Putin heads to the polls: Russian president is confident of victory as he casts in ballot in Moscow - despite election monitors reporting irregularities across the country
Russians are facing intense pressure to turn out to vote in Russia's presidential election on Sunday
Although Putin's victory isn't in doubt, there's a question of whether he'll get a convincing mandate
Casting his ballot in Moscow, Putin said he would consider any percentage of votes a success
Election monitors reported irregularities despite authorities being told to ensure voting was free and fair
By Khaleda Rahman For Mailonline and Ap
PUBLISHED: 19:51 AEDT, 18 March 2018 | UPDATED: 20:07 AEDT, 18 March 2018
Vladimir Putin was confident as he headed to cast his ballot in Russia's presidential election.
Putin is certain to win in Sunday's election, so voter apathy is widespread.
But although Putin's victory isn't in doubt, the only real question is whether voters will turn out in big enough numbers to hand him a convincing mandate for his fourth term - which many Russians are facing intense pressure to do so.
Authorities have spent unprecedented funds to get out the vote to ensure he has a strong mandate for his next six years in office.
Casting his ballot in Moscow, Putin said he would consider any percentage of votes a success. 'The program that I propose for the country is the right one,' he said.
Vladimir Putin was confident as he headed to cast his ballot at a polling station in the Russian Academy of Sciences headquarters in Moscow on Sunday +22
Vladimir Putin was confident as he headed to cast his ballot at a polling station in the Russian Academy of Sciences headquarters in Moscow on Sunday
Vladimir Putin holds his ballot paper at a polling station during the presidential election in Moscow on Sunday +22
Vladimir Putin casts his ballot at a polling station during Russia's presidential election in Moscow on Sunday +22
Although Putin's victory isn't in doubt, the only real question is whether voters will turn out in big enough numbers to hand him a convincing mandate for his fourth term. Pictured, the Russian president casts his ballot in Moscow
Election monitors were reporting irregularities at voting stations across Russia, even though election authorities were under orders to ensure that the voting was free and fair after violations marred Putin's last election in 2012.
Back then, Putin faced a serious opposition movement, but since then he has boosted his popularity thanks to Russian actions in Ukraine and Syria.
Now, he faces seven challengers but no serious threat to his rule.
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Voters were casting ballots across the world's largest country, from the Pacific coast to Siberia and Moscow.
In Ukraine, security forces are surrounding Russian facilities amid anger over the Ukrainian government's refusal to allow ordinary Russians to vote for president.
Ukrainian police are guarding the Russian Embassy in Kiev and consular offices in Odessa and other cities.
Russian President Vladimir Putin exits a polling booth as he prepares to cast his ballot in the presidential election on Sunday
Russian President Vladimir Putin exits a polling booth as he prepares to cast his ballot in the presidential election on Sunday
Casting his ballot in Moscow, Putin said he would consider any percentage of votes a success. 'The program that I propose for the country is the right one,' he said +22
Casting his ballot in Moscow, Putin said he would consider any percentage of votes a success. 'The program that I propose for the country is the right one,' he said
The Ukrainian government announced that only Russian diplomatic officials would be allowed to cast ballots in Sunday's vote.
Millions of ethnic Russians live in Ukraine but the number of registered Russian voters in Ukraine is unclear.
Ukraine is protesting voting in Crimea, annexed by Russia from Ukraine four years ago. Ukraine is also angry over Russian support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, where a deadly conflict continues.
Russian authorities are appealing to the United Nations and Council of Europe to intervene, according to Russian news agencies.
Voting will conclude at 8pm (6pm GMT) in Kaliningrad, the Baltic exclave that is Russia's westernmost region, and initial results are expected soon afterward.
Activists and supporters of different Ukrainian nationalist parties perform with a figure depicting Vladimir Putin in Kiev +22
Activists and supporters of different Ukrainian nationalist parties perform with a figure depicting Vladimir Putin in Kiev
Security forces are surrounding Russian facilities amid anger over the Ukrainian government's refusal to allow ordinary Russians to vote for president +22
Security forces are surrounding Russian facilities amid anger over the Ukrainian government's refusal to allow ordinary Russians to vote for president
The Ukrainian government announced that only Russian diplomatic officials would be allowed to cast ballots in Sunday's vote +22
The Ukrainian government announced that only Russian diplomatic officials would be allowed to cast ballots in Sunday's vote
Putin is so certain of winning that authorities are investing instead in massive get-out-the-vote efforts to produce a turnout that would embolden the Russian leader both domestically and internationally.
Election monitoring group Golos and online groups set up to record violations reported scores of problems Sunday.
They included discrepancies in ballot numbers, ballot boxes placed out of sight of observation cameras and last-minute voter registration changes likely designed to boost turnout.
The central election commission released midway turnout figures for far eastern and Siberian regions ranging from 28 to 100 percent.
But the figures meant little because the population is heavily concentrated farther West in European Russia.
Some 145,000 observers were monitoring the voting in the world's largest country, including 1,500 foreigners and representatives from opposition leader Alexei Navalny's political movement. Navalny himself is barred from running.
Vladimir Putin smiles upon receiving a souvenir after voting in the presidential elections a a polling station in Moscow, Russia
Russia's incumbent president Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with local election commission chairman Viktor Lyndin in the Russian Academy of Sciences headquarters +22
Russia's incumbent president Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with local election commission chairman Viktor Lyndin in the Russian Academy of Sciences headquarters
Putin shakes hands with a member of the election commission as he arrives to vote at a polling station in Moscow on Sunday +22
Putin shakes hands with a member of the election commission as he arrives to vote at a polling station in Moscow on Sunday
Election monitors were reporting irregularities at voting stations across Russia, even though election authorities were under orders to ensure that the voting was free and fair after violations marred Putin's last election in 2012 +22
Election monitors were reporting irregularities at voting stations across Russia, even though election authorities were under orders to ensure that the voting was free and fair after violations marred Putin's last election in 2012
Back in 2012, Putin (pictured) faced a serious opposition movement, but since then he has boosted his popularity thanks to Russian actions in Ukraine and Syria +22
Back in 2012, Putin (pictured) faced a serious opposition movement, but since then he has boosted his popularity thanks to Russian actions in Ukraine and Syria
Voters also faced billboards celebrating Russian greatness - a big theme of Vladimir Putin's (pictured) leadership +22
Voters also faced billboards celebrating Russian greatness - a big theme of Vladimir Putin's (pictured) leadership
Many voters said they were under pressure from their employers to vote.
Yevgeny, a 43-year-old mechanic voting in central Moscow, said he briefly wondered whether it was worth voting.
'But the answer was easy,' he said. 'If I want to keep working, I vote.'
He said his bosses haven't asked for proof of voting but he fears they will. He spoke on condition that his last name not be used out of concern that his employer would find out.
Yevgeny Roizman, the mayor of Russia's fourth-largest city, Yekaterinburg, said local officials and state employees have all received orders 'from higher up' to make sure the presidential vote turnout is over 60 percent.
'They are using everything: schools, kindergartens, hospitals - the battle for the turnout is unprecedented,' said Roizman, one of the rare opposition politicians to hold a significant elected office.
A doctor at one of the city's hospitals told the AP how one kind of voting pressure works.
Russian military personnel are seen as they line up to cast their ballots in the presidential election in Moscow on Sunday
Russian military personnel are seen as they line up to cast their ballots in the presidential election in Moscow on Sunday
Many voters said they were under pressure from their employers to vote. Pictured, a Russian woman is abut to cast her ballot
Many voters said they were under pressure from their employers to vote. Pictured, a Russian woman is abut to cast her ballot
Some said they voted because they understood that not showing up at the polling place would endanger their jobs. Pictured, an elderly Russian woman casts her ballot +22
Some said they voted because they understood that not showing up at the polling place would endanger their jobs. Pictured, an elderly Russian woman casts her ballot
The doctor, who gave her name only as Yekaterina because of fears about repercussions, said she and her co-workers were told to fill out forms detailing not only where they would cast their ballots, but giving the names and details of two 'allies' whom they promised to persuade to go vote.
'People were indignant at first, said: `They're violating our rights' ... but what can you do?' she said at a cafe on Saturday.
Yekaterina said she wasn't sure what she would do with her ballot, musing that 'maybe I'll just write `Putin is a moron.''
But she understood that not showing up at the polling place on Sunday would not only endanger her job, but would reflect badly on her boss, whom she likes.
She said she wouldn't go to vote if she wasn't forced to. 'What's the point? We already know the outcome. This is just a circus show,' she said.
Russian servicemen line-up to vote in the Russian presidential election in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Sunday morning +22
Russian servicemen line-up to vote in the Russian presidential election in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Sunday morning
Voters walk past a poster showing the eight candidates in the presidential election. Among Putin's challengers is Ksenia Sobchak (pictured right), a 36-year-old TV host who has campaigned on a liberal platform and criticised Putin's policies.
Voters walk past a poster showing the eight candidates in the presidential election. Among Putin's challengers is Ksenia Sobchak (pictured right), a 36-year-old TV host who has campaigned on a liberal platform and criticised Putin's policies
A person points to the eight candidates in the presidential election in Moscow. Pictured fourth from left, incumbent president Vladimir Putin
Authorities were also appealing to patriotic feelings by holding the vote on the anniversary of Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.
Polls show that most Russians continue to see the takeover of that Black Sea peninsula as a major achievement despite subsequent Western sanctions.
The eight presidential candidates were barred from campaigning on Sunday, but much-loved entertainers appealed to voters in a televised message aired throughout the day to fulfill their civic duty and go to the polls.
Voters also faced billboards celebrating Russian greatness - a big theme of Putin's leadership.
As US authorities investigate alleged Russian interference in President Donald Trump's 2016 election, Moscow has warned of possible meddling in the Russian vote.
A woman studies her ballot paper as she prepares to cast a vote in the presidential election in Moscow on Sunday +22
A woman studies her ballot paper as she prepares to cast a vote in the presidential election in Moscow on Sunday
A woman is pictured in the polling booth as she prepares to cast her ballot in the presidential election in which Vladimir Putin is seeking a fourth term in the Kremlin +22
A woman is pictured in the polling booth as she prepares to cast her ballot in the presidential election in which Vladimir Putin is seeking a fourth term in the Kremlin
Turnout-boosting efforts have been the most visible feature of the campaign - and all come from taxpayers' pockets.
In Moscow alone, authorities spent 50 million rubles ($870,000) on balloons and festive decorations at polling stations.
First-time voters in the Russian capital were being given free tickets for pop concerts, and health authorities were offering free cancer screenings at selected polling stations.
In the southern city of Tambov, the state-sponsored Youth Parliament backed an Instagram competition. Voters who take selfies at polling stations and post them under the designated hashtag will be able to enter a raffle for high-end electronics, including an iPhone X.
Ella Pamfilova, chairwoman of the Central Election Commission who was appointed to clean up Russia's electoral system, vowed to respond to complaints about being coerced to vote.
Putin has traveled across Russia pledging to raise wages, pour more funds into the country's crumbling health care and education and modernize dilapidated infrastructure.
Among Putin's challengers is Ksenia Sobchak, a 36-year-old TV host who has campaigned on a liberal platform and criticised Putin's policies.
Some see Sobchak, the daughter of Putin's one-time patron, as a Kremlin project intended to add a democratic veneer to the vote and help split the ranks of Kremlin critics.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5514853/Putin-heads-polls.html#ixzz5A5ga7WvY
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Sunday, March 18, 2018
Trump's lawyer on Mueller's Russia probe: "Just end it" - CBS News
March 17, 2018, 11:28 AM
Trump's lawyer on Mueller's Russia probe: "Just end it"
President Trump's personal lawyer has said Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein should "bring an end" to special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation "in light of recent revelations." His assertion comes on the heels of Attorney General Jeff Sessions decision to fire former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe late Friday night.
John Dowd, in an email to CBS News, said he's speaking for himself and "not the president" by calling on Rosenstein to end the "alleged Russia Collusion investigation." The Daily Beast first reported that Dowd was calling for an end to the investigation. Dowd refers to Rosenstein as the "acting attorney general," when he in reality is the deputy attorney general.
"I pray that Acting Attorney General Rosenstein will follow the brilliant and courageous example of the FBI Office of Professional Responsibility and Attorney General Jeff Sessions and bring an end to alleged Russia Collusion investigation manufactured by McCabe's boss James Comey based upon a fraudulent and corrupt Dossier," Dowd wrote to CBS News.
"Just end it on the merits in light of recent revelations," he added.
President Trump rejoiced in McCabe's firing in an early Saturday morning tweet, calling it a "great day for Democracy." The president had frequently criticized McCabe and the FBI generally, over the Russia probe and other matters.
@realDonaldTrump
Andrew McCabe FIRED, a great day for the hard working men and women of the FBI - A great day for Democracy. Sanctimonious James Comey was his boss and made McCabe look like a choirboy. He knew all about the lies and corruption going on at the highest levels of the FBI!
3:08 PM - Mar 17, 2018
McCabe, who was set to retire on Sunday, is expected to be criticized in an upcoming Department of Justice Inspector General's report. McCabe has said his dismissal was part of the Trump administration's "war on the FBI."
"It is part of this administration's ongoing war on the FBI and the efforts of the special counsel investigation, which continue to this day," McCabe said in a statement. "Their persistence in this campaign only highlights the importance of the special counsel's work."
@realDonaldTrump
THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE HAS, AFTER A 14 MONTH LONG IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION, FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF COLLUSION OR COORDINATION BETWEEN THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND RUSSIA TO INFLUENCE THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
11:49 AM - Mar 13, 2018
Dowd's statement also comes a few days after Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee claimed they had completed the interview phase of their own investigation into Russian interference and any ties to Trump associates, and found no collusion. Mr. Trump interpreted that as vindication.
But Mueller's probe appears far from over. His team recently subpoenaed documents from the Trump Organization.
@MarkWarner
Every member of Congress, Republican and Democrat, needs to speak up in defense of the Special Counsel. Now. https://twitter.com/woodruffbets/status/975008116805898240 …
1:52 AM - Mar 18, 2018
On Saturday, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, responded to Dowd's remarks with a call on fellow lawmakers to speak up "in defense of the Special Counsel. Now."
— CBS News' Steven Portnoy contributed to this report.
Trump's lawyer on Mueller's Russia probe: "Just end it"
President Trump's personal lawyer has said Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein should "bring an end" to special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation "in light of recent revelations." His assertion comes on the heels of Attorney General Jeff Sessions decision to fire former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe late Friday night.
John Dowd, in an email to CBS News, said he's speaking for himself and "not the president" by calling on Rosenstein to end the "alleged Russia Collusion investigation." The Daily Beast first reported that Dowd was calling for an end to the investigation. Dowd refers to Rosenstein as the "acting attorney general," when he in reality is the deputy attorney general.
"I pray that Acting Attorney General Rosenstein will follow the brilliant and courageous example of the FBI Office of Professional Responsibility and Attorney General Jeff Sessions and bring an end to alleged Russia Collusion investigation manufactured by McCabe's boss James Comey based upon a fraudulent and corrupt Dossier," Dowd wrote to CBS News.
"Just end it on the merits in light of recent revelations," he added.
President Trump rejoiced in McCabe's firing in an early Saturday morning tweet, calling it a "great day for Democracy." The president had frequently criticized McCabe and the FBI generally, over the Russia probe and other matters.
@realDonaldTrump
Andrew McCabe FIRED, a great day for the hard working men and women of the FBI - A great day for Democracy. Sanctimonious James Comey was his boss and made McCabe look like a choirboy. He knew all about the lies and corruption going on at the highest levels of the FBI!
3:08 PM - Mar 17, 2018
McCabe, who was set to retire on Sunday, is expected to be criticized in an upcoming Department of Justice Inspector General's report. McCabe has said his dismissal was part of the Trump administration's "war on the FBI."
"It is part of this administration's ongoing war on the FBI and the efforts of the special counsel investigation, which continue to this day," McCabe said in a statement. "Their persistence in this campaign only highlights the importance of the special counsel's work."
@realDonaldTrump
THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE HAS, AFTER A 14 MONTH LONG IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION, FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF COLLUSION OR COORDINATION BETWEEN THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND RUSSIA TO INFLUENCE THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
11:49 AM - Mar 13, 2018
Dowd's statement also comes a few days after Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee claimed they had completed the interview phase of their own investigation into Russian interference and any ties to Trump associates, and found no collusion. Mr. Trump interpreted that as vindication.
