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May 22, 2018 / 7:16 AM / Updated 36 minutes ago Thai PM reiterates no vote until "early 2019", as protesters gather Reuters Staff 1 Min Read BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha reiterated on Tuesday that a general election will take place in “early 2019 and no sooner” as hundreds of protesters gathered in Bangkok to demand that a vote be held in November. FILE PHOTO: Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha gestures during a news conference after a weekly cabinet meeting at Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, January 9, 2018. Picture taken January 9, 2018. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/FIle Photo Protesters hoping to march to the prime minister’s offices, Government House, set off from Thammasat University early in the day but were blocked by rows of police in black uniforms. The rare protest is also marking four years since Prayuth, then army chief, overthrew an elected government in a May 22, 2014, coup. The military government initially promised to hold a general election in 2015 but has pushed back the date several times. Reporting by Pracha Hariraksapitak; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Robert Birsel

Thai PM reiterates no vote until "early 2019", as protesters gather

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP is pleased to announce that partner Anne Swanson has been named the AUVSI Chapter Leader of the Year. Anne has served as President of the AUVSI DC Capitol Chapter for the past three years, serves on the chapter’s Executive Committee, and is the recently elected Chair of AUVSI’s National Presidents’ Council. Among other things, the award recognizes Anne’s work in spearheading many DC Capitol Chapter events over the years that have drawn thousands of attendees to educational and politically relevant sessions. Anne’s previous professional activities have included service as vice president and treasurer of the DC Capitol Chapter and the Federal Communications Bar Association’s (“FCBA”) president. She currently serves as the FCBA’s delegate to the American Bar Association. Bryan Tramont, Managing Partner of Wilkinson Barker Knauer, said, “Anne is recognized thought leader and trailblazer in the industry and has been representing clients on UAS matters for years. She integrates her experience with all three branches of government to develop strategies and provide unique guidance that gets innovative things done for our clients. We are proud to have Anne as a part of the WBK team and applaud AUVSI for recognizing all her efforts.” Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP, with offices in Washington, D.C. and Denver, Colorado, is ranked as a “first tier” firm by Chambers USA (Telecom, Broadcast, and Satellite: Regulatory), and Legal 500 (Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory), and is the only firm to be named “Law Firm of the Year” in communications law multiple times by U.S. News - Best Lawyers (2012, 2014, & 2018). The firm’s UAS practice advises a wide-range of clients – associations, manufacturers, technology companies, and media companies – on UAS issues at both the federal and state levels. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503005366/en/ News Media: Kelly A. Donohue, 202-783-4141 Source: Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP

Anne Swanson Named Chapter Leader of the Year by the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (“AUVSI”)

May 11 (Reuters) - Novus Therapeutics Inc: * NOVUS THERAPEUTICS REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2018 FINANCIAL RESULTS * NOVUS THERAPEUTICS INC Q1 SHR LOSS $0.36 Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:

BRIEF-Novus Therapeutics Reports Q1 Loss Per Share $0.36

'U.S. Embassy' road signs go up in Jerusalem 12:12pm BST - 01:15 Road signs marking the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem are starting to be put up ahead of next week's opening of the disputed embassy. Rough cut (no reporter narration). Road signs marking the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem are starting to be put up ahead of next week's opening of the disputed embassy. Rough cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2KDinHv

'U.S. Embassy' road signs go up in Jerusalem

May 29, 2018 / 6:00 PM / Updated 11 minutes ago Tennis: Britain's Edmund 'feeling good' at French Open Reuters Staff 2 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - British number one Kyle Edmund said he was “feeling good” on the clay courts of Roland Garros, where he cruised past Australia’s Alex de Minaur 6-2 6-4 6-3 to reach the second round for the fourth consecutive year. Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 29, 2018 Britain's Kyle Edmund celebrates winning his first round match against Australia's Alex de Minaur REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol It was a controlled win for the Britain’s top Wimbledon hope against an opponent who failed to hit any winners off the Edmund serve and was harried into too many forced errors. Edmund’s ball-striking was superior throughout, the 16th seed hitting 28 winners to De Minaur’s 15, but it was the 23-year-old’s cool head that impressed. “I was pleased with how I managed my game today. Did the controllables really well, ... serving well and, you know, when I am on the front foot not laying back on the point,” Edmund told reporters. The South African-born youngster has made big strides in the past five months, defeating Novak Djokovic and David Goffin on his way to the quarter-finals in Madrid this month and breaking into the top 20. Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 29, 2018 Australia's Alex de Minaur shakes the hand Britain's Kyle Edmund after losing his first round match REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol Edmund took the British top spot in March from Andy Murray, who has been sidelined by a hip injury since Wimbledon last year. He rose to a career high 17th in the ATP rankings last week after reaching the third round of the Rome Open. Edmund reckoned on Murray still claiming a place among the top four or five players if he were fit and said his own focus was on climbing higher still in the world rankings. “It’s nice to be the number one Brit,” Edmunds said. “It’s nice but it doesn’t change anything. It’s like I have got to keep working and try to get better.” “For me, it’s the world ranking you obviously want to improve.” Reporting by Richard Lough; Editing by Ken Ferris

Tennis: Britain's Edmund 'feeling good' at French Open

May 3 (Reuters) - BanBao Co Ltd: * SAYS IT PLANS TO RAISE UP TO 675 MILLION YUAN ($106.34 million) IN SHARE PRIVATE PLACEMENT TO FUND ACQUISITION, PROJECT Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2waO5ZC ($1 = 6.3476 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom) Our

BanBao To Raise Up To 675 Mln Yuan In Share Private Placement To Fund Acquisition, Project

May 1 (Reuters) - SIGA Technologies Inc: * SIGA TECHNOLOGIES ANNOUNCES FAVORABLE OUTCOME OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN SUPPORT OF TPOXX® * SIGA TECHNOLOGIES INC - PANEL, COMPRISED OF INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXPERTS, VOTED UNANIMOUSLY, 17 TO 0, THAT BENEFITS OF TPOXX OUTWEIGH ITS RISKS Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:

BRIEF-SIGA Technologies Says Panel Voted Unanimously, That Benefits Of TPOXX Outweigh Risks

May 18, 2018 / 5:26 AM / Updated 4 minutes ago Puerto Rico power grid braces for hurricane season Jessica Resnick-Ault , Nick Brown 5 Min Read NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. federal agency tasked with restoring electricity to Puerto Rico, after Hurricane Maria hit the Caribbean last year, is leaving the island though thousands still have no power heading into the next hurricane season starting next month. Only a last-minute request from the governor of the island, bemoaning the “fragile state” of the power grid, managed to keep most of the generators brought by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Puerto Rican soil for another six months. The remaining generators might help keep the lights on for hospitals or police stations if the island gets hit again during the coming hurricane season, which begins June 1. Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico last September, leaving 1.5 million homes and businesses in the dark. Both the island’s power utility and the Trump Administration’s Federal Emergency Management Agency were criticized for a slow response. Most power has been restored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers but the electricity grid remains unreliable, and suffered an island-wide blackout last month. (For a graphic on power restoration after hurricanes, click tmsnrt.rs/2xvCFyU ) “The whole world is very nervous about hurricane time,” said Rosalina Abreu Gonzalez, who lives near Mariana, on the eastern side of the island, where power has still not been restored. “There is a real concern - the government hasn’t provided an energy system that is more secure.” The Army Corps, a unit of the U.S. armed forces, has said its task is largely complete now that most people have power. About 22,000 customers are still without electricity, most in remote areas, according to the new head of the island’s power utility, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority. “Our mission wasn’t to build a modern resilient system,” Charles Alexander, Director of Contingency Operations and Homeland Security Headquarters at the Army Corps, said at a Senate hearing last week. On April 29, Governor Ricardo Rossello asked U.S. officials to leave behind 850 generators at critical facilities, along with three larger generators used to keep the grid stable. FEMA agreed to leave the mega-generators and generators for 700 critical facilities. Mega-generators supply 75 megawatts of power, enough to power 75,000 homes. Members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stand underneath an electricity pole, as the island's fragile power system is still reeling from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria eight months ago, in Utuado, Puerto Rico May 17, 2018. REUTERS/Alvin Baez New PREPA Chief Executive Walter Higgins, who has only been on the job for two months, said he is focusing on emergency procedures in the event of another disaster in coming months. He said there is a plan for building a more resilient grid in the future. Higgins took over from Ricardo Ramos, who resigned as CEO in November after coming under fire for signing unvetted, little-known contractors to restore power, rather than immediately ask for assistance from other utilities. “Unfortunately, pain causes learning, and what we’ve learned is how to get mutual assistance called for and on the island immediately,” Higgins told Reuters. Still, PREPA’s grid lacks buried power lines or reinforced poles, common in other hurricane prone areas. The power utility ran up an $8 billion debt over many years, largely due to poor bill collection, causing the system to fall into disrepair. “It is very hard to see these messages where the government is saying we’re ready for next season. We’re not,” said Sheylda Diaz, a biology professor who lives near Utuado, in the island’s center, where some lines and poles have yet to be fixed. The Army Corps will not provide further line restoration after Friday, FEMA said. “People here have no idea that they are leaving,” said Abreu Gonzalez, who runs a center where people without power can go for meals. Higgins said he sympathizes with those who want the Corps to remain. “I can understand why somebody would want them to stay longer, as long as there’s a single customer out.” Slideshow (17 Images) Maria hit shortly after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma slammed the U.S. mainland in 2017, but in both cases, power was largely restored within a week. “I cannot imagine a scenario where 20,000-plus Texans or 20,000 Floridians were without power and FEMA would make that decision,” said Sen. Martin Heinrich, a Democrat from New Mexico. “I think that’s reprehensible.” Reporting By Jessica Resnick-Ault; Editing by Diane Craft

Puerto Rico power grid braces for hurricane season

May 10, 2018 / 11:34 AM / Updated 5 hours ago Trump's Iran decision puts Iraq leaders to the test Samia Nakhoul 6 Min Read BAGHDAD (Reuters) - ’s decision to withdraw from the Iranian nuclear deal has cast a shadow over an already fraught election in Iraq, where Tehran and Washington have vied for influence since the U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. FILE PHOTO: U.S. participates in a celebration of military mothers and spouses at the White House May 9, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis The removal of a Sunni dictatorship cleared the path for the country’s Shi’ite majority, from which the three top contenders for the premiership, including incumbent Haider al-Abadi, are drawn. The outcome of the May 12 ballot is too close to call. Whoever wins must balance Iraq’s interests - and the need to reduce the struggling economy’s dependence on oil - with those of the United States and Iran, whose intensifying rivalry makes that more difficult. Abadi and his main rivals - predecessor Nuri al-Maliki and new challenger Hadi al-Amiri, a hardline militia commander at the head of a powerful paramilitary coalition aligned with Iran - tilt heavily towards Tehran. With Trump increasing pressure on Iran, its Shi’ite clerical leadership will be even more determined to maintain its patronage in Iraq. For Iran, Iraq is the most important Arab state, even more than Syria and Lebanon, where it also holds political and military sway. That is because Iran and Iraq share a border and Iraq is positioned in the heart of the Gulf region. Iraq is also Iran’s main route for supplying arms and fighters to Syria, where it has deployed with allied Iraqi and Lebanese Shi’ite militias to back President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war. One concern for Iraq is the risk of clashes between the 5,000 U.S. troops there and Shi’ite paramilitaries notionally under Baghdad’s command but answering to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “The Iraqis are very worried. They don’t want Iraq to become a new theater of ... war between Iran and the United States,” said one senior Western envoy. “If there is a war between Iran and the United States, part of it will be here.” The U.S. and Iran had found a common enemy in Islamic State, which at one point held about a third of Iraq, mainly in the north and the west. Its rapid advance owed much to the collapse of Iraq’s army, hollowed out by the sectarian policies of the Maliki government. Many Iraqis attribute the jihadis’ subsequent defeat to men like Amiri and the Iranian-trained militias, rather than to U.S.-led coalition forces. America mainly provided air power, while relying on Kurdish fighters on the ground in both Syria and Iraq. PROXY WAR But while Iran sees Iraq as the most strategically important Arab state, some experts believe Tehran will focus more on Israel and the Syrian battlefield. The conflict there threatens to draw in Israel. Only hours after Trump’s announcement on the Iran nuclear deal it launched air strikes against what it says were Iranian and Hezbollah assets, creeping closer to Israel’s borders. Iranian forces in Syria shelled Israeli army outposts across the Syrian frontier overnight, Israel said, prompting one of the heaviest Israeli strikes in Syria since the war began in 2011. Iraq’s foreign ministry called Trump’s decision “hasty and rash”, and said Washington’s withdrawal from the nuclear accord “goes in the direction of escalation which would bring nothing but destruction and the desolation of war” in the Middle East. In the worst-case scenario, diplomats in the region said, Iran would target U.S. interests in Iraq as their militias did in 2005 by firing rockets into the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. But Iran might prefer to steer clear of Iraq and use Syria instead. IRAQI DILEMMA Iraq’s Shi’ite leaders nonetheless face a dilemma about how to balance policy between the United States and Iran. Some Iraqi leaders, among them Abadi, say they want to steer clear of U.S.-Iranian rivalries. They would “want to follow the model of non-aligned policies, friends of all”, said another Western diplomat. Others, including Amiri, believe that Iraq’s single most important relationship is with Iran, and that they have to reinforce that relationship. Also important to Iraq is building bridges with the minority Sunni community, although some politicians are wary of Abadi’s tentative rapprochement with Sunni Saudi Arabia, nurtured after decades of estrangement. “Their greatest nightmare is to wake up and have the Sunnis or Arabs undermine their ascendancy and dominance in the system, as happened with Daesh,” said the second Western diplomat, referring to Islamic State’s advances in 2014. “They are reminded that Iran will be their ultimate resort when that nightmare happens ... When the (Islamic State) caliphate was declared, they (the Iranians) were the first to come to their rescue, not the U.S. or anybody else.” Iraq’s Shi’ites do not want to be dominated by Iran, but Trump’s move this week against Tehran may make that harder. “After (Trump’s decision) the question is how do you implement a balanced policy when Iran will use Iraq’s airspace to arm its militias in Syria? What will they do?”, said the diplomat. Powerful militias trained, funded and armed by Iran and led by Amiri might answer to Tehran rather than Baghdad. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has built Shi’ite militias at the heart of the so-called Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) into a structure to rival the Iraqi army and security forces. It did something similar within Lebanon’s Shi’ite Hezbollah movement, which has helped Tehran project military strength across the region. Editing by Mike Collett-White

Trump's Iran decision puts Iraq leaders to the test

May 14, 2018 / 6:43 PM / Updated 43 minutes ago Palace says no comment on report Markle's father won't attend wedding Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Prince Harry’s office declined to comment on Monday on a report by U.S. celebrity news site TMZ that the father of his U.S. fiancee Meghan Markle would not attend the couple’s glittering wedding in Britain on Saturday. Meghan Markle arrives at St Mary Magdalene's church for the Royal Family's Christmas Day service on the Sandringham estate in eastern England, Britain, December 25, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKay TMZ said on Monday that Thomas Markle had decided not to attend the marriage of his actress daughter to the British prince, who is Queen Elizabeth’s grandson, because he did not wish to embarrass the royals after media reports that he had staged paparazzi photographs. “We have got nothing on this at the moment,” a spokesman for Kensington Palace, Harry’s office, said. Markle was due to walk his daughter down the aisle at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, Queen Elizabeth’s home to the west of London, at a ceremony which will be attended by Britain’s royals and celebrities, and in the glare of the world’s media. He was also due to meet the queen, her husband and the other senior members of the Windsor family this week. However, Britain’s Mail on Sunday reported that Markle had agreed to stage pictures with a photographer ahead of his trip and the images had been sold to media for more than $100,000. TMZ said it had spoken to Markle and that he had said the paparazzi agency had approached him and offered him money, although the sum was not close to the reported figure. He said he had agreed to the pictures because he hoped they would improve his image as previous paparazzi snaps had shown him buying beer and looking dishevelled, TMZ said. The website also said Markle had revealed he had suffered a heart attack six days ago but had checked himself out of the hospital in order to attend the wedding. Earlier on Monday, Kensington Palace said Meghan Markle and her mother would be staying at a luxurious hotel near Windsor the night before the ceremony. They were due to travel to the chapel together on Saturday. Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by William Schomberg

UK palace says no comment on report Markle's father won't attend wedding

May 30, 2018 / 2:17 PM / in 22 minutes UPDATE 2-Bank of Canada holds rates but signals more hikes ahead Reuters Staff (Adds details, quotes, market reaction) By Andrea Hopkins and Leah Schnurr OTTAWA, May 30 (Reuters) - The Bank of Canada held interest rates steady on Wednesday but dropped cautious language about future rate moves in a signal that higher borrowing costs could come as soon as its next meeting in July, sending the Canadian dollar higher. While the central bank noted uncertainty about trade policy and stresses in emerging market economies, it dropped oft-repeated language pledging a cautious approach to setting monetary policy, suggesting gradual rate hikes will soon resume. “Overall, developments since April further reinforce Governing Council’s view that higher interest rates will be warranted to keep inflation near target,” the bank said as it held rates at 1.25 percent, as expected. Still, it said it will “take a gradual approach to policy adjustments, guided by incoming data.” In a statement analysts called hawkish, the bank dropped previous references to rate increases being warranted “over time” and removed a phrase about “some monetary policy accommodation” still being needed to keep inflation on target. The Canadian dollar rose as much as 1.1 percent against the greenback, its largest gain in more than two months. “It’s a hawkish hold,” said Derek Holt at Scotiabank. “I think they’re teeing up July.” The bank has raised rates three times since July 2017, most recently in January. But it has been on hold since amid uncertainty about the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement and concern about how indebted consumers will handle higher rates. With the bank noting trade policy uncertainty is dampening global business investment, economists said policymakers were unlikely to raise rates in quick succession. “There’s no indication here that it’s prepared to move at consecutive meetings. We likely would not see the next move after July until October,” said Sal Guatieri, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets. The bank said inflation will likely be a bit higher in the near term than forecast in April, largely because of increases in gasoline prices, though it noted it will look through the transitory impact of gas price fluctuations. The bank said data since April support its outlook for economic growth around 2 percent in the first half of 2018, with exports of goods more robust than forecast, while housing remained soft into the second quarter. The bank also said there is some upside to the outlook for the U.S. economy, while the price of oil, a key Canadian export, has been higher than assumed in April. (Additional reporting by Susan Taylor and Nichola Saminather in Toronto; Editing by Paul Simao and Dan Grebler)

UPDATE 1-Bank of Canada holds rates steady, signals hikes ahead

May 16, 2018 / 8:26 PM / in 6 minutes UPDATE 1-Cisco's tepid profit forecast overshadows third-quarter beat, shares fall Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Adds Details, shares) May 16 (Reuters) - Network gear maker Cisco Systems Inc beat analysts’ estimates for third-quarter revenue and profit on Wednesday, but a tepid profit forecast for the current quarter pushed shares down 3.4 percent in extended trading. The shares have risen about 18 percent this year as investors bet on Cisco’s transition to a software-focused company. Cisco forecast fourth-quarter profit of 68 cents to 70 cents per share, while analysts were expecting 69 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Net income rose to $2.69 billion, or 56 cents per share, in the third quarter ended April 28, from $2.52 billion, or 50 cents per share, a year earlier. On an adjusted basis, the company earned 66 cents per share. Total revenue rose 4.4 percent to $12.46 billion. Analysts on average had expected a profit of 65 cents per share and revenue of $12.43 billion. Cisco, like other legacy technology companies, has been shifting to high-growth areas such as cyber security and Internet of Things to cushion the declines in its traditional hardware businesses. (Reporting by Laharee Chatterjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)

UPDATE 1-Cisco's tepid profit forecast overshadows third-quarter beat, shares fall

May 25, 2018 / 5:22 PM / Updated an hour ago Take Five - World markets themes for the week ahead Reuters Staff 7 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Following are five big themes likely to dominate thinking of investors and traders in the coming week and the Reuters stories related to them. Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S. May 22, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan Mcdermid 1/MISSION IMPOSSIBLE? Italy’s new government will be taking shape next week. The eurosceptic, anti-austerity coalition comprising the anti-establishment 5-Star and far-right League has already been described as on a “suicide mission” by a euro zone policymaker. For investors though, the post that matters is that of economy minister and the favoured candidate for The League is Paolo Savona, a former banker who has called Italy’s euro membership a “historic error.” President Sergio Mattarella, who has veto power over ministerial appointments, has let it be known that he does not want Savona — setting up a potential clash even before the government gets off the ground. This could be make-or-break time for Italy’s bond markets, where the yield premium paid on its 10-year debt over euro zone benchmark German Bunds has widened to 200 bps. Further rises in Italian yields risk spilling into other weaker euro zone states too. A no-confidence motion mooted against Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy isn’t helping in that respect either. One bit of support may come from Thursday’s May flash euro zone inflation data. If that remains subdued it will cast more doubt over the ECB’s plans to end its bond buying programme by year-end. That would mean bond investors could count on that powerful central bank backstop remaining in place for some time. Italy’s bond yield gap with Germany hits 200 bps as sentiment sours Italy parties push president to name eurosceptic economy minister ANALYSIS-New Italian government has little chance of staying the course Euro partners warn new Italy government against “suicide mission” (Graphic: Growing political risks rattle Italian bonds, reut.rs/2KP4Uvq ) 2/THE BONDS ARE BACK IN TOWN Bond bears have had a pretty good run of it recently, but not so in the past week. The fall in yields, most notably the 10-year Treasury yield’s slide back below 3 percent, chips away at the narrative that growth and inflation are strong enough to warrant much tighter monetary policy across the developed world. The fall in benchmark 10-year yields this past week was remarkable: UK gilts -13 bps, the biggest weekly fall in a year; U.S. Treasuries -10 bps, the biggest fall in over a year; German Bunds -14 bps, the biggest fall in over two years. Analysts at HSBC are turning more bullish on government bonds, especially gilts, given their view that UK inflation is headed back below 2 pct. Bank of England governor Mark Carney this week warned a hard Brexit might prevent the Bank from raising rates, while the latest Fed minutes were surprisingly dovish. Political and trade concerns are rising again too, and there’s still a near-record short spec position in U.S. bonds. Could the bears be in retreat for a bit longer yet? INSTANT VIEW 3-Minutes from Federal Reserve’s May FOMC meeting U.S. Treasury yields fall on North Korea concerns Italy’s bond yield gap with Germany hits 200 bps as sentiment sours (Graphic: US 10y yield - weekly change, reut.rs/2Lsplzy ) 3/MODI-FIED OUTLOOK Asia’s worst performing currency, the rupee, is once again staring at ghosts of past emerging market tantrums and, despite all the talk of the Indian economy being in better shape than in 2013, ugly twin-deficit heads are rearing up again. The rupee is down more than 6 percent against the dollar this year, hit by the same issues as emerging market peers Argentina and Turkey — jitters around Fed policy tightening and $80 oil. Indian borrowing costs are on the rise and portfolio investors are moving out of stocks and bonds. While the Reserve Bank of India might be loath to use interest rate rises as its main currency defence mechanism, as it did during 2013, coming weeks will show how far it can go with spending precious dollar reserves to stop the rupee heading for 70 per dollar. The risk is that the balance of payments might go into deficit, should capital flows turn negative at the same time as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government throws fiscal caution to the winds before elections next year. After a surprise defeat in a regional election this month, Modi is under pressure to prevent higher fuel prices from hitting voters’ pockets. India’s Modi faces revived opposition after setback in southern state – Suspected Indian central bank interventions stems rupee’s fall – Slower growth, higher prices or more subsidies: Asia’s oil-related trilemma – (Graphic: India's rupee feels the heat, reut.rs/2GNHaWj ) 4/ LONG-TERM PROBLEM The next snapshot of the U.S. jobs market due next Friday is likely to show more solid hiring in May. Unemployment is seen at 3.9 percent, matching the near 18-year low hit in April. But those numbers gloss over some darker patches in the labour market. Parts of it are still struggling to recover from the Great Recession, which ended nine years ago and among the most striking is the plight of the long-term unemployed. The number of Americans out of work for half a year or longer is around the lowest in 11 years, but as a proportion of the unemployed it is unusually large. In April, one in five unemployed Americans had lost their job at least half a year earlier. While that is down from a record 45 percent eight years ago, it is well above the long-term average and tops even the highest percentages seen in several past recessions. U.S. job growth picks up, unemployment rate falls to 3.9 percent INSTANT VIEW 4 -U.S. April payrolls up less than expected (Graphic: Long-term unemployment in the United States, reut.rs/2LqBxRn ) 5/BREXIT BUNFIGHTS Britain’s long-known difficulties in establishing political consensus for its approach to Brexit look to be coming to a head again just as the economy and sterling are showing strains. Its politicians may be having their half-term break from parliament, but behind the scenes it will be all hands on deck as they try and work out how long they want to stay in the EU’s customs union. The nagging issue of trying to avoid checkpoints on the Northern Ireland border with euro zone member Ireland still looks close to intractable, and matters could come to a head with an EU withdrawal bill debate due in mid-June, potentially leading to another messy election. Add to that a flurry of UK data including forward-looking PMI’s that give one of the best health checks of the economy and it might be frazzled sterling traders rather than the Westminster set that need the time off. Sterling stuck near 2018 low on Brexit uncertainty, stagnant growth EU dismisses latest British ideas on Ireland after Brexit UK set for parliamentary showdown on Brexit law “in weeks” (Graphic: Sterling stumble boosts FTSE 100, reut.rs/2J0Ye0j ) Reporting by Dan Burns in New York; Vidya Ranganathan in Singapore; Dhara Ranasinghe, Jamie McGeever, Sujata Rao and Marc Jones in London; editing by John Stonestreet

Take Five - World markets themes for the week ahead

May 3, 2018 / 6:17 AM / Updated 12 hours ago Factbox - Recent British royal weddings Reuters Staff 7 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Queen Elizabeth’s grandson Prince Harry marries his U.S. fiancee Meghan Markle this month in a wedding expected to attract huge global interest. FILE PHOTO - Britain's Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle attend a Service of Thanksgiving and Commemoration on ANZAC Day at Westminster Abbey in London, Britain, April 25, 2018. Eddie Mulholland/Pool via Reuters The sixth-in-line to the British throne and the American actress who starred in TV legal drama “Suits” will tie the knot at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19. Some two billion people were estimated to have watched the 2011 wedding of elder brother Prince William to his wife Kate, demonstrating an enduring fascination with the British royals. Here are details of major British royal weddings since the queen’s father’s nuptials in 1923. ELIZABETH BOWES-LYON AND GEORGE VI Queen Elizabeth’s father George was Duke of York and not expected to be king when he married Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the fourth daughter of Lord Glamis who was later Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, on April 26, 1923. Grainy footage shows cheering crowds saluting the couple as they returned to Buckingham Palace after their wedding at London’s Westminster Abbey. George, who was known to his family as Albert, became king in 1936 when his elder brother Edward VIII abdicated to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. WALLIS SIMPSON AND KING EDWARD VIII Edward VIII sent shockwaves through the establishment when he announced, on Dec. 11, 1936, that he was renouncing the throne to marry twice-divorced socialite Wallis Simpson. Having abdicated, the Duke of Windsor, as Edward became, married Simpson on June 3 at the secluded Chateau de Cande in the Loire Valley in France. Simpson died in Paris at age 89 in 1986, 14 years after the death of Edward, who was ostracized by the royal family after his abdication and marriage. PRINCE PHILIP AND QUEEN ELIZABETH The queen and dashing naval officer Prince Philip, the fifth child and only son of Prince Andrew of Greece, became engaged on July 9, 1947. They were married four months later on Nov. 20 at Westminster Abbey in front of 2,000 guests with her younger sister Margaret one of the bridesmaids. FILE PHOTO: Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip visit Pangbourne College near Reading, May 9, 2017. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo The ceremony, broadcast live by BBC Radio to 200 million people around the world, was attended by statesmen and royalty from around the world, while large crowds gathered in London to celebrate the marriage of the future monarch. ANTONY ARMSTRONG-JONES AND PRINCESS MARGARET In 1955, the queen’s sister Margaret announced she was calling off her engagement to the divorced Group Captain Peter Townsend, thus avoiding a potential constitutional crisis. Five years later she wed society photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones at Westminster Abbey on May 6, 1960. They had two children but he struggled to adjust from his previous bohemian lifestyle. The couple divorced in a glare of publicity in 1978, the first such royal split since the days of Henry VIII four centuries earlier. A month later the now Lord Snowdon married divorcee Lucy Lindsay-Hogg, a television researcher. CAPTAIN MARK PHILLIPS AND PRINCESS ANNE The Queen’s second child and only daughter Princess Anne married Captain Mark Phillips, an Olympic gold medal-winning equestrian, at Westminster Abbey on Nov. 14, 1973. The couple had two children, Peter, the queen’s first grandchild, in 1977 and Zara in 1981. The marriage was dissolved in 1992 and on Dec. 12 the same year, Anne, who has the title The Princess Royal, married one-time royal aide Commander Timothy Laurence at a private ceremony at Crathie Church, near Balmoral Castle in Scotland. DIANA SPENCER AND PRINCE CHARLES Heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles, 32, married 20-year-old Lady Diana Spencer, daughter of then Viscount Althorp and later Earl Spencer who had been an equerry to both George VI and the queen, at London’s St Paul’s Cathedral in a fairytale wedding that captured the imagination of the world. An estimated worldwide television audience of some 700 million people tuned in while crowds packed the streets to catch a glimpse of the royal couple as they rode past in an open carriage. Slideshow (6 Images) Diana gave birth to the couple’s first son, William, in June 1982 with second son, Harry, born in September 1984. The marriage eventually collapsed amid acrimony and accusations of adultery and Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris on Aug. 31, 1997. SARAH FERGUSON AND PRINCE ANDREW The queen’s second son Prince Andrew, who served as a helicopter pilot with the British navy and saw action during the 1982 Falklands War with Argentina, announced his engagement to publishing executive Sarah Ferguson in March 1986. They married just four months later on July 23, 1986, at Westminster Abbey with Andrew and his new wife being awarded the titles Duke and Duchess of York. The marriage fell apart in 1992 after the publication of raunchy photographs showing the still-married duchess in the arms of another man, Texan John Bryan. The couple, who have two daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, divorced in 1996. SOPHIE RHYS-JONES AND PRINCE EDWARD Prince Edward, the queen’s youngest son, married public relations executive Sophie Rhys-Jones at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on June 1999. The couple, who were given the titles Earl and Countess of Wessex, did not want the wedding to be turned into a state occasion, which meant there was no ceremonial state or military involvement. Their first baby, named Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor was born in 2003 and their son James Viscount Severn was born in 2007. Edward is the only one of the queen’s children who has not divorced. CAMILLA AND CHARLES Charles issued a surprise announcement in February 2005 that he would be marrying his long-time lover Camilla Parker Bowles whom many Britons blamed for destroying his marriage to the late Princess Diana. Charles married Camilla on April 9, 2005 in a civil ceremony at the Guildhall, Windsor, with about 800 guests attending a later service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. As titular head of the Church of England, the queen declined to attend the civil ceremony but joined in the celebrations afterwards. KATE MIDDLETON AND PRINCE WILLIAM Kate Middleton met Britain’s Prince William while at St Andrews University in Scotland in 2001. They married on April 29, 2011, when Kate became the first commoner in more than 350 years to wed a prince in such close proximity to the British throne. The glittering wedding ceremony was held at Westminster Abbey in front of 1,900 guests made up of royalty, heads of state and celebrities. Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Stephen Addison

Factbox - Recent British royal weddings

Something is different this time with North Korea, says experts 40 Mins Ago Amb. Lincoln Bloomfield, former assistant secretary of State, and Amb. Joseph Detrani, former U.S. special envoy to North Korea, discuss the outlook for North Korea relations following the cancellation of the summit between President Trump and Kim Jong Un.

