newyorkpost--2020-10-28--Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Guillermo Vilas: Settling the Score’ on Netflix, a Documentary About a Tennis

Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Guillermo Vilas: Settling the Score’ on Netflix, a Documentary About a Tennis Star Who Was Screwed Over by the Man

Netflix ’ s Guillermo Vilas : Settling the Score chronicles a near-lifelong quest for the man in the title : to be recognized by the Association of Tennis Professionals as a No .
1-ranked player .
The Argentinian tennis pro was a beast on the court in the mid-to-late ’ 70s , stacking up wins , competing with the best international players and proving to be almost unmatched in his endurance .
He never got the official No .
1 ranking , but this documentary may prove otherwise .
GUILLERMO VILAS : SETTLING THE SCORE : STREAM IT OR SKIP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of tennis greats piles accolades upon Vilas : Boris Becker , Roger Federer , Rafael Nadal , Bjorn Borg , Gabriela Sabatini .
He ’ s easily the greatest Argentinian tennis player ever .
He chronicled his many years in the circuit in detailed diaries and on audio cassettes .
Borg , who was Vilas ’ close friend , says he should ’ ve been ranked No .
1 — the ultimate goal for a tennis pro , and an achievement greater than winning any tournament .
Vilas never understood why the ATP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jimmy Connors despite the statistics , but the association , which even in the ’ 70s was using computers to calculate the rankings , denied his requests to see the records .
Eduardo Puppo , an Argentinian sportswriter who began covering tennis in 1980 , probably found that fishy .
It never added up in his mind , either .
In 2007 , he saw how Australian tennis star Evonne Goolagong was retroactively awarded a No .
1 1976 ranking after the ATP acknowledged a computer error , so he started looking at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his stat-crunching saga , the movie jumps back to the story of Vilas and his upbringing , chronicling his big victories and defeats , his love of rock music — hearing Jimi Hendrix changed his life — and sharing archival footage of his intensive training under coach Ion Tiriac .
Puppo became obsessed with poring over Vilas ’ stats .
He stayed up late working ; his family stopped having visitors to the house because the place was cluttered with papers and books .
It was too much .
At one point , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over .
He ’ s a journalist , not a statistician .
So his wife , seeking relief for him and the family , found a Romanian mathematician , Marian Ciulpan , to help out .
They found significant discrepancies and errors in the calculations .
In 2013 , Puppo and Ciulpan contacted Vilas to let him know about their project , and he was overjoyed .
In 2014 , Puppo presented his case to the ATP , to the tune of 1,232 files supported by 1,119 pages of research .
WHAM .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
: Settling the Score is like a 30 for 30 documentary cut with the intense-research scenes from HBO series I ’ ll Be Gone in the Dark .
Performance Worth Watching : Vilas is a bit of a character , an obsessive type who painstakingly documented his career .
He gets a candid moment to illustrate how he really , truly cares about being properly acknowledged by the ATP , and it ’ s hard not to feel empathetic .
Memorable Dialogue : “ It is said that it is irrational to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can someone beat their own history ?
” — Puppo Our Take : Settling the Score takes a compelling angle on the tried-and-true sports documentary by making the case for acknowledging Vilas — and rendering the ATP the villain of the story .
Director Matias Gueilburt pieces together intimate footage of Vilas off the court and key moments on it , jumping back and forth between the ’ 70s and the 2010s , framing Puppo as a protagonist and including contemporary interviews with tennis luminaries , journalists and an ATP member who can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a greasy politician .
Gueilburt nicely illustrates some of the statistical discrepancies in Vilas ’ case without getting too far into the weeds , although a better contextual explanation as to exactly why there were so many stats to consider would ’ ve been helpful .
In its better moments , the film gets into Vilas ’ relationship with his father , and his blossoming friendship with Puppo , who , thanks to their battle against the ATP , became his biographer and the steward of his extensive archive — Vilas ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , papers , the guy even saved his socks from key matches .
Vilas appears primarily in archival footage , as his health has deteriorated in recent years ( he ’ s rumored to have Alzheimer ’ s disease ) , and he moved from Buenos Aires to Monaco .
Candid footage of Puppo and a slightly ailing Vilas hanging out together is touching , and brings the story to an emotionally warm conclusion — and the film needs it because the ATP stonewalled them and lawyers got involved , and everything is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seem to want to admit that maybe ALL their stats dating back to 1972 are screwed up .
A-holes .
But Puppo and Vilas know the truth — and now we do too .
Our Call : STREAM IT .
Guillermo Vilas : Settling the Score meanders for a bit until wrapping with a strong third act , which establishes the film as a sneaky activist doc .
Hooray for another lid being ripped off a stinking rotten can of worms .
John Serba is a freelance writer and film critic based in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his work at johnserbaatlarge.com or follow him on Twitter : @ johnserba .

Netflix’s Guillermo Vilas: Settling the Score chronicles a near-lifelong quest for the man in the title: to be recognized by the Association of Tennis Professionals as a No. 1-ranked player. The Argentinian tennis pro was a beast on the court in the mid-to-late ’70s, stacking up wins, competing with the best international players and proving to be almost unmatched in his endurance. He never got the official No. 1 ranking, but this documentary may prove otherwise.
GUILLERMO VILAS: SETTLING THE SCORE: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?
The Gist: A series of tennis greats piles accolades upon Vilas: Boris Becker, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Bjorn Borg, Gabriela Sabatini. He’s easily the greatest Argentinian tennis player ever. He chronicled his many years in the circuit in detailed diaries and on audio cassettes. Borg, who was Vilas’ close friend, says he should’ve been ranked No. 1 — the ultimate goal for a tennis pro, and an achievement greater than winning any tournament. Vilas never understood why the ATP only ranked him No. 2 behind Jimmy Connors despite the statistics, but the association, which even in the ’70s was using computers to calculate the rankings, denied his requests to see the records.
Eduardo Puppo, an Argentinian sportswriter who began covering tennis in 1980, probably found that fishy. It never added up in his mind, either. In 2007, he saw how Australian tennis star Evonne Goolagong was retroactively awarded a No. 1 1976 ranking after the ATP acknowledged a computer error, so he started looking at Vilas’ numbers. As Puppo recounts his stat-crunching saga, the movie jumps back to the story of Vilas and his upbringing, chronicling his big victories and defeats, his love of rock music — hearing Jimi Hendrix changed his life — and sharing archival footage of his intensive training under coach Ion Tiriac.
Puppo became obsessed with poring over Vilas’ stats. He stayed up late working; his family stopped having visitors to the house because the place was cluttered with papers and books. It was too much. At one point, he scrapped reams of work and started over. He’s a journalist, not a statistician. So his wife, seeking relief for him and the family, found a Romanian mathematician, Marian Ciulpan, to help out. They found significant discrepancies and errors in the calculations. In 2013, Puppo and Ciulpan contacted Vilas to let him know about their project, and he was overjoyed. In 2014, Puppo presented his case to the ATP, to the tune of 1,232 files supported by 1,119 pages of research. WHAM.
What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: Settling the Score is like a 30 for 30 documentary cut with the intense-research scenes from HBO series I’ll Be Gone in the Dark.
Performance Worth Watching: Vilas is a bit of a character, an obsessive type who painstakingly documented his career. He gets a candid moment to illustrate how he really, truly cares about being properly acknowledged by the ATP, and it’s hard not to feel empathetic.
Memorable Dialogue: “It is said that it is irrational to try to change the past. But can someone beat their own history?” — Puppo
Sex and Skin: None.
Our Take: Settling the Score takes a compelling angle on the tried-and-true sports documentary by making the case for acknowledging Vilas — and rendering the ATP the villain of the story. Director Matias Gueilburt pieces together intimate footage of Vilas off the court and key moments on it, jumping back and forth between the ’70s and the 2010s, framing Puppo as a protagonist and including contemporary interviews with tennis luminaries, journalists and an ATP member who can’t remember anything and answers questions like a greasy politician. Gueilburt nicely illustrates some of the statistical discrepancies in Vilas’ case without getting too far into the weeds, although a better contextual explanation as to exactly why there were so many stats to consider would’ve been helpful.
In its better moments, the film gets into Vilas’ relationship with his father, and his blossoming friendship with Puppo, who, thanks to their battle against the ATP, became his biographer and the steward of his extensive archive — Vilas’ diaries, trophies, rackets, shirts, papers, the guy even saved his socks from key matches. Vilas appears primarily in archival footage, as his health has deteriorated in recent years (he’s rumored to have Alzheimer’s disease), and he moved from Buenos Aires to Monaco. Candid footage of Puppo and a slightly ailing Vilas hanging out together is touching, and brings the story to an emotionally warm conclusion — and the film needs it because the ATP stonewalled them and lawyers got involved, and everything is infuriating. The ATP doesn’t seem to want to admit that maybe ALL their stats dating back to 1972 are screwed up. A-holes. But Puppo and Vilas know the truth — and now we do too.
Our Call: STREAM IT. Guillermo Vilas: Settling the Score meanders for a bit until wrapping with a strong third act, which establishes the film as a sneaky activist doc. Hooray for another lid being ripped off a stinking rotten can of worms.
John Serba is a freelance writer and film critic based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Read more of his work at johnserbaatlarge.com or follow him on Twitter: @johnserba.
Stream Guillermo Vilas: Settling the Score on Netflix


newyorkpost--2020-10-28--Intelligence-community support for Biden is all about wanting to play political games

Journalists had a rare chance to ask Joe Biden a ...