But Mueller's probe appears far from over. His team recently subpoenaed documents from the Trump Organization.
@MarkWarner
Every member of Congress, Republican and Democrat, needs to speak up in defense of the Special Counsel. Now. https://twitter.com/woodruffbets/status/975008116805898240 …
1:52 AM - Mar 18, 2018
On Saturday, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, responded to Dowd's remarks with a call on fellow lawmakers to speak up "in defense of the Special Counsel. Now."
— CBS News' Steven Portnoy contributed to this report.
Pompeo at State Would Send a Bad Message Globally - Bloomberg
Pompeo at State Would Send a Bad Message Globally
The world is watching. It may not like what it sees.
March 14, 2018, 9:40 AM GMT+11
Maybe not the right man for the job. Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
At 5:44 a.m. Tuesday morning, President Trump tweeted, “Mike Pompeo, Director of the CIA, will become our new Secretary of State.” Unfortunately, both the choice and the tweet send the wrong message to the rest of the world about how the U.S. plans to conduct itself at home and abroad.
First, choosing someone from the CIA for the post suggests that the State Department will pursue its goals using the kinds of tools wielded by the intelligence community -- like spycraft and subterfuge -- rather than through traditional diplomacy. Foreign governments will likely be especially concerned that Pompeo has a record of advocating the use of dubious measures abroad.
For example, as a congressman, Pompeo argued that “enhanced interrogation techniques” used by the intelligence agency in terrorism investigations were legal, even though Human Rights Watch describes them as “forms of torture” which were previously prohibited under international and U.S. law. (During his confirmation hearing to become CIA director, he later said he would refuse to bring back the techniques.) Pompeo also supported the continuation of secret “black site” prisons abroad, where such techniques were used on suspected terrorists who were held without charges.
This isn’t the kind of experience and philosophy the U.S. should be looking for in a top diplomat. The role of the secretary of state should be to promote goodwill around the world through the use of soft power. Joseph Nye, who coined the term, described soft power as “the ability to get what you want through attraction rather than coercion or payments.”
One element of public diplomacy, at least historically, has been the use of propaganda. Scholars now refer to people who advocate such an approach as part of the “tough-minded school.” Pompeo’s background in intelligence and his national security hawkishness suggest he’d be of this persuasion. But such tactics don’t stand to be very effective, because people don’t like being propagandized and therefore resist it.
For example, the U.S. government still reports the news from an American point of view in many parts of the world, including on Radio Sawa and Alhurra Television in the Middle East. But one study of students across the region found that students who tuned in to these stations had slightly less favorable opinions of U.S. policy. “If you try to manipulate people’s perceptions, it can be counterproductive,” the researcher behind the study told The New York Times. “The very knowledge of being manipulated, of knowing you are being manipulated, can really backfire.”
Modern diplomats are therefore increasingly changing their approaches to engaging with people abroad. Those in the “tender-minded” school of public diplomacy advocate two-way communication, since dialogue can promote understanding between the U.S. and foreign people and governments. This is what leads to trust and allows the U.S. to achieve its policy goals without coercion. The country needs someone with these kinds of skills in the role of secretary of state.
Trump’s tweet is also likely to lead foreign governments to some troubling conclusions about the president’s commitment to democratic institutions at home. His claim that Pompeo “will become” the next leader of the agency suggests that he doesn’t respect the process by which members of his cabinet are appointed. While Trump may nominate Pompeo, it’s up to the Senate to confirm him. This statement, too, will breed alarm and resentment abroad, especially in the many countries the U.S. is pushing to respect democracy themselves. It will be perceived as especially disturbing since it comes on the heels of Trump’s recent statement that the U.S. may one day have a “president for life” like China.
To achieve its foreign policy goals, America needs to make friends abroad, not enemies. Attempts at diplomacy through deception, coercion or manipulation will only breed distrust and pushback. The practices of an intelligence director have no place in the office of a secretary of state.
The world is watching. It may not like what it sees.
March 14, 2018, 9:40 AM GMT+11
Maybe not the right man for the job. Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
At 5:44 a.m. Tuesday morning, President Trump tweeted, “Mike Pompeo, Director of the CIA, will become our new Secretary of State.” Unfortunately, both the choice and the tweet send the wrong message to the rest of the world about how the U.S. plans to conduct itself at home and abroad.
First, choosing someone from the CIA for the post suggests that the State Department will pursue its goals using the kinds of tools wielded by the intelligence community -- like spycraft and subterfuge -- rather than through traditional diplomacy. Foreign governments will likely be especially concerned that Pompeo has a record of advocating the use of dubious measures abroad.
For example, as a congressman, Pompeo argued that “enhanced interrogation techniques” used by the intelligence agency in terrorism investigations were legal, even though Human Rights Watch describes them as “forms of torture” which were previously prohibited under international and U.S. law. (During his confirmation hearing to become CIA director, he later said he would refuse to bring back the techniques.) Pompeo also supported the continuation of secret “black site” prisons abroad, where such techniques were used on suspected terrorists who were held without charges.
This isn’t the kind of experience and philosophy the U.S. should be looking for in a top diplomat. The role of the secretary of state should be to promote goodwill around the world through the use of soft power. Joseph Nye, who coined the term, described soft power as “the ability to get what you want through attraction rather than coercion or payments.”
One element of public diplomacy, at least historically, has been the use of propaganda. Scholars now refer to people who advocate such an approach as part of the “tough-minded school.” Pompeo’s background in intelligence and his national security hawkishness suggest he’d be of this persuasion. But such tactics don’t stand to be very effective, because people don’t like being propagandized and therefore resist it.
For example, the U.S. government still reports the news from an American point of view in many parts of the world, including on Radio Sawa and Alhurra Television in the Middle East. But one study of students across the region found that students who tuned in to these stations had slightly less favorable opinions of U.S. policy. “If you try to manipulate people’s perceptions, it can be counterproductive,” the researcher behind the study told The New York Times. “The very knowledge of being manipulated, of knowing you are being manipulated, can really backfire.”
Modern diplomats are therefore increasingly changing their approaches to engaging with people abroad. Those in the “tender-minded” school of public diplomacy advocate two-way communication, since dialogue can promote understanding between the U.S. and foreign people and governments. This is what leads to trust and allows the U.S. to achieve its policy goals without coercion. The country needs someone with these kinds of skills in the role of secretary of state.
Trump’s tweet is also likely to lead foreign governments to some troubling conclusions about the president’s commitment to democratic institutions at home. His claim that Pompeo “will become” the next leader of the agency suggests that he doesn’t respect the process by which members of his cabinet are appointed. While Trump may nominate Pompeo, it’s up to the Senate to confirm him. This statement, too, will breed alarm and resentment abroad, especially in the many countries the U.S. is pushing to respect democracy themselves. It will be perceived as especially disturbing since it comes on the heels of Trump’s recent statement that the U.S. may one day have a “president for life” like China.
To achieve its foreign policy goals, America needs to make friends abroad, not enemies. Attempts at diplomacy through deception, coercion or manipulation will only breed distrust and pushback. The practices of an intelligence director have no place in the office of a secretary of state.
Germany's Seehofer says EU 'patronizing' eastern members on migrants - Reuters
MARCH 18, 2018 / 3:03 PM / UPDATED 5 HOURS AGO
Germany's Seehofer says EU 'patronizing' eastern members on migrants
Reuters Staff
BERLIN (Reuters) - German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer has accused the European Union of adopting a patronizing stance in talks with eastern European members about the distribution of migrants.
FILE PHOTO: Leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU) Horst Seehofer during a statement before the start of coalition talks at the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party headquarters in Berlin, Germany, January 26, 2018. REUTERS/Christian Mang/File Photo
Seehofer, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CSU Bavarian allies, made the comments in an interview with German Sunday newspaper Die Welt am Sonntag, days after sparking a public outcry by saying Islam did not belong to Germany.
The former Bavarian premier is keen to show his party is tough on migration abuses ahead of October state elections in Bavaria, to win back voters who defected in large numbers to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the Sept. 24 national election. The AfD has also been critical of the EU.
Seehofer called for continued German border controls as long as the EU is unable to protect its external borders, and criticized the European Commission for what he called a “moralizing” tone toward eastern European states who have refused to take in asylum seekers under an EU-wide quota system.
Such an attitude was “counter-productive,” Seehofer said, adding, “Every country has its pride.”
The conservative politician, whose party has long been to the right of Merkel’s Christian Democrats, urged the EU to stop making decisions “over the heads” of member states.
“The EU commission is often patronizing,” he told the newspaper. “We need to put more energy into dialogue on the distribution of refugees. If we keep negotiating patiently, a majority of countries will support (it).”
Other countries could contribute in other ways, perhaps by sending more personnel to the EU borders, or by contributing more for joint border patrols, he said.
Seehofer’s remarks could exacerbate tensions in the uneasy new “grand coalition” between Merkel’s conservatives and the center-left Social Democrats.
Merkel firmly rebuffed Seehofer last week, saying that Germany’s 4 million Muslims belonged to the country, as did their religion. Leading SPD members also criticized his remarks on Islam.
Johannes Kahrs, a member of parliament and spokesman for the conservative wing of the SPD, accused Seehofer of using his new ministerial post to campaign for the CSU in Bavaria.
“Building bridges and not digging trenches is the responsibility of all decent Germans,” he told the Handelsblatt newspaper.
Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Hugh Lawson
Germany's Seehofer says EU 'patronizing' eastern members on migrants
Reuters Staff
BERLIN (Reuters) - German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer has accused the European Union of adopting a patronizing stance in talks with eastern European members about the distribution of migrants.
FILE PHOTO: Leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU) Horst Seehofer during a statement before the start of coalition talks at the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party headquarters in Berlin, Germany, January 26, 2018. REUTERS/Christian Mang/File Photo
Seehofer, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CSU Bavarian allies, made the comments in an interview with German Sunday newspaper Die Welt am Sonntag, days after sparking a public outcry by saying Islam did not belong to Germany.
The former Bavarian premier is keen to show his party is tough on migration abuses ahead of October state elections in Bavaria, to win back voters who defected in large numbers to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the Sept. 24 national election. The AfD has also been critical of the EU.
Seehofer called for continued German border controls as long as the EU is unable to protect its external borders, and criticized the European Commission for what he called a “moralizing” tone toward eastern European states who have refused to take in asylum seekers under an EU-wide quota system.
Such an attitude was “counter-productive,” Seehofer said, adding, “Every country has its pride.”
The conservative politician, whose party has long been to the right of Merkel’s Christian Democrats, urged the EU to stop making decisions “over the heads” of member states.
“The EU commission is often patronizing,” he told the newspaper. “We need to put more energy into dialogue on the distribution of refugees. If we keep negotiating patiently, a majority of countries will support (it).”
Other countries could contribute in other ways, perhaps by sending more personnel to the EU borders, or by contributing more for joint border patrols, he said.
Seehofer’s remarks could exacerbate tensions in the uneasy new “grand coalition” between Merkel’s conservatives and the center-left Social Democrats.
Merkel firmly rebuffed Seehofer last week, saying that Germany’s 4 million Muslims belonged to the country, as did their religion. Leading SPD members also criticized his remarks on Islam.
Johannes Kahrs, a member of parliament and spokesman for the conservative wing of the SPD, accused Seehofer of using his new ministerial post to campaign for the CSU in Bavaria.
“Building bridges and not digging trenches is the responsibility of all decent Germans,” he told the Handelsblatt newspaper.
Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Hugh Lawson
Why You Should Never Sleep on Long Flights: Travel Tips From a Marine - Bloomberg
Why You Should Never Sleep on Long Flights: Travel Tips From a Marine
Iraq war veteran, extreme athlete, and author Akshay Nanavati gives advice for adventure travelers.
By
October 25, 2017, 9:35 PM GMT+11
Courtesy of Akshay Nanavati
At Bloomberg Pursuits, we love to travel. And we always want to make sure we’re doing it right. So we’re talking to globe-trotters in all of our luxury fields—food, wine, fashion, cars, real estate—to learn about their high-end hacks, tips, and off-the-wall experiences. These are the Distinguished Travel Hackers.
Iraq war veteran Akshay Nanavati joined the Marines after overcoming drug addiction in high school; his role in Iraq was to walk in front of convoys to find IEDs, or improvised explosive devices. On his discharge, Nanavati was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and considered suicide before turning to extreme sport as an answer. Since then, he has run ultramarathons, skied across the world’s second-largest ice cap, and climbed in the Himalayas.
Together, those experiences form the basis of his current career as a coach and motivational speaker, as well as the backbone of his new book, Fearvana: The Revolutionary Science of How to Turn Fear into Health, Wealth and Happiness.
Nanavati spends much of his year traveling, whether between his two home bases—the U.S. and India—or on extreme expeditions in Greenland, Alaska, or Bolivia. His favorite carriers are Southwest and Lufthansa. Of the German airline, he says, “The service is great, and it flies locally to Newark, and it’s convenient for places like India where my family’s at.” He lives in Basking Ridge, N.J., with his wife.
Approach air travel like a workout
When you travel with the Marines, you don’t get the luxury of time off to relax and recover, whether this is going to San Diego for Marine Corps boot camp or flying to Kuwait in preparation for the war. You’ve got to hit the ground running. So I took lessons from that: If I’m flying to a destination at night, to combat the jet lag and ensure I get back into the rhythm, I force myself to stay awake on a long flight. I use pre-workout supplements with caffeine in them like Gnarly Maximus.
The other thing I’ve started doing to keep me going and keep my energy and my blood flowing is to find a corner of the plane somewhere and knock out pushups every so often. I’ve gamified it, so depending on the mileage of the journey, I’ll tell myself: one pushup for every 10 or 100 miles of the journey. You’ll get funny stares from people eyeing you in that back corner, but I think usually it’s often a smile of admiration.
Carry a good MacGyver tool
My favorite travel companion is a Bear Grylls Gerber, a small, simple one—that’s my go-to MacGyver tool. Having a multitool always comes in handy to fix any little things that might break on my adventures. It’s got a little knife on it and a pair of pliers. Pliers are useful for everything—when my [suitcase] zip came loose, I used the pliers to zip it shut again. If nothing else, it also just serves as a useful bottle opener.
Bring an extra water bottle on cold camping trips
In cold environments, like when I was mountaineering in Alaska, it really helps to have a pee bottle. The first time I heard this, it kind of grossed me out. But then the first time I had to get out [of my tent] in a cold mountain environment to go pee radically changed that thought. The best way is to take a yellow Nalgene bottle and mark big Xs all over it because you do not want to confuse it with your regular water bottle. You learn how to pee in a pee bottle very effectively. And it also becomes like a hot water bottle you can keep with you in your sleeping bag, which was helpful in Greenland, where it’s minus-30 degrees.
Pack a runner’s kit
As soon as I landed in Kerala [recently], I went on a 10-mile run in the pouring rain, and it was beautiful. I absolutely loved it. I have a Ziploc bag in my running kit, where I put my iPod and these little 100-calorie packets, Gu Gel, that runners use for ultra-endurance sports. There’s a very specific formula I follow: You want to take anywhere from 250 to 300 calories an hour, so I take two per hour.
Get uncomfortable as soon as you can
As I like to put it, seek out a worthy struggle on every trip. I find that traveling to a new place and meeting new people is not worth it if you do everything you can to stay in your comfort zone, like never leaving the confines of a luxury resort or eating the same meals you would eat back home, for example. Sometimes it can just be staying at a lower-end Airbnb instead of a luxury hotel.
I did that when I was in Andorra. I did a whole run from the northern tip to the southern tip of Andorra, so I essentially saw the whole country when I ran through it—a 20-mile run. There’s a lot of gorgeous, gorgeous nature and so you can do all these amazing hikes, but it’s also like this beautiful, quaint little city and the towns there. I’ve paid the price for this also: I was in the Indian Himalayas after a mountaineering trip, and my mom said, “Don’t eat the vegetables here, because those could be raw.” I thought, “I’ll be fine,” and I had severe dysentery for four days.
