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KLLnews, Presnenskaya nab. , 10, Moscow (2025)

10/11/2017

British surfer breaks back in 60-foot wave wipeout

A British surfer has broken his back after being wiped out by a 60-foot wave in Nazare, Portugal.

Andrew Cotton, 36, said he suffered the “worst wipeout” of his life when the enormous wave threw him off his board and slammed him into the water at high speed.

Footage of the incident, viewed thousands of times online, shows the wave building and crashing down on top of the surfer.

Cotton shared the video on his social media pages, as he thanked the lifeguards and crew who helped get him safely to a local hospital.

“I had a ‘significant’ wipeout today at Nazare. Split second decisions are neither right or wrong, but they can have consequences,” he wrote on Facebook.

The waves near the fishing village of Nazare, where Cotton was surfing, are famed for being some of the biggest in the world.

But despite his accident this week, Cotton said he is already eager to return to the waves.

“I have broken my back but I’ve been really lucky, I’m already looking forward and focusing my energy to get fit and back out there on some more big rollers,” he said.

09/11/2017

“Whiteness” caused Texas church shooter Devin Kelley to open fire on parishioners Sunday, killing 26 people, according to a controversial Drexel University professor.

08/11/2017

Germany to recognise third gender for inters*x people

Germany's top court has ruled that there must be the option of registering a third gender on birth certificates.

It would make Germany the first European country to offer inters*x people the choice of identifying as neither male nor female.

The case was brought by a registered female whose chromosome test confirmed they were neither one s*x nor the other.

Activists described it as a "small revolution".

The constitutional court in Karlsruhe has given the government until the end of 2018 to pass a law specifying a category other than male or female.

It said current regulations on civil status were discriminatory against inters*x people.

The category could be called "inter" or "various".

A German government spokesperson said the government would comply with the ruling.

The activist group Third Option - which has been campaigning for official recognition - said on Twitter that it was "completely overwhelmed and speechless".

Inters*x people are born with a mixture of male and female s*x characteristics. The UN says the condition affects up to 1.7% of the world's population.

The Kenyan midwife who saved inters*x babies

They are already recognised on official documents in countries including Australia, India, New Zealand, Nepal and the US, where the first inters*x birth certificate was issued last year.

In Germany it has been possible since 2013 to leave the gender box blank on the birth certificate for people born with characteristics of both males and females. Before that, if there was any doubt, officials would enter either male or female.

In January Belgian model Hanne Gaby Odiele revealed that she was inters*x, saying she hoped that it would "break the taboo".

But in May France's top appeals court ruled against offering a "neutral" gender designation to a 66-year-old psychotherapist born with neither a p***s nor va**na and officially registered as a man.

The French court said the distinction between male and female was a "cornerstone" of social and legal organisation, and recognising a third gender would involve "numerous legislative changes".