The 2020 election is about many issues, but one crucial one is the status of America’s intelligence apparatus. Do our intel agencies serve the American people — or their own interests and lefty agendas?
President Trump wants reform. Judging by their fevered activism of late, pro-Biden ex-spies hope a new administration will permit them to return to business as usual.
Of course, Biden supporters claim that a Biden administration would cleanse an Intelligence Community horribly politicized by Trump officials. The mainstream media is happy to repeat this claim without question, because it has ignored — and often facilitated — unprecedented efforts by the Obama administration and the Hillary Clinton campaign to weaponize intelligence to undermine the Trump candidacy and presidency.
Witness the recent claim by 50-plus former intelligence officers that the Hunter Biden e-mails uncovered by this newspaper are Russian disinformation.
It doesn’t matter that, as former officers, they don’t have access to any intelligence to confirm this claim. Never mind, too, that they have no evidence for the claim — zilch. The purpose of their letter was to discredit the firm statement by someone who does have access to classified intelligence and said there is no link between The Post’s Hunter Files and Russia: Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe.
This is part of a long tradition of dishonesty by liberal politicians, some spooks and the mainstream media about politics in US intelligence agencies. They constantly peddle the myth that intelligence agencies are virtually immune to political influences and only Republican administrations can be guilty of undermining the integrity of their work for political reasons.
From my experience working in the Intelligence Community under presidents of both parities, from Ronald Reagan to Trump, I know Washington is a political town and that it is impossible to completely shield any government agency from politics. Like other agencies, intelligence organizations must compete for attention and resources from the White House and Congress. They also have ambitious individuals, disgruntled workers and outright partisans happy to meddle in domestic politics.
As a CIA officer, I witnessed politicization of intelligence to undermine the Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush administrations and politicization to bolster the foreign-policy agendas of the Clinton and Obama administrations. Most intelligence officers who engaged in such unethical activity got away with it; many were rewarded.
Even before Trump was elected, I predicted that he would have a lot of trouble with the Intelligence Community, because it increasingly tilts left. I couldn’t have imagined how bad this problem would be: that intelligence would be weaponized against a duly elected administration.
This included leaked National Security Agency reports, the unmasking of Trump campaign officials from intelligence reports and the use of a fraudulent dossier paid for by the Democratic National Committee to justify foreign-intel warrants to spy on Team Trump.
Trump administration efforts to counter this problem came too little, too late. Only after reports by Attorney General Bill Barr and Justice Department Inspector General Horowitz in 2019, and documents released by Trump appointees, did the American people begin to fathom the depths of anti-Trump intelligence abuse.
Many of the documents on the Russia-collusion hoax still haven’t been released, because of resistance by CIA Director Gina Haspel — a pure careerist — and attorneys in the DNI’s office.
Nevertheless, the Trump administration made significant progress publicizing rampant politicization in intelligence agencies and offset some of it through staffing changes and reorganization in the DNI office.
Biden officials-in-waiting are desperate to reverse the Trump administration’s modest gains in depoliticizing intelligence. They seek to discredit the evidence that our Intelligence Community weaponized against Trump.
Even more worrisome, if past is precedent, Team Biden is likely to greatly expand the Obama administration’s abusive politicization of intelligence and use it to target political enemies.
A second term would give the president an opportunity to finish what his administration started with respect to intelligence. It also could significantly improve the quality and usefulness of intelligence analysis, by making it less risk-averse and streamlining the Intelligence Community’s massive and lumbering bureaucracy. The stakes are that high for our security.
Fred Fleitz, a former executive secretary of the National Security Council under President Trump, was a CIA analyst from 1986 to 2005. Twitter: @FredFleitz


newyorkpost--2020-10-28--Jets’ offensive woes embodied by tight ends’ disappearing act

When you look at all of the things have gone wrong for the 2020 New York Jets , one of the most puzzling things is what has happened to their tight ends .
There was a lot of optimism and hope , entering the season , that the tight ends would be a huge part of this offense .
Chris Herndon looked like the Jets ’ best player at times in training camp after missing most of last season .
Ryan Griffin was back after being an effective piece last year in Herndon ’ s absence .
But instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything out of their tight ends .
They are 30th in the NFL in receiving yards by a tight end , with 130 .
They are tied for 28th in catches , with 19 .
Head coach Adam Gase talked up the tight ends this summer .
Is he surprised how little productivity he has gotten from them ?
“ A little bit , ” Gase said Wednesday .
“ I really thought those guys , like their numbers would be a lot better than what they are .
It ’ s hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I feel like , especially early in the season , we went into games and Chris was our focal point on what we were trying to do .
Tried to call his number , but whether it was dictated by coverage or something went wrong , it didn ’ t work out to where we never got him going .
And I think that ’ s something — especially I know we ’ re two weeks away from the bye week that we definitely are going to be like , ‘ What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Why is this not looking the way that we wanted it to look like when we started ?
’ ” Not much has looked like they thought it would for the Jets offense this season from the offensive line to Sam Darnold to the wide receivers .
But some of those issues have come from injuries to key starters .
The tight ends have been healthy .
The injuries at wide receiver should have made them a bigger part of the offense .
Instead , they have vanished .
Herndon has just 13 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and no touchdowns .
He has made several critical drops and had a fumble in the Week 1 loss to the Bills .
This was supposed to be a breakout season for the third-year player from Miami .
He made a big catch on third down against the Bills on Sunday that was wiped out by a penalty .
That meant the Jets officially had no catches by a tight end in the loss .
“ At times you think about it , but moments like these you can ’ t really focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things aren ’ t going your way , ” Herndon said Wednesday .
“ At the end of the day , this is a team sport .
It ’ s not all about one person .
It ’ s about buying in , focusing on the bigger goal as one .
I ’ m just going to continue to do what I do , continue to practice each and every day , continue to learn , continue to grow and control what I can.
” Herndon said the lack of production is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used .
“ I feel like I ’ ve been used fairly , ” Herndon said .
“ At the end of the day , it ’ s a team thing .
I can ’ t sit after every game and be upset and mad and try to point fingers .
This time last year , I wasn ’ t even on the field .
At this point , I ’ m honestly just thankful to be out there and still give myself a chance to still compete right now.
” Griffin was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jets .
He had 34 catches for 320 yards and five touchdowns , and the team signed him to a contract extension last November .
He enters this week ’ s game against the Chiefs with just five catches on eight targets for 27 yards .
Griffin pointed to fewer targets as a function of the Jets keeping the tight ends in to block .
That has been a factor .
With the offensive line struggling , Gase has used the tight ends in production more .
Still , you ’ d expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the passing game than they ’ ve been .
“ Not really surprised I guess , it ’ s just the way the games have gone this year , ” Griffin said .
“ Targets have been down , but we ’ ve been helping in other ways .
At the end of the day , our job is to help the team win so whatever the coaches ask of us , that ’ s what we ’ re going to do .
”

When you look at all of the things have gone wrong for the 2020 New York Jets, one of the most puzzling things is what has happened to their tight ends.
There was a lot of optimism and hope, entering the season, that the tight ends would be a huge part of this offense. Chris Herndon looked like the Jets’ best player at times in training camp after missing most of last season. Ryan Griffin was back after being an effective piece last year in Herndon’s absence.
But instead of production, the Jets have gotten barely anything out of their tight ends. They are 30th in the NFL in receiving yards by a tight end, with 130. They are tied for 28th in catches, with 19.
Head coach Adam Gase talked up the tight ends this summer. Is he surprised how little productivity he has gotten from them?
“A little bit,” Gase said Wednesday. “I really thought those guys, like their numbers would be a lot better than what they are. It’s hard to pinpoint right now exactly the reason. I feel like, especially early in the season, we went into games and Chris was our focal point on what we were trying to do. Tried to call his number, but whether it was dictated by coverage or something went wrong, it didn’t work out to where we never got him going. And I think that’s something — especially I know we’re two weeks away from the bye week that we definitely are going to be like, ‘What happened? What is going on? Why is this not looking the way that we wanted it to look like when we started?’ ”
Not much has looked like they thought it would for the Jets offense this season from the offensive line to Sam Darnold to the wide receivers. But some of those issues have come from injuries to key starters. The tight ends have been healthy. The injuries at wide receiver should have made them a bigger part of the offense. Instead, they have vanished.
Herndon has just 13 catches on 23 targets for 98 yards and no touchdowns. He has made several critical drops and had a fumble in the Week 1 loss to the Bills. This was supposed to be a breakout season for the third-year player from Miami. He made a big catch on third down against the Bills on Sunday that was wiped out by a penalty. That meant the Jets officially had no catches by a tight end in the loss.
“At times you think about it, but moments like these you can’t really focus on yourself as far as wondering why things aren’t going your way,” Herndon said Wednesday. “At the end of the day, this is a team sport. It’s not all about one person. It’s about buying in, focusing on the bigger goal as one. I’m just going to continue to do what I do, continue to practice each and every day, continue to learn, continue to grow and control what I can.”
Herndon said the lack of production is not a result of how he is being used.
“I feel like I’ve been used fairly,” Herndon said. “At the end of the day, it’s a team thing. I can’t sit after every game and be upset and mad and try to point fingers. This time last year, I wasn’t even on the field. At this point, I’m honestly just thankful to be out there and still give myself a chance to still compete right now.”
Griffin was a pleasant surprise in 2019 for the Jets. He had 34 catches for 320 yards and five touchdowns, and the team signed him to a contract extension last November. He enters this week’s game against the Chiefs with just five catches on eight targets for 27 yards. Griffin pointed to fewer targets as a function of the Jets keeping the tight ends in to block. That has been a factor. With the offensive line struggling, Gase has used the tight ends in production more. Still, you’d expect them to be a bigger factor in the passing game than they’ve been.
“Not really surprised I guess, it’s just the way the games have gone this year,” Griffin said. “Targets have been down, but we’ve been helping in other ways. At the end of the day, our job is to help the team win so whatever the coaches ask of us, that’s what we’re going to do.”


newyorkpost--2020-10-28--Hasbro games discounted up to 30 percent off for Amazon sale

NY Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you buy through our links .
You can add @ @ @ @ @ game collection with the new Hasbro markdowns at Amazon .
During the sale , Hasbro @ @ @ @ @ % off .
You ’ ll find discounts on a variety of titles , including @ @ @ @ @ and Jenga .
You can also try out newer games like Crocodile Dentist , Perfection @ @ @ @ @ we know Connect 4 will be a game that everyone will love .
To give @ @ @ @ @ which of the games to choose , we pulled some of our favorites included in @ @ @ @ @ promise they ’ ll all make for hours of fun

