As violence and vandalism escalate in Hong Kong, some protest supporters have had enough

For most of the summer, 25-year-old Jose was an ardent supporter of the protests raging in Hong Kong. Even when demonstrations became increasingly violent, she defended the protesters themselves -- they were provoked, or were fighting for a greater good, she would argue.

Then August 13 happened. That night, she watched live streams, horrified, as a mob of protesters at Hong Kong airport surrounded a man they claimed was an undercover police officer. They bound his wrists, lashed out at him after he appeared to lose consciousness, and shouted down those who pleaded to get him medical attention.
"I remember being in disbelief, looking at my TV -- like, what's happening? Why have they done this?" Jose said. "Up until that day, I'd understood what they were fighting for ... I went back into my room and sat there looking at my wall for a very long time."

The airport incident marked one of the defining moments in the protests, which began in June with peaceful mass marches against a now-withdrawn bill that would have allowed extradition to mainland China, among other countries. It has since spiraled into a broader pro-democracy, anti-government movement, with protesters laying out five major demands -- only one of which has been met.
Both sides accuse the other of using excessive violence, and provoking the use of police tear gas and protester petrol bombs. Even Hong Kong itself is covered with marks of the unrest, with shops vandalized and boarded up, and many subway station entrances charcoal-black from fires set by protesters.
However with no clear end in sight, new divisions appear to be emerging in the city -- besides the hardcore protest frontliners and fierce opponents, now there are wavering sideline supporters and moderates who say they have been driven away by the violence.

No one believed him when he said he hadn't been drinking. Then researchers found his body was producing alcohol

When a man in North Carolina was pulled over on suspicion of driving drunk, police didn't believe him when he said he hadn't had any alcohol.

The man, in his late 40's at the time, refused to take a breathalyzer test and was taken to a hospital, where his initial blood alcohol level was found to be 0.2% — about 2.5 times the legal limit and the equivalent of consuming 10 drinks an hour. Despite the man swearing up and down that he hadn't had anything to drink, doctors didn't believe him either.
But researchers at the Richmond University Medical Center in New York eventually discovered that the man was telling the truth. He wasn't downing beers or cocktails — instead, there was yeast in his gut that was likely converting carbohydrates in the food he ate to alcohol.

In other words, his body was brewing beer.
The findings were reported in a study in BMJ Open Gastroenterology. The man, whose identity has not been revealed, had a rarely diagnosed medical condition called auto-brewery syndrome (ABS), also known as gut fermentation syndrome.
Gut fermentation syndrome occurs when yeast in the gastrointestinal tract causes the body to convert carbohydrates ingested through food into alcohol. The process typically takes place in the upper GI tract, which includes the stomach and the first part of the small intestine.
"These patients have the exact same implications of alcoholism: the smell, the breath, drowsiness, gait changes," Fahad Malik, the study's lead author and the chief internal medicine resident at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, told CNN. "They will present as someone who's intoxicated by alcohol, but the only difference here is that these patients can be treated by antifungal medications."
Researchers treated him with antifungal medications

Philippine mayor on President Duterte's drug list killed by gunmen in daylight ambush

A Philippine city mayor on President Rodrigo Duterte's ‘drug list' has been gunned down during a daylight ambush by a gang of heavily armed men.

Mayor David Navarro of Clarin, Misamis Occidental, was killed and five others were left injured in the attack on Friday, October 25.
This comes a day after Navarro was detained by Cebu police after he was accused of beating up a therapist inside a massage centre the previous night. The beating incident on Wednesday night was caught on a close-circuit camera.
Navarro was being transported in police vehicle to the prosecutor's office in Cebu City to faces charges of assault when men in masks in another van stopped the police convoy. They reportedly told the mayor to get down and shot him dead.
According to RT, Navarro was wearing a bulletproof vest and was flanked by officers in a patrol car when the convoy came under fire.

Actress Felicity Huffman released from prison on 11th day of 14-day sentence

Felicity Huffman has been released from prison after serving only 11 days out of her 14-day prison sentence over her role in a massive college admissions scandal.

