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New York regulator approves Winklevoss, Paxos dollar-linked tokens

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New York regulator approves Winklevoss, Paxos dollar-linked tokens

NEW YORK (Reuters) – New York state on Monday approved Gemini Trust Company’s and Paxos Trust Company’s dollar-linked digital currencies, the first stablecoins to get the nod from the region’s regulator.

FILE PHOTO: Entrepeneurs Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss arrive at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala (Met Gala) in New York on May 2, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File Photo

The Gemini dollar by Gemini, the digital asset exchange launched by twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, is a stablecoin that will allow users to send and receive U.S. dollars on the Ethereum blockchain. It will be strictly pegged to the U.S. dollar on a one-to-one basis.

Paxos’ stablecoin, the Paxos Standard, will also be fully collateralized by the U.S. dollar on a one-to-one basis.

“These approvals demonstrate that companies can create change and strong standards of compliance within a strong state regulatory framework that safeguards regulated entities and protects consumers,” New York state Department of Fianancial Services Superintendent Maria Vullo said in a statement on Monday.

Both coins are available on their respective exchanges on Monday.

One of the drawbacks of cryptocurrencies – digital tokens that use encryption techniques to secure transactions – is price volatility, which hinders means of payments or medium of exchange.

The stablecoin – any digital currency pegged to a stable asset, such as gold or the dollar – serves as a hedge against the volatility.

FILE PHOTO: Cameron Winklevoss (L) and Tyler Winklevoss pose as they arrive at the world premiere of the film “Ocean’s 8” at Alice Tully Hall in New York City, New York, U.S., June 5, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo

“When we founded Gemini over four years ago, our mission was simple: build a bridge to the future of money,” the Winklevoss twins wrote in a blog on Monday. “As a first step, this meant making it safe and easy to buy, sell, and store cryptocurrencies.”

While cryptocurrencies operate 24 hours a day, fiat currencies only operate during specific business hours, they noted. So far, they said, there has been no trusted and regulated digital representation of the dollar that moves in an open, decentralized manner like cryptocurrencies.

“Being able to move payments 24 hours a day, seven days a week and make payments programmable in a dynamic way is still very difficult,” Paxos Chief Executive Chad Cascarilla said in an interview with Reuters.

Gemini said the U.S dollars that correspond to the Gemini dollars issued and in circulation will be held at a U.S. bank and eligible for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s “pass-through” deposit insurance.

This type of insurance covers the interests of owners or beneficiaries in a qualified fiduciary or custodial account.

In Paxos’ case, customers can purchase and redeem tokens directly through Paxos.com one to one with the dollar.

Investors who trade digital assets through the itBit exchange or its over the counter desk will also have the option to cash out their digital assets to Paxos Standard instantaneously, Cascarilla said.

Paxos Standard will also be available for listing on other exchanges and will trade under the ticker symbol PAX.

Reporting by Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss; Editing by Susan Thomas

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Dallas police officer charged with shooting death of neighbor

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Dallas police officer charged with shooting death of neighbor

(Reuters) – A Dallas police officer was charged on Sunday with manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a neighbor, who authorities said was shot by the officer when she walked into an apartment she thought was her own and mistook the man living there for an intruder.

The bizarre sequence of events unfolded after the police officer, Amber Guyger, 30, had just completed a shift late on Thursday and was still in uniform as she returned to an apartment she erroneously believed was hers, police said.

Inside she encountered the apartment’s rightful occupant, 26-year-old Botham Shem Jean, leading her to fire her weapon at him before she called emergency-911 for assistance, according to an account described to reporters on Friday by Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall.

The deadly confrontation immediately took on racial overtones, as Guyger is white and Jean, whose family is from the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia, was black.

The shooting marked the latest in a flurry of high-profile cases in recent years in which unarmed black man have died at the hands of white police officers around the country, stirring a national debate over racial inequalities in the U.S. criminal justice system and giving rise to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Hall said a blood sample was taken from Guyger to determine whether there were any drugs or alcohol in her system. But the police chief turned over investigation of the incident to the Texas Rangers because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Authorities came under fire from Jean’s family, however, for saying initially that Guyger would be arrested on suspicion of manslaughter but then delaying in bringing a case against the officer.