New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you buy through our links.
You can add some exciting classics to your game collection with the new Hasbro markdowns at Amazon.
During the sale, Hasbro games are up to 30% off.
You’ll find discounts on a variety of titles, including go-tos like Monopoly, Twister and Jenga.
You can also try out newer games like Crocodile Dentist, Perfection and Sweet Existence.
And we know Connect 4 will be a game that everyone will love.
To give you a little inspiration on which of the games to choose, we pulled some of our favorites included in the markdowns.
And we promise they’ll all make for hours of fun
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newyorkpost--2020-10-28--Preserved DNA helps crack case of 5-year-old Montana girl killed in 1974

The cold case murder of a 5-year-old Montana girl may have finally been solved 46 years later , after DNA evidence preserved from the scene identified her suspected killer as a transient who died in 2012 , authorities said .
The modern technology led law enforcement officers to Richard William Davis , an Arkansas native who was traveling through the Missoula-area when little Siobhan McGuinness vanished on Feb. 5 , 1974 , police said .
The child ’ s body was found two days later near the Turah exit on Interstate 90 , stabbed and sexually assaulted .
DNA preserved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DNA of a family member of Davis , who had sent a sample into a consumer database , Missoula Police Chief Jason White said Monday .
“ Forty-six years is a long space of time to be in a state of unending grief and sorrow , ” Steve McGuinness , Siobhan ’ s father , said through tears at a press conference .
“ I was rather amazed this has happened , but not totally surprised , ” he added , “ DNA is an amazing thing.
” In addition to the DNA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time of the killing and his physical description matched what two witnesses had described , White said .
Davis would have been 32 at the time of the murder .
He died in Arkansas in 2012 at age 70 .
His obituary said he was a born-again Christian and is survived by a wife and four daughters .
Siobhan ’ s half-sister , Oona McGuinness , said Monday that Davis ’ family reached out to hers .
“ They sent us a very lovely statement to our family from theirs , and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tragedy , ” Oona said .
She asked people to respect their privacy “ as they are healing right now and had absolutely no idea that somebody that they loved would have been capable of such a thing.
” Davis hasn ’ t been convicted or suspected of other crimes , White said , but Missoula authorities provided the DNA information to the FBI violent criminal apprehension program to possibly help with other unsolved cases .
The manner in which authorities traced the killing back to him is the same way officers identified @ @ @ @ @

The cold case murder of a 5-year-old Montana girl may have finally been solved 46 years later, after DNA evidence preserved from the scene identified her suspected killer as a transient who died in 2012, authorities said.
The modern technology led law enforcement officers to Richard William Davis, an Arkansas native who was traveling through the Missoula-area when little Siobhan McGuinness vanished on Feb. 5, 1974, police said.
The child’s body was found two days later near the Turah exit on Interstate 90, stabbed and sexually assaulted.
DNA preserved from the crime scene partially matched the DNA of a family member of Davis, who had sent a sample into a consumer database, Missoula Police Chief Jason White said Monday.
“Forty-six years is a long space of time to be in a state of unending grief and sorrow,” Steve McGuinness, Siobhan’s father, said through tears at a press conference.
“I was rather amazed this has happened, but not totally surprised,” he added, “DNA is an amazing thing.”
In addition to the DNA evidence, Davis’ vehicle at the time of the killing and his physical description matched what two witnesses had described, White said.
Davis would have been 32 at the time of the murder. He died in Arkansas in 2012 at age 70.
His obituary said he was a born-again Christian and is survived by a wife and four daughters.
Siobhan’s half-sister, Oona McGuinness, said Monday that Davis’ family reached out to hers.
“They sent us a very lovely statement to our family from theirs, and they are also experiencing their own new family tragedy,” Oona said.
She asked people to respect their privacy “as they are healing right now and had absolutely no idea that somebody that they loved would have been capable of such a thing.”
Davis hasn’t been convicted or suspected of other crimes, White said, but Missoula authorities provided the DNA information to the FBI violent criminal apprehension program to possibly help with other unsolved cases.
The manner in which authorities traced the killing back to him is the same way officers identified the Golden State Killer.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-10-28--China’s US patsies, from Antifa to the NBA

Little did Dr. James Naismith of Springfield , Massachusetts , know when ...

Chinese Communist Party provocateurs regularly prowl our Internet and social media. Their propaganda goal is to convince the world that the Beijing regime’s authoritarian system is far superior to an American exceptionalism built upon free markets, free persons, democratic elections, the rule of law and an independent judiciary.
Regrettably, far too many of the American media outlets are helping to advance this toxic narrative. In doing so, they serve as what Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin called “useful idiots,” only for the CCP.
It is taken as a given in America that Chinese government publications like The People’s Daily and Global Times are propaganda organs. Yet increasingly, it is likewise taken as a given that highly partisan American media are likewise propagandists.
In 1972, a Gallup Poll found that two-thirds of Americans trusted the news media. Today, that number is down to 41 percent. Nearly a third of the American people have no trust whatsoever in our media.
The rise of a partisan fake-news complex is not just an existential threat to our eternal American quest toward a more perfect union. This devolution of America’s Fourth Estate also provides aid, comfort and assistance to a Chinese Communist Party intent on setting the American sun in Asia. CCP militarism wins, Pax Americana loses.
The American media aren’t the only useful idiots promoting Communist China’s agenda, of course. When Hollywood moguls release yet another movie that quite literally airbrushes the abuses of the CCP, authoritarian China wins and self-censored American democracy loses.
Consider, too, the star players and virtue-signaling coaches of the National Basketball Hypocrites Association. They are as quick to take a knee during the national anthem and denounce this country as racist as they are to get lockjaw as soon as Communist China’s horrific human-rights abuses and brutal takedown of Hong Kong’s democracy are mentioned.
We’ve seen these cowards shut up and dribble in Communist China even as they insist on selling jerseys and sneakers made in Chinese sweatshops to America’s children. When our professional athletes refuse to stand and pledge allegiance to our flag — and honor those in a different kind of uniform who have lost their lives in defense of America’s freedom — Communist China wins and American democracy loses.
The most dangerous useful idiots for the CCP may well be the anarchists, agitators and looters now regularly crossing state lines to invade our Democratic-run cities. When Antifa and Black Lives Matter storm troopers swarm with military precision into Portland or Kenosha, Wis., dressed in body armor and armed with brass knuckles, frozen water bottles and mace, they not only destroy businesses and livelihoods. They are destroying everything sacred about our tradition of peaceful protest.
When boorish thugs go up to peaceful citizens trying to enjoy a meal and shout at them and threaten them and take their food and drink their water, they are tearing at the very fabric of our society and democracy. American civility loses, and Communist Chinese thought-control wins.
Do these useful idiots not understand that during this pandemic, people around the world are weighing and measuring the effectiveness of our American democracy — and the CCP is doing everything it can to compare the apparent chaos in America to the illusion of stability in China?
Do they not understand that those who may finally deliver the coup de grâce to American democracy, economic prosperity and national sovereignty may well come not from outside our borders — but from those right here in America who choose to put profits, partisanship and radical ideology before God, country and freedom?
The problem in America isn’t about knowing what to do. Rather, it is having the national will to do what we know must be done.
For just as Great Britain once faced a choice between the appeasement of Neville Chamberlain and the steely spine of Winston Churchill, so, too, does America face a choice between appeasing Communist China, as the globalist elites would have us do, or holding Beijing accountable for its actions — as economic nationalism demands.
Peter Navarro is an assistant to the president and director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy. This column was adapted from remarks delivered at the Hudson Institute.


newyorkpost--2020-10-28--Giants legend Mark Bavaro on Evan Engram’s pain: ‘I’ve been there’

Those plays , depending on how big they are , become the narrative to players ’ seasons and , sometimes , to their careers .
For Giants tight end Evan Engram , it ’ s critical that he doesn ’ t allow the pass he let slip through the fingers of both of his hands define him .
The one that , if caught , could have clinched a rare victory in Philadelphia a week ago on national television .
It was the kind of sickening , game-changing , season-altering drop that can drain the confidence from a player — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wrestle with his confidence as each game passes and he continues to fall short of fulfilling his potential .
Did Engram ’ s drop against the Eagles — on third-and-6 with 2:14 remaining and the Giants leading 21-16 — cause his team to lose the game ?
No , because the defense had a chance to hold the lead on the ensuing Eagles possession and failed to do so .
But if Engram had caught that ball , the Giants almost certainly would have won , gotten to 2-5 , stayed relevant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a seven-game losing streak to Philadelphia .
It ’ s a lot to shoulder for a fourth-year player whose career has been a series of stops , starts , teases and disappointments .
“ I ’ ve been there , ’ ’ Mark Bavaro , the greatest tight end in Giants history , told The Post on Wednesday .
“ I had a big drop against the Eagles on a Monday night in Philadelphia .
If I had caught it , I might have scored and we might have won the game.
’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came on Oct. 10 , 1988 .
That game , a 24-13 Eagles win , is remembered more for the acrobatic play Eagles quarterback Randall Cunningham made on Giants linebacker Carl Banks to avoid a sure sack and throw a touchdown pass .
The Giants trailed 17-13 in the fourth quarter and , on a fourth-and-10 , Phil Simms had Bavaro wide open near the goal line .
The pass bounced off Bavaro ’ s helmet because he looked toward the end zone before looking the pass intro his hands , perhaps something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night .
Three plays after that Bavaro drop , Cunningham connected with Cris Carter for an 80-yard TD strike that put the game away .
“ I lost a lot of confidence in myself after that drop , ’ ’ Bavaro recalled .
“ It was such an easy catch .
It did take a while to overcome it.
’ ’ Before his drop , Bavaro had caught nine passes for 148 yards in that game .
“ I don ’ t even remember that , ’ ’ he said .
“ You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that was a bad one .
It was a game-loser .
I still remember that play to this day .
It never really leaves you.
’ ’ Bavaro said he doesn ’ t know Engram personally , only that he has “ admired his speed , agility and ability to run like a wide receiver ’ ’ from afar .
Asked how a player gets over a crushing drop like that , Bavaro said , “ You have to really buckle down and believe in yourself and not stress out about the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just get back on the horse .
Then , after you catch a couple in the next game , you get right back to where you were.
’ ’ Engram is in the midst of a very mediocre season — 26 catches for a quiet 223 yards and no TDs .
He ’ s a better player than that .
He knows it .
His coaches know it .
Former Jets tight end Anthony Becht , who said he “ was really high on Engram when he came out of school , ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t become more of a force in the Giants ’ passing game and blames the team for not targeting him often enough .
“ I know he ’ s got the skill-set , ’ ’ Becht said .
“ I evaluated him out of college .
He was going to be a mismatch problem in the NFL.
’ ’ Engram looked like a mismatch on that fateful play last week , having several steps on Eagles safety Will Parks for that perfectly thrown Daniel Jones pass .
Engram did everything but catch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation saw on that one drop or the way you feel about him , I know that he was 10 yards away from any defender , ’ ’ Becht said .
“ The guy is a serious threat.
’ ’ Current Giants tight ends coach Freddie Kitchens — taking a see-no-evil , hear-no-evil approach — on Wednesday insisted Engram ’ s confidence is not shaken .
“ I know the catch [ reporters are ] getting at , ’ ’ Kitchens said .
“ You make some plays , and you don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s confidence is fine , and he ’ ll be fine moving forward .
The rearview mirror is a lot smaller than the front windshield .
We like to look through the front windshield .
Until Engram changes the narrative , though , that play will define his 2020 season .