Something is different this time with North Korea, says experts

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., May 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Air Products (NYSE: APD) has been named a 2018 DiversityInc Noteworthy Company, it was announced by DiversityInc at an event held at Cipriani Wall Street in New York last evening. "Air Products has set its vision on being the most diverse industrial gas company in the world," said Jennifer Grant, executive vice president and chief human resources officer at Air Products. "Our targeted actions range from external partnerships to support diversity in our recruiting to unconscious bias training to foster an inclusive workplace. We are pleased to be among DiversityInc's Noteworthy Companies, especially given the rigorous benchmarking that is associated with DiversityInc's annual awards." The DiversityInc Top 50 and Noteworthy Company lists, issued yearly since 2001, recognize the nation's top companies for diversity and inclusion management. These companies excel in such areas as hiring, retaining and promoting women, minorities, people with disabilities, LGBT and veterans. "Events of the past year have demonstrated that decisive ethical leadership is necessary to guide any organization to success," notes Luke Visconti, founder and CEO of DiversityInc. "Successful leaders hold themselves accountable to be culturally competent, a skill that requires constant learning. DiversityInc Top 50 Companies have a metrics-evidenced ability to treat people more fairly than other large companies. They also have a greater-than-average return for their shareholders." DiversityInc's extensive annual survey yields an empirically driven ranking based on recruitment, talent development, senior leadership commitment and supplier diversity. This year's competition was improved by new survey questions, increased emphasis on fairness over chasing numbers and more sophisticated analysis from DiversityInc's data scientists. To view the entire Top 50 and Noteworthy company's list, visit https://www.diversityinc.com/top50 . Grant said that Air Products is focused on building diversity and inclusion into its culture. Recent activities include: Embedding diversity into all talent management processes, from recruiting to succession planning; Unconscious bias workshops for managers around the world; A global Inclusion Network and seven Employee Resource Groups that promote enhanced awareness and understanding of inclusion at work for all colleagues; Partnerships with diversity organizations such as Society of Women Engineers, Society of Hispanic Engineers and National Society of Black Engineers to support attracting and developing diverse talent; An eight-month Leadership Development Program for Diverse Talent for high performing colleagues around the world; and Scholarships for diverse students studying engineering and other STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) disciplines. Additionally, Air Products has received other recognitions for its commitment to diversity and inclusion. In 2018 Air Products achieved a perfect score of 100 and was designated a "Best Place to Work" for LGBT Equality for the 2018 Corporate Equality Index (CEI). Air Products was also selected to Corporate Responsibility Magazine's (CR Magazine) 100 Best Corporate Citizens List™ for the sixth consecutive year. Additional details on Air Products diversity and inclusion efforts around the world can be found at: http://www.airproducts.com/Company/about-us/diversity-and-inclusion.aspx About Air Products Air Products (NYSE: APD ) is a world-leading Industrial Gases company in operation for over 75 years. The Company's core industrial gases business provides atmospheric and process gases and related equipment to manufacturing markets, including refining and petrochemical, metals, electronics, and food and beverage. Air Products is also the world's leading supplier of liquefied natural gas process technology and equipment. The Company had fiscal 2017 sales of $8.2 billion from continuing operations in 50 countries and has a current market capitalization of about $35 billion. Approximately 15,000 passionate, talented and committed employees from a diversity of backgrounds are driven by Air Products' higher purpose to create innovative solutions that benefit the environment, enhance sustainability and address the challenges facing customers, communities and the world. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com . About DiversityInc The mission of DiversityInc is to bring education and clarity to the business benefits of diversity. The DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list began in 2001, when many corporations were beginning to understand the business value of diversity-management initiatives. The 2018 Top 50 Companies for Diversity results will be featured on ‪DiversityInc.com and in DiversityInc magazine. DiversityInc is a VA certified veteran-owned business and a USBLN certified business owned by a person with a disability. For more information, visit www.diversityinc.com and follow us on Facebook , Twitter and LinkedIn @DiversityInc. NOTE: This release may contain forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management's reasonable expectations and assumptions as of the date of this release regarding important risk factors. Actual performance and financial results may differ materially from projections and estimates expressed in the forward-looking statements because of many factors not anticipated by management, including risk factors described in the company's Form 10K for its fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. View original content: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/air-products-named-a-2018-diversityinc-noteworthy-company-300641081.html SOURCE Air Products

Air Products Named a 2018 DiversityInc Noteworthy Company

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Asian shares fell on Thursday after the U.S. government launched a national security probe into auto imports that could lead to new tariffs, and President Donald Trump’s comments indicated fresh setbacks in U.S.-China trade talks. Employees of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) work at the bourse in Tokyo, Japan, February 9, 2016. REUTERS/Issei Kato/Files MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was 0.1 percent higher, but Japan’s Nikkei stock index fell 1.2 percent as auto shares slumped. South Korea’s KOSPI lost 0.3 percent. A broad MSCI index of automobile and auto components firms was down 0.9 percent. Tokyo’s SE TOPIX transportation equipment index was 2.6 percent lower. The U.S. Commerce Department said on Wednesday that it would launch a national security investigation into car and truck imports under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, a move that could lead to tariffs like those imposed on steel and aluminium in March. Adding to market jitters, Trump on Wednesday called for “a different structure” in any trade deal with China, fuelling uncertainty over the negotiations. On Thursday, China’s Commerce Ministry said it had not pledged to cut China’s trade surplus with the U.S. by a certain figure, and that it hopes the U.S. implements measures promised during trade negotiations as soon as possible. China’s blue chip CSI 300 index was 0.1 percent lower. Prompting further uncertainty, Trump on Wednesday cast doubt on plans for an unprecedented summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, saying he would know next week whether the meeting would take place. “There’s a lot of noise around Donald Trump, China-U.S. trade, the auto imports now, and then the Korean summit, and all these things are just weighing on investors at the moment,” said Shane Oliver, chief economist & head of investment strategy, AMP Capital, Sydney. “I think we probably would have seen a decent day in Asian markets were it not for these ongoing geopolitical worries because the minutes from the Fed’s last meeting were relatively benign.” While the minutes from the Federal Reserve’s May 1-2 meeting indicated that policymakers expect another interest rate increase would be warranted “soon” if the U.S. economic outlook remains intact, they helped to ease market concerns that the Fed would accelerate the pace of interest rate increases. The two-year Treasury note yield, which rises with traders’ expectations of higher Fed fund rates, was at 2.5121 percent after touching 2.5970 on Wednesday. The yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes fell back below the 3-percent threshold to 2.9825 percent, compared with its U.S. close of 3.003 percent on Wednesday. Analysts said that market uncertainty was prompting a clear flight to safety across financial markets. The dollar was down 0.6 percent against the yen to 109.44. “With Trump’s unpredictable behaviour leaving investors on edge, the Japanese yen has scope to appreciate further in the short term,” said Lukman Otunuga, an analyst at FXTM. “However, a strengthening dollar on the back of heightened U.S. rate hike expectations could limit the yen’s upside gains.” The euro was up 0.1 percent on the day at $1.1709. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six major rivals, was 0.2 percent lower at 93.839. SIGNS OF GROWTH Concerns over trade, talks and tariffs overpowered indications of strong economic performance in two of the region’s major economies. Confidence among Japanese manufacturers saw its first rise in fourth months, and service-sector sentiment rose to a record high in the latest Reuters Tankan poll, underscoring expectations that the Japanese economy will return to growth in the second quarter. In South Korea, Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon said the economy is on track for annual growth of 3 percent despite concerning indicators such as high youth unemployment. The Bank of Korea held interest rates steady for a sixth straight month on Thursday, with inflation seen remaining below target and amid concerns a U.S.-China trade war would hurt regional economies. In commodities markets, U.S. crude was down 0.2 percent at $71.68 a barrel. Oil prices fell on Wednesday after an unexpected rise in U.S. crude and gasoline inventories. Brent futures were 0.3 percent lower at $79.53 a barrel, continuing to move lower after rising above $80 for the first time since November 2014 last week. The most-traded iron ore futures on the Dalian Commodity Exchange rose for the first time in six sessions on Thursday, gaining 0.3 percent. Weak commodity prices continued to put pressure on Australian shares, which were 0.2 percent lower, extending losses into a sixth consecutive session. New Zealand’s benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index was 0.7 percent higher. Gold was slightly higher. Spot gold was traded at $1,294.11 per ounce. Editing by Eric Meijer and Jacqueline Wong

Asia share markets hit by U.S. auto tariff threat, dollar pulls back

May 14 (Reuters) - Roadrunner Transportation Systems Inc : * ROADRUNNER TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS INC FILES FOR NON-TIMELY 10-Q - SEC FILING * ROADRUNNER TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS INC SAYS EXPECTS TO FILE THE Q1 2018 FORM 10-Q AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER IT FILES THE 2017 FORM 10-K Source bit.ly/2jY8oRc Further company coverage: Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. 0 : 0 narrow-browser-and-phone medium-browser-and-portrait-tablet landscape-tablet medium-wide-browser wide-browser-and-larger medium-browser-and-landscape-tablet medium-wide-browser-and-larger above-phone portrait-tablet-and-above above-portrait-tablet landscape-tablet-and-above landscape-tablet-and-medium-wide-browser portrait-tablet-and-below landscape-tablet-and-below Apps Newsletters Reuters Plus Advertising Guidelines Cookies Terms of Use Privacy All Quote: s delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. © 2018 Reuters. All Rights Reserved.

BRIEF-Roadrunner Transportation Systems Inc Files For Non-Timely 10-Q

STRAFFORD, Pa., Clery Center announced it was awarded a grant from the Kristin Mitchell Foundation (KMF) to launch a new initiative called Kristin's Krusade ® . This endeavor provides a national platform and expands KMF's twelve-year mission. Clery Center will be carrying on KMF's legacy through their shared mission for safer campuses. Clery Center adds Kristin's Krusade ® to its National Campus Safety Awareness Month, "We Don't Haze" Project, Campus Fire Safety Awareness, Campus Roll Call Video Series, and OVW Campus Grant Program initiatives. In addition to continuing to educate on dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, Kristin's Krusade ® will also endow a fellowship for a student or professional in a related field to further their education and training with Clery Center. Bill Mitchell, former president of KMF, joined the Clery Center board of directors on April 26, 2018. Like the Clery family, the Mitchells lost their daughter too soon when she was murdered by her ex-boyfriend only three weeks after she graduated from Saint Joseph's University. KMF was founded to both honor Kristin's memory and raise awareness about dating violence. Alison Kiss, executive director of Clery Center, said, "The boards at Clery Center and KMF understand there is power in numbers. This partnership will result in education and awareness programs for colleges, students, and parents specifically around dating violence. This was an optimal time for this transition with the recent addition of dating violence to the Clery Act in 2013." Bill Mitchell added, "Becoming an initiative within Clery Center will make the dating violence issue more national in scope. Our good work at KMF will thrive within Clery for what I expect to be a very long time." For more information on Kristin's Krusade ® , please visit Clery Center's Initiatives page, or read our latest blog post by Bill Mitchell. About Clery Center Clery Center is a national nonprofit organization that helps institutions of higher education understand and comply with the Clery Act via strategic consulting services, policy insight, and staff compliance training. Founded in 1987 after the murder of Jeanne Clery, Clery Center is uniquely dedicated to making campus safety a nationwide reality. Media Contact Alison Kiss Executive Director, Clery Center akiss@clerycenter.org : releases/clery-center-launches-kristins-krusade-a-dating-violence-prevention-initiative-in-memory-of-kristin-mitchell-300647862.html SOURCE Clery Center

Clery Center launches Kristin's Krusade®: A dating violence prevention initiative in memory of Kristin Mitchell

May 15, 2018 / 2:01 PM / Updated 6 minutes ago UPDATE 1-China says differences with U.S. should be settled through dialogue Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Adds details in paragraphs 3-5) BEIJING, May 15 (Reuters) - Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan said on Tuesday the United States and China should increase communication and resolve differences through negotiations, Chinese state TV reported, as the world’s two largest economies engage in trade disputes. China will continue to deepen reforms, further open up its economy and improve the investment environment, Wang said in remarks to a U.S.-China business forum in Beijing. Wang met U.S. business executives and advisers on the sidelines of the forum. Among those who attended were Thomas Donohue, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Carlos Gutierrez, former U.S. Commerce Secretary and chairman of Albright Stonebridge Group. Representatives from Cisco Systems Inc, Western Digital Corp, Honeywell International Inc and Herbalife Nutrition Ltd were also present. Washington and Beijing have proposed tens of billions of dollars in tariffs in recent weeks, fanning worries of a full-blown trade war that could hurt global supply chains and dent business investment plans. Reporting by Beijing Monitoring Desk; Editing by Janet Lawrence

UPDATE 1-China says differences with U.S. should be settled through dialogue

DUBLIN, May 9 (Reuters) - Google is to suspend all advertisements related to Ireland’s May 25 abortion referendum from Thursday amid worries about election integrity, the U.S. firm said in an emailed statement. The policy change comes a day after a similar move by Facebook, which said it would no longer accept ads from outside the country that seek to influence the referendum. Google has gone one step further and will not accept any ads related to the May 25 referendum, not just advertisements from groups or individuals seeking to sway the vote. “Following our update around election integrity efforts globally, we have decided to pause all ads related to the Irish referendum on the Eighth Amendment,” a Google spokesperson said on Wednesday. The policy change is in effect across Google and YouTube ads, and will remain in place until after the referendum. Ireland’s referendum on whether to liberalise its abortion laws will give voters the first opportunity in 35 years to repeal a constitutional amendment that has long divided the once deeply Catholic nation. Reporting by Graham Fahy Editing by Catherine Evans

Google to ban all ads related to Irish abortion referendum

May 28, 2018 / 12:35 PM / a few seconds ago Kvitova proves to be ultimate survivor as she lives to fight another day Pritha Sarkar 2 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - Petra Kvitova came within three points of falling in the first round of the French Open before three successive aces and her nerves of steel carried her to a 3-6 6-1 7-5 win over little-known Paraguayan Veronica Cepede Royg on Monday. Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 28, 2018 Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova in action during her first round match against Paraguay's Veronica Cepede Royg REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes The Czech, who suffered career-threatening injuries on her playing left hand after being attacked in her home by a knife-wielding intruder in December 2016, arrived in Paris on the back of an 11-match winning streak. However, Cepede Royg came close to snapping that run as she edged 5-4 and 0-15 ahead on Kvitova’s serve in the third set. But the woman who proved even her surgeon wrong by coming back to play top level tennis just five months after the attack unleashed three successive aces to survive that scare. Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 28, 2018 Paraguay's Veronica Cepede Royg in action during her first round match against Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes She was soon saluting the crowd with a raised clenched-fist as she broke in the next game before wrapping up victory to set up a second-round meeting with Spain’s Lara Arruabarrena. “It was really tough, we played over two hours. I was more relaxed in the second but the third was tough again and I was lucky that I got the break,” Kvitova said in a courtside interview. So what does she think of her winning streak that has earned her back-to-back claycourt titles in Prague and Madrid in the run up to Roland Garros? “It might be 12 matches but it’s so far from Rafa,” summed up a grinning Kvitova as she acknowledged the feat of 10-times Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal. Reporting by Pritha Sarkar; Editing by Alison Williams and Christian Radnedge

UPDATE 1-Tennis-Kvitova proves to be ultimate survivor as she lives to fight another day

Cereal giant Kellogg’s received a boost last quarter not from Fruit Loops or Apple Jacks but Pringles, among some of the company’s other snacks. The chips helped Kellogg’s sales rise 4.7% to $3.4 billion this past quarter, Kellogg’s said, according to the Wall Street Journal . Frozen foods and other snacks like protein-packed RXBARs, which came from a startup Kellogg’s acquired last year for $600 million , also contributed. Kellogg’s cereal brands, on the other hand, have fallen off in recent years due to new trends in healthier snacking. Even the health-conscious Special K brand struggled, though its begun to make up ground, CEO Steve Cahillane said, according to the Journal . “We still have work to do…but we are firmly on the right track,” Cahillane added. Overall, sales on a comparable basis rose 0.6% last quarter, Kellogg’s best result for several quarters now. Subsequently, the company’s shares rose 4.1% in premarket trading Thursday. Kellogg’s, which makes additional iconic brands such as Frosted Flakes , Rice Krispies, Pop-Tarts and Cheez-Its, is also expanding into western portions of Africa. The company this week increased its investment in a Nigerian packaged food company, the Journal reported. “Expansion in emerging markets is an important element of our growth strategy,” Cahillane said.

Kellogg's Sales Revived by Pringles Chips

May 23 (Reuters) - Achieve Life Sciences Inc: * ACHIEVE LIFE SCIENCES, INC. ANNOUNCES REVERSE STOCK SPLIT * ANNOUNCES 1 FOR 10 REVERSE STOCK SPLIT Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:

BRIEF-Achieve Life Sciences Announces Reverse Stock Split

Initiated a Phase 1 trial of SRF231, a fully human antibody targeting CD47 Completed upsized initial public offering and concurrent private placement raising a total of $119.5 million in gross proceeds CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Surface Oncology (NASDAQ:SURF), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing next-generation immunotherapies that target the tumor microenvironment, today reported financial results and corporate highlights for the first quarter of 2018. “2018 has already been an enormously productive year for Surface with the advancement of our lead program, SRF231, into clinical development and the completion of our IPO,” said Jeff Goater, chief executive officer of Surface Oncology. “In addition, we recently selected lead development candidates and initiated IND-enabling studies for our CD39 and IL-27 programs. We look forward to additional pipeline progress later this year, including the advancement of SRF373, targeting CD73, into clinical trials.” Program Highlights: SRF231, a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting CD47: In February 2018, Surface initiated a Phase I trial of SRF231. The multi-center, open-label Phase I trial will evaluate the safety and tolerability of SRF231 in multiple ascending doses with the goal of establishing a recommended dose for further study. Following the dose escalation phase, the Company intends to evaluate the safety and efficacy of SRF231 in a targeted set of solid and hematologic malignancies. Initial clinical results from this trial are expected in the first half of 2019. Surface holds worldwide rights to SRF231. SRF373, a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting CD73: An IND for SRF373 was sponsored and filed by Surface’s collaborator, Novartis, in February 2018. A Phase 1 trial is anticipated to begin later this year. SRF373 has been licensed on a worldwide basis by Novartis. SRF617, a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting CD39: Surface recently identified a development candidate and has initiated IND-enabling studies for SRF617. Surface holds worldwide rights to SRF617. SRF388, a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting IL-27: Surface recently identified a development candidate and has initiated IND-enabling studies for SRF388. Novartis has the right to purchase an option to SRF388. Corporate Highlights: Completed upsized initial public offering (IPO): In April 2018, Surface completed its IPO of 7,200,000 shares of common stock at a public offering price of $15.00 per share and a concurrent private placement of 766,666 shares of common stock to Novartis at the public offering price. Total gross proceeds to Surface were $119.5 million, or $108.7 million after underwriting discounts and offering expenses. Received $45.0 million milestone payment from Novartis: In February 2018, Surface received an additional milestone payment of $45.0 million from Novartis related to SRF373. Expanded board of directors with the appointment of three industry and scientific leaders: Elliott Sigal, M.D., Ph.D., former Chief Scientific Officer and President of R&D for Bristol-Myers Squibb; Geoff McDonough, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Generation Bio; and Laurie Stelzer, Chief Financial Officer of Halozyme Therapeutics. Expanded management team: In April 2018, Bob Steininger joined Surface as Senior Vice President, CMC. He brings over three decades of biologics manufacturing experience. Previously, he was Director, Manufacturing Operations at Voyager Therapeutics, SVP of Manufacturing and Process Development at Acceleron Pharma and held multiple manufacturing roles of increasing responsibility at Millennium Pharmaceuticals (now Takeda) and Genetics Institute (now Pfizer). Financial Results As of March 31, 2018, cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $93.8 million, compared to $63.3 million on December 31, 2017. Total cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities at March 31, 2018 did not include total net proceeds of approximately $108.7 million from the Company’s IPO and concurrent private placement completed in April 2018. Research and development (R&D) expenses were $11.1 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018, compared to $8.7 million for the same period in 2017. The increase was largely due to expenditures associated with Surface’s advancing product pipeline, including increased R&D personnel costs associated with the growth of the Company. R&D expenses included $0.8 million in stock-based compensation expenses for the first quarter of 2018. General and administrative (G&A) expense were $3.4 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018, compared to $1.5 million for the same period in 2017. The increase was largely due to increased G&A personnel associated with the growth of the company and increased professional fees. G&A expenses included $0.5 million in stock-based compensation expenses for the first quarter of 2018. For the first quarter ended March 31, 2018, net income was $31.2 million, or $1.59 per share attributable to common shares outstanding basic or $1.05 per share attributable to common shares outstanding diluted compared to a net loss of $8.6 million, or $3.60 per share, for the same period in 2017. The increase in net income was primarily driven by the receipt of a $45 million milestone payment under the Novartis collaboration during the first quarter of 2018. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Certain statements set forth in this press release constitute “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as “believes,” “expects,” “plans,” “potential,” “would” or similar expressions and the negative of those terms. These are based on our management’s current beliefs and assumptions about future events and on information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the . These risks include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to: our limited operating history and historical losses, our liquidity to fund the development of SRF231 and our other product candidates through current and future milestones, our ability to raise additional funding to complete the development and any commercialization of our product candidates, our dependence on the success of our lead product candidates, SRF231 and SRF373, results from preclinical studies or early clinical trials may not be representative of larger clinical trials, results from the clinical trials and preclinical studies of third parties working in immuno-oncology and our dependence on third parties in connection with our manufacturing, clinical trials and pre-clinical studies. Additional risks and uncertainties that could affect our future results are included in the section titled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Prospectus dated April 18, 2018, which is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and our website at www.surfaceoncology.com . Additional information on potential risks will be made available in other filings that we make from time to time with the SEC. In addition, any contained in this press release are based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable as of this date. Except as required by law, we assume no these , or to update the reasons if actual results differ materially from those anticipated in the . ABOUT SURFACE ONCOLOGY Surface Oncology is an immuno-oncology company developing next-generation antibody therapies focused on the tumor microenvironment with lead programs targeting CD47, CD73, CD39 and IL-27. Surface’s novel cancer immunotherapies are designed to achieve a clinically meaningful and sustained anti-tumor response and may be used alone or in combination with other therapies. The company has a pipeline of seven novel immunotherapies and a strategic collaboration with Novartis focused on up to three next-generation cancer immunotherapies. For more information, please visit www.surfaceoncology.com . Media Contact: Paul Goldsmith, Ten Bridge Communications Paul@Tenbridgecommunications.com 617-697-3479 Investor Contact: Jessica Fees jfees@surfaceoncology.com 617-714-4096 Selected Financial Information (amounts in thousands) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, Statement of Operations Items 2018 2017 Collaboration revenue – related party $ 45,495 $ 1,672 Operating expenses: Research and development 11,090 8,680 General and administrative 3,362 1,546 Total operating expenses 14,452 10,226 Operating income (loss) 31,043 (8,554 ) Total other income 169 142 Provision for income taxes - (214 ) Net income (loss) $ 31,212 $ (8,626 ) March 31, December 31, Selected Balance Sheet Items: 2018 2017 Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities $ 93,822 $ 63,309 Total assets 112,016 81,454 Accounts payable and accrued expenses 11,564 13,058 Deferred revenue – related party 67,874 82,105 Total stockholders’ deficit (20,979 ) (67,314 ) Source:Surface Oncology, Inc.

Surface Oncology Reports Financial Results and Corporate Highlights for First Quarter 2018

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s finance minister, relatively unknown in international financial circles, is a man he threw into prison twice. Lim Guan Eng waves to journalists as he arrives at the prime minister's office in Putrajaya outside Kuala Lumpur April 3, 2008. REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad/Files Mahathir announced three top cabinet posts on Saturday, including Lim Guan Eng, a former banker and chartered accountant, as finance minister. It was only the second time in the country’s six decades since independence that the post has gone to a person from the ethnic Chinese minority. The portfolio was previously headed by ousted Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was handed a thumping defeat by Mahathir’s alliance in Wednesday’s general election. Lim, 58, is best known in Malaysia for being the chief minister of Penang, the second richest state in the country and home to a popular tourist island and industrial port. But economic analysts say he may need more than that at a time the country needs to make sweeping economic and fiscal reforms and reassure markets that the political change will not have an economic impact. Malaysian markets have been closed since the election, but overseas investors have been nervous of what lies ahead because of Mahathir’s populist promises. As finance minister, Lim will be expected to oversee the new government’s plan to repeal a deeply unpopular goods and services tax, which it has promised to do within the first 100 days. He will also have to manage the revenue shortfall that will cause. “His initial focus will be mostly domestic issues - executing campaign promises and reducing inefficiencies so that the government can still maintain fiscal discipline,” said Hasan Jafri, who heads Singapore-based business consultancy HJ Advisory. But he added: “He will have to work quickly to broaden ties with the international financial community.” Lim would likely be guided by the government’s newly appointed five-member advisory team, which includes former Malaysian finance minister Daim Zainuddin and central bank governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz, both of whom are well known internationally. Some analysts said Lim had built a good reputation as an economic manager in Penang, which recorded the highest GDP per capita among Malaysian states in 2016. “By almost all accounts... Guan Eng did a stellar job in rebuilding the finances of Penang,” said Oh Ei Sun, senior adviser for international affairs at the Kuala Lumpur-based Asia Strategy & Leadership Institute. “He has both the expertise as an accountant and the credibility, especially incorruptibility, to run MOF,” he said, using the acronym for the Ministry of Finance. JAILED TWICE, SMILING NOW Lim was a bitter foe of Mahathir during his earlier 22-year stint as prime minister and was thrown in jail twice. Mahathir jailed Lim during a political crackdown in October 1987 that he said was aimed at preventing racial riots, and again in 1998 under the Sedition Act. On Saturday, a smiling Lim stood by 92-year-old Mahathir as his appointment was announced. The prime minister also announced a home affairs minister and a defence minister to take the number in his cabinet to five. Mahathir and Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, the wife of his jailed ally Anwar Ibrahim, make up the rest. Lim told reporters after his appointment that the government’s plan was to review all contracts to ensure that jobs and business opportunities for Malaysians were made secure, as well as reduce the financial burden on low-income groups. “The primary focus will be still on helping those who find it very hard to make ends meet,” he told reporters. “Our focus will be to see how we can make their lives a little easier.” In its election manifesto, Mahathir’s alliance had also promised to review foreign investments, including major infrastructure projects that are part of China’s Belt and Road initiative, bring back fuel subsidies, and raise minimum wages. Lim, a former banker and a qualified chartered accountant, has spent most of his life as a member of the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) fighting against the Barisan Nasional alliance, which has never lost an election in Malaysia’s history. The son of another prominent DAP leader, Lim Kit Siang, he studied economics at Monash University in Australia and was first elected as a member of parliament in 1986. Lim led the opposition to victory in Penang for the first time in its history in 2008. He was then appointed as the state’s chief minister and has held the position since. Additional reporting by Raju Gopalakrishnan; Writing by Rozanna Latiff and Praveen Menon; editing by

Malaysia's new finance minister was jailed twice by PM Mahathir

FAST FOOD is not the usual inspiration for fine art, but to Oliver Clegg, McDonald’s Happy Meal toys are like what Campbell’s Soup cans were to Andy Warhol. Over the last year, Clegg has taken amateur photographs of Happy Meal toys that he found on eBay and transformed them into paintings. Featuring characters such as Winnie the Pooh, Snoopy, Ronald McDonald and Miss Piggy, he has created 152 oil works for his first solo exhibition in New York City. The show, titled Euclid’s Porsche, can be viewed at Rental Gallery from May...

Happy Meal Toys as Art

May 3 (Reuters) - Goldlok Toys Holdings Guangdong Co Ltd : * Says it and wholly owned education tech unit passe review of high-tech enterprise recognition, to enjoy a tax preference of 15 percent for three years from 2017 to 2019 Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/KRwEht (Beijing Headline News) Our

Goldlok Toys Holdings Guangdong and unit passes review of high-tech enterprise recognition

May 11, 2018 / 5:26 AM / Updated 16 minutes ago ArcelorMittal gives bullish outlook after earnings beat Philip Blenkinsop 4 Min Read BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The world’s largest steelmaker ArcelorMittal ( MT.AS ) said the outlook for 2018 had improved after a sharp pick-up in steel prices and increased iron ore shipments helped it deliver higher-than-expected first-quarter earnings on Friday. FILE PHOTO: Rolled up steel sits in the ArcelorMittal Dofasco steel plant in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, March 13, 2018. REUTERS/Mark Blinch/File Photo The group did not give a specific forecast for its own prospects, but repeated that it saw 2018 global apparent steel consumption, which takes into account inventory changes, growing by between 1.5 and 2.5 percent. The steel industry, worth about $900 billion a year, is seen as a gauge of the world’s economic health. ArcelorMittal said demand was likely to increase this year for steel in machinery and construction amid solid expansion in the United States and Europe, while Brazil, another of its large markets, had pulled clear of a two-year recession. The spread between the price of steel and its raw materials was also healthy, the company said. “The outlook for 2018 has strengthened as the year has progressed, with the combination of growing demand and supply-side reform driving higher capacity utilization rates and healthy steel spreads globally,” Chief Executive Lakshmi Mittal said in a statement. First-quarter core profit (EBITDA), the figure most closely watched by analysts, rose 13 percent year-on-year to $2.51 billion, above the average $2.33 billion expected in a Reuters poll of 10 analysts. ArcelorMittal shares matched a four-year high of 30.76 euros and were up 2.2 percent at 30.22 euros at 0820 GMT, making them among the strongest performers in the FTSEurofirst index .FTEU3 of leading European shares. Commerzbank analyst Ingo Martin Schachel said the results were strong at every level and mainly linked to higher profit margins, with plants running at full capacity after capacity reduction in Europe and North America and protective trade measures already in place. “The first quarter was better than expected and the market backdrop for the second and third quarters is better than we imagined at the start of the year. It’s improving almost on a week-by-week basis,” he said. ArcelorMittal said its average steel selling price was 18.2 percent higher than in the first quarter of 2017, with shipments up 1.4 percent. For iron ore, of which it mines more than 50 million tonnes a year, shipments rose 5.5 percent, while prices were down 13.1 percent. The firm has been a vocal supporter of trade measures against cheap imports into both the United States and the European Union, where it has the bulk of its operations. “Comprehensive solution for unfairly trade imports across geographies still required,” ArcelorMittal said in an overview of EU and U.S. measures, including the 25 percent import tariffs imposed since March 23 by U.S. President Donald Trump, with certain temporary exemptions, such as for EU steel. The principal target of such measures has been China, the world’s largest consumer and producer of steel and a key gauge for the global industry, even though ArcelorMittal itself has no direct exposure to the Chinese market. Chinese steel exports declined at the start of the year as local demand has grown and the state has reined its domestic steel capacity to curb stifling smog. However, they jumped in April despite the U.S. tariffs. Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop, Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Alexander Smith

ArcelorMittal gives upbeat outlook, beats earnings forecast

April 30 (Reuters) - Tangelo Games Corp: * QTRLY REVENUE C$8.81 MILLION VERSUS C$9.35 MILLION * QTRLY LOSS PER SHARE FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS C$0.19 Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:

BRIEF-Tangelo Games Reports Qtrly Loss Per Share From Continuing Operations C$0.19

Activist investor ValueAct Capital Partners LP has built a roughly $1.2 billion stake in Citigroup Inc., a bet that the giant bank’s strength as a service provider to corporations will enable it to thrive in the post-crisis era and make up ground its shares have lost in recent years. ValueAct, which has built the position over the past four to five months, continues to boost it “opportunistically,” according to a letter to its own investors reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. The stake amounts to about 0.7% of Citigroup,... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In

Citigroup Is Targeted by Activist Investor ValueAct in a Rare Move on a Major U.S. Bank

May 15 (Reuters) - Greenlight Capital Inc: * GREENLIGHT CAPITAL DISSOLVES SHARE STAKE IN UNDER ARMOUR INC * GREENLIGHT CAPITAL CUTS SHARE STAKE IN TWITTER INC BY 10.1 PERCENT TO 2.5 MILLION SHARES * GREENLIGHT CAPITAL TAKES SHARE STAKE OF 2.1 MILLION SHARES IN OFFICE DEPOT INC * GREENLIGHT CAPITAL CUTS SHARE STAKE IN PERRIGO CO PLC BY 20.7 PERCENT TO 2.3 MILLION SHARES * GREENLIGHT CAPITAL - CHANGE IN HOLDINGS ARE AS OF MARCH 31, 2018 AND COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS QUARTER ENDED AS OF DEC 31, 2017 Source For the quarter ended Mar 31, 2018: bit.ly/2rInDBI Source For the quarter ended Dec 31, 2017: bit.ly/2nZmLXw Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

BRIEF-Greenlight Capital Cuts Share Stake In Twitter, Dissolves Share Stake in Under Armour

Brian Kelly A new blockchain exchange-traded fund launched Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange. The REX BKCM ETF (BKC) holds shares of 32 companies working in cryptocurrencies or their underlying blockchain technology. The ETF is run by Rex Shares and actively managed by Brian Kelly, a CNBC contributor and head of BKCM, which runs a digital assets strategy for clients. BKC traded little changed Wednesday morning near $25.14 a share. As of launch, the ETF's five largest holdings were: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing , Global Unichip, GMO Internet , Overstock.com and SVB Financial Group . Each had an 8 percent weighting in the ETF. The fund also holds shares of Square and chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices . It has an expense ratio of 0.88 percent. "I get asked all the time on how to invest in blockchain technology without dealing with storage, the fears of hacking, hedge funds, etc. My hope is the BKC ETF can provide this desired equity allocation to institutions and individuals alike," Kelly said in a statement. Bitcoin is the first application of blockchain technology, which quickly creates a permanent record of transactions between two parties and eliminates the need for a third party, such as a bank. Prices of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have skyrocketed in the last 18 months on increased investor interest. However, the Securities and Exchange Commission has not yet allowed a bitcoin ETF to list due to issues such as liquidity and extreme price volatility.

