McClelland & Stewart to Publish the Explosive Thriller "The Kingfisher Secret" in October

The Kingfisher Secret (CNW Group/McClelland and Stewart)

McClelland & Stewart has announced that it will publish the political thriller The Kingfisher Secret by Anonymous. 

Ripped from the headlines and inspired by tales, speculation and whispers from within the intelligence community, the highly charged novel of intrigue and deception will be published simultaneously by McClelland & Stewart in Canada and the United States, Heyne in Germany and Century in the United Kingdom on October 16, 2018. 

In addition, rights have been sold to Longanesi in Italy and Planeta in Spain who will publish The Kingfisher Secret in 2019.

On the eve of the 2016 American election, journalist Grace Elliott has been working tirelessly on a story involving the controversial and wealthy tycoon who is running for President of the United States and a former porn star who is ready to go public with details of their affair. Yet, for political reasons, the publication that Grace works for decides to bury the story.

She is then sent to Europe to resume her work as a ghostwriter for the candidate's ex-wife, a no-nonsense Czech businesswoman who "writes" a column for the publication. Grace soon stumbles on a shocking story about how the man who is about to be president has made it as far as he has, and the threat his election victory poses to the western world.

"It is a pleasure to publish this provocative book, which manages to be a great deal of fun while also asking important questions about how power and politics are shaping our global future," says Jared Bland, Publisher of McClelland & Stewart. "We hope readers around the world find the story as exhilarating as we do."

The author is a bestselling novelist and respected journalist. 

Late last year, the author was introduced to a successful international businessman who became a source for insights into the world of espionage. The author learned that the businessman had worked as an operative for intelligence organizations to infiltrate spy networks. Through his activities within the intelligence community, the businessman heard stories about Donald Trump and his ex-wife, Ivana. 

Some had speculated that Ivana might have been part of the "swallow" program; a documented Cold War tactic used to entrap and compromise men of influence and power, not only to gather information but to encourage behaviour that would fit the long-term goals of the Russian government. 

With that background, the businessman suggested the following premise for a novel to the author: There's a spy in the White House. 

Intrigued by the idea, the author travelled to Prague to visit the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes and other archives to research Ivana Trump and her family, only to learn that many of the files had been stolen or destroyed. 

At that point, the author's imagination took over and The Kingfisher Secret came to life.

⏩ In publishing The Kingfisher Secret, the author has decided to remain anonymous in order to protect the source's identity.

SOURCE: McClelland and Stewart

Related Stories:

• Super LTD Acquires ACTIVE MEASURES - A Film That Reveals Putin's Long Game With Trump
• Book Release: Satirical Novel from 2076 Describes America's Self-Destruction
• New Poll Reveals Majority of Americans Are Not Convinced Trump is Doing Enough to Protect US from Putin Threat

More Donald Trump Related Stories:

Click here for more Donald Trump related stories...

Undercover Investigation: Shocking New Evidence Finds Wild Jaguars Cruelly Poached To Fuel Traditional Asian Medicine Trade

A four year old female Jaguar named Curubanda at Las Pumas wildlife sanctuary in the region of Guanacaste, Costa Rica. (Image via World Animal Protection)

The majestic big cats known for their elaborate markings, are being poached and processed to be exported to China. The process involves boiling down their bodies for up to a week until it turns into a glue-like paste, it is then sold on the black market in tubs and until now, has been undocumented.

The product is used in the belief that it can treat arthritis pain, improve sexual performance and enhance health even though there are proven alternatives readily available.

This shocking cruel practice involves jaguars being stalked and shot numerous times, suffering multiple injuries, until eventually they are killed, usually with a final bullet to the head once they are too injured to move. In one instance, it was reported that the jaguar had to be shot seven times until it died, causing prolonged suffering.

Investigators from the international charity also captured interviews with rangers, discussions with poachers and the traders who are putting orders for a jaguar on social media, by phone, or through their personal networks.

The sale of the jaguar paste is a lucrative business with a zealous market – a driving factor given that almost half of the population lives in poverty and a jaguar is considered to some miners to be worth around 20 grams of gold.

In addition, there is evidence of jaguar cubs being taken from the wild and sold – often to wealthy business men keeping them as status symbols and not knowing how to take care of them.

Sources say they live their lives in cages, until they are too big to look after and at times they are killed to eat, as their meat is also consumed among Suriname's Chinese population.

A poached jaguar. (Image credit: World Animal Protection confidential source.)