Plays define players.
Those plays, depending on how big they are, become the narrative to players’ seasons and, sometimes, to their careers.
For Giants tight end Evan Engram, it’s critical that he doesn’t allow the pass he let slip through the fingers of both of his hands define him. The one that, if caught, could have clinched a rare victory in Philadelphia a week ago on national television.
It was the kind of sickening, game-changing, season-altering drop that can drain the confidence from a player — particularly one like Engram, who seems to wrestle with his confidence as each game passes and he continues to fall short of fulfilling his potential.
Did Engram’s drop against the Eagles — on third-and-6 with 2:14 remaining and the Giants leading 21-16 — cause his team to lose the game? No, because the defense had a chance to hold the lead on the ensuing Eagles possession and failed to do so.
But if Engram had caught that ball, the Giants almost certainly would have won, gotten to 2-5, stayed relevant in the NFC East race and ended a seven-game losing streak to Philadelphia.
It’s a lot to shoulder for a fourth-year player whose career has been a series of stops, starts, teases and disappointments.
“I’ve been there,’’ Mark Bavaro, the greatest tight end in Giants history, told The Post on Wednesday. “I had a big drop against the Eagles on a Monday night in Philadelphia. If I had caught it, I might have scored and we might have won the game.’’
Bavaro’s nightmare in Philadelphia came on Oct. 10, 1988. That game, a 24-13 Eagles win, is remembered more for the acrobatic play Eagles quarterback Randall Cunningham made on Giants linebacker Carl Banks to avoid a sure sack and throw a touchdown pass.
The Giants trailed 17-13 in the fourth quarter and, on a fourth-and-10, Phil Simms had Bavaro wide open near the goal line. The pass bounced off Bavaro’s helmet because he looked toward the end zone before looking the pass intro his hands, perhaps something Engram did on that drop last Thursday night.
Three plays after that Bavaro drop, Cunningham connected with Cris Carter for an 80-yard TD strike that put the game away.
“I lost a lot of confidence in myself after that drop,’’ Bavaro recalled. “It was such an easy catch. It did take a while to overcome it.’’
Before his drop, Bavaro had caught nine passes for 148 yards in that game.
“I don’t even remember that,’’ he said. “You only remember the bad ones. And that was a bad one. It was a game-loser. I still remember that play to this day. It never really leaves you.’’
Bavaro said he doesn’t know Engram personally, only that he has “admired his speed, agility and ability to run like a wide receiver’’ from afar.
Asked how a player gets over a crushing drop like that, Bavaro said, “You have to really buckle down and believe in yourself and not stress out about the next few balls that come your way. Just get back on the horse. Then, after you catch a couple in the next game, you get right back to where you were.’’
Engram is in the midst of a very mediocre season — 26 catches for a quiet 223 yards and no TDs. He’s a better player than that. He knows it. His coaches know it.
Former Jets tight end Anthony Becht, who said he “was really high on Engram when he came out of school,’’ is perplexed at why Engram hasn’t become more of a force in the Giants’ passing game and blames the team for not targeting him often enough.
“I know he’s got the skill-set,’’ Becht said. “I evaluated him out of college. He was going to be a mismatch problem in the NFL.’’
Engram looked like a mismatch on that fateful play last week, having several steps on Eagles safety Will Parks for that perfectly thrown Daniel Jones pass. Engram did everything but catch it.
“Outside of what the nation saw on that one drop or the way you feel about him, I know that he was 10 yards away from any defender,’’ Becht said. “The guy is a serious threat.’’
Current Giants tight ends coach Freddie Kitchens — taking a see-no-evil, hear-no-evil approach — on Wednesday insisted Engram’s confidence is not shaken.
“I know the catch [reporters are] getting at,’’ Kitchens said. “You make some plays, and you don’t make some plays. Evan’s confidence is fine, and he’ll be fine moving forward. The rearview mirror is a lot smaller than the front windshield. We like to look through the front windshield.
“One play doesn’t define Evan and doesn’t define our offense.’’
Until Engram changes the narrative, though, that play will define his 2020 season.


newyorkpost--2020-10-28--De Blasio’s shameful Steve Cohen ploy traces back to Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez is fuming over losing the Mets to billionaire ...

There have been so many things that have pockmarked the tortured and torturous Bill de Blasio Error in this city, ever since its residents made the ever-so-dubious decision to elect him Mayor in 2013 and re-elect him in 2017. You have read about those missteps and misdeeds all over this newspaper, and others, even those generally more sympathetic to his mission.
But as he enters the bell lap of his second term, de Blasio is apparently determined to leave behind a most curious legacy. It is already a given that he will be remembered as among the most vainglorious mayors to ever walk the corridors of City Hall. Now, it seems, he wants to make sure that he adds a few more million aggrieved and aggravated citizens in his wake.
He has targeted you, Mets fans.
He has, The Post has learned, told MLB commissioner Rob Manfred outright that he doesn’t want Steve Cohen to own the Mets. What has seemed a mere grandstanding ploy to make life difficult for Cohen — because among de Blasio’s more peculiar hobbies is making life difficult for many billionaires who choose to conduct business in New York — actually has more sinister overtones.
He wants to take the provision that would allow his office to block a “prohibited person” from owning a team that occupies Citi Field, which is partly owned by the city, and extend that definition beyond reason — and beyond its present boundaries.
A clause in the Mets’ lease with the stadium defines such an individual as “any Person that has been convicted in a criminal proceeding for a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude or that is an organized crime figure.” The mayor, fueled by his own ego and a cadre of Cohen enemies, wants to extend that to anyone “who controls any person or entity that has been convicted of a felony.”
Cohen’s hedge fund, S.A.C. Capital Advisors, rather famously, pleaded guilty in 2013 to insider trading charges and paid a $1.8 billion fine. Eight traders pleaded guilty. Cohen wasn’t one of them. He should, by all reasonable conclusion, be allowed to worry alone about the vote MLB is set to conduct Friday to approve the sale, one in which Cohen needs 22 out of 29 owners to vote in favor of his $2.4 billion purchase.
But there is nothing reasonable about this, and it doesn’t exactly take an extraordinary leap to connect a few of the dots and see where de Blasio’s rooting interest lies.
A key Cohen opponent is State Senator Jessica Ramos, who also had a hand in scuttling the Amazon fiasco in 2019, when the shipping giant pulled out of a planned expansion into Long Island City that would have brought 25,000 jobs here. Sources told the Post that Ramos has been in contact with City Hall about the Mets sale. That’s one dot.
But here’s the more important one: Ramos also penned an op-ed in July endorsing the sale of the Mets to the group led by Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez.
And there it is.
The third dot in this wicked power play is Jerry Reinsdorf, the owner of the White Sox and an avowed opponent of Cohen’s bid. Reinsdorf has been furiously attempting to compile a bloc of “no” votes in advance of Friday (to little effect, reportedly, at least so far). Reinsdorf is also an acknowledged supporter of the Rodriguez/Lopez bid to buy the Mets.
Back on Jan. 12, Rodriguez tweeted a picture of himself and Reinsdorf that said: “Honored to catch up with my mentor & own personal rabbi last night, the incredible Jerry Reinsdorf. Jerry, It’s been so much fun talking real estate & baseball w/you. Thank you for everything you’ve taught me the last 20 years!”
It’s perfectly within de Blasio’s purview to prefer one buyer over another. He’s a citizen like everyone else. But sometimes you back the wrong horse. The Wilpons already have made their decision. More to the point, so have a vast majority of Mets fans, and not only because Cohen figures to transform the team into a legitimate big-spending, big-market team.
See: most fans want no part of A-Rod, either. They want no part of his own fractured and folly-filled history with baseball, which he dishonored both by his willingness to use PEDs and also his later brazen attempts to legally wrestle with the sport when it disciplined him. A-Rod’s longtime (and played-out) boyhood affinity for the Mets holds little significance in the minds and hearts of Mets fans: most can’t stand him. Most preferred Cohen.
But Rodriguez is a sore loser.
And de Blasio, by all accounts, is a willing enabler.
And if the mayor is too tone deaf and too thick-headed to realize that … well, given the last seven years, we shouldn’t be surprised. It also seems that the ploy is destined to fail, at least in the eyes of most objective observers. Mets fans certainly hope so. They finally saw a beacon of light in the darkness when Steve Cohen — himself a lifelong Mets fan — and his $14 billion fortune entered the room.
The mayor wants to try and extinguish that flame? Good luck with that. It’s his political funeral, and his odd legacy: add a few million Mets fans to his personal roster of disillusioned and disabused New Yorkers. Good plan.


newyorkpost--2020-10-28--UK company criticized for tone-deaf COVID-19 puzzle

A British company is under fire after sending COVID-19 word puzzles to a retirement home that included the words “ fever , ” “ ventilators ” and “ job losses.
” The daughter of a 94-year-old resident who lives in Vyner House in York told the York Press she was horrified the puzzle was meant to be “ just for fun.
” “ What were they thinking , giving this to elderly people who have been isolating in varying degrees for the last seven months ?
” the daughter , who didn ’ t want to be named , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ horrified we didn ’ t know where to turn .
Some people who live there are on their own and the thought of going into a nursing home or on to a ventilator could be very frightening.
” Other words included in the puzzle included “ bats , ” ICU , ” “ vaccine ” and “ cough , ” according to Sky News .
Accent Housing , the company which sent the puzzles to Vyner House and manages over 20,0000 homes across the U.K. , admitted it was an “ unfortunate mistake.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ which was not meant to cause any upset to our residents , but we appreciate it has and we are apologising to them , ” a company spokesperson told the York Press .
“ We recognise this word search was inappropriate and through some additional training we will make sure nothing like this is ever circulated again , ” the spokesperson added .