07/11/2017

Sunset in desert

05/11/2017

The most beautiful small towns in Mexico

Vibrant facades, cobblestone streets, multicolored lakes and mountainous backdrops are just a few things that make Mexico's small towns spectacularly photogenic.
The diversity of landscape across Mexico means that different regions offer distinctive delights, from desert ghost towns and quaint colonial pueblos seeped in history to laid-back beach towns popping with color.
The options are endless, but here are 10 of our favorite small-town destinations to inspire your next trip.
1. Bacalar (Quintana Roo)
This small town, about four hours from Cancun and close to the border with Belize, is home to a huge lake often referred to as the Lake of Seven Colors. The hues of the water go from crystalline to deep turquoise, due to underwater cenotes (sinkholes) and limestone lakebed. Surrounded by lush mangroves and with areas of the lake so vast you can't see where it ends, Bacalar boasts the most spectacular views. Lay back in a hammock swinging over the water and take it all in.
2. San Sebastian Bernal (Querétaro)
Cobblestone streets, colorful facades and the backdrop of one of the world's tallest monoliths, San Sebastian Bernal is a truly picturesque small town. Founded in the 1600s by a number of Spanish families, this town in central Mexico boasts many buildings that date back to the 18th and 19th centuries.
3. Campeche (Campeche)
Officially a city and the capital of the southwest Mexican state of the same name, Campeche, has the feel of a quaint small town. All of the facades in the historic center are painted in pastel hues and the main pedestrian street, Calle 59, has rotating art displays. Despite the street being relatively short, visitors often take a long time to walk down it as you stop to take photographs every few feet.
4. Malinalco (Mexico State)
A town rich with legends and steeped in mystery and magic, Malinalco, roughly two hours southwest of Mexico City, was an important place for the Mexica, or Aztecs, who built a complex there for their military elite. A town set among mountains and surrounded by lush forest, it attracts visitors for its flora and fauna as well as its historical and spiritual offerings.
5. Izamal (Yucatán)
This whole town, which centers around a 16th-century Franciscan monastery built on top of a Mesoamerican temple, is painted in a cheerful canary yellow. Set against a backdrop of bright blue skies that commonly bless the Yucatan Peninsula, the golden facades almost glimmer. Located halfway between Merida and the archeological site of Chichen Itzá, it is a perfect place to stop en route.
6. Real de Catorce (San Luis Potosí)
Once a thriving silver-mining town, Real de Catorce is now a ghost town in the desert of San Luis Potosí in north-central Mexico. A pilgrimage site for the indigenous Huichol people and Catholics alike, it has a spiritual feel that attracts visitors. And the fact that to get to the town you have to enter through a tunnel makes it even more enchanting.
7. Cuetzalan (Puebla)
Cobblestone streets and rustic, red-tile-roofed buildings are part of the charm of this small town that sits in the mountains outside of Puebla (roughly 4 hours from Mexico City). Surrounded by lush forest, replete with waterfalls and caves and a nearby archeological site, Cuetzalan is a great place for those who like outdoor adventure.
8. Pátzcuaro (Michoacán)
A town and ceremonial center before the arrival of the Spanish, Pátzcuaro in western Mexico, has an interesting and long history. Visitors can discover local handicrafts and learn about Mexico's rich indigenous history while wandering the pretty streets of the town. On The Day of the Dead every fall, visitors flock to Pátzcuaro because it is well known for its traditional ceremonies, which take place from October 31 to
9. Taxco (Guerrero)
A small town in the mountains of Guerrero, two and a half hours southwest of Mexico City, Taxco is known as "the silver town" due to all the mines located there. The winding streets snake around the hill front and center upon a pretty town square with an intricately detailed baroque church. For an extra beautiful view, grab a VW bug taxi and have it take you up to the look out point (El Mirador), where you get a birds-eye view of the city and the surrounding mountains.
10. Todos Santos (Baja California Sur)
If you were asked to imagine a quintessential Mexican town, you will probably think of something close to Todos Santos. Colorful facades reflect off the blue skies and are complimented by multicolored Mexican flag decorations and proud cacti that line many of the streets. Located on Mexico's Pacific Coast and popular with artists and surfers, the town has a very laid-back, easygoing vibe.

02/11/2017

Unbelievable sunset in mountains

01/11/2017

The problem facing Trump's China probe

When US President Donald Trump visits China, one subject high on the agenda will be the sweeping trade investigation of Chinese policies that he ordered in August.

The White House said it would probe practices that encourage the theft of intellectual property from US businesses - a long-simmering source of tension in the US, Europe and elsewhere.

The Chinese government has said the inquiry was a "serious concern" and has warned that it will not sit back if the US takes actions it deems unfair.

But one of the biggest challenges for Mr Trump's investigation comes from his own country.

Since the White House started its inquiry, a slew of US business groups have submitted formal comments describing their concerns.

But just six companies have proved willing to come forward with complaints, according to the public record of comments. Many of them are smaller businesses describing already known incidents.
Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption The US could risk a trade war with one of its biggest trade partners

Analysts say companies are hesitant to put at risk their access to one of the world's biggest markets by speaking out.

But the decision to stay quiet has consequences: it is likely to limit the administration's ability to build a strong case against China.