Take trips in strategic pairs
Another thing I learned from the Marines: When you really push your mind, body, and spirit, the feeling of rest after that is so much more relaxing. So I like to strategically plan my vacations. I pair trips—one that’s physically or emotionally intense, then one that allows you to relax. I’ve learned that when you relax on vacation after a hard [trip], it’s the best feeling in the world because there’s no greater rest than the rest that is really truly earned. I did a one-month ski across Greenland: 350 miles while dragging a 190-pound sled. After that, I was ready to relax, so we planned a vacation with my family to South Africa and went on a very nice safari and to Cape Town, too.
Prepare for monotony
The first time I took a polar expedition, I wasn’t prepared for the monotony: You’re just skiing into empty, white nothingness every day, for 8 to 12 hours. You have to deal with your mind a lot, which goes everywhere, because it’s wandering. So now, to train for an adventure trip, I practice stillness. An endurance cyclist friend of mine told me to sit and stare at the wall, with no music, no TV, no paintings even. No stimuli to engage you. He would do that for 24 hours, then go riding for 24 hours. It’s a hard thing to do; surprisingly, it brings up a lot of stuff, all the demons and everything else. But you kinda grow from it.
Courtesy of Akshay Nanavati
Immerse yourself in the community
There’s a website called Explorers Web, which is where I follow communities of the things I want to engage in. Once I figure out who the top explorers or mountaineers are, I follow them on Twitter, Instagram, and all that. I really want to visit Patagonia, for example, so I learned of this Norwegian explorer called Børge Ausland who leads trips to the Patagonia ice caps.
Pack a secret sauce
In Iraq, we would have Cajun powder, Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning. We would put it on almost everything to flavor it all. The unit I went to deploy with was a Louisiana-based unit, so that’s why. I put a little of that hot sauce powder in my washbag. And sometimes when you travel, it’s hard to eat healthy, so I also pack vegetable powders like Athletic Greens.
Iraq war veteran, extreme athlete, and author Akshay Nanavati gives advice for adventure travelers.
By
October 25, 2017, 9:35 PM GMT+11
Courtesy of Akshay Nanavati
At Bloomberg Pursuits, we love to travel. And we always want to make sure we’re doing it right. So we’re talking to globe-trotters in all of our luxury fields—food, wine, fashion, cars, real estate—to learn about their high-end hacks, tips, and off-the-wall experiences. These are the Distinguished Travel Hackers.
Iraq war veteran Akshay Nanavati joined the Marines after overcoming drug addiction in high school; his role in Iraq was to walk in front of convoys to find IEDs, or improvised explosive devices. On his discharge, Nanavati was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and considered suicide before turning to extreme sport as an answer. Since then, he has run ultramarathons, skied across the world’s second-largest ice cap, and climbed in the Himalayas.
Together, those experiences form the basis of his current career as a coach and motivational speaker, as well as the backbone of his new book, Fearvana: The Revolutionary Science of How to Turn Fear into Health, Wealth and Happiness.
Nanavati spends much of his year traveling, whether between his two home bases—the U.S. and India—or on extreme expeditions in Greenland, Alaska, or Bolivia. His favorite carriers are Southwest and Lufthansa. Of the German airline, he says, “The service is great, and it flies locally to Newark, and it’s convenient for places like India where my family’s at.” He lives in Basking Ridge, N.J., with his wife.
Approach air travel like a workout
When you travel with the Marines, you don’t get the luxury of time off to relax and recover, whether this is going to San Diego for Marine Corps boot camp or flying to Kuwait in preparation for the war. You’ve got to hit the ground running. So I took lessons from that: If I’m flying to a destination at night, to combat the jet lag and ensure I get back into the rhythm, I force myself to stay awake on a long flight. I use pre-workout supplements with caffeine in them like Gnarly Maximus.
The other thing I’ve started doing to keep me going and keep my energy and my blood flowing is to find a corner of the plane somewhere and knock out pushups every so often. I’ve gamified it, so depending on the mileage of the journey, I’ll tell myself: one pushup for every 10 or 100 miles of the journey. You’ll get funny stares from people eyeing you in that back corner, but I think usually it’s often a smile of admiration.
Carry a good MacGyver tool
My favorite travel companion is a Bear Grylls Gerber, a small, simple one—that’s my go-to MacGyver tool. Having a multitool always comes in handy to fix any little things that might break on my adventures. It’s got a little knife on it and a pair of pliers. Pliers are useful for everything—when my [suitcase] zip came loose, I used the pliers to zip it shut again. If nothing else, it also just serves as a useful bottle opener.
Bring an extra water bottle on cold camping trips
In cold environments, like when I was mountaineering in Alaska, it really helps to have a pee bottle. The first time I heard this, it kind of grossed me out. But then the first time I had to get out [of my tent] in a cold mountain environment to go pee radically changed that thought. The best way is to take a yellow Nalgene bottle and mark big Xs all over it because you do not want to confuse it with your regular water bottle. You learn how to pee in a pee bottle very effectively. And it also becomes like a hot water bottle you can keep with you in your sleeping bag, which was helpful in Greenland, where it’s minus-30 degrees.
Pack a runner’s kit
As soon as I landed in Kerala [recently], I went on a 10-mile run in the pouring rain, and it was beautiful. I absolutely loved it. I have a Ziploc bag in my running kit, where I put my iPod and these little 100-calorie packets, Gu Gel, that runners use for ultra-endurance sports. There’s a very specific formula I follow: You want to take anywhere from 250 to 300 calories an hour, so I take two per hour.
Get uncomfortable as soon as you can
As I like to put it, seek out a worthy struggle on every trip. I find that traveling to a new place and meeting new people is not worth it if you do everything you can to stay in your comfort zone, like never leaving the confines of a luxury resort or eating the same meals you would eat back home, for example. Sometimes it can just be staying at a lower-end Airbnb instead of a luxury hotel.
I did that when I was in Andorra. I did a whole run from the northern tip to the southern tip of Andorra, so I essentially saw the whole country when I ran through it—a 20-mile run. There’s a lot of gorgeous, gorgeous nature and so you can do all these amazing hikes, but it’s also like this beautiful, quaint little city and the towns there. I’ve paid the price for this also: I was in the Indian Himalayas after a mountaineering trip, and my mom said, “Don’t eat the vegetables here, because those could be raw.” I thought, “I’ll be fine,” and I had severe dysentery for four days.
Take trips in strategic pairs
Another thing I learned from the Marines: When you really push your mind, body, and spirit, the feeling of rest after that is so much more relaxing. So I like to strategically plan my vacations. I pair trips—one that’s physically or emotionally intense, then one that allows you to relax. I’ve learned that when you relax on vacation after a hard [trip], it’s the best feeling in the world because there’s no greater rest than the rest that is really truly earned. I did a one-month ski across Greenland: 350 miles while dragging a 190-pound sled. After that, I was ready to relax, so we planned a vacation with my family to South Africa and went on a very nice safari and to Cape Town, too.
Prepare for monotony
The first time I took a polar expedition, I wasn’t prepared for the monotony: You’re just skiing into empty, white nothingness every day, for 8 to 12 hours. You have to deal with your mind a lot, which goes everywhere, because it’s wandering. So now, to train for an adventure trip, I practice stillness. An endurance cyclist friend of mine told me to sit and stare at the wall, with no music, no TV, no paintings even. No stimuli to engage you. He would do that for 24 hours, then go riding for 24 hours. It’s a hard thing to do; surprisingly, it brings up a lot of stuff, all the demons and everything else. But you kinda grow from it.
Courtesy of Akshay Nanavati
Immerse yourself in the community
There’s a website called Explorers Web, which is where I follow communities of the things I want to engage in. Once I figure out who the top explorers or mountaineers are, I follow them on Twitter, Instagram, and all that. I really want to visit Patagonia, for example, so I learned of this Norwegian explorer called Børge Ausland who leads trips to the Patagonia ice caps.
Pack a secret sauce
In Iraq, we would have Cajun powder, Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning. We would put it on almost everything to flavor it all. The unit I went to deploy with was a Louisiana-based unit, so that’s why. I put a little of that hot sauce powder in my washbag. And sometimes when you travel, it’s hard to eat healthy, so I also pack vegetable powders like Athletic Greens.
The Richest Man in Hong Kong, an 89-Year-Old Wartime Refugee Worth $34 Billion, Is Retiring - TIME Business
The Richest Man in Hong Kong, an 89-Year-Old Wartime Refugee Worth $34 Billion, Is Retiring
Posted: 16 Mar 2018 10:20 AM PDT
Li Ka-shing, a wartime refugee who used to sweep factory floors in Hong Kong for a living, retired after a career spanning more than half a century amassing one of Asia’s biggest fortunes from building skyscrapers to selling soap bars.
The 89-year-old chairman of CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd. and CK Asset Holdings Ltd. will stay an adviser to the group after stepping down in May. Elder son Victor, 53, will take over a conglomerate that touches the lives of practically everyone in Hong Kong — the family’s Power Assets Holdings Ltd. generates their electricity and ParknShop supermarkets sell their groceries. The group also operates mobile-phone stores and Superdrug and Savers in the U.K., owns ports around the world and a controlling stake in Husky Energy Inc. in Canada.
“Looking back all these years, it’s my honor to have founded Cheung Kong and to have served society,” Li told a packed room of journalists in Hong Kong on Friday. It’s been “my greatest honor,” he said.
The retirement came on a high note as Li’s four biggest companies — CK Hutchison, CK Asset, CK Infrastructure Holdings Ltd. and Power Assets Holdings Ltd. — reported higher 2017 profits. All four stocks rose, though announcement — including two of the earnings — came after the end of trading in Hong Kong.
With a fortune of about $34 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Li has been a fixture as the city’s richest man for an entire generation of Hong Kongers and spearheaded an era defined by a handful of swashbuckling Chinese immigrants who built large empires across Asia. For many, he is the face of the changing fortunes of Hong Kong as the former colony’s British elite gave way to Chinese dynasties.
“Li’s retirement symbolizes the end of an era,” said Joseph P.H. Fan, a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who has researched family-run businesses for two decades. “No one can replace Li Ka-shing as the legendary founder of the largest conglomerate in Hong Kong.”
His retirement announcement illustrates his confidence over business continuity, given that he has prepared his son for several decades, Fan said.
He went from sweeping factory floors to a fortune of about $34 billion. Now, 89-year-old Li Ka-shing plans to retire https://t.co/OHIxw92aCz pic.twitter.com/sjsnG7lYtT
— Bloomberg (@business) March 16, 2018
Uber-Capitalist
Li personifies some of the conflicts that came from the region’s rise: Dubbed “Superman” by local media for his business acumen, he symbolizes inequality in a city with one of the most lopsided wealth demographics on the planet. He is a property developer who has won admiration for his entrepreneurial skills and a manager with companies so dominant that they often stifle smaller competition.
He also is an uber-capitalist who courted communist leaders. A major figure in China’s emergence as an economic superpower, Li is the most prominent among a generation of Hong Kong tycoons who charged across the border after Deng Xiaoping and his successors promoted economic reforms. His investments in the mainland span across industries ranging from energy to retail and infrastructure.
Starting with some well-timed local property investments that cemented his wealth, Li built a business empire that included retail, energy, ports, telecommunications, media and biotechnology companies worldwide. Overseas, Li-controlled companies are among the biggest foreign investors in the U.K.
For many in Hong Kong, Li is a dealmaker and investment guru on par with the likes of Warren Buffett. Li’s track record includes a $15 billion profit on the sale of his Orange mobile-phone unit in the U.K. to Germany’s Mannesmann AG in 1999. He is a major investor in technology startups such as Facebook, Spotify and Siri. During public appearance, he’d routinely be asked for prognostications on stocks, the real estate market and the economy.
From Orange to Duet
Even toward the end of his career, he didn’t slow down his dealmaking. In 2015, the mogul restructured his major holdings into two companies, one housing his property assets and the other holding the rest. He followed with the A$7.4 billion ($5.8 billion) takeover of Australian power provider Duet Group in 2017.
Li was born July 29, 1928 in Chaozhou, a city in southern China’s Guangdong Province. His father was a school principal but the young Li’s formal education stopped at high school as invading Japanese troops reached Guangdong. Fleeing war-torn China for Hong Kong in 1940, Li found factory work while also caring for his ailing father, who soon died from tuberculosis. By the time he was a teenager, Li was working 16 hours a day at a plastics trading company.
After the war, Li made his first fortune as a manufacturer of plastic flowers. His career as property mogul began in the late 1950s when, unable to renew his lease, he bought the site of his factory.
Political Connections
In the years to come, Li invested in local real estate as others sold, most notably in 1967, when riots inspired by Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution in China rocked Hong Kong and sent property prices plunging.
His most symbolic coup as a businessman may have come in 1979, when he bought control of trading house Hutchison Whampoa from Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. Li quietly negotiated with the bank, now called HSBC Holdings Plc, to buy Hutchison shares for less than half their book value. HSBC agreed and Li became the first person of Chinese origin to own one of the British-founded companies that had dominated the local economy since the colony’s founding in 1841.
That reputation helped Li make inroads in China, where he mixed extensive political connections with financial interests. Li was a senior adviser to the Chinese government on Britain’s 1997 handover of Hong Kong and served on the committee that drafted the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution under Chinese rule.
16-Hour Workday
Close Chinese ties had their downside too, particularly in the U.S., as critics including former President Ronald Reagan’s defense secretary to ex-Republican Senate leader Trent Lott voiced concerns about Li’s relationship with China — allegations denied by Li’s camp. The concerns got real enough for a U.S. national security review to thwart Li’s bid to buy part of Global Crossing Ltd., which operated a fixed-line communications network in North America, in 2003.
Li maintains an intense schedule well into his 80s, saying in a 2016 Bloomberg interview that he works as many as 16 hours daily, seven days a week. Long after he became a billionaire, Li wore a simple Seiko watch rather than a Rolex or other luxury brands preferred by his wealthy peers. In his 80s, he made a small upgrade to a Citizen that cost around $400, he told Bloomberg in 2016, but even then chose something simple and durable.
Li is no stranger to tragedy. His wife died in 1990 and his son Victor was kidnapped in 1996. The kidnapper was apprehended and executed in China.
Wrestling With Inequality
Then there was Hong Kong’s inequality, which Li wrestled with during his latter years.
“If the government set policies through the emotive lens of populist sentiments, it might make you feel better, but not necessarily fare better,” Li said in a 2014 interview with Chinese media group Caixin. “When a society is mired in discord, it will dent its economic vitality, which is hardly good for anyone.”
In 2014, just days before the start of student-led democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong, he traveled to Beijing and met with President Xi Jinping. After the protests began, Li urged the students and their supporters to go home, saying their message had been heard.
Russia spy row: UK lab could be poison source, says ambassador - BBC News
18/3/2018
Russia spy row: UK lab could be poison source, says ambassador
Russia's EU ambassador has suggested a UK research laboratory could be the source of the nerve agent used in the attack on an ex-spy and his daughter.
Vladimir Chizhov told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that Russia had "nothing to do" with the poisoning in Salisbury of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.
He said Russia did not stockpile the poison and that the Porton Down lab was only eight miles (12km) from the city.
The government dismissed his comments as "nonsense."
Retired military intelligence officer Mr Skripal, 66, and Yulia, 33, remain critically ill in hospital after being found slumped on a bench in Salisbury city centre on 4 March.
What are Novichok nerve agents?
Russian spy: What we know so far
Czechs reject Russia spy poisoning claims
UK Prime Minister Theresa May told MPs that personnel from the Defence Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Centre at Porton Down in Wiltshire had identified the substance used on them as being part of a group of military-grade nerve agents developed by Russia known as Novichok.
Mr Chizhov's comments come after a Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman said the UK was one of the most likely sources of the nerve agent, along with the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Sweden or possibly the United States.
Maria Zakharova said a large number of ex-Soviet scientists had gone to live in the West "taking with them the technologies that they were working on".
Czech foreign minister Martin Stropnicky said the claims were "unsubstantiated" and "a classic way of manipulating information in the public space", while Sweden also "forcefully" rejected the suggestion.
Mr Chizhov told the BBC that Mr Skripal could "rightly be referred to as a traitor" but "from the legal point of view the Russian state had nothing against him".
Asked how the nerve agent came to be used in Salisbury, he said: "When you have a nerve agent or whatever, you check it against certain samples that you retain in your laboratories.
"And Porton Down, as we now all know, is the largest military facility in the United Kingdom that has been dealing with chemical weapons research. And it's actually only eight miles from Salisbury."