A British company is under fire after sending COVID-19 word puzzles to a retirement home that included the words “fever,” “ventilators” and “job losses.”
The daughter of a 94-year-old resident who lives in Vyner House in York told the York Press she was horrified the puzzle was meant to be “just for fun.”
“What were they thinking, giving this to elderly people who have been isolating in varying degrees for the last seven months?” the daughter, who didn’t want to be named, told the outlet.
“We were so horrified we didn’t know where to turn. Some people who live there are on their own and the thought of going into a nursing home or on to a ventilator could be very frightening.”
Other words included in the puzzle included “bats,” ICU,” “vaccine” and “cough,” according to Sky News.
Accent Housing, the company which sent the puzzles to Vyner House and manages over 20,0000 homes across the U.K., admitted it was an “unfortunate mistake.”
“This was an unfortunate mistake which was not meant to cause any upset to our residents, but we appreciate it has and we are apologising to them,” a company spokesperson told the York Press.
“We recognise this word search was inappropriate and through some additional training we will make sure nothing like this is ever circulated again,” the spokesperson added.


newyorkpost--2020-10-29--Sen. Ron Johnson says special counsel may need to investigate Joe Biden if he wins

Sen. Ron Johnson said he ’ s not a “ big fan of special counsels ” but one may need to be appointed to investigate Joe Biden if he wins the election to get to the bottom of his links to his son Hunter Biden ’ s business dealings in Ukraine and China , as revealed in The Post ’ s reporting .
The Wisconsin Republican was asked about a special counsel during an interview Wednesday on Fox Business Network ’ s “ Mornings with Maria.
” “ You know , I am not a big fan of special counsels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidency , I don ’ t see how you avoid one , ” Johnson told host Maria Bartiromo .
“ Otherwise , this is going to be , you know , tucked away , and we will never know what happened .
All this evidence is going to be buried , so I think we have to have a special election if Joe Biden wins.
” Congressional Republicans have urged Attorney General William Barr to name a special counsel to investigate the Democratic presidential nominee before the Nov. 3 election .
Johnson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was one of two Senate panels that examined Hunter Biden ’ s role in overseas business dealings when his father served as vice president in the Obama administration .
The two committees released an 87-page report in September that concluded that the younger Biden ’ s work on the board of Burisma , a Ukrainian energy company , “ was problematic and did interfere in the efficient execution of policy with respect to Ukraine.
” The report also alleged that Hunter Biden was paid $ 3.5 million in 2014 by the wife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for unknown reasons .
The Post reported on emails found on a laptop left at a computer repair shop in Wilmington , Del.
, in April 2019 that showed Joe Biden was linked to his son ’ s business engagements in Ukraine .
In one email sent to Hunter Biden , an adviser on the board of Burisma thanked the son for giving him the “ opportunity ” to meet his father .
At the time of the email , the elder Biden was in charge of American policy in Ukraine .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was never found on the former vice president ’ s official schedule .

Sen. Ron Johnson said he’s not a “big fan of special counsels” but one may need to be appointed to investigate Joe Biden if he wins the election to get to the bottom of his links to his son Hunter Biden’s business dealings in Ukraine and China, as revealed in The Post’s reporting.
The Wisconsin Republican was asked about a special counsel during an interview Wednesday on Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria.”
“You know, I am not a big fan of special counsels, but if Joe Biden wins the presidency, I don’t see how you avoid one,” Johnson told host Maria Bartiromo. “Otherwise, this is going to be, you know, tucked away, and we will never know what happened. All this evidence is going to be buried, so I think we have to have a special election if Joe Biden wins.”
Congressional Republicans have urged Attorney General William Barr to name a special counsel to investigate the Democratic presidential nominee before the Nov. 3 election.
The Homeland Security Committee, which Johnson chairs, was one of two Senate panels that examined Hunter Biden’s role in overseas business dealings when his father served as vice president in the Obama administration.
The two committees released an 87-page report in September that concluded that the younger Biden’s work on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company, “was problematic and did interfere in the efficient execution of policy with respect to Ukraine.”
The report also alleged that Hunter Biden was paid $3.5 million in 2014 by the wife of Moscow’s former mayor, for unknown reasons.
The Post reported on emails found on a laptop left at a computer repair shop in Wilmington, Del., in April 2019 that showed Joe Biden was linked to his son’s business engagements in Ukraine.
In one email sent to Hunter Biden, an adviser on the board of Burisma thanked the son for giving him the “opportunity” to meet his father.
At the time of the email, the elder Biden was in charge of American policy in Ukraine.
The Biden campaign has said the alleged meeting was never found on the former vice president’s official schedule.


newyorkpost--2020-10-29--Tiffany, LVMH agree to end bitter legal battle in new merger deal

Tiffany & Co. and LVMH are heading back to the altar .
The ritzy retailers said they will end their bitter legal battle as they announced a revised merger deal announced Thursday — less than two months after LVMH moved to cancel the blockbuster wedding .
The companies said they ’ ve agreed to settle their dueling lawsuits in Delaware Chancery Court that were filed after the Louis Vuitton owner sought to scrap the tie-up last month .
They also confirmed that LVMH will now pay $ 131.50 a share for the storied New York jeweler instead of the original @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday .
“ We are as convinced as ever of the formidable potential of the Tiffany brand and believe that LVMH is the right home for Tiffany and its employees during this exciting next chapter , ” Bernard Arnault , the French luxury conglomerate ’ s billionaire CEO , said in a statement .
The revised deal — now worth about $ 15.9 billion based on Tiffany ’ s number of outstanding shares — is expected to close early next year if the blue-box jeweler ’ s shareholders approve it .
The deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both companies ’ boards have approved the terms , according to a news release .
The agreement marked an end to a dramatic saga that began when LVMH said it was walking away from the deal in early September , claiming the French government had told it not to proceed in response to the US ’ s threat to impose tariffs on French goods .
Tiffany sued to keep the deal intact , accusing LVMH of dragging its feet on seeking approval for the acquisition , while Paris-based luxury titan shot back that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ dismal ” due to the coronavirus crisis .
The two companies ’ Delaware court battle was slated to go to trial in January had they not agreed to drop the dispute .
“ We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with LVMH at an attractive price and to now be able to proceed with the merger , ” Roger Farah , chairman of Tiffany ’ s board , said in a statement .
“ The board concluded it was in the best interests of all of our stakeholders to achieve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up 0.6 percent at $ 130.70 in premarket trading Thursday as of 7:31 a.m. , while LVMH ’ s Paris-listed shares were recently up 0.1 percent at 402.80 euros ( $ 471.73 ) .

Tiffany & Co. and LVMH are heading back to the altar.
The ritzy retailers said they will end their bitter legal battle as they announced a revised merger deal announced Thursday — less than two months after LVMH moved to cancel the blockbuster wedding.
The companies said they’ve agreed to settle their dueling lawsuits in Delaware Chancery Court that were filed after the Louis Vuitton owner sought to scrap the tie-up last month. They also confirmed that LVMH will now pay $131.50 a share for the storied New York jeweler instead of the original $135 price, as reports indicated Wednesday.
“We are as convinced as ever of the formidable potential of the Tiffany brand and believe that LVMH is the right home for Tiffany and its employees during this exciting next chapter,” Bernard Arnault, the French luxury conglomerate’s billionaire CEO, said in a statement.
The revised deal — now worth about $15.9 billion based on Tiffany’s number of outstanding shares — is expected to close early next year if the blue-box jeweler’s shareholders approve it. The deal has already received regulatory clearance, and both companies’ boards have approved the terms, according to a news release.
The agreement marked an end to a dramatic saga that began when LVMH said it was walking away from the deal in early September, claiming the French government had told it not to proceed in response to the US’s threat to impose tariffs on French goods.
Tiffany sued to keep the deal intact, accusing LVMH of dragging its feet on seeking approval for the acquisition, while Paris-based luxury titan shot back that Tiffany’s business prospects had turned “dismal” due to the coronavirus crisis.
The two companies’ Delaware court battle was slated to go to trial in January had they not agreed to drop the dispute.
“We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with LVMH at an attractive price and to now be able to proceed with the merger,” Roger Farah, chairman of Tiffany’s board, said in a statement. “The board concluded it was in the best interests of all of our stakeholders to achieve certainty of closing.”
Tiffany shares were up 0.6 percent at $130.70 in premarket trading Thursday as of 7:31 a.m., while LVMH’s Paris-listed shares were recently up 0.1 percent at 402.80 euros ($471.73).


newyorkpost--2020-10-29--NYPD’s sergeants union blasts Biden, Sanders for Walter Wallace tweets