It may hurt the ability to identify effective remedies, while also making unilateral action more appealing to the White House.

"It's going to be a huge problem that companies are unwilling to provide specifics because it's going to be very difficult for the United States government to take effective action," says Lee Branstetter, a professor of economics and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University.
Intellectual property

The White House's focus on intellectual property theft in China follows years of concerns in the US, Europe and elsewhere over counterfeit goods, piracy, hacking, patent violations and other forms of theft.

The Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property estimates that the annual cost to the US economy from counterfeit goods, pirated software and theft of trade secrets is between $225bn and $600bn.
Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption General Motors, which has opened factories in China, is among those working with local partners

In recent years, the US says the Chinese government has encouraged some of those practices as part of its economic and national security strategies. Those involve state-backed enterprises and are focused on boosting certain industries such as aerospace, robotics and biotech.

The US inquiry asked for information about topics including policies that pressure companies to share information with local business partners; opaque approval processes; and possible cyber espionage backed by the government.

But previous US efforts to tackle the issue have been hindered by the hesitance of major companies to speak out, says Phil Levy, senior fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

"This has been the problem," says Mr Levy, who served as a trade economist under former President George W Bush.

"If you want to say China has these violations and we are acting in response to that... you need to have that fairly well documented. And to do that you need to have the co-operation of the companies involved."
Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption Beijing has promoted renewable energy and US firms in the industry have been among the few to speak out

Edwin Rogers is co-founder of Bonumose Biochem, a small Virginia-based start-up that was one of the six companies that shared its complaints.

In his case, he says scientists in China filed a copycat patent for a process of making a healthy rare sugar - technology that he believes his company had purchased rights to after acquiring a firm last year.

The scientists worked in the US for that firm, he says. They are affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a government-backed entity, and have political connections.

He says he felt a "duty" to come forward and hopes his story will help the White House craft a response.
China's response

The office of the US Trade Representative, which is leading the inquiry, did not respond to requests for comment about the investigation.

China maintains it has responded to concerns, pointing to laws that forbid intellectual property theft, success by western companies in Chinese courts, and its own efforts to address cyber crime.

In September, after the Trump administration launched its investigation, it announced a four-month crackdown focused on intellectual property and foreign investors.
Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption China says it has made strides to prevent intellectual property theft

In comments submitted to US investigators, Chinese organisations told the US that decisions to establish joint ventures and share technology are voluntary agreements between private companies.

They cast government initiatives, such as Made in China 2025, as "promotional" - not mandatory - programmes.

Some US businesses also defend China's approach.

William Mansfield is the intellectual property director at Abro Industries, a 25-person company based in Indiana that makes products such as glue and tape for sale overseas.

He says he has spent years fighting against counterfeiters in China - and has figured out successful ways of using China's system, like asking for help from local authorities instead of immediately pursuing a lawsuit.
Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption President Trump has reportedly told advisors he wants "tariffs"

He says US companies often don't understand how China works and unfairly blame problems on the government.

"I've just never seen anything that would lead me to believe it's anything other than individual counterfeiters acting to maximise their profit and not really caring about the rules," he says.
What next?

Many US analysts expect the White House to find fault with Beijing; pointing to the growing corporate involvement of the Communist Party and rules that require foreign companies in some sectors to use local partners.

But it is unclear what the White House might do after that.

The US could work with the Chinese government, collaborate with other countries to craft a response, bring a complaint in an international forum such as the World Trade Organisation, or take unilateral action.

That risks triggering a trade war but President Trump - who has repeatedly attacked China while dismissing international pacts - may be more open to that approach, Mr Levy says.

The White House China's strategy remains unclear as different advisors appear to promote clashing approaches, he adds.

Investigation of Chinese steel companies, for example, has not led to action. The White House also wants Chinese cooperation as it responds to missile tests from North Korea.

"It's hard to puzzle out what they're doing," Mr Levy says.
Business concerns

US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross says he expects addressing the issue to take time. But he says the US is looking for immediate deals, like ones struck between Boeing and Saudi Arabia, as a sign of good faith.