But pressed on whether he was suggesting Porton Down was "responsible" for the nerve agent in the attack, Mr Chizhov said: "I don't have evidence of anything being used."
He added: "I exclude the possibility of any stockpiles of any chemical weapons fleeing Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but there were certain specialists, including some scientists who today claim to be responsible for creating some nerve agents, that have been whisked out of Russia and are currently residing in the United Kingdom."
Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, are in a critical condition in hospital
The Foreign Office said there was "not an ounce of truth" in his suggestion of a link to Porton Down.
A spokesperson said: "It's just another futile attempt from the Russian state to divert the story away from the facts - that Russia has acted in flagrant breach of its international obligations."
The Russian government has denied any involvement in the attack.
A look around Porton Down, Britain's military research base in to chemical and biological attacks
On Saturday, the Russian foreign ministry said UK staff would be expelled from Moscow within a week in response to Britain's decision to expel 23 Russian diplomats.
It also said it would close the British Council in Russia, which promotes cultural ties between the nations, and the British Consulate in St Petersburg.
Writing in the Sun on Sunday, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson described the closures as "futile" and said they would "only punish ordinary Russians" by depriving them of opportunities to learn English and apply for visas to visit Britain.
He added: "We have consistently taken a strong and principled stand against the Kremlin, and galvanised the international response...
"So I believe that what happened in Salisbury was, at least in part, the Kremlin's way of hitting back at Britain for standing firm against its appalling behaviour."
Theresa May said the UK government would consider its next steps "in the coming days, alongside our allies and partners".
Theresa May: "We will never tolerate a threat to the life of British citizens and others on British soil"
She said: "Russia's response doesn't change the facts of the matter - the attempted assassination of two people on British soil for which there is no alternative conclusion other than that the Russian state was culpable."
Addressing the Commons last week, Mrs May said the decision to point the finger at Moscow was also based on "Russia's record of conducting state-sponsored assassinations and our assessment that Russia views some defectors as legitimate targets for assassinations".
Also on Saturday, counter-terrorism police renewed their appeal for sightings of Mr Skripal's burgundy BMW 320D saloon car, registration HD09 WAO, in Salisbury on the morning of Sunday, March 4.
Russia spy row: UK lab could be poison source, says ambassador
Russia's EU ambassador has suggested a UK research laboratory could be the source of the nerve agent used in the attack on an ex-spy and his daughter.
Vladimir Chizhov told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that Russia had "nothing to do" with the poisoning in Salisbury of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.
He said Russia did not stockpile the poison and that the Porton Down lab was only eight miles (12km) from the city.
The government dismissed his comments as "nonsense."
Retired military intelligence officer Mr Skripal, 66, and Yulia, 33, remain critically ill in hospital after being found slumped on a bench in Salisbury city centre on 4 March.
What are Novichok nerve agents?
Russian spy: What we know so far
Czechs reject Russia spy poisoning claims
UK Prime Minister Theresa May told MPs that personnel from the Defence Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Centre at Porton Down in Wiltshire had identified the substance used on them as being part of a group of military-grade nerve agents developed by Russia known as Novichok.
Mr Chizhov's comments come after a Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman said the UK was one of the most likely sources of the nerve agent, along with the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Sweden or possibly the United States.
Maria Zakharova said a large number of ex-Soviet scientists had gone to live in the West "taking with them the technologies that they were working on".
Czech foreign minister Martin Stropnicky said the claims were "unsubstantiated" and "a classic way of manipulating information in the public space", while Sweden also "forcefully" rejected the suggestion.
Mr Chizhov told the BBC that Mr Skripal could "rightly be referred to as a traitor" but "from the legal point of view the Russian state had nothing against him".
Asked how the nerve agent came to be used in Salisbury, he said: "When you have a nerve agent or whatever, you check it against certain samples that you retain in your laboratories.
"And Porton Down, as we now all know, is the largest military facility in the United Kingdom that has been dealing with chemical weapons research. And it's actually only eight miles from Salisbury."
But pressed on whether he was suggesting Porton Down was "responsible" for the nerve agent in the attack, Mr Chizhov said: "I don't have evidence of anything being used."
He added: "I exclude the possibility of any stockpiles of any chemical weapons fleeing Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but there were certain specialists, including some scientists who today claim to be responsible for creating some nerve agents, that have been whisked out of Russia and are currently residing in the United Kingdom."
Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, are in a critical condition in hospital
The Foreign Office said there was "not an ounce of truth" in his suggestion of a link to Porton Down.
A spokesperson said: "It's just another futile attempt from the Russian state to divert the story away from the facts - that Russia has acted in flagrant breach of its international obligations."
The Russian government has denied any involvement in the attack.
A look around Porton Down, Britain's military research base in to chemical and biological attacks
On Saturday, the Russian foreign ministry said UK staff would be expelled from Moscow within a week in response to Britain's decision to expel 23 Russian diplomats.
It also said it would close the British Council in Russia, which promotes cultural ties between the nations, and the British Consulate in St Petersburg.
Writing in the Sun on Sunday, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson described the closures as "futile" and said they would "only punish ordinary Russians" by depriving them of opportunities to learn English and apply for visas to visit Britain.
He added: "We have consistently taken a strong and principled stand against the Kremlin, and galvanised the international response...
"So I believe that what happened in Salisbury was, at least in part, the Kremlin's way of hitting back at Britain for standing firm against its appalling behaviour."
Theresa May said the UK government would consider its next steps "in the coming days, alongside our allies and partners".
Theresa May: "We will never tolerate a threat to the life of British citizens and others on British soil"
She said: "Russia's response doesn't change the facts of the matter - the attempted assassination of two people on British soil for which there is no alternative conclusion other than that the Russian state was culpable."
Addressing the Commons last week, Mrs May said the decision to point the finger at Moscow was also based on "Russia's record of conducting state-sponsored assassinations and our assessment that Russia views some defectors as legitimate targets for assassinations".
Also on Saturday, counter-terrorism police renewed their appeal for sightings of Mr Skripal's burgundy BMW 320D saloon car, registration HD09 WAO, in Salisbury on the morning of Sunday, March 4.
Miami bridge: Meeting over crack held hours before collapse - BBC News
Miami bridge: Meeting over crack held hours before collapse
17 March 2018
Several vehicles remain firmly buried under the 862-tonne bridge
Florida officials were told "there were no safety concerns" about a crack in a Miami university bridge, hours before it collapsed killing six people.
Florida International University (FIU) said a meeting on Thursday morning involved the engineering and construction companies, as well as Florida's transport department.
University officials say they were told that the crack "did not compromise the structural integrity" of the bridge.
It later fell on eight vehicles.
In a statement, the university said the "engineer of record" from the contractor FIGG gave a technical presentation regarding the crack.
Miami bridge collapse witness: 'This is crazy'
'Obviously the cracking is not good'
The 862-tonne, 174ft (53m) pedestrian bridge had been newly built the previous Saturday in just six hours. "FIU is about building bridges and student safety. This project accomplishes our mission beautifully," the university had said in a press release.
@FIU
First-of-its-kind pedestrian bridge “swings” into place. “FIU is about building bridges and student safety. This project accomplishes our mission beautifully,” -President Mark B. Rosenberg. http://bit.ly/2IihmUm #worldsahead
4:49 AM - Mar 11, 2018
On Thursday afternoon, it collapsed on top of an eight-lane motorway.
The following day it emerged that lead bridge engineer Denney Pate had warned of a crack in the structure in a voicemail left with the state's department of transport two days before the disaster.
But the employee was away on assignment, and did not hear the message until after the bridge had fallen.
In his voicemail, Mr Pate had said there was no concern "from a safety perspective".
But "obviously some repairs or whatever will have to be done", he said.
The voicemail made headlines when it was released by the transportation department - but there was no mention until Saturday of the meeting held on the morning of the collapse.
Miami rescue workers search for survivors
Cause of collapse still unclear
The US National Transportation Safety Board is investigating, and has not yet determined what led to the bridge coming down.
"A crack in the bridge does not necessarily mean it's unsafe," Robert Accetta, an NTSB investigator, told the Miami Herald.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio tweeted that workers had been tightening cables supporting the bridge at the time it collapsed.
Miami bridge collapse witness: 'This is crazy'
The number of victims is thought likely to rise as workers clear the rubble from the 862-tonne structure, which was erected days before as a walkway for university students.
On Saturday, police said the bodies of three of the victims had been recovered from two cars and taken away for identification.
One other person died earlier in hospital, and several vehicles remain under the destroyed bridge.
Eight people were taken to hospital in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
Speaking on Saturday, police said they had "an idea of who is in the vehicles" but the victims had to be formally identified by medical examiners.
Students at FIU are planning a memorial vigil to be held on Wednesday.
17 March 2018
Several vehicles remain firmly buried under the 862-tonne bridge
Florida officials were told "there were no safety concerns" about a crack in a Miami university bridge, hours before it collapsed killing six people.
Florida International University (FIU) said a meeting on Thursday morning involved the engineering and construction companies, as well as Florida's transport department.
University officials say they were told that the crack "did not compromise the structural integrity" of the bridge.
It later fell on eight vehicles.
In a statement, the university said the "engineer of record" from the contractor FIGG gave a technical presentation regarding the crack.
Miami bridge collapse witness: 'This is crazy'
'Obviously the cracking is not good'
The 862-tonne, 174ft (53m) pedestrian bridge had been newly built the previous Saturday in just six hours. "FIU is about building bridges and student safety. This project accomplishes our mission beautifully," the university had said in a press release.
@FIU
First-of-its-kind pedestrian bridge “swings” into place. “FIU is about building bridges and student safety. This project accomplishes our mission beautifully,” -President Mark B. Rosenberg. http://bit.ly/2IihmUm #worldsahead
4:49 AM - Mar 11, 2018
On Thursday afternoon, it collapsed on top of an eight-lane motorway.
The following day it emerged that lead bridge engineer Denney Pate had warned of a crack in the structure in a voicemail left with the state's department of transport two days before the disaster.
But the employee was away on assignment, and did not hear the message until after the bridge had fallen.
In his voicemail, Mr Pate had said there was no concern "from a safety perspective".
But "obviously some repairs or whatever will have to be done", he said.
The voicemail made headlines when it was released by the transportation department - but there was no mention until Saturday of the meeting held on the morning of the collapse.
Miami rescue workers search for survivors
Cause of collapse still unclear
The US National Transportation Safety Board is investigating, and has not yet determined what led to the bridge coming down.
"A crack in the bridge does not necessarily mean it's unsafe," Robert Accetta, an NTSB investigator, told the Miami Herald.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio tweeted that workers had been tightening cables supporting the bridge at the time it collapsed.
Miami bridge collapse witness: 'This is crazy'
The number of victims is thought likely to rise as workers clear the rubble from the 862-tonne structure, which was erected days before as a walkway for university students.
On Saturday, police said the bodies of three of the victims had been recovered from two cars and taken away for identification.
One other person died earlier in hospital, and several vehicles remain under the destroyed bridge.
Eight people were taken to hospital in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
Speaking on Saturday, police said they had "an idea of who is in the vehicles" but the victims had to be formally identified by medical examiners.
Students at FIU are planning a memorial vigil to be held on Wednesday.
Andrew McCabe: Ex-FBI deputy director gave notes to Russia inquiry - BBC News
18/3/2018
Andrew McCabe: Ex-FBI deputy director gave notes to Russia inquiry
Mr McCabe was fired on Friday, two days short of his expected retirement date
Ex-FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe has given memos about conversations he had with President Donald Trump to an inquiry into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election, US media say.
They say the memos could support allegations that the president sought to obstruct justice.
Mr McCabe was fired from the FBI on Friday following an internal inquiry. Mr Trump had accused him of bias.
The president has also dismissed the Russia investigation as a "witch hunt".
The investigation is led by special counsel Robert Mueller, himself a former FBI director. He has so far indicted 19 people.
Who's who in Russia-Trump inquiry?
Trump Russia: Key questions answered
What is Mueller's special counsel?
Also on Saturday, the president's lawyer John Dowd issued a statement saying it was time for the special counsel's investigation to end.
Why was McCabe fired?
Mr McCabe had been under internal investigation by the FBI and had already stepped down from his deputy post in January pending the review.
He was sacked just two days short of his 50 birthday on Sunday, when he was expected to retire with a federal pension.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the "extensive and fair investigation" had concluded that Mr McCabe "made an unauthorised disclosure to the news media and lacked candour - including under oath - on multiple occasions".
The White House said it would leave the decision to fire Mr McCabe (right) to Mr Sessions (left)
Although the decision to fire Mr McCabe was made by Mr Sessions, Mr Trump had criticised him for months.
He has publicly pointed to donations that Mr McCabe's wife, a Democrat, received from a Clinton ally when she ran unsuccessfully for the state Senate in 2015 as evidence that Mr McCabe was politically biased.
@realDonaldTrump
Andrew McCabe FIRED, a great day for the hard working men and women of the FBI - A great day for Democracy. Sanctimonious James Comey was his boss and made McCabe look like a choirboy. He knew all about the lies and corruption going on at the highest levels of the FBI!
3:08 PM - Mar 17, 2018
In December Mr Trump tweeted: "FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is racing the clock to retire with full benefits. 90 days to go?!!!"
He welcomed the news of his dismissal almost immediately after Mr Sessions announced it, calling the move a "great day for democracy".
Mr Trump's tweet about the firing provoked an angry response from former CIA director John Brennan, who implied Mr McCabe was being made a scapegoat.
nBrennan
When the full extent of your venality, moral turpitude, and political corruption becomes known, you will take your rightful place as a disgraced demagogue in the dustbin of history. You may scapegoat Andy McCabe, but you will not destroy America...America will triumph over you. https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/974859881827258369 …
11:00 PM - Mar 17, 2018
What could the memos say?
News that Mr McCabe had kept records of his conversations with Mr Trump and FBI Director at the time James Comey emerged on Saturday.
US media say the memos will support Mr Comey's account of the circumstances of his dismissal last May.
Comey's most revealing moments
Mr Comey has testified that Mr Trump had asked him for his "loyalty" and requested he drop an inquiry into his former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.
He too has said he kept contemporaneous notes of his dealings with the president.
In a statement responding to his firing on Friday, Mr McCabe vehemently denied wrongdoing.
"I am being singled out and treated this way because of the role I played, the actions I took, and the events I witnessed in the aftermath of the firing of James Comey," his response said.
Republican memo accuses FBI of abusing power
Trump renews attack on 'disgraceful' FBI
The statement alleges that the justice department report recommending his firing was "accelerated" after he indicated that he would corroborate Mr Comey's version of events.
On Saturday Mr Comey - who is due to release a book - said Americans would soon be able to judge for themselves "who is honourable or not" after the president again criticised him on Saturday.
@realDonaldTrump
Replying to @realDonaldTrump
The Mueller probe should never have been started in that there was no collusion and there was no crime. It was based on fraudulent activities and a Fake Dossier paid for by Crooked Hillary and the DNC, and improperly used in FISA COURT for surveillance of my campaign. WITCH HUNT!
11:12 AM - Mar 18, 2018
What did Trump say on Saturday?
The president continued posting about Mr McCabe's departure on social media, saying there had been "leaking, lying and corruption" at the FBI, as well as the defence and state departments.
In an email to The Daily Beast website, Mr Dowd said he prayed that Acting Attorney General Rod Rosenstein would follow the "brilliant and courageous example" set by Mr Sessions to bring the investigation to an end.
He initially said the statement was made on behalf of the president, before backtracking and saying the comments had been made in a personal capacity.
@MarkWarner
Every member of Congress, Republican and Democrat, needs to speak up in defense of the Special Counsel. Now. https://twitter.com/woodruffbets/status/975008116805898240 …
1:52 AM - Mar 18, 2018
Mr Dowd's statement provoked an angry response from Democrats.
Senate Intelligence Committee Vice-Chairman Mark Warner called for a bipartisan defence of Mueller's Russia probe.
The statement was echoed by Sen Patrick Leahy, who said the Senate Judiciary Committee should hold a hearing on the "attempted politicisation of the FBI".
Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff tweeted: "Obstruction of justice is no less a threat to our democracy when done in the open than behind closed doors."
Andrew McCabe: Ex-FBI deputy director gave notes to Russia inquiry
Mr McCabe was fired on Friday, two days short of his expected retirement date
Ex-FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe has given memos about conversations he had with President Donald Trump to an inquiry into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election, US media say.