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get updates on the 2020 presidential election and more The NYPD sergeants union took aim this week at Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden for their tweets about Walter Wallace , the knife-wielding man shot and killed by Philadelphia police this week .
The Sergeants Benevolent Association fired off two tweets Wednesday night — one in response to the Democratic presidential candidate for tweeting , “ Our hearts are broken for the family of Walter Wallace Jr. , and for all those suffering the emotional weight of learning about another Black life in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mattered.
” “ FACT : Walter Wallace was armed with a knife & trying to kill 2 uniform police officers , ” the union shot back .
“ Do the 2 officers lives ’ not matter to you ?
This further explains why NOT ONE police organization in the USA has endorsed you.
” The SBA also went after Sanders for writing that Wallace “ should be alive today , and our thoughts are with his loved ones.
” “ The police responsible for murdering him in front of his mother instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be arrested , investigated , and prosecuted by the Justice Department , ” Sanders wrote .
The SBA responded , “ Walter Wallace was a career criminal ARMED WITH A KNIFE .
He wasn ’ t waving it to cut 🥬🍅🥑🥕🥦🍍 .
He was arrested for assaulting his own mother .
Are you really that much of a fool , stop lying to the people .
@ BernieSanders , ” with the hashtag # feelthestupidity .
Wallace , 27 , was fatally shot by cops in West Philadelphia on Monday after police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knife .
His killing — which sparked riots and looting in the City of Brotherly Love — was caught on camera .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get updates on the 2020 presidential election and more
The NYPD sergeants union took aim this week at Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden for their tweets about Walter Wallace, the knife-wielding man shot and killed by Philadelphia police this week.
The Sergeants Benevolent Association fired off two tweets Wednesday night — one in response to the Democratic presidential candidate for tweeting, “Our hearts are broken for the family of Walter Wallace Jr., and for all those suffering the emotional weight of learning about another Black life in America lost. Walter’s life mattered.”
“FACT: Walter Wallace was armed with a knife & trying to kill 2 uniform police officers,” the union shot back. “Do the 2 officers lives’ not matter to you? This further explains why NOT ONE police organization in the USA has endorsed you.”
The SBA also went after Sanders for writing that Wallace “should be alive today, and our thoughts are with his loved ones.”
“The police responsible for murdering him in front of his mother instead of getting him the medical attention he needed should be arrested, investigated, and prosecuted by the Justice Department,” Sanders wrote.
The SBA responded, “Walter Wallace was a career criminal ARMED WITH A KNIFE. He wasn’t waving it to cut 🥬🍅🥑🥕🥦🍍. He was arrested for assaulting his own mother. Are you really that much of a fool, stop lying to the people. @BernieSanders,” with the hashtag #feelthestupidity.
Wallace, 27, was fatally shot by cops in West Philadelphia on Monday after police say he ignored orders to drop a knife. His killing — which sparked riots and looting in the City of Brotherly Love — was caught on camera.


newyorkpost--2020-10-29--Cops attacked with fireworks during violent night in Washington, DC

Rioters lobbed fireworks at Washington , DC cops and tried to storm into a precinct during a second night of violence sparked by the death of a black man who crashed while being followed by police .
Several officers were injured when a firework exploded right next to them , Fox 5 said — with video shared online showing protesters yelling death wishes on a line of officers before the device was thrown .
“ I wish hate for all of y ’ all , ” one woman could be heard screaming at the officers .
“ I hate all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and die !
I hope all of your mothers and fathers f—ing have strokes in their sleep.
” The firework appeared to land right at the feet of one of the cops , exploding right underneath him .
“ Holy s–t !
That f—ed up a cop !
” someone could be heard gasping on the clip .
Other footage showed dozens of protesters banging on the doors as they tried to bully their way into the 4th District police station .
Police eventually used spray and flash bangs on protesters to move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rocks and bricks , NBC Washington said .
The protests were sparked by the death of Karon Hylton-Brown , 20 , who was not wearing a helmet when he crashed a Revel Electric Moped into another car while being pursued by an unmarked police car , which is against DC police policy , Fox 5 said .
He was pronounced dead Monday , three days after the accident .
His mother , Karen Hylton , was at Wednesday night ’ s protests , angrily demanding to meet with Mayor Muriel Bowser amid chants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video of the unmarked car following her son showed them “ basically hunting my son down , like a wild animal , ” Hylton told NBC reporter Shomari Stone .
“ We are coordinating with the Department of Behavioral Health to provide the family with the space and trauma-informed support they need to view the body-worn camera footage , ” Deputy Mayor of Public Safety and Justice Roger Mitchell told NBC .

Rioters lobbed fireworks at Washington, DC cops and tried to storm into a precinct during a second night of violence sparked by the death of a black man who crashed while being followed by police.
Several officers were injured when a firework exploded right next to them, Fox 5 said — with video shared online showing protesters yelling death wishes on a line of officers before the device was thrown.
“I wish hate for all of y’all,” one woman could be heard screaming at the officers. “I hate all of you motherf—ers. Eat a d— and die! I hope all of your mothers and fathers f—ing have strokes in their sleep.”
The firework appeared to land right at the feet of one of the cops, exploding right underneath him.
“Holy s–t! That f—ed up a cop!” someone could be heard gasping on the clip.
Other footage showed dozens of protesters banging on the doors as they tried to bully their way into the 4th District police station.
Police eventually used spray and flash bangs on protesters to move them back after also being attacked with rocks and bricks, NBC Washington said.
The protests were sparked by the death of Karon Hylton-Brown, 20, who was not wearing a helmet when he crashed a Revel Electric Moped into another car while being pursued by an unmarked police car, which is against DC police policy, Fox 5 said. He was pronounced dead Monday, three days after the accident.
His mother, Karen Hylton, was at Wednesday night’s protests, angrily demanding to meet with Mayor Muriel Bowser amid chants of “Justice for Karon.”
The video of the unmarked car following her son showed them “basically hunting my son down, like a wild animal,” Hylton told NBC reporter Shomari Stone.
D.C. police classified Hylton-Brown’s death as a traffic fatality, NBC said.
“We are coordinating with the Department of Behavioral Health to provide the family with the space and trauma-informed support they need to view the body-worn camera footage,” Deputy Mayor of Public Safety and Justice Roger Mitchell told NBC.


newyorkpost--2020-10-29--Gilead Sciences raked in nearly $900M from COVID-19 drug remdesivir

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic .
Gilead Sciences sold nearly $ 900 million worth of its coronavirus treatment remdesivir from July to September , the company announced this week .
The California-based drugmaker on Wednesday reported third-quarter revenues of $ 873 million from its antiviral drug , which was the first COVID-19 treatment to be fully approved by the US Food and Drug Administration .
The drug , sold under the brand name Veklury , helped Gilead post an 18 percent increase in its total product sales and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a significant improvement from a nearly $ 1.2 billion loss in the year-earlier period .
Revenue from Veklury — which costs privately insured US patients $ 3,120 for a standard five-day treatment — added to increased sales from Gilead ’ s HIV and cell therapy drugs .
Sales of its hepatitis C treatments dropped 31 percent to $ 464 million in the quarter , while revenue from other products declined 11 percent to $ 462 million .
This was the first full quarter for which Gilead reported sales for remdesivir , which the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients in May before granting it full approval last week .
The company noted that revenues for the drug will be volatile because it ’ s sold in a “ dynamic and complex global health environment , which continues to evolve.
” Gilead has said about 50 countries around the world have approved Veklury or authorized the drug for temporary use as a COVID-19 treatment .
The medicine , which Gilead first developed to treat Ebola , entered the spotlight earlier this month when President Trump received a five-day course during his bout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Veklury helps shorten recovery times for hospitalized coronavirus patients by five days , but a recent World Health Organization study concluded that it had no significant effect on patients ’ chances of survival .
Gilead ’ s stock price was down 0.7 percent in premarket trading Wednesday at $ 58.28 as of 6:51 a.m. after falling 2.1 percent on Wednesday .

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Gilead Sciences sold nearly $900 million worth of its coronavirus treatment remdesivir from July to September, the company announced this week.
The California-based drugmaker on Wednesday reported third-quarter revenues of $873 million from its antiviral drug, which was the first COVID-19 treatment to be fully approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
The drug, sold under the brand name Veklury, helped Gilead post an 18 percent increase in its total product sales and a net profit of $360 million, a significant improvement from a nearly $1.2 billion loss in the year-earlier period.
Revenue from Veklury — which costs privately insured US patients $3,120 for a standard five-day treatment — added to increased sales from Gilead’s HIV and cell therapy drugs. Sales of its hepatitis C treatments dropped 31 percent to $464 million in the quarter, while revenue from other products declined 11 percent to $462 million.
This was the first full quarter for which Gilead reported sales for remdesivir, which the FDA cleared for emergency use in coronavirus patients in May before granting it full approval last week. The company noted that revenues for the drug will be volatile because it’s sold in a “dynamic and complex global health environment, which continues to evolve.”
Gilead has said about 50 countries around the world have approved Veklury or authorized the drug for temporary use as a COVID-19 treatment. The medicine, which Gilead first developed to treat Ebola, entered the spotlight earlier this month when President Trump received a five-day course during his bout with the virus.
Gilead has said Veklury helps shorten recovery times for hospitalized coronavirus patients by five days, but a recent World Health Organization study concluded that it had no significant effect on patients’ chances of survival.
Gilead’s stock price was down 0.7 percent in premarket trading Wednesday at $58.28 as of 6:51 a.m. after falling 2.1 percent on Wednesday.


newyorkpost--2020-10-29--DHS proposes revamping H-1B visa program to protect American workers

The Trump administration has proposed revamping the H-1B visa selection process for high-skilled foreign technology workers by scrapping the existing @ @ @ @ @ a system based on wages to protect American workers , according to the Department of @ @ @ @ @ of the computerized lottery system would prod employers into offering higher wages or seeking workers @ @ @ @ @ of trying to fill vacancies with low wage workers that reduce Americans ’ pay , @ @ @ @ @ statement released on Wednesday .
“ The Trump administration is continuing to deliver on its @ @ @ @ @ worker while strengthening the economy , ” acting Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli said @ @ @ @ @ The current use of random selection to allocate H-1B visas … hurts American workers by @ @ @ @ @ labor at the expense of the American workforce.
” The proposed change , which has @ @ @ @ @ comment period , would affect the approximately 85,000 H-1B visas awarded each year .