Nicholas Bruschi, Investigations Advisor at World Animal Protection, said: "This investigation has uncovered a shocking underground trade exploiting an iconic animal of the South American rainforests for unproven traditional Asian medicine.

Jaguars already face the challenges of habitat destruction and human animal conflicts. They are now cruelly and needlessly killed, left to die agonizing deaths. It is extremely sad news for these incredible big cats whose numbers are already in decline. And, while jaguar cubs might seem very cute, they are still wild animals and belong in the wild, not in the illegal pet trade."

It's estimated that there are approximately 173,000 jaguars left in the wild, and they are classed as 'near threatened' according to IUCN list. It is also thought that jaguars, like other big cats, are being used as a supplement product for traditional Asian medicine to their relative, the tiger, sparking a worrying trend that could see their numbers plummet.

With more mining and logging resulting in loss of habitat and increased human wildlife conflicts, jaguars are becoming more visible, and are being targeted for taking livestock. Habitat loss also makes it easier for opportunist poachers and organised mafia gangs to source jaguars in the wild.

World Animal Protection works tirelessly to prevent cruelty to animals around the world. Jaguar poaching for traditional Asian medicine is something that has, to date, been relatively under the radar.

To tackle the issue, World Animal Protection will be cooperating with Suriname's rangers and specialist NGOs on tangible solutions and sharing intelligence to prevent poaching.

They are raising awareness of the issue, in the hope that the Suriname government will put greater enforcement within their borders to stop poaching, but also prevent the smuggling of the product out of the country.

The undercover video of the jaguar trade:

SOURCE: World Animal Protection

Additional information:

• Suriname is home to one of the earth's largest tract of pristine tropical rainforest
• Suriname was a former Dutch colony, founded mainly as a plantation economy based on crops of coffee, cocoa, sugar cane and cotton plantations
• The jaguar is classified by all countries of the Guianas as being endangered and thus in need of protection. This means that it is illegal to target and hunt the species, whether for export, recreation, the domestic pet trade, or for bushmeat. There are only a few exceptions where special provisions are made for capture and shipment for education, exhibition and research to zoological parks, museums and wildlife reserves

Ronald S. Lauder Joins Zero Discrimination Movement Led by First Lady Lorena Castillo de Varela of Panama

Ronald S. Lauder Joins Zero Discrimination Movement Led by First Lady Lorena Castillo de Varela of Panama ((Photo Credit: Noa Grayevsky)

The American philanthropist, businessman and owner of JCS International Ronald S. Lauder joined the Zero Discrimination movement, led on a global level by First Lady of the Republic of Panama and UNAIDS Special Ambassador for Latin America Lorena Castillo de Varela.

The Zero Discrimination movement seeks to raise awareness about the harmful effects of discrimination and promote the rights everyone has to a full, dignified and productive life.

"The First Lady Valera is a powerful advocate for the rights of children and it's a privilege to join her Zero Discrimination movement," said Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder. "I look forward to many years of collaboration, particularly on the JCS International Young Creatives Award, which I am proud to sponsor."

Lauder has served as President of the World Jewish Congress for over a decade. He is also a UN Women for Peace Association "Ambassador of Peace"; First Lady Valera was honored at UNWFPA's 2018 International Women's Day luncheon with the group's prestigious Leadership Award. Lauder joined the Zero Discrimination movement after learning about the First Lady's global work to guarantee human rights.

The Zero Discrimination movement goes hand-in-hand with Panama's historic calling to promote dialogue, consensus, peace and human rights.

During a private dinner in New York, Lauder learned about the efforts of the Laureados y Líderes Por Los Niños organization to fully protect children's human rights. 

The event was also attended by the leadership of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, including Board Member and JCS International President Michal Grayevsky, who launched the JCS International Young Creatives Award with the International Academy. The award's 2018 theme is "Stand Up for Peace."

Lauder expressed interest in the statement delivered to United Nations General Secretary António Guterres, which called on the international community and the UN to double down on their efforts to preserve the rights of children -- particularly those who are workers and children -- and safeguard their access to education, nutrition, protection and physical and mental health. 

Ronald S. Lauder Joins Zero Discrimination Movement Led by First Lady Lorena Castillo de Varela of Panama ((Photo Credit: Noa Grayevsky)

SOURCE: JCS International

Women's Rights Organisations Speak Out in Defence of Sexual Assault Survivors

#WhyIDidntReport

The following is a press release from Equality Now:

"International women's rights organization Equality Now has joined forces with 80 leading women and human's right groups* to place a full page advert in The Washington Post expressing collective concern about attacks on Dr. Christine Blasey Ford since her story of sexual assault was shared.