Actively managed blockchain fund launches into crowded ETF field

LAS VEGAS, May 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) (the "Company") today announced that the Board of Directors has authorized a new $2.0 billion share repurchase program. "The latest share repurchase authorization reflects the Company's financial strength and continued commitment to returning capital to our shareholders," said Jim Murren, Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts. "We are pleased with the Company's strong balance sheet, which has allowed us to take a balanced approach to driving shareholder value through our quarterly dividend and share repurchase program, as well as continuing to invest in our properties and explore prudent growth opportunities." The Company also announced the completion of its previous $1.0 billion share repurchase program. Since the announcement of the Company's $1.0 billion share repurchase program in September 2017, the Company has repurchased approximately 30 million shares. Under the stock repurchase program, which is designed to return value to the Company's shareholders, the Company may repurchase shares from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated agreements. Repurchases of common stock may also be made under a Rule 10b5-1 plan, which would permit common stock to be repurchased when the Company might otherwise be precluded from doing so under insider trading laws. The timing, volume and nature of stock repurchases will be at the sole discretion of management, dependent on market conditions, applicable securities laws, and other factors, and may be suspended or discontinued at any time. ABOUT MGM RESORTS INTERNATIONAL MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is an S&P 500® global entertainment company with national and international locations featuring best-in-class hotels and casinos, state-of-the-art meetings and conference spaces, incredible live and theatrical entertainment experiences, and an extensive array of restaurant, nightlife and retail offerings. MGM Resorts creates immersive, iconic experiences through its suite of Las Vegas-inspired brands. The MGM Resorts portfolio encompasses 28 unique hotel offerings including some of the most recognizable resort brands in the industry. Expanding throughout the U.S. and around the world, the company opened MGM Cotai in Macau in February 2018. It is also developing MGM Springfield in Massachusetts and debuting the first international Bellagio branded hotel in Shanghai. The 78,000 global employees of MGM Resorts are proud of their company for being recognized as one of FORTUNE® Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies®. For more information visit us at www.mgmresorts.com . Statements in this release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking" statements and "safe harbor statements" the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and/or uncertainties, including those described in the Company's public filings with the SEC. The Company has based on management's current expectations and assumptions and not on historical facts. Examples of these statements include, but are not limited to, the Company's capital plan, including expectations with respect to common stock repurchases and future dividends. These involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to those indicated in such include effects of economic conditions and market conditions in the markets in which the Company operates and competition with other destination travel locations throughout the United States and the world, the design, timing and costs of expansion projects, risks relating to international operations, permits, licenses, financings, approvals and other contingencies in connection with growth in new or existing jurisdictions and additional risks and uncertainties described in the Company's Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports (including all amendments to those reports). In providing , the Company is not undertaking any duty or obligation to update these statements publicly as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. If the Company updates one or more , no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those other View original content: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mgm-resorts-international-announces-new-2-0-billion-share-repurchase-program-300646214.html SOURCE MGM Resorts International

MGM Resorts International Announces New $2.0 Billion Share Repurchase Program

The importance of young candidates in Malaysia's election: Professor 12 Hours Ago Meredith Weiss of the University at Albany at the State University of New York says the young candidates fielded by Malaysia's opposition coalition "did really well."

The importance of young candidates in Malaysia's election: Professor

BALTIMORE, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Medifast, Inc. (NYSE: MED), a leading manufacturer and distributor of clinically proven, healthy living products and programs, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018. First Quarter 2018 Highlights: Medifast revenue of $98.6 million, an increase of 39.6% year-over-year Active earning OPTA VIA Coaches of 16,700, an increase of 28.5% year-over-year Net income of $12.2 million compared to net income of $6.1 million for the first quarter of 2017 Earnings per diluted share ("EPS") of $1.01 compared to EPS of $0.51 for the first quarter of 2017 "We are off to a strong start in 2018 driven by our focused, transformational business model that continues to deliver optimal health to our clients through our community of OPTA VIA Coaches," said Dan Chard, Medifast's Chief Executive Officer. "This helped fuel growth and profitability that exceeded our expectations for the first quarter and has led to our raising our annual sales and earnings outlook." First Quarter 2018 Results Effective at the beginning of the first quarter ended March 31, 2018, we changed how we report sales going forward to simplify and align with changes in the way we now manage the business, review operating performance, and allocate resources. We previously disclosed entity-wide disclosures for sales by channel for OPTA VIA, Medifast Direct, Franchise Medifast Weight Control Centers and Medifast Wholesale. Due to the interchangeable nature of our customers amongst sale channels, sales migration to OPTA VIA, and realignment of internal operations, we will now be operating and reporting as a single sales channel. This change in our financial reporting structure is a testament to our success in transforming and restructuring the business and reflection of how the business is managed today. For the first quarter of 2018, revenue increased 39.6% to $98.6 million from revenue of $70.6 million for the first quarter last year. OPTA VIA branded products represented 58% of consumable units sold for the first quarter of 2018 compared to 17% for the first quarter of last year. The total number of active earning OPTA VIA Coaches for the first quarter of 2018 increased to 16,700, compared to 13,000 for the first quarter of 2017. The average revenue per active earning OPTA VIA Coach for the first quarter of 2018 increased 18.3% to $5,278 compared to $4,463 for the first quarter last year. Gross profit for the first quarter of 2018 increased to $74.8 million from $52.9 million for the first quarter of 2017. The Company's gross profit as a percentage of revenue increased 100 basis points to 75.9% from 74.9% for the first quarter last year. The increase in gross margin percentage was a result of improved inventory management and shipping expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") increased $15.8 million to $60.1 million compared to $44.3 million for the first quarter of 2017, primarily as a result of higher OPTA VIA commission expense as a result of higher sales. SG&A as a percentage of revenue decreased 170 basis points to 61.0% compared to 62.7% in the first quarter last year. Operating income increased $6.1 million to $14.7 million from $8.6 million for the first quarter of 2017 primarily as a result of increased gross profit, partially offset by increased SG&A expenses. Operating income as a percentage of revenue increased 270 basis points to 14.9% compared to 12.2% in the first quarter of 2017. The first quarter 2018 effective tax rate was 18.1%, compared to 29.5% for the first quarter of 2017. This decrease was primarily a result of the decrease in the Federal statutory rate pursuant to the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act as well as the discrete accounting for taxes associated with share-based compensation. Excluding the discrete accounting for taxes associated with share-based compensation, the first quarter effective tax rate would have been 23.1%. Net income for the first quarter of 2018 was $12.2 million, or $1.01 per diluted share, based on approximately 12.1 million shares outstanding. First quarter 2017 net income was $6.1 million, or $0.51 per diluted share based on approximately 12.0 million shares outstanding. Balance Sheet The Company's balance sheet remains strong with stockholders' equity of $113.6 million and working capital of $92.9 million as of March 31, 2018. Cash, cash equivalents, and investment securities increased $10.4 million to $109.2 million as of March 31, 2018 compared to $98.8 million at December 31, 2017. The Company remains free of interest bearing debt. The Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $5.7 million, or $0.48 per share, during the first quarter of 2018. The Company has approximately 850,000 shares remaining on its repurchase authorization as of March 31, 2018. Adoption of Accounting Standard Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("ASC 606") In the first quarter of 2018, the Company adopted ASC 606 on a modified retrospective basis. As a result, the Company did not restate financial information for the three months ending March 31, 2017. The results of ASU 606 primarily impact the Company's timing of revenue recognition for product shipments, as product revenue will be recognized upon customer receipt in lieu of at the time of shipment. The following are the impacts to the financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from the implementation of ASC 606. For the quarter ended March 31, 2018, revenue increased $1.3 million, or 1.4%, which resulted in gross profit increasing $1.1 million, or 1.5%. Reported gross profit as a percentage of revenue increased 10 basis points to 75.9% from 75.8%. Income from operations was positively impacted by $0.5 million, or 3.3%, resulting in increased net income and diluted earnings per share of $0.4 million, or $0.03 per share, respectively. As of March 31, 2018, working capital decreased $2.1 million and stockholders' equity decreased $1.6 million as a result of the impact ASC 606. Outlook The Company expects second quarter revenue to be in the range of $99.0 million to $102.0 million and earnings per diluted share to be in the range of $0.94 to $0.97. The Company is raising its guidance for the full year 2018, expecting revenue of $385 million to $395 million and earnings per diluted share of $3.55 to $3.65. This compares to the Company's previous annual guidance for revenue of $350 million to $360 million and earnings per diluted share of $3.15 to $3.25. The full year 2018 earnings guidance assumes a 21% to 22% effective tax rate. Conference Call Information The conference call is scheduled for today, Thursday, May 3, 2018 at 4:30 p.m. ET. The call will be broadcast live over the Internet hosted at the Investor Relations section of Medifast's website at www.MedifastInc.com , and will be archived online through May 17, 2018. In addition, listeners may dial (855) 560-2579. A telephonic playback will be available from 6:30 p.m. ET, May 8, 2018, through May 10, 2018. Participants can dial (877) 344-7529 to hear the playback and enter passcode 10119661. About Medifast® Medifast (NYSE: MED) is a leading manufacturer and distributor of clinically proven healthy living products and programs. The brand has been recommended by more than 20,000 Doctors since its founding. In 2016, the company announced OPTA VIA®, an exclusive brand and product line sold through its community of independent Coaches who offer support and guidance to their Clients. In partnership with OPTA VIA Coaches, franchise partners, and its Scientific Advisory Board, Medifast offers comprehensive wellness products and programs that focus on creating sustainable change by helping people learn to incorporate healthy habits into their lives. Medifast is traded on the New York Stock Exchange and was named to Forbes' 100 Most Trustworthy Companies in America List in 2016 and 2017. For more information, visit www.MedifastInc.com or www.OPTAVIA.com . MED-F Forward Looking Statements Please Note: This release contains " " within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These generally can be identified by use of phrases or terminology such as "intend" or other similar words or the negative of such terminology. Similarly, descriptions of Medifast's objectives, strategies, plans, goals or targets contained herein are also considered Medifast believes this release should be read in conjunction with all of its filings with the United States and cautions its readers that these are subject to certain events, risks, uncertainties, and other factors. Some of these factors include, among others, Medifast's inability to attract and retain independent OPTA VIA Coaches and Members, stability in the pricing of print, TV and Direct Mail marketing initiatives affecting the cost to acquire customers, increases in competition, litigation, regulatory changes, and its planned growth into new domestic and international markets and new channels of distribution. Although Medifast believes that the expectations, statements, and assumptions reflected in these forward- looking statements are reasonable, it cautions readers to always consider all of the risk factors and any other cautionary statements carefully in evaluating each forward-looking statement in this release, as well as those set forth in its latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and other filings filed with the United States , including its current reports on Form 8-K. All of the contained herein speak only as of the date of this release. MEDIFAST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED) (in thousands, except per share amounts & dividend data) Three months ended March 31, 2018 2017 Revenue $ 98,596 $ 70,622 Cost of sales 23,788 17,730 Gross profit 74,808 52,892 Selling, general, and administrative 60,125 44,283 Income from operations 14,683 8,609 Other income (expense) Interest income, net 249 63 Other income (expense) (1) 39 248 102 Income from operations before income taxes 14,931 8,711 Provision for income taxes 2,709 2,566 Net income $ 12,222 $ 6,145 Earnings per share - basic $ 1.02 $ 0.52 Earnings per share - diluted $ 1.01 $ 0.51 Weighted average shares outstanding - Basic 12,030 11,901 Diluted 12,139 12,009 Cash dividends declared per share $ 0.48 $ 0.32 MEDIFAST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) (in thousands, except par value) March 31, December 31, 2018 2017 ASSETS Current Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 86,963 $ 75,077 Accounts receivable-net of doubtful accounts of $98 at March 31, 2018 and allowance for sales returns and doubtful accounts of $597 at December 31, 2017 1,025 576 Inventory 17,288 19,328 Investment securities 22,278 23,757 Income taxes, prepaid - 2,272 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 3,577 4,188 Total current assets 131,131 125,198 Property, plant and equipment - net 18,358 18,611 Other assets 1,902 2,120 Deferred tax assets 426 - TOTAL ASSETS $ 151,817 $ 145,929 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Liabilities Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 38,187 $ 37,140 Total current liabilities 38,187 37,140 Deferred tax liabilities - 208 Total liabilities 38,187 37,348 Stockholders' Equity Common stock, par value $.001 per share: 20,000 shares authorized; 12,139 and 12,103 issued and 12,063 and 11,971 outstanding at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively 12 12 Additional paid-in capital 6,369 4,967 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (244) (160) Retained earnings 108,243 103,762 Less: Treasury stock at cost, 9 shares at March 31, 2018 (750) - Total stockholders' equity 113,630 108,581 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 151,817 $ 145,929 As required by ASC 606, the impact of the adoption of the new revenue standard on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets was as follows (in thousands): Three months ended March 31, 2018 As Reported Balances without adoption of ASC 606 Effect of Change Revenue $ 98,596 $ 97,254 $ 1,342 Cost of sales 23,788 23,521 (267) Gross profit 74,808 73,733 1,075 Selling, general, and administrative 60,125 59,523 (602) Income from operations 14,683 14,210 473 Other income (expense) Interest income, net 249 249 - Other income (expense) (1) (1) - 248 248 - Income from operations before income taxes 14,931 14,458 473 Provision for income taxes 2,709 2,608 (101) Net income $ 12,222 $ 11,850 $ 372 Earnings per share - basic $ 1.02 $ 0.99 $ 0.03 Earnings per share - diluted $ 1.01 $ 0.98 $ 0.03 Weighted average shares outstanding - Basic 12,030 12,030 Diluted 12,139 12,139 March 31, 2018 As Reported Balances without adoption of ASC 606 Effect of Change ASSETS Accounts receivable, net $ 1,025 $ 92 $ 933 Inventory 17,288 16,624 664 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 3,577 3,491 86 Deferred tax assets 426 - 426 LIABILITIES Accounts payable and accrued expenses 38,187 34,416 3,771 Deferred tax liabilities - 16 (16) Stockholders' Equity Retained earnings 108,243 109,889 (1,646) View original content with multimedia: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/medifast-inc-announces-first-quarter-2018-financial-results-300642476.html SOURCE Medifast, Inc.

Medifast, Inc. Announces First 2018 Financial Results

May 22, 2018 / 12:16 PM / Updated an hour ago Burkina forces kill 3 suspected Islamist militants in early morning raid Reuters Staff 1 Min Read OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) - Burkina Faso security forces killed three suspected Islamist militants and arrested one more on Tuesday morning in an operation in the capital Ouagadougou, its gendarme force said. One gendarme was killed and four others wounded in the fighting in Ouagadougou’s Ragnongo neighbourhood, while one civilian was also injured, the force said in a statement. Ouagadougou has been hit by several Islamist militant attacks in recent years. In March, militants from a Mali-based al Qaeda affiliate killed eight people and wounded dozens more in coordinated raids on the army headquarters and French embassy. Burkinabe soldiers and police have also come under repeated attack near the borders with Mali and Niger, where militant groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State easily cross the porous frontiers. The statement said that the gendarmes had also seized AK-47s, pistols, explosives and military attire during the raid. Reporting By Thiam Ndiaga; Writing by Aaron Ross; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky

Burkina forces kill three suspected terrorists in early morning raid

May 29, 2018 / 6:35 PM / Updated 32 minutes ago Canada pension funds may be long-term buyers of Kinder pipeline Matt Scuffham 3 Min Read TORONTO, May 29 (Reuters) - Canada’s biggest public pension funds could be long-term buyers of Kinder Morgan Canada Ltd’s Trans Mountain pipeline but are unlikely to invest until the C$7.4 billion ($5.7 billion) project has been built, several pension fund sources said on Tuesday. The Canadian government said on Tuesday it will buy the Trans Mountain assets for C$4.5 billion, hoping to salvage a project that faces formidable political and environmental opposition. The pipeline is intended to move Canadian crude to ports in the Vancouver area for shipment to foreign markets. Although the federal government has taken stakes in other struggling energy projects, Tuesday’s announcement marked the first time it is being an entire pipeline, and Ottawa said it does not want to hold the asset for the long term. Frank McKenna, Toronto-Dominion Bank’s deputy chairman and a former New Brunswick premier, said he expected pension funds and private equity players to be interested in the asset as well as other pipeline or infrastructure players. “I think there will be a lot of private sector interest in this project once the political risk is taken out of it. These are very desirable assets. They pay good economic rents and they’re long-life assets,” he said. TD is the biggest lender to the project. The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Canada’s biggest public pension plan, said on Tuesday it was “not actively assessing an investment in the extension opportunity.” The Canadian government could bring in partners to help finance the expansion, according to pension fund sources. However, it is unlikely to do so through its Infrastructure Bank, set up last year to facilitate public-private partnerships but not yet operational, they said. Canadian pension funds have a long-held preference for buying assets that are already built rather than those with construction risks, and the reputational risk associated with the project could also be a turnoff. With that in mind, pension fund sources said the federal government may have to hold the asset for a number of years to eventually attract the best price and give it the best chance to recover money for taxpayers, or even make a profit. Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, Canada’s second biggest public pension and Kinder Morgan Canada’s biggest independent shareholder, has shown the most appetite for financing the construction of new infrastructure among Canada’s biggest pension plans. It declined to comment. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, Canada’s third biggest public pension fund, did not immediately comment. ($1 = 1.3022 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Matt Scuffham Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

Canada pension funds may be long-term buyers of Kinder pipeline

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has rejected Ukraine’s allegation that Moscow was behind Tuesday’s murder of a Russian dissident journalist in Kiev, Russia’s state news agency TASS reported. A man hangs a picture of Russian dissident journalist Arkady Babchenko, who was shot dead in the Ukrainian capital on May 29, on a fence of the Russian embassy in Kiev, Ukraine May 30, 2018. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich Arkady Babchenko, a critic of President Vladimir Putin, was shot dead in the Ukrainian capital on Tuesday where he lived in exile. He fled Russia after he received threats for saying he did not mourn the victims of a Russian defense ministry plane crash in 2016. Related Coverage UK's Johnson says he's appalled by murder of another Russian journalist Russia's spy service calls allegations it murdered journalist nonsense: Ifax Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said in a social media posting late on Tuesday he was convinced that what he called “the Russian totalitarian machine” had not forgiven Babchenko for what Groysman called his honesty. Slideshow (5 Images) Lavrov, who called Babchenko’s killing a tragedy, said the allegation was nonsense and a continuation of what he called Kiev’s anti-Russian course. “...The investigation has not even started and the prime minister of the Ukrainian government has already announced that the Russian intelligence services did it,” TASS cited Lavrov as saying. Groysman’s accusations were a matter of regret, Lavrov was Quote: d as saying. Babchenko’s murder was the fourth of a Kremlin critic in the Ukrainian capital in two years. None of the other murders, which Kiev has also blamed on Russia, have been solved. Reporting by Andrew Osborn and Maria Kiselyova; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Russia rejects Ukrainian allegation it behind journalist's killing: TASS

CNBC.com Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty Images A letter carrier holds Amazon.com packages while preparing a vehicle for deliveries at the United States Postal Service (USPS) Joseph Curseen Jr. and Thomas Morris Jr. processing and distribution center in Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump has directly pressured the U.S. Postal Service's chief to double the rates charged to e-commerce giant Amazon and other companies, the Washington Post reported Friday , citing three people familiar with the conversations. The president has personally pushed the postmaster general, Megan Brennan, to make the move, which could potentially cost Amazon billions of dollars, the Post reported. Brennan, the first female to hold the role of the Postal Service's chief executive officer, has reportedly pushed back on Trump's demand. The newspaper said Brennan has told Trump that Amazon's shipping arrangements are bound by contracts, and have been beneficial to the Postal Service. Trump was unswayed by Brennan's arguments, which were made during several meetings starting in 2017 and occurring as recently as four months ago, the Post reported. Last month, Trump signed an executive order establishing a task force to look at the operations and finances of the USPS and recommend reforms. In a statement to CNBC, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, "We are doing a total look at how the post office is operating. But [we] don't have anything specific for you on that." Amazon and USPS declined CNBC's requests for comment. Trump for months has been dinging Amazon and its CEO Jeff Bezos , who also owns The Washington Post. Amazon, Trump says, has been shirking tax responsibility by failing to collect third-party sales tax at the state level. Trump tweet Amazon already collects sales tax on products it sells directly to consumers but has faced challenges from states over its policy of allowing third-party vendors to charge varying levels of sales tax. States such as South Carolina and Washington have each pushed for state taxes on online items. Amazon has complied with the states' requests so far. Trump has more than once called for an "internet tax" in thinly veiled threats to Amazon. He tweeted in January that internet retailers would have to start paying sales tax because "it's very unfair what's happening to our retailers all over the country." Amazon briefly hit a session low of $1,572.10 following the report, but recovered to above $1,575 — less than a percent down on the day. The stock is up more than 30 percent in 2018 and just 4 percent off its all-time high.

Trump reportedly pushed USPS to double Amazon's shipping rates

TORONTO, May 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Golden Leaf Holdings Ltd. ("GLH" or the "Company") (CSE:GLH) (OTCQB:GLDFF), a leading cannabis oil solutions company and dispensary operator built around recognized brands, today announced that it will report its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, after market-close. Golden Leaf’s management, led by William Simpson, Chief Executive Officer, will also hold a conference call to review the results at 4:30 PM ET on Wednesday, May 30, 2018. Mr. Simpson will be answering shareholder questions at the end of the call. Should you have questions prior to the conference call, please send an email to GLH@kcsa.com with ‘Golden Leaf Question’ in the subject line. The dial-in information for the conference call is as follows: Program Title: Golden Leaf Holdings First Quarter 2018 Financial Results Call Canada & U.S.: (877) 423-9813 International: (201) 689-8573 Participants must request the Golden Leaf Holdings Call. A live audio webcast will be available online on Golden Leaf's website at goldenleafholdings.com , where it will be archived for one year. An audio replay of the conference call will be available through midnight June 13, 2018 by dialing +1 (844) 512-2921 from the U.S. or Canada, or +1 (412) 317-6671 from international locations, Conference ID: 13680064. To be added to the Golden Leaf email distribution list, please email GLH@kcsa.com with "GLH" in the subject line. About Golden Leaf Holdings Golden Leaf Holdings Ltd., a Canadian company with operations in multiple jurisdictions including Oregon, Nevada and Canada, is one of the largest cannabis oil and solution providers in North America, and a leading cannabis products company built around recognized brands. Golden Leaf cultivates, extracts and manufactures and distributes its products through its branded Chalice Farm retail dispensaries, as well as through third party dispensaries. Golden Leaf leverages a strong management team with cannabis and food industry experience to complement its expertise in extracting, refining and selling cannabis oil. Visit goldenleafholdings.com to learn more. For further information, please contact: Investor Relations: Steve Silver / Phil Carlson KCSA Strategic Communications 212-896-1220 / 212-896-1233 glh@kcsa.com William Simpson Chief Executive Officer Golden Leaf Holdings 503-477-7626 William@chalicefarms.com Disclaimer: This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the Company’s future business operations, the establishment of, and the future scope and scale of, the Chalice Farms retail system, the level of funding needed to establish the Chalice Farms franchise model, that the Chalice Farms franchise model will be successful and generate positive cash flows, the opinions or beliefs of management and future business goals. Generally, forward looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to general business, economic and competitive uncertainties, regulatory risks including risks related to the expected timing of the Company’s participation in the adult use market, market risks, risks inherent in manufacturing operations, difficulties of establishing a successful franchise model and other risks of the cannabis industry. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. Forward-looking information is provided herein for the purpose of presenting information about management’s current expectations relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purpose. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration or an exemption from registration. Source: Golden Leaf Holdings Ltd.

Golden Leaf Holdings to Hold Conference Call to Review First Quarter 2018 Results

Amazon's Alexa sends private chat to phone contact 48 Mins Ago CNBC's Aditi Roy reports Amazon is now explaining why "Alexa" recorded a family's whole private conversation and sent it to a random contact.

Amazon's Alexa sends private chat to phone contact

DAKAR (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Democratic Republic of Congo’s jailing of a warlord for sexual slavery shows it is cracking down on a longstanding culture of impunity, rights groups and lawyers said on Wednesday. A military court in the central African country sentenced Lieutenant-Colonel Maro Ntumwa, nicknamed “Marocain”, to 20 years in prison on Saturday for crimes he committed as head of a local militia from 2005 to 2007. The prosecution was one of several that suggest the state is making a greater effort to hold people accountable for sex crimes after being pegged the “rape capital of the world”, said Geneva-based legal group Trial International. “I feel that concretely there has been a change of heart or at least more determination on the part of the government,” said Daniele Perissi, head of the Congo program at Trial International, which helped Ntumwa’s victims build their case. “This kind of trial sends a message to all the actors committing crimes in the country that impunity is not the rule,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. The Mai-Mai rebel group which Ntumwa commanded in Congo’s South Kivu province often took women and girls as sex slaves after it attacked their villages, said Trial International. The verdict came several months after Congo jailed 11 militia fighters for raping girls in the same province between 2013 and 2016, which campaigners hailed as a landmark decision. In both cases Congo used domestic courts to prosecute people for crimes under international law, said Karen Naimer, who heads a program on sexual violence in conflict zones for the U.S.-based group Physicians for Human Rights. “I think we can say there’s sort of a quiet revolution happening where key players are being held to account for sexual violence crimes during their reign of terror,” said Naimer. “The challenge of these cases is that they’re few and far between.” Ntumwa’s victims were glad to see him jailed, but only eight the 98 victims were awarded compensation, said Sylvestre Bisimwa, a spokesman for their lawyers. Millions died in eastern Congo in regional wars between 1996 and 2003, most from hunger and disease, and dozens of armed groups continue to fight for control of the area’s rich natural resources. Reporting by Nellie Peyton, Editing by Claire Cozens Please credit Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, and climate change. Visit www.trust.org

Congo sex slavery conviction shows progress towards justice: rights groups

EditorsNote: rewords fourth, eighth and ninth grafs; fixes “Gennett” in fifth graf Carlos Gonzalez had a season-high four hits, including one of Colorado’s four home runs, and the Rockies beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-2 on Sunday in Denver. Nolan Arenado, David Dahl and Ian Desmond also homered to back a strong performance from starter German Marquez. Marquez (4-5) allowed one run on five hits and struck out six in seven innings to earn his first win at Coors Field this season. Scooter Gennett, who went 5-for-5 Saturday night, had hits in his first two at-bats Sunday, and Joey Votto and Jose Peraza also had two hits apiece for Cincinnati. Matt Harvey (1-3) pitched into the sixth inning but took his first loss since he came to the Reds in a May 8 trade with the New York Mets. Harvey allowed four runs on nine hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out four. Votto and Gennett hit back-to-back doubles in the first to give the Reds a 1-0 lead, but the Rockies dominated after that. With one out in the bottom of the first, Dahl hit the first pitch he saw from Harvey into the second deck in right to tie the score. Arenado singled, and one out later, Gonzalez unloaded on a Harvey fastball, sending it into the third deck in right field to give Colorado a 3-1 lead. It was his fifth home run of the season and first since May 11 against Milwaukee. Gonzalez added three singles to collect his first four-hit game since Sept. 12, 2016, at Arizona. The Rockies padded their lead in the sixth. Tony Wolters led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Marquez. Wandy Peralta relieved Harvey and gave up Charlie Blackmon’s RBI single to make it 4-1. After Dahl struck out, Arenado made it 6-1 with a two-run homer off reliever Tanner Rainey, his 10th. Desmond made it 8-1 with a two-run homer in the seventh, his ninth, off Dylan Floro. Cincinnati failed to score after loading the bases in the eighth but got one run on a wild pitch in the ninth inning. —Field Level Media

Rockies hit four homers to roll past Harvey, Reds

May 3, 2018 / 11:04 AM / Updated 29 minutes ago Eataly to decide soon over possible Chinese joint-venture Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MILAN (Reuters) - Italian high-end food retailer Eataly will decide in coming months about a possible joint-venture to enter the Chinese market, Chairman Andrea Guerra said, adding that a local partner could also be interested in taking a stake in the group. FILE PHOTO: Eataly logo is pictured on a wood box at the Eataly food market store in the former Smeraldo teather downtown Milan, Italy, March 20, 2016. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini The grocery chain, which sells Italian delicacies at stores it has been opening around the world, is privately owned, but Guerra confirmed plans to list around 30 percent of the capital next year. Eataly is betting on growing revenues to 690-720 million euros (609-635 million pounds) in 2020 from 465 million euros last year. It also sees adjusted core profits of 60-65 million euros in 2020. Reporting by Elisa Anzolin; writing by Francesca Landini, editing by Valentina Za

Eataly to decide soon over possible Chinese joint-venture

Thanks to Rudy Giuliani’s report that special prosecutor Robert Mueller told him he couldn’t legally indict President Trump, we are again confronted with a question of constitutional law for which there is no settled answer: Can a sitting president be indicted for criminal activity? There is no precedent for such an indictment, but there is much debate among scholars and lawyers about whether it would be legal to do so. Justice Department policy and two internal memos—one dating back to Watergate and the other from the Clinton era—suggest that the answer is no. This view is contested by various scholars, and most recently Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who believes a president could be indicted and the trial postponed until after the president leaves office. Who is right? Let’s start with the common ground. All agree that impeachment—which, if successful, turns a sitting president into an indictable ex-president—resolves the issue. But impeachment is highly unlikely in current circumstances, given that it requires a 2/3 vote in the Senate to convict. It is unimaginable that Republicans, who have tightly yoked their party to Trump, will be willing to impeach, and so the question of whether a sitting president can be indicted remains live. Another point of agreement is that functional concerns matter. The president has a day job, and there is some risk that extensive involvement in court proceedings would interfere with his ability to carry out his constitutional functions. This was one of the arguments put forward in 1997 by then-president Bill Clinton in seeking the dismissal or postponement of the lawsuit brought by Paula Jones, in which she claimed he sexually harassed her when Clinton was governor of Arkansas. The Supreme Court’s 1997 decision in Clinton v. Jones rejected the argument for immunity or postponement, and decided that a sitting president could be sued civilly. The Court, however, did not resolve the question of whether he could be subject to criminal prosecution. The case held that the distraction involved in a civil suit was not so great as to impinge on the president’s carrying out his constitutional duty—an argument that turned out to be spectacularly wrong: It was the fallout from the civil suit that led to Clinton’s impeachment. There is delicious irony in Trump relying on Clinton-era precedents to argue for immunity from process, but some of the language in Jones v. Clinton is not very helpful to Trump. The Court emphasized that the president “is subject to the same laws that apply to all citizens, that no case had been found in which an official was granted immunity from suit for his unofficial acts, and that the rationale for official immunity is inapposite where only personal, private conduct by a President is at issue.” Trump himself has been subjected to dozens of civil lawsuits since taking office. If he engaged in criminal behavior before taking office—involving campaign finance, or conspiracy to commit a crime, for instance—the logic of the opinion is that he would be subject to the same laws as the rest of us. There is, however, the question of who could indict a president. Normally, the Department of Justice policies bind special prosecutors, and so Mueller would be unable to indict, absent a waiver from his superiors , in this case Rod Rosenstein. The independent counsel who prosecuted Clinton, Kenneth Starr, obtained a memo arguing that the independent prosecutor could indict a sitting president, but that special prosecutors could not because they are under presidential authority at the Department of Justice. There is another group of prosecutors, however, who are not subject to Department of Justice policy: those in the states. There is nothing in the constitutional text that immunizes the president from state prosecutions. Nor, as the Jones case makes clear, is there immunity for unofficial acts of the president. If armed with evidence of violations of state law, the president would be “subject to the same laws that apply to all citizens.” Here’s where the special prosecutor comes in. Even if he does not believe he can indict the president without approval from the Department of Justice, there is the possibility that the special prosecutor could legally release information that would lead to a state prosecution of the president. The Watergate prosecutor, Leon Jaworski, decided to name Richard Nixon as an unindicted co-conspirator for the Watergate break-in, rather than prosecuting directly. This led to impeachment proceedings and Nixon’s resignation, followed by a full pardon by Gerald Ford. Since conspiracies involve all of their participants in the crimes of any one of them, a federal prosecution of one of Trump’s associates for, say, wire fraud might lead to evidence that could be used against him in state court. Stay tuned for the next episode. Tom Ginsburg is Leo Spitz Professor of International Law at the University of Chicago Law School and co-author with Aziz Huq of the forthcoming How to Save a Constitutional Democracy (The University of Chicago Press).