On Sunday, Guyger was arrested on a charge of manslaughter in the shooting but was released later after posting $300,000 bond, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety and a clerk for the Kaufman County Jail told Reuters by phone.

An attorney for Guyger could not immediately be reached for comment.

The police said no other information was available Sunday night.

Jean’s family attorney, S. Lee Merritt, said that a local service is planned for Jean on Thursday and his remains would be sent to his family’s home in the Caribbean.

Reporting by Rich McKay and Steve Gorman; Editing by Michael Perry

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Apple supplier shares slide after Trump tells tech giant to make products in U.S.

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Apple supplier shares slide after Trump tells tech giant to make products in U.S.

TAIPEI (Reuters) – Shares of Apple Inc (AAPL.O) suppliers fell across Asia on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted that the tech giant should make products in the United States if it wanted to avoid tariffs on Chinese imports.

Trump’s comment came after Apple told U.S. trade officials on Friday that proposed tariffs by Washington in an escalating trade war with China would affect prices for a “wide range” of Apple items, including the Apple Watch. It did not mention the iPhone.

Shares in China-based Apple suppliers Luxshare Precision Co Ltd (002475.SZ), Shenzhen Sunway Communication Co Ltd (300136.SZ) and Suzhou Dongshan Precision Manufacturing Co Ltd (002384.SZ) all dropped as much as 10 percent.

Lens Technology Co Ltd (300433.SZ), Universal Scientific Industrial Shanghai Co Ltd (601231.SS) and Suzhou Anjie Technology Co Ltd (002635.SZ) fell between 6 and 8 percent.

In Taiwan, camera lens-maker Largan Precision Co Ltd (3008.TW) slid nearly 8 percent, Foxconn (2317.TW), formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, fell 3.4 percent, while assembler Pegatron Corp (4938.TW) dropped nearly 4 percent.

Taiwan’s ASE Technology Holding Co Ltd (3711.TW), which counts Apple as one of its top clients, fell 2.9 percent.

FILE PHOTO: Workers prepare for the opening of an Apple store in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China January 23, 2015. REUTERS/Chance Chan/File Photo

Chien Bor-yi, an analyst at Taipei-based Cathay Futures Consultant, said Apple’s component supply chain in Taiwan would take a major hit if the United States increased tariffs on Chinese imported products.

“People have concerns about the stock market. It’s not a seller’s market, but it’s also not a buyer’s market. No one knows how deep the well is,” he said.

The technology sector is one of the biggest potential losers in the $200 billion tariff list proposed by Washington on Chinese imports because the tariffs would make imported computer parts more expensive.

Trump warned on Friday that he was ready to slap tariffs on virtually all Chinese imports into the United States, threatening duties on a further $267 billion of goods.

Hong Kong-listed AAC Technologies (2018.HK) fell more than 5 percent. The company supplies acoustic components and haptic technology – which enables users to receive tactile sensations from an interface – for Apple products such as the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.

In Japan, Nissha (7915.T) eased 0.4 percent, Japan Display (6740.T) fell 0.7 percent and Sharp Corp (6753.T) dropped nearly 1 percent.

“People are in a bit of a panic today. Looking forward, the focus would be on how the market reacts after Apple releases its latest models,” said Kevin Chung, analyst at JihSun Securities Investment Consulting.