It takes great courage for survivors of sexual assault to come forward, especially in public circumstances, and we must recognize the high cost that women pay for speaking out about their experiences.

As an organization working for women's and girls' rights in the US and globally, Equality Now understands how difficult it is for victims, given that they are often shamed and blamedby society and sometimes by the legal system itself.

Such difficulties have been highlighted by the many thousands who have given their own deeply personal accounts using the hashtag #WhyIDidntReport.

There are numerous reasons why someone doesn't report a sexual assault, including fear of not being believed, of retaliation, or mistrust of authority. Victims frequently face blame and interrogation for what they were wearing, what they were drinking, or how they did or didn't behave.

All too often, when a victim does find the strength to confide in someone they are told not to pursue things any further.

And then there is the knowledge that justice is rarely served as the vast majority of perpetrators do not go to prison.
In the wake of #MeToo, this is a landmark moment for how accusations of sexual assault are handled.

There can never be equality in a culture that normalizes or trivializes sexual assault and sexual harassment.

Dr. Blasey Ford is sharing the experience of a 15-year-old adolescent girl that was subjected to a sexual assault. We must think about what message we are sending to girls and boys across the country about whether or not they too would be heard or believed.

This is not a partisan issue. We all have a responsibility not to silence survivors, to guarantee that laws and legal systems are based on equality, and that victims have access to justice.

In addition, we need to ensure that schools, communities and organizations do not promote or tolerate a culture where such behaviour is normalized or trivialized.

By giving survivors the space to be heard we can change the status quo. We remain committed to achieving equality in laws, policies and legal processes and to supporting survivors of sexual assault and harassment.

Shelby Quast, Equality Now's Americas Director, says: "We all have to work together to ensure those who have experience sexual assault and harassment are supported, protected and given access to fair legal process. Never should they be subjected to further attack, irrespective of whether or not the perpetrator is a public figure or in a position of power."

Now more than ever we must all work together to build a more equal world in which women and girls can be safe, fearless and free."

*Click here for details of signatories

Sexual violence takes many forms (Via Equality Now)

Imagine Exhibitions Unleashes Dinosaurs Around The World

The exhibition features 13 advanced animatronic dinosaurs, educational activities, a touchable fossil, authentic casts and more...

From Dresden, Germany to West Palm Beach, Florida, dinosaurs will once again be roaming the planet this fall, thanks to Imagine Exhibitions...

Having already broken attendance records at several venues in the U.S., Dinosaurs Around the World will soon be entertaining and educating visitors to museums, science centers and non-traditional venues in Europe.  

Dinosaurs Around the World: XTREME (showing as DINO WORLD) opens this weekend at ZEITENSTRÖMUNG in Dresden, Germany, and features 13 animatronic dinosaurs, educational activities, a touchable fossil, authentic casts and more.

Dinosaurs Around the World: The Great Outdoors (showing as Dinosaur Invasion) opens at the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium on Saturday, Oct. 13th. It will be the largest exhibition ever hosted by the venue, encompassing both indoor and outdoor space. 

With a scale unmatched in animatronic dinosaur exhibitions, this show features some of the world's most unique and recently discovered dinosaurs. 

Guests will visit every continent in order to discover what dinosaurs lived there and for how long.  

Visitors will also be able to see how they measure up against the life-sized animatronic Triceratops, Velociraptor, Tyrannosaurus Rex, and even the giant Spinosaurus.

Dynamic, Real-life Exhibitions Take Visitors on A Trip Through Time (Image via Imagine Exhibitions)

"Faces light up as soon as visitors come through the doors of our dinosaur exhibitions," said Tom Zaller, CEO of Imagine Exhibitions. "I've yet to see a child or an adult who isn't mesmerized as soon as they see the life-like creatures in motion. It's a really special experience," said Zaller. 

"This will be our second dinosaur collaboration with Imagine Exhibitions," said Kate Arrizza, Chief Executive Officer of South Florida Science Center and Aquarium. "The first show set an all-time attendance record and we think it's going to be a very busy season here in South Florida thanks to Dinosaur Invasion."

⏩ Imagine Exhibitions will be showcasing its dinosaur exhibitions at the ASTC Annual Conference starting September 29th in Hartford, CT and already has confirmed bookings for its dinosaur shows into 2021.

SOURCE: Imagine Exhibitions, Inc.