The California Board of Prisons said the actress who started off her prison sentence on October 15 at a Federal Prison in Dublin, California with approximately 1,200 female inmates was released early in adherence to a policy of inmates getting released on Friday if their release date falls on a weekend.

Recall Huffman who admitted to paying $15,000 in an effort to boost her eldest daughter's SAT score also received one year of probation, 250 hours of community service and a $30,000 fine she has already paid.

DOJ review of Russia probe now a criminal inquiry

The Justice Department has shifted its review of the Russia probe to a criminal investigation, a person familiar with the matter said Thursday, a move that is likely to raise concerns that President Donald Trump and his allies may be using the powers of the government to go after their opponents.

The revelation comes as Trump is already facing scrutiny about a potential abuse of power, including a House impeachment inquiry examining whether he withheld military aid in order to pressure the president of Ukraine to launch an investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.

The person who confirmed the criminal investigation was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

It is not clear what potential crimes are being investigated, but the designation as a formal criminal investigation gives prosecutors the ability to issue subpoenas, potentially empanel a grand jury and compel witnesses to give testimony and bring federal criminal charges.

The Justice Department had previously considered it to be an administrative review, and Attorney General William Barr appointed John Durham, the U.S. attorney in Connecticut, to lead the inquiry into the origins of special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election. It's not clear when Durham's inquiry shifted to a criminal investigation.

Kim orders South's buildings at resort in North be destroyed

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered the destruction of South Korean-made hotels and other tourist facilities at the North's Diamond Mountain resort, apparently because Seoul won't defy international sanctions and resume South Korean tours at the site.

Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency said Wednesday that Kim had visited the resort and described its facilities as "shabby" and lacking national character. The report said Kim criticized North Korea's policies pushed under his late father as too dependent on the South and vowed that the North would redevelop the site on its own.

Kim's comments came during a prolonged freeze in relations with Seoul and are a major setback to liberal South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who met Kim three times last year while expressing ambitions to reboot inter-Korean economic engagement.

The prospects for that has dimmed amid a standstill in nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang, which faltered after the collapse of a February summit between Kim and President Donald Trump where the Americans rejected the North's demands for broad sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities.

The United States and North Korea resumed working-level discussions in Sweden earlier this month, but the talks broke down amid acrimony.

South Korean officials held back direct criticism on Kim's remarks, saying they need to take a closer look at the North's intent.

Breaking News:39 bodies found in a truck container in southeast England

Police have launched a murder investigation in southeast England after 39 people were found dead in a truck container at an Essex industrial park. One of the victims was in their teens.

Authorities believe the lorry originated from Bulgaria, entering the UK over the weekend.
"We are in the process of identifying the victims, however I anticipate that this could be a lengthy process," Chief Superintendent Andrew Mariner said in a statement.
They have arrested a 25-year-old Northern Irish truck driver "on suspicion of murder," Essex Police said.
"We have arrested the lorry driver in connection with the incident who remains in police custody as our enquiries continue. I appreciate this cordon is going to disrupt the activity of local businesses in the area and we will work to ensure that disruption is kept as short as possible. We are working with Thurrock Council to mitigate against any impact our investigation scene will have locally, " Mariner added.

Damon Herriman Stands Out as ‘The Nightingale’ and ‘Lambs of God’ Lead AACTA Nominations

Dark thriller, “The Nightingale” and miniseries “Lambs of God” lead the pack at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards. In nominations announced on Wednesday, they picked up 15 and 18 nods, respectively.

Jennifer Kent’s “The Nightingale” was one of six films nominated in the best film category. With others including Mirrah Foulkes’ “Judy & Punch,” and Rachel Griffiths’ “Ride Like A Girl,” as well as “Hotel Mumbai,” “Top End Wedding,” and ‘The King,” half are made by female directors.

Actor, Damon Herriman is the standout talent. He is nominated as best (film) actor for an extraordinary performance in “Judy & Punch,” best supporting actor in “The Nightingale,” and best (TV) supporting actor in both “Lambs of God,” and “Mr Inbetween.” Joel Edgerton gets three nominations as co-writer, best actor, and producer of “The King.”