Can the President Be Indicted? Yes, But Not By Who You Think

Pro-democracy leader Anwar Ibrahim—greeted by a boisterous crowd of supporters crying out for reform--walked free Wednesday and received a royal pardon for what he said was a trumped-up sodomy charge, paving the way for a political rebirth.

Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim Freed From Detention, Pardoned

If you're raking in the big bucks, it just might make sense to stash after-tax money into an IRA. Putting money into an individual retirement account brings a bevy of benefits. Savers can put away up to $5,500 this year in a traditional IRA, plus $1,000 if they're 50 and over. Money in this account grows on a tax-deferred basis over time. Here's the kicker: In 2018, workers with a modified adjusted gross income of up to $63,000 ($101,000 if married), can take a deduction on their income taxes up to the amount of their contribution limit. If your income places you above the threshold for the deduction — or if you earn too much to make a Roth contribution for 2018 — a nondeductible IRA contribution with after-tax money may be worth considering. "Many of our clients are phased out of making deductible contributions to an IRA or direct contributions to a Roth IRA," said Jane DeLashmutt O'Mara, portfolio manager with FBB Capital Partners in Easton, Maryland. "For those who want to build a larger tax-deferred savings bucket, this is one way to do so," she said. These are the upsides — and downsides — of stashing nondeductible contributions into an IRA. Building basis Stephanie Hager | HagerPhoto | Getty Images When you reach retirement and begin taking withdrawals from your traditional IRA, your pretax contributions and their earnings are subject to income taxes. If you make a "nondeductible" IRA contribution, you're using after-tax money to do so. These funds count as your basis or the amount of your capital investment for tax purposes . This means that when you take this money out as a distribution from your IRA, you're effectively getting your money back — and it should come back to you free of income taxes. Here's the catch: Any money you invest in a traditional IRA, whether deductible or not, is accruing earnings, which will be subject to income tax at withdrawal. "You may build your basis in the account, but those assets aren't growing tax-free," said O'Mara. Complications Jamie Grill | Getty Images Difficulties may arise as you make your nondeductible contributions. For instance, your IRA custodian won't necessarily track your basis from these investments, which places you at risk of accidentally paying income taxes twice on your nondeductible contributions. "If I make a nondeductible contribution, I don't have to pay taxes on it, but I must pay taxes on the earnings," said Rich Ramassini, director of strategies and sales performance at PNC Investments. "Now I have to be specific and record-keep it so that I'm paying taxes on the right amount of money," he said. Don't forget: The IRS needs to know about your nondeductible contributions. Report them, along with any distributions or Roth conversions, on Form 8606 . Further, if you leave your nondeductible contributions in a traditional IRA, they will be subject to required minimum distributions when you turn 70½. RMDs do not apply to money in Roth IRAs. Building strategies Portra Images | Getty Images There's a right way and a wrong way to make a nondeductible contribution to a traditional IRA. For instance, since you've already paid income taxes on this money, you can generally convert it to a Roth IRA where earnings grow tax-free. It's best to do this right away so that your investment doesn't accrue gains in the meantime. This strategy, known as a "backdoor Roth conversion," may make sense if your tax rate is lower than what you expect it to be in the future. Singles with a modified adjusted gross income of at least $135,000 ($189,000 if married and filing jointly) cannot contribute to a Roth directly, so they may find this strategy valuable. Be aware that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has made Roth conversions somewhat riskier: You can't reverse a conversion you make in 2018 and savers who made a Roth IRA conversion in 2017 have until Oct. 15, 2018 to undo it. Also, if you have multiple IRAs, a backdoor Roth could come with a nasty tax bite. In this case, the IRS assesses the tax based on the combined balances of your all IRAs and not just the amount that you're converting. If you still want to hold nondeductible IRA contributions without converting them immediately, you should keep that cash separate from any IRAs that have pretax contributions, said O'Mara. "That keeps the account purely nondeductible, but you do have to track your contributions and your basis in that account," she said. Things to consider show chapters How much do you need to retire? 8:59 AM ET Tue, 20 March 2018 | 03:02 Consult your CPA or financial planner before you consider making a nondeductible contribution, since it's a strategy that can carry risks and rewards. "These are the types of decisions that are best made proactively as you build your plan," said Ramassini. Diversify your tax picture: As you prepare for retirement, it's best to have a combination of taxable, tax-deferred and tax-free accounts. Bear this in mind as you consider whether to make that nondeductible IRA contribution. "You'll want some levers to pull in terms of managing your taxable income and how much money goes into your pocket versus Uncle Sam's," said O'Mara. Bulk up your emergency fund: If you have some spare cash lying around, maybe it's better to build your emergency fund as opposed to locking it up in a tax-deferred account. Don't forget you're subject to a 10 percent penalty for early withdrawals until you're 59½. Put thought into that backdoor Roth conversion: You no longer have access to a "do-over" of any cash you convert to a Roth IRA this year. Lower income tax rates today might make this move attractive now, but be sure it's right for you. More from Personal Finance: Delayed retirement is in the cards for more than half of 60-somethings Here's how to live on a boat without going broke How to plan for higher health-care costs in retirement

Saving in an IRA has its rewards — and risks — for these high-income earners

May 10, 2018 / 12:50 PM / Updated 33 minutes ago Shell offloads stake in Amberjack pipeline to MLP for $1.22 billion Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell ( RDSa.L ) will sell its stake in Amberjack Pipeline Co to its master limited partnership Shell Midstream Partners LP ( SHLX.N ) for $1.22 billion, the U.S. pipeline operator said on Thursday. FILE PHOTO - Showa Shell Sekiyu's logo is seen at its gas station in Tokyo, Japan, August 10, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo Drop down deals - where a parent transfers assets to its master limited partnership (MLP) - are practiced widely by energy companies to boost the value of their midstream assets without losing ownership of critical infrastructure. The Amberjack pipeline, jointly run by Chevron Corp ( CVX.N ) and Shell, is located in the Gulf of Mexico and transports roughly 300,000 barrels per day of oil. The pipeline is expected to transport about 400,000 barrels per day by the end of 2019 from continued in-field development, as well as new projects coming online. Shell Midstream Partners was formed by Shell to operate, develop and acquire pipelines and other midstream assets. Reporting by John Benny in Bengaluru; Editing by Sai Sachin Ravikumar and Saumyadeb Chakrabarty

Shell Midstream to buy Shell stake in Amberjack pipeline for $1.22 billion

KKR & Co. has agreed to buy BMC Software from an investor group led by private-equity firms for an undisclosed amount. KKR said Tuesday it is buying the Houston-based software company from a group that includes Bain Capital Private Equity and Golden Gate Capital along with Insight Venture Partners, hedge fund Elliott Management Corp. and GIC. BMC,...

KKR to Buy BMC Software From Private-Equity Led Group

President Donald Trump’s personal attorney Michael Cohen helped a law and lobbying firm land a corporate client with ties to Kushner Cos., the family company of White House adviser Jared Kushner that is currently the subject of a federal probe. Under a 2017 contract with Squire Patton Boggs, Mr. Cohen was paid $500,000 a year to help it drum up business, prosecutors said in a recent filing in federal court in New York, where Mr. Cohen is under investigation for potential bank fraud and campaign-finance violations. He also... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In

Trump Lawyer Helped Recruit Corporate Client With Ties to Kushner Probe

The Staten Island driver who struck and killed a 4-year-old girl and 20-month-old boy in Brooklyn’s Park Slope neighborhood in March has been indicted, law-enforcement officials said on Thursday morning. Dorothy Bruns, who told police she had a seizure when she plowed into pedestrians in a crosswalk on March 5, was charged with second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide by a Brooklyn grand jury, an official said. She was arrested at her Staten Island home on Thursday morning, two officials said, and is expected...

Driver in Deadly Park Slope Crash Arrested, Charged

May 23, 2018 / 3:52 PM / Updated 12 minutes ago IMF urges Croatia to press on with reforms Reuters Staff 2 Min Read ZAGREB, May 23 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) urged Croatia on Wednesday to push on with structural reforms to support its goal of joining the euro zone. Croatia’s prime minister has said he wants the Balkan country to start using the euro within seven or eight years. After a regular consultation, the IMF said Croatia needed to streamline public administration and cut red tape; strengthen the legal process and property rights; and make its labour market more flexible and state-owned firms more efficient. It forecast Croatia’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth would remain at 2.8 percent in 2018, but would decelerate over the medium term toward 2 percent in the absence of substantial structural reforms. The lender praised Croatia’s recent fiscal performance, which resulted in a general government surplus in 2017 for the first time since it declared independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991. Croatia’s public debt fell by nearly 5 percentage points to about 78 percent of national output at the end of 2017, but the IMF warned that fiscal gains needed to be retained to reduce it further. It said the country should offset any further tax cuts by introducing a modern real estate tax and focus on lowering wage bills. Though the banking sector remained in good shape, the IMF warned it should be monitored closely due to the expected tightening of global financial conditions and the credit risk arising from uncertainties over indebted food group Agrokor. Agrokor, the largest firm in the Balkans with some 60,000 staff, was put under state-run administration last year and its crisis manager has said it plans to present this week a settlement text to its creditors. (Reporting by Maja Zuvela; Editing by Mark Potter)

IMF urges Croatia to press on with reforms

Chinese and U.S. envoys sparred at the World Trade Organization on Monday over U.S. President Donald Trump's claims that China steals American ideas, the subject of two lawsuits and a White House plan to slap huge punitive tariffs on Chinese goods. U.S. Ambassador Dennis Shea said "forced technology transfer" was often an unwritten rule for companies trying to access China's burgeoning marketplace, especially if they were partnering with a state-owned or state-directed Chinese firm. China's licensing and administrative rules forced foreign firms to share technology if they wanted to do business, while government officials could exploit vague investment rules to impose technology transfer requirements, he said. "This is not the rule of law. In fact, it is Chinas laws themselves that enable this coercion," Shea told the WTO's dispute settlement body, according to a copy of his remarks provided to Reuters. "Fundamentally, China has made the decision to engage in a systematic, state-directed, and non-market pursuit of other (WTO) members cutting-edge technology in service of Chinas industrial policy." It was a lose-lose proposition for foreign investors, he said, and not just Americans. All countries would see their competitiveness eroded if China's policies were left unchecked. China flatly rejected the criticism, which has spawned WTO disputes from both sides and a $50 billion tariff threat from Trump. "There is no forced technology transfer in China," China's Ambassador Zhang Xiangchen told the meeting, adding that the U.S. argument involved a "presumption of guilt." "But the fact is, nothing in these regulatory measures requires technology transfer from foreign companies." The U.S. Trade Representative's office had failed to produce a single piece of evidence, and some of its claims were "pure speculation," he said, adding that the USTR saw Chinese M&A activity as a Chinese government conspiracy. 'Diligence and entrepreneurship' Technology transfer was a normal commercial activity that benefited the United States most of all, he said, while Chinese innovation was driven by "the diligence and entrepreneurship of the Chinese people, investment in education and research, and efforts to improve the protection of intellectual property." Legal experts say Washington needs WTO backing to implement its tariffs as far as they relate to WTO rules, while China has rejected the tariff plan wholesale and resorted to WTO action to stop it. Under WTO rules, if disputes are not settled amicably after 60 days, the complainant can ask for a panel of experts to adjudicate, escalating the dispute and triggering a legal case that takes years to settle. The United States, which launched its complaint on March 23, could have used the dispute meeting on Monday to take that step. China could do so at next month's meeting. But since the dispute erupted, U.S.-China trade policy has been the subject of high-level bilateral talks. Last week Trump tweeted cryptically that "our trade deal with China is moving along nicely" but said it probably needed a "different structure."

US and China clash over 'technology transfer' at the WTO

S. Korea's hottest new properties are on the DMZ 01:25 With North Korea pledging to reduce tensions and renew ties with its southern neighbor, South Korea’s hottest property market is now along the heavily fortified border between the two countries. With North Korea pledging to reduce tensions and renew ties with its southern neighbor, South Korea’s hottest property market is now along the heavily fortified border between the two countries. //reut.rs/2KZu5wv

S. Korea's hottest new properties are on the DMZ

TORONTO, Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. (“Kirkland Lake Gold” or the “ Company ”) (TSX:KL) (NYSE:KL) (ASX:KLA) today announced the Company’s financial and operating results for the first quarter of 2018 (“Q1 2018”). The Company’s full financial statements and management discussion & analysis are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Company’s website at www.klgold.com . The Company also announced today an increase to its quarterly dividend to C$0.03 per share from C$0.02 per share, with the increase to commence with the second quarter 2018 (“Q2 2018”) dividend, payable in July 2018. All dollar amounts in this News Release are expressed in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted. Key highlights of the Q1 2018 results include: Net earnings increase year over year to $53.8 million ($0.25/share) compared to $13.1 million ($0.06/share) in Q1 2017 and $41.0 million ($0.20/share) in Q4 2017. Adjusted net earnings 1,3 totaled $52.6 million ($0.25/share) versus $17.5 million ($0.09/share) in Q1 2017 and $71.2 million ($0.34/share) in Q4 2017. Record quarterly EBITDA 1,2,3 of $105.9 million versus $66.9 million in Q1 2017 and $103.9 million in Q4 2017. Solid cash flow from operating activities 1 totaling $89.6 million versus $67.9 million in Q1 2017 and a quarterly record of $103.4 million in Q4 2017 Strong year-over-year growth in free cash flow 3 to $50.2 million compared to $38.5 million and $64.5 million, respectively, in Q1 2017 and Q4 2017. Cash increased $43.7 million or 19% to $275.3 million at March 31, 2018 from $231.6 million at the end of 2017. Low unit costs with operating cash cost/ounce sold 3 averaging $447 (based on production costs of $66.1 million), in line with 2018 guidance and compared to $564 in Q1 2017 and $412 in Q4 2017. All-in sustaining cost (“AISC”)/ounce sold 3 averaged $833 versus $873 in Q1 2017 and $816 in Q4 2017. AISC/ounce to improve as quarterly sales volumes increase. Production increased to 147,644 ounces from 130,425 ounces in Q1 2017 and compared to record quarterly production of 165,579 ounces in Q4 2017. Strong growth in Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources with consolidated Mineral Reserves at December 31, 2017 increasing 36% from the previous year. Mineral Reserves at Fosterville increased 247% from the December 31, 2016 estimate (65% increase from June 30, 2017 mid-year estimate), while Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources and Inferred Mineral Resources at Macassa increased 58% and 48%, respectively. Macassa #4 shaft project announced in January 2018 as part of Company’s plan to double production at Macassa to over 400,000 ounces per year over the next five to seven years, with Phase #1 targeted for completion in early 2022 and Phase #2 expected to be completed by the end of 2023. Quarterly dividend increased on May 2, 2018 to C$0.03/share effective the second quarter 2018 quarterly dividend payment, payable in July 2018 (Q1 2018 quarterly dividend of C$0.02/share paid on April 13, 2018). (1) From continuing operations (2) Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (3) See “Non-IFRS Measures” set out later in this press release and starting on page 27 of the Company’s MD&A for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Tony Makuch, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kirkland Lake Gold, commented: “We had a strong quarter in Q1 2018 and continued to be a top performer in our industry in terms of profitability and free cash flow. Our Q1 2018 results surpassed target levels for the quarter in most key areas and, as a result, we entered the second quarter tracking very well against our consolidated 2018 guidance. Looking ahead, we expect higher levels of production as the year progresses, which will contribute to further improvements in unit costs. Our capital expenditures will increase from Q1 2018 levels over the balance of the year as we ramp up the Macassa shaft project and key growth projects at Fosterville. At Macassa, work on the shaft project in Q1 2018 was focused on permitting and engineering, with surface construction commencing in the second quarter. At Fosterville, a number of permits were received in April, which will lead to an acceleration of work going forward. “Turning to exploration, we continue to make significant progress with very encouraging results recently being announced that support our commitment to aggressive organic growth. At Fosterville, we intersected visible-gold bearing mineralization at Robbin’s Hill, located approximately 3.8 km from the Fosterville mine. The mineralization has similarities to the high-grade, visible-gold hosted quartz veins encountered in the Eagle and Swan zones of the Lower Phoenix system at Fosterville. In the Northern Territory, we identified a second potential source of production with gold mineralization being intersected below historic open pits on the property of our processing plant at Union Reefs. In Canada, underground drilling at Macassa continues to return high-grade intersections both within and outside current Mineral Resource blocks, highlighting the significant potential for further growth in both reserves and resources. At Taylor, recent drilling has provided additional confirmation that our existing gold deposits are part of a large mineralized system. Last week, we announced a 150-metre extension of the new gold zone we discovered late last year below the West Porphyry Deposit. We also announced continued success intersecting high-grade mineralization along the Porcupine Destor Fault, with our furthest intersection now being 2.9 km east of the mine. We regard both Taylor and the Northern Territory as dark horses within our portfolio, as they do not attract a lot of attention, but have both consistently generated encouraging drill results and demonstrated potential for growth.” Review of Financial and Operating Performance The following discussion provides key summarized consolidated financial and operating information for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. Results for the three months ended March 31, 2017 include production and costs related to the Northern Territory operations in Australia, which were placed on care and maintenance effective June 30, 2017. Also, results for Q1 2017 have been restated to exclude discontinued operations, related to the sale of the Stawell Mine. Table 1. Financial Highlights (in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 (Restated) (1) Revenue $ 198,237 $ 168,528 Production costs 66,097 80,609 Earnings before income taxes 77,274 28,153 Loss from discontinued operations — (2,235 ) Net earnings $ 53,807 $ 13,133 Basic earnings per share from continuing operations $ 0.25 $ 0.08 Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations $ 0.25 $ 0.07 Total basic earnings per share $ 0.25 $ 0.06 Total diluted earnings per share $ 0.25 $ 0.06 Cash flow provided by operating activities of continuing operations $ 89,637 $ 67,874 Cash investment in mine development and PPE $ 39,428 $ 29,326 Table 2. Operating Highlights Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 (Restated) (1) Tonnes milled 417,356 520,888 Grade (g/t Au) 11.5 8.2 Recovery (%) 96.3 % 95.2 % Gold produced (oz) 147,644 130,425 Gold Sold (oz) 147,763 137,841 Averaged realized price ($/oz sold) (2) 1,333 1,225 Operating cash costs per ounce ($/oz sold) (2) 447 564 AISC ($/oz sold) (2) 833 873 Adjusted net earnings from continuing operations (2) $ 52,561 $ 17,474 Adjusted net earning per share from continuing operations (2) $ 0.25 $ 0.09 (1) These figures are restated due to the sale of Stawell in December 2017. (2) See “Non-IFRS Measures” set out later in this press release and starting on page 27 of the Company’s MD&A for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Production, Sales and Revenue The Company produced 147,644 ounces in Q1 2018, an increase of 13% from 130,425 ounces in Q1 2017. Excluding production from mines currently on care and maintenance, including Northern Territory and the Holloway mine, total consolidated production for Q1 2018 grew by 22% to 147,611 ounces from 121,066 ounces in Q1 2017. Both Fosterville and Macassa achieved solid production growth compared to the same period in 2017 due to higher average grades. Fosterville produced 63,843 ounces in Q1 2018, a 39% increase from 46,083 ounces in Q1 2017. The average grade at Fosterville in Q1 2018 was 16.8 g/t versus 11.1 g/t in Q1 2017, consistent with the trend at Fosterville towards improving grades at depth. Macassa achieved record quarterly production in Q1 2018 of 54,038 ounces, an 11% increase from 48,723 ounces in Q1 2017. The increase from Q1 2017 was primarily related to an improvement in the average grade, to 19.9 g/t from 17.1 g/t in Q1 2017, reflecting the mining of higher-grade stopes as well as the impact of favourable grade performance late in Q1 2018. Higher levels of mill throughput resulted in increases of 9% and 19%, respectively, in production at Holt and Taylor, to 16,675 ounces and 13,055 ounces, respectively, in Q1 2018 versus 15,318 ounces and 10,942 ounces, respectively in Q1 2017. Q1 2018 production compared to record quarterly production of 166,579 ounces in Q4 2017. The main contributor to the change in production from Q4 2017 was the impact of a greater proportion of high-grade stopes mined at Fosterville during Q4 2017, consistent with the mine plan. Production at Fosterville in Q4 2017 totaled 79,157 ounces, with grades averaging 21.5 g/t for the quarter. Production at Macassa in Q1 2018 was 5% higher than 51,608 ounces in Q4 2017, as a 43% increase in the average grade (19.9 g/t in Q1 2018 versus 13.9 g/t in Q4 2017) more than offset a reduction in tonnes processed. Both Holt and Taylor achieved record levels of production in Q4 2017 (19,263 ounces at Holt and 16,541 ounces at Taylor), with the change in Q1 2018 mainly resulting from lower average grades at both mines in Q1 2018 consistent with their respective mine plans. Gold sales Q1 2018 totaled 147,763 ounces, a 7% increase from 137,841 ounces in Q1 2017. The realized gold price in Q1 2018 averaged $1,333 per ounce, an increase of 10% from $1,225 per ounce in Q1 2017. Through a combination of increased sales and a higher average gold price, revenue in Q1 2018 totaled $198.2 million, 18% higher than revenue of $168.5 million in Q1 2017. Excluding the impact of mines currently on care and maintenance, primarily the $12.6 million of revenue from the Northern Territory in Q1 2017, revenue grew 27% year over year. Revenue in Q1 2018 compared to total revenue of $212.4 million in Q4 2017, with record quarterly gold sales of 165,715 ounces during the prior quarter more than offsetting a 5% increase in the average gold price in Q1 2018 in accounting for the change in revenue quarter over quarter. Earnings from Mine Operations Earnings from mine operations in Q1 2018 totaled $98.2 million, more than double the Q1 2017 total $47.8 million. The increase from the same period in 2017 reflected strong revenue growth, as well as lower production costs, largely due to the inclusion of production costs for the Northern Territory operations in Q1 2017 prior to the mine being placed on care and maintenance effective June 30, 2017. Also contributing to the year-over-year improvement in earnings from mine operations was a $7.5 million or 21% reduction in depletion and depreciation costs, as the impact of higher gold production was more than offset by a significant increase in the level of depletable Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources at the Company’s operations following the release of the Company’s December 31, 2017 Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates on February 20, 2018. Royalty expense in Q1 2018 totaled $6.0 million versus $4.7 million in Q1 2017, with the increase mainly reflecting higher sales volumes. Earnings from mine operations in Q1 2018 increased 6% from $92.3 million in Q4 2017. The quarter over quarter increase was due to a $17.7 million or 39% reduction in depletion and depreciation costs, reflecting higher levels of depletable Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources in Q1 2018, as well as lower levels of production costs and royalty expense. These factors more than offset the impact of higher revenue in Q4 2017 based on record quarterly gold sales during the prior quarter. Unit Cost Performance (See Non-IFRS measures) For Q1 2018, operating cash costs per ounce sold averaged $447, a 21% improvement from $564 in Q1 2017. The improvement from Q1 2017 mainly reflected significantly higher sales volume from higher average grades at Fosterville and Macassa in Q1 2018 compared to the same period the previous year. AISC per ounce sold averaged $833, 5% better than $873 in Q1 2017. The reduction in operating cash costs per ounce sold more than offset higher levels of sustaining capital expenditures per ounce sold in accounting for the improvement year over year. Sustaining capital expenditures averaged $285 per ounce sold in Q1 2018 versus $231 per ounce sold in Q1 2017. Operating cash cost per ounce sold increased from $412 the previous quarter, mainly reflecting the impact of higher volume of sales from higher average grades in Q4 2017. AISC per ounce sold in Q1 2018 compared to $816 Q4 2017, as the impact of higher operating cash costs per ounce sold compared to a quarter ago was largely offset by a reduction in sustaining capital expenditures per ounce sold ($285 in Q1 2018 versus $312 per ounce sold in Q4 2017). Sustaining capital expenditures in 2017 were weighted to the final quarter of the year. Additional Expenses Exploration and evaluation expenditures in Q1 2018 were substantially higher than in Q1 2017 and the previous quarter, increasing 91% and 57%, respectively, to $16.7 million. The increase from both prior periods reflected the Company’s significant commitment to aggressive organic growth through continued exploration success. Exploration and evaluation expenditures in 2018 are heavily weighted to Australia, with Fosterville accounting for $5.8 million of exploration expenditures in Q1 2018 and the Northern Territory accounting for and additional $8.1 million, with the remainder being incurred at Taylor and Macassa. General and administrative expense (excluding share-based payments expense and transaction costs) totaled $6.9 million in Q1 2018, which compared to $4.4 million in Q1 2017 and $6.1 million the previous quarter. The level of general and administrative expense in Q1 2018 largely reflected the weighting of legal and audit fees and incentive compensation expense to the first quarter of the year. Share-based payment expense in Q1 2018 totaled $1.8 million, compared to $1.2 million in Q1 2017 and $0.7 million in Q4 2017. The increase from both prior periods reflects a higher volume of restricted-share units (“RSUs”) and performance-share units (“PSUs”) granted during the quarter. Other income in Q1 2018 totaled $5.4 million compared to other income of $0.1 million in Q1 2017 and other loss of $19.2 million in Q4 2017. The main factors contributing to the increase in other income (loss) from Q1 2017 were realized and unrealized foreign exchange gains as a result of the US dollar strengthening by 4% in the quarter and a $2.3 million pre-tax mark-to-market gain on fair valuing the Company's 14.0 million common share purchase warrants in Novo Resources Corp. (“Novo”), which the Company did not own in Q1 2017. The change in other income from Q4 2017 mainly related to the fair valuing of the Novo warrants, with a pre-tax mark-to-market loss of $17.6 million being recorded in Q4 2017 compared to the pre-tax gain of $2.3 million in Q1 2018. Care and maintenance expense in Q1 2018 totaled $0.8 million, which compared to care and maintenance expense of $2.4 million in Q1 2017 and a recovery on care and maintenance expense of $2.2 million in Q4 2017. Care and maintenance expense in Q1 2018 related to the Company’s Northern Territory operation in Australia (placed on care and maintenance effective June 30, 2017) and the Holloway mine in Northern Ontario (placed on care and maintenance effective December 31, 2016). Care and maintenance expense in Q1 2017 related solely to the Holloway mine. The recovery on care and maintenance expense recorded in Q4 2017 of $2.2 million reflected the reclassification to discontinued operations of year-to-date 2017 and 2016 expenses, including care and maintenance expenses for Stawell, which was placed on care and maintenance effective December 13, 2016 and was sold on December 21, 2017. Finance costs in Q1 2018 totaled $0.7 million versus $3.3 million in Q1 2017 and $3.5 million in Q4 2017. The change in finance costs from Q1 2017 mainly related to the maturity of two series of convertible debentures in 2017 following the end of last year’s first quarter. The Company’s C$56.8 million 6% unsecured convertible debentures ("6% convertible debentures") matured and were repaid on June 30, 2017, while the C$62.1 million 7.5% unsecured convertible debentures ("7.5% convertible debentures") matured on December 31, 2017, with over 99% being converted into Kirkland Lake Gold common shares. The level of finance costs in Q1 2017 largely related to interest payments on both series of debentures. Finance costs in Q4 2017 reflected interest costs on the 7.5% convertible debentures, as well as finance fees and bank charges. Finance income in Q1 2018 totaled $0.7 million, which compared to $0.6 million in Q1 2017 and $0.5 million the previous quarter. The Company's total income tax expense is higher than Q1 2017 and previous quarters due to higher taxable income. Current income tax expense totaled $5.1 million in Q1 2018, along with deferred tax expense of $18.3 million. The deferred tax expense in Q1 2018 resulted from the utilization of $12.4 million of deferred tax assets to reduce current income tax expense. In Q1 2017, current income tax expense totaled $6.6 million, while deferred income tax expense totaled $6.2 million. The Company reported a net deferred tax recovery of $10.0 million in Q4 2017 comprised of a one-time net deferred tax recovery of $52.6 million offset by a one-time current and deferred tax expense of $42.6 million related to the tax impacts of Australian reorganizations and Canadian flow through shares. Net Earnings in Q1 2018 total $53.8 million or $0.25 per basic share Net earnings in Q1 2018 totaled $53.8 million ($0.25 per basic share), an increase of $40.7 million from net earnings of $13.1 million ($0.06 per basic share) in Q1 2017. The Company’s net earnings in Q1 2018 were entirely related to continuing operations. Net earnings in Q1 2017 included net earnings from continuing operations of $15.4 million ($0.08 per basic share) and a loss from discontinued operations of $2.2 million ($0.02 per basic share), with the loss from discontinued operations related to care and maintenance expenses and the sale of the Stawell mine effective December 21, 2017. The significant growth in net earnings in Q1 2018 compared to earnings from continuing operations in Q1 2017 mainly related to the impact of increased production and revenue, lower production costs and reduced depletion and depreciation expenses. The reduction in depletion and depreciation costs was due to a significant increase in the level of depletable Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources at the Company's operations following the release of its December 31, 2017 Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates on February 20, 2018. The Company also benefitted from higher other income and lower finance costs in Q1 2018 compared to the previous year's first quarter. The increase in other income was mainly due to realized and unrealized foreign exchange gains as a result of the US dollar strengthening by 4% during the quarter, as well as the impact of a $2.3 million pre-tax mark-to-market gain on the fair valuing of the Company's 14.0 million Novo warrants. These favourable factors more than offset the impact of a 91% increase in exploration expenditures, reflecting the Company’s commitment to aggressive organic growth through continued exploration success, as well as higher levels of deferred tax expense and general and administrative expenses. Q1 2018 net earnings compared to net earnings of $41.0 million ($0.20 per basic share) the previous quarter, which included a loss from discontinued operations of $24.9 million ($0.12 per basic share) related to care and maintenance expenses and the sale of Stawell. Net earnings in Q1 2018 compared to earnings from continuing operations in Q4 2017 of $65.9 million ($0.32 per basic share) with the quarter over quarter change mainly due to higher sales volumes in Q4 2017, a significant increase in exploration expenditures in Q1 2018, as well as the impact of $18.3 million of deferred tax expense in Q1 2018 compared to a $10.0 million net deferred tax recovery in Q4 2017. Partially offsetting these factors were a significant reduction in depletion and depreciation expenditures in Q1 2018, as well as the impact of the $2.3 million pre-tax mark-to-market gain in Q1 2018 on the fair valuing the Company's Novo warrants, which compared to a pre-tax mark-to-market loss of $17.6 million in Q4 2017. Adjusted net Earnings (Non-IFRS) in Q1 2018 total $52.6 million or $0.25 per basic share The Company's adjusted net earnings from continuing operations totaled $52.6 million ($0.25 per basic share) in Q1 2018 representing growth of $35.1 million or 201% from adjusted net earnings from continuing operations of $17.5 million ($0.09 per basic share) in Q1 2017. The growth of $35.1 million is a result of increased production and revenue, lower production costs and reduced depletion and depreciation costs. Adjusted net earnings from continuing operations in Q4 2017 totaled $71.2 million ($0.34 per basic share), which excluded the $24.9 million after-tax loss on discontinued operations ($0.12 per share), the $17.6 million pre-tax mark-to-market loss on the fair valuing the Company’s 14.0 million Novo warrants ($0.08 per share) and the net deferred tax recovery of $10.0 million ($0.05 per share). Q1 2018 cash flow from operating activities of $89.6 million, free cash flow (Non-IFRS) totals $50.2 million Cash totaled $275.3 million at March 31, 2018 compared to $231.6 million at December 31, 2017. The $43.7 million or 19% increase in cash in Q1 2018 was largely related to strong cash flow from operating activities, as well as the $12.4 million reduction in cash taxes paid as a result of the utilization of tax losses in Q1 2018 and the timing for capital and exploration expenditures, which are expected to be weighted to the second half of 2018. Cash flow from operating activities of continuing operations in Q1 2018 totaled $89.6 million, which compared to $67.9 million in Q1 2017 and record cash flow from operating activities of continuing operations of $103.4 million in Q4 2017. Free cash flow in Q1 2018 totaled $50.2 million, a 30.1% increase from $38.5 million in Q1 2017 and compared to record quarterly free cash flow of $64.5 million in Q4 2017. Performance Against 2018 Guidance In 2017, Kirkland Lake Gold achieved all of the Company’s consolidated production and unit cost guidance. On January 17, 2018, the Company announced its guidance for full-year 2018, which includes increased production levels compared to 2017, improved unit costs and higher levels of capital and exploration expenditures. Following completion of Q1 2018, the Company's full-year 2018 guidance remained unchanged. The increase in capital and exploration expenditures is being undertaken in support of achieving the Company’s longer-term objective of growing annual gold production over the next five to seven years to approximately a million ounces. Table 3. 2018 Guidance (1) (as at February 21, 2018) Macassa Taylor Holt Fosterville Consolidated Gold production (,000 ozs) 215 – 225 60 – 70 65 – 75 260 – 300 +620 Op. cash costs ($/oz) 2 475 - 500 625 – 650 625 – 650 270 – 290 $425 - $450 AISC/ounce sold ($/oz) 2 $750 - $800 Operating cash costs ($M) 2 $260 - $270 Royalty costs ($M) $22 - $27 Sustaining capital ($M) 2 $150 – $170 Growth capital ($M) 2 $85 – $95 Exploration ($M) $75 – $90 Corporate G&A ($M) 3 $20 – $22 (1) Represents the Company’s guidance for which the three-month period ended March 31, 2018 was measured against. (2) See “Non-IFRS Measures” set out starting on page 28 of the MD&A for the three months ended March 31, 2018 for further details. The most comparable IFRS Measure for operating cash costs, operating cash costs per ounce sold and AISC per ounce sold is production costs as presented in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income, while total additions and construction in progress are the most comparable measures for sustaining and growth capital expenditures. Operating cash costs, operating cash cost per ounce sold and AISC per ounce sold reflect an average US$ to C$ exchange rate of 1.2648 and a US$ to A$ exchange rate of 1.2719. (3) Includes general and administrative costs and severance payments. Excludes non-cash share-based payment expense. Table 4. Q1 2018 Performance Macassa Taylor Holt Fosterville Consolidated Gold production (,000 ozs) 54,038 13,055 16,675 63,843 147,644 1 Op. cash costs ($/oz) 2 499 681 645 287 $ 447 AISC/ounce sold ($/oz) 2 $ 833 Operating cash costs ($M) 2 $ 66.0 Royalty costs ($M) $ 6.0 Sustaining capital ($M) 2 $ 42.1 Growth capital ($M) 2 $ 6.5 Exploration ($M) $ 16.7 Corporate G&A ($M) 3 $ 6.9 (1) Consolidated 2018 production includes 33 ounces processed from the Holloway Mine. (2) See “Non-IFRS Measures” set out starting on page 28 of the Company’s MD&A for the three months ended March 31, 2018 for further details. The most comparable IFRS Measure for operating cash costs, operating cash costs per ounce sold and AISC per ounce sold is production costs as presented in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income, while total additions and construction in progress are the most comparable measures for sustaining and growth capital expenditures . Operating cash costs, operating cash cost per ounce sold and AISC per ounce sold reflect an average US$ to C$ exchange rate of 1.2648 and a US$ to A$ exchange rate of 1.2719. (3) Includes general and administrative costs and severance payments. Excludes non-cash share-based payment expense. Key Highlights of Q1 2018 Performance Compared to Guidance Consolidated gold production for Q1 2018 of 147,644 ounces exceeded target levels for the quarter, driven by record monthly production in March of 71,615 ounces, which largely reflected positive grade performance at both Fosterville and Macassa. The Macassa mine achieved record quarterly production of 54,038 ounces in Q1 2018. The Company remains on track to achieve its full-year 2018 consolidated production guidance of over 620,000 ounces, with production volumes to increase in the second half of the year, including at Fosterville with the commencement of stope production from the Swan Zone. Production guidance for each of the Company’s mines remains unchanged following the completion of the first quarter of 2018. Production costs for Q1 2018 totalled $66.1 million. Operating cash costs for the quarter of $66.0 million were in line with the Company’s 2018 guidance range of $260 - $270 million, and compared to $80.6 million in Q1 2017 and $68.3 million in Q4 2017. Operating cash costs per ounce sold for Q1 2018 averaged $447, in line with the Company's guidance for full-year 2018 of $425 - $450. Operating cash costs per ounce sold at Fosterville were in line with the mine's full-year 2018 guidance. Operating cash costs per ounce sold at Macassa and Holt were at the top end of the target ranges for the full-year, with improvements expected over the balance of 2018. Operating cash costs at the Taylor of $681 per ounce sold were above the full-year 2018 target range. Operating cash costs per ounce sold at Taylor are expected to improve as average grades increase over the balance of the year and the rate of operating development is reduced. Following the end of Q1 2018, the Company remained well positioned to achieve full-year 2018 guidance for operating cash costs per ounce sold on a consolidated basis, as well as at each of its mines. AISC per ounce sold of $833 for Q1 2018 exceeded the Company’s full-year 2018 guidance of $750 - $800. AISC per ounce sold is expected to improve in the second half of the year as sales volumes increase and the level of sustaining capital expenditures and general and administrative expenses on a per ounce sold basis are reduced from Q1 2018. Royalty costs totaled $6.0 million for Q1 2018, in line with full-year 2018 guidance of $22 - $27 million. Sustaining capital expenditures for Q1 2018 totaled $42.1 million. The Company remains on track to achieve full-year 2018 guidance of $150 - $170 million. Growth capital expenditures of $6.5 million were lower than anticipated in Q1 2018, largely due to the timing for permitting and procurement. Construction and development work at both Macassa and Fosterville is expected to ramp up over the balance of the year, with full-year 2018 guidance remaining unchanged. Exploration expenditures of $16.7 million in Q1 2018 are expected to increase over the remainder of the year as work advances on exploration development drifts at both Fosterville and in the Northern Territory. In the Northern Territory, work commenced around the end of Q1 2018 on two development drifts from the existing Cosmo ramp towards the Lantern Deposit in support of future underground drilling. At Fosterville, permits were received early in Q2 2018 for an exploration drift that will support drilling to test downplunge mineralization in the Harrier South system, where there has been a trend towards higher grades at depth with increased occurrence of visible gold. The Company continues to target total exploration expenditures of $75 – $90 million for full-year 2018. Corporate G&A expense totaled $6.9 million in Q1 2018, reflecting a weighting of these expenditures to the early part of the year. Corporate G&A expense remains on track to achieve full-year guidance of $20 - $22 million. Q1 2018 Financial Results and Conference Call Details A conference call to discuss the Q1 2018 results will be held by senior management on Thursday, May 3, 2018, at 10:00 am ET. The call will be webcast and accessible on the Company’s website at www.klgold.com . Date: THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018 Conference Id: 3173939 Time: 10:00 am ET Toll-free number: 1 (866) 393-4306 International callers: 1 (734) 385-2616 Webcast URL: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/1627897/4F01DB1EDE1E22E0B3091E11A1729D2A Qualified Persons Pierre Rocque, P.Eng., Vice President, Canadian Operations and Ian Holland, FAusIMM, Vice President Australian Operations are “qualified persons” as defined in National Instrument 43-101 and have reviewed and approved disclosure of the technical information and data in this news release. About Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. is a mid-tier gold producer that in 2018 is targeting over 620,000 ounces of gold production from mines in Canada and Australia. The production profile of the company is anchored from two high-grade, low-cost operations, including the Macassa Mine located in Northeastern Ontario and the Fosterville Mine located in the state of Victoria, Australia. Kirkland Lake Gold's solid base of quality assets is complemented by district scale exploration potential, supported by a strong financial position with extensive management and operational expertise. Non-IFRS Measures The Company has included certain non-IFRS measures in this document, as discussed below. The Company believes that these measures, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, provide investors an improved ability to evaluate the underlying performance of the Company. The non-IFRS measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. These measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to other issuers. For a reconciliation of the Non-IFRS Measures described below, please see the Non-IFRS Measures section of the MD&A for three months ended March 31, 2018 beginning on page 27. Non-IFRS reconciliations for Q4 2017 are provided in the MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2017. Free Cash Flow In the gold mining industry, free cash flow is a common performance measure with no standardized meaning. Free cash flow is calculated by deducting capital cash spending (capital expenditures for the period, net of expenditures paid through finance leases) from cash flows from operations. The Company discloses free cash flow as it believes the measures provide valuable assistance to investors and analysts in evaluating the Company’s ability to generate cash flow. The most directly comparable measure prepared in accordance with IFRS is cash flows generated from operations. Operating Cash Costs and Operating Cash Costs per Ounce Sold Operating cash costs and operating cash cost per ounce sold are non-IFRS measures. In the gold mining industry, these metrics are common performance measures but do not have any standardized meaning under IFRS. Operating cash costs include mine site operating costs such as mining, processing and administration, but exclude royalty expenses, depreciation and depletion and share based payment expenses and reclamation costs. Operating cash costs per ounce sold is based on ounces sold and is calculated by dividing operating cash costs by volume of ounces sold. The Company discloses operating cash costs and operating cash cost per ounce sold as it believes the measures provide valuable assistance to investors and analysts in evaluating the Company’s operational performance and ability to generate cash flow. The most directly comparable measure prepared in accordance with IFRS is total production expenses. Operating cash costs and operating cash cost per ounce of gold sold should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures prepared in accordance with IFRS. Sustaining and Growth Capital Sustaining capital and growth capital are Non-IFRS measures. Sustaining capital is defined as capital required to maintain current operations at existing levels. Growth capital is defined as capital expenditures for major growth projects or enhancement capital for significant infrastructure improvements at existing operations. AISC and AISC per Ounce Sold AISC and AISC per ounce sold are Non-IFRS measures. These measures are intended to assist readers in evaluating the total costs of producing gold from current operations. While there is no standardized meaning across the industry for this measure, the Company’s definition conforms to the definition of AISC as set out by the World Gold Council in its guidance note dated June 27, 2013. The Company defines AISC as the sum of operating costs (as defined and calculated above), royalty expenses, sustaining capital (capital required to maintain current operations at existing levels), corporate expenses, underground exploration expenses and reclamation cost accretion related to current operations. Corporate expenses include general and administrative expenses, net of transaction related costs, severance expenses for management changes and interest income. AISC excludes growth capital, reclamation cost accretion not related to current operations, interest expense, debt repayment and taxes. Average Realized Price per Ounce Sold In the gold mining industry, average realized price per ounce sold is a common performance measure that does not have any standardized meaning. The most directly comparable measure prepared in accordance with IFRS is revenue from gold sales. Average realized price per ounces sold should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures prepared in accordance with IFRS. The measure is intended to assist readers in evaluating the total revenues realized in a period from current operations. Adjusted Net Earnings and Adjusted Net Earnings per Share Adjusted net earnings from continuing operations and adjusted net earnings per share from continuing operations are used by management and investors to measure the underlying operating performance of the Company. Adjusted net earnings from continuing operations is defined as net earnings adjusted to exclude the after-tax impact of specific items that are significant, but not reflective of the underlying operations of the Company, including transaction costs and executive severance payments, purchase price adjustments reflected in inventory, and other non-recurring items. Adjusted net earnings per share from continuing operations is calculated using the weighted average number of shares outstanding for adjusted net earnings per share from continuing operations. Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (“EBITDA”) EBITDA from continuing operations represents net earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is an indicator of the Company’s ability to generate liquidity by producing operating cash flow to fund working capital needs, service debt obligations, and fund capital expenditures. Working Capital Working capital is a Non-IFRS measure. In the gold mining industry, working capital is a common measure of liquidity but does not have any standardized meaning. The most directly comparable measure prepared in accordance with IFRS is current assets and current liabilities. Working capital is calculated by deducting current liabilities from current assets. Working capital should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute from measures prepared in accordance with IFRS. The measure is intended to assist readers in evaluating the Company’s liquidity. Risks and Uncertainties The exploration, development and mining of mineral deposits involves significant risks, which even a combination of careful evaluation, experience and knowledge may not eliminate. Kirkland Lake Gold is subject to several financial and operational risks that could have a significant impact on its cash flows and profitability. The most significant risks and uncertainties faced by the Company include: the price of gold; the uncertainty of production estimates, including the ability to extract anticipated tonnes and successfully realizing estimated grades; changes to operating and capital cost assumptions; the inherent risk associated with project development and permitting processes; the uncertainty of the mineral resources and their development into mineral reserves; the replacement of depleted reserves; foreign exchange risks; regulatory; tax as well as health, safety, and environmental risks. For more extensive discussion on risks and uncertainties refer to the “Risks and Uncertainties” section in the December 31, 2017 Annual Information Form and the Company’s MD&A for the period ended December 31, 2017 filed on SEDAR. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of Kirkland Lake Gold with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions and include information regarding: (i) the amount of future production over any period; (ii) assumptions relating to revenues, operating cash flow and other revenue metrics set out in the Company's disclosure materials; and (iii) future exploration plans. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflect Kirkland Lake Gold's management's expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Although Kirkland Lake Gold believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements of the combined company. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information are the following: the future development and growth potential of the Canadian and Australian operations; the future exploration activities planned at the Canadian and Australian operations and anticipated effects thereof; liquidity risk; risks related to community relations; risks relating to equity investments; risks relating to first nations and Aboriginal heritage; the availability of infrastructure, energy and other commodities; nature and climactic conditions; risks related to information technology and cybersecurity; timing and costs associated with the design, procurement and construction of the Company’s various capital projects, including but not limited to the #4 Shaft project at the Macassa Mine and the ventilation and paste fill plant project at the Fosterville Mine; permitting; currency exchange rates (such as the Canadian dollar and the Australian dollar versus the United States dollar); risks associated with dilution; labour and employment matters; risks in the event of a potential conflict of interest; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; changes in applicable laws; and compliance with extensive government regulation. This forward-looking information may be affected by risks and uncertainties in the business of Kirkland Lake Gold and market conditions. This information is qualified in its entirety by cautionary statements and risk factor disclosure contained in filings made by Kirkland Lake Gold, including its annual information form and financial statements and related MD&A for the financial year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedar.com . Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although Kirkland Lake Gold has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Kirkland Lake Gold does not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT Anthony Makuch, President, Chief Executive Officer & Director Phone: +1 416-840-7884 E-mail: tmakuch@klgold.com Mark Utting, Vice-President, Investor Relations Phone: +1 416-840-7884 E-mail: mutting@klgold.com Source:Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd.

