Breakfast and The Papers from across the Pond with your President Erin Duffy

The London Globalist has gone truly international for this weekend’s edition of Breakfast and the Papers, coming at you from the one and only New York City. I have taken refuge from the November wintery breeze and the danger’s of j-walking with yellow taxi’s, to curl up with my a coffee and The New York Times and give you the headlines from an English Woman in New York. So what’s news from the city that never sleeps? I’ve had the joys of watching Good Morning America today, although I’m not sure it’s the best source of the national news coverage, as the presenters did seem to spend most of their time giggling over their Halloween adventures rather than covering current affairs. The country seems obsessed with the Mid-Terms coming up this week, the papers are filled with election campaign coverage in a bid to get voters to the poll. It’s already taking a while for me to get used to those slightly bizarre political ad campaigns, their slanderous and comical contents is entertaining and slightly concerning in equal measures. The fitness-freak city (I have never seen so many gyms and health shops in my life its heaven!) have also gone all out in preparation for tomorrow’s NYC Marathon. I would like to wish all my fellow runners good luck-fingers crossed we will all be celebrating at the finish line together. But for today here is your round up of the US headlines….

Virgin’s Space Travel Mission Crashes down to earth
Richard Brasnon’s Virgin Galatic’s dreams of capitalising on commercial space travel fell back down to earth yesterday as his SpaceShipTwo exploded mid-voyage killing the pilot and severely injuring another passenger. Chief executive of the missions George Whiteside has declared ‘Space is hard-cut the future rests in many ways on hard days like this’. Who knows we could still see the Globalist covering the news from space one day…
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/01/science/virgin-galactics-spaceshiptwo-crashes-during-test-flight.html?hpw&rref=us&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well&_r=0

US Judge rejects isolation for Ebola Nurse
Returning from treating victims in West Africa Nurse Kaci Hickox has won a court case after defying her Ebola quarantine. A Maine judge has rejected the case from state authorities to enforce stricter restrictions on her movement. District Court Chief Judge Charles LA Verdiere ruled in favour of the nurse who has not showed symptom signs of infection, though she has still been ordered to submit to ‘direct active monitoring’.
http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/national/northeast/2014/10/judge_rejects_attempt_to_isolate_nurse
http://nypost.com/2014/10/31/judge-rejects-officials-attempt-to-restrict-ebola-nurse/

Halloween in the city
Never have I experienced anything quite like a Halloween evening in New York City. The surrealnesss may have been added to by the jet lag, but seeing an abundance of characters casually meander down the street made it feel something out of a scene of Kick-Ass. With the efforts put into their costumes, the game of costume vs real life is actually trickier than it sounds . It is estimated that Americans spend a slightly ridiculous $7.4 billion on costumes alone…London you have a lot to catch up to do!
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/10/wait-americans-spend-how-much-on-halloween/381631/

NYPD resignation a step backwards in minority representation
New York Police Departments highest ranking black officials has decided to retire from the force, even though he had accepted a prestigious promotion early in the week. Chief Phillip Banks was set to become first deputy commissioner and his controversial resignation is to be seen as a step backwards in the departments attempt to rekindle its relationship with minority communities across the state.
http://www.ny1.com/content/news/218180/nypd-shakeup-as-chief-of-department-steps-down/

Mid-Term Campaigns urge voters to the polls
Americans will once again take to the polls on Tuesday for US Congressional elections. Recent polls have shown Republicans are more fired up and likely to vote , with the GOP unhappy with the way President Obama is dealing with crisis such low economic growth, high unemployment and concerns over the Ebola pandemic. However, with more voters identifying themselves as Democrats across the states it is likely to be a close race. The Globalist has become slightly obsessed with campaign ads and is both intrigued and concerned with their attempts to go viral with their slanderous and comical content.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/31/us-usa-elections-turnout-idUSKBN0IK28520141031

Abenomic’s economic drive ensures US post better than expected growth figure
With an Abenomics boost from the Bank of Japan, announcing the purchase of bonds from up to 80 trillion a year and the Nikkei and S&P 500 ending the day on record highs. Officials signs show US workers wages are starting to tentatively rise, believed to be leading to an increase in consumer spending as the festive season is around the corner.
http://online.wsj.com/articles/wages-show-signs-of-pickup-just-as-consumers-hiccup-1414784255

Apple exec to be banned from Russia?
After the announcement this week that Apple’s CEO Tim Cooke identifies himself as Gay, a prominent Russian anti-LGBT lawmaker has suggested that the tech-giant leader should receive a life ban from Moscow. He stated ‘What could he bring us? The Ebola virus, AIDS, gonorrhoea? They all have ties over there’. We believe Cooke is actually leading the way against discrimination in both the industry and for CEO’s worldwide and that Moscow needs to find itself a new lawyer…
http://www.buzzfeed.com/maxseddon/russian-official-says-apple-ceo-should-be-banned-from-russia

The Blurred Lines of originality
Federal Judge John Kronstadt has ruled that Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams will not escape court after Marvin Gay’s family launched a plagiarism case against the biggest selling song of last year. The Motown legend’s family have claimed the pair deliberately copied elements of Gaye’s hit ‘Give it up’ – in a case which could claim millions in royalties. Those blurred lines of originality…excuse the pun!
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/sns-rt-variety-entertainmemt1vrt1201343885-20141030-story.html

Say Goodbye to the Plastic Bag…
Polls have shown that up to 60% of voters will support the ban on plastic bags in Los Angeles which was recently signed by Governor Jerry Bown in a blow to those attempting to launch a legal attack on the new law. We at the Globalist think that this Green Policy should be implemented worldwide- start saving the planet shoppers!
http://www.latimes.com/local/politics/la-me-pol-poll-plastic-bags-20141101-story.html