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“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. - J.R.R. Tolkien






JAMAICA







IRAN

Iranian officials blame US and Israel for deadly ambush on military parade

Iran military parade attacked by gunmen in Ahvaz

AP Interview: Iran nuclear chief hopes deal will survive

Lake Urmia



TURKEY

Auditors say some of Turkey’s food safety controls meet EU requirements 

 The Latest: Turkey criticizes US over PLO mission closure

AP PHOTOS: Istanbul's historic orphanage awaits salvation

The Turkish constitutional referendum, explained



EGYPT

WATCH: Israeli tourists flock to Egypt, ignore ISIS threat and travel warning

EGYPT'S RICE FARMERS AT RISK FROM A DAM THOUSANDS OF MILES UPSTREAM

25 Captivating Photos of Egypt

Is Hamas re-branding to orient towards Egypt?



SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi Arabia Scooping Up Land in Northern Virginia

Lucid Motors closes $1 billion deal with Saudi Arabia to fund electric car production

Saudi Arabia expels Canadian envoy for urging activists' release


SAUDI ARABIA HIRES GIBSON DUNN: The Embassy of Saudi Arabia hired Gibson Dunn to lobby against legislation that would allow the Justice Department to pursue antitrust actions against the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. Theodore Olson, former solicitor general of the United States between 2001 and 2004, Amir Tayrani and Benjamin Hayes will lobby on the issue. According to a letter addressed to Ambassador Prince Khalid bin Salman Abdulaziz included in Gibson Dunn's registration under the Foreign Agents Registrations Act, the Embassy of Saudi Arabia agreed to pay a flat fee of $250,000. The fee, according to the letter, covers "preparation of a concise white paper, suitable for public dissemination" that opposes the bill; "preparation of a more in-depth legal analysis" of the bill; and preparation of an op-ed opposing the legislation. "In the event that you wish to expand the scope of engagement to include meetings between myself and members of Congress regarding [the bill], there will be an additional flat fee of $100,000 per month to cover my time preparing for, and attending, such meetings," Olson wrote in the letter. Saudi Arabia retains many firms in Washington. [POLITICO Influence, September 19, 2018]



FIJI

PM supports Nelson Mandela Political Declaration on Fiji’s behalf

Plight of unfortunate people should be prioritised: Singh

Lekutu district meeting discuss communication challenges

How Fiji’s Official Iguana Guardian Protects 12,000 Lizards



WHIMSEY

Cole Porter's Birthplace 

Cracking the Secret Code of Car Names

‘Miami English’ and the Linguistic Oddness of South Florida

Voynich Manuscript



REFUGEES

Trump administration to slash refugee cap 

Refugees, migrants, and the politics of fear



MIKE POMPEO  
      Secretary of State       

Top U.S. Diplomat Backed Continuing Support for Saudi War in Yemen Over Objections of Staff

Pompeo cracks down, on improper use, of commas at State Department

Pompeo says downing of Russian plane an 'unfortunate incident'

Pompeo seeks to dial down tensions with Moscow ahead of new sanctions



HEALTHCARE

Health Care Looks Beyond Medicine to Social Factors 

Can the Republicans deliver affordable health coverage? OPINION


HOUSE COMMITTEE WEIGHS OBAMACARE DELAY BILL—The House is taking another half-swing at Obamacare - targeting a handful of provisions for repeal or delay through legislation that is set to be taken up today by the Rules Committee. The bill - dubbed the Save American Workers Act - would primarily make life easier for small businesses.
It delays Obamacare's employer mandate, further postpones the so-called Cadillac tax on high-cost health plans and changes the definition of a "full-time worker" to someone employed 40 hours a week, up from 30 hours. In a win for the suntanning lobby, it would repeal Obamacare's 10 percent tax on indoor tanning salons.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill could cost the government more than $50 billion over a decade. [POLITICO Pulse, September 12, 2018]



FROM THE PORCH

Eight Steps to a Happier Vacation 

Why Not to Pour Grease Down Your Sink's Drain

Chinese billionaire leaves the US despite arrest on suspicion of sexual assault

Emotional Support Peacock Barred From Flying on United Airlines



EDUCATION

Will Students Testify in the Case Against Harvard’s Race-Conscious Admissions Procedures?

The Perils of Narrow Training in Education Research

Opioid Epidemic Raising Special Education Concerns

Education assessment in the 21st century: Pathways to the future




US blacklists NKorean-controlled IT firms in China, Russia 

Treasury Department Laundry 


TREASURY OFFICIAL: FINANCIAL INDUSTRY DATA UNDER FIRE: Foreign investments that could lead to access to financial services data could be the next front in a campaign to ratchet up investment screening, said Heath Tarbert, Treasury assistant secretary for international markets and investment policy.
At an event on Wednesday, he said financial services has generally "not created a lot of buzz" in the context of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which reviews foreign takeovers of U.S. firms for national security concerns. But Tarbert said the industry, which he said still does not represent a national security concern, should be thinking more about how to protect personally identifiable information and to address cybersecurity risks.
He pointed to potential vulnerabilities involving insurers, particularly those with health care information, and to data that could be used to blackmail Americans and identify where they work, including those in the defense community. He also raised concerns around payment systems and other financial services that serve as "critical infrastructure" in the U.S. [POLITICO's Morning Trade, September 6, 2018]




State incorporation laws: Good for crooks, bad for banks OPINION 

New federal law puts credit freeze fees on ice



SCREEN

Characters With Autism Need to be Part of Television and Movies 

Could the star of The Meg really bite a ship in half? We took a paleobiologist to the new movie to find out 

Film Review: 'The Predator' outstays its welcome on Earth 

On location: 12 famous movies filmed in Switzerland 



NOTE: I have no official connection to any organization from which information is shared.. Occasionally, I post informational material and/or an opportunity to donate or join as  a "community service" announcement.  These again are shared for their varying perspectives.


Any commercial or business interest information shared is purely informational, not an endorsement.  I have no connection with any such commercial or business interest.

Any books listed are random or topic-related to something else in the post.  Think of these as a "library bookshelf" to browse.  They are shared for informational or entertainment value only, not as being recommended.
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