Kirkland Lake Gold Reports Solid Earnings and Cash Flow in First Quarter 2018, Announces Dividend Increase

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May 15 (Reuters) - Assure Holdings Corp: * APPOINTMENT OF JOHN FARLINGER AS NEW EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN AND INTERIM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF COMPANY Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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The U.K. government will go to the country's highest court Tuesday in a bid to force open a £475 million ($640 million) charity fund set up 90 years ago with the intention of paying off the national debt . The "National Fund" was opened in 1928 by an anonymous benefactor who donated £500,000, but on the condition that it must remain untouched until the U.K. raises enough money to pay off its entire national debt. While the fund currently stands at £475 million, it represents just 0.06 percent of the U.K's estimated £1.7 trillion debt. Attorney General Jeremy Wright will urge High Court judges on Tuesday to change the terms of the trust fund and release the money to pay off some of the U.K.'s debt. "Almost 90 years ago, an anonymous donor bequeathed money to the nation and yet we have not been able to put it to good use," Wright said. "We have been working with the Treasury, trustees and the Charity Commission to find a solution consistent with the donor's original objectives of extinguishing the national debt." Barclays, which oversees the management of the fund, has for years tried to obtain permission to gain access to the money, to make it available for charitable grants or hand it over to the Treasury. show chapters Don’t expect a cliff-edge hard Brexit, analyst says 9 Hours Ago | 02:33 Any changes to the fund must be approved by the High Court. The original £500,000 donation was a cash sum of £338,909 and securities to the value of £160,969. Accounts for the fund show that gains on investments and exchange movements have amounted to an overall net gain of £46,606,147. U.K. government borrowing shrunk to its lowest level in more than 10 years in April. Total U.K. public debt now stands at £1.798 trillion, about twice the level it was before the 2008 financial crisis. That figure excludes public sector banks, but does include for temporary Bank of England lending that was introduced to revive the country's economy.

UK government looks to open mysterious fund to pay off national debt

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey’s pro-Kurdish opposition applied on Tuesday for its jailed presidential candidate to be released before next month’s snap election, saying the detention of Selahattin Demirtas jeopardized voter freedom. FILE PHOTO: A supporter of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) hangs posters of Selahattin Demirtas, the party's jailed former co-leader and the candidate for the upcoming presidential election, during a gathering in Istanbul, Turkey May 4, 2018. REUTERS/Murad Sezer/File Photo This month, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) nominated Demirtas, who has been in prison for about 17 months on security charges and faces a jail sentence of up to 142 years if convicted, as its candidate in the June election. Turkey’s High Electoral Board has approved his candidacy and Demirtas is running his presidential campaign from behind bars. The HDP said it had filed an appeal for the release of Demirtas, the party’s former leader, saying the imprisonment of a candidate violated electoral law and jeopardized voter freedom. Demirtas, a former human rights lawyer, has expanded HDP’s support beyond its traditional Kurdish base by appealing to secular, left-leaning Turks. He has also won support from some other opposition candidates, such as nationalist Meral Aksener. “He is not someone who has been convicted,” Aksener, the head of the Iyi (Good) Party, told reporters. “Let’s say he is freed three months after elections, how will Turkey explain the competitive inequality during the campaigning period then?” Her comments were notable as nationalists and pro-Kurdish politicians rarely find common ground in Turkey. The presidential candidate from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Muharrem Ince, has also called for the release of Demirtas. The HDP commands only about 10 to 12 percent of support from the electorate, so Erdogan faces a bigger challenge from Aksener and Ince in the polls. Aksener, a former interior minister, founded her Iyi Party after splitting with the nationalist MHP party, which backs Erdogan. This election will herald the switch to a powerful executive presidency narrowly approved in a referendum last year. Aksener said that if the anti-Erdogan alliance were to obtain a majority in parliament, it would immediately move to revert to a parliamentary system, taking necessary constitutional changes to a referendum as soon as possible. Polls have indicated that a first round victory for Erdogan is unlikely, despite very limited media coverage for opposition candidates, raising prospects of a second round vote between the top two candidates from the previous round. Turkish media is saturated with coverage of Erdogan and his ministers, with the president’s daily routine of two or three speeches being broadcast on all major channels, while opposition parties receive little to no coverage. Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Gulsen Solaker; Editing by David Dolan and Edmund Blair

Turkey's pro-Kurdish opposition seeks release of jailed presidential candidate

May 11, 2018 / 8:43 PM / Updated 8 hours ago SpaceX launches new rocket primed for future crewed missions Joey Roulette 4 Min Read CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) - An updated version of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, tailored for eventual crewed missions for NASA, made its debut launch on Friday from Florida’s Cape Canaveral carrying a communications satellite for Bangladesh into orbit. The newly minted Block-5 edition of the Falcon 9 - equipped with about 100 upgrades for greater power, safety and reusability than its Block-4 predecessor - lifted off at 4:14 p.m. EDT (2014 GMT) from the Kennedy Space Center. Minutes later, the rocket’s main-stage booster flew itself back to Earth to achieve a safe return landing on an unmanned platform vessel floating in the Pacific Ocean. The recoverable Block-5 booster is designed to be reused at least 10 times with minimal refurbishment between flights, allowing more frequent launches at lower cost - a key to the SpaceX business model. Enhanced rocket reusability also is a core tenet of SpaceX owner and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk’s broader objectives of making space travel commonplace and ultimately sending humans to Mars. SpaceX has safely return-landed 24 of its boosters and reflown 11 of them. Friday’s flight marked the ninth SpaceX launch so far this year, compared to five orbital-class missions the company had logged at the same point in 2017, according to Musk. It came a day after the original launch countdown was halted one minute before blastoff time due to a technical problem detected by the rocket’s onboard computers. Friday’s second attempt by SpaceX, formally known as Space Exploration Technologies, appeared to have gone off without a hitch. The rocket’s payload, the Bangladeshi government’s first communications satellite, Bangabandhu-1, was placed into Earth orbit at 4:47 p.m. EDT, just 33 minutes after launch, according to SpaceX. The achievement was hailed by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a livestream appearance from her country’s capital, Dhaka. “Today is a very delightful and glorious day for our motherland, Bangladesh, and Bangalee nation,” she said. “With launching of Bangabandhu Satellite-1, we are hoisting our national flag in the space.” The Block-5 also marks another milestone for Musk’s California-based company. It is expected to be the first SpaceX vehicle to satisfy NASA’s standards for its Commercial Crew Program to carry agency astronauts to the International Space Station. NASA requires seven successful flights before the new rocket receives final certification for a manned mission. Besides missions to the space station, the new rocket will be used to launch U.S. Air Force global positioning satellites and other high-value, military and national security payloads. Block-5 marks the final version of the Falcon 9 lineup before SpaceX introduces its super heavy-lift launch vehicle, dubbed the Big Falcon Rocket, or BFR, which will be designed to send manned missions to Mars. SpaceX is one of two private companies hired by NASA to ferry astronaut crews to the space station. The other is Boeing Co ( BA.N ). Reporting by Joey Roulette in Cape Canaveral; Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Richard Chang

SpaceX launches new rocket primed for future crewed missions

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CANNES, France, May 15 (Reuters) - Security was even tighter than usual at the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday as a phalanx of stormtroopers ensured the cast of “Solo: A Star Wars Story” made it safely up the red carpet. The sinister shiny white soldiers stood guard as Alden Ehrenreich and Donald Glover, who play Han Solo and Lando Calrissian, waved before heading in for a special screening of their movie at the festival on the southern coast of France. Director Ron Howard and co-stars Woody Harrelson and Emilia Clarke also walked the red carpet, as did a hairy Chewbacca, which was slightly strange as the actor who plays the Wookiee, Joonas Suotamo, was also there, having swapped his fur suit for the obligatory tuxedo. The film tells the backstory of Han Solo, the loveable rogue played by Harrison Ford in the original “Star Wars” films. It premiered in Los Angeles on May 10 and will start its global release on May 23. The Cannes Film Festival runs from May 8 to May 19. (Reporting by Robin Pomeroy) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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May 18, 2018 / 8:25 AM / Updated 9 minutes ago China c.bank says to facilitate cross-border capital flows Reuters Staff 1 Min Read SHANGHAI, May 18 (Reuters) - China’s central bank said on Friday that it would enhance overseas investors’ ability to use foreign currencies to invest under the Stock Connect scheme, as part of an effort to facilitate cross-border capital flows. The People’s Bank of China also said offshore yuan clearing banks would be permitted to conduct interbank market borrowing and bond repos. (Reporting by Andrew Galbraith; Editing by Kim Coghill)

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* Venezuela crisis, Iran nuclear pact drive oil prices higher * Dollar rallies to 2018 high as euro dips below $1.19 * Nestle deal with Starbucks, energy stocks lift equities By Herbert Lash NEW YORK, May 7 (Reuters) - The dollar rose to fresh 2018 highs on Monday while oil prices surged to their highest since late 2014, driven by declining Venezuelan crude production and worries the Unites States could re-impose sanctions on Iran. The crude surge lifted energy stocks in Europe and on Wall Street, with European shares supported by strong results and gains in Nestle after the Swiss company agreed to pay $7.15 billion to Starbucks in a global coffee alliance. The euro broke below $1.19 for the first time this year on weaker-than-expected German industrial orders and declining euro zone investor sentiment. Investors increased bets that rising U.S. interest rates would continue to boost the dollar, while traders unwound their bearish positions on the greenback. An index that tracks the dollar against a basket of leading currencies climbed to 92.974, its highest since December. The index was last up 0.20 percent at 92.750. “The general view right now is that the dollar is probably going to continue to move a bit higher against the euro in particular, maybe against the yen as well,” said Larry Hatheway, chief economist at GAM Investment Solutions. The euro could slip to $1.1750 or even $1.15 as a support level as the Federal Reserve tightens monetary policy and the European economy trends weaker, he said. “There’s a general appreciation the Fed is going to move at least twice again this year and the consensus is shifting toward three more moves this year.” The euro slid 0.28 percent to $1.1924, while the Japanese yen was fell 0.05 percent to 109.06 per dollar. Venezuelan oil exports came under threat after U.S. oil major ConocoPhillips moved to take Caribbean assets of state-run PDVSA to enforce a $2 billion arbitration award, three sources told Reuters. The move could further crimp PDVSA’s declining oil output and exports. Widespread expectations that President Donald Trump will withdraw the United States from the Iranian nuclear pact also weighed on crude prices. U.S. crude rose $1.01 to settle at $70.73 a barrel, breaking above the $70 mark for the first time since November 2014, while Brent gained $1.30 to settle at $76.17. Nestle rose 1.6 percent after it gained the rights to market Starbucks products around the world outside of the U.S. company’s coffee shops. Nestle was the biggest contributor to the 0.59 percent advance in the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of leading regional shares. Oil giants Royal Dutch Shell and Total were the fourth and seventh biggest contributors, respectively. On Wall Street, the S&P energy index was the biggest gainer among the 11 major sectors, rising 1.2 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 102.22 points, or 0.42 percent, to 24,364.73. The S&P 500 gained 13.12 points, or 0.49 percent, to 2,676.54 and the Nasdaq Composite added 66.72 points, or 0.93 percent, to 7,276.34. Euro zone government bond yields slid as the unexpected fall in German industrial output was seen as encouraging the European Central Bank to prolong an unwinding of stimulus. The yield on the benchmark 10-year German bund fell to 0.53 percent, while yields on U.S. benchmark 10-year Treasury notes rose slightly to 2.9516 percent. Gold slipped, snapping three days of gains, as the U.S. dollar index strengthened. U.S. gold futures for June delivery settled down 60 cents at $1,314.10 an ounce. Reporting by Herbert Lash in New York; Editing by Dan Grebler and James Dalgleish Our