Reporting By Loh Liang-sa and Yimou Lee in TAIPEI; Writing by Anne Marie Roantree in HONG KONG; Editing by Darren Schuettler

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UPDATE 4-Evacuations in North Carolina as hurricane Florence roars closer

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UPDATE 4-Evacuations in North Carolina as hurricane Florence roars closer

* Hurricane experts tracking two other Atlantic storms (Updates storm strength, details)

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Germany says in talks about possible military role in Syria

New Post has been published on http://newsintoday.info/2018/09/10/germany-says-in-talks-about-possible-military-role-in-syria/

Germany says in talks about possible military role in Syria

BERLIN (Reuters) – The German government said on Monday it was in talks with its allies about a possible military deployment in Syria, prompting a sharp rebuke from the Social Democrats (SPD) and setting up a fresh conflict in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s loveless coalition.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel listens during a news conference in Skopje, Macedonia September 8, 2018. REUTERS/Ognen Teofilovski

Overseas military action remains a sensitive and deeply unpopular topic in Germany, given its Nazi past. Participation in any air strikes in Syria would also put Germany on a collision course with Russia, the main backer of President Bashar al-Assad.

Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Germany had discussed with the United States and European allies its possible military involvement if Assad’s forces used chemical weapons against the last major rebel stronghold in Idlib, now under heavy Syrian and Russian bombardment.

“There has not been a situation where a decision has had to be made,” Seibert told a regular news conference, adding that any decision would first have to be approved by parliament.

Earlier, Bild newspaper had reported that Germany’s conservative-led defense ministry was examining possible options for joining U.S., British and French forces in any future military action if Damascus again used chemical weapons.

It said parliament would only be notified of any military action after the fact if speedy action were required.

FILE PHOTO: Andrea Nahles, leader of Social Democratic Party (SPD), speaks during a budget debate at the lower house of parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, July 4, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke/File Photo

SPD OPPOSITION

Andrea Nahles, leader of the SPD – junior partner in Merkel’s coalition – ruled out backing any German involvement.

“The SPD will not agree – either in parliament or in the government – to the participation of Germany in the war in Syria,” Nahles said in a statement, adding the party backed diplomatic efforts to avert a humanitarian crisis.

Sources familiar with the issue, confirming the Bild report, said German and U.S. officials had discussed last month the possibility of German fighter jets helping with battle damage assessments or dropping bombs for the first time since the war in ex-Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

The German air force already provides refueling support and carries out reconnaissance missions using four Tornado fighter jets from a base in Jordan as part of the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State militant movement in Iraq and Syria.

Bild said a decision on whether to join any strikes would be made by Merkel, who ruled out joining April 2018 air strikes against Syria by U.S., French and British forces after a previous use of chemical weapons.

In a joint statement on Monday, the German foreign and defense ministries urged restraint in Syria.

“The goal is that the conflict parties … avoid escalating an already terrible situation … That is particularly true for the use of banned chemical weapons which the Assad government has already used in the past,” it said.

Reporting by Andrea Shalal, Riham Alkousaa and Holger Hansen; Editing by Gareth Jones

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Danica Patrick has learned life lessons in the fast lane

New Post has been published on http://newsintoday.info/2018/09/10/danica-patrick-has-learned-life-lessons-in-the-fast-lane/

Danica Patrick has learned life lessons in the fast lane

NEW YORK (Reuters) – If you ever wonder what it’s like to be a woman in a man’s world, just consult the planet’s leading authority on the matter: Danica Patrick.

FILE PHOTO: NASCAR Cup Series driver Danica Patrick waves before the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida, U.S, . November 19, 2017. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo

Racecar driving is a famously male-dominated arena, but that did not seem to unnerve Patrick as she developed into a champion racer and the most successful woman in the history of the sport.

So it stands to reason that Patrick, 36, might have a few things to say about standing up for yourself, following your dreams, and succeeding against tall odds.

As she transitions out of racing and steers her multiple businesses – athletic wear, winemaking, writing and speaking – she spoke with Reuters about the lessons learned from her high-risk, high-reward life on the track.

Q: Did you get your entrepreneurial spirit from your parents?

A: I grew up in Roscoe, Illinois, and my parents worked a whole lot. They started a glass business out of their garage, they had an oil exchange, they started a drywall company. So they were very much entrepreneurs, and always had that sort of mindset.

The business I probably remember most was the coffee shop. We were living in England at the time, since I was racing over there. We literally loved coffee, so we decided, ‘Let’s make a business!’ I even remember designing the logo on my little notebook paper. But my parents still say I was a terrible employee.