Many businesses remain worried the White House could damage the US relationship with China to satisfy isolationists among President Trump's supporters.

Erin Ennis, of the US China Business Council, says about 20% of its members have faced pressure in China to transfer key technology in recent years, but adds that they also report that the environment in China is improving.

She urges the administration to focus on specific changes in China, rather than simply imposing penalties, such as sanctions.

For example, China could stop making a distinction between foreign and domestic companies, she says.

Even without testimony from major companies, associations like hers have provided enough suggestions for the White House to work with the Chinese government, says Ms Ennis.

But Prof Branstetter says the US will need to take stronger, more targeted action if it expects intellectual property thefts to stop.

He says it doesn't have the information to do so now and he has doubts about this administration's abilities to craft an adroit response.

"It's easy to see this going badly," he says.

31/10/2017

The biggest news wasn't about Manafort
Anthony Zurcher North America reporter

On Monday morning Paul Manafort and business associate Rick Gates were charged with 12 counts of money laundering, undisclosed foreign lobbying, lying to government investigators, and various and sundry other serious-sounding offences.

It turned out that wasn't the biggest news of the day.

Indictments had been telegraphed since news reports on Friday evening mentioned they were signed, sealed and soon-to-be-delivered. Manafort's name was at the top of most lists of possible targets. It was the follow-up revelation from Robert Mueller's independent counsel team, however, that caught most of Washington by surprise.

George Papadopoulos - hardly a household name - had pleaded guilty to lying to FBI investigators about his contacts with Russian nationals and connected individuals while he was serving as a foreign policy with the Trump campaign.

Where the Manafort indictment was somewhat expected and covered business dealings prior to his time as head of the Trump campaign, the Papadopoulos news sits at the heart of Mr Mueller's investigation into possible Trump team collusion with Russia.

Here are three reasons why Papadopoulos is a key piece of the puzzle. And lest we give the Manafort case short shrift, here are three more reasons why it could end up being even more explosive.
Papadopoulos was an intermediary

Per details of the indictment and plea agreement, Papadopoulos has revealed that he was in contact with individuals - a London professor, a female Russian national, a Russian foreign affairs ministry official - either directly or tangentially connected to the Russian government.

He was passing along details of conversations he had to senior members of the Trump presidential campaign team including, reportedly, Manafort. At one point, a "campaign supervisor", responding to one of Papadopoulos's emails, replied "good work".
Media captionWhite House: "Today's announcement has nothing to do with the president"

While not evidence of collusion, this is clear indication that the Russian government was seeking back channels to the Trump campaign - and were finding at least some success.

The White House has diminished Papadopoulos's role within the campaign, noting he was an unpaid adviser and that his efforts to set up a senior-level meeting between the Trump team and Russian officials were rebuffed.

Papadopoulos did have a sit-down conference on 31 March 2016, with Mr Trump and the rest of the foreign policy team. Candidate Trump also mentioned Papadopoulos, whom he called an "excellent guy", as an adviser in a 21 March interview with the Washington Post.

Papadopoulos may have been on the campaign periphery, but he was far from a total unknown.
Papadopoulos heard about Clinton "dirt"

On April 26, 2016, Papadopoulos's professor contact told him he had just returned from Moscow and learned from "high-level Russian government officials" that they possessed "dirt" on Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in the form of "thousands of emails".

It's unclear from the indictment whether Papadopoulos passed this bit of information on to his campaign contacts, although it notes he "continued to correspond" with them.

What is clear, however, is that there is now evidence that individuals with Russian government connections on two separate occasions tried to let the Trump campaign know that they had information they thought was damaging to the Democratic candidate.

Papadopoulos was the first. The second was when the president's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, heard a similar line from his publicist-friend Rob Goldstone in June 2016.

Trump Jr responded by writing "if it's what you say I love it especially later in the summer". Later that month, Trump Jr, Manafort and Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, met a group of Russian nationals.

In July, embarrassing emails that were hacked from the Democratic National Committee were published by Wikileaks. In October, the contents of Clinton campaign chair John Podesta's personal email inbox were released.