GLOBAL MARKETS-U.S. oil surges past $70, dollar hits fresh 2018 high

TORONTO, May 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ivanhoe Mines (TSX:IVN) (OTCQX:IVPAF) today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018. All figures are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated. Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company focused on advancing its three mine-development projects in Southern Africa: The Platreef platinum-palladium-nickel-copper-gold discovery in South Africa; the Kamoa-Kakula copper discovery in the Democratic Republic of Congo ( DRC ); and the extensive upgrading of the historic Kipushi zinc-copper-lead-germanium mine, also in the DRC . HIGHLIGHTS On March 9, 2018, DRC President Joseph Kabila Kabange signed a new mining code into effect that revises and updates the country’s 2002 mining code. The international mining companies that have operations in the DRC , including Glencore, Randgold, China Molybdenum, MMG , Ivanhoe Mines and Zijin Mining, collectively are negotiating with the DRC ’s national government to resolve corporate concerns about anticipated impacts on their DRC operations from changes in the new mining code. The DRC mining-code negotiations began in late March, following an initial, high-level meeting in Kinshasa on March 7 during which DRC President Kabila gave an assurance that the companies’ concerns would be resolved through transitional arrangements, mining regulations and respect for existing agreements and guarantees. The international companies have confirmed their willingness to negotiate royalties and changes to other taxes as part of this process. The companies expect that the negotiations will give priority to respecting the legislated guarantee of stability and protection of rights specified in Article 276 of the 2002 mining code, and other protections afforded under established mining conventions and bilateral agreements. Continuing strategic discussions concerning Ivanhoe Mines and its projects are ongoing with several significant mining companies and investors across Asia, Europe, Africa and elsewhere. Several investors that have expressed interest have no material limit on the provision of capital. On February 26, 2018, Ivanhoe announced results of an independently verified, updated Mineral Resource estimate showing that the ultra-high-grade Kakula Discovery alone now contains Indicated Mineral Resources of 174 million tonnes at 5.62% copper, at a 3% copper cut-off grade, and 585 million tonnes at 2.92% copper, at a 1% cut-off. The February 2018 Mineral Resource estimate boosted the combined Kamoa-Kakula Indicated Mineral Resources to 1.03 billion tonnes at 3.17% copper, containing approximately 72 billion pounds of copper, plus an additional 183 million tonnes of Inferred Mineral Resources at 2.31% copper, at a 1.5% cut-off. The new Mineral Resource estimate established the Kamoa-Kakula Project as the world’s fourth-largest copper discovery. Kamoa-Kakula’s copper grades are the highest, by a wide margin, of the world’s top 10 copper deposits. Kakula’s strike length now extends to more than 13 kilometres and remains open for significant expansion in multiple directions. A total of 13 rigs are continuing with resource expansion and delineation drilling at the project, as well as geotechnical, hydrological and metallurgical drilling. Geophysical surveys were conducted at the Kamoa-Kakula Project to help identify new, high-priority targets in the untested parts of the 400-square-kilometre mining licence. Ivanhoe’s DRC exploration team is continuing with its regional drilling program targeting Kamoa-Kakula-style copper mineralization on its 100%-owned exploration licences in the Western Foreland region, just to the west of the Kamoa-Kakula mining-licence area. The planned initial, six-million-tonne-per-annum (Mtpa) mine at Kakula is estimated to cost $1.2 billion; subsequent expansions and a smelter can be funded from cash flows or project financing. With the new, expanded February 2018 Mineral Resource estimate, Ivanhoe and its joint-venture partner, Zijin Mining, are exploring options to accelerate building of the first two mines at Kamoa-Kakula, and the potential for expanding production to 18 Mtpa and beyond. Underground development at the planned initial mine at Kakula is making steady progress and is expected to reach the high-grade copper mineralization later this year. The service and conveyor declines each have been advanced more than 460 metres through underground development work. In January 2018, Ivanhoe announced that ongoing upgrading work at the Mwadingusha hydropower plant in the DRC – the first of three existing, state-owned hydroelectric plants that Ivanhoe and Zijin Mining plan to modernize to supply power to Kamoa-Kakula – has increased power output to 32 megawatts ( MW ). Upgrading of the other two hydroelectric plants – Koni and Nzilo 1 – is expected to begin once Mwadingusha has been fully restored to its installed capacity of 71 MW . Kamoa-Kakula has been conducting project development activities with clean, hydroelectric power drawn from the national grid since late 2016. The Ivanhoe-sponsored Fionet program to improve malaria diagnostics and treatment was expanded in 2017 to 300 Deki Readers installed in 252 medical-service providers in Haut-Katanga and Lualaba provinces in southern DRC , which host Ivanhoe’s Kipushi and Kamoa-Kakula projects. Deki hand-held devices provide automated readings of rapid diagnostic tests to remove the human-error factor and avoid prescription of unnecessary medication. On December 13, 2017, Ivanhoe announced the findings of an independent, pre-feasibility study ( PFS ) for the redevelopment of the Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-lead-silver mine in the DRC . The PFS analyzed the plan to bring Kipushi’s Big Zinc Zone into production in less than two years, with a life-of-mine, average annual production rate of 225,000 tonnes of zinc and cash costs of $0.48 per pound of zinc. Based on the findings of an independent, pre-feasibility study ( PFS ) issued in December 2017, Kipushi is expected to have average annual production of 381,000 tonnes of zinc concentrate over an 11-year, initial mine life at a total cash cost of approximately $0.48 per pound of zinc. The PFS focuses on the initial mining of Kipushi’s Big Zinc orebody, which has an estimated 10.2 million tonnes of Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources grading 34.9% zinc. Ivanhoe has made significant progress in upgrading the mine’s underground infrastructure and the planned return to production would establish Kipushi as the world’s highest-grade, major zinc mine. At the Platreef platinum-palladium-nickel-copper-gold discovery in South Africa , sinking of Shaft 1 reached a depth of 750 metres below surface on April 23, 2018. Development of the second of four planned shaft stations – the 750-metre-level station – has begun. Shaft 1 is expected to reach the top of the Flatreef orebody, at a depth of approximately 783 metres, in the third quarter of this year. Sinking of the shaft will continue to a planned final depth of 980 metres. Surface construction for Platreef’s Shaft 2 is progressing. Blasting and excavation of a box cut to a depth of approximately 29 metres below surface is underway, and construction of a concrete hitch for the headframe is expected to be completed by the end of this year. On May 7, 2018, Ivanhoe announced the signing of an agreement to provide local, treated bulk water for the first phase of production at Platreef. The agreement is for the supply of a minimum of five million litres of treated water a day for 32 years, beginning in 2022, from the town of Mokopane’s new Masodi treatment plant. Platreef expects to begin receiving a small quantity of treated water this year, which will be used in ongoing underground mine development and surface infrastructure construction. Based on the findings of an independent, definitive feasibility study issued in July 2017, the Platreef Mine is projected to be Africa’s lowest-cost producer of platinum-group metals, with a cash cost of $351 per ounce of platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold (3PE+Au), net of by-products, including sustaining capital cost. Ivanhoe has appointed five leading mine-financing institutions as Initial Mandated Lead Arrangers to arrange debt financing for the Platreef Mine’s development. They are: KfW IPEX -Bank, a 100% subsidiary of the German promotional bank KfW; Swedish Export Credit Corporation; Export Development Canada; Nedbank Limited (acting through its Corporate and Investment Banking division); and Societe Generale Corporate & Investment Banking. Expressions of interest have been received for approximately $900 million of the targeted $1 billion project financing. On April 25, 2018, Ivanhoe issued its initial Sustainability Report. The report provides an overview of Ivanhoe’s sustainability programs and initiatives conducted in 2017, highlighting the significant accomplishments achieved and the new goals set for current and future corporate activities. At the end of Q1 2018, Platreef had recorded 562,000 work hours free of lost-time injuries, Kipushi 905,000 hours and Kamoa-Kakula more than 9.58 million hours. Principal projects and review of activities 1. Platreef Project 64%-owned by Ivanhoe Mines South Africa The Platreef Project is owned by Ivanplats (Pty) Ltd, which is 64%-owned by Ivanhoe Mines. A 26% interest is held by Ivanplats’ historically-disadvantaged, broad-based, black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) partners, which include 20 local host communities with a total of approximately 150,000 people, project employees and local entrepreneurs. In April 2018, Ivanplats reconfirmed its Level 3 status in its fourth verification assessment on a B-BBEE scorecard. A Japanese consortium of ITOCHU Corporation, Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation and Japan Gas Corporation owns a 10% interest in Ivanplats, which it acquired in two tranches for a total investment of $290 million. The Platreef Project hosts an underground deposit of thick, platinum-group metals, nickel, copper and gold mineralization on the Northern Limb of the Bushveld Igneous Complex in Limpopo Province, approximately 280 kilometres northeast of Johannesburg and eight kilometres from the town of Mokopane. On the Northern Limb, platinum-group metals mineralization is hosted primarily within the Platreef, a mineralized sequence that is traced more than 30 kilometres along strike. Ivanhoe’s Platreef Project, within the Platreef’s southern sector, is comprised of two contiguous properties: Turfspruit and Macalacaskop. Turfspruit, the northernmost property, is contiguous with, and along strike from, Anglo Platinum’s Mogalakwena group of mining operations and properties. Since 2007, Ivanhoe has focused its exploration and development activities on defining and advancing the down-dip extension of its original discovery at Platreef, now known as the Flatreef Deposit, which is amenable to highly mechanized, underground mining methods. The Flatreef area lies entirely on the Turfspruit and Macalacaskop properties, which form part of the company’s mining right. Health and safety at Platreef At the end of Q1 2018, the Platreef Project reached a total of 562,276 lost-time, injury-free hours worked in terms of South Africa’s Mine Health and Safety Act and Occupational Health and Safety Act. The Platreef Project continues to strive toward its workplace objective of an environment that causes zero harm to employees, contractors, sub-contractors and consultants. Positive independent, definitive feasibility study for Platreef’s first-phase development; Platreef projected to be Africa’s lowest-cost producer of platinum-group metals On July 31, 2017, Ivanhoe Mines announced the positive results of an independent, definitive feasibility study (DFS) for the planned first phase of the Platreef Project’s platinum-group metals, nickel, copper and gold mine in South Africa. The Platreef DFS covers the first phase of development that would include construction of a state-of-the-art underground mine, concentrator and other associated infrastructure to support initial production of concentrate by 2022. As Phase 1 is being developed and commissioned, there would be opportunities to refine the timing and scope of subsequent phases of expanded production. DFS highlights include: Indicated Mineral Resources containing an estimated 41.9 million ounces of platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold, with an additional 52.8 million ounces of platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold in Inferred Resources. Increased Mineral Reserves containing 17.6 million ounces of platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold, following stope optimization and mine sequencing work. Development of a large, safe, mechanized, underground mine, with an initial four-Mtpa concentrator and associated infrastructure. Planned initial average annual production rate of 476,000 ounces of platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold (3PE+Au), plus 21 million pounds of nickel and 13 million pounds of copper. Estimated pre-production capital requirement of approximately $1.5 billion, at a ZAR:USD exchange rate of 13 to 1. Platreef would rank at the bottom of the cash-cost curve, at an estimated $351 per ounce of 3PE+Au produced, net of by-products and including sustaining capital costs, and $326 per ounce before sustaining capital costs. After-tax net present value (NPV) of $916 million, at an 8% discount rate. After-tax internal rate of return (IRR) of 14.2%. The DFS was prepared for Ivanhoe Mines by principal consultant DRA Global, with economic analysis led by OreWin, and specialized sub-consultants including Amec Foster Wheeler E&C Services (Amec Foster Wheeler), Stantec Consulting, Murray & Roberts Cementation, SRK Consulting, Golder Associates and Digby Wells Environmental. Preliminary expressions of interest received for approximately $900 million of the targeted $1 billion Platreef project financing During 2017, Ivanhoe announced the appointment of five leading financial institutions to arrange project financing for the development of the Platreef Project. The five Initial Mandated Lead Arrangers (IMLAs) will make best efforts to arrange a total debt financing of up to $1 billion for the development of Platreef’s first-phase, four Mtpa mine. Preliminary expressions of interest have been received for approximately $900 million of the targeted $1 billion financing. Negotiation of a term sheet is ongoing. In addition, preliminary discussions have begun with leading financial institutions around the financing of the black economic empowerment partners’ contribution to the development capital. The IMLAs appointed Export Development Canada to direct the technical, environmental and social due diligence phase of the project. Chlumsky, Armbrust & Meyer and IBIS ESG South Africa Consulting were appointed as Independent Technical Consultant and Independent Social and Environmental Consultant, respectively. Shaft 1 has reached a depth of more than 750 metres below surface; development of first mine-access station now underway On April 23, 2018, Ivanhoe announced that Platreef’s Shaft 1 had reached a depth of 750 metres below surface and lateral development of the first mine-access station now is underway. The station on Shaft 1’s 750-metre level will provide initial, underground access to the high-grade orebody, enabling mine development to proceed during the construction of Shaft 2, which will become the mine’s main production shaft. The mining zones in the current Platreef Mine plan occur at depths ranging from approximately 700 metres to 1,200 metres below surface. The 750-metre-level station also will allow access for the first raise-bore shaft that will provide ventilation to the underground workings during the mine’s ramp-up phase. Sinking of Shaft 1 will resume after the station is completed. The shaft is expected to intersect the upper contact of the Flatreef Deposit (T1 mineralized zone) at an approximate shaft depth of 783 metres. As shaft sinking advances, two additional shaft stations will be developed at mine-working depths of 850 metres and 950 metres. Shaft 1 is expected to reach its projected, final depth of 980 metres below surface in 2019. Shaft 1, with an internal diameter of 7.25 metres, will provide access to the Flatreef Deposit and enable the initial, underground development to take place during the development of Shaft 2. Ultimately, Shaft 1 will become the primary ventilation intake shaft during the project’s four-Mtpa production case. Shaft 2 early-works construction progressing Shaft 2, to be located approximately 100 metres northeast of Shaft 1, will have an internal diameter of 10 metres, will be lined with concrete and sunk to a planned, final depth of more than 1,104 metres below surface. It will be equipped with two, 40-tonne, rock-hoisting skips capable of hoisting a total of six million tonnes of ore a year – the single largest hoisting capacity at any mine in Africa. The headgear for the permanent hoisting facility was designed by South Africa-based Murray & Roberts Cementation. The first three blasts for Shaft 2’s box cut were successfully completed in April; three additional blasts are planned. The blasting will enable the excavation of the box cut to a depth of approximately 29 metres below surface and the construction of the concrete hitch (foundation) for the 103-metre-tall concrete headgear (headframe) that will house the shaft’s permanent hoisting facilities and support the shaft collar. Excavation of the box cut and construction of the tower hitch foundation is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Underground mining to incorporate highly productive, mechanized methods Ivanhoe plans to develop the Platreef Mine in phases. The initial annual production rate of four million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) is designed to establish an operating platform to support future expansions. This is expected to be followed by a potential doubling of production to eight Mtpa, and then a third expansion phase to a steady-state 12 Mtpa, which would establish Platreef among the largest platinum-group-metals mines in the world. The mining zones in the current Platreef mine plan occur at depths ranging from approximately 700 metres to 1,200 metres below surface. Primary access to the mining zones will be by way of Shaft 2; secondary access will be via Shaft 1. During mine production, both shafts also will serve as ventilation intakes. Three additional ventilation exhaust raises are planned to achieve steady-state production. Planned mining methods will use highly productive, mechanized methods, including long-hole stoping and drift-and-fill. Each method will utilize cemented backfill for maximum ore extraction. The ore will be hauled from the stopes to a series of internal ore passes and fed to the bottom of Shaft 2, where it will be crushed and hoisted to surface. The current mine plan has been improved beyond the earlier projections in the 2015 PFS mine plan by optimizing stope design, employing a declining Net Smelter Return (NSR) strategy and targeting higher-grade zones early in the mine’s life. This strategy has increased the grade profile by 23% on a 3PE+Au basis in the first 10 years of operation and by 10% during the life of the mine. Long-term bulk water supply secured for the Platreef Mine On May 7, 2018, Ivanhoe announced the signing of a new agreement to provide local, treated water to supply most of the bulk water needed for the first phase of production at Platreef. The Mogalakwena Local Municipality has agreed to supply a minimum of five million litres of treated water a day for 32 years, beginning in 2022, from the town of Mokopane’s new Masodi Treatment Works. Ivanplats expects to begin receiving a small quantity of processed wastewater this year, after the Masodi plant has been commissioned. The initial supply will be used in Platreef’s ongoing underground mine development and surface infrastructure construction. Under terms of the agreement, which is subject to certain suspensive conditions, Ivanplats will provide financial assistance to the municipality for certified costs of up to a maximum of R248 million (approximately $19.6 million) to complete the Masodi treatment plant. Ivanplats will purchase the treated wastewater at a reduced rate of R5 per thousand litres for the first 10 million litres/day to offset a portion of the initial capital contributed. Development of human resources and job skills Work progressed on the implementation of Ivanhoe’s Social and Labour Plan (SLP). The company has pledged a total of R160 million ($13 million) during the first five years, culminating in November 2019. The approved plan includes R67 million ($6 million) for the development of job skills among local residents and R88 million ($7 million) for local economic development projects. 2. Kipushi Project 68%-owned by Ivanhoe Mines Democratic Republic of Congo The Kipushi copper-zinc-germanium-lead mine, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is adjacent to the town of Kipushi and approximately 30 kilometres southwest of Lubumbashi. It is located on the Central African Copperbelt, approximately 250 kilometres southeast of the Kamoa-Kakula Project and less than one kilometre from the Zambian border. Ivanhoe acquired its 68% interest in the Kipushi Project in November 2011; the balance of 32% is held by the state-owned mining company, La Générale des Carrières et des Mines (Gécamines). Health, safety and community development At the end of Q1 2018, the Kipushi Project had achieved a total 905,347 work hours free of lost-time injuries. In an effort to reduce the incidence of malaria in the Kipushi community, a Water Sanitation and Health (WASH) program has been initiated in cooperation with the Territorial Administrator and the local community. The main emphasis of the program’s first phase is cleaning storm drains in the municipality to prevent accumulations of ponded water, where malarial mosquitos breed. The Kipushi Project also operates a potable-water station to supply the municipality with water. This includes power supply, disinfectant chemicals, routine maintenance, security and emergency repair of leaks to the primary reticulation. A new overhead powerline to the pump station recently was installed and commisioned. The Ivanhoe-sponsored Fionet program to improve malaria diagnostics and treatment was expanded in 2017, with a total of 300 Deki Readers installed in 252 medical-service providers in Haut-Katanga and Lualaba provinces in southern DRC, which host Ivanhoe’s Kipushi and Kamoa-Kakula projects. Deki devices provide automated readings of rapid, diagnostic tests to remove the human-error factor and avoid prescription of unnecessary medication. The data are uploaded to a cloud server for analysis by the Ministry of Health in planning malaria-control measures. Deki Readers provided diagnostic testing in more than 30,000 patient encounters during 2017, with approximately 63% of patients testing negative for malaria. Underground drilling program completed in November 2017; updated Mineral Resource estimate expected in Q2 2018 Ivanhoe initiated a second phase of underground drilling at Kipushi in April 2017 with the goal of upgrading Inferred Mineral Resources on the Southern Zinc and Fault zones to Indicated, expanding Mineral Resources in the Série Recurrent Zone and collecting additional sample material for metallurgical flotation testing. The drilling program was completed in November 2017, with a total of 9,706 metres drilled in 58 holes. Eight holes were drilled for metallurgy, 31 holes in the Southern Zinc and Big Zinc, five holes in the Nord Riche and 14 holes in the Série Récurrente. Logging and sampling of the holes was completed at the end of 2017 and the final assays have been received. Geological interpretation of the results is ongoing and a new resource update is planned for release in Q2 2018. The updated Mineral Resource will be used in the preparation of the Kipushi Feasibility Study. Project development and infrastructure Ivanhoe completed the upgrading of a significant amount of underground infrastructure at the Kipushi Project, including a series of vertical mine shafts to various depths, with associated head frames, as well as underground mine excavations. A series of crosscuts and ventilation infrastructure still are in working condition. The underground infrastructure also includes a series of pumps to manage the influx of water into the mine. Shaft 5, the main production shaft for the Kipushi Mine, is eight metres in diameter and 1,240 metres deep. It now has been upgraded and re-commissioned. The main personnel and material winder has been upgraded and modernized to meet international industry standards and safety criteria. The Shaft 5 rock-hoisting winder now is fully operational. Underground upgrading work is continuing on the crusher and the rock load-out facilities at the bottom of Shaft 5 and on the main haulage way on the 1,150-metre level, between the Big Zinc access decline and Shaft 5. Pre-feasibility study for Kipushi completed in December 2017; definitive feasibility study underway On December 13, 2017, Ivanhoe Mines announced the results of a pre-feasibility study for the rebirth of the historic Kipushi Mine. The study anticipates annual production of an average of 381,000 tonnes of zinc concentrate over an 11-year, initial mine life at a total cash cost of approximately $0.48 per pound of zinc. Highlights of the PFS, based on a long-term zinc price of $1.10 per pound, include: After-tax net present value (NPV) at an 8% real discount rate of $683 million. After-tax real internal rate of return (IRR) of 35.3%. After-tax project payback period of 2.2 years. Pre-production capital costs, including contingency, estimated at $337 million. Existing surface and underground infrastructure allows for significantly lower capital costs than comparable greenfield development projects. Life-of-mine average planned zinc concentrate production of 381,000 dry tonnes per annum, with a concentrate grade of 59% zinc, is expected to rank Kipushi, once in production, among the world’s largest zinc mines. Estimated life-of-mine average cash cost of $0.48 per pound of zinc is expected to rank Kipushi, once in production, in the bottom quartile of the cash-cost curve for zinc producers internationally. The definitive feasibility study, to further refine and optimize the project’s economics, is underway and is expected to be completed in the second half of 2018. Agreement to rebuild railway spur line to support the Kipushi Project On October 30, 2017, Ivanhoe Mines and the DRC’s state-owned railway company, Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer du Congo (SNCC), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to rebuild 34 kilometres of track to connect the Kipushi Mine with the DRC national railway at Munama, south of the mining capital of Lubumbashi. Under the terms of the MOU, Ivanhoe has appointed R&H Rail to conduct a front-end engineering design study to assess the scope and cost of rebuilding the spur line from the Kipushi Mine to the main Lubumbashi-Sakania railway at Munama. The study is underway and construction on the Kipushi-Munama spur line could start later this year. Ivanhoe will finance the estimated $32 million (plus contingency) capital cost for the rebuilding, which is included within the overall Kipushi 2017 PFS capital cost. The proposed export route is to utilize the SNCC network from Kipushi to Ndola, connecting to the north-south rail corridor from Ndola to Durban. The rail corridor to Durban via Zimbabwe is fully operational and has significant excess capacity. 3. Kamoa-Kakula Copper Project 39.6%-owned by Ivanhoe Mines Democratic Republic of Congo The Kamoa-Kakula Copper Project, a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines and Zijin Mining, has been independently ranked as the largest copper discovery ever made on the African continent, with adjacent prospective exploration areas within the Central African Copperbelt in the Democratic Republic of Congo, approximately 25 kilometres west of the town of Kolwezi and about 270 kilometres west of Lubumbashi. Ivanhoe sold a 49.5% share interest in Kamoa Holding to Zijin Mining in December 2015 for an aggregate consideration of $412 million. In addition, Ivanhoe sold a 1% share interest in Kamoa Holding to privately-owned Crystal River for $8.32 million – which Crystal River will pay through a non-interest-bearing, 10-year promissory note. Since the conclusion of the Zijin transaction in December 2015, each shareholder has been required to fund expenditures at the Kamoa-Kakula Project in an amount equivalent to its proportionate shareholding interest in Kamoa Holding. A 5%, non-dilutable interest in the Kamoa-Kakula Project was transferred to the DRC government on September 11, 2012, for no consideration, pursuant to the 2002 DRC mining code. Following the signing of an agreement with the DRC government in November 2016, in which an additional 15% interest in the Kamoa-Kakula Project was transferred to the DRC government, Ivanhoe and Zijin Mining now each hold an indirect, 39.6% interest in the Kamoa-Kakula Project, Crystal River holds an indirect 0.8% interest and the DRC government holds a direct 20% interest. Kamoa Holding holds an 80% interest in the project. Kamoa-Kakula surpasses nine million hours worked without a lost-time injury Health and safety remain key priorities for all people working at the Kamoa-Kakula Project, which had achieved 9,588,390 lost-time, injury-free hours worked to the end of Q1 2018. This outstanding achievement reflects the dedication and safety-focused culture of the entire Kamoa-Kakula exploration and development teams. Updated Mineral Resource estimate announced in February 2018 establishes Kamoa-Kakula as world’s fourth-largest copper deposit On February 26, 2018, Ivanhoe issued an updated Mineral Resource estimate for the Kamoa-Kakula Project. The updated estimate included an update to the Kakula Mineral Resource estimate and was prepared by Ivanhoe Mines under the direction of Amec Foster Wheeler E&C Services Inc., of Reno, USA, in accordance with the 2014 CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. The Qualified Persons for the Kamoa-Kakula Mineral Resource estimate are Dr. Harry Parker, RM, SME and Gordon Seibel, RM, SME, both of Amec Foster Wheeler E&C Services Inc. The combined Kamoa-Kakula Project’s Indicated Mineral Resources now total 1,340 million tonnes grading 2.72% copper, containing 80.7 billion pounds of copper at a 1.0% copper cut-off grade and a minimum thickness of three metres. Kamoa-Kakula also now has Inferred Mineral Resources of 315 million tonnes grading 1.87% copper and containing 13.0 billion pounds of copper, also at a 1.0% copper cut-off grade and a minimum thickness of three metres. The new Kakula estimate covers a mineralized strike length of 13.3 kilometres. For the first time, the updated estimate incorporates Mineral Resources contained in the Kakula West Discovery area and the saddle area between the main Kakula Discovery area and Kakula West. The updated Mineral Resource estimate is based on results from approximately 151,000 metres of drilling in 271 holes completed by December 31, 2017. Kakula’s Indicated Mineral Resources now total 585 million tonnes at a grade of 2.92% copper, containing 37.7 billion pounds of copper at a 1% copper cut-off. At a 2% copper cut-off, Indicated Mineral Resources total 330 million tonnes at a 4.07% copper grade, containing 29.6 billion pounds of copper. At a 3% copper cut-off, Indicated Mineral Resources total 174 million tonnes at a grade of 5.62% copper, containing 21.5 billion pounds of copper. Inferred Mineral Resources total 113 million tonnes at a grade of 1.90% copper, containing 4.7 billion pounds of copper at a 1% copper cut-off. At a 2% copper cut-off, Inferred Mineral Resources total 44 million tonnes at a 2.59% copper grade, containing 2.5 billion pounds of copper. At a 3% copper cut-off, Inferred Mineral Resources total nine million tonnes at a grade of 3.66% copper, containing 0.7 billion pounds of copper. The average true thickness of the selective mineralized zone (SMZ) at a 1% copper cut-off is 10.1 metres in the Indicated Mineral Resources area and 6.7 metres in the Inferred Mineral Resources area. At a higher 3% copper cut-off, the average true thickness of the SMZ is 4.7 metres in the Indicated Mineral Resources area and 3.3 metres in the Inferred Mineral Resources area. The Kakula Mineral Resources are defined within a total area of 24.9 square kilometres at a 1% copper cut-off. At the same cut-off grade, the areal extent of Indicated Mineral Resources is 19.4 square kilometres and the areal extent of the Inferred Mineral Resources is 5.5 square kilometres. The Kakula Discovery remains open for significant expansion in multiple directions, while the remainder of the southern parts of the Kamoa-Kakula mining-licence area is virtually untested. Kamoa-Kakula 2017 PEA and PFS present three initial development scenarios On November 28, 2017, Ivanhoe Mines announced positive findings of an expanded, independent, preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for the development of the Kakula Discovery at the Kamoa-Kakula Project. Highlights of the three development scenarios examined include: Initial mine development scenario of a six-Mtpa underground mine and surface processing complex at Kakula: For this option, the PEA envisaged an average annual production rate of 246,000 tonnes of copper at a mine-site cash cost of $0.45 per pound of copper and total cash cost of $1.08 per pound of copper for the first five years of operations, and copper annual production of up to 385,000 tonnes by year four. An initial capital cost of $1.2 billion for this option would result in an after-tax net present value at an 8% discount rate (NPV8%) of $4.2 billion. The internal rate of return of 36.2% and project payback period of 3.1 years confirm the compelling economics for Kamoa-Kakula’s initial phase of production. Kakula would benefit from an ultra-high, average feed grade of 6.4% copper during the first 10 years of operations, and 5.5% copper on average during a 24-year mine life. A six-Mtpa Kakula pre-feasibility study (PFS) is underway, with completion targeted for the second half of 2018. Kakula’s surface box cut was completed in October 2017. Development of twin underground declines, similar to those at the nearby Kansoko Mine, has begun and is expected to take about a year to complete. The first blast for the declines was completed in November 2017. Expanded, two-mine scenario for an integrated, 12-Mtpa, two-stage development, beginning with initial production from Kakula, to be followed by a subsequent, separate underground mining operation at nearby Kansoko, along with the construction of a smelter: Under this option, initial production would occur at a rate of six-Mtpa from the Kakula Mine, before increasing to 12-Mtpa with ore from the Kansoko Mine. As resources at Kakula and Kansoko are mined, the PEA envisages that production would begin at Kamoa North to maintain 12-Mtpa throughput during a 44-year mine life. For the two-phase, sequential operation, the PEA envisaged $1.2 billion in initial capital costs. Future expansion at the Kansoko Mine and subsequent extensions could be funded by cash flows from the Kakula Mine, resulting in an after-tax, net present value at an 8% discount rate (NPV8%) of $7.2 billion and an internal rate of return of 33%. Under this approach, the PEA also included the construction of a direct-to-blister, flash-copper smelter with an annual capacity of 690,000 tonnes of copper concentrate to be funded from internal cash flows. This would be completed in the fifth year of operations, achieving significant savings in treatment charges and transportation costs. The 12-Mtpa scenario would deliver average annual production of 370,000 tonnes of copper at a total cash cost of $1.02 per pound of copper during the first 10 years of operations and production of 542,000 tonnes by year nine. At this future production rate, Kamoa-Kakula would rank among the world’s five largest copper mines. Kamoa 2017 pre-feasibility study ( PFS ) development scenario of building the Kansoko Mine as a stand-alone, six-Mtpa underground mine and surface processing complex: Under this scenario, the PFS envisages an average annual production rate of 178,000 tonnes of copper for the first 10 years of operations, and annual copper production of 245,000 tonnes by year seven. The initial capital cost of $1.0 billion to develop this mine would result in an after-tax, net present value of $2.1 billion at an 8% discount rate (NPV8%) – an increase of 109% compared to the net present value projected in the March 2016 Kamoa PFS. The internal rate of return is expected to be 24%, with a five-year project payback period. Potential phased mine developments to 18-Mtpa and above are under evaluation for Kamoa-Kakula. In light of the successful, step-out drilling at Kakula West, as well as the potential to find additional resources in high-priority targets located in the untested parts of the Kamoa-Kakula Project, development plans will be reassessed and amended as the project moves forward. The Kakula six-Mtpa PFS has begun. The work will be based on an updated Kakula 3-D resource model. The target date for completion is at the end of Q3 2018. Underground development at the Kakula Deposit progressing At the end of Q1 2018, each of the twin declines at Kakula had been advanced more than 360 metres from the portal face toward the mineralized zone. Detailed engineering and design activities to allow equipping of the decline already are at an advanced stage to enable early procurement of conveyors, drives and ancillary equipment to ensure the conveyor decline is fully functional once the high-grade mineralized zone has been intersected. The 3,535-metre decline development contract is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2018. Underground development at the Kansoko Deposit reached the high-grade mineralization in mid-2017; awaiting finalization of Kamoa-Kakula development plans Underground development at Kamoa-Kakula’s Kansoko Mine, consisting of service and conveyor declines, was completed by Byrnecut Underground Congo SARL in September 2017. The high-grade Kansoko Sud copper mineralization was reached and approximately 13,500 tonnes of development ore was stockpiled at surface. Various development options for Kansoko are being assessed in conjunction with the ongoing mine development activities at Kakula. Exploration activities focused on development programs at Kakula and Kakula West Thirteen rigs are drilling at Kakula and surrounding areas. As of the end of Q1 2018, a total of 18,293 metres had been drilled for the year to date. Drilling to delineate an expanded Indicated resource to include Kakula West was completed early in the quarter. Further drilling was directed to infill, step-out and to inform metallurgical, hydrogeological and civil geotechnical studies. Regional geophysical surveys A seismic survey began early in February to acquire data on a series of seismic lines planned across the Kamoa and Kakula deposit areas. A total of 74 kilometres of lines were surveyed, including a 10-kilometre line done at variable spacing to test near-surface reflectors. The survey was demobilized at the end of the March as the remaining lines were on water-logged grasslands, which are expected to be suitable for work to resume in May. Interpretation of the initial lines appears promising. Ongoing upgrading work enables Mwadingusha power station to supply 32 megawatts of clean electricity to national grid In January of this year, Ivanhoe announced that ongoing upgrading work at the Mwadingusha hydropower plant in the DRC had almost tripled the plant’s interim power output from 11 to 32 megawatts (MW). This represents 45% of the plant’s designed capacity. Three of Mwadingusha’s six generators now have been modernized; the remaining three generators are due to be upgraded and fully operational by the end of 2019 – restoring the plant to its installed output capacity of approximately 71 MW of power. The work at Mwadingusha, part of a program to eventually overhaul and boost output from three hydropower plants, is being conducted by engineering firm Stucky, of Lausanne, Switzerland, under the direction of Ivanhoe Mines and its joint-venture partner, Zijin Mining Group, in conjunction with the DRC’s state-owned power company, La Société Nationale d’Electricité (SNEL). Once fully reconditioned, the three plants will have combined installed capacity of approximately 200 MW of electricity for the national grid, which is expected to be more than sufficient for the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Project. The Kansoko Mine, Kakula Mine and Kamoa camp have been connected to the national, hydroelectric power grid, since the completion of a 12-kilometre, 120kV, dual-circuit power line between Kansoko and Kakula last December. Continued focus on community and sustainability The Kamoa-Kakula Sustainable Livelihoods program is committed to sustainable development in the communities within the project’s footprint. The main objective of the Livelihoods program is to enhance food security and the living standards of the people who reside within the project’s footprint. The program is mainly implemented through fish farming and agriculture activities, such as maize, vegetable, poultry production, and beekeeping. Activities for Q1 2018 included the application of fertilizers to community maize fields, milling of maize-mealie meal for distribution to workers, construction of a community fish pond in the Tshimbuji area near Kakula, planting of citrus fruits and vegetables at the Livelihoods demonstration gardens, training communities in vegetable and poultry production, preparation of land for banana production, planting of pineapples, and servicing of the maize milling plant. Ongoing detailed discussions to resolve issues arising from DRC ’s 2018 mining code On March 9, 2018, DRC President Joseph Kabila Kabange signed a new mining code into effect that revises and updates the country’s 2002 mining code. International mining companies that have operations in the DRC, including Randgold Resources, Glencore, Ivanhoe Mines, Gold Mountain International/Zijin Mining Group, MMG, Crystal River Global, China Molybdenum Co. and AngloGold Ashanti, are collectively negotiating with the government to resolve their concerns about impacts on their DRC operations that would result from the new mining code. The industry group submitted a formal proposal to the DRC’s Ministry of Mines on March 29 to address concerns about the new code, notably the stability clauses embodied in the previous code, which included taxation, customs and exchange control. The industry’s proposal included a provision for a sliding scale on royalties for copper, cobalt and gold that, in the industry’s view, would be a more effective mechanism for the government to share in higher commodity prices than the windfall tax on strategic minerals envisaged in the new mining code. While the Ministry of Mines has not yet formally responded to the industry’s proposal, there has been constructive engagement through the working groups set up to draft the regulations to implement the law, and with the all-important Civil Society leadership, along with other industry and government counterparts. The mining industry group believes a way forward could be found that would be in the best interests of all parties. A mutually acceptable solution would support and encourage the substantial investments the DRC requires for the optimal development of its mineral resources and the growth of its economy. DRC Western Foreland exploration project Ivanhoe’s DRC exploration group is targeting Kamoa-Kakula-style copper mineralization through a regional drilling program on its 100%-owned Western Foreland exploration licences, located to the west of the Kakula-Kamoa Project. Ivanhoe successfully continued exploration through the rainy season during Q1 2018 from its new, standalone exploration camp. Drilling focused on one of the company's promising targets utilizing the new, all-weather road that connects the Kamoa-Kakula road network to the Western Foreland exploration licences. Swampy ground conditions and limited access west of the Lufupa River restricted the areas available for drill testing. Assessment of regional data continued during the quarter to identify priority exploration targets for dry-season drilling programs during Q2 and Q3. High-grade copper trends emanating from Kamoa are expected to be targeted on the licences north and northwest of Kamoa Nord, in addition to a number of targets resulting from the recent gravity survey on the licences west of Kamoa. Target areas identified from the airborne gravity survey are to be initially followed up with detailed ground-based geophysics. During Q1 2018, Ivanhoe's exploration team completed 6,180 metres in 14 holes of drilling and finalized detailed interpretation of the Makoko high-grade zone. Acquisition of 11 kilometres of 2-D seismic data was completed on the licences west of Kakula; processing is in progress. Selected quarterly financial information The following table summarizes selected financial information for the prior eight quarters. Ivanhoe had no operating revenue in any financial reporting period and did not declare or pay any dividend or distribution in any financial reporting period. The table corresponding to this section can be viewed in this attachment: http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/99ad8c26-50cf-4a5f-9cab-cf932501ca1f Discussion of results of operations Review of the three months ended March 31 , 2018 vs. March 31, 2017 The company recorded a total comprehensive profit of $3.9 million for Q1 2018 compared to a total comprehensive loss of $5.0 million for the same period in 2017. The profit mainly was due to a $5.7 million increase in exchange gains on translation of foreign operations, as well as a $6.9 million decrease in exploration and project expenditure. Exploration and project expenditures for the three months ending March 31, 2018, amounted to $1.4 million and were $6.9 million less than for the same period in 2017 ($8.3 million). The decrease is attributable to the capitalization of costs incurred at the Kipushi Project subsequent to the finalization of its pre-feasibility study in December 2017. With the focus at the Kipushi and Platreef projects being on development and the Kamoa-Kakula Project being accounted for as a joint venture, the total $1.4 million exploration and project expenditure in Q1 2018 related to exploration at Ivanhoe’s 100%-owned Western Foreland exploration licences. In Q1 2017, $8.2 million of the total $8.3 million exploration and project expenditure related to the Kipushi Project. The company’s share of losses from the Kamoa Holding joint venture increased from $5.5 million in Q1 2017 to $7.2 million in Q1 2018. The following table summarizes the company’s share of the comprehensive loss of Kamoa Holding for the three months ending March 31, 2018 and for the same period in 2017: The table corresponding to this section can be viewed in this attachment: http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/99ad8c26-50cf-4a5f-9cab-cf932501ca1f The costs associated with mine development are capitalized as development costs in Kamoa Holding, while the exploration expenditure is expensed. Capitalization of costs at Kakula commenced during Q2 2017, coinciding with the start of the Kakula box cut. Exploration drilling at Kakula West and in the saddle area between Kakula West and Kakula still is expensed. The interest expense in the Kamoa Holding joint venture relates to shareholder loans where each shareholder is required to fund Kamoa Holding in an amount equivalent to its proportionate shareholding interest. The company is advancing Crystal River’s portion on its behalf in return for an increase in the promissory note due to Ivanhoe. Finance income for the three months ending March 31, 2018, amounted to $10.4 million, and was $4.0 million more than for the same period in 2017 ($6.4 million). The increase mainly was due to interest earned on loans to the Kamoa Holding joint venture to fund operations that amounted to $8.7 million in 2018, as the accumulated loan balance increased. Financial position as at March 31 , 2018 vs. December 31 , 201 7 The company’s total assets decreased by $1.6 million, from $1,271.3 million as at December 31, 2017, to $1,269.7 million as at March 31, 2018. The company utilized $10.5 million of its cash resources in its operations and received interest of $1.1 million during Q1 2018. The company’s investment in the Kamoa Holding joint venture increased by $12.7 million from $552.4 million as at December 31, 2017, to $565.1 million as at March 31, 2018, with each of the current shareholders funding the operations equivalent to their proportionate shareholding interest. The company’s portion of the Kamoa Holding joint venture cash calls amounted to $11.2 million during the three months ending March 31, 2018, while the company’s share of comprehensive loss from the joint venture amounted to $7.2 million. Property, plant and equipment increased by $34.8 million, with a total of $27.2 million being spent on project development and to acquire other property, plant and equipment, $12.3 million and $14.4 million pertained to development costs and other acquisitions to property, plant and equipment of the Platreef Project and Kipushi Project respectively. The main components of the additions to property, plant and equipment of the Platreef and Kipushi projects for the three months ending March 31, 2018, and for the same period in 2017, are set out in the following table: The table corresponding to this section can be viewed in this attachment: http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/99ad8c26-50cf-4a5f-9cab-cf932501ca1f Liquidity and capital resources The company had $134.6 million in cash and cash equivalents as at March 31, 2018. At this date, the company had consolidated working capital of approximately $138.0 million, compared to $181.9 million at December 31, 2017. The Platreef Project’s restricted cash has been fully utilized and the project’s current expenditure is being funded solely by Ivanhoe as the Japanese consortium of ITOCHU Corporation, Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation and Japan Gas Corporation have elected not to contribute to current expenditures. Since the Platreef Project’s restricted cash was fully utilized, the company has contributed a total of $6.7 million on behalf of the Japanese consortium. Since December 8, 2015, each shareholder in Kamoa Holding has been required to fund Kamoa Holding in an amount equivalent to its proportionate shareholding interest. The company is advancing Crystal River’s portion on its behalf in return for an increase in the promissory note due to Ivanhoe. The company’s main objectives for 2018 at the Platreef Project are the continuation of Shaft 1 construction, securing a bulk-water supply and completion of early-works construction of Shaft 2. At Kipushi, the principal objective is the completion of the feasibility study and continued upgrading of mining infrastructure. At the Kamoa-Kakula Project, priorities are the continuation of decline construction at Kakula and the completion of a pre-feasibility study for Kakula. The company has budgeted to spend $52 million on further development at the Platreef Project; $48 million at the Kipushi Project; $10 million on regional exploration in the DRC; and $14 million on corporate overheads for the remainder of 2018 – as well as its proportionate funding of the Kamoa-Kakula Project, expected to be $42 million for the remainder of 2018. Of the budgeted amounts, an aggregate of $55 million, which excludes the company’s proportionate funding of the Kamoa-Kakula Project, is committed expenditure with the balance either discretionary or not contractually committed at March 31, 2018. Continuation of the company as a going concern is dependent upon establishing profitable operations, the confirmation of economically recoverable reserves, and the ability of the company to obtain further financing to develop its projects. Although the company has been successful in raising funds in the past, the company’s access to financing always is uncertain and there can be no assurance that additional funding will be available to the company in the near future. Continuing strategic discussions concerning Ivanhoe Mines and its projects are ongoing with several significant mining companies and investors across Asia, Europe, Africa and elsewhere. Several investors that have expressed interest have no material limit on the provision of capital. There can be no assurance that the company will pursue any transaction or that a transaction, if pursued, will be completed. This news release should be read in conjunction with Ivanhoe Mines’ Q1 2018 Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis report available at www.ivanhoemines.com and at www.sedar.com . Qualified person Disclosures of a scientific or technical nature in this news release have been reviewed and approved by Stephen Torr, who is considered, by virtue of his education, experience and professional association, a Qualified Person under the terms of NI 43-101. Mr. Torr is not considered independent under NI 43-101 as he is the Vice President, Project Geology and Evaluation. Mr. Torr has verified the technical data disclosed in this news release. Ivanhoe has prepared a current, independent, NI 43-101-compliant technical report for each of the Platreef Project, the Kipushi Project and the Kamoa-Kakula Project, which are available under the company’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com : The Kamoa-Kakula 2017 Development Plan dated January 10, 2018, prepared by OreWin, Amec Foster Wheeler E&C Services and Amec Foster Wheeler Australia (collectively Amec Foster Wheeler), MDM (Technical) Africa, Stantec Consulting International and SRK Consulting (South Africa), covering the company’s Kamoa-Kakula Project; The Platreef 2017 Feasibility Study Technical Report dated September 4, 2017, prepared by DRA Global, OreWin, Amec Foster Wheeler, Stantec Consulting, Murray & Roberts Cementation, SRK Consulting, Golder Associates and Digby Wells Environmental, covering the company’s Platreef Project; and The Kipushi 2017 Prefeasibility Study Technical Report dated January 25, 2018, prepared by OreWin, The MSA Group, SRK Consulting (South Africa) and MDM (Technical) Africa, covering the company’s Kipushi Project. These technical reports include relevant information regarding the effective dates and the assumptions, parameters and methods of the mineral resource estimates on the Platreef Project, the Kipushi Project and the Kamoa-Kakula Project cited in this news release, as well as information regarding data verification, exploration procedures and other matters relevant to the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this news release in respect of the Platreef Project, Kipushi Project and Kamoa-Kakula Project. Information contacts Investors North America: Bob Williamson +1.604.512.4856 Bill Trenaman +1.604.331.9834 South Africa: Jeremy Michaels +27.82.772.1122 Media Website www.ivanhoemines.com Forward-looking statements Certain statements in this news release constitute “ ” or “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may”, “would”, “could”, “will”, “intend”, “expect”, “believe”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “scheduled”, “forecast”, “predict” and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the company’s current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this release. Such statements include without limitation, the timing and results of: (i) statements regarding Shaft 1 providing initial access for early underground development at the Flatreef Deposit; (ii) statements regarding the station development of Shaft 1 at the 750-, 850- and 950-metre levels; (iii) statements regarding Shaft 1 expected to intersect the upper contact of the Flatreef Deposit (T1 mineralized zone) at an approximate shaft depth of 783 metres; (iv) statements regarding Shaft 1 reaching the planned, final depth at 980 metres below surface in 2019; (v) statements regarding the timing of Shaft 2 development, including that excavation of the box cut and construction of the tower hitch foundation be completed by the end of the year and that Shaft 2 will be sunk to a final depth of more than 1,100 metres; (vi) statements regarding the operational and technical capacity of Shaft 1; (vii) statements regarding the internal diameter and hoisting capacity of Shaft 2; (viii) statements regarding the company’s plans to develop the Platreef Mine in three phases: an initial annual rate of four million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) to establish an operating platform to support future expansions; followed by a doubling of production to eight Mtpa; and then a third expansion phase to a steady-state 12 Mtpa; (ix) statements regarding the planned underground mining methods of the Platreef Project including long-hole stoping and drift-and-fill mining; (x) statements regarding supply of treated water from the town of Mokopane’s new Masodi treatment plant; (xi) statements regarding the timing of the study and construction on the Kipushi-Munama spur line; (xii) statements regarding the timing and completion of a pre-feasibility study for a six Mtpa mine at Kakula; (xiii) statements regarding the timing, size and objectives of drilling and other exploration programs for 2018 and future periods; (xiv) statements regarding exploration on the Western Foreland exploration licenses; (xv) statements regarding completion of the twin declines at Kakula scheduled for completion of the contract by the end of 2018; (xvi) statements regarding the timing of an update to the Kipushi Mineral Resource estimate in Q2 2018; (xvii) statements regarding the timing and completion of a definitive feasibility study at the Kipushi Project in the second half of 2018; and (xviii) statements regarding expected expenditure for 2018 of $52 million on further development at the Platreef Project; $48 million at the Kipushi Project; $10 million on regional exploration in the DRC; and $14 million on corporate overheads for the remainder of 2018 – as well as its proportionate funding of the Kamoa-Kakula Project, expected to be $42 million for the remainder of 2018. As well, all of the results of the pre-feasibility study of the Kamoa-Kakula Project and preliminary economic assessment of development options for the Kakula deposit, the feasibility study of the Platreef Project and the pre-feasibility study of the Kipushi Project, constitute or information, and include future estimates of internal rates of return, net present value, future production, estimates of cash cost, proposed mining plans and methods, mine life estimates, cash flow forecasts, metal recoveries, estimates of capital and operating costs and the size and timing of phased development of the projects. Furthermore, with respect to this specific forward-looking information concerning the development of the Kamoa-Kakula, Platreef and Kipushi Projects, the Company has based its assumptions and analysis on certain factors that are inherently uncertain. Uncertainties include: (i) the adequacy of infrastructure; (ii) geological characteristics; (iii) metallurgical characteristics of the mineralization; (iv) the ability to develop adequate processing capacity; (v) the price of copper, nickel, zinc, platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold; (vi) the availability of equipment and facilities necessary to complete development; (vii) the cost of consumables and mining and processing equipment; (viii) unforeseen technological and engineering problems; (ix) accidents or acts of sabotage or terrorism; (x) currency fluctuations; (xi) changes in regulations; (xii) the compliance by joint venture partners with terms of agreements; (xiii) the availability and productivity of skilled labour; (xiv) the regulation of the mining industry by various governmental agencies; and (xiv) political factors. This release also contains references to estimates of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. The estimation of Mineral Resources is inherently uncertain and involves subjective judgments about many relevant factors. Estimates of Mineral Reserves provide more certainty but still involve similar subjective judgments. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The accuracy of any such estimates is a function of the quantity and quality of available data, and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation (including estimated future production from the company’s projects, the anticipated tonnages and grades that will be mined and the estimated level of recovery that will be realized), which may prove to be unreliable and depend, to a certain extent, upon the analysis of drilling results and statistical inferences that ultimately may prove to be inaccurate. Mineral Resource or Mineral Reserve estimates may have to be re-estimated based on: (i) fluctuations in copper, nickel, zinc, platinum group elements (PGE), gold or other mineral prices; (ii) results of drilling; (iii) metallurgical testing and other studies; (iv) proposed mining operations, including dilution; (v) the evaluation of mine plans subsequent to the date of any estimates and/or changes in mine plans; (vi) the possible failure to receive required permits, approvals and licenses; and (vii) changes in law or regulation. Forward-looking statements and information involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the or information, including, but not limited to, the factors discussed below and under “Risk Factors”, as well as unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with the company to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; and the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations. Although the contained in this release are based upon what management of the company believes are reasonable assumptions, the company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these . These are made as of the date of this release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release. The company’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these as a result of the factors set forth in the “Risk Factors” section and elsewhere in the company’s Q1 2018 Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis. A PDF accompanying this announcement is available at http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/99ad8c26-50cf-4a5f-9cab-cf932501ca1f Source: Ivanhoe Mines Ltd.