Q: As you first got started in racing, how did you deal with prejudice?

A: The challenge I always had was getting people to believe I could do it. Everybody deals with that on some level, but not with as much skepticism as I faced. Your confidence has to be pulled from your own knowledge. If you truly know what you are talking about, then you can hang with anyone, or even school them. People will usually respect you after that.

Q: When success hit, what was the best advice you got about handling fame and wealth?

A: It was from Bobby Rahal, my first IndyCar boss. I just saw him a couple of weeks ago, and told him it’s still the best advice I ever got. He said: ‘Don’t spend all your money, and make sure to create businesses that will still make money even after you are done racing. That way you can continue living the life you are used to living. Create that infrastructure early, so you can be financially secure even after you retire.’

Q: Any money mistakes that you regret?

A: The worst thing that happened to me is just learning from bad deals. With race teams there is a lot of money flowing in from different places, and the more hands it passes through, the more it gets confusing. So contract disputes develop, because one person thinks one thing, and another person thinks another. It’s sad to see money lost like that.

Q: You have done a lot of advocating for life insurance, as spokesperson for September’s Life Insurance Awareness Month for the industry’s trade group – why is that?

A: As soon as I started racing Indy cars and earning some money, I started thinking about life insurance. I thought, what if something happens to me? Who will pay the mortgage, or the monthly bills, or take care of my employees? Once things started getting risky on the track, I realized how important it was.

For me, I had to protect my house and my businesses, but for other people it might be their families and kids. You have to prepare for the worst, if your income stops coming in.

Q: How do you distribute your charitable dollars?

A: I thought about creating my own foundation, but it’s a lot of work, and there are already so many charities out there. So I would rather show up to my friends’ causes and support them, and draw attention to those charities. I’m the girl who raises her hand a lot at live auctions.

Q: What life lessons do you try to pass along to others?

A: Quite simply, follow your passion. When you do that, you are happier, and you are probably more successful because you really enjoy it. In life, you have to do what is calling you.

(The writer is a Reuters contributor. The opinions expressed are his own.)

Editing by Beth Pinsker and Bernadette Baum

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Trump on Twitter (Sept. 10) - GDP rate, Woodward

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Trump on Twitter (Sept. 10) - GDP rate, Woodward

The following statements were posted to the verified personal Twitter account of U.S. President Donald Trump (@realDonaldTrump)

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a Republican Party fundraiser in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, U.S., September 7, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

The opinions expressed are his own. Reuters has not edited the statements or confirmed their accuracy.

@realDonaldTrump :

– The GDP Rate (4.2%) is higher than the Unemployment Rate (3.9%) for the first time in over 100 years! [0703 EDT]

– If the Democrats had won the Election in 2016, GDP, which was about 1% and going down, would have been minus 4% instead of up 4.2%. I opened up our beautiful economic engine with Regulation and Tax Cuts. Our system was choking and would have been made worse. Still plenty to do! [0710 EDT]

– The Woodward book is a Joke – just another assault against me, in a barrage of assaults, using now disproven unnamed and anonymous sources. Many have already come forward to say the quotes by them, like the book, are fiction. Dems can’t stand losing. I’ll write the real book! [0722 EDT]

– The White House is a “smooth running machine.” We are making some of the biggest and most important deals in our country’s history – with many more to come! The Dems are going crazy! [0735 EDT]

– “I’m taking this book with a grain of salt & everyone should do the same. Multiple sources, but almost every one of them has come out and discredited the claims made by Woodward. You cannot take this book too seriously.” Katelyn Caralle, Washington Examiner [0746 EDT]

– “It is mostly anonymous sources in here, why should anyone trust you? General Mattis, General Kelly said it’s not true.” @SavannahGuthrie @TODAYshow Bob Woodward is a liar who is like a Dem operative prior to the Midterms. He was caught cold, even by NBC. [0836 EDT]

– The Economy is soooo good, perhaps the best in our country’s history (remember, it’s the economy stupid!), that the Democrats are flailing & lying like CRAZY! Phony books, articles and T.V. “hits” like no other pol has had to endure-and they are losing big. Very dishonest people! [0957 EDT]