It makes for an interesting timeline.
Papadopoulos is co-operating

If there's anyone in Trump's campaign circle with something to hide, they should be concerned that Papadopoulos was arrested back on 27 July. He struck a plea agreement with the Mueller team on 5 October.

That was nearly four weeks ago and, according to the court documents, Papadopoulos has been co-operating with government investigators ever since. In fact, Mr Mueller told the relevant court he did not want the arrest made public because it would "significantly undermine his ability to serve as a proactive co-operator".

So who has Papadopoulos spoken to since his arrest? And what sorts of topics could he have discussed?
Image copyright Reuters

According to Dan Dale of the Toronto Star, a former prosecutor told him the term "proactive co-operator" can indicate someone who is willing to wear a wire tap.

HotAir Blog goes through an extended what-if scenario that envisions how Papadopoulos could go about surreptitiously gathering incriminating details from members of Trump's campaign inner circle. He could ask for their "advice" on how to disrupt Mr Mueller's investigation after disclosing that he had been arrested.

"Suddenly those people woke up this morning and realised they'd had conversations with Papadopoulos recently about how to throw Mueller off the trail and only now do they realise he's been in cahoots with Mueller for three months," the theory goes. "Hoo boy."

Hoo boy, indeed.
Manafort hire shows bad judgement
Image copyright Reuters
Image caption Donald Trump gives a thumbs up as his campaign manager Paul Manafort and daughter Ivanka look on during Trump's walk through at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland

Even if, as Mr Trump writes in a tweet, Manafort's alleged illegal activities occurred "years ago", before he took a senior position in the Trump campaign, it still reflect's poorly on the then-candidate's personnel choices.

It was clear at the time Manafort came on board with Mr Trump that he had some questionable dealings in his past - including work for pro-Russian Ukrainian politicians, Philippine ex-leader Ferdinand Marcos and a group with ties to Pakistani intelligence.

Like many politicos in Mr Trump's orbit, Manafort was thrust into the campaign spotlight with little background vetting because more established hands wanted nothing to do with the upstart candidate's presidential efforts.

The decision to run with Manafort, who was backed by Trump confidante Roger Stone, has come back to haunt his presidency.

Manafort move could set stage for more indictments

Part of the case against Manafort - that he was operating as an undisclosed agent for a foreign government - echoes similar allegations made against another Trump associate, former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.

Flynn resigned his White House post after revelations that he had lied about discussing US sanctions with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak in December 2016. It was later disclosed that Flynn was also working for the Turkish government - something he didn't disclose on his relevant government forms.

If Manafort can face charges for his Ukrainian involvement, Flynn may be in jeopardy as well.
Media captionHow Michael Flynn became entangled in Russia probe

Slate's Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern also theorise that Mr Mueller's case against Manafort for financial misdeeds relating to foreign income could serve as a blueprint for a future case against Mr Trump's own business organisation, which also brings in a fair amount of revenue from foreign sources.

"This is an indictment that should terrify Trump in that it shadows and hints at his own unlawful conduct," they write.

Mr Trump wasn't named in the Manafort indictment, but the message may have been sent nevertheless.
Will Manafort co-operate?
Image copyright Reuters

Then there's the million-dollar question. If Manafort and Gates are each staring at double-digit prison terms if convicted, might they follow Papadopoulos's lead and seek to strike a deal with Mr Mueller in exchange for leniency?

Papadopoulos, of course, is a figure from the edges of the Trump campaign. Manafort, for months, was at the heart of it.

Mr Mueller and his veteran team of prosecutors know how to build a case against a large enterprise. Start with the easy targets, then offer a deal. Work your way up from the bottom. Reward those who co-operate early, and throw the book at the hold-outs. Turn the screws, and have your targets constantly looking over their shoulders.
Media captionEx-Trump aide Paul Manafort (left) arrives at FBI offices

Manafort and Gates may have nothing to bargain with - the White House insists that there is nothing there. If they do, however, this rollercoaster ride is only just beginning.