They say the memos could support allegations that the president sought to obstruct justice.
Mr McCabe was fired from the FBI on Friday following an internal inquiry. Mr Trump had accused him of bias.
The president has also dismissed the Russia investigation as a "witch hunt".
The investigation is led by special counsel Robert Mueller, himself a former FBI director. He has so far indicted 19 people.
Who's who in Russia-Trump inquiry?
Trump Russia: Key questions answered
What is Mueller's special counsel?
Also on Saturday, the president's lawyer John Dowd issued a statement saying it was time for the special counsel's investigation to end.
Why was McCabe fired?
Mr McCabe had been under internal investigation by the FBI and had already stepped down from his deputy post in January pending the review.
He was sacked just two days short of his 50 birthday on Sunday, when he was expected to retire with a federal pension.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the "extensive and fair investigation" had concluded that Mr McCabe "made an unauthorised disclosure to the news media and lacked candour - including under oath - on multiple occasions".
The White House said it would leave the decision to fire Mr McCabe (right) to Mr Sessions (left)
Although the decision to fire Mr McCabe was made by Mr Sessions, Mr Trump had criticised him for months.
He has publicly pointed to donations that Mr McCabe's wife, a Democrat, received from a Clinton ally when she ran unsuccessfully for the state Senate in 2015 as evidence that Mr McCabe was politically biased.
@realDonaldTrump
Andrew McCabe FIRED, a great day for the hard working men and women of the FBI - A great day for Democracy. Sanctimonious James Comey was his boss and made McCabe look like a choirboy. He knew all about the lies and corruption going on at the highest levels of the FBI!
3:08 PM - Mar 17, 2018
In December Mr Trump tweeted: "FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is racing the clock to retire with full benefits. 90 days to go?!!!"
He welcomed the news of his dismissal almost immediately after Mr Sessions announced it, calling the move a "great day for democracy".
Mr Trump's tweet about the firing provoked an angry response from former CIA director John Brennan, who implied Mr McCabe was being made a scapegoat.
nBrennan
When the full extent of your venality, moral turpitude, and political corruption becomes known, you will take your rightful place as a disgraced demagogue in the dustbin of history. You may scapegoat Andy McCabe, but you will not destroy America...America will triumph over you. https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/974859881827258369 …
11:00 PM - Mar 17, 2018
What could the memos say?
News that Mr McCabe had kept records of his conversations with Mr Trump and FBI Director at the time James Comey emerged on Saturday.
US media say the memos will support Mr Comey's account of the circumstances of his dismissal last May.
Comey's most revealing moments
Mr Comey has testified that Mr Trump had asked him for his "loyalty" and requested he drop an inquiry into his former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.
He too has said he kept contemporaneous notes of his dealings with the president.
In a statement responding to his firing on Friday, Mr McCabe vehemently denied wrongdoing.
"I am being singled out and treated this way because of the role I played, the actions I took, and the events I witnessed in the aftermath of the firing of James Comey," his response said.
Republican memo accuses FBI of abusing power
Trump renews attack on 'disgraceful' FBI
The statement alleges that the justice department report recommending his firing was "accelerated" after he indicated that he would corroborate Mr Comey's version of events.
On Saturday Mr Comey - who is due to release a book - said Americans would soon be able to judge for themselves "who is honourable or not" after the president again criticised him on Saturday.
@realDonaldTrump
Replying to @realDonaldTrump
The Mueller probe should never have been started in that there was no collusion and there was no crime. It was based on fraudulent activities and a Fake Dossier paid for by Crooked Hillary and the DNC, and improperly used in FISA COURT for surveillance of my campaign. WITCH HUNT!
11:12 AM - Mar 18, 2018
What did Trump say on Saturday?
The president continued posting about Mr McCabe's departure on social media, saying there had been "leaking, lying and corruption" at the FBI, as well as the defence and state departments.
In an email to The Daily Beast website, Mr Dowd said he prayed that Acting Attorney General Rod Rosenstein would follow the "brilliant and courageous example" set by Mr Sessions to bring the investigation to an end.
He initially said the statement was made on behalf of the president, before backtracking and saying the comments had been made in a personal capacity.
@MarkWarner
Every member of Congress, Republican and Democrat, needs to speak up in defense of the Special Counsel. Now. https://twitter.com/woodruffbets/status/975008116805898240 …
1:52 AM - Mar 18, 2018
Mr Dowd's statement provoked an angry response from Democrats.
Senate Intelligence Committee Vice-Chairman Mark Warner called for a bipartisan defence of Mueller's Russia probe.
The statement was echoed by Sen Patrick Leahy, who said the Senate Judiciary Committee should hold a hearing on the "attempted politicisation of the FBI".
Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff tweeted: "Obstruction of justice is no less a threat to our democracy when done in the open than behind closed doors."
Saturday, March 17, 2018
Andrew McCabe, a Target of Trump’s F.B.I. Scorn, Is Fired Over Candor Questions - New York Times
Andrew McCabe, a Target of Trump’s F.B.I. Scorn, Is Fired Over Candor Questions
By MATT APUZZO and ADAM GOLDMANMARCH 16, 2018
The dismissal of Andrew G. McCabe, the former F.B.I. deputy director, was carried out against a highly politicized backdrop. Credit Al Drago/The New York Times
WASHINGTON — Andrew G. McCabe, the former F.B.I. deputy director and a frequent target of President Trump’s scorn, was fired Friday after Attorney General Jeff Sessions rejected an appeal that would have let him retire this weekend.
Mr. McCabe promptly declared that his firing, and Mr. Trump’s persistent needling, were intended to undermine the special counsel’s investigation in which he is a potential witness.
Mr. McCabe is accused in a yet-to-be-released internal report of failing to be forthcoming about a conversation he authorized between F.B.I. officials and a journalist.
In a statement released late Friday, Mr. Sessions said that Mr. McCabe had shown a lack of candor under oath on multiple occasions.
“The F.B.I. expects every employee to adhere to the highest standards of honesty, integrity and accountability,” he said. “I have terminated the employment of Andrew McCabe effective immediately.”
Andrew McCabe Is Known at F.B.I. for His Precision and Intellect MAY 11, 2017
Andrew McCabe, a Symbol of Trump’s F.B.I. Ire, Faces Possible Firing MARCH 14, 2018
Andrew McCabe, Ex-Deputy Director of F.B.I., Will Be Faulted for Leaks MARCH 1, 2018
Taunted by Trump and Pressured From Above, McCabe Steps Down as F.B.I. Deputy JAN. 29, 2018
Early Saturday morning, the president weighed in with another shot at Mr. McCabe, posting on Twitter that it was “a great day for the hard working men and women of the FBI.”
@realDonaldTrump
Andrew McCabe FIRED, a great day for the hard working men and women of the FBI - A great day for Democracy. Sanctimonious James Comey was his boss and made McCabe look like a choirboy. He knew all about the lies and corruption going on at the highest levels of the FBI!
3:08 PM - Mar 17, 2018
In an interview, Mr. McCabe was blunt. “The idea that I was dishonest is just wrong,” he said, adding, “This is part of an effort to discredit me as a witness.”
F.B.I. disciplinary officials recommended his dismissal. Mr. McCabe, who stepped down in January and took a leave of absence, denied the accusation and appealed this week to senior career officials in the Justice Department.
Lack of candor is a fireable offense at the F.B.I., but Mr. McCabe’s last-minute dismissal was carried out against a highly politicized backdrop.
Mr. McCabe was among the first at the F.B.I. to scrutinize possible Trump campaign ties to Russia. And he is a potential witness to the question of whether Mr. Trump tried to obstruct justice. Mr. Trump has taunted Mr. McCabe both publicly and privately, and Republican allies have cast him as the center of a “deep state” effort to undermine the Trump presidency.
As a witness, Mr. McCabe would be in a position to corroborate the testimony of the former F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, who kept contemporaneous notes on his conversations with Mr. Trump. Mr. Comey said Mr. Trump prodded him to publicly exonerate the president on the question of Russian collusion and encouraged him to shut down an investigation into his national security adviser.
Turnover at a Constant Clip: The Trump Administration’s Major Departures
Since President Trump’s inauguration, staffers of the White House and federal agencies have left in firings and resignations, one after the other.
In a statement released by his lawyers, Mr. McCabe said his firing was part of Mr. Trump’s “ongoing war on the F.B.I.” and Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel. He said he answered questions truthfully in the internal investigation and contacted investigators to correct the record when he believed they misunderstood him.
“I am being singled out and treated this way because of the role I played, the actions I took and the events I witnessed in the aftermath of the firing of James Comey,” he said.
Mr. McCabe, a 21-year F.B.I. veteran, was eligible for a government pension if he retired on Sunday. The firing jeopardizes that benefit, though it was not immediately clear how much he might lose.
“It’s incredibly unfair to my reputation after a 21-year career,” Mr. McCabe said. He said the president’s public attacks were aimed at several targets. “The real damage is being done to the F.B.I., law enforcement and the special counsel,” he said.
Mr. McCabe was the F.B.I.’s second in command during one of the most tumultuous periods in the bureau’s history. He oversaw investigations into both the Trump campaign and Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server — and he dealt with the fallout from both. He became the acting F.B.I. director after the sudden firing of his boss, Mr. Comey, and he publicly contradicted the White House on national television over whether Mr. Comey had lost the support of rank-and-file F.B.I. agents.
Since then, Mr. Trump has repeatedly singled him out for public attack, suggesting that he helped protect Mrs. Clinton from prosecution during the 2016 presidential campaign. As evidence, he pointed to the fact that Mr. McCabe’s wife, Jill, ran as a Democrat for a State Senate seat in Virginia and received hundreds of thousands of dollars from a political committee run by Terry McAuliffe, a longtime ally of the Clintons.
As recently as Thursday, even as the White House said it left Mr. McCabe’s fate in Mr. Sessions’s hands, officials there left little doubt where the president stood. “It is well documented that he has had some very troubling behavior and by most accounts a bad actor,” said the White House press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
Mr. McCabe’s lawyer called those comments “vile and defamatory” and said they were intended to put pressure on the Justice Department. “This intervention by the White House in the D.O.J. disciplinary process is unprecedented, deeply unfair and dangerous,” said the lawyer, Michael R. Bromwich.
Mrs. McCabe lost her race and Mr. McCabe was later promoted to deputy director, where he oversaw the investigation into Mrs. Clinton. No charges were filed in that case, and Mr. Trump has pointed to the donations to Mrs. McCabe’s campaign as evidence of F.B.I. bias.
@realDonaldTrump
Problem is that the acting head of the FBI & the person in charge of the Hillary investigation, Andrew McCabe, got $700,000 from H for wife!
9:21 PM - Jul 25, 2017
The president is not involved in the firing decisions of career employees like Mr. McCabe. His firing had been recommended by veteran disciplinary officials. But Mr. Trump’s statements loom large over the decision, which is why previous presidents have typically refrained from wading into law enforcement and personnel matters.
The inspector general’s report faults Mr. McCabe for his lack of candor in interviews with internal investigators. The report has not been released, but people briefed on it say the allegations revolve around disclosures to The Wall Street Journal, which reported in October 2016 a dispute between the F.B.I. and the Justice Department over how to proceed in an investigation into the Clinton family’s foundation.
Mr. McCabe, working through the F.B.I. press office, authorized a spokesman and a bureau lawyer to speak with The Journal in order to rebut allegations that Mr. McCabe had slowed down the Clinton Foundation investigation. To the contrary, the article ultimately noted, Mr. McCabe had insisted that his agents had the authority to investigate the foundation, even if the Justice Department refused to authorize grand jury subpoenas.
Mr. McCabe joined the F.B.I. after law school and rose quickly through the ranks. Mr. Comey groomed him for senior leadership from a young age, rankling some agents who saw him as too academic and not enough of a traditional crime-fighter. But senior F.B.I. officials and his counterparts in other agencies praised his intellect and ability to manage complicated worldwide national security issues.
Katie Benner contributed reporting from Austin, Tex.
By MATT APUZZO and ADAM GOLDMANMARCH 16, 2018
The dismissal of Andrew G. McCabe, the former F.B.I. deputy director, was carried out against a highly politicized backdrop. Credit Al Drago/The New York Times
WASHINGTON — Andrew G. McCabe, the former F.B.I. deputy director and a frequent target of President Trump’s scorn, was fired Friday after Attorney General Jeff Sessions rejected an appeal that would have let him retire this weekend.
Mr. McCabe promptly declared that his firing, and Mr. Trump’s persistent needling, were intended to undermine the special counsel’s investigation in which he is a potential witness.
Mr. McCabe is accused in a yet-to-be-released internal report of failing to be forthcoming about a conversation he authorized between F.B.I. officials and a journalist.
In a statement released late Friday, Mr. Sessions said that Mr. McCabe had shown a lack of candor under oath on multiple occasions.
“The F.B.I. expects every employee to adhere to the highest standards of honesty, integrity and accountability,” he said. “I have terminated the employment of Andrew McCabe effective immediately.”
Andrew McCabe Is Known at F.B.I. for His Precision and Intellect MAY 11, 2017
Andrew McCabe, a Symbol of Trump’s F.B.I. Ire, Faces Possible Firing MARCH 14, 2018
Andrew McCabe, Ex-Deputy Director of F.B.I., Will Be Faulted for Leaks MARCH 1, 2018
Taunted by Trump and Pressured From Above, McCabe Steps Down as F.B.I. Deputy JAN. 29, 2018
Early Saturday morning, the president weighed in with another shot at Mr. McCabe, posting on Twitter that it was “a great day for the hard working men and women of the FBI.”
@realDonaldTrump
Andrew McCabe FIRED, a great day for the hard working men and women of the FBI - A great day for Democracy. Sanctimonious James Comey was his boss and made McCabe look like a choirboy. He knew all about the lies and corruption going on at the highest levels of the FBI!
3:08 PM - Mar 17, 2018
In an interview, Mr. McCabe was blunt. “The idea that I was dishonest is just wrong,” he said, adding, “This is part of an effort to discredit me as a witness.”
F.B.I. disciplinary officials recommended his dismissal. Mr. McCabe, who stepped down in January and took a leave of absence, denied the accusation and appealed this week to senior career officials in the Justice Department.
Lack of candor is a fireable offense at the F.B.I., but Mr. McCabe’s last-minute dismissal was carried out against a highly politicized backdrop.
Mr. McCabe was among the first at the F.B.I. to scrutinize possible Trump campaign ties to Russia. And he is a potential witness to the question of whether Mr. Trump tried to obstruct justice. Mr. Trump has taunted Mr. McCabe both publicly and privately, and Republican allies have cast him as the center of a “deep state” effort to undermine the Trump presidency.
As a witness, Mr. McCabe would be in a position to corroborate the testimony of the former F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, who kept contemporaneous notes on his conversations with Mr. Trump. Mr. Comey said Mr. Trump prodded him to publicly exonerate the president on the question of Russian collusion and encouraged him to shut down an investigation into his national security adviser.
Turnover at a Constant Clip: The Trump Administration’s Major Departures
Since President Trump’s inauguration, staffers of the White House and federal agencies have left in firings and resignations, one after the other.
In a statement released by his lawyers, Mr. McCabe said his firing was part of Mr. Trump’s “ongoing war on the F.B.I.” and Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel. He said he answered questions truthfully in the internal investigation and contacted investigators to correct the record when he believed they misunderstood him.
“I am being singled out and treated this way because of the role I played, the actions I took and the events I witnessed in the aftermath of the firing of James Comey,” he said.
Mr. McCabe, a 21-year F.B.I. veteran, was eligible for a government pension if he retired on Sunday. The firing jeopardizes that benefit, though it was not immediately clear how much he might lose.
“It’s incredibly unfair to my reputation after a 21-year career,” Mr. McCabe said. He said the president’s public attacks were aimed at several targets. “The real damage is being done to the F.B.I., law enforcement and the special counsel,” he said.
Mr. McCabe was the F.B.I.’s second in command during one of the most tumultuous periods in the bureau’s history. He oversaw investigations into both the Trump campaign and Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server — and he dealt with the fallout from both. He became the acting F.B.I. director after the sudden firing of his boss, Mr. Comey, and he publicly contradicted the White House on national television over whether Mr. Comey had lost the support of rank-and-file F.B.I. agents.