— Source link: (bit.ly/2jBh4LU)

Compiled by Bengaluru bureau

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Hurricane Florence to become major hurricane soon, forecasters say

New Post has been published on http://newsintoday.info/2018/09/10/hurricane-florence-to-become-major-hurricane-soon-forecasters-say-2/

Hurricane Florence to become major hurricane soon, forecasters say

(Reuters) – Hurricane Florence strengthened early on Monday, packing maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (170 kph), and forecasters warned that it is “expected to become a major hurricane very soon” as it churns toward the U.S. East Coast.

The category 2 hurricane was mustering might as it traveled over warm Atlantic waters, about 625 miles southeast of Bermuda at 5.am. ET, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in an advisory.

It is expected to pickup speed, moving between Bermuda and the Bahamas on Tuesday and Wednesday and could make landfall possibly as a category 3 or higher on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale, forecasters said.

Landfall could be made between South Carolina and North Carolina on Thursday, according to NHC predictions.

Storm-force winds could begin buffeting the Carolina coast by Wednesday night, forecasters said.

“Make your plans now,” South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster urged residents during a news conference on Sunday. “Presume that a major hurricane is going to hit right smack dab in the middle of South Carolina.”

McMaster said he had asked President Donald Trump to declare a federal emergency in South Carolina in anticipation of the storm’s arrival.

Residents as far north as Virginia were warned that Florence posed an increasing risk of generating a life-threatening coastal storm surge, as well as flooding from heavy rainfall should the slow-moving storm stall over the southeast.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper also urged his state’s residents to get ready, noting the storm already was generating swelling waves and dangerous currents along the coast.

“Everyone in North Carolina needs to keep a close eye on Florence and take steps now to get ready for impacts later this week,” Cooper said in a statement on Sunday.

The governors of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina have all declared states of emergency.

A photo taken from the International Space Station by astronaut Ricky Arnold shows Hurricane Florence over the Atlantic Ocean in the early morning hours of September 6, 2018. Courtesy @astro_ricky/NASA/Handout via REUTERS

The storm’s center was on track to pass between Bermuda and the Bahamas on Wednesday, the NHC said.

The NHC was also tracking two other storms farther out in the Atlantic.

Isaac, previously a tropical storm, strengthened into the fifth hurricane of the 2018 Atlantic season on Sunday, the NHC said.

As of early Monday, Isaac was about 1,230 miles east 1,305 miles (1,985 km) east of the Windward Islands with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph), the NHC said.

Hurricane Helene, was spinning in the Atlantic off West Africa’s Cape Verde islands with 85-mph (140-kph) winds on Monday, but did not appear to pose an immediate threat to land.

(This refiled version of the story corrects to show strength of hurricane as category 2 not category 1 in paragraph 2.)

Slideshow (2 Images)

Reporting by Rich McKay and Letitia Stein; Editing by Alison Williams

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Motorcycling: Moto2 rider Fenati dropped by team after brake grab

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Motorcycling: Moto2 rider Fenati dropped by team after brake grab

LONDON (Reuters) – Italian rider Romano Fenati was dumped by his Moto2 team on Monday, and was also set to lose a 2019 MV Agusta deal, after he grabbed a rival’s brake lever while racing in Sunday’s San Marino Grand Prix.

Motorcycling – MotoGP – TT Assen Grand Prix – Moto2 – TT Assen Circuit, Assen, Netherlands – July 1, 2018 Marinelli Snipers Team’s Romano Fenati crashes during the Moto2 race REUTERS/Yves Herman

The Marinelli Snipers team announced they had terminated the 22-year-old’s contract on account of “his unsporting, dangerous and damaging conduct for the image of all.”

“With extreme regret, we have to note that his irresponsible act endangered the life of another rider and can’t be apologized for in any way,” the team added.

The boss of Italian bike maker MV Agusta also vowed to scrap a contract for 2019.

Fenati was disqualified on the spot and barred from the next two races after the incident at Misano on Italy’s Adriatic coast that made waves around the world.