Ivanhoe Mines issues 2018 first quarter financial results and review of exploration and development activities

‘Nobody knows what a community college is,” President Trump said last month in Michigan. “We’re going to start using—and we had this—vocational schools.” Conflating community colleges with vocational schools is a mistake, though an understandable one. Everyone talks about better vocational programs for students who will not complete college, but prescriptions invariably focus on options for after high-school graduation. Waiting until students are college age is too late. Elevating vocational education, and prioritizing its...

Not Everyone Should Go to College

Argentina's central bank holds interest rates at 40% 32 Mins Ago 01:27 01:27 | 9:57 AM ET Sun, 13 May 2018 02:54 02:54 | 10:32 AM ET Mon, 14 May 2018 00:44 00:44 | 11:48 AM ET Fri, 11 May 2018

Argentina's central bank holds interest rates at 40%

European Union Spanish police detain, then release Putin critic Browder The head of investment fund Hermitage Capital Management, Browder led a campaign to expose corruption and punish Russian officials . Browder said on his Twitter account that the Interpol General Secretary had advised Spanish police not to honor a Russian Interpol red notice . British foreign minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday he had spoken to Browder and was glad he had been released. Published 4 Hours Ago Adam Galica | CNBC Bill Browder at the 2018 WEF in Davos, Switzerland. British businessman Bill Browder, a prominent Kremlin critic, was detained and then released by Spanish police on Wednesday, after a warrant for his arrest he said came from Russia was found to be no longer valid, a police source said. The head of investment fund Hermitage Capital Management, Browder led a campaign to expose corruption and punish Russian officials he blames for the 2009 death of Sergei Magnitsky, who he employed as a lawyer. A Russian court sentenced Browder to nine years in prison in absentia in December after finding him guilty of deliberate bankruptcy and tax evasion. Browder said on his Twitter account that the Interpol General Secretary had advised Spanish police not to honor a Russian Interpol red notice - a request to locate and provisionally arrest someone pending extradition. Tweet 1 "This is the sixth time that Russia has abused Interpol in my case," he tweeted, following his release from a Madrid police station. A police source could not confirm that the arrest warrant came from Russia or what made it no longer valid. The Kremlin did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Browder is in Madrid to give evidence to Jose Grinda, a Spanish prosecutor who spearheads investigations into organised crime, about money from the Magnitsky case that has flowed to Spain, the British businessman said on Twitter. Magnitsky was arrested in 2008 shortly after alleging that Russian officials were involved in large-scale tax fraud. His death nearly a year later while awaiting trial caused an international uproar. Browder has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of a personal vendetta over the businessman's efforts to get other countries to impose so-called Magnitsky sanctions against Russian individuals. British foreign minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday he had spoken to Browder and was glad he had been released. "Moscow should concentrate on bringing those responsible for the murder of Magnitsky to justice," Johnson said in a tweet.

Kremlin critic Bill Browder arrested and then released by police in Madrid

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pacific City Financial Corporation (OTC Pink: PFCF), the holding company of Pacific City Bank, today announced that its Board of Directors of the Company declared a cash dividend on its common share of $0.03 per share. The dividend will be paid on or about June 15, 2018, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 31, 2018. About Pacific City Financial Corporation Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Pacific City Financial Corporation is the parent company of Pacific City Bank, a full-service commercial bank with thirteen branch offices and ten loan production offices in Lynwood and Bellevue, Washington; Denver, Colorado; Chicago, Illinois; Annandale, Virginia; Atlanta, Georgia; Orange County and Los Angeles, California; Bayside, New York; and Carrollton, Texas. Pacific City Bank specializes in commercial banking for small to medium-size businesses by providing commercial real estate loans, small business loans and lines of credit, trade finance loans, auto loans, residential mortgage loans, and SBA loans. Pacific City Bank serves a diverse customer base through its branches in the Greater Los Angeles area, Fort Lee, New Jersey, Bayside, New York and its Loan Production Offices in eight States. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180504005864/en/ Pacific City Financial Corporation Timothy Chang Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer 213-210-2000 Source: Pacific City Financial Corporation

Pacific City Financial Corporation Declares $0.03 Cash Dividend

Johnson & Johnson and its talc suppliers on Wednesday were hit with a $21.7 million jury verdict in a lawsuit by a woman who said she developed cancer after being exposed to asbestos in the company's Baby Powder. The verdict by a Los Angeles jury came down in the case of 68-year-old Joanne Anderson, who was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a form of cancer closely linked to asbestos exposure, and marked the second trial loss for J&J over similar allegations. Of the $21.7 million the jury awarded in compensatory damages, J&J was assigned 67 percent, with the rest distributed among other defendants. J&J has vehemently denied that its talc products contain asbestos or cause cancer, citing decades of testing by independent laboratories and scientists. But plaintiffs claim that asbestos and talc, which are closely linked minerals, are intermingled in the mining process, making it impossible to remove the carcinogenic substance. Anderson and her husband in 2017 had sued J&J, a unit of Imerys, Cyprus Amax Minerals, a unit of Brenntag, Honeywell , and other local talc suppliers, but it was not immediately clear which of those companies were subject to the remaining damages award. Damages could still grow as the jury debates whether to award punitive damages, Anderson's lawyer, Chris Panatier, said, declining to comment further. "While we are disappointed with this decision, the jury has further deliberations to conduct in this trial and we will reserve additional comment until the case is fully completed," J&J said in a statement. J&J has also been battling some 6,000 cases claiming its baby powder caused ovarian cancer, but the talc litigation has taken a new focus in recent months with plaintiffs claiming the widely used product causes mesothelioma due to alleged asbestos contamination. Wednesday's verdict marks the second trial loss for J&J over allegations that its talc-based products contain asbestos. A New Jersey state court jury in April ordered J&J and its talc supplier, a unit of Imerys, to pay $117 million to a man who alleged he developed mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure from J&J Baby Powder. An appeal is pending. A California jury in November last year cleared J&J of liability in another mesothelioma lawsuit. The company and Imerys, as well as a local unit of U.S. drugstore chain Rite Aid , are also facing another mesothelioma trial in a South Carolina court.

J&J hit with $21.7 million verdict in another talc asbestos cancer case

May 11, 2018 / 10:46 AM / Updated 43 minutes ago South Korea says trying to verify complaints by North Korea waitress 'defectors' Christine Kim 4 Min Read SEOUL (Reuters) - Several North Korean waitresses who arrived in South Korea in 2016 in a group of 13 defectors have said they were coerced into leaving, and a South Korean ministry that handles ties with the North said on Friday it was trying to verify their account. The defection of 12 waitresses and their manager from a North Korean restaurant in China was one of the biggest mass defection cases involving North Koreans in years. South Korea said at the time they had defected out of admiration for South Korean society. North Korea denounced it as a “hideous” abduction of its workers and demanded them back. Evidence that at least some of the 12 waitresses did not come freely, revealed in a television programme aired on Thursday, comes at a sensitive time. After a year of sharply rising tension and fears of war over North Korea’s defiant nuclear and missile tests, inter-Korean relations have improved dramatically this year. The two Koreas held their first summit in years in late April. North Korea and the United States are due to hold their first ever summit in Singapore on June 12. Four of the 12 waitresses from the Ryugyong Korean Restaurant in China told the South Korean television network JTBC they had been forced to give their written consent to defect inside the South Korean embassy in Malaysia after being threatened by their manager. “If we didn’t sign our names, he threatened he would turn us over to the security police in North Korea for watching South Korean television dramas and I had no choice,” one of the women said. “I wish I could take that decision back.” North Korean defectors often cross China into Southeast Asia before trying to reach South Korea. South Korea’s announcement of the defections at the time was unusual. Authorities usually keep such matters quiet. Critics said the government was trying to win favour with voters in parliamentary elections that came days after the defections were announced. The government denied that. None of the women was identified, and the television network blurred their faces. Reuters was unable to contact any of them. They said they had been unaware of their final destination until they found themselves at the embassy in Malaysia. The restaurant manager, Heo Gang-il, told the television station he had been working with South Korean intelligence agents and had threatened the women if they did not join him in defecting. Heo said he had lied to the women about their destination, adding he was speaking out after the South’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) failed to keep a promise to give him a job and a medal. The NIS declined to comment. Baik Tae-hyun, a spokesman for South Korea’s unification ministry, which handles issues involving North Korea, told a briefing the account from the North Koreans had to be checked. But he said the ministry had had difficulty reaching them as the NIS had handled their resettlement. “We have tried to set up interviews with these defector waitresses,” said Baik in a regular media briefing. “However, there was a limit as to how much we could assess their statuses as these people did not want meetings (with the ministry),” he said. Reporting by Christine Kim; Editing by Robert Birsel

South Korea says trying to verify complaints by North Korea waitress 'defectors'

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Hezbollah’s gains in the Lebanese election on Sunday show that the state is indistinguishable from the Iranian-backed Shi’ite group and that Israel should not distinguish between them in any future war, an Israeli security cabinet minister said. Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett arrives ahead of the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, May 6, 2018. Jim Hollander/Pool via Reuters “Hezbollah = Lebanon,” Education Minister Naftali Bennett, a rightist in the Israel’s conservative coalition government, said on Twitter on Monday. “The State of Israel will not differentiate between the sovereign State of Lebanon and Hezbollah, and will view Lebanon as responsible for any action from within its territory.” Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Hugh Lawson

Israeli minister says 'Lebanon equals Hezbollah' after election

May 15 (Reuters) - Tecogen Inc: * Q1 EARNINGS PER SHARE $0.00 * BACKLOG OF PRODUCTS AND INSTALLATIONS WAS $14.6 MILLION AS OF Q1 END, AND STOOD AT $16.6 MILLION AS OF MAY 14, 2018 Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

BRIEF-Tecogen Reports Q1 Revenue $10.18 Mln

May 21, 2018 / 2:33 PM / Updated 7 minutes ago Brazil's Eletropaulo sets out guidelines for acquisition auction Reuters Staff 2 Min Read SAO PAULO, May 21 (Reuters) - Eletropaulo, Brazil’s largest power distribution company by revenue, provided details on Monday of the rules for an auction for companies to acquire a controlling stake in the firm. According to a presentation to investors, Eletropaulo Metropolitana Eletricidade de Sao Paulo SA, as the company is formally known, said interested companies would have to deliver their offers to the Sao Paulo’s exchange B3 by the end of May 24. In the case of a tie, companies could present new offers at every 30 minutes after 7:35 p.m. (2235 GMT) on May 24. The largest offer after this process would be registered on June 4, the day set to conclude the auction. Eletropaulo said that it will be possible for another company to present an offer between May 24 and June 4, if that is 5 percent bigger than the largest one standing. If that happens, the company would give the option for all participants to present new offers on June 4. Brazil’s development bank BNDES and U.S. power company AES Corp are the largest shareholders at Eletropaulo. There are two offers currently for Eletropaulo’s controlling stake. The largest, of 32.20 reais ($8.69) per share , is from Italy’s Enel SpA. The second largest, of 32 reais per share, comes from Neoenergia SA, which is controlled by Spain’s Iberdrola SA. $1 = 3.7047 reais Reporting by Marcelo Teixeira; editing by Grant McCool

Brazil's Eletropaulo sets out guidelines for acquisition auction

May 3, 2018 / 9:56 AM / Updated 36 minutes ago Fnac Darty's board rejects proposal for two SFAM board seats Reuters Staff * SFAM is second largest shareholder after Ceconomy * Board: lacked time for in-depth review of appointment plan * Review of potential conflicts of interest a likely focus * Fnac Darty holds AGM on May 18 PARIS, May 3 (Reuters) - The board of French retailer Fnac Darty has rejected a plan to grant insurance broker SFAM two boardroom seats, arguing it did not have enough time to conduct an in-depth review of potential conflicts of interest. SFAM bought 11 percent of Fnac Darty in February, becoming its second-largest shareholder after Germany’s Ceconomy , which has a 24 percent stake. SFAM requested by mail on April 19 and e-mail on April 20 that two draft resolutions to appoint two new board members be added to the agenda of the May 18 annual shareholders meeting, according to documents made available ahead of the meeting. “The board of directors unanimously considered that it did not have, in such a short time, the opportunity to sufficiently review the candidates’ profiles and the opportunity of these appointments for the company,” said the Fnac Darty board. SFAM’s two candidates - Nicole Guedj, a lawyer and former French Secretary of State for Justice, and SFAM founder Kilani Sadri Fegaier - did “present links to SFAM, which is both the second largest shareholder of the company and a commercial partner of Fnac Darty,” added the statement from the board. “This proposed appointment would therefore have required an in-depth review, particularly of conflicts of interest,” the board of directors also said. The resolutions will nevertheless be submitted to the AGM, albeit not as resolutions approved by the Fnac Darty board of directors. (Reporting by Dominique Vidalon and Pascale Denis; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)

Fnac Darty's board rejects proposal for two SFAM board seats

May 11 (Reuters) - Aurora Diagnostics Inc: * BRUCE WALTON NAMED PRESIDENT AND COO OF AURORA DIAGNOSTICS Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:

BRIEF-Aurora Diagnostics Names Bruce Walton Chief Operating Officer

May 30, 2018 / 9:36 PM / Updated 3 minutes ago U.S. hits allies with tariffs as risk of trade war rises Jason Lange , Ingrid Melander 7 Min Read WASHINGTON/PARIS (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday said it will impose tariffs on aluminium and steel imports from Canada, Mexico and the European Union, reigniting investor fears of a global trade war as Washington’s allies took steps to retaliate against U.S. goods. The move, announced by U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in a telephone briefing on Thursday, ended months of uncertainty about potential tariff exemptions and suggested a hardening of the Trump administration’s approach to trade negotiations. It also sent a chill through financial markets, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI down about 1 percent and the S&P 500 .SPX off around 0.6 percent. Shares of industrial heavyweights Boeing ( BA.N ) fell 1.5 percent while those of Caterpillar ( CAT.N ) shed 2 percent. A 25 percent tariff on steel imports and 10 percent tariff on aluminium imports will be imposed on the EU, Canada and Mexico starting at midnight (0400 GMT on Friday), Ross told reporters. “We look forward to continued negotiations, both with Canada and Mexico on the one hand, and with the European Commission on the other hand, because there are other issues that we also need to get resolved,” he said. Canada and Mexico, embroiled in talks with the United States to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), responded swiftly. Canada, the largest supplier of steel to the United States, will impose retaliatory tariffs covering C$16.6 billion in imports from the United States, including whiskey, orange juice, steel, aluminium and other products, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said. Ottawa will also challenge the tariffs under NAFTA and World Trade Organization rules, she said. Mexico announced what it described as “equivalent” measures on a wide range of U.S. farm and industrial products. Related Coverage Steel, aluminium tariffs seen hurting U.S. economy - Moody's The measures, which target pork legs, apples, grapes and cheese as well as steel and other products, will be in place until the U.S. government eliminates its tariffs, Mexico’s Economy Ministry said. The S&P 500’s packaged foods and meats industry sub-index .SPLRCFOOD fell 2.4 percent, with shares of meat producer Tyson Foods Inc ( TSN.N ) dropping 4 percent. Campbell Soup Co ( CPB.N ) was down 3.2 percent and spice maker McCormick & Co Inc ( MKC.N ) shed 3.6 percent. The Mexican peso MXN= dropped about 1 percent and the Canadian dollar CAD= shed about 0.6 percent. At its low, the peso was at its weakest against the dollar in nearly 15 months. The European Union has threatened tariffs on Harley Davidson motorcycles and bourbon, measures aimed at the political bases of U.S. Republican legislators. “This (U.S.) measure brings the danger of a spiral of escalation, which in the end harms everyone,” German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said in a statement, adding that Germany would continue to push for free trade and open markets. EU members have given broad support to a European Commission plan to set duties on 2.8 billion euros (£2.4 billion) of U.S. exports if Washington ends the tariff exemption. EU exports potentially subject to U.S. duties are worth 6.4 billion euros. “It’s entirely up to U.S authorities whether they want to enter into a trade conflict with their biggest partner, Europe,” France’s Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said after meeting with Ross on Thursday. Slideshow (7 Images) ‘SIGNIFICANT THREAT’ U.S. President Donald Trump announced the tariffs in March as part of an effort to protect U.S. industry and workers from what he described as unfair international competition, a key theme of his “America First” agenda. Temporary exemptions were granted to a number of nations and permanent ones to several countries including Australia, Argentina and South Korea. U.S. trading partners had demanded that the exemptions be extended or made permanent. The tariffs are aimed at allowing the U.S. steel and aluminium industries to increase their capacity utilization rates above 80 percent for the first time in years. Although many in the U.S. business community have reacted with alarm, Trump’s actions have won him favour in the domestic steel and aluminium industry. On Thursday, shares of U.S. Steel Corp ( X.N ) were up 1.1 percent while those of Nucor Corp ( NUE.N ) gained 0.3 percent. AK Steel ( AKS.N ) fell 2 percent and Steel Dynamics Inc ( STLD.O ) was down 0.9 percent. Shares of Century Aluminum Co ( CENX.O ) jumped 2.9 percent but Alcoa Corp ( AA.N ) shed 0.9 percent. EYES ON CHINA The U.S. administration also launched a national security investigation last week into car and truck imports, using the same 1962 law it has applied to curb incoming steel and aluminium. “The Trump administration seems to regard overt threats, including tariffs and repudiation of previous agreements, as a key element for gaining leverage in trade negotiations,” said Eswar Prasad, a former head of the International Monetary Fund’s China division and now a professor at Cornell University. Prasad, however, warned that the United States was doing so at the cost of alienating key allies and undercutting broad international pressure on China to change its trade and economic practices. Ross himself heads to Beijing on Friday where he will attempt to get firm deals to export more U.S. goods in a bid to cut America’s $375 billion (£282.1 billion) trade deficit with China. The Trump administration has demanded that Beijing make concessions and threatened to punish it for allegedly stealing U.S. technology by imposing tariffs on $50 billion of imports from China. Reporting by Eric Walsh, David Shepardson and David Chance in Washington, Ingrid Melander in Paris, Madeline Chambers in Berlin, Philip Blenkinsop in Brussels and Allison Martell in Toronto; Writing by Paul Simao; Editing by Robin Pomeroy and Susan Thomas

U.S. to slap tariffs soon on steel, aluminium from EU - WSJ

ZURICH, May 25 (Reuters) - A consortium led by Swiss asset manager Partners Group Holding will buy Techem from Macquarie in a deal that values the German metering company at an enterprise value of 4.6 billion euros ($5.4 billion), Partners Group said on Friday. The buyers include Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan as well as Techem’s management team, it said in a statement. Macquarie had picked three suitors for a final bidding round for Techem, people close to the matter had told Reuters last month. ($1 = 0.8530 euros) (Reporting by Michael Shields Editing by Maria Sheahan)

Partners Group consortium to buy German metering firm Techem

(Reuters) - U.S. electric utilities are expected to shut hundreds more of their coal-fired power generators in the coming years, extending a long trend away from coal and toward natural gas that has cast a pall over the mining industry. FILE PHOTO - A coal barge on the Ohio River provides a backdrop as U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks on his potential infrastructure proposals during an event at the Rivertowne Marina on the Ohio River in Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. June 7, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst But not every U.S. coal company sees a bleak future. Ramaco Resources ( METC.O ), which produces coal for steel mills, and Consol Energy ( CEIX.N ), which supplies coal to larger power plants, have ramped up investments even as the industry shrinks. President Donald Trump has promised to revive the coal sector by stripping away burdensome regulation. But the two companies say their confidence stems more from market forces than any policy. Their bullish bets illustrate how pockets of profitable growth can survive in troubled industries facing almost certain decline. Ramaco, for example, expects global demand for metallurgical coal to rise in step with economic growth, despite the slump in U.S. demand for the type of coal used in electric power generators. And Consol says it has found a way to turn the rapid decline of coal-fired power into a strength: It has cultivated a clientele that owns big generators that are not expected to shut down anytime soon - making them likely to take over business from rivals that do close. “We can sell every ounce of coal we can produce,” said David Khani, Consol’s Chief Financial Officer. “This isn’t true for everyone.” Consol, which mines thermal coal for power plants in Pennsylvania, boosted capital spending last year by 50 percent to $81.4 million, and it aims to bump that to $125 million in 2018, according to its filings. Ramaco, meanwhile, more than tripled capital expenditures in 2017 to $75 million, making it one of the few coal producers investing in new U.S. mines. The company went public in February 2017 at a tough time for the industry. Those spending increases far outpace the broader sector. Overall, the U.S. coal industry increased capital spending in 2017 by about 27 percent, according to a Reuters analysis of filings from publicly-traded miners - a rebound from years of steep declines, targeted mainly at sustaining operations rather than expanding. Many individual coal firms have cut back capital spending. “They’re spending as much as they need to, to maintain production,” said analyst John Bridges of JP Morgan. U.S. coal production is expected to dip 6 percent in 2018 to 738 million tons, down from 1.17 billion tons a decade ago, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. NEW MINES Ramaco’s spending reflects its opening of five new coal mines in the past twelve months in West Virginia, Virginia and Pennsylvania, said Randall Atkins, Ramaco’s executive chairman. The company expects to produce more than 2 million tons of coal in 2018 from less than 600,000 in 2017. The company said the downturn in the U.S. thermal coal industry has little to do with its business. It and other metallurgical coal producers are enjoying robust demand from steel producers around the globe. “Met coal is a proxy for steel, which is in turn a proxy for a nation’s GDP,” Atkins said. “The world finds itself economically in a good place.” He said Trump’s steel tariffs could shift some of the demand for metallurgical coal to the domestic market, but that foreign demand for U.S. exports also remains strong. Ramaco’s share price has been volatile since launching last year. It is trading at about $6.80, up from about $4 late last year after strong earnings estimates. But that’s only about half of its share price last year, in part because one of its new mining projects was delayed. LEMONADE FROM LEMONS Most miners producing coal for electricity are getting battered, meanwhile, by cheap natural gas and increasingly stringent pollution controls. Consol is betting it can generate hefty profits from a smart play on the downturn. It plans to serve “very large, retrofitted coal plants that compete well against natgas and which are going to be running at a higher capacity as other units are retired,” said CFO Khani. Those plants are currently running at only about 70 percent capacity, he said, providing room for growth. The EIA predicts that coal-fired generators that remain open could operate above 70 percent capacity for decades as other aging plants close. Industry-wide, plants are using less than 60 percent of their capacity now. Consol - whose shares are up to about $31 a share from about $22 late last year - supplies East Coast power generating companies including Dominion ( D.N ), Southern ( SO.N ), Duke ( DUK.N ) and DTE ( DTE.N ). Both Consol and Ramaco applaud the Trump administration’s pro-coal stance, but their reasons for optimism lie elsewhere. “There has been no game-changing legislation that would allow for increasing domestic demand for U.S. coal,” said Ramaco’s Atkins. Additional reporting by Timothy Gardner in Washington Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

FOCUS-Two U.S. coal miners see growth amid sector's gloom

CHICAGO, Heidrick & Struggles (Nasdaq: HSII), a premier provider of executive search, leadership assessment and development, organization and team effectiveness, and culture shaping services globally, has added six new partners and principals to Executive Search across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. "We continue to add exceptional people to our team of Executive Search consultants to better serve our clients around the globe," said Krishnan Rajagopalan, President and Chief Executive Officer, Heidrick & Struggles. "Our expertise is in strong demand as clients' need to acquire and develop exceptional talent is greater than ever across all sectors of the economy." Europe: Rafael Paravicini, Partner (Zurich) Paravicini rejoins Heidrick & Struggles to lead the firm's Global Technology & Services, Industrial and Financial Officers practices in Switzerland, having worked for the firm from 2000 to 2010. North America: Anne Rockey, Partner (Chicago); Jeffrey Mollica, Principal (Philadelphia), Doug Orr, Principal (Houston) and Jennifer Wilson, Principal (Dallas) Rockey joins the Consumer Markets Practice, having previously spent 17 years at leading advertising firm Leo Burnett, where she built deep relationships with a number of global brands. Mollica joins the Healthcare and Life Sciences Practice with expertise in medical device sales and marketing, and an extensive background in business development and management. Orr joins the Industrial Practice with a special focus on both public companies and private equity-backed organizations in the energy sector and industrial companies broadly. Wilson joins the Human Resources Officers Practice, focusing on the pharmaceutical & life sciences, consumer products, and professional services sectors. Asia Pacific: Cheryl Chen, Principal (Shanghai) Chen joins the Consumer Markets Practice with over 20 years of expertise within the consumer sector, including over eight years in the executive search industry. About Heidrick & Struggles: Heidrick & Struggles (Nasdaq: HSII) serves the executive talent and leadership needs of the world's top organizations as a premier provider of leadership consulting, culture shaping and senior-level executive search services. Heidrick & Struggles pioneered the profession of executive search more than 60 years ago. Today, the firm serves as a trusted advisor, providing integrated leadership solutions and helping its clients change the world, one leadership team at a time. www.heidrick.com . Media Contact: Alex Brown - +1 312.496.1871 abrown@heidrick.com releases/heidrick--struggles-adds-six-executive-search-consultants-globally-300641805.html SOURCE Heidrick & Struggles

Heidrick & Struggles Adds Six Executive Search Consultants Globally

Headline inflation is going up. Pay attention. The Labor Department on Thursday reported that overall consumer prices rose 0.2% in April from March, putting them up 2.5% versus a year earlier. That marks the biggest annual gain in headline prices in over a year. Core prices, which strip away food and energy items, rose a more muted 0.1%, putting them up 2.1%. When... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In

Ignore Headline Inflation at Your Peril

5/25/2018 1:04PM Can the Trump-Kim Summit Really Happen? A series of twists ahead of a possible June 12 summit between President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un suggest that, despite showcased optimism, the two leaders are struggling to find common ground on key issues such as denuclearization.