30/10/2017

New York Republicans making last-minute pitch to save tax break

As leadership within the House of Representatives prepares to unveil their signature tax reform plan, congressional lawmakers from New York are taking a final stand against the potential loss of their coveted state and local tax deduction in a phone conference with White House officials on Monday night, FOX Business has learned.

Nine Republican lawmakers from New York are scheduled to speak to senior White House officials at 8:30 p.m. ET about their districts being negatively impacted by the elimination of the deduction, also known as SALT, in the hopes they can come to a compromise before the bill is released on Wednesday, according to numerous congressional aides familiar with the matter.

The officials expected to be on the call are National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn and possibly Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, those same sources told FOX Business on the condition of anonymity.

White House Assistant Press Secretary Natalie Strom did not deny that Cohn and Mnuchin may be on the call with the lawmakers, saying, “Nothing to add from our end.”

Of the nine Republicans who are expected to be on the call, only Rep. Peter King (R-NY) confirmed to FOX Business on the record that he will be a participant. Spokespeople for New York Republican Reps. Lee Zeldin, Dan Donovan, John Faso, Elise Stefanik, Claudia Tenney, Tom Reed, John Katko and Chris Collins declined to comment but did not deny that their bosses were going to join the call.

The conference comes after House passed their budget by the slimmest of margins, 216 to 212 in favor of the budget, and as seven of the 20 “no” votes came from disgruntled New York Republicans. Those lawmakers have been looking for a compromise on the deduction in meetings with House Republican leaders, including House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, since the tax reform blueprint was released in September.

The call between lawmakers and the White House also comes on the heels of Brady announcing he’s willing concede to those same representatives as well as others from states that have the most to lose from eliminating SALT, such as New Jersey and California. Brady indicated that he will include a property tax deduction in the final bill.

“At the urging of lawmakers, we are restoring an itemized property tax deduction to help taxpayers with local tax burdens,” Brady said in a statement on Sunday.

Still, even with this concession, House members from New York and New Jersey gave a mixed reaction to the news and called for caution on whether there will be continued compromises leading into the bill’s publication.

In a text message, King told FOX Business on Sunday that he’s happy with Brady’s decision but still has concerns. “It’s a good step forward but still very concerned with losing state income tax deduction,” King said.

Rep. Thomas MacArthur (R-NJ) told FOX Business on Sunday that he’s “cautiously optimistic” but later added, “The devil is in the details.”

For New York Republicans, the phone conference could be a major breakthrough in negotiations for the continuance of the SALT deduction after seven of them reached out to Mnuchin in July requesting that he reconsider eliminating the tax break.

“Without the SALT deduction, taxpayers in all 50 states and in the District of Columbia would be doubly taxed--they would pay federal income taxes on the money they pay to their state and local governments…. We hope you consider the impact on the people we represent as we continue crafting an innovative plan,” the letter read. It was signed by Reps. Donovan, Faso, Katko, King, Stefanik, Tenney and Zeldin.

SALT affects about 30% of all taxpayers, mainly in states such as New York, New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Virginia and Pennsylvania that impose significant state income and
property taxes. The GOP Congress is dominated by lawmakers from southern and western states that don’t impose such levies. They have argued for ditching the SALT deduction from the tax code on the grounds that it unfairly benefits taxpayers from just a handful of states and deprives the federal government of trillions in revenue.

Indeed, the Trump administration has called on the elimination of the SALT deduction that would produce close to $1.3 trillion in revenues over 10 years and help pay for his plan to slash taxes for individuals and take the corporate tax rate down from its current level of 35% to 20%.

But lawmakers from these high-tax states argue that the federal government receives a disproportionate share of tax revenues from states like New York and California, where a large percentage of wealthy people reside, thus the tax break provides some degree of fairness in the government’s revenue collection efforts.

Making the matter even more contentious as the Republican-controlled Congress and the Trump administration move toward the politically vital tax reform bill: close to 60 Republican members come from states that benefit most from the SALT deduction
and could vote against tax reform if the tax break isn’t preserved in some way.

KLLnews

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