‘Terminator: Dark Fate’ Tops Studios’ TV Ad Spending

in this week’s edition of the Variety Movie Commercial Tracker, powered by the always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company iSpot.tv, Paramount Pictures claims the top spot in spending with “Terminator: Dark Fate.”

Ads placed for the sci-fi action film had an estimated media value of $6.81 million through Sunday for 796 national ad airings on 34 networks. (Spend figures are based on estimates generated from Oct. 14-20. Estimates may be updated after the chart is posted as new information becomes available.) Paramount prioritized spend across networks including Fox, CBS and NBC, and during programming such as NFL Football, MLB Baseball and NBA Basketball.

Just behind “Terminator: Dark Fate” in second place: Paramount’s “Playing With Fire,” which saw 717 national ad airings across 29 networks, with an estimated media value of $4.73 million.


TV ad placements for Walt Disney Pictures’ “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” (EMV: $4.71 million), Universal Pictures’ “Last Christmas” ($4.12 million) and Lionsgate’s “Midway” ($4.07 million) round out the chart. 

Notably, “Last Christmas” has the best iSpot Attention Index (127) in the ranking, getting 27% fewer interruptions than the average movie ad (interruptions include changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV).

A Woman Died After A Dentist Removed 10 Of Her Teeth

A dentist has been temporarily struck off after a patient died hours after having 10 teeth removed by him.

Tushar Patel has been banned from working for a year after being branded unfit to practise medicine following a 'catalogue of errors'.

The General Dental Council was told the late female, known as 'Patient A', had visited Patel suffering with advanced gum disease and over two appointments had all of her top teeth removed.

However, despite the woman informing him she had been taking blood-thinning medicine Warfarin for her rare clotting condition, Patel failed to 'weigh up the risks' of his treatment and ignored guidance 'well-known to dentists'.

Hours after her final appointment, Patient A was rushed A&E after collapsing at home while 'bleeding from her mouth'. She later died.

The General Dental Council was informed of the death and a professional conduct hearing last week ruled Patel's fitness to practice was impaired.

The GDC panel heard Patel failed to discuss with her the increased risk of bleeding because she was taking Warfarin, and didn't carry out checks in line with industry-standard guidelines to assess the risks.

James Schmerer, Writer on 'MacGyver,' 'CHiPs' and 'The High Chaparral,' Dies at 81

He started his career with documentary producer David Wolper.
James Schmerer, a TV writer and producer with credits including MacGyver, CHiPs, The High Chaparral and Mannix, died Oct. 4 of stroke complications at his home in Eugene, Oregon, the WGA West announced. He was 81.

Schmerer produced 43 episodes of The High Chaparral, an NBC Western that starred Leif Erickson and Cameron Mitchell and aired from 1967-71, and wrote a couple as well.

The Queens native penned nine installments of CHiPs, six of MacGyver and three of Vegas and wrote for Medical Center, Mod Squad, Star Trek: The Animated Series, The Streets of San Francisco, The Rookies, Fantasy Island, The Six Million Dollar Man and Starsky and Hutch, among other series.

John Clarke, Original 'Days of Our Lives' Actor, Dies at 88

He played Mickey Horton, one of the sons of Macdonald Carey's character, on the NBC soap for 39 years.
John Clarke, the Days of Our Lives actor who portrayed lawyer Mickey Horton on the NBC soap opera for nearly four decades, right from the very beginning, died Wednesday in Laguna Beach, California. He was 88.

Clarke also appeared on the fourth Twilight Zone episode, "The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine," which first aired in 1959, and played an LAPD cop opposite Leslie Nielsen and future General Hospital star John Beradino on the Quinn Martin/ABC drama The New Breed, which ran for a season (1961-62).

Clarke starred as one of the sons of Macdonald Carey's Dr. Tom Horton on Days of Our Lives from the show's debut in November 1965 until he retired in January 2004, when he received a lifetime achievement award at the Daytime Emmys. Clarke had only planned to stay with the show for a year.

He also was nominated for the Daytime Emmy outstanding actor award in 1979.