Can the Trump-Kim Summit Really Happen?

May 3, 2018 / 5:27 AM / Updated 11 hours ago Roche wins reprieve as Novartis biosimilar delayed in U.S. Ben Hirschler , Michael Shields 3 Min Read LONDON/ZURICH (Reuters) - Roche has won a reprieve from an expected wave of cheaper versions of its biotech cancer drugs as U.S. regulators knocked back a biosimilar form of rituximab from Swiss rival Novartis. The logo of Swiss drugmaker Roche is seen at its headquarters in Basel, Switzerland February 1, 2018. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann Novartis’s Sandoz unit said its copy of Roche blockbuster Rituxan — used to treat blood cancers and certain immunological diseases — had received a so-called complete response letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA issues such letters when it is not ready to approve a product. The news follows a similar setback for another biosimilar copy of Rituxan from Celltrion and its partner Teva. Together, the two delays win Roche extra breathing space in the crucial U.S. market. Roche shares rose nearly 2 percent by 0840 GMT while Novartis stock was little changed. Deutsche Bank analyst Tim Race said Rituxan could now remain free from biosimilar competitors in the United States this year, with erosion threatening only from 2019. Rituxan generates about $4 billion of U.S. sales for Roche. Race said he had been expecting a sales loss to biosimilars of about $150 million in 2018 and Roche earnings would be around 0.5 percent higher if this was removed. For 2019 Race assumes a $1 billion fall in U.S. Rituxan sales versus 2017, so if biosimilars enter from mid-2019 there could be an earnings uplift of about 2 percent. FILE PHOTO: Swiss drugmaker Novartis' logo is seen at the company's plant in the northern Swiss town of Stein, Switzerland October 23, 2017. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo Sandoz said it was evaluating the FDA letter and it stood behind the “robust” evidence included in the regulatory submission for its biosimilar. “While disappointed, Sandoz remains committed to further discussions with the FDA to bring this important medicine to U.S. patients as soon as possible,” it said. The problems facing Rituxan biosimilars in the United States are in sharp contrast to the situation in Europe, where copies of the drug from both Celltrion and Novartis are already available and uptake of the cut-price medicine is hurting Roche. Rituxan sales plunged by 44 percent in Europe in the first quarter of 2018. The tussles in the biosimilars market are a growing focus for investors, with soaring valuations for some pioneers in the field, such as South Korea’s Celltrion, and worries about the long-term sales threat to makers of original drugs, such as Roche and AbbVie. Overall, U.S. regulators have lagged behind Europe in approving biosimilars, while a complex system of rebates offered to insurers by original-brand drugmakers has also created barriers to use. Biological drugs such as Rituxan are complex molecules made inside living cells, which means that rivals seeking to make copies when patents expire can only ever produce medicines that are similar to the original rather than identical. ($1 = 0.9966 Swiss francs)

Novartis biosimilar cancer drug hits U.S. regulatory bump

Market News May 4, 2018 / 7:31 AM / in 35 minutes BRIEF-Bankers Cobalt Corp Says Intends To Complete Non-Brokered Private Placement Of Up To 50 Mln Units At A Price Of CAD $0.12 Per Unit Reuters Staff May 4 (Reuters) - Bankers Cobalt Corp: * BANKERS COBALT CORP ANNOUNCES UP TO $6.0 MILLION FINANCING * BANKERS COBALT CORP SAYS INTENDS TO COMPLETE A NON-BROKERED PRIVATE PLACEMENT OF UP TO 50 MILLION UNITS AT A PRICE OF CAD $0.12 PER UNIT Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:

BRIEF-Bankers Cobalt Corp Says Intends To Complete Non-Brokered Private Placement Of Up To 50 Mln Units At A Price Of CAD $0.12 Per Unit

May 22 (Reuters) - TriState Capital Holdings Inc: * TRISTATE CAPITAL ANNOUNCES PUBLIC OFFERING OF COMMON STOCK BY SELLING SHAREHOLDERS * SAYS OFFERING 2.20 MILLION SHARES Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:

BRIEF-Tristate Capital Says Offering 2.20 Million Shares

May 2 (Reuters) - KT Corp: * AQUANTIA COLLABORATES WITH KT TO DELIVER MULTI-GIG ETHERNET TO KOREAN HOMES Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:

BRIEF-Aquantia Collaborates With KT To Deliver Multi-Gig Ethernet To Korean Homes

Aaron P. Bernstein | Reuters House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) The House expects to vote next Tuesday on a Senate-passed bill that would roll back some regulations on banks, four sources told CNBC. One source cautioned, however, that schedules can be fluid and the day of the vote could change. The legislation would mark the biggest rewrite of financial laws since the Dodd-Frank reform act passed after the global financial crisis. It cleared the Senate with bipartisan support in a 67 to 32 vote. But some House Republicans, such as Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling , R-Texas, pushed for changes that could have threatened the bill's passage when it went back to the Senate. show chapters 8:49 AM ET Tue, 17 April 2018 | 01:46 Last week, House Speaker Paul Ryan said the chamber would take up the Senate version of the bill along with separate legislation passed by Hensarling's panel that would make additional changes to bank rules. The speaker added that he expected a vote on the banking bill "soon." The legislation would raise the level at which banks are considered "systemically important" and exempts smaller banks from other rules aiming to curb risky behavior. Some Democrats, while largely supporting the Dodd-Frank reforms, have argued smaller banks and lenders in rural areas should face fewer restrictions than the biggest firms. Seventeen Senate Democrats voted for the bill . The support came over the objections of financial industry critics such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass., and Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. Critics objected in part to a provision raising the threshold for an institution to be considered "too big to fail" to $250 billion in assets from $50 billion in assets. They argued it opens taxpayers up to more potential liability should a mid-sized institution fail. If the House passes the bill, President Donald Trump is expected to sign it. A source added that the House expects to take up additional legislation, backed by Hensarling, related to capital formation and better access to capital for entrepreneurs and small businesses. The House passed those bills as part of the separate Financial Choice Act, which Hensarling pushed for last year, and as standalone bills. The capital measures received bipartisan support.

House expected to vote on Dodd Frank bank bill

May 31, 2018 / 2:08 PM / in 18 minutes UPDATE 1-Equatorial Guinea LNG project stumbles again as Schlumberger quits Reuters Staff 3 Min Read (Combines with Ophir, adds project details, background) LONDON, May 31 (Reuters) - A pioneering liquefied natural gas project in Equatorial Guinea, bogged down by delayed financing, ran into further trouble after U.S. oil services company Schlumberger pulled out of the venture, two other operators said on Thursday. Ophir Energy, the London-based company heading the Fortuna development, and Golar LNG, which operates floating LNG facilities, said Schlumberger had decided to withdraw due to problems with the project’s financing. Schlumberger was not immediately available for comment. The Fortuna development would be west Africa’s first deepwater LNG project and includes a pioneering design for the infrastructure in the form of a floating terminal that liquefies gas offshore, not onshore as usual. Reuters reported earlier this month the growing frustration of Equatorial Guinea’s government at the delays and its ultimatum to take the project off Ophir or scrap it altogether. Golar LNG participated in Fortuna as part of the OneLNG joint venture it had established with Schlumberger. “Despite an agreed development plan and extensive efforts over the last 12 months by OneLNG and Ophir management, it has not been possible to finalise an attractive debt financing package,” Golar said in a statement. “This, together with other capital and resource priorities, has resulted in a decision from Schlumberger to end their participation in the project,” it said. Ophir said it and Golar were both actively engaged in talks on financing the project. Ophir also suggested it was close to finding a new partner to replace Schlumberger. “Ophir has already held informal discussions with other, well-capitalised, potential partners for our Fortuna project,” it said. “Following (Golar’s) announcement ... we have now formalised discussions and are actively moving forward with them.” Ophir replaced its chief executive, Nicholas Cooper, this month in a bid to get its strategy back on track. Its shares were down almost 10 percent at 56.9 pounds each at 1345 GMT while Golar’s shares fell 18 percent to $28.35. (Reporting by Sabina Zawadzki and Shadia Nasralla Editing by Edmund Blair and Adrian Croft)

UPDATE 1-Equatorial Guinea LNG project stumbles again as Schlumberger quits

Breakingviews TV: Baggage claim 11:21am EDT - 04:28 An experienced short seller has targeted $6 billion luggage maker Samsonite. Quentin Webb and Jeffrey Goldfarb discuss what it means for the company, as well the possible repercussions for the Hong Kong exchange where it is listed. An experienced short seller has targeted $6 billion luggage maker Samsonite. Quentin Webb and Jeffrey Goldfarb discuss what it means for the company, as well the possible repercussions for the Hong Kong exchange where it is listed. //reut.rs/2IJ5kqK

Breakingviews TV: Baggage claim

Berkshire's Charlie Munger: Bitcoin is worthless artificial gold 6 Hours Ago

Berkshire's Charlie Munger: Bitcoin is worthless artificial gold

May 2 (Reuters) - A. H. Belo Corp: * A. H. BELO CORPORATION ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER 2018 FINANCIAL RESULTS * Q1 LOSS PER SHARE $0.19 * Q1 REVENUE FELL 18.8 PERCENT TO $49.5 MILLION Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:

BRIEF-A. H. Belo Reports Q1 Loss Per Share $0.19

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - European researchers have found that the popular PGP and S/MIME email encryption standards are vulnerable to being hacked and they urge users to disable and uninstall them immediately. FILE PHOTO: WhatsApp and Facebook messenger icons are seen on an iPhone in Manchester , Britain March 27, 2017. REUTERS/Phil Noble -/File Photo University researchers from Muenster and Bochum in Germany, and Leuven in Belgium, discovered the flaws in the encryption methods that can be used with popular email applications such as Microsoft Outlook and Apple Mail. “There are currently no reliable fixes for the vulnerability,” lead researcher Sebastian Schinzel, professor of applied cryptography at the Muenster University of Applied Sciences, said on Monday. “If you use PGP/GPG or S/MIME for very sensitive communication, you should disable it in your email client for now.” The team had been due to publish its full findings on Tuesday but rushed them out after the news made waves among the community of encrypted email users that includes activists, whistleblowers and journalists working in hostile environments. Titling the exploit ‘Efail’, they wrote that they had found two ways in which hackers could effectively coerce an email client into sending the full plaintext of messages to the attacker. There’s no immediate suggestion that spy agencies or state-sponsored hackers have already used the technique to burrow into people’s emails. The researchers have informed email providers of their findings, under so-called responsible disclosure, and it now falls to others to establish whether the exploits can be replicated. DIRECT EXFILTRATION In the first exploit, hackers can ‘exfiltrate’ emails in plaintext by exploiting a weakness inherent in Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), which is used in web design and in formatting emails. Apple Mail, iOS Mail and Mozilla Thunderbird are all vulnerable to direct exfiltration, they said. A second attack takes advantage of flaws in OpenPGP and S/MIME to inject malicious text that in turn makes it possible to steal the plaintext of encrypted emails. The vulnerabilities in PGP and S/MIME standards pose an immediate risk to email communication including the potential exposure of the contents of past messages, said the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a U.S. digital rights group. In a blog post, the EFF recommended that PGP users uninstall or disable their PGP email plug-ins while the research community evaluates the seriousness of the flaws reported by the European research team. It also said that users should switch for the time being to non-email-based secure messaging apps such as Signal for sensitive communications. Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) said in a statement there were risks that attackers could secure access to emails in plaintext once the recipient had decrypted them. It added, however, that it considered the encryption standards themselves to be safe if correctly implemented and configured. “Securely encrypted email remains an important and suitable means of increasing information security,” it said in a statement, adding that the flaws which have been discovered can be remedied through patches and proper use. PGP - short for Pretty Good Privacy - was invented back in 1991 by Phil Zimmermann and has long been viewed as a secure form of end-to-end encryption impossible for outsiders to access. Zimmermann is co-founder and chief scientist of Silent Circle, an encrypted communications firm. PGP has in the past been endorsed, among others, by Edward Snowden, who blew the whistle on pervasive electronic surveillance at the U.S. National Security Agency before fleeing to Russia. PGP works using an algorithm to generate a ‘hash’, or mathematical summary, of a user’s name and other information. This is then encrypted with the sender’s private ‘key’ and decrypted by the receiver using a separate public key. To exploit the weakness, a hacker would need to have access to an email server or the mailbox of a recipient. In addition the mails would need to be in HTML format and have active links to external content to be vulnerable, the BSI said. It advised users to disable the use of active content, such as HTML code and outside links, and to secure their email servers against external access. Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg

Popular encrypted email standards are unsafe - researchers

May 6 (Reuters) - SAVOLA GROUP COMPANY: * ANNOUNCES PURCHASE OF 51 PERCENT OF AL KABEER GROUP OF COMPANIES FOR 565.5 MILLION RIYALS * SIGNS BINDING SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR ACQUISITION OF 51 PERCENT OF AL KABEER GROUP OF COMPANIES FOR 565.5 MILLION RIYALS * SAYS COMPLETION OF SHARE SALE UNDER AGREEMENT SHALL BE WITHIN 6 MONTHS FROM DATE OF SIGNING, EXTENDABLE BY MUTUAL CONSENT * SAYS APPOINTED FARRELLY & MITCHELL AS FINANCIAL ADVISOR, PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS AS FINANCIAL & TAX DUE DILIGENCE ADVISOR * SELLER APPOINTED ALPEN CAPITAL AS ITS FINANCIAL ADVISOR * SAYS TRANSACTION WILL BE FINANCED THROUGH COMBINATION OF OPERATING CASH FLOWS AND BANK LOANS * IMPACT OF TRANSACTION IS EXPECTED TO BE POSITIVE AND WILL BE REFLECTED ON SAVOLA RESULTS ONCE LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PRODUCERS ARE COMPLETED DURING H2, 2018 Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:

BRIEF-Savola Group Signs Deal To Buy 51 Pct Of Al Kabeer Group

MEMPHIS, Tenn., May 7, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (NYSE: MAA) today announced that its operating partnership, Mid-America Apartments, L.P. ("MAALP") priced a $400 million offering of MAALP's 4.200% senior unsecured notes due 2028 (the "Notes") under its existing shelf registration statement. The Notes were priced at 99.403% of the principal amount. The closing of the offering is expected to occur on May 14, 2018, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. MAALP intends to use net proceeds from the offering to repay a portion of the approximately $450 million of borrowings outstanding under its $1 billion revolving credit facility, and for general corporate purposes, which may include, without limitation, the repayment of other debt and the acquisition, development and redevelopment of apartment communities. Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. were the joint book-running managers for the offering. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and has become effective. The offering of these securities will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. Copies of these documents may be obtained from: Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, 608 2 nd Avenue South, Suite 1000, Minneapolis, MN 55402, Attention: WFS Customer Service, or by calling: 1-800-645-3751, or by emailing: wfscustomerservice@wellsfargo.com ; Citigroup Global Markets Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or by calling 1-800-831-9146, or by emailing: prospectus@citi.com ; J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10179; Attention: Investment Grade Syndicate Desk, or by calling: 1-212-834-4533; and U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., 214 N. Tryon St., 26 th Floor, Charlotte, NC 28202, Attention: Credit Fixed Income, or by calling: 1-877-558-2607. Alternatively, investors may obtain these documents, when available, for free by visiting EDGAR on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov . This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes, nor shall there be any sale of the Notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Forward-Looking Statements We consider this and other sections of this press release to contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with respect to our expectations for future periods. Forward-looking statements do not discuss historical fact, but instead include statements related to expectations, projections, intentions or other items related to the future. Such forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements related to the Notes offering and the expected use of the net proceeds therefrom, as well as any statements concerning property acquisitions and dispositions, joint venture activity, development and renovation activity as well as other capital expenditures, capital raising activities, rent and expense growth, occupancy, financing activities and interest rate and other economic expectations. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results of operations, financial conditions or plans expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things, unanticipated adverse business developments affecting us, or our properties, adverse changes in the real estate markets and general and local economies and business conditions. Although we believe that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore such forward-looking statements included in this release may not prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that the results or conditions described in such statements or our objectives and plans will be achieved. The following factors, among others, could cause our future results to those expressed in the forward-looking statements: inability to generate sufficient cash flows due to market conditions, changes in supply and/or demand, competition, uninsured losses, changes in tax and housing laws, or other factors; exposure, as a multifamily focused real estate investment trust ("REIT"), to risks inherent in investments in a single industry and sector; adverse changes in real estate markets, including, but not limited to, the extent of future demand for multifamily units in our significant markets, barriers of entry into new markets, which we may seek to enter in the future, limitations on our ability to increase rental rates, competition, our ability to identify and consummate attractive acquisitions or development projects on favorable terms, our ability to consummate any planned dispositions in a timely manner on acceptable terms, and our ability to reinvest sale proceeds in a manner that generates favorable returns; failure of new acquisitions to achieve anticipated results or be efficiently integrated; failure of development communities to be completed within budget, if at all, and on a timely basis or to lease-up as anticipated; unexpected capital needs; changes in operating costs, including real estate taxes, utilities and insurance costs; losses from catastrophes in excess of our insurance coverage; difficulty in integrating MAA's and Post Properties' businesses; ability to obtain financing at favorable rates, if at all, and refinance existing debt as it matures; level and volatility of interest or capitalization rates or capital market conditions; loss of hedge accounting treatment for interest rate swaps or interest rate caps; the continuation of the good credit of our interest rate swap and cap providers; price volatility, dislocations and liquidity disruptions in the financial markets and the resulting impact on financing; the effect of any rating agency actions on the cost and availability of new debt financing; significant decline in market value of real estate serving as collateral for mortgage obligations; significant change in the mortgage financing market that would cause single-family housing, either as an owned or rental product, to become a more significant competitive product; our ability to continue to satisfy complex rules in order to maintain our status as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, the ability of our operating partnership to satisfy the rules to maintain its status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, the ability of our taxable REIT subsidiaries to maintain their status as such for federal income tax purposes, and our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to operate effectively within the limitations imposed by these rules; inability to attract and retain qualified personnel; cyber-liability or potential liability for breaches of our privacy or information security systems; potential liability for environmental contamination; adverse legislative or regulatory tax changes; litigation and compliance costs associated with laws requiring access for disabled persons; and other risks identified in this press release and, from time to time, in other reports we file with the SEC or in other documents that we publicly disseminate. New factors may also emerge from time to time that could have a material adverse effect on our business. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or changes in expectations after the date of this release. View original content with multimedia: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/maa-announces-pricing-of-senior-unsecured-notes-offering-300643977.html SOURCE MAA

MAA Announces Pricing of Senior Unsecured Notes Offering

ST. LOUIS, May 17, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Post Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:POST), a consumer packaged goods holding company, today announced that one of its subsidiaries has confidentially submitted an amendment to its draft registration statement on Form S-1 (the “amended draft registration statement”) to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) related to its proposed initial public offering for its private brands business. The number of shares of stock and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined. The proposed offering is subject to, among other things, completion of the SEC review process and market conditions. On January 11, 2018, Post announced its plan to combine its private brands businesses, which produce nut butter, healthy snacks and pasta, and explore a range of strategic alternatives for the combined private brands business. Post is continuing to evaluate strategic alternatives for the combined private brands business, including an initial public offering, a placement of private equity, a sale of the business or a strategic combination. The announcement and confidential submission of the amended draft registration statement does not indicate Post’s selection of a strategic alternative for its private brands business. There can be no assurance that the confidential submission of the amended draft registration statement or Post’s exploration of strategic alternatives will result in any transaction or other action by Post. Post does not intend to comment on or provide updates regarding these matters unless and until it determines that further disclosure is appropriate or required based on the then-current facts and circumstances. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offering, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Forward Looking Statements Certain matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the exploration of strategic alternatives for Post’s private brands business. These forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations and assumptions of Post and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Forward-looking statements are sometimes identified from the use of forward-looking words such as “believe,” “should,” “could,” “potential,” “continue,” “expect,” “project,” “estimate,” “predict,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “intend,” “plan,” “forecast,” “target,” “is likely,” “will,” “can,” “may,” “would” or the negative of these terms or similar expressions, and include all statements regarding future events or developments. There is no assurance that any strategic alternatives for Post’s private brands business will be consummated and there are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein. These risks and uncertainties include the following: Post’s high leverage, Post’s ability to obtain additional financing (including both secured and unsecured debt) and Post’s ability to service its outstanding debt (including covenants that restrict the operation of its business); Post’s ability to continue to compete in its product markets and Post’s ability to retain its market position; Post’s ability to anticipate and respond to changes in consumer preferences and trends and introduce new products; Post’s ability to identify, complete and integrate acquisitions and manage its growth; significant volatility in the costs or availability of certain raw materials, commodities or packaging used to manufacture Post’s products, higher energy costs or higher transportation costs; Post’s ability to successfully implement business strategies to reduce costs; allegations that Post’s products cause injury or illness, product recalls and product liability claims and other litigation; legal and regulatory factors, including advertising and labeling laws, changes in food safety and laws and regulations governing animal feeding and housing operations; the loss or bankruptcy of a significant customer; consolidations in the retail grocery and foodservice industries; Post’s ability to promptly and effectively integrate the Bob Evans business, including the risk of experiencing disruptions from ongoing business operations which may make it more difficult than expected to maintain relationships with employees, business partners or governmental entities, and Post’s ability to obtain expected cost savings and synergies of the acquisition within the expected timeframe; losses incurred in the appraisal proceedings brought in connection with Post’s acquisition of Bob Evans by former Bob Evans stockholders who demanded appraisal of their shares; costs associated with Bob Evans’s sale and separation of its restaurant business on April 28, 2017 (the “Bob Evans Restaurants Transaction”), which occurred prior to Post’s acquisition of Bob Evans, including costs that may arise under Bob Evans’s capacity as guarantor of payment and performance conditions for certain leases, as well as costs associated with a transition services agreement established as part of the Bob Evans Restaurants Transaction; Post’s ability to promptly and effectively integrate the Weetabix business and obtain expected cost savings and synergies of the acquisition within the expected timeframe; the possibility that Post may not be able to create value in its private brands business through strategic alternatives; the potential for disruption to Post or the private brands business resulting from the exploration of strategic alternatives for the private brands business; the possibility that Post may not be able to consummate any proposals for strategic alternatives for its private brands business that may result from Post’s exploration due to, among other things, market, regulatory or other factors; the ability of Post’s private brand products to compete with nationally branded products; disruptions or inefficiencies in supply chain, which may result from Post’s reliance on third party manufacturers for certain of its products; the ultimate impact litigation may have on Post; Post’s ability to successfully operate its international operations in compliance with applicable laws and regulations; changes in economic conditions, disruptions in the U.S. and global capital and credit markets and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; the impact of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union (commonly known as “Brexit”) on Post and its operations; impairment in the carrying value of goodwill or other intangibles; changes in estimates in critical accounting judgments and changes to or new laws and regulations affecting Post’s business, including U.S. tax reform; changes in weather conditions, natural disasters, disease outbreaks or other events beyond Post’s control; loss of key employees, labor strikes, work stoppages or unionization efforts; losses or increased funding and expenses related to Post’s qualified pension or other postretirement plans; costs, business disruptions and reputational damage associated with information technology failures, cybersecurity incidents or information security breaches; Post’s ability to protect its intellectual property and other assets; significant differences in Post’s actual operating results from its guidance regarding its future performance; Post’s ability to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, including with respect to acquired businesses; and other risks and uncertainties described in Post’s filings with the SEC. These forward-looking statements represent Post’s judgment as of the date of this release. Post disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. About Post Holdings, Inc. Post Holdings, Inc., headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is a consumer packaged goods holding company operating in the center-of-the-store, refrigerated, foodservice, food ingredient, active nutrition and private brand food categories. Through its Post Consumer Brands business, Post is a leader in the North American ready-to-eat cereal category offering a broad portfolio including recognized brands such as Honey Bunches of Oats®, Pebbles™, Great Grains® and Malt-O-Meal® bag cereal. Post also is a leader in the United Kingdom ready-to-eat cereal category with the iconic Weetabix® brand. As leader in refrigerated foods, Post brings innovative, value-added egg and refrigerated potato products to the foodservice channel and the retail refrigerated side dish category, offering side dishes and egg, sausage and cheese products through the Bob Evans®, All Whites®, Better’n Eggs®, Simply Potatoes® and Crystal Farms® brands. Post’s Active Nutrition platform aids consumers in adopting healthier lifestyles through brands such as Premier Protein®, PowerBar® and Dymatize®. Post’s Private Brands business manufactures private brand nut butter, healthy snacks and pasta. For more information, visit www.postholdings.com . Contact: Investor Relations Brad Harper brad.harper@postholdings.com (314) 644-7626 Media Relations Lisa Hanly lisa.hanly@postholdings.com (314) 665-3180 Source:Post Holdings, Inc.

Post Holdings Announces Confidential Submission of Amendment to Draft Registration Statement for Proposed Initial Public Offering of its Private Brands Business

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Trump on Friday nominated Admiral Harry Harris, head of the U.S. Pacific Command, as U.S. ambassador to South Korea ahead of a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un scheduled next month but since called into question by Pyongyang. FILE PHOTO - Admiral Harry Harris, Commander of the United States Pacific Command, waits for arrival of Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (not in picture) before their meeting at Abe's official residence in Tokyo, Japan April 26, 2018. REUTERS/Issei Kato/Pool If confirmed by the Senate, Harris would fill a post that has been vacant since Trump took office in January 2017. Harris was initially nominated by Trump to be U.S. ambassador to Australia but was asked last month by Mike Pompeo, now secretary of state, to take the post in Seoul instead, as diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis over North Korea’s nuclear weapons intensified. His formal nomination, announced by the White House, comes days after North Korea raised doubts about whether an unprecedented June 12 summit in Singapore between Kim Jong Un and Trump would go ahead, and Pyongyang called off talks with South Korea, whose president, Moon Jae-in, is due to meet Trump at the White House on Tuesday. Despite professed unity, Trump has often taken a harder line on North Korea than Moon, and the U.S. president has repeatedly criticized South Korea over trade while questioning the usefulness of the long-standing U.S. alliance with Seoul. On Thursday, Trump sought to placate North Korea after it threatened to call off the summit, saying Kim’s security would be guaranteed in any deal and that his country would not suffer the fate of Muammar Gaddafi’s Libya.But in rambling comments mixing words of reassurance with threat, Trump also stressed that North Korea would have to abandon its nuclear weapons and warned that if no deal was reached, it could be “decimated” like Libya or Iraq. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said, “Nothing’s changed on that front” when asked on Friday whether there were any new developments related to the summit, which would be the first between U.S. and North Korean leaders. “We’re continuing to move forward and make plans,” she told reporters, echoing Trump’s comments from a day earlier. “And if the meeting happens, it happens. And if it doesn’t, then we’ll see from there.” Harris, who is known for hawkish views on China’s military expansion, told the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee in March that Washington could not be overly optimistic about the outcome of a Trump-Kim summit and must go into it with “eyes wide open.” He said he was encouraged by the prospect of a summit, but North Korea remained the biggest Asia-Pacific security threat. Pompeo told his Senate confirmation hearing for the post of secretary of state last month that filling Seoul and a handful of other diplomatic posts required “immediate attention.” The White House said in February it was no longer considering Victor Cha, a former official who questioned the wisdom of a preventative military strike on North Korea that was mulled by the administration earlier this year. Reporting by David Brunnstrom, Eric Beech and Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Cynthia Osterman

Trump nominates Admiral Harris to be U.S. ambassador to South Korea

May 7 (Reuters) - HT&E Ltd: * EXPECTS H1 EBITDA AT ARN TO BE AHEAD OF PRO-FORMA PRIOR YEAR BY ABOUT 5 PERCENT TO 6 PERCENT * CONFIDENT CO WILL ACHIEVE & MAY EXCEED CURRENT ANALYST 2018 EBITDA CONSENSUS ESTIMATES OF BETWEEN $113 MILLION & $114 MILLION Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:

BRIEF-Ht&E Says Confident Co Will Achieve & May Exceed Current Analyst 2018 EBITDA Consensus

Regarding the May 7 letter from Cuban Ambassador José Ramón Cabañas Rodríguez: It is the same communist propaganda used by the Castro government for the last 59 years. Not even during the Spanish colonization have the Cuban people been so oppressed as we have been during the Castro government. The ambassador also insults the majority of the...

We Differ With the Ambassador About Cuba