Since then, Mr. Trump has repeatedly singled him out for public attack, suggesting that he helped protect Mrs. Clinton from prosecution during the 2016 presidential campaign. As evidence, he pointed to the fact that Mr. McCabe’s wife, Jill, ran as a Democrat for a State Senate seat in Virginia and received hundreds of thousands of dollars from a political committee run by Terry McAuliffe, a longtime ally of the Clintons.
As recently as Thursday, even as the White House said it left Mr. McCabe’s fate in Mr. Sessions’s hands, officials there left little doubt where the president stood. “It is well documented that he has had some very troubling behavior and by most accounts a bad actor,” said the White House press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
Mr. McCabe’s lawyer called those comments “vile and defamatory” and said they were intended to put pressure on the Justice Department. “This intervention by the White House in the D.O.J. disciplinary process is unprecedented, deeply unfair and dangerous,” said the lawyer, Michael R. Bromwich.
Mrs. McCabe lost her race and Mr. McCabe was later promoted to deputy director, where he oversaw the investigation into Mrs. Clinton. No charges were filed in that case, and Mr. Trump has pointed to the donations to Mrs. McCabe’s campaign as evidence of F.B.I. bias.
@realDonaldTrump
Problem is that the acting head of the FBI & the person in charge of the Hillary investigation, Andrew McCabe, got $700,000 from H for wife!
9:21 PM - Jul 25, 2017
The president is not involved in the firing decisions of career employees like Mr. McCabe. His firing had been recommended by veteran disciplinary officials. But Mr. Trump’s statements loom large over the decision, which is why previous presidents have typically refrained from wading into law enforcement and personnel matters.
The inspector general’s report faults Mr. McCabe for his lack of candor in interviews with internal investigators. The report has not been released, but people briefed on it say the allegations revolve around disclosures to The Wall Street Journal, which reported in October 2016 a dispute between the F.B.I. and the Justice Department over how to proceed in an investigation into the Clinton family’s foundation.
Mr. McCabe, working through the F.B.I. press office, authorized a spokesman and a bureau lawyer to speak with The Journal in order to rebut allegations that Mr. McCabe had slowed down the Clinton Foundation investigation. To the contrary, the article ultimately noted, Mr. McCabe had insisted that his agents had the authority to investigate the foundation, even if the Justice Department refused to authorize grand jury subpoenas.
Mr. McCabe joined the F.B.I. after law school and rose quickly through the ranks. Mr. Comey groomed him for senior leadership from a young age, rankling some agents who saw him as too academic and not enough of a traditional crime-fighter. But senior F.B.I. officials and his counterparts in other agencies praised his intellect and ability to manage complicated worldwide national security issues.
Katie Benner contributed reporting from Austin, Tex.
Engineers saw cracks in Miami bridge days before collapse - NBC News
MAR 16 2018, 11:08 PM ET
Engineers saw cracks in Miami bridge days before collapse
by PHIL MCCAUSLAND
Engineers working on the bridge that fell on to a Florida highway Thursday had attempted to warn state officials about cracks on the walkway just two days before the deadly collapse, according to a voicemail transcript released Friday night by the Florida Department of Transportation.
The lead engineer of FIGG Bridge Engineers, the company that led the design of the walkway, left a voicemail with FDOT Tuesday that said cracks had appeared on the bridge and were in need of repair.
But the message, left on a landline, was not listened to until Friday because the employee it was intended for was out of the office on assignment, the department said.
Collapsed Florida bridge was built using 'accelerated' technology
The engineer said in the voicemail: "Calling to, uh, share with you some information about the FIU pedestrian bridge and some cracking that's been observed on the north end of the span, the pylon end of that span we moved this weekend," according to the FDOT.
"From a safety perspective we don't see that there's any issue there, so we're not concerned about it from that perspective," the engineer said according to the transcript, "although obviously the cracking is not good and something's going to have to be, ya know, done to repair that."
The state employee who the message was intended did not listen to it when it was sent because he "was out of office on assignment," the FDOT said. The employee "was able to listen to the voicemail" on Friday.
An FDOT consultant also attended a midday meeting on Thursday "shortly before" the bridge's 1:30 p.m. collapse, but he was "not notified of any life-safety issues, need for additional road closures or request for any other assistance from FDOT," the agency said.
Engineers also had a permit that allowed them to close the road under the bridge, the Tamiami Trail, but FDOT said the design team never made the request.
Dick Kane, communications director for FDOT, said that the state agency was not culpable for the possible oversight.
"The responsibility to identify and address life-safety issues and properly communicate them is the sole responsibility of the FIU design build team," Kane said in the FDOT's statement. "At no point during any of the communications above did FIGG or any member of the FIU design build team ever communicate a life-safety issue."
In an emailed statement Friday night, the company said:
“FIGG Bridge Engineers, Inc., continues to work diligently with the construction team to help determine the cause of the collapse of the pedestrian bridge that was under construction at Florida International University. We are heartbroken by the loss of life and injuries, and are carefully examining the steps that our team has taken in the interest of our overarching concern for public safety. The evaluation was based on the best available information at that time and indicated that there were no safety issues. We will pursue answers to find out what factors led to this tragic situation, but it is important that the agencies responsible for investigating this devastating situation are given the appropriate time in order to accurately identify what factors led to the accident during construction. We are committed to working with all appropriate authorities throughout this process.”
Meanwhile, National Transportation Safety Board Chief Investigator Robert Accetta said at a news conference Friday night that it was too early to conclude whether the cracks were related to the incident.
"I would have to say that a crack in the bridge does not necessarily mean it's unsafe," he said, though NTSB investigators made it clear that they had not confirmed whether there were cracks. "That's still too early in the investigation for us to determine."
NTSB chairman Robert Sumwalt said at the press conference Friday evening that "I don’t think we know at this point, factually, that there was a crack in the bridge," and "we have not confirmed that."
Play FIU student Alexa Duran identified as victim of Florida bridge collapse
FIU student Alexa Duran identified as victim of Florida bridge collapse 2:16
The bridge section that collapsed was designed to hold its own weight until the entire span is assembled into place, experts told NBC News. It was built under a method called accelerated bridge construction, which FIU helped to popularize beginning in 2010 but has been around in some form for about 30 years.
With accelerated bridge construction, prefabricated bridge elements are made in a factory, then shipped to the site and put together at the scene.
Engineers saw cracks in Miami bridge days before collapse
by PHIL MCCAUSLAND
Engineers working on the bridge that fell on to a Florida highway Thursday had attempted to warn state officials about cracks on the walkway just two days before the deadly collapse, according to a voicemail transcript released Friday night by the Florida Department of Transportation.
The lead engineer of FIGG Bridge Engineers, the company that led the design of the walkway, left a voicemail with FDOT Tuesday that said cracks had appeared on the bridge and were in need of repair.
But the message, left on a landline, was not listened to until Friday because the employee it was intended for was out of the office on assignment, the department said.
Collapsed Florida bridge was built using 'accelerated' technology
The engineer said in the voicemail: "Calling to, uh, share with you some information about the FIU pedestrian bridge and some cracking that's been observed on the north end of the span, the pylon end of that span we moved this weekend," according to the FDOT.
"From a safety perspective we don't see that there's any issue there, so we're not concerned about it from that perspective," the engineer said according to the transcript, "although obviously the cracking is not good and something's going to have to be, ya know, done to repair that."
The state employee who the message was intended did not listen to it when it was sent because he "was out of office on assignment," the FDOT said. The employee "was able to listen to the voicemail" on Friday.
An FDOT consultant also attended a midday meeting on Thursday "shortly before" the bridge's 1:30 p.m. collapse, but he was "not notified of any life-safety issues, need for additional road closures or request for any other assistance from FDOT," the agency said.
Engineers also had a permit that allowed them to close the road under the bridge, the Tamiami Trail, but FDOT said the design team never made the request.
Dick Kane, communications director for FDOT, said that the state agency was not culpable for the possible oversight.
"The responsibility to identify and address life-safety issues and properly communicate them is the sole responsibility of the FIU design build team," Kane said in the FDOT's statement. "At no point during any of the communications above did FIGG or any member of the FIU design build team ever communicate a life-safety issue."
In an emailed statement Friday night, the company said:
“FIGG Bridge Engineers, Inc., continues to work diligently with the construction team to help determine the cause of the collapse of the pedestrian bridge that was under construction at Florida International University. We are heartbroken by the loss of life and injuries, and are carefully examining the steps that our team has taken in the interest of our overarching concern for public safety. The evaluation was based on the best available information at that time and indicated that there were no safety issues. We will pursue answers to find out what factors led to this tragic situation, but it is important that the agencies responsible for investigating this devastating situation are given the appropriate time in order to accurately identify what factors led to the accident during construction. We are committed to working with all appropriate authorities throughout this process.”
Meanwhile, National Transportation Safety Board Chief Investigator Robert Accetta said at a news conference Friday night that it was too early to conclude whether the cracks were related to the incident.
"I would have to say that a crack in the bridge does not necessarily mean it's unsafe," he said, though NTSB investigators made it clear that they had not confirmed whether there were cracks. "That's still too early in the investigation for us to determine."
NTSB chairman Robert Sumwalt said at the press conference Friday evening that "I don’t think we know at this point, factually, that there was a crack in the bridge," and "we have not confirmed that."
Play FIU student Alexa Duran identified as victim of Florida bridge collapse
FIU student Alexa Duran identified as victim of Florida bridge collapse 2:16
The bridge section that collapsed was designed to hold its own weight until the entire span is assembled into place, experts told NBC News. It was built under a method called accelerated bridge construction, which FIU helped to popularize beginning in 2010 but has been around in some form for about 30 years.
With accelerated bridge construction, prefabricated bridge elements are made in a factory, then shipped to the site and put together at the scene.
Stormy Daniels Could Owe $20 Million in Damages, Trump Lawyer Says - TIME
Stormy Daniels Could Owe $20 Million in Damages, Trump Lawyer Says
In this Feb. 11, 2007, file photo, adult film actress Stormy Daniels arrives for the 49th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Matt Sayles—AP
By ASSOCIATED PRESS 7:37 AM EDT
Donald Trump’s lawyer, Michael Cohen, wants a lawsuit brought by porn actress Stormy Daniels moved to federal court, and claims the woman could owe $20 million in damages for violating a non-disclosure agreement.
The Friday court filing seeks to move Daniels’ case from a state-level court to federal court in Los Angeles.
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is seeking to invalidate the non-disclosure agreement. She has offered to return the $130,000 she was paid.
The filing accuses Clifford of violating the agreement more than 20 times.
A separate filing says Trump would join a request to have the case heard by an arbitrator.
Clifford’s lawyer says it’s an attempt to have the matter decided in private arbitration, “thus hiding the truth from the public.”
In this Feb. 11, 2007, file photo, adult film actress Stormy Daniels arrives for the 49th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Matt Sayles—AP
By ASSOCIATED PRESS 7:37 AM EDT
Donald Trump’s lawyer, Michael Cohen, wants a lawsuit brought by porn actress Stormy Daniels moved to federal court, and claims the woman could owe $20 million in damages for violating a non-disclosure agreement.
The Friday court filing seeks to move Daniels’ case from a state-level court to federal court in Los Angeles.
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is seeking to invalidate the non-disclosure agreement. She has offered to return the $130,000 she was paid.
The filing accuses Clifford of violating the agreement more than 20 times.
A separate filing says Trump would join a request to have the case heard by an arbitrator.
Clifford’s lawyer says it’s an attempt to have the matter decided in private arbitration, “thus hiding the truth from the public.”
Small toy makers: Death of Toys 'R' Us leaves a 'big hole' - CNN Money
Small toy makers: Death of Toys 'R' Us leaves a 'big hole'
by Parija Kavilanz and Aaron Smith @CNNMoney
March 16, 2018: 12:16 PM ET
Your video will play in 00:09
For many toy makers, Toys "R" Us wasn't just a store, it was a lifeline.
The national toy retailer, which announced earlier this week plans to close or sell all of its US stores, acted as the main -- and sometimes only -- distributor for companies large and small.
"I am devastated that we have reached this point," said Toys "R" Us Chief Executive Officer Dave Brandon, in a speech to employees on Wednesday. "We have vendors and suppliers out there who are also going to experience disruption and in some cases the same risks of insolvency based on the level of penetration they have with our company."
It's a big blow to Gary Atkinson, CEO of The Singing Machine Company, which makes karaoke products.
"Toys "R" Us was our second biggest customer after Walmart," said Atkinson, who did $10 million in business with Toys "R" Us in 2017. He said the two companies shared a special relationship.
When the company launched a new kid's karaoke line last year, it was first showcased at Toys "R" Us. So when Toys "R" Us filed for bankruptcy last September, it was a difficult pill to swallow for Atkinson.
"We had already shipped $4.5 million worth of products to Toys "R" Us in September for the holiday season. We've since recouped some of that back, but it was less than half," he said.
inRead invented by Teads
What's even harder now, he said, is losing worldwide distribution for its karaoke products after the toy retailer said it was closing all its US stores and potentially most of its international operations.
"This will leave a big hole in the marketplace for smaller toymakers like us," said Atkinson.
gary atkinson
The Singing Machine CEO Gary Atkinson says the closure of Toys "R" Us will leave a "big hole" in the marketplace for small suppliers.
The impact will be lighter for the toy maker Zuru Inc., which only does 5% of its sales through Toys "R" Us, according to CEO Nick Mowbray. But he said the impact on the toy industry cannot be overstated.
"It's a huge loss for the industry," he said. "The impact with vendors is going to be far reaching. A lot of smaller vendors are not going to have an outlet to get shelf space. Overall, it's very sad."
Related: The death of the big toy store
Instead, toy makers will have to compete for more shelf space at big box stores like Walmart (WMT) and Target (TGT). Toys "R" Us suppliers include big players like Mattel, Hasbro Inc. (HAS), Lego, Graco Children's Products, Spin Master, Playmobil and Pacific Cycle. But there were smaller companies too, like Munchkin Inc., Skyrocket Toys and Wowwee.
"Toys "R" Us has always been an outstanding partner to Wowwee over the years, and played an integral role in the success of many of our products, including most recently the launch and ongoing popularity of Fingerlings," said Wowwee president Richard Yanofsky, in a statement.
The closing of a major retailer like Toys "R" Us could have another impact on the industry: it could stifle toy innovation.
"What drove innovation in the industry was knowing Toys "R" Us has the shelf space and the square footage to support new concepts year round," said Atkinson.
By contrast, Walmart and Target devote more space to toys mostly in the fourth quarter, the biggest sales period of the year for the industry when shoppers pick up toys for the year-end holiday season, and then shrink it down substantially for rest of the year.
"Without Toys "R" Us, everyone is going to play it safe," he said. "Toy makers will just make toys with mass appeal that are more of a fit for Walmart and Target. That's the saddest part."
The liquidation of Toys "R" Us proves that small businesses should think differently about distribution, said Linda Parry Murphy, CEO and founder of Product Launchers, which helps companies launch and market products and get them onto store shelves. She said she's been changing her strategy, with to rely less on big box retailers, and diversify more into online retail.
"I think at one time there was a lot of excitement about getting in with these big retailers," she said. "It was exciting to get your foot in the door. [But] I think we've been let down by a lot of these retailers and that's why there's been some reflection on our side."
She coaches her suppliers to conduct much of their sales online, where they have more control over pricing and marketing. In this way, she said, Amazon (AMZN) has become the new Toys "R" Us.
She advises small companies to "not put all your eggs in one basket."
"These big retailers, they can go out of business overnight, and really there's not much we can do to protect ourselves against it."
CNNMoney (New York)
First published March 16, 2018: 12:06 PM ET
by Parija Kavilanz and Aaron Smith @CNNMoney
March 16, 2018: 12:16 PM ET
Your video will play in 00:09
For many toy makers, Toys "R" Us wasn't just a store, it was a lifeline.
The national toy retailer, which announced earlier this week plans to close or sell all of its US stores, acted as the main -- and sometimes only -- distributor for companies large and small.
"I am devastated that we have reached this point," said Toys "R" Us Chief Executive Officer Dave Brandon, in a speech to employees on Wednesday. "We have vendors and suppliers out there who are also going to experience disruption and in some cases the same risks of insolvency based on the level of penetration they have with our company."