“This has been the worse and saddest thing I ever seen in a bike race. True sportsmen would never act this way,” MV Agusta president Giovanni Castiglioni told his 565,000 followers on Instagram.

“If I would be (MotoGP promoters) Dorna I would ban him from world racing.

“Regarding his contract for a future position as rider of MV Agusta Moto2, I will oppose myself in every way to stop it. It won’t happen, he doesn’t represent our company true values,” added Castiglioni.

Fenati, who also caused headlines in 2015 when he was penalized for kicking out at Finnish rider Niklas Ajo in a Moto3 warm-up in Argentina, had been due to join MV Agusta’s new Moto2 project next season.

Moto2, previously the 250cc category, is a feeder series one rung below the main MotoGP class.

The MV Agusta project is in partnership with Forward Racing, whose rider Stefano Manzi was on the receiving end of Fenati’s actions.

British rider Cal Crutchlow, who finished third in Sunday’s MotoGP race, told reporters Fenati should have been banned for life.

“He should never compete on a motorcycle again,” said the LCR Honda rider. “He should have walked back to the garage and his team should have just kicked him straight out the back.

“You can’t do this to another motorcycle racer. We are risking our lives enough.”

Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Christian Radnedge

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Hurricane Florence to become major hurricane soon, forecasters say

New Post has been published on http://newsintoday.info/2018/09/10/hurricane-florence-to-become-major-hurricane-soon-forecasters-say/

Hurricane Florence to become major hurricane soon, forecasters say

(Reuters) – Hurricane Florence strengthened early on Monday, packing maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (170 kph), and forecasters warned that it is “expected to become a major hurricane very soon” as it churns toward the U.S. East Coast.

The category 2 hurricane was mustering might as it traveled over warm Atlantic waters, about 625 miles southeast of Bermuda at 5.am. ET, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in an advisory.

It is expected to pickup speed, moving between Bermuda and the Bahamas on Tuesday and Wednesday and could make landfall possibly as a category 3 or higher on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale, forecasters said.

Landfall could be made between South Carolina and North Carolina on Thursday, according to NHC predictions.

Storm-force winds could begin buffeting the Carolina coast by Wednesday night, forecasters said.

“Make your plans now,” South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster urged residents during a news conference on Sunday. “Presume that a major hurricane is going to hit right smack dab in the middle of South Carolina.”

McMaster said he had asked President Donald Trump to declare a federal emergency in South Carolina in anticipation of the storm’s arrival.

Residents as far north as Virginia were warned that Florence posed an increasing risk of generating a life-threatening coastal storm surge, as well as flooding from heavy rainfall should the slow-moving storm stall over the southeast.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper also urged his state’s residents to get ready, noting the storm already was generating swelling waves and dangerous currents along the coast.

“Everyone in North Carolina needs to keep a close eye on Florence and take steps now to get ready for impacts later this week,” Cooper said in a statement on Sunday.

The governors of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina have all declared states of emergency.

A photo taken from the International Space Station by astronaut Ricky Arnold shows Hurricane Florence over the Atlantic Ocean in the early morning hours of September 6, 2018. Courtesy @astro_ricky/NASA/Handout via REUTERS

The storm’s center was on track to pass between Bermuda and the Bahamas on Wednesday, the NHC said.

The NHC was also tracking two other storms farther out in the Atlantic.

Isaac, previously a tropical storm, strengthened into the fifth hurricane of the 2018 Atlantic season on Sunday, the NHC said.

As of early Monday, Isaac was about 1,230 miles east 1,305 miles (1,985 km) east of the Windward Islands with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph), the NHC said.

Hurricane Helene, was spinning in the Atlantic off West Africa’s Cape Verde islands with 85-mph (140-kph) winds on Monday, but did not appear to pose an immediate threat to land.

(This refiled version of the story corrects to show strength of hurricane as category 2 not category 1 in paragraph 2.)

Slideshow (2 Images)

Reporting by Rich McKay and Letitia Stein; Editing by Alison Williams

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