China Is Building 'The Mother of All Bombs

what do we know about China’s big bomb? Not much, and what there is may be mere hype.

China has joined the “Mother of All Bombs” club.

A Chinese arms maker has unveiled a weapon similar to America’s GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, or MOAB (hence the nickname “Mother of All Bombs”). The Chinese version was dropped from an H-6K bomber, the Chinese version of the 1950s Soviet Tu-16 aircraft.

Photographs on China’s state-owned Global Times news site showed earlier in the year what appeared to be a large bomb falling from a bomb bay, and then a large explosion. Chinese military analyst Wei Dongxu told Global Times that based on photographic evidence and the size of the H-6K’s bomb bay, the bomb was five to six meters long (16.4 to 19.7 feet long). Chinese media also suggested that the bomb weighed several tons, and was so big that the H-6K could only carry one.

New 'Varsity Blues' charges affect 11 parents, including Lori Loughlin

New 'Varsity Blues' charges affect 11 parents, including Lori Loughlin originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

A grand jury in Boston returned additional charges on Tuesday against 18 people tied to the "Varsity Blues" college admissions scandal.

The new charges affect 11 of 15 previously charged parents, including actress Lori Loughlin, and seven university officials. Mossimo Giannuli, Loughlin's husband, is also among those facing additional charges.

The jury alleges that 11 defendants "conspired to commit federal program bribery by bribing employees of the University of Southern California (USC) to facilitate their children's admission," according to a Department of Justice statement. The defendants are Gamal Abdelaziz, Diane Blake, Todd Blake, Mossimo Giannulli, Elisabeth Kimmell, Lori Loughlin, William McGlashan Jr., Marci Palatella, John Wilson, Homayoun Zadeh and Robert Zangrillo.

Known as federal programs bribery, these new charges allege the parents defrauded an institution that receives federal funds, namely USC, by bribing employees to admit their children as athletic recruits.

The new charges in the District of Massachusetts is apply only to parents like Loughlin who have opted not to plead guilty to the initial indictment. Parents who've already pleaded guilty or agreed to pleas were spared additional charges. The new charges may not have come as much of a surprise since prosecutors had warned parents who didn't plead guilty that they could face additional charges, attorneys involved in the case told us.

Wilson, of Lynnfield, Massachusetts, additionally has been charged with two counts of substantive federal programs bribery in connection with efforts to use bribes to get his children into Harvard University and Stanford University.

Mom who touted daughter’s ‘bucket list’ of dreams before her death indicted on murder charge

 


A Colorado mother who sought donations to cover medical treatments for her daughter and promoted the girl’s “bucket list” of dreams to fulfill before she died has been indicted on a murder charge in the 7-year-old’s death that was previously believed to be from a terminal disease. In a grand jury indictment revealed Monday, Kelly Renee Turner, 41, also known as Kelly Gant, was charged with 13 criminal counts that included child abuse, theft and charitable fraud in the death of Olivia Gant in 2017.

 The indictment alleges Turner caused Olivia Gant’s 2017 death, not the multiple illnesses that the mother claimed the girl had and that prompted publicized ride-alongs with police and fire crews. The Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to critically ill children, also paid about $11,000 for a “bat princess” costume party for her. Turner was arrested Friday at a Denver-area hotel and held without bond, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said.

 It is not clear if she has an attorney who could speak on her behalf. Olivia’s actual cause of death was not immediately clear. It was originally attributed to intestinal failure, according to the indictment issued Thursday and first reported Monday by KUSA-TV. Her body was exhumed last year, and an autopsy found no physical evidence of that illness or other conditions that Turner claimed the girl suffered, including seizure disorder and a buildup of fluid in cavities deep within the brain. Olivia’s death is now listed as undetermined. Investigators say Olivia had been using a feeding tube and was admitted in July 2017 to Children’s Hospital Colorado, where doctors said her nutrition was deficient. One doctor told investigators that Turner wanted to withdraw all medical care and artificial feeding for her daughter because her quality of life was so bad. He said she insisted that he sign a “do not resuscitate” order for her daughter.