It's a big blow to Gary Atkinson, CEO of The Singing Machine Company, which makes karaoke products.
"Toys "R" Us was our second biggest customer after Walmart," said Atkinson, who did $10 million in business with Toys "R" Us in 2017. He said the two companies shared a special relationship.
When the company launched a new kid's karaoke line last year, it was first showcased at Toys "R" Us. So when Toys "R" Us filed for bankruptcy last September, it was a difficult pill to swallow for Atkinson.
"We had already shipped $4.5 million worth of products to Toys "R" Us in September for the holiday season. We've since recouped some of that back, but it was less than half," he said.
inRead invented by Teads
What's even harder now, he said, is losing worldwide distribution for its karaoke products after the toy retailer said it was closing all its US stores and potentially most of its international operations.
"This will leave a big hole in the marketplace for smaller toymakers like us," said Atkinson.
gary atkinson
The Singing Machine CEO Gary Atkinson says the closure of Toys "R" Us will leave a "big hole" in the marketplace for small suppliers.
The impact will be lighter for the toy maker Zuru Inc., which only does 5% of its sales through Toys "R" Us, according to CEO Nick Mowbray. But he said the impact on the toy industry cannot be overstated.
"It's a huge loss for the industry," he said. "The impact with vendors is going to be far reaching. A lot of smaller vendors are not going to have an outlet to get shelf space. Overall, it's very sad."
Related: The death of the big toy store
Instead, toy makers will have to compete for more shelf space at big box stores like Walmart (WMT) and Target (TGT). Toys "R" Us suppliers include big players like Mattel, Hasbro Inc. (HAS), Lego, Graco Children's Products, Spin Master, Playmobil and Pacific Cycle. But there were smaller companies too, like Munchkin Inc., Skyrocket Toys and Wowwee.
"Toys "R" Us has always been an outstanding partner to Wowwee over the years, and played an integral role in the success of many of our products, including most recently the launch and ongoing popularity of Fingerlings," said Wowwee president Richard Yanofsky, in a statement.
The closing of a major retailer like Toys "R" Us could have another impact on the industry: it could stifle toy innovation.
"What drove innovation in the industry was knowing Toys "R" Us has the shelf space and the square footage to support new concepts year round," said Atkinson.
By contrast, Walmart and Target devote more space to toys mostly in the fourth quarter, the biggest sales period of the year for the industry when shoppers pick up toys for the year-end holiday season, and then shrink it down substantially for rest of the year.
"Without Toys "R" Us, everyone is going to play it safe," he said. "Toy makers will just make toys with mass appeal that are more of a fit for Walmart and Target. That's the saddest part."
The liquidation of Toys "R" Us proves that small businesses should think differently about distribution, said Linda Parry Murphy, CEO and founder of Product Launchers, which helps companies launch and market products and get them onto store shelves. She said she's been changing her strategy, with to rely less on big box retailers, and diversify more into online retail.
"I think at one time there was a lot of excitement about getting in with these big retailers," she said. "It was exciting to get your foot in the door. [But] I think we've been let down by a lot of these retailers and that's why there's been some reflection on our side."
She coaches her suppliers to conduct much of their sales online, where they have more control over pricing and marketing. In this way, she said, Amazon (AMZN) has become the new Toys "R" Us.
She advises small companies to "not put all your eggs in one basket."
"These big retailers, they can go out of business overnight, and really there's not much we can do to protect ourselves against it."
CNNMoney (New York)
First published March 16, 2018: 12:06 PM ET
How Stephen Hawking became the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Indepedent
17/3/2018
How Stephen Hawking became the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Posted by Greg Evans in news
UPVOTE
Stephen Hawking, who passed away early this week aged 76, was a seriously cool guy.
Not only was he a scientific genius and one of the smartest people on Earth, he was also capable of offering some pretty sound advice.
His sage words on depression and warning about boasting about one's IQ are pieces of wisdom that everyone should take to heart.
However, let's not forget that Hawking had a playful side and appeared in numerous TV shows such as The Simpsons and The Big Bang Theory.
One of his final cameos in the world of entertainment was a performance in the newest addition to the comedy sci-fi epic Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which debuted on BBC Radio 4 last week.
In the first episode of the sixth season of the show, based on Douglas Adams famed novel, Hawking literally features as the voice of the guide to the galaxy, identifying himself as Guide Mark II.
We won't go into the exact details of what is happening in this scene, but you have to love that the guide decided to take the form of Hawking and even referenced his fame and the acknowledgement he received through his books.
He says:
Others knew me in different forms.
I have been quite popular in my time.
Some even read my books.
Speaking to the Radio Times, the series producer David Morley explained how they managed to get Hawking onboard.
When we were thinking of cameos for the new series I suddenly thought of Professor Stephen Hawking.
It turned out that he was a huge fan of Hitchhiker’s and was keen to see the script.
He very quickly came back with a resounding ‘yes’ and Dirk Maggs (co-producer) and I were jumping up and down with joy.
His part blends perfectly with the actors. The results are fantastic.
In addition to his appearance on the show, the BBC have also released a 45-minute extended version of that particular episode, which is available for download now.
As a man who spent most of his life trying to explain "The Theory of Everything" there seems no more fitting way to remember Hawking as "pan-dimensional bio-hybrid organism" who knew the answer to the meaning of life.
HT Mashable
How Stephen Hawking became the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Posted by Greg Evans in news
UPVOTE
Stephen Hawking, who passed away early this week aged 76, was a seriously cool guy.
Not only was he a scientific genius and one of the smartest people on Earth, he was also capable of offering some pretty sound advice.
His sage words on depression and warning about boasting about one's IQ are pieces of wisdom that everyone should take to heart.
However, let's not forget that Hawking had a playful side and appeared in numerous TV shows such as The Simpsons and The Big Bang Theory.
One of his final cameos in the world of entertainment was a performance in the newest addition to the comedy sci-fi epic Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which debuted on BBC Radio 4 last week.
In the first episode of the sixth season of the show, based on Douglas Adams famed novel, Hawking literally features as the voice of the guide to the galaxy, identifying himself as Guide Mark II.
We won't go into the exact details of what is happening in this scene, but you have to love that the guide decided to take the form of Hawking and even referenced his fame and the acknowledgement he received through his books.
He says:
Others knew me in different forms.
I have been quite popular in my time.
Some even read my books.
Speaking to the Radio Times, the series producer David Morley explained how they managed to get Hawking onboard.
When we were thinking of cameos for the new series I suddenly thought of Professor Stephen Hawking.
It turned out that he was a huge fan of Hitchhiker’s and was keen to see the script.
He very quickly came back with a resounding ‘yes’ and Dirk Maggs (co-producer) and I were jumping up and down with joy.
His part blends perfectly with the actors. The results are fantastic.
In addition to his appearance on the show, the BBC have also released a 45-minute extended version of that particular episode, which is available for download now.
As a man who spent most of his life trying to explain "The Theory of Everything" there seems no more fitting way to remember Hawking as "pan-dimensional bio-hybrid organism" who knew the answer to the meaning of life.
HT Mashable
Vladimir Putin is expected to win a fourth term in office with 69 per cent of the vote - Independent ( source : Reuters )
16/3/2018
Russian election 2018: some want change, but Putin still cert to win
Vladimir Putin is expected to win a fourth term in office with 69 per cent of the vote
Polina Ivanova
Nothing in Russia contradicts the expectation of an emphatic Putin victory Reuters
Most Russians intending to vote for Vladimir Putin in Sunday’s election say stability is at the root of their faith in their candidate – though many young voters believe it’s time for a change of leader.
Putin, 65, is expected to win a fourth term in office with 69 per cent of the vote, according to the latest survey by a state-run pollster.
Reuters correspondents and photographers who travelled around the country talking to voters ahead of the 18 March election found nothing to contradict expectation of an emphatic Putin victory.
In Crimea, participating in a Russian presidential election for the first time since the territory was annexed from Ukraine in 2014, engineer Andrei Lukinykh says Putin is the only candidate who can provide stability in tough times.
Putin has 24 hours to explain how nerve agent used in UK, says May
“As the saying goes, you don’t change your horses mid-stream. Unlike the others, my candidate can provide the stability that’s needed,” Lukinykh says.
For Muscovite student Yulia Dyuzheva, economic progress during Putin’s 17 years in office won him her vote.
“As a representative of the younger generation, I can say that for us, young Russians, all the doors are open. Everyone is able to grab the opportunities presented and make the most of themselves, in whatever town or region,” she says.
But others believe Russia is ready for a change.
Accountant Natalia Dementieva, also from Moscow, says she is casting a vote for TV personality Ksenia Sobchak – one of seven other candidates – because she supported more freedoms.
“Speaks the truth, openly,” Dementieva explains. “She doesn’t lie. She raises issues which are taboo under our government.
“The next generation to rule this country were born between 1982 and 1987. There’s a lot of them and they don’t remember what it was like in the Soviet Union. So they’re less afraid.”
Sobchak is expected to garner 2 per cent of the vote, according to a 9 March poll by the state-run Russian Public Opinion Research Centre.
That’s less than the 3 per cent who plan to stay at home, some of whom may be heeding opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s call to boycott the vote after he was barred from being on the ballot.
From the Communist Party, wealthy farm boss Pavel Grudinin, 57, is set for a stronger showing, at 7 per cent.
For Alexei Gruk, a mechanic from St Petersburg, voting for the Communist Party sends the signal that things need to change at home, but he wants Russia’s foreign policy to stay the same.
“To hell with the sanctions,” Gruk says. “So what if they don’t bring foreign stuff here anymore? As if that means we have to give in. I don’t care.”
Nationalist firebrand Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a veteran lawmaker, is expected to garner 5 per cent of votes, according to latest polls, while liberal economist Grigory Yavlinsky should receive 1 per cent.
Reuters
Toys ‘R’ Us Is Closing Stores and the Internet Is Having a Hard Time - TIME Business
Toys ‘R’ Us Is Closing Stores and the Internet Is Having a Hard Time
Posted: 15 Mar 2018 12:08 PM PDT
After filing for bankruptcy last fall, Toys ‘R’ Us is reportedly working on a plan to liquidate its business entirely. In the wake of the struggling toy retailer announcing the closure of all its U.K. stores, remaining U.S. locations are now also facing the prospect of total liquidation.
The news of the shutdown has quickly spread across the Internet, prompting some who grew up with the toy giant to wax nostalgic about its peak. “It’s going to be so weird trying to explain Toys ‘R’ Us to future generations,” wrote one Twitter user. “‘Hey, you know those six aisles at Target you spend all your time in? Well, imagine if they were an entire store…’ (Assuming, like, future generations have Target.)”
“One day I will have to explain to my kids what Toys ‘R’ Us was,” added another. “And that’s where it hurts.”
However, others were just there to try and inject some humor into the sad situation. “I want to do my impression of NPR covering Toys ‘R’ Us closing,” tweeted comedian Chelsea Peretti.
It's going to be so weird trying to explain Toys 'R Us to future generations.
"Hey, you know those six aisles at Target you spend all your time in? Well, imagine if they were an entire store…"
(Assuming, like, future generations have Target.) https://t.co/DYQWJJX4p1
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) March 14, 2018
one day i will have to explain to my kids what Toys R Us was.. and that’s where it hurts
— Shafeeq (@Y2SHAF) March 15, 2018
I want to do my impression of NPR covering toys R uS closing
— Chelsea Peretti (@chelseaperetti) March 15, 2018
See some other reactions below.
The reason Toys R Us is dead and we’re still alive is simple. We never invested heavily in a mascot.
— The Last Blockbuster (@loneblockbuster) March 15, 2018
Toys R Us is closing in the U.S- I’m not crying
— Talyn Sunshine (@TalynSunshine) March 15, 2018
Toys R Us was like kids Vegas
— James White (@Flight8) March 15, 2018
I woke up in a place where #ToysRUs no longer exists. I’m going back to bed.
— Will Friedle (@willfriedle) March 15, 2018
all these people sad about toys r us closing,,,,when was the last time you went in a toys r us???
— Jake Bateman (@ybnotv) March 15, 2018
Pretty strong way for Toys R Us to tell us to grow up…
— Jesse Fernandez (@JesseFernandez) March 15, 2018
These kids only need a tablet and the App Store… Toys R Us, we’ll never forget
— Vince Valholla (@VinceValholla) March 14, 2018
R.I.P Toys-R-Us. Gonna miss the fun times. Pouring a Capri Sun out for Geoffrey
— Will Silver (@Willcartoons) March 14, 2018
Posted: 15 Mar 2018 12:08 PM PDT
After filing for bankruptcy last fall, Toys ‘R’ Us is reportedly working on a plan to liquidate its business entirely. In the wake of the struggling toy retailer announcing the closure of all its U.K. stores, remaining U.S. locations are now also facing the prospect of total liquidation.
The news of the shutdown has quickly spread across the Internet, prompting some who grew up with the toy giant to wax nostalgic about its peak. “It’s going to be so weird trying to explain Toys ‘R’ Us to future generations,” wrote one Twitter user. “‘Hey, you know those six aisles at Target you spend all your time in? Well, imagine if they were an entire store…’ (Assuming, like, future generations have Target.)”
“One day I will have to explain to my kids what Toys ‘R’ Us was,” added another. “And that’s where it hurts.”
However, others were just there to try and inject some humor into the sad situation. “I want to do my impression of NPR covering Toys ‘R’ Us closing,” tweeted comedian Chelsea Peretti.
It's going to be so weird trying to explain Toys 'R Us to future generations.
"Hey, you know those six aisles at Target you spend all your time in? Well, imagine if they were an entire store…"
(Assuming, like, future generations have Target.) https://t.co/DYQWJJX4p1
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) March 14, 2018
one day i will have to explain to my kids what Toys R Us was.. and that’s where it hurts
— Shafeeq (@Y2SHAF) March 15, 2018
I want to do my impression of NPR covering toys R uS closing
— Chelsea Peretti (@chelseaperetti) March 15, 2018
See some other reactions below.
The reason Toys R Us is dead and we’re still alive is simple. We never invested heavily in a mascot.
— The Last Blockbuster (@loneblockbuster) March 15, 2018
Toys R Us is closing in the U.S- I’m not crying
— Talyn Sunshine (@TalynSunshine) March 15, 2018
Toys R Us was like kids Vegas
— James White (@Flight8) March 15, 2018
I woke up in a place where #ToysRUs no longer exists. I’m going back to bed.
— Will Friedle (@willfriedle) March 15, 2018
all these people sad about toys r us closing,,,,when was the last time you went in a toys r us???
— Jake Bateman (@ybnotv) March 15, 2018
Pretty strong way for Toys R Us to tell us to grow up…
— Jesse Fernandez (@JesseFernandez) March 15, 2018
These kids only need a tablet and the App Store… Toys R Us, we’ll never forget
— Vince Valholla (@VinceValholla) March 14, 2018
R.I.P Toys-R-Us. Gonna miss the fun times. Pouring a Capri Sun out for Geoffrey
— Will Silver (@Willcartoons) March 14, 2018
Uber’s Biggest Rival Is Experimenting With All-You-Can-Ride Monthly Subscriptions - TIME Business
Uber’s Biggest Rival Is Experimenting With All-You-Can-Ride Monthly Subscriptions
Posted: 16 Mar 2018 05:00 AM PDT
Uber rival Lyft appears to be testing monthly subscriptions for the ride-hailing service.
Some Lyft users are posting on Twitter about receiving subscription offers from Lyft, with pricing varying from $249 for an “all-access plan,” $199 a month for 30 rides, $300 for the same number of rides or $399 for 60 rides, according to The Verge.
The offer would include individual rides up to $15 dollars, and seems to target users spending $450 or more a month on Lyft. The offers did not say how rides over $15 would be charged.
Transportation reporters: Lyft just invited me to a $199 per month all access plan… "With an All-Access Plan, you pay $199 each month and your standard Lyft rides are free (up to $15). "
— Janko Roettgers (@jank0) March 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/search?q=lyft%20subscription%20&src=typd
Interesting. Lyft appears to be trialing a subscription offering at $249 per month for free rides up to $15. pic.twitter.com/g2ARP7ju6Q
— KiDđź’° (@kidkapital) March 16, 2018
This Lyft subscription plan seems geared only to the most frequent users, folks who’d otherwise spend $450/month on ride-hailing pic.twitter.com/Ngzsl6S6JG
— Greg Bensinger (@GregBensinger) March 15, 2018
Uber tested out a similar subscription service in 2016, The Verge noted, but the feature was never widely released.
TIME reached out to Lyft for comment, but did not receive an immediate response.
China anti-corruption chief Wang Qishan named Xi Jinping's deputy - BBC News
17/3/2018
China anti-corruption chief Wang Qishan named Xi Jinping's deputy
Wang Qishan, left, shakes hands with President Xi Jinping after becoming his deputy
China's parliament has endorsed Xi Jinping for a second term and appointed Wang Qishan as his vice-president.
The ballot at the National People's Congress unanimously approved Mr Xi while Mr Wang received 2,969 votes in favour and only one against.
Wang Qishan was previously in charge of corruption investigations in China.
He is a longstanding ally of President Xi and his elevation is being seen as a further consolidation of the Chinese leader's power.
The recent abolition of term limits for the Chinese presidency extends to the vice-presidency, giving the position greater significance than before.
China's constitution allows the vice-president to "assist" in his superior's work and to carry out presidential duties on his behalf - meaning Wang Qishan, possibly in his role for life, could be far more than the figurehead his predecessors were.
China approves 'president for life' change
What if Xi Jinping is president for life?
Who is Wang Qishan?
Mr Wang, 69, has held a number of prominent positions since starting work for the Chinese Communist Party in the 1980s as a policy researcher.
He became mayor of Beijing during the Sars outbreak there in 2003, and was executive chair of the city's Olympic committee ahead of the 2008 games.
In 2007, he joined China's Politburo and in 2009 became then-president Hu Jintao's chief negotiator in trade talks with the US.
Former US treasury secretary Henry Paulson described him at the time as "decisive and inquisitive", and possessing a "wicked sense of humour".
Wang Qishan has held several posts, most significantly leading China's anti-corruption campaign
However, Mr Wang is best known for his most recent post - leading China's anti-corruption investigation.
The campaign, controlled by Mr Wang as head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, was launched in 2012 under the then newly appointed party leader, Xi Jinping.
Charting China's 'great purge' under Xi
During President Xi's first five years in office, 1.34 million officials at high and low levels - people Mr Xi disparaged as "tigers and flies" - were brought down by corruption and disciplinary charges.
Mr Wang, reportedly a friend of Mr Xi's from their youth, led the charge - becoming a feared enforcer for the Xi administration.
What does his promotion mean?
The end of term limits and the choice of such a prominent party member as Mr Wang could mean a change in what the role represents, analysts say.
Mr Wang's experience negotiating with the US on economics is significant, given US President Donald Trump's plans for tariffs.
China 'won't sit by' in Trump trade war
What could China do in a US trade war?
Hua Po, an independent Chinese political commentator, told AFP news agency his appointment may be to allow Mr Wang and Mr Xi to combat President Trump, adding: "Maybe they'll be able to come up with a solution for this massive brewing storm with America about imbalances and tariffs."
And his closeness to President Xi could mean he will make the position his own.
The pair have reportedly known each other since their youth
Speaking to the New York Times, researcher Wu Qiang who was formerly at the Tsinghua University in Beijing, said Mr Wang is "one of the most important figures" in President Xi's administration.
"Wang Qishan will add substance to the role of vice-president," he said.
"The amendment of the constitution has raised the status of the presidency, and the vice-presidency will also benefit from that."
China anti-corruption chief Wang Qishan named Xi Jinping's deputy
Wang Qishan, left, shakes hands with President Xi Jinping after becoming his deputy
China's parliament has endorsed Xi Jinping for a second term and appointed Wang Qishan as his vice-president.
The ballot at the National People's Congress unanimously approved Mr Xi while Mr Wang received 2,969 votes in favour and only one against.
Wang Qishan was previously in charge of corruption investigations in China.
He is a longstanding ally of President Xi and his elevation is being seen as a further consolidation of the Chinese leader's power.
The recent abolition of term limits for the Chinese presidency extends to the vice-presidency, giving the position greater significance than before.
China's constitution allows the vice-president to "assist" in his superior's work and to carry out presidential duties on his behalf - meaning Wang Qishan, possibly in his role for life, could be far more than the figurehead his predecessors were.
China approves 'president for life' change
What if Xi Jinping is president for life?
Who is Wang Qishan?
Mr Wang, 69, has held a number of prominent positions since starting work for the Chinese Communist Party in the 1980s as a policy researcher.
He became mayor of Beijing during the Sars outbreak there in 2003, and was executive chair of the city's Olympic committee ahead of the 2008 games.
In 2007, he joined China's Politburo and in 2009 became then-president Hu Jintao's chief negotiator in trade talks with the US.
Former US treasury secretary Henry Paulson described him at the time as "decisive and inquisitive", and possessing a "wicked sense of humour".
Wang Qishan has held several posts, most significantly leading China's anti-corruption campaign
However, Mr Wang is best known for his most recent post - leading China's anti-corruption investigation.
The campaign, controlled by Mr Wang as head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, was launched in 2012 under the then newly appointed party leader, Xi Jinping.
Charting China's 'great purge' under Xi
During President Xi's first five years in office, 1.34 million officials at high and low levels - people Mr Xi disparaged as "tigers and flies" - were brought down by corruption and disciplinary charges.
Mr Wang, reportedly a friend of Mr Xi's from their youth, led the charge - becoming a feared enforcer for the Xi administration.
What does his promotion mean?
The end of term limits and the choice of such a prominent party member as Mr Wang could mean a change in what the role represents, analysts say.
Mr Wang's experience negotiating with the US on economics is significant, given US President Donald Trump's plans for tariffs.
China 'won't sit by' in Trump trade war
What could China do in a US trade war?
Hua Po, an independent Chinese political commentator, told AFP news agency his appointment may be to allow Mr Wang and Mr Xi to combat President Trump, adding: "Maybe they'll be able to come up with a solution for this massive brewing storm with America about imbalances and tariffs."
And his closeness to President Xi could mean he will make the position his own.
The pair have reportedly known each other since their youth
Speaking to the New York Times, researcher Wu Qiang who was formerly at the Tsinghua University in Beijing, said Mr Wang is "one of the most important figures" in President Xi's administration.
"Wang Qishan will add substance to the role of vice-president," he said.
"The amendment of the constitution has raised the status of the presidency, and the vice-presidency will also benefit from that."
Hacker who gave up Wikileaks source dies - BBC News
Hacker who gave up Wikileaks source dies
Dave Lee
North America technology reporter
17 March 2018
Adrian Lamo was behind hack attacks on Microsoft and the New York Times
Adrian Lamo, a computer hacker best known for passing on information that led to the arrest of Chelsea Manning, has died aged 37.
In online messaging conversations, Manning confided in him, describing confidential military material Manning had sent to Wikileaks.
Wikileaks published the video of a US helicopter strike that killed seven people, including a journalist working for the Reuters news agency.
The cause of Lamo’s death, confirmed to the BBC by the Sedgwick County coroner in Kansas, has not yet been made public.
On Facebook, his father Mario wrote: “With great sadness and a broken heart I have to let know all of Adrian's friends and acquittances [sic] that he is dead. A bright mind and compassionate soul is gone, he was my beloved son.”
Lamo's own record as a hacker included some high-profile targets, such as Microsoft and the New York Times.
'Thrust upon me'
Speaking to the Guardian newspaper in 2011, Lamo described his decision to give up Manning as “not one I decided to make, but was thrust upon me”.
Lamo said he would have "lasting regret" if Manning was handed a long sentence.
Manning, known at the time as Bradley Manning, was eventually sentenced to 35 years in prison. However, President Barack Obama later commuted her sentence and she was released in May 2017.
She is now attempting to become the Senator for Maryland, her home state.
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange on Friday described Lamo as a “petty conman and betrayer of basic human decency”.
Dave Lee
North America technology reporter
17 March 2018
Adrian Lamo was behind hack attacks on Microsoft and the New York Times
Adrian Lamo, a computer hacker best known for passing on information that led to the arrest of Chelsea Manning, has died aged 37.
In online messaging conversations, Manning confided in him, describing confidential military material Manning had sent to Wikileaks.
Wikileaks published the video of a US helicopter strike that killed seven people, including a journalist working for the Reuters news agency.
The cause of Lamo’s death, confirmed to the BBC by the Sedgwick County coroner in Kansas, has not yet been made public.
On Facebook, his father Mario wrote: “With great sadness and a broken heart I have to let know all of Adrian's friends and acquittances [sic] that he is dead. A bright mind and compassionate soul is gone, he was my beloved son.”
Lamo's own record as a hacker included some high-profile targets, such as Microsoft and the New York Times.
'Thrust upon me'
Speaking to the Guardian newspaper in 2011, Lamo described his decision to give up Manning as “not one I decided to make, but was thrust upon me”.
Lamo said he would have "lasting regret" if Manning was handed a long sentence.
Manning, known at the time as Bradley Manning, was eventually sentenced to 35 years in prison. However, President Barack Obama later commuted her sentence and she was released in May 2017.
She is now attempting to become the Senator for Maryland, her home state.
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange on Friday described Lamo as a “petty conman and betrayer of basic human decency”.
Russia spy poisoning: 23 UK diplomats expelled from Moscow - BBC News
17/3/2018
Russia spy poisoning: 23 UK diplomats expelled from Moscow
Britain's ambassador to Russia, Laurie Bristow, was summoned to Russia's foreign ministry
Russia is to expel 23 British diplomats amid tensions over the nerve agent attack on a former spy and his daughter in the UK.
The Russian foreign ministry said staff from the UK's Moscow embassy would be expelled within a week.
It also said it would close the British Council in Russia, which promotes cultural ties between the nations, and the British Consulate in St Petersburg.
The move comes in response to Britain's decision to expel 23 Russian diplomats.
They were ordered to leave over the incident on 4 March which the UK government has blamed on Russia - but which Russia denies.
The UK Foreign Office said in a statement that it had "anticipated a response of this kind" from Russia and the National Security Council would meet early next week to consider its next steps.
What we know so far
Why does UK think it was Russia?
What are Novichok agents and what do they do?
Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia Skripal, 33, remain critically ill in hospital, after they were found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury, Wiltshire.
The UK government says they were poisoned with a nerve agent of a type developed by Russia called Novichok, and PM Theresa May has said she believes Moscow is "culpable".
Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, are in a critical condition in hospital
On Friday, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said it was "overwhelmingly likely" that Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered the nerve agent attack.
Responding, Mr Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the accusations were "shocking and unforgivable".
Media caption"Our quarrel is with Putin's Kremlin," Boris Johnson says.
Britain's ambassador to Russia, Laurie Bristow, was summoned to Russia's foreign ministry on Saturday and was handed Russia's response to the UK's sanctions.
Mr Bristow, after leaving the meeting, said that the UK had no quarrel with the Russian people and would "always do what is necessary to defend ourselves".
Analysis
By Sarah Rainsford, BBC Moscow correspondent
The British ambassador had been expecting this call for three days.
In the end, he spent just over 10 minutes in the foreign ministry where he was handed Russia's counter-sanctions.
The response from Moscow is robust and does go further than the UK measures. But it doesn't appear calculated to escalate tensions.
The ministry has stuck to 23 for 23 in terms of diplomatic expulsions, no more.
And while it is ordering the closure of the UK consulate in St Petersburg - both Moscow and Ekaterinburg remain open.
Russia's response has also targeted the British Council, which promotes cultural ties.
That will be seen by Britain as a low blow, hurting the Russian people - not the British government. But the UK is unlikely to want to retaliate in kind.
The council's activity here had already been significantly curtailed by Moscow after the last crisis in relations, when Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned.
Meanwhile, the double tactic of denial and distraction here continues, both in comments by officials, and in the mocking, dismissive coverage of the Skripal case on state-run media.
The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement that the British diplomats would be "declared persona non grata", adding that it "reserves the right to introduce other retaliatory measures in case of further unfriendly actions".
It said it was responding to "provocative actions" by Britain - and "unproven accusations" that the Russian state was behind the poisoning.
A look around Porton Down, Britain's military research base in to chemical and biological attacks
A Downing Street spokesman said the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) had been invited to come to the UK to take a sample of the nerve agent.
Conspiracy theories and denial in Russia
UK Russia response going to plan so far
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police have launched a murder investigation into the death of businessman and Kremlin critic Nikolai Glushkov - a Russian exile who was found dead in his south-London home on Monday.
A post-mortem examination found the 68-year-old died from "compression to the neck".
Police say there is no evidence at this stage linking his case with the Salisbury attack.
However, they have begun to contact a number of Russian exiles to discuss their safety as they investigate the murder.
Russia has also opened criminal investigations into "the murder" of Nikolai Glushkov, and the "attempted murder" of Ms Skripal and her father.
Russia spy poisoning: 23 UK diplomats expelled from Moscow
Britain's ambassador to Russia, Laurie Bristow, was summoned to Russia's foreign ministry
Russia is to expel 23 British diplomats amid tensions over the nerve agent attack on a former spy and his daughter in the UK.
The Russian foreign ministry said staff from the UK's Moscow embassy would be expelled within a week.
It also said it would close the British Council in Russia, which promotes cultural ties between the nations, and the British Consulate in St Petersburg.
The move comes in response to Britain's decision to expel 23 Russian diplomats.
They were ordered to leave over the incident on 4 March which the UK government has blamed on Russia - but which Russia denies.
The UK Foreign Office said in a statement that it had "anticipated a response of this kind" from Russia and the National Security Council would meet early next week to consider its next steps.
What we know so far
Why does UK think it was Russia?
What are Novichok agents and what do they do?
Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia Skripal, 33, remain critically ill in hospital, after they were found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury, Wiltshire.
The UK government says they were poisoned with a nerve agent of a type developed by Russia called Novichok, and PM Theresa May has said she believes Moscow is "culpable".
Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, are in a critical condition in hospital
On Friday, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said it was "overwhelmingly likely" that Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered the nerve agent attack.
Responding, Mr Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the accusations were "shocking and unforgivable".
Media caption"Our quarrel is with Putin's Kremlin," Boris Johnson says.
Britain's ambassador to Russia, Laurie Bristow, was summoned to Russia's foreign ministry on Saturday and was handed Russia's response to the UK's sanctions.
Mr Bristow, after leaving the meeting, said that the UK had no quarrel with the Russian people and would "always do what is necessary to defend ourselves".
Analysis
By Sarah Rainsford, BBC Moscow correspondent
The British ambassador had been expecting this call for three days.
In the end, he spent just over 10 minutes in the foreign ministry where he was handed Russia's counter-sanctions.
The response from Moscow is robust and does go further than the UK measures. But it doesn't appear calculated to escalate tensions.
The ministry has stuck to 23 for 23 in terms of diplomatic expulsions, no more.
And while it is ordering the closure of the UK consulate in St Petersburg - both Moscow and Ekaterinburg remain open.
Russia's response has also targeted the British Council, which promotes cultural ties.
That will be seen by Britain as a low blow, hurting the Russian people - not the British government. But the UK is unlikely to want to retaliate in kind.
The council's activity here had already been significantly curtailed by Moscow after the last crisis in relations, when Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned.
Meanwhile, the double tactic of denial and distraction here continues, both in comments by officials, and in the mocking, dismissive coverage of the Skripal case on state-run media.
The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement that the British diplomats would be "declared persona non grata", adding that it "reserves the right to introduce other retaliatory measures in case of further unfriendly actions".
It said it was responding to "provocative actions" by Britain - and "unproven accusations" that the Russian state was behind the poisoning.
A look around Porton Down, Britain's military research base in to chemical and biological attacks
A Downing Street spokesman said the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) had been invited to come to the UK to take a sample of the nerve agent.
Conspiracy theories and denial in Russia
UK Russia response going to plan so far
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police have launched a murder investigation into the death of businessman and Kremlin critic Nikolai Glushkov - a Russian exile who was found dead in his south-London home on Monday.
A post-mortem examination found the 68-year-old died from "compression to the neck".
Police say there is no evidence at this stage linking his case with the Salisbury attack.
However, they have begun to contact a number of Russian exiles to discuss their safety as they investigate the murder.
Russia has also opened criminal investigations into "the murder" of Nikolai Glushkov, and the "attempted murder" of Ms Skripal and her father.
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