The Trump administration has proposed revamping the H-1B visa selection process for high-skilled foreign technology workers by scrapping the existing lottery and replacing it with a system based on wages to protect American workers, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Getting rid of the computerized lottery system would prod employers into offering higher wages or seeking workers with higher skills, instead of trying to fill vacancies with low wage workers that reduce Americans’ pay, Homeland Security said in a statement released on Wednesday.
“The Trump administration is continuing to deliver on its promise to protect the American worker while strengthening the economy,” acting Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli said in the statement. “The current use of random selection to allocate H-1B visas … hurts American workers by bringing in relatively lower-paid foreign labor at the expense of the American workforce.”
The proposed change, which has to undergo a 30-day public comment period, would affect the approximately 85,000 H-1B visas awarded each year.


newyorkpost--2020-10-29--Sweet lady hands motorcyclist a raincoat

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Chivalry ain’t dead. Watch as a woman hands an emergency slicker to a scooter rider in the pouring rain. The touching moment was caught on camera at a traffic light in Lake Park, Florida.
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newyorkpost--2020-10-29--Woman decapitated as knife-wielding man kills 3 in suspected France terror attack

A woman was decapitated and two other people were killed by a knife-wielding “ terrorist ” who shouted “ Allahu akbar !
” at a church in the French city of Nice — one of three attacks targeting the country on Thursday .
Mayor Christian Estrosi said on Twitter the vile attack occurred at the Notre Dame Basilica in the Mediterranean city and that police had detained the assailant .
Estrosi described the assailant as a “ terrorist ” who shouted “ Allahu akbar !
” — Arabic for “ God is great ” — repeatedly as police collared him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left no doubt , ” the mayor said .
Two people were killed inside the church , an elderly woman who was beheaded , and a man whose throat was cut , according to the BBC .
A wounded woman managed to flee to a nearby café , but died of her injuries later , a police source told Agence France-Presse .
No mass was underway at the time of the attack , but the church opens about 8 a.m. and “ people come in to pray at all hours , ” Father @ @ @ @ @ @ @ church , told the outlet .
A video posted online captured the moment police ran inside the church — less than a half-mile from the site where another attacker plowed a truck into a Bastille Day crowd , killing 86 people , on July 14 , 2016 .
“ The suspected knife attacker was shot by police while being detained , he is on his way to hospital , he is alive , ” the mayor told reporters Thursday .
The assailant was believed to be acting alone and police are not searching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
It emerged later that someone had managed to sound the alarm with a special protection system set up by the city , the BBC reported .
Daniel Conilh , 32 , a waiter at the Grand Café de Lyon near the church , said it was shortly before 9 a.m. when “ shots were fired and everybody took off running.
” “ A woman came in straight from the church and said , ‘ Run !
Run !
Someone has been stabbing people ’ , ” he told AFP , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sealed off the area .
The horrific incident coincided with two other attacks targeting France .
A Saudi man was arrested in Jeddah after attacking a guard with a “ sharp tool ” at the French consulate , state media reported .
The Saudi Press Agency offered no motive for the attack .
“ The assailant was apprehended by Saudi security forces immediately after the attack .
The guard was taken to hospital and his life is not in danger , ” the embassy said in a statement .
And in southern France @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Montfavet , near the city of Avignon , after he had earlier threatened passers-by with a handgun , police said .
According to radio station Europe 1 , he shouted “ Allahu akbar !
” “ Enough is enough , ” Estrosi added , according to Agence France-Presse .
“ It ’ s time now for France to exonerate itself from the laws of peace in order to definitively wipe out Islamo-fascism from our territory.
” He said on Twitter : “ Everything points to a terrorist attack.
” Estrosi said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ horrible way.
” “ The methods match , without doubt , those used against the brave teacher in Conflans Sainte Honorine , Samuel Paty , ” he said , referring to a teacher beheaded in a recent attack in Paris by a Chechen man , Abdullakh Anzorov , 18 , as punishment for showing students cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad .
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said he was chairing a crisis meeting in response to Thursday ’ s attack , according to CNN .
The anti-terrorism prosecutor ’ s office said it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France has been on high alert for terror attacks since the Jan. 15 massacre at the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo .
The trial of suspected accomplices in that attack is underway in Paris .
It was not immediately clear what the motive was behind the Nice attack , or if there was any connection to the cartoons , which Muslims deem to be blasphemous .
Thursday ’ s attack prompted lawmakers in parliament to hold a minute of silence , before Prime Minister Jean Castex and other ministers left for an emergency meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected to head to the city .
A wave of jihadist attacks , often by so-called “ lone wolf ” assailants , has killed more than 250 people on France since 2015 .
The latest attack drew condemnation from France ’ s allies , with Germany ’ s Angela Merkel voicing solidarity with France and EU Parliament President David Sassoli saying : “ This pain is felt by all of us in Europe .
“ We have a duty to stand together against violence and those that seek to incite and spread hatred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte condemned a “ vile attack ” but vowed it “ will not shake the common front defending the values of freedom and peace.
” Abdallah Zekri , director general of the French Council of Muslim Worship , said : “ I can only denounce as strongly as possible this act of cowardice against the innocent.
” He called on French Muslims to cancel festivities to mark the Mawlid , or the Prophet ’ s Birthday , which ends Thursday , “ in solidarity with the victims and their @ @ @ @

Two women and a man were killed in decapitation attacks by a knife-wielding assailant who shouted “Allahu akbar!” at a church in the French city of Nice in what President Emmanuel Macron called an “Islamist terrorist attack” — one of three strikes targeting the country on Thursday.
Mayor Christian Estrosi said on Twitter the vile attack occurred at the Notre Dame Basilica in the Mediterranean city and that police had detained the assailant.
Estrosi described the assailant as a “terrorist” who shouted “Allahu akbar!” — Arabic for “God is great” — repeatedly as police collared him.
“The meaning of his gesture left no doubt,” the mayor said.
Two people were killed inside the church — a woman in her 70s who was “almost beheaded” after coming in to pray and a 45-year-old sacristan known as Vincent L who was decapitated, according to the Daily Mail.
The third victim — a woman of African origin in her 30s — managed to flee to a nearby bar after being stabbed several times, but died of her injuries later, the news outlet reported.
No Mass was underway at the time of the attack, but the church opens at about 8 a.m. and “people come in to pray at all hours,” the Rev. Philippe Asso, who serves at the church, told the outlet.
Macron, who rushed to Nice, announced increased surveillance of churches by France’s Sentinelle military patrols, which would be bolstered to 7,000 troops from 3,000, according to Agence France-Presse.
“Quite clearly, it is France that is being attacked,” he said. “If we are attacked, it is because of our values.”
Police sources said the suspect gave his name as “Brahim” and his age as 25, but his identity had not yet been confirmed.
A video posted online captured the moment police ran inside the church — less than a half-mile from the site where another attacker plowed a truck into a Bastille Day crowd, killing 86 people, on July 14, 2016.
“The suspected knife attacker was shot by police while being detained, he is on his way to hospital, he is alive,” the mayor told reporters Thursday.
The assailant was believed to have been acting alone and police are not searching for other suspects, a police official said.
It emerged later that someone had managed to sound the alarm with a special protection system set up by the city, the BBC reported.
Daniel Conilh, 32, a waiter at the Grand Café de Lyon near the church, said it was shortly before 9 a.m. when “shots were fired and everybody took off running.”
“A woman came in straight from the church and said, ‘Run! Run! Someone has been stabbing people,'” he told AFP, and dozens of police and rescue vehicles quickly sealed off the area.
The horrific incident coincided with two other attacks targeting France.
A Saudi man was arrested in Jeddah after attacking a guard with a “sharp tool” at the French consulate, state media reported. The Saudi Press Agency offered no motive for the attack.
“The assailant was apprehended by Saudi security forces immediately after the attack. The guard was taken to hospital and his life is not in danger,” the embassy said in a statement.
And in southern France, police shot and killed a man in Montfavet, near the city of Avignon, after he had earlier threatened passers-by with a handgun, police said. According to radio station Europe 1, he shouted, “Allahu akbar!”
“Enough is enough,” Estrosi added, according to Agence France-Presse. “It’s time now for France to exonerate itself from the laws of peace in order to definitively wipe out Islamo-fascism from our territory.”
He said on Twitter: “Everything points to a terrorist attack.”
Estrosi said the victims had been killed in a “horrible way.”
“The methods match, without doubt, those used against the brave teacher in Conflans Sainte Honorine, Samuel Paty,” he said, referring to a teacher beheaded in a recent attack in Paris by a Chechen man, Abdullakh Anzorov, 18, as punishment for showing students cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said he was chairing a crisis meeting in response to Thursday’s attack, according to CNN.
The anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office said it has launched an investigation into the attack.
France has been on high alert for terror attacks since the January 2015 massacre at the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo. The trial of suspected accomplices in that attack is underway in Paris.
It was not immediately clear what the motive was behind the Nice attack, or if there was any connection to the cartoons, which Muslims deem blasphemous.
Thursday’s attack prompted lawmakers in parliament to hold a minute of silence, before Prime Minister Jean Castex and other ministers left for an emergency meeting with President Emmanuel Macron, who is expected to head to the city.
Castex told lawmakers that the country would raise its alert level to “emergency” in response to the attack — hours before the country was to go into a one-month coronavirus lockdown.
A wave of jihadist attacks, often by so-called “lone wolf” assailants, has killed more than 250 people in France since 2015.
The latest attack drew condemnation from France’s allies, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel voicing solidarity with France and EU Parliament President David Sassoli saying: “This pain is felt by all of us in Europe.
“We have a duty to stand together against violence and those that seek to incite and spread hatred,” he said on Twitter.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte condemned the “vile attack” but vowed it “will not shake the common front defending the values of freedom and peace.”
Abdallah Zekri, director general of the French Council of Muslim Worship, said: “I can only denounce as strongly as possible this act of cowardice against the innocent.”
He called on French Muslims to cancel festivities to mark the Mawlid, or the Prophet’s Birthday, which ends Thursday, “in solidarity with the victims and their loved ones.”
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-10-29--Wave of ransomware attacks hobble 5 US hospitals as COVID-19 cases surge: FBI

BOSTON — Federal agencies warned that cybercriminals are unleashing a wave of data-scrambling extortion attempts against the U.S. healthcare system designed to lock up hospital information systems , which could hurt patient care just as nationwide cases of COVID-19 are spiking .
In a joint alert Wednesday , the FBI and two federal agencies warned that they had “ credible information of an increased and imminent cybercrime threat to U.S. hospitals and healthcare providers.
” The alert said malicious groups are targeting the sector with attacks that produce “ data theft and disruption of healthcare services.
” The cyberattacks involve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that can only be unlocked with software keys provided once targets pay up .
Independent security experts say it has already hobbled at least five U.S. hospitals this week , and could potentially impact hundreds more .
The offensive by a Russian-speaking criminal gang coincides with the U.S. presidential election , although there is no immediate indication they were motivated by anything but profit .
“ We are experiencing the most significant cyber security threat we ’ ve ever seen in the United States , ” Charles Carmakal , chief technical officer of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
Alex Holden , CEO of Hold Security , which has been closely tracking the ransomware in question for more than a year , agreed that the unfolding offensive is unprecedented in magnitude for the U.S. given its timing in the heat of a contentions presidential election and the worst global pandemic in a century .
The federal alert was co-authored by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services .
The cybercriminals launching the attacks use a strain of ransomware known as Ryuk , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ computers called Trickbot that Microsoft began trying to counter earlier in October .
U.S. Cyber Command has also reportedly taken action against Trickbot .
While Microsoft has had considerable success knocking its command-and-control servers offline through legal action , analysts say criminals have still been finding ways to spread Ryuk .
The U.S. has seen a plague of ransomware over the past 18 months or so , with major cities from Baltimore to Atlanta hit and local governments and schools hit especially hard .
In September , a ransomware attack hobbled all 250 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Services , forcing doctors and nurses to rely on paper and pencil for record-keeping and slowing lab work .
Employees described chaotic conditions impeding patient care , including mounting emergency room waits and the failure of wireless vital-signs monitoring equipment .
Also in September , the first known fatality related to ransomware occurred in Duesseldorf , Germany , when an IT system failure forced a critically ill patient to be routed to a hospital in another city .
Holden said he alerted federal law enforcement Friday after monitoring infection attempts at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may have beaten back infections .
The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
He said the group was demanding ransoms well above $ 10 million per target and that criminals involved on the dark web were discussing plans to try to infect more than 400 hospitals , clinics and other medical facilities .
“ One of the comments from the bad guys is that they are expecting to cause panic and , no , they are not hitting election systems , ” Holden said .
“ They are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they know it.
” U.S. officials have repeatedly expressed concern about major ransomware attacks affecting the presidential election , even if the criminals are motivated chiefly by profit .
Mandiant ’ s Carmakal identified the criminal gang as UNC1878 , saying “ it is deliberately targeting and disrupting U.S. hospitals , forcing them to divert patients to other healthcare providers ” and producing prolonged delays in critical care .
He called the eastern European group “ one of the most brazen , heartless , and disruptive threat actors I ’ ve observed over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proven suspected ties between the Russian government and gangs that use the Trickbot platform , Holden said he has “ no doubt that the Russian government is aware of this operation — of terrorism , really.
” He said dozens of different criminal groups use Ryuk , paying its architects a cut .
Dmitri Alperovitch , co-founder and former chief technical officer of the cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike , said there are “ certainly lot of connections between Russian cyber criminals and the state , ” with Kremlin-employed hackers sometimes moonlighting as cyber criminals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the affected hospitals .
Four healthcare institutions have been reported hit by ransomware so far this week , three belonging to the St. Lawrence County Health System in upstate New York and the Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls , Oregon .
Sky Lakes acknowledged the ransomware attack in an online statement , saying it had no evidence that patient information was compromised .
It said emergency and urgent care “ remain available ” The St. Lawrence system did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment .
Increasingly , ransomware criminals are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ networks , using it for extortion .
They often sow the malware weeks before activating it , waiting for moments when they believe they can extract the highest payments , said Brett Callow , an analyst at the cybersecurity firm Emsisoft .
A total of 59 U.S. healthcare providers/systems have been impacted by ransomware in 2020 , disrupting patient care at up to 510 facilities , Callow said .
Carmakal said Mandiant had provided Microsoft on Wednesday with as much detail as it could about the threat so it could distribute details to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no immediate comment .

BOSTON — Federal agencies warned that cybercriminals are unleashing a wave of data-scrambling extortion attempts against the U.S. healthcare system designed to lock up hospital information systems, which could hurt patient care just as nationwide cases of COVID-19 are spiking.
In a joint alert Wednesday, the FBI and two federal agencies warned that they had “credible information of an increased and imminent cybercrime threat to U.S. hospitals and healthcare providers.” The alert said malicious groups are targeting the sector with attacks that produce “data theft and disruption of healthcare services.”
The cyberattacks involve ransomware, which scrambles data into gibberish that can only be unlocked with software keys provided once targets pay up. Independent security experts say it has already hobbled at least five U.S. hospitals this week, and could potentially impact hundreds more.
The offensive by a Russian-speaking criminal gang coincides with the U.S. presidential election, although there is no immediate indication they were motivated by anything but profit. “We are experiencing the most significant cyber security threat we’ve ever seen in the United States,” Charles Carmakal, chief technical officer of the cybersecurity firm Mandiant, said in a statement.
Alex Holden, CEO of Hold Security, which has been closely tracking the ransomware in question for more than a year, agreed that the unfolding offensive is unprecedented in magnitude for the U.S. given its timing in the heat of a contentions presidential election and the worst global pandemic in a century.
The federal alert was co-authored by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services.
The cybercriminals launching the attacks use a strain of ransomware known as Ryuk, which is seeded through a network of zombie computers called Trickbot that Microsoft began trying to counter earlier in October. U.S. Cyber Command has also reportedly taken action against Trickbot. While Microsoft has had considerable success knocking its command-and-control servers offline through legal action, analysts say criminals have still been finding ways to spread Ryuk.
The U.S. has seen a plague of ransomware over the past 18 months or so, with major cities from Baltimore to Atlanta hit and local governments and schools hit especially hard.
In September, a ransomware attack hobbled all 250 U.S. facilities of the hospital chain Universal Health Services, forcing doctors and nurses to rely on paper and pencil for record-keeping and slowing lab work. Employees described chaotic conditions impeding patient care, including mounting emergency room waits and the failure of wireless vital-signs monitoring equipment.
Also in September, the first known fatality related to ransomware occurred in Duesseldorf, Germany, when an IT system failure forced a critically ill patient to be routed to a hospital in another city.
Holden said he alerted federal law enforcement Friday after monitoring infection attempts at a number of hospitals, some of which may have beaten back infections. The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
He said the group was demanding ransoms well above $10 million per target and that criminals involved on the dark web were discussing plans to try to infect more than 400 hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities.
“One of the comments from the bad guys is that they are expecting to cause panic and, no, they are not hitting election systems,” Holden said. “They are hitting where it hurts even more and they know it.” U.S. officials have repeatedly expressed concern about major ransomware attacks affecting the presidential election, even if the criminals are motivated chiefly by profit.
Mandiant’s Carmakal identified the criminal gang as UNC1878, saying “it is deliberately targeting and disrupting U.S. hospitals, forcing them to divert patients to other healthcare providers” and producing prolonged delays in critical care.
He called the eastern European group “one of the most brazen, heartless, and disruptive threat actors I’ve observed over my career.”
While no one has proven suspected ties between the Russian government and gangs that use the Trickbot platform, Holden said he has “no doubt that the Russian government is aware of this operation — of terrorism, really.” He said dozens of different criminal groups use Ryuk, paying its architects a cut.
Dmitri Alperovitch, co-founder and former chief technical officer of the cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike, said there are “certainly lot of connections between Russian cyber criminals and the state,” with Kremlin-employed hackers sometimes moonlighting as cyber criminals.
Neither Holden nor Carmakal would identify the affected hospitals. Four healthcare institutions have been reported hit by ransomware so far this week, three belonging to the St. Lawrence County Health System in upstate New York and the Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls, Oregon.
Sky Lakes acknowledged the ransomware attack in an online statement, saying it had no evidence that patient information was compromised. It said emergency and urgent care “remain available” The St. Lawrence system did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.
Increasingly, ransomware criminals are stealing data from their targets before encrypting networks, using it for extortion. They often sow the malware weeks before activating it, waiting for moments when they believe they can extract the highest payments, said Brett Callow, an analyst at the cybersecurity firm Emsisoft.
A total of 59 U.S. healthcare providers/systems have been impacted by ransomware in 2020, disrupting patient care at up to 510 facilities, Callow said.
Carmakal said Mandiant had provided Microsoft on Wednesday with as much detail as it could about the threat so it could distribute details to its customers. A Microsoft spokesman had no immediate comment.


newyorkpost--2020-10-29--Florida man mauled by leopard after paying for ‘full-contact experience’ with big cat

A Florida man was mauled by a black leopard after paying the owner of a private animal sanctuary for a @ @ @ @ @ the rare cat , a report said .
Dwight Turner , 50 , had to @ @ @ @ @ Aug. 31 attack in an enclosure behind the home of Michael Poggi in the town @ @ @ @ @ , citing a report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission .
Turner had @ @ @ @ @ play with ” the black leopard and “ rub its belly ” behind Poggi ’ @ @ @ @ @ an FWC report .
The animal charged Turner once he walked into the enclosure .
@ @ @ @ @ ears was ripped apart and his scalp was “ hanging from his head ” following @ @ @ @ @ said .
A photo of Turner obtained by WPLG shows the back of his heavily @ @ @ @ @ who is licensed to have the leopard , was charged with allowing full contact with @ @ @ @ @ He allegedly admitted his wrongdoing to police , the report said .

A Florida man was mauled by a black leopard after paying the owner of a private animal sanctuary for a “full-contact experience” with the rare cat, a report said.
Dwight Turner, 50, had to undergo several surgeries from the Aug. 31 attack in an enclosure behind the home of Michael Poggi in the town of Davie, WPLG reported, citing a report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Turner had paid $150 to “play with” the black leopard and “rub its belly” behind Poggi’s home, according to an FWC report.
The animal charged Turner once he walked into the enclosure. One of Turner’s ears was ripped apart and his scalp was “hanging from his head” following the attack, the report said.
A photo of Turner obtained by WPLG shows the back of his heavily bandaged head.
Poggi, who is licensed to have the leopard, was charged with allowing full contact with an extremely dangerous animal.
He allegedly admitted his wrongdoing